Chapter 69: Feel The Rain

< Dylan >
We were walking ahead again, trying to find a way out of the woods. I wanted to take my drenched t-shirt off, but it would be weird as hell. I was positive that I was going to get sick sooner or later.
It was getting darker. The orange hue on the sky was barely visible due to the grey clouds. I could see the small thunderbolts in the sky.
"Maybe we should light some fire," Shirley suggested.
"We aren't here for camping, you know," I rebuked.
"I'm hungry," she whined again.
"I don't supply food, either."
"When will we get home?"
"I freaking don't know."
"I'm thirsty too."
"Then fucking wriggle the water out of your clothes and drink it," I snapped. Seriously, she was infuriating. "You're annoying."
"Thank you." Shirley flashed me a toothy grin and I furrowed my eyebrows because that looked fake.
I shivered a little bit when a heavy gust of wind brushed by me. I was glad Shirley was warm due to my jacket. One good thing I did today was to bring that bullet-proof jacket.
"Hey, let's light some fire, please. You will catch a cold," Shirley said, her voice screamed of concern for me.
"Okay."
We gathered some dry woods. Shirley brought two stones, making me give her a quizzical look. "We can use these stones to light fire." She chimed happily.
I gave her a flat look and took out my lighter. "I have a lighter."
Shirley gasped loudly as if I committed some crime. "Oh, my God! Dylan, do you smoke?"
"No." If a man carried a lighter, it didn't mean he smoked, he could be using it to burn down a few houses and people as well.
Shirley let out a relieved sigh and sat under the tree. Shaking my head, I lit up the fire and sat down near her. I started rubbing my hands as Shirley snuggled closer to me, which I didn't mind, rather it was comfortable.
The heat was slightly warming me up gradually. Shirley shifted towards me, resting her head on my chest, and wrapped her arms around me, stiffening me.
Her voice was timid and shy as she spoke, "It will keep both of us warm."
When I nodded, I could feel her smile as she cuddled closer with me. Forgetting the situation at hand, I only wanted to enjoy her company. I was sure she could hear the loud thumping of my heart.
These symptoms... emotions... feelings... desires... care… Is this what they called love? I wondered.
I have been having these types of thoughts for a long time ever since that meaningless conversation with Sienna about stupid love two weeks ago. She partially convinced me that I somehow do possess some strong feelings for Shirley and also said I was too dense to figure it out myself.
That's why I curled up in my bedroom for five days, without meeting Shirley, after I got out from my father's clutches. I knew I was stupid and irrational.
Could I possibly—
Cut the crap, Dylan. You know you love her. You're just a wimp, shouted the voice in my head.
Fuck off.
You're a dense, scaredy-cat who is too afraid to admit he is in love.
Perish, you inner voice.
You're so scared, aren't you? You—
Yes, I'm fucking scared. Now disappear!
I was too scared to lose her. Everyone who I cared about seemed to die. They always died. No matter how much I tried to protect them; they ended up dying for me. I couldn't ever protect them, rather I brought death and destruction around me. I was fucking cursed.
What if Shirley died too? This thought was driving me crazy. It was keeping me awake for nights.
Maybe I did love her, yet it didn't matter. I would just end up losing her forever. If locking up my feelings could extend her lifespan, then so be it.
I heard some soft snores and glanced at Shirley's sleeping figure. My mouth curved into a smile. She looked like a doll.
Only if I could make her mine... Scratch that thought, Dylan. She can't be yours, I told myself.
I took out her cell phone from my pocket and checked if the network had returned, and sadly, it hadn't.
Oh, that reminded me about Shirley looking around herself with fear in her eyes whenever she received some messages. Like today—her phone buzzed just before the SUVs started following us. Could it—
I had committed thousands of crimes in my life to care about invading someone's private belongings. It's not like I was gonna check her gallery or something, I respected that much privacy.
Shirley was naive enough not to have a screen lock. I didn't understand—was she plainly dumb or thought no one would want her phone?
Rolling my eyes, I opened her inbox and the very message at the top grabbed my attention.
"Mr. Creepy Stalker?" I uttered and opened the chatbox. It was mostly a one-sided conversation from that person texting.
The more I seem to read, the more my blood boiled; my jaw clenched as I let out curses.
Son of a bitch. How dare he harass my sweet, bubbly Shirley? You're gonna pay, you fucking stalker.

"Shirley, who is your stalker?" Dylan asked suddenly when we were walking through the woods, the moon glowing with all its glory over our head at that time.
"Who knows? That dude has some serious issues—" I was mouthing off until realization hit me like a tsunami. "How the fuck do you know, Dylan?" I screamed so loud that the sound came reflecting back to me. I must have awakened some sleeping beasts.
"I checked your phone."
"You sneaky bastard." I frowned.
"Hey, I just looked through the texts. Nothing else. I'm not interested in your private life," he retorted and stuffed his hands in his pockets.
