One The Verge [SH Fanfiction]

One

"Junghwan-ah, I'm go-... Eh? You're already up?" Jung Jaehoon cautiously opened his brother's bedroom door, only to find Junghwan already prepared to leave. Witnessing Junghwan awake on a weekend morning was an uncommon sight.

"I have to," Junghwan lazily replied, retrieving his handphone from the study desk. After checking the time, he casually tucked his phone into his hoodie pocket and grabbed his backpack, leaving his bed in disarray.

"Where are you going?" Jaehoon inquired as Junghwan passed him, heading to the shoe rack.

"Work," Junghwan answered, nonchalantly sitting down to put on his socks.

"Work on a weekend morning?" Jaehoon questioned, his tone expressing confusion.

"I know, right?" Junghwan sarcastically chuckled as he stood up, wearing his favorite black and white Converse shoes - a gift from his brother for his 23rd birthday. He waited for Jaehoon to finish putting on his pantofel before they exited their home together, Junghwan leading the way.

As they walked toward the elevator, Jaehoon and Junghwan engaged in conversation. Since it was Sunday, Jaehoon was headed to church, while Junghwan had received a call from his boss the previous night, assigning him a job for the morning. Despite his dislike for weekend meetings, especially in the early hours, Junghwan had no choice - he needed the money.

"Hyung*, it's her," Junghwan's eyes caught sight of the familiar woman, the one who lived in the Room 1510, accompanied by another resident, Ms. Im, a kind lady living two rooms away from them.

"Who?" the older Jung redirected his gaze to where his brother was looking. "Oh," he acknowledged, recognizing the woman, even though there were two present by the elevator. He knew his brother referred to the younger one.

"Should I go later?" Junghwan teased, halting his walk and pretending to retreat to their home. The older Jung grabbed his arm, rolled his eyes, and pulled him along as they continued toward the elevator where the two women were engaged in conversation.

Junghwan chuckled, he had noticed that for some quite sometimes his brother would consistently seize opportunities to glance at the girl whenever they encountered her, although the older Jung never admitted to it.

They observed Ms. Im entering the elevator first, but the girl stayed behind. "See... She's waiting for you. You should make a move," Junghwan teased Jaehoon once more, earning a light-but-not-so-light smack on the back of his head. The younger Jung chuckled, enjoying how his brother got flustered. Oh, he loves teasing his brother like that.

"Are you not getting in?" the Jungs overheard the conversation between the two ladies. Ms. Im was inquiring about the girl. Sensing the girl's apparent shock from what she had witnessed in the stroller.

"Oh, I..." the girl hesitated to enter. "...forgot my wallet at home," she explained, rooted to her spot.

"I can wait for you," the lady kindly offered, hand poised on the button to hold the door.

"No, it's fine. Go ahead," the girl replied, avoiding eye contact.

Junghwan slowed down his steps and held his brother subtly restrained his brother, avoiding eye contact when Ms. Im noticed them approaching the elevator. The brother was confused by the gesture but he followed.

"What about you two?" Ms. Im inquired of the brothers, still a few meters away from the elevator. Jaehoon was about to respond, "Yes, please ho-" but his words were cut short as he unexpectedly fell to his knees, his face meeting the floor. Startled by the sudden thud caused by Jaehoon's fall, the two ladies exchanged surprised glances.