When It Rains

Chapter 4

I've been in this coffee shop for the past 30 minutes and I still can't see any single one of the faces that I recognize. I pulled my phone out of my bag and immediately and send Nina a text out of anxiousness. I head to the group chat and started scrolling up to reread the conversation. It said Drew's Coffee Shop at 1pm! I knew I wasn't wrong but where the hell are they? My hands started to sweat and getting cold and I can hear my heartbeat drumming in my chest. My eyes still trying to search for any faces that I could recognize just enough to make me breathe normally, but still no sign. I checked my phone clock again and to see any sign of messages but, nothing. They might've put a prank on me and they all probably laughing at me right now from afar, thinking how easy I am to get. I'd say they did it without mistake but they are also wasting my time.

I dumped all of my stuffs in my backpack getting myself ready to leave. Just when I pushed the chair back, the coffee shop door rings and I saw Nina came in holding something behind her back.

"Nina—"

She pulled out a huge party popper and popped it without a second thought that we're in the cafe. All the assorted confetti blasting out of the party popper then slowly falling and dancing like a motion of a piece of a coin when you throw it in the ocean. A big smile drew at her face before she head towards me and gave me a very tight hug. Then it followed by my fellow former college classmates that I haven't noticed before how they get here. I hugged her back confused what this was all about, almost suffocating.

"Happy Birthday Thea!" The all say at the same time.

Through all the busyness and sleepless nights, I forgot today is my birthday. How could I forget my own birthday? Birthday's not something I'd celebrate every year. I just thought that it is just another 'capitalism thing' other than Valentine's Day. However, it only happens once a year and you gotta savor the moment.

"Thank you so much, you guys!" I said letting go from their suffocating hugs.

"What is that look on your face?" Nina said, studying me.

I let out a laugh and patted her shoulder to cover the feeling of embarrassment. "What you mean?" I gave her a silly face.

She gave me an expression like she's trying to read me then I raised both of my hands up—signaling I've given up. "Okay okay fine, I forgot my birthday."

She never said anything against me but she just smiled. I'm getting that feeling that she just let pass today because it's my birthday. That is something I like about Nina—she never tried to pressure me into things that she knew I wasn't into.

Everyone gathered and start preparing the other sweets like cookies, hot cocoa and coffee on our table. They explained that they had the café's reservation yesterday including the sweets they just ordered and almost the whole café, but they tend to keep it simple after they knew I wasn't much into big parties. They keep everything simple like we're little kids having a tea party. However that also includes the mess that they made out of that confetti they blasted a few minutes ago.

After another exhausting day, I struggle to pick up the paper bags—known as presents as I head myself to the usual bus stop. I kept my party hat and that Happy Birthday plastic thing that used to place on top of the cake in another piece of paper bag, however half of it popped out of the bag but I chose to ignore it.

I rustle against the paper bag as I struggle again to get into the bus, trying to push myself in the crowd. Luckily I spot there was one remaining empty seat for me to sat on before the bus continues to navigate. I almost stumbled myself when I got closer to the empty seat, fortunately a man next with an empty seat suddenly got up and caught me before crashing my face into the floor.

"Easy." I heard him whisper close to my ear—hearing him breath steadily. His voice is deep and confident—I feel it reverberate straight down through my body but somehow familiar.

He slowly letting go of his grasp and ran his hands in my arm just enough to keep me in balance from the moving vehicle. I can feel my face burning in embarrassment and I try to cover it up by staring at his black wool coat that smelled like coffee and a mix of rosemary.

"Thank you." I mumbled under my breath, not caring if he heard me enough. I rushed my way to the empty seat not caring how crumple my paper bags look like after I pushed my way to the crowd recently. I know it may sound rude but I can feel my anxiety rushed over me before I could place myself in the seat properly. I just couldn't help it.

I heard him rustle before placing himself properly in his seat and letting out a big sigh without looking at him. I keep myself distracted from the buildings and trees pass us by.

"You're welcome A-the-na."

I turned as quickly as I could to see the same wavy haired guy I met last time. My face lit up in relief with a mix of embarrassment.

Theo.