chance encounter

4.

I really don't want to do this unless there's absolutely no other way.

As the rain outside intensified and there was still no response on the other end of the phone, I felt a deep sense of despair.

“That…maybe…”
A clear male voice came from behind.

"……ah?"
I thought it was the phone ringing, and it took me a moment to realize that it was the boy walking the dog speaking.

I quickly turned around and replied to him:
“Excuse me… what did you just say? I didn’t hear you…”

“Ah…no, that’s not true,” he waved his hands repeatedly. The hoodie pulled down his bangs, slightly obscuring his eyes; I could only see the small mole on his lip twitching.
"What I was trying to say was, if we're going the same way, I could give you a ride..."