1768. Merge Strings Alternately

class Solution {
    public String mergeAlternately(String word1, String word2) {
        StringBuilder merged = new StringBuilder();
        int comp; 
        if(word1.length() >= word2.length())
        {
            comp = word1.length();
        }
        else
        {
            comp = word2.length();
        }
        int i = 0;
        while(i <= comp)
        {
            if(i < word1.length())
            {
                merged.append(word1.charAt(i));
            }
            if(i < word2.length())
            {
                merged.append(word2.charAt(i));
            } 
            i++; 
        }
        return merged.toString();
    }
}