Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The sun was shining brightly as Sunoo and Sunghoon stood in front of the slightly weathered door of Apartment 1009. The brass numbers had seen better days, and the faint smell of fresh paint lingered in the hallway.

“This is it, Hoonie,” Sunoo declared, his voice brimming with excitement as he gripped the keys in his hand. “Our new chapter!”

Sunghoon, balancing a box labeled ‘FRAGILE BUT I’M NOT’ , gave him an unimpressed look. “Our new chapter better not involve falling through the floorboards.”

Sunoo rolled his eyes, standing on his tiptoes to plant a kiss on Sunghoon’s cheek. “Don’t be dramatic. It’s got charm .”

Sunghoon’s lips twitched into a smile he couldn’t quite hide. “If by charm you mean ‘slightly leaning to the left,’ then yeah, sure.”

Sunoo ignored him, stepping closer to unlock the door. The moment he pushed it open, the faint squeak of the hinges made them both pause. Inside, the apartment greeted them with a combination of potential and imperfections. The walls were painted a soft cream, though cracks peeked through in some corners. The wooden floors had scuff marks, and the faint smell of varnish still lingered.

Sunoo turned around, his face glowing. “It’s perfect.”

Sunghoon raised an eyebrow, setting down the box. “It’s livable . Let’s not oversell it, Sunny.”

Sunoo stuck his tongue out but immediately began darting around the apartment, inspecting every nook and cranny. “Look! The windows let in so much light! Perfect for my plants. And the kitchen? Compact but efficient!”

Sunghoon leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed as he watched Sunoo with amusement. He could’ve sworn the tiny apartment looked better just because Sunoo was in it, bouncing around like he’d won the lottery.

“Alright, alright,” Sunghoon said with a sigh. “Let’s not forget the actual reason we’re here.” He gestured toward the tower of boxes outside the door. “We need to move in first before you start rearranging the furniture in your head.”

“This is it,” Sunoo declared, his voice full of conviction. “Our first home together. The start of our domestic bliss.”

Sunghoon snorted softly, balancing two travel mugs of coffee in one hand and a pamphlet of building rules in the other. “Domestic bliss?” he echoed, his tone dripping with sarcasm. “You mean the kind where the faucet leaks, and the walls look like they were painted during the Joseon Dynasty?”

Sunoo gasped, clutching an imaginary pearl necklace. “How dare you insult our new sanctuary!”

“I’m not insulting it,” Sunghoon replied coolly, taking a sip of his coffee. “I’m just… acknowledging the truth.”

“Oh, whatever.” Sunoo waved him off and began pulling boxes from the hallway. “You’ll come around once we decorate. Just imagine it—fairy lights, a little bookshelf by the window, maybe even a cozy corner for my plants!”

The road to finding Apartment 1009 hadn’t been easy. Fresh out of college, their combined savings were laughable, and every listing they’d seen came with a caveat: in need of major renovation , close proximity to nightclubs , suspiciously low rent . They’d almost given up when they found this place online—cheap, safe, close to public transport. It had sounded too good to be true.

As they signed the lease, their real estate agent had smiled just a little too wide, saying, “You’ll love it. It’s... lively.” They had brushed it off then, but now, standing in the unit, Sunghoon wondered if "lively" was code for something worse.

As they began unpacking, the memories of their apartment hunt replayed in Sunghoon’s mind. The road to Apartment 1009 had been anything but smooth. Sunoo had started the search with a spreadsheet color-coded to perfection, featuring tabs for budget, amenities, and “vibes.” Sunghoon had been skeptical from the start. It had been weeks of endless scrolling through rental listings, countless awkward meetings with landlords, and more than one heated debate over their priorities.

Sunoo had been insistent on three things:

1. Natural light for his plants (“If Prickles dies, I’ll die too,” he had said with utter seriousness).
2. A safe neighborhood (“I don’t want to jump at shadows when I take out the trash.”).
3. Somewhere with personality (“No boring gray walls! I refuse to live in a box!”).

Sunghoon, meanwhile, had only one requirement: affordability. 

“You realize we’re broke, right? We can’t exactly survive on love and ramen, Sunny,” he had asked, peering over Sunoo’s shoulder as he added yet another overpriced listing to the sheet.

“I prefer the term financially challenged,” Sunoo had replied, scrolling past a studio that came with “rustic charm” —aka peeling paint and a broken window.

Their first viewing had been a disaster: a basement unit that reeked of mildew. Sunoo had tried to find the silver lining (“Look! It’s close to a laundromat!”), but Sunghoon had given the landlord a flat “no” before Sunoo could even finish his sentence.

The second place had been even worse: a rooftop unit with no insulation and an ancient air conditioner that wheezed louder than a dying cat.

“On the bright side, we’ll never need white noise,” Sunoo had joked.

“On the downside, we’ll die of heatstroke,” Sunghoon had replied, tugging Sunoo out the door.

They’d toured more apartments than Sunghoon cared to count, including one where the floor tilted at such an angle Sunoo declared, “We could open a bowling alley.” Another had a bathtub in the kitchen, to which Sunghoon had deadpanned, “Convenient if you want soup while soaking.”

When they stumbled upon Apartment 1009, it had felt like fate—or, at least, a compromise. The rent was suspiciously cheap, but it ticked all of Sunoo’s boxes: sunlight, a lively (if slightly chaotic) neighborhood, and that elusive “character.”

“We’ll take it,” Sunoo had said without hesitation, beaming at the confused realtor. Sunghoon, utterly whipped, had simply sighed and signed the paperwork.

Sunghoon set another box down and leaned against the doorframe, watching Sunoo flit around like an excited butterfly. “You act like this is a palace,” he teased, but his eyes were soft as he took in Sunoo’s excitement.

Sunoo turned to him, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. “It’s not a palace, but it’s ours. And you know what that means?”

“What?”

“Dance break!”

Before Sunghoon could protest, Sunoo grabbed his hands and spun him around the living room. Sunghoon groaned dramatically but didn’t resist, letting Sunoo drag him into a clumsy waltz.

“You’re ridiculous,” Sunghoon said, but his laughter betrayed him.

“And you love it,” Sunoo replied, beaming.

Sunghoon’s arms tightened around him slightly. “Yeah,” he said softly, “I do.”

After their impromptu dance break, Sunoo plopped down on the couch—or rather, the cushions they’d tossed onto the floor because the couch hadn’t been assembled yet. He fanned himself with a stray piece of paper, his cheeks still rosy from the exertion.

“Sunny,” Sunghoon said softly, setting down a glass of water in front of him. “You’re sweating buckets. Take a break.”

“I’m fine,” Sunoo replied, grinning as he grabbed the glass. “Besides, I’m not the one carrying all the heavy stuff. That’s your job, Hoonie.”

Sunghoon rolled his eyes but didn’t bother arguing. Instead, he crouched in front of Sunoo and took one of his hands, inspecting a small scratch.

“You’re hopeless,” Sunghoon muttered, pulling out a small bandage from his pocket.

Sunoo blinked, touched. “Did you bring band-aids just for me?”

Sunghoon shrugged, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. “I know you. If anyone’s going to injure themselves unpacking throw pillows, it’s you.”

Sunoo laughed, leaning forward to kiss Sunghoon on the cheek. “You’re so sweet, Hoonie. Admit it—you love taking care of me.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Sunghoon said, but the warmth in his tone gave him away.

Now, as they began to unpack, Sunoo’s excitement was in full force. He pulled out a tiny cactus from one of the boxes, holding it up like a trophy. “Look, Hoonie! Prickles has the perfect spot!”

Sunghoon smiled softly as Sunoo placed the cactus on the windowsill, humming to himself. He leaned over, tucking a stray strand of hair behind Sunoo’s ear. “You know, you’ve got more energy than all those plants combined.”

Sunoo turned to him with a smirk. “You’re just jealous they get more kisses than you.”

“Am I?” Sunghoon asked, pulling him closer. “Because I seem to remember getting one just fine earlier.”

Sunoo rolled his eyes but didn’t move away. “Stop flirting and help me unpack. There are at least ten more boxes.”

Sunghoon’s gaze softened. “You’re lucky I love you, Sunny.”

“I know,” Sunoo said with a grin, standing on his tiptoes to kiss him quickly before darting away to open another box.

By the time the last box was inside, Sunoo was sitting cross-legged on the floor, surrounded by a collection of fairy lights, picture frames, and half-unwrapped books. Sunghoon stretched his arms above his head, groaning.

“Done. Now we can officially—”

The knock on the door echoed through the apartment, interrupting Sunghoon. He shot Sunoo a look as if to say “This is your fault for calling this place friendly” and trudged toward the door, his socks sliding slightly on the scuffed wooden floor.

Sunoo, ever the optimist, jumped to his feet. “See? Neighbors already! Maybe they brought snacks or—”

Sunghoon pulled the door open, and there stood a young man with headphones resting around his neck and a cocky smirk plastered across his face.

“You’re the new couple, huh?” the stranger asked, looking them both up and down. He tilted his head toward Sunoo, grinning. “I’m Ni-ki, your neighbor. If you need anything— anything —you know who to call.”

Sunoo blinked, caught off guard by the intensity of the introduction. “Oh, uh, hi! I’m Sunoo, and this is—”

“Your boyfriend, yeah, I figured,” Ni-ki interrupted, barely sparing Sunghoon a glance. “But anyway, Sunoo , if you ever get bored, I’m right next door.” He leaned casually against the doorframe like he owned the place.

Sunghoon’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Excuse me?”

Before Ni-ki could respond, another figure appeared behind him, looking about ten times more apologetic. “Ni-ki, stop harassing them,” the newcomer muttered, bowing politely. “I’m Jungwon, his roommate. I swear we’re not always this… invasive.”

Ni-ki turned and shrugged. “I’m being friendly!”

“You’re being creepy,” Jungwon shot back before turning to Sunoo and Sunghoon. “Really, I’m sorry. We live just next door. Let us know if you need anything—except, you know, Ni-ki.”

Sunoo stifled a laugh as Jungwon handed him the peace lily. “This is for you,” Jungwon said shyly. “I hope you like it.”

Sunoo’s smile widened. “I love it. Thank you, Jungwon-ssi. That’s so thoughtful.”

Jungwon flushed slightly but didn’t respond, busy hauling Ni-ki away from their door.

Inside the apartment, Sunoo carefully placed the peace lily on the windowsill, surrounded by his other plants. “Look, Hoonie! It’s already feeling like home.”

Ni-ki wasn’t done. “So, Sunoo,” he started, leaning a little closer, “do you believe in love at first sight, or should I walk by your door again later?”

Sunoo’s face turned bright pink. “I—uh—”

Sunghoon stepped between them, his tall frame blocking Ni-ki’s view of Sunoo completely. “I think you’re done here,” he said flatly.

Ni-ki, unfazed, looked up at Sunghoon with a grin. “Wow, protective much?”

“Absolutely,” Sunghoon deadpanned.

Jungwon sighed, dragging Ni-ki back by the sleeve. “Okay, time to stop before you get punched. Let’s go.”

As they retreated, Jungwon mouthed a quick “sorry” while Ni-ki called over his shoulder, “You’ll be seeing me, Sunoo!”

Sunghoon slammed the door shut, his jaw clenched. “I’m already regretting this place.”

Sunoo giggled, nudging him with his elbow. “Don’t be jealous, Hoonie. I only have eyes for you.”

Sunghoon sighed, pulling him close for a quick kiss. “You’d better. Or else we’re moving out tomorrow.”

Ten minutes later, just as Sunoo and Sunghoon were settling into the couch, a loud knock came again.

Sunghoon groaned. “If it’s him again—”

But this time, it was Ni-ki’s voice through the door. “By the way, we share a laundry room! If you’re washing clothes on Thursdays, just know I don’t fold!”

Sunghoon stood to open the door, but Sunoo grabbed his arm, laughing. “Hoonie, no. Let him be.”

Through the door, they could hear Jungwon dragging Ni-ki away. “Stop yelling at the neighbors! Do you want them to report us?”

As their voices faded, Sunoo leaned against Sunghoon’s shoulder, giggling. “I think I like them.”

“I don’t,” Sunghoon muttered, glaring at the door. “Especially him.”

Another knock came, interrupting Sunoo mid-sentence as he explained why their bookshelf absolutely had to go against the north wall.

Sunghoon groaned. “If that’s Ni-ki again, I’m installing a peephole tomorrow.”

Sunoo laughed, skipping to the door. “Maybe it’s someone bringing us housewarming cookies!”

When he opened the door, two men stood in the hallway, their energy as mismatched as their outfits.

“Hi!” the first man said, his sharp eyes softened by a disarming smile. He held up a small plastic bag filled with potato chips. “I’m Jake, and this—”

“Is not what I told you to bring,” the second man cut in, glaring at the bag. He was dressed in a sleek, all-black ensemble and had the kind of posture that screamed perfectionist.

Jake shrugged, his casual hoodie and sneakers an obvious contrast to his companion’s polished look. “Chips are a universal gift, Jay. Everybody loves chips.”

Jay pinched the bridge of his nose. “What happened to the wine I gave you? The wine you were specifically supposed to bring?”

“I drank it.” Jake grinned unapologetically. “Thirsty walk up the stairs.”

Jay turned to Sunoo and Sunghoon with a look of exasperation, bowing slightly. “I’m Jay, and this wine thief is Jake. We live across the hall. Sorry about him.”

Sunoo chuckled, taking the bag of chips. “No need to apologize! I’m Sunoo, and this is Sunghoon. Thanks for the... snack.”

As the introductions wrapped up, Jake leaned against the doorframe, smirking. “So, who’s the chef between you two?”

“Sunoo,” Sunghoon said without hesitation, crossing his arms.

“Obviously,” Sunoo added at the same time, his smile widening.

Jay raised an eyebrow. “So, does that make you the sous chef?” he asked Sunghoon.

Sunghoon shrugged. “More like the disaster control team. You’d be surprised how often a frying pan can double as a smoke signal.”

“Experimental cooking!” Sunoo protested, pouting. “And you said my kimchi fried rice was good!”

Sunghoon smirked. “It was. Once we scraped the burnt bits off.”

Jake laughed, earning a glare from Sunoo. “Okay, let’s change the subject before someone gets stabbed with a spatula,” Jake said. “What’s your laundry schedule? Because Jay here—”

“I swear, if you bring this up—” Jay interrupted, his tone warning.

Jake ignored him. “He folds his socks like they’re works of art. And if you even think about using the machine during his time slot, prepare for a lecture about detergent ratios.”

Sunoo covered his mouth to stifle a laugh. “Really?”

“I like efficiency,” Jay said defensively. “And you—you just throw clothes in and hope for the best.”

“It’s called living on the edge,” Jake shot back.

As Jay and Jake continued their playful bickering, Sunghoon leaned against the wall, his arms crossed. He didn’t say much, but his gaze shifted between the two, taking in the way Jake teased and Jay pretended not to be flustered.

Sunoo nudged him. “You’re staring,” he whispered.

“They’re weird,” Sunghoon whispered back.

Sunoo grinned. “I like them. They balance each other out, don’t you think?”

Sunghoon hummed noncommittally.

“Just wait,” Sunoo added mischievously. “I bet we’re going to witness some very interesting moments between those two.”

After a few more minutes of lighthearted chatter, Jay cleared his throat. “Anyway, welcome to the building. If you ever need anything—”

“Don’t hesitate to knock on Jay’s door,” Jake interjected with a grin. “He loves unplanned visits.”

Jay shot him a death glare before turning back to Sunoo and Sunghoon. “Ignore him. If you need something, just text first. Or, better yet, knock on his door instead.”

Jake smirked, giving Sunghoon a friendly pat on the shoulder. “See you around, man. And don’t forget about the laundry schedule.”

With that, the duo disappeared down the hallway, their voices fading as they continued bickering about the definition of “a good housewarming gift.”

Sunoo shut the door, turning to Sunghoon with a gleam in his eye. “They’re fun. Don’t you think?”

Sunghoon sighed, ruffling Sunoo’s hair. “If by fun, you mean exhausting, then sure.”

Later that evening, with the sun setting and the unpacked boxes looming in every corner of the apartment, Sunoo suggested they “explore the neighborhood” to take a break.

“Translation: you want snacks,” Sunghoon said, slipping on his sneakers.

“And you’re coming with me,” Sunoo replied with a grin, grabbing Sunghoon’s hand and tugging him toward the door.

They made their way downstairs to the convenience store they’d noticed earlier. The sign read Shin Mart in faded block letters, and the warm yellow light spilling out from inside made the space look welcoming, if a little dated.

The bell above the door jingled as they stepped inside. The aisles were narrow but neatly organized, and the smell of freshly cooked food wafted from a small counter near the back.

Behind the register stood an older man with sharp eyes and a neatly trimmed gray beard. He looked up as they entered, his expression neutral.

“Ah,” he said, his deep voice carrying a gravitas that made both of them stand up straighter. “The new couple.”

Sunoo beamed. “That’s us! I’m Sunoo, and this is my boyfriend, Sunghoon. We just moved into Apartment 1009 upstairs!”

Mr. Shin’s gaze lingered on them for a moment before he gave a slow nod. “Welcome,” he said simply.

Sunoo, never one to shy away from conversation, leaned forward slightly. “This place smells amazing! Are you cooking something back there?”

Mr. Shin’s lips twitched into what might’ve been a smile. “Kimchi jjigae. Freshly made.”

“Is it for sale?” Sunoo asked, his eyes lighting up.

“For you? No,” Mr. Shin replied.

Sunoo’s face fell, but before he could protest, Mr. Shin disappeared behind the counter. A few moments later, he returned with a steaming bowl and two pairs of chopsticks. “It’s on the house,” he said, setting it down on the counter.

Sunghoon raised an eyebrow. “Are you always this generous?”

“No,” Mr. Shin replied, sliding the bowl toward them. “But you’ll need it if you’re planning to survive in this building.”

Sunoo and Sunghoon exchanged glances before sitting down at the small table tucked into the corner of the store. The kimchi jjigae was rich and flavorful, warming them instantly.

“This is amazing,” Sunoo said between bites. “Thank you so much, Mr. Shin.”

The older man leaned against the counter, studying them. “You’ll need strength,” he said cryptically.

Sunghoon looked up, his chopsticks pausing midair. “For what?”

Mr. Shin tilted his head. “This building… it has its quirks. Loud neighbors. Unexpected chaos. People who won’t knock before barging in.”

“Sounds like you’re talking about Ni-ki,” Sunoo joked.

Mr. Shin didn’t laugh. “He’s just one part of it,” he said. “This place is more than it seems. But if you stick it out, you’ll find it’s worth it.”

“Worth what?” Sunghoon asked, his skepticism evident.

Mr. Shin’s eyes gleamed with a knowing look. “You’ll see.”

Before they could press him further, a loud crash echoed from one of the aisles.

“Ni-ki! I told you not to touch that!”

Sunghoon groaned as Ni-ki’s voice carried through the store, followed by Jungwon’s exasperated muttering. The two younger neighbors appeared a moment later, Jungwon holding a bag of snacks while Ni-ki carried an armful of instant noodles.

“Oh hey, it’s you guys!” Ni-ki said cheerfully, completely ignoring the scolding glare from Mr. Shin. “You’re shopping too?”

“More like trying to have a quiet moment,” Sunghoon muttered under his breath.

Jungwon bowed slightly, his expression apologetic. “Sorry if we’re interrupting.”

“You are,” Sunghoon replied, but Sunoo elbowed him lightly. “It’s fine! We were just meeting Mr. Shin.”

Ni-ki grinned. “Oh yeah, Mr. Shin’s jjigae is legendary. But good luck figuring him out—he only speaks in riddles.”

As Sunoo and Sunghoon finished their meal and stood to leave, Mr. Shin handed them a small bag of snacks. “On the house,” he said again.

“Wow, first jjigae, now this?” Sunoo said, grinning. “You’re really spoiling us, Mr. Shin.”

“Don’t get used to it,” Mr. Shin replied, though there was a hint of warmth in his voice.

As they stepped out of the store, the older man called after them, “Remember, it’s not the apartment that matters—it’s the people who make it a home.”

Sunoo turned to Sunghoon with a smile. “I like him. He’s wise.”

Sunghoon sighed. “He’s cryptic. There’s a difference.”

By the time Sunoo and Sunghoon returned to their apartment, the sky had darkened, and the half-unpacked boxes scattered across the floor seemed even more daunting.

Sunoo flicked on the light, flinching at the faint buzz of the overhead bulb. “Okay, adding that to tomorrow’s to-do list,” he muttered.

Sunghoon set down a bag of snacks from Mr. Shin’s store, his expression weary. “Along with unpacking the rest of this nightmare.”

Sunoo ignored him, plopping down on the floor with a dramatic sigh. “It’s not a nightmare. It’s an adventure.”

Sunghoon arched an eyebrow, leaning against the couch. “Sure. An adventure that smells like old varnish and comes with a side of noisy neighbors.”

Sunoo laughed, pulling a container of instant ramen from one of the bags. “And what’s every great adventure without a feast?”

“Instant ramen is your idea of a feast?” Sunghoon teased, though he was already heading to the kitchen to grab the kettle.

Once the ramen was ready, they settled cross-legged on the floor, their bowls steaming in front of them.

“To Apartment 1009,” Sunoo said, raising his chopsticks like a toast.

“To surviving it,” Sunghoon replied, clinking his chopsticks against Sunoo’s.

As they ate, they recounted the day’s events.

“I like Jungwon,” Sunoo said, slurping his noodles. “He seems sweet. Ni-ki, though…”

“Is a menace,” Sunghoon finished for him.

Sunoo giggled. “He’s just enthusiastic.”

“Enthusiastic about flirting with you,” Sunghoon muttered, narrowing his eyes.

Sunoo leaned closer, resting his chin on Sunghoon’s shoulder. “You’re jealous.”

“I’m not jealous,” Sunghoon said, though his tone was less convincing than he hoped.

“You’re totally jealous,” Sunoo teased, placing a quick kiss on his cheek. “But you don’t need to be. You are my one and only perfect, broody, secretly a softie baby.”

Sunghoon sighed, his expression softening. “You’re lucky you’re cute.”

“I know,” Sunoo replied with a grin, stealing a bite of ramen from Sunghoon’s bowl.

Just as they were finishing their meal, a loud knock sounded at the door, startling them both.

“If that’s Ni-ki again, we’re moving out tomorrow,” Sunghoon muttered, getting up to answer it.

But when the door swung open, it wasn’t Ni-ki—it was a tall man holding a karaoke mic.

“Hey, new neighbors!” the man greeted, grinning from ear to ear. “I’m Heeseung, the unofficial party planner and morale booster of the building.” He held up the mic like a trophy. “Thought I’d welcome you with a song!”

Sunghoon stared at him blankly. “It’s almost 10 p.m.”

“And love knows no time!” Heeseung declared dramatically, stepping inside without waiting for an invitation.

Sunoo, curious and amused, stood up. “I’m Sunoo, and this is Sunghoon. Nice to meet you, Heeseung-ssi.”

“Nice to meet you too!” Heeseung said, strumming the mic like it was a guitar. “So, tell me, are you guys a power ballad kind of couple, or do you lean more toward romantic duets?”

Sunghoon pinched the bridge of his nose. “We lean toward peace and quiet.”

Sunoo laughed, nudging him playfully. “Don’t mind him, Heeseung-ssi. He’s just grumpy because he’s tired.”

“Well, that’s no excuse!” Heeseung said, plopping down on the floor like he belonged there. “Here’s the deal: once a week, we have karaoke night in the lobby. You’re both required to attend.”

“Required?” Sunghoon repeated, his tone skeptical.

“By law,” Heeseung replied, deadpan. “Building law. Didn’t you read the fine print in the lease?”

Sunoo found himself laughing more than he had all day. Heeseung started listing off the tenants’ karaoke preferences, from Jake’s “shameless rap battles” to Jay’s “suspiciously emotional love songs.”

“Wait,” Sunoo interrupted. “Jay-ssi sings emotional love songs?”

“Don’t let him fool you,” Heeseung said, leaning closer like he was sharing a secret. “The guy’s a total softie. His last song choice? ‘My Heart Will Go On.’ No joke.”

Sunghoon finally cracked a smile, shaking his head. “You’re something else, aren’t you?”

“Thank you,” Heeseung said, grinning. “I take that as a compliment.”

As Heeseung finally stood to leave, he turned to Sunoo and winked. “You’ve got your hands full with this one,” he said, gesturing to Sunghoon.

Sunoo laughed, wrapping an arm around Sunghoon’s waist. “Don’t I know it.”

The apartment was quiet now, except for the faint creak of the old wooden floor as Sunghoon shuffled toward the window. He stood there for a moment, gazing out at the glowing city lights of Seoul.

Sunoo joined him, resting his head on Sunghoon’s shoulder. “It doesn’t feel real yet, does it?”

Sunghoon slipped an arm around Sunoo’s waist, pulling him closer. “Not really. But it’s starting to.”

They stood there in silence for a moment, the distant hum of the city below filling the air.

“Do you think we’re ready for this?” Sunoo asked softly, tilting his head up to look at him.

Sunghoon’s lips quirked into a small smile. “For living together?”

“For... all of it,” Sunoo replied, gesturing vaguely at the apartment. “The neighbors, the chaos, the grown-up stuff.”

Sunghoon pressed a gentle kiss to the top of Sunoo’s head. “If anyone can handle it, it’s us. You know why?”

“Why?” Sunoo asked, his voice curious.

“Because we’ve already survived ramen-only diets, all-nighters, and that time you tried to convince me to adopt a stray pigeon.”

Sunoo burst out laughing, smacking his chest lightly. “That pigeon liked me, okay? He had good taste!”

Sunghoon chuckled, his eyes soft. “We’ll be fine, Sunny. This is just another adventure. And besides…” He gestured toward the half-empty boxes and slightly crooked shelf Sunoo had insisted on assembling earlier. “We’re building this together. That’s what matters.”

Just as the moment settled into something warm and serene, a loud thud echoed from upstairs, followed by Ni-ki’s unmistakable voice:

“JUNGWON, HELP! THE CHAIR BROKE!”

From the hallway came Jungwon’s weary response: “What chair? You don’t own a chair!”

Sunghoon groaned, leaning his head against the window. “We should’ve moved into the boring, overpriced studio.”

Sunoo giggled, looping his arms around Sunghoon’s waist. “But then life wouldn’t be this interesting. Come on, Hoonie. Admit it—you’re already getting attached.”

Sunghoon looked down at him, feigning exasperation but unable to hide the affection in his eyes. “You’re impossible.”

“And you love me for it,” Sunoo said with a cheeky grin.

“Yeah,” Sunghoon replied softly, pulling him closer. “I really do.”

Despite the chaos lurking in every corner of Apartment 1009, Sunoo and Sunghoon were exactly where they were meant to be: together.

Chapter Text

It was a peaceful morning in Apartment 1009—or as peaceful as it could be, considering the thin walls and the faint sound of someone attempting to sing "Bohemian Rhapsody" down the hall.

Sunoo sat cross-legged on the couch, sketching out ideas for how to decorate their new space. “Hoonie,” he said, tapping his pencil against the notebook. “Do you think we should put fairy lights in the kitchen? Or is that too much?”

Sunghoon, sprawled on the other end of the couch with a cup of coffee, glanced over. “Fairy lights are fine. As long as you don’t cover every surface like you did in college.”

“That was aesthetic! ” Sunoo protested, throwing a pillow at him.

Sunghoon caught it easily, smirking. “It was a fire hazard.”

Before Sunoo could argue, a loud knock echoed through the apartment.

“Are we expecting someone?” Sunghoon asked, setting his coffee down.

“Nope,” Sunoo replied, hopping up to answer the door.

Standing on the other side was a man in an oversized blazer, a clipboard in one hand and a wide grin on his face.

“Good morning!” he announced, his voice overly cheerful. “On behalf of the Apartment 1009 Welcome Committee —which is just me—I cordially invite you to the Welcome Luncheon of the Century! ”

Sunoo blinked, then smiled. “Wow, a luncheon? That’s so sweet!”

Sunghoon appeared behind him, squinting at the flyer Heeseung shoved into Sunoo’s hands. “Why does this look like it was made in Microsoft Paint?”

“Because it was,” Heeseung replied proudly.

Heeseung stepped into their apartment without waiting for an invitation, holding the clipboard like it was a sacred relic. “Here’s the deal,” he began, pacing dramatically. “Every time someone new moves in, we throw a luncheon to make them feel at home. It’s a time-honored tradition!”

“How many times have you done this?” Sunghoon asked suspiciously.

Heeseung hesitated. “...Once.”

Sunoo laughed, leaning against the doorframe. “That’s still really thoughtful. What should we bring?”

“Whatever your heart desires!” Heeseung replied, spinning around to face them. “It’s potluck style, so the table will be a smorgasbord of flavors and chaos. Just how we like it.”

“Chaos?” Sunghoon repeated, raising an eyebrow.

“Oh, you’ll see,” Heeseung said cryptically. “Just make sure you’re there at noon. And bring an appetite!”

After Heeseung left, Sunoo closed the door and inspected the flyer. It featured clip art of balloons and a pixelated image of a pot of soup. Across the top, in bold Comic Sans, were the words:

“WELCOME, 1009! NO FOOD POISONING ALLOWED!”

Sunghoon frowned. “That’s... ominous.”

Sunoo giggled. “I think it’s cute. They’re trying.”

