Episode 3 — A Day Full of Rain

Elco’s POV

What a day. What. A. Day.

It’s not even lunch yet, and I feel like I already lived three days straight. No, scratch that—I feel like I lived three years. I really have a bad luck today, right Elco? The universe must be laughing so hard right now.

First thing this morning, I forgot my lunch. Guess where it is? Sitting inside the fridge at my tiny apartment, probably chilling happily while I suffer here like a starved beast. Second, I forgot my wallet. How brilliant. How genius. And of course, to complete the perfect set, I also forgot my umbrella. Wallet, lunch, umbrella—triple kill. Congratulations, Elco, you’re the champion of stupidity today.

And yet, I keep walking. I hug my tote bag, heavy with books and files, and I keep telling myself,

“It’s fine. You’re fine. You’ve been through worse.”

Except I’m not fine. My eye bags are screaming. My head is pounding. And my necklace—the little pendant inhaler I always keep around my neck—is the only thing stopping me from exploding. I lift it closer to my nose, take in the faint mint scent. Breathe in. Breathe out. Relax.

Okay. Meeting first. Org life waits for no one.

Inside the meeting room, I sit down. Laptop out, notebooks out. The others? They sit too, chatting, joking, scrolling on their phones. When the agenda starts, they throw tasks around like free candy.

“Elco, do the report.”

“Elco, email the sponsors.”

“Elco, you’re in charge of the list.”

Oh, wow. Thanks, guys. Not like I have classes too. Not like I have exams too. Sure, just pile everything on me. That’s totally fair.

When the clock hits twelve, they stand up.

“Let’s go, we’ll eat first!”

“Elco, you can stay here and finish, right?”

And just like that, they leave. No hesitation. Door closed. I’m left staring at my screen with twenty tabs open and a stomach that’s about to eat itself.

I laugh. A dry, ugly laugh. “Wow. Just wow.”

My stomach growls so loud it echoes in the room. Great. Fantastic. Alone, pressured, and hungry. I try to ignore it, typing, scrolling, but my chest feels so heavy. I can’t breathe right. My eyes blur. I slam the laptop shut and stand.

Enough.

Bathroom.

Inside the restroom, I lock myself inside a cubicle. My hands tremble as I take my phone out. Who do I call? No one. No one but—Bailey. My best friend. My only friend. I press her name before I can think twice. Please pick up. Please.

One ring. Two. Three. Then—

“Elco? Why are you calling this early?”

Her voice. Familiar. Soft. Safe.

“Bailey…” My voice cracks. My throat burns. Oh no. Not now. Not here. “I’m so tired. I’m… I can’t do this anymore.”

Silence for a second. Then her worried tone. “El, what happened? Talk to me. You sound like you’re crying.”

I grip my phone tighter, press it against my ear. My breath hitches. “I don’t know. Everything. Everyone leaves me alone. I’m always… alone. I don’t belong here. I’m just… so tired.”

Tears fall before I can stop them. What a shame. Me, crying inside a school bathroom like some rejected drama character.

Bailey exhales on the other line. “Hey, hey. Calm down, okay? Tell me what happened. Did someone say something? Did your org do something again?”

I shake my head even though she can’t see. “They just… dumped everything on me. Then they left me. And I didn’t eat. And I forgot my wallet. And my lunch. And—” My voice breaks. “I feel like nothing, Bailey. I’m nothing.”

“El.” Her voice cracks too. She’s holding back. “Don’t you dare say that. You’re not nothing. You’ve always been… you. The same stubborn, hardworking you. You’re more than they’ll ever know.”

“I miss you.” I choke out. “I don’t have friends here. No one cares. No one sees me.”

There’s a pause. Long. Heavy. I hear her sniff softly, but she forces herself to sound strong. “I see you. I always will. And we’ll meet soon, okay? I promise. But right now, you need to take care of yourself. Eat something. Please.”

I laugh through the tears, ugly and shaky. “Eat? With what? I forgot my wallet.”

Bailey breathes deep, like she’s thinking hard. “Elco… let me send you money. Just a little. For lunch. For a cab later. Please don’t argue.”

I close my eyes. Part of me wants to say no, but my stomach twists again. “Bailey, you don’t have to—”

“I want to. Let me do this for you, okay? Just this once. Please.”

Silence. Then I whisper, “Okay.”

When the call ends, I stare at the ceiling. My chest feels raw, but at least lighter. She’s still there. I’m not completely alone.

Lunch. Finally. I drag myself to the canteen with shaky steps. By the time I sit down, I feel like a ghost. I eat like one too. Fork, mouth, chew, swallow. Repeat. No taste, no feeling. Just fuel. My body moves, but my heart feels dead. I slump in my seat like a lifeless rock.

“Come on, Elco,” I mutter. “You’re stronger than this.”

But am I? Really?

Afternoon passes in a blur. Classes. Notes. More tasks. My head buzzes. By the time everything ends, I feel like collapsing.

Then—rain.

Of course. Heavy, merciless rain. The sky really wants me dead today. No umbrella. Remember? I laugh again. Of course. Perfect.

I run to the waiting shed, hugging my bag tight against my chest, protecting it like it’s my only treasure. My shirt clings to my skin, my hair drips in my eyes. I crouch down, pulling my knees close, trying to make myself small. Small enough to disappear.

I press the pendant against my nose. Breathe, Elco. Calm. You’re fine. You’re—

Footsteps.

I look up.

It’s him. The guy. The same quiet guy I’ve noticed before, always alone, always distant. He’s standing there, holding out an umbrella. Just… standing. Waiting. For me?

My brain short-circuits. Me? Why me?

"H-huh? Me?"

He sighs. Steps closer. He pulls the umbrella over my head with one swift motion. His hand brushes my hair, and my heart freezes. Then his lips part.

BADUM! BADUM!

“Idiot,” he mutters. Low. Almost annoyed. He leaves the umbrella with me, then turns and walks away into the rain.

I sit there, stunned. Did that just happen? Am I imagining things?

The umbrella is warm from his hand. Real. Not a dream.

My throat struggles, but I manage to shout, “Thank you!”

My voice echoes in the rain. He doesn’t look back. Maybe he didn’t hear. But for the first time all day, I smile. Just a little. Just enough.

Maybe today isn’t all that bad.

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