The morning sky was hidden beneath thick gray clouds, and the sound of distant thunder echoed across the city.

Because of the approaching storm, the college announced a holiday, leaving the campus unusually quiet.

At exactly four in the morning, Azaan slowly opened his eyes.

His injuries had almost completely healed, but the ache inside his heart remained far more painful than the bruises on his body.

He quietly walked into the bathroom, still half asleep.

Cold water splashed across his face as he stared at his reflection in the mirror.

His own eyes looked unfamiliar.

They were filled with questions...

Questions he had been avoiding for weeks.

"...When did this happen?" he whispered to himself.

"When did Viki become the first person I think about every morning?"

He closed his eyes and let out a helpless sigh.

After taking a shower, he prepared a simple breakfast—warm milk with toasted bread.

Normally he would eat while watching videos on his phone.

Today...

He couldn't even taste the food.

His thoughts belonged to someone else.

To Viki.

As he looked through the window, heavy rain began pouring from the dark sky.

Drops raced down the glass, blurring everything outside.

"I wonder if he's awake..."

"Did he remember to eat?"

"Is he feeling lonely?"

Without realizing it, Azaan smiled softly.

Then the smile slowly disappeared.

"...Why am I worrying so much?"

His heart already knew the answer.

A few hours later, the rain became lighter.

Azaan grabbed an umbrella before leaving the house to buy groceries.

The streets smelled of wet earth.

People hurried past under colorful umbrellas.

While walking, he noticed a young couple sharing one umbrella.

The taller boy gently moved closer so the other wouldn't get wet.

Their fingers were tightly intertwined.

They looked...

Happy.

Azaan stopped walking.

His eyes followed them until they disappeared into the crowd.

A bitter smile appeared on his lips.

"...Could I ever walk beside Viki like that?"

"...Would he ever hold my hand?"

His chest tightened.

Shaking those thoughts away, he continued toward the supermarket.

Inside the supermarket, he began placing vegetables and groceries into a basket.

Just as he reached for a carton of milk...

Someone called his name.

"Azaan?"

He turned around.

It was Sam.

Standing beside him was Mark, pushing another shopping cart.

"Azaan! I didn't expect to see you here," Sam said with a bright smile.

Azaan forced a small smile.

"I just came to buy some things."

Sam immediately noticed something was wrong.

Azaan's smile never reached his eyes.

His shoulders looked heavy...

As if he were carrying an invisible burden.

Sam exchanged a glance with Mark.

"Mark, can you wait here for a few minutes?"

Mark nodded.

"No problem."

Sam gently placed a hand on Azaan's shoulder.

"Come with me."

Outside the supermarket, they sat together on a wooden bench beneath the

small roof that protected them from the rain.

For several minutes...

Neither of them spoke.

Only the sound of rain filled the silence.

Finally Sam broke it.

"...Is this about Viki?"

Azaan froze.

His fingers tightened around the paper shopping bag.

"...How did you know?"

Sam chuckled softly.

"I've known for a long time."

"You always look at him differently."

"You smile differently when he's around."

"And when he gets hurt..."

"You look more scared than he does."

Azaan lowered his head.

"I tried to hide it."

"You did."

"But not from your friends."

Silence returned once again.

This time...

It felt heavier.

After taking a deep breath, Azaan finally spoke.

"I think..."

"No."

"I know."

"I fell in love with him."

"The first time I saw him..."

"I didn't understand what I was feeling."

"I thought it was admiration."

"Then friendship."

"But now..."

"I can't stop thinking about him."

"When he smiles..."

"I smile."

"When he's sad..."

"It feels like my own heart is breaking."

Sam quietly listened without interrupting.

Azaan's voice trembled.

"But I'm scared."

"I'm terrified."

"What if he doesn't feel the same?"

"What if my confession ruins everything?"

"I don't want to lose him."

"He has already suffered so much."

"I don't want to become another person who hurts him."

"If loving him means staying beside him as only a friend..."

"I'll accept it."

"I'll protect him from the shadows."

"Even if he never knows how much I love him."

His voice finally broke.

A single tear slipped down his cheek.

"I love him so much..."

"It hurts."

Sam smiled sadly.

He placed a comforting hand on Azaan's shoulder.

"Love isn't something you should hide forever."

"If you never tell him..."

"You're making the decision for both of you."

"You've already decided he'll reject you."

"But what if you're wrong?"

"What if Viki has been waiting for you to say those words?"

Azaan looked up in surprise.

Sam continued,

"The greatest regret isn't being rejected."

"It's never being brave enough to try."

"You deserve an answer."

"And Viki deserves to know how deeply someone loves him."

Azaan slowly closed his eyes.

Every word pierced his heart.

For the first time...

He realized he had been running away from his own feelings.

He stood up so suddenly that Sam blinked in surprise.

"...Thank you."

Without another word, Azaan started running through the rain.

His heartbeat echoed louder than the thunder above.

As he reached the road leading to Viki's house...

He suddenly stopped.

Someone was standing alone beneath the pouring rain.

Without an umbrella.

Without moving.

The familiar figure slowly turned around.

Azaan's breath caught in his throat.

"...Viki."

The world around them disappeared.

Only the sound of rain remained.