Story: When the Rain Becomes Your Best Friend

 

“You say you love rain, but you use an umbrella to walk under it. You say you love sun, but you seek shelter when it is shining. You say you love wind, but when it comes you close your windows. So that's why I'm scared when you say you love me.”
― Bob Marley

            Once there was a man named Summer Blake Woods. He was born on the start of the yearly summer solstice. That’s the reason why his parents named him, Summer. In his 27years of existence, his mortal enemy is the rain. When he was young, he considered the rain his opposite but never his complement and now that he’s working as a regular employee and working hard to have a position in the company, he always curses the skies for making it rain because whenever it rains, he gets late for work and being late for work is the thing that he hates more than the rain.

            Summer is very addicted to work. When he graduated, work is the only thing that has been his priority. He has been working for a telecommunication company for about five years now and until now, he never received any promotion. So for this year, he realized that it’s time for him to make the big move for the big step.

            Every day he wakes up at 4:00am. For one hour, he prepares himself and by 5:00am, he rides three transportation vehicles for two hours of traveling and he need to arrive at his office at exactly 7:00am and it ends by 7:00pm. That’s the reason why for that five years, his mind never left his office.

            100meters away from his office, there lays a roundabout where traffic is never absent, especially, when it rains. One day, the traffic didn’t cooperate with him because he was stuck there for about half an hour and in just 15minutes, his late-clock will strike and the worst thing he ever imagined happened, it rained. Afraid of being late, he got off the bus and ran. Then something, I mean, someone stopped him. He saw a girl wearing a white rose flower band on her brunette loose curls, a white-lace dress and white sneakers. The girl was sitting on the bench in the middle of the garden roundabout, bathing in the rain. She was soaking wet and nobody offered an umbrella where she could used as a shield but Summer didn’t mind her for he was too afraid that he will be late.

            Summer was lucky he arrived on time but unfortunately, the bad weather happened again on the next day. So he got off the bus and ran again but he was not expecting to see that the girl was there again, sitting, soaking wet and bathing on the rain. He was about to come to her but again, the fear of getting late overcame Summer. The third time, the weather was not good at all and he saw the girl again but this time, she was laughing and smiling, beautifully and again, Summer was afraid so he didn’t mind her. The girl was now running in Summer’s head.

            Through the night, he was thinking about the girl. For the first time, his mind was not in his office but in the girl’s presence. So he decided to be half on an hour early and he even offered some eggs so that it would not rain tomorrow. Due to the curiosity, Summer has forgotten that he was assigned to bring an important document tomorrow.

            The next day, there was no traffic at the roundabout. Everything was smooth and clear. He was an hour early before his time and luckily, there was no rain at all. He looked at the bus’s window and he saw the girl. In his excitement, he got off the bus and ran. The girl was sitting there, wearing the usual white rose band and the white sneakers paired with a different white dress. She was smiling. Summer asked permission of he could sit and the girl nodded. The girl smiled again and whispered on the wind.

“Excuse me Miss, are you saying something?”-Summer asked the girl and you could see the curiosity in his eyes.

“Yes I was saying something but I am afraid to tell you so. So I whispered it to the wind”-the girl then stared at Summer and he wasn’t able to resist to stare back, he stared at the girl’s icy blue eyes.

“My name is Summer Blake Woods. Now, are you still afraid to tell me what you whispered to the wind?”-

“No. I am not. I told the wind that you’re early today and instead of running, you’re here, sitting with me. How wonderful”-

“I also whispered to the wind”-

“Are you afraid to tell me so? My name is the opposite of yours. I just don’t know if I complement you or not. So, what have you whispered?”-

“You are dry today. Chuckles. By the way, why aren’t you using an umbrella, I mean, why are you bathing in the rain?”-

“I am bathing in the rain because the rain is my best friend.”-

“Your best friend? How come? “-

“When the rain becomes your best friend, you’ll never know what the tears are for. You’ll never know if it’s for happiness or for sorrow”-

