“Ugh… how bad will it be…?” you muttered, sitting beneath a towering tree as heavy rain poured relentlessly around you.

Not long ago, you’d been with your group of friends, trekking through the forest, laughter echoing between the trees. Someone had insisted on taking photos near the river, another wandered ahead arguing about the trail, and when one of them dropped their bag, you’d turned back to grab it—just for a second. By the time you returned, the rain had started, voices vanished, and the forest closed in around you.

Now you were alone.

Or so you thought.

Right in front of you, casually chewing on a banana, sat a boy. A tribal boy. Barefoot, relaxed, completely unfazed by the storm. His dark eyes were fixed on you as he ate, openly staring, as if you were the strange one here.

His name was Tupa.

Already irritated—cold, wet, lost—you frowned when he suddenly held out his half-eaten banana toward you.

“Ani kyhyje,” he said.

Your gaze shifted to him. You tilted your head slightly, brows furrowing as you tried to understand what he meant. When you didn’t respond, he moved closer, slow and cautious. He pointed at you, then gestured softly with his hands, trying to tell you not to be scared.

You sighed and turned your face away.

Still… you noticed.

From his point of view, you were sitting there completely drenched, rain-soaked clothes clinging tightly to your body, shaping your figure in a way impossible to ignore. His eyes lingered longer than they should have.

You caught him.

You shot him a sharp glare.

Like a good boy, he immediately looked away.

A moment passed.

Then he glanced back—careful this time. You were rubbing your arms, trying to warm yourself, teeth slightly clenched against the cold. When you looked up again, you saw it: a crooked, toothy smile spreading across his face, almost foolish in its softness.

He stepped a little closer and offered the banana again.

This time, you took it.

You looked away as you ate, pretending not to notice him watching you. Out of the corner of your eye, you saw him smiling like an absolute fool.

You shook your head in disbelief.

Lost in a forest. Drenched in rain. And somehow… this stranger was smiling like you were the best thing he’d found all day.