Lara's mansion
Ping.
Lara checked her phone.
"Honey, I want to see you tomorrow before I leave for City B," Zain texted.
Lara froze. Honey?! Again? She typed back curtly, "I don't… and stop calling me honey."
He didn't miss a beat.
"It's important. I need to talk to you—about Nick."
Her brow furrowed. Nick? "What about Nick?" she replied, keeping her tone neutral.
"Can't explain over text. We need to meet," he shot back, smooth and insistent.
Lara rolled her eyes. This guy…
"Fine. Come to my place tomorrow," she typed, wary.
"Perfect. See you then, sweetheart," he replied, adding it again as if daring her to react.
Lara left the message on seen, muttering under her breath, Unbelievable. Infuriating.
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In Rain's apartment
"Hello?" Rain answered, seeing an unknown number.
"You! You… why? Just… why did you have to fall in love with some other girl?" the voice on the other end cried, trembling with emotion.
"Sorry… whose number is this?" Rain asked, confused.
"Why are you so perfect? Perfect body, perfectly gentlemanly, perfect at work…" the woman sighed, voice breaking.
Rain's eyes widened as he recognized her. "Ms. Daisy… can I please know where you are? I'll come and pick you up."
"No need… I don't want to ruin my heart," she replied, her voice small.
"Ms. Daisy, I won't ruin your heart. Please send me your location."
"…You promise?" she asked faintly.
"Yes. I promise. Now please send it."
"okay. Sharing it now," Daisy said, and sent the location.
"Okay, cool. I'll be there in the next two minutes. Until then, please stay awake and be careful. Not all men are gentlemen, so watch your surroundings," Rain warned.
A faint "yes" came from her, and without another word, he hung up and immediately left to reach her.
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Daisy sat on the cold concrete outside the convenience store, knees pulled up, surrounded by empty bottles. Four were already down; she was halfway through the fifth. Her mascara smudged a bit, hair disheveled, cheeks flushed—yet there was something heartbreakingly fragile about her in that moment.
Rain rushed toward her, breath uneven from running.
"Ms. Daisy," he knelt beside her, gently taking the bottle from her hand, "you've had enough. Let me take you home."
"Nooo, I gotta drink," she whined, trying to reclaim the bottle but missing his arm entirely.
Rain softened. "Why are you drinking so much?"
Daisy sniffed loudly, eyes glassy. Then suddenly—too loudly for the quiet street—she cried, "Because Mr. Rain has a girl! I can't have Mr. Rain's body anymore..."
Rain froze. Then his ears burned crimson. What did she just say…?
He cleared his throat, trying to hold back a laugh. She is unbelievable.
"Daisy," he said, voice calmer than he felt, "do you even know who Mr. Rain likes?"
She squinted up at him, shaking her head."No…"
"It could be you," Rain said slowly. "You never know."
Daisy scoffed, her words slurring. "We barely know each other. I bet he doesn't even know my name. How can he like me?"
Rain met her eyes—steady, sincere.
"He knows you better than you think, Ms. Daisy."
"That's impossible…" she mumbled, still protesting.
Rain stood, offering his hand to her. "Then let's go back and ask Mr. Rain tomorrow."
She stared at his hand, hesitated… then slipped her palm into his.
"…Okay," she whispered.
She wobbled to her feet and Rain immediately steadied her by the waist. The walk was short—only five minutes from the flat's back gate—but she leaned on him the whole way, her weight trusting, her vulnerability exposed.
Halfway down the lane, she murmured, half-asleep, "will Mr. Rain ever love me?"
Rain chuckled softly.