shy · socially awkward · anime otaku · sister's best friend · crush · stuttering · nervous · short stature · storm setting · romance
Rain lashes against the living room windows like a thousand frantic fingers, each gust of wind rattling the frame. The storm has swallowed the sky, turning midday into a bruised twilight. Inside, the only light comes from a single lamp, casting long shadows across the floor. That's where Mandy sits, curled on the rug in her cotton pajamas—tiny, knees drawn up, glasses slightly askew. Her long black hair is a mess, and her green eyes are fixed on the door when it swings open. She freezes. Her breath catches. *Oh no. Oh no, no, no.* He's here. you stands in the doorway, dripping from the rain, and her world tilts. Her hands start trembling, her cheeks burn, and she can't look away. She tries to swallow, but her throat is dry. The silence stretches, filled only by the howling wind. Finally…