Nascent

Chapter Two

The winter evening had cast a warm, amber glow through the floor-to-ceiling windows of your apartment, painting the space with hues of gold and amber. The air outside had a certain crispness, a characteristic bite that January carried with pride. As you, dressed in an oversized white wool jacket styled with a sky blue turtleneck underneath and some comfy lounge bottom You  wrestled with the cardboard boxes that seemed to have gained weight since their delivery. The thought of assembling a bookshelf weighed heavier on your mind.

It had been precisely a week since you last encountered your next-door neighbour, the "Mr. Grim Reaper", in an embarrassing outfit and a flurry of apologies. The incident lingered like an inside joke between you two, a connection forged through mutual embarrassment. As you contemplated the labyrinth of assembly instructions before you, the elevator bell rang, and the soft chime snapped you from your thoughts.

There he was, Jimin, clad in denim overalls ontop of a white turtleneck that seemed to accentuate his physique. His eyes sparkled with amusement as he took in the scene before him. "What's up, neighbour?" he greeted with a playful smile, as he strode towards you. and you felt the heat rising to your cheeks because you weren't exactly ready to meet him after the unfortunately unforgettable first meeting.

You spilled the tale of the missing assembling team and the impending avalanche of books due to arrive soon. "I could help you with that if you want," Jimin offered, his tone light, and a smirk playing on his lips. "Isn't that what neighbours are for?"

The prospect of Jimin helping you seemed like a serendipitous turn of events. "Alright, I hope you have your toolkit because I don't have one," you replied, half-expecting him to retract his offer. To your surprise, he grinned. "Alright, give me five minutes."

He disappeared into his apartment, and soon he returned, toolkit in hand. The boxes were no longer a daunting challenge as you and Jimin effortlessly moved them inside. As he set up the bookshelf, you couldn't help but admire the effortless way his hands moved, a skilled dance with every screw tightened.

The setting sun filtered through the windows, casting a warm glow over Jimin's silhouette. The jacket was discarded, revealing strong arms flexing with each task. Veins danced beneath his skin, an aesthetic choreography that captivated your attention. The play of shadows and light seemed to accentuate his every move, turning the mundane act of assembling furniture into a spectacle.

As you observed him, Jimin caught your lingering gaze. His smirk revealed that he was well aware of the effect he had on you. He didn't shy away from flirting, dropping playful comments that sent a delightful shiver down your spine.

When the task was finally complete, you decided to show your appreciation. "I made Vimto, a sweet herbal drink," you offered, handing him a glass. "And there's some cake from the store too."

Jimin took a sip, his eyes never leaving yours. "You were a great help," he teased, "for the drink and the cake, of course." You chuckled, confident in your culinary choices.

As the evening unfolded, the bookshelf standing tall in its new found glory, Jimin inquired about your home. "Is your house all set up now?"

You sighed, realising there were still packages on the way. "Not yet. Some deliveries are pending."

Jimin leaned against the bookshelf, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Well, I could help you with that too. Neighbours help each other, right?" His suggestive tone carried a promise that went beyond assembling furniture.

"Really? You'd do that for me?" you asked, playing along with his teasing tone.

"Of course," he replied with a smirk, "we're neighbours, after all."

As the night deepened, and the setting sun painted the sky in hues of pink and orange, you found yourself thankful for an unexpected turn of events. The apartment was slowly becoming a home, and Jimin, the helpful neighbour with a playful smirk, seemed to be an integral part of that story.

In the warmth of the cozy ambience, Jimin glanced at you with a knowing look as you walked him to the exit. "I want to know who I'm living across from," he admitted, "and the one who gave me these treats." He teased, "I'm sure you don't want me to call you 'Stalker Girl.'"

You playfully placed your hand in front of him. "I'm Y/N L/N, and I'd like to know the one who assembled my future bookshelf for me... and the one who lives across from me. Because I'm sure you don't want me to call you Mr. Grim Reaper."

Jimin took your hand, his grip firm yet gentle. "Jimin, Park Jimin," he introduced himself with a smile. "Pleasure to meet you."

Also I wanna mention credits to the respective owners of the pics I got from Pintrest and the story cover. Hope y'all liked this chapter too!

There's smt abt men doing labour work 😫

This is the interior of Y/Ns house 🫣🫣🫣

We'll say this is how the bookshelf turned out ok but the ladder tho😫

Y/Ns outfit🤭

Pls make sure to leave a vote and comments 😫 see yall next time