Chapter VII

Sudden rain came pouring down, drenching us instantly.

There was still some residue heat left in the air from when it was sunny just a moment ago.

We both ran to shelter under a nearby tree, laughing as we did so.

Even though our clothes were soaked through, we were laughing.

I was so happy.

The happiest I have ever been.

I finally understood why people liked the rain.

It wasn't miserable like I had always thought.

As long as you were with someone you loved, nothing could ever be miserable.

I looked up at the sky, the light blue vanishing into the distance. In it's place, dark rain clouds lurked.

They weren't oppressing like they usually were. Instead, they were like a blanket.

Cocooning us.

Keeping us close and alone.

In our own little world.

I turned to him, a big smile stretched across my face, so big my cheeks hurt.

But I couldn't stop them from smiling no matter how hard I tried.

As long as I was with him, I'd never stop smiling.

He had his face angled up, letting the raindrops that fell through the leaves of the tree hit him.

How could someone be so beautiful exist in this world?

It was unreal.

As if he had sensed me staring, he slowly turned to look at me.

Our grins slowly faded as we gazed into eachothers eyes.

Traces of our smiles still remained, but we were lost, preoccupied with our own thoughts of the other.

He took a step closer to me.

My heart raced, beating so loud in my chest that I was sure he could hear it.

My breathing became shallow as he bent his head down towards me.

Our breaths interwined.

Just as we were about to kiss, a flash of lightning illuminated the sky, closely followed by a rumble of thunder.

He looked up amd stepped back suddenly as if realising what he was just about to do.

I could see the gears turning in his head.

He had almost kissed me.

Without realising it, he had almost kissed me.

He took a step back and I could feel my heart plummet.

It was over.

After this, he would cut all ties with me.

After this, he would...

I could feel my breathing quicken as I struggled to draw in oxygen.

I couldn't see straight.

Everything was blurry.

My head was spinning.

Through my daze, I felt his hands on my arms as he lowered me to the ground.

I could see his lips moving but why couldn't I hear the words?

My panic increased.

I shook my head, trying to clear it.

I could see his eyebrows furrow in concern, his mouthing seeming to get more frantic.

Before I knew what was happening, his lips crashed into mine.

They were heavy at first but they gradually became gentler.

I stared at him in shock as he pulled away.

"Are you better now?" He asked me, concern still evident in his voice.

His tone was soft, as if afraid I might break.

I couldn't say anything so I just nodded stupidly.

Then I realized, I could breathe normally again.

Sure, it was still a bit quick, but I had just been kissed by the one person I loved most in this world. It would be stranger if my breathing was normal.

"I didn't mean to male you panic... sorry. It's just... I've never felt this way about anyone before. It confused me."

...

He had never... felt this way about anyone before?

Could that mean... he liked me, too?

I opened my mouth to ask him, but just as the word were about to come out, all went dark.