“You’re weird. I mean special. You’re unique. So when it rains, you’ll never find a place to hind under? You’re just goanna feel the rain?”-

“I guess so.  By the way, Summer, Look at your clock. I guess you need to run again”-

“Jeez. I need to arrive at my office in 15minutes which is 100meters away from here”-

“Would you like to hear me sing a song for you?”-

“I would love to but I need to go”-

            Summer ran and he even forgot his documents. So he opened his case and brought out the papers.  While running, he’s reading it. He even took the last glimpse of the girl who was playing a guitar and singing. After two minutes, his papers were all destroyed. It’s soaking wet in water and even his own self is soaking wet. From the bright and sunny weather, the skies turned grey. It has rained. In all of sudden, it has rained. He didn’t knew when or where did it come from but it has rained. He was clueless and helpless.

            Summer arrived at his office an hour late. He was saying nothing at all. Then his furious boss went to him and asked for the documents. He handed the papers that are obviously wet and was dried with a hair blower. His boss, due to anger, slapped the papers on Summer’s face. His boss shouted at him, “Two weeks of suspension!” and pointed his finger on the exit door. Summer has no choice but get out and went home. When he got out, the sun was shining brightly again.

            The next morning, Summer woke up on his usual schedule. When he was already in the roundabout, he realized that he was in suspension and what hurting is, with no pay. He walked slowly to the bench where he found the girl as always, wearing the white-rose flower band, a pair of white sneakers and a white less dress. The girl smiled at him and he felt lightly. The frown in his face was slightly removed when the girl stared at him, smiling with no reason. The corners in his lips started to form a curve when the girl looked at the sky, closed her eyes and smiled. Suddenly, it rained again but this time, Summer didn’t went to a place where there’s a roof and he didn’t even open an umbrella. He just stayed there, feeling the presence of the rain.

“I know your name now. You’re the opposite of me but you complement me.”-Summer said as he picked a white daisy and putted it in her flower band.

“Don’t you have any work today? You’re already late!”-She said with a loud voice while the rain started to get heavy.

“I got suspended. You’re name is Rain, isn’t it? I want the rain to be my best friend! I want you to be my best friend!”-

“Yes! I am the rain and starting now, I am your best friend”-

            Summer and Rain bathed in the rain. Laughing and playing with it. They splashed the water that pours from the sky. They grabbed dirt on the ground and threw it at each other. They were like children who were playing in the outdoors while it rains. The smiles on their faces cannot be removed for you can see that both of them are enjoying every moment I mean every drop of the rain. By that time, they knew to themselves that a new friendship was created between the two of them.

            The skies opened and there was a rainbow. The rain has stopped but their happiness did not. They were laughing at each other for looking like they wrestled in the mud. The white dress of Rain was covered with brown spots and her shoes we’re like dipped in hot fudge. Summer went to the nearby mall and bought two towels. They wiped each other’s faces filled with droplets of rain. They we’re happy and finally they felt tied and decided to sit on the bench again.

“You know, I never liked my job. I have always wanted to be an Editor-in-Chief of a magazine publishing company. I wanted to share.”-Summer opened up to her as a sign of trust.

“Then why are you still there? You should be somewhere where you belong.”-

“I don’t know where I belong. How about you? Where do you belong?”-

“I belong with the rain. I have told you, the rain is my best friend. I am happy whenever I am with it. Just like you, you’re my best friend that’s why I am happy whenever I am with you.”-

“You know, when I was six years old, I have met someone like you. She’s a girl who loved wearing white daisies on her ears. We became best friend for a day but we never met each other again after that.”-Rain did not response to him. She just smiled with a smile that’s hard to resist adoring.

            They spent the whole day together but it didn’t stop there. Every day, they are together on the roundabout, talking and knowing each other. You can see that in their eyes, they were sincere of their friendship. You can see in their smiles that everything about what they have for each other is special. For about two weeks, 12hours a day, they’re just together and spending the moments with joy.

