Curtis stood as soon as the words left his mouth.
Dakota hurriedly grabbed his wrist. "Curtis, it's pouring! Where are you going?"
But Curtis was already walking into the rain, jacket in hand.
He draped the jacket over his shoulders, leaning down to meet Dakota's gaze. Rain poured off his back and down his neck, making him look slightly disheveled, but his sharp, intense eyes gleamed with defiance.
"Don't get wet. Stay here and wait for me."
That was all he said.
Then he gently pried her fingers from his wrist and disappeared into the downpour.
"Curtis!" Dakota called after him.
She started to run after him into the rain.
But just then, Jasiah and Noe arrived at the pavilion, huddling under a stranger's umbrella, and caught sight of her.
Jasiah rushed forward and stopped her. "Whoa, Dakota! Where are you going?"
Half of Dakota's shoulder was already drenched from the rain.
She hadn't made it far before Jasiah pulled her back. "Curtis..."
"Where's Curtis?" Noe finally noticed his absence.
Dakota looked at the path leading up the mountain, but Curtis was already gone. "He went up."
"Up the mountain?!" Noe's eyes went wide in shock.
It was like his brain short-circuited. "In this rain? Did he get an umbrella?"
Dakota shook her head. "No."
Noe was even more stunned. "And he still went up???"
Dakota didn't know what to say. She furrowed her brow, staring into the pouring rain, worrying about Curtis climbing in such dangerous conditions.
Noe truly couldn't believe Curtis would do something like this.
This wishing event was his idea, and he was the one showing the most enthusiasm earlier. But after failing to buy any umbrellas, he had decided not to continue to the summit. Yet, upon returning, he discovered that Curtis had charged up anyway.
"He's crazy... He's really lost it."
Noe rubbed his temples, "I mean, didn't Curtis used to be totally non-believer? Why would he risk the rain to hang a name?"
But Jasiah knew it wasn't that simple.
Curtis didn't believe in such things, and if he had any wish he needed fulfilled, he could easily achieve it with money.
But with Dakota, it was different.
Jasiah had long realized that Curtis wasn't just showy but also head-over-heels in love. He wasn't going to hang his own name plaque, he was doing it for Dakota.
"You worrying won't change anything. Curtis's decisions are final."
Jasiah gazed at the heavy rain outside, "He's a grown man, he knows his limits. Let's wait here. I'll call him."
Noe didn't know the full story.
He kept muttering beside them, baffled by how Curtis was acting like a man possessed, rushing up the mountain in the rain.
Dakota was extremely worried about Curtis.
Noe's voice faded into the background for her.
She watched anxiously as Jasiah made the call, relieved when Curtis answered quickly. Knowing something was amiss between the couple, Jasiah put the call on speaker and handed the phone to Dakota.
The sound of rain was loud on the other end of the line.
Maybe, the rain was heavier up there.
Curtis's voice came through the noise, steady despite his exertion, "What's up?"
It was somewhat sexy.
But Dakota didn't care about the sexiness; hearing his voice was enough to ease her worry.
Jasiah was also relieved, "You're alive? That's good. When will you be down?"
He knew trying to dissuade Curtis was futile.
Since he could run up the mountain in the rain in front of Dakota, it meant even she couldn't stop him, so Jasiah didn't bother trying.
Noe was irritated, "Why are you asking when he'll come down? Tell him to come down now!!!"
Jasiah ignored it.
Curtis didn't waver, chuckling softly, "Two hours. Is Dakota with you?"
"Yes," Jasiah glanced at Dakota.
He handed the phone to her. Dakota took it, switching it to earpiece mode and holding it tightly to her ear, "Curtis..."
"Don't worry," Curtis seemed to pause.
He stepped into a sheltered spot to talk properly with Dakota, his breathing steady.
His voice was laced with amusement, "If it gets cold, let Jasiah take you down first. My phone is about to die, so I might not be reachable later. I'll be back tonight to watch the fireworks with you."
Fireworks...
Dakota lifted her gaze to the gloomy rainy sky.
Curtis remembered her saying that this Thanksgiving, she wanted to set off fireworks.
But the weather was not cooperating.
This weather probably wouldn't allow for any fireworks.
Dakota didn't mind, but she didn't want to dampen Curtis's spirit, "Okay, be careful on your way. I won't go down, I'll wait for you at the pavilion."
Curtis responded with a deep "Mm."
Then his phone vibrated once and promptly shut off due to low battery.
Dakota said "Hello" twice, but only got a busy signal in response.
Noe rushed over, "How was it? Did Curtis say he'd be down soon?"
"It'll be two hours." Jasiah pushed him away.
He glanced at Dakota, noticing she didn't seem eager to leave, "Let's wait here. This rain might not last long."
Noe scratched his head beside them.
But he still couldn't understand, "Never thought Curtis had romantic bones in his body. Climbing the mountain in the rain to make a wish... What the hell is he thinking?"
Jasiah knew why, but he couldn't say.
He just crossed his legs and glanced at Dakota, "Relax, Curtis will be fine."
While he's been a bit love-struck lately, he's never been impulsive. If he decided to climb the mountain in the rain, he must have a plan.
Dakota nodded gently, "Mm."
She couldn't think negatively at times like this, but whenever she hoped Curtis would return safely, she feared it would be like that night when she said she hoped they could set off fireworks today—sometimes hopes went unfulfilled.
Those two hours were agony for Dakota.
She kept her phone in hand, checking for messages and trying to call Curtis several times, but his phone was off.
Raindrops fell rhythmlessly onto the ground.
Falling from the eaves.
Making Dakota's heart increasingly unsettled.
