Shadows of Identity

Chapter 19: Through The Rain

It was messy.

It was painful.

But it wasn’t unfixable.

---

The rain hit the city hard that night, the kind of storm that seemed to match the storm inside Nani’s heart. The sound of it rattling against the windows of the HQ apartment was unbearable. Like a reminder. Like a ticking clock.

He paced the hallway with a restlessness that hadn’t let him sleep a single second. Every time he closed his eyes, Sky’s face flashed behind his lids—angry, scared, hurt.

And worst of all…

Gone.

He wanted to fix it. Apologize. Say something—anything—that would undo the silence between them.

Tee walked into the kitchen, stretching with a yawn. “You still awake?”

“Yeah,” Nani mumbled, staring at the rain.

Tee poured some warm tea and walked over. “He’s not here.”

Nani blinked, turning. “What?”

“Sky. He went to his apartment for the night. Said he needed to clear his head. He’ll be back tomorrow,” Dew added, stepping out of their shared room and scratching his head.

Nani’s stomach twisted. “He left?”

Tee gave him a small smile. “Give him time. He’s probably as messed up as you right now.”

But Nani couldn’t wait. Not another night. Not when every second without Sky felt like suffocating under water.

“I need to talk to him,” Nani whispered, already pulling on his hoodie.

Mark sat up from the couch. “You sure, dude? It’s pouring.”

“I don’t care.”

“Take an umbrella at least—”

But he was already gone.

---

Outside Sky’s Apartment – 10:47 PM

The rain didn’t let up. If anything, it grew stronger. The cold seeped into his skin, through his soaked hoodie, down into his bones.

Nani stood outside Sky’s apartment, ringing the bell again and again.

Nothing.

He pulled out his phone, his fingers trembling, and dialed Sky’s number.

No answer.

Once.

Twice.

Ten times.

By the time it hit eighteen, Nani had stopped counting. He slid down to sit by the door, hugging his knees, shivering. The ache in his chest spread like frostbite. Was Sky ignoring him on purpose?

Did he hate him now?

A sob escaped his lips, swallowed by the thunder above.

He was drenched.

Cold.

And so damn alone.

---

Meanwhile – Sky’s POV

Sky returned with two grocery bags, shaking out his umbrella and humming softly to himself. His mind was still reeling, heart still aching, but he had decided: he’d talk to Nani first thing in the morning. He missed him. God, he missed him like hell.