The Boy Next Door | Seungjin

three

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it was a week into living in his new home, and hyunjin was doing a lot better than he had been before. he continued calling jeongin everyday as promised and he finally finished unpacking after what felt like forever.

"and then wooyoung told me he liked yeosang back!" jeongin filled in the older on his life drama over the phone. the kid was still in high school, and hyunjin had no idea what he was going to do with himself the moment the younger graduated because he absolutely lived for his school drama.

"no way! i thought he had a crush on that san kid a week ago?" hyunjin questioned the other. before the younger could answer, there was a knock on his door.

hyunjin looked at his phone. "i'm sorry, innie, I have to go, someone's here!"

jeongin smiled. "that's ok, hyung! if anything else happens, I'll make sure to fill you in," he exclaimed before saying goodbye and hanging up.

standing up, hyunjin walked to his front door, peaking through his peep hole. he could see jisung standing outside, but he wasn't alone this time.

hyunjin swung the door open. "hi jisung! i'd assume you're the infamous brownie maker?" he pointed at the freckled boy. felix smiled at him.

"the one and only!" he answered.

"well, it's an honor to meet you. i must say you have one hell of a gift when it comes to those brownies," hyunjin told him as he rubbed his stomach.

"hey! don't gas him up, I won't hear the end of it!" jisung raised to cover the younger's ears. felix only rolled his eyes and removed his hands from him.

"oh shut it, it's just cause you know it's true," he scoffed. hyunjin giggled at their bickering, it was cute.

"would you two like to come in?" hyunjin opened his door wider. jisung hummed, walking in first, felix right behind him.

they found themselves in hyunjin's living room, as the pair of friends sat on one couch, while the other sat on another. hyunjin had offered them both coffee as well as cookies.

jisung agreed to the coffee, while felix agreed on the cookies.

"so how did you find yourself landing here?" felix tried saying with a mouthful of cookies.

"hm, bad home life, that's really it. I also wanted a fresh start, and seeing as I just finished college, I thought there was no better time," hyunjin said as he stole a few sips of coffee in between.

"hm, I get it," jisung decided to add. "I moved here with felix two years ago. my parents weren't too happy about me being gay so I just left, and I never turned back," he explained, no ounce of regret written anywhere on his face.

"are you two..." hyunjin raised an eyebrow.

the pair looked at each other before bursting out laughing. "oh, god no!" jisung started up. "we're best friends. practically grew up with each other so we see one another more like brothers,". felix nodded his head to add more confirmation.

hyunjin seem to have understood as he changed the topic. "what are the other neighbors like here?"

felix thought for a moment. "they're all nice people. everyone's pretty reserved here so don't expect many people like us to come your way," he simply put it.

curiosity killed the cat. "do you know anything about the boy who lives next to me?"

"the boy nex- oh!"

"who's he talking about, hyung?" felix furrowed his eyebrows. jisung turned to look at him.

"he's talking about seungmin! remember the guy I told you about a few months ago..." he started and then turned back to the older.

"his name is seungmin. he's sort of new to the neighborhood as well. he's been here for a couple of months, but he doesn't have the best reputation around here,"

hyunjin tilted his head. "how come?"

jisung leaned in closer, as if he could be heard through the thickness of the walls. "apparently he ignores anyone that tries talking to him. i find that kind of odd, but i've been too afraid to test out that theory. he kind of just lives in his own little bubble," he finished, taking a sip of coffee.

interesting, hyunjin thought to himself. he didn't deem the boy to be the rude type, he knew something was definitely off about it.

"how did you figure out his name?" hyunjin wondered out loud.

"oh, I overheard someone refer to him by that name, pretty sure it may have been his mother, but can't promise you that," jisung responded.

after that, the topic was dropped and the trio continued on chatting, getting to know each other and overall enjoying each others company.

hyunjin could feel the love for his neighborhood slowly increase as the days go by.

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