"Izumi?"
Pattering sound of raindrops hitting some kind of smooth surface resounded. I turned around to encounter a young lady glancing at me with a sympathetic look. Her face reflected a tint of red, sourced from the scarlet red umbrella. She held the umbrella towards me, enveloping the both of us inside the curved shade. This very umbrella was held above me for a long time as I could see that her shoulder was drenched, water sliding through her sleeves then down to the ground. Even in this cold weather, her fingertips were warm. They grazed softly over my bare neck as she took her hand back to voice my name in a pleasant tone.
"Izumi,
The lady questioned me distressingly,
"What are you doing?! Look at you, you're completely soaked! W-what..what if you catch a cold??"
She took out a handkerchief and started wiping my face with it. That white piece of cloth smelled sweet like plumeria. I was unaware of the expression on my face, however that didn't dull my senses. I could feel my face burning up. Because of the close proximity, I noticed how this person might've seemed to be equally tall as me but in actual, was a couple of inches shorter. Her lips were hued in a darker spectrum of pale violet. Long lashes streamed down and formed a curl towards the end, giving a defined volume to enhance the effect of her pitch-black optics.
It was the club president, with her ever so straight posture and the charming outlook.
I stood still before her in silence, watching her every move that followed with elegance. I was numb from head to toe; I could sense every external stimulus but was unable to react to it.
Honestly, I was a bit surprised to see Jiang Wei. Further surprised to watch her fuss over me and get concerned about me catching a cold. I couldn't help but stare intently at this sight of her, wiping my face dry.
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"This won't do. Come with me to the club room, I'll get you a towel."
Thus, she reached out to hold my hand.
"Excuse me."
and dragged me all the way to the literature club.
-
"Achoo!-" With soggy clothes and muddy shoes I sat on a squeaking wooden chair, shivering and sniffling. The atmosphere in the club room hadn't changed ever since my first visit. It was dark and gloomy, the loud waves of thunder outside flashed in to create a flickering effect almost disturbing to the eye. My hand held on to a singular white cloth, the fragrance of plumeria yet lingering around it.
Abruptly, another soft cloth landed on my head. It was followed by a rubbing motion which directed back and forth. My head shook synchronizing to the movements of the hands encircling above. After a while, the cloth was set aside, and my dishevelled hair was patted smooth. It was a bit embarrassing. Nevertheless, that didn't bring me to reject the kindness offered nor did I take the initiative to tell her that I'll help myself.
I was overjoyed.
Like a starving poor child begging for food,
I wished for the moment to last a little longer.
"Are you not going to speak?" Jiang Wei asked sternly.
"....."
"....."
She didn't get annoyed by my unresponsiveness and instead continued to advise me.
"Fine, I won't push any further, but you should go home for today. I'm afraid it won't be good if you get a fever, I'll let your homeroom teacher know." Just when she shifted to leave, I impulsively took a hold of the pale hand. Her eyes significantly widened.
"Thank you..." I mumbled in a low voice.
"Hmm?" Jiang Wei was perplexed.
I squeezed her hand in a timid manner, lowering my head politely.
"Thank you."
"....."
"...a-Ah yEah!...dOn'T WoRRy aBoUt it..." Although the expression on Jiang Wei's face couldn't be seen, it was quite obvious from her tone that she was flustered. I felt relieved as I received her assurance and let go of her hand. After debating for a few minutes, I eventually found the courage to raise my head up to take a look at her, but the sight of her couldn't be seen.
She had already left the club room.
Disappeared as swiftly as a gust of wind.