CHAPTER 10

Chapter 10: Under the Rain

The weather in La Trinidad was as unpredictable as ever. The day had started bright and sunny, but by mid-afternoon, dark clouds gathered ominously. I had just finished my last class and was heading toward the gate when the skies opened up, unleashing a torrential downpour.

I froze at the entrance, realizing two things: I didn’t have an umbrella, and there was no way I could make it home without getting drenched.

Sighing, I found a bench under the covered walkway near the library and resigned myself to waiting. The rain showed no signs of stopping, and as the minutes turned into hours, I began to feel the chill seep through my clothes.

---

It was nearing 6 p.m. when I spotted a familiar figure walking briskly through the hallway. Professor JM, holding an umbrella, paused when he saw me.

“Junno?” he called, his voice cutting through the sound of the rain. “What are you still doing here?”

I gave him an embarrassed smile. “I, uh, forgot my umbrella. I was waiting for the rain to let up.”

He frowned, glancing at the heavy rain. “You’ll be waiting all night at this rate.” He hesitated for a moment, then said, “Come on, I’ll walk you home.”

“What? No, sir, you don’t have to—”

“I insist,” he interrupted, his tone firm but kind. “You’ll catch a cold if you stay here any longer.”

Before I could protest further, he stepped closer, holding the umbrella over us both.

---

The walk to my apartment was short, but with the rain pouring down, it felt like a journey. The umbrella wasn’t large enough to cover us entirely, so we ended up pressed close together.

The proximity made me acutely aware of everything—his calm demeanor, the faint scent of his cologne, the sound of the rain around us. I tried to focus on anything else, but my mind kept wandering.

“You should always check the weather before heading out,” he said, breaking the silence.

“I usually do,” I replied sheepishly. “Guess I wasn’t prepared today.”

He chuckled softly. “A lesson learned, then.”

We continued walking in comfortable silence until we reached my apartment building.

“This is me,” I said, gesturing toward the stairs. “Thank you, sir. I really appreciate it.”

He nodded, his expression soft. “Take care, Junno. And don’t forget your umbrella next time.”

I laughed nervously, feeling both grateful and awkward. “I won’t. Good night, sir.”

“Good night.”

---

The next morning, the whispers began.

“I saw Junno walking with Professor JM under one umbrella yesterday.”

“They looked so close!”

“Do you think they—”

I groaned as I overheard the gossip circulating around campus. Carla, ever the source of drama, was the first to corner me.

“So,” she said, wiggling her eyebrows. “Care to explain why you and the professor were sharing an umbrella last night?”

“It’s not what you think,” I said quickly, feeling my face heat up. “I forgot my umbrella, and he insisted on walking me home. That’s all.”

Carla smirked. “Sure, sure. But the way people are talking, it’s like the two of you were starring in some romantic drama.”

I buried my face in my hands. “I can’t deal with this.”

“Oh, come on,” she teased. “At least it’s a cute story. You’re living the campus gossip dream.”

“More like nightmare,” I muttered.

---

Later that day, I bumped into Professor JM in the hallway. He gave me a small smile and said, “I’ve heard there’s been some… talk about last night.”

I groaned. “I’m so sorry, sir. I didn’t mean for it to turn into a thing.”

He shook his head, his expression amused. “People will always talk, Junno. Let them. Just focus on your studies.”

His calm demeanor reassured me, and I nodded. “Thank you, sir. I’ll do my best.”

As he walked away, I couldn’t help but smile. Despite the chaos, there was something about that rainy evening that I wouldn’t forget anytime soon.