FINDING YOU , LOVING ME

Chapter 1 — The List MAYA'S POV “Okay, Maya. This year, no distractions.” I stared at the small notebook in my hands. On the first page, written in my neatest handwriting, was a list. MY LIST ☐ Finish Grade 10 with good grades ☐ Read at least 20 books ☐ Save money for college ☐ Stop procrastinating ☐ Make new friends ☐ Visit The Book Nook every weekend ☐ Fall in love I immediately crossed out the last one. “Nope.” I laughed quietly. Love wasn't part of my plan. At least, that's what I believed that morning. The Book Nook was my favorite place in the entire city. It was a small bookstore tucked between a coffee shop and an old flower shop. The wooden shelves, the smell of paper, and the quiet sound of rain against the windows made it feel like another world. I walked inside, carrying my books against my chest. “Good morning, Maya!” Ate Liza called from the counter. “Good morning!” I smiled before heading toward my favorite corner. I sat beside the window and opened my notebook. One by one, I started checking my list. Everything was going perfectly. Until someone placed a cup of coffee on my table. I looked up. A boy stood there. Brown hoodie. Messy black hair. A book in one hand. And the most confused expression I'd ever seen. “Sorry,” he said. “Is this seat taken?” I glanced at the empty chair across from me. “No.” He sat down. I looked back at my notebook, pretending he didn't exist. But after a few seconds, I noticed something. He was staring at my list. I quickly covered it with my hand. “You weren't supposed to read that.” He blinked. “I didn't.” “You were looking.” “I was looking at the notebook.” “That's looking.” He smiled. “Fair enough.” I rolled my eyes. “What's your name?” Why did he suddenly ask that? “Maya.” “I'm Noah.” Noah. For some reason, the name stayed in my head. “You come here often?” he asked. “Yes.” “Why?” “Because it's quiet.” He looked around the bookstore. “Not anymore.” I frowned. “Are you saying I'm noisy?” “No.” “Then?” He smiled. “You're distracting.” My cheeks immediately felt warm. I looked away. “You're weird.” “Probably.” He opened his book. And just like that, the conversation ended. For the next thirty minutes, neither of us spoke. But somehow, I couldn't concentrate anymore. I kept noticing little things. The way he tapped his fingers against the table while reading. The way he smiled whenever he reached a funny part. The way he looked outside whenever the rain became heavier. Finally, I closed my notebook. I stood up. “I have to go.” Noah looked up. “Already?” “Yes.” “Will I see you again?” I shrugged. “Maybe.” I started walking away. Then I heard him call my name. “Maya.” I turned around. He held up my notebook. My heart stopped. I had left it on the table. “You forgot this.” I walked back and grabbed it. “Thanks.” He smiled. “You should be careful with that.” “With what?” “Your list.” I frowned. “Why?” “Because sometimes…” He paused. “Life doesn't care about your plans.” I stared at him. Before I could answer, he returned to his book. I walked out of The Book Nook with my notebook pressed against my chest. Outside, the rain was still falling. I opened the notebook. My eyes immediately went to the last item. ☐ Fall in love I smiled. Then, without knowing why, I added something beneath it. ☐ Find out who Noah is. And that was the first time I realized— Maybe my list was about to change.