Maybe

Chapter 17 Rainy Kiss

[the title says it all ;)]

Nina reclined on the bed, the soft sheets beneath her as she heard the familiar creak of the door opening. She recognized Ethan's footsteps immediately. Without turning to look at him, she casually remarked, "I found this new game that's supposed to be amazing. Want to give it a shot?"

Ethan settled beside her, his presence comforting as he replied with enthusiasm, "Absolutely! Let's dive in." Nina retrieved the game CD from her bag and showed it to him before they began playing.

As they immersed themselves in the game, hours passed unnoticed. The room gradually darkened with the approaching night, casting a soft glow from the screen onto their faces. They realized it would take some time to finish the game, given its length, but neither of them seemed to mind. The challenge and excitement of the game bound them together in shared concentration and enjoyment.

"Actually, not this one. Choose that one; it looks better," she suggested.

"This one?" Ethan confirmed.

"Yeah, that's—"

"Wait, but this one looks good too, don't you think?"

"Uh, yeah, but check out that one."

"Nah, this one's dull."

"The one on the first row? It looks pretty poor."

They had been engrossed in their discussion about the game, and when it finally ended, they both noticed the gentle patter of rain outside. Nina sat down beside Ethan on the bed, letting out a contented sigh. They sat in silence for a while, simply listening to the soothing sound of the rain.

"This feels so nice, doesn't it?" Nina murmured softly, her voice carrying a hint of sleepiness from the relaxed atmosphere.

"It does," Ethan agreed, glancing at her. His eyes wandered over her delicate features, admiring her beauty.

She looks so lovely, he thought to himself.

His gaze fixated on her lips, and he bit his lower lip slightly, thinking, "Not now... but..." His hand moved almost instinctively toward her face, his thumb gently caressing her lips. The touch made her look at him, but she didn't pull away; instead, she allowed him to proceed with whatever he had in mind.

Leaning closer, their eyes locked, and hers drifted to his lips. In sync with the soothing melody of the rain, their lips met. She surrendered to the kiss, closing her eyes, swept up in the rush of desire and adrenaline.

Their lips moved in sync with the rhythmic melody, lost in the enjoyment of the moment until a sudden phone call broke the spell. Startled by the sound, they both pulled away, a moment of realization dawning on them. Nina glanced away, feigning interest in finding her ringing phone, her cheeks tinged with a blush of embarrassment.

Quickly reaching for her phone, she answered the call, which turned out to be from one of her close friends.

Nina: H-hello?

Janice: Whoa, why are you so nervous? I can hear it in your voice.

Nina: N-no, I'm not... I'm probably just frustrated, ugh.

Nina got up and moved away from him so he wouldn't overhear.

Janice: Is he at your place? Are you two already together? Why are you frustrated, huh?

Janice teased her.

Nina: I'm frustrated with a movie that ended badly. Now, tell me why you called, you freaking bitch?

Janice: Whoa, calm down! You won't believe what happened. Jake, oh my goodness, Jake kissed me today!

Nina: What?

Janice: Yeah! Listen to what happened...

FLASHBACK

Janice headed out to grab some groceries, a habit that always started with checking the weather. Despite sensing rain, she pressed on; her need was urgent. Arriving at the nearest store, she was met with disappointment as it was closed for the night. Undeterred, she tried several others with the same result—it was nighttime after all.

Finally spotting a store that was open, she hurried inside and quickly gathered her essentials. Exiting the store, she was met with the pattering of raindrops;  the store shutting its doors behind her. Stranded without an umbrella and far from home, she hesitated, unsure of her next move.

Just as she was about to make a dash through the rain, a comforting presence and the shelter of an umbrella enveloped her. Startled, she turned to find Jake standing there, a smile on his face that mirrored the relief she felt.

She smiled faintly at him, appreciating his concern. "Are you crazy? You'll catch a cold in this heavy rain," he exclaimed with a worried tone, evident in his voice. Walking closely under the umbrella made her heart race. He pulled her closer by gently tugging her shoulder, ensuring she stayed dry amidst the downpour. Finally reaching her doorstep, she hurried inside, unlocking the door.

"Thank you so much! If you hadn't been there, I would have been soaked, and the groceries would have been ruined," she expressed gratefully.

He replied casually, "It's nothing, just helping out a good friend."

But his thoughts strayed elsewhere, his mind lingering on more provocative ideas.

"But if you're grateful, shouldn't you reward me?" he asked with a hint of playfulness in his voice. She glanced at him, caught off guard, then responded, "Of course, one day soon I will."

"Why not now?" he pressed, his tone slightly more insistent. Confusion flickered across her face as she looked at him.

Drawing nearer, he closed the distance between them and pressed his lips against hers. She stood frozen in shock, her eyes widening as he kissed her. After a brief moment, he pulled back, leaving her stunned.

"See you tomorrow. It's raining, so I better head home early. Goodnight," he said softly before turning and walking away. Her gaze lingered on his retreating figure, disappearing into the heavy rain. She closed the door behind her and stood there, taking a moment to collect herself.

Her heart raced, threatening to burst from her chest. She took deep breaths, trying to calm down, but the overwhelming thought persisted: "My crush kissed me." It was a moment she couldn't shake off, a mixture of surprise, excitement, and a touch of nervousness..

She had seen him with another girl and couldn't help but wonder if he didn't like her, if his affections lay elsewhere. Yet, when he kissed her, it stunned her to the core. It was just a simple peck, but for her, it was a breathtaking moment, one that filled her with a rush of unexpected emotions.

Present

Janice: "God, I can't believe it."

Nina: "That's so great for you!"

Janice: "But what if he... what if he acts like nothing happened?"

Nina: "He won't. He's had his eyes on you for a long time. Why don't you see that?"

Janice: "Same goes for you. Ethan's had his eyes only for you, but you're blind."

Nina: "Now, shut up. The situation between you and me is different."

Janice: "Okay, we'll see when he kisses you. Now, I've got to go and cook something to eat for myself. Goodbye!"

Nina: "Y-yeah, goodbye."

She ended the call abruptly, relieved to see the rain easing outside. Her mind raced with thoughts of how to confront him, but as she stepped out of her room, there he was. "I should head home now. The rain seems to have let up," he said casually.

"Oh, y-yes," she replied softly, avoiding eye contact, still unsure how to face him after what had transpired. He bid her goodbye and left. She unconsciously echoed the farewell as she closed the door behind him. Alone again, the memory of their kiss flooded back to her, leaving her lost.