"As if I believe that," I muttered, and he shot me a glare.
"Who is that stalker? Do you have any idea? I'm positive he planned the attack on us," Dylan expressed.
I nodded. "I have no clue who Mr. Creepy Stalker is, trust me. I tried to find out. I asked my previous guards to find out, but they got no info on him." Then I started telling him everything I knew about Mr. Creepy Stalker.
Dylan hummed in reply.
My eyes flickered as the flashlight from my phone fluctuated. I glanced at the screen of my phone and let out a loud gasp.
"Shit!" I cursed.
"What is it now?" Dylan asked in a bored tone. Just then the battery died and the only ray of light faded away. "Screw your stupid phone."
"Hey, don't blame it on my baby. We have been using its flashlight for two hours now," I defended myself.
However, due to the moonlight, I was able to make out the big trees in sight. Still, fear was crawling into my heart. My phasmophobia was kicking in. As if reading my thoughts, Dylan said, "Stay close to me." I side-hugged him and continued walking.
The moonlight was slowly disappearing as the grey clouds started to gather again. It was like all the lights from our life were fading. It drizzled a while ago for a few minutes, which had disturbed my sleep.
After a few minutes, I could see nothing but blackness. "Be careful," Dylan warned me. I hugged him tighter, almost burying my face on the crook of his neck.
I noticed a speck of light from far away and pointed at it. We hurried up to the source of light and cheered in victory when we saw a road. Some lampposts lit the way.
In excitement, I jumped on Dylan. "Now we can go back home," he said happily.
We broke apart and Dylan took out my cell phone. "Fucking hell!" I nearly cried when I realized my phone was dead. "Stupid phone." He smashed it on the ground.
I was about to open my mouth, just then it thundered. I flinched at the booming noise. With that, it started drizzling once again. Dylan rushed to the shades, but I remained standing in the middle of the road.
"Hey, you will get drenched. Come over here," Dylan called out.
I ignored that and spread my arms and felt the rain droplets hit my face. Closing my eyes, I spun around with a contented smile on my face, feeling the joy of rain.
Soon, the rain intensified, turning into a rainstorm. The trees were almost bending due to the wind pressure. I inhaled a sharp breath, taking in the earthly fragrance. The coldness was reaching to my bones. It felt so serene and oddly satisfying.
"Lady, are you crazy?" Dylan yelled out. His voice was barely audible due to the thunderbolts and heavy rain.
I opened my eyes and rushed to him. I grabbed his wrist and pulled him out of the shade with me. "Hey, leave me." He struggled in a futile attempt.
I made him stand in the middle of the road. His black hair was sticking to his forehead, giving him an emo look. His t-shirt was sticking to him like a second skin like before.
Dylan pushed his hair back and started talking, "Do you want us to die of hypothermia, Ms. Disaster?" He had trouble speaking due to the water hitting his lips as he moved his lips. It was even harder to keep our eyes open.
"Don't you enjoy the rain?" I asked in a daze.
"What?" he asked back as he couldn't hear me over the rain.
"Don't you enjoy the rain?" I hollered.
"What's there to enjoy about it?" he responded.
"There is. Just try to feel it." I smiled and he gave me a confused look.
"Close your eyes. Stretch out your arms like a free bird. Feel the rain hitting your face. Try to inhale the earthly fragrance around you. Think of the happy moments in your life," I advertised. I know I sounded silly, but I wanted to experience the mundane things.
If it could make him feel at peace, then anything for that. I would do everything for him. That was how much I loved him.
Dylan furrowed his brows in confusion. "Go on," I encouraged.
He did what I was told. He tried to feel the rain. At first, he didn't feel anything, just an awkward expression on his face before calmness washed over it. A smile spread across my face as he was enjoying it.
Since his arms were open, it felt like an open invitation for me. Without a second thought, I went ahead and hugged him. I placed my ear over his heart and listened to his steady heartbeat, which accelerated as soon as I made physical contact with him.
"What is it?" he asked softly, resting his chin on top of my head.
"Nothing. I just felt like it." I grinned.
Dylan wrapped his arms around me, making me feel secured. I felt completed. It also felt like the perfect opportunity for me to confess my love.
"Shirley," he said, and I looked up at him with hopeful eyes. Just then a pair of lips touched mine. I was taken aback by it, yet it didn't stop me from kissing him back.
It was like a dream too good to be true. The kiss lasted for a few minutes until we pulled apart. The kiss was soft, warm, and tender; just the type that was perfect for the environment.
"Shirley, I want to confess something to you," Dylan told me in a meek voice that was barely audible. I nodded with a smile and encouraged him to go ahead. Maybe he returned my feelings, after all. "I think I love—"
I wanted the moment to last forever. Only him and me. Together. Forever—was it too much to ask?
Maybe it was. Because the next thing I heard would haunt me for the rest of my life.
Gunshot.
"—You."