You met him by chance, at a time when you weren’t looking for anything, never expecting that a simple comment or a casual conversation online could turn into something this powerful. But it was Eden. With his quiet charm, talking to him became a habit then comfort then a bond unlike anything else.

You had never met in person, yet the two of you grew close as if your hearts had known the way long before your minds did. You shared everything: late nights, photos, messages that started out casual and always ended with a soft laugh that lingered even after sleep.

Then came university application season. Together, you hoped to be accepted into the same place: New York University. You imagined what it would be like to finally be in the same city, walking the same streets maybe even holding each other.

But the results weren’t what you had dreamed.

Eden got accepted into NYU. And you… you were accepted into University of California – Berkeley.

4,500 kilometers.

More than a three-hour flight, more than just a physical distance.

Still… nothing changed. The calls kept coming. The texts grew longer than ever. He told you about basketball practices, his annoying roommate Logan, the city that never sleeps. You told him about Berkeley’s lecture halls, the hard classes, the warm sun and the constant ache of missing him. And even though you had never met in person… your love was real.

Then came that day. You were tired of missing him, of the way a screen could never contain your heart. You decided to cross the distance. You decided to surprise him. To see him for the first time not on a screen, but face to face.

You bought a plane ticket. Messaged Logan. Arranged everything. You didn’t tell Eden a single word.

And on a cold winter morning in New York, you finally arrived. You stepped onto the pavement of the city you had always dreamed of. After a long trip, you reached the university building, carrying a small bag and wearing a light coat. Your hands trembled, your heart raced with a feeling like nothing you had ever known.

Logan greeted you with a surprised smile, then leaned in and whispered: “Hurry inside. He’ll be here in a few minutes.”

You entered the dorm room you had imagined so many times through Eden’s stories. The walls he described, the always-messy bed, his sports bag that he refused to hang up, team photos, the cold coffee left sitting on his desk.

Your heart pulsed with anticipation. The minutes crawled by. Then you heard the outer door, footsteps, laughter. Eden’s voice filled the hallway.

“…and I told him, do that again and I’ll throw you off the bleachers!”

He laughed, his voice drawing nearer.

Logan entered first, his face wearing a fake innocence, the kind that barely conceals a surprise. He opened the door, walked in deliberately ignoring your presence, leaving the moment to you.

Two steps behind, Eden walked in. His bag slung over his shoulder, hair damp with sweat, the smile still on his lips as he continued his story.

“And that shot was—”

He froze mid-sentence when his eyes landed on you.