My Lifeline - Jaywon Shortstories

One room apartment

I wonder what it looks like nowadays.

Jay was walking down the familiar street. Three eventful and crazy years had passed since the last time he'd been there. Not much had changed here though. The same family houses on the right  side of the road displayed beautiful gardens. The same squirrels ran around the park, jumping from trees to trees. The same bus stopped at the corner of the street.
Jay let a smile crack his lips. He missed this peaceful scenery.

He turned to his left, entering a smaller, private path. Jay recognized the old abandoned house in front of him and walked a bit faster. He wanted to arrive soon.

Jay couldn't believe three years had passed since he finished university. His life had changed so much! From student of the architecture faculty, to intern in a modern architecture firm, he had worked on several interesting projects, both for privates and for the city. He even had started to put money aside to open his own firm!
His parents had money, but he wanted to achieve it on his own, hence the fact that he worked a lot.
For years, he only had that goal in mind, and nothing seemed to distract him from it.

However, these last days, nostalgia had taken a hold of his heart, and he had decided to pay a visit to one of his old friends: his former student one room apartment.

Jay had contacted the agency that managed the building and they had agreed to give him the current tenant's contact information. Jay contacted him last week, and the latter agreed to meet him.

Jay had reached the sideways path that led to the building. The university owned several buildings that were rented to students, mostly exchange students. However Korean students could also live here. Jay smiled, remembering all of the good moments he had spent in this place.
It was a rather simple, yet big wooden structure, with two stocks. Each floor had fifteen doors, which meant thirty students lived here.

Jay walked passed the first five doors and stopped in front of the sixth.
He remembered the first time he came here, keys in hand, excited to start university.

Seems like it was yesterday.

Jay took a deep breath. He didn't know what to expect. It somehow started to sound like a bad idea. Maybe it would be too weird visiting his old apartment.

Before his doubts took over, he forced himself to knock on the door. After a few seconds, he heard footsteps coming towards him.

Too late to back off now.

The door handle moved and the first thing Jay saw was a cute smile welcoming him.

"Hi" said the young man in the door frame. "Jay, right?"
"Exactly!" replied the latter. "You must be Jungwon?"
"Yep" confirmed the student. "Please come in."

Jay smiled back and entered.

The studio apartment looked bigger than he remembered. The bathroom was on the right of the entrance. Then there was a hallway that opened up into a big room. The small kitchen on one of the sides hadn't changed, the rest however was totally different.

Jay gasped a little. He didn't know why, but seeing the drastic change hurt him a little. He knew that this wasn't his apartment anymore, however it felt like it had never been his at all.

Where he had installed his bed, Jungwon had put a table, with two chairs. Where Jay had put his desk, Jungwon had had the clever idea to put a mezzanine bed. This allowed him to have a big desk under it.
Jay tilted his head.

Maybe this is why it looks bigger, Jungwon took advantage of the small space and used it better than I did.
I can't believe I didn't think about that...
He even has a dining table.

"How does it feel?" asked Jungwon, interrupting the silence.
"Kinda weird" said Jay, realizing now that he hadn't spoken for five minutes.

Jay turned his head to look at Jungwon. The latter blushed slightly, but looked back at him.

"Can I offer you some tea?" he asked.

~

"So, what did you study?" asked Jungwon as he gave a warm cup of jasmine tea to his visitor.
"Architecture" replied Jay, carefully taking the cup. "How about you?"
"I'm actually finishing my masters degree in English literature" explained the tenant. "At first, I wanted to study translation only, but it turns out that I fell in love with poetry."

He stopped talking, suddenly aware that he felt a bit silly. Jay nodded, and gently smiled, not noticing his host's discomfort.

"It must be good for you to live here then? You must have met lots of exchange students who speak English?" asked Jay, remembering his own friends around the world.
"It truly is!" replied Jungwon before taking a sip of tea. "But I'm mostly grateful to be in a more "family area" you know? We have the park, and the calm that helps study well."
"I couldn't agree more" confirmed Jay. "And the city isn't that far."
"It's the perfect place" whispered Jungwon, more to himself that to Jay.

~

The two boys went on and talked about the university, the architecture firm and just life overall. It turned out they had a lot in common.

"I should be going" said Jay once he had finished his cup. "I don't want to overstay my welcome."
"Oh" replied Jungwon, visibly disappointed.

He stood up, uncomfortable. Jay followed him towards the entrance.

"You know" said Jungwon, in an unsure voice. "I didn't know what to expect from this afternoon, but it turned out to be really good."
"I agree" said Jay. "Thank you for having accepted my visit."

They were at the door, but Jungwon seemed to hesitate.

"Good luck with your firm" he simply said, opening the door.
"Good luck for your exams" replied Jay, smiling at him as he left the apartment.

~

Jay stayed still for a while, in front of the door. Something in him didn't want to leave.
He low key wanted to stay and talk with Jungwon  until tomorrow.
He wanted to stay and admire his beautiful eyes.
He wanted to see his dimple again.

However he shouldn't.

~

Jungwon closed the door. His heart felt heavy. He didn't want Jay to leave.
He had lied to him. He hadn't made any friends here, nor at his faculty. He was alone.

However, this afternoon he hadn't been.

For the first time, someone had taken an interest in him. Someone had laughed with him. Someone had smiled at him.

Jungwon felt so overwhelmed. He wanted to bring Jay back and spend the rest of the day with him.
The small apartment had never felt so empty before.

Jungwon frowned. Jay had left a minute ago, he could still catch him, if he left now.

He quickly put on the first shoes he saw and rashly opened the door, only to find a surprised Jay in front of him. He had his right arm in the air, as if he was about to knock on Jungwon's door.

"Do you mind if" he started to say, his arm still up.
"Wanna come in?" asked Jungwon, his smile back on his lips.
"I do" replied Jay, unable to take his eyes off Jungwon.