SARA POV

"Sorry, you're a good person. You might find someone better."

Yeah.

I got rejected.

After three years of crushing on him, I finally confessed. Right after high school ended. And he said no.

But strangely, I didn’t feel broken. No tears at first. Just a quiet acceptance.

That’s me—I move on fast. Life is too short to hold onto something that’s not meant for me.

I’ve let it go.

Yeah… just let it go.

...

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...

"You know I liked him for so long!" I cried, sniffling as I rewatched Pride and Prejudice for the hundredth time.

My small circle of friends surrounded me—Lara on the couch beside me, Freya curled up on the floor with a bowl of chips. I didn’t need many friends. Just these two. They’re enough.

"There, there." Lara patted my head softly.

"I think I’d be such a good girlfriend," I said with a pout, rubbing my eyes with a tissue.

"Of course you would!" Freya said. "You’ll find someone better than him."

I sniffled again, already halfway into my spiral. “He’s such a nice guy. Remember when he protected my head when I got into the car?”

They nodded, but I already knew the truth. He was nice to everyone.

Still, I clung to the sadness just a little longer. Even when I knew it would pass.

“You guys even hyped me up,” I sighed, leaning back into the couch. “You told me to confess before I regret it.”

"And you did," Freya said. "So no regrets, right?"

I nodded slowly. “Yeah... no regrets. I’ll get over this in a few days. Maybe weeks.”

I changed the subject with a stretch. “Now that we’ve graduated, what’s next?”

“I’ve got a nursing school interview next week,” Lara said.

“You, Freya?”

“Alderwell College.”

“Oh! Me too!” I lit up. We grabbed each other’s hands and jumped with joy.

Lara groaned. “Ugh, I hate that I won’t be with you two.”

“We’ll still hang out,” I promised. “We’ll make time.”

We were growing up. Young adults now. There’s so much life ahead. I was the youngest, but I always tried to think maturely. Positive mindset. Good people. Growth.

That’s what matters.

I checked my phone. “Aren't you guys gonna be late?”

Lara and Freya exchanged a look.

“We’re sleeping over,” Lara said with a grin.

“Yeah, yeah,” Freya echoed.

I laughed. “Good. I already told my parents you might.”

“Yay!”

We all giggled like little kids again. And later, when the lights were off and they were asleep, I lay awake.

Tossing. Overthinking.

I had good grades. A peaceful life. A soft, quiet kind of existence. But I’d never experienced romance—not really. And I wanted to. Just once.

I loved love. The kind in books. The kind on screen. I was just a girl who dreamed. A little too much. A little too quietly.

Maybe my standards were high. Maybe that’s why every crush I had ended up one-sided. I wasn’t great at talking to guys anyway.

I sighed, rolling to my side.

College was starting soon. Dorms. New people. A new chapter.

I’d study hard. Get a good job. Maybe settle down one day. Marriage. Or blind dates, if it came to that.

And if all else failed, maybe I’d try a dating app. Or actually socialize.

Socialize? God.

Why couldn’t a tall, handsome guy with a sweet heart just show up at my door and propose already?

Ugh. Life is such a pain in the ass.

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This a slow burn romance. College love story. Hope you guys like it! Have a great day! 🤍

SARA POV

I never realized going to college would come with so many chores.

"Have you packed everything, sweetheart?" my mom asked as she prepared breakfast.

I nodded while munching on toast. "I just need to pick a good date to move into the dorm and get things set up."

"Time flies fast. Your college starts in just a few weeks," my dad said, flipping through the newspaper. "Let your brother drive you there this week."

"What? Seriously?" my older brother, Samuel, complained as he sat beside me.

I stuck my tongue out at him.

"Okay, fine," he sighed, digging into his eggs.

"Dad, I'm going grocery shopping with Mom. Do you need anything?" I asked.

"No, just get something you like," he said, smiling.

That made me smile too. We left for the nearest grocery store, and I pushed the cart as my mom browsed the aisles.

It was all calm until I saw her.

Austin's mom.

My stomach dropped. I immediately ducked behind a display. I forgot how close we lived. I confessed to Austin just four months ago! If his mom was here... he might be too.

"Oh? Isn’t that Austin’s mom?" my mom said, spotting her.

"Mom! Didn’t we get everything already? Let’s head to the counter," I rushed, trying to steer her away.

"Tch! Don’t be rude. We should say hello," she insisted and walked right over.

Panic.

I scanned the store, but it was too late. Austin's mom had seen us. I put on a polite smile and followed.

Thankfully, Austin wasn’t with her.

"Is Austin here?" my mom asked.

