Zeus’ POV
The music competition had finally wrapped up, and, just as I’d figured, Liam and his band took the win. I saw it coming, I mean, they were good, really good, but somehow that didn’t bother me. It felt fine, more than fine, actually. Winning wasn’t why I’d joined in. 
The real prize? That was watching Stella cheer like a wild fan from the crowd. Her energy was insane, louder than anyone else, like she was at a concert for her favorite band. I’d never seen her like that, so full of excitement. It made me feel… I don’t know, special, I guess. Knowing that she was cheering for me, that she actually cared enough to be there, going all out just for me.
Back at the dorm, Kyle threw himself onto his bed, giving me a grin. “Man, you killed it out there, even without the trophy. You looked like a real rockstar.”
I couldn’t help but grin back. “You think so? I mean, Liam’s got that whole ‘I'm too cool to lose’ vibe going on,” I teased, but I felt a genuine rush of pride.
Kyle snickered. “Yeah, but you had the crowd, dude. Or should I say, the girl?” He raised his eyebrows, teasing me right back.
I laughed, shaking my head. “You really think Stella was cheering just for me?”
“Uh, yeah, Zeus. I thought she was going to lose her voice out there,” Kyle said, throwing a pillow in my direction. “I thought she was going to jump on stage or something, like, she was that hyped.”
I dodged the pillow, laughing. “She looked like she’d seen her idol or something. It was crazy, but… you know, in a good way.” I felt a smile tug at my lips just thinking about it.
Kyle sighed dramatically, putting on a fake serious face. “If I didn’t know better, I’d say you’re falling hard, man.”
I shrugged, trying to keep my cool. “Nah, just appreciating a friend’s support,” I said, though I knew it was a half-lie. It was more than that. Much more. But admitting it out loud? That was a different story.
Kyle gave me a smirk, like he knew exactly what I wasn’t saying. “Well, either way, man, congrats. You rocked it.”
“Thanks, Kyle,” I said, patting him on the back. “Couldn’t have done it without my number one fan.”
“Oh, so ‘now’ I’m your number one fan?” he shot back, laughing. “Make up your mind, dude. Is it me or Stella?”
I shrugged, chuckling. “Hey, why not both?” 
We both cracked up, laughing so hard that for a second, I forgot about everything else. It was moments like this that made all the stress and the worry worth it.
But then, I remembered, there was still one more thing on the agenda tonight. Something important. 
I was meeting up with Stella.
Tonight was the night I was going to give her the letter. The letter that had been burning a hole in my pocket for what felt like forever. It was finally time. 
I pulled my hoodie and Ralph Lauren polo out of the closet, throwing them on. The night was cold, so it seemed like the perfect outfit. I rummaged around, looking for my phone, but it was nowhere to be found. 
“Hey, Kyle, you seen my phone?”
Kyle shrugged, his face blank. “Nope. You sure you brought it back?”
I sighed, looking around the room again, but it was useless. “Guess I must’ve left it at the stage or something. Can you do me a favor? If you find it, just keep it safe, or ask Gwen if she saw it. I don’t want to be late.”
Kyle nodded, giving me a thumbs-up. “You got it. Now go, lover boy.”
I rolled my eyes, grabbing my jacket. “Thanks, Kyle. Don’t wait up.”
As I headed out, I couldn’t stop thinking about what tonight might bring. Stella had promised she’d meet me, and if there was one person I trusted to keep her word, it was her.
---
When I reached the meeting spot, it was exactly how I’d imagined it. The big tree loomed above me, its branches stretching out like arms, and there was a tall lamppost casting a dim glow over a creaky old bench nearby. The place was quiet, peaceful. It felt like a hidden corner of the world, a place that was just ours.
I sat down under the tree, pulling the letter out of my pocket. I’d read it a hundred times already, but I couldn’t help reading it again. Every word felt like it was bleeding out of me, things I’d never said out loud. And this letter… it felt perfect. It said everything I was too afraid to say to her face.
I was nervous, yeah, but also excited. She’d be here soon, and I’d finally be able to tell her. To show her how much she meant to me, even if it was through words on a piece of paper.
Minutes passed, but it was okay. I was still filled with hope, imagining her walking up any second, that smile lighting up her face.
But as more time ticked by, I started to get this weird feeling in my chest. Something wasn’t right.
“She’s just running late, that’s all,” I told myself, glancing at my watch. Half an hour had passed. Then forty minutes. An hour. My heart started to sink a little, but I pushed the feeling down.
“She’ll be here. She promised.”
I checked my watch again, then looked around, scanning the empty park. Nothing. The streets were quiet, and the only sound was the rustling of the leaves above me.
After another hour, worry started gnawing at me. Did something happen? Was she okay? Did she forget? Or worse… was she just not coming?
I shook my head, forcing myself to believe. “No, she’ll be here. She has to be.”
Just then, I felt a raindrop hit my cheek. I looked up at the sky, watching as the clouds darkened. Great. Of all nights, it had to rain tonight.
But I wasn’t going to leave. Not now. I pulled my hoodie up, trying to keep the letter safe from the rain. I wasn’t going to let a little rain ruin this. 
The drops came faster, turning into a steady drizzle, and I hugged the letter close, tucking it under my hoodie to protect it. My heart pounded with each passing second, hoping, wishing, that she’d appear.
But the drizzle turned into a downpour, and the wind started howling. I was soaked, my clothes clinging to me, but I didn’t move. I didn’t care. I’d wait all night if I had to.
Because this wasn’t just a meeting. This was the moment I’d been waiting for. The moment I’d tell her that she was more than just a friend. That I didn’t just ‘like’ her. I loved her.
But no matter how hard I tried to hold onto that hope, reality was sinking in. She wasn’t coming.
I looked down at the letter, the edges starting to blur from the rain that had seeped in. My hands shook as I tried to shield it, but it was no use. It was soaked, the ink smudging, the words blurring into nothing.
And just like that, everything I’d been holding onto, every hope, every feeling, started slipping away. The rain was pounding down now, so hard it hurt, but I barely felt it. All I felt was this hollow ache in my chest, like something had been ripped out of me.
The park was empty, the only sound the rain hitting the ground. I was alone, standing in the cold, clutching a ruined letter, and all the promises I’d believed in felt like they’d dissolved in the rain.
I waited a little longer, just in case. But as the hours dragged on and the rain kept falling.
I didn’t know how long I’d been standing in the rain, just staring at the soaked letter in my hands, words blurred, ink running like the last bit of hope I’d been holding onto. Finally, with a heavy sigh, I tucked the letter back into my pocket. It felt meaningless now, just a soggy, ruined piece of paper. Just like the night.
Taking a deep breath, I turned away from the tree, my heart sinking. Each step I took felt heavier than the last, and it was like my feet were dragging me away from something I’d never really get back. I wanted to cry, but the tears wouldn’t come. Maybe it was because I felt too drained, too disappointed. Or maybe, deep down, I’d already known this was how it was going to end.
The rain started letting up, or at least, I thought it did. But then I noticed something strange. I wasn’t getting wet anymore. Confused, I looked up and turned around, and that’s when I saw her.
Standing just a few steps away from me was a girl I’d never seen before. She was holding a bright, colorful umbrella over both of us, keeping the rain at bay. She wore this pink top and a white skirt, clothes that seemed way too cheerful for such a miserable night. Her hair was tied back, a few damp strands sticking to her face, but she didn’t seem to care. She just stood there, looking at me with this half-smile, like she knew something I didn’t.
“Looks like the rain’s got a crush on you or something,” she said, her voice light and a bit teasing.
I blinked, completely caught off guard. “Excuse me?”
She tilted her head, still smiling. “You know, you’re not exactly the best at picking weather to sit around in. Thought I’d drop by and save you from catching pneumonia.”
I stared at her, confused. Who was this girl, and why was she here? “I… I don’t need anyone to worry about me,” I said, my voice harsher than I’d meant it to be. “I’m fine. Really. You can just… go.”
She just laughed, ignoring the edge in my voice. “Oh, yeah? Looked pretty ‘fine’ back there, sitting under a tree in the pouring rain like some lovesick hero in a tragic movie.” She shrugged, glancing back at the spot I’d just left. “Good thing I had an umbrella.”
I sighed, feeling a mix of embarrassment and frustration. “I don’t need someone’s pity.”
The girl raised an eyebrow. “Who said anything about pity? I’m just doing my civic duty, keeping people from getting sick on my watch.” She shrugged, looking unfazed by my attitude. “Besides, you looked kind of… well, let’s just say ‘hopeless’ sitting out there.”
Something about the way she said it, like she was making fun of me in the nicest way possible, actually made me stop. I looked down, shoving my hands in my pockets, my mind still stuck on Stella. Why hadn’t she come?
Then I heard her voice again, softer this time. “Zeus, right?”
I froze, my mind instantly alert. “Yeah… how’d you know?”
The girl laughed, but not in a mean way. “Are you kidding? Word gets around campus. Plus, you’re the boy who performed at the music fest isn't?”
Her eyes met mine, and for a second, I forgot I’d never met her before. She seemed comfortable, like we were just two old friends talking. But I still felt like I didn’t know anything about her.
“Who… who are you?” I asked, still a bit on edge.
“Right,” she said, extending her hand toward me. “I’m Edana. Just… Edana.” 
I looked at her hand, hesitating. I didn’t know why, but something about this moment felt… different. Like it didn’t belong to the mess of feelings I’d just walked away from. I didn’t shake her hand, just looked at it.
She pulled her hand back, raising her eyebrows in mock offense. “Okay, rude.” She chuckled, shrugging it off. “Guess I’m not getting that ‘polite and friendly’ vibe everyone keeps talking about.”
I rolled my eyes but couldn’t help the slight smile that crept onto my face. “Polite and friendly? Guess you haven’t met me then.”
“Oh, don’t worry. I can tell.” She grinned, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “You’ve got that brooding, mysterious thing going on. A real charmer, huh?”
I shook my head, chuckling. “Sure, whatever you say.”
Edana tilted her head, looking me over with an amused expression. “So, Zeus, what’s a guy like you doing out here, looking like you’re auditioning again but for some sad romance movie? I mean, it’s pouring rain, middle of the night, and you’ve got this whole ‘tragic hero’ look going on.”
I looked away, feeling the sting of what tonight had become. “Let’s just say… plans didn’t go the way I thought they would.”
She nodded, not pressing me for details. Instead, she just gave me this knowing look, like she got it without me having to explain. “Yeah, life’s funny like that, isn’t it?”
I didn’t answer, but I felt something shift, like the weight on my chest got a little lighter.
Edana lifted the umbrella a bit higher, glancing at the dark, rainy sky. “So, you heading back to the dorm or what? ‘Cause I gotta say, standing around in the rain like this? Not my favorite thing.”
I hesitated, looking back at the park. A part of me wanted to stay, to wait just a bit longer, but I knew it was pointless. She wasn’t coming. Stella wasn’t coming.
With a sigh, I nodded, turning to leave. Edana stayed beside me, holding the umbrella between us as we walked down the empty path. We didn’t say much, but somehow, it didn’t feel awkward. It felt… okay.
After a few moments, Edana spoke up again. “So, I’ve gotta ask, was that letter in your pocket for the one who didn’t show?”
I glanced at her, surprised she’d noticed. “Yeah, but it doesn’t matter now.”
She shrugged. “Well, maybe it does. Maybe it doesn’t. But that’s your call.”
Her words hung in the air, and I found myself thinking about them. She didn’t push for more or ask any nosy questions. She just walked beside me, her umbrella covering us both as the rain continued to fall around us.
When we reached the edge of campus, she stopped, turning to face me. “Well, Zeus, thanks for letting me save you from a soggy night.”
I chuckled, actually grateful for her company. “Thanks… Edana, right?”
She gave me a mock bow. “The one and only.” Then she tilted her head, giving me a small, encouraging smile. “Hey, just… don’t let tonight mess with you too much, alright? Sometimes things don’t go the way we want, but it doesn’t mean they won’t work out eventually.”
Her words were simple, but they felt strangely comforting. “I’ll try.”
She nodded, stepping back. “Good. Oh, and if you ever need an umbrella buddy again, you know where to find me.”
I laughed, shaking my head. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
With a final wave, she turned and walked away, disappearing into the rain. I stood there for a moment, watching her go, feeling like something in me had shifted. Maybe tonight wasn’t what I’d hoped for, but somehow, meeting Edana felt… good, like maybe it was exactly what I needed.
Tonight I finally understood. Stella wasn’t coming.
And maybe she never would.