As Luisa slowly walked forward, her steps softened against the damp ground.
The cool air brushed against her skin.
Then she saw him.
It was Ben.
He was standing near the river, facing the flowing water.
The wind moved gently around him, his hair swaying slightly. He looked calm… peaceful… yet there was a quiet sadness in his eyes.
It felt as if he had come there to find silence within himself.
Luisa slowed her steps.
As she walked closer, Ben turned his head slightly, looking around.
The wind blew again.
His hair moved softly, and for a moment, he looked both distant and gentle.
Then his eyes fell on her.
Luisa.
She stood there quietly, her hair flowing in the wind, her face softly glowing under the dim evening lights.
For a brief moment—
Ben paused
He noticed how beautiful she looked.
But he only see her as a friend nothing more than that.
But the next second, he looked away.
Because he knew his heart already belonged to Charlotte.
And because of that, he never allowed himself to see any other girl that way.
Ben lifted his hand slightly and waved.
Ben:
"Luisa."
Luisa noticed and waved back as she walked closer.
Luisa:
"Hi."
Ben:
"Hi, Luisa. You're here?"
Luisa nodded.
Luisa:
"Yes, I usually come here for shopping."
Ben smiled faintly.
Ben:
"That's nice."
There was a short silence.
Then Luisa asked,
Luisa:
"By the way… what are you doing here?"
Ben looked toward the river again.
Ben:
"My mother once told me to visit this place."
Luisa smiled softly.
Luisa:
"Wow… that's nice."
Luisa stood quietly beside him, looking at the view.
After a moment, Ben spoke again.
Ben:
"My mother loves Himmer… and this rain."
He paused.
Ben:
"But I never understood why."
Luisa looked at the river.
The flowing water… the quiet wind… the soft rain beginning again.
Luisa:
"Because it's quiet… and peaceful."
Ben turned his head and looked at her.
For a moment, he didn't say anything.
Then both of them stood side by side, watching the river.
The view was calm.
Almost comforting.
A Small Step Closer
After a while, Ben spoke again.
Ben:
"Oh, by the way, Luisa… I never asked for your phone number. You're my friend after all."
Luisa felt a little awkward.
Luisa:
"Oh… yes. Here."
They exchanged their numbers.
Ben:
"Thank you."
Luisa shook her head slightly.
Luisa:
"It's just a number."
A few tiny raindrops began to fall again.
Luisa looked up.
Luisa:
"I think you should go. It's starting to rain."
Ben didn't move.
He kept looking at the river.
Luisa:
"You're not coming?"
Ben replied softly,
Ben:
"I want to stay here a little longer."
Luisa paused for a moment.
Then she nodded.
Without saying anything more, she turned and walked away.
The Rain and the Ride
After finishing her shopping, Luisa stepped out of the store.
But now, the rain had become heavier.
She opened her umbrella and began walking home.
Her hands were full of grocery bags.
She struggled to manage everything.
Luisa:
"Oh no… why did I buy so many things today?"
She sighed.
Luisa:
"This is so hard to carry."
Just then—
A car horn sounded behind her.
Luisa turned.
It was Ben.
He lowered the window slightly.
Ben:
"Want a lift?"
Luisa shook her head.
Luisa:
"No, I'm fine."
Ben looked at the heavy rain.
Ben:
"Please come inside. It's raining heavily."
Luisa:
"No, really, I'm okay—"
Before she could finish, Ben got out of the car.
He walked toward her and gently took the grocery bags from her hands.
Luisa froze.
Her eyes widened slightly.
Ben:
"Please… go inside the car."
Luisa felt shy and a little nervous.
Without arguing further, she quietly got into the car.
Ben placed the bags inside, closed the door, and returned to the driver's seat.
He started driving.
Inside the Car
Luisa looked down at her hands.
Luisa:
"You didn't have to do that… I already had an umbrella."
Ben kept his eyes on the road.
Ben:
"You helped me that day too."
Luisa lowered her gaze.
Luisa:
"But you still got wet…"
Ben paused for a moment.
Then said softly,
Ben:
"Still… thank you."
Luisa turned her face toward the window.
Raindrops slid down the glass.
Her heart was beating fast.
She felt nervous.
And shy.
Ben, on the other hand, looked calm as he drove.
Near Home
After a few minutes, they entered Luisa's street.
Luisa:
"Please stop here."
Ben frowned slightly.
Ben:
"Why do you always stop a few houses before yours?"
Luisa hesitated.
Luisa:
"Because… the landlady might misunderstand."
Ben nodded.
Ben:
"Oh… okay."
The car stopped.
Luisa stepped out, taking her grocery bags.
She leaned slightly toward the window.
Luisa:
"Bye, Ben. Take care."
Ben:
"Bye, Luisa."
Luisa walked away.
Ben watched her for a moment.
Then he drove off.
Something Missing
Luisa reached her apartment.
After settling down, she thought of calling her mother.
She put her hand into her jacket pocket—
And froze.
Her phone wasn't there.
Luisa searched everywhere.
Her bag… her pockets…
Nothing.
Her heart started beating faster.
Luisa:
"Oh no…"
She quickly ran downstairs.
Looking at the empty street, she realized—
Ben was gone.
Luisa took her umbrella and stepped out again into the heavy rain.
Luisa (thinking):
If I don't call Mom, she'll get worried…
She walked quickly, looking around.
The rain soaked the streets.
Then—
She stopped.
Her eyes widened slightly.
Ben's car.
It was still there.
Luisa let out a small breath of relief.
But then—
She noticed something strange.
Someone was standing in the rain.
Completely drenched.
Not moving.
Luisa looked carefully.
Her heart dropped.
It was Ben.
Standing there…
Soaked in the rain.
Still.
Silent.