y.jw || strawberries and chocolates.

03 | helpful neighbor

❛ i remember the day we met. ❜

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I was on the verge of tears. I didn't want to admit it, not even to myself, but the pile of small annoyances had finally piled up into one giant, impossible mess.

The sink was clogged, the air conditioner wasn't working, and the landlord had yet to pick up the phone despite my repeated calls. Every time I tried, I felt my patience snap just a little more. The apartment wasn't what I had expected, but I figured I could handle it. I'd moved here for peace, but now all I felt was frustration.

I slammed my phone down on the counter, letting out a shaky breath. It wasn't like me to get this upset over something so... trivial. I'd lived on my own before, dealt with broken things, and figured it out. But now, in this quiet space where everything should've been calm, I was unraveling.

It wasn't until I heard a knock on the door that I even realized I was about to cry.

Maybe it's the landlord.

I wiped my eyes quickly, not wanting to let anyone see how close I was to breaking. I hadn't even realized how much stress had been building until it spilled out.

I opened the door, trying to mask my emotions, only to be greeted by Jungwon's smile that made everything worse. His casual wave made my heart skip a beat—he was so... comfortable in his own skin. And here I was, trying to pull myself together.

"Hey, you alright?" he asked with concern. "I thought I heard you scream."

I hesitated. I couldn't tell him everything, especially not when I barely knew him. But I also couldn't stand being alone in this moment.

"Um... actually, no, nothing's alright," I admitted, swallowing hard. "I'm having a bit of a problem in here. The sink's clogged and the air conditioner's busted, and the landlord isn't answering, so..."

I trailed off, half-embarrassed. Of course I was stressing out over something like this. But I couldn't stop myself.

Jungwon raised an eyebrow. "Want me to take a look?"

I wasn't sure why, but I felt a strange relief at the offer. He didn't hesitate, just looked at me like it was no big deal. Maybe that was what I needed—someone who didn't treat this like the end of the world.

"Please, I'd really appreciate it," I said, stepping aside to let him in.

As soon as he entered, he took a quick glance around.

"You're sure it's the sink, and not the plumbing?" he asked, inspecting the kitchen. "Sometimes it's just a small backup."

"Ugh, I don't know," I sighed. "I've tried everything. The usual fixes. It's just not working."

Without another word, Jungwon rolled up his sleeves and crouched in front of the sink. I watched him, almost fascinated, as he worked with a level of confidence that felt completely at odds with his laid-back nature. He was completely calm, moving with ease through the motions of figuring out the issue. Within minutes, he had the drain cleared, and the water was flowing perfectly.

I blinked, surprised. "I didn't expect you to know how to fix that."

Jungwon grinned, standing up and wiping his hands on a nearby towel. "Well, living here eventually leads you to learning how to be a part-time repairman. Plus, we get a lot of weird stuff in these apartments. You'll get used to it."

I blinked at him, slightly thrown off by how easy he made it look. "You're saying that like it's normal."

"Trust me, it is," he said, his tone more lighthearted now that the problem was solved. "But hey, it's all good. You're welcome."