Chapter 16 — Where the Rain Stays
Rain fell steadily that night.
Not the loud, impatient kind—but the slow, persistent rain that soaked into everything it touched. The kind that didn’t ask whether you were ready.
At 7:55 PM, Luca stood outside Anaya’s house, umbrella resting lightly against his shoulder. The street was quiet, washed clean by the rain, yellow streetlights glowing softly against the wet road.
He was early.
Again.
He checked the time once, then slipped his phone back into his pocket. Instead of impatience, there was calm in him—an unfamiliar calm that had started to feel natural these past few days.
His mind drifted back to the café earlier that evening. The laughter. The teasing. The way Anaya’s eyes had lit up when she talked about the coffee. The way she had looked at him—not curious, not cautious—but present.
He exhaled slowly.
Footsteps.
The gate creaked open.
Anaya stepped out, umbrella in hand, her hair tied loosely, a few strands already damp from the humidity. The moment her eyes met his, she smiled.
Not surprised.
Just… warm.
“Do you have too much time to waste?” she asked lightly.
Luca raised an eyebrow. “Why?”
“You’re always early,” she said, walking closer. “Every single time.”
He didn’t look away. “I’m strict with time,” he replied calmly. Then, after a pause, added, “Especially for special people.”
This time, she didn’t look away.
No shy glances. No pretending to adjust her bag or umbrella. She met his eyes fully—steady, open. There was something in her gaze that felt louder than the rain around them.
For a brief moment, it felt like the world had shrunk—like the street, the houses, the rain itself had stepped back to give them space.
Luca spoke first.
“Shall we go for a walk?”
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She nodded. “Yeah. Let’s.”
Without hesitation, she folded her umbrella and stepped under his.
No questions.
No explanation.
Just understanding.
They began walking side by side, their shoulders almost brushing, steps falling naturally into rhythm. Rain tapped gently against the umbrella, the road glistening beneath their feet.
A sudden gust of wind tore through the street.
The umbrella bent sharply.
And then—
Crack.
The handle snapped clean in two.
For a second, neither of them reacted.
Rain poured down freely now, soaking into their clothes, their hair, their skin. Luca instinctively shrugged off his jacket and held it out to her.
“Take this—”
She shook her head immediately and pushed it back toward him. “You’ll get cold.”
“So will you.”
She didn’t argue. She simply took the jacket—and instead of wearing it herself, placed it over his shoulders.
“There,” she said softly. “Better.”
He froze for a moment, rain dripping from his hair, jacket heavy against his back.
She looked at him, rain streaking down her face, eyes steady.
“Remember what you said?” she asked quietly.
‘It’s about who stands in the rain with you, when they have a choice to be dry.’
“I want to be the one who stands with you.”
Luca felt something tighten gently in his chest.
He smiled—not wide, not dramatic—but real.
“Anyone who stays with you in the rain once,” he said, voice calm but certain, “can stay every time.”
He glanced at their soaked clothes, the broken umbrella discarded behind them.
“And you already are,” he added. “And… it makes me glad.”
She smiled then.
Not an ordinary smile.
It felt like even her heart was smiling.
There was a warmth inside her—something she knew wouldn’t exist without him standing beside her like this. Somewhere along the way, moments with Luca had stopped being moments.
They had become something she wanted to keep.
“I feel glad for this,” she said quietly.
They continued walking.
After a few minutes, Luca spoke again. “Are you hungry?”
She thought for a moment. “Not really… but maybe a little.”
“There’s a tea stall nearby,” he said. “If you want.”
She nodded. “Okay. Let’s go.”
Rain softened as they walked, turning from heavy drops into a gentle drizzle. The tea stall glowed warmly ahead, steam curling into the night air.
As they walked, Luca spoke again, voice lower now.
“You know… from the day I saw you, I felt something familiar. Like something I’d been searching for—not directly, but… it was always there.”
She gently placed a finger against his lips.
“Shhh.”
He stopped mid-sentence, surprised.
“You’re overwhelmed,” she said softly. “So am I.”
Then she smiled. “And… I felt the same. The day I saw you—I saw peace. That bench, right next to you. That’s why I sat there.”
She glanced at him. “And look where we are now.”
He let out a quiet breath, something between a laugh and relief.
“Yeah.”
There was a pause.
“Thanks,” he said suddenly.
She didn’t ask why.
Didn’t need to.
“You’re welcome,” she replied—like she already knew.
She knew he was thanking her for the silence. For not forcing him to speak when he wasn’t ready. For letting him exist without expectation.
“You know why I stopped you?” she asked after a moment.
He shook his head slightly.
“Never speak when you’re angry,” she said. “Or emotional. Both are dangerous.”
He smiled faintly. “You’ve started quoting things.”
She grinned. “Learned from you.”
The tea stall owner smiled as they approached.
“Two teas,” Luca said. “And two samosas.”
Steam rose as they sat on the small wooden bench nearby.
Anaya took her first sip—and her eyes lit up.
“Wow,” she said. “This is really good.”
He chuckled. “Lotus grows in dirty water.”
She laughed. “So poetic.”
“I just love their samosas,” he said. “Always have.”
“Well,” she replied, taking another bite, “from now on—so do I.”
As she spoke, Luca found himself watching her.
The way she laughed. The way she talked with her hands. The way her eyes softened when she smiled.
She caught him staring.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” she asked, amused.
The words slipped out before he could stop them.
“How can you say all that while having this much beauty?” he said quietly. “I’m helpless. I don’t have control right now. The only thing that feels right… is admiring you.”
She froze.
Then—
Her face turned red.
Red like a tomato.
He realized what he’d said—but didn’t take it back.
Didn’t need to.
His tone had said everything.
They paid quietly and walked back toward her house. Rain had stopped completely now, leaving the road shining under streetlights.
The silence between them wasn’t empty.
It was full.
At her gate, Luca spoke first.
“Tomorrow. School?”
She smiled. “Of course.”
For the first time, he said it first.
“Bye.”
She smiled wider. “Bye.”
As she walked inside, Luca stood there for a moment longer, rain
water dripping from his sleeves, heart strangely light.
In just a few days, he had changed.
He had friends.
He had laughter.
And now—
someone who chose to stand beside him in the rain.
And somehow, that felt like everything.
