Chapter 5 THE RAIN

TESSY POV

The sky was already dark when my therapy session ended. I checked the time, it was way later than usual. I grabbed my bag and rushed outside, only to see the clouds open wide and pour down heavy rain. I gasped. The wind was strong, and the rain hit my skin like tiny cold needles.

I quickly brought out my phone and called Zara. No answer. I tried again. Still nothing.

Panic started to crawl up my chest. My heart beat faster.

Zara always waited for me after therapy. Always. But not today. Maybe she forgot. Or maybe she had somewhere important to go, I don’t know. But I felt alone. My car broke down and was at the repair

I looked around. No umbrella. No safe place. No ride. And the rain was too much to walk in. I would be soaked in minutes, and probably catch a really bad cold.

I held myself tightly, shaking from the cold wind, when I saw someone at the far end of the building.

Brian

He was under the small shelter near the side of the building, packing up some files and books into his bag. I didn’t even think twice. I rushed toward him, almost slipping.

“Brian!” I called out.

He looked up, surprised. “Tessy?”

“Pleaseee, can you give me a ride home?” I asked, out of breath. “Zara’s not picking, and I can’t walk in this rain”

He didn’t even hesitate. “Yeah, sure. But we’ll have to wait a bit. The lightning’s bad right now. Too dangerous to drive.”

I nodded quickly. “That’s fine. I just, I really didn’t want to be out here alone.”

He opened the door to the side room, a small waiting space beside the therapy offices. We sat down, and I tried to stop my teeth from chattering. I was soaked from the rain I had run through. I hugged my arms tight.

Brian noticed. “You’re freezing.”

He opened his backpack and pulled out a packet of chocolate cookies. “It’s not much, but you want some?”

I nodded. “Thanks.”

I took a cookie and slowly ate. It was sweet and soft, and honestly,it helped. Then, without saying anything, Brian took off his hoodie and handed it to me. “Here, wear this”.

I looked at it. Then at him. “You’ll be cold.”

“I’ll be fine. You’re literally shaking.”

I smiled a little and took it from him.

“Thanks,” I whispered, pulling it over my wet shirt.

We sat quietly for a while, listening to the sound of the rain beating down on the roof.

Brian looked at me. “You okay? I mean… everything going on?”

I wanted to say yes. But I couldn’t lie.

“I don’t know,” I said softly. “It’s just been a lot.”

He nodded like he understood. “You don’t have to talk about it. But just know, you’re not weird. Or broken. You’re strong for showing up every day.”

That hit me.

No one had said that to me before.

I blinked, suddenly feeling something tight in my chest. A good kind of tight. Like, someone actually saw me. Not the broken pieces. Just me.

The storm outside slowly began to calm, but in that little room, I felt something warm grow between us, something new, something unexpected.

Maybe... not all storms are bad.

We talked about school, the stress of classes, and how some teachers were already acting like we owed them our lives. I told him a bit about how hard I worked to get the scholarship and how I moved far from home. I didn’t go into too much detail, but he listened closely to everything I said, nodding like it really mattered.

He told me he was also studying hard to make his family proud, even though things hadn’t been perfect for him either. There was something calm about the way he spoke.

As the rain kept falling gently, I started to feel my eyes closing. I blinked, trying to stay awake, but the day had been so long, and sitting beside him in that quiet space felt safe

“You’re sleepy,” Brian said, with a soft smile

“A little,” I admitted, stifling a yawn.

“Come on,” he said gently, standing up. “Let me carry you. You’re going to catch a cold like this.”

Before I could say anything else, he bent down and lifted me into his arms. I didn’t resist. For the first time,being held didn’t feel scary, it felt warm and safe

I rested my head against his chest. His heartbeat was calm, steady. When the rain finally started to clear, he walked me to his car, still holding me. As he opened the door and gently placed me in the passenger seat, I slowly opened my eyes.

I looked around, realizing where I was. “Zara still isn’t picking,” I mumbled after checking my phone again.

Brian got into the driver’s seat. “Then I’ll take you. No stress.”

During the ride, the car was quiet, but not awkward. Every now and then, I’d catch him stealing glances at me. I’d turn and do the same, then quickly look away when our eyes met. It made my heart beat faster.

He drove carefully, not in a rush. It was like neither of us wanted the moment to end.

When we finally got to my house, I turned to him. “Thank you… for everything.”

He gave a soft laugh. “It’s really nothing. I could even drop you every day if you want.”

I laughed back. “Don’t start what you can’t finish.”

He smirked. “Try me.”

As I opened the car door to leave, he called out, “Hey, what about a hug?”

I turned back, smiling. “You’re such a big baby.”

“Only when I want to be,” he said, that same teasing smile on his face.

I leaned in and gave him a quick hug. It wasn’t long… but it felt warm. My face was pressed against his chest again, and I found myself blushing and guarded at the same time ,

What was happening to me?

I pulled away, trying not to let him see how red my cheeks had turned. “Bye, Brian,” I whispered.

“Goodnight, Tessy,” he said, softer this time.

I waved and rushed into the house, heart racing. As I shut the door behind me, I leaned against it, still holding his hoodie close to me.

What was this weird feeling?

Something was changing. Slowly, Quietly

And I wasn’t sure I was ready… but I didn’t want it to stop either.

Outside, I heard his car start. He didn’t drive off immediately. Maybe he was thinking too.

Just like me.