            On the 13^th day of Summer’s suspension, his boss called and asked for his help. You can see that Summer was very happy because it’s time for him to make up the mistake that he have made. He expressed his happiness to Rain who was very happy for him to and finally he has learned to be happy. The next day, Summer prepared everything. He went early in order to spend time with his best friend. Then, Rain didn’t say a thing. She was just there sitting at the bench, smiling at him. She reminded Summer that he would be late so she told him to go. She just promised to sing for him to wish him good luck.

            Summer walked away happily. Then he saw Rain playing the guitar and singing a song. He smiled. After taking a few steps, he looked at the skies and he was complacent that it would not rain. He closed his eyes and the worst thing happened. He felt drops of water on his shoulders. When he was about to run, the rain poured heavily. He wasn’t able to save the documents. He tried to take a glimpse of Rain but she wasn’t there anymore. He ran and when he arrived at the office, the guard was already there. The guard has given him a letter. A letter that says he was fired of his job. One last chance and he blew it. He felt hatred in his hearts.

            He was speechless. He was helpless. He was fired on the job that he has worked for five years. He was mad and he was hysterical. What just happened was very painful to him. There’s just one thing that he blamed for what has happened to him and that is, the rain. He ran and went to the roundabout where he found Rain. She was smiling at him but he didn’t smile back. He was furious.

“I hate the Rain! I never loved it! It’s just false happiness! If it wasn’t for the rain, I would not be fired and I have been on a higher position.”-Summer shouted at Rain who was clueless of what she has done.

“Why are you blaming the rain? Why are you blaming my best friend? It didn’t do anything to you and I didn’t do anything to you. You said you we’re happy. You learned to be happy. Why are you like this?”-

“No, it’s not the rain. It’s you! You are causing the rain. If you didn’t sing then the skies would open and I have seen a brighter future! And you’re not my complement! You’re ruining my life”-

“You told me that you want the rain to be your best friend! So I sang to make it rain so that you would feel its presence. So you would be happy. I’m sorry if I caused the burden in your life. If you hate the rain, you’re making me hate myself!”-tears flowed down from Rain’s eyes. She ran away and Summer didn’t follow her. He was too guilty for what he has said.

            The moment when Rain cried, the sky turned grey and the rain has poured heavily. Summer stayed there, standing, thinking with his conscience bothering him. He realized that what he said what wrong and he needed to apologize. He went home and kept on thinking about Rain. The whole day and the whole night, the rain didn’t stop. He imagined it like Rain’s tears. It’s unstoppable. Rain said before that when the rain becomes your best friend, you’ll never know if the tears are for happiness or for sorrow but this time, he knew it was for sorrow.

            The next morning, he returned to the roundabout but Rain wasn’t there. It was still raining. He closed the umbrella he was using and threw it to the trash. He sat on the bench, feeling the presence of the rain, waiting for Rain. He believed that his best friend will return. All day, he sat there, bathing on the rain. He was saying nothing at all; he was just waiting for Rain.

            The next day, it was still raining. He returned again there. He still waited for Rain. He waited there, with the rain pouring on him. He didn’t make a move. He was just waiting for Rain. The next day, he was still there and the next day, and the next day, and the next day and the next day. He just sat there, waiting for Rain.

            After a week, he received a phone call from a magazine publishing company wanting him to be their Editor-in-Chief. He was half-happy and half-sad. He remembered Rain. He remembered that he told her that he dreamt of that job but Rain hasn’t returned yet. There was no one to celebrate with. He grew more sad and depressed. The company assigned him to create an article about just anything that has any connection about the rainy season. It was easy for him, he wrote an article about how a girl change her views from an anti-rain to a person whose best friend is the rain. The company accepted it and by the next two days, he will be working at the company as the Editor-in-Chief.

            He has one last day to enjoy and he decided to spend it on the roundabout, waiting for Rain. Then the rain, poured heavily. So heavy that it seems like a storm but he didn’t mind. He just stayed there waiting for Rain. He closed his eyes and smiled. Suddenly, he didn’t felt any drop of rain on his shoulders. Someone was shielding him with an umbrella. He opened his eyes, it was Rain. Suddenly, he stood up, he hugged him and cried. Then he heard an angelic voice. Rain started to sing and the rain started to fade.

