because i fell in love with the boy next door. | psh

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★ | #2 | I.

i still remember when mom made me take cookies to the neighbor. and by the new neighbor, it meant sunghoon. and his family. our bakery was always busy, and she insisted it would be nice to welcome them with some of our treats. but honestly, all i wanted was to avoid any awkward encounters. i wanted to do anything but that, yet there i was, holding a box of cookies and standing on their doorstep.

i knocked, half-hoping his mom would answer instead. but no, it was him who opened the door. and i was definitely not prepared for that.

he stood there, in a tank top and sweatpants, his hair a mess like he'd just rolled out of bed. his sleepy eyes, half-lidded, made him look both calm and a little lost. i felt the heat rise to my cheeks.

his pale skin, the moles on his nose and cheek, the lazy smile playing on his lips—it was like i had stepped into a moment that wasn't meant for me. he looked so effortless, while i stood there, awkward and frozen, clutching a box of cookies like some shy kid.

then, his voice cut through the silence. it was the first time i heard his voice. it was beautiful.

aren't you the girl next door? need something? he asked, catching me off guard. and when he smirked, it hit me again how ridiculously good-looking he was. he was actually really pretty.

uh... yes, wait no! i cursed myself under my breath. how was i messing this up already? i wished the ground would swallow me up.

hm? he tilted his head, a playful look on his face that only made me more flustered. i felt like he found my fumbling funny and i wanted nothing more than to kill myself.

i mean no... i'm here to give you, uh, these cookies. my mom made them to welcome your family to the neighborhood, i shoved the box towards him, trying to ignore the warmth creeping into my cheeks, hoping he wouldn't notice how nervous i was.

you didn't need to, but since your mom made them, i'll take it. thank you. he took the box, and our hands brushed. that brief contact sent a jolt through me, reminiscent of the excitement i used to feel during summer fairs, where the simplest touches could send butterflies dancing in my stomach.

but then, i wasn't expecting that tiny bit of contact to feel so.. noticeable.

then suddenly, he leaned in, just a little closer than necessary, his breath warm against my ear as he whispered, maybe next time, can i have cookies made by you? his voice was smooth, teasing, and i couldn't think straight.

actually, i forgot how to breathe.

i was acutely aware of every detail—the way his voice was low and playful, the slight scent of him lingering in the air. it felt intimate in a way that reminded me of those innocent crushes i had as a kid, those moments filled with possibility.

but why was he so close? was he trying to flirt with me? no, i didn't think so. i didn't think that was possible. there was no way someone like him would be interested in someone like me.

still, my cheeks burned even hotter. uh, yeah, sure... if you want, i stammered, feeling completely flustered. as i turned to leave, my heart raced, the moment replaying in my mind like a favorite childhood story.

as i made my way towards my house, my mind was racing. his voice, the way he leaned in, how his eyes lingered on mine—it was like he had completely knocked the air out of me.

i didn't know why i reacted like that, but i knew i'd be thinking about him long after this.