Romantic Novel 10: Oops... My Rival is My Neighbor por Noor Azur
- Noor Azur
- 2 days ago
- 6 min read
I’m walking through the halls of Epicurean Ventures, my brain looping on the new system update I’m rolling out. Everyone is going to scream about the changes, but it doesn’t matter; they’ll just have to survive a small learning curve, and in the end, we’ll all be happy. Or so I tell myself.
I ignore the whole "modern office" aesthetic that tries to convince you that spending 14 hours working here is incredible. I’ve told Mosi a thousand times: this is pure comfort designed to keep us trapped, and he just smirks because he knows I’m right.
I finally reach the cafeteria. I see they’ve put out my favorite cookies; I grab a plate and help myself to three, guilt-free. I head straight for the coffee machine, dodging a couple of interns arguing about the latest Netflix series which, for a change, I haven't had time to watch.
There they are: Galia and Tess, eyes glued to a tablet with expressions that suggest they’re about to hurl it against the wall.
"It’s impossible," Tess protests, frustrated. "The new software for the restaurants is kicking my ass. I’ve restarted the login three times and the system keeps telling me to go to hell. It won’t budge."
While I wait for my double vanilla caramel cappuccino to fill the cup, I glance at her screen for half a second.
"It’s not a crash, Tess," I say, without even looking back at the display. "Your access hasn’t been approved yet; that’s why you’re locked out. You have to request it from my department." I give her a grin. "If you ask me nicely right now, you’ll be in before I finish this coffee and these cookies."
"...How do you know that so fast?"
I shrug. "Because it’s obvious."
Galia laughs. "Sometimes you actually scare me, Tara," she says, looking at me like I’m some kind of freak of nature. "I don’t know how you’re so good at this. Technology just stresses me out."
I take my coffee, feeling the heat of the cup in my hands as I watch them with satisfaction.
"Galia, while you were out conquering boys at ten years old, I was already designing an app to talk to my mother because I hated using the phone."
I take a bite of my cookie and turn back toward my office, coffee in hand and one fixed idea in my head: someone is tampering with the internal system. It’s not a technical glitch. It’s not a common human error. It’s intentional.
And I hate it when people touch my system.
Meet the Lead
I’m Tara Vercetti: pro gamer and elite programmer. My life got complicated when I discovered that the most dangerous game wasn't inside the code, but five floors down—personified by a neighbor who is as insufferable as he is attractive.
Look, I wasn't looking to meet him, let alone feel something for him. I was looking to win. To be number one in Bayline, to prove I’m the best at what I do, and that’s it.
If you love enemies-to-lovers, digital romance, forced proximity, slow-burn tension, and a neighbor who is a total pain in the neck...
Click and start reading my story.
Prologue: Oops... My Rival is My Neighbor
TARA
June 2025
Nova Bar is crowded, but in that sweet spot where you can still talk without shouting. The bass thumps just enough for you to feel it in your chest. The blue lights make everyone look a little more interesting than they probably are. I like this place. Here, nobody knows that today I nearly chucked my laptop out the window.
Niva is sitting across from me, looking impeccable as always. She watches me over the rim of her Martini glass, arching an eyebrow with an expression that says I know you’re hiding something.
"Hey, it’s been ages since I’ve seen your face outside of a screen," Niva says, setting her glass down. "What’s so special about Bayline that you’re replacing me? Do pixels come with six-packs now?"
I roll my eyes and take a long sip of my drink. The alcohol burns smoothly—exactly what I need to confess my sins.
"It’s not the game, Niva. It’s... the environment. Although I admit I’m spending way too many hours in front of the monitor. I feel like every time I log into Bayline, the real world gets a little more boring."
Niva leans forward, intrigued. She lives for high-quality gossip. "Tell me. I knew there was something. No new boyfriend? What about that guy Carl you mentioned? He knows computers like you do, he’s tall... he’s your physical type."
"Carl is... Carl. It was a good date. But my head is somewhere else. Well, in another reality, to be exact."