“They’re definitely something, ” Sunghoon muttered, taking the flyer and reading it aloud:

“Join us for the Welcome Luncheon of the Century! Bring a dish to share! Karaoke optional but encouraged! No refunds.” 

He paused. “Why does it say no refunds? Are we paying for this?”

“I think it’s a joke,” Sunoo said, still laughing. “Come on, Hoonie. It’ll be fun!”

Sunghoon sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Fine. But if Ni-ki gets anywhere near you, I’m leaving.”

“You’re so dramatic,” Sunoo teased, leaning up to kiss his cheek. “But that’s why I love you.”

Later that morning, Sunoo rummaged through their boxes for something easy to make. “We can’t show up empty-handed,” he said, holding up a cutting board like it was a trophy.

“We should’ve bought something from Mr. Shin’s store,” Sunghoon muttered, sitting at the counter with his coffee.

“That’s so impersonal,” Sunoo replied, laying out a rainbow of fruits. “A fruit platter is simple, fresh, and says, ‘We care, but we’re also practical.’”

“It says, ‘We don’t know how to cook,’” Sunghoon deadpanned.

“Do you want to help or just sit there judging me?” Sunoo asked, tossing a strawberry at him.

Sunghoon caught it, smirking. “Judging. Definitely judging.”

Despite his teasing, Sunghoon eventually helped Sunoo arrange the fruit on a platter, his competitive streak kicking in as he tried to outdo Sunoo’s meticulous designs.

At 11:45 a.m., they carried the fruit platter down to the lobby.

“Remember,” Sunghoon said as they approached the group already gathered, “no karaoke.”

“No promises,” Sunoo replied with a mischievous smile.

As they entered, Heeseung spotted them immediately and waved dramatically. “There they are! The guests of honor!”

The room fell quiet as all eyes turned toward them, and Sunghoon felt a sudden urge to run back upstairs. But Sunoo, ever the social butterfly, smiled brightly and said, “Hi, everyone! Thanks for having us!”

And with that, the chaos began.

By the time Sunoo and Sunghoon arrived in the lobby at 11:45 a.m., the space was buzzing with activity. Or, more accurately, chaotic disarray.

A long folding table was set up in the center, already half-covered with mismatched dishes ranging from intricately prepared meals to barely disguised convenience store buys. Paper plates and plastic cups were scattered around the room, and someone had taped balloons to the walls—though most of them were already sagging.

“Is that duct tape?” Sunghoon muttered, eyeing one balloon that was barely clinging to the wall.

Sunoo grinned. “It’s charming.”

The first person they noticed was Ni-ki, standing on a chair and struggling to hang a banner. “Hyung, hold this tighter!” he snapped, holding one end of the sign while Jungwon dutifully held the other.

“I am holding it,” Jungwon replied with the tone of someone who had reached their limit. “You’re the one making it crooked.”

“I’m creating movement, ” Ni-ki argued. “It’s called design.”

“It’s called lopsided,” Sunghoon muttered under his breath as they walked past.

Meanwhile, at the table, Jay and Jake were locked in a heated debate over their contribution: a plate of oversized sushi rolls.

“They’re supposed to be small and bite-sized!” Jay exclaimed, gesturing to the massive rolls Jake had assembled.

“They’re sushi burritos,” Jake replied with a shrug. “More filling, less effort.”

Jay ran a hand through his hair, visibly distressed. “No one asked for sushi burritos!”

Sunoo leaned closer to Sunghoon. “You think we should help?”

“Absolutely not,” Sunghoon said immediately.

Across the room, Heeseung was inspecting the table with the air of a food critic. He wore the same oversized blazer from earlier and had added a bow tie that was slightly askew.

“Excellent work, team!” he announced, clapping his hands. “This luncheon is shaping up to be a masterpiece. ”

“It’s shaping up to be a mess,” Sunghoon muttered.

Heeseung spotted them and waved enthusiastically. “Ah, our guests of honor! Welcome, welcome! Please place your contribution on the table of greatness.”

Sunoo set the fruit platter down carefully, arranging it just so. “What do you think?” he asked, stepping back to admire his work.

Heeseung tilted his head, squinting at the platter. “It’s… colorful. Like a Monet painting, but edible.”

Sunghoon raised an eyebrow. “Was that a compliment?”

“Absolutely,” Heeseung said with a wink.

As the setup continued, chaos inevitably followed:

Ni-ki, still perched on the chair, accidentally knocked over a tray of cookies. “Oops,” he said, brushing crumbs off his shirt. “Five-second rule!”

Jungwon sighed and quietly picked up the mess, muttering, “Why do I even bother?”

Jake managed to spill soy sauce all over the table while trying to open a packet with his teeth. “It’s fine!” he said, grabbing a paper towel. “Adds flavor.”

Jay groaned. “It adds a mess, you mean.”

Heeseung decided the table needed “more drama” and added a centerpiece made of three mismatched candles and a single artificial flower.

Sunoo watched the chaos with wide eyes, clearly amused. “This is... something.”

Sunghoon crossed his arms, scanning the room. “It’s a disaster.”

“A fun disaster,” Sunoo corrected, nudging him. “Come on, Hoonie. Don’t you think it’s kind of endearing?”

Sunghoon glanced at him, his expression softening. “Endearing isn’t the word I’d use, but if you’re happy, I’ll survive.”

Sunoo smiled, leaning into him briefly. “That’s the spirit.”

At precisely noon, the door to the convenience store opened, and Mr. Shin appeared, carrying a large pot. The room fell quiet as everyone turned to look at him.

“Is that kimchi jjigae?” Ni-ki asked, already salivating.

Mr. Shin placed the pot on the table with a quiet authority that made it clear this was the centerpiece of the meal. “Don’t ruin it,” he said simply before retreating to a corner to observe the chaos from a safe distance.

As the tenants gathered around the table, Heeseung clapped his hands again. “Alright, team! Lunchtime begins now! But first, a round of applause for our amazing new neighbors, Sunoo and Sunghoon!”

Everyone clapped, though Sunghoon noticed that Ni-ki’s applause was mostly directed at Sunoo.

“Let the madness begin,” Sunghoon muttered as they took their seats.

The luncheon began with Heeseung clapping his hands dramatically to grab everyone’s attention. “Alright before we feast, it’s time for the main event! A history lesson on our beloved home, Serenity Heights!”

Sunoo tilted his head curiously. “A history lesson?”

Sunghoon leaned over, muttering, “Please tell me he’s joking.”

He wasn’t.

Heeseung dragged a small projector out from behind a chair like a magician pulling a rabbit from a hat. “I’ve prepared a visual aid!” he declared, dimming the lights.

“What is happening?” Sunghoon whispered, already regretting leaving the apartment.

The projector whirred to life, and a PowerPoint presentation appeared on the wall. The first slide read:

“WELCOME TO SERENITY HEIGHTS: A HOME FOR LEGENDS, CHAOS, AND SOMETIMES PEST CONTROL”

Ni-ki squinted at the screen. “What’s with the pest control part?”

Heeseung waved him off. “We’re skipping that chapter.”

The next slide featured a blurry photo of the apartment building, with bold text that read:

“Built in the 1990s: When Good Decisions Went Out of Style.”

“This,” Heeseung began, gesturing dramatically at the screen, “is Serenity Heights in all its glory. Built during the era of slightly questionable architecture, it was originally named Shin Apartments after Mr. Shin’s father.”

All eyes turned to Mr. Shin, who was quietly eating in the corner. He didn’t even blink.

“But when I moved in six years ago,” Heeseung continued, puffing out his chest, “I realized this building needed a name that truly reflected its spirit.”

“And you chose Serenity? ” Sunghoon asked flatly.

“Of course!” Heeseung replied, clicking to the next slide.

The screen now displayed a pixelated photo of Heeseung posing in front of the building’s sign, wearing sunglasses and pointing dramatically at the camera.

“Serenity Heights,” he said proudly. “A name that symbolizes the calm of the surrounding neighborhood and the chaos of its tenants.”

Jake smirked. “So it’s ironic.”

“It’s visionary,” Heeseung shot back.

The next slide was a chaotic collage of photos:

The Tenants Who Made History

• Jungwon, mid-yawn, holding a mop in one hand and a coffee in the other.
• Ni-ki asleep in a laundry basket, a bag of chips balanced on his chest.
• Jay glaring at Jake, who was tossing eggs in the air like juggling balls.
• A mystery figure wearing a banana costume standing on the roof (Heeseung refused to elaborate).

“These,” Heeseung declared, pointing at the screen with his mic, “are the legends who make Serenity Heights what it is today.”

“Legends?” Jay asked, arching an eyebrow.

“Icons,” Heeseung corrected, gesturing toward his own photo. “Especially me.”

The following slide featured an animated GIF of sparkles and confetti. Underneath it, bullet points read:

Why Serenity Heights is the Best

• “Close proximity to Mr. Shin’s world-famous kimchi jjigae.”
• “Complimentary karaoke therapy.”
• “Occasional ghost sightings for added drama.”

“Ghost sightings?” Sunghoon asked skeptically, glancing at Sunoo.

“They’re just rumors,” Heeseung said with a wave of his hand. “Totally unconfirmed.”

From the corner, Mr. Shin muttered, “You don’t want confirmation.”

Heeseung clicked to a slide titled “Fun Facts! ” with a cartoon of a dancing apartment building.

• “This building survived three small earthquakes, two rooftop parties gone wrong, and one very angry landlord in 2018.”
• “Ni-ki once set off the fire alarm by trying to make toast with a hairdryer.”

“That was one time!” Ni-ki shouted.

“And you’re still banned from using kitchen appliances,” Jungwon added with a sigh.

As Heeseung clicked to the final PowerPoint slide, adorned with sparkles, balloons, and the bold text “WELCOME, SUNOO AND SUNGHOON! YOU’RE ONE OF US NOW!” , the room erupted into applause—led, of course, by Heeseung himself.

“Thank you, thank you!” Heeseung said, bowing dramatically. “And now, before we move on to the next part of the program, are there any questions? Comments? Compliments about my artistic vision?”

Sunghoon muttered, “Why didn’t we eat before this?” earning a quiet laugh from Sunoo.

Sunoo, ever curious, raised his hand. “I do have a question!”

Heeseung grinned, gesturing grandly. “Yes, Sunoo, our newest ray of sunshine! What’s on your mind?”

Sunoo hesitated for a moment, glancing at Sunghoon before asking, “So… if there are only six units in the building, why is our apartment number 1009? Shouldn’t it be something like 201 or 301?”

The room went silent.

“That’s a good question,” Jungwon said, looking thoughtful.

“I’ve been wondering that too,” Jake chimed in, leaning back in his chair.

Heeseung’s confident expression faltered for a moment before he waved his hand dismissively. “Ah, well, that’s… part of the building’s mystique! ”

Jay raised an eyebrow. “Mystique? Or bad planning?”

Ni-ki perked up. “What if it’s haunted? Maybe there used to be nine floors, and they disappeared mysteriously!”

“Or,” Jungwon cut in, “it’s just a numbering mistake.”

“You’re no fun,” Ni-ki grumbled.

Heeseung cleared his throat, redirecting attention back to himself. “Actually, the real reason is… uh…” He turned to Mr. Shin, his voice trailing off. “Mr. Shin, care to enlighten us?”

All eyes shifted to Mr. Shin, who was seated in his usual spot, quietly eating. He didn’t look up.

“It’s none of your business,” he said bluntly, taking another bite of his kimchi jjigae.

The tenants blinked, taken aback, before Ni-ki leaned over to whisper to Sunoo, “That definitely means it’s haunted.”

“It’s not haunted,” Jungwon sighed.

Sunghoon, unimpressed, stood and began stacking plates. “Great. Mystery solved. Can we eat now?”

Sunoo giggled, leaning into him as they walked toward the food table. “I think it’s kind of fun. It makes our apartment feel… special.”

Sunghoon smirked. “Special is one word for it.”

After the dramatic conclusion of Heeseung’s PowerPoint presentation, he clapped his hands with enthusiasm. “Now, everyone! We move on to the second most important part of today’s program: the Official Getting to Know You Segment!”

“Another program?” Sunghoon asked under his breath, his arms crossed.

Sunoo nudged him gently. “It’s cute! Let’s see what they’re all about.”

Heeseung spun his karaoke mic like a baton. “Alright, here’s how this works! Name, birthday, age, where you’re from, what you do, something quirky, how you ended up in Serenity Heights, and, of course, your first impression of our new lovebirds.” He gestured dramatically toward Sunoo and Sunghoon, who suddenly found themselves under the spotlight.

Ni-ki shot up before anyone else could move, grinning like he’d just won the lottery.

“I’ll go first!” Ni-ki announced, bouncing on his toes. “I’m Nishimura Riki, but everyone calls me Ni-ki. I’m 21, born on December 9th, and I’m from Okayama, Japan.”

“International!” Sunoo said with a bright smile.

Ni-ki beamed. “Exactly. I came to Korea for school, but then I realized my true calling: becoming a world-famous streamer and breaking up certain couples.” He winked at Sunoo, who smiled awkwardly.

“And how’s that going?” Sunghoon asked dryly.

Ni-ki ignored him. “As for how I ended up here, I Googled ‘cheap apartments near food,’ and this place popped up. It was fate!”

“What’s your quirky fact?” Heeseung prompted.

Ni-ki grinned proudly. “A quirky fact about me? Well, I have a refined appreciation for all things cute.”

Jungwon sighed. “He hoards plushies.”

Ni-ki ignored him, continuing with a mischievous glint in his eye. “But my collection isn’t just about things. Cute people are part of my aesthetic, too.”

Sunoo blinked in surprise as Ni-ki leaned slightly in his direction, hands clasped behind his back. “For example, if Sunshine here was a plushie, I’d put him on the top shelf of my collection. Front and center.”

The room erupted into laughter, with Sunoo blushing and Sunghoon narrowing his eyes slightly.

“You mean Sunoo would be collecting dust,” Sunghoon said flatly.

Ni-ki gasped, clutching his chest. “Excuse me, sir. I dust my plushies weekly. ”

Sunoo laughed nervously, waving his hands. “I think that’s enough quirky facts from you, Ni-ki.”

Ni-ki turned to Sunoo with a dazzling smile. “First impressions? Sunoo hyung is sunshine in human form, and Sunghoon hyung is…” He tilted his head dramatically. “Well, tall.”

“That’s all?” Sunghoon asked, raising an eyebrow.

Ni-ki shrugged. “You don’t give me much to work with.”

Jungwon stood next, bowing politely. “I’m Yang Jungwon. I’m 22, born on February 9th, and I’m from Ilsan.”

Sunoo perked up. “That’s not far from where I grew up!”

Jungwon offered a small smile. “It’s a nice place. I’m a student and work part-time at a vet clinic. How I ended up here? My old apartment was overpriced, and this one’s cheap and close to campus.”

Heeseung leaned in. “And your quirky fact?”

Jungwon glanced at Ni-ki, his expression deadpan. “I babysit him every day. That’s enough quirkiness for a lifetime.”

Ni-ki rolled his eyes. “I’m independent!”

“Sure,” Jungwon replied, his tone flat.

“What about your first impression of the new tenants?” Jake asked.

“Sunoo hyung seems kind and approachable,” Jungwon said thoughtfully. “And Sunghoon hyung… looks like he’s plotting his escape.”

Sunghoon smirked. “Accurate.”

Jake leaned back casually, raising a hand. “Sim Jaeyun here, but everyone calls me Jake. I’m 24, born on November 15th, and I’m from Brisbane, Australia.”

“Wow, from Australia?” Sunoo exclaimed, his eyes wide.

Jake grinned. “Yep, I came to Korea for college and never left. I’m a freelance English tutor and photographer, so if you ever need help with grammar or want a killer Instagram post, I’m your guy.”

“And your quirky fact?” Heeseung asked.

“I once ate an entire watermelon in one sitting for a bet,” Jake admitted. “Never doing that again.”

Sunoo laughed, but Sunghoon looked skeptical. “That and that you put ketchup in everything,” Jay added from the sidelines.

Jake ignored him. “How did I end up here?” Jake shrugged. “This place was cheap, and the tenants provide free entertainment.”

“And your first impression of us, hyung?” Sunoo asked.

Jake smiled. “Sunoo, you’re sweet. Sunghoon has mysterious-but-scary energy.”

“Scary?” Sunghoon repeated.

Jake chuckled. “In a good way!”

Jay stood next, adjusting his shirt. “I’m Park Jongseong, but Jay works fine. I’m 24 as well, born on April 20th, and I’m from Seoul.”

“And?” Heeseung prompted.

“I’m a professional sous-chef,” Jay said matter-of-factly. “I make actual food, unlike some people.” He shot a pointed look at Ni-ki.

Ni-ki huffed. “Ramen is food.”

“What’s your quirky fact?”

Jay sighed. “I hate pineapple on pizza but love pineapple fried rice.”

Jake gasped. “You’re a hypocrite.”

Jay ignored him. “I moved here because my old landlord evicted me for hosting cooking classes. This place doesn’t ask questions.”

“What about us?” Sunghoon asked, smirking slightly.

Jay raised an eyebrow. “Sunoo’s bubbly, and Sunghoon… looks like he’s questioning every decision that led him here.”

Heeseung twirled the mic dramatically. “I’m Lee Heeseung, the eldest here at 25. Born October 15th in Daegu, the city of dreams.”

“What do you do, hyung?” Sunoo asked, already smiling.

“I’m a freelance wedding planner and karaoke enthusiast,” Heeseung replied with a wink.

“And your quirk?”

“I once planned a wedding in 48 hours. It was chaotic, but it looked fabulous.”

“How’d you find this place?” Sunghoon asked.

Heeseung cleared his throat dramatically. “Ah, how I ended up here? A tale as old as time!”

“Don’t exaggerate,” Jay muttered, earning a pointed glare from Heeseung.

“Fine,” Heeseung conceded, tossing his mic to Jake, who caught it midair. “It all started six years ago when I was fresh out of high school, brimming with ambition but lacking... funds.”

Ni-ki squinted. “So, broke?”

Heeseung ignored the interruption. “The building spoke to me—literally, because Mr. Shin was yelling at someone outside when I first visited. It had character. It had potential. It had... me. ”

“And now we’re stuck with him,” Jay said dryly, earning a chorus of chuckles.

“But you love it,” Heeseung quipped, flashing a smug smile. “In fact, I’m proud to say I was the second tenant here after Mr. Shin, which makes me the foundation of this building’s legacy.”

“So basically,” Sunghoon concluded, “you moved here because it was cheap.”

Heeseung gasped, clutching his chest. “How dare you boil down my grand journey to such a mundane point!”

Sunoo laughed, patting Heeseung’s shoulder. “It’s okay, Heeseung-hyung. We all know you’re the heart of this building.”

Heeseung smiled brightly. “Finally, someone who understands my brilliance!”

Everyone turned to Mr. Shin, who remained seated, quietly eating.

“Your turn, Mr. Shin!” Heeseung called.

Mr. Shin glanced up. “Shin. You don’t have to know my age or my first name or my birthday. Convenience store owner.”

“And?”

“I make the best kimchi jjigae in Seoul,” he said simply, then returned to his meal.

As the other tenants finished their introductions, all eyes turned to the newest members of Serenity Heights.

“You’re up, lovebirds!” Heeseung said with a flourish, waving the microphone toward Sunoo and Sunghoon.

Sunoo stood first, flashing his signature bright smile. “Hi, everyone! I’m Kim Sunoo. I’m 23, and my birthday is June 24th.”

“That makes you a Cancer,” Ni-ki piped up, earning a few groans from around the table. “What? Astrology is important!”

Sunoo laughed. “I grew up in Suwon and just started working as a creative for a lifestyle magazine here in Seoul. I’m really into poetry, reading, and taking care of my plants. I even name them—my favorite is Mr. Sprout.”

Ni-ki nearly melted. “That’s the cutest thing I’ve ever heard.”

“Mr. Sprout would be horrified to hear that,” Sunghoon muttered, his arms crossed, but there was the faintest smile on his lips.

“Okay, Hoonie, your turn!” Sunoo said cheerfully, sitting back down and nudging Sunghoon to stand.

Sunghoon sighed but complied, standing with an air of reluctance. “I’m Park Sunghoon. I’m 24, born December 8th, and I’ve lived in Seoul my whole life.”

“And what do you do?” Heeseung prompted, leaning forward like a talk show host.

“I work at a daycare,” Sunghoon replied, his tone calm and steady.

This revelation caused a brief silence, followed by a burst of disbelief.

“You?” Ni-ki blurted out, eyes wide. “With kids?”

Sunghoon raised an eyebrow. “Why not?”

“You just don’t seem... the type,” Jungwon said diplomatically.

Sunghoon smirked faintly. “The kids think I’m cool. They call me Hoonie-hyung.”

“That’s terrifying,” Ni-ki muttered.

Sunoo laughed, leaning forward to explain. “He’s really great with kids, actually. He’s patient, and they love him.”

Sunghoon glanced at him, his expression softening. “I have my moments.”

“And what’s your quirky fact?” Jake asked, grinning. “You have to share something interesting.”

Sunghoon tilted his head, thinking for a moment. “I once got stuck in a jungle gym for two hours because I was trying to retrieve a kid’s shoe.”

The room erupted into laughter, even Sunoo covering his mouth to stifle his giggles.

“You? Stuck in a jungle gym?” Jay said, clearly enjoying the mental image.

“It was a tight space,” Sunghoon defended, though his ears turned slightly pink. “Anyway, the kid got his shoe back.”

“Alright,” Heeseung said, tapping the mic. “You’ve heard what we all think of you. What are your first impressions of us?”

Sunoo tilted his head, smiling at the room. “Everyone seems so unique and lively. I can already tell this place is going to be so much fun. Thank you all for welcoming us!”

“Very diplomatic,” Jake teased. “And Sunghoon? What do you think of us?”

Sunghoon leaned back slightly, his gaze scanning the room. “It’s… chaotic.”

“Chaotic in a good way?” Ni-ki asked hopefully.

Sunghoon smirked. “We’ll see.”

As they sat back down, Sunoo leaned closer to Sunghoon, whispering, “You’re fitting in better than you think.”

Sunghoon glanced at the tenants—Ni-ki sneaking food from Jay’s plate, Jake and Heeseung bickering about the karaoke mic, and Mr. Shin watching it all with quiet amusement. Finally, he turned back to Sunoo, his expression softening.

“I’ll admit,” he murmured, “it’s… interesting.”

Sunoo giggled, resting his head briefly on Sunghoon’s shoulder. “That’s Hoonie-code for ‘I like it.’”

Sunghoon didn’t reply, but his small smile said enough.

As everyone busied themselves with grabbing plates and food, Sunoo noticed Sunghoon standing off to the side, his arms crossed and his usual neutral expression in place.

“Hoonie,” Sunoo called softly, walking over to him.

Sunghoon glanced at him, his gaze immediately softening. “What?”

Sunoo held up a plate of carefully selected food—mostly items Sunghoon liked. “I made this for you. I know you’re picky about what you eat.”

A small smile tugged at Sunghoon’s lips as he took the plate. “Thanks, Sunny.”

Sunoo beamed. “You’re welcome. And try to look like you’re having fun, okay? People might think you don’t like them.”

“I don’t,” Sunghoon said, but there was no bite in his tone.

Sunoo rolled his eyes playfully. “You like me, though.”

Sunghoon smirked, leaning down to murmur in his ear. “That’s all that matters.”

Sunoo’s cheeks flushed as he swatted Sunghoon’s arm. “Stop being cute. People are staring.”

“Let them,” Sunghoon replied, his smirk widening.

As if on cue, Ni-ki appeared, sliding between them with the finesse of a cartoon character.

“Wow, look at you two,” Ni-ki said, smirking at Sunghoon. “All lovey-dovey. Must be nice.”

“It is,” Sunghoon replied immediately, slipping an arm around Sunoo’s waist. “Thanks for noticing.”

Ni-ki glared at him, but Sunoo, ever the peacekeeper, laughed nervously. “Ni-ki, have you eaten yet? You’ve been running around all afternoon.”

“I don’t need food,” Ni-ki declared dramatically. “I run on pure charm.”

Sunghoon muttered under his breath, “That explains a lot.”

As everyone began to eat, Ni-ki suddenly jumped up. “Sunoo hyung! You can’t eat without a proper drink!”

Sunoo blinked in surprise. “Oh, that’s really not—”

But Ni-ki was already racing toward the drinks table, where a precarious pitcher of orange juice sat. “Allow me to pour for you!” he declared, grabbing the pitcher with exaggerated flair.

“Ni-ki, don’t—” Jungwon began, but it was too late.

Ni-ki attempted to pour the juice with one hand while holding a glass in the other, but the lid wasn’t on properly. Juice spilled everywhere, drenching the table, Jake’s sushi burritos, and, unfortunately, Sunghoon’s lap.

“Great,” Sunghoon muttered, standing up and glaring at Ni-ki. “This is exactly what I wanted—sticky pants.”

Ni-ki held up the empty pitcher, smiling sheepishly. “I think the table’s thirsty.”

Sunoo stifled a laugh, grabbing napkins to help clean up. “It’s fine! Accidents happen.”

Ni-ki beamed. “See? Sunoo hyung understands me.”

“Do it again, and you’ll really understand accidents,” Sunghoon muttered darkly, wiping his jeans.

Determined to recover from the juice incident, Ni-ki grabbed his tray of slightly crushed cookies and placed them in front of Sunoo with a flourish.

“Sunoo hyung,” he said, leaning in with a conspiratorial grin, “try one of these. I picked them out myself. They’re the best in Seoul.”

Sunoo picked up a cookie, smiling politely. “They look great. Thanks, Ni-ki.”

But before he could take a bite, Ni-ki stopped him. “Wait! Let’s make it fun. I challenge you to a cookie-eating contest!”

Jungwon groaned, massaging his temples. “Please don’t.”

“A contest?” Sunoo asked, intrigued.

“Exactly! Whoever eats the most cookies in one minute wins!” Ni-ki exclaimed, sitting across from him and grabbing a handful of cookies.

“Ni-ki, no one cares,” Jungwon muttered.

“I care!” Ni-ki shot back, pointing at Sunghoon. “You can be the referee.”

Sunghoon folded his arms. “Hard pass.”

Sunoo laughed, humoring him. “Alright, fine. Let’s do it.”

The countdown began, and Ni-ki started stuffing cookies into his mouth at record speed, crumbs flying everywhere. Sunoo, on the other hand, nibbled politely on one cookie, watching Ni-ki’s chaotic display with amusement.

Sunghoon leaned over to whisper to Sunoo. “Are you really humoring him?”

Sunoo grinned. “It’s funny. Besides, he’s harmless.”

As Ni-ki nearly choked on his sixth cookie, Sunghoon sighed and passed Sunoo a napkin. “Make sure he doesn’t die. I’m not cleaning up after him.”

Sunoo giggled, “You’re so grumpy today, Hoonie.”

Sunghoon’s lips twitched into a small smile. “Maybe. But you still like me.”

Sunoo leaned into him slightly, his voice soft. “I don’t just like you. I love you.”

Sunghoon turned to him, his eyes warm. “I know.”

By the time the timer ran out, Ni-ki had crumbs all over his shirt, a slightly dazed look in his eyes, and only one thing to say: “I win, Sunoo hyung. You now have to grant me one wish.”

Sunghoon rolled his eyes. “You also lost dignity, but sure.”

As the luncheon finally wound down, Ni-ki leaned toward Jungwon and whispered, “I think Sunoo hyung’s impressed.”

Jungwon stared at him blankly. “Sure. If by impressed you mean mildly traumatized.”

After the food had been devoured (and the sushi burritos debated to death), Heeseung clapped his hands dramatically to get everyone’s attention.

“Ladies, gentlemen, and esteemed tenants of Serenity Heights,” he began, spinning a microphone in his hand. “It’s time for the grand finale of our welcome luncheon—the moment you’ve all been waiting for… karaoke! ”

Sunghoon groaned quietly, leaning toward Sunoo. “This is exactly what I didn’t want to happen.”

Sunoo giggled, nudging him playfully. “Come on, Hoonie. It might be fun.”

“Fun for you, maybe,” Sunghoon muttered. “For me, it’s a nightmare.”

Before Sunghoon could retreat, Heeseung pointed the mic at him like a laser beam. “No escaping, Park Sunghoon! Participation is mandatory.”

“I’ll pass,” Sunghoon replied, folding his arms.

“No one passes on Heeseung’s karaoke,” Heeseung declared, then turned to Sunoo. “But surely our ray of sunshine will grace us with a song!”

Sunoo blushed. “Oh, I don’t know…”

“Please, Sunoo hyung!” Ni-ki piped up, clasping his hands together dramatically. “You have the perfect voice for it!”

Sunghoon narrowed his eyes. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Ni-ki blinked innocently. “It means Sunoo hyung is great at everything, of course.”

“Right,” Sunghoon replied flatly. “Of course.”

Jungwon sighed, pulling Ni-ki back to his seat. “You’re not helping.”

Before Sunoo could be coerced into singing, Jake grabbed the mic. “Alright, I’m up! But I need a partner.”

“No,” Jay said immediately, backing away.

“Yes!” Jake countered, dragging him toward the front. “Come on, Jay. We’re a team.”

“I hate this already,” Jay muttered as Jake scrolled through the karaoke machine’s song list.

“We’re doing I Want It That Way ,” Jake announced confidently.

Jay groaned but reluctantly took the second mic. As the iconic opening notes began to play, Jake enthusiastically threw an arm around Jay’s shoulders.

