Love happens in the middle during the rain. Ailith Cortéz had always blended into the background. Hiding behind thick bangs, floral skirts, and an unshakable fear of standing out, she preferred the comfort of silence. But everything changed when she crossed paths with Tavian Caius Gomez—the school’s golden boy, basketball MVP, and the one person who made her feel seen. The first time he really looked at her, it was raining. "Ailith, are you coming to watch my game?" Tavian asked, his usual playful smirk softened by the misty drizzle around them. She hesitated, feeling the weight of his gaze, the raindrops clinging to his lashes like tiny stars. "I—I’ll think about it." Tavian chuckled, shaking his head as he spun a basketball in his hands. "You always say that." The rain became their witness. When Ailith finally gathered the courage to confess, the skies were dark and restless, mirroring the storm in her chest. She found him standing outside the gym, drenched in sweat and raindrops alike, as she finally let the words slip past her lips. "I like you, Tavian," she blurted, heart pounding louder than the rain hitting the pavement. Tavian blinked at her, surprised—then his lips curled into the softest, most heart-stopping smile. "Took you long enough," he teased, stepping closer, his warmth contrasting against the cold rain. "Because I like you too." She barely had time to process before he pulled her under his jacket, shielding her from the downpour, his touch lingering just a little too long. But for every rain-soaked moment of happiness, there was a storm waiting to break them apart. The night they fell apart, the rain was merciless. "I don’t know what you heard, but it’s not true!" Ailith’s voice wavered, frustration clashing with desperation as the storm lashed around them. Tavian stood in the rain, soaked to the bone, his usual warmth replaced with something cold, distant. "Then why didn’t you say anything before?" His fists clenched, his jaw tight. "Why did I have to hear it from someone else?" The thunder roared, but it wasn’t as loud as the silence stretching between them. Ailith swallowed the lump in her throat. "Because I was scared, Tavian. I didn’t want to lose you." "You already did," he whispered, turning away, leaving her standing there in the pouring rain—alone. Five years later, the rain greets them once again. Not as students, but as adults in a world far more ruthless than high school. Ailith is no longer the timid girl who once doubted herself; she’s confident, successful, and unafraid to face the man who once broke her heart. But Tavian is no longer the warm, easygoing boy she knew—he’s now a cold, untouchable CEO, hiding his own regrets beneath an unyielding mask. "Miss Cortéz, I expect professionalism," Tavian’s voice was clipped, his eyes giving nothing away as the city lights reflected off the raindrops sliding down the office window. Ailith crossed her arms, a smirk playing at her lips. "Funny. You didn’t seem so professional when you liked my post last night." For a brief moment, Tavian faltered—just enough for Ailith to see the flicker of the boy she once knew. With the past between them and the undeniable pull that never faded, will they finally get their second chance, or will the ghosts of yesterday keep them apart?