12. In the rain

"Uhm sorry Mister, but you can't sit in here if you're not going to buy anything."

"I already told you, I'm waiting for someone. I'll get something when she gets here." Reuel firmly states again for the tenth time. The lady looks at him from head to toe, eyeing everything he had on, from his clothing to his accessories. He didn't look broke, in fact, she could tell he was loaded, then at least he could buy water and earn the seat he sat on.

"Alright sir," She says. "Ahh, if only he didn't look like a sexy demon prince, I'd have kicked him out." she mumbles as she walks away.

"Is her class taking longer today?" Reuel wondered.

He had offered to pick her up from school personally, but like the other times he'd asked, her answer was a shy NO. According to her, she didn't want people staring and talking about her.

So here he was, in a Cafe close to her school, dressed in a simple white hoodie, a pair of white jeans, and pair of russet brown sneakers. Waiting...

"I'll just call her," he pulls out his phone, "But what if she's in class? I don't want to get her in trouble with her professor." He dumps the phone on the table in frustration.

They were supposed to meet by two, but he made sure to come thirty minutes later. That was one of his rules. Never be the first to show up to a date, always go some minutes late when you know they are really into you. You know they won't walk away because they are drawn to you. So use that to your advantage and make them anticipate eagerly for what they want, so when they get it, it'd hold more value.

But now, here he was, even though he came thirty minutes late, she wasn't here yet. He knew she was drawn to him. He could tell, so he was almost sure she didn't come and go already because he was running late.

But just to be certain, he showed her picture to the waitresses and they confirmed that she had not come there. So he was a hundred percent sure that she was yet to arrive, "I'll just wait a minute more" He nods to himself, as he picks up the box of napkins and joblessly starts making boats with them.

But then a minute turned to more minutes, and before he knew it, he had spent over an hour and thirty minutes waiting for her.

He has never waited for anyone, at least never once since his last heartbreak, but here he was, doing the things he told himself he'd never do again because of his dear little Maltese.

"Hah, is she gonna stand me up without even a call? and she's not picking mine?" he mutters with a low chuckle. "If that's the case then you're far more interesting than I thought" He smirks, but it wasn't a pleasing smirk, as the corner of his lip fell back down as quickly as it had risen, and his jaw tightened, his eyes had turned into a darker shade of green as the thought of being played by a woman again made his blood boil.

"Sorry sir, it's either you order something this time or you'll..." the lady's following words sank deep down into her chest, as Reuel's eyes sent cold spikey shivers down her spine. Unconsciously she shuddered two steps back as he rose to his full height, making the poor lady feel even more choked by his overwhelming aura, for even though he was clothed in white from head to ankles, it was like a shadow of darkness radiated around him, and she didn't want to get close to such darkness.

And as he walked past her, and out of the Cafe, the lady finally let out the breath she'd been holding since, wiping the balls of sweat that had quickly formed on her head. "I envy the woman he was waiting for, I really do... But mostly, I fear for her."

*Lightning*THUNDER*

He was sitting there for so long that he didn't even realize it was raining outside. It was just past four and yet the dark clouds made it seem like past eight. And as he drove off in anger, he could only think of one thing... "Erina..." He couldn't even point out what exactly he was angry about. But she was the source.

*Lightning*THUNDER*

"All women are the same!" He hisses. Meandering through the splashing rain like a madman in rage, he was angry, and it seemed the weather matched his temper perfectly, the sharp crackling of lightning filled the sky, and the loud roar of the thunder echoed through the air.

*Lightning*THUNDER*

"I can't believe you White!" all women were the same, but somehow, for some unknown reason, she seemed different. "Just like any other woman!"

*Lightning*THUNDER*

Why was he so angry? He could just decide to end things now, there was no need to drag things out, but he wanted to ruin her now more than before. She was cute, so he was gonna go easy on her, but maybe she wasn't as cute and innocent as he thought she was.

"Damn you, White!!!" *LIGHTNING*THUNDER*LIGHTNING*

And at that moment, as quick as the lightning that crackled, he saw that familiar light. And his foot irresistibly pressed hard on the brakes, and he brought the car to a halt, and he looks through the front mirror, wondering if it was just a trick of his mind and the lightning.

*LIGHTNING* the lights shined bright In a quick flash as if to show him what he wished to see, and the place went dark again, but he didn't need another flash of lightning to see it again.

It was her, walking in the rain, completely soaked and something moved in his chest, and he felt some kind of ache, and his hands and legs worked without his head being in the right place.

And he found himself walking out of his car... 'I've just known you for two weeks... In just two weeks, you've made me break almost every rule I've set for myself. And I'm breaking another one yet again... What are you? Who...

Slowly walking in the cold rain, hoping it would help wash the humiliation and heaviness off her heart, Erina moved like a zombie. No destination whatsoever. Just moving on till the rain stops.

But then there's something in front of her, and it forces her to a halt. And slowly, wearily, she raises her head and her face went even paler than it already was.

"Hah!" a low mocking chuckle escapes her lips. "You're the one person I didn't want to see today." She says into the rain, "but since you're here," she takes a step closer to him, breaking the friendly space between them. "I'll accept it... Because deep down I wished you'd show up." and she sank into his body, wrapping her arms around him, and letting out her remaining tears as the rain fell upon them.

And he couldn't help it, minutes ago, he wanted to ruin her for not showing up. But now... now, he just couldn't stop himself from patting her on the back tenderly.

'Who are you... Erina Barret?'