"No, he’s at home. Busy preparing for college," Austin's mom replied.

I exhaled in relief.

"Oh, really? Which college is he going to?"

"Alderwell College."

What?!

My heart skipped. No. No, no, no.

The moms squealed in delight when they realized I was going there too. I wanted to melt into the ground. Maybe move abroad. Start a new identity.

As we walked away, my mom smiled. "Austin’s mom is such a lovely person. He must get that from her."

"Yeah," I replied flatly.

She glanced at me. "What’s with that face? You didn’t greet her properly. What’s going on?"

I sighed. "I confessed to Austin after graduation."

"What?!" My mom's eyes widened, and then she burst out laughing.

"Mom! I’m being serious!"

"Okay, okay," she said, trying to calm down. "So? What happened?"

"I got rejected, of course! And now I might see him again at college. It’s so embarrassing."

She patted my shoulder. "I was hoping he’d become my son-in-law one day, but it’s alright. You're still young."

I know I’m young. My parents are strict, but they’re also understanding. They let me date—with boundaries.

I want to experience real love. The kind that lasts. People say to enjoy life and meet many people, but I want my first to be my last. Someone just for me.

Does that kind of love really exist?

If it does... I hope it finds me.

...

...

...

The first day of Alderwell College.

It finally came.

I had everything ready. I checked my schedule on my phone and headed to the class hall.

I arrived early to find a good seat—but apparently, I wasn’t the only one.

A guy was already there.

He was handsome. Dark hair, focused eyes, neat casual clothes. He looked serious as he scrolled through his phone.

My heart thumped unexpectedly. I tried to brush it off. He’s just good-looking, that’s all. I’d seen tons of handsome guys online.

Still, I didn’t sit next to him. That would be weird. I picked a spot a few seats away in the same row.

He looked up briefly when I sat down, then returned to his phone.

Now that I saw his face more clearly...

He was definitely my type. He didn’t even smile, yet somehow, he still looked charming. It should be illegal to be born that good-looking.

Ugh, look at me. Judging by looks alone. I didn’t even know how to talk to guys.

But even then... I couldn’t stop wondering. I couldn't ignore the curiousity in my heart about him.

...

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SARA POV

They’re checking names and calling them out for introductions.

As they go down the list, I finally hear it—his name.

Ryan Thorne.

It suits him so well. Sharp. Cool. Just like his face.

I quickly text Freya since I haven’t seen her anywhere.

where are you? >

She replies almost instantly.

< behind you duh

I turn around. And yep—there she is.

“Girl, why didn’t you say anything?” I whisper softly.

“Surprise, surprise,” she grins.

“I didn’t expect the introduction to be this boring,” I say.

She sighs and nods. “Right? I’m just more curious about the food at the canteen.”

“Same,” I reply. “But we gotta get through another hour of this.”

We both sigh and continue listening to the introductions. No matter how dull it is, I can’t help myself—I keep glancing at Ryan. He still has that serious look on his face, like he doesn’t care about anything going on. Maybe he’s the calm, quiet type. The nonchalant kind.

But then—our eyes meet.

For just a second.

I panic and instantly look away, pretending like it didn’t happen. But my heart betrays me. It’s pounding like crazy. My face feels a little hot.

God, I hope he didn’t notice me staring at him. I can’t even bring myself to look back, in case he's still looking at me.

This is awkward. So awkward.

...

Finally, it’s lunchtime.

“Oh! This carbonara is so good,” Freya says, practically moaning.

I try it—and she’s right. “Okay, this is actually delicious.”

“You know, coming to college still feels like high school to me,” I say. “Just study hard, get good grades, repeat.”

“Yeah, but at least we’ve got new faces,” she says. “And new food.”

I laugh and agree. Then… I see him again. Ryan.

He’s sitting with a group, but even then, he still looks like he’s in his own world—quiet, serious, barely saying anything.

But somehow, that makes him even more… interesting.

He looks a little intimidating with that straight face, but everything else about him checks all the boxes: handsome, tall, broad shoulders… the type that girls fall for.

“What are you looking at?” Freya asks, noticing how I’ve spaced out.

“Nothing. Just focused on this carbonara,” I lie.

If I told her the truth, she’d start shipping us like she always does. Same as in high school—giving me delusions, telling me we’d make the perfect couple. I’m not ready for that. It feels wrong to say anything about someone I’ve never even talked to.

Still...

Life has a way of surprising you.

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...

“Are you Sara Winslow?”

His voice makes my heart skip. I look up—and it’s him. Ryan Thorne.

I nod nervously.

“You’ll be my lab partner,” he says casually.

God… even his voice sounds nice.

...

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