Lovely Boxer - LeeKnow

07: Just the Beginning

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filler chapter <3

Hana POV:

As I walked back to my room, I checked my phone—it was around 7:30 PM. Minho had texted me the house passcode: *0143, along with a few other details I needed to know about the new place, like where to find groceries and supermarkets. 

He promised to send me that information before he left the house around noon. Seungmin and Jeongin insisted on getting his number too. When I asked why, they simply said, "Just in case." I had to remind them not to bother him unnecessarily.

Waiting for the elevator, an unsettling nausea crept in, and I realized this dinner was anything but soothing. Don't get me wrong—I love them dearly. I genuinely don't know where I'd be without their support through high school. Who knows? Maybe I really would have given up without them.

Seungmin always seemed to sense when something was off with me. He had a knack for picking up on the unspoken, and that was both a blessing and a curse. I couldn't shake the feeling that asking for help was a sign of weakness, as if admitting I needed it would mean I was failing. The last thing I wanted was to believe I was pathetic.

By the time I entered the apartment, the nausea intensified. I punched in the passcode and felt the bile rising as I stepped inside. Before I could even register my thoughts, I slapped a hand over my mouth and sprinted to the bathroom. I crouched over the toilet, retching violently until my stomach was empty. When the gagging finally subsided, I leaned against the cool wall, my breath coming in heavy gasps.

It was starting again. My appetite had already been low, and now I could add nausea to the list. This always happened when my confidence took a hit. Even when I refused to give up, part of my mind and body seemed to crumble. I always ended up hitting a slump.

I hope it now makes sense how important it was to move out of my parents house.
It takes while to get over it, but it truly exhausts me.
I don't think i could handle a few more of these cycles.

What a fantastic first day. I was grateful Minho wasn't home; I wouldn't want to scare him off, especially not if he shared what he'd seen with Seungmin and Jeongin. I absolutely loathed confrontation. Guilt gnawed at me, knowing I could be a handful.

I washed my face, already pale, and brushed my teeth. The sound of the front door opening reached my ears, followed by the quiet click of the adjacent room closing. Minho was home. Thank goodness the bathrooms were attached; I wasn't ready for any awkward conversations, especially with someone new.

I changed into my pajamas and returned to unpacking—I certainly wasn't going to sleep after this. I grabbed the box filled with textbooks and started arranging them on my bookshelf. Next came the box with my laptop and other electronics, which I placed on my study table.

Once I finished organizing my books and tech, I moved on to the box with my clothes. Thankfully, I'd folded everything before packing, so all I had to do was put them in the closet. I hung a few dresses and folded the rest at the bottom, tucking socks and undergarments into a drawer below.

It felt like it took an eternity, but by the time I finished, it was already 10:30 PM. One last box remained, and I was determined to tackle it. I emptied the box filled with makeup and skincare products, carefully unwrapping each item and placing them on my vanity. The rest of the toiletries went into the bathroom. That didn't take long—by 11 PM, I decided to squeeze in some studying. Yes, I was that desperate for distraction; I grabbed a textbook, notepad, and pen.

Minho POV:

I returned home around 9 PM after a long, productive practice. The living room was empty, which suggested everyone had left. But I noticed the light in one of the rooms was on—maybe Hana was back.

I felt too exhausted to strike up a conversation, and the thought of it made me anxious. I could deal with that later.

After washing up, I lay on my bed for a while, then rummaged through the fridge for leftovers—some rice and my mom's side dishes. I called my mom, admitting I missed them a bit, mostly because I was worried about leaving my cats behind. I promised to bring them over by next week once everything settled down.

Once the call ended, a restless energy crept in, so I decided to box. It was my favorite way to unwind; perhaps I was just a dopamine addict. I suited up in my boxing gear—gloves, a tank top, and shorts—and prepared for a good workout.

Hana POV:

Around midnight, I heard a loud thumping. Did Minho have someone over? No, that didn't seem right—if that were the case, the noise would be much different. Whatever the source, it annoyed me, and I couldn't concentrate, so I plugged in my earphones and switched to white noise.

Studying with music was out of the question; the lyrics would only distract me further.

By 1 AM, sleep began to tug at me. I wrapped everything up, preparing my bag and clothes for the next morning's university classes. As I worked, I played a mix of slow, melancholic songs, finding it amusing how most were about love, breakups, and longing for lost relationships.

I had never believed in love.

If my own parents couldn't show me affection, how could I expect anything more from anyone else?

When I finally finished, I attempted to sleep—but the thumping continued.

 What on earth was this guy doing?

I tossed and turned in bed, trying to block out the noise. I mentally noted to talk to him in the morning; if this was going to be a regular occurrence, it would interfere with my 8:30 AM lectures, or worse, my 7:30 or 8 AM starts and my internship from 3 to 8 PM. There was no way that would work out.

I plugged in my earphones, but they were uncomfortable and irritating for sleeping, and I didn't own any earplugs. By 2 AM, the noise finally ceased. No more thumping, no more distractions.

Before I knew it, I drifted off to sleep.

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a/n:  I love my readers <3. Thank you so much.