45

It simply took a few minutes for the clouds to gradually rupture, turning the entire town into a cascading waterfall.

Every trickle of water was vicious, quietly hissing as they descended into the earth and pelting into every surface like bullets. Whether they were trees, buildings or even defenseless critters as they skittered all about, discrimination was not in their radar.

Thankfully, before the rain could catch up to us, Edward and I seeked protection underneath a shed adjacent to the basketball court and playground. Our heavy pants filled up the humid air as we collapsed onto the bench, while other people evacuated to their homes and cars. It's always crowded here on the weekends...

Watching the park turning helpless to nature's fury, memories began to flow; this was one of the places where we used to hang out, playing basketball and all sorts of games. The shelter we were in... this was where Edward and I also sheltered when the rain suddenly poured that afternoon, just like this one. That small garden where he had pulled those umbrella-like leaves for us had grown more numerous than the last time.

"Doesn't look like it's stopping anytime soon," Edward said, his gaze affixed to the water streaming from the roof of the shed. "We'll have to wait a little longer."

I silently nodded, but one question lingered: Why did he bring us here?

Sure, this park was a few distances away from Lynn's home, but I could not shake off the ulterior motive behind this. We could have just returned home-something I expected from him, but he defied all the odds instead. Was he also nostalgic just like me, reminiscing about all of the outings and games we had done in this base?

Or perhaps, he pondered about when we were together in the storm with our leaf umbrellas, and where he had clutched my hand as we scampered back home? Did he want to relieve that memory again?

Just at the thought of it, had me shaking my head with my ears flushed crimson-I was sure by the intense hotness radiating out of them. No, that could not be it, but the fact that he had been comfortable with me and casually talking about all our moments together lately... it was certainly possible.

Not even the heat rushing through my cheeks could provide some warmth. As the rain roared, the frigid wind bit against not just my skin, but seeping deep into my bones. My body shriveled, my toes curled while I constantly rubbed my bumpy arms, but even creating friction would not help. Damn it, I really should have brought my jacket... Why is the weather changing so rapidly?

Edward suddenly shuffled beside me. Upon glancing, he was pulling his hoodie out of his body. However, his shirt tagged along and I really had to force my perverted eyes to gaze at the fogging scenery instead of his... muscles, but fortunately, he tucked it in and the sigh I emitted inwardly... was kind of loud. But why was he removing his hoodie-

And without any hesitation, he lent it to me.

"Wear this. It helps a lot," he offered, his eye softening. "You're gonna catch a cold if you're staying that way."

What? I blinked, staring at his cloth, enormous enough to cover me. As much as I was tempted to snatch it and douse myself with such comfort, I restrained my temptations and held myself together. He caught me off guard right there.

"I-I'm okay, I can withstand this... you need it more," I murmured. "Y-You're the one easily getting sick here."

"I know, that's why I got my sweatshirt on. You're the one literally shivering, Rena." Edward sighed through his nose, nudging his hoodie. However my inactivity had him inching closer towards me, his deep voice had the tiny hairs on the back of my neck standing up as he whispered, "Just be selfish for once, please."

For once.

I gulped, my head inclining and my bangs were all I saw. Not even the pounding rain hampered me from picking up the stress in that last word he uttered. With my brain incapable of forming comments-must have short-circuited as usual when I was around him-my twitching hands eventually reached out and took the hoodie. Have I never been selfish before?

"T-Thank you..." I mumbled.

Under Edward's scrutiny, I slowly put on the hoodie. Its soft but thick fabric slid through me so effortlessly, my hands barely made it out of the dangling sleeves. Regardless, my frigid body loosened, melting in its permeating warmth. The faint scent of his cologne whiffed through my nostrils, but never was I bothered... in fact I snuggled in more.

God, it feels so nice...

"It's a self heating hoodie," Edward explained, shifting his legs. "Pretty costly, but worth the price. Comfy for times like these. I've bought around 3-4 variations and I'm planning to buy more later. You should get one, Rena. I can show you the place."

Honestly, I was not listening to anything he said; his mannerisms were what stole my attention. He folded his arms around his torso and he crossed his legs-he was definitely losing his fight against the urge to tremble. No matter how much he was trying to hide, the wind beat mercilessly on him.

He's trying to act so strong, like always.

"Ed... you're shaking too," I pointed out. "M-Maybe you shouldn't given-"

"I was the one who brought you here when we could have just run back. It's on me... why do you act like it's your fault?" Edward cut me off, huffing. I pressed my mouth in a straight line when I, again, found myself trapped in his soulful blue eye when he inclined towards me. "All because my selfishness got the best of me... that I wanna spend more time with you."

I swallowed the lump in my throat, my nerves tingling and my muscles stiffening as our shoulders and thighs rubbed against each other. No matter how much my instincts yelled at me to get off, my erratic heart was adamant to gravitate towards his presence, searching for both his warmth and solace.

