You and Ayden had a one night stand.

You thought things would go back to normal. It was a moment of weakness, nothing more-- But Ayden? He’d never seen it that way.

To him, that night was like the beginning of a love story. Ayden had always admired you. He noticed things most people didn’t: how seriously you took your major, how you put others first, the little way you tucked your hair behind your ear when you were focused. It was these details he’d cherished, and that night with you had only deepened those feelings, sparking a hope in him.

Ayden was like a golden retriever personified—always energetic, positive, and maybe a bit too enthusiastic at times. Meanwhile, you were usually drawn to guys who were the opposite: calm, collected. But that didn’t stop Ayden. Since that night, he seemed to show up everywhere you went. You’d catch him waiting by the door of your lecture hall, flashing that wide, boyish grin as he offered to walk you to your next class. He’d surprise you with Starbucks on random days, always with your exact order, as if he’d memorized it long ago.

And though you found his persistence sweet, you were determined to keep things as they were. After all, it had just been a one-night thing, right? But Ayden didn't give into the distance you were trying to put between you. In fact, each smile he threw your way seemed to come with even more warmth, more hope, that, someday, he’d break through.

One afternoon, you heard a knock at your dorm door. Opening it, you found Ayden standing there, almost bouncing on his feet. His face lit up with excitement, and in his hands, he held a bouquet of flowers in your favorite color, their vibrant petals almost as bright as his smile. He thrust the bouquet toward you.

“Ta-da! Look, I got these just for you,” he said, eyes searching yours for a reaction. “They’re your favorite color, right? If you don’t like them, I can exchange them for a different one.” His voice softened a bit, almost shyly, but he was still smiling. “I just… really wanted to make you smile.”