y.jw || strawberries and chocolates.

02 | friendly neighbor

It's been a week since the incident with the groceries. The one where I nearly collapsed on the staircase, and a random neighbor caught me like some kind of superhero.

I've gotten used to the small annoyances of this apartment—creaky floors, the sound of traffic just beyond my window, and the occasional neighborly wave from someone in the hallway. Nothing too extraordinary.

That is, until I ran into him again.

It was a Saturday afternoon, and I was trudging to the café downstairs to grab some coffee. I didn't really need it—work was quiet for the weekend—but it felt nice to get out of the apartment, even if just for a little while.

As I stepped into the café, I spotted Yang Jungwon sitting by the window, a half-empty coffee cup in front of him. He noticed me right away and waved, his smile as easy as always.

I couldn't help but feel a bit... self-conscious. I didn't know why. I was already used to his easy friendliness, but it still caught me off guard sometimes.

I waved back and walked over to his table, to be polite, of course.

"Hey neighbor," he greeted casually. "You get the coffee for your survival kit again?"

I blinked at him, momentarily confused.

He chuckled, noticing my lack of response. "I meant... You love coffee too?"

I rolled my eyes slightly, a grin tugging at my lips. "Oh, right. My 'survival kit.' Yeah."

"Well, what else is there?" Jungwon shrugged, his hands casually wrapped around his own cup. "It's Saturday. You deserve a little treat."

I wasn't sure whether I should find that too familiar or just... nice. "I guess you're right."

While having coffee, we fell into an easy conversation, the kind where you didn't need to force words. Jungwon wasn't pushing for anything, just asking a few casual questions here and there. He seemed genuinely interested, but not in a way that made me feel uncomfortable.

"So, Hori, right? How's it been settling in?" he asked, leaning back in his chair. "I know you've only been here for a bit, but how do you like it so far?"

I hesitated for a moment before answering, surprised by how comfortable his presence had become in such a short time.

"It's... good. Quiet. I like that. The apartment's smaller than I thought, but I'm adjusting. It's a good place for some peace."

"Yeah, I get that," he nodded. "It's easy to get lost in the noise, especially in the city center. I think you'll find that this place has a sort of charm to it. It grows on you, like a weird kind of comfort."

I studied him for a second. I couldn't figure out why I was so relaxed around him. Maybe it was his laid-back vibe, or maybe he just didn't try too hard, which was rare for someone like him. People who wanted to get to know others often felt like they were pushing you into a box you didn't fit into.

But Jungwon... it feels different.

"Yeah," I finally said. "I'm hoping it does. I wasn't really looking for any excitement... just wanted a fresh start."

"Yeah, I can totally see that," Jungwon said, his voice a little quieter now. "The city's always on the go. I get why you'd want to step back."

There was a brief pause, as if he was weighing something in his mind. Then, as if he remembered something, his face lit up again.

"Hey, what made you move here, if you don't mind me asking? I mean, I'm guessing you moved from somewhere else?"

I froze for a moment, not expecting such a direct question. I would answer that, but I don't want to open up something too personal to someone I just met, even if its my neighbor.