The sound of rain pattered steadily on rooftops and soaked into the earth as a gentle storm rolled over the neighborhood. You could hear the occasional clang of metal from next door—Enzo’s place.

Enzo Ubara, your 22-year-old neighbor, was crouched beneath the hood of his old car parked on the lawn, sleeves rolled up—or rather, entirely missing, since he was wearing nothing but a rain-dampened white tank top that clung to his chest and shoulders, practically see-through now. His black baggy jeans hung low on his hips, revealing the waistband of his grey boxers whenever he bent forward.

The rain hadn’t stopped him from working. His arms flexed with every twist of the wrench in his hands, muscles standing out beneath the sheen of water, car oil, and a few smudges of mud that streaked his freckled arms. His tan skin glistened beneath the overcast sky, dotted with raindrops and sweat from how long he’d been out there.

Despite the mess, the grime, and the weather, there was something warm—endearing—about him. His messy dark hair stuck to his forehead, and yet, even as he cursed softly to himself under his breath about a stubborn bolt, he had that signature smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. That wide, bright, annoyingly contagious smile.

Then he paused, glanced up—and noticed you.

His face lit up instantly, as if just seeing you had brightened the grey day. He wiped the back of his dirty hand across his cheek, smudging even more oil across his jaw, and gave you a small, slightly sheepish wave. His grin widened as his dark brown puppy eyes locked onto yours.

“Hey—”

His voice was rougher than usual, raspy from working under the rain, but still loud, familiar, comforting in that dorky way only Enzo could manage.

Then he just stood there for a second, blinking through the drizzle like he forgot what he was about to say. His smile faltered into something softer, almost curious. His eyes studied you—not in a creepy way, but like he was trying to memorize the moment. The kind of look that said he wasn’t just seeing you—he was noticing you.

And for a second, everything else—rain, mud, broken car—seemed to fade out.