CHAPTER 349: IT’S A DATE [4]

It was already night, and the sky was now shrouded in heavy, roiling clouds that downpoured a sudden torrent of rain.

The downpour thrashed against the secluded road.

The lights along the road flickered faintly, casting wavering reflections that danced across the wet surfaces.

Brandon and Charlotte hurried along the sidewalk with Charlotte holding her black cloak above their heads like a makeshift raincoat, offering a medium of protection against the relentless rain.

Water dripped from its edges, soaking the hem and leaving faint trails down her arms, but she didn’t seem to mind, her focus on keeping them both as dry as possible.

Her arm was wrapped tightly around Brandon’s, her fingers gripping his sleeve as they moved.

Brandon chuckled in a warm tone despite the cold bite of the rain. "It suddenly began to rain," he said, tilting his head to glance at her, his tousled hair damp and sticking to his forehead.

His white shirt was starting to cling to his shoulders, and droplets glistened on his cheeks, catching the faint light of the streetlamps.

Looking at his boyish grin, Charlotte nodded and her breath was misty in the cool air as she pressed closer to him, "Uff... yeah, it’s also starting to get cold."

"We need to find a place to sit out this rain." Sha glanced around the surroundings.

Her gaze landed on a small, empty bus stand just ahead with its glass enclosure glowing faintly under a single streetlight.

The shelter was modest, with a metal bench and a slanted roof that offered some shelter from the downpour.

"Kael, come on, let’s go there."

Brandon followed her lead and their steps quickened as they darted toward the bus stand.

They slipped under the shelter just as a gust of wind sent a fresh wave of rain lashing against the glass walls.

The air inside was cool, and the sound of the rain drumming against the roof created a soothing backdrop.

Charlotte lowered her cloak, shaking off the excess water before draping it over the edge of the bench to dry.

Her black shirt was slightly damp at the shoulders, and a few strands of her hair clung to her cheeks.

She shivered slightly, rubbing her arms as she glanced at Brandon, who was equally soaked, his white shirt now nearly translucent and clinging to his body.

"I am drenched..." Brandon muttered as he ran a hand through his wet hair, shaking off droplets.

He plopped down on the bench, patting the space beside him "Come on, big sister, take a seat. We might be here a while."

With a soft huff, she sat beside him, her shoulder brushing against his as she settled in.

Her lips curved into a faint smile, her green eyes softening as she glanced at him.

The flickering streetlight caught the contours of his face, highlighting the curve of his jaw and the warmth in his eyes as he watched the rain.

For a moment, they sat in silence as the rain’s steady rhythm filled the space between them.

Reaching out to her storage ring, she took a cigarette and glanced at Brandon with a silent question in her eyes.

With a smile, he nodded his head.

Taking the lighter, she flicked it and the small flame cast a warm glow across her face as she lit the cigarette, bringing it to her lips.

She took a slow drag, exhaling a soft huff of smoke that curled upward in lazy spirals, dissipating into the cool air of the shelter.

Brandon watched her, his smile softening as he leaned back against the bench "Big Sister... I also brought something to match your smoking."

He reached into his own storage ring and pulled out a small, colorful bottle of bubble solution, complete with a wand.

Charlotte blinked as a surprised laugh escaped her lips "Bubbles?"

"If you get to have your smoke, I get to have my bubbles," he teased, unscrewing the cap and dipping the wand into the solution.

He held it up, blowing gently, and a stream of iridescent bubbles floated into the air, catching the faint glow of the streetlight.

They shimmered in hues of pink, blue, and gold, drifting lazily in the air of the shelter before popping against the glass walls or floating out into the rain.

"See? Matches the vibe," he said with a grin as he blew another stream of bubbles, their delicate forms dancing around them.

Charlotte laughed with her cigarette resting between her fingers as she watched the bubbles float and pop.

Brandon’s grin widened, and he leaned closer, blowing a particularly large bubble that floated toward her, its surface shimmering before it popped against her damp hair.

A quiet chuckle escaped her lips again as they continued to blow smoke and bubbles.

---

Eventually, the rain began to ease as the drumming on the roof softened to a gentle patter.

Charlotte lifted her head and looked around at the road outside, where the streetlights now shone steadily, "Looks like it’s slowing down."

Brandon nodded, but he didn’t move, "We can stay a bit longer. No rush, right?"

She smiled, her green eyes glowing faintly in the dim light. "No rush," she agreed, leaning back against him, resting her head against his shoulder once more.

The rain continued its gentle patter, the city’s nighttime glow filtering through the glass, as they sat there, hand in hand.

---

The city’s nighttime glow shimmered through the glass walls of the bus stand.

The drizzle had softened to a mere whisper as the last remnants of the storm faded into a gentle mist that clung to the cobblestone streets.

Charlotte lifted her head and brushed a damp strand of hair from her face "We should probably find somewhere to dry off and rest. It’s getting late."

Brandon nodded and stood, pulling her up with him. "Come on, big sister. Let’s find a place to crash for the night."

"Mhm."

As they turned a corner, their eyes fell on a boutique hotel nestled between two ivy-covered buildings.

Charlotte glanced at Brandon and he nodded "Looks perfect," he said, giving her hand a gentle pull as they approached the entrance.