Episode 3: Whispers and Rain
1667 Words
Episode 3: Whispers and Rain
The morning sun cast a golden hue over North Haven High, its rays bouncing off the tall windows and filling the halls with warm light. Aerin Dela Vega walked slowly through the corridor, holding her books close to her chest, her mind still spinning from the events of yesterday.
Raven Alcantara — her mysterious seatmate with quiet eyes and a guarded demeanor — had left a strange mark on her thoughts. He wasn’t like the other guys she had met before. There was something about him… something distant, like a storm waiting to break.
She slid into her seat, glancing at the empty chair beside her. He wasn’t there yet.
Her heart thudded — Why do I care?
She quickly shook her head, pulling out her notebook. Focus, Aerin.
Just then, the door opened, and in came Raven. Dressed in his usual black hoodie, earphones dangling from his ears, he walked past everyone without sparing a glance. But for a split second — just a second — his eyes met hers.
And he nodded.
Not a word. Not a smile. Just a nod.
But it was enough to make her chest tighten.
Later that Day…
The classes dragged on, and by lunch, the skies had darkened. Clouds rolled over the city like waves, casting shadows across the school grounds. A storm was brewing.
Aerin sat under a covered bench near the soccer field, the wind playing with her hair. Her friends had gone to the cafeteria, but she needed air — space to breathe. She was still adjusting to the new city, the new school… and now, this new feeling she couldn’d Name.
Raven's voice was soft, almost hesitant.
Aerin looked out at the wet soccer field. “It’s… different. Quieter. Slower. I miss the chaos of Manila sometimes. But I guess I’m starting to like it.”
He nodded, fingers tapping gently on his knee. “That’s good. Most people here aren’t used to change.”
“You mean people like you?”
Raven smirked faintly. “Something like that.”
A moment passed before Aerin dared to ask, “Why don’t you talk to anyone?”
He tilted his head. “Do you always ask this many questions?”
“I’m just curious,” she smiled.
He looked at her again, eyes deep with thought. “Let’s just say… people tend to expect too much, then blame you when you can’t be what they want.”
She didn’t know what to say to that. There was sadness hidden behind his words — a kind she recognized. Maybe not exactly the same, but close enough.
“I think... you don’t have to be what anyone expects,” she said quietly. “Just be you. That’s enough.”
He blinked, and something flickered in his expression. Gratitude? Surprise? Maybe both.
A low roll of thunder echoed above them.
A Memory Shared
“I used to love storms,” Raven said suddenly. “When I was a kid, my mom and I would sit by the window and count the seconds between the thunder.”
Aerin turned to him, surprised. “You don’t talk like that often, do you?”
He smiled, a real one this time. “No. I don’t.”
“What changed?”
“My mom died.”
The words hit her like a cold breeze.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered.
“It’s been three years,” he said quietly. “You’d think it would get easier.”
“It doesn’t. My dad left when I was eight. Some days, I still wait for him to come back.”
Their eyes locked again — not in silence, but in understanding.
They were both used to people leaving.
The Bell Rings
Eventually, the rain began to lighten. The school bell echoed across the campus.
“We should go,” Aerin said, standing up and brushing water off her skirt.
Raven followed. “We’re already late.”
“Then let’s be late together,” she teased.
He raised an eyebrow. “You always this rebellious?”
“Only when it’s raining.”
Walking Through Rain
They walked slowly back to the main building, ignoring the droplets that still clung to their clothes. Neither spoke. They didn’t need to.
Raven held the door open for her, and for a brief moment, her shoulder brushed against his arm. Electricity shot through her.
She glanced up.
He had felt it too.
Back in the Classroom
When they returned, the teacher gave them both a pointed look, but said nothing. Aerin was sure they looked suspicious — hair damp, shoes squeaking softly. But she didn’t care.
She glanced at Raven. He was staring out the window again, but this time… there was a faint smile on his lips.
Later That Night
Aerin lay on her bed, staring at the ceiling.
She replayed the afternoon in her mind — the rain, the quiet talks, the way Raven had looked at her.
Was it just a moment?
Or the beginning of something more?
Her phone buzzed again.
