Finding light in the darkest places—through love

The rain had settled into a light drizzle, the kind that clung to your clothes and refused to let go.

Evelyn hated it. It made her feel cold, like something was trying to seep into her bones and stay there.

She shifted on the bus stop bench, pulling her hoodie tighter around herself.

The warmth didn't help. Nothing ever did.

"So, do you always sit in the rain like this, or is this a special occasion?"

The voice again.

Too casual, too familiar, like they were old friends.

Evelyn turned her head slightly, just enough to see him. 

The same guy from earlier. Adrian West. Tall, athletic, probably someone important in the social hierarchy of Westbridge University.

The kind of guy who walked into a room and immediately belonged there.

She, on the other hand, was the kind of person who walked into a room and immediately looked for an exit.

"...Not really."

Her voice came out quieter than she intended. Not that it mattered. People like him weren't used to listening. They were used to talking.

But instead of brushing her off, Adrian simply tilted his head, considering her answer like it was some kind of puzzle he needed to solve.

"Not really, huh?" 

He dropped onto the bench beside her, stretching his legs out in front of him.

"So, what's the occasion? Existential crisis? Sudden realization that the universe is meaningless?"

Evelyn blinked.

Was he serious?

She glanced at him again, half expecting to see some kind of smirk—some indication that he was messing with her. But there was none.

Just open curiosity, like he actually cared about the answer.

"I missed the bus," she said finally.

"Right."

 He nodded as if that explanation made perfect sense. 

"And instead of calling for a ride or heading inside, you decided to sit here and let the rain soak you. Makes total sense."

Evelyn frowned, shifting uncomfortably. 

"I like the quiet."

Adrian hummed, tapping his fingers against his knee.

"Yeah, I can see that. You seem like the type who enjoys solitude. The kind of person who avoids unnecessary interactions."

She stiffened.

"That's not—"

"Don't worry," he cut in, grinning. 

"I get it. People can be exhausting."

She stared at him. 

That was... not the response she expected.

Most people either ignored her silence or tried to fill it with empty words. 

But Adrian? He just sat there, completely unbothered by it.

The sound of tires splashing against wet pavement filled the air as a bus approached. Her bus.

She stood up quickly, adjusting her bag. 

"This is me."

Adrian leaned back, nodding. 

"Cool. Maybe I'll see you around, Quiet Girl."

She hesitated for a second before stepping onto the bus.

Maybe.

Evelyn didn't expect to see him again so soon.

But life had a way of throwing curveballs at her.

And apparently, Adrian West was one of them.

Because the moment she walked into her literature class the next morning, there he was, sprawled lazily in the seat beside hers like he'd been waiting for her all along.

"Oh, hey. Looks like we're seatmates now."

Evelyn stared at him.

"…You're in this class?"

He grinned. 

"What, you thought I was just a basketball guy? Nah, I like books too. Shocking, right?"

She didn't answer. 

Because, honestly? 

Yeah. It was shocking.

He didn't seem like the type to sit still long enough to read anything that wasn't a scoreboard.

But before she could dwell on it, the professor walked in, starting the lecture.

Evelyn tried to focus. 

She really did. 

But out of the corner of her eye, she could feel Adrian's presence—relaxed, at ease, like he had all the time in the world.

And for some reason, that unsettled her more than anything else.