The campus was alive with the sound of chatter, footsteps, and the occasional laughter that echoed between the old university buildings. The first week of classes at San Isidro University always carried that mix of chaos and excitement, and for Mia Santiago, it felt like the start of something new.
She wasn't exactly the outgoing type. While her classmates were already forming groups and making friends, Mia preferred the quiet comfort of the library. She had always been that girl who took notes in perfect handwriting and sat at the corner seat near the window.
That's where she first noticed Lance Rivera.
Lance wasn't the type to go unnoticed — tall, effortlessly charming, always surrounded by people. He was the captain of the university's basketball team and the kind of guy everyone seemed to know. To Mia, he was the total opposite of herself.
But one afternoon changed everything.
It was raining heavily — the kind of rain that flooded the sidewalks and blurred the buildings in silver mist. Mia had stayed late in the library to finish a report, and when she finally stepped outside, she realized she'd forgotten her umbrella. The rain showed no sign of stopping.
She sighed and hugged her books close, thinking she might just wait it out — until a voice behind her said,
"Need some help?"
When she turned around, Lance was there — holding a large black umbrella, droplets sliding off its edges.
"Looks like you're stranded," he said with a grin. "Come on, I'll walk you to the gate."
Mia hesitated. "You don't have to—"
But before she could finish, he tilted the umbrella toward her, leaving himself half-drenched. "I insist. I'd feel bad if you caught a cold because I didn't help."
They walked side by side through the rain, their steps slow, the sound of raindrops filling the silence between them. She didn't know what to say, and yet, she didn't want the walk to end.
That small act — just sharing an umbrella — turned into something she couldn't forget.
The following days, they started running into each other more often. At first, it seemed like coincidence — bumping into him at the cafeteria, at the gym, or even in the library. But soon Mia realized Lance was actually looking for her.
He'd wave across the hallway, save her a seat during lectures, and once even bought her favorite milk tea "by accident."
"Funny," Mia teased. "You just happened to buy the same flavor I like?"
Lance laughed, scratching the back of his neck. "Maybe I asked around first."
Their friendship grew naturally — but quietly. They shared study sessions, inside jokes, and late-night chats that stretched past midnight. Lance would walk her to her dorm even when it was out of his way. Mia found herself smiling at messages she hadn't even read yet.
But like all stories, theirs wasn't simple.
Rumors started spreading — that Lance was dating someone from the cheerleading team, that Mia was "just another girl" he was being nice to. She tried to ignore it, but it hurt more than she expected.
One afternoon, after their Literature class, she tried to pull away.
"Maybe we should stop hanging out for a while," she said quietly.
Lance frowned. "Did I do something wrong?"
"No. It's just…" She swallowed. "People are talking. I don't want to be misunderstood."
He was silent for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Then, softly, he said, "Let them talk. I know what's true."
Mia shook her head, looking away. "You don't understand. I'm not like them — the people you hang out with, the girls who—"
"Mia." His voice cut through the rain that had started again outside. "I chose to spend time with you. Isn't that enough to mean something?"
Her heart pounded, but she couldn't find the words.
He sighed and stepped closer, so close she could see the raindrops clinging to his hair. "I like you. Not because you're quiet, or smart, or different — I like you because when I'm with you, everything makes sense."
The world seemed to freeze in that moment — the sound of rain, the glow of the campus lights, the faint scent of wet grass. Mia didn't know what to say.
So instead, she smiled — shyly, nervously — and whispered, "You're getting soaked again."
Lance laughed softly. "Worth it."
From that night on, things changed. They didn't rush into anything. There were still exams, projects, and the occasional argument, but every day brought them closer. They studied under the same umbrella, sat side by side during games, and when the semester finally ended, Lance surprised her with a small notebook filled with little notes — things he'd written every time he saw her smile.
"It all started with rain. But you became my sunshine."
Years later, when they walked hand in hand across that same campus as graduates, the acacia trees were in full bloom again. The place where they first shared an umbrella still stood by the library steps — silent, familiar, and full of memories.
Mia smiled up at him.
"Still think the rain was worth it?"
Lance grinned.
"Every drop."