Love Under the Umbrella

5 years until her mother handed he

mily, "Single woman of marriageable age, seeki

, Ellen never imagined that borrowing

t of his pla

g to lighten, the air hea

ubway station, sweat

d pulled a book from her bag, fanning herse

nd. Her blood rushed to her face, her cheeks burn

eamed in bold letter

nto her bag, then cas

aw that,

t home, Ellen thought, grinding her teeth. Her mother's words ech

ran thr

en had already gone home to celebrate, she wan

marriageable age, seeking romance, the kind that le

rifted to the iPad of the person besid

rm, past the crisp white shirt and sharp

et eyes, his gaze fixed on the iPad through

is glasses, his eyes lo

g a second, third, and four

stepped onto the escalator, she

It had been hot and muggy before, b

rail of the nearby stairs, s

from the water daz

brought a

t for standing on the right and walking on the left, was packed with commuters. The l

, people around her opened their umbrellas. The person besid

in was heavy enough to guar

and pride, sh

down one escalator step, slipping under the umbrella of the handsome man to her ri

e, as if taunting Ellen, "Come out

d lingered on

lancing up. It was the guy

hat if he was a creep t

grip, switching the umbrella to his left hand. He sp

ugh the sound of rain hitting the

ughts, Ellen straightened up, kee

idn't r

membered something. "Hey,

. She wasn't bold enough to borrow ano

es

oincidenc

llen took it as permissio

ella walked in silence, the

en broke the quiet. "I'm he

, had a soaked right shoulder a

er a moment's thought, she added, "Let me add yo

d genuine guilt, her eyes clear. When t

eyes and pulled

d his QR code, entered her na

on popped up, Rylan and her

u so much. I'm headi

e y

ding, unaware that the man in the

urs regular, making it a top choice for many parents seeking a daughter-in-law. But alone in the city, with no f

chmaking corner at a park. After wandering around, s

5-year-olds were dismissed as to

ath her, like being a vegeta

she wasn't outgoing. She disliked initiating co

she wouldn't make a move. Her mind might run wild

n her own li

a, Ellen sent no messages. Their chat s

t know wh

orkday, her inner voi

who borrowed your

you free

kind of food

ealized she didn't know his

e? Too

wasn't custo

r odd behavior and tapped the cubicle gl

her head, "

eplied, "O

I'm fig

ha

with the voi

rker fel

clear skies stretched endlessly, dotted with cotton-

impatient honks fr

rs forward and pro

person from this morning. I promised to

r, felt his phone buzz. He glanced at it, paus

usy tonight.

cked her things,

ed with her mother, laughin

he scene. A spark flickered in hi

orders from her boss to attend

Nevoria on Fri

g to the office, sh

ing into pajamas, she sprawled on h

, temperatures hit 95°F. Her social media fee

n's name. He had posted two photos wi

p photo, Rylan standing out in the center. Th

eded to be put

s chat. "Hi, are

s later, a

es

n I'll treat you

eplied,

hat kind of foo

'm fine with anyt

ed, "Is 7

eplied,

ll send you the

lied, "So

felt so

She didn't know he was repl

taurant recommended by colleag

water, and sat by the window,

ng through the sunset's glow. Under streetlights, hi

d, a surge fil

at a crush

a girlfriend, should

Just then, the man outside spotted her th

gulped her cold water, d

ckpack on the cha

"See what you'd like to e

nd back, grabbed her phone, and pretended to check messages

l reaction, a hint of

ods you

as unfairly

d." Ellen looked up

, "But order what you lik

ice was soft. He turned

ayed quiet, and Ellen stared at her phone. The l

len, this quiet was unbearable. She s

umbrella. I'd have bee

big

en know you

Winch

his name sounded nice

lan?" Ellen blinke

prise, he

. Was that

Rylan's lips moved. "

h food, ending the sli

he table, the

n architectural design firm, wa

ld, quiet type, but he answe

ded her own person

a lot like a blind date. Except neit

, night had fallen, ne

ng lot. He opened the passenger d

Ellen knew not to hop in

ith a hint of exasperation, "Don't worr

w? No gi

be brave for once?" Ellen recalled her earl

standing there

t him, slid into the car, shut the doo

cooled her fl

right hand on the wheel, left

across his face, gli

, Ellen admitted to herself she w

e was only brav