Chapter Text
Popping open the trunk of the car, you sighed. It was crammed with everything you owned, and you were all alone to move and unpack it.
Glancing up at the sky, you noted the dark clouds moving in as the sun got lower in the sky.
Looking back at the various boxes, you let out a sigh of determination before you began to pile lighter boxes on top of each other. You'd do this as fast as you could, the quicker it was over the sooner you could relax.
Walking slowly towards the elevator, trying your best not to topple the tower you created, you prayed no one was in the elevator. Much to your hope, it was empty. You smiled as you made your way in, before pressing the button to your floor.
"Only twenty more trips to go." You mumbled to yourself as the elevator doors closed.
Jongho walked casually towards the elevator, and pressed the button. He cleared his throat as he checked his phone, unsure if going to the gym at this hour was really what he wanted to do with his boredom.
As the elevator doors dinged before opening, Jongho began to walk inside, only noticing at the last second there was something, or rather someone, in the elevator.
As you began to step out of the elevator, you saw the edge of someones head poke around the boxes before you could stop walking in time.
"Oh!" you exclaimed involuntarily as you felt the person collide with you.
Your tower toppled over and fell to the floor as you held out your arms helplessly.
Jongho flinched as the boxes fell to the ground, before his eyes moved to you, as you stood frozen in front of him. As the elevator began to close you hopped out, quickly pulling one of your boxes out of the way before you turned towards him.
"I'm so sorry! I couldn't see you!"
Jongho opened his mouth to speak, but heard nothing come out as you scrambled to pick up your boxes. Finally collecting himself, he shook his head.
"It's okay, it's not your fault! I should have looked before I walked into the elevator. I just wasn't expecting anyone to be on it." He chuckled awkwardly "I also didn't realize I had a new neighbor."
"Oh, yeah, I just rented a few days ago" You chuckled as you looked back at him, seeing him grabbing one of your boxes.
"Thank you, it's okay, you don't need to do that!" You said shyly, yet gratefully.
"I hope I didn't break anything" He said slowly, as he heard the objects in one of the boxes move around loudly.
"Oh no don't worry! These boxes are all light, they don't have anything really fragile in them-" you hesitated as you thought for a second, uncertainty washing over you "-I hope." You chuckled and looked over at him with a genuine smile.
Jongho smiled in return, not failing to notice how his heart seemed to skip a beat at the sight.
"Can I ask why you're carrying so many boxes at once?"
"Oh" you let out a soft awkward laugh "I uh- don't have anyone to help me, and it's getting dark, and looks like is gonna rain, so I just wanted to get it done quickly." You rambled a bit as you made a couple stacks of boxes by the wall.
Jongho nodded in understanding before he felt a sudden determination wash over him. He walked over to your boxes before stacking some and picking them up. You met his eyes with a questioning gaze and he smiled brightly at you, making butterflies swirl through your stomach.
"I'll help."
"Oh you don't have too! You were going somewhere right? I don't want to-"
Jongho stopped you with a small laugh and shake of his head "Don't worry about it. I was just going to the gym because I was bored. But I'd rather do this."
Your heart skipped a beat as he began to turn down the hall towards your new apartment.
Quickly grabbing the box he left, you followed, pulling out your keys "Thank you that's really nice of you."
He glanced back at you with the same smile "Don't worry about it"
Opening your door, Jongho followed you in, before setting down the boxes and glancing around. He hummed under his breath.
"What?" You asked curiously.
He shrugged a bit and smiled "I just always wondered if the other apartments looked the same."
"Do they?"
He nodded "Yeah, pretty much. Mines a bit bigger because I have roommates though."
"This was the only single I could find near here." You noted as you set your box on the counter.
He nodded before clapping his hands "Okay, so how much more do you have?"
You blinked a few times "Oh...you meant- you're gonna help me with all of it?"
He rose his brow and nodded.
"Oh I can't ask you to do that."
"You're not asking. Im offering." He said, bluntly but softly.
You hesitated for a moment, "Are you sure?"
He nodded and let out a soft laugh, as the thought of how cute you were passed through his mind "Yeah, I am."
You smiled brightly at him, your face burning a bit hotter "Okay well, if you insist. I don't really have all that much." You said cheerfully making him chuckle.
As he began to follow you out the door, you stopped abruptly and turned towards him, taking him by surprise "My name is Y/n by the way."
He smiled "I'm Jongho."
You grinned at him "Thank you Jongho"
Turning, you began heading towards the elevator as Jongho watched you for a second, his heart hammering in his chest before he smiled and followed you.
The twenty trips you dreaded turned into less than ten as you watched Jongho carry half of your stuff with an ease you found almost alarming.
As you set the last box on the kitchen table, you turned to him with a satisfied smile "All done before the sun even set."
He smiled at you, watching as you looked around your apartment before turning back to him.
"I really can't thank you enough Jongho. This move was stressful enough as it is. Doing it alone was worse, so you helping really made it easier."
He shook his head "No problem. I'm glad I could help. And I'm glad I could meet you. I can count on one hand how many times I've seen the other neighbors on this floor."
You chuckled softly "I'm glad too. I'm horrible at introducing myself, I don't know if I ever would have met you otherwise. Though I do still feel bad for having run into you earlier."
He chuckled "Forget it, really."
You grinned at him, and he wanted nothing more than to just stare at you, but knowing he could easily overstay his welcome, he cleared his throat a bit as he checked his phone.
"I should probably go."
You nodded in understanding, but felt a wave of disappointment. You really wanted to talk with him more. It seemed like you to had quite a lot in common from the brief chats you had.
As you followed him to the door. He turned back and smiled at you "It was nice meeting you Y/n. Don't be a stranger."
You grinned at him and shook your head "I wont. Thank you Jongho."
As he left and walked back towards his apartment, he glanced back, to see you leaning out of your apartment watching him with a soft smile.
He felt his chest clench as you waved cheerfully at him. Waving back he smiled, before rounding the corner and letting out a soft sigh, already wondering when he would see you again.
------------------------------------
The next day, as Jongho headed back to his apartment, he stepped off the elevator and a familiar smell filled his nose. He inhaled and felt warmth wash over him.
Someone had been baking cookies. He shook his head, a bit jealous of the idea of homemade cookies, as he started to head down the hall.
He slowed down as he walked past your door. You popped up in his thoughts multiple times during the day, and he kept wondering how you were settling in.
'Should I knock?' he thought to himself with uncertainty as he stared at your door.
He wouldn't want to interrupt you if you were busy. But maybe he could help you again? Would that be too much? Would it be weird?
Overthinking it, he shook his head and headed towards his apartment. Maybe he'd give you a few days to settle in first.
As he approached his door, his eyes landed on a small white box on the ground. Furrowing his brow, he crouched down to pick it up, seeing a sticky note on the top.
As he read it, a grin spread across his face.
"Thank you for your help!" - Y/n
Taking the note off, he could see the box was full of the cookies he had smelled. The box was still warm so he new they were fresh.
Looking back towards your apartment, he couldn't stop the smile on his face as his whole body seemed to get warm. Touched by your kindness and cuteness.
Looking at his door before looking back down the hall, he smiled 'At least I have an excuse to go see them now'.
Making a final decision, he began walking back towards your door.
If he took the cookies into his apartment he knew he would surely get none if the other's saw them. So it was only fair that he shared him with the person that made them. Right?