GENRE: Drama, Romance
AUTHOR: Mariya Rayts
SYNOPSIS: Bella is a person who lives a happy life and cherishes all of her good memories. While Jude has been dealing with traumas since his father’s death. It has a significant impact on his life, prompting him to seek out the perpetrator of his father’s death. Both happened to cross paths at a pivotal moment in their lives, unexpectedly igniting their love story.
—
PROLOGUE
BELLA
“Happy Birthday, Bella.” I smiled as I heard my parents’ birthday greetings over the phone. Despite the fact that we no longer live together and will not be able to celebrate my birthday together, I am grateful because I can still feel their presence in my home, especially now that it is raining. It brings back memories of them and the best birthday I’ve ever had, which was two years ago.
—
I was supposed to be carrying out today’s plans, but instead, I am sitting in the couch of my room, sipping my coffee while gazing out the window. The rain is pouring steadily outside, preventing me from getting up from the couch. I’m thinking whether I should wait for it to pass or just cancel my plans.
I can’t stop smiling as I watch the rain fall outside, so I’ve decided to cancel my plans and savor the moment while listening to my favorite music. It feels so good to be alone right now…
But while I am glancing outside, I notice someone.
A man.
I can see him from above because my house is close to the street and I am upstairs. He’s just standing there in the rain, letting himself get drenched. Is it because he doesn’t have an umbrella or because he’s deliberately doing it? I can’t tell what he’s up to since I can only see his backside and not his face.
—
It has been 20 minutes. He’s still there despite the fact that it’s pouring outside. Why is he simply standing there? I wonder what’s wrong with him. I just keep staring at him with a worried expression on my face. I’m thinking whether or not I should approach him and ask what’s wrong. However, I don’t want to keep watching him drenched in the rain. It makes me feel bad. I’ll just walk up to him and hand him an umbrella.
—
JUDE
“Happy Birthday, Dad” I greeted him while staring at his gravestone. I sit down and place the lilies beside. I always sense his presence whenever I do this. Even after he died two years ago, I still haven’t moved on. Losing him was painful, but I’m still trying to stay strong. While staring at his gravestone, I can’t help but cry because of remembering memories from the past. Every time I come to visit, I’m always like this, but after I cry, I talk a lot about everything that is going on in my life like we used to do.
—
I’m heading home now. I am planning to cook my father’s favorite dish, braised chicken. I haven’t cooked in a long time because my mother has always cooked for me. But this time, I’m going to prepare it myself. I’ll go first to the nearby market to get some ingredients.
—
I’m on my way to my car after getting all the ingredients. While walking, I notice the sky, it’s about to rain. I simply sighed and opened my car door. But as I was opening it, I dropped my car keys on the floor. I’m about to get it...

when the rain suddenly pours, forcing me to look up at the sky and take a step back. Because of that, I pushed my car keys to the side which is underneath my car. I sighed once more, knead my knees, bent down, and look for my keys.
Found it.
I was going to stand up when I noticed a pair of shoes that looked familiar beside my car.
My eyes widened as I realized it was the same pair of shoes I’d seen before.
The rain is falling down heavily now, and I am trembling while staring at the shoes. I carefully get to my feet to check who is standing near my car. But when I eventually stood up, no one was there anymore.
I started looking around at people’s shoes, but they weren’t the same ones I just saw.
As the rain continues to fall, drenching me, I stare blankly at the ground. My mind keeps flashing back to a painful event from the past, causing me to freeze and cry.
“Dad…” I suddently called him, then the plastic bags I was holding drop to the floor causing me to come back to my senses.
I get into my car, drenched from the rain. I’m still thinking about the shoes I saw.
It can’t be…
I wipe my tears away and try to concentrate. I don’t want to be distracted any longer because it’s my father’s birthday and death anniversary. I get in my car and drive home. While driving, I observe the plastic bags getting soaked from the rain. I can’t help again but cry. My tears continue to flow, and I can barely see anything. I am wiping it with my hand then I noticed a truck coming straight at me.
That was close.
I am so out of my mind. I can’t focus driving.
So I decided to stop.
I get out of my car and walk around, passing by the houses along the street. It’s pouring hard and my tears have started to fall again. I’m sweating and my heart is beating fast, making it tough for me to keep going, so I am forced to stop near a house. I’m experiencing another panic attack. I’m trying to calm myself down by closing my eyes and breathe slowly.
—
BELLA
I’m already standing outside our house. He’s still standing there, as if he’s lost his mind. The rain is still falling heavily, and he is so drenched. I take a few steps closer to him. I was ready to call him when he sat down on the ground unexpectedly.
“Are you okay?” I asked him. But he’s not responding. I approach him again, and this time close enough to cover him with an umbrella. I’m concerned he’ll get sick from being soaked in the rain. I can’t see his face since I’m behind him, but one thing I am certain is he is crying.
I keep asking him what’s wrong but he’s still not talking. Maybe I’ll just wait…
—
It took 10 minutes when he finally get on his feet. I was taken aback when he did that. He takes a step forward and get soaked in the rain once more. I thought he was about to leave, but he suddenly turned around.
This time, I can see his face.
He looks at me with his puffy eyes for seconds. I don’t know what’s wrong with him but I’m certain something must have happened.
I was about to talk to him but he suddenly walks away slowly…
– To be continued –