“You are… my fire!” Jake belted out, pointing dramatically at the crowd.

Jay sighed, clearly resigned to his fate. “The one… desire…”

By the time they hit the chorus, Jake was dancing around the room, pointing at each tenant like they were his adoring fans. Jay, on the other hand, stood still, glaring at the lyrics on the screen as if they had personally wronged him.

“Tell me why!” Jake yelled, holding the mic out to Sunoo.

“Tell me why!” Sunoo sang back with a laugh, his voice blending with Jake’s.

Sunghoon smirked, watching the chaos unfold. “This is painful.”

“It’s iconic,” Sunoo corrected, clapping along.

Not to be outdone, Ni-ki snatched the mic as soon as the song ended. “My turn! And I’m dedicating this one to Sunoo hyung!”

Sunghoon stiffened. “No.”

“Yes,” Ni-ki said firmly, scrolling through the song list. He finally settled on Call Me Maybe by Carly Rae Jepsen.

As the upbeat tune started, Ni-ki began singing with exaggerated flair, pointing at Sunoo with every line.

“Hey, I just met you, and this is crazy! But here’s my number, so call me maybe!”

Sunoo laughed so hard he had to cover his mouth. “Ni-ki, stop!”

“I’ll never stop!” Ni-ki declared, twirling dramatically.

Meanwhile, Jungwon buried his face in his hands. “I don’t know him.”

By the time the song ended, Ni-ki had somehow managed to slide across the floor on his knees, finishing with a dramatic bow. The room erupted into applause—mostly led by Heeseung, who was laughing so hard he was clutching his sides.

“You’re a menace,” Sunghoon muttered as Ni-ki returned to his seat, looking smug.

“A lovable menace,” Ni-ki replied.

Finally, after much coaxing, Sunoo agreed to take the mic. “But only if Hoonie comes with me!” he announced, grabbing Sunghoon’s hand.

“No way,” Sunghoon protested, digging his heels in. “Not happening.”

“Hoonie,” Sunoo said softly, looking up at him with wide, pleading eyes. “For me?”

Sunghoon sighed, already defeated. “Fine. But don’t expect me to sing.”

As Sunoo selected Can’t Help Falling in Love by Elvis Presley, the room quieted, the soft melody filling the air. Sunoo’s voice was gentle and sweet as he began to sing, his eyes fixed on Sunghoon the entire time.

“Wise men say, only fools rush in… but I can’t help falling in love with you.”

Sunghoon’s expression softened as he listened, his usual stoic demeanor melting away. By the time Sunoo reached the chorus, the room was silent, everyone watching the couple with quiet smiles.

When the song ended, Sunoo handed the mic back to Heeseung and turned to Sunghoon. “See? That wasn’t so bad.”

Sunghoon’s lips quirked into a small smile. “It wasn’t. You were amazing.”

Heeseung broke the moment with a loud cheer. “Give it up for our new tenants!”

The other tenants applauded, and even Sunghoon couldn’t help but feel a little warmth as Sunoo leaned into him, his bright smile lighting up the room.

As the chaos began to wrap up, Sunghoon stood off to the side, stacking empty plates to bring to the sink. He liked keeping himself busy—it was easier than engaging with the whirlwind of personalities surrounding him.

“Hyung,” came a quiet voice from behind.

Sunghoon turned to find Jungwon standing there, looking slightly embarrassed, his hands shoved into his hoodie pockets.

“Need something?” Sunghoon asked, his tone neutral but not unkind.

Jungwon hesitated, glancing over his shoulder at Ni-ki, who was currently trying to convince Sunoo to participate in an impromptu karaoke duet.

“Uh, yeah. I just wanted to, you know, apologize,” Jungwon said finally, scratching the back of his neck.

“For what?”

Jungwon gestured vaguely toward Ni-ki. “For... that. ”

Sunghoon followed his gaze, watching as Ni-ki dramatically dropped to one knee in front of Sunoo, clutching a karaoke mic like a bouquet of roses.

Sunghoon sighed. “I’ve been meaning to ask—does he come with an off button?”

Jungwon cracked a small smile. “Unfortunately, no. Trust me, I’ve tried to find it.”

Jungwon shifted awkwardly before continuing, “Look, Ni-ki’s... a lot, I know. But he’s not trying to be annoying on purpose. He’s just... like that.”

“Obsessed with my boyfriend?” Sunghoon asked flatly, raising an eyebrow.

Jungwon winced. “Okay, fair. But it’s not really like that. Ni-ki’s... fond of cute things, right? And Sunoo’s like, the ultimate cute person. So naturally, Ni-ki’s drawn to him. He has this giant bear he calls Sir Snugglesworth. Sunoo hyung probably just gives him the same vibe.”

For a moment, Sunghoon just stared, trying to reconcile the image of Ni-ki—the loud, chaotic, self-proclaimed “star” of the building—with someone who cuddled a bear named Sir Snugglesworth.

“That’s... unexpected,” Sunghoon admitted, his lips twitching upward.

Jungwon shrugged. “That’s Ni-ki. Unexpected in every way.”

There was a brief silence before Jungwon added, “I’ll try to keep him in check, though. I know he can be a bit much.”

Sunghoon glanced at him, noticing the genuine concern in Jungwon’s eyes.

“You don’t have to apologize for him,” Sunghoon said finally, his tone softer. “He’s harmless. Annoying, but harmless.”

Jungwon chuckled. “Annoying is his natural state.”

Sunghoon smirked. “At least you know what you’re dealing with.”

Jungwon hesitated again before speaking. “For what it’s worth, I think it’s cool that you and Sunoo hyung moved in together. You seem... solid.”

Sunghoon raised an eyebrow. “You sound surprised.”

“No, not surprised,” Jungwon clarified quickly. “Just... I don’t know. It’s nice to see a couple that actually works. Ni-ki and I... we’re not exactly the poster children for harmony.”

Sunghoon glanced back at Ni-ki, who was now dramatically fake-crying after Sunoo refused to sing a duet with him. “You must have the patience of a saint.”

Jungwon laughed softly. “More like the patience of someone who’s in too deep to leave.”

Sunghoon nodded, recognizing the hint of affection behind Jungwon’s words. “Well, for what it’s worth, you’re doing a good job keeping him grounded. He could probably use more people like you in his life.”

Jungwon blinked, startled by the compliment. “Uh... thanks.”

As Jungwon turned to leave, Sunghoon added, “Oh, and Jungwon?”

Jungwon paused, glancing back.

“If Ni-ki calls Sunoo ‘cute’ one more time, I might accidentally drop a plate near his head,” Sunghoon said, his expression unreadable.

Jungwon snorted, his lips curving into a rare, genuine smile. “Noted. I’ll keep him on a leash.”

“Good,” Sunghoon replied, the faintest hint of amusement in his tone.

As the tenants cleaned up the remnants of the luncheon, Sunoo found himself next to Heeseung, who was folding a tablecloth with dramatic flair.

“Your job sounds so fun, hyung,” Sunoo said, smiling. “Wedding planning must be magical.”

Heeseung sighed wistfully. “It is —but only when the bride’s not threatening to cancel the wedding because the cake wasn’t gluten-free enough.”

Sunoo blinked. “Is that… a real story?”

Heeseung nodded solemnly. “Oh, absolutely. I once had to talk a groom out of hiding in the restroom five minutes before the ceremony. Love is chaos, Sunoo.”

“That explains this building,” Sunoo teased, earning a laugh from Heeseung.

Ni-ki plopped down next to Jake, who was fiddling with his camera.

“Hey, Jake hyung, you should take pictures of me for my streaming profile,” Ni-ki said, grinning.

Jake raised an eyebrow. “You stream games, not model on runways.”

“Why not both?” Ni-ki replied, striking a dramatic pose. “Come on, it’ll boost my brand.”

Jake snorted. “Your brand? What are you, a bag of chips?”

“Chips sell, Jake hyung,” Ni-ki quipped.

Across the room, Sunghoon leaned against the wall next to Mr. Shin, who quietly sipped a bowl of his kimchi jjigae.

“You’ve lived here a while, right?” Sunghoon asked, watching as Jake attempted to balance three plates and failed spectacularly.

Mr. Shin nodded. “Long enough.”

“Is it always like this?” Sunghoon gestured to the group, where Ni-ki was trying to convince Jay to try one of his “new gaming snacks.”

“This?” Mr. Shin said, smirking slightly. “This is a calm day.”

Sunghoon’s lips twitched. “Good to know.”

Jungwon, carrying a stack of napkins, approached Sunoo, who was rearranging leftover fruit on a plate.

“Sunoo hyung,” Jungwon said. “You mentioned you like plants earlier. What kind do you have?”

“Oh, all sorts!” Sunoo replied, brightening. “I have succulents, pothos, a fiddle-leaf fig—”

“Fiddle-leaf figs are hard to keep alive,” Jungwon interjected, genuinely impressed.

“I know, but Hoonie helps me water it when I forget,” Sunoo said with a laugh.

Jungwon smirked. “So, you’re the collector, and he’s the caretaker?”

“Exactly,” Sunoo said, glancing fondly at Sunghoon across the room. “We’re a team.”

Jay, wiping down the table, called out to Sunghoon, “So, daycare, huh? What’s your specialty? Crayon art?”

Sunghoon smirked. “Actually, I make a mean macaroni necklace.”

Jay laughed. “I’ll have to hire you as my sous chef. You can prep the noodles.”

“As long as you don’t add ketchup to it,” Sunghoon shot back, earning a loud groan from Jake across the room.

Heeseung leaned over to Jungwon, who was stacking empty cups.

“So, on a scale of one to ten, how traumatized do you think the new tenants are?” Heeseung asked.

Jungwon shrugged. “Sunoo hyung? Zero. He’s loving it. Sunghoon hyung? Probably seven. He looks like he’s calculating how much rent they’d lose if they moved out tomorrow.”

Heeseung chuckled. “Eh, he’ll come around. Everyone does. Eventually.”

As they made their way back to their apartment, Sunoo glanced at Sunghoon, his heart swelling with gratitude. “You know what? I think we’re going to love it here.”

Sunghoon glanced at the mismatched tenants—Ni-ki balancing cookies on his face as he walked towards their door, Jungwon keeping him from tripping and guiding him away from the walls, Jake and Jay debating soy sauce ratios and misheard song lyrics, and Heeseung enthusiastically commentating on the passion of their debate using his wireless karaoke mic.

He sighed, slipping his hand into Sunoo’s. “Yeah. Maybe we will.”

Chapter Text

The fluorescent lights in the Serenity Heights laundry room buzzed faintly as Jungwon trudged in with his laundry basket. It was late in the evening—prime time for avoiding Ni-ki’s commentary about how his clothes didn’t match.

Jungwon yawned as he approached the washing machines, his hoodie strings swinging lazily. He was halfway through loading his laundry when a soft noise caught his attention.

It was a low murmur, followed by a hushed laugh.

Jungwon froze. His instincts screamed at him to turn around and leave, but curiosity got the better of him. Slowly, cautiously, he peered around the corner.

What he saw would haunt him forever.

Sunoo was pressed up against the wall, his hands tangled in Sunghoon’s hair as they kissed like their lives depended on it. Sunghoon’s arms were wrapped tightly around Sunoo’s waist, pulling him closer with a kind of desperation that screamed we forgot we’re in a shared space.

Jungwon stood there, his eyes wide, unable to process the scene before him.

“Oh my god,” he whispered, louder than he intended.

Sunoo and Sunghoon broke apart instantly, Sunoo’s face flushed with embarrassment while Sunghoon’s expression shifted into one of mild annoyance.

“Jungwon!” Sunoo exclaimed, his voice high-pitched with panic.

“Why?” Jungwon asked, still frozen in place. “Why here? Why now? WHY ME?”

Sunghoon raised an eyebrow, unfazed. “You should’ve knocked.”

“This is a common area! ” Jungwon shot back, his voice cracking.

Sunoo buried his face in his hands. “We didn’t think anyone would come down this late!”

“Well, I did,” Jungwon snapped, backing toward the door with his laundry basket. “And now I need therapy. Thanks for that.”

“We’re sorry!” Sunoo called after him as Jungwon fled the room, muttering something about bleach and burning his retinas.

As the door slammed shut, Sunoo turned to Sunghoon, his face still red. “We’re never coming back here again.”

Sunghoon smirked, leaning down to kiss his forehead. “You say that now.”

Sunoo groaned, covering his face again. “Hoonie!”

The morning after “the incident,” Jungwon avoided the lobby like it was cursed. When he did run into Sunoo and Sunghoon in the hallway on his way out for errands, his reaction was... dramatic.

“Morning, Jungwon!” Sunoo said brightly, trying to act normal.

Jungwon’s head snapped up like a deer caught in headlights. He froze mid-step, his grocery bags swaying dangerously in his hands.

“Oh,” Jungwon said stiffly. “Hi.”

Before Sunoo could say more, Jungwon pivoted on his heel and practically sprinted to the stairwell, mumbling something about a delivery.

Sunoo turned to Sunghoon, his expression filled with guilt. “He hates us.”

“He doesn’t hate us,” Sunghoon replied, flipping through his mail.

“Did you see how he looked at us?” Sunoo pressed, gesturing wildly. “It’s like we personally traumatized him!”

Sunghoon smirked. “We kind of did.”

Sunoo groaned, clutching his forehead. “This is bad. What if he tells everyone? What if we become those neighbors?”

Sunghoon shrugged. “You mean the ones who keep things interesting? Sounds like a compliment.”

“Hoonie,” Sunoo whined, tugging on his arm.

“I’m kidding,” Sunghoon said, leaning down to kiss his temple. “Relax. He’ll get over it.”

Over the next few days, Jungwon went to increasingly ridiculous lengths to avoid the couple.

In the lobby, he darted behind a potted plant when he spotted Sunoo walking in. Unfortunately, his grocery bag snagged on the plant’s leaves, causing a small cascade of oranges to roll across the floor.

“Jungwon?” Sunoo called, rushing over to help.

Jungwon popped up from behind the plant, his face red. “I’m fine! Totally fine! Bye!”

And he bolted before Sunoo could hand him his runaway fruit.

Later, during a casual tenant gathering in the hallway, Sunoo tried to engage Jungwon in conversation, only for him to excuse himself abruptly.

“I just remembered—I left the stove on!” Jungwon said, despite holding a cup of iced coffee.

Sunoo turned to Sunghoon as Jungwon practically fled the scene. “See? He’s avoiding me!”

Sunghoon, leaning casually against the wall, smirked. “Avoiding us. ”

“That’s worse!” Sunoo cried, pacing in frustration. “How am I supposed to fix this?”

After "the incident," Jungwon swore to himself he wouldn’t speak of it ever again. But the weight of his trauma proved too much to bear, and by the third day, he found himself sitting across from Heeseung in the convenience store gripping his iced coffee like it was the only thing keeping him attached to reality.

Heeseung, sensing something juicy, leaned forward with a conspiratorial grin. “So, what’s got you looking like you just saw a ghost?”

Jungwon hesitated, his eyes darting toward Mr. Shin, who stood at the counter, quietly rearranging cigarette boxes. “You can’t tell anyone, hyung.”

Heeseung crossed his heart with mock sincerity. “Scout’s honor.”

Jungwon sighed deeply, staring into the swirling ice in his cup as if it held the secrets of the universe. “I… walked in on Sunoo hyung and Sunghoon hyung in the laundry room.”

“Okay?” Heeseung said, raising an eyebrow. “That doesn’t sound too—”

“They were making out, ” Jungwon blurted, his voice dropping to a whisper. “Like, full-on, passionate, no-holds-barred, drama-movie-level making out.”

Heeseung’s mouth fell open, and he leaned in even closer. “You’re kidding.”

“I wish I was!” Jungwon exclaimed, throwing his hands up. “It was like walking into a scene from some steamy romance movie, except it was real and it was right there. ”

“What were they doing?” Heeseung asked, his grin growing wider.

Jungwon rubbed his temples, groaning. “Sunoo hyung was up against the wall, and Sunghoon hyung had his arms wrapped around him, and they were… I don’t know! Consuming each other’s souls or something! It was intense!”

Heeseung burst out laughing, nearly spilling his own drink. “Consuming each other’s souls? Oh my god, Jungwon, that’s gold.”

“I can still hear it,” Jungwon said dramatically, his tone filled with despair. “The whispers. The little laughs. The—”

“Wait,” Heeseung interrupted, holding up a hand. “Were there sounds ?”

“ Yes! ” Jungwon hissed, his eyes wide. “Do you understand how scarring that is? I’ll never look at the laundry room the same way again. I might just start doing my laundry at a café across town.”

Heeseung wheezed, clutching his stomach as tears of laughter gathered in his eyes. “Oh, this is too good. Sunoo and Sunghoon? In the laundry room? You’re killing me.”

“I’m serious!” Jungwon said, glaring at him. “It was awful. I just stood there, frozen, like some kind of deer in headlights, watching a train wreck I couldn’t look away from.”

“And what did they say?” Heeseung asked, wiping his eyes.

“Sunoo hyung looked like he was about to cry,” Jungwon said, shaking his head. “And Sunghoon hyung—ugh, he just raised an eyebrow at me like I was the one intruding!”

“Well, technically you were,” Heeseung said, smirking.

“It’s a common area! ” Jungwon snapped, throwing up his hands.

Heeseung laughed again, sitting back in his chair. “Oh, Jungwon, this is the best thing I’ve heard all week. Please tell me you said something ridiculous before you ran out.”

Jungwon groaned, slumping forward onto the table. “I don’t even remember. Something about bleach and needing therapy. I blacked out from the sheer awkwardness.”

“You poor, poor soul,” Heeseung said, patting Jungwon’s shoulder with zero sympathy. “This is a story for the ages.”

“You promised you wouldn’t tell anyone,” Jungwon reminded him, his voice laced with warning.

Heeseung crossed his heart again, though his mischievous grin didn’t inspire confidence. “Of course. My lips are sealed.”

By the next morning, everyone in Serenity Heights knew.

“Heeseung hyung!” Jungwon shouted, storming into the lobby.

Heeseung looked up from his clipboard, attempting to appear innocent. “Jungwon! What a surprise.”

“You told everyone about the laundry room!” Jungwon accused, pointing a finger at him.

“I did no such thing,” Heeseung said, though the grin on his face betrayed him. “I merely… mentioned it to Jake.”

“And Jake hyung told Jay hyung, and Jay hyung told Ni-ki, and now everyone knows!” Jungwon groaned, throwing his hands up.

From the couch, Ni-ki perked up. “What’s this about the laundry room?”

Jungwon froze, realizing Ni-ki hadn’t heard the full story yet. He shot Heeseung a panicked look, but Heeseung just shrugged, clearly enjoying the chaos.

“What about the laundry room?” Ni-ki pressed, leaning forward with wide eyes.

“It’s nothing,” Jungwon said quickly.

Ni-ki narrowed his eyes. “That doesn’t sound like nothing.”

Heeseung smirked, unable to resist. “Oh, it’s definitely something. ”

Later that afternoon, Ni-ki barged into the couple’s apartment without warning, as usual.

“Ni-ki, what are you doing here?” Sunghoon asked, glaring at him from the couch.

Ni-ki ignored him, turning to Sunoo with an exaggerated gasp. “Hyung, I heard the most scandalous thing today!”

Sunoo blinked, clearly confused. “What thing?”

Ni-ki threw himself onto the armchair like a drama queen. “I heard you and Sunghoon hyung had a moment in the laundry room.”

Sunoo’s face turned bright red. “W-what? Who told you that?”

Ni-ki grinned. “Everyone knows now! Honestly, I’m jealous. You couldn’t have picked a more romantic spot?”

“Romantic?” Sunghoon repeated, raising an eyebrow. “It’s the laundry room.”

“That’s what makes it edgy,” Ni-ki replied, wagging his finger. “Forbidden love, surrounded by the hum of washing machines. Very cinematic.”

“Ni-ki,” Sunoo groaned, covering his face with his hands. “This is so embarrassing.”

“Don’t worry, hyung,” Ni-ki said, leaning closer. “If anyone judges you, I’ll defend your honor.”

Sunghoon folded his arms. “How noble.”

Ni-ki waves him off. “Not now Sunghoon hyung, we’re having a moment.”

That evening, Jungwon cornered Heeseung in the hallway, his patience at its limit.

“I trusted you, hyung,” Jungwon said, crossing his arms. “You promised not to tell anyone.”

Heeseung raised his hands in mock surrender. “I had to share the joy, Jungwon. It’s not every day we get a story like that.”

“Now Ni-ki won’t stop talking about it,” Jungwon grumbled. “He’s planning to write fanfiction or something.”

Heeseung’s eyes lit up. “Wait, really? I’d read that.”

Jungwon groaned, walking away. “You’re the worst.”

By the time Heeseung announced the impromptu tenant meeting about boundaries, Sunoo’s stress had reached its peak.

“I need to apologize,” he muttered, pacing their apartment.

“You already did,” Sunghoon replied, sitting on the couch with a cup of tea.

“Not properly!” Sunoo argued, biting his thumbnail. “I need to make it clear that it won’t happen again. Maybe I should bake him something?”

“Baking is a dangerous precedent,” Sunghoon warned.

Sunoo ignored him, pacing faster. “Or maybe a handwritten note? Does that seem thoughtful or creepy?”

“Creepy,” Sunghoon said immediately.

Sunoo groaned, flopping onto the couch beside him. “What do I do, Hoonie?”

Sunghoon set his tea down and pulled Sunoo into his arms, kissing the top of his head. “You’re overthinking. Jungwon doesn’t hate you. He’s just awkward. Give him time.”

Sunoo sighed, burying his face in Sunghoon’s shoulder. “What if he never forgives us?”

“He will,” Sunghoon said, smirking slightly. “Mostly because he has to. We live here now.”

At the tenant meeting, Sunoo made one last attempt to talk to Jungwon.

“Jungwon,” Sunoo said gently, catching him before he could escape. “Can we talk? Please?”

Jungwon hesitated, glancing at the other tenants for backup, but they were all conveniently preoccupied.

“Look,” Jungwon said finally, his voice quieter than usual. “It’s not a big deal. I just need time to... erase it from my brain.”

“I’m so sorry,” Sunoo said, his voice earnest. “We weren’t thinking, and—”

“Hyung,” Jungwon interrupted, holding up a hand. “It’s fine. Really. Just... maybe don’t do it in the laundry room again?”

Sunoo nodded furiously. “Never again. I promise.”

Jungwon sighed, a small smile tugging at his lips. “Alright. We’re good.”

Sunoo beamed. “Really?”

“Really,” Jungwon confirmed.

“Thank you!” Sunoo said, practically glowing with relief.

From across the room, Sunghoon watched the exchange with an amused smirk. When Jungwon caught his eye, Sunghoon gave him a subtle thumbs-up. Jungwon rolled his eyes but returned the gesture.

The lobby buzzed with an unusual energy as Heeseung positioned himself at the front, armed with a whiteboard, several markers, and a clipboard. The bold title scrawled across the top of the board read:

“BOUNDARIES: A CONCEPT WE SHOULD CONSIDER?”

Sunghoon leaned toward Sunoo as they took their seats. “This feels personal.”

“It’s not just about you!” Heeseung announced dramatically, pointing at them with a marker. “Although… recent events have inspired this discussion.”

Jungwon coughed awkwardly, staring at the floor while Ni-ki grinned like the Cheshire Cat.

“Okay, everyone!” Heeseung continued, clapping his hands. “It’s come to my attention that, as much as we love the chaotic harmony of Serenity Heights, we might benefit from establishing a few ground rules. Boundaries, if you will. For example…”

Heeseung turned to the whiteboard and scrawled a dramatic “#1: RESPECT SHARED SPACES.”

Jay raised an eyebrow. “Is this about the laundry room?”

“Yes,” Heeseung replied, glaring at Sunghoon and Sunoo. “But also…”

Heeseung gestured wildly toward Ni-ki. “Do you think I don’t know who keeps rearranging the lobby furniture to make TikToks?”

Ni-ki shrugged innocently. “It’s for the aesthetic.”

“It’s for my back pain,” Heeseung shot back. “The couches belong where they are!”

Heeseung moved to the next bullet point. “#2: DON’T STEAL FOOD THAT’S NOT YOURS.”

Jake groaned, throwing his head back. “Why is this still a thing?”

“Because,” Heeseung replied, looking pointedly at Ni-ki, “some people think shared spaces mean shared snacks.”

Ni-ki pouted. “I thought they were free samples.”

“They were my imported chocolates!” Jake snapped. “Do you know how expensive those are?”

“Not my fault you leave them in the fridge,” Ni-ki muttered.

Jungwon pinched the bridge of his nose. “I’ve apologized on his behalf a hundred times. Can we just move on?”

Heeseung moved on to the next point, writing it in bold: “#3: NO UNSCHEDULED KARAOKE.”

Jay let out a loud laugh. “That one’s on you, Heeseung.”

“Excuse me?” Heeseung replied, looking offended.

“You’re the one who started karaoke at 3 a.m. last month because you were ‘feeling the music,’ ” Jay said, air-quoting.

Jake chimed in, “Yeah, and your rendition of I Will Always Love You nearly broke the sound barrier.”

“That was a beautiful performance!” Heeseung shot back, looking wounded.

Heeseung cleared his throat, moving on quickly. “Anyway, next on the list: ‘#4: KNOCK BEFORE ENTERING.’”

Sunghoon smirked. “Does that include Ni-ki barging into our apartment at random?”

“Hey, I always knock!” Ni-ki protested.

Sunghoon raised an eyebrow. “And then open the door immediately after knocking.”

“That’s how knocking works,” Ni-ki replied confidently.

“It’s not,” Jungwon muttered, shaking his head.

Jake raised his hand. “Can we talk about the water situation?”

“What water situation?” Ni-ki asked, looking genuinely confused.

“The one where you take 40-minute showers and use all the hot water!” Jake said, throwing his hands up.

Jay groaned. “It’s why I bought that camping showerhead. I’m not risking hypothermia again.”

Ni-ki huffed. “I have a lot of hair to wash.”

Jungwon snorted. “You have the shortest hair here.”

“And it’s perfectly styled, thank you,” Ni-ki said with a grin.

Heeseung capped his marker with a flourish. “And finally, ‘#5: KEEP PRIVATE THINGS PRIVATE.’”

All eyes shifted to Sunoo and Sunghoon.

Sunoo’s cheeks flushed bright red. “It won’t happen again. I promise!”

Ni-ki leaned forward, smirking. “With Sunghoon hyung you mean?”

Jungwon immediately flicked Ni-ki’s forehead much to the satisfaction of everybody.

Heeseung clapped his hands. “Alright, team. Now that we’ve outlined the rules, let’s all try to respect each other’s space and privacy, okay?”

As the tenants began to disperse, Jay muttered, “None of this is going to stick.”

Jake nodded. “Definitely not.”

Ni-ki grinned. “I give it a week.”

“Three days,” Jungwon replied, sighing.

Sunoo leaned against Sunghoon, his cheeks still slightly flushed from the earlier pointed comments.

“I can’t believe they made us the poster children for ‘boundaries,’” Sunoo muttered, burying his face in Sunghoon’s shoulder.

Sunghoon smirked, wrapping an arm around him. “Technically, they didn’t name us. They just... strongly implied.”

“They were staring directly at us!” Sunoo exclaimed, his voice rising an octave.

“You’re overthinking again, Sunny,” Sunghoon replied, his tone calm and amused. “No one here takes these rules seriously. You saw Ni-ki practically planning his next boundary-breaking spree during the meeting.”

Despite the new rules being posted in the lobby (complete with Heeseung’s elaborate calligraphy), Ni-ki continued to push every boundary imaginable.

“Ni-ki,” Jungwon sighed as he caught him rifling through Jay’s mailbox. “That’s illegal.”

“I’m just checking for love letters,” Ni-ki replied innocently.

“They’re not yours!” Jungwon snapped, dragging him away.

Meanwhile, Ni-ki began showing up unannounced at Sunoo and Sunghoon’s apartment, often with the excuse of borrowing sugar—or sometimes just because he was “bored.”

“You can’t keep doing this,” Sunghoon said one afternoon, leaning against the doorframe with an exasperated expression.

Ni-ki grinned. “I just wanted to see how Sunoo hyung’s doing.”

Sunghoon blocked the doorway, crossing his arms. “He’s fine. Bye.”

“Don’t be rude, Hoonie,” Sunoo called from the kitchen, his voice warm.

Ni-ki smirked. “See? He likes me.”

“That makes one of us,” Sunghoon muttered, finally shutting the door.

By the end of the week, the tenants had more or less adjusted to the new rules—except for Ni-ki, who continued to be his usual chaotic self.

Sunoo and Sunghoon sat on their couch, finally enjoying a quiet evening together.

“Do you think we’re settling in okay?” Sunoo asked, leaning against Sunghoon’s shoulder.

Sunghoon wrapped an arm around him, his expression soft. “Yeah. This place is… weird. But it’s home.”

Sunoo smiled, his heart full. “I think so too.”

Chapter Text

It all started with laundry.

Jay and Jake’s voices echoed through the hallway, louder than the hum of the machines in the laundry room. Sunghoon, who had been peacefully reading on the couch in Apartment 1009, closed his book with a sigh.

“They’re at it again,” Sunghoon muttered, rubbing his temples.

Sunoo, who was halfway through repotting a succulent by the window, glanced up. “What is it this time? Socks? Detergent brands?”

