When I was a kid, a newlywed couple moved in next door. My parents were warm and welcoming, and after our families became close, Jennifer Thompson, the gentle and kind lady next door, would often bring me little snacks. Her sweet nature immediately made me like her. As the years passed and I hit my teenage years, I began to grow curious about relationships. I spent a lot of time at their house and often saw Jennifer taking care of her baby. Her curvy figure naturally became the source of my daydreams, and she firmly planted herself in my mind. But one time, while I was watching Jennifer feed her child, lost in thought, her husband caught me staring. He whispered something to her, and I saw her blush immediately. After that, he made up an excuse to send me home. From that point on, I felt that Jennifer started to distance herself from me, and the closeness between our families slowly faded away. This growing distance didn’t change how I felt. In fact, it only made me like her even more. When I was nineteen, during my first summer break from college, their marriage hit the rocks, and one day they had a huge fight. I saw Jennifer run out, crying, and head for the rooftop of the Westwood Apartments. I was really worried she might do something drastic, so I followed her. When I got to the rooftop, I found Jennifer huddled in a corner, sobbing uncontrollably, her whole body shaking. Seeing her like that broke my heart. I hated her husband at that moment—how could he not appreciate such an amazing woman? I summoned all my courage and approached her. “Jennifer, don’t cry. That man isn’t worth your tears.” She looked up, surprised to see me there. Seeing her face covered in tears, I couldn’t bear it. I don’t know what came over me, but I blurted out, “Jennifer, don’t cry! He doesn’t deserve you!” “What…?” Jennifer looked at me in shock. Gathering more courage, I dropped the formalities. “Jennifer, why don’t you just divorce him? When I graduate, I’ll marry you!” She was stunned, looking at me in complete disbelief. “What are you talking about?” she finally asked. “I… I like you!” I said, my heart racing. I had no idea where this boldness came from, but I’ll never forget the look of shock on her face. “You’re just a kid. You don’t understand anything,” Jennifer said as she stood up, trying to leave. But just as she passed by, I grabbed her hand. “Let go!” she demanded, her face flushed with embarrassment as she tried to pull away. “What are you doing?” “I…” I was so nervous I couldn’t think straight. I didn’t know why I was being so impulsive, but in that moment, I made a bold decision. I pulled her into a hug and kissed her.
That kiss was my first, but it wasn’t sweet. Suddenly, Jennifer bit my lip. “Ouch!” I yelped in pain, immediately letting her go. Before I could say anything else— “You little jerk!” Smack! Jennifer slapped me hard across the face and ran off, crying. That slap snapped me back to reality. I was filled with regret, constantly replaying the scene in my head, asking myself, What the hell did I just do? I was terrified she would tell my parents or, worse, her husband. I couldn’t go home that night. Instead, I spent the entire night on the rooftop, too scared to face anyone. It wasn’t until late that night that my worried parents came looking for me. Jennifer came along with them. “Luke, what’s gotten into you?” my mom asked, panicked. “Luke, don’t scare us like this! Sure, you didn’t get into your dream college, but life is long…” They assumed I was upset about not getting into the college I wanted and thought I was in a dark place. Their concern was touching, but all I could think about was Jennifer. I glanced at her from the corner of my eye. When our gazes met, she quickly looked away and left without a word. But I knew—she hadn’t told anyone about what happened. When I started college, I ended up dating a girl named Amy Summers. She was from the same city as me, and we went to school together. It didn’t take long for us to become a couple. For a while, I thought I’d moved on from Jennifer. But when I came home during the summer break, things next door had gotten worse. The fights between Jennifer and her husband were getting louder and more frequent. I could even hear the sounds of things breaking. Suddenly, all the memories of Jennifer came flooding back. I realized I had never truly forgotten her, and every moment we shared was still etched in my mind. At dinner, I casually asked, “What’s going on with Mr. and Mrs. Thompson? They seem to be fighting a lot lately.” “The seven-year itch, maybe,” my dad said with a shrug. “You don’t know what you’re talking about,” my mom chimed in, shaking her head. “It’s because he failed at his business.” “Business?” I asked. “Yeah, he and a friend tried to start an import/export company, but it went under. They lost everything and now owe tens of thousands.” My mom added, “I even saw a realtor showing their house earlier today—they’re selling it to pay off the debt.” Hearing this, I felt awful. I wanted to help her. That night, I reached out to a friend, and we found summer jobs. My parents were supportive, seeing me so motivated. At the end of the month, I earned my first paycheck—$2,800. Most people would probably use that money to treat themselves or buy something nice. But I stood in front of their house, pacing at the stairs, clutching that money in my hands. When her husband left the house, I knocked on the door. Jennifer answered, looking exhausted. “What’s up?” she asked when she saw me standing there. “I…” I couldn’t help but think back to that night on the rooftop, and my face turned red. I handed her an envelope filled with cash. “Jennifer, I’m sorry for how I acted before. I was immature. I know your family is struggling financially right now. I earned this money working this summer—please, take it.” I stuffed the money into her hands and bolted back to my house. Little did I know that this simple gesture would change everything between us—and turn me into a man.
After giving Jennifer the money, I rushed home and tried to sleep early that night. But I couldn’t. The next morning, when my parents had left for work, the doorbell rang. “Who is it?” I asked as I opened the door. Jennifer stood there, looking at me with a soft smile. “You silly boy,” she said, handing me back the envelope of money. “I appreciate your kindness, but you need to keep this.” I tried to refuse, but she wouldn’t hear it. As we both tugged at the envelope, I accidentally brushed against her. My face flushed instantly. She, too, stood there awkwardly, unsure of what to say. “If you keep this up, I’ll get mad,” she finally said, trying to stay serious. “I just really want to help you get through this,” I replied earnestly. “You’re such a sweet boy. If only he were half as thoughtful as you…” Her words trailed off, and I could see a deep sadness in her eyes. Seeing her like that tugged at my heart. For a moment, the air between us was still. Neither of us said anything. Finally, I stammered, “Why don’t you come in and sit down for a while?” “I can’t take the money, though,” she insisted, handing the envelope back. I didn’t push it. Instead, I invited her inside. She sat down on the couch, looking around. “It’s been a while since I’ve been in your house.” “Yeah,” I agreed with a smile. “Can I get you something to drink? Tea? Coffee?” “You have coffee?” she asked, surprised. “I do. I picked up some while working at the grocery store. Let me make you a cup.” “Thanks,” she said with a nod. I went to the kitchen and brewed her some coffee. When I brought it back, she took the cup, but instead of drinking, she stared at it for a moment before placing it on the table. “Time flies, doesn’t it? I remember when we first moved here, you were just a little kid. And now, you’re about to finish your second year of college,” she said softly. “Yeah, I’ll be twenty soon,” I replied. “Your birthday’s coming up, right?” “Yep. My parents are throwing a small party for me next Sunday.” Jennifer looked at me with her usual warmth. “Do you want anything special for your birthday? Maybe I can get you a gift.” Hearing that, my heart skipped a beat. “I’d just like you to come to the party. I don’t really need a gift.” “Are you sure?” Jennifer smiled gently. “You don’t want anything else?” “Well…” I hesitated. Given her financial situation, I didn’t want to burden her with getting me a present. But deep down, I still wanted something from her—it would mean more to me than any other gift. Before I could figure out what to say, she stood up and said, “I’ve never seen your room before. Mind showing me around?” “Sure,” I replied without thinking, leading her to my room. “Sorry for the mess,” I said awkwardly, glancing around. When I turned back to look at her, I was shocked. Jennifer was leaning against the door—and she had locked it behind her.
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