Going from day to night, you’re all I think about. Being so pitiful and silly, what should I do?

            Rain’s angelic voice has stopped the rain. She looked at Summer who was crying like a baby. She smiled at him and he smiled back to her. Summer surely missed seeing that smile. 

“Where have you been? I…”-Rain pushed her two fingers on Summer’s lips.

“I…I am sorry Rain. I was…”-Rain again, shushed Summer.

“I know your regrets. I know all your thoughts. I know what you have been through. I was here all the time. I know how you have stayed outside the rain. You didn’t mind the cold, in order to wait for me, to let me see how guilty you are but Summer, you don’t need to explain no more. I have understood it and I know what you have been through. You don’t need to worry.”-Rain told Summer and she gave him a smile.

“But, where have you been? I was not able to see you from a distance.”-

“Haven’t you notice that whenever I’m not with you, it rains? Or whenever I want to sing to make it rain or to stop the rain, it happens? Do you know why? Summer, I would like you to know that I am the rain. Didn’t you feel my cold comfort as I lay my head on your shoulders? Or didn’t you feel my cold comfort as I wrap you to my arms? I’m not the rain because it’s my name. I am the rain Summer. That’s what I want you to know.”-

“What? I don’t understand.”-

“The rain has become your best friend. That’s it Summer. I was just here to make you love the rain”-

“So does it mean that I would not see you again?”-

“Not literally. You would not see me but you would feel my presence as the rain.”-

“Why do you need to go?”-

“Because I don’t belong here. I belong with the rain. Just listen to me Summer, don’t be afraid for I am here. Just pursue your dream okay? And I have always loved you with all of my heart. It’s just that I needed to go. I know this opportunity will bring you to what you have always wanted, so go. Goodbye Summer. I need to be with the rain.”-

            Suddenly, a light shone brightly behind Rain. She stared at Summer and her icy blue eyes lightened and she smiled like an angel to him. Summer wasn’t able to condemn the light so he closed his eyes. When he opened it, Rain was gone. Her brunette loosed curl that was crowned with a white-rose flower band was gone. Her white lace dress paired with sneakers is gone. Her laugh and silliness were gone. Summer broke down and cried.

            The next day, Summer went to the CEO’s office company and there they talked about his contract. Mr. Christie was very happy to have Summer as his Editor-in-Chief for he reminded him, his daughter, Lorraine. Summer was flattered by what Mr. Christie said and he asked permission of he could see her but Mr. Christie refused for Lorraine died a year ago. He just showed him a picture of her in his office and when he saw the picture, Summer was shocked. The girl in the picture, Mr. Christie’s daughter is Rain. She was wearing the same white-rose flower band in the picture and the smile that was priceless. The pair of sneakers that she always wears was beside the frame and a vase that are full of white daisies.

“She died on an accident a year ago. She rescued a child from being stuck in the flood. She successfully rescued the child but she was hit by a log. That’s the reason why she died. Ever wondered why I picked you? When she was five years old, she gave me a name tag. In that name tag, ‘Summer Blake Woods’ was written. A week ago, I have dreamt of my daughter and she asked me to bring you in the company. I agreed. Yesterday, I have dreamt of her again. She told me to make you Editor-in-Chief. I agreed. When I have read your article, it seems like you have known her and I don’t know how but I guess it’s a miracle. So Summer, welcome to our company”-Mr. Christie told Summer who was smiling at the same time, crying.

            Summer smiled. It’s just now that he realized that Rain was the girl who she met when she was six. The girl who loved the white daisies.  Every day, he goes to the roundabout at 5:00am where he stays for an hour and leaves white daisies on the bench. Whenever it rains, Summer never used an umbrella because he knows that the rain that is pouring to him, is the presence of his best friend that will forever remain in his heart.