“No idea,” Sunghoon replied, standing and grabbing the apartment keys. “But I’m about five minutes away from banning them from doing laundry ever again.”

Sunoo chuckled. “You’re so dramatic, Hoonie. Just go see what’s going on.”

With a reluctant groan, Sunghoon trudged down the hall, only to find Jay and Jake standing face-to-face in the laundry room, each clutching a pair of jeans like it was a weapon of mass destruction.

“I fold them like this because it saves space,” Jake was saying, demonstrating his method with exaggerated movements.

“That’s ridiculous,” Jay snapped, refolding a pair of pants with surgical precision. “It’s not just about saving space. It’s about symmetry and aesthetic. Look at this. Perfect corners.”

Jake rolled his eyes. “No one cares about corners, Jay. You’re folding clothes, not building a house!”

Ni-ki, sitting cross-legged on top of the washing machine with a bag of chips, added his two cents. “I care about corners. They’re cute.”

Jay threw him an exasperated look. “Ni-ki, you’re not helping.”

“I’m not trying to help,” Ni-ki replied, popping a chip into his mouth. “I’m here for the drama.”

“Can you two not?” Sunghoon interrupted, leaning against the doorframe with his arms crossed. “It’s just laundry. Fold it and move on with your lives.”

“It’s not just laundry!” Jay and Jake said in unison, turning to glare at him.

“Okay, then what is it?” Sunghoon asked, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

Jay pointed at Jake. “He thinks speed matters more than technique!”

“And he thinks folding jeans like they’re origami makes him superior!” Jake shot back.

Ni-ki, grinning, pulled out his phone. “This is great content. Do it again, but with more insults.”

Sunghoon pinched the bridge of his nose. “I don’t care who folds faster or better. Just stop yelling about it!”

“Not until he admits my way is better,” Jay insisted.

“Never,” Jake countered.

Sunghoon groaned, turning to leave. “I’m not dealing with this.”

When he returned to Apartment 1009, Sunoo looked up expectantly. “How bad was it?”

“Worse than I thought,” Sunghoon replied, collapsing onto the couch. “They’re arguing about laundry techniques. Again. ”

Sunoo laughed softly, setting down his plant. “You’ve got to admit, their rivalry is kind of entertaining.”

“It’s not entertaining,” Sunghoon grumbled. “It’s annoying. They fight over everything. Laundry, who made better sushi last week, who can whistle louder—”

“Oh, I missed the whistling contest?” Sunoo teased.

Sunghoon gave him a look. “This isn’t funny, Sunny.”

Sunoo perched on the armrest beside him, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder. “Maybe they just need a healthy outlet for their competitiveness.”

“They need therapy,” Sunghoon deadpanned.

Sunoo giggled, his eyes sparkling with an idea. “Or... an Olympics!”

Sunghoon blinked. “What?”

“You know, an apartment-wide competition,” Sunoo explained excitedly, standing up and pacing the room. “We could organize events for everyone to participate in. It’ll give them a chance to settle their scores without arguing all the time.”

Sunghoon raised an eyebrow. “You’re seriously proposing an Olympics?”

“Yes!” Sunoo said, clapping his hands together. “Think about it, Hoonie! A little friendly competition could be just what we need to bring everyone together.”

“Or tear them apart even more,” Sunghoon muttered.

Sunoo ignored his skepticism, already grabbing a notebook to jot down ideas. “We could have events like trivia, cooking challenges, and maybe even a relay race. Oh, and Ni-ki would love a ramen-eating contest!”

“Why do I feel like this is going to end in chaos?” Sunghoon asked, watching his boyfriend with an amused smirk.

“Because it’s Serenity Heights,” Sunoo replied cheerfully. “But chaos is half the fun.”

Sunghoon sighed, leaning back on the couch. “Fine. But when this turns into a disaster, I’m blaming you.”

Sunoo leaned down to kiss his cheek. “Deal. Now, let’s make some calls!”

The next day, the tenants of Serenity Heights gathered in the lobby, buzzing with curiosity. Sunoo stood at the front with a clipboard, looking both excited and slightly nervous, while Sunghoon leaned against the wall with his arms crossed, projecting his usual why am I here energy.

Heeseung arrived last, dramatically sliding into the room with a whistle around his neck. “Sorry, sorry, the referee has arrived! No Olympic event should start without me.”

Sunoo cleared his throat to get everyone’s attention. “Thank you all for coming! So, um, I had an idea—well, actually, Sunghoon inspired it—”

“I didn’t inspire anything,” Sunghoon interrupted.

Sunoo ignored him, beaming at the group. “Since there’s been a lot of, uh, spirited debates recently—”

“Fights,” Jungwon muttered under his breath.

“—I thought we could channel that energy into something fun and productive,” Sunoo continued. “So, we’re officially hosting the first-ever Serenity Heights Olympics! ”

The room fell silent for a moment before Ni-ki let out an excited whoop. “Yes! Finally, a chance to prove I’m better than all of you.”

Jungwon sighed. “It’s not a chance to prove anything, Ni-ki. It’s supposed to be fun.”

“It can be fun and still prove I’m the best,” Ni-ki shot back, grinning.

“Great,” Sunghoon muttered. “This is already a mistake.”

Jay raised a hand, smirking. “What kind of events are we talking about? Because if it’s anything food-related, just hand me the gold now.”

Jake snorted, crossing his arms. “You mean hand it to me. You may know your way around a sous vide, but I’m the one who can make magic out of ramen packets and a dream.”

Jay narrowed his eyes. “Cooking isn’t about shortcuts, Jake. It’s about skill, technique, and respect for the ingredients.”

“And you’re full of all three, right?” Jake said, his tone dripping with sarcasm.

Jay stepped closer, his voice dropping. “Careful, Jake. You don’t want to embarrass yourself before we even start.”

Jake smirked, leaning in slightly. “Embarrass myself? Oh, you’re cute when you’re delusional.”

The room collectively held its breath, watching the tension crackle between them. Ni-ki, sitting on the floor, whispered loudly, “Are they going to fight or kiss? Because I’m fine with either.”

Sunoo coughed to regain control of the room. “Okay! Moving on! There’ll be a mix of events so everyone has a chance to shine. Trivia, cooking, races, maybe even karaoke—”

“I’m winning karaoke,” Heeseung declared, holding up a finger.

“Sure, hyung,” Jay muttered.

Sunoo clapped his hands to refocus the group. “The point is to have fun and settle things without yelling. Or, you know, breaking the furniture.”

“Who breaks furniture?” Jake asked, his tone innocent.

Jay turned to him with a raised eyebrow. “Do you want me to list the times you’ve slammed the door so hard the walls shook?”

“That’s called passion, ” Jake replied, smirking.

Sunghoon, watching the back-and-forth, groaned. “Why don’t you two just get it over with?”

Jake and Jay both turned to him, blinking. “Get what over with?” they said in unison.

“Nothing,” Sunghoon said quickly, waving them off.

Ni-ki grinned, clearly enjoying the tension. “You know, Sunghoon hyung’s right. The Olympics might not be enough for you two. Maybe we should add a ‘Who’s the Most Oblivious’ event.”

“Ni-ki,” Jungwon muttered, glaring at him.

“What?” Ni-ki said innocently. “I’m just saying what we’re all thinking.”

As the group began brainstorming events, the bickering continued.

“Cooking will be my main event,” Jay declared, crossing his arms.

“You mean our main event,” Jake corrected, leaning back against the wall.

“Why do you need to be part of it?” Jay asked, narrowing his eyes. “You think ketchup belongs in fried rice.”

Jake gasped, clutching his chest like he’d been personally attacked. “It’s fusion! You wouldn’t understand.”

“It’s an abomination,” Jay shot back.

Ni-ki, still munching on chips, raised a hand. “Can we include a snack-stacking competition? I’d win that easily.”

Sunoo jotted it down on his clipboard, giggling. “Sure, Ni-ki.”

Jungwon sighed, rubbing his temples. “I feel like we’re just creating a list of things Ni-ki’s going to use to gloat about later.”

“Exactly,” Ni-ki said proudly.

From the corner, Heeseung blew his whistle, drawing everyone’s attention. “Alright, everyone! Let’s finalize the bracket and settle the pairings. Also, no crying when I win everything.”

“Hyung, you can’t compete if you’re the referee,” Jake pointed out.

“I make the rules!” Heeseung replied, flipping his clipboard dramatically.

The room was alive with anticipation as Heeseung stepped up to the folding table, which had been covered with various mismatched laundry items: jeans, towels, socks, and even a pink unicorn onesie (no one asked where it came from). He adjusted his whistle and clipboard, looking every bit the part of a self-appointed referee.

“Ladies and gentlemen, tenants of Serenity Heights!” Heeseung began, his voice booming. “Today, we gather to witness a historic battle of skill, precision, and speed. The stakes? Eternal bragging rights and maybe the title of Laundry Folding Master! ”

“Bragging rights?” Jake muttered. “Jay already brags about everything. This is just giving him more ammo.”

Jay smirked, cracking his knuckles. “I don’t need ammo, Jake. I’ve already got talent.”

Ni-ki, perched on the arm of the couch, shouted, “You mean arrogance!”

Jay ignored him, rolling up his sleeves dramatically. “Let’s just say I’m confident.”

Jake leaned on the table, smirking. “Confident you’ll lose? Yeah, I can see that.”

“Alright, competitors,” Heeseung said, pacing between Jay and Jake like a coach prepping his team. “The rules are simple: You each have five minutes to fold as many items as you can. Points will be awarded for speed and technique. Bonus points for creativity.”

“Creativity?” Jay raised an eyebrow. “It’s folding clothes, not an art exhibit.”

“That’s what a non-creative person would say,” Jake shot back.

Jay turned to Sunghoon, who was standing in the back with his arms crossed. “Can you believe this guy?”

Sunghoon shrugged. “I’m only here to make sure you two don’t break anything.”

Sunoo giggled beside him. “I think it’s kind of sweet. They care so much about folding.”

Ni-ki chimed in, “Sweet? It’s tragic. But hey, I’m here for it.”

Heeseung blew his whistle, and chaos erupted.

Jay started methodically, folding each item with the precision of a surgeon performing open-heart surgery. His movements were slow, deliberate, and annoyingly perfect.

Jake, on the other hand, was a whirlwind. Clothes flew everywhere as he speed-folded like his life depended on it. His jeans looked more like crumpled paper, but his pile grew steadily.

“Slow and steady wins the race,” Jay muttered under his breath.

“Yeah, tell that to the tortoise,” Jake quipped, tossing another folded shirt onto his growing pile.

Ni-ki provided live commentary: “Jay’s going for perfection, but Jake’s all about the numbers. Who will triumph? Stay tuned, folks!”

Jungwon, seated next to him, sighed. “This isn’t a sports match.”

“It is now,” Ni-ki replied, munching on chips.

Midway through the challenge, disaster struck. Jake attempted to fold the unicorn onesie, but it slipped from his hands, landing in a crumpled heap on the floor. He scrambled to pick it up, muttering, “What even is this thing?”

“That’s what you get for rushing,” Jay said smugly, perfectly folding a towel into a neat square.

Jake shot him a glare. “At least I’m not treating this like the Olympics for origami.”

“It’s called having standards,” Jay replied, flipping his folded towel onto the pile like a mic drop.

Meanwhile, Ni-ki yelled, “Plot twist! The onesie is cursed!” causing Jake to nearly drop it again.

Sunoo couldn’t stop laughing, clutching his stomach as he leaned into Sunghoon. “This is ridiculous.”

Sunghoon smirked, his gaze locked on the chaos. “Ridiculous, but entertaining.”

As the timer ticked down, Heeseung began a dramatic countdown. “Ten! Nine! Eight!”

Jake panicked, throwing a pair of socks onto his pile with no attempt to fold them. “Socks don’t need folding, right? It’s efficiency!”

“Five! Four!” Heeseung continued, clearly enjoying the chaos.

Jay folded one final shirt, smoothing out the wrinkles with an air of triumph. “And that’s how it’s done.”

“Time’s up!” Heeseung shouted, blowing his whistle.

The tenants crowded around the table to inspect the results.

“Let’s start with Jay,” Heeseung said, examining the pile. “Neat, tidy, and… is that a fabric rose made out of a scarf?”

Jay nodded. “Bonus points for creativity.”

Jake groaned. “Who folds laundry and makes roses?”

“Artists,” Jay replied smugly.

Heeseung moved on to Jake’s pile. “Well… it’s big. That’s something.”

“Big means I folded the most,” Jake argued.

“Big means it looks like a tornado hit it,” Jay shot back.

Ni-ki leaned closer, inspecting a particularly messy fold. “I think this shirt is still inside out.”

Jake threw up his hands. “It’s called style, Ni-ki.”

After much deliberation (and a heated debate about whether socks should count), Heeseung dramatically pointed to Jay. “The winner of the Laundry Folding Showdown is… Jay!”

Jay pumped his fist in the air. “Yes! Victory!”

Jake glared at him. “This was rigged.”

“Oh, I’m sorry,” Jay said, his voice dripping with mock sympathy. “Did my superior skills hurt your feelings?”

“Careful, Jay,” Jake said, stepping closer. “That ego of yours might burst and take out the whole building.”

They were so close now, the room went quiet. Even Ni-ki paused his snacking, his eyes darting between them.

“Just kiss already,” Ni-ki muttered under his breath, loud enough for everyone to hear.

Jake and Jay snapped their heads toward him at the same time, both shouting, “What?!”

Sunoo burst out laughing, while Sunghoon just pinched the bridge of his nose. “Why am I not surprised?”

As the group dispersed to prepare for the next event, Jay and Jake continued bickering under their breath.

“You only won because you’re obsessive,” Jake said, crossing his arms.

“And you lost because you’re sloppy,” Jay shot back.

Ni-ki watched them leave, turning to Jungwon with a smirk. “They’re like a rom-com waiting to happen.”

Jungwon sighed, muttering, “More like a disaster waiting to happen.”

As the tenants gathered for the next event of the Serenity Heights Olympics, Ni-ki was practically vibrating with excitement. The lobby had been transformed yet again—this time into a competitive eating arena. A long table stretched across the room, each spot set with a steaming bowl of ramen. The aroma filled the air, making everyone’s stomachs growl.

Ni-ki hopped into his designated seat at the table, cracking his knuckles. “Finally, an event where I can shine. This is my destiny.”

“Your destiny is noodles?” Jungwon asked dryly, taking a seat in the audience section with the others.

“Not just noodles,” Ni-ki replied, his tone serious. “Victory.”

Heeseung, once again taking his role as referee far too seriously, stood at the front with his whistle and clipboard. “Alright, folks! Welcome to the second event of the Serenity Heights Olympics: The Ramen-Eating Contest! ”

He gestured dramatically to the table where the contestants—Ni-ki, Jake, and Sunghoon—sat ready to compete. Bowls of steaming ramen were placed in front of them, each topped with an egg and extra chili flakes for an added kick.

“Here are the rules,” Heeseung began, pacing. “You have ten minutes to eat as much ramen as you can. The contestant who finishes the most bowls wins. No spitting, no sneaking noodles to Ni-ki’s plushies—”

“Hey!” Ni-ki protested. “That was one time!”

“—and no running to the bathroom mid-competition,” Heeseung finished, ignoring him.

Sunoo, sitting in the audience, raised his hand. “What happens if someone chokes?”

Heeseung hesitated, then waved his hand. “That’s a risk we’re willing to take.”

“Great,” Sunghoon muttered. “I’m competing in a death match.”

Ni-ki grinned at him. “Scared, hyung? You should be.”

Heeseung blew the whistle, and the contestants dove in. Ni-ki attacked his bowl with the energy of someone who hadn’t eaten in weeks. Jake adopted a steady rhythm, slurping methodically but with determination. Sunghoon, on the other hand, took his time, clearly regretting agreeing to this.

“This is incredible,” Ni-ki said between bites, his cheeks puffed out like a chipmunk. “I could do this all day.”

“Chew, Ni-ki,” Sunoo called from the sidelines, laughing.

Jake glanced at him, smirking. “It’s not about talking; it’s about winning.”

“Oh, please,” Ni-ki shot back. “You don’t stand a chance against me. I was born for this.”

Sunghoon, struggling with the chili flakes, muttered under his breath, “Why is it so spicy?”

“Because,” Heeseung said with a grin, “I thought it’d make things more interesting.”

By the fourth bowl, things started to unravel. Ni-ki was still in the lead but noticeably slowing down. Jake, however, had found his second wind, picking up speed.

“I’ve got this,” Jake said confidently, slurping another mouthful of noodles.

“Over my dead body,” Ni-ki replied, glaring at him.

Sunghoon, on his third bowl, raised a hand. “Can I withdraw?”

“Nope,” Heeseung said cheerfully. “You’re in it till the end, my friend.”

Sunoo leaned over to Jungwon. “I think Hoonie’s going to kill Heeseung hyung after this.”

Jungwon nodded. “If the ramen doesn’t kill him first.”

As the clock ticked down, Ni-ki suddenly hiccupped. Then again.

“Oh no,” Jungwon muttered, recognizing the signs.

“What’s wrong?” Sunoo asked.

“Hiccups,” Jungwon replied grimly. “He always gets them when he eats too fast.”

Sure enough, Ni-ki’s pace slowed dramatically as he tried to suppress the hiccups. “I’m fine,” he said between hiccups, tears streaming down his face from the spice. “Totally fine.”

Jake, seizing the opportunity, smirked and slurped his way through another bowl. “Looks like I’m pulling ahead.”

“Not… on my watch!” Ni-ki hiccupped, shoving another bite of noodles into his mouth despite the struggle.

With only one minute left, the tension was palpable. Jake and Ni-ki were neck and neck, while Sunghoon sat back in defeat, sipping water and watching the chaos unfold.

“Come on, Ni-ki!” Sunoo cheered.

“Jake, you’ve got this!” Jay called, grinning smugly.

“Five seconds!” Heeseung announced, the whistle poised in his hand.

Ni-ki and Jake both lunged for their next bowls, slurping furiously as the clock ticked down.

“Time’s up!” Heeseung shouted, blowing the whistle.

Jake and Ni-ki both collapsed back in their chairs, noodles still hanging from their mouths.

Heeseung surveyed the table, counting the empty bowls. “Alright, folks. After a very close match, the winner of the Ramen-Eating Contest is… Jake!”

The room erupted into cheers and groans as Jake raised his arms in victory. “That’s right! Who’s the best? Me!”

Ni-ki pouted, still hiccupping. “This isn’t fair. My body betrayed me.”

“It’s called pacing,” Jake replied smugly, patting him on the back. “You should try it sometime.”

Sunghoon, standing and wiping his hands, muttered, “I’m never eating ramen again.”

As the tenants cleaned up, Ni-ki turned to Jungwon. “Next time, I’m practicing beforehand. No one’s beating me again.”

“You say that after every eating contest,” Jungwon replied, rolling his eyes.

Meanwhile, Jake couldn’t resist rubbing his victory in Jay’s face. “Did you see that? A masterclass in strategy and skill.”

Jay raised an eyebrow. “Oh, please. You just inhaled noodles like a vacuum cleaner.”

“Jealous?” Jake teased, leaning closer.

Jay smirked. “Not even a little. But don’t get used to winning. The cooking event’s next, and that’s my turf.”

“Bring it on,” Jake shot back, the tension between them thick enough to cut with a knife.

Sunoo, watching the exchange, whispered to Sunghoon, “Do you think they even realize how obvious they are?”

Sunghoon sighed. “No. And I’d like to keep it that way. It’s more entertaining.”

The lobby buzzed with excitement as Heeseung set up the trivia board—a whiteboard borrowed from the laundry room with the words Trivia Showdown: Knowledge is Power! written in colorful, slightly uneven markers. He adjusted his whistle, gesturing to the table set up at the front with two buzzers (actually upturned bowls with spoons taped to them).

Jungwon and Sunoo sat on either side, their expressions a study in contrasts. Sunoo was beaming with excitement, his hands clasped together, while Jungwon looked calm and composed, his sharp eyes scanning the room like a chess master plotting his moves.

“Alright, everyone!” Heeseung called out, blowing his whistle for no reason other than to feel important. “This is the event you’ve all been waiting for! A battle of brains, wit, and random facts no one should ever need to know!”

“Why do I feel like this trivia is going to be... weird?” Sunghoon muttered, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed.

“Because it’s Heeseung hyung,” Jay replied, smirking.

Heeseung ignored them, raising his arms dramatically. “Contestants! State your name, age, and why you’re destined to win this match!”

Sunoo stood up first, smiling at the crowd. “Hi, everyone! I’m Kim Sunoo, 23 years old, and I love trivia because it’s a great way to learn fun facts and impress people.”

Jake leaned over to Jay, whispering, “I think he means impress Sunghoon .”

Jay snorted. “Obviously.”

Jungwon stood next, bowing politely. “I’m Yang Jungwon, 22 years old, and I’m going to win because I have a good memory and a competitive streak.”

Ni-ki, lounging in a chair, grinned. “And because you’re a nerd.”

“I prefer ‘intellectually gifted,’” Jungwon replied, sitting back down with a slight smirk.

Heeseung clapped his hands. “Alright, the rules are simple: I’ll ask a series of questions. You hit your buzzer—” He paused to point at the makeshift buzzers. “—and answer. Correct answers earn a point. Wrong answers lose you a point. First to ten points wins. Understood?”

Both contestants nodded, their eyes locking in mutual determination.

“Let the trivia face-off begin!” Heeseung declared, blowing his whistle unnecessarily again.

The first question was straightforward. “What is the capital of France?”

Sunoo smacked his bowl-buzzer first, grinning. “Paris!”

“Correct!” Heeseung announced, marking a point for Sunoo.

The next few questions followed in quick succession:

• “What is the largest planet in our solar system?” (Jungwon: “Jupiter!” Correct.)
• “How many legs does a spider have?” (Sunoo: “Eight!” Correct.)
• “Who painted the Mona Lisa?” (Jungwon: “Leonardo da Vinci!” Correct.)

The score was neck and neck, and the room grew more invested with each passing question.

Then, the questions got... stranger.

“What is the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow?”

Sunoo frowned, looking confused. “Uh... is that a real question?”

Jungwon, however, pressed his buzzer confidently. “Is it 11 meters per second?”

Heeseung grinned. “Correct! Bonus points for knowing Monty Python! ”

“That’s unfair!” Ni-ki shouted from the audience. “What kind of question is that?”

“A good one,” Heeseung replied, completely unapologetic.

The questions continued, growing even more bizarre:

• “What is the scientific name for a banana?”
  (Jungwon: “Musa acuminata!” Correct.)
• “In what year did the Titanic sink?”
  (Sunoo: “1912!” Correct.)
• “How many dimples are there on a golf ball?”
  (Sunoo hesitated, but Jungwon buzzed in: “336!” Correct.)

By now, Jungwon was pulling ahead, his calm demeanor and encyclopedic knowledge shining through.

“Alright,” Heeseung announced, clapping his hands for attention. “This is it, folks, since I’m the one running this circus, the final round is about… me.”

Jungwon groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Of course it is.”

Ni-ki, meanwhile, lit up. “Finally, some decent content!”

Sunoo looked intrigued, tilting his head. “You made the questions about yourself, Heeseung hyung?”

Heeseung smirked. “Who better to study than a living legend?”

Heeseung clicked his pen and read the first question with flair: “What was my karaoke song of choice the night Serenity Heights’ fire alarm went off?”

Jungwon’s buzzer clanged first. “Whitney Houston’s I Will Always Love You ?”

Heeseung pointed dramatically. “Correct!”

Sunoo gasped. “That’s such a good song!”

“It was a great song,” Heeseung said, placing a hand on his chest. “Until the fire department showed up and told me to stop hitting the high notes.”

The lobby was electric with excitement as the trivia showdown between Sunoo and Jungwon reached its final stretch. The scoreboard stood at 8-9, with Jungwon in the lead, and everyone was perched on the edge of their seats—except for Sunghoon, who leaned casually against the wall, arms crossed, silently rooting for Sunoo.

Heeseung flipped to the next card. “What is my go-to coffee order?”

Sunoo buzzed in first, his voice confident. “Americano with an extra shot of espresso and whipped cream!”

Heeseung grinned. “Yes! Finally, someone listens to me when I talk about my caffeine preferences.”

Sunghoon, from the back of the room, muttered, “You talk about it every day.”

With the score tied at 9-9, Heeseung clapped his hands again for the final, tie-breaking question. “Alright, this is the one. Whoever answers this correctly wins the whole thing.” He paused for dramatic effect, even though everyone was already staring at him.

He cleared his throat and read:
“What was the exact meal I was eating when I met my first love?”

The room fell silent as Sunoo and Jungwon exchanged bewildered glances. Even Ni-ki looked confused.

“Hyung,” Jay said, breaking the silence. “How would anyone know that?”

“Because I’ve told this story at least twenty times!” Heeseung replied indignantly. “Pay attention to my life, people!”

Jungwon hesitated, then buzzed in. “Kimchi jjigae?”

Heeseung sighed dramatically, shaking his head. “Close, but no.”

Sunoo, after a moment’s thought, hit his buzzer. “Was it... tteokbokki with a side of kimbap?”

The room collectively turned to Heeseung, whose face lit up like a Christmas tree. “Yes! That was it! My first love and I shared spicy rice cakes, and I knew in that moment I was destined for romance!”

Sunoo’s hands flew up in triumph. “I did it!”

Jungwon shook his head with a small smile, clearly not upset. “I can’t believe that was the winning question.”

Heeseung blew his whistle unnecessarily, declaring, “The winner of the Serenity Heights Trivia Face-Off is… Sunoo!”

The room erupted into applause (and a few groans), while Sunoo turned to Sunghoon with a radiant smile. “Hoonie, did you see? I actually won!”

Sunghoon smirked, leaning down to kiss his forehead. “Of course you did. You’re brilliant—even when the questions are about Heeseung hyung’s oddly specific life choices.”

Meanwhile, Ni-ki leaned toward Jungwon, whispering, “I think you lost on purpose.”

Jungwon raised an eyebrow. “Why would I do that?”

“To keep the peace,” Ni-ki replied with a grin. “You’re too nice.”

“I’m practical,” Jungwon corrected. “Sunoo hyung deserved to win.”

Jake and Jay, watching from the sidelines, exchanged amused glances.

“Heeseung hyung’s love life as trivia material,” Jay said. “This building gets weirder every day.”

Jake chuckled. “Yeah, but it’s never boring.”

With Sunoo’s victory in the trivia showdown still fresh, Heeseung wasted no time rallying the troops for the next event. The tenants gathered in the lobby once again, curious about the latest concoction of chaos their self-proclaimed “coach” had cooked up.

Heeseung, clipboard in hand and his whistle hanging dramatically from his neck, stood in the middle of the room. Behind him, a colorful pile of balloons waited ominously.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” Heeseung began, gesturing to the balloons like a magician unveiling his latest trick, “welcome to the next thrilling event of the Serenity Heights Olympics: The Balloon Pop Relay Race! ”

Heeseung waved his clipboard like it was an ancient scroll. “Here’s how it works: You’ll be split into two teams. Each team member will race to the pile of balloons, grab one, and pop it using their body. No hands allowed! Once you’ve popped your balloon, the next teammate goes.”

The tenants exchanged uneasy glances.

“Using your body?” Sunghoon repeated, his tone skeptical. “What does that even mean?”

Heeseung smirked. “Get creative.”

“Why do I feel like this is going to end badly?” Jungwon muttered to Sunoo, who giggled nervously.

“Points will be awarded for speed and flair,” Heeseung continued. “Bonus points if you manage to embarrass yourself in the process.”

“Ah, yes,” Jay deadpanned. “My favorite type of competition.”

Heeseung clapped his hands. “Now, let’s form teams! I’ve already pre-selected them for maximum chaos. ”

The teams were as follows:

Team A: Sunoo, Sunghoon, Jungwon, and Ni-ki.
Team B: Jake, Jay, Heeseung, and Mr. Shin (who had somehow been roped into participating).

Mr. Shin stood off to the side, his arms crossed. “I’m only doing this because you bribed me with coffee.”

“And we’re grateful,” Heeseung said earnestly, bowing deeply.

Heeseung blew his whistle, and the race was on.

Round 1: Ni-ki vs. Jake

Ni-ki sprinted toward the balloon pile with the enthusiasm of someone who had everything to prove. He grabbed a neon green balloon and immediately dropped to the floor, trying to pop it by bouncing on it like it was a trampoline.

“Come on, Ni-ki!” Jungwon shouted, half-laughing, half-exasperated.

Meanwhile, Jake approached the balloon pile with significantly more strategy. He selected a balloon, placed it on the ground, and attempted to pop it by sitting on it carefully.

“It’s not working!” Jake groaned, bouncing awkwardly.

Ni-ki, still flailing on his balloon, shouted, “You’re too polite, hyung! You have to commit! ”

Jake shot him a glare but followed his advice, throwing himself onto the balloon with a loud pop. He jumped up, triumphant, just as Ni-ki’s balloon finally gave way beneath him.

“Team B takes the lead!” Heeseung announced.

Round 2: Jungwon vs. Jay

Jungwon approached the pile with quiet determination, grabbing a balloon and placing it under his knee. His movements were calculated, each bounce precise.

Jay, on the other hand, tried a different tactic. He held the balloon between his chest and the wall, squeezing it with all his might.

“What are you doing?” Jake called from the sidelines, laughing.

