Chapter 3

Chapter 3: A Different Side of Him

The weekend passed quietly for Amelia. Most of her time was spent reading reference materials for the Academic Showcase. Although she hated to admit it, Ethan had actually suggested several useful ideas during their discussion on Friday. The project already seemed more organized than she had expected.

Still, she refused to give him too much credit.

After all, one productive conversation could not erase years of annoyance.

Monday morning arrived with gray clouds hanging over the city. The weather forecast had predicted rain, but Amelia paid little attention to it as she hurried toward school. By the time classes ended in the afternoon, however, the sky had darkened completely.

The first drops began falling just as students started leaving the building.

Within minutes, the rain turned into a downpour.

Amelia stood beneath the entrance roof and frowned. She had forgotten her umbrella.

Around her, students quickly called their parents or ran through the rain with friends. One by one, the crowd disappeared until only a few people remained.

Amelia checked her phone.

No answer from her mother.

Great.

She looked out at the heavy rain and sighed.

It seemed she would be waiting for a while.

"Looks like you're stuck."

The familiar voice instantly made her regret turning around.

Ethan stood a few steps away, spinning an umbrella lazily in one hand.

Amelia resisted the urge to groan.

"Why are you still here?"

"My basketball practice was canceled."

"How unfortunate."

"For you or for me?"

"For me."

Ethan laughed softly.

The rain continued pouring outside, creating a curtain of water that blurred the view of the parking lot. For a few minutes, neither of them spoke. Amelia focused on her phone while Ethan leaned against a nearby pillar.

The silence was surprisingly comfortable.

Which felt strange.

Most of their interactions usually ended in arguments.

After another ten minutes, Ethan glanced at the darkening sky.

"Your ride isn't coming?"

"No."

"You forgot your umbrella?"

Amelia hated how easily he figured it out.

"Maybe."

"That means yes."

She ignored him.

Ethan looked outside again before extending his umbrella toward her.

"Take it."

Amelia blinked.

"What?"

"Take the umbrella."

"And what about you?"

"I'll survive."

She stared at him suspiciously.

This felt like a trap.

"Why?"

Ethan shrugged.

"Because you're obviously not walking home in that rain."

Amelia hesitated.

For a moment, she couldn't find the usual teasing hidden behind his words.

He sounded sincere.

And somehow, that made accepting the offer even more difficult.

"I'll be fine."

"You'll get sick."

"I won't."

"You definitely will."

Amelia opened her mouth to argue, but Ethan suddenly stepped closer and placed the umbrella into her hands.

The movement was so unexpected that she froze.

"There."

His smile returned, but this time it looked gentler.

"Problem solved."

Before Amelia could react, Ethan started walking toward the rain.

Without the umbrella.

"Wait."

He stopped and glanced back.

"Yeah?"

"What are you doing?"

"Going home."

"In the rain?"

Ethan looked upward dramatically.

"Pretty sure that's where rain usually is."

Amelia rolled her eyes.

Yet for some reason, watching him walk away like that felt wrong.

"Idiot," she muttered.

Ethan grinned.

"I've heard worse."

Then he disappeared into the rain.

For several seconds, Amelia remained standing there, holding the umbrella he had given her.

The rain drummed softly against the fabric overhead.

A strange feeling settled inside her chest.

Confusion.

Because that wasn't how annoying people were supposed to act.

The next morning, Amelia arrived at school earlier than usual.

The umbrella was carefully folded inside her bag.

She intended to return it immediately.

Unfortunately, Ethan wasn't in his usual seat.

Nor did he appear when classes began.

Amelia frowned.

That was unusual.

Ethan was rarely absent.

Halfway through the morning, the teacher casually mentioned that Ethan had called in sick.

Sick.

The word immediately reminded Amelia of yesterday's rain.

A small feeling of guilt crept into her stomach.

No.

It wasn't her fault.

He had chosen to walk home without an umbrella.

Still...

The thought remained in her mind for the rest of the day.

By lunchtime, she found herself staring at the empty desk near the back of the classroom.

It was strange how much quieter everything felt without him.

No jokes.

No teasing.

No unnecessary comments.

Exactly the way she always claimed she wanted.

So why did it feel so different?

Amelia quickly looked away.

She refused to think about it.

Absolutely refused.

Yet when school ended that afternoon, she found herself checking her phone.

A new message had appeared in the project group chat.

From Ethan.

Still alive. Don't celebrate too early.

For a moment, Amelia simply stared at the screen.

Then, despite herself, a small smile appeared on her face.

It disappeared almost immediately.

But it had been there.

And for the first time since meeting Ethan Hayes, Amelia didn't feel annoyed when she saw his name.

Not entirely.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***