CHAPTER 30: The Rain Storm. 

*

"Let the rain kiss you, 

Let the rain beat down upon your head 

With silver liquid drops, 

Let the rain sing you 

A Lullaby" 

-Langston Hughes-

*

Bangkok was drenched in rain. The plants shimmered bright and the sky was groomed black. Soft winds brushed through the wet Eastern Campus as students scurried around to finish their tasks. Classes had been canceled due to the pouring rain and warnings of a storm were in place.

IUST had issued a circular for all students to stay indoors and that lectures would continue upon further notice. Of course this meant free time. It also meant flash flooding everywhere. The students had returned from their Chiang Mai trip, thankfully.

"A rain storm?"

"It rains two months out of twelve and this is what it does" muttered Daw, sitting on the couch of her room. The girls were in Daw's room when they got the emails.

"Did you read the IUST bulletin board?" asked Kanak, scrolling through her iPhone and the girls shrugged. Ayaka was seated at the couch, her legs curled under her as she read her latest book, Rage of Angels by Sidney Sheldon. Asteria was beside her, curled under the warm blanket watching a drama called Memories of Alhambra on Netflix. Kanak was pacing around the room in her sweats and cardigan, going through Facebook on her phone. Indah was standing beside Daw as the two read the news circular.

"Good thing classes got canceled" said Kanak, finally taking a seat on the bed. Ayaka looked up from her book and smiled at the girls.

"We seriously need to start considering global warming now" she commented and the other girls nodded. Of course. Global Warming.

"Should we check how the boys are doing?" asked Kanak, sitting up on the bed she was lying on.

"Sure"

Indah smiled slightly. She knew how her boyfriend was doing. They barely had food but seven eleven had to do for now since the markets and basically everything else is closed due to flooding.

Daw heaved a sigh and checked her phone to see a message from Aqua. She knew she had to tell these girls soon. But how soon?

"Guys, we should hang out together" said Asteria suddenly, smirking.

"Sure. I don't mind"

"Call them up then!"

***

"Dude. Stop. Panicking." Kwan told Ahren for the nth time. Ahren had never been through a rain/ thunder storm in his life so this was a first and he was panicking.

"You sure Kwan? What if our roofs are blown away and we become homeless?" he asked, biting on the insides of his cheeks.

"We are on the fourth floor. Everything around us is concrete" said Kwan slowly, as if explaining to a 2 year old.

"You sure about that?"

"Yes! For the love of everything holy Ahren!" said Kwan and the other boys sniffled a laugh. Before Ahren could say anything back, his phone rang. He picked it up to see Kanak calling him.

"Hey" Kanak sounded cheerful for someone caught in a rainstorm.

"Uh hey"

"The girls and I were wondering if you guys would like to hangout with us" she said and Ahren's eyes lit up.

"The more, the merrier. Yes!" he almost yelled, causing Kanak to laugh.

"Cool. See you guys....... where?"

"How about Kwan's room since it can cater for all of us and a hundred more?" said Ahren and Kwan hit his head.

"My room is not that big"

"Yes and Dinosaurs exist" retorted Ahren.

"Which one is his?" asked Kanak.

"Room 2098"

"That room?!" the statement caused the boys to laugh and Kwan to groan.

"Yes. That room. See you guys there. Get everything you need. We are going to rain storm this party"

No one laughed.

***

Kwan's dorm room was the biggest room on the campus thus far. It was widely spaced, originally meant for two people to share. Since Kwan hated his personal space invaded, he opted to pay extra and keep the entire room for himself. It was larger than the boy's room. The bedroom and living room were separated by a step up for the bedroom and a step down for the living room. The living room was not so large, catering for two couch and a large TV. His bedroom had a decent sized bed in the middle and a study desk over one side. The best feature about his room were the floor to ceiling windows all around since it was on the top floor of the dormitory.

"Nice" Kanak complimented, taking a seat in the living room. Soon the living room was littered with pillows and blankets. Indah hugged Kirun and stayed in his arms for a while, basking in the warmth.

"I love this. Can we make out and sleep?" she said and flushed red when she realized she thought out loud. Kirun laughed at her statement.

"I would do that. But the boys and girls would definitely not like it"

Indah groaned.

"Sorry guys. Power shut down due to safety reasons. The matron just gave me a survival kit" called out Ahren from the front door.

Indah was pulled back into Kirun's arms and she happily settled there.

"This is so cool" said Kanak, sitting on the floor, in front of the mini table. Ahren placed the bag of plastic there and looked at the girl in front of him.

"How is this cool? We are trapped in a rain storm!" he retorted and she flashed him a smile.

"Look on the brighter side. We can get to know each other" Ahren stared at her.

"We?" he asked her, suspiciously causing Kanak to burst out laughing.

"The guys and the girls, dimwit."

"Oh. Who do you ship?" he asked her, wiggling his eyebrows.

"Well, now that Indah and K are out of the picture. How about Daw and Aqua? They seem pretty ship-able" whispered Kanak and Ahren grinned at her, giving her a thumbs up.

"You and I will make a good team girl"

"Right then partner" she grinned.

"Stop scheming some evil plan you two!" yelled Kwan from the other side of the room.

"Who said it was evil!?" questioned Kanak incredulously.

"So you both were scheming something" said Daw and Asteria in unison, taking a seat in front of them.

Ahren glanced at Kanak who grinned at him before the two turned to the girls.

"Even if we were, we won't tell you guys now" she said nochalantly causing the other two girls to frown.

***

Ayaka stood by the large glassed windows, looking out to the IUST campus. The large trees were swaying in the wind making her remember the times back home. It wasn't the same of course. This was somewhat calmer. Even if it was a storm. She listened keenly to the rain pitter pattering over the windows. It felt like bliss.

"Penny for your thoughts?"

She didn't need to turn to know who it was. The voice, however low toned, could be only one person's. Ayaka buried her thin hands in the large black and gray cardigan she was wearing. It was old and smelt of rain. She liked it very much. What she didn't like was the fact that she couldn't exactly remember who gave it to her that rainy night.

"It is calming" she said, smiling slightly.

Carwayn watched her with fascination. She was utterly beautiful. Unlike so many he had seen and met.

"I know"

Ayaka looked over to him briefly before staring ahead to the falling rain.

"You wanna talk?" he asked her finally, taking her by surprise. She looked over to him again and met his green eyes. They are beautiful, she thought and like always, she did not say it out loud. Instead, she shook her head a no. Carwayn understood her so he let the topic go. He stuffed his hands in his cardigan pockets and stared ahead, simply enjoying the calming effect of the rain.

***

Kirun looked down at the girl in his arms. She was falling asleep.

"You alright Cactus?" he asked her and she sleepily nodded. They had one ear piece each as Stay with Me by John Legend played. She wore a pair of sweats and his maroon cardigan with sweater paws. It was cute when she tried to rub her face with it sleepily.

Kirun placed a kiss on top of her forehead.

"Sleep" Kirun was on the floor with Indah seated beside him. Soon she was laying over his chest with his arms around her. The cold made her retreat to him and soon she was falling asleep.

"Are you happy?" asked K and Indah sleepily muttered a yes, inhaling his scent. She couldn't ask to be anywhere else.

"I am too"

-fin-

****

Don't kill me just yet. Hahah. 

So this is the final chapter.

 Since this was the last chapter, I decided to give you guys something different. :)

I LOVE YOU GUYS! 

| R - C - V |

-aalihha-