“It’s called innovation, ” Jay replied, gritting his teeth as the balloon stubbornly refused to pop.

Meanwhile, Jungwon’s methodical approach paid off, and his balloon popped with a satisfying bang. He ran back to tag Sunghoon, leaving Jay still struggling.

“Come on, Jay!” Jake shouted.

Jay finally managed to pop his balloon by headbutting it, earning laughter and applause from the crowd. “Told you it would work,” he said smugly as he jogged back.

Round 3: Sunghoon vs. Heeseung

Sunghoon approached the pile with the weariness of a man who had been dragged into one too many shenanigans. He grabbed a balloon and immediately dropped to his knees, pressing it against the floor with his chest.

“He looks so done,” Sunoo whispered, giggling.

Heeseung, meanwhile, approached the pile with flair, selecting a bright pink balloon. He spun dramatically before placing it under his arm and squeezing like he was performing in a soap opera.

“You’re going to dislocate your shoulder,” Jay muttered.

“Greatness requires sacrifice!” Heeseung replied, grimacing as the balloon finally popped.

Sunghoon finished moments later, his expression neutral as he tagged Sunoo. “Your turn, Sunny.”

The Final Round: Sunoo vs. Mr. Shin

The room buzzed with excitement as the final competitors took their places.

Sunoo grabbed a balloon and immediately tried the sitting method, bouncing up and down with a mix of determination and embarrassment. “Why won’t it pop?” he cried, laughing as the balloon stubbornly refused to burst.

Across the room, Mr. Shin approached the pile like a seasoned warrior. He grabbed a balloon, placed it on the ground, and stomped on it with one precise motion. The balloon popped instantly.

The room fell silent for a moment before erupting into cheers.

“Mr. Shin wins it for Team B!” Heeseung declared, blowing his whistle and throwing confetti into the air.

As the tenants gathered to celebrate, Sunoo pouted. “I can’t believe we lost.”

“You were adorable,” Sunghoon said, wrapping an arm around his waist. “That’s what matters.”

“You’re biased,” Sunoo replied, though he leaned into him with a smile.

Meanwhile, Ni-ki was trying to convince Jungwon that they should’ve cheated. “We could’ve poked the balloons with a pen! No one would’ve known!”

Jungwon rolled his eyes. “And yet, everyone would’ve known. ”

Across the room, Jake and Jay were bickering as usual.

“You barely did anything,” Jake teased. “We won because of Mr. Shin.”

Jay smirked, leaning closer. “Jealous of my dramatic flair, Jake?”

Jake blinked, caught off guard by the proximity. “What? No!”

Ni-ki, watching from the sidelines, muttered to Jungwon, “Just kiss already.”

Jungwon sighed. “I’m so tired.”

The lobby buzzed with excitement as Heeseung paced back and forth, holding a wooden spoon like a scepter. Behind him, two makeshift cooking stations had been set up, complete with portable burners, cutting boards, and an array of mismatched ingredients.

“Welcome to the main event of the Serenity Heights Olympics!” Heeseung declared, his voice echoing dramatically. “The Ultimate Cooking Face-Off!”

Jay stood at one station, his arms crossed and his chef’s knife gleaming under the fluorescent lights. His expression screamed confidence , though the faint twitch of his brow betrayed how seriously he was taking this.

Jake, at the other station, was rolling up the sleeves of his hoodie, his easygoing smirk firmly in place. “I don’t know what you’re so nervous about, Jay,” he teased. “It’s just cooking. Not like it’s your entire identity or anything.”

Jay shot him a glare that could curdle milk. “You’re about to find out why I’m the best.”

“Oh, I’m shaking,” Jake replied, his grin widening.

From the audience section, Ni-ki leaned over to Jungwon. “You think they’re going to fight?”

Jungwon sighed. “They’ve been fighting this whole time. This is just an extension.”

Heeseung clapped his hands, snapping everyone’s attention back to him. “Here’s how it works: Each chef will have 30 minutes to prepare a dish using the same set of ingredients.” He gestured to a table laden with random items, including eggs, instant ramen, a single block of tofu, and a suspiciously wilted bunch of spinach.

Sunoo blinked. “Are those… peaches?”

“Yes,” Heeseung replied solemnly. “A true chef can make anything work.”

“Or poison us all,” Sunghoon muttered under his breath, earning a giggle from Sunoo.

Heeseung ignored the commentary. “The dishes will be judged on three criteria: taste, presentation, and... flair!” He struck a dramatic pose.

“Who’s judging?” Jay asked, already chopping his spinach with military precision.

Heeseung pointed to the audience. “The tenants, of course! We are the ultimate connoisseurs.”

“Great,” Sunghoon said dryly. “We’re trusting Ni-ki with this.”

“I have an excellent palate!” Ni-ki protested, popping a handful of chips into his mouth.

As the timer started, both chefs sprang into action. Jay moved like a man on a mission, his knife skills dazzling the crowd as he diced tofu and vegetables with ease. Jake, meanwhile, exuded chaotic energy, juggling ingredients and tossing things into a pan with reckless abandon.

“Do you even know what you’re making?” Jay asked, raising an eyebrow.

“It’s called improv, ” Jake shot back, cracking an egg into his pan with one hand. “Something you wouldn’t understand.”

“Oh, I understand,” Jay replied coolly. “I just call it a lack of skill. ”

The tension was palpable. Even Heeseung paused mid-whistle to watch the silent war unfold.

The cook-off was well underway, and the tension in the air was thick enough to cut with a knife—appropriate, given the task at hand.

“You’re going to hurt yourself if you keep cutting like that,” Jay commented as he glanced at Jake’s haphazard knife work.

Jake scoffed, clearly offended. “Relax, chef. I’ve got this.”

Jay raised an eyebrow but didn’t press further, muttering under his breath, “You won’t be saying that when you lose a finger.”

As the timer ticked down and the pressure mounted, Jake decided to go for a bold move: peeling the peaches with a knife instead of the peeler sitting right next to him. He held the peach in one hand and the knife in the other, his concentration briefly wavering as Ni-ki shouted something about his “weird food tower.”

Then it happened—a quick slip, a sharp yelp, and the knife nicked his finger.

“Ow! Damn it!” Jake exclaimed, dropping the peach and clutching his hand. Blood welled up on his finger, and his easygoing grin was immediately replaced with a wince.

The room froze.

“Jake!” Jay barked, abandoning his station in an instant. He crossed the room in three quick strides, grabbing Jake’s wrist to inspect the cut. “What the hell were you thinking?”

Jake tried to laugh it off, though his voice wavered. “It’s nothing. Just a scratch.”

“That’s not just a scratch,” Jay snapped, already pulling Jake toward the sink. “You’re an idiot, you know that?”

Jake flinched as Jay turned on the water, the cold stream stinging his cut. “I don’t need a lecture right now.”

“You’re getting one anyway,” Jay retorted, his voice softer now but still firm. “What were you even doing? The peeler was right there.”

Jake avoided his gaze, muttering, “I thought it’d be faster.”

“Faster to the ER, maybe,” Jay shot back, grabbing a clean towel to wrap around Jake’s finger. “Hold this. Tight.”

As Jay rummaged through the first-aid kit someone had grabbed from the lobby closet, Jake watched him with an uncharacteristic quietness. The usual teasing glint in his eyes was replaced with something softer, almost... fond.

“You’re really bossy, you know that?” Jake said after a moment, a faint smirk tugging at his lips.

Jay didn’t look up as he disinfected a cotton pad. “And you’re really reckless. I guess we balance each other out.”

Jake blinked, caught off guard by the comment. “Are you... complimenting me?”

Jay finally glanced up, his sharp gaze softening just a fraction. “Don’t get used to it.”

The rest of the room watched in stunned silence, their usual bickering replaced with something oddly tender.

“Is this... foreplay?” Ni-ki whispered loudly to Jungwon, earning a swift elbow to the ribs.

As Jay carefully bandaged Jake’s finger, the room slowly went back to its usual buzz of activity. Sunoo and Sunghoon returned to their quiet commentary from the sidelines, while Heeseung loudly declared himself “the real hero” for having a first-aid kit on hand.

“You didn’t have to do all this,” Jake said quietly as Jay taped the bandage securely.

Jay glanced at him, his expression unreadable. “Someone has to keep you alive.”

Jake smiled, softer this time. “Thanks, chef.”

Jay rolled his eyes, but there was no real annoyance in the gesture. “Just... try not to die before the judging, okay?”

“Promise,” Jake said, grinning.

As Jay turned back to his station, Jake leaned toward him slightly, his voice low. “You care about me, don’t you?”

Jay didn’t miss a beat. “Not as much as I care about beating you.”

Jake laughed, shaking his head. “Sure, Jay. Whatever you say.”

The tension between the two lingered for the rest of the competition, but this time it felt... different. The bickering continued, of course, but there was a new warmth in their dynamic—an unspoken acknowledgment that, beneath all the teasing, they really did care about each other.

From the sidelines, Sunoo nudged Sunghoon. “Did you see that?”

Sunghoon smirked. “Yeah. They’re hopeless.”

“They’re cute,” Sunoo corrected.

“They’re a disaster,” Sunghoon replied, though his smirk didn’t fade. “But I guess that’s why it works.”

Jay’s dish was a beautifully plated stir-fry of tofu, spinach, and perfectly cooked ramen, topped with a delicate sprinkle of sesame seeds. Jake’s creation, on the other hand, was a chaotic tower of noodles, tofu, and peaches that teetered dangerously on the edge of the plate.

“Let the judging begin!” Heeseung declared, gesturing for the tenants to step forward.

Ni-ki was the first to try the dishes, taking a dramatic bite of Jake’s noodle-peach creation. He chewed thoughtfully before nodding. “It’s weird... but I like it.”

Jake grinned. “Told you.”

Jungwon tried Jay’s dish next, his expression lighting up as he swallowed. “This is amazing. It tastes like it came from a restaurant.”

Jay smirked, clearly pleased. “Thank you.”

Sunoo and Sunghoon took turns sampling both dishes, each offering their feedback with genuine enthusiasm. “Jake hyung’s dish is... creative,” Sunoo said diplomatically. “And Jay hyung’s is just so good.”

Sunghoon nodded. “It’s not even close. Jay wins.”

Heeseung tallied the votes with exaggerated flair before announcing the winner. “And the champion of the Serenity Heights Cooking Face-Off is... Jay!”

The room erupted into cheers as Jay raised his arms in victory, looking smugly at Jake. “Told you I was the best.”

Jake shrugged, though a playful grin tugged at his lips. “Fine. You win this round. But don’t get used to it.”

“Oh, I won’t,” Jay replied, leaning closer. “Because you’re never going to win.”

Their banter was cut short by Ni-ki’s loud declaration: “This was rigged! My vote was for Jake hyung!”

“No one cares, Ni-ki,” Jungwon muttered, dragging him toward the snack table.

As the tenants cleaned up, Sunoo leaned into Sunghoon with a soft smile. “That was fun.”

“It was loud,” Sunghoon replied, though his small smirk betrayed his enjoyment.

“Do you think Jake hyung and Jay hyung will ever admit they like each other?” Sunoo whispered.

“No,” Sunghoon said firmly. “And we should keep it that way. Watching them argue is more entertaining.”

“True,” Sunoo giggled, slipping his hand into Sunghoon’s. “What’s next on the schedule?”

“Hopefully something less chaotic,” Sunghoon muttered, though deep down, he knew better.

After the dramatic conclusion of the cooking showdown (and Jake’s near-death by peach), Heeseung gathered the tenants for the ultimate test of wit, strength, and patience: the Anything Goes Obstacle Course.

The makeshift course snaked through the lobby and up the stairwell, featuring everything from crawling under tables to balancing a tray of water cups while navigating cones. True to its name, the course included surprise challenges Heeseung had cooked up, ensuring maximum chaos.

Heeseung stood on a chair, clipboard in hand, as he addressed the group. “Alright, tenants of Serenity Heights! This is the grand finale. The winner of the obstacle course will earn eternal glory and bragging rights until the end of time—or at least until next year.”

“Or until we move out,” Sunghoon muttered, earning a giggle from Sunoo.

“Here’s how it works,” Heeseung continued. “The course is a time trial. Each of you will go individually, and the one with the fastest time wins! But—and this is a big but—there will be obstacles, surprises, and maybe even sabotage.”

“What kind of sabotage?” Jungwon asked, already wary.

Heeseung grinned. “The fun kind.”

“That’s not reassuring,” Jay muttered.

“Stop complaining, Jay,” Jake teased. “You can’t be worse at this than you are at cooking.”

Jay glared. “At least I can cut peaches without injuring myself.”

“Boys,” Sunoo interjected, his voice sweet but firm. “Save it for the course.”

One by one, the tenants took on the obstacle course, each bringing their own brand of chaos to the event.

Ni-ki stepped up with the confidence of a man who had nothing to lose. “This is my moment,” he declared, adjusting his headband.

The course started with a crawl under a series of low tables. Ni-ki zipped through effortlessly, shouting, “I’m a ninja!” as he popped out the other side. Next was the tray-balancing section, where he had to carry a tray of water cups through a series of cones.

“You spill, you fail!” Heeseung yelled.

“I don’t spill!” Ni-ki shouted back, promptly tripping over his own feet and drenching himself.

The final stretch required jumping over a pile of pillows and grabbing a flag. Ni-ki, determined to redeem himself, sprinted forward, only to trip on the last pillow and faceplant into the flagpole.

“Time!” Heeseung called, barely suppressing laughter. “2 minutes, 15 seconds. Not bad, considering you’re soaked.”

Ni-ki sat up, water dripping from his hair. “That flag tripped me.”

Jungwon shook his head. “You tripped yourself.”

Jungwon was next, approaching the course with quiet determination. He breezed through the crawling section and carefully balanced the water cups, earning a round of applause from the audience.

“See? That’s how you do it,” Jungwon said, smirking at Ni-ki.

But the final challenge—the jumping section—proved trickier. Jungwon hesitated, calculating his movements, which cost him precious seconds. Still, he managed to grab the flag without incident.

“Time: 1 minute, 45 seconds!” Heeseung announced. “A strong contender!”

Ni-ki pouted. “Show-off.”

Jake and Jay were up next, their competitive tension dialed up to eleven.

Jake went first, approaching the course with his usual mix of charm and chaos. He cleared the crawl section with ease but spilled half the water cups during the balancing section, earning groans from the audience.

“Careful!” Jay called mockingly. “You’re supposed to carry the tray, not bathe with it.”

“Keep talking, Jay,” Jake shot back. “We’ll see who wins.”

Jake finished with a time of 2 minutes flat, earning scattered applause. “Not bad,” he said, smirking at Jay. “Beat that.”

Jay stepped up, cracking his neck like he was preparing for a martial arts duel. He attacked the course with precision, his movements sharp and efficient. By the time he reached the final challenge, he was neck-and-neck with Jungwon’s time.

But as Jay leaped for the flag, Jake couldn’t resist muttering, “Don’t fall.”

Jay stumbled slightly, catching himself just in time, but the momentary distraction cost him.

“Time: 1 minute, 46 seconds!” Heeseung announced. “Oof—so close!”

Jay glared at Jake as he walked back. “You did that on purpose.”

Jake grinned. “You’re welcome.”

Sunoo approached the course with a mix of excitement and nervousness. “Do I have to crawl? My jeans are new.”

“Yes,” Heeseung replied, smirking. “Sacrifice for the glory.”

Despite his initial hesitation, Sunoo tackled the course with surprising agility. He carefully balanced the water cups and managed to keep his footing during the jumping section. By the time he reached the flag, his time was competitive.

“1 minute, 50 seconds!” Heeseung announced. “Respectable, Sunny!”

Sunoo grinned, turning to Sunghoon. “Not bad, right?”

“You’re amazing,” Sunghoon replied, ruffling his hair.

Sunghoon was the last to go, his expression calm and focused. “Let’s get this over with.”

He cleared the crawling section effortlessly and carried the water cups with the steady hands of a man used to wrangling children at his daycare job. By the time he reached the final stretch, he was on pace to beat Jungwon’s time.

The obstacle course came to an explosive conclusion, with Jungwon’s time holding strong—until Sunghoon’s surprisingly competitive run. The tenants huddled around Heeseung as he dramatically compared the scores on his clipboard.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” Heeseung announced, his voice dripping with suspense, “we have... a tie.”

The room erupted into gasps, murmurs, and one very loud “WHAT?!” from Ni-ki.

“Who tied?” Jake asked, leaning in with interest.

Heeseung adjusted his imaginary glasses, grinning. “Our two champions are Yang Jungwon and Park Sunghoon! Both finished at 1 minute, 45 seconds exactly!”

Jungwon crossed his arms, his expression calm but clearly proud. “Guess I underestimated the daycare guy.”

Sunghoon raised an eyebrow. “And I underestimated the daycare.”

Ni-ki groaned loudly. “You’re both good—blah blah blah. Who’s winning? That’s what I want to know.”

Heeseung raised a hand to silence the crowd. “Fear not! Your fearless leader came prepared for any scenario, including this very tie! And so, we shall proceed to... THE TIE-BREAKER EVENT!”

The tenants exchanged wary glances.

“What’s the tie-breaker?” Sunoo asked, tilting his head curiously.

Heeseung smirked. “I’m glad you asked, Sunny. It’s an old classic: Egg and Spoon Race! ”

Heeseung quickly set up a simple course in the lobby: a straight path with a few strategically placed cones and an ominously creaky floorboard halfway through. Each contestant would hold a spoon with a raw egg balanced on top, and whoever made it to the finish line first without dropping their egg would be crowned champion.

Sunoo clapped his hands together. “Oh, this is going to be fun!”

Sunghoon rolled up his sleeves. “This is going to be ridiculous.”

“Don’t crack under the pressure,” Jungwon teased, smirking.

“Don’t trip over your ego,” Sunghoon shot back, earning a chuckle from the crowd.

With all the tenants gathered as spectators, Heeseung raised his whistle. “On your marks! Get set! Go!”

Sunghoon and Jungwon took off cautiously, their spoons held steady as they navigated the first few steps. The room was eerily silent except for the sound of everyone holding their breath.

“You’ve got this, Hoonie!” Sunoo called out, his hands clasped in excitement.

“Don’t let him win, Jungwon!” Ni-ki yelled, practically vibrating with energy. “Do it for youth and glory!”

Both competitors approached the creaky floorboard, and the tension in the room skyrocketed. Jungwon slowed his pace, carefully adjusting his grip, while Sunghoon powered through with laser focus.

“You’re going too fast,” Jungwon warned.

“And you’re going too slow,” Sunghoon replied, his tone calm but competitive.

As they reached the cones, Sunghoon used his long strides to gain an edge, but Jungwon’s steady pace kept him just inches behind. The crowd leaned forward in anticipation.

“Come on, come on!” Jake cheered, practically bouncing on his heels.

“Someone’s going to drop it,” Jay predicted, smirking.

The final stretch was neck-and-neck. Jungwon and Sunghoon both broke into a controlled sprint, their spoons wobbling dangerously. The finish line loomed ahead, and the crowd erupted into cheers and shouts.

“He’s gonna do it!” Ni-ki screamed. “No, wait—he’s gonna drop it!”

In the last few steps, both competitors lunged forward, crossing the finish line at nearly the same time. Jungwon stumbled slightly, his egg miraculously intact, while Sunghoon caught his balance just in time.

“Time!” Heeseung yelled, running over with his clipboard. “Let’s see those eggs.”

Both competitors held up their spoons, showing two perfectly intact eggs.

“Now what?” Sunghoon asked, raising an eyebrow.

Jungwon shrugged. “Another tie?”

Heeseung rubbed his chin thoughtfully, pacing back and forth like a game show host contemplating a million-dollar decision. “This is unprecedented,” he muttered loudly, though everyone suspected he was enjoying the drama far too much.

Finally, he turned to the group with a wide grin. “We have no choice. It’s a shared victory!”

The room erupted into cheers and groans, depending on who was rooting for whom. Sunoo rushed forward to hug Sunghoon, beaming with pride. “You were amazing!”

Sunghoon smirked, wrapping an arm around him. “I had to impress you.”

Jungwon, meanwhile, accepted a high-five from Ni-ki, who immediately declared, “We’re making a trophy for you. I’ll use glitter.”

As the tenants dispersed, Sunghoon and Jungwon found themselves standing side by side, still catching their breath.

“You’re not bad,” Jungwon admitted, glancing up at Sunghoon. “For an old man.”

Sunghoon chuckled. “And you’re not as annoying as Ni-ki. High praise.”

The two shared a rare moment of mutual respect before Sunoo called Sunghoon over, holding up his phone to snap a photo.

The sun had begun to set, casting a warm golden glow across the Serenity Heights lobby. The tenants gathered for the final event: the awarding ceremony. Heeseung, naturally, stood at the center of attention, holding a clipboard and a microphone that no one was entirely sure worked.

“All right, my fellow champions of chaos,” Heeseung began, gesturing dramatically to the audience. “The time has come to crown the ultimate winner of the Serenity Heights Olympics! You’ve all competed valiantly, from folding laundry to popping balloons to risking life and limb in the obstacle course.”

Jake leaned over to Jay, whispering, “You think he rehearses this in front of a mirror?”

Jay shrugged. “It’s Heeseung hyung. Probably.”

“Before I announce the winner,” Heeseung continued, ignoring the side chatter, “let us take a moment to reflect on the journey. There was laughter, there was pain—mostly Jake’s—and there were moments that will haunt Jungwon forever.”

Jungwon muttered, “Why am I always the example?”

Ni-ki, ever dramatic, sniffled loudly. “It’s been an honor just to be here.”

“Moving on,” Heeseung said, shooting him a look. “I’ve tallied the points, and while many of you shined in individual events, only one person truly excelled.”

Heeseung cleared his throat. “In third place, we have... Nishimura Riki! ”

Ni-ki blinked, his mouth dropping open in shock. “Wait, what? Me? I didn’t even win anything!”

Jungwon sighed loudly, pinching the bridge of his nose. “You didn’t need to win. You just... wouldn’t let us hear the end of it if you didn’t place.”

The group erupted into laughter as Ni-ki’s expression turned into a delighted grin. “I knew my greatness would be recognized eventually!”

Jake smirked. “It’s called a pity placement, Ni-ki.”

“Call it what you want,” Ni-ki said smugly, snatching the ribbon Heeseung handed him. “I’m officially a winner now. Respect me.”

“You got third place for doing absolutely nothing,” Sunghoon muttered, shaking his head. “That takes a special kind of talent.”

Ni-ki beamed. “Thank you, hyung.”

“In second place,” Heeseung announced with the air of a game show host, “we have... Sim Jaeyun! ”

Jake let out an exaggerated gasp, clutching his chest. “Me? I’d like to thank the academy, my fans, and Jay for inspiring me to do better next time.”

Jay rolled his eyes. “You’re lucky you didn’t burn the entire kitchen down.”

“Hey, that’s how legends are made,” Jake replied, accepting his ribbon and flashing a peace sign. “I’ll take you down next year.”

“Sure you will,” Jay said with a smirk, leaning casually against the table.

“And now,” Heeseung declared, holding the golden ladle high above his head, “the ultimate champion of the Serenity Heights Olympics, master of cooking, folding, and popping balloons is... Park Jongseong! ”

The group erupted into applause (with Ni-ki clapping a little louder than necessary, clearly trying to distract from his third-place pity win).

Jay stepped forward, accepting the golden ladle with a confident smirk. “This,” he said, holding it aloft, “is proof that skill, focus, and knowing how to fold better than everyone else will always win.”

“Don’t forget humility,” Sunghoon muttered under his breath, earning a chuckle from Sunoo.

As the ceremony wrapped up, Heeseung addressed the group one last time. “Thanks to all of you for making this day unforgettable—and for providing me with enough blackmail material to last a lifetime. And I think I speak for everyone when I say we should do this again next year!”

The tenants nodded in agreement, their earlier competitiveness giving way to laughter and camaraderie.

“Can I win next year?” Ni-ki asked, raising his hand.

“No,” came a chorus of voices, led by Jungwon.

As the tenants trickled out of the lobby, Jay stood by the table, polishing his golden ladle. Jake walked over, hands in his pockets.

“You really gonna keep that?” Jake asked, nodding at the trophy.

“Absolutely,” Jay replied, his tone teasing. “It’s proof I’m better than you.”

Jake laughed, leaning slightly closer. “You just wait. Next year, I’ll take that ladle—and your title.”

Jay’s smirk widened. “You can try.”

Chapter Text

It was a quiet morning in Serenity Heights—too quiet, actually. For a building full of chaotic tenants, the silence almost felt ominous. Heeseung was humming to himself in the kitchen, preparing his usual coffee, when a soft meow broke through the stillness.

He glanced toward the open window, furrowing his brows. Another meow followed, this one louder, almost demanding.

“What the...?” Heeseung muttered, setting his mug down and walking toward the window.

Peering out, he spotted it: a gray-and-white cat perched precariously on the window ledge of the stairwell, its tail flicking lazily as if it owned the building. Its large, emerald eyes locked onto Heeseung’s, and it meowed again—a sound so perfectly timed it felt almost sarcastic.

Heeseung blinked. “Where did you come from?”

The cat meowed again, tilting its head as if to say, Mind your business.

“I don’t have time for this,” Heeseung muttered, shaking his head. “I have a date today. I can’t get sidetracked by some random cat.”

As if offended by his dismissal, the cat jumped gracefully onto the railing and disappeared from view.

“Whatever,” Heeseung said, shrugging. “Not my problem.”

From the second floor, Ni-ki had already started blasting his playlist. The tenants were slowly beginning their routines: Jake was out for his morning jog, Sunoo and Sunghoon were eating breakfast, and Jungwon was doing laundry, grateful for a rare moment of peace.

The peace, of course, didn’t last.

Ni-ki had just stepped into the lobby, phone in hand, ready to live-stream his morning thoughts when a loud meow echoed through the room. He froze mid-sentence, his eyes darting around like a kid looking for the source of an ice cream truck jingle.

“What was that?” he muttered to himself, glancing toward the door.

Another meow answered him, this time louder. Slowly, Ni-ki approached the entrance, his phone still recording, and pushed the door open.

Sitting majestically on the welcome mat was a gray-and-white cat, her fur slightly ruffled, her eyes half-lidded in that condescending way only cats could pull off. She looked at Ni-ki like she was already regretting coming here.

“Oh. My. God,” Ni-ki whispered, dropping his phone onto the nearest chair. “It’s a cat. A living, breathing, perfect, fluffy cat. ”

The cat tilted her head slightly, letting out another unimpressed meow.

Ni-ki crouched down slowly, extending a hand as if approaching royalty. “Hey there, beautiful. Are you lost? Or did the universe send you here to bless me?”

The cat flicked her tail, clearly considering her options, before cautiously sniffing his hand.

“She’s perfect, ” Ni-ki breathed, barely holding back tears of joy.

Jungwon walked into the lobby a few minutes later, a laundry basket balanced on his hip. He paused mid-step at the sight of Ni-ki kneeling on the floor, whispering sweet nothings to a cat.

“What are you doing?” Jungwon asked, raising an eyebrow.

Ni-ki looked up, his face lit with a radiant grin. “Meeting my new best friend.”

Jungwon set his laundry basket down and walked over, taking in the scruffy, regal-looking cat. “Where did she come from?”

“She appeared out of nowhere, like a miracle,” Ni-ki replied, stroking the cat’s head. “I’m calling her Serenity.”

Jungwon rolled his eyes. “You can’t just name her.”

“Why not? She’s basically family now,” Ni-ki said, cradling the cat like a baby. To his surprise—and Jungwon’s—the cat didn’t immediately scratch him.

Jungwon crouched down, studying the cat more closely. “She’s got a collar,” he noted, pointing to the faint impression around her neck. “She might belong to someone.”

“She’s obviously here for me, ” Ni-ki argued. “Look at how calm she is!”

The cat let out a soft purr, nuzzling against Ni-ki’s hand.

Jungwon frowned. “That doesn’t mean she’s yours. We should take her to the vet later to see if she has a microchip.”

Ni-ki gasped, clutching the cat protectively. “What if she doesn’t? What if she’s all alone in this cruel world? We have to adopt her.”

Jungwon sighed, already regretting the conversation. “Let’s start with making sure she’s healthy, okay?”

As the argument continued, the other tenants started trickling into the lobby.

“What’s going on?” Sunoo asked, walking in with a cup of coffee.

“Look!” Ni-ki said, holding the cat up like a trophy. “Our new mascot.”

Sunoo’s face lit up. “Oh my gosh, she’s adorable! Where did she come from?”

“She was waiting for me at the door,” Ni-ki said proudly. “It’s destiny.”

Jake wandered in next, towel draped over his shoulders from his morning run. He paused at the sight of the group huddled around the cat. “What’s this?”

“Serenity,” Ni-ki said dramatically. “The newest member of our family.”

Jake blinked. “We’re keeping her?”

“Of course!” Ni-ki replied, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

“Pretty sure pets aren’t allowed in the building,” Jake pointed out.

Ni-ki froze, his smile faltering. “...What?”

Jay walked in at that moment, bag of groceries in hand. “What’s happening now?” he asked, glancing at the group.

“Ni-ki adopted a stray cat,” Jake replied flatly.

Jay raised an eyebrow. “Are we even allowed to have pets?”

“Let’s not focus on the rules right now,” Ni-ki said quickly. “Let’s focus on her cuteness.”

By the time Heeseung entered the lobby, drawn by the commotion, the crowd around the mysterious stray cat had grown to include nearly every tenant.

