  The wind is blowing hard outside, a sign that heavy rain will be pouring. When Mary saw that her boss already left, she also decided to go home.
      She made sure that she saved all her work before turning off the computer then she fixed herself.
      She took her bag and left the office.
      As soon as she reached the front door of the building, Mary Ann suddenly felt nervous.
      She could feel the cold breeze brought by the strong wind as it touched her skin. She looked up and the sky was already dark. It's undeniable that heavy rain is approaching.
      Mary Ann took all the courage to leave her work despite the inclement weather.
      She was walking towards the bus station when she noticed that a car was following her.
      She turned around and looked at the car. Her heart is beating fast. Who could be the driver of the car? Why does it seem that he is following her?
 

  They finished eating dinner so Mary Ann was left in the kitchen to help Auntie Carla to wash the dishes.
      After a couple of minutes, she followed John and her grandmother into the living room. The two are busy watching television.
      &quot;Sir, do you want a coffee or a tea?&quot; Mary Ann asked John politely.
      &quot;Coffee is fine to me,&quot; John replied. &quot;Thank you.&quot;
      Auntie Carla enters the living room and Monica is about to turn her back and go to the kitchen, &quot;Where are you going?&quot; She asked.
      &quot;Auntie, I will go to the kitchen to make coffee.&quot; She replied.
      &quot;Let me do that. Go and I will make coffee for you. Don't leave your guest there.&quot; Aunty Carla volunteered herself to make coffee for everyone. Also, she's right. She is leaving the guest with her grandmother alone.
      &quot;Thank you, Auntie Carla.&quot; 

  &quot;Goodbye, baby.&quot; Mary Ann whispered to her baby for the last time.
      Her mother went back to her work abroad after what happened. She decided to stop from studying and started looking for a job and started to take care of her grandmother.
      Mary Ann knows that her mom has every right to be mad at them but only if she listens to their explanation, to her, what happened could have been avoided. Her grandmother wouldn't have an accident and she wouldn't lose her baby.
      She sobbed. She doesn't know if it's right that she lost her child. She didn't even turn one year old.
      Her heart is crushing. It's a miserable pain for a parent to bury her own child.
      She knows that it's a miracle that they were able to have Baby Annie alive because of her condition but she was willing to do everything for her child. She was hoping that she could survive even just for a year.
      But because of what happened, she lost her baby. Everything she and her grandmother did to make Baby Annie live was gone in just a second.
      Her mom left without them talking properly. She doesn't know if she is still mad at her or she felt sorry because she lost her child. Well, the same as how she felt at the moment. She doesn't know if she is angry at her for letting those things happen when she had a choice to listen or she is still afraid of her. Somehow, she felt guilty about keeping everything to her mother as a secret.
      &quot;Mary Ann, go ahead and go home first. You need to take a rest since you still have work tomorrow.&quot; Her grandmother suddenly said to her,
      Mary Ann regained her senses from reminiscing the memories of the past. She was back to herself when she heard her voice, especially when she lovingly held her hand.
      &quot;Grandma, I will just sleep next to you here, please?&quot; She said as she rubs her hand.&quot; I miss you so much.&quot; She hugged her tight.
      &quot;Bu--t&quot;
      &quot;No buts. Aunty Carla will bring my clothes for work tomorrow. So, don't worry about it, okay?&quot; She cut off her grandmother before she insisted on going home.
      She wanted to take care of the old woman the way she did for her and for her little one.
      &quot;Alright. Did you tell her?" She whispered.
      She nodded and covered her grandmother with the blanket, &quot;Yes, I already told her about my plan of spending the night here. So, please grandma, don't worry about me, okay? Aunty Carla will come early here tomorrow.&quot; She said and kissed her grandmother's forehead.
      &quot;Mary Ann, are you sure that's okay for you? I know you are tired at work.&quot; The old woman said to her. Mary Ann could see in her eyes how worried she was for her.
      She let out a deep sigh and smiled at her grandmother.
      &quot;Hmmm… I am a really fine grandma but how about this? Let's go ahead and eat our dinner now so we can sleep early and have a good rest?&quot; She suggested.
      &quot;That sounds like a plan.&quot; She said and smiled at her, &quot;Come and bring the food here. I will help you open the container that you brought.&quot; She added.
      &quot;Hello, John.&quot; Her mother's voice on the other line.&quot; Did you find your sister?&quot; He could feel her hope in her voice.
      &quot;Yes, Mom. Don't worry, okay? I know where she is already so I am traveling on Sunday to take her back home.&quot; John answered his mom with good news.
      &quot;It's all your daddy's fault.&quot; She yelled and faced his father. His mother still blames his father for why Diane ran away from their house.
      He put his phone away from his ear before his eardrums broke because of his mom's loud voice.
      The issue never changed. 
      John reminded them several times for the sake of her little sister that they shouldn't ruin their marriage. Now, both sides are blaming each other.
      Anyway, there's no sense crying over spilled milk.
      Their father had already brought home his second wife since the divorce papers arrived. This is the main reason why his sister ran away. Diane is hurt having thought of how their family ended.
      Family issues are issues that are difficult to solve. It's more difficult than a math problem. He shook his head.
      "Alright, mom. I need to go now and I have a meeting to attend. I will update you as soon as I meet her." 
      The call ended.
      The issue of them getting divorce started almost five years ago. This is the very reason why he missed the chance of going and talking to Mary Ann. John wasn't able to give back her the piece of earring he found and take responsibility for what happened to them that night. He needed to rush himself to go back home because his mom will be leaving and since then, he didn't hear any news about Mary Ann.
      Speaking of Mary Ann… He remembered the other Mary Ann he met at Adrian's office.
      He is wondering how she is doing. He decided to send her a message so he could have the answer with all the questions in his mind.
      He started typing a message on his phone and ended up deleting them. Funny. He is like a teenager trying to text his crush for the first time.
      He typed again but this time the message is only short.
      "Hi, Mary Ann. Good evening.&quot;
      Beep.
      Mary Ann was busy eating with her grandmother when her phone rang. She received a text message.
      She opened it and checked it. It's from John.
      She just ignored it.
      John saw that his message was already seen but he hasn't received any reply.
      He sent again a new one. "How are you? Did you have your dinner?" 
      Just the same as the first message, it was only seen. 
      He decided to call Mary Ann but to his surprise, it was declined. He was curious why. Does she have a boyfriend or husband?
      Goodness. Did he just put her in trouble? She might be starting a fight with her boyfriend now. But, on the other side of the mind, Adrian didn't tell him anything about Mary Ann.
      John started to get worried but then he realized that he told her the reason why he wanted her number. He will be in contact with her if Adrian is unreachable.
      But, it's already late so there's no reason for him to call her, and ask about Adrian. He just shook his head realizing what a mess he just created.
      He sat down on the sofa and didn't know what to do. He leaned his back on the back of the sofa, putting his head up staring at the chandelier blankly.
      He massaged his temple as he started to get a headache. 
      He is thinking of Mary Ann's situation at the moment.
       
