“ Don’t lose hope. ”
***
The sky wept, but it wasn’t just rain. It was a kaleidoscope of watercolor droplets, blending and bleeding into one another as if the universe itself conspired to paint their reunion. Their eyes locked, unspoken emotions swirling between them like the storm above.
Earlier
The end of a semester always brought chaos for Cecile—a never-ending wave of tasks and expectations. For most of her course mates, it was a period of relief and reflection, but for Cecile, it marked the start of something bigger. A short story publication loomed over her head, promising both promotion and publicity. To be in the limelight was her dream, but also her fear.
Her agent had called earlier that morning, summoning her to discuss the final draft. She’d been in such a hurry, clutching her oversized, transparent umbrella as the rain poured relentlessly. She’d debated using a smaller one but decided against it—she couldn’t risk being drenched. What she hadn’t considered was how crowded the streets would be, or how treacherously slippery the sidewalks had become.
As she stepped onto the road, the screech of tires and the roar of a motorbike filled the air. A hand yanked her back just in time. The world tilted, and she stumbled backward, crashing into someone.
The scent hit her first—floral with a hint of coconut. Her heart sank. She knew that scent. She shut her eyes, praying it wasn’t him, that fate wouldn’t be this cruel.
“Cecile?” His voice was familiar, smooth, and warm, with a richer British lilt than she remembered.
Her heart tightened. She opened her eyes slowly, meeting his gaze.
“Joel.”
In that moment, it wasn’t just rain anymore. The world seemed to transform—fairies replaced the passersby, and the downpour turned into radiant watercolors. It felt like a reunion orchestrated by forces greater than themselves. But the magic was short-lived, tainted by the weight of their unresolved past.
The questions, the pain, the apologies—they all hung in the air between them, suffocating yet unspoken.
“Can you both move already?” A disgruntled voice snapped them back to reality.
The spell shattered. They stepped apart, though their hearts remained tethered. Neither knew what to say or how to leave.
Cecile’s pulse quickened, her face flushed as she recalled her recent conversation with Bernie. Barely a week ago, they had talked about him—how she wasn’t ready to see him. And now, here he was.
Joel stood frozen, struggling to process the moment. He had prepared himself for this encounter, but he thought it would take months, maybe years. And yet, here she was, just as radiant and striking as he remembered.
“Cecile.”
“Joel.”
They spoke simultaneously, the awkwardness hanging between them like the rain-soaked air.
“I…” Joel faltered, every word he had rehearsed dissipating like mist.
Cecile forced a smile. “It was nice seeing you, Joel.”
Before he could respond, she turned and began walking away. Panic surged in him. He reached for her hand.
“Please don’t go.” His voice cracked with desperation.
She stopped, turning slowly, her umbrella shielding her from the rain but not from the memories crashing over her. “Why shouldn’t I?”
Her eyes burned into him, filled with unhealed wounds. He knew the answer wasn’t simple—he hadn’t just hurt her; he had destroyed the trust between them.
“Cecile, I’m sorry. For everything. For being selfish, for hurting you. I was… a fool.”
Her expression hardened. “The past is in the past, Joel. Let it stay there.”
But even as she said it, her voice wavered, betraying her. She turned and walked away before he could see the tears threatening to spill.
Joel stood in the rain, his umbrella now pointless. He sighed deeply, realizing just how far he’d have to go to win her back.
---
Later
Cecile managed to complete her tasks for the day, forcing a neutral expression as she pushed through her responsibilities. But as soon as she returned to her hostel, she crumbled into Bernie’s arms.
“I saw him today,” she choked out between sobs, clutching her best friend like a lifeline.
Bernie didn’t need to ask who. She’d known it was only a matter of time.
“And?”
“He apologized,” Cecile whispered. “He looked… different. More mature. But I couldn’t… I couldn’t let him in. It hurts too much.”
Bernie held her tightly, rocking her gently. “It’s okay. You don’t have to decide anything right now.”
“But Bernie… I still love him,” Cecile admitted, her voice breaking. The confession tasted like ash, and tears streamed down her face.
Bernie pulled back slightly, searching her eyes. “Then the question isn’t if you love him. It’s whether you’re willing to choose him again.”
Cecile’s heart clenched at the weight of the decision. How could she still love a man who had broken her? How could she forgive him?
But love didn’t operate by logic. It wasn’t about who deserved it but about who held your heart.
For now, Cecile didn’t have an answer.
Bernie squeezed her hand. “No matter what you decide, Cec, I’m here for you.”
The reassurance broke her all over again. Wrapped in her best friend’s arms, Cecile allowed herself to grieve the past, uncertain whether she would ever be able to move forward.
---
A/N: What do you think, guys? Should Cecile give Joel another chance?