“What’s going on?” he asked, his voice carrying over the chatter as he stepped into the middle of the chaos.

Ni-ki immediately bounded over to him, his excitement palpable. “Hyung! There’s a cat! A real cat! And it just showed up out of nowhere!”

“A cat?” Heeseung repeated, glancing down at the gray-and-white creature now lounging lazily on the lobby floor, completely unbothered by the attention. The cat looked up at him, its emerald eyes narrowing as if to say, Oh, you again.

Heeseung blinked, recognition dawning. “Wait, is that...?”

“You’ve seen it before?” Jungwon asked, adjusting his hoodie as he crouched down to inspect the cat more closely.

“Yeah,” Heeseung admitted reluctantly, scratching the back of his neck. “It was hanging around outside my window this morning.”

Ni-ki gasped dramatically, clutching Jungwon’s arm. “Hyung, the cat chose you! You’re its human now!”

“I’m not anyone’s human,” Heeseung replied flatly, though his gaze lingered on the cat. “I didn’t even do anything.”

“That’s how it works,” Ni-ki insisted, kneeling beside the cat and attempting to pet it. “The cat decides. You don’t get a say.”

“Great,” Heeseung muttered, crossing his arms. “Well, as much as I’d love to discuss the philosophy of cat ownership, I have somewhere to be.”

Sunoo perked up, stepping closer. “Your date?”

“Yep,” Heeseung replied, tugging at the collar of his shirt. “I’ve got exactly three hours to make myself presentable, and I’m not spending it babysitting a stray.”

Ni-ki frowned. “But hyung—”

“No buts,” Heeseung interrupted, already backing toward the stairwell. “You guys deal with it. I’ve got enough on my plate.”

As he turned to leave, the cat let out a loud, indignant meow, making Heeseung pause mid-step. He glanced back, and for a brief moment, their eyes met again. There was something about the way the cat looked at him—like it knew exactly how to get under his skin.

Heeseung shook his head, breaking the stare. “Not my problem,” he muttered, disappearing up the stairs.

Sunoo tilted his head curiously. “Do you think the cat likes him?”

Jungwon sighed. “I think the cat likes chaos, which means it’ll fit right in here.”

The conversation was interrupted by the sound of the convenience store door opening. Mr. Shin stepped into the lobby, his usual quiet presence drawing everyone’s attention. He glanced at the group, then at the cat in Ni-ki’s arms.

“New tenant?” he asked dryly.

“She’s ours now,” Ni-ki said firmly, as if daring anyone to challenge him.

Mr. Shin stared at the cat for a long moment before shrugging. “She looks smarter than half of you.”

Ni-ki grinned. “See? Even Mr. Shin approves!”

“I didn’t say that,” Mr. Shin replied, heading back to his store.

The air in Heeseung’s apartment was thick with the scent of cologne and the faint hum of nervous energy. He stood in front of his full-length mirror, adjusting his tie for what felt like the twentieth time.

“You’ve got this,” he muttered to himself, straightening his blazer. “You’re suave. You’re charming. You’re... definitely overthinking this.”

He glanced at the clock on his wall. Forty-five minutes until his blind date with Karina—a graphic designer who had sounded charming over text but whose in-person impression was yet to be determined.

Heeseung took a deep breath and turned to his apartment’s only other occupant: a half-eaten box of pizza on the counter. “Wish me luck,” he said solemnly, as if the pizza could offer sage advice.

Just as Heeseung was about to leave, there was a loud knock on his door. He opened it to find Sunoo and Ni-ki standing there, Ni-ki holding a hairbrush like a microphone.

“We’re here for the final inspection,” Sunoo announced, barging in without waiting for an invitation.

“Final inspection?” Heeseung echoed, bewildered.

“Yes,” Ni-ki said, following Sunoo inside. “You can’t represent Serenity Heights looking like an insurance salesman.”

Sunoo clapped his hands. “Alright, Heeseung-hyung. Stand still.”

Heeseung sighed but complied, holding his arms out as Sunoo and Ni-ki circled him like sharks. Sunoo tugged at his blazer, smoothing the fabric, while Ni-ki squinted at his shoes.

“Brown loafers?” Ni-ki asked, raising an eyebrow. “Bold choice.”

“What’s wrong with them?” Heeseung asked defensively.

“They scream ‘middle manager at a company dinner,’” Ni-ki replied.

“He’s not wrong,” Sunoo admitted. “Do you have anything sleeker?”

“I don’t need sleeker,” Heeseung grumbled, pulling his arm away. “It’s a blind date, not a red carpet.”

“But first impressions matter!” Ni-ki insisted. “What if she sees the shoes and immediately loses interest?”

Heeseung stared at him. “If my shoes are a dealbreaker, then she’s not the one.”

Sunoo laughed. “Fair point. But let us at least fix your hair.”

Ni-ki leaned in, scrutinizing Heeseung’s neatly combed hair. “It’s too stiff. You look like a TV news anchor.”

“Excuse me for not looking like a K-pop star,” Heeseung retorted, swatting Ni-ki’s hand away.

“Relax,” Sunoo said soothingly, stepping in with a small bottle of styling wax. “Just let me fix it a bit. We’ll keep it natural but polished.”

The atmosphere in Heeseung’s apartment was already chaotic thanks to Sunoo and Ni-ki’s impromptu “fashion intervention,” but the chaos tripled when the rest of the tenants started showing up.

It began with Jake, who strolled in unannounced, a protein shake in hand. He looked Heeseung up and down and nodded approvingly. “Not bad, hyung. You clean up well.”

“I wasn’t looking for validation,” Heeseung muttered, adjusting his blazer for the tenth time.

“Oh, don’t worry,” Jake said, plopping down onto Heeseung’s couch. “You’ll get it anyway. Who’s the lucky lady?”

“Her name’s Karina,” Heeseung replied, his tone wary. “We matched on a dating app.”

Before Jake could respond, Jay walked in carrying a box of macarons. “Thought you might need a backup gift,” he said, setting them on the counter.

“What’s this, a wedding?” Heeseung joked, raising an eyebrow.

“It’s called being thoughtful,” Jay replied, smirking. “Not that you’d know anything about that.”

“Hey, I’m plenty thoughtful!” Heeseung protested, but Sunoo cut him off.

“Focus, Heeseung-hyung!” Sunoo said, tugging on his blazer to smooth out the wrinkles. “We need to make sure you’re perfect before you walk out that door.”

Meanwhile, Ni-ki was crouched by Heeseung’s shoe rack, muttering to himself as he inspected every pair. “Loafers? No. Sneakers? Too casual. Hyung, do you own anything stylish?”

“They’re shoes, Ni-ki. No one’s going to care,” Heeseung replied, exasperated.

“Wrong,” Ni-ki said dramatically, holding up a pair of plain black boots. “These. They’re understated but classy. Trust me.”

“I’m not taking fashion advice from someone who thinks Crocs are a statement piece,” Heeseung shot back.

“Crocs are versatile!” Ni-ki argued, standing up and crossing his arms. “But fine. Stick to your boring loafers.”

Jungwon arrived next, holding a small lint roller. “I figured you’d need this,” he said, tossing it to Heeseung.

“Thanks, but I’m not covered in lint,” Heeseung replied.

“Not yet,” Jungwon said, gesturing to Ni-ki, who was still fussing with the shoe rack. “But with him around, it’s only a matter of time.”

“Hey!” Ni-ki protested. “I’m improving his look!”

“He’s improving my headache,” Heeseung muttered, running the lint roller over his blazer anyway.

Sunghoon was the last to arrive, leaning casually against the doorframe with his arms crossed. “You look nervous,” he observed.

“I’m not nervous,” Heeseung lied, adjusting his tie.

“Yeah, you are,” Sunghoon replied, smirking. “Just don’t overthink it. Be confident, make her laugh, and if all else fails, fake an emergency and leave early.”

“Great advice, Sunghoon,” Jay said sarcastically. “Truly inspiring.”

“I’m just saying,” Sunghoon continued, shrugging. “Dating’s not that complicated. Either it works, or it doesn’t.”

As the tenants continued fussing over Heeseung’s appearance, Sunoo sat cross-legged on the arm of the couch, absently rearranging a vase of faux flowers that Ni-ki had knocked over in his enthusiasm.

“You know,” he began, glancing at Heeseung with a teasing smile, “you remind me of Hoonie on our first date.”

Sunghoon, who was leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, raised an eyebrow. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Sunoo smirked. “I mean, you were just as nervous as Heeseung-hyung.”

“I wasn’t nervous,” Sunghoon retorted, straightening up. “I was composed.”

Ni-ki, always ready to stir the pot, leaned forward eagerly. “Wait, wait, wait. I need details. What was your first date like?”

“Yes!” Jake added, grinning. “Spill, Sunoo.”

Sunoo’s face lit up with mischief. “Well, it was supposed to be a simple dinner date. Nothing fancy.”

Sunghoon groaned, rubbing his temples. “Here we go.”

Sunoo grinned, enjoying the spotlight. “So, Hoonie took me to this cozy little Italian restaurant. Super romantic, right?”

“Sounds nice,” Jay said, nodding approvingly.

“It was,” Sunoo continued. “Until the waiter accidentally spilled a full glass of red wine on Hoonie’s white shirt.”

Ni-ki gasped dramatically. “No!”

“Oh, yes,” Sunoo said, giggling. “Hoonie tried to play it cool, but he looked like he’d been in a paintball fight.”

Sunghoon sighed. “It wasn’t that bad.”

“It was,” Sunoo teased. “And then, when the waiter came back to apologize, Hoonie said, ‘Don’t worry about it,’ but accidentally knocked over the bread basket in the process.”

Jake burst out laughing. “Smooth.”

“It was a disaster,” Sunghoon admitted, though his lips twitched with a reluctant smile. “But someone couldn’t stop laughing at my expense.”

“Because you were adorable!” Sunoo said, reaching over to nudge him. “You were so flustered, but you still kept trying to impress me.”

Jay smirked. “So how did you manage to win Sunoo over after all that?”

Sunoo’s eyes softened, his playful tone giving way to sincerity. “He just… didn’t give up. Even after all the chaos, he made sure I was comfortable and happy. He even walked me home and insisted I take his jacket because it was cold.”

Sunghoon shrugged, looking slightly embarrassed. “It wasn’t a big deal.”

“It was to me,” Sunoo said, smiling at him.

Ni-ki wiped an imaginary tear from his eye. “This is the kind of romance I aspire to.”

Heeseung crossed his arms, looking at Sunghoon. “So, what’s your advice, Romeo?”

Sunghoon met his gaze, his expression steady. “Just be genuine. It’s not about being perfect. It’s about showing you care.”

“That’s… actually good advice,” Jake admitted, looking impressed.

Heeseung nodded thoughtfully, a small smile tugging at his lips. “Alright, I’ll keep that in mind. Thanks, Sunghoon.”

Sunghoon shrugged. “Don’t mention it. Just don’t knock over any bread baskets.”

As the laughter died down, Sunoo leaned against Sunghoon’s shoulder, looking up at him with a soft smile. “Hoonie likes to pretend he’s all cool and unbothered, but he’s always been a softie underneath.”

Sunghoon rolled his eyes, but his arm instinctively came up to rest around Sunoo’s waist. “You’re ruining my image.”

“You don’t have an image to ruin,” Sunoo teased, poking his side. “Besides, everyone knows you’re a big marshmallow when it comes to me.”

The other tenants burst out laughing. “Hyung, you’re whipped. Admit it,” Jungwon quips.

Sunghoon smirked, his gaze flicking between the group and Sunoo. “If being whipped means I get to keep him, then fine. Guilty as charged.”

The room collectively let out a mix of groans and cheers, with Jay muttering, “Ugh, get a room,” while Jake clutched his chest. “Romance is real!”

“I hate how effortlessly you two make it look,” Heeseung grumbled, adjusting his tie for the umpteenth time. “Meanwhile, I’m over here sweating over every detail like my life depends on it.”

“Because this is your first date in, what, six months?” Jake teased, leaning back against the counter.

“Seven, but who’s counting?” Heeseung shot back.

Sunoo, always the peacemaker, smiled reassuringly at him. “It doesn’t have to be perfect, Heeseung-hyung. Just focus on showing her the real you. The one who’s kind, thoughtful, and—”

“Prone to dramatic karaoke performances,” Sunghoon interrupted with a smirk.

“Exactly!” Sunoo agreed, ignoring the jab. “That’s the Heeseung-hyung she needs to meet.”

Heeseung arrived at the café ten minutes early, which was a miracle considering how the tenants had delayed him with their endless commentary. The little café was quaint, with warm wooden interiors and fairy lights strung across the ceiling. It was the kind of place that exuded charm, much like Heeseung hoped to exude tonight.

He glanced around nervously, adjusting his tie once more as he spotted a petite woman with long and wavy black hair sitting by the window. She was scrolling through her phone, a cup of tea steaming in front of her. She looked exactly like her dating app pictures—confident, polished, and, unfortunately, way out of his league.

“This is fine,” Heeseung muttered to himself as he approached her table. “You’ve got this.”

When he reached her, she glanced up, her eyes lighting up as she stood to greet him. “Hi! Heeseung?”

“That’s me,” Heeseung said with a warm smile, pulling out her chair for her before sitting down himself. “And you must be Karina.”

Karina nodded, her smile making Heeseung’s nerves ease—just a little. “It’s nice to finally meet you. You look even better in person.”

“Oh, uh, thanks,” Heeseung stammered, his ears turning pink. “You too. I mean—you look great too.”

Smooth.

As the two settled into their conversation, Heeseung began to relax. They discussed their jobs—Karina told him about her graphic design projects, and Heeseung explained the controlled chaos of wedding planning. She laughed at his stories, nodding along enthusiastically.

But just as Heeseung was beginning to feel like the date was going well, he caught a familiar movement out of the corner of his eye. His heart sank.

There, peeking around the café door like a furry spy, was the gray-and-white stray cat.

“No way,” Heeseung muttered under his breath.

Karina tilted her head. “What was that?”

“Oh, uh, nothing,” Heeseung said quickly, trying to block the cat from his line of sight. “Just clearing my throat.”

The cat, undeterred, padded into the café with an air of regal confidence. Heeseung froze as it locked eyes with him, tail swishing lazily. Of all the places to follow him, why here?

“Do you like cats?” Karina asked suddenly, noticing Heeseung’s distracted expression.

“Oh, sure. Cats are great,” Heeseung replied quickly, glancing at the cat, which had now taken residence under a nearby table. He silently begged it to stay there and not make a scene.

Karina’s face lit up. “I love cats! They’re so independent and graceful. Do you have one?”

Heeseung hesitated for a fraction of a second before nodding. “Uh, yeah. Actually, I do.”

Karina’s eyes widened. “Really? What’s their name?”

“Serenity,” Heeseung said automatically, cursing Ni-ki in his head for planting the name earlier.

“Serenity,” Karina repeated, smiling. “That’s beautiful. What’s she like?”

Heeseung scrambled for an answer, glancing at the cat again for inspiration. “She’s... very intelligent. And, uh, affectionate. We have a special bond.”

The cat, as if on cue, sauntered closer, weaving between the legs of the tables. Heeseung’s pulse quickened as he tried to maintain his composure.

“That’s so sweet,” Karina said, resting her chin on her hand. “You must really love her.”

“Oh, absolutely,” Heeseung said, leaning into the lie. “She’s... a bit of a diva, but in a charming way. She’s actually really in tune with my emotions.”

Karina’s smile grew. “I love that. A cat who understands you. That’s so rare.”

Heeseung forced a chuckle. “Yeah. She’s... one of a kind.”

Unfortunately for Heeseung, Serenity was not content to remain a passive observer. As Karina asked him another question, the cat suddenly jumped onto the empty chair beside Heeseung, startling them both.

“Oh!” Karina exclaimed, her eyes widening. “Is this...?”

Heeseung stared at the cat, who stared right back as if to say, Yes, it’s me. You’re welcome.

“Yes!” Heeseung said quickly, trying to mask his panic. “This is Serenity. She must’ve... followed me here. She’s very attached.”

Karina beamed, leaning over to pet the cat. “She’s gorgeous. Look at those eyes! And her fur is so soft.”

Serenity, basking in the attention, let out a contented purr.

“She, uh, has great taste,” Heeseung said weakly, wondering how his life had spiraled into this bizarre scenario.

Karina looked up at him, her expression warm. “I think it’s sweet that she followed you. It shows how much she trusts you.”

“Yeah,” Heeseung said, relaxing slightly. “She’s a good judge of character.”

Serenity, as if sensing the compliment, promptly jumped onto the table and sniffed Karina’s teacup.

“Serenity!” Heeseung hissed, gently scooping her up. “Sorry about that. She’s a little... curious.”

Karina laughed. “It’s fine. Honestly, I think this is the most memorable date I’ve ever been on.”

Heeseung blinked. “Really?”

“Really,” Karina said, her smile genuine. “You’re charming, and Serenity’s adorable. It’s a perfect combo.”

While Heeseung was busy trying to charm Karina, the rest of the Serenity Heights tenants were embarking on their own chaotic mission: finding the mysterious gray-and-white cat that had somehow disappeared from the building.

In the lobby, Ni-ki paced back and forth like a commander strategizing for battle. “Alright, everyone, this is serious. The cat could be anywhere by now. We need to think like it. Where would a cute, intelligent creature go?”

“To avoid you?” Jay muttered. “Probably the furthest corner of the building.”

“Hey!” Ni-ki protested, puffing his cheeks. “This is no time for jokes, Jay-hyung. We have to save the cat.”

“We’re not saving it,” Jungwon corrected, tying his hoodie strings tighter as he crouched to inspect under the couches. “We’re just trying to make sure it’s safe.”

“That’s basically saving,” Ni-ki replied stubbornly. “Alright, team,” Ni-ki said dramatically, standing in the middle of the lobby like a self-appointed general. “This is a coordinated operation. Everyone needs to stick to their roles.”

“We don’t have roles,” Jungwon muttered, tying his hoodie strings tighter. “We’re just looking for a cat.”

“You’re in charge of reconnaissance,” Ni-ki declared, pointing at Jungwon. “Use your vet clinic instincts to figure out where it’s hiding.”

“That’s not how it works,” Jungwon deadpanned, but Ni-ki ignored him.

“Jake-hyung and Jay-hyung, you guys are on perimeter duty. Secure all exits in case the cat tries to escape.”

Jake crossed his arms. “We’re looking for a cat, not planning a heist.”

“Exactly,” Jay added. “And why am I taking orders from a 21-year-old?”

Ni-ki glared at them. “Because I’m the only one who understands the importance of this mission!”

“Sure you are,” Jay muttered, rolling his eyes.

While Ni-ki argued with Jay and Jake, Sunoo was already searching the stairwell, crouching low and clicking his tongue softly. “Here, kitty, kitty,” he called, his voice gentle. “Come on, sweetie. We’re not going to hurt you.”

Sunghoon leaned against the wall, arms crossed, watching his boyfriend with a mixture of fondness and exasperation. “Do you really think it’s going to come to you like that?”

“Of course,” Sunoo said brightly, glancing back at him. “You just have to show it that you care.”

Sunghoon smirked. “Good luck with that. Cats aren’t exactly known for being cooperative.”

“Well, maybe it senses your negativity,” Sunoo shot back, sticking his tongue out. “Why don’t you try being nice for once?”

Sunghoon sighed, turning to look at him. “You really care about this cat, huh?”

Sunoo smiled sheepishly. “She reminds me of us. Wandering, trying to find a place to belong.”

Sunghoon softened at that, leaning in to kiss his forehead. “You’re too good for this world.”

Meanwhile, Jake and Jay were patrolling the hallways with all the enthusiasm of two people who’d rather be anywhere else.

“Why do I always get stuck with you?” Jake asked as they scoured the convenience store on the first floor.

“Because fate loves irony,” Jay replied, peeking behind a shelf. “Any sign of her?”

“No,” Jake grumbled. “Just dusty snacks and a pack of ramen someone forgot.”

Jake and Jay’s partnership quickly devolved into their usual bickering.

“You’re supposed to check that room,” Jay said, pointing to an open door.

“I am,” Jake replied, leaning against the doorframe. “From here.”

Jay groaned, grabbing his arm and dragging him inside. “Lazy much?”

“This is ridiculous,” Jay muttered, peering into the utility closet. “The cat probably left the building by now.”

“Or it’s hiding somewhere stupid, like inside a dryer,” Jake replied, opening a random cabinet. “We should’ve put food out as bait.”

Jay scoffed. “You mean like those fancy chocolates Ni-ki stole from you?”

Jake glared at him. “I told you never to bring that up again.”

“Just saying,” Jay said with a smirk. “If you’d left them out, we’d probably have the cat by now.”

Jake closed the cabinet door a little harder than necessary. “You’re impossible.”

“And you’re too sensitive,” Jay shot back.

Back in the lobby, Ni-ki had taken matters into his own hands. He stood in the center of the room, holding a bag of cat treats he’d somehow acquired. Shaking the bag dramatically, he called out, “Come to me, feline overlord! I bring you offerings of food and love!”

Jungwon, who had been checking behind the couches, sighed deeply. “Ni-ki, that’s not going to work.”

“Have some faith, Jungwon-hyung,” Ni-ki replied, tossing a treat onto the floor. “Cats can’t resist the sound of snacks.”

Ni-ki had taken it upon himself to create a trail of treats leading from the doorway to the couches. “It’s foolproof,” he declared, dropping another kibble. “No cat can resist free food.”

Jungwon sighed, his patience wearing thin. “Ni-ki, you’re going to attract ants, not the cat.”

“That’s a risk I’m willing to take,” Ni-ki replied dramatically.

While the tenants searched high and low, the cat had settled comfortably in the café where Heeseung was on his date. Perched on a chair beside him, it looked utterly at ease, as if this were all part of its master plan.

The waiter returned with their drinks, apologizing profusely for the interruption. “We can remove the cat if—”

“No, it’s fine!” Karina interrupted, petting Serenity’s head. “She’s so well-behaved.”

Heeseung forced a smile as the cat purred loudly under Karina’s touch. “Yep. She’s great.”

Karina giggled. “You must take such good care of her.”

“I do,” Heeseung said, barely masking his panic. “She’s my number one priority.”

As Heeseung started to relax, thinking he might just survive the afternoon, Serenity decided to shake things up. The cat suddenly stood up, stretched, and leaped onto the table, knocking over Karina’s water glass.

“Oh no!” Karina exclaimed, grabbing napkins.

Heeseung scrambled to grab the cat, muttering through gritted teeth, “She’s... spirited.”

Karina laughed, brushing it off. “She’s just curious. I love that about cats.”

Despite the chaos, Karina seemed charmed, but the date quickly unraveled as Serenity refused to settle down. The cat knocked over the bread basket, pawed at the centerpiece, and even tried to swipe a piece of Karina’s pasta.

“Oh, Serenity,” Karina cooed, completely unbothered. “She’s got so much personality.”

“Yes,” Heeseung said weakly, desperately trying to regain control of the situation. “She’s... one of a kind.”

When Serenity finally jumped off the table and disappeared under the neighboring booth, Heeseung excused himself to crawl after her, earning curious stares from other diners.

Karina watched with an amused smile as Heeseung emerged moments later, looking disheveled but holding the cat like it was a prized possession.

“You two are so in sync,” Karina said dreamily. “It’s adorable.”

“Yep,” Heeseung said, forcing a smile as sweat dripped down his back. “Best. Friends.”

Back at Serenity Heights, Jungwon suddenly froze mid-search, realization dawning. “Wait a second,” he said, standing up abruptly. “What if the cat followed Heeseung-hyung?”

Ni-ki’s eyes widened. “To his date?”

“It makes sense,” Jungwon continued. “He said it was near him this morning, and we haven’t seen it in the building since.”

Ni-ki gasped. “Hyung! You’re a genius!”

“I’m not,” Jungwon muttered, already heading toward the door. “Come on. Let’s check the café.”

When the group arrived at the café, they peered through the windows and spotted Heeseung and Karina laughing together—along with the cat, who was lounging on the table like it owned the place.

“There it is!” Ni-ki whispered, pointing excitedly.

Sunoo gasped. “It followed him! That’s so cute.”

“Or creepy,” Sunghoon muttered, crossing his arms.

Before they could decide on a plan, Heeseung glanced toward the window and froze. His eyes widened in horror as he spotted the entire group huddled outside, waving at him.

“Unbelievable,” he muttered under his breath.

The cat, sensing its audience, meowed loudly, drawing Karina’s attention. She turned toward the window, smiling when she saw the group.

“Friends of yours?” she asked.

“Something like that,” Heeseung replied, his tone resigned. “Excuse me for a moment.”

As Heeseung stepped outside, the tenants bombarded him with questions.

“Hyung, why didn’t you tell us the cat was with you?” Ni-ki asked, pouting.

“I didn’t know!” Heeseung shot back. “It just... showed up.”

“Well, it clearly likes you,” Sunoo said with a grin. “Look how comfortable it is.”

“Yeah, great,” Heeseung muttered, running a hand through his hair. “But can you guys leave now? You’re ruining the vibe.”

“Fine,” Sunghoon said, already turning to leave. “But you’re explaining this later.”

As the group reluctantly headed back, Heeseung sighed, reentering the café. The cat blinked at him, its tail flicking lazily, as if to say, You’re welcome.

By the time Heeseung returned to Serenity Heights, the tenants were already waiting for him in the lobby. It was as if they had planned the ambush—though knowing them, it probably wasn’t far from the truth.

“Hyung!” Ni-ki called the moment Heeseung stepped inside, practically sprinting toward him. “What happened? How did it go? Did you propose? Did she accept? Is the cat your best man?”

Heeseung blinked at the barrage of questions, shaking his head. “Whoa, slow down! I literally just walked in.”

Sunoo appeared beside Ni-ki, his eyes sparkling with curiosity. “Come on, Heeseung-hyung. You have to tell us everything!”

Jake leaned casually against the wall, smirking. “Yeah, hyung. Spill the tea. Did the cat win her over?”

Heeseung groaned, rubbing the back of his neck. “Can I at least get to my apartment first?”

“Nope,” Jay replied, crossing his arms. “Lobby debriefing is mandatory. Building tradition.”

“What tradition?” Heeseung muttered, but he didn’t protest further. Instead, he let out a long sigh and plopped down onto the couch. “Alright, fine. Here’s what happened.”

The tenants crowded around Heeseung as he began recounting the date, their faces alight with anticipation.

“First of all,” Heeseung began, “the date itself went... surprisingly well. Karina is smart, funny, and way too good-looking for me, but somehow, she seemed to enjoy my company.”

“That’s a given,” Ni-ki said, waving a hand. “You’re the heart of this building.”

“Please stop,” Heeseung muttered, though a faint smile tugged at his lips. “Anyway, we were having a nice conversation, and then... the cat showed up.”

The room erupted into laughter.

“It followed you all the way there?” Jungwon asked, though he didn’t sound surprised.

“Yep,” Heeseung replied, sighing. “Just strolled into the café like it owned the place and sat down next to me.”

“That’s kind of sweet,” Sunoo said, his eyes wide with delight.

“It was embarrassing,” Heeseung corrected. “I thought Karina was going to think I was some kind of weirdo.”

“But she didn’t, right?” Jake asked, leaning forward.

“No,” Heeseung admitted, his tone softening. “She’s actually a huge cat lover. She thought it was adorable that the cat followed me, and—get this—she believed me when I said it was mine.”

Ni-ki gasped dramatically. “Hyung, you lied to her?”

“Not lied,” Heeseung said defensively. “I just... withheld some details.”

Jay snorted. “Like the part where you’ve never owned a cat in your life?”

“Exactly,” Heeseung said, ignoring Jay’s sarcasm. “I picked up the name—Serenity, by the way—and told her we have this deep connection.”

“That’s oddly romantic,” Sunoo said, resting his chin on his hand.

“It worked, though,” Heeseung continued, a small grin forming. “She said she’d love to meet the cat again sometime. And... she asked me out for a second date.”

The tenants erupted into cheers, even Sunghoon cracking a faint smile.

“See? I told you it’d go well!” Sunoo said, clapping his hands.

Ni-ki leaned closer. “So, what now? Are you going to keep the cat?”

Heeseung hesitated, his gaze shifting to Jungwon. “We still need to take it to the vet first. See if it belongs to someone.”

Jungwon nodded. “We can go tomorrow. I’ll check for a microchip and make sure it’s healthy.”

“And if it doesn’t belong to anyone?” Ni-ki pressed, his eyes shining with hope.

“We’ll figure it out,” Heeseung said vaguely, though his expression softened as he thought back to Karina’s excitement. “But... I wouldn’t mind keeping it.”

Ni-ki practically exploded with excitement. “Yes! Serenity is part of the family now!”

“We haven’t decided anything yet,” Jungwon interjected, trying to rein him in.

“Details,” Ni-ki said dismissively, already planning how to spoil the cat.

As the group began to disperse, Jay nudged Jake with a smirk. “Bet you five bucks she’s going to find out eventually Heeseung hyung’s not exactly a cat person.”

Jake chuckled. “I’m more surprised he pulled off that date.”

Meanwhile, Sunoo turned to Sunghoon, his eyes sparkling. “Isn’t it romantic? The cat showing up, Karina loving it—it’s like fate.”

Sunghoon arched an eyebrow. “If you call a stray crashing a date fate, sure.”

“Don’t be such a cynic, Hoonie,” Sunoo teased, nudging him gently. “It’s cute.”

