Rain Hides the Tears

Solace Mansion

When Arno stepped into the house, the first thing she saw was Auren and Mrs. Lysell seated in the lounge, sipping expensive coffee from porcelain cups. Their laughter floated through the air- light, rehearsed, painfully out of place.

Her shoes clicked softly against the marble floor, but neither of them looked up. As if her presence didn't matter.

Then her father's voice broke through the room like as always, sharp and bitter.

"Well, look who finally decided to show her face." I thought you were to ashamed to show your face!

Mr. Richard Solace didn't bother hiding the irritation in his voice.

Mrs. Solace followed right on cue. "Always showing up late, always making excuses. Sometimes I wonder why we even adopted you."

Arno didn't flinch. Not anymore. She was tired and exhausted, even after a full day at the hospital she came to the Solace family, but they didn't even ask her if she had eaten or not! Deep inside, she had long learned to expect nothing different than this. It has always been the same.

Sixteen years ago, The orphanage said she was lucky. "You got adopted by the Solace family, how fortunate!" She had believed them. She gave her parents the best- her love, loyalty, and effort. But no matter how hard she worked, it was never enough. She was the disposable girl from an orphanage with unknown origin...

The garden she kept bloomed beautifully every year. Her grades were flawless. She made sure dinner was ready when her parents came home. But the house never felt like home. She ate alone in a corner, hoping oneday... Arno snapped out from her painful past.

"Shouldn't the first thing parents ask their child how they're doing?" Arno asked, voice quiet, almost too soft.

"There's no need to ask you anything," Mr. Richard snapped. "You ungrateful girl. A child should remain indebted to their parents forever. Do you even realize how important the Lysell family's investment is to us?" Yet, you cheated Auren and hanged out with someone wild...phui.

Ma.. Pa..."I am grateful," Arno said, lifting her eyes to meet theirs. "For raising me. But let's be honest...you never supported my education. I worked extra everyday after school, saved every coin just to apply to college. The one time I asked for help with tuition, you refused to pay. Do you know what that felt like?"

Her voice broke slightly.

"If you couldn't love a child, why did you adopt one? If I had a chance to go back, I would've chosen the orphanage. At least there, no one would pretend."

Silence followed. Only the ticking of the clock could be heard.

"It hurts," she whispered. "It hurts more than I can say. I'm a human too. I have feelings. When you called today, I felt a spark of hope. I thought maybe...for once...you wanted to see if I was okay."

She paused, tears threatening.

"But the first thing you asked was about my breakup. Not my health. Not how I was doing. Just business. Just reputation. I've decided- I won't be your placeholder anymore. I'm done being your silent shame."

Suddenly, Auren stood up from the couch and rushed toward her. He just couldn't control himself...!

"Why didn't you ever tell me?" he asked, taking her by the arms. "Why did you keep all this from me?"

Arno stared at him, her voice cold and clear. She pushed him.

"Did you ever ask?"

That one question hit him like a slap.

"In eight years of being together, how many times did you ask how I was feeling? I kept our relationship alive, Auren. I fought for us. I thought if I do a slight better, may be you will love me... I lost my self-esteem chasing after you all these years... I doubted, I wasn't doing my best because you were never really present."

Auren's breath hitched. Her words pierced through his chest- sharp, precise.

And for then, he felt it again.

A sharp, unexplainable pain blooming in his chest.

He staggered back slightly, mumbling under his breath, "Why… why does it hurt like this? Why does it feel like my heart is falling apart?"

He glanced at Arno, her distance, her pain- it made something inside him unravel.

Shouldn't I feel relieved? he thought. I found the woman who saved me thirteen years ago. The one I've been dreaming about all this time. So why… why does this feel like a loss?

"Don't let her manipulate you again, Auren," Mrs. Lysell sneered from the couch. "She's just trying to win your sympathy."

"Yes… yes, that must be it," Auren echoed weakly. "She's trying to get into my heart."

"You're absolutely right, Mrs. Lysell," Mrs. Solace said sweetly, changing tone instantly. "How could we ever be harsh to our own daughter? Haha…"

Auren straightened his back, trying to compose himself. "If Arno apologizes to me now, I might consider taking her back."

Arno didn't hesitate.

"I'm not interested in you anymore, Auren."

Her voice rang through the room like a bell. Still. Sure.

"You were out of my heart long before I decided to erase you from my life."

"I don't believe you!" Auren snapped, suddenly desperate. "How can you forget someone you spent eight years with?!"

He gripped her shoulders tightly.

Even in pain, Arno didn't flinch.

"Do you think it was easy?" she asked, tears finally slipping free. "Do you think eight years is just something I can throw away? I spent the best part of my youth waiting for love that never came. Tell me, Auren, how many eight years do I have?"

Auren's grip loosened.

Trying to achieved your love drained all my energy Auren! So, I've let you go... Arno's voice trembled while saying those words.

"I… I'm sorry. I don't know what's happening. I… I don't love you. I only love the girl who saved me. Yes. That's right. I love her…"

"If that's all," Arno whispered, turning away, "I'm leaving."

"If you walk out that door," Mr. Solace called after her, "don't expect the Solace family to take you back. Not until you come begging for forgiveness."

"Good," she said, and walked out.

---

Outside, the cold air wrapped around her like punishment.

Rain had begun to fall, gentle but relentless.

She didn't try to avoid it.

"No one notices if you cry in the rain, right?" she whispered to herself.

She thought she'd moved on. She told herself she was stronger now. That they didn't matter.

But it still hurt. It always hurt.

A hiccup escaped her throat.

She walked for blocks in silence. Eventually, she sat on a lonely bench by the roadside, soaked and shaking.

How long she has been there, she lost the track of time.

And then suddenly—

The rain stopped.

She looked up, startled.

Someone was holding an umbrella over her.

"Ain't rain beautiful?" came a familiar voice.

"…Lucien?"

"Ah-ha! I'm genuinely impressed you recognized me without even looking up." I smiled, kneeling beside her. Gently, I took her hand in mine. "Let's go."

"Where?" she asked, her voice trembling.

"Home," I said softly. "Before you catch a cold. Or maybe you already have."

I helped her to her feet.

Shan was already waiting with the car, holding the door open.

She didn't say a word. Just slipped inside.

I followed her, sitting beside her.

The engine started. The city faded behind us.

And in a long while, she didn't feel so alone.

You can cry here. I'm lending you my shoulder, I pointed. No one will see, I clutched the tissue box in front of her.

She took a piece of tissue and looked at the distance view...while letting out all her sorrow in a strangers shoulder that she saved over a decade.

---