Under the Umbrella ✓

-10-

Carol didn't seem to be switching the shifts around only for a few days but for as long as Dom seemed to be working there, and Aria had willingly let her have her way on for this. Aria was thankful to Carol even though she knew Carol was helping her for her own gain, but now that the shifts are in her favor again, she could have some free time for the day and concentrate on her studies.

She was back at Coffee Break after getting off from her campus, and she was savoring her drink by the seat opposite the window seat since the stranger was back again. She didn't expect to be friends with him, but she thought she'd toss a smile over as a greeting if he ever looked her way when she came in, but he didn't. Not even once.

She glanced in his direction again, wondering what exactly was in those papers that he was so absorbed in even when she saw him two days back. It was funny how she never noticed him during the first few visits to Coffee Break. Now that she had nothing to do at the café except to rest, she was curious. Just a little.

It wasn't quite right to call it resting either. She was constantly worrying about something in silence. Just a few minutes ago, she was considering searching for another part-time even if she would be foregoing the very little spare time she had per day.

She couldn't manage everything with the current money she was making, especially for Hailey's school fees. She had compromised with the principal the earlier day when she had to meet him, and he had only given a month to settle all the arrears. Aria knew the principal was only being understanding because she had once been a student of the school and had brought glory to the school by having the highest SAT scores in the whole state. She also knew he wouldn't be so understanding for very long. She had to find a solution fast.

Once again, her thoughts drifted, her neck seemingly having a mind of its own as she found it turning towards the stranger for no particular reason. She perceived a lot of things by now, like how his back was stiff and straight as a rod the entire time he went through his papers and how he gazed at the window occasionally as she did when she sat there.

She pondered about it from time to time, about why he had given her the umbrella that day and sacrificed his cover from the rain for her. She could only assume that she must have looked so pathetic that day that he was kind enough to take it upon him to make her day a little less shitty.

Her attention was diverted by the sound of her phone ringing and seeing the caller ID made it hard for her to remain calm, but she didn't stall away from picking up the call. She never would.

"Aria..." Aria sighed before the rest of the words slipped out of Kierra. "You might have to buy cereals, milk, salt, and... well, a whole bunch of other things."

"I'm pretty sure I just saw most of this earlier in the morning today," Aria stated, trying to keep herself composed.

Kierra sighed. "Mom threw all of it saying that you bought it with Dad's money."

"How does she know Dad's sending us money?"

"Of course, she doesn't. Only the both of us know that. She was just randomly throwing a fit."

Aria closed her eyes and leaned against the seat, exasperated. It wasn't anything new, but she was afraid she'd grow tired of her mother one day and explode. The thoughts she'd had about bringing all of this to an end were too dangerous to even think of by the surface, but something always managed to pin her down from putting her thoughts to test.

"Does she think I grow trees with money on it?" Aria muttered under her breath.

"What did you say?"

She heaved a sigh. "Nothing."

"And you know the money Hails was saving up?"

She reopened her eyes, looking up at the ceiling of the café. "Mhm."

"She found that and took some. She said she wants to buy something."

"Just ask her what it is and tell her that I'll get it for her."

"She's getting ready already and I'm going with her. I'm scared she'll lose it if I say something," Kierra spoke lowly. "You know how Hailey is – she's already moody as it is. She'll be furious when she gets to know Mom took her money."

Aria straightened herself against the seat, a resigned exhale breaking out of her. She was close to ripping her hair off her scalp in frustration.

"I'm gonna go now. See you later," her sister said, sounding tired herself.

"Okay, take care."

As soon as the call was over, she lowered her head onto the table. She wanted to scream her lungs out and run away. How long did they have to put up with this? How much did God think they could take? When was she ever going to be able to breathe?

Why? Why us?

Something flashed in front of her face before she felt the table vibrate. She lifted herself to get a better view of the item only to recognize the black umbrella. She could see someone standing by her table from the corner of her eye, but she took a moment to regard him.

"Thought you'd need it," the stranger aired. He must have seen the puzzled look in Aria's eyes because he peered behind his shoulders, his gaze settling on the window as if he wanted her to follow his eyes. And she did.

It was raining.