The Boy Next Door

Lila had always believed love was just in books. Not in real life. Not for her. Or so she thought…

Then Jayden moved in next door. Tall, charming, with a smile that made her heart skip—he was trouble she couldn’t ignore.

At first, they barely spoke. Just polite nods in the corridor. But the universe has funny ways of forcing people together.

He helped her carry groceries one evening. She caught him reading the same book she loved. Awkward elevator rides turned into moments that felt… comfortable.

One rainy night, Lila was stuck in the lobby, drenched. Jayden appeared with an umbrella. “You’re soaked,” he said. “Here.”

She took it, heart racing. “Thanks… I guess the weather has a way of forcing people together.”

“Maybe,” he replied, that laugh she couldn’t get out of her head. “Or maybe it’s just fate.”

From that night, everything changed. Late-night talks. Coffee breaks. Stolen smiles in the hallway. Her friends noticed first: “You’re falling for him.”

She blushed. Denied it. But deep down… she knew.

Valentine’s Day at the university arrived. Lila stood alone by the snack table, nervously picking at a cupcake.

Jayden appeared. “Hey,” he said softly. “Can I have this dance?”

Her heart skipped. She nodded.

As they swayed, he whispered, “I like you, Lila. From the first day I moved in.”

Time stopped. She smiled, butterflies taking over. “I like you too, Jayden,” she breathed.

The girl who thought love was only in books? She just found her story. The one next door.