𝗟𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗜𝗻 𝗜𝗻𝗸

1

Beomgyu

Parking in front of my new apartment complex, I grab everything I need for the night before entering.

It will take me a while to adjust to the Texas heat, although I am excited to start my new job as a geology professor. I'm starting in two weeks and I've been living in a hotel for the last week. That has given me plenty of time to explore and buy a few things to make my new place feel more like home. So far, all I have is an air mattress in the corner of my empty room and my plasma TV that I brought from Kansas, in my car. Along with some books, decor, and some knick-knacks that I have trouble staying away from for long.

One last trip to my car makes my suitcases almost fly out of my hands when I see a man frowning at me with his nostrils flared.

-Hey, you're in my parking spot. This is paid for parking. Guest parking is on the other side. It would be great if you could move your car there.

My face heats up as I notice the obvious sign that actually says paid parking. I was so ready to be done with the day that I didn't even realize it.

-I'm so sorry, I'll move my car immediately. I just moved into the building there and wasn't aware of the assigned parking. I push my glasses up my nose, balancing the bags on one arm.

A loud bang makes me stumble back and the guy bends down to retrieve something from the ground. He has one of my books in his hand and flips through each page, examining Whitman's words.

The tension in his face relaxes, but his lips remain in a thin line.

-Looks like you dropped somethingMaybe you shouldn't carry more than you can handle. Can you read this book better than you can at least read the signs?

I shift from side to side, suddenly feeling weak from movement and nerves.

-I'm really sorry about the parkingI've been moving things all day and didn't notice the sign.

The guy is intimidating with his tattoos peeking out from the top of his V-neck. The way he's standing over me makes me feel small. He arches an eyebrow at me, before closing my book and handing it back to me.

-Hey, it was an honest mistake. Welcome to the Neighborhood. Judging by your jeans and long-sleeved shirt, you must be new to Texas too, huh?

My shoulders relax at the change in tone. Now he sounds more amused than angry. My eyes fall to my clothes, and I remember that I still have bags in my hands, I should probably go inside, but all I want to do is continue my current conversation with the beautiful man in front of me. Even if it didn't start out very nice.

-I suppose. I'm that obvious, huh? I've only been here once before and it was in December, not August. I'm really sorry I parked in your spot.

His lips turn into a smile.

"Okay, I should have been nicer about it." It's just been a long day at work and I was looking forward to going to sleep when I got home. Then, I saw your car in my place, delaying that. He lets out a soft laugh, "What brings you to Texas anyway?"

I don't want to tell you too much about my work, because not many people are in a hurry to be my friend when I tell them I'm a paleontologist. So I stick to the bare minimum, shuffling past my bumper stickers that are a dead giveaway. Hoping my body is enough to cover them as my gaze returns to the stranger's eyes.

-I recently got a job as a professor at the University on the same street. It's basically a dream job for me.

Warmth now replaces the anger that was once in his eyes, "That's great, congratulations.It's always a great feeling when you get to do what you love for a living. Speaking of jobs, I better do some laundry before work tomorrow. Pleased to meet you...

-It's Beomgyu, and it's a pleasure to meet you too. I will leave your place right now and get out of your way. Very sorry.

His eyes land on my car and look back at me.

-Did you know? No. Don't even worry about that. Consider it a housewarming gift. I know how difficult it is to move some things from across the parking lot. Go ahead and enjoy it for the day. And I'm sorry I was a jerk on your first day here. I assumed you were another idiot taking my place, not caring that it belonged to someone else. It happens more than you think.

-Well, thanks for the place. I'll be out of it once I get everything in.

-Like I said, don't worry about it. See you, parking space thief. He walks away in the opposite direction and stops halfway to look at me, "Oh, I'm Yeonjun, by the way." I live in that building over there in apartment 202 in case you ever need to borrow sugar or something.