Before You Loved Me - Chapter 8: A Rainy Afternoon

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The rainy season arrived earlier than expected.

For the past week, dark clouds had covered the sky almost every afternoon. Students had started carrying umbrellas everywhere, but Khem often forgot his.

The final bell rang.

As soon as the students stepped outside, heavy rain poured over the campus.

"Oh no..." Than groaned. "I left my umbrella in the gym."

Rin held up his own umbrella.

"Then we'll share."

Than smiled brightly.

"I knew dating you had its benefits."

Rin rolled his eyes, trying not to smile.

"Let's just go."

The two disappeared into the rain together.

Kavin looked around.

"Khem?"

He wasn't in the classroom.

Khem had stopped by the library to return a book.

By the time he walked out, the rain was even heavier.

He searched his backpack.

"...I forgot my umbrella."

The security guard smiled apologetically.

"It doesn't look like it'll stop anytime soon."

Khem sighed.

"I guess I'll wait."

A familiar voice came from behind him.

"I thought I'd find you here."

Khem turned around.

"Kavin?"

Kavin held up a navy-blue umbrella.

"You forgot yours again, didn't you?"

Khem blinked.

"...Again?"

"You forgot it last month too."

Khem laughed softly.

"You remember strange things."

Kavin scratched the back of his neck.

"I guess I do."

They began walking toward the bus stop together.

The rain was loud enough that they didn't have to force a conversation.

After a while, Khem spoke.

"Why did you come looking for me?"

Kavin answered honestly.

"I knew you'd still be at school."

"How?"

"You always return your library books on Wednesdays."

Khem looked at him with surprise.

"You noticed that too?"

Kavin smiled.

"I notice a lot."

Khem didn't think much of it.

To him, Kavin was simply someone who paid attention to his friends.

When they reached the bus stop, they found a small stray kitten shivering beneath a bench.

Khem immediately crouched down.

"Hey..."

He carefully removed his school blazer and wrapped it around the kitten to keep it warm.

The kitten meowed softly and rubbed its head against his hand.

Kavin watched quietly.

There was no audience.

No one to impress.

Khem helped because he couldn't ignore something that needed kindness.

At that moment, Kavin's feelings deepened—not because Khem had done something dramatic, but because compassion came so naturally to him.

A city bus finally arrived.

Before getting on, Khem looked at Kavin.

"Thank you for the umbrella."

"Anytime."

"And... thanks for waiting."

Kavin smiled.

"I didn't mind."

Khem stepped onto the bus and found a seat by the window.

As the bus pulled away, he glanced outside.

Kavin was still standing at the stop, watching the bus leave before opening his own umbrella again and walking home.

Khem smiled to himself.

"Kavin really is a good friend."

He didn't know that Kavin's kindness came from a place much deeper than friendship.

And Kavin...

Didn't mind waiting a little longer for Khem to understand.5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ99EjXFrNWB

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