it was raining, again.
heavy raindrops pelted down angrily from the sky as i stood under the narrow shelter just outside the building, frowning hard at the unfavourable sky. however so, the raindrops still innocently fell down, gently tapping onto the umbrellas of the people walking past and onto the concrete ground and creating a soft melody.
i hummed to my favourite song along with the beat to distract myself, but time just ticked on, and the rain didn't seem to be ending any time soon. finally i couldn't wait no longer and my impulsive self decided to just run home in the rain. and just when a loud rumble echoed in the distance and lightning ripped across the sky, you appeared and yanked me back under the shelter.
i gave a short squeal, embarrassed shortly after when i turned back to see you.
"it's dangerous." you said in your deep mellow voice, looking at me squarely, being oh so serious.
i only widened my eyes and stared at you, confused as to why a particular stranger like you would even care about a stranger like me.
"i need to get home." i said to you, sounding angry, but you didn't seem to care whether me getting home was important or not.
"there's lightning out there."
i don't know what got into me, but i followed your words and leaned against the bricky walls beside you, watching the rain again. sighing, i glared at the sky, the people, the street opposite us. i didn't know why was i feeling so grouchy that day.
"no umbrella?" i asked you in a not really friendly tone, my head still facing forward, eyes fixated on the cafe on the other side of the street. a cup of coffee at a time like this would be a bliss, but nothing good ever happens to me, so i gave up on that thought.
"ditto." you said, and i turned to face you just in time to see you giving me a lopsided smile.
"shucks."
after an awkward silence you spoke again.
"i'm hayden. what's your name?" you started, watching me closely as if anticipating my reply.
telling you my name felt like i was revealing an important information of myself and you made me so perplexed by asking a stranger her name. or even telling her yours. plus i have always hated my name but somehow i couldn't stop myself from replying to you.
"i'm emma. emma piper."
what i even said my full name.
"cool. mind if i call you Em? and uh wanna cross over for some coffee? my treat." you said excitedly, grinning at me again. you seem suspicious to me, really, partially because you were being too friendly. but when you said that it was your treat i instantly made up my mind. oh yes i want some coffee.
"i thought you said that it was dangerous to walk in the rain." i stated as a matter of factly, waiting for your response. i was wishing that you insisted, which i'm glad you did. don't get me mistaken, what i wanted at that time was the coffee, and not you.
"it doesn't matter if it's a short distance!" before i could react you gripped my hand and pulled me along as you dashed across the road, not bothering to look at the traffic. i followed behind carelessly, trying to catch up with your steps and if not for the fact that it was a late Sunday morning, i bet you could have caused us to get run down by a car.
but truthfully, a smiled slipped onto my face as you pulled me along with you (which was really weird).
because i then thought that probably, just maybe, something good might just happen to me afterall.
