Chapter 2: Rain & Memories

 Krishiv

I walk through the rain, the bottoms of my jeans soaked, and my umbrella shading me from the downpour. I woke up two hours ago and couldn’t go back to sleep, and my stupid brain thought a walk might be a good idea. Right. A walk. In the rain.

Rain has always reminded me of my parents, who are working abroad. They had told me about them leaving on a rainy day three years ago. They chose to give up their jobs to chase the jobs that paid better, so I could chase my dreams.

The trees with golden leaves and the bushes of dying flowers pass me as I walk by, the cold fall weather beginning to replace the warmth of summer.

I reach my house and unlock the door, my cold fingers holding the key. I walk in, abandoning the cold rain, to the warm, dry air that wraps around me like a hug. I rub my hands to warm up my fingers.

The house was quiet except for the faint sound of the rain outside and the squeaks of my shoes as I took them off.

I feel my phone buzz in my pocket and pull it out as I walk to my room. 

Ash

6:21 am

Ash: You turned off my alarms, didn’t you?

6:21 am

You: Guilty as charged 

6:22 am

Ash: Gosh, I hate you!!!!!

6:22 am

You: I hate you too ;)

I smile, as my prank was effective. Yesterday, while we were hanging out, I had turned off her alarms when she wasn’t looking.

Grabbing a pair of jeans and socks, I change into them.

I walk into the empty living room, which has a piano sitting at the side of the room. My mom used to play, and I’ve been trying to play it, but I can never be as good as she was. 

I grab my backpack from the couch and my keys. Patting my pockets making sure I had everything.

I rang the doorbell. Mrs. Shah opens the door, holding a cup of coffee.

“Morning, Auntie.”

“Morning, Krishiv.”

“She woke up late, so she might take a while.” 

I laugh, “I know.”

I sit down on the couch, my backpack between my legs as I scroll on my phone. 

A while later, I feel a light tap on my shoulder. “Morning, Ash,” I say. I turn off my phone and see Ash hug her mom goodbye as she holds a bagel in her mouth and puts on her jacket.

I pick up my backpack and walk over to the kitchen, just as Ash puts on her backpack. Her hair was straightened. 

“Bye, Mom.”

“Bye, Auntie.”

“Drive safely.”

“We will,” I reply.

Ash puts her shoes on and follows me out the door.

We both walk out of the house into the rain. I hold an umbrella over us, careful to make sure her hair doesn’t get wet, while she finishes her bagel. “You’re actually evil for turning off my alarm,” she says, once she's done eating.

“You’re very much welcome,” I say as I pull the car out of the parking.

She glares at me as she grabs a napkin from the glove compartment. She opens her mouth to say something else, but I cut her off. “If you keep bickering, I might just let you walk to school,” I say teasingly.