Every day after school, Aleena and Shane would walk home together, with Shane departing first toward his own home.
As Aleena stepped out of the school, she was greeted by a sudden downpour. She patiently waited for Shane to finish his test and meet her at the front doors. However, as time passed, and nearly half an hour elapsed, she found herself among the last remaining students. Frustration and annoyance crept in as she wondered why Shane was taking so long to complete a test.
Growing impatient, Aleena retrieved her phone and decided to call him to inquire about his whereabouts. A soft, unfamiliar female voice answered on the other end, leaving Aleena bewildered.
"Hello?" she greeted cautiously.
Aleena's heart sank upon hearing someone else, particularly a girl, answer Shane's phone.
"Hi, where's Shane?" she asked, her voice tinged with concern and curiosity.
"Oh, Shane is helping me find some books in the library, but he will be back soon. It's Daisy, by the way," the sweet voice replied.
Aleena felt a mixture of emotions swirl within her. Shane helping someone else, especially a girl named Daisy, was something she had not expected. She had known Shane since they were kids, and they had always shared everything with each other. But this sudden realization that he was helping someone else, particularly a girl, made her feel oddly possessive, and she couldn't quite figure out why. 
Aleena's mood darkened even further upon realizing that Shane had once again abandoned her to study with Daisy without informing her. She had stood there for 25 minutes, waiting for him, only to discover that he had left her hanging.
"Would you like me to tell him something from you? Hello, Aleena?" Daisy's voice chimed in.
"No, thanks, Daisy," Aleena replied, trying to sound nonchalant even though her heart was racing. Aleena hung up the phone, her thoughts racing. Why hadn't Shane told her about helping Daisy before?
Feeling upset and frustrated, Aleena left the school, zipping up her windbreaker all the way since Shane usually carried the umbrella. The walk home became a somber journey filled with loneliness, sadness, rainwater seeping through her clothes, and the weather perfectly mirroring her mood.
***
As Aleena trudged along the rain-soaked streets, her thoughts were consumed by a mix of frustration and sadness. The rain poured down relentlessly, drenching her clothes and leaving her feeling chilled to the bone. She couldn't help but replay the phone call with Daisy in her mind, each word echoing in her ears.
"Why does he always do this?" she muttered to herself, her voice barely audible over the rain.
Aleena had known Shane for years, and he was her closest friend. They shared countless memories, from their first day of school to their most recent escapades. However, recently, something had changed. Shane had started spending more and more time with Daisy, the girl he had an obvious crush on. While Aleena wanted nothing more than for Shane to be happy, she couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy and abandonment.
As she walked through the pouring rain, her thoughts drifted back to the beginning of their friendship. They had met in elementary school, two shy kids who found solace in each other's company. They would spend hours talking about their dreams, their favorite books, and their deepest secrets. There was a time when they were inseparable, and Aleena couldn't imagine a day without Shane by her side.
However, as they entered high school, things began to change. Shane's feelings for Daisy had become increasingly obvious, and he started spending more time with her. Aleena understood the allure of young love, but she couldn't help feeling left behind.
The rain seemed to intensify as Aleena reached the halfway point of her journey home. She couldn't stop herself from wondering whether Shane valued his friendship with her as much as she did with him. The thought of him laughing and studying with Daisy while she stood in the rain waiting for him gnawed at her heart.
By the time Aleena finally reached her doorstep, she was drenched from head to toe. She fumbled with her keys, her trembling hands making it difficult to unlock the door. As she entered her home, she was greeted by the warmth and comfort of her cozy living room. Her mother, seeing her soaked and disheartened, rushed to her side.
"Sweetheart, what happened? Why are you all wet?" her mother asked, concern etched on her face.
Aleena couldn't hold back her tears any longer. She collapsed into her mother's arms, recounting the events of the day, from waiting in the rain to Shane's seemingly endless infatuation with Daisy. Her mother listened attentively, offering words of comfort and understanding.
"I know it hurts, dear, but remember, true friendship will withstand any test," her mother said gently.