It'll Come Naturally

Duke meant to annoy Rain by texting him back two hours later. The latter seethed in anger, thinking about how he should exchange the high-end wine he was about to give Duke with a low-grade one. Rain stared at the phone number on his screen and pressed back to the home screen, feeling like he wasn't brave enough to ring it up. His enthusiasm was gone.

After hesitating for a while, he gritted his teeth together and took a deep breath. He decided to let go of his anxiety and do what he really wanted. No matter what response he got, he needed to do this.

Rain looked at the phone number again and dialed it. The ringing was endless and he was disappointed to hear no one answer it. He was just about to hang up when a feminine voice spoke at the other end of the line. "Hello, this is Annie speaking. Who is this?" At the familiar voice, Rain was suddenly at a loss for words. What would be appropriate for him to say?

"It's me. I was told you are in S City now." His voice was low and hesitant as he answered her, trying to suppress his eagerness.

"Rain?" Annie was flustered. It seemed that Duke told Rain everything.

"Yes. Do you have a minute? I hope we can have a drink." Rain's desk was covered in tons of files. He had a lot of work to do, but the files could wait. First, he wanted to give their relationship another chance. "Right now?" Annie didn't hesitate in turning Duke's offer down, but when it came to Rain, she couldn't help letting her feelings get to her head. She was always pulled to him.

"Would that be okay?" Rain's voice was cautious, as if he was afraid she would say no.

"Yes. Where will we meet?" Annie smiled sadly. It turned out she still had feelings for him. She hadn't forgotten him at all.

"I'll pick you up. Tell me your address." Rain exhaled deeply upon hearing her answer. She had agreed to meet him! He grinned in relief.

"That's fine. I have a car. Just tell me where we will meet." The news of his marriage had cut Annie to the quick. Her heart still stung.

"I'll text you." They were in uncertain waters and talked warily, as if one wrong word had the power to offend the other person.

"Okay, see you later." Annie hung up soon, feeling like her heart was about to come out of her chest.

Rain put the phone down and sent her an address, frowning. He was lost in thought for a while. Soon, he walked out of his office.

"You look nice, Mom. Are you going out?" Huey asked her when he saw his mother put on make-up carefully.

"Yes, I am going out to meet a friend. Take care of your sister and don't bully her, all right?" Annie brushed off her dress, embarrassed to be praised by the little guy.

"Mom, are you going to meet a man?" Huey wondered if that was why she dressed up.

"Little monkey, who told you I am going to meet a man? What if it is a lady?" Annie's cheeks grew hot. Her son saw through her so easily. Was it so obvious she was meeting a man?

"You wouldn't wear lipstick if it was a lady," the little boy said, frowning.

"Who said I can't wear lipstick when I meet a lady? It is not like what you think! I'm going now. Don't tease your sister when she wakes up, okay?" Annie was worried to leave her two children at home all alone. They argued with each other all the time.

"I know. See you later, Mom." Huey could tell that the guy his mother was going to meet was important to her. Was he right in guessing who he was? His mother looked so nervous. Could it be his father? Huey's heart jumped in excitement at the thought. Rain arrived at the café in advance and sat by the window, watching the door. He couldn't help but smile when he saw Annie approach.

Annie took a deep breath before stepping inside. Her hair was up in a bun and she wore a light over-knee dress. She looked quite elegant.

At this time of the day, there weren't many people in the cafe. Annie spotted Rain easily and walked over to him on unsteady feet. Her heart thumped, tensed.

"Have you been here for long?" She smiled, trying to suppress her nervousness.

"Not really. I just arrived. What would you like to drink?" Rain stared at her, surprised to see how much she had changed. She wasn't a little girl anymore. She looked mature, and even more beautiful.

"Oh. I will just have what you're drinking." Annie glanced at the coffee in front of Rain, wondering what kind it was.

Rain beckoned the waiter over and ordered her the same coffee. He turned his gaze over to Annie and studied her slowly. Annie reddened under his scrutiny. She didn't know where to look. She calmed down, telling herself not to get so fidgety.

"I was told you came here for business," Rain said. He had called up Duke to know more about her situation before he got here.

"Yes. I got here the day before yesterday." Annie lowered her head, trying to avoid his eyes.

"Then why didn't you call me?" Rain regretted it the moment he blurted it out. Annie was a married woman. It was obvious why she wanted to avoid getting in touch with her ex.

"I worried that my call would trouble you. I didn't want to bother you, so I didn't try to get in contact." Annie gnawed on her lip and raised her head to look at him. Everything about the man in front of her was still so familiar to her. Annie could tell it was him even with her eyes closed.

"Really? Bother me? Well, maybe," Rain forced a smile on his face. Ironically, he had thought his call would trouble Annie!

"Last time at the airport, I saw you on the news. Are you all right?" Annie blurted out. She couldn't help but pay attention to everything that concerned him, even though she knew she shouldn't. She was unable to control her feelings when it came to him.

"Oh, I've already sorted it out. Thanks for asking." Rain hated the aloof politeness between them. They were acting as if they were strangers, but he didn't know how to break the ice. He wanted to speak out what was in his heart, but was afraid she would just run off again. At least, they could still be friends if he didn't let slip how confused he felt.

The moment turned awkward. They remained silent until the waiter served the coffee.

"It's bitter. I am afraid you probably aren't used to it," Rain said when Annie frowned after taking a sip of the coffee.

"No, it is kind of good. I like trying something new." Annie didn't think Rain could bear to drink something so bitter. She was afraid to take a second sip. Rain seemed to know her mind and asked the waiter to serve her something else instead.

"How long do you plan to stay?" Rain asked her as he drank his coffee, his eyes guarded.

"It depends, but I am here for months." The two of them talked casually over the coffee, neither of them mentioning the pressing issue between them.

"Would you like to tell me why you left four years ago?" Rain finally asked, pinning her with his gaze. He tried to remain calm. Deep inside his heart, he was dying to know the answer to the question that had been dogging him all these years. He would not leave here before he got her explanation.

Annie stole a glance at him in panic. Her heart plummeted to her stomach when she heard him refer to their history.

"I..." Why did she leave? Was it because she knew he didn't love her? Or was it because she was afraid to get hurt again?

"You want me to say the reason out loud for you? It's because you loved another man, so you left me after you were done with me." Rain's chest tightened as he recalled the red stain on the sheets.

"Another man? What are you talking about?" Annie frowned. She had been reluctant to talk because she had been worried he would ask her about the kids. Rain knew Annie had two kids, but he didn't know they were his kids.