In a small café, at nine o'clock in the evening, two people sat at a table near the window. They were the only ones there, resting their hands on the table while watching the rain pouring down behind the glass.
Edgar: "How are you, Victor? It's been a long time, hasn't it? How long do you think? Six years? Nine?"
Victor: "Like you, I don't remember... But fate willed for us to meet again in this rainy weather. Heh, you've changed a lot… your face, your voice."
Edgar, laughing: "And so have you! Your beard feels like rough cotton, and the wrinkles on your face make you look like crushed biscuits."
Victor lifted his cup of tea, took a sip, then placed it back on the table with a sigh.
Victor: "I regret saying you've changed… You still make me want to punch you. Let's see who really looks like mashed food!"
He turned to the window, staring at the rain hitting the glass, and smiled.
Victor: "But the rain has never changed…"
Edgar also looked at the window, slightly surprised, then smiled softly.
Edgar: "Yes… It's quite strange."
A silence filled the place, and only the sound of rain falling on the ground outside and against the café's glass could be heard.
Victor: "I've always wondered about this strange phenomenon happening before me."
Edgar: "Huh? What do you mean?"
Victor hesitated for a moment, then exhaled quietly.
Victor: "Nothing… just some memories that came to me by chance."
Edgar, smiling: "Heh, it's fine, man. Your topics have always intrigued me. Tell me, what did you remember?"
Victor: "It's nothing, really. Just silly thoughts."
Silence returned once more, with only the sound of rain filling the air. Then, with a warm smile, Edgar broke the silence:
Edgar: "Do you remember when I visited your house with my mother? She was a close friend of your mom, and while they were talking, we went outside in the rain. You were holding a cup, and we stood in the middle of the street, trying to fill it with rainwater. We were curious about how it would taste!"
He chuckled and continued:
Edgar: "We sat there for a long time until the cup was finally full, then we argued about who would take the first sip. But your hands were wet… the cup slipped from your grasp and shattered! Our mothers were so mad at us, and then we both caught colds and never got to taste the rain. We were so disappointed."
Then, he laughed even more.
Edgar: "But I was happy that I didn't have to go to school because of the cold. Haha!"
Victor stared at him for a few seconds before suddenly bursting into laughter, almost to the point of tears.
Edgar, confused: "What's so funny?"
Victor, barely speaking through laughter: "Hahaha, you haven't changed one bit!"
Edgar, annoyed: "Huh, then tell me, what's so funny, Mr. Hairy?"
Victor finally calmed down, took a sip of tea, and then smiled.
Victor: "That exact memory was what I was thinking about too, you idiot."
Edgar raised his eyebrows in surprise, while Victor simply looked at him, smiling. Silence filled the space once again, with only the sound of rain around them. Then, suddenly, Edgar spoke up:
Edgar: "Hey! I just got an idea!"
Victor, with a sarcastic smile: "I hope I won't have to call you crazy after hearing it."
Edgar, with a mischievous grin: "Oh, you know me."
Victor: "Alright, what is it?"
Edgar's grin widened as he pointed to the window.
Edgar: "How about we find out how it tastes now?"
Victor's smile faded for a moment, but he understood the idea even before looking at the window. Then, the same mischievous grin appeared on his face.
Victor, laughing: "Hahaha, and here I thought I'd hear something less insane! You're naturally crazy, aren't you?"
Edgar: "So?"
Victor, still laughing: "I like your madness, man!"
The two of them walked out of the café into the rain, which drenched their clothes entirely. As they walked, joy was evident on their faces. After a few minutes, Victor spoke:
Victor: "You know? I always walked under the rain with my head lowered, staring at the ground."
Edgar, looking at him: "Why?"
Victor: "Every day I went to work and saw it raining, it felt like the worst day of my life. All I could see was gray everywhere."
He sighed, then smiled faintly.
Victor: "But tonight… I feel happy."
Edgar, smiling: "Is that why you called it a strange phenomenon?"
Victor, nodding: "Yeah. When we were kids, the rain made me happy. But when I grew up, it became something depressing. And now… I feel nostalgic about it. As if it changes every time."
Edgar, thoughtful: "Maybe because rain reminds us of those days, but it has never really changed. You did."
Then, he playfully punched Victor's shoulder.
Edgar: "So, are we going to keep talking or fulfill our childhood dream?"
Victor laughed, and Edgar joined in.
Victor: "Haha, yeah!"
The two of them stood in the middle of the street under the heavy rain, staring at the gray sky.
Suddenly, Edgar yelled:
Edgar: "Ah! Damn it!"
Victor, surprised: "What's wrong?"
Edgar, in pain: "Some raindrops hit my eyes hard! Ahh, it stings!"
Victor, laughing: "Hahaha, serves you right!"
Edgar: "Is that your reaction? Ow…!"
Victor sighed, then took out his glasses from his coat pocket and handed them to Edgar.
Victor: "Here, wear these while looking up."
Edgar took the glasses, put them on, and both of them looked at the sky again, opening their mouths to taste the rain.
Some passersby were staring at them in confusion, including a mother and her child.
The child asked: "Mom, why are those two men doing that?"
The mother, frowning: "Don't go near them, dear. They might be weird kidnappers."
Edgar and Victor overheard her, and their faces immediately turned red with embarrassment.
They both lowered their heads, shoved their hands into their coat pockets, and continued walking in silence.
Then, Victor mumbled awkwardly:
Victor: "Well… I think I'll keep looking at the ground."
Edgar, just as awkwardly: "Me too."
Then, Edgar asked:
Edgar: "So, how did the rain taste? To me, it was pretty ordinary. Haha, looks like we wasted our time on nothing in the end."
Victor smiled and replied:
Victor: "Yeah… but at the same time, it was special."
Edgar smiled as well, gazing up at the sky once more.
Edgar: "Heh, well, I agree with that."
---
The End
---
Thank you to everyone who read and accompanied this story until the end.
Sometimes, the sky rains down old memories—memories that make us smile for no reason or make our hearts ache with nostalgia.
We may see the rain today differently than we did in our childhood, but some moments remain eternal, no matter how much time changes.
So, if you ever find yourself walking under the rain, don't forget to lift your head for a moment, let the
raindrops touch your face, and remember…
Time may never return, but it leaves us with memories we can relive, even if just for a moment.
Wishing you a wonderful day!