Chapter 1: Under the Rain
Adelaide (POV)
Soon, it began sprinkling. Little droplets of water drenched her hair, skin, and clothing. The water droplets began growing larger and falling frequently. The clouds grew darker and darker. Another slight discomfort as her body was beginning to shiver from the cold breeze. Adelaide already felt the dampness of her skin and it was beginning to itch. She hated the rain. Every part of it. It just sounded like the buzzing of angry bees when the rain pours down to the ground. But for once, it brought me to something I never expected it to be.
Adelaide was scrambling to take cover from the rain when she came across a young man seated at the corner under an open shed. He was wearing a long overcoat jacket with a scarf covering half of his face. He was reading a book with one hand. As she managed to take shelter from an open shed, Adelaide was drawn to the stranger. Minutes went by and there was only silence.
"Hello," she cleared down her throat.
The stranger ignored the sound of her voice. It was as if he already knew her presence from the start. Adelaide cleared herself once more to get his attention, "Ahem, I know you heard me." she took the book from the stranger's hand and hid it behind my back.
"Give it back," the stranger simply said. "Don't disturb me. I was reading it."
"No," she moved back as he tried to get the book from my hands. "I don't want to. I can't bear the silence."
"So?" he raised his eyebrows as if he didn't care. "Don't people tell you to mind your own business."
Rude. "Anyway, what's so special about this book?" she flipped the book open and skimmed over its contents. "This looks interesting." The book was filled with handwritten with unusual writings. Unusual for a hardbound book.
"Give it back," he said, snatching back the book out of my hands. "It's not yours to take."
Adelaide finally looks at the man in the face. "Sorry, I just wanted to talk. The rain is buzzing me off somehow. It's annoying."
Turns out he looks a bit older. His skin was imperfectly white skin, with a handful of spotted freckles spread across his cheeks and the bridge of his nose. She couldn't really see his eyes since it was too bright out.
"I see," his face relaxes. "Didn't think anyone would be sensitive to the rain. Let alone just a drizzle. Does it annoy you?"
"Not really," she finally sat down beside him. "On rainy days like this, I learned how to deal with it."
Adelaide stared again at the steady downpour of the rain. Waiting for the rain to stop, staring at the upcoming storm and the crying clouds. Puddles began plinking as the rain became heavier. Rain danced around at the strong leaves and branches. She sometimes wondered if I hated the sound of it or not.
"There's nothing wrong with the rain," he suddenly spoke up. "It somewhat soothing to my ears. Also helps me think sometimes."
"Maybe you're right," she shifted my gaze and looked at him. "Maybe it was just me, all along."
"It's fine," he said. "Everyone has different opinions about it."
"What were you doing out here?" Adelaide asked. "Don't you have work to do?"
"It's my day off today," he leaned forward at the bench. "Decided to take a break here. What about you?"
"Got caught up in the rain today," she simply said. "It was a good thing I found this open shed. I hope it's gonna stop soon."
"I hope not," he muttered silently under his breath
"Did you say something?" she said, catching the tone of his voice. There was a hint of sadness and bitterness.
"Hopefully, it will," he changed the tone of his voice quickly. "There's no telling. The rain might get stronger this time."
"I hope not," she slightly dreaded at the thought of it. "I don't want to be soaking wet when I get home."
"I can help you with that," he offered. "Take my umbrella. It will help you out with the rain."
"You have an umbrella?" she asked. "Wouldn't you get soaked out later?
"It's alright." He lied. "My house is just right around the corner."
"You sure about it?" hesitating to take the umbrella from him. Adelaide felt bad that she had to take his one umbrella from him. Let alone from a stranger.
"Take it," he said. "Before I change my mind."
"Thanks, I'll have it, then." She finally said.
He took the umbrella out from his bag and handed it to me. It was a small umbrella small enough to fill in his bag. "I'll stay here for a while a little longer. See you next time." He seems to be a meticulous person since I could see everything inside.
"I think I'll stay here for a bit," changing my mind in heading home. "I hope you don't mind some company." She almost forgot that he'd be alone inside if I go out now. She simply placed the umbrella inside her bag in case it gets harder.
"No, it's alright," he nodded in reply. "I don't mind. Finished work?"
"Yeah." she sighed suddenly remembering about work. "There's always so many things to do. It gets hectic sometimes. I just wished I could just sleep all day. What about you?"
"I see," he said. "I wouldn't call it "work". I'm freelancing for now. I write books."
"Oh really?" I was surprised at the kind of work he was in. Judging from the clothes he was wearing, I thought he'd be also from the working class. I guess I misjudged him a little bit. "You have a good fashion sense. No one would think you would have that kind of job."
"Ha-ha, thanks, "he chuckled. "I guess no one would imagine like that."
Adelaide was taken aback at the sound of his laughter. My cheeks flame to pink and I tried to hide it behind. She'd never would have thought he'd laugh like that. "My bad, my bad," she said it out quickly. "What are you writing about?"
"All sorts of things," his wide mouth curves into a smirk. "I'm kidding. Mostly into romance, thrilling and maybe realistic kind of feel. I write whenever I feel like it."
"I see, what you did there," I grinned at him. "I've always wanted to write a novel, too. But never really get the chance of it. I suppose it's not for everyone."
"Well, writing is supposed to be fun," he remarked. "You can write things out if you want to.
"Hmm… I guess so," she paused. "What inspired you to write?"
"Honestly? I have no idea. It just came to me that I wanted to write," he said admittedly.
"Oh, I see, I see," she replied.
The clouds had cleared and looked like airy anvils drifting under the gleaming disc of sun casting slanted beams of light across the street. Cold breeze running past through the air, no noise can be heard but only the tree branches dancing with the wind.
"Looks like the rain has stopped now." He remarked.
I shifted my gaze and looked at the direction he was looking. The drizzling has stopped. "I should get going. It was nice meeting you again."
"Same to you, "he smiled warmly. "We'll see each other next time."
Adelaide hurriedly went out on my way to the station. She opened her bag to get her ticket only to find out his umbrella was with her. "Ah, I forgot to bring it back." I'll just go back again next time. If he's still there…