CHAPTER 2:
-----------------------------
It rained that afternoon.
Keiran stood at the front gate of the school, hoodie pulled over his head as students rushed past him, some yelling, others laughing. The sky was a dull gray, and the sound of raindrops hitting the concrete blended with the hum of chatter.
He had forgotten his umbrella. Again.
"Keiran."
The voice was calm, familiar now. He turned slightly and saw Alric standing under a black umbrella, tilting it just enough to cover part of himself and extend it toward Keiran.
"You'll get soaked," Alric said simply, stepping closer.
Keiran hesitated. He didn't like sharing space, especially not with people he barely knew. But there was something about Alric—something soft, something different—that made him take a step forward.
"Thanks," he murmured.
They walked side by side in silence, the kind of silence that felt safe rather than awkward. The umbrella was small, and their shoulders brushed every now and then. Keiran was hyper-aware of it, though Alric didn't seem to mind.
"So," Alric said, breaking the silence. "What kind of music do you like?"
Keiran thought for a moment. "Indie rock. Instrumentals. Stuff with meaning."
"That's pretty vague," Alric chuckled. "But kind of cool. Do you play anything?"
"Guitar. I used to play with a band. Just a small one."
Alric's eyes lit up with interest. "Really? That's awesome. You should let me hear you sometime."
Keiran didn't respond right away. Compliments made him uncomfortable, especially when they sounded so genuine. "Maybe," he said softly.
The rain kept falling. They reached a corner where Keiran usually split off toward his house. But he didn't move.
Alric noticed. "This your stop?"
"Yeah," Keiran said, then looked up at the sky. "You sure you don't mind walking the rest of the way alone?"
Alric shook his head, smiling. "Not at all. I like the rain."
Keiran nodded, about to turn when Alric added, "Hey… thanks for walking with me."
Keiran glanced back, a rare half-smile tugging at his lips. "You were the one with the umbrella."
"I know," Alric said, eyes soft. "But I felt like you needed it more."
Keiran didn't say anything after that. He just turned and walked away, heart thudding a little harder than usual.
----------
That night, he couldn't sleep.
He blamed the rain. But deep down, he knew it was something else.
--------------------------