As the tenants headed back to their apartments, Heeseung lingered for a moment, his gaze drifting toward the empty spot where the cat had lounged in the lobby earlier.

“You’re more trouble than you’re worth,” he muttered under his breath, though there was no malice in his tone. If anything, it was tinged with reluctant fondness.

The cat, wherever it was, had no idea how much chaos it had just unleashed—but one thing was certain: Serenity Heights would never be the same.

The next morning, Serenity Heights was abuzz with excitement (and chaos) as Jungwon prepared to take the stray cat to the vet. Ni-ki, naturally, had insisted on tagging along.

“It’s not every day we embark on a heroic mission,” Ni-ki declared, carrying the cat carrier like it was a sacred artifact. Inside, the gray-and-white cat lounged regally, its tail flicking in irritation.

“This isn’t a mission,” Jungwon corrected, adjusting his bag. “We’re just checking for a microchip.”

Ni-ki peeked into the carrier with a grin. “You hear that, Serenity? You’re about to meet your destiny.”

“Stop calling it Serenity,” Jungwon muttered, but his lips twitched with the faintest hint of amusement.

The clinic was relatively quiet that morning, much to Jungwon’s relief. He led the way inside, Ni-ki trailing behind with wide eyes, taking in every detail like it was his first time in such a place.

“Morning, Jungwon!” the receptionist greeted, smiling warmly. “What do we have here?”

“A stray we found,” Jungwon replied, setting the carrier gently on the counter. “We’re here to check for a microchip.”

“And this is...?” the receptionist asked, nodding toward Ni-ki.

“His assistant,” Ni-ki said proudly, puffing out his chest. “I’m here for moral support.”

Jungwon rolled his eyes. “He’s just here to pet the cat.”

“Same thing,” Ni-ki quipped.

They were ushered into the exam room, where Jungwon took over with calm efficiency. He opened the carrier, speaking softly to the cat as he coaxed it out.

“Hey, it’s okay,” Jungwon murmured, cradling the cat carefully. “We’re just checking something. You’ll be fine.”

Ni-ki stared, his jaw practically on the floor. “Hyung, you’re like... a cat whisperer.”

“It’s just part of the job,” Jungwon replied, focused on the task at hand. He scanned the cat with the microchip reader, the machine beeping faintly. But the screen came up empty.

“No microchip,” Jungwon said, placing the cat gently back into the carrier. “Looks like it’s officially a stray.”

Ni-ki’s face lit up. “Does that mean we get to keep it?”

“That’s not up to me,” Jungwon replied, locking the carrier door. “It’s up to Heeseung-hyung and the rest of the tenants.”

Ni-ki sighed dramatically. “But what if they say no?”

Jungwon smirked faintly. “Then we’ll figure something out.”

On their way out, Jungwon paused by one of the clinic’s recovery rooms, glancing through the glass at the pets resting inside. Ni-ki noticed the shift in his expression—it was softer, almost tender.

“What are you looking at?” Ni-ki asked, stepping closer.

“These are some of our patients,” Jungwon said, his voice quieter. “They’re staying here until they’re healthy enough to go home.”

Ni-ki peered through the glass, his curiosity piqued. “What’s wrong with them?”

Jungwon gestured to a small dachshund wrapped in a blanket. “That’s Dobby. He had surgery to remove a blockage he swallowed—probably part of a toy. His owner visits him every day.”

Ni-ki tilted his head. “He looks so tiny.”

“He’s tougher than he looks,” Jungwon replied, smiling faintly. “That over there is Bonnie.” He pointed to a calico cat lounging in a sunbeam. “She got hit by a car a few weeks ago but is recovering really well. She has the loudest purr you’ve ever heard.”

Ni-ki watched Jungwon closely as he spoke, noticing how his expression softened with each story. There was something mesmerizing about the way Jungwon’s voice grew lighter, warmer, as he described the animals.

“What about that one?” Ni-ki asked, pointing to a large golden retriever with a shaved patch on its side.

“That’s Bucky,” Jungwon said. “He’s been here for a while. He had a tumor removed, but his owners couldn’t afford the treatment, so they surrendered him.”

Ni-ki frowned. “That’s so sad.”

“It happens,” Jungwon said softly. “But we’re working on finding him a new home.”

For a moment, Ni-ki didn’t say anything, simply watching Jungwon as he moved to adjust a blanket over one of the animals. It was like seeing a more tender side of him—calm, patient, and endlessly kind.

“You’re amazing, hyung,” Ni-ki blurted out.

Jungwon blinked, turning to him. “What?”

“I mean it,” Ni-ki said, his voice earnest. “You’re like... a real-life superhero. You take care of all these animals, and you don’t even brag about it.”

Jungwon’s cheeks flushed slightly as he turned away. “It’s just my job.”

“No, it’s not,” Ni-ki insisted. “It’s who you are. You care so much, and it’s...” He trailed off, searching for the right word. “It’s cool. I’m lucky I met you.”

Jungwon blushed profusely as he glanced at him, a small smile tugging at his lips. “Thanks, Ni-ki.”

Ni-ki grinned, his heart skipping a beat as they walked out of the clinic together, the cat nestled safely in its carrier. For once, he didn’t feel the need to fill the silence with his usual chatter. Just being there, beside Jungwon, felt enough.

By the time Jungwon and Ni-ki returned to Serenity Heights, the building was buzzing with anticipation. Word had spread about the vet visit, and the tenants had already gathered in the lobby, ready for what could only be described as a heated debate over the stray cat’s fate.

Sunoo was the first to greet them, his face lighting up when he saw the carrier. “Is everything okay? What did the vet say?”

Jungwon set the carrier down gently. “No microchip. She’s officially a stray.”

“Yes!” Ni-ki cheered, pumping his fist in the air. “That means we can keep her!”

“Hold on,” Sunghoon interjected, arms crossed as he leaned against the wall. “We haven’t decided anything yet.”

At the center of the room sat the stray cat, lounging in its carrier like royalty. It yawned lazily, completely unbothered by the chaos brewing around it.

Heeseung, standing at the front with a clipboard in hand, tapped his pen against it dramatically. “Alright, everyone, it’s time. Today, we decide the fate of this majestic creature.”

“It’s a cat,” Jake deadpanned. “Not the future of democracy.”

“It’s more important than democracy,” Ni-ki shot back, glaring at him. “This is about family .”

“Fast & Furious called,” Jay muttered. “They want their slogan back.”

Heeseung ignored the interruptions, pacing back and forth like he was delivering a presidential address. “We’ve all had our say. We’ve all felt the emotional weight of this decision. But now—now it’s time to vote.”

Ni-ki was the first to leap to his feet, pointing at the carrier as if unveiling a priceless artifact. “This cat is a sign! It came to us for a reason. It could’ve gone anywhere, but it chose Serenity Heights. It chose us ! And if we say no, we’re spitting in the face of destiny.”

Sunghoon raised an eyebrow. “Destiny doesn’t usually involve kibble and litter boxes.”

Ni-ki waved him off. “You wouldn’t understand. This is about love, loyalty, and the fundamental right to own something cute.”

“Fundamental right?” Jungwon repeated, pinching the bridge of his nose.

Sunoo stepped up next, his hands clasped earnestly. “I really believe we can give this cat a great home. It’s sweet, affectionate, and it’s already brought us so much joy. I mean, just look at it.” He crouched down beside the carrier, his voice softening. “How could anyone say no to that face?”

The cat blinked at him, unimpressed, before stretching and turning its back to the crowd.

“It’s not even interested,” Jake pointed out.

“Give it time,” Sunoo said firmly, standing back up. “It’ll warm up to us. Cats are like that.”

Heeseung stepped up last, clearing his throat. “I’ve been thinking about this long and hard, and I’ve decided that this cat is... well, it’s a symbol of hope for this building. And, uh, companionship.”

Sunghoon arched an eyebrow. “You mean it’s a symbol of how deep you are in your lies to Karina?”

The room collectively turned to Heeseung, who shifted uncomfortably.

Heeseung’s face turned an alarming shade of red. “I—it wasn’t a lie! Not really. I just... implied it.”

Jake snorted. “You didn’t imply anything. You said, ‘This cat is mine, and we are so in sync we practically read each other’s minds.’”

Ni-ki clutched his chest. “That’s actually beautiful.”

“It’s embarrassing,” Sunghoon muttered.

“Okay, okay!” Heeseung said, holding up his hands. “Yes, I may have embellished a little. But Karina loved the idea of me having a cat. And it worked! She wants to see me again.”

“So, you’re saying yes because you’re too deep into the lie to back out now,” Sunghoon said flatly.

“Exactly,” Heeseung replied without hesitation.

Jungwon stepped forward, his arms crossed and his expression calm but firm. “I love animals. I’m studying to take care of them, but this cat deserves a stable, quiet home—somewhere that isn’t filled with constant karaoke battles and impromptu cooking disasters. Serenity Heights is... chaos.”

“Controlled chaos,” Ni-ki corrected, raising a finger.

“Uncontrolled chaos,” Jungwon replied flatly. “And that’s not ideal for a pet. We should find it a foster family or someone who can give it the attention it needs.”

Jay nodded, adjusting his sleeves. “I agree. I already deal with enough cleaning around here. I don’t need cat hair in my kitchen. And let’s be real—who’s going to remember to feed it? Or clean up after it?”

“I will!” Ni-ki shouted.

“No, you won’t,” Jungwon muttered.

Jake raised his hand slightly, his voice calm. “Look, I don’t hate the cat, but pets are a commitment. And let’s not forget about allergies.”

“You don’t have allergies,” Sunoo pointed out, frowning.

“Well, someone might,” Jake said defensively. “And what about the scratching? My couch is not up for grabs.”

“Neither is your personality,” Ni-ki quipped, earning a glare from Jake.

Finally, Sunghoon crossed his arms, his tone steady. “It’s cute, sure. But it’s not practical. We can’t just adopt a cat because it wandered in one day.”

Ni-ki narrowed his eyes at him. “You just don’t want to share Sunoo hyung’s attention.”

Sunghoon raised an eyebrow, unbothered. “You’re not wrong.”

Heeseung clapped his hands. “Alright, let’s vote. Yes or no—are we keeping the cat?”

Ni-ki bolted to the board first, scrawling “YES” in bold letters with a dramatic flourish. Sunoo followed with a smaller, neater “yes,” his determination clear.

Jungwon took the marker next, calmly writing “NO” in precise handwriting. Jake and Jay added their votes quickly, and Heeseung added a casual “YES,” earning a few raised eyebrows.

“Why are you even pretending this is about the cat?” Sunghoon asked him. “We all know it’s about Karina.”

“Can’t it be both?” Heeseung replied with a grin.

Finally, all eyes turned to Sunghoon.

“Well?” Ni-ki asked, bouncing on his toes. “What’s it gonna be, hyung?”

Sunghoon sighed and grabbed the marker. He wrote “NO” without hesitation.

The room fell silent. Ni-ki looked like someone had kicked his favorite gaming console, while Sunoo’s shoulders slumped.

“We lost?” Sunoo murmured, his voice small. “Really?”

“You did your best,” Sunghoon said, his tone soft but firm. “But this is the right decision.”

As the group began to disband, Ni-ki and Sunoo stayed behind by the carrier. Ni-ki crouched down, pressing his face close to the bars. “You’re really gonna let them take you away, huh? You deserve better.”

Sunoo knelt beside him, his hand gently stroking the cat’s fur. “I really thought we could make it work.”

From across the room, Sunghoon watched them, his brow furrowing. He wasn’t used to seeing Sunoo so downcast, and it didn’t sit right with him.

With a sigh, he walked back to the board and picked up the marker.

“What are you doing?” Jungwon asked sharply.

Sunghoon erased his vote and rewrote it in bold letters: “YES.”

The room erupted.

“What?!” Jungwon exclaimed. “You were on our side!”

Ni-ki jumped up, fist-pumping the air. “Victory is ours!”

Sunoo stared at him, wide-eyed. “You really mean it? We can keep the cat?”

Sunghoon sighed, running a hand through his hair. “If it makes you this happy, then yeah. Let’s keep the cat.”

“Whipped!” Jake and Jay protested in unison.

Sunoo beamed, throwing his arms around Sunghoon. “Thank you, Hoonie. You’re the best.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Sunghoon muttered, hugging him back. “Just don’t expect me to clean the litter box.”

Ni-ki pointed dramatically at Jungwon. “HA! Take that, Mr. No-Fun!”

Jungwon sighed, rubbing his temples. “This is going to be a disaster.”

As the celebration died down, Heeseung crouched beside the carrier, smiling at the cat. “Well, little one, looks like you’re stuck with us.”

The cat blinked at him slowly, curling up in a ball with an air of indifference.

Sunoo clapped his hands together. “This is going to be amazing.”

Sunghoon, watching the chaos around him, muttered, “Or a nightmare.”

The tenants began to disperse, their voices fading as they returned to their respective apartments. Sunoo lingered in the lobby with Sunghoon, Ni-ki, and Jungwon, the newly adopted cat nestled in its carrier like a tiny emperor surveying its new kingdom.

“Alright,” Sunghoon said, breaking the silence. “If we’re keeping this thing, we need ground rules.”

“Ground rules for a cat?” Ni-ki scoffed, crossing his arms. “What’s it gonna do? Throw wild parties in the lobby?”

Sunghoon ignored him, ticking points off on his fingers. “No feeding it table scraps, no letting it roam the hallways, and absolutely no dressing it up in costumes.”

Ni-ki gasped, clutching his chest. “You monster.”

Sunoo giggled, nudging Sunghoon playfully. “Relax, Hoonie. It’s just a cat.”

“A cat that’s going to destroy our furniture,” Sunghoon muttered, eyeing the carrier suspiciously.

“Or our hearts,” Ni-ki said dramatically, kneeling beside the carrier and pressing his face against the bars. “Don’t listen to the mean man, little buddy. You’re safe now.”

Jungwon rolled his eyes, adjusting his hoodie. “It’s not a baby, Ni-ki. It’s perfectly capable of surviving without your emotional support.”

“I am its emotional support,” Ni-ki replied, puffing out his chest. “We’re connected on a spiritual level.”

Jungwon turned to Sunoo. “You realize he’s going to spoil this cat rotten, right?”

Sunoo laughed. “As long as it keeps him out of trouble, I’m fine with that.”

As the cat explored its new home, Sunoo busied himself setting up a makeshift corner in their apartment with a cozy blanket and a borrowed litter box from Jungwon’s clinic. The cat, unimpressed, immediately climbed onto Sunghoon’s lap and curled into a ball.

Sunghoon froze, glancing down at the small bundle of fur. “What’s it doing?”

“It likes you!” Sunoo said, his smile widening.

“Great,” Sunghoon muttered, though his hand instinctively moved to stroke the cat’s back. “I’m already its favorite.”

Ni-ki huffed. “Traitor.”

“It knows who the responsible one is,” Sunghoon replied smugly, earning an eye-roll from Ni-ki.

Jungwon watched from the doorway, his expression softening. “I guess it’s not the worst outcome.”

Sunoo turned to him, beaming. “See? Even you’re warming up to it.”

“Don’t push it,” Jungwon said, though his lips twitched upward.

The moment the tenants left Sunoo and Sunghoon’s apartment, the cat began its royal inspection. Serenity prowled through the living room, sniffing at furniture, pawing at a stray sock, and giving the carpet a disdainful look, as if silently critiquing their interior design choices.

Sunoo, watching from the couch, couldn’t help but giggle. “She’s so picky! Do you think she’s judging us?”

Sunghoon leaned back, arms crossed. “It’s a cat. I’m pretty sure all they do is judge.”

Serenity suddenly turned her sharp gaze on him, her emerald-green eyes narrowing as though she’d heard the comment. Sunghoon stiffened under the feline’s scrutinizing stare.

“Uh-oh,” Sunoo teased. “I think you offended her.”

Serenity padded closer, her movements graceful and deliberate, until she was standing directly in front of Sunghoon. For a moment, she simply sat there, staring up at him with an unblinking gaze.

“What?” Sunghoon asked, shifting uncomfortably. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

Without hesitation, Serenity leapt onto his lap, curling up as if she’d found her throne. Her small head rested against his stomach, and she let out a soft, contented purr.

Sunghoon froze, his entire body going rigid. “What... is happening?”

Sunoo clapped his hands together, his eyes sparkling with delight. “She chose you, Hoonie!”

“What does that even mean?” Sunghoon asked, looking down at the cat in bewilderment. “I didn’t sign up for this.”

“It means you’re her human now,” Sunoo said with a grin. “She trusts you.”

“Great,” Sunghoon muttered, though he made no move to push her off. “Now I have a responsibility I didn’t ask for.”

Serenity, seemingly unfazed by his grumbling, stretched out her tiny paw and placed it on his arm, as if sealing the deal. Her purring grew louder, vibrating against him.

Sunoo cooed, his heart melting at the sight. “Look at her! She’s so happy. You’re her safe space.”

Sunghoon sighed, his hand hovering awkwardly above her for a moment before finally resting on her soft fur. He began to stroke her back, his touch hesitant at first but quickly becoming more natural.

“She’s really comfortable with you,” Sunoo observed, leaning his chin on his hands. “I think she likes your calm energy.”

“Or she thinks I’m too boring to bother,” Sunghoon replied, though his lips quirked into a faint smile as Serenity kneaded his lap with her tiny claws.

“Admit it,” Sunoo teased. “You’re already attached.”

“I’m tolerating her,” Sunghoon insisted, though his hand hadn’t stopped petting her. “That’s all.”

The next morning, the test of Sunghoon’s newfound role began in earnest. Serenity followed him everywhere, her tiny paws padding behind him as he moved about the apartment.

When he poured himself a cup of coffee, she sat at his feet, staring up at him expectantly.

“She’s watching you,” Sunoo said, peeking out from behind his mug. “It’s like she’s taking notes.”

Sunghoon glanced down at her. “What do you want? I’m not sharing my coffee.”

Serenity meowed softly, tilting her head.

“She probably wants food,” Sunoo said, pulling out the small stash of cat treats Jungwon had left behind.

Sunghoon took a treat and crouched down, holding it out to her. Serenity sniffed it delicately before taking it from his hand with surprising gentleness. She purred, rubbing her head against his knee in gratitude.

Sunoo laughed, his heart warming at the sight. “You’re a natural, Hoonie.”

“She’s manipulating me,” Sunghoon replied, standing up and brushing off his hands. “I can tell.”

“You’re just mad because it’s working,” Sunoo teased, wrapping his arms around Sunghoon from behind. “But I think it’s sweet.”

As the day went on, it became abundantly clear that Serenity had no interest in bonding with anyone but Sunghoon.

When Ni-ki tried to coax her out of her corner with a toy mouse, she swatted it away and turned her back on him.

“She’s playing hard to get,” Ni-ki declared, trying again. “It’s okay, I like a challenge.”

“She’s not playing,” Sunghoon said dryly from the couch, where Serenity was curled up beside him like a tiny queen on her throne.

Jungwon, always the practical one, attempted to win her over with logic. “Cats respond to calm voices and gentle gestures,” he explained, crouching down and holding out his hand. “Here, kitty. See? I’m not a threat.”

Serenity gave him a bored glance before hopping onto Sunghoon’s lap.

Ni-ki groaned, throwing himself onto the couch. “Unbelievable. I campaign for this cat, I fight for her, and she picks you ?”

“Because the cat has good taste,” Sunghoon said smugly, earning a laugh from Sunoo.

“She really doesn’t like any of us,” Jungwon muttered, standing up and brushing off his hands.

“Don’t take it personally,” Sunoo said, patting his shoulder. “She just knows who she can rely on.”

“I don’t want to rely on her,” Sunghoon said, though he continued to pet her absentmindedly.

“She’s your shadow now,” Sunoo said with a laugh. “Better get used to it.”

By the end of the day, Sunghoon had fully accepted his role as Serenity’s chosen human. The cat followed him everywhere, curling up next to him whenever he sat down and meowing softly whenever he tried to leave the room.

“You know,” Sunoo said that evening as they settled on the couch, Serenity once again nestled in Sunghoon’s lap, “I think this was meant to be.”

“What was?” Sunghoon asked, stroking Serenity’s fur.

“This,” Sunoo replied, gesturing to the cat. “She found us, she found you, and now she’s part of our little family.”

Sunghoon glanced down at Serenity, who blinked up at him with half-lidded eyes. “Yeah,” he said quietly. “I guess she is.”

Sunoo smiled, resting his head on Sunghoon’s shoulder. “Welcome to the family, Serenity.”

The cat purred, settling deeper into Sunghoon’s lap as though she couldn’t agree more.

One night, as Sunghoon sat on the couch with Serenity purring contentedly on his lap and Sunoo scrolling through his phone, Ni-ki burst into the room, holding a tiny knit sweater.

“Look what I found online!” Ni-ki declared, holding up the garment proudly. “It’s a cat-sized hoodie! Serenity can match with us now!”

Sunghoon stared at him, unimpressed. “You’re not putting that on her.”

Ni-ki scoffed. “She’s a fashion icon. Of course, she needs one.”

“No way,” Sunghoon replied firmly. “She doesn’t need clothes.”

Serenity, as if sensing the argument, let out a small sneeze.

“See? She’s allergic to bad ideas,” Sunghoon quipped.

Ni-ki pouted dramatically, clutching the hoodie. “You’re stifling her creativity, hyung.”

Sunoo giggled, leaning against Sunghoon. “Maybe we should let her try it on. Just once.”

“No,” Sunghoon said, his voice resolute. “Not happening.”

Five minutes later, Serenity was sprawled on the coffee table, glaring daggers at everyone while wearing the tiny hoodie.

Sunghoon sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “She’s going to murder us in our sleep.”

Serenity let out an indignant meow as if to say, You’re not wrong.

Just as Serenity wriggled in the tiny hoodie, looking every bit like she was plotting revenge, Heeseung barged into the apartment without so much as knocking.

“Hyung!” Sunghoon exclaimed, startled. “What are you doing here?”

Heeseung waved his phone triumphantly. “I need proof of life for Karina. She’s been asking about Serenity.”

“Proof of life?” Sunoo asked, stifling a laugh. “She’s not a hostage!”

“She might as well be,” Sunghoon muttered, glancing down at the glaring cat. “She’s definitely plotting my downfall.”

Heeseung ignored the comments, crouching in front of the coffee table. “Alright, Serenity, give me your best angle.”

Serenity, clad in her tiny hoodie, looked directly at Heeseung and let out a low, guttural meow that was equal parts anger and despair.

“Perfect,” Heeseung said, snapping a picture. “Karina’s going to love this.”

“She looks like she’s being held against her will,” Sunghoon pointed out, unimpressed.

“That’s the charm,” Heeseung said, already typing out a text. “It says, ‘I’m adorable but also dramatic.’ Karina will eat this up.”

Serenity swiped a paw at his phone, narrowly missing it, and let out another loud meow.

“Yep,” Heeseung said, standing up. “Definitely dramatic. Thanks for this. You’re doing important work, Serenity.”

As Heeseung headed out, Sunghoon leaned back on the couch, his hand stroking Serenity’s fur to calm her down.

“She’s going to blacklist you from this apartment one day,” Sunghoon muttered.

Serenity let out a soft huff, and Sunoo laughed. “Looks like she agrees.”

Chapter Text

It was a typical morning at Serenity Heights. Jake and Jay were locked in their usual banter over breakfast, Sunoo was rearranging the potted plants in the lobby, and Ni-ki was sprawled across the couch, scrolling through his phone like a true professional slacker. Sunghoon sat nearby, flipping through a magazine while Serenity, his ever-judgmental cat, lounged regally on the coffee table.

Everything was peaceful—until Ni-ki suddenly bolted upright, his phone clattering to the floor.

“Guys!” he shouted, his voice tinged with a mix of panic and urgency.

Sunghoon didn’t even look up from his magazine. “If this is about another limited-edition gaming chair, I’m not interested.”

“No!” Ni-ki said, leaping to his feet. “This is serious. My family is coming to visit!”

The room went silent. Jay set down his coffee mug, raising an eyebrow. “Wait. Your family ?”

“Yes, my family!” Ni-ki repeated, pacing the room. “My mom, my dad, my older sister, and my little sister. They’ll be here this weekend!”

“Oh, that’s exciting!” Sunoo said brightly, clapping his hands. “A family visit! How sweet.”

“Sweet? No, Sunoo-hyung, this is a disaster,” Ni-ki groaned, sinking back onto the couch. “I told them I’m the responsible one in the apartment.”

Sunghoon finally looked up, a smirk tugging at his lips. “You? Responsible?”

“I am responsible!” Ni-ki protested, throwing his arms in the air. “I pay my rent on time. Mostly. And I keep my space... livable.”

“That’s a generous description,” Jake muttered, earning a laugh from Jay.

Ni-ki crossed his arms. “Anyway, I can’t let them find out the truth. They already think I’m a perpetual mess.”

“Gee, wonder why,” Jungwon said as he walked in, carrying a stack of mail. He handed Ni-ki an envelope. “Here. It’s addressed to ‘The Perpetual Mess.’”

“Not funny,” Ni-ki grumbled, snatching the envelope.

Sunoo tilted his head curiously. “Why are you so nervous about them coming?”

Ni-ki hesitated. “It’s just... they worry about me, okay? Especially my mom. She thinks I can’t even boil water without setting the kitchen on fire.”

“Can you?” Jay asked innocently.

Ni-ki glared at him. “Yes. Probably. But that’s not the point! I need them to see that I’ve got my life together. That I’m thriving.”

“Thriving?” Sunghoon repeated, arching an eyebrow. “You wore mismatched socks yesterday.”

“It’s a fashion statement!” Ni-ki shot back.

Heeseung strolled in at that moment, looking half-awake with a piece of toast in his mouth. “What’s all the yelling about?”

“Ni-ki’s family is visiting, and he told them he’s responsible,” Jake explained, barely suppressing a grin.

Heeseung blinked, taking the toast out of his mouth. “Wait, Ni-ki ? Responsible? Did I miss an alternate reality switch?”

“Why does everyone keep saying that?!” Ni-ki exclaimed, throwing a pillow at Heeseung, who dodged it with a laugh.

Sunoo stepped forward, his face full of determination. “Don’t worry, Ni-ki. We’ll help you. We’ll make sure your family sees you as the shining beacon of responsibility you want them to believe.”

“Really?” Ni-ki asked, his eyes wide with hope.

“Of course!” Sunoo said, patting his shoulder. “Right, everyone?”

The tenants exchanged hesitant glances before reluctantly nodding.

“I mean, it’s going to take a miracle,” Jay muttered, earning a sharp look from Sunoo.

Ni-ki grinned, clasping his hands together. “Thank you! You guys are lifesavers.”

Serenity let out a loud, judgmental meow, breaking the moment. She stared at Ni-ki like she couldn’t believe what she was hearing.

“Even the cat thinks this is a bad idea,” Sunghoon said, smirking.

Ni-ki groaned, flopping back onto the couch. “This is going to be the longest weekend of my life.”

Ni-ki stood in the doorway of his room, arms crossed, looking like a general about to lead his troops into battle. The only problem? His battlefield was the messiest room in Serenity Heights.

“Alright,” he declared, turning to face the tenants assembled behind him. “This is it. The moment we prove to my family that I am, in fact, an adult who can maintain a clean and organized living space.”

The group stared into the room with varying degrees of horror. Clothes were strewn across the floor, a leaning tower of empty ramen cups threatened to topple at any moment, and the desk was barely visible under a mountain of cables, gaming controllers, and half-read manga volumes. Serenity, perched on Sunghoon’s shoulder, let out an unimpressed meow.

“Oh my god,” Jake muttered, pinching the bridge of his nose. “It’s worse than I imagined.”

“This isn’t a room,” Jay said, stepping back cautiously. “It’s a landfill with a bed.”

“Hey!” Ni-ki protested, hands on his hips. “It’s not that bad.”

“Ni-ki,” Jungwon said flatly, “there’s a pizza box under your bed. With pizza still in it.”

Ni-ki glanced at the offending box and shrugged. “I was saving that.”

“For what? Science?” Sunghoon asked, raising an eyebrow.

Sunoo, ever the optimist, clapped his hands together. “Alright, everyone, let’s not waste time. We’ve got a room to clean! Let’s divide and conquer.”

“Dibs on not touching the ramen tower,” Jay said quickly, taking a step back.

“Too bad,” Sunoo said brightly, shoving gloves into his hands. “You’re on ramen duty.”

Jay groaned but didn’t argue. Meanwhile, Jungwon grabbed a trash bag and pointed at Ni-ki. “You’re cleaning under the bed. If anything moves, scream.”

Jake was already pulling out Ni-ki’s laundry hamper, which was overflowing with enough clothes to start a secondhand shop. “Seriously, how do you have this many clothes?”

“Fashion,” Ni-ki said, tossing a pair of socks into the hamper. “You wouldn’t understand.”

Sunghoon smirked from the doorway, leaning against the frame with Serenity still perched on his shoulder. “This is going to take all day.”

“Oh no, it’s not,” Sunoo said firmly, hands on his hips. “We’re getting this done in under two hours. Teamwork makes the dream work!”

The tenants got to work, each tackling a different section of the disaster zone. Sunoo focused on organizing Ni-ki’s desk, untangling wires and neatly stacking his manga collection. Jungwon was on trash duty, carefully avoiding any questionable items he found under the bed. Jay, grumbling under his breath, dismantled the ramen tower one cup at a time.

