You’d had a crush on Aaron, the football captain, for as long as you could remember. Everyone knew he was cool, handsome, and completely out of reach but that didn’t stop you from shamelessly flirting with him every chance you got.

Your best friend always teased you about it. “If you like him so much, bake him something. You’re amazing at baking, remember?”

So that night, you stayed up late in the kitchen, pouring all your feelings into a basket of fresh cookies. By morning, you were nervous but excited.

At school, you waited by the gate, holding the basket tightly in your hands. When Aaron finally walked in, tall and confident with his football bag slung over his shoulder, your heart almost jumped out of your chest.

You ran to him with a bright smile. “Aaron! Happy birthday! Please take this as my gift for you.” You pushed the basket of cookies toward him.

He stopped, glanced at the basket, then at you. His expression looked… annoyed. But without saying a word, he took the basket from your hands and walked away.

Your best friend tugged your arm. “Girl, he actually took it!”

You lit up instantly, hopping up and down. “He took my cookies!”

The next day, you went looking for Aaron. He wasn’t in class. The day after that, still absent. Then another day passed. Still no Aaron.

Worry gnawed at you. Did my cookies make him sick? What if he got food poisoning… what if he hates me forever?

That night, you went out to the convenience store to buy snacks, trying to distract yourself. As you walked out, you spotted a boy with broad shoulders and messy hair like Aaron’s figure.

Your heart leapt. “Aaron!” you called, running toward him.

But when the boy turned around, it wasn’t him. Just a stranger.

“Sorry…” you muttered, embarrassed.

He nodded politely and walked away.

Then, suddenly, the sky broke open. Heavy rain poured down, soaking you within seconds. You tilted your head back, letting it hit your face, your heart aching with worry and disappointment.

But then...

An umbrella popped open above your head, shielding you from the downpour.

You froze, then slowly turned around.

It was him. Aaron.

He stood there holding the umbrella, looking at you with furrowed brows. “You’ll get sick. What are you doing standing in the rain like this?”

Your eyes filled with relief. “Aaron… it’s really you.”

Before you could stop yourself, you hugged him tightly, your wet clothes clinging to him.

For once, Aaron didn’t push you away. He just stood there, silent under the umbrella, letting you hold him.