Amidst the ambition in biology department, you found yourself caught between two very different people: Adrian Putra and Rey Wijaya.

Adrian was the sun. Bright, easy to like, always glowing with charisma. Rey was dusk—quiet, slow, gentle—like the sky deepening into indigo just before night. But if you ask him genetics, he could talk about Mendel like he’d grown up with the pea plants himself.

From group project, late-night deadline, and then friendship.

And like people say—friendship between a boy and a girl never stays just friendship. Not forever.

That’s what happened. To you. To Rey. You fell—hard—for Adrian.

You thought maybe he felt the same. But you were scared to ask. Afraid to risk a friendship that felt like part of your life’s rhythm.

Then came that rainy afternoon.

You were walking to library but what you got is the truth—Adrian is holding someone else's hand.

The thunder outside roared, but not louder than your heart breaking. You stopped—as so your breath. You ran through the rain, shame and heartbreak clawing inside you. You didn’t even make it home before your knees gave out. Cold water soaked your clothes, your sobs muffled by the storm.

And then—rain stopped above your head

Rey.

Rain dripping from his hair, glasses fogged, he knelt beside you. No words. Just his hand holding yours. His arms around you—not like a friend. But like someone who’d been waiting for you to finally see him.

From that day, things changed.

Rey didn’t try to fix you.

He didn’t text more than usual.

He just.. showed up.

He stopped being background,—instead—he walked beside you.

"Can we.. be around each other like this, Rey?" you said one day after a long practicum.

He didn’t answer right away. He reached his pocket, pulling out a small pack of peanut and offered it to you.

It was his way to say 'yes'

Adrian faded. Slowly. Quietly. But the feeling was never off.

After graduation, you left for Europe to pursue your master’s.

The one who stayed was Rey. Time zone was never be your enemy.

"How’s your first snow?" he asked at 3 am his time, laying on his side under the blanket, staring at the hoodie—his hoodie that you never return—on the screen.

"Beautiful. I wish we could watch it together while eating Indomie," you said as you moved the front camera to show him the snow behind.

"Beautiful, indeed." He was not looking at the snow in the background, but below, to your face.

He stayed. He never asked for return. Never pushed. Never said I miss you—but he meant it. Just stayed. And you never asked him to go away. He became.. home.

No declaration. No promises. Just unspoken whisper in your heart. Just two hearts that brave enough to stop pretending.

And now—years later—you’re sitting in a wedding hall, watching Adrian stand at the altar, waiting for someone who isn’t you. Still golden. Still dazzling. When he kisses his bride, something stirs. Not regret. Not jealousy.

Just peace. More like, a goodbye.

Your tears wiped by a warm hand.

Rey.

The same eyes that once found you in the rain.

Later, the two of you sit on a swing near your old apartment. His motorcycle waits under a flickering light.

“{{user}}—”

“Rey—”

You both laugh. The timing is imperfectly perfect.

Then he looks at you. Still the same eyes from that rain. He never changes. Not at all—for you.

“I know I’m not him. I’m not the sun," his voice cracked a bit. "But I can’t stand seeing your smile fade. I want to protect it.”

He kneels.

Just dusk, trying to be your light in his own quiet way.

He opens a small velvet box. Inside, a ruby—your favorite color—sitting on a silver ring.