The faded "Room for Rent" sign stuck out like a sore thumb against the peeling paint. Rain lashed against the windowpane, blurring the view of the city street beyond. Suzianna wasn't sure what was worse, the storm outside or the cramped living situation with her overbearing roommate.
With a deep breath, she pushed open the creaky door. A bell tinkled somewhere in the dark hallway. A man with kind eyes and a mop of unruly brown hair appeared at the top of the stairs.
"Hi, I'm Suzianna. Uhm, 'bout the room..."
"Noah," he grinned, his smile crinkling the corners of his eyes. "Come in, come in. Weather's frightful out there, innit?"
The room was small but cozy, filled with sunlight streaming through a large window. It smelled of old books and something warm and delicious wafting from downstairs.
"This is perfect," Suzianna blurted out before she could overthink it.
Weeks flew by. The house felt like a warm hug, a place where Suzianna could unwind. Evenings were spent curled up in her favorite armchair, a good book in one hand and a steaming mug in the other. The soft strumming of Noah's guitar drifted up from downstairs, filling the house with music. Laughter became their soundtrack as they shared stories over mismatched plates of dinner, each bite tasting like home.
One rainy evening, they found themselves huddled under a single blanket, watching an old movie. Noah's hand brushed against hers, sending a jolt through her. He looked at her, his gaze lingering a beat too long. Suzianna's heart hammered in her chest.
"Suzy, there's something I've been wanting to ask," Noah said, his voice husky.
The room seemed to shrink, the air charged with unspoken emotions. Suzianna met his gaze, a nervous flutter in her stomach.
"Yea? Me too," she admitted, her voice barely a whisper.
Their lips met in a hesitant kiss, then another, filled with an unspoken promise of something new. As the rain continued its symphony on the rooftop, Suzianna knew this wasn't just a room for rent. It was the start of something special.
