It was the perfect weather for staying home and burrowing under layers and layers of warm blankets. With the rain lashing and pounding on the tarmac in Bangkok, anyone with an ounce of common sense would have opted to stay home. It was as if all the rain clouds in Bangkok had decided they didn't want to be rain clouds anymore, and had staged a grand farewell in the form of relentless rain. To top things off, a gale so icy it had no business being in anywhere but Antarctica had decided to grace Bangkok as well. When faced with such unfriendly weather, most people would have stayed indoors, as they would have realized that an umbrella would do them about as much good as a toothpick.
Unfortunately (for himself), Sarawat was the kind of person who excelled in football and guitar and sucked at everything else, including situational awareness. Hence, while the rest of Bangkok was indoors, he was trudging along Bangkok's streets in the rain, with his umbrella proving about as useful as a plate of noodles.
Why am I doing this? He may not exactly be the sharpest knife in the block, but one would need an IQ below that of a shrimp to not know that it wasn't a good idea to travel on foot in the middle of a rainstorm.
Of course, the answer to that question was painfully obvious to him in his heart.
When he finally arrived at the gates of GMM University, he looked as if he had jumped into a swimming pool with his clothes on. Glancing at his watch, he noted that Tine's cheerleaders practice would probably end in another two minutes time or so.
Good. He was on time. After all, the only reason that compelled him to leave the comfort of his home was so that Tine wouldn't get wet in this torrential rain. It wasn't like Tine was the type to forget to bring his only umbrella, but Sarawat had borrowed it a few weeks back and had yet to return it, effectively leaving Tine an umbrella-less person.
Knowing him, Tine would probably be able to share one with someone else easily, but it made Sarawat's insides clench uncomfortably when he pictured Tine under the same umbrella with anyone else but himself. Hence, he had endured the freezing rain and wind to return it to Tine.
"Ai'Wat?" Tine's voice jolted him out of his thoughts.
Startled, Sarawat started rambling on about how it was raining and he thought Tine would need his umbrella back. His words were cut short by Tine's chuckle.
"Wat, you did not have to do that. I could have borrowed one from my friends. Still, thank you very much." Amusement lacing his words, Tine tilted his head upwards to offer Sarawat a bunny smile of thanks.
That one smile made everything Sarawat had to endure to get there worthwhile.
