Love Before Graduation

"You're still sleeping? Look at the time!" My cousin yelled , hurriedly gathering her bedding in a rush. Her voice carried a urgency , as if she had already conquered half the day while I was still lost in dreams.

I blinked a few times, stretching lazily. "Ugh... why did morning come so soon? It was such a wonderful dream," I mumbled, rubbing my eyes and rolling onto my side, unwilling to let go of my dreamworld.

Her curiosity at peak instantly. She stop her task and shuffled closer, eyes sparkling with interest. "Really? What was it about?" she asked, her voice filled with excitement, eager to hear the details.

I smile ,contemplating whether to share. Then, with a playful spark in my eyes, I dismissed her curiosity with a teasing remark. "Nothing... just the devil," I said, nudging her away before finally pulling myself out of bed and stepping into the routine of the day.

By evening, the weather began to shift, the sky darkening , heavy clouds rolled in. A storm was brewing, and the air carried the scent of impending rain.

Sensing the change, I rushed upstairs to the terrace, my footsteps quick .

The clothes I had left out to dry swayed in the growing wind. Just as I started gathering them, the first drops of rain fell....light at first, then suddenly turning into a downpour.

With the rain beating down, I hurried back inside, my clothes slightly wet from the sudden shower. The downpour grew bigger , drumming against rooftops and streets. I peered outside, my eyes drawn to the road where a few children had gathered, their laughter echoing through the rain ,soaked air as they floated paper boats along the rushing water.

I stood there in silence, mesmerized. The rhythmic sound of rain, the scent of wet earth, the innocence of childhood games....it all felt strangely calming . Without realizing it, I found myself lost in the moment, simply watching the rain and its melancholic beauty.

As I stood there, watching the rain weave its quiet symphony, an uninvited thought of Rei slipped into my heart. I had denied it countless times, convinced myself that I had moved on, yet somewhere, a part of me still belong to him,unseen, unspoken, but undeniably present.

"Does he ever think of me?

Or is this, too, just another illusion of mine?

Is he just as lost in thoughts as I am?

Or have I never even crossed the boundaries of his mind?

Why does this heart refuse to quiet down?

Is there no other pain in the world?"

The questions yelled within me, unanswered, dissolving into the rhythm of the falling rain.

Lost in my thoughts, I hadn't even noticed when the rain stop.The air smelled fresh, washed clean by the downpour. Just then, my cousin stepped onto the terrace, her presence breaking the Silence.

"Everything looks so clean after the rain, doesn't it?" she said, her Eyes drifting towards the distant mountains. "Look, even those faraway peaks are visible now."

She pointed toward them, her eyes filled with wonder. The mountains, usually hidden behind layers of dust and haze, stood clear and majestic after rain .

A shadow of melancholy crossed her face as she sighed. "The weather isn't the same as before. There was a time when these mountains were always visible... but now, they only shine like this after the rain."There was sadness clearly visible in his voice, as if he was sad for those mountains.

I closed my eyes and began to speak while feeling the wind

"The rain comes, and even the mountains reveal themselves again.

But I remain buried beneath layers of sorrow.

If only there were a rain for grief,"

Maybe then... I could see myself too.

She looked at me smilingly, she was impressed with my lines, — "You're really good at poetry."

She said very proudly,

and I just smiled a little at this.

"So, are we planning to spend the entire night here?" I said, stretching my arms as the cool wind brushed against my skin.

She smile, shaking her head, and without another word, we started making our way downstairs. the scent of rain still in the air.

Just as I reached the last step, an inexplicable pull made me pause. I turned back, my eyes drawn once again to the distant mountains....those silent, steadfast witnesses of time and change. For a fleeting moment, I stood there

Then, without another glance, I turned away and walked down