Hey people! I've been out of ideas lately. Not much inspiration at school, super tired now. Well, I've written a new chapter but I'm not really satisfied with it. Somehow. But yups. I will be able to update less frequently now, coz I'm outta brain juice. And I haven't finished my homework. Chinese. Hope you don't hate it. :)
Rain. Cold and wet and dripping.
Chihiro sighed as she tried in vain to protect her head from the soaking droplets. She was really unlucky. It was only the first day of pre-school and she had forgotten to put the umbrella her mummy had left for her into her bag. She almost wanted to sit down in the middle of the wet, muddy path and burst into tears. Almost.
She stumbled along the path, valiantly holding back the tears that threatened to fall. It was like her tears were jealous of the water already on her face and wanted to join them too.
"Hey!" Chihiro heard a voice call from behind her.
She turned around to face the voice, her sodden ponytail whipping into her face. She pushed it away in disgust and turned to where the voice came from. Behind her stood a young boy, probably around her age. However, his black-green hair, which was slightly damp from the rain, hung down to his chin. He also seemed tall for someone around seven or eight years old. The small umbrella that he clutched tightly in his hands rested against his shoulder as he regarded her with curious green eyes.
His head tilted to one side. "Do you need the umbrella?" he asked her in a gentle voice. She sniffled a little and nodded slightly. The boy walked over to where she stood, shivering slightly in the rain and sheltered her with the umbrella. She moved closer to his warmth and he put a reassuring yet slightly wet arm around her.
"Thank you," she whispered to him. He flashed a tiny grin at her. "My name is Haku," he stated shyly. "Where do you live?"
"In that blue house on the top of the big, big hill," Chihiro said, pointing enthusiastically to where her home was.
"I'll walk you there then, okay?" She nodded in agreement, thankful that her new friend would accompany her home and she would not have to brave the wetness by herself. She innocently took his hand and together, they made their way to her blue house on the hill.
It soon became a routine, where the two young children would walk to Chihiro's house together whenever it rained. Haku's comforting presence and umbrella was one of the best things Chihiro liked in her life.
But one day, he didn't come to pick her up when it rained. She made her way home forlornly, drenched to the skin.
He wasn't there the next rainy day either.
"Chihiro, it's raining. Did you forget to bring your umbrella again?" her mother's exasperated voice could be heard coming from the phone.
"Um, yes?" she answered sheepishly. All she got in reply was an irritated huff of disapproval. She pocketed the phone and prepared herself for the long and wet walk home.
As she half ran, half walked along the path, she couldn't help but to relish the feeling of the rain against her skin. She remembered when she was younger, she hated rainy days and always wanted to cry when it rained on her way back home. However, due to a young boy, she felt that the next rainy day couldn't come soon enough.
"Hey!" a voice interrupted her reminiscing. She spun around in surprise, inwardly cursing herself for being so distracted that she did not even notice someone behind her. Her soggy braid clung to her neck .
"Need an umbrella?" That voice. It was so familiar yet so foreign. Something stirred within her memories. The memory of cool, wet days filled with the fragrance of spring rain and a reassuring presence rose unbidden in her mind. That face- the falling rain blurred the features, yet she was almost able to recognize him. And the hair...
"Haku?" the familiar name rolled off her tongue easily, but it had been so long since she had last said it.
"I see you still forget to bring your umbrella with you. Five years may have passed, but you haven't changed, Chihiro."
She could only stand and stare at him blankly, unsure of what to do next. She was barely aware of the fact that the rain continued to soak her, drenching her already soaking wet hair and clothes.
Only when she felt the absence of the raindrops on her head did she notice that he had moved to stand beside her and shelter her. Much like when they were both younger. It was so familiar, but a lot of things had changed and needed explanations, much like his sudden and prolonged disappearance five years ago. Haku had grown up, that was obvious to her. He had grown much taller and now towered over her. But he was no longer the small, adorable boy she had once known and liked. He had matured much, but the attraction she now found herself feeling for him was rather overwhelming.
Chihiro gave him a big hug, expressing how much she had missed him during all those years he had been gone, how she had felt so lost and lonely with no one to walk her home when it rained. Plus, she had never really mentioned it aloud, but being near him always made her feel warm and happy on the inside, banishing any cold feelings the rain brought.
Suddenly, the feeling of a pair of warm lips on hers brought her up short and stunned her.
The umbrella dropped to the ground unnoticed as the rain fell upon them, unleashing a flood of past memories and new emotions.
Rain. Wet and cold, but bringing with it a new feeling of warmth.
Thanks for reading! :) hope it wasn't that bad. comments welcome! :D
