Characters Introduction: Calista is 22 years old. (FL)Work as a Scientist. Evander is 26 years old. (ML)Work as a surgeon. Carl is 30 years old. (FL brother)Work as a Doctor. Vera is a friend of Calista. Jude is a friend of Evander. Jasmine has been the best friend of Calista since high school. Marcus was a close friend of Evander and Jude. Julane is a close friend of Calista and Jasmine. Elio is a friend of Evander and other friends. Brynne is a friend of Calista and the other girls. Oliver is a friend of Evander and Elio but haven't met for a long time since his duty. Gabrielle is friends with all the girls. Daniel is friends with a few boys around him.

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I was buried in my lab paperwork, frustrated beyond belief. The experiment had failed—again. No matter how many different methods I tried, nothing seemed to work. The frustration of repeating the same steps a thousand times only to face failure was overwhelming. With a heavy sigh, I decided to pack up and leave. I couldn’t take it anymore.

Stepping outside, I was met with the sound of rain pounding against the pavement. The downpour was relentless. I put on my earphones, drowning out the world with Taylor Swift's "Fortnight" as I walked through the rain.

As I approached the parking lot, I noticed a familiar, expensive Mercedes parked ahead. I stopped in my tracks, pulling out my earphones, a mixture of curiosity and caution rising within me. Was this some kind of coincidence, or something more sinister? I started to panic, wondering if I was about to be kidnapped. Just as I was about to scream, the car window rolled down, revealing a familiar face—Evander.

My heart skipped a beat. Evander, my brother’s best friend, and a doctor, looked as handsome as ever. Tall, muscular, and radiating a certain heat, like he had just stepped out of a sauna. “Hey, I’m picking you up. Get in,” he called out to me.

“Are you sure? Am I bothering you?” I asked hesitantly.

“It’s fine. You’re not bothering me. Are you getting in or not? If not, I’ll drag you in myself,” he said with a teasing smile.

I quickly walked over to the passenger seat and opened the door, realizing just how soaked I was from the rain. Evander handed me his handkerchief without a word, and I accepted it gratefully, wiping my hair, face, and arms. The scent of his Dior Homme cologne filled the car—a strong, intoxicating aroma that spoke of good taste. He started the car and turned on some songs by “The Weeknd” as we drove in silence.

Time seemed to stretch as we drove, neither of us speaking. The only sound was the steady rhythm of the rain and the soft music playing in the background. Finally, Evander broke the silence. “Your brother’s going overseas again. He’ll be gone for eight months.”

“Eight months?!” I blurted out, unable to hide my shock. “Are you serious? Eight months?”

“Yeah, he’s got a new assignment,” Evander said, his voice calm. “He told me to look after you while he’s gone.”

I frowned. “Why would he ask you to look after me? I can take care of myself.”

“He worries about you, especially with him being away. He knows you don’t like it when he’s gone, especially with him volunteering in conflict zones like Ukraine. The war hasn’t ended, and there are still people in desperate need. He feels he has to help.”

I bit my lip, feeling a mix of emotions—frustration, worry, and an overwhelming sense of helplessness. “What about other countries?” I asked quietly.

“They can’t let him go in,” Evander replied, his tone gentle. “He didn’t give me all the details, but it’s complicated.”

I sighed, staring out the window at the rain-soaked streets. “I just wish the world could find peace,” I murmured.

“Me too,” Evander said softly.

We pulled up to a bakery, and I glanced over at him in surprise. “What are we doing here?” I asked.

Evander smiled mysteriously. “Just wait here. I’ll be back in a minute.”

I watched as he stepped out of the car and headed inside, leaving me to wonder what he was up to.

---

I had a task on my mind—buying a gift for Calista's brother. Over time, he and I had bonded like real siblings, and I wanted to get him something meaningful. I turned to Calista, who was sitting quietly beside me. “Want to buy a gift for your dear brother?” I asked.

“But it’s pouring heavily…” she replied, glancing out at the sheets of rain.

Undeterred, I reached for the umbrella beside the car door. I opened it as I stepped out, feeling the cold rain hammer against it. When I looked back at Calista, she was shivering, her clothes still damp. Without a second thought, I slipped off my jacket and draped it over her shoulders. She nodded, her voice barely above a whisper as she said, “Thank you…”

I smiled at her. “So, do you want to get something for him?”

She shook her head. “I’m just really cold…”

I hesitated, not wanting to leave her in the car by herself. “How about I buy something for you instead?”

She considered it for a moment, then spoke softly, “Could you get me some dark-colored yarn, please?”

“Yarn?” I repeated, a little surprised. I wondered what she was planning to do with it, but I nodded and closed the car door, leaving her to warm up while I headed into the supermarket.

