HEY, NEIGHBOR!

Dragging the last box out of my old place felt heavier than usual—not because of its weight, but because of what it meant. New city. New apartment. New life. I should be excited... but instead, my phone buzzed with an annoying notification. "No Internet Connection." Of course. I sighed heavily, almost laughing at how fitting it was. Leaving behind everything familiar, only to lose my connection to the world too. Typical. Shaking my head, I stuffed my phone into my pocket and focused on the task at hand—getting to my new apartment before I overthought myself into a meltdown. --- An hour later, I finally stood inside my small, bare new unit. The walls were plain, the air smelled faintly of fresh paint, and my future here still felt like a giant question mark. I dropped my keys onto the kitchen counter, wiped my forehead, and started unpacking the last of my things. As I bent down to open a box labeled "Essentials," my phone suddenly buzzed like crazy, filling the room with a series of pings. Startled, I pulled it out—and blinked. Message Notifications. App Updates. Streaming Alerts. Huh? I checked the status bar. Connected to WiFi. Signal: Strong. I frowned. I didn't even set up an internet plan yet. Where was this coming from? Shrugging, I smiled to myself. Maybe a generous neighbor? Either way, it was a miracle. Thanks to that random WiFi connection, I blasted my favorite playlist, letting the upbeat music push me into full-on unpacking beast mode. I folded, organized, and decorated like a woman on a mission, finishing in record time. Until—suddenly, the music stopped. Dead silence. My heart sank. I grabbed my phone, hoping it was just a glitch—but no. No Internet Connection. Again. I sighed in frustration, flopping down on my creaky couch like a lifeless ragdoll. No curtains, no TV, no WiFi. Just me, my messy hair, and a stubborn WiFi icon mocking me with its tiny exclamation mark. I stared at the ceiling, debating if I could survive the night without rewatching my comfort series or mindlessly scrolling through memes. Spoiler: I couldn't. Opening my WiFi settings, I started scanning nearby networks like a total creep. "Neighbor 1 WiFi - Secured." "Neighbor 2 WiFi - Strong Signal." "Neighbor 3 WiFi - Password Protected." All locked. Figures. I bit my lip, considering something totally out of character. Knocking on a stranger’s door and asking for WiFi like my dignity wasn’t hanging by a thread. After pacing for a good three minutes, I threw on a sweater, marched to the door, and stood in front of Apartment 3B—my next-door neighbor. Knock or die of boredom? Before I could second-guess myself, I knocked. Softly at first, then with a bit more courage. The door cracked open, just a sliver. A deep, casual voice drifted out. "Yeah?" I leaned closer, catching sight of a messy head of hair, a broad shoulder, and a guitar leaning against the wall inside. "Uh, hi," I said, forcing a shaky smile. "I'm your new neighbor... just moved in. And, um, would it be okay if I borrowed your WiFi password?" For a second, there was silence. Then came a low, amused chuckle. The door opened wider, revealing him. Tall. Casually handsome. Sleepy eyes like he just woke up but still somehow managed to look like he belonged on a magazine cover. "WiFi, huh?" he said, one brow lifting as he leaned lazily against the doorframe. I nodded, feeling my face heat up. He studied me for a beat—long enough to make me nervous — then smirked. "Sure," he said. "But on one condition." I blinked, wary. A condition? "You get me coffee," he said, like it was the most obvious thing in the world. "From downstairs. Black. Two sugars." And just like that, the first deal between me and my mysterious neighbor was sealed—over stolen WiFi, overpriced coffee, and a connection I never expected. What I didn't realize yet was... this was only the beginning. "Deal" I said, flashing what I hoped was a confident smile. The door clicked shut after he disappeared inside, and I was left standing there, trying to remember how to breathe properly. Shaking my head, I grabbed my wallet and hurried down the narrow staircase toward the small coffee shop at the building’s ground floor. The moment I stepped inside, the cozy scent of roasted coffee beans wrapped around me. The place was tiny but warm, with fairy lights strung across the ceiling and a soft indie song playing in the background. I walked up to the counter where a cheerful-looking barista, maybe in her mid-twenties, greeted me with a smile. "Hi! What can I get for you?" "Uh, one black coffee, two sugars, please" I said, glancing around awkwardly. She tapped something into the register, and the price flashed on the screen. My eyes widened. That much?! For black coffee?! I mean, I wasn’t expecting it to be dirt cheap, but still—that was practically a luxury coffee price for something so basic. Trying not to grimace, I handed over the cash. The barista giggled as she prepared the order. "You know," she said, flashing me a knowing grin, "when someone orders this—black, two