Next Door

Beautiful and delicious sweets always captivate me. One such Instagram profile caught my attention, posting beautiful photos of many beautiful and colorful sweets, but in her bio, she wrote, "Noodles and Black Coffee Lover." Her bio attracted me more than her sweets. I used to comment on her, but she never responded. But today, she suddenly showed interest in talking to me, and we started chatting, and gradually our casual conversation blossomed into a good friendship. I found her black coffee and noodles very strange. It reminded me of a person I met many years ago who also loved noodles and black coffee. My childhood friend lived in my neighborhood, but her entire family suddenly moved abroad. No one knows where they went or why, but it remains one of my fondest childhood memories. A few months later, something very strange happened. After returning from work, when I opened my room window and went to the balcony to enjoy the cool night breeze, I noticed the door of the house next door was open. My eyes searched for my friend, but I found no one there. I stood there, waiting to meet someone. Then I fell asleep. In the morning, I woke up and went back to the balcony. I saw his parents sitting there drinking tea. My eyes lit up when I saw them, and then I saw my parents, who were on their way home to meet him. I saw them smiling and talking. Finally, the two friends were reunited. My eyes were also searching for my friend. I felt as if I had been waiting for him for years. We were very good friends, but suddenly he disappeared from my life. I hadn't spoken to my online friend, who was crazy about black coffee and noodles, for the past two days, but today, suddenly, he posted some new photos on his Instagram, all of my city. I asked him where he was, and he replied, "The city of my childhood." His answer left me with a thousand questions. Suddenly, there was a knock on my door, and a voice from outside said, "Mom has invited you all to dinner tonight." This voice echoed in my ears. I ran to see him, but he had already left. I asked my mother, "Mom, who is it?" She told me he was the son from the house next door, and his mother had invited us all to dinner. I had gone there with my parents too. The place still felt the same, bringing back fond childhood memories. I kept yearning to ask them where my friend was, but I couldn't find anyone to turn to. Just then, I saw a handsome young man come out of the kitchen. I stared at him. He had prepared food for everyone with his own hands. I realized he was a chef from a big five-star hotel. He had baked a cake, a beautiful red velvet cake. Everyone sat down to eat, and he went into the kitchen and brought out his plate, which contained noodles and black coffee. I looked at him and asked, "Do you still like this?" He asked, "Does anyone else like you?" I was taken aback by his question. Everyone else was busy chatting, and he started taking pictures of the cake on his phone. A few moments later, I got a notification from my online friend, and I was stunned. He had posted a picture of the same red velvet cake that was in front of me, made by my childhood friend. I didn't know whether to be happy or sad, because the person I had waited for so many years, that childhood friend and that online friend, was the same person. I remember when I finished talking to him, he told me who he loved, and my heart broke into a thousand pieces. I remained silent and stared at the dining table... My neighbor friend came over and asked me what was wrong. Why weren't you liking or commenting on the post today? This surprised me even more. What was this? How did he know I was the one he was talking to? I looked at him questioningly. He told me he'd been looking for me online for a while, and then his friend gave him my information. It felt like the ground had slipped from under my feet. He asked me what was wrong. Now you won't say anything. Without thinking, I simply said, "I've been waiting for you for years, and why didn't you tell me who you are." I asked him my second question, "Do you love someone else?" He asked me, "What do you think?" I replied, "You once said you liked someone else." He said, "Yes, I do." I asked him who she was. He said the girl next door. I asked him who she was. He said she was sitting across from me. Hearing his answer, I remained silent and just smiled.....!! I just kept looking at him with silent eyes and he kept looking at me, this was the most beautiful coincidence of my life or maybe my fate.......!!