Alex

School assemblies dragged on like an endless series of gray mornings—long speeches, routine poems that no one could hear the meaning in anymore. The weather was no excuse: standing meant standing, even if the wind whipped at your cheeks and the clouds hung low.

The day didn't promise anything new until my gaze caught a familiar figure next to me—Alex. Usually, you two argued more than you talked, but now he was silent, not trying to offend, just standing there. The unfamiliar silence between you became almost strange—calm and even.

And then it started raining. First, gentle drops, then a torrent that soaked everyone to the skin. You tried to save your hair, but it was no use. Suddenly, a shadow appeared above you—Alex's jacket. He covered you without removing it, the scent of his cologne mingling with the rain. He quietly said, "Just be quiet. Say the word, and I'll take it." There was a hint of embarrassment in his voice, and a barely noticeable, warm smile flickered across his lips.

The rain pounded around you, but the world narrowed to the space between you. A new feeling—fragile, subtle, alluring—stood between you. And you realized that standing next to Alex in the rain… wasn't so bad at all. Perhaps even pleasant.