Playing in the Rain

Five days later and Matias Vander Lawrence was never seen again hanging around the Nivea bakery. The man was still able to restrain himself temporarily from approaching Nivea. This afternoon it was raining, with wind and lightning occasionally booming splitting the black clouds. Some customers who were still enjoying their snacks inside the Nivea store, looked quite frightened and certainly no one dared to stepped out of there, even though their bread was gone and the drinks in their cup had also run out.

Everyone sat there waiting for the rain to subside. Nivea stepped into her kitchen to check on the situation. But she didn't find the two workers there. Because Clara was in the toilet while David was checking the supply of bread ingredients in the side room of the kitchen, which was the storage room for the ingredients.

When her eyes caught the drops of water coming down from above, the girl reflexively moved the wooden table they were using. The rectangular wooden table was lifted by her to the corner of the kitchen. A place that seemed safer, avoiding the leaking roof.

Even though the table was made of wood material which was quite heavy. Normally, the table could only be lifted and moved by at least three human beings. And Nivea lifted it like she was carrying a shopping bag.

She just shook her head and ruffled her waist in front of the wooden table that had been moved.

"Where are those people? Can't they see that this table is getting water rain?" she grumbled to herself. Then she took a cloth and wiped the whole table.

"Miss! What's wrong with that table?"

"Ah, you're from the bathroom. This table was hit by quite a few drops of water from above. I've already cleaned it up. Please wait for a while to be able to use it!" then walked back towards the front.

Meanwhile, Clara was still standing where she was, looking back and forth between the previous table and the current table.

"Ah, right. It turns out that the leak is quite severe. But, did Miss Nivea move it with David's help? Or Seri? Ah, never mind!"

As the minutes passed, the rain outside gradually subsided. Making all the customers who had been waiting, finally left too. Nivea decided to close her shop early. She immediately signaled that the store had closed for the day.

"Come on Seri, let's tidy all this up and then head back home."

"Of course, miss. Alright!"

"Ah, please tell Clara and David to get ready to go home."

Seri nodded in front of Nivea and turned around to go to the kitchen.

A few minutes passed, they had finished tidying up their tasks each of them. Nivea clapped her hands together after she was satisfied that she was finished with her work.

"Huh! Finally finished too. Come on Se... Ah! Why is it raining again?"

"Well, it's quite heavy, miss! We can't possibly go back home now. Mr. Willy will have a hard time controlling his horse."

Nivea sighed and plopped herself down on one of the chairs customer's chair. Chin propped, she looked out at the street. And a surprise came before her eyes. The well-built man ran through the rain and pushed open the door of the bakery. Nivea and Seri got up from their seats and approached the man in the blue shirt near the door.

"What are you doing in this rain, Mr. Matias?"

"I've already walked here, I didn't expect it to rain again."

"Please get my towel from the cupboard Seri!"

"Closet? Upstairs, miss?"

"Of course Seri! Where else would I put my wardrobe?!"

The personal maid moved quickly towards the kitchen and her steps were drawn to to the stairs in one corner. With a small run she climbed the stairs one by one, reaching the second floor. Where Nivea had been keeping some of her personal belongings there.

"Sit down first, I'll make some tea for you."

"No! No need Miss Nivea."

"Then? Did you intend to come here to wrap some bread?"

"No! That's not it, Miss."

"Then? What do you want to..."

"Here, Miss, the towel." Seri had returned and thrust the white towel into her lady's hand.

"Thank you Seri! You may use this towel, Mr. Matias. Dry your hair and your face! I think you need a warm drink."

"No miss! I told you earlier, I don't need any tea." the man next to reflexively grabbed the wrist of Nivea who was about to move away.

"Please let go of your hand, sir!"

"Sorry, I'm sorry."

"You'll get sick in the rain, Mr. Matias. That's why I must give you some hot tea."

"Rainwater won't make you sick, miss."

"What? Really?"

"Yes, of course! Rainwater will make you happy."

"Hahaha. Are you sure about that? Many people find it annoying to do their activities when it rains like this."

"You want to play with the rain, Miss Nivea?"

"What did you say, play?"

"Of course! Play in the rain with me."

Nivea swallowed, avoiding her gaze with Matias.

"Do you want to, miss? If you want, we can get out of here right now too."

The loud sound of the rain in Nivea's ears made her forget herself. She was bewitched by the universe and unconsciously nodded, agreeing to Matias' question.

The man didn't even expect the girl he liked to be willing to accept his invitation to play with the rain. Without thinking, the smiling Matias immediately grabbed the wrist of one of Nivea's hands and dragged them out the door.

The rain, which was no longer accompanied by wind and lightning, was beautiful. Nivea realized that the smell of rain could soothe her heart. However, would she feel the same way if she played in the rain by herself? Or with someone other than Matias? Nivea hasn't thought that far. She can only enjoy what she is currently feeling.

The two of them decided to walk around every street corner in the around Nivea's bakery. Side by side, their steps swayed with their laughter. Still under the rain.

"Are you happy, Miss Nivea?"

"Hmm. Even as a child, my father forbade me from playing in the rain."

"If he finds out later that I took his daughter to play in the rain, will he scold me?"

"Hahaha. That's not possible, Mr. Matias."

"Alright! Now can you stop calling me sir? Weren't we only two grades apart back in college?"

"Ah, yes! That's right. Alright Matias. Then don't call me as a lady."

"But you are the daughter of a duke."

"That's not much of an excuse. I'm younger than you, it doesn't matter if you just say my name."

"Alright then." accompanied by a nod and a faint smile, looking deeply and meaningfully at Nivea.

Finally the rain had subsided completely by evening, the two people who had been content to play with the afternoon rain had reached the door of Nivea's bakery. Seri shook her head at the behavior of the two people. She too quickly thrust a towel into each of their hands.

Since realizing that her lady was not in the shop, Seri guessed that Nivea must have gone out with Matias. So she waited with anxious expectation. She also took the time to go upstairs to get another towel, preparing it for her.