In the small, lively college campus, Sarah was known for her bright smile and easygoing nature. She was the kind of girl who seemed to have it all figured out, but there was one thing that puzzled everyone: her dating preferences. Sarah was always drawn to the bad boys—guys with tattoos, reckless confidence, and a little bit of trouble in their eyes. But beneath her carefree attitude, there was one person who quietly admired her from the shadows: Ethan.Ethan was the opposite of the kind of guy Sarah usually went for. He was shy, studious, and always did the right thing. He never broke rules, never skipped class, and always helped others. Sarah knew Ethan, of course, but to her, he was just another good guy—someone she admired as a friend, but never thought of romantically.Over the course of their first year in college, Ethan had secretly fallen for Sarah. He watched her from afar, unable to shake the way she lit up a room with just a smile. But he couldn't bring himself to tell her. Not when he knew she liked the wild types—the kind of guys who didn't care about rules or expectations.It wasn't until one evening, when Ethan overheard Sarah and her friends talking in the student lounge, that he learned the painful truth."I just want someone who can make me feel alive," Sarah said, laughing, but her words cut through Ethan like a knife. "Someone with a little edge. Good boys are just... boring."Ethan's heart sank, but something inside him also snapped. He couldn't stand the thought of Sarah never seeing him as more than just "the good guy." That night, he made a decision—he would change.For weeks, Ethan transformed. He started dressing differently, wearing dark leather jackets and ripped jeans. He stopped smiling as much and began walking with a confidence he had never known. He picked up a few bad habits—smoking, staying out late with a new group of friends who partied harder than anyone else in the college. Ethan even started to skip classes, just to look more rebellious.Sarah noticed the change immediately. She couldn't help but be intrigued. She watched as Ethan, the quiet, well-mannered guy she had once known, became someone entirely different—someone exciting, unpredictable. For the first time, Sarah felt drawn to him. She couldn't explain it, but she liked what she saw.One evening, Sarah found herself sitting at the campus café, waiting for a friend when Ethan walked in. His transformation was now complete. His hair was a little messier, his gaze darker, and his posture exuded an air of self-assuredness. As he passed by her table, he didn't look at her, but something in the way he moved made Sarah's heart race."Hey, Ethan," she called out, standing up.He turned slowly, a slight smirk forming on his lips. "What's up, Sarah?"For a moment, Sarah hesitated. She had always liked good boys, but now she found herself drawn to Ethan's bad boy persona. She wanted to say something, to admit that she had noticed the change, but a part of her still clung to the idea that she was only attracted to bad boys."You're... different," she said, unsure of what to make of the fluttering in her chest.Ethan's smirk grew, but it wasn't the cocky, detached smirk he used to wear. This one was softer, almost genuine. "Yeah, I guess I am."Sarah took a deep breath. "I... I don't know if I like this change, Ethan. I mean, I like the new you, but... I liked you before, too. You know, when you were... well, the good guy. The Ethan I knew. You were always kind, caring... I guess that's what I really wanted all along."Ethan's eyes softened, and for a brief moment, the tough exterior he had built cracked. He stepped closer, lowering his voice. "Sarah... I changed for you. Because I thought that's what you'd want. But now I realize something."Sarah frowned, confused. "What?"Ethan reached for her hand and squeezed it gently. "I love you, Sarah. Always have. But I don't want to be someone I'm not. I just wanted you to see me. To love me. So, tell me, do you still love me? Even as the guy I was before?"Tears welled up in Sarah's eyes as she realized the depth of his feelings. She had never truly seen Ethan for who he was—a good guy with a heart of gold. She had gotten lost in the idea of what she thought she wanted, but now she knew the truth.Without another word, Sarah closed the gap between them and kissed him softly, passionately. "I love you, Ethan," she whispered. "The real you. The good you."Ethan's heart soared, and a smile spread across his face as he kissed her back. For the first time in a long while, he felt like the change he had gone through wasn't necessary. Sarah loved him for who he truly was.And as they pulled away, his voice was full of warmth. "Then, I guess we're finally on the same page, huh?"Sarah nodded, her heart full. "Yeah," she said, "we are."And from that moment on, neither of them needed to pretend to be someone they weren't. They had found each other, not in the games they played or the masks they wore, but in the love they shared—raw, real, and perfectly imperfect.The good guy had always been the right choice all along.Moral of storyThe moral of the story is that true love is about accepting and valuing someone for who they really are, not for the image they try to project. It's easy to get caught up in the idea of what we think we want, but in the end, genuine connection comes from authenticity. Trying to change ourselves to fit someone else's expectations can lead to confusion and disappointment. True love sees beyond appearances and embraces the qualities that truly matter—kindness, respect, and being true to oneself.