I just got home after an exhausting day at work. I put the car keys on our dining table, and drop my bag on a chair. "Liz? Are you there?" I call for my roommate. No answer. I take off my shoes and go straight to the kitchen. When I open the fridge and there's a red velvet cake half eaten. This is what is left from my birthday cake. Yesterday, Liz threw a surprise party for my 26th birthday. She's not just my roommate, she's my bestfriend. We met at UNC, I don't really remember when. It seems like she's been there all along.

As I grab a slice of my cake, I hear my phone buzzing.

Gael: can I come over? Got you a gift

Gael is my neighbor. We met a month ago when I was leaving the building and he was entering, holding his bike up. "Hi neighbor! Can I ask you something? I have some trouble with my apartment; do you have the building manager's contact?" After that, we started hanging out and getting to know each other. Suddenly, things started to evolve and now we're a thing. I don't really think is a good idea to get evolved with my neighbor, but he's a guy that literally every woman would have a crush. He kind of reminds me of Jon Snow, because of the long dark curly hair, and his pale skin. Gael works at a publicity agency, and he's also a part time artist. His house is full of drawings, sculptures and posters. And he is adorable.

Lara Jean: you really didn't have to! I got to pack my bags, I'm visiting my family tomorrow. Sorry

Gael: I don't mind helping. Pleeeeease

Lara Jean: ok, but you're not staying over! :P

About 20 minutes later he knocks on my door. "Hi there" he greets me with a quick peck. He's holding a book-sized box, wrapped up in a beautiful rosé gold paper, it has a card with my name on the top.

"What did I tell you about gifts?" I sigh.

"C'mon, you're not even curious?" He chuckles as I roll my eyes. Gael sits on the couch and hands me the box, I rip the wrapping and open it. The gift he gave is a book I've been wishing for ages "The War Has No Female Face". My eyes are sparkling as I give him a hug.

"But you really didn't have to!"

"Can't you just kiss me and say 'thank you'? I've never met such a stubborn woman" I'm still in his arms so he leans to kiss me. I whisper starring at his mouth "thank you".

We're at my room and he's laying on my bed, playing with a fuzzy pillow while I'm folding clothes to fill my bags.

"Is Liz on call tonight?" he asks.

"Yes. I was supposed to be on call tonight to but I managed to switch with Audrey, thank God. If I don't get home soon my dad is coming to kidnap me from my job"

"Isn't he a physician too? He should be used to your crazy schedule". One thing I like about Gael is that he remembers every little detail I tell him about myself.

"Well he is, but it doesn't mean that he is ok with me not visiting for so long. I thought he was going to cry when I told him I'm taking a little vacation. My father is very attached to us."

"I see. He seems like a nice guy, though. I'd like to meet Dr. Covey"

I clear my throat. I really like Gael, but I intent to takes things slowly. I made a promise to myself that I would spend this year focusing on my career and I really don't want to fall in love with him. Or with any other guy.

I spent most of my teenage days reading classic romances and dreaming of a prince charming. When I was 16 I had my first love, Peter Kavinsky. We started dating on high school and had a long distance relationship when I moved to North Carolina. I thought we would marry someday. One weekend planned to surprise him and drove all the way to UVA. When he opened his dorms door, he widens his eyes to me. He didn't look happy though, he looked shocked. I didn't understand until a female's voice say "Peter? Who's that?". Peter was shirtless, using only his underwear; he said in a stammering voice "Lara Jean, this is not what you thinking". That sentence just confirmed everything to me. My first love, the boy I had my first time with, was cheating on me.

Despite this misfortune, I was still a romantic girl. So there were two men I fell in love after Peter K. Alex Grant, he was a law student that I met at one park, when his Siberian husky decided to chase my bag of bagels. He was Colombian, but he lived in US since he was a child. He was always naturally tanned because he spends his vacation surfing with his brother in his hometown. On Friday nights we used to cook Korean and Colombian food to learn more about each other culture. We dated for a couple years.

How did Alex and I break up? Well, after almost two years together things were just not the same. One day, I received a message in my facebook that made me wonder if I really loved Alex. John Ambrose McLaren had sent me a picture of me and Stormy at Belleview with the caption "look what I just found"; I was holding her, as she was chuckling looking at the camera. I remember she hated that picture because the wrinkles around her mouth were showing. I miss her so much.

From that day on, John and I started text each other, and more and more I was feeling guilty about it, even though we literally were just chating. At some point I realized I still had feelings for John, and it was just not fair with Alex. I really didn't want him to feel like I did when Peter cheated on me.

Three months after Alex and I broke up, I was officially dating John. I couldn't believe we were actually in a real relationship after so many years of mismatches. John was an amazing boyfriend; we even adopted a dog together. After three years we decided to move together, and I gave up in the last minute. John would be the perfect husband any woman would ever wish for. But I'm only 26, I'm really not feeling like getting married right now. Everyday John would talk about how he wants to have like five kids and live in an inner city; I didn't really understand how my career was going to fit in his dream life. I suggested us to take a break, but he didn't like it. He said maybe I should marry my career instead, since that's all I care for. We broke up about 6 months ago.

Gael snaps his fingers "Lara Jean? Are you ok?" He's starring me with a confused look.

"Sure, I was just trying to make a mental checklist of what I still have to grab before leaving." I reply. "Gael, I don't want to rude, but it's kind of late. I'll leave at 6am so I'm heading to my bed soon…"

He come to me and holds my waist from behind. He whispers in my ear "I was kind of hoping you asked me to stay…" I shiver. Shit, I really can't fall in love with him. Or any guy.

"Sorry, I warned you" I say as I get away from his hug. "Thanks for coming, though. You can keep the rest of my bday cake" I try not to seem such a cold hearted, but if he doesn't leave now he'll probably stay the night.

"Fine…" Gael looked kind of disappointed, but he picked up the rest of the cake and left. Before leaving, he stopped by my door and said "hey, I'm gonna miss my favorite neighbor"

"It's only two weeks, I'll be right back". We kissed goodbye and he took the elevator to his place.

…

When I wake up, Liz is laying on our couch like a dead body. She still wearing the clothes she used yesterday. I try to be as silent as possible not to wake her up. I grab my luggage and head to my car. I leave her a note "Just left, take care. Love you!".

I just took a dna test turns out I'm a hundred percent that b**

Even when I'm crying crazy

Yeah I got boys problems that's the human in me

Bling bling then I solve 'em that's the goddess in me

My windows are down and I'm singing loud. I'm about 10 min from my dad's house right now. It's funny how I was so scare of driving when I was 16; nowadays I love to drive by myself and sing the whole route.

I just stopped at the red light, I keep singing and dancing (in a very awkward way) while I wait.

Why men great till they gotta be great?

Don't text me tell straight to my face

The car on my right is downing its window. I feel my face burn. What are the odds? Peter Kavinsky is staring at me laughing like hell. He horns and screams "Sup Covey!"

That's only my first day of vacation.

a/n

Hi there. It's the first time I'm writing a fanfic and English is not my mother language so please be patient to me. If you see bad grammar, feel free to correct me. If you like this chapter, let me know so I'll keep writing. Disclaimer: I don't own this characters, I'm just obsessed over Jenny Han's books.