Elevator Love

Chapter 4

„Who are you looking for?” The tall, handsome one asked. Irene forced a smile and slightly bowed. She corrected her glass “I was looking for…” And there she saw him. He was on the balcony, kissing some girl. “…the owner of the apartment.” She finished her sentence as she frowningly stared to them. The man in front of her carefully listened to her while holding a drink in his hand and his other hand inside of his pocket. He turned around ready to shout “Dong-“Irene interrupted him “No, no. It’s okay.” She said as she waved with her hands repeatedly. The man was confused now. Wasn’t she the one looking for him a few minutes ago? He smiled “Are you sure?” Irene glanced to the balcony. Donghae was still busy kissing the girl. A thin lined formed between her eyebrows. She nodded “Yes.” She said without looking to him. “Hey, how do you know Donghae? I don’t think I’ve seen you before.” The man stated while suspiciously looking to her. Irene managed to look away from the scenario on the balcony and faced him. “I-I actually don’t. I’m his neighbour.” She said and bought slightly. “Siwon.” The man smiled and straightened his arm. Irene smiled back and shook his hand “I-Irene.” She shyly said. Siwon nodded “What a beautiful name.” Irene pursed her lips and gestured that she should go. Siwon nodded again and waved her goodbye.
Irene did fast steps to get herself as fast as possible out of this mess. She was about to reach the door before someone blocked her way. Irene widened her eyes and stared at the man standing in front of her who was slipping his drink. Irene questioningly looked at him while he grinned “You leavin’ that fast?” He asked. Irene nodded slowly “I’m actually not here to party.” She stated. He made a disappointed face and hissed “Really?” He asked. Irene smiled apological and nodded. “Excuse me.” She said as she held the doorknob “Next time then.” He said without looking to her and sipping his drink and then walked away. Irene watched him with an unbelieving face ‘What’s wrong with him?’ She thought and opened the door.
She let out a deep breath when she stood outside. Irene was barely at parties and every time she was, it was the most confusing event for her to attend. The majority of people didn’t know what they were doing or saying. The air inside was sticky. It was nothing for her, but she attended the party for another intention. She wanted them to turn the music lower, but instead got confronted with a mess. The girl Donghae was kissing was not she saw him earlier with. Neither the girl in the café nor the girl who handed him the money. Still there he was kissing her deeply on his balcony. What kind of a jerk was he? Why did she get such a neighbour all of a sudden? Irene sighed and slouched to her door.
“Hey!” She heard a bright voice next to her. “Hey!” She said emotionless and widened her eyes after realizing who it was. She turned around and saw the girl almost ringing the bell “Hey!” She called loudly. The girl slightly flinched and looked at her with an astonished expression. Irene nervously laughed “You-you want to get in there?” She asked. The girl questioningly looked at her. Irene slightly bit her under lip and felt a sudden urge to prevent her getting inside and seeing his fiancé kissing some random girl. “Yes.” The girl answered almost in a whisper. Irene nervously chuckled and scratched her head “We-we come across each other very often, don’t you think?” She asked. The girl slightly smiled “We do, right?” She asked. Irene nodded and stretched her arm out “I’m Irene.” She brightly smiled “I live there.” She gestured to her door. The girl was still confused of the situation. She slowly shook her hand and smiled “Dara.” She answered. “My fiancé lives there.” She did the same gesture as Irene. Irene chuckled. ‘I know. And if you enter this apartment, your engagement will most likely end very soon.’ “Let’s chat some other day, Irene. I have to go inside now. They’re probably waiting for me.” Dara said. Irene felt sorry for her “Okay.” She silently said. Dara smiled “It was nice to meet you.” She said and rang the bell. Irene glanced to the door for the last time and turned around to go inside her apartment. She prayed that she wouldn’t catch him.
Even though, she didn’t know her well, she could understand her situation since she was a woman too. It must be very hard seeing the person you love kissing another girl. Irene can’t imagine what she would do when the same thing would happen to her. She was already a sensitive girl inside, she would probably break into pieces and it would take her a lot of time to heal, trust and love again.
The next day Irene entered the full lecture hall and scanned for an empty seat. Once her eyes captured one, she walked the stairs down and made herself comfortable. She turned her tablet on and put a water bottle next to it. The course she was attending was called ‘Basics in behavioural psychology’. She chose this course, first because it’s duty and second she was dying to learn its contents since last year. Unfortunately, she missed the registration for the course last year. That’s why she had to wait one year. Irene put on her glasses and chewed on her gum as she opened the Word Pad on her tablet.
“Excuse me, is this seat free?” She heard a guy next to her asking. She glanced to her side and smiled “Yes, it is.” The guy eye smiled her and put his bag down. Although, he sat next to her, Irene felt as if he was capturing the whole row. She could feel him taking off his jacket and pulling his tablet out of his bag. “We still got 5 minutes.” She heard him say. Irene smiled and nodded. She wasn’t very talkative. “I’m Mino by the way.” The boy said. Irene got startled for no reason. Well, maybe she had no intentions to get ‘close’ to him. “I-Irene.” She said and hated the fact that she had to introduce herself out of necessity. Mino made a thinking face as he looked up. Irene slightly furrowed her eyebrows and curiously looked at him, why he acted like that. “Means peace, right?” He asked grinning as he looked at her. Irene chuckled “Yes, it does.” She answered. Mino snipped his finger and nodded, smiling brightly. “Very beautiful name.” He said. “I didn’t see you before. Are you new?” He asked. “Well, I didn’t see you before either.” Irene answered. Mino chuckled. “Good point.” The lecture hall suddenly got darker which was a sign for them that the professor has arrived, and the lecture was about to start any second. They quietly listened to the lecture until it was over.
