Gone like the Rain

Gone Like the Rain (pt. 3)

And just like that, my mind shifted to another memory.

The girl was standing right next to the doors, wondering whether or not she should run home or wait till the rain stopped-- it was foolish of her, foolish of me to forget my own umbrella.

Behind her was the sound of rummaging through the backpack. The girl turned around, watching the boy take out a yellow umbrella. "Oh?" he said. "Hwa Eun?"

"Ji Hyun," I said turning back around.

"School ended hours ago, why are you still here?"

"Student government services-- some ad campaign," I replied.

"Did you... Did you by any chance forget an umbrella?" I heard Ji Hyun chuckle.

"Indeed I did," I muttered in annoyance.

"It's getting dark soon." He zipped up his raincoat. "Are your parents coming any time soon?"

"I'm not sure, they're not answering my calls or text messages," I worried, picking up my phone to check once more.

"Well then," he smiled, walking toward me. "We're neighbors. Let's share an umbrella, I'll drop you off at your house."

"I-" I felt a sudden wave of heat as my heart began pounding in my chest. "Why bother helping me?" I managed to choke out.

"Me?" Ji Hyun said, opening the door. "I like you."

I felt my cheeks turn red. Blunt, was the word I thought when he said that. How blunt he was.

I wiped my tears, rolled up my sleeves, and traced my fingers over the bracelet that Ji Hyun had once given me.

☂

I wanted to say something. I wanted to embrace her in my arms once again, but I didn't. I was a stranger to her. Instead, I reached into my pocket and extended a couple of tissues to her.

Embarrassed again, she took them and began turning to face the other direction.

The rain slowly started to stop and the clouds began clearing away to reveal the sun. I felt a sudden pain as I took a glance at the rising of the sun. I turned to smile at her one last time, knowing that with the coming of the sun, I would soon disappear. "Hwa Eun," I whispered, saying my last words. "Saranghae."

☂

I looked at the sky, seeing the sun emerging from the clouds that blackened the sky. As I heard my name, as I heard that familiar voice, I turned to face the boy once again. However, he was gone. Gone. Gone like the rain.