You're still sleeping? Look at the time!" My cousin exclaimed, hurriedly gathering her bedding in a rush. Her voice carried a mix of urgency and disbelief, as if she had already conquered half the day while I was still lost in dreams.
I blinked a few times, stretching lazily as a soft yawn escaped my lips. "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 the lingering warmth of my dreamworld.
Her curiosity piqued instantly. She abandoned her task and shuffled closer, eyes gleaming with interest. "Really? What was it about?" she asked, her voice laced with excitement, eager to hear the details.
I smirked, tilting my head slightly as if contemplating whether to share. Then, with a playful glint 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 as thick, 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 against the cool floor. The clothes I had left out to dry swayed restlessly 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 damp from the sudden shower. The downpour grew fiercer, drumming against rooftops and streets. I peered outside, my gaze 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 soothing. Without realizing it, I found myself lost in the moment, simply watching the rain paint the world in its fleeting, 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 lingered near 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 echoed within me, unanswered, dissolving into the rhythm of the falling rain.
Lost in my thoughts, I hadn't even noticed when the rain had stopped. The rhythmic drumming against the rooftops had faded, replaced by a serene stillness. The air smelled fresh, washed clean by the downpour. Just then, my cousin stepped onto the terrace, her presence breaking the quiet.
"Everything looks so clean after the rain, doesn't it?" she said, her gaze drifting towards the distant mountains. "Look, even those faraway peaks are visible now."
She pointed toward them, her eyes filled with quiet wonder. The mountains, usually hidden behind layers of dust and haze, stood clear and majestic against the soft glow of the post-rain sky.
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." Her voice carried a hint of sadness, as if mourning something irretrievably lost.
I closed my eyes for a moment, letting her words sink in before whispering,
"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."
The words hung in the air, heavy yet poetic, carrying the weight of an unspoken longing.
She turned to me, a smile breaking through her previous gloom. "You're really good at poetry," she giggled, admiration shining in her eyes.
We both burst into laughter, the heaviness of the moment dissolving like mist after the rain. The silence that had lingered before was now replaced by a lighthearted warmth.
"So, are we planning to spend the entire night here?" I teased, stretching my arms as the cool breeze brushed against my skin.
She chuckled, shaking her head, and without another word, we started making our way downstairs. Our footsteps echoed softly against the damp terrace floor, the scent of rain still lingering 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, as if trying to imprint their image in my mind, holding onto something intangible.
Then, without another glance, I turned away and walked down, leaving the night and its quiet musings behind