I wonder if he could hear my thumping heartbeats booming like crazy... but it was not like I was bothered with them. At all.

"I guess if you're worried, I'll find a way," he said softly and before I contemplated how he was doing it, his arms shot out and wrapped them around me. Without wasting time, he pulled me right into his embrace until his chest closed in on me, making me widen my eyes. "If we stayed close like this... it's gonna keep us even warm, don't you think?"

I practically died.

Yes, I believed so.

Once the deafening drums of my heart pierced my eardrums... they ceased altogether. It was all calm-too eerily calm, perhaps my ribs could no longer contain its violent outbursts and thus it leaped out. The cold, once a major problem, now became the least of my worries-not only the entirety of my face was spurting fire, but the heat from him also coursed through me, filling me up.

I really didn't know what to think, let alone how to think. As much as my logical sense should have driven me to draw back right now, I promptly trampled on such a notion. Why would I even reject this; this was what I have always yearned for...

Truly the unexpected downpour was in my favor.

"Rena, say something..." Edward hoarsely begged, the hot air flowing from his nostrils stroking against my skin. "Are you not comfortable? Do you want me to pull away?"

That's right. I have not given any verbal feedback ever since he performed all of these glorious actions. Having a conversation now did not feel like a necessity-him being here was sufficient enough. Nevertheless, I shouldn't let his concerns loiter, especially when he hovered over me, slightly cocking his head for answers.

"No, it's okay." I shook my head and with a burst of bravery that I didn't even know where it came from, I leaned back against him as I muttered, "I-I'm feeling better now."

His chest loosened as his grip around me tightened. "Good. That's... good."

Of course, I didn't want him to stop. As a matter of fact, I was determined to stay like this... relishing each other's company and finding the comfort we both needed. And here I thought withdrawing myself from the others would alleviate me more.

Speaking of which, I wonder if they're looking for us right now. They must have been, especially since we have not returned in this kind of weather. Aly's probably worried sick, and she's gonna freak out.

"You're always worried about others. When they're in trouble, you never hesitate jumping in to help. You put them first and remember all they've done, but... it's never about you and your interests," he called out; it was as though he gained the ability to read my mind, and within seconds all my limbs stiffened.

He must have sensed that.

"You gave me advice on how I should take care of myself, but you never took care of yourself either. It's not fair," he grunted, his hands pressed on my body. "You've done much-way too much, even for me..." he sharply breathed. "I didn't deserve it. I left you and broke all of us apart, yet you acted like everything's fine. Tell me, Rena... why are you like this?"

The rain hardly showed signs of stopping anytime soon-it hissed in the background, eager to join our one-sided conversation. All trees and shrubs were entirely soaked and pouring streams of water, while puddles had formed throughout the court. Colorful umbrellas from distant figures popped up and adorned the scene.

I clenched my fists on my knees and wetted my lips. No, this was not going to end up with naught-I could not let that monologue in the bathroom be in vain... unless I was naive enough to delay that impending topic. But you aren't naive, aren't you, Rena?

I should not let Florence's words become a reality. I have all the answers armed by my side, so I got this.

I placed my hand on his arm as I stared straight at him. "It's not about whether you deserved it or not, I'm doing it because I want to. I'm the one who started this." I chuckled sheepishly. "Pretty selfish in itself, isn't it?"

Edward's eye went round, his mouth slightly agape, and I gulped when his hug slackened. Was he surprised I finally answered, instead of ignoring him like I usually did?

I have to keep it going, nevertheless.

"Ed, remember you told me, I'm more open and confident? You're one of the reasons why," I revealed. "Y-You've encouraged me, slowly pushed me out of my comfort zone to try challenging things I could've not imagined doing. You wanted me to stand up and think for myself, but at the same time, you made sure I was prepared enough. You made me grateful that you're my friend."

I took a deep breath. All of those words that I have been harboring back for what felt like decades, were now flowing freely out of my throat. Nothing was chaining me down anymore, as I broke free of their bounds.

"I-I'm sure you know I was bullied for my condition, but it was much worse than name-calling, especially before I met you." I gripped tight on his arms, as I forced myself to relieve those flashbacks, even as they stabbed my heart until it bled and made my vision clouded with tears. I have to get this out... I have to tell him everything.

"They would mock how I stuttered, they would ostracize me because I was a freak who couldn't talk normally, they picked on me because I kept on crying and trembling on my feet..."

Edward suddenly tightened his embrace. With his jaw gripped, his eye darkened as he said between his teeth, "That's why Alyssa has been so fiercely protective of you. She told me... about them back then, but I didn't expect it to be this atrocious. Fuck..."

