Rain in her Umbrella

“Bring an umbrella!”

“No need, Mom! It’s not going to rain.”

“Umbrellas aren’t just for rain. Look how hot it is outside.”

“Bye, Mom!”

I quickly rushed out of the house, running to avoid hearing another one of Mom’s lectures. I didn’t like carrying an umbrella—it’s heavy and just adds weight to my bag. You get me.

I was only sent to do some grocery shopping, and out of all the tasks at home, this is the one I never refuse. Even though I’m a guy, this has practically become my designated job at home. I’ve even become an expert at picking out cheap but high-quality goods. I’m also good at mental math, calculating costs before reaching the counter to make sure I don’t fall short on cash. On top of that, I enjoy pocketing the leftover change as my “tip,” outsmarting Mom as long as she doesn’t double-check the receipt.

I was just about to head out after shopping when it started pouring heavily.

“Wait! It was so sunny just a while ago. Is the Gumiho crying again? Ugh, bad luck.”

I went back to the cashier to ask for extra plastic bags to keep my groceries dry. Determined to head home, I charged into the rain. No one could stop me.

I ran at first but got tired quickly because of how heavy my groceries were. I slowed down and let myself get soaked. Then suddenly, I noticed I wasn’t getting wet anymore. I looked up and saw an umbrella. Startled, I saw the girl holding it.

“Don’t you have an umbrella?”

“Do I look like I have one?”

“How would I know? You’re carrying so much stuff that even if you did, you couldn’t use it.”

“That’s just your guess.”

“Whatever. You’re lucky I have a conscience.”

“Well, thank you for your conscience!”

She seemed annoyed and quickened her pace.“Hey, miss, I was just kidding... come back and cover me again.”

She stopped, stepped back, and held the umbrella over me again, but now with a furrowed brow and an annoyed expression.

“You’re so demanding. If you get sick, I might just laugh at you.”

“I won’t get sick. A quick shower solves everything.”

“Is that so?”

“Yep. Works every time. You should try it sometime.”

I didn’t know where she lived, but it seemed like she went out of her way to walk me home. When I pointed out my house, she brought me there. I thanked her, and she left, turning the corner.

“Oh, so you got wet?” Mom greeted me as soon as I stepped inside.

“Not really, Mom. A kind soul shared her umbrella with me.”

“You’re lucky. People like that are rare.”

Mom went on, but I headed straight to the bathroom to take a shower. I didn’t want to get sick and give that “umbrella girl” a reason to laugh at me, even if I wasn’t sure I’d ever see her again.

On my way home from school another day, it started pouring again. I placed my bag in front of me and covered my head with a handkerchief. As I walked, I noticed I wasn’t getting wet anymore.

“Wow, am I waterproof?”

“Crazy!”

“Hey, umbrella girl? are you stalking me?” I joked, making her laugh.

“Look around you. Everyone has an umbrella except you. Why don’t you just carry one?”

“It’s too heavy for my bag,” I said, making an excuse. She looked at my bag, even feeling it.

“Your bag doesn’t even seem full. Are you really studying?”

“Of course! Don’t judge me—I have big dreams!”

She fell silent, so I did too, and I got a good look at her.“Wait, we go to the same school?” I asked, noticing her uniform.

“Isn’t it obvious?” she retorted.

“Isn’t it obvious?” I mimicked her in a playful, exaggerated tone. I might’ve overdone it because we both ended up laughing.

“Thanks, see you around!” I said, winking at her. She just smiled and walked away.

The rainy season came often, and I still refused to carry an umbrella. I had my reasons now—I wanted her to cover me instead. Sometimes, I’d even take her umbrella, so we’d have to share it, which brought us closer together. Each rainy day brought us closer, and with every drop falling from her umbrella, I got to know her more.

“Rain,” she said one day.

“Yeah, I know. It’s raining.”“I said, I’m Rain.”

“Oh! Well, I’m Sun,” I joked.

“You’re not funny!” she said, obviously annoyed, but I found it cute.

“Sorry. So, your name is Rain?”

“Yes, and I know your name, too—your ID is pretty clear, Vin,” she said, pointing to my ID. Embarrassed, I covered it. I hadn’t noticed her ID since I was a bit taller and couldn’t just bend down to read it.

“Whatever! You just wanted to read it!”

Days passed, and the rain became less frequent, just when it was becoming my favorite season. I didn’t see Rain as often, only occasionally passing her in the school corridors. She was likely busy with her studies. She’d told me she was very focused… unlike me.

