Accidentally become a father-Chapter 55: The Miscalculated Sky

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The sky began to turn about ten minutes before the dismissal bell rang.

Dark clouds rolled in from the west, slowly covering the sky above the elementary school.

I stood in front of the school gates.

The iron gates were half-open.

A few parents were already waiting for their children.

Some were looking at their phones.

Others were chatting quietly.

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The wind blew a little colder than usual.

I looked up at the sky again.

The probability of rain was quite high.

Around seventy percent.

The school bell finally rang.

The classroom doors began to open one by one.

Children spilled out in small groups.

The sound of footsteps and chatter filled the courtyard.

I waited.

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About thirty seconds later, Yuna emerged from the corridor.

Her sky-blue backpack hung from her shoulders.

She was walking with two other girls.

As soon as she spotted me at the gates, she stopped.

She gave a small wave.

"Papa."

I raised my hand slightly in response.

She said a quick goodbye to her friends.

Then jogged over to me.

She stopped once she reached me.

Panting slightly.

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"Were you waiting long?"

"Five minutes."

"Oh."

She looked up at the sky.

Her expression shifted slightly.

"It’s cloudy."

"Yes."

The wind blew again.

The leaves on the trees in the schoolyard rustled gently.

Yuna tugged at her backpack straps.

"I think it’s going to rain."

"The probability is high."

We began walking out through the school gates.

The sidewalk in front of the school wasn’t too crowded.

A few children were walking home with their parents.

Some had already opened their umbrellas.

The sky was growing darker.

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Yuna walked on my left.

Her steps were small.

Her backpack swayed slightly with each step.

After a few minutes, she spoke quietly,

"Earlier at school... my friends said the rain is fun."

I glanced down at her.

"Fun?"

"Yes."

She kicked a small pebble on the path.

"They said if it rains hard, you can jump in the puddles."

"That is technically true."

She gave a small nod.

But then added,

"...but Mama said I’m not allowed to."

"Why?"

"Because I’ll get sick."

The wind blew again.

A few small drops began to fall from the sky.

Tap.

A single drop hit the sidewalk.

Then another.

Tap.

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Yuna looked up.

"It’s raining."

It wasn’t heavy yet.

Just a drizzle.

We kept walking.

But about twenty seconds later—

the rain fell faster.

It was no longer a drizzle.

But a steady, heavy rain.

People on the street began opening their umbrellas.

Some children broke into a run, looking for shelter.

Yuna shielded her head with her backpack.

"Papa."

"Hm."

"The rain is getting heavier."

"Yes."

I looked at the building up ahead.

A small shop with its metal shutters rolled down.

Its awning was wide enough to provide shelter.

We headed toward it.

Once there, Yuna stood under the awning.

The rain poured down onto the sidewalk in front of us.

The sound of the downpour filled the street.

I stood beside her.

A few other people were also taking shelter nearby.

The street began to slick with water.

Small puddles began to form in the dips of the pavement.

Yuna watched the rain.

Silently.

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Then her eyes shifted across the street.

Three boys had just come out of a convenience store.

They didn’t have umbrellas.

One of them jumped into a puddle.

Splash.

Water sprayed everywhere.

The boys laughed loudly.

The others joined in, jumping as well.

Splash.

Splash.

Rainwater sprayed all around them.

Yuna stared at the sight for a long time.

A very long time.

Her hands were still gripping her backpack straps.

But her eyes never left the puddles on the street.

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