Several weeks passed. One afternoon, the sky suddenly turned gray, and heavy rain began to pour. Arif immediately ran toward the small gazebo in the corner of the garden for shelter. As he stepped inside, he stopped short.
There, sitting in the corner of the bench, was Sekar.
"Sekar?" Arif said, unable to believe his eyes.
Sekar turned, her eyes widening with delight. "Arif? You're here too?"
"I'm taking shelter from the rain," Arif replied, slowly sitting down beside her. "Where... where have you been all this time?"
Sekar lowered her head, then gazed at the rainwater soaking into the ground. "I went to take care of my sick grandmother in the village across the way. I just came home yesterday. I... I started thinking that maybe you'd forgotten me."
Arif slowly shook his head. "I always came. Every afternoon. Waiting."
Sekar fell silent. Slowly, she turned and gazed intently into Arif's eyes. There, she saw sincerity he made no attempt to hide. There was no pressure, no exaggerated sweet promise—only a calm steadfast devotion.
"Why?" Sekar asked softly.
"Because when we first met, my heart felt like it had come home," Arif answered honestly, his voice gentle but firm. "I don't know what to call it. But I do know I don't want to miss the chance to get to know you better."
Sekar's face slowly flushed. Outside, the rain gradually eased, leaving behind a fine drizzle and fresh air.
"Thank you for waiting for me, Arif," Sekar said softly. "I... I never forgot you either."
From that day on, there was nothing left for them to hide. Every afternoon, they met at Twilight Garden. They talked about the stars, books, hopes, and fears. The longer they spent together, the more they realized that their hearts had chosen each other—without pressure, without doubt.