After her classes, Irene met her friends in the house of Yeri’s parents. “Stop that!” Wendy whined as Joy continued to play with her hair. Joy chuckled “Why? You look beautiful with braids.” She pointed out. “Yeah, but you’re purposely pulling strongly to hurt me, you little bimbo.” She complained. “Ya! Did you hear what she called me?” Joy surprised asked the others. Seulgi, Wendy and Irene just stared at them. “I’m here to tell you something. If you don’t want to listen, I’ll leave.” Irene said.
“Oh, sorry, sorry. We’re listening to you, unnie. What’s the matter?” Joy asked with faked sweetness. Irene rolled her eyes and sighed. She played with her fingers and started talking as she looked down on her fingers. “I got new neighbours.” She started. “Well, a new neighbour. To be exact.” She continued, her voice cracking slightly at the second sentence. Joy looked disappointed “Right, it was my fault. What exciting story would you be able to tell with your boring life. I thought it was something urgent.” She said. Wendy hit her arm. ‘What?’ Joy mouthed her. Irene shot her death glances. “Don’t mind Joy.” Seulgi stroked her arm. “Go on.” She said. Irene sighed. “It’s just… I have a bad feeling about him. He doesn’t seem to be a nice guy, you know? He is engaged, but last time I saw him with another girl who was handing him cash money and then I saw him kissing a different girl at a party.” She explained. Yeri frowned “Which party?” She asked. Wendy glared at her. “What? Irene unnie doesn’t go to parties. That’s why I was wondering.” She defended herself. Irene nodded “It was a party he was hosting. They were very loud, so I got annoyed because I couldn’t focus on my studies-“ Joy interrupted her “That sounds more like you.” She smiled. Irene sighed slightly and continued “…so I went inside to tell them to lower the music and saw him. His fiancé doesn’t know. Besides of that, he got weird friends, too.” She explained. Everyone was silent and processed the information she had given. “So, you’re surrounded with bad boys?” Joy asked “Good looking bad boys?” She carefully asked. Seulgi rolled her eyes while the others chuckled “Joy, you should-“ Irene interrupted Seulgi “Well…yeah…they look…good.” She shyly answered. Seulgi looked at her with a surprised expression. The girls eyed each other. “I’m curious about them.” Joy stated. “That’s not the point.” Irene answered. “The point is I’m worried.” She continued. Wendy narrowed her eyes “About what exactly?” She wanted to know. Irene looked at her startled. What exactly made her worried?
Irene thought about this question all the way home. Why was this such a concern? He wasn’t her fiancé after all, but she loved the silence. She loved the simple, silent, anonymous life. And the guy doesn’t seem like these which would mean, he would disturb her peaceful life. And that was bothering her. Irene hoped he would decide to move out, so she could have her peace again.
Just when she was thinking about these, she saw him with the guy she saw on the party. The one who told her not to leave on the door. They were walking towards the building. Irene sighed and continued walking the same direction as them. That was what she meant by worries. Were they always going to cross her way like this?
“Oh!” The guy next to him called with a smile. “It’s the girl.” He continued. Irene smiled and ignored them by walking inside the building. She repeatedly clicked the button for the elevator to arrive. “Hey! Glasses!” She heard the boy call her. She slightly furrowed her eyebrows as she slowly turned around. The boy chuckled and pointed at her with his coffee drink in his hand. “Irene, right?” He asked. Okay. This shocked Irene. She can’t remember telling him her name. “How do you know my name?” She asked. “How do you know her name?” Donghae asked at the same time. Irene glanced at him and then back to the other guy. The guy disappointed looked at Donghae “Ya! You’re her neighbour and you don’t even know her name?” He asked. Donghae just stared at him. Irene slowly averted her gaze. “Siwon told me. She was looking for you like crazy last time.” The guy said chuckling. Irene slightly widened her eyes as she looked at Donghae, who was questioningly looking at her. “For me? Why?” He asked. Irene got no chance to say something because the other guy decided to introduce himself. She secretly felt grateful for that. “I’m Eunhyuk by the way.” He said. Irene forced a smile as she tried to avoid any eye contact with the two.
Finally the elevator arrived. Donghae and Eunhyuk were the first ones to attend while Irene was like stoned at her place. “Ya! Won’t you get in?” Eunhyuk called. Irene fought the urge to roll her eyes. What made him speak informally with her? She turned around and got inside of the elevator.
 
The next morning Irene rushed inside of the bakery shop she was working. She was doing her morning jog before she went to work which has become a habit since she was living alone.
 
“Here are your coffees and the chocolate cake.” She sweetly said as she put down the tablet for the customers. She put her notebook inside the apron pocket and went behind the counter to take some notes. Random voice outside the shop got her attention so she glanced outside and frowned at the scene. Her neighbour wore his black cap and black face mask again as he was taking cash money from the same girl. She could see him smiling behind the mask. This time she payed close attention at the scenery for some hints, but it was very difficult since she couldn’t hear anything clearly. “Irene, table number 2!” Her boss screamed in the background. She quickly looked at him and answered “Yes!” Then she turned around and almost got a heart attack when he made eye contact with her.