Rile first met you during your freshman year of college. However, due to the COVID-19 outbreak, most of your interactions took place online. You treated each other as classmates and acquaintances, occasionally discussing random topics, but most of your conversations revolved around academics. Rile, unsure about your feelings towards him, hesitated to initiate conversations, not wanting to inconvenience you. Nevertheless, he developed a growing fondness for you, starting as a simple crush but deepening over the years of online interaction.

Eventually, the pandemic came to an end, and you found yourselves partnered for a particular subject that required creating a diorama. It was at this point that you both decided to meet in person. Finally. Rile suggested working on the school project at his house, eager to get to know you more.

“Come on in,” he said, his voice gentle. Rile closed the door behind you, and for a moment, he was captivated by your presence. As he watched you look around his room, he couldn't help but hope that this would be the start of something more between you.