sugars, exactly—it’s usually..." She leaned closer dramatically, whispering, "...hot guy from upstairs." I blinked. "Hot guy?" I repeated, confused. The barista laughed, handing me the coffee. "Yeah! He comes down sometimes—messy hair, killer smile, you know? Major heartthrob material. I thought it was him again, but..." She gave me a playful once-over, "...looks like someone new's stealing the spotlight." I stared at her, still processing. Hot guy? Messy hair? Wait. Was she talking about my WiFi neighbor? Before I could say anything, I laughed awkwardly and shook my head. "Oh, no, this isn’t for me," I said quickly, holding up the coffee. "Just... doing a favor. I literally just moved in two hours ago." The barista’s eyes widened. "Two hours?!" she said, her voice a little too loud. "Whoa, welcome! And you're already running coffee errands for Hot Guy Upstairs? Girl, that's fast service!" I laughed, feeling my cheeks heat up. "Guess I’m just efficient like that" I said, shrugging. She leaned over the counter slightly, lowering her voice conspiratorially. "Careful. That one’s dangerously charming." I chuckled nervously, clutching the cup like it was a lifeline. "Noted" I said, before making a hasty retreat toward the exit, the little bell above the door jingling as I pushed it open. Climbing back up the stairs, my heart thudded against my ribs—from the caffeine smell or the conversation, I wasn’t sure. All I knew was that this move was turning out way more interesting than I ever expected. I walked up the stairs with the coffee in hand, my mind swirling with what had just happened at the coffee shop. Hot guy? Me? What was even going on? As I reached the second floor, my fingers brushed the door handle to my new apartment. I was almost ready to escape to my room, kick off my shoes, and maybe finally relax... But then I heard the unmistakable sound of footsteps approaching the hallway. I froze. "Hey" a deep voice called out, and I turned to see him—my new neighbor—leaning casually against the doorframe of his apartment, one hand in his pocket, the other holding a guitar pick. "Uh, hi?" I said, the awkwardness creeping back. I had the coffee for him, but now I was nervous again. "Your phone" he said, nodding at the cup in my hands. "My phone?" I repeated, confused. He gestured toward my phone, still clutched in my other hand. "You’ve got a notification." I blinked, unsure if I had heard him right. "Notification?" I glanced at my phone, and that's when it hit me. I had completely forgotten about the password. "Oh! Right" I laughed nervously, face flushing as I pulled the phone from my pocket. "I almost forgot... the WiFi password. Silly me." He raised an eyebrow. "That’s what you were missing?" I smiled sheepishly, feeling my face burn. "Yeah, I’ve been kind of distracted with everything, you know? New apartment... new neighbors..." I paused for a second, biting my lip before adding, "And a hot guy with a killer smile who happens to be my neighbor." I muttered the last part under my breath, but I was pretty sure he heard. His lips twitched into a smirk, and I felt my heart race. "Don’t worry about it" he said casually, eyes glinting. "Here, let me show you the password." Before I could react, he stepped closer, reaching over and typing in the password on my phone screen. My breath caught in my throat. His fingers brushed mine, sending a strange jolt through me. I quickly looked away, trying to calm my suddenly erratic heartbeat. "There" he said after a moment, stepping back and handing the phone back to me. "Now you can actually use your WiFi." "Thanks" I said, blinking up at him in surprise. I’d expected him to be, I don't know, a little more indifferent or sarcastic, but he was... kind of charming in a laid-back way. "No problem" he said, his gaze flickering briefly to the coffee cup I was still holding. "Still got the coffee?" I laughed nervously, holding it out. "Here you go... Black, two sugars. Just like you asked." He took the cup from my hand, his fingers brushing mine once more. This time, it felt more... intentional. "Appreciate it." His smile was easy, almost too smooth, like he knew exactly what he was doing. "Anytime" I replied, biting my lip. "And, uh... thanks again for the WiFi. I think it's safe to say I owe you one." He gave a playful shrug. "Just bring me more coffee sometime." I chuckled, the tension easing between us. "Deal" I said, giving him a half-smile. "But no more crazy orders next time, okay? You nearly broke my wallet." He laughed. "I’m not that much of a pain, am I?" I shook my head. "No, not at all. Just... enough to make me rethink moving in here." I gave him a teasing look. "Kidding." His eyes sparkled with amusement. "Just wait. I’m sure you’ll love it here." "Sure, if I can survive without WiFi and survive your coffee orders" I muttered with a grin. He laughed again, the sound low and warm, making my cheeks heat up even more. "See you around, neighbor," he said, his smile lingering. "Yeah, see you." I waved, turning away from him and stepping into my apartment.