Niva drops her guard, her eyes lighting up. "Alright, spill. Start from the beginning."
"I think I’m in love with an avatar," I blurt out.
Niva recoils into her stool, eyes wide. She stays silent for two seconds before letting out a laugh so loud it makes Jordan, the mixologist, glance over.
"No way, Tara. There has to be a label for that now. In a world where they name everything, this must be 'digisexual' or something. Let me check TikTok and see if that’s a thing."
"Don’t laugh!" I give her arm a playful swat. "I’m serious. It’s a player I’ve been running into for a month. His handle is ShadowBite."
"At first, I couldn't stand him—totally cocky and way too confident in his playstyle. But when he saw my moves, he started respecting me. Well, we’re still competing all the time. He’s my number one rival. He steals my loot just to mess with me..."
"So what changed?" Niva asks, catching her breath. "Did he gift you a diamond sword or what?"
"No. I started admiring him. He’s too good, Niva. Every time he beats me, instead of getting mad, I find myself analyzing how he pulled it off. He has a mind that’s... incredibly fast and strategic. He entertains me, he pushes me to do better, and yesterday... he shielded me from an attack I didn’t see coming."
We went from trying to destroy each other to being allies, even if we haven't openly admitted it yet.
"And from allies to 'digisexuality,'" Niva quips with a wicked grin. "Have you had a virtual date or something?"
"Last night. We spent two hours on top of a digital mountain just talking. He told me he noticed I seemed 'off.' That my stats were lower than usual."
Niva frowns, skeptical. "He noticed you were depressed in-game?"
"Yes. He told me my reaction time was three milliseconds slower than usual and that I was making rookie mistakes. He said: 'codeQueen25, you aren't okay today in the real world.' It chilled me. No one at the office noticed, not even my mother when we talked on FaceTime, but he did."
"Damn." Niva turns serious for a moment. "That’s one observant guy. Either he’s a genius, or he’s a professional stalker. Have you considered he might be a seventy-year-old in his underwear using a voice modulator?"
"Don’t say that," I shudder. "He’s brilliant. He helps me with system architecture concepts that are from another planet. He has this energy... I don’t know, very masculine, very protective, but dominant at the same time."
"He’s an avatar, dummy. He could be anything," Niva insists. "So what are you going to do? Are you going to ask him out for real?"
"Oh, god no!" I exclaim immediately. "I prefer it stays in the cloud. It’s simpler. I can be in my pajamas, hair a mess, with a cold pizza next to me, and to him, I’m still the invincible warrior. No expectations, no disappointments, no having to shave my legs for a date that will probably be a disaster."
"And no physical contact," Niva arches an eyebrow. "Modern romance is efficient, but Wi-Fi sex still hasn't sold me."
"Well, I’ve got my rabbit vibrator for that," I reply, laughing. "That doesn't need an internet connection and never asks me to explain how a firewall works."
Niva bursts into laughter again. As we laugh, the bar's music shifts to a faster beat. I stare at my cocktail, thinking about how my life is splitting in two: the Tara who deals with daily stress, and codeQueen25, who feels butterflies in her stomach every time a notification from ShadowBite pops up on the screen.
"Just be careful," Niva says, taking the last sip of her Martini. "The virtual world is comfortable, but sooner or later, you’re going to want to touch that man. And I hope when that day comes, you aren't met with a gigabyte-sized disappointment."
I nod silently, though deep down, I know it’s already too late. I don't tell her I’ve already thought about that. That I’m terrified he’ll be a letdown. Or worse—that he won’t be.
Tomorrow, I’ll put the headset on again. And I know he’ll be there, waiting for me.
And right now, that’s enough. I like it. I like it a lot.
Want more romance from Noor Azur?
Subscribe and receive a brand-new love story every week—full of drama, humor, and unforgettable chemistry.
Follow Noor on Wattpad for exclusive stories, sneak peeks, and behind-the-scenes updates you won’t find anywhere else.
A story by Noor Azur.💖
Comments