I nodded, casting my gaze down. "O-Once I was left alone, they tried ganging up on me, but Aly came and nearly beat them up if not for the teachers. And since then, she hated it when I was by myself, and whenever I was separated from her... I would end up breaking down as well."

"I would have fucking crush their skulls. Bunch of shits, thinking they fucking own the world," Edward murmured and I instinctively caressed the taut muscles of his arms.

"But, Ed..." I looked up at him once more, but not before I rubbed my watery eyes, not wanting him to notice them. "You didn't care about all of that. You didn't care if I took so much time to respond. You treated me like you would do to your friends. Heck, you never cared that you, the popular boy, stood by me, the stuttering freak."

An image of the grinning blond boy with his beanie lending his hand at me conjured up, obliterating those unwanted memories into smithereens.

"Being friends with you again is something I want," I breathed. "Even if you did us wrong that day, I can't bring myself to hate you, shame you. You've been through a lot as well, I can't blame you for anything that happened."

"I..." He turned away, his long forelocks enveloping the other side of his face. "I'm not the same boy you all knew back then... Rena, you would be dis-"

"You accepted me for who I was," I proclaimed, and for the first time, I have the audacity to interrupt him. "And so, Ed, I'm going to accept you for who you are."

He whipped his head at me, now the features of his widened eye and his perfectly arched brows were more profound than before. He blinked repeatedly, as he ogled at me rather incredulously, but when faint pink hues slowly manifested on his cheeks... the whistling rain muted out, and suddenly, him and only him was all I could register.

Come to think of it, do friends do something like this, sharing their hoodie and hugging to keep each other warm? I gulped and suddenly my heart-which had somehow returned-was plummeting again. Isn't this... how do... most couples do?

"Rena..." he called out. "I-"

"RENA, ED!!!"

A familiar scream ringing out through the vicinity probably had us winning the world record for breaking ourselves apart at a speed of light. Barely even a second could tick by and we were already sitting several inches apart-I was still holding Edward's hoodie while he casually placed his hands on his sides, clearing his throat as we watched the hovering blue and black umbrellas heading towards us.

The trio of Aly, Lynn and Seb immediately emerged with concerned looks, although Aly could not resist wiggling her brows. Seb's tiny smile was also not short of mischief, but as he peered upon me, that smile twitched, but it was only for a fleeting moment.

Did they... see what we're doing?

"Jesus, you two! It's raining cats and dogs and here you are... stuck without umbrellas." Lynn groaned and placed her free hand on her hip. "Aly and I have been trying to call you both and none of you are picking up!"

"Ah, yeah, s-sorry about that..." I chuckled nervously, shaking my hands.

"No worries though, I do know where exactly you two had gone!" Aly snapped her fingers as she scanned around the empty park, while Lynn sighed. "Ahh, this place is so nostalgic."

"But you don't know where exactly you're going," Seb added and shrugged. "Had you been looking for yourself, you're gonna end up miles away from the park. Not that I cared."

Aly's forehead wrinkled, but she ignored him and focused on both Edward and I as we simultaneously stood up. I was about to remove the hoodie and gave it back to him, but he promptly pulled it down. He shook his head, beckoning me to just wear it.

"So, what's with you sharing your hoodie, hmm?" Aly questioned.

"We were waiting here until the rain stopped, but Rena was getting cold so I gave it to her," Edward answered as we followed our friends back to the heavy rain, him trailing beside Seb-although for some reason, they cast some sort of funny glances at each other while I stayed with Aly.

Not that he's lying though...

"How thoughtful of you, I'm shook to the core..." Aly chirped, but she beamed at me and she patted my back, as though... congratulating me. "But you're right, it's definitely freezing out here, better get our asses back home."

Seb merely snickered and gave her a side glance, earning Aly's ire and had her forcefully shoving him forward-but he made no comment at all. Honestly, I expected him to hurl his retort back considering it was my best friend, but he fell still. With his back on me, he ran through his hair, which reminded me of the gray clouds in the sky.

"I really still need my beauty sleep..." Lynn yawned. "I'm so tired from all the biology crap..."

"At least we ate that shit up! Thanks to my lovely girl right here!" Aly exclaimed as she pointed at me, causing me to laugh.

"Not only did you help us, but you gave us those delicious pastries too, which ended up with Ed devouring most of them..." Lynn zoomed her attention towards the bread fanboy, to which he brushed it off. "But we should treat you to something nice. Haven't done that in a while."

"Yo, that sounds good!" Aly nodded furiously.

"Any ideas, Seb?"

"Oh, uh..." It was as though Seb snapped from some sort of trance. "Yeah sure!"

While the trio were lost in their discussion as we slowly crossed the road, Edward turned over his shoulder to look at me, before he tucked in the corner of his lips, forming the expression that caused an explosion of butterflies inside of me.

Contrary to what he was going to say, he never disappointed me.