UNCHANGEABLE - SEULRENE

SR - the neighbour

she can tell joohyun is happy with her decision.

when seulgi wakes up, she finds joohyun cooking at the stove with a phone pressed between her ear and shoulder.

"... prefer a fully furnished apartment ready for occupancy right away." a brief pause. "yes, i've looked online but yours is the best. and i'm glad you're very responsive." another pause. "yes, we'll be driving there after lunch. expect a call from me around four in the afternoon. thank you. i'll see you later."

seulgi stares in silence. staring at joohyun still makes her heart flutters. although a huge part of her still feels empty and lifeless, joohyun's mere presence warms up something inside.

"gosh. you scared me!" joohyun jumps when she turns around to place the phone on the counter. "i didn't hear you get up."

seulgi stands there in silence, poker-faced.

"by the way, i found an apartment for you." joohyun turns back to the stove. "it's about fifteen minutes walk from my house. i know it's not that far, but at least you could still have some privacy to yourself." she turns off the stove and pours the contents into a bowl, which seulgi identifies as one of her favourite breakfast. "i hope you're okay with transferring there this afternoon?"

seulgi thinks it is perfect. her mind is already tuning to the right frequency. this is what she wants, to have joohyun around her, to see joohyun every day. it would have been perfect if it weren't for that band on joohyun's ring finger, reminding seulgi of the painful reality.

yeah. joohyun is married. she vowed to protect and fight for that marriage despite the difficulty she and her husband are experiencing.

and joohyun stayed true to her words. even after her confession about her feelings towards seulgi, they stayed platonic last night. joohyun spent the night on the couch and is always giving updates to her husband.

seulgi scoffs inside, secretly envying junmyeon for getting this woman for his wife--for witnessing this view every morning.

every darn morning.

boy, he's one lucky guy.

"seulgi?"

seulgi blinks.

"you okay?" joohyun asks.

seulgi nods.

"so, are you okay with us packing after lunch and transferring this afternoon?"

seulgi looks away and nods.

it takes a moment joohyun lets out a small smile.

"sooyoung was happy when i told her," she says, settling the food on the table. "let's eat? we still have to prepare your things so we can drive there after lunch."

without saying any word, seulgi sits down and fills her plate.

they eat in silence. seulgi can feel joohyun's eyes on her from time to time.

---

she's not sure if being around joohyun is good for her or not.

"you need help there?" asks joohyun when she noticed how seulgi's having a hard time buttoning up her flannel.

seulgi hums, her eyes watching joohyun's hands button up her shirt all the way to the top.

"is it okay if i pack only your button-ups and some of these flannels? it will be easier for you to wear as it need not go over your head."

seulgi nods.

"you honestly still look dashing even with a cast." joohyun smiles, fixing seulgi's hair this time. "this is so unfair."