Raven: Thanks for not running away when I talked.
Aerin: Thanks for talking.
Raven: See you tomorrow.
She stared at the message for a long time.
Then typed slowly: Yeah. I’ll be there.
The Next Morning
Aerin woke up with a strange kind of energy in her chest. It was like excitement, nervousness, and a little confusion all mixed together. She barely touched her breakfast, staring at her reflection in the spoon.
What was that yesterday?
The way he looked at her.
The way he talked.
And more than that, the way he made her feel — like someone saw her, really saw her, without pretending.
When she arrived at school, Raven was already in his seat. For the first time, he wasn’t wearing his hoodie. His black hair was slightly messy, and she noticed the faint scar near his jawline.
"Good morning," she said softly.
He glanced sideways, and there it was again — that tiny, honest smile.
"Hey."
That was enough to make her heart stumble.
---
Chemistry Lab Partners
“Okay, settle down everyone,” their chemistry teacher called. “For this project, you’ll be working with the person seated beside you. Yes, I know some of you want to switch. No, you can’t.”
Aerin looked at Raven.
Raven looked at her.
“Well,” Aerin whispered. “Fate is working overtime today.”
Raven smirked. “You sure you're ready to mix chemicals with a guy who barely speaks?”
“As long as you don’t blow us up, I think I’ll survive.”
For the next hour, they worked side by side. Measuring liquids, taking notes, scribbling equations — and in between, sharing quiet glances and even quieter jokes.
When Raven accidentally dropped a beaker and it shattered, Aerin couldn’t help but giggle.
“That was a calculated risk,” he said.
She raised a brow. “Really?”
“Okay, maybe it was just me being clumsy.”
She laughed, and for a moment, the whole class disappeared.
---
Lunch Under the Library Stairs
Instead of the cafeteria, they sat under the small stairs behind the library — a place few people ever used.
Raven unwrapped a sandwich and offered half to her. “I didn’t know if you liked chicken or tuna, so I brought both.”
Aerin blinked. “Wait. You… brought this for me?”
He looked a bit embarrassed. “I mean, you forgot your lunch yesterday. Figured you might again.”
She took the sandwich and smiled. “Thank you.”
They ate in silence at first, until Aerin asked, “Why do you hide here?”
He shrugged. “I don’t like crowds.”
“Or people?”
“Most people, yeah. They talk too much. They lie.”
She looked at him. “And me?”
“You… you ask questions I can actually answer.”
She froze, her heart thudding.
It wasn’t exactly a compliment, but it wasn’t nothing either.
---
Rain Again
That afternoon, as if nature was following their story, the sky darkened once more. Thunder rolled softly in the distance, and the scent of rain filled the air.
Aerin stood near the school gates, holding her umbrella.
She had planned to go home early. But when she saw Raven sitting alone by the bike rack, hood up again, she walked toward him.
“You’re waiting for the rain again?”
He looked up. “Something like that.”
She opened her umbrella and stood beside him. “Come on. I’ll walk you home.”
He hesitated. “I don’t need—”
“I didn’t ask if you needed me to. I said I would.”
After a pause, he stood up.
They walked in silence, raindrops pattering around them, close enough to feel the warmth between them but not yet brave enough to touch.
---
The Wall Between Them
Raven’s house was a small, modest home just a few blocks from school. When they reached the gate, he turned to her.
“Thanks,” he said.
She nodded. “Do you live alone?”
“My brother stays with me sometimes. But mostly, yeah.”
“That must be… lonely.”
“I’m used to it.”
She stepped closer. “You don’t have to be.”
Their eyes met again.
Something flickered.
But just before anything could happen, his phone buzzed. He glanced at it, his expression darkening.
“I have to go,” he muttered.
“Is everything okay?”
“Yeah. Just—family stuff.”
Before she could say more, he was gone.
---
That Night
Aerin couldn’t sleep. The rain had stopped, but the echo of it remained in her heart. Something about Raven’s eyes today had changed. Something heavy. Sad.
She picked up her phone and texted.
Aerin: Hey. Are you okay?
No reply.
She tried again the next morning.
Still no answer.
---
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- Writer
