Eric had just stepped out of the elevator. He took a few steps and noticed a girl sitting by the emergency stairwell, leaning against the wall with her bag open on her lap.
Clara's long hair covered half her face, and she looked like she was struggling with a stubborn zipper.
Eric stopped a few steps away.
"Are you okay?"
Clara jolted, shot up too fast, and her bag flipped over. Everything spilled—pens, hair clips, a small notebook, even gum.
"Oh no! No, no—" She crouched back down, hands trembling as she grabbed her things. "S-sorry. Thank you."
Eric bent down to help.
"It's fine."
He pressed his lips together, trying not to laugh.
"Are you okay?"
Clara froze for a moment, like her brain lagged.
"Huh?"
"I asked if you're okay," Eric repeated, smiling.
Clara nodded quickly.
They picked up her things in silence until their heads almost bumped. Clara straightened up fast, her face burning.
"Sorry!"
"Sorry."
They spoke at the same time, both instantly more awkward.
Right then, Clara's stomach growled—loud.
Like… loud enough to echo.
Clara covered her face. "Please pretend you didn't hear that."
"Can't," Eric said calmly. "It was too loud. Even the wall jumped."
Clara lightly smacked his shoulder.
"You're impossible."
Eric took a candy from his pocket and handed it to her.
"Here. Before you faint on the stairs."
Clara took it, still embarrassed.
"Thanks."
"You're welcome," he said with a smile that made Clara blank out for a second.
Their fingers brushed when she took the candy. She quickly pulled her hand back, but she couldn't hide the small smile slipping out.
Eric sat beside her, still keeping a respectful distance.
"Do you want to grab lunch with me?"
Clara nodded.
"Come on. My treat."
She smiled, and that smile made Eric's heart skip harder than he expected.
---
The moment they stepped out of the restaurant, Clara let out a satisfied breath. She was finally full. Eric watched her from the side, a small smile on his face because she looked so much brighter after eating.
The sky slowly darkened. Clara looked up.
"Uh… looks like it's gonna rain."
Before Eric could reply, rain poured down suddenly—like someone turned on a tap.
Clara flinched. "W-what?!"
Within two seconds, Eric reacted. He yanked off his hoodie, unzipped it fast, and without thinking, lifted it over Clara's head while pulling himself under the same small cover.
Their heads nearly touched. Even their breaths overlapped.
Clara: "W-wait—"
Eric: "It's fine. Come closer or you'll get soaked."
Clara moved with him under the hoodie, but because it wasn't very big, they ended up walking very close—shoulders brushing, heads bumping now and then.
"Eric… this is really cramped…" she whispered, cheeks warm.
"I'm big. My hoodie's small," he said, trying to act calm, though his ears were bright red.
Clara let out a soft laugh. "So you're blaming your body now?"
"No. I'm blaming the rain," he said, refusing to look at her.
They jogged their way to a closed shop with a small awning. Still under the same hoodie, they made it just as the rain became even heavier. Eric lowered the hoodie from over their heads; their hair was slightly damp.
For a moment, everything slowed down.
Clara was still close. Eric still had the hoodie half-raised. His eyes drifted to Clara, who was tucking her wet hair behind her ear.
Their eyes met.
Neither spoke.
Only the sound of heavy rain filled the silence.
Clara looked down a little, smiling quietly.
"Thanks… for the hoodie. You moved really fast."
"Sorry. Eric instinct," he said, trying to sound cool.
Clara paused, smiling softly.
Water trickled from the ends of her hair. She looked at him again.
"You're soaked too, you know."
"Fair. We're both wet," Eric said with a small laugh.
They sat under the tiny awning, close because the space was narrow. Their hands brushed. Neither pulled away.
Awkward.
But warm.
A spark neither expected.
And in the middle of the rain, they both realized something simple:
Something between them had started to shift.
---
The rain eased into a drizzle. Clara peeked outside.
"It's lighter now… we can walk back," she said quietly.
Eric nodded. Before they stepped out, he held out his half-wet hoodie.
"Wear this."
Clara blinked. "I'm okay. You're more drenched than me."
"I'm fine. You'll complain about being cold later," he replied, straightforward, voice low.
Clara wanted to argue but couldn't.
She took the hoodie slowly, slipped it on, and immediately caught the scent of Eric's sandalwood-and-sage pheromone still trapped in the fabric.
Her face flushed completely.
They walked together in the drizzle toward the main road. Clara clutched the hoodie around herself.
"Do I look weird in this?" she asked.
"Hm…"
Clara stopped. "What does hm mean?"
Eric kept a straight face, though he was definitely holding back a smile.
"You look… small."
"Small?" Clara huffed playfully. "You're the one who's too tall. Everyone looks small next to you."
Eric laughed.
Clara pulled the sleeves over her hands until they disappeared completely.
Eric glanced at her for a second—not at the hoodie, but at her wearing it.
He turned away quickly.
---
By the main road, Clara's car was already waiting. She opened the door, then turned back to Eric.
"Thanks… for everything. For the food, the hoodie, for… you know. Saving my hair from turning into a mop because of the rain."
Eric laughed softly.
"Sure. Anything for you."
Clara went still. The words hit harder than he realized.
She stepped into the car, but before closing the door, she said:
"Next time… I'll treat you."
Eric smiled, a soft smile that didn't show up often.
"Deal."
She closed the door. When she reached for her seatbelt, she paused, looking at the oversized hoodie on her.
The car moved off.
Through the window, Eric was still standing there, watching the car leave.
"Cute," he murmured, smiling to himself.