Umbrella Of Fate

~Sometimes, it’s the unexpected encounters and the quiet moments of connection that reveal the true course of our lives.~

CHAPTER 1

Axel, a doctor at a bustling city hospital, was well-known for his charm and the numerous admirers he had among his colleagues. With his tall frame, dark hair, and striking blue eyes, it wasn’t hard to see why he attracted attention. Despite the constant admiration, Axel had never been in a serious relationship, preferring to focus on his work. That all changed one rainy day.

Having parked his car a bit farther from the hospital, Axel trudged through the downpour, his mood darkened by the relentless rain. As he grumbled under his umbrella, he noticed a girl running through the rain, holding only a handbag over her head as a makeshift shield. Axel couldn’t help but smile at the endearing and somewhat whimsical sight as she dashed into a nearby café.

Later that day, Axel returned home, seeking solace from the exhausting day. He headed straight to the kitchen to pour himself a drink. Ace, Axel’s twin brother, was already there, casually pouring himself a drink and looking up as Axel entered.

Ace and Axel were identical in most ways. Both shared the same tall, athletic build and sharp features. Their dark hair was often a point of distinction; while Axel kept his neatly trimmed, Ace preferred a slightly longer, tousled look. Ace’s eyes, a mirror of Axel’s piercing blue, always seemed to carry a spark of mischief, contrasting Axel’s more serious demeanor.

Ace raised an eyebrow upon seeing Axel. “Still thinking about her?”

Axel, slightly taken aback, almost spilled his drink. “What are you talking about?”

“The girl you were watching in the rain,” Ace replied smoothly, his grin revealing the faint dimples that so often got him out of trouble.

Axel, setting his drink down, sighed. “Which girl? Did you follow me?”

Ace chuckled, his grin widening. “Come on, admit it. I saw you in the rain, looking at her like... what did they used to say? Ah, looking at her like a lovesick puppy.”

Axel laughed, shaking his head. “Were you following me?”

“Not really, just happened to be passing by,” Ace said, leaning back with a grin.

“Dude, what a bad liar you are. You creep, why were you even following me?” Axel said, still chuckling.

“Well, I heard rumors that you were seeing a girl, so when I saw you leaving the hospital, I thought you were gonna go to her. So answer me, are the rumors true or not?” Ace asked, leaning forward with a teasing smile.

Axel sighed. “I’ve told you a hundred and one times before, I’m not interested in any girl.”

Ace’s grin grew wider. “Yeah, right. So, you like a guy then? Come on, bro, you can tell me. I’m your older brother; I’m here to support you.”

Axel rolled his eyes. “First off, we’re twins. And second, I’m not interested in anyone. Can you just drop it? I’m exhausted and need to unwind.”

Ace held up his hands in mock surrender. “Alright, alright. I’ll leave you alone.”

Axel sighed, taking a sip of his drink. “Thank you.”

Ace chuckled, shaking his head as he watched his brother. “You’re hopeless, you know that?”

Axel just smiled.

Christina’s POV:

Christina was supposed to meet her friends, but the heavy rain had other plans. Now, she was stuck inside a cozy café, dripping wet and feeling a bit miserable. She decided to call her friends to let them know the situation. The phone rang for a couple of seconds before being answered.

“Tina? Are you alright? Where are you?” Eric’s concerned voice came through.

“Did you get caught outside?” Amy added.

Christina sneezed. “Yeah, and I didn’t even bother carrying an umbrella.”

Mike chimed in with a teasing tone. “You know you’re gonna catch a cold.”

“Are you okay though? Where are you now?” Eric asked again.

“Yeah, I’m in a café now,” Christina replied, sneezing once more.

“That’s good, you had us worried for a second,” Mike said.

“Is there anything we can do for you?” Amy asked.

“Not really, I’m okay,” Christina assured them.

Eric sighed. “You didn’t catch a cold or something, right?”

“Well, apart from a few sneezes, I’m okay,” Christina said.

“You better not be coming down with something… keep warm, okay? You sound a little raspy,” Amy cautioned.

Christina coughed. “Okay, I will. I’ll get in a taxi as soon as the rain stops.”

“Oh, that doesn’t sound good. Drink some hot tea, it will help with the cough,” Mike advised.

“Yeah, don’t be a diva and faint on us,” Eric added teasingly.

Christina laughed. “I won’t.”

“Now come on, if you feel worse, you better call us, okay?” Amy insisted.

“Make sure to bring an umbrella next time, dummy,” Eric said.

“Okay, I will. Bye then,” Christina said, feeling a bit better from their concern.

“Bye,” Eric said before ending the call.

“Okay, good. Text us when you get home,” Amy added.

Christina ended the call and looked out at the pouring rain. She felt a little less miserable now, knowing her friends cared about her. She ordered a hot tea and settled into a corner of the café, waiting for the rain to let up.