The rain had been falling for hours.
By evening, it wasn’t just rain anymore. It was a typhoon in full force.
The wind howled through the trees, bending branches until they creaked under the pressure. The tarp above them shook violently with every strong gust, and the noise was deafening — rain hammering against the thin cover, wind roaring like waves crashing against rocks.
Arielle sat cross-legged on her sleeping bag, arms folded tightly against her chest, her jaw clenched so hard it ached.
She couldn’t stand the sound anymore. Or the cold dampness clinging to her skin. Or the thought of being stuck here for another night with him.
“This is ridiculous,” she muttered, more to herself than to him.
Kairo didn’t respond at first. He sat across from her, leaning against his pack, hands
