Echoes of the Rain

mesmerizing

As the clock struck 7, I grabbed my belongings from the locker. Jiho was there too, gathering his things.

"Did you finish your math assignment?" he asked while packing up.

"Almost," I replied.

Jiho seemed a bit hesitant, then said, "I'm stuck on some problems... Can you help me with that?"

"Oh... Yeah, sure," I agreed.

"Alright then, see you at college," he said, slinging his bag over his shoulder.

"Yeah," I replied as he walked away.

After a deep breath, I headed upstairs to the music shop. The upper floor was filled with musical instruments, and I found myself unsure where to go. Without Yohan's number, I was left searching for the piano, figuring he'd be nearby.

A salesgirl approached me. "Are you searching for something? May I help you?"

"Ah... Where's the piano?" I asked.

"Piano... It's not here. Let me show you the way. Come, follow me," she offered.

She led me to a room with two pianos, but Yohan was nowhere in sight. After she left, I checked the time-7:30 already. He hadn't shown up, and I started feeling stupid for believing he'd come. We weren't even friends, so why had I let his words, "only for you," linger in my mind?

Just as I was about to leave, someone tugged on my bag. I turned to see Yohan, his face flushed, and he was out of breath.

"Are you alright? Come, sit here," I said, leading him to a bench.

Yohan collapsed onto the bench, still catching his breath. "Where have you been? I've been searching for you everywhere, and I didn't have your number," he explained.

I handed him a bottle of water. "Here, drink this."

Yohan took it gratefully. "For the first time, this shop felt so big."

"I thought... you weren't coming, so I was about to leave," I admitted.

Yohan shook his head, still panting slightly. "It's my fault. I didn't even give you my number."

"It's okay, but it's already late. I really have to go now," I said, glancing at the time.

He looked disappointed but nodded. "Alright, but... next time, I'll make sure you have my number."

"Sure," I said softly, feeling a mix of relief and uncertainty as I prepared to leave.

As I started to leave, Yohan called out, "Yuri, give me just 10 minutes, please."

I hesitated but replied, "Okay."

Without warning, he grabbed my hand and pulled me along, running towards the piano room. I was startled, trying to keep up. "Yohan, what are you doing? Let go of my hand!"

"Run faster, Yuri, time is running out!" he urged, not slowing down.

When we finally reached the piano room, he hurriedly opened the door. Inside, there was a separate room with a grand piano. Yohan placed a stool next to the piano for me, while another stool was already set up for him.

"Sit here and hear me out," he said, his eyes shining with excitement.

I didn't say anything, just watched his face. He looked so eager, so alive with energy, that I couldn't bring myself to refuse. I sat down on the stool, feeling a mix of curiosity and anticipation.

He began to play the piano. The music that filled the room was breathtaking. Each note was played with such precision and emotion that I was completely absorbed. The world outside seemed to fade away as I focused solely on the melody. I glanced at Yohan's face, and it was glowing with a radiance I'd never seen before.

We didn't speak a word; the music said everything. The room was filled with it, and in that moment, it felt like nothing else mattered.

Suddenly, a thunderclap shattered the peaceful silence, followed by the sound of rain pouring down outside. I felt a bit uneasy as the rain intensified, reminding me of how much I disliked it.

Yohan, on the other hand, was thrilled. "Oh, it's raining... Come, Yuri, come here and see the rain!" he said in a cheerful voice, moving closer to the window where he could watch the downpour more clearly.

I stayed in my seat, watching him. "Why are you so excited? What's so good about the rain?" I asked, puzzled by his enthusiasm.

He turned to me with a grin. "What's so good about the rain? Have you ever just let yourself get soaked in it?"

He opened the window, and raindrops immediately began to splatter into the room, the cool air rushing in. I glanced at the clock and realized it was already 8 pm. "I'm late. I have to go," I said, grabbing my bag and preparing to leave.

Yohan quickly pulled on my bag, stopping me. "Wait, I'll drop you off," he insisted.

"No, you don't have to. I can manage. I'll catch the last bus to my house," I replied, trying to reassure him.

Yohan was persistent. "No, no, it's my fault you're late."

"But my house is far from here," I said, hoping to deter him.

"It doesn't matter. Come with me," Yohan said firmly, leaving me with no real option to refuse. It was his fault, after all; his music had been so mesmerizing that I hadn't noticed the time.

With a reluctant sigh, I nodded, realizing that there was no getting out of it.