Inside, I searched for the yarn and a few other things that might go well with it—fluffy cotton balls and some other craft supplies. I also picked out a few books for her brother, including "The Love Hypothesis" by Ali Hazelwood. I chuckled to myself—it was quite the steamy book. I headed to the cashier to pay, but as I reached the counter, I felt a small tug on my leg. Looking down, I saw a wide-eyed kid clutching my pant leg.

“Mister, can you help me find my mom, please?” the kid asked, his voice trembling.

I bent down to his level, trying to stay calm for his sake. “Are you lost?”

“Mhm,” he nodded, his eyes brimming with tears.

“Where was the last place you saw your mom?” I asked gently.

“Probably the toy section… Oh! I remember—I was grabbing a new toy car to show her, and when I turned around, she was gone,” he explained.

I thought for a moment before responding. “How about I take you to the information desk? That way, your mom can find you easily.”

The kid’s face lit up. “That’s a good idea, Mister!”

I quickly paid for my items, swiping my credit card and taking the shopping bag. Then I led the little boy to the information desk. Within minutes, his mom appeared her face a mix of relief and gratitude. The boy ran to her, hugging her tightly.

“Thank you so much for finding him,” the mother said, her voice filled with emotion.

“It was no trouble at all,” I assured her. I bent down to the boy again, ruffling his hair. “Next time, stick with your mom, okay? There are some bad guys out there who might try to take you away.”

“Got it, Mister!” he said proudly.

As I left the supermarket, the boy waved goodbye with a huge smile on his face. I smiled back at him, glad I could help.

When I returned to the car, I noticed Calista had fallen asleep, curled up in the passenger seat. I carefully placed the shopping bags in the backseat, trying not to wake her, but the sound of the car door closing stirred her from her sleep. She blinked groggily at me as I got in.

“Did you have a good nap?” I teased.

“I heard you putting the bags in the car,” she murmured, rubbing her eyes.

“I thought you were in a deep sleep, like Sleeping Beauty,” I said with a grin. “Just waiting for a prince to come and break the spell with a kiss.”

She raised an eyebrow, a playful smile tugging at her lips. “Do you think I’m under a witch’s spell, and you’re my prince coming to save me?”

“I wish you could have slept a little longer,” I teased back, “so I could have the chance to break the curse.”

She laughed softly, and for a moment, the tension of the day melted away, leaving just the two of us, sharing a lighthearted moment in the rain.

---

"I wouldn’t sleep that long," I replied, stretching as I adjusted my seatbelt. Then curiosity got the better of me. "So, what did you buy at the supermarket?"

He glanced over at me, a small smirk on his lips. "Didn’t you ask me to buy yarn?"

"Yes, I did," I said with a nod. "But besides the yarn, what else did you get?"

"Yarn, fluffy cotton, and a novel, of course," he replied, sounding rather pleased with himself, almost like a child showing off his good behavior.

"A novel?" I perked up, intrigued. "What’s the title?"

As I reached to unbuckle my seatbelt, ready to inspect his choice, something suddenly felt off. I froze mid-motion, realization dawning on me. “Wait… did you forget to take your umbrella?”

He stared at me blankly for a moment, clearly puzzled, before his eyes widened. “Umbrella—oh shoot!” he cursed under his breath. “I left it at the supermarket.”

Before I could react, he had already flung the car door open and bolted out into the rain, sprinting toward the store. I couldn’t help but smile, shaking my head as I watched him run. He looked almost like a kid who’d just remembered he’d forgotten his favorite toy. With a sigh, I leaned back into my seat, debating whether to close my eyes again. Just as I was about to drift off, my phone rang, snapping me back to reality.

Glancing at the caller ID, I saw it was my brother. "Hello, my dearest brother," I answered, trying to sound more cheerful than I felt.

“Where are you?!” Carl’s voice came through, sounding oddly urgent.

I frowned. “Carl, don’t tell me you’re drunk again…”

“I’m not,” he insisted, though his tone didn’t inspire much confidence. “But I need your help with something.”

“What ‘one thing’ are you talking about?” I asked, exasperated.

There was a pause on the other end. “I… What was the topic I was just talking about?” he asked, his voice trailing off. And then, before I could respond, the line went dead.

I stared at my phone in disbelief. “Did he just hang up on me?” I muttered to myself. A prank call? Really? Oh, I was going to give him a piece of my mind when I saw him next. Maybe even slap him upside the head for good measure.

A few minutes later, the car door opened again, and there he was, dripping wet but grinning, holding an umbrella that wasn’t the one he’d left with. “Did you buy a new one?” I asked as he settled back into the driver’s seat.

“Yeah,” he admitted, shaking his head with a rueful smile. “I accidentally lost my umbrella again… You know, this is like the hundredth time I’ve lost one.”

