Chapter 28

Rain pelted on the thatched roof like grains of rice on a winnower, the stale odor of dried seaweed mixing with the rising petrichor. It was an unexpected drizzle in the afternoon that grew stronger as the sun made its descent across the cloudy horizon.

Yves stared at the rather dull sunset with a heavy feeling. He didn’t know how long he had been waiting for Timothy while sitting on a rope hammock tied on both sides of the cabin’s tiny veranda. But as the sky got darker and his boyfriend still hadn’t turned up yet, the restless bouncing of his legs increased.

When the last streak of light disappeared, Yves sprung up to fetch an umbrella. He couldn’t stand waiting anymore. Not when the rising tide of the sea didn’t look as friendly as earlier. Before he could step out into the rain, however, Timothy appeared on the shoreline, already drenched.

“Tim!” Yves unfolded the white umbrella and ran up to his boyfriend. “Where have you—?”

Timothy only walked past him,