My Nerf Neighbour

🔫13🔫

Pinched eyebrows, upside down lips, and eyes in tiny slits. The frown never left my face.
As soon as possible? What did my grandfather's butler mean by that? Did he mean I had to leave early? How early?

I glanced back at my friends, who were conversing and laughing together. Jay had finished up in the kitchen and went to join them, sitting down next to Jungwon. I saw him playfully twirl the ends of Jungwon's hair, bunching it up and letting it go repeatedly.

For some reason, Jungwon doesn't fight it. In fact, he leaned back slightly, just an inch. Huh, something must be happening between them.

My eyes roamed their heads, taking it all in, when another pair of eyes appeared. I met with them, raising my eyebrows slightly and saw Heeseung staring concerningly at me.

He jerked his chin upwards, towards my phone, and I sighed internally. I walked over to him and his eyes trailed my movements.

"Who was that?"

I stared into those wide, bambi eyes. I couldn't tell him, could I? That would just make things complicated...

"It was just a random number. Some business thing I guess," I replied, smiling, and Heeseung tilted his head.

"You sure?"

I nodded, then, he took a glass from the table in front of him and offered it to me. "You want a drink?"

That sounded really needed at the moment, but I told him just a little bit. He poured me some and I drunk it all down, making him raise his eyebrows in surprise.

"Sorry, just haven't had that in a while." I wiped my mouth with the back of my sleeve. Heeseung chuckled.

We chatted for a while, and eventually, it was time to leave. I wished Heeseung a happy birthday one last time before heading out the door with Jungwon and Sunoo.

In two strides, we were at my door, and I glanced at my friends.
They had sensed the tension.

"Was that him?" Sunoo asked softly.

I sighed, cleared my throat and turned around. "His butler. He too sick to talk apparently."

Jungwon's brows pinched. "Why don't you tell him what you want? Is he that..cruel?"

I shook my head slowly. "We had a good bond when I was younger, but him and my father were quite different. My mother suggested we move in case anything happened."

I opened the door to my apartment, and the three of us stepped in.

"Well, yeah. But he would understand, won't he?" Sunoo asked, flopping down on the sofa. Jungwon followed in suit, and the two faced me from below as I stood in front of them.

"It's..not that simple. With my father off the list, it's either me or my brother. But you know him, he's too busy studying in Switzerland," I explained, referring to my brother who was an academic, "and I don't want to make my grandfather's condition worse."

"Must you really go? I don't want you to leave!" Sunoo whined, and Jungwon patted his shoulder.

I let out a breath. "It depends for now. If I need to...I guess I have to. But I'm praying my brother comes home. I don't want to leave you guys!" I gave them both a tight squeeze.

Sunoo pouted. "Same here..."

We had a small moment of silence, a comfortable one, until he breaks it with a small smile.

"So how's things with your new neighbour?"

Immediately, my cheeks heat up. Sunoo laughed and Jungwon is gaping at me, his finger pointed towards my chest. "What?!"