---
"He so likes you."
That was the first thing Mira said when Lila walked into class.
"Who?" Lila blinked, setting her bag down.
Sara leaned in, grinning. "Theo. Or was it Kai yesterday who almost tripped trying to walk next to you?"
Lila's cheeks turned pink. "W-What? We were just… shopping. Together. Like friends!"
Mira smirked. "Yeah. Friends who flirt, tease, and try to kill each other with stares when you're not looking."
Sara added, "I swear Kai was growling when Theo picked out that mushroom dress."
Lila buried her face in her hands. "Stop, stop. You're imagining things!"
But the blush on her face told a different story.
---
After School — Rain Drama Incoming 🌧️
School ended with a soft boom of thunder and a steady drizzle of rain.
Students scattered, popping open umbrellas and dashing to buses.
Lila smiled softly, pulling her umbrella out. "At least I came prepared—"
"Hey."
Theo appeared beside her, dripping slightly.
Before she could react, he stepped right under her umbrella, brushing their shoulders.
Lila blinked. "You don't have an umbrella?"
Theo grinned. "Oh, I do. But yours smells like strawberries. Plus, it's more fun like this."
She sighs "oh god."
Enter Kai.
He spotted them instantly.
Holding a very dry and very obvious black umbrella… which he then snapped shut and walked toward them.
"Oh no," Lila whispered.
Kai slipped under the already tiny umbrella.
"Hey. I, uh, forgot mine."
Theo raised an eyebrow. "Really? Is that one in your hand a ghost?"
Kai: "Nope. That's… that's my neighbor's. I was returning it."
Theo: "You don't even have neighbors—"
Kai (thinking): "wtf what's your problem if I'm pretending to not have umbrella."
While Theo (thinking): "This idiot! I thought to spend some time with Lila alone in this rain."
Theo and Kai started bickering.
Theo: "Why are you under her umbrella?"
Kai: "Why are you under her umbrella?! You don't even like rain!"
Theo: "She invited me."
Kai: "She didn't invite you either!"
Lila groaned and shouted,
"GUYS! JUST BRING YOUR OWN UMBRELLA NEXT TIME!"
They froze.
Theo: "Okay, but whose umbrella is it, really?"
Kai: "She held it first, so technically it's—"
Lila spun around and marched off, pulling the umbrella away from both of them.
"You two can get wet. I'm walking home in peace." and mumbled "I think I have to go mental hospital for these boys."
Theo and Kai just stood there, wet, speechless… and 100% still in love.
---