B A N G | n a m j i n

I r e m e m b e r y o u

Walking in the dark night, I wrapped my arms around myself to protect my body from the cold. As if it would work. I hurried my pace a bit, as I reached the dark alley I really hated. Yes, I could have avoided it but it was way shorter than the other way around. I could see whitm coming from my mouth when I sighed in relief at the sight of my apartment. Finally.

I was literally about to take a final sprint when I stopped right on my track. My neighbor from downstair was at his door, fiddling with his keys. I watched him for a while, not knowing what to do. I had always felt some kind of attraction towards him, but it was mixed with apprehension, for some reason.

“Shit,” I heard him say under his breath. Is he drunk? I thought. Wouldn’t be surprised, actually: he was quite the bad boy.

I saw him turn around and my jaw dropped to the floor. Under the dim light of the floor lamp, I took a look at his usually perfect features. Everything was destroyed. Dry blood was all over his lips and chin, and his cheek seemed cut. What a shame his beautiful pink hair was all messy and dirty. When he noticed me, his eyes widened before he quickly composed himself. He smiled a bit and I saw his trademark dimples. It reminded me of the particular dimples I used to love back then, in high school.

“H-hi,” he said. Seeing as I didn’t answer, he added : “S-sorry, I got to go.”

And he left.

In the back of my head, I could hear my mother’s voice scolding me for being heartless. I took a look at his door and saw his key broken in the lock. Must have been such a bad day.

Holding my breath, I quickly ran back toward his shadow and held his arm. He winced a little at the contact and I felt sorry. He turned around, surprised, and I lose my composure.

“H-hey,” I stuttered, “come. I’ll lend you some bandaids.”

I didn’t give him any chance as I pulled him. Remembering his wince earlier, I let my hand slide from his arm to his hand. I held it awkwardly and only let it go once we climbed the stairs for I needed to take out my keys.

“Go in.”

He looked at me, as if he was gauging what kind of person I was. I felt it, I saw all the scenario in his eyes.

“What the heck is that man doing, he barely talked to me before. He could be a murderer for I know,” I said in an odd voice. He looked surprised at first, and I wanted to kill my awkward self trying to break the glass, but then he quietly chuckled and went in.

I liked the way he directly removed his shoes, I liked my apartment clean.

I turned the living room light on and pointed toward the sofa, gesturing him to sit. He did as asked.

“Thank you,” he said. I shrugged it off and went to the open kitchen where I kept my first aid.

“It looks really cosy, here,” he said while looking around. I smiled. Decorating my apartment was my favorite hobby, “way prettier than my place.”

“Want something to drink? I have banana milk.” I felt like he would be the kind of person who’d like a glass of banana milk to be comforted. Just like me.

“Yes please.” His voice sounded so shy I wanted to hug him.

I handed him his drink and sat in front of him, on the low table. I took a compress and wet it with alcohol. I held his okay cheek with my free hand and turned his cut one toward me. I didn’t warn him about the possible pain, I didn’t feel like it was necessary. However, unexpectedly, he winced before I even touched him.

I let out a short laugh and grinned at him. “Who would have thought you would be such a baby.”

“Hey, it hurts!”