Jake, meanwhile, took charge of the laundry. “Ni-ki,” he called, holding up a T-shirt with a mysterious stain. “What is this?”

Ni-ki squinted at it. “Oh, that’s from the barbecue sauce experiment.”

Jake froze. “Experiment?”

“Don’t ask,” Jungwon muttered, tossing another trash bag onto the growing pile by the door.

Sunghoon, content to supervise, occasionally handed items to Serenity to bat around. The cat happily swatted at a pen, sending it rolling across the floor.

“Sunghoon, help or get out,” Sunoo said, glaring at him as he stacked neatly folded papers.

“I am helping,” Sunghoon replied, gesturing to Serenity. “Morale support.”

Sunoo sighed but let it slide. “Ni-ki, how are you doing under there?”

“Terrible,” Ni-ki grumbled, crawling out from under the bed with a dusty box. “I found my old DS! And... what’s left of a granola bar.”

“Throw it away,” Jungwon said immediately.

“But—” Ni-ki started.

“Throw. It. Away,” Jungwon repeated, glaring.

An hour in, the room was finally starting to look presentable. The bed was made, the desk was clear, and the ramen tower was no more. The group took a moment to admire their progress.

“It actually looks... decent,” Jay admitted, wiping his hands on his jeans.

“Decent?” Sunoo repeated, grinning. “It looks amazing! Ni-ki’s family is going to be so impressed.”

Ni-ki beamed, looking around his room with pride. “You guys are the best. I couldn’t have done this without you.”

“Obviously,” Jake muttered, tossing a stray sock into the hamper.

Just as the group started to relax, Serenity hopped off Sunghoon’s shoulder and onto Ni-ki’s freshly made bed. She circled once, twice, and then promptly threw up a hairball onto the pristine duvet.

The room fell silent.

“Seriously?” Ni-ki groaned, staring at the mess.

Sunghoon chuckled, scooping up Serenity. “She has good timing.”

Sunoo sighed, grabbing a tissue. “It’s fine. We’ll fix it. We always do.”

As the group resumed cleaning, Ni-ki couldn’t help but smile. Despite the chaos, he felt ready to impress his family—thanks to his eccentric, slightly unhinged, but undeniably supportive Serenity Heights family.

Ni-ki stood in the middle of the common area, his arms crossed as he faced the assembled tenants, each of whom was armed with their own unique plans for making him “presentable” to his family.

“Alright, Ni-ki,” Sunoo said, flipping through a small notebook he’d brought with him. “We’ve got a lot to cover, so pay attention. Everyone here is going to help you become the best version of yourself.”

“Like a glow-up montage?” Ni-ki asked, grinning.

“Exactly!” Sunoo replied, clapping his hands. “Except it’s going to involve a lot more work. Are you ready?”

Ni-ki nodded enthusiastically, though his confidence wavered slightly as he glanced at Sunghoon, who was smirking from the couch with Serenity curled up beside him. “Let’s do this.”

Session 1. Etiquette 101

Ni-ki slouched in his chair, spinning a fork in one hand while Sunoo meticulously set up a fake dining table. “Alright, Ni-ki,” Sunoo began, his tone sharp. “Today, we’re learning basic table manners. Try to focus for more than five seconds, okay?”

Ni-ki grinned lazily. “No promises, but I’ll try. For you.”

Sunoo ignored the comment, sliding a plate in front of him. “First lesson: posture. Sit up straight.”

Ni-ki straightened like a spring-loaded doll, puffing out his chest. “How’s this? Am I giving ‘young heir to the Nishimura fortune’ vibes?”

“You’re giving ‘robot auditioning for a period drama,’” Sunoo deadpanned. “Relax, but don’t slouch.”

Ni-ki slouched even more, smirking. “Like this?”

Sunoo stared at him blankly. “Ni-ki, if you don’t sit properly, I’m going to replace you with Serenity.”

Ni-ki gasped, clutching his chest dramatically. “You wouldn’t dare. She’s a cat!”

“And still better behaved,” Sunoo shot back, handing him a napkin. “Now, fold this into a triangle.”

Ni-ki held up the napkin like it was a cryptic puzzle. “Why do I need to fold it? Can’t I just… use it?”

“Because you’re pretending to be responsible, remember?” Sunoo replied, folding his own napkin neatly. “Try.”

Ni-ki scrunched his face in concentration, folding the napkin into a questionable shape. “Ta-da!” he announced, holding up what resembled a crumpled envelope.

Sunoo sighed deeply. “That’s... modern art.”

Ni-ki winked. “You’re welcome.”

As Sunoo grabbed another napkin to demonstrate again, Ni-ki leaned forward, resting his chin in his hand. “You know, you’re really good at this. It’s kind of attractive, actually.”

Sunoo froze for half a second before continuing to fold. “Save the flirting for your family. They’re the ones you need to impress.”

“Flirting? Who’s flirting?” Ni-ki asked, feigning innocence. “I’m just saying you’ve got an elegant vibe. Very regal.”

Sunoo didn’t even look up. “And you’ve got a ‘needs supervision’ vibe. Let’s keep moving.”

Ni-ki laughed, tossing the napkin onto the table. “Fine, fine. But if I pass this test, it’s all thanks to my amazing teacher.”

Sunoo arched an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. “You’re barely passing.”

“Still counts!” Ni-ki chirped, grabbing the fork and waving it like a trophy.

Sunoo pinched the bridge of his nose. “This is going to be a long day.”

Session 2. FItness and Confidence

Jake stood in the courtyard, clad in his favorite workout gear and radiating enthusiasm. Beside him, Ni-ki slouched against a bench, looking as if he’d already run a marathon despite not moving an inch.

“Alright, Ni-ki,” Jake began, stretching his arms dramatically. “Today, we’re tackling two things: fitness and confidence. You’ll be a whole new man by the time your family gets here.”

“Or a whole new corpse,” Ni-ki muttered under his breath, glaring at the jump rope Jake held out like it was a weapon.

Jake ignored the comment. “First up, we’re going to warm up with some light cardio. Five laps around the courtyard. Easy.”

Ni-ki blinked. “Five laps? You mean... in my head, right?”

“Nope,” Jake said, grinning brightly. “In real life. On your feet. Come on, I’ll do it with you.”

With a groan that sounded suspiciously like he was dying, Ni-ki dragged himself up and started jogging beside Jake. Well, jogging might’ve been generous—his pace resembled that of a zombie trying not to spill his coffee.

“Pick up the pace, man!” Jake called, already halfway around the first lap. “Confidence starts with energy!”

Ni-ki huffed. “Confidence also starts with sitting down and pretending you’re a CEO.”

Jake jogged backward, smirking. “Fake it till you make it, huh? Good strategy. But you can’t fake stamina!”

Ni-ki slowed to a crawl, panting dramatically. “I already have stamina. For things that matter. Like video games.”

“Video games don’t count,” Jake replied, grabbing Ni-ki by the arm and dragging him back into motion. “Come on, two more laps.”

“You said five!” Ni-ki gasped, clutching his side.

“I’m giving you a discount because I’m nice,” Jake quipped.

After the “warm-up” (or as Ni-ki referred to it, “the torture session”), Jake handed him two small dumbbells. “Now for some strength training. These are lightweight—just lift them like this.” Jake demonstrated, making it look ridiculously easy.

Ni-ki stared at the weights like they were plotting against him. “Do I get hazard pay for this?”

“Nope,” Jake said cheerfully. “But you do get muscle tone. Come on, just ten reps.”

Grumbling, Ni-ki lifted the dumbbells, wobbling like he was trying to balance on a tightrope. “This is cruel and unusual punishment.”

“You’re doing great!” Jake encouraged, clapping. “Feel the burn! Embrace the struggle!”

“I’m embracing nothing,” Ni-ki shot back, dropping the weights after five reps. “I’ll just wear long sleeves so no one sees my lack of muscles.”

Jake sighed but kept his smile. “Alright, let’s try confidence drills instead. Stand up straight and repeat after me: ‘I am powerful. I am unstoppable. I can do anything.’”

Ni-ki raised an eyebrow. “Do you actually say that to yourself?”

“Every morning,” Jake said, placing a hand over his heart. “It works.”

Ni-ki sighed but mimicked Jake’s stance. “Fine. I am powerful. I am unstoppable. I—”

Serenity the cat suddenly appeared, meowing loudly and rubbing against Jake’s leg. Ni-ki stared at her. “Even she’s judging me.”

Jake grinned, crouching to pet Serenity. “She’s here for moral support. Right, Serenity?”

Serenity blinked, looking as indifferent as ever.

“Great,” Ni-ki muttered. “Even the cat’s in better shape than me.”

Jake stood back up, patting Ni-ki on the back. “Don’t worry, man. By the end of this session, you’ll be walking into that family visit like a boss.”

Ni-ki smirked. “If by ‘boss,’ you mean ‘barely functioning,’ then sure. Mission accomplished.”

Jake laughed, handing Ni-ki a water bottle. “Alright, break time. But remember—confidence is all about believing in yourself.”

Ni-ki took a long sip of water before grinning. “I believe I’ll be sore for a week.”

Jake shook his head, laughing. “Close enough.”

Session 3. Culinary Bootcamp

Jay stood in the kitchen, looking every bit the part of a professional chef. He had a pristine apron tied around his waist, a towel slung over his shoulder, and an array of ingredients neatly laid out on the counter. Beside him, Ni-ki leaned against the counter with the air of someone who had already accepted his failure before even starting.

“Alright, rookie,” Jay said, clapping his hands. “Today, you’re learning the art of cooking. It’s time to wow your family with your culinary prowess.”

Ni-ki squinted at the chopping board. “Why do I feel like I’ve been drafted into a food war?”

“Because you have,” Jay replied seriously. “And if you fail, you dishonor this entire building.”

“Wow,” Ni-ki muttered. “No pressure.”

Jay started with the basics, demonstrating how to chop vegetables. He expertly diced an onion, his movements precise and efficient. “See? Easy. Now you try.”

Ni-ki picked up a knife and the onion, frowning at them like they were part of a puzzle he couldn’t solve. “So... I just... stab it?”

“No! You don’t stab it!” Jay exclaimed, grabbing the knife from him before he could massacre the poor onion. “You chop it. Like this.” He mimed the motion again, slower this time.

Ni-ki tried again, this time managing to cut the onion—though it looked less like neat cubes and more like abstract art. “Ta-da!” he said, presenting the mangled onion with a flourish.

Jay stared at it, horrified. “What is that?”

“It’s rustic,” Ni-ki said confidently. “People love rustic food.”

“It’s chaos,” Jay muttered, sweeping the onion aside. “We’re starting over.”

Next, Jay decided to teach Ni-ki how to make an omelet—a seemingly foolproof dish. He cracked an egg effortlessly into a bowl and handed another egg to Ni-ki. “Your turn. Just crack it gently on the edge and pour it into the bowl.”

Ni-ki took the egg, tapped it against the bowl, and promptly crushed it in his hand. Yolk and shell fragments oozed down his fingers as he stared at the mess. “Uh... is this part of the process?”

Jay pinched the bridge of his nose. “How... how did you manage that?”

“I’m just naturally talented,” Ni-ki replied, attempting to wipe his hand on Jay’s towel.

“Don’t even think about it,” Jay warned, holding the towel out of reach. “Go wash your hands. And try not to break the sink while you’re at it.”

After much trial and error (and a near kitchen fire when Ni-ki forgot to turn off the stove), Jay finally managed to guide him through making a passable omelet.

“Look at that,” Jay said, placing the slightly burnt omelet on a plate. “Not bad for your first attempt.”

Ni-ki tilted his head. “Is it supposed to look like that?”

“Doesn’t matter,” Jay said firmly. “It’s edible, and that’s what counts.”

Ni-ki grabbed a fork and hesitantly took a bite. His face twisted into a grimace. “Are you sure about the ‘edible’ part?”

Jay rolled his eyes. “It’s your cooking, not mine.”

Ni-ki set the fork down and sighed dramatically. “Well, at least my family will know I tried.”

Jay crossed his arms, smirking. “And that’s all that matters. Just, uh, maybe don’t tell them who your teacher was.”

“Deal,” Ni-ki said, shaking Jay’s hand. “But if they ask, I’m blaming Sunghoon hyung.”

From the doorway, Sunghoon—who had just walked in for a snack—raised an eyebrow. “What did I do?”

“Nothing,” Ni-ki replied cheerfully. “Yet.”

Session 4. Adulting Basics

Jungwon sat on the couch with a clipboard in hand, looking far too serious for Ni-ki’s liking. He had a pen tucked behind his ear and a stack of printed-out guides on the coffee table. It felt less like a casual prep session and more like a mandatory workplace seminar.

“Alright, Ni-ki,” Jungwon began, adjusting his glasses (even though he wasn’t wearing any). “Today’s focus is on adulting basics. By the end of this session, you’ll know how to balance a budget, pay your bills, and manage your time effectively.”

Ni-ki stared at him blankly. “I’m starting to think I shouldn’t have told my parents I’m the responsible one.”

“Well, it’s too late now,” Jungwon said, flipping through his notes. “Lesson one: budgeting. Do you know how much you spend in a week?”

“Uh... like, zero?” Ni-ki replied confidently. “I make everyone else buy me stuff.”

Jungwon’s pen froze mid-note. “That... explains so much.”

Jungwon pulled out a mock budget he’d created for Ni-ki. “Okay, let’s say you earn 100,000 won a week. How would you divide it up?”

Ni-ki frowned, leaning closer to the paper. “Easy. I’d spend 50,000 on gaming stuff and 50,000 on snacks.”

“What about rent?” Jungwon asked, pointing to the glaring blank space next to ‘Living Expenses.’

“Oh, right.” Ni-ki scratched his head. “I guess I’ll cut back on snacks.”

“What about utilities? Internet? Transportation?” Jungwon pressed.

Ni-ki leaned back, shrugging. “I could walk everywhere and use Sunghoon-hyung’s Wi-Fi.”

“Ni-ki,” Jungwon said, sighing deeply. “You’re not budgeting. You’re freeloading.”

“Tomato, tomahto,” Ni-ki replied with a grin.

Next up was “basic life skills.” Jungwon brought out a laundry basket and pointed to it like it was an exhibit in a museum.

“Lesson two: how to do laundry,” Jungwon announced. “Tell me what you know.”

Ni-ki scratched his chin thoughtfully. “Well, you put the clothes in the machine, add some soap, and press a button. Right?”

Jungwon looked cautiously hopeful. “That’s... not entirely wrong. What kind of soap do you use?”

Ni-ki shrugged. “Whatever smells nice. Sometimes I use Sunoo-hyung’s fabric softener. It smells like flowers.”

Jungwon blinked. “You’ve been washing your clothes with fabric softener?”

“Yeah, why?” Ni-ki asked, tilting his head. “They smell amazing.”

Jungwon facepalmed. “Fabric softener isn’t detergent! It doesn’t clean anything!”

Ni-ki gasped. “Are you saying I’ve been wearing dirty clothes this whole time?”

“Yes!” Jungwon exclaimed, his patience thinning. “And you’re lucky you haven’t caused a mold outbreak in the machine!”

Ni-ki picked up a shirt from the basket and sniffed it. “Smells fine to me.”

After a crash course in laundry, Jungwon moved on to “time management.” He handed Ni-ki a blank planner and a pen.

“This is a weekly planner,” Jungwon explained. “You write down everything you need to do and when you’re going to do it. It helps you stay organized.”

Ni-ki opened the planner, flipping through the empty pages. “So... I just write stuff? Like what?”

“Like your chores, class schedule, appointments—”

“Chores?” Ni-ki interrupted. “I thought this was a planner, not a punishment.”

Jungwon gave him a look. “Do you even know what chores you’re responsible for?”

“Uh...” Ni-ki counted on his fingers. “Taking out the trash?”

“That’s it?” Jungwon asked, incredulous.

“I mean, sometimes I remember to turn off the lights,” Ni-ki added with a shrug.

Jungwon took a deep breath, clearly resisting the urge to scream. “From now on, you’re vacuuming the lobby every Tuesday.”

“What?!” Ni-ki protested. “Why me?”

“Because,” Jungwon said, his tone leaving no room for argument, “you need to learn responsibility.”

Ni-ki slumped in his seat, muttering under his breath. “This feels like a personal attack.”

At the end of the session, Jungwon gave Ni-ki a checklist of “adulting goals.”

“This is everything you need to practice before your family arrives,” Jungwon said, handing him the paper. “If you follow this, you might actually convince them you’re the responsible one.”

Ni-ki glanced at the list and groaned. “Pay bills, meal prep, manage time... This is so boring.”

“Welcome to adulthood,” Jungwon said with a smirk. “Now go fold your laundry. The detergent’s in the cabinet.”

Ni-ki trudged toward the laundry basket, grumbling the whole way. “I liked it better when Sunoo hyung was teaching me how to walk properly.”

Jungwon raised an eyebrow. “He was teaching you how to walk?”

“Don’t ask,” Ni-ki muttered, tossing a shirt into the washing machine. “Just... don’t ask.”

Session 5. Demeanor Training

Sunghoon stood in the middle of the living room, arms crossed, his expression unreadable as usual. Ni-ki, on the other hand, was sprawled on the couch, one leg dangling off the side as he lazily tossed a stress ball into the air.

“Sit up,” Sunghoon commanded, his voice calm but firm.

Ni-ki groaned. “Why? Are we starting a boot camp or something?”

“If you want to convince your parents you’re responsible, you need to look the part,” Sunghoon replied, giving him a pointed look. “No slouching, no lazy posture, and absolutely no weird faces.”

“Weird faces?” Ni-ki sat up, squinting at Sunghoon in mock offense. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“It means,” Sunghoon said, narrowing his eyes, “you tend to look like a confused puppy whenever someone talks to you seriously.”

Ni-ki gasped dramatically, clutching his chest. “I’m offended, hyung. My face is my greatest asset.”

“Well, then it’s time to put it to better use,” Sunghoon shot back. “Now, stand up.”

Ni-ki dragged himself off the couch, standing in front of Sunghoon with a pout. “Happy?”

“Not even close,” Sunghoon said, walking in a slow circle around him like a drill sergeant. “Straighten your shoulders. Chin up. Hands out of your pockets.”

Ni-ki reluctantly complied, though his stance looked more like a kid trying to mimic a superhero pose than someone poised and composed.

“Okay,” Sunghoon said, stopping in front of him. “Let’s start with how you greet people. Your parents are going to expect a polite bow.”

Ni-ki bent at the waist—too fast and too low, almost toppling forward in the process.

“Stop!” Sunghoon said, grabbing him by the shoulders. “What was that?”

“A bow?” Ni-ki said, his voice muffled as he straightened back up.

“It looked like you were about to dive into a swimming pool,” Sunghoon deadpanned. “Try again. Slowly, and at the right angle.”

Ni-ki tried again, this time bowing so shallowly it barely counted.

Sunghoon raised an eyebrow. “Are you kidding me?”

“It’s efficient,” Ni-ki argued. “Why waste time on deep bows?”

“It’s called respect,” Sunghoon replied, sighing. “And your parents will definitely notice if you’re half-assing it.”

After several attempts, Ni-ki finally managed a passable bow. Sunghoon nodded in approval, stepping back to assess the next step.

“Now, we need to work on your demeanor,” Sunghoon said. “You tend to fidget a lot when you’re nervous.”

Ni-ki waved a hand dismissively. “I don’t get nervous.”

“You fidgeted the entire time during the last tenants’ meeting,” Sunghoon reminded him. “And you kept clicking that pen until Jay threatened to throw it out the window.”

“That was different,” Ni-ki said, crossing his arms. “Meetings are boring.”

“Doesn’t matter,” Sunghoon said firmly. “You need to learn how to stay calm and composed. Try standing still for two minutes without moving.”

“Easy,” Ni-ki said confidently, planting his feet.

The first thirty seconds passed without incident. But by the one-minute mark, Ni-ki started tapping his fingers against his leg.

“Stop that,” Sunghoon said, his tone sharp.

Ni-ki froze, his fingers twitching slightly.

Another thirty seconds passed, and Ni-ki began bouncing on the balls of his feet.

“Seriously?” Sunghoon asked, crossing his arms.

“I’m not moving,” Ni-ki protested. “Technically.”

Sunghoon rubbed his temples. “Okay, let’s try something else.”

Sunghoon grabbed a hardcover book from the shelf and handed it to Ni-ki. “Balance this on your head.”

“What am I, a Victorian lady?” Ni-ki quipped, though he reluctantly placed the book on his head.

“This will help you with posture and staying still,” Sunghoon explained. “Now, walk across the room.”

Ni-ki took one wobbly step forward, the book sliding dangerously to one side. He flailed to keep it steady, only to have it fall with a loud thud after his second step.

“Well, that was pathetic,” Sunghoon muttered, picking up the book and handing it back. “Try again.”

Ni-ki made several more attempts, each one ending with the book either falling or Ni-ki tripping over his own feet.

“This is impossible!” Ni-ki whined, plopping down on the couch. “Who even walks like this?”

“People who don’t want to look like they just rolled out of bed,” Sunghoon replied. “Which, by the way, is exactly how you look most of the time.”

“Maybe I should just charm my parents with my natural charisma,” Ni-ki said, giving Sunghoon an exaggerated wink.

“Your ‘natural charisma’ is why we’re doing this in the first place,” Sunghoon shot back, smirking.

At the end of the session, Sunghoon handed Ni-ki a compact mirror. “Take a good look at yourself.”

Ni-ki frowned, staring into the mirror. “What am I looking for?”

“Confidence,” Sunghoon replied simply. “It’s not just about how you act. It’s about how you carry yourself. If you believe you’re responsible, your parents will, too.”

Ni-ki blinked, caught off guard by the sincerity in Sunghoon’s tone. “Wow, Hoon-hyung. That was almost... inspiring.”

“Don’t get used to it,” Sunghoon said, grabbing the mirror back. “Now go practice your bow. You’ve got about twenty years of bad habits to fix.”

Ni-ki laughed, giving him a mock salute. “Yes, sir!”

As he walked out of the room, he called over his shoulder, “Hey, Hoon-hyung! If this works, I’ll name my first kid after you.”

“Don’t,” Sunghoon replied, shaking his head. “Seriously, don’t.”

Session 6. Impression Management

Heeseung had laid out what could only be described as an absurdly large selection of clothes across Ni-ki’s bed. Jackets, ties, slacks, sweaters, and even a few hats were neatly arranged in rows, as though preparing for a fashion parade.

Ni-ki stood in the middle of the room, arms crossed, looking skeptical. “Are you sure this is necessary? I’m just having dinner with my family, not walking the red carpet.”

Heeseung adjusted his glasses, which he was now wearing purely for effect. “First impressions are everything, Ni-ki. Your parents are expecting ‘Responsible Ni-ki,’ not ‘Sloppy Gamer Ni-ki.’ We need to sell the idea that you’re an adult now.”

“I am an adult,” Ni-ki argued, picking up a blazer and inspecting it like it was an alien artifact. “This stuff looks like it belongs in a K-drama boardroom.”

“That’s the point,” Heeseung said, pulling the blazer away. “You need to look polished. Trustworthy. Like someone who irons their sheets and knows how to file taxes.”

Ni-ki raised an eyebrow. “Do you iron your sheets?”

“That’s not the point,” Heeseung replied quickly. “Now, let’s start with something simple. Try this.” He handed Ni-ki a crisp white button-down shirt and a pair of navy slacks.

Ni-ki took the clothes reluctantly. “If I look like an intern, I’m blaming you.”

“Trust me,” Heeseung said, gesturing toward the bathroom. “Just put it on.”

When Ni-ki emerged from the bathroom, the transformation was... underwhelming. The shirt was half-tucked, the slacks hung awkwardly, and the top button was undone.

Heeseung frowned, circling him like a hawk. “No, no, no. This is all wrong.”

“What’s wrong with it?” Ni-ki asked, throwing his hands up. “This is how people wear clothes!”

“It’s how you wear clothes,” Heeseung said, grabbing the tie he’d draped around his own neck and moving closer. “And that’s the problem. Hold still.”

Heeseung expertly tied the tie, yanking it snugly against Ni-ki’s collar. “There. Now you actually look like you could handle a parent-teacher conference.”

Ni-ki tugged at the tie, grimacing. “I feel like I’m being choked by responsibility.”

“That’s called maturity,” Heeseung quipped. “You’ll get used to it.”

The next outfit was a sweater and khakis combo. Heeseung had chosen a beige cardigan with elbow patches, which Ni-ki immediately hated.

“Do I look like someone’s grandfather?” Ni-ki deadpanned, pulling at the sleeves.

“You look dignified, ” Heeseung corrected. “Try folding your hands behind your back. It screams ‘future CEO.’”

Ni-ki did as instructed, striking a pose. “More like ‘future retiree.’”

“Fine,” Heeseung sighed, snatching the cardigan away. “Let’s try something else.”

By the fourth outfit—a blazer over a turtleneck—Ni-ki was losing patience.

“This feels like a villain outfit,” he said, adjusting the blazer’s lapel. “Do I look like I’m about to monologue about world domination?”

Heeseung smirked. “If your parents think you’re taking over the world, they’ll definitely believe you’re responsible.”

“Right, because nothing says ‘responsible’ like Dr. Evil chic, ” Ni-ki muttered, striking an intimidating pose.

“Okay, okay,” Heeseung relented, laughing. “Let’s tone it down.”

Finally, they settled on a simple navy sweater layered over a white collared shirt, paired with dark jeans that were clean and neatly pressed.

“Now this is what I’m talking about,” Heeseung said, stepping back to admire his work. “Casual, but polished. Approachable, but mature.”

Ni-ki glanced at himself in the mirror, tilting his head. “I actually don’t hate this.”

“That’s the spirit,” Heeseung said, clapping him on the back. “Now, let’s talk grooming. Your hair could use some work.”

Ni-ki instinctively touched his head. “What’s wrong with my hair?”

“It’s fine,” Heeseung said, pulling out a comb. “But it could be better.”

Ten minutes later, Heeseung had Ni-ki sitting on a stool, his hair slicked back with precision. Ni-ki stared at his reflection, his eyes wide.

“Whoa,” he said. “I look like a completely different person.”

“Exactly,” Heeseung said, crossing his arms with satisfaction. “A responsible person.”

Ni-ki grinned, turning to face him. “Thanks, Heeseung-hyung. I think my parents might actually buy this.”

“They will,” Heeseung said confidently. “Just remember: good posture, speak clearly, and no gaming references.”

“No gaming references?” Ni-ki asked, looking horrified. “Not even a little?”

“Not even a pixel, ” Heeseung said firmly, pushing him toward the door. “Now go show everyone. Let’s see if they approve.”

When Ni-ki walked into the living room, the other tenants turned to look at him—and immediately burst into laughter.

“What’s with the K-drama makeover?” Jake asked, clutching his stomach.

“Did he lose a bet?” Jay added, smirking.

Ni-ki groaned, throwing his hands up. “This is responsible Ni-ki! I’m trying to impress my family!”

Sunghoon raised an eyebrow, crossing his arms. “You look... like a middle school teacher.”

Sunoo tilted his head thoughtfully. “It’s not bad, but you definitely need more practice if you’re trying to sell ‘mature.’”

Ni-ki sighed dramatically. “You’re all impossible.”

Heeseung patted his shoulder. “Ignore them. You’re ready. Your parents won’t know what hit them.”

Ni-ki glanced at his reflection in the hallway mirror one last time, taking a deep breath. “Alright. Let’s do this.”

From the couch, Serenity let out a single unimpressed meow.

“Even the cat’s judging me?” Ni-ki muttered. “Great.”

The big moment had arrived, and the tenants of Serenity Heights had gathered in the lobby, buzzing with nervous energy. Each of them had their own role to play in welcoming Ni-ki’s family, who were visiting all the way from Japan. Ni-ki, standing at the center of the group, looked as though he were teetering on the edge of a breakdown. He tugged at the hem of his sweater for the hundredth time, despite Sunoo’s earlier warning to stop fidgeting.

“Ni-ki, stop pulling at your clothes,” Sunoo chided, straightening his own jacket. “You’re going to look like a toddler who dressed himself.”

“I feel like one,” Ni-ki muttered under his breath. “What if they think I’ve been lying? What if they can tell I’m not as ‘responsible’ as I said I was?”

“They won’t,” Jake reassured him, though the grin on his face didn’t exactly inspire confidence. “Just smile, nod, and let Jay do most of the talking.”

Jay, standing nearby, raised an eyebrow. “Don’t throw me under the bus. I’m not translating all day.”

“You speak the language,” Jake replied, patting his shoulder. “You’re the MVP here.”

Sunghoon adjusted his grip on Serenity, who was lazily draped in his arms, her tail flicking idly. “Relax, Ni-ki. Your family probably already knows you’re not the golden child.”

Ni-ki glared at him. “That’s not comforting.”

Just then, the glass doors of the lobby opened, and in walked the Nishimura family. The group was led by Ni-ki’s mother, who had a gentle but commanding presence. Beside her was his father, a tall, composed man whose stern expression softened slightly as his gaze landed on Ni-ki. Trailing behind them were Ni-ki’s siblings: Konon, his older sister, who exuded quiet confidence, and Sola, his bubbly younger sister, who immediately began looking around with wide, curious eyes.

Ni-ki straightened his posture so fast it looked like someone had pulled a string in his back. “Okaasan! Otousan!” he greeted, bowing deeply. “Konon, Sola. Welcome to Serenