After classes ended, the sky suddenly turned dark and heavy rain began pouring down.
Students rushed toward the university entrance, opening their umbrellas and waiting for rides.
Ethan was on his way home when he noticed Katrina standing near the entrance, waiting for the rain to slow down.
He stopped walking.
In his hand was an umbrella.
He looked at her for a moment and started thinking.
Maybe her car isn't coming…
He tightened his grip on the umbrella.
Should I give this to her? She didn't bring one.
Then he immediately shook his head.
"No… no," he muttered quietly.
What if she thinks I'm some kind of creepy guy?
He tried to convince himself to leave.
But just then—
Katrina suddenly stepped out into the rain.
The rain was pouring heavily. Within seconds her hair and clothes started getting wet. She held her bag over her head, trying to protect herself.
Ethan's heart skipped.
Without thinking anymore, he opened his umbrella and ran toward her.
He hesitated for a second… then spoke.
"There… take this umbrella."
Katrina slightly in surprise.
"Ah! Oh… no, it's fine—"
But the rain kept falling harder.
Ethan gently placed the umbrella in her hand.
Before Katrina could even react or return it—
He turned around and ran away into the rain.
Katrina stood there, completely shocked.
She watched him running through the heavy rain without any cover.
The wind blew softly, moving her wet hair across her face.
Something strange stirred inside her chest.
A feeling she couldn't quite understand.
After a moment, she slowly started walking again.
Just then, a car pulled over beside her.
It was her car.
Mr. Harry quickly stepped out and opened the door.
"I'm so sorry for being late, Miss Katrina. Please get inside."
Katrina nodded.
"Oh… yes."
She got inside the car.
As the car began moving, Katrina looked out the window.
Her eyes found Ethan again.
He was standing at a bus stop nearby, completely soaked in the rain.
Katrina whispered softly to herself,
"Oh no… he's all wet because of me."
Mr. Harry smiled while driving.
"You did well, Miss Katrina, bringing an umbrella today."
Katrina looked confused for a moment.
"Oh… yes… of course."
But her mind was somewhere else.
Later That Evening
After reaching home and freshening up, Katrina stood in her room drying her hair with a towel.
Her thoughts kept replaying the moment from earlier.
The way Ethan suddenly appeared.
The way he handed her the umbrella.
And how he ran away without thinking twice.
Just then, she heard the sound of a door opening from the house across the street.
Katrina walked to the window and looked outside.
Ethan had just returned home.
He was completely soaked.
"I'm home, Mom," Ethan said.
His mother looked shocked.
"Oh my dear son! You're completely wet! Where is your umbrella?"
Ethan answered calmly, "I forgot to bring it with me."
After that, he went upstairs to his room.
Ethan's Room
After getting fresh and changing clothes, Ethan sat at his study table.
But he couldn't focus.
"What the hell was wrong with me?" he muttered.
He grabbed his hair in frustration.
"Ahhh… what is wrong with me?!"
What must she think about me now?
Meanwhile – Katrina's Room
Katrina lay on her bed, staring at the ceiling.
The same moment kept replaying in her mind.
Finally, she grabbed her phone and called Arice.
"Hi Arice, how are you?"
Arice answered cheerfully.
"Oh hi Katrina! I'm good. What about you?"
"I'm good… actually, I called to tell you something."
Arice immediately became curious.
"Tell me! What happened?"
Katrina paused for a moment.
"I'm listening," Arice said excitedly.
Katrina spoke slowly.
"Actually… the guy you mentioned before…"
"Oh! You mean Ethan?"
Arice suddenly gasped loudly.
"Oh my God! Tell me what happened! Did he propose to you?!"
Katrina sighed.
"Oh Arice, please stop daydreaming. No!"
"Then what happened?" Arice asked impatiently.
"Well… he gave me his umbrella today."
Before Katrina could continue—
Arice screamed.
"OH MY GOD! What happened next?!"
Katrina quickly pulled the phone away from her ear.
"Arice! Please let me finish!"
"Okay, okay, I'm quiet," Arice said dramatically.
Katrina continued.
"And then… he ran away and got completely wet."
Arice gasped again.
"Oh my God, that is so sweet!"
Katrina rolled her eyes.
"And that's it."
Arice laughed.
"That's it? That guy gave you his umbrella and got soaked in the rain because of you! I told you he likes you!"
Katrina shook her head.
"No, it's not like that. He's just my neighbor."
Arice snorted.
"Are you kidding me? Ethan isn't that kind of person."
She continued,
"In high school he was always the rude, quiet type. All he ever did was play football and study. Study, study, study. He was always so boring."
Katrina listened quietly.
"I see…"
Arice said confidently,
"I'm telling you—he's in love with you."
Katrina sighed again.
"Stop it. I'm just thinking… I should thank him. What should I do?"
Arice answered immediately.
"Give him something."
"That would be too much," Katrina replied.
"I'll just thank him."
Arice groaned in a bored tone.
"Fine… do whatever you want."
The call ended.
Katrina lay back on her bed again.
Her mind slowly drifted back to Ethan… and the umbrella.
And the strange feeling in her heart grew a little stronger.