One day after class, I noticed the cloudy skies and smiled. It felt like it was going to rain. When the downpour started, I waited under a shelter.

“No umbrella again?” she said, and I turned to face her with a grin.“Uh… nope, hehehe.”

She narrowed her eyes and made me turn around to check my bag.“What’s this, then?”

She found an umbrella in my bag. I grabbed the bag and opened it—Mom must’ve slipped it in without telling me.

“Bye, then!” she said and ran off.

I watched her go, frowning when I saw her share her umbrella with another girl. Sure, it was a girl, but still! How disloyal! I thought she was only kind to me.

“Vin, just take out your umbrella and stop hiding it!” she teased one rainy day as I waited for her.“Here, check for yourself,” I said, handing her my bag. She rummaged through it again.

“Where’s the umbrella from last time? Is that why your mom doesn’t want you carrying one? You always lose them!” she said.

I had never lost an umbrella since I never carried one in the first place, but I nodded, agreeing with her.

“Fine. I’ll just shower when I get home,” I said, pretending to walk off.

She grabbed my arm.“You’re so dramatic. Come on, let’s share.”

She smiled so sweetly that the butterflies in my stomach went wild. I was completely smitten with her. Every moment with her felt like the world slowed down, with raindrops falling in slow motion. I couldn’t stop smiling when I was with her. As odd as it sounded, I wished it would rain every day.

The school year ended, and summer vacation came. It had been two months since I last saw her. She used to visit me at home but then she stopped, I think they moved and she lives far away now.

The sun was blazing hot when I was sent on another grocery errand. After shopping, I braved the heat again. Suddenly, the sun’s rays no longer hit me.

She was beside me again, holding her umbrella.

“Wait… I think summer is becoming my favorite season!”

She laughed but stayed quiet. Her face looked sad, and she seemed tired.

“Is something wrong?” I asked, but she didn’t answer. We kept walking.

“Rain… I think… I like you,” I blurted out, scratching my head in embarrassment. I took the chance in case I didn’t see her again.

She stopped walking and looked at me, her eyes welling with tears.“Did I say something wrong? I’m sorry! Forget I said anything.”

She slowly smiled and hugged me. My heart raced with surprise. Too shy to hug her back, I gently stroked her hair instead. She leaned close and whispered in my ear,“I like you too.”

I finally hugged her back, savoring the moment. When we let go, I realized we were in front of my house. She handed me her umbrella.

“It’s yours now,” she said.

“Why? Do you have a lot of umbrellas at home?” I joked.

She laughed, but her tone faltered as she replied,

“Yes… we… we have a lot.”

“Really? Well, I won’t use it. I don’t want to stop seeing you, so I’ll just keep it as a souvenir from you.”

She waved goodbye and walked away.

After a week, the summer season ended, and I started preparing for college. One day, dark clouds rolled in, and the rain began to pour. I wondered if Rain would somehow show up, even though my new school was far from home.

As I reached for my bag, I felt the umbrella she had given me. I opened it and walked through the rain. Along the way, I saw a little girl about ten years old with long hair, ready to dash into the rain. I grabbed her shoulder.

“Hey, kid! Planning to get soaked? Do you want to get sick?”

She turned to me, raising an eyebrow. I was trying to be helpful, but she was acting annoyed. Was this how Rain felt the first time she met me? It was oddly irritating.

“Big brother, I can shower at home, so I won’t get sick,” she said, and I froze.

“Who told you that?”

“My sister did. But she also scolds me for not bringing an umbrella.” She lowered her head as if remembering something.

I knew it. This was Rain’s sister. She looked so much like her, though Rain was more beautiful to me.

“Come on, let’s share the umbrella,” I offered.

She looked up, forcing a smile, but tears filled her eyes. Eventually, she started crying. I didn’t know what to do.

“Hey, why are you crying?”

She bit her lip, trying to stop her tears. Taking out a handkerchief, she wiped her face.

“My sister used to do this… too,” she said as we walked.

I knew what she meant. That’s how I met Rain. She had no idea I was using her sister’s umbrella. Holding it made me feel like it carried a curse to help others.

“What’s your name, kid?”

“Stop calling me kid! My name is Summer.”

“Summer? Wow, and your sister’s name is Rain? You two have such beautiful names.”“How did you know my sister?”

“We were friends. We just saw each other last week.”

The rain stopped, and the sun came out. A strong gust of wind gave me chills as I gripped the umbrella tightly. Summer’s next words froze me in place.

“You’re lying. My sister died two months ago.”

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