A Place to Belong - A Woosan Novel

{1 - New Beginnings}

San sat on his balcony, gazing out at the neighborhood he was still trying to make sense of. 

The street below was quiet, lined with identical houses and trimmed lawns. He exhaled, feeling the weight of the last few months pressing on his chest. 

Moving was supposed to be a fresh start, but the emptiness that followed him from his old life had made its way here too.

It had been six months since he left everything behind. Six months since he walked out on the life he thought he'd be living forever—the partner he'd trusted, the plans they'd made together. 

All of it shattered the night he found out the truth.

San ran a hand through his dark brown hair, forcing himself to shake off the memories. He wasn't ready to deal with them, not yet. The move had been a bandage, not a cure, and he knew it. The hurt was still present, just right under the surface.

Across the street, someone was struggling with a grocery bag, one arm full of what looked like books and the other trying to balance the weight of a heavy bag. San glanced down just in time to see a tall, lean figure trip slightly on the curb. The stranger muttered something to himself, his dark hair flopping messily over his forehead as he managed to save the groceries from disaster.

San couldn't help but smirk a little. New neighbor? He hadn't really met anyone since moving in—a few polite nods to the mailman, a wave to someone jogging by, but nothing substantial. He wasn't looking for friends or companionship. In fact, he wanted to avoid both. People came with baggage. People hurt you when you least expected it.

Still, something about the way this guy scrambled to keep the groceries upright tugged at San's attention. Maybe it was the sense of normalcy in the awkward moment that made San feel just a little more human. Maybe it was the subtle curiosity about who this person was.

"Need a hand?" San called, surprising even himself. His voice sounded rusty, like it hadn't been used much lately. He half-hoped the guy wouldn't hear him.

But the stranger did.

He looked up, blinking in surprise, then smiled—an easy, genuine smile that lit up his face. 

"Oh, wow, yeah. That would be great. I thought I could do the whole one-trip thing. Clearly, I was wrong."

San stood, suddenly feeling awkward. He made his way down the steps of his apartment building and crossed the street, trying to look casual. The guy was already handing over the grocery bag before San had even fully approached.

"Thanks, man," the guy said. "I'm Jung Wooyoung, by the way. Just moved in a few blocks over."

"Choi San," he replied, taking the bag and holding it while Wooyoung shuffled the rest of his things. "I, uh... just moved here too. A couple months ago."

Wooyoung tilted his head. "Really? Cool. I thought I was the only newbie in this area. Guess that makes us the odd ones out."

San couldn't help but notice how easily Wooyoung seemed to fill the space around him, like his presence had a certain warmth. He hadn't felt that from anyone in a long time. Most people felt like a threat, a potential hurt waiting to happen.

But Wooyoung? He just seemed... normal. Uncomplicated and uncommonly attractive.

They walked toward Wooyoung's house, the conversation flowing easily enough. Wooyoung told him a bit about his job—he worked freelance, mostly doing graphic design—and his love of books. San found himself listening more than talking, offering only short responses when asked something directly.

"That's my place," Wooyoung said, pointing to a modest house at the corner. "Thanks for the help. You saved me from a total disaster back there."

San handed him the grocery bag. "No problem."

Wooyoung smiled again, that same disarming, genuine grin. "We should hang out sometime, man. I'm still figuring out this neighborhood, but there's a decent café down the road. Maybe grab coffee?"

San hesitated. Every instinct told him to say no, to shut it down before it went anywhere. He wasn't ready to get close to anyone. But something about the ease in Wooyoung's voice, the way he seemed to expect nothing in return, made San pause.

"Yeah," he found himself saying. "Maybe."

Wooyoung nodded, seemingly satisfied with that answer. "Cool. Well, see you around, neighbor."

San gave a small nod, turning to walk back across the street to his place. As he climbed the stairs to his apartment, he replayed the encounter in his head. 

The sensation in his chest was familiar, but distant. He felt something—something other than the hollow ache that had been gnawing at him for months. It wasn't much, but it was enough to make him think that maybe his move wasn't such a terrible idea after all.

And as for Wooyoung... San wasn't sure what to make of him yet. But he was intrigued. And that was more than he could say about anyone in a long time.

Inside his apartment, San closed the door behind him, leaning against it as he let out a slow breath. He wasn't looking for a friend. He wasn't looking for anything.

But Wooyoung? Wooyoung had a way of sneaking in before San could put his guard up.

And that, he realized, might be a problem. 

 Tonight however, he decided that would be a 'future San' problem.