      After half an hour his phone rang. His heart skipped a beat.
      &quot;Please, Mary Ann.&quot; He said to himself, hoping that the message is coming from the woman.
      He immediately picked up his phone on the top of the table in front of him.
      &quot;Hi, Sir John. I am sorry for getting back to you with a delay. I just finished my dinner and if you are asking about my boss, Mr. Romano, I am already home. I am sorry but I don't know his whereabouts after hours.
      John felt relieved when he saw that the message was coming from Mary Ann and he wasn't mistaken. The woman thought that he was looking for his friend Adrian.
      &quot;Hi, Mary Ann. I am sorry if I have disturbed your night. I don't have any intention of putting you in trouble. Thank you for responding to me.&quot; He answered her message with apologies.
      His phone beeped again.
      "It's okay. No issues."
      "Thank you and goodnight." 
      John is smiling like crazy after they exchanged messages. He doesn't know but since he saw Mary Ann earlier there's something to the woman that urges her to be in contact with her. 
      He could still remember how stupid he looked earlier when he is at the office of Adrian. He stared at the woman and because he was too focused on looking at her, he didn't notice that she was already facing her. Without saying a word to her and ashamed of being caught in the act, he rushed himself out of the office.
      He invited his friend Adrian to eat lunch out and surprisingly his friend book Mary Ann with him.
      He stood up and walked toward the kitchen to check what food he could eat for his dinner. 
      He was already hungry but he could not eat properly earlier because he was waiting for Mary Ann's response. He doesn't know but he was really bothered that he put the woman in trouble.

The wind is blowing hard outside, a sign that heavy rain will be pouring. When Mary saw that her boss already left, she also decided to go home.
      She made sure that she saved all her work before turning off the computer then she fixed herself.
      She took her bag and left the office.
      As soon as she reached the front door of the building, Mary Ann suddenly felt nervous.
      She could feel the cold breeze brought by the strong wind as it touched her skin. She looked up and the sky was already dark. It's undeniable that heavy rain is approaching.
      Mary Ann took all the courage to leave her work despite the inclement weather.
      She was walking towards the bus station when she noticed that a car was following her.
      She turned around and looked at the car. Her heart is beating fast. Who could be the driver of the car? Why does it seem that he is following her?
      She stepped aside thinking she was interfering with the passing car but to her surprise, 

Chapter 10 HAVE BEEN SOAKED IN THE RAIN