I couldn’t help but laugh at that. “Really? When I was a kid, I wouldn’t dare lose anything, or else my mom would have been furious. If she knew how careless I was, she’d probably lecture me for hours.”

He chuckled, shrugging as he closed the umbrella and placed it on the floor. “It’s all in the past now, though. But yeah, I know… Next time, I’ll try not to be so careless.”

He gave me a mock stern look. “You think I’m a kid?” he teased.

“Nope,” I replied, smirking at him.

He shot me a playful glance before putting the car in gear. As we started driving, the silence between us stretched on, thick and heavy. It wasn’t an uncomfortable silence, just… quiet like neither of us knew what to say. The rain continued to beat down on the roof of the car, creating a rhythm that almost lulled me back to sleep. The journey felt long, almost never-ending, and the atmosphere was so still it almost felt like we were strangers sharing the same space.

Finally, the car slowed as we approached my house. I peered out the window and saw that my family was bustling about, preparing for some kind of party. The sight of it made my heart swell with a mixture of nostalgia and longing. It had been so long since I’d been home, what with my work as a scientist taking up most of my time.

I unbuckled my seatbelt and opened the door, stepping out into the cool evening air. The sounds of laughter and music drifted toward me, filling me with a sense of warmth and belonging that I hadn’t realized I missed so much. I turned back to Evander, who was watching me with a soft smile.

“You sure you don’t want to come in?” I asked him, feeling a little guilty about leaving him out in the rain.

He shook his head. “Nah, I’ve got to get back to the hospital soon. But you go ahead. Enjoy the party.”

I nodded, feeling a pang of disappointment but understanding his reasons. “Thanks for the ride… and everything.”

“Anytime,” he said, his smile widening as he put the car in reverse. “Oh, and don’t forget to take the yarn with you.”

I grabbed the shopping bag from the back seat and waved as he drove off, disappearing into the rain. As I turned to face my house, I took a deep breath, feeling the familiar comfort of home wrap around me like a warm blanket.

Stepping inside, I was immediately greeted by the sight of my family bustling about, setting up decorations and arranging food. My mom spotted me first, her face lighting up with a smile. “You’re home!” she exclaimed, pulling me into a tight hug.

“Yeah, I’m home,” I said, hugging her back, feeling a sense of peace settle over me. I hadn’t realized how much I missed this—the chaos, the laughter, the love that filled every corner of this house.

As the evening went on, I mingled with my family, catching up on everything I’d missed while I was away. But in the back of my mind, I couldn’t stop thinking about my brother’s strange call. I’d have to confront him about it later. But for now, I was content just being here, surrounded by the people I loved, feeling more at home than I had in a long time.

As the last guest waved goodbye and left the house, I took a deep breath, surveying the aftermath of the party. The living room was a mess—empty plates, crumpled napkins, and confetti littered every surface. The warmth of the evening lingered in the air, but now it was time to tackle the cleanup. Rolling up my sleeves, I joined my family in tidying up. We moved in a comfortable rhythm, laughing as we picked up stray party hats and wiped down sticky countertops.

As I was stacking a few plates in the kitchen, the front door creaked open. I turned around and saw Dad standing in the doorway, a broad smile spreading across his face as soon as he spotted me. His eyes sparkled with a happiness I hadn’t seen in a long time.

“My baby is finally home,” he said, his voice thick with emotion. “Daddy misses you so much…”

He opened his arms wide, waiting for me to come to him. The warmth in his voice and the familiar scent of home wrapped around me like a comforting blanket. I dropped the dish towel in my hand and hurried over, sinking into his embrace.

“I missed you too, Dad,” I murmured, feeling his strong arms envelop me. He held me tightly as if he was afraid that if he let go, I might disappear again. I closed my eyes, savoring the moment, feeling the steady rhythm of his heartbeat against my cheek.

After what felt like a long, comforting moment, he finally pulled back, holding me at arm’s length to get a better look at me. “You’ve been working too hard,” he said, concern lacing his words. “It’s time you took a break and spent some time with your old man.”

I smiled, feeling a lump form in my throat. “I’ll stay as long as I can, Dad. I promise.”

His eyes softened, and he ruffled my hair, just like he used to when I was little. “That’s my girl.”

The two of us spent the rest of the evening helping Mom and the rest of the family clean up the house. Even though there was a lot to do, it didn’t feel like a chore. It felt good to be back, to be surrounded by the people who knew me best, and who loved me unconditionally. Every once in a while, Dad would glance over at me, a proud smile on his face, and it made all the hard work I’d been doing worth it.

By the time the house was back in order, it was late, and everyone was ready to call it a night. But as I climbed the stairs to my old room, I couldn’t help but feel an overwhelming sense of peace. I was home, and for the first time in a long time, everything felt exactly as it should be.