Andrea ran.
Straight into the rain.
Cold water soaked through her clothes almost instantly, but she didn't care.
She just needed to get away.
From the school.
From Matthew.
From herself.
Her breathing came out uneven as she crossed the streets too quickly, shoes splashing through puddles.
Behind her—
"Andrea!"
Samuel.
Of course.
But she didn't stop.
Not until she reached the place she always ended up at eventually.
Šachta.
The lake looked darker in the rain.
The water restless now instead of calm.
Andrea finally stopped near the edge, breathing hard.
Her chest hurt.
Everything hurt.
A few seconds later, Samuel caught up.
Also soaked.
Also breathing heavier now.
"You run fast," he muttered.
Andrea laughed weakly.
"Shut up."
Samuel stayed quiet after that.
He didn't push.
Didn't demand answers.
He just stood there beside her while rain poured around them.
Andrea wrapped her arms around herself tightly.
"I hate him," she whispered.
Samuel glanced at her.
But he knew she didn't fully mean it.
Andrea laughed shakily.
"No, that's a lie."
Rain dripped down her face, mixing with tears she couldn't hide anymore.
"I wish I hated him."
Samuel looked out at the lake.
Not interrupting.
Andrea swallowed hard.
"You know what's embarrassing?"
Samuel stayed silent.
"I still wanted him to choose me."
Her voice cracked badly that time.
Andrea pressed her hands against her face.
"God, that sounds pathetic."
"It doesn't."
Andrea looked at Samuel instantly.
"Yes it does."
Samuel shook his head slowly.
"No. It sounds human."
Andrea stared at him for a second.
Then looked away again quickly.
"I spent years thinking if I changed enough maybe people would finally stop hating me."
Samuel frowned slightly.
Andrea continued before she could stop herself.
"Elementary school was hell."
The words came out quietly.
Like they'd been trapped for years.
Samuel stayed completely still now.
Listening carefully.
Andrea laughed bitterly.
"They used to call me a monkey every single day."
Samuel's jaw tightened instantly.
Andrea kept staring at the water.
"Ugly. Black. Gross. Weird."
Each word sounded emptier than the last.
"Even teachers ignored it."
Samuel's hands clenched slightly at his sides.
Andrea swallowed hard.
"And one teacher…" she whispered, "she hated me."
Samuel looked at her immediately.
Andrea shook her head slowly.
"From six years old until I was fifteen."
The rain kept falling around them.
But neither moved.
"She always made me feel stupid," Andrea continued quietly. "Like no matter what I did, I was wrong."
Samuel looked furious now.
Not at her.
At everything she was saying.
Andrea laughed weakly again.
"And now every time someone looks at me weird, or talks about me, or laughs…"
Her voice cracked.
"…I feel like I'm twelve again."
Silence.
Painfully honest silence.
Andrea wiped her face aggressively.
"I told you," she whispered. "Everything turns into a mess."
Samuel stepped closer slowly.
Not overwhelming.
Just there.
"That's not your fault."
Andrea looked at him sharply.
"Yes it is."
"No," Samuel said firmly.
Andrea shook her head.
"You don't understand."
Samuel's voice lowered.
"Then explain it to me."
Andrea stared at him.
Actually stared.
And suddenly—
Everything she spent years holding inside felt too heavy to carry anymore.
"I don't know how to believe people," she admitted quietly.
Samuel didn't look away.
"Why would I?"
Andrea's breathing shook slightly.
"Every time I think someone chooses me, they leave."
The German boy.
Matthew.
Everyone.
Samuel listened silently.
Andrea looked down.
"So I stopped believing it."
Samuel took another small step closer.
"And what if someone stays?"
Andrea laughed weakly through tears.
"They don't."
Samuel held her gaze.
"What if I do?"
Andrea froze.
The rain suddenly felt distant.
Muted.
All she could hear was her heartbeat.
Samuel looked serious.
Completely serious.
No sarcasm.
No games.
Andrea's voice came out barely above a whisper.
"Why would you?"
Samuel answered immediately.
"Because I want to."
Andrea felt her chest crack open all over again.
Not painfully this time.
Differently.
Dangerously.
She looked away quickly, tears falling harder now.
"You shouldn't say things like that."
Samuel's voice softened.
"Why?"
Andrea shook her head.
"Because I'll believe you."
Silence.
Samuel stepped close enough now that she could feel his warmth even through the cold rain.
"Then believe me."
Andrea looked up at him slowly.
And for the first time in her life—
Someone looked at her like she was worth staying for.