Die reën het onverwags begin val.

The rain started falling unexpectedly.

Net 'n paar minute gelede was die Victoria & Alfred Waterfront vol mense wat gesels en lag.

Just a few minutes ago, the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront was full of people chatting and laughing.

Nou het almal na die naaste skuiling gehardloop.

Now everyone had run to the nearest shelter.

Onder 'n groot afdak by 'n kafee staan Pieter en Annelie.

Under a large awning at a café, Pieter and Annelie stand.

Die reën tik-tik-tik op die seil oor hul koppe.

The rain pitter-patters on the canvas above their heads.

Die lug is koud, en die geur van vars seekos sweef in die lug.

The air is cold, and the scent of fresh seafood drifts in the air.

Pieter is 'n stil tipe mens, maar hy hou van oomblikke soos dié.

Pieter is a quiet type of person, but he enjoys moments like these.

Hy kyk hoe die reën stadig oor die dokke gly, die water donker en geheimenisvol.

He watches as the rain slowly glides over the docks, the water dark and mysterious.

Sy kamera hang om sy nek, maar sy vingers huiwer.

His camera hangs around his neck, but his fingers hesitate.

Hy is ook 'n bietjie onseker.

He is also a bit unsure.

Hy sien Annelie, 'n vrolike meisie met 'n groot glimlag, en sy vurige rooi serp maak 'n helder vlek in die grys dag.

He sees Annelie, a cheerful girl with a big smile, and her fiery red scarf makes a bright spot in the gray day.

Lucas het vroeër vir Pieter gesê dat hy moet leer om meer met mense te praat.

Earlier, Lucas told Pieter that he should learn to talk more with people.

"Jy weet nooit," het Lucas gesê en sy vriend op die skouer geklop, "jy kan dalk iemand ontmoet wat jou inspireer."

"You never know," Lucas said, patting his friend on the shoulder, "you might meet someone who inspires you."

Die vrees vir verwerping is 'n groot berg vir Pieter.

The fear of rejection is a large mountain for Pieter.

Sy stem wil nie heeltemal uitkom nie.

His voice doesn't quite want to come out.

Maar toe die wind die reën na hulle toe waai en Annelie haar serp stywer om haarself trek, draai sy na Pieter en sê, "Kan jy glo hierdie weer?"

But when the wind blows the rain towards them and Annelie tightens her scarf around herself, she turns to Pieter and says, "Can you believe this weather?"

Pieter glimlag en kry uiteindelik sy stem.

Pieter smiles and finally finds his voice.

"Nee, ek was nie voorbereid nie," antwoord hy en steek sy hand uit.

"No, I wasn't prepared," he replies, extending his hand.

"Ek is Pieter."

"I'm Pieter."

"Annelie," sê sy.

"Annelie," she says.

Haar handdruk is warm.

Her handshake is warm.

"Ek kom van Johannesburg af. Hier vir inspirasie."

"I'm from Johannesburg. Here for inspiration."

"Ek is 'n argitek.

"I’m an architect.

Ek hou daarvan om foto's te neem van interessante geboue," antwoord Pieter, en neem dan 'n diep asem.

I like taking pictures of interesting buildings," Pieter replies, then takes a deep breath.

"Wat van jou kuns?"

"What about your art?"

Annelie se oë blink.

Annelie's eyes sparkle.

"Ek skilder.

"I paint.

Ek is mal oor kleure en die manier waarop hulle meng."

I love colors and the way they blend."

En net soos dit begin hulle 'n gesprek wat vloei soos die golwe wat teen die dokke klots.

And just like that, they begin a conversation that flows like the waves lapping against the docks.

Hulle praat oor alles, van argitektuur en kuns tot die geskiedenis van die Waterfront.

They talk about everything, from architecture and art to the history of the Waterfront.

Pieter voel hoe sy vrese stadig wegsmelt, soos reën wat verdwyn wanneer die son uitkom.

Pieter feels his fears slowly melt away, like rain that disappears when the sun comes out.

Sodra die reën begin bedaar, is die lug skoon en helder.

As the rain starts to subside, the sky is clear and bright.

Pieter en Annelie staan nog steeds onder die afdak, ver weg van die gedruis van die menigte.

Pieter and Annelie are still standing under the awning, far from the hustle of the crowd.

Hulle ruil telefoonnommers uit, vol opgewondenheid oor al die dinge wat hulle saam in die stad kan ontdek.

They exchange phone numbers, full of excitement about all the things they can discover together in the city.

Op Jeugdag maak hulle planne om die kunsgalerye van Kaapstad saam te verken, en Pieter voel 'n nuwe selfvertroue wat vroeër vir hom ondenkbaar was.

On Youth Day, they make plans to explore the art galleries of Cape Town together, and Pieter feels a new confidence that was previously unthinkable to him.

As hy terugkyk na Lucas, dink hy hoe dankbaar hy is vir dié skop onder sy sitvlak wat hom gehelp het om sy eie berge te klim.

As he looks back at Lucas, he thinks how grateful he is for that kick in the pants that helped him climb his own mountains.

Hy het nie net 'n nuwe vriend ontmoet nie; hy het ook 'n nuwe visie oor wat moontlik is, al moet hy hom soms self daarin laat glo.

He not only met a new friend; he also gained a new vision of what is possible, even if he sometimes has to let himself believe in it.