Luisa and Ben were walking under the same umbrella.
The rain was still falling steadily, tapping softly against the umbrella above them.
Ben looked calm and normal, walking quietly beside her.
But Luisa felt completely different.
Her heart was beating fast.
She could hear it in her chest.
Whenever Ben walked beside her, something inside her changed. She didn't understand why, but her heart always reacted this way.
The street was quiet. Only the sound of rain and their footsteps filled the silence.
Soon, Ben's apartment building appeared ahead.
Ben stopped.
Ben:
"Thank you for dropping me."
Luisa looked at him and smiled softly.
Luisa:
"It's okay."
A strong wind blew past them, gently moving Luisa's hair across her face.
Her hair flowed in the wind, and for a moment she looked calm and beautiful in the soft rain.
Ben noticed it.
But in his mind, she was simply a kind friend… a beautiful and gentle girl he appreciated.
Luisa smiled again.
Luisa:
"Bye. Take care."
Ben:
"Bye. You take care too."
Luisa turned and began walking toward her house.
Ben watched her for a moment before heading toward his apartment building.
Luisa's House
As Luisa walked home, her heart kept beating faster and faster.
She placed her hand over her chest.
Luisa:
"What's wrong with me?"
She looked confused.
Luisa:
"Why is my heart pounding so much?"
But deep inside, she already knew the answer.
Luisa was in love with Ben.
And she knew it.
When she reached home, she entered quietly and sat on the couch.
She stared straight at the wall, but her mind was somewhere else entirely.
Her thoughts were full of Ben.
Luisa placed her hand over her heart again.
Luisa:
"Please… calm down."
After a while, she stood up and went to freshen up.
When she returned to her study table, she noticed her phone ringing.
It was David.
Luisa picked up the call.
Luisa:
"Hello, David."
David:
"Did you get home safely?"
Luisa smiled softly.
Luisa:
"What about you?"
David:
"I'm home too."
Luisa:
"That's good. Did you have dinner?"
David chuckled.
David:
"I'm making some noodles."
Luisa:
"That sounds good."
David asked,
David:
"What about you?"
Luisa:
"I was thinking about making curry rice."
David:
"Wow, that's great."
Luisa laughed softly.
Luisa:
"I'm going to use the ready-to-make one… but yes, I'm making that."
David paused for a moment.
Then he spoke again.
David:
"Luisa…"
Luisa stopped for a second.
Luisa:
"Yes?"
David hesitated slightly before asking,
David:
"I just wanted to ask… do you and Ben live in the same apartment?"
Luisa quickly replied.
Luisa:
"Oh no, no. We just live on the same street."
David felt a strange sense of relief.
David:
"Oh… I see. I was just wondering."
Luisa smiled.
Luisa:
"It's okay. You can ask me anything. You're my friend, after all."
David smiled quietly.
But inside his heart, he already knew something.
Luisa saw him only as a friend.
But for David…
Luisa meant much more than that.
He hid those feelings.
David:
"Okay. Bye, Luisa. Good night. Take care."
Luisa:
"Bye. Good night."
The call ended.
Dinner
Luisa went to the kitchen and prepared her curry rice.
Soon the warm smell filled the room.
Outside, rain continued falling gently in the night.
Luisa sat by herself and began eating the hot curry rice.
The quiet rainy evening felt peaceful.
After finishing her meal, she returned to her study table and began studying.
Ben's Apartment
At the same time, Ben arrived at his apartment.
He changed his wet clothes and sat on the couch.
Then he picked up his phone and called Charlotte.
But instead of her voice, he heard an automated message.
"The number you are trying to reach is currently busy."
Ben sighed and placed his phone on the table.
After a few moments, his phone rang again.
Ben quickly picked it up, thinking it was Charlotte.
But it was his mother.
Ben smiled and answered.
Ben:
"Hello, Mom. How are you?"
Ben's mother:
"I'm good, honey. How are you? And did you eat?"
Ben:
"I'm good, Mom. I ordered something to eat."
His mother sighed warmly.
Ben's mother:
"Oh dear… I wish I could come and cook something delicious for you."
Ben smiled softly.
Ben:
"Thank you for saying that. But I know you're tired. When did you come home from work?"
Ben's mother:
"Just now."
Ben frowned slightly with concern.
Ben:
"Mom, please take care of yourself. Don't push yourself too hard."
Ben's mother:
"Okay, honey. I won't."
Ben:
"Good. Please order something to eat and don't cook tonight."
He smiled gently.
Ben:
"Take care. I love you."
Ben's mother:
"I will. Love you too."
The call ended.
Charlotte
Ben tried calling Charlotte again.
But she didn't answer.
He leaned back on the couch.
Ben (thinking):
She must be busy.
Then the doorbell rang.
It was the delivery man.
Ben took the food and began eating.
After a few minutes, his phone rang again.
This time it was Charlotte.
Ben immediately picked up the call.
His face brightened.
Ben:
"Hi Charlotte. Why didn't you pick my call?"
Charlotte's voice sounded tired.
Charlotte:
"Hello Ben… I'm sorry for calling you so late."
Ben smiled warmly.
Ben:
"It's okay. I can wait for you forever."
Charlotte gave a small tired laugh.
Charlotte:
"That's sweet of you."
But her voice sounded distant… exhausted… almost lost.
Ben noticed it immediately.
Ben:
"How are you?"
Charlotte:
"I'm fine. How are you, Ben?"
Ben:
"I'm good. I'm just eating."
He smiled.
Ben:
"Guess what I'm eating?"
Charlotte stayed quiet.
Ben:
"Your favorite. Yakisoba noodles."
He laughed softly.
Ben:
"I was missing you so much… your warmth, your beautiful face… everything about you."
Charlotte didn't react much.
She simply said,
Charlotte:
"That's good."
Ben frowned slightly.
Ben:
"What's wrong? Why do you sound so low? Are you okay? Are you sick?"
Charlotte sighed softly.
Charlotte:
"No, I'm fine. I'm not sick."
Her voice sounded tired.
Charlotte:
"I told you before… I'm just tired. I need some time."
Ben stayed quiet for a moment.
Then Charlotte spoke again.
Charlotte:
"By the way, Ben… I want to tell you something important tomorrow."
Ben sat up.
Ben:
"Are you coming to Himmer?"
Charlotte replied quickly.
Charlotte:
"No… it's something else."
There was a short silence.
Charlotte:
"Okay, bye. Take care."
Ben:
"Bye… take care. Love you."
The call ended.
Ben stared at his phone for a long moment.
Something felt strange.
A small, uneasy feeling settled in his heart.
But he couldn't explain why.