y.jw || strawberries and chocolates.

01 | prologue

❛ i love strawberries too.
i like dipping them in chocolate. ❜

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Hori.

I hate stairs.

I hate them with a passion that only grows stronger the more steps I take, especially when I've just lugged bags of groceries up from the street. Great timing, of course, for the elevator to break down the exact moment I've moved in.

The grocery bags weigh more than they should, and I can already feel a blister forming on the arch of my foot. If I didn't have a hundred other things to unpack, I'd seriously consider calling it quits and ordering takeout. But no, I've got to do this on my own. I'm alone, after all. Not that I mind. I'm used to it.

As I reach the third floor, something catches my attention—a figure darting around the corner just ahead of me.

My foot slips on the last step, and panic surges through me. My bags tumble from my hands, and for a brief moment, I'm convinced I'm going to face-plant in front of this stranger.

But then, out of nowhere, a hand shoots out, steadying my back before I can fall. The grocery bags crash to the ground anyway, but at least I'm not sprawled out like a mess on the stairs.

I glance up, startled, to meet the eyes of a guy about my age. His dark hair is a bit messy, his expression polite and a little apologetic. There's an odd sense of calm about him. As if he's done this before.

"Woah, sorry about that," he says, the corner of his mouth lifting in a smile. "Hi, neighbor."

Neighbor?

I blink in confusion, feeling the pressure of his gaze lingering on me for a split second. My heart pounds in my chest for reasons I can't pinpoint. Maybe it's the surprise of someone actually trying to catch me, or maybe it's the fact that—well, I wasn't expecting this.

"Uh, yeah," I mutter, suddenly too aware of how my face feels hot. "Thanks."

I push myself upright, embarrassed by the awkwardness of the situation. I apologize without thinking, but my eyes immediately shift to my scattered groceries. Great. This is just perfect.

"Let me help you with that." He crouches down and starts picking up the mess, his movements quick and efficient, almost too eager.

The stranger grabs a box of strawberries that spilled out of one of my bags, holding it up to me like some kind of treasure.

He grins as if he's just won a medal. "Your survival kit, huh?"

I stare at him, unsure of how to respond.

"Uh," I start, feeling the need to offer some kind of reply, but nothing comes out.

His joke lands awkwardly in my brain, and for a moment, I wonder if this whole thing is some weird dream.

"I love strawberries too. I like dipping them in chocolate," he adds nonchalantly.

Chocolate?

I pause, blinking. That's... not how I eat them.

"I... I usually dip mine in cream," I say without thinking.

The words hang between us, and the silence stretches just a bit too long. I look at him, unsure what to do with this oddly specific exchange about fruit.

Did he just share his food preferences with me?

He laughs at the sudden awkwardness, a full-on, easy laugh that sounds genuine. "Well, that's definitely a different take. I think I'll have to try cream next time. But chocolate's the best, right?"

I give him a quick nod, still unsure how to wrap my head around this conversation. He finishes picking up the rest of my groceries and stands up, offering the box of strawberries with a small bow of his head.

"Anyway," he says brightly, "Nice to meet you, neighbor. I'm Yang Jungwon. If you ever need anything, I'm just downstairs—first room you'll see. Don't hesitate to knock."

His smile is so sincere, it's almost unnerving. And oh... Dimples on the corner of his cheek. How cute.

I just nod again, not trusting myself to speak.

With a final wave, he turns and disappears down the stairs. I watch him leave, the sound of his footsteps fading down the hallway.

Great. Just great. I've got a corny, overly friendly neighbor now. I hope we don't run into each other that much.