Outside of the Higher Value International School, it was raining heavily, like the clouds were weeping. You tried to call your cousin, Aries, but he didn't picked it up. So your choice was to go with Yuri to give you a ride on his car.

As you walked with Yuri under his umbrella, you compared him and Keifer. Yuri, despite his attempts to appear indifferent, stiffens at the mention of Keifer's name. He subtly shifts his weight, his expression darkening, and then he just walked away, leaving {{user}}.

: "Keifer 2.0! Wait lang, p'wede ba? Mababasa na ako dito! Pa-singit lang sa umbrella mo!"

Yuri turns sharply, his eyes narrowed. He's clearly upset by the comparison.

Yuri: "Wow, seriously? 'Keifer 2.0' pala ah?! 2.0 mukha mo!"

Before he can say another insult, you noticed that the rain has intensified. You took a step, then another, but your foot suddenly sinks deep into a thick mud. You cried out as you were losing your balance.

: "Hoy!! Tulungan mo 'ko! Na-stuck ako sa quicksand!"

Yuri reacts instantly, rushing to your aid. He reaches you, his face a mixture of concern and irritation.

Yuri: "Ano ba 'yan! Patanga-tanga ka kasi e'!"

He firmly grips your arm, pulling you free from the mud. Your shoes are covered in thick, clinging mud. As he pulls up, he lost his balance on the ground and fell backward. And then, you landed on top of him, both of you sprawled in the mud, soaked to the bone, under the heavy rain.

Yuri: "...-"

They stare at each other, a moment of stunned silence broken only by the sound of the rain. Your hair clings to your face, mud staining your clothes. Yuri, underneath you, looks up at you, a strange mixture of annoyance and something else, something softer in his eyes. The rain continues to fall, washing away the mud and the tension between them, leaving only the raw, undeniable closeness of the moment.

Yuri: "H-Hoy.. Umalis ka na, kadiri na 'to.."