Unexpectedly Falling For You

six

Daeun sighed as she stared into her tea. Aunt Yeongja sipped hers loudly as she arched an eyebrow at the president's daughter. Bina sat next to her mother and played with her phone, ignoring her surroundings. Jungwon sat next to Daeun and glared at his aunt with pure disgust.

"How's the medical school, Daeun? I feel honoured that you're trying to copy my daughter."

Mrs Ahn internally rolled her eyes and faked a smile, "She's not copying anybody. She suddenly has an interest in neurosurgery. It doesn't matter."

The said daughter frowned at her mother. Daeun slammed her cup on the coffee table and leaned back against the couch.

Why do I have to watch mom get bullied again?

By the same person, the same family.

It sickens me.

Aunt Yeongja stood up to reach for some cookies and purposely stepped on Mrs Ahn's foot. Mrs Ahn winced in pain and closed her eyes. Daeun wanted to yell at her aunt but got stopped by Jungwon.

"Calm down. What if she complains to your dad?" He whispered.

"Let's go. I don't want to be here anymore," she said before taking her handbag with her. She stomped out of the house and walked towards her car.

Mrs Ahn worriedly chased after her, "Daeun-ah, please! Just for this one moment, stay for the gathering!"

The mother grabbed her hand but got pushed away. Daeun ran her fingers into her hair frustratedly.

"It's annoying, mom. You can't always be so weak and quiet whenever people bully you. And then you stop me whenever I'm trying to defend and protect you. If dad hears about this, he'll be sad that he couldn't protect you. Telling him won't get you into trouble."

"Daeun, you don't understand."

"Oh yeah? Is your foot okay? The one that you let Aunt Yeongja step on? I'm sorry for being rude, mom. But I can't stand seeing you get bullied all the time!"

"Don't leave, Daeun-ah. When will you be coming back?"

Daeun sighed and opened her car door, "Until you learn how to stand up for yourself, then I'll come back home."

She got into her car and pressed the honk to signal Jungwon to come faster. The said man then came and smiled softly at his aunt, "You know how Daeun is when she's angry. I'll make sure to bring her back before midnight, Aunt Yejin."

"Thank you," Mrs Ahn smiled and waved at him.

•

"Where are we?" Jungwon asked, looking at Daeun out of pure confusion. She led him to an elevator and they both waited until it reached the top floor of the building. She then led him to a door and put in the passcode.

The door opened and revealed a cosy-looking home inside. "Whose house is this?"

"Mine," she said and placed her handbag on the kitchen island. His eyes widened, "Wait, you have a penthouse all this time?! Do your parents know about it?"

"No," she shrugged, "I need to have a place where I can be alone and clear my mind. Especially whenever I see my mom getting bullied and belittled. Do not tell my parents about this house. If they ever ask you about it, tell them that I'm staying at your penthouse."

He couldn't do anything but obey. He approached the kitchen island and saw a package with a stranger's name on it. He picked it up, "Who is this for?"

"It's my neighbour. He accidentally put the address wrong. But I've seen him before."

She took the package and decided to hand it to the owner. She left the house and walked to the penthouse across hers. She rang the doorbell and waited for the door to be opened.

Her heart dropped completely at the sight of Sunghoon drying his hair with a towel. He was only wearing a bathrobe and she could still see water droplets falling from his damp hair.

She glanced at the letters PSH on the package. Now it all makes sense, she thought to herself.

He was also shocked to see her in front of him. "What are you doing here?"

"You have a package and you accidentally put in my address instead of yours."

He slowly took it and asked, "So, you live across from me?"

She nodded, feeling the awkward tension between them. "Yeah, I just moved in."

He cleared his throat and nodded, "Thanks," before closing the door. She immediately sprinted back into her penthouse and slid against the door. Her legs gave up on her and let her sit on the floor.

What the hell?!

He's living across from me!

He's my neighbour!

Sunghoon tightened his grip around his towel and threw the package to the side. He jumped around and plopped himself on the couch. He buried his face into one of the pillows.

I've been searching for her all this time.

And now she's living across from me?

Is God finally listening to my prayers?

His cheeks started blushing a red shade and he could feel an unknown warmth spreading through his body. The way his eyes imagined flower petals falling around Daeun as she talked to him.

He was really in love.