It started with the sound of raindrops tapping against the window, growing steadily louder, until it could no longer be ignored. He glanced up from his book, his eyes narrowing at the darkening sky outside. She, however, was too busy with her phone to notice the ominous clouds creeping in.
"Hey," he said, watching the rain begin to pour. "We should probably head out soon. It's going to rain."
She barely glanced up, her fingers still typing away. "You worry too much. It's just a little drizzle."
The second the words left her mouth, the heavens opened, unleashing a torrential downpour. He raised an eyebrow. "A drizzle, huh?"
She let out a small laugh, quickly grabbing her things. "Okay, okay, I get it. But it'll be fine."
As she reached for her bag, she spotted the umbrella tucked away in the corner. She pulled it out, shaking it slightly as if it might be reluctant to unfold. He, of course, was watching her, an amused smirk playing on his lips.
"Need help with that?" he asked innocently.
She shot him a look. "I'm fine, thank you. I know how to use an umbrella."
He raised both hands in mock surrender. "I'm not saying you don't. I'm just saying, it's an art form."
Rolling her eyes, she snapped the umbrella open—only to have it immediately flip inside out, the wind howling at its defiance.
"Ah, the classic mistake," he said with a grin, stepping closer. "You see, it's not just about opening the umbrella. You need to control it."
She stared at him, unimpressed. "It's an umbrella. What's there to control?"
"Lots," he said, reaching for the umbrella and taking it from her hands before she could protest. "First of all, you've got to angle it right against the wind. Otherwise, you end up looking like a wet dog, which, trust me, isn't flattering."
She scoffed, stepping back. "Right, because you're such an expert."
"Hey, I'm just trying to save you from an umbrella-related disaster," he teased, clicking it back into place with a little more finesse.
She crossed her arms, watching him work with a mixture of curiosity and disbelief. "So, what, you're some kind of umbrella guru now?"
He looked at her with mock solemnity. "I prefer 'umbrella connoisseur,' actually."
"Of course you do."
He chuckled, holding the umbrella over them both. "Step two: Hold the umbrella firmly, but not too tight. You've got to feel the rain, but not let it take control."
"Feel the rain?" she repeated skeptically.
"Yes, exactly." He gestured to the water dripping off the edge. "You don't want to block out the world. You want to embrace it—while still staying dry, of course."
"Uh-huh," she said, trying to hide the smile tugging at her lips. "And step three?"
"Step three," he said, adjusting the umbrella again as they both began walking, "is finding the balance. You don't want to hold it like it's a shield, but you don't want to be a walking, soggy mess either."
She glanced at him, her lips curving into a teasing smile. "So, what you're saying is that you're basically a professional umbrella user?"
He winked. "I prefer 'umbrella expert,' but yeah."
She let out a laugh. "Okay, I'll give you that one. But only because I'm getting used to the idea of you acting like you know everything."
"Hey," he said with mock offense, "I don't act like I know everything. I just do."
She shook her head, but there was something in the way he was grinning that made it hard not to play along. "So, when do I get my official umbrella lesson?"
"Already getting it," he said, stepping a little closer to shield her from the worst of the rain. "Lesson four: The closer you stand, the less chance you'll get wet. It's all about teamwork."
Her breath caught for a second, but she quickly recovered. "Ah, so you're just trying to get close to me under the guise of umbrella instruction?"
He raised an eyebrow. "Is it working?"
She didn't answer right away, instead looking at the way the rain hit the ground, forming little pools of water. "I don't know. Feels like you're getting a little too smug about all this."
"I'll take that as a compliment," he said with a grin. "I mean, I'm just saving you from another umbrella disaster, right?"
"Right," she said dryly, though there was a small smile tugging at the corner of her lips. "Well, I guess I'll let you think you're the umbrella king for now."
"Umbrella expert," he corrected her.
She rolled her eyes, but her heart was doing something weird. Something nice. Maybe it was the way he was so confident, or how he made even something as simple as holding an umbrella feel… special.
"You know," she said, trying to sound casual, "this isn't so bad. I might even start believing you're the umbrella expert you claim to be."
"Glad to hear it," he said, looking down at her with that same teasing smile. "And when you're ready for your next lesson, just let me know."
She glanced up at him, catching the faint spark in his eyes, and despite her best efforts to stay neutral, her heart skipped a beat. "I might just take you up on that."
The rain was still pouring, but somehow, the world felt a little warmer, the umbrella feeling less like a shield and more like a shared secret between the two of them.