How Do I Look Away Now That I've Seen You?

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Jeongguk felt a twinge of betrayal, a bit childish, perhaps. He just assumed Mrs. Jung would've given him a heads-up if someone had snatched up that old blue house, considering it's right next door to his modern-ish two-story place.

The last soul to call that space home was about six years back when Jeongguk landed in Pongjuk for his teaching gig at the local community college. Even then, the place was on its last legs – termites likely declared it their kingdom, and the backyard? More like a desert than anything else.

"Good luck to the poor soul who's taking that shitty place," Min Yoongi quipped, dropping a new crate of oil paints.

Jeongguk just nodded solemnly, lounging on his porch like a human pretzel. This spot was his haven, his favorite nook in the entire house.

"Maybe the Property Brothers are shooting there? When I wake up tomorrow, there might be a mansion next door, hyung."

Yoongi snorted dryly. "Mansion my ass. You live at 404 Nowhere Avenue; the most famous person here would be your landlord."

Says the award winning composer, Jeongguk thought but didn't say much else to that comment. Yoongi wasn't entirely wrong after all.

"Should I help them move in?" He pondered to himself mostly, but the question earned him a raised brow.

"Well, aren't you being oddly considerate, Mr. Neighbor?"

"Excuse me–" Jeongguk reached over to land a smack on Yoongi's small thighs. "I'm always considerate, hyung."

"Jackshit. You didn't even help me move this paint, and it's yours."

Jeongguk stretched his toned arms overhead and grinned, the inked sleeve rich beneath the blazing sun. He hadn't budged from his spot, releasing a deep sigh.

"Well, you never asked, hyung."

The deadly look Yoongi shot his way gave Jeongguk the perfect moment to make his escape and scope out the new neighbor.

"Thanks for going shopping with me." Jungkook flipped the sleeves of his black shirt further up his triceps and ran his fingers through his shiny black hair. I need a haircut, he grumbles internally, tucking a fallen strand behind his ear.

"But I need to go greet my new neighbor and offer my helpful services."

Yoongi simply shook his head and retreated to Jeongguk's spare room, filled with Yoongi's stuff from his overnight stays.

"Goodbye to you too, Mr. Grumpy," Jeongguk bid, eyes catching sight of the white moving truck. He released a slow breath. "Hopefully, whoever they are, they aren't a psychopath."

––––

Kim Taehyung was busy wiping muck off his boots, leaning against the chipped door of his new abode. Honestly, he should've noticed that large mud puddle, but his mind was too consumed with daydreams of transforming the place into his own barbie dreamhouse.

"Excuse me, Mr. Kim! Where would you like this couch to go?" Taehyung looked up just in time to see one of the moving men pointing at his very vintage, very expensive green couch peeking out from the moving truck.

"Just place it anywhere in the living room! Thanks!"

He moved to make way for the five or so men to do their work, watching giddily as they maneuvered his couch into the space. Already, the house was welcoming– from the open door to the wide hallway. Taehyung had hung up photographs of his family, cousins and grandparents included, whom he so obviously loved. The floor was new, he'd done them a couple weeks before the official move– an old-fashioned parquet with a blend of deep homely browns and the walls were the yellows of dandelions meeting a bold white baseboard.