A FAMILIAR FACE
1637 Words
The rain began around five o'clock in the evening.
Dark clouds had covered the sky throughout the afternoon, but nobody expected the downpour to become so heavy.
Laura stood near the entrance of the company building, watching the rain fall endlessly onto the streets below.
Employees rushed past her carrying umbrellas while others waited patiently for the weather to improve.
Laura sighed.
She had forgotten her umbrella at home.
"Great," she muttered under her breath.
Normally she would have waited until the rain stopped, but after nearly thirty minutes, the weather showed no signs of improving.
She checked the time.
It was getting late.
If she stayed any longer, Maria would undoubtedly find another reason to complain.
Taking a deep breath, Laura adjusted her bag and stepped into the rain.
Cold water immediately soaked her clothes.
She pulled her jacket closer and began running down the sidewalk.
Maybe she could find a taxi somewhere along the road.
The rain continued pouring heavily as she hurried forward.
Suddenly, a car slowed beside her.
At first, Laura ignored it.
Then the driver's window rolled down.
"Laura?"
She stopped running.
Her eyes widened.
The voice sounded familiar.
Very familiar.
She looked through the rain-covered window and nearly froze.
"W-Williams?"
The young man smiled.
The same smile she remembered from high school.
The same smile that had once made her heart race whenever she saw him walking through the school corridors.
For a moment, Laura simply stared.
Of all the people she expected to meet on a rainy evening, Williams was the last person she imagined.
"What are you doing out here?" he asked.
"I forgot my umbrella."
Williams laughed softly.
"Get in. I'll take you home."
Laura's heart nearly skipped a beat.
Her high school crush was offering her a ride.
For several seconds she couldn't even think properly.
"Oh... okay."
Trying her best to appear calm, she quickly got into the car.
The moment she closed the door, warmth surrounded her.
Rainwater dripped from her hair and clothes.
Williams handed her a small towel.
"You'll catch a cold."
"Thank you."
Laura accepted it carefully.
Inside, however, she was fighting to remain composed.
Back in high school, she had admired Williams from afar.
He was handsome, popular, intelligent, and kind.
Unlike many students, he never bullied anyone.
Laura had developed a crush on him during her second year.
But she had never spoken about it.
Not to her friends.
Not to anyone.
Her shyness kept everything locked inside her heart.
Years passed, and eventually she graduated without ever having a real conversation with him.
And now, somehow, she was sitting beside him.
In his car.
On a rainy evening.
Life could be strange sometimes.
The drive was surprisingly comfortable.
Williams asked a few questions about work, and Laura answered politely.
Though her responses were short, her mind was filled with excitement.
Before she knew it, they had arrived at her house.
"Here we are," Williams said.
Laura looked outside.
She almost wished the journey had lasted longer.
"Thank you for the ride."
"No problem."
She smiled.
"Have a good evening."
"You too."
Laura stepped out of the car and watched it disappear down the road.
Only then did she realize she had been smiling the entire time.
After entering the house and changing into dry clothes, she lay on her bed.
Immediately, memories of the car ride replayed in her mind.
The conversation.
His smile.
His voice.
The fact that he remembered her name.
Each memory made her smile even more.
Without realizing it, she began blushing.
She was so lost in her thoughts that she didn't hear the bedroom door open.
"Why are you smiling like someone who won the lottery?"
Laura jumped.
Maria stood near the doorway, looking at her with obvious annoyance.
"Oh... it's nothing, Mum."
Maria narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
"Better. Come downstairs and help prepare dinner with the maid."
Without waiting for a response, she turned and left.
Laura sighed softly.
Normally her mother's attitude would have ruined her mood.
But today felt different.
For once, she couldn't stop smiling.
The unexpected encounter with Williams had brightened her day more than she wanted to admit.
Days passed.
Work continued as usual.
Life returned to its normal routine.
But every now and then, Laura found herself remembering the rainy evening.
She wondered how Williams was doing.
She wondered if they would ever meet again.
Then one Tuesday evening, something unexpected happened.
After finishing work, Laura decided not to go straight home.
She wanted some quiet time for herself.
Across the street from the company stood a cozy little café.
It wasn't crowded, which made it one of her favorite places to relax.
She entered, ordered a meal, and found a comfortable seat near the window.
The peaceful atmosphere helped her unwind after another long day.
A few minutes later, the café door opened.
Laura looked up casually.
Then her eyes widened.
Williams had just walked in.
For a second, she thought she was imagining things.
But no.
It was really him.
The same confident posture.
The same warm smile.
The same familiar face she hadn't stopped thinking about.
At almost the same moment, Williams noticed her.
His face brightened.
He smiled and waved.
Laura nearly forgot how to breathe.
She quickly waved back.
Inside, excitement exploded like fireworks.
Williams walked to the counter and placed his order.
Meanwhile, Laura struggled to act normal.
Her heart was beating so fast she was certain everyone around her could hear it.
A few nearby customers glanced at her strange smile.
Laura quickly looked down at her food, hoping nobody noticed.
Moments later, she heard a familiar voice.
"Do you mind if I sit here?"
She looked up.
Williams stood beside her table holding his tray.
Laura nearly dropped her fork.
"Uh... yes. Yes, of course."
Williams sat down.
For a moment, Laura wondered if she was dreaming.
She discreetly pinched her arm beneath the table.
It hurt.
Definitely not a dream.
"So," Williams said, smiling, "I knew you looked familiar."
Laura looked at him nervously.
"I did?"
"Yeah. Didn't we attend the same high school?"
Laura nodded.
"We did."
"I thought so."
Williams laughed.
"I kept trying to remember where I'd seen you before."
Laura felt oddly happy hearing that.
At least he remembered her.
Even if only a little.
The conversation gradually became easier.
They talked about school memories, work, and life after graduation.
For the first time, Laura felt comfortable speaking with him.
She wasn't the shy teenager watching from a distance anymore.
She was actually having a real conversation.
Before leaving, Williams smiled.
"I've enjoyed talking with you."
Laura's heart skipped again.
"Me too."
Then he asked, "Can I have your number?"
For a moment, she almost forgot how to respond.
"Of course."
They exchanged contact information.
Soon afterward, Williams stood up to leave.
"It was nice seeing you again, Laura."
"You too."
Laura watched him walk away.
Even after he disappeared through the café door, she remained seated, staring at the entrance.
A huge smile spread across her face.
She wanted to scream from excitement.
Instead, she whispered softly to herself.
"Yes."
After returning home that evening, she checked her phone repeatedly.
Every few minutes.
Then every few seconds.
Perhaps he would call.
Perhaps he would send a message.
Perhaps tonight would be the beginning of something new.
The anticipation kept her awake far longer than usual.
And as Laura stared at her phone late into the night, she had no idea that meeting Williams again was about to change the course of her life in ways she never expected.
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