Light rain started to fall as soon as Claire Beauchamp stepped out of her favorite Korean restaurant, holding her to-go paper bag with the soy garlic chicken fillet and fries she hoped to eat peacefully in her office.
She knew it - she felt it the moment she stepped out of the building to buy her lunch half an hour ago. The smell of impending rain was apparent but she thought against it. Now she's stuck in a small foyer thinking about how to get back to her building.
The grey skies doesn't look like it will let up soon and she has no choice other than to make a run for it. 3 blocks from the store isn't far from her building but she hoped that the paper bag will make it.
3..2..1
She made her first dash hoping to catch the clock on the main crossing but caught red at the last minute. Thinking fast how not to spoil her lunch, she shamelessly ducked under the first umbrella she could find.
"Hello, sorry. I hope you don't mind." Claire rapidly said, apologizing to whoever she had inconvenienced.
"No, not at all" a deep-baritone voice replied, immediately offering her space to shelter in. "Where are ye headed?"
"Oh, I'm just on that block but-"
"Alright" he replied immediately.
"No, it's okay, thank you. I don't want you to walk far back to your office."
"My office is here" He pointed to the building in front of them just across the street. "So, not that far." He replied, flashing her a friendly smile that made her finally take a look at this generous human.
"Thank you, then. I appreciate it. I knew the rain was coming but was too stubborn to bring an umbrella" she shared trying to pass time in the few seconds left before they had to cross the street.
Looking up at the tall gent, he was dressed in a grey tweed suit paired with a brown oxford, smelled nice, had a small scruff that just made his chiseled face more attractive, but more importantly, he had the most mesmerizing blue eyes she'd ever seen.
Realizing that, Claire made a quick mental note of what she looked like - white tee, skinny jeans, paired with a brown blazer, and a white rubber shoes. Not to mention, she was semi-soaked in rain which probably made her hair look crazy and her face sweaty. She looked too casual and disheveled next to the well-dressed man. She curled up a bit, holding her paper bag closer to her in a slight embarrassment.
The light turned green and they silently made their way, with him offering warnings here and there for puddles, until they reached her building.
"This is me. Thanks for the umbrella." Claire said, offering a smile and a bow of gratitude.
"No worries. It's not that far plus I wouldn't mind not being back in the office yet" the man casually said, his gentle face and tone mystifying Claire but the moment had to end.
"Alright, thanks again and safe walk back" she said, turning away and heading to the lobby.
She did not dare look back at the handsome man but instead smiled to herself at the kindness she received and thought that chivalry is not at all dead .