What truly behind love

Chapter 1 — The Boy I Was Never Supposed to Meet The first time I saw him, I had no idea he would become the biggest problem in my life. I didn't know his name. I didn't know where he lived. I didn't even know I'd see him again. All I knew was that when our eyes met across a crowded subway, something inside me changed. And I hated that feeling. Because I'd spent nineteen years learning one simple rule: Never let anyone get close enough to hurt you. My name is Damsel. I'm nineteen, a first-year college student, and according to my guardian, I am apparently one bad decision away from ruining my entire life. She raised me after I lost my parents, and she took that responsibility very seriously. Too seriously. No going out without permission. No coming home late. No unnecessary phone calls. And absolutely no boys. "Men are trouble," she used to say whenever the subject came up. "Love is a distraction." "Build your future first." I listened. Maybe because she was the only person I had. Or maybe because somewhere along the way, I started believing her. So when my best friend and I finally got admission into college, I thought I'd finally escaped. Freedom. A new city. A new school. A new apartment. A life where nobody would ask where I was every five minutes. That evening, we were sitting inside a crowded subway with our bags squeezed between our legs. The train rattled through the city as evening slowly turned into night. My friend was talking about college. I wasn't listening. I was watching the city lights disappear through the window. For the first time, nobody was waiting at home to tell me what time I had to return. I smiled. "We're actually free," I said. My friend laughed. "Don't celebrate too early. We haven't even seen the apartment." "I don't care. As long as there are four walls and a door, I'm happy." "That's a very low standard." "I've survived worse." She laughed again. Then I felt it. Someone was watching me. I looked up. And there he was. Standing a few feet away. Tall. Black hair. Black hoodie. Calm expression. He wasn't doing anything special. He wasn't trying to get attention. Yet somehow, he was the first person I noticed in the entire subway. He was talking to another guy, laughing about something. Then he looked at me. Our eyes met. Everything around me seemed to become quieter. Just for a second. His smile faded slightly. My heart jumped. Once. Twice. Then faster. I immediately looked away. I suddenly became very interested in my bag. My friend noticed. Of course she did. She leaned closer. "Who was that?" "Nobody." "You were staring at him." "I wasn't." "You definitely were." "I was looking behind him." She glanced behind him. "There is literally a wall." I gave her a look. She started laughing. "Don't start." "You like him." "I don't." "You haven't even spoken to him." "And I don't plan to." She grinned. "Okay, Damsel." I rolled my eyes. "I don't do relationships." That was the truth. At least, I believed it was. The subway slowed. Our stop. We grabbed our bags and stepped onto the platform. I didn't look back. I told myself I didn't. But just before the train doors closed, I made one mistake. I looked. He was still watching me. And this time... he smiled. I turned away immediately. My friend burst out laughing. "You're finished." "Shut up." The apartment building was smaller than I expected. Nothing fancy. Just a quiet building tucked between several older ones. The agent met us outside and led us upstairs. "Two bedrooms," he explained. "One kitchen. One bathroom. It's simple, but everything works." I nodded. "Perfect." My friend dropped her bag. "I'm taking the room near the window." "You didn't even ask." "I just did." We laughed. For the first time in years, everything felt normal. Until the agent cleared his throat. "There is one more thing." I immediately knew I wasn't going to like it. "What?" "You'll be sharing the apartment with another student." I stared at him. "Another student?" "Yes." My friend looked at me. "Male or female?" The agent hesitated. "Male." My smile disappeared. "What?" "He's already paid six months of rent." "Six months?" "Yes." My friend leaned toward me. "Maybe he's nice." "Or maybe he's a serial killer." The agent laughed nervously. "I'm sure you'll get along." I wasn't sure. Not even close. We followed him down the hallway. He stopped in front of the second bedroom. Then he knocked. "Jayden?" My stomach dropped. I don't know why. Maybe it was the name. Maybe it was instinct. Maybe it was because some part of me already knew what was about to happen. The door opened. And my entire body froze. Black hoodie. Black hair. That face. Those eyes. That smile. The subway guy. He looked at me. Then at my friend. Then back at me. For a moment, neither of us spoke. My friend slowly turned toward me. Her eyes widened. Then she covered her mouth. "Oh my God." I wanted the floor to open. Jayden leaned against the doorframe. A small smile appeared on his face. "Well..." His eyes stayed on mine. "Looks like we meet again." My friend started laughing. I couldn't move. Jayden tilted his head. "Subway girl." My face went hot. "You." He smiled wider. "You were trying very hard not to look at me." "I wasn't looking at you." "Sure." My friend was practically crying from laughter. "This is unbelievable." The agent looked between us. "You know each other?" Jayden answered before I could. "Not yet." He stepped aside and opened the door wider. "But I think we're about to." I stared at him. This was supposed to be my fresh start. My freedom. My new life. And somehow, the universe had decided to put the one guy I had spent an entire subway ride avoiding... inside my apartment. Jayden looked at me one more time. "Come in, Damsel." I froze. I had never told him my name. How did he know it? .