Chapter Text
The shuffling sounds outside Seokjin’s door has been going on for almost 15 minutes now. He stretches his arm to check his phone for the time. 8.07 pm. The footsteps sounds as if someone was walking back and forth infront of his apartment. It’s too early for robberies to happen and too late for little kids to run in the hallways and he wasnt expecting any guests so he checks through the peephole in the door.
It’s his next door neighbour that lives in 387. Seokjin never really catches his name, he remembered it might be joon or something along those lines.
Seeing him at these time isnt rare. They never really encountered each other before since Seokjin had to leave early and goes home late to close his restaurant. Sometimes when Seokjin leaves his house early, they cross paths and exchange polite smiles with each other. Seokjin always hears the guy in 387 leaves (or goes home) at weird hours in the crack of dawn but toning down his curiosity, he never asked in fear of being deemed as a busybody.
Assuming his neighbour isn’t a threat and is harmless enough, he opens the door and greets him. “Hey”.
“Oh, hey. Sorry was i making too much noises? It’s just that i was unable to get in my house.” His neighbor reasoned, pointing his thumb in the direction of his door.
“You can’t? That’s weird. Maybe you typed your passcode wrongly?” Seokjin asked.
“I did. It said here,” he points to the entry system to his own house “that my passcode is correct but i cant seem to open the door no matter how hard i pushed it”
Seokjin glanced at his neighbour’s face and saw that his face looked pale and tired. Tough day at work, probably. And he cant even rest properly in his house. Poor guy.
“Let me try” offered Seokjin. He turned the doorknob, and-
The door opens with a click.
Seokjin turns to his neighbour to see if it is some kind of a joke because he just wasted his time opening a seemingly faulty door with little to no force when he could be enjoying his movies on Netflix in the comfort of his own home without the need to move for at least another hour. But his neighbour seemed to be genuinely shocked and happy as if Seokjin just miraculously fixed his door when he only merely pushed it open.
“Thank you so much! Um- i dont think i remembered your name?”
“You’re welcome, i guess. Im Kim Seokjin. What’s yours?” he said, extending a hand in which the other shooked firmly.
“My name’s Namjoon. Kim Namjoon. Let me make you some tea as a thanks for helping me out” said Namjoon. He was smiling so brightly that his dimples appeared.
Seokjin doesnt have it in his heart to decline the offer seeing that Namjoon was looking so happy.
-
Seokjin stood in the living room, admiring the decorations in the house while Namjoon busies himself in the kitchen.
Their houses looks almost identical, which makes sense since they live next door in the same apartment building. He scans around the living room from his spot on the bulky loveseat and his eyes stop on a particular framed picture.
Its of little Namjoon, presumably in his kindergarten days holding a little toddler in his arms. It isnt hard to recognise Namjoon ; his dimples gave it away easily and Seokjin founds himself smiling at the picture.
“That’s when my little brother Taehyung and I were on our first family vacation” a voice quips from behind Seokjin and he startled a little.
“Sorry. I dont mean to pry around. The picture was cute” Seokjin said sheepishly.
Namjoon shakes his head, a fond smile on his lips “It’s okay I dont mind, besides, that was my favorite picture”
Not wanting anymore embarrassing episode of getting caught lurking around someone house happening again, Seokjin puts the frame down and plops himself back to his previous spot on the couch.
“Sorry Seokjin, do you mind waiting for a while since my tea ran out? I’ll quickly go to the convenience store downstairs. Please excuse me for a second.”
Before Seokin can even tell him its fine, the taller man already darts out the door. With a sigh, he directs his attention to the tv across him.
Not even a few minutes later, theres a familiar sound of beep from the door indicating that someone is coming inside.
Assuming it was Namjoon, Seokjin opens the door and was met with an unfamiliar boy in an oversized hoodie.
Was Namjoon expecting a guest? Seokjin should’ve have accepted the offer if he knew he would be intruding.
The newcomer eyes Seokjin up and down cautiously and with furrowed brows, he asked, “Who are you? What are you doing here?”
“Im Namjoon’s next door neighbor ; Kim Seokjin. I live in 386”
The stranger crosses his arms defensively, “That doesnt explain why you’re in my brother’s house”
Ah, so this boy must’ve been the same one in the picture with Namjoon.
“Brother? Im assuming you must be Taehyung, right?”
Lowering his guard, Taehyung replies “So you must be a friend of his then”, shaking his head, he continues, “Sorry for being defensive earlier. I just dont understand why are you in Namjoon’s house during the owner’s absence”
Perking up at the mention of Namjoon, Seokjin explains, “Actually, he invited me over for tea since i helped him out. He’s downstairs buying some tea to brew”
“Wh- what are you talking about? Stop joking around” Taehyung splutters.
“What do you mean?”, asks Seokjin, confused.
“What im talking about is why are you insensitively joking around about my brother like that when he’s clearly at the hospital fighting for his life on life support!”