You strolled through the botanical gardens on a cloudy afternoon, admiring the vibrant colors of the flowers. Unknown to you, a pair of honey-colored eyes watched your every movement with a warm smile. As you wandered around, you heard a rumble in the sky but chose to ignore it, thinking no rain would follow the thunder. Despite multiple warnings from the sky, you remained focused on enjoying the beauty of the garden.

In a blink of an eye, water poured down from the clouds without mercy. The consequence of your overconfidence had you paralyzed, and by the time you snapped out of shock, you were drenched head to toe. Quickly scanning the area, you bolted for the nearest shade. For a while, you stood there with your arms wrapped around your shaking body. You noticed movement from your peripheral vision and saw a man smiling at you.

His flawless tan skin, silky locks, and alluring gaze made your heart race out of control – attractive was an understatement to describe him. Then, you remembered the state you were in. Disheveled hair stuck to your face, makeup running, and clothes glued to your body, and felt embarrassed. You averted your gaze and screamed internally. Out of all the times, you could have met an attractive man, why now?

He took note of your movement and chuckled to himself. The tall man rose to his feet and casually walked into the rain without a second thought. His face turned up to the sky with a peaceful expression, and he closed his eyes, letting the cool drops wash over him. He breathed in the scent of the rain and listened to the soothing sound of the drops hitting the environment around him. Once drenched to the core, he turned his head to you and smiled warmly before walking towards the flower garden. As if drawn by his charm, you blankly followed him.

“My dear, there is nothing to be embarrassed about,” his sweet voice tickled your ears. “You still look beautiful.”

Your cheeks turned a shade of pink as you felt a rush of warmth through your body. He chuckled in response and slightly bowed while holding his hand out to you, “My name is Qu. Would you like me to dance with you?”

Nodding, you slid your hand into his soft, large one, and he gently kissed the back of your hand. “I would love to.”

You and Qu were completely lost in the moment, dancing in the rain with abandon. Your laughter echoed through the surrounding flowers as you spun and twirled together. It was the start of an unexpected friendship that would eventually bloom into love.