The next morning, Katrina was getting ready for university.
As she picked up her bag, her eyes suddenly fell on the umbrella Ethan had given her the day before.
She paused for a moment.
The memory of the rainy evening flashed in her mind—the way Ethan had quietly handed her the umbrella and then run away without saying another word.
Katrina gently picked it up.
Oh no… how will I give this back to him? she thought.
Still holding the umbrella, she walked outside and got into her car.
At the University
When Katrina arrived at the university, her eyes immediately began searching around the campus.
She tried to act normal, but deep inside she was looking for someone.
Ethan.
But he was nowhere to be found.
She sighed softly and walked into the classroom with Arice and Ella.
Even inside the classroom, Ethan's seat was empty.
Katrina quietly sat down and waited, her eyes occasionally glancing toward the door.
After some time, the classroom door opened.
Ethan entered.
Katrina noticed him instantly.
Her fingers tightened slightly around the umbrella inside her bag.
But before she could do anything, the professor walked in right behind him.
The lecture started immediately.
Katrina couldn't find a moment to talk to him.
After Class
When the lecture ended, Katrina quickly packed her things.
She saw Ethan standing up and leaving the classroom.
Now is my chance, she thought.
She grabbed the umbrella and stood up to follow him.
But before she could reach the door—
Arice suddenly jumped from behind and hugged her.
Katrina gasped in surprise.
"Arice!"
Arice laughed excitedly.
"Oh my God, Katrina! I'm so happy for you!"
Ella nodded enthusiastically.
"Me too!"
Katrina looked completely confused.
"What are you talking about?"
Ella smiled mischievously.
"Arice told me everything yesterday about you and Ethan."
Katrina's eyes widened.
"Guys! Can you please be quiet? What if he hears us?"
Ella looked around.
"But he's not even here."
Katrina turned around quickly.
Ethan had already left.
She sighed in frustration.
Oh no… what do I do now?
Students were already walking out into the corridor.
Arice's eyes were sparkling with excitement.
In the Corridor
As they walked together, Katrina looked at Ella.
"By the way… what exactly did Arice tell you?"
Ella grinned.
"That he proposed to you."
Katrina nearly choked.
"What?! No! Arice!"
Arice burst out laughing.
Ella quickly waved her hand.
"Relax, relax. I'm joking. She just told me he helped you in the rain and gave you his umbrella."
She smiled.
"That's honestly really sweet."
Katrina sighed in relief.
"Oh God… you two are impossible."
Cafeteria
Later, the three girls went to the cafeteria.
As usual, Ethan was sitting at another table with his friends.
Arice kept secretly glancing toward him.
Katrina noticed and whispered quickly,
"Arice, stop it! What if he notices?"
Arice shrugged.
"You're right… but I noticed something."
"What?" Katrina asked nervously.
"Whenever he's with his friends, he never looks at you."
Ella nodded thoughtfully.
"Well, of course. No one wants their friends noticing their love life… especially someone like Ethan."
Katrina quietly listened but didn't say anything.
Her mind was still focused on one thing.
How will I give him the umbrella?
After lunch, they returned to class.
But throughout the lecture, Katrina couldn't focus.
Her thoughts kept returning to Ethan.
After Classes
When the last class ended, Katrina walked toward the university entrance with Arice and Ella.
Arice stretched her arms lazily.
"Do you guys want to hang out this evening?"
Just then, Katrina noticed Ethan walking alone toward the entrance.
Her heart skipped.
She immediately made a decision.
"Guys… bye. I'm leaving."
Arice and Ella looked confused.
"Bye!"
Katrina walked quickly toward the entrance.
The Moment
As she walked toward Ethan, her steps slowly became slower.
She took the umbrella out of her bag and held it tightly.
No… I should return it today, she thought.
The university will be closed tomorrow.
Taking a deep breath, she gathered her courage and walked toward him.
Ethan was almost at the entrance when he suddenly heard a voice behind him.
"Hey."
He turned around.
And froze.
Katrina was walking toward him.
His heart started beating wildly.
She stopped in front of him and held out the umbrella.
"Here… your umbrella."
She smiled softly.
"And thank you for yesterday."
Ethan stood there, completely shocked.
For a moment, he couldn't say anything.
His mind had gone blank.
Katrina waited for a second, then smiled again and turned to leave.
Ethan finally snapped out of his shock.
But it was already too late.
She was walking away.
Oh no… he thought.
I should have said something.
Meanwhile
Katrina walked toward her car, taking a deep breath.
"Oh… I finally did it," she whispered to herself.
She got into the car, feeling strangely relieved.
Ethan's Walk Home
Ethan was walking home with a small smile that refused to leave his face.
"She talked to me…" he murmured happily.
Just then, someone called from behind him.
"Hey Ethan!"
Ethan turned around.
It was Eric.
Eric was tall, handsome, confident, and extremely popular at the university.
Unlike Ethan, who preferred staying quiet and unnoticed.
But Eric had been Ethan's childhood friend.
"Hey Eric," Ethan said.
"When did you come back?"
"Yesterday," Eric replied.
They began walking together with a few other friends.
One of them suddenly spoke.
"Hey Eric, have you seen the new girl at the university?"
Eric smirked.
"You mean Katrina?"
"Yeah," another friend said. "She's gorgeous."
Eric nodded confidently.
"She really is."
Ethan was walking quietly beside them.
But the moment he heard Katrina's name, his attention sharpened.
Another friend laughed.
"Eric, she would be the perfect match for you."
Eric chuckled.
"I was thinking the same thing."
Ethan felt a sharp sting in his chest.
He stayed silent as the others continued praising Eric.
Finally, Eric glanced at Ethan.
"Hey Ethan… why are you so quiet?"
Ethan's expression hardened slightly.
"You guys know I'm not interested in these kinds of conversations."
With that, he walked away.
Behind him, the friends whispered.
"Ethan is always so rude."
"Yeah… he's so boring."
But Eric didn't laugh with them.
Instead, he watched Ethan walking away with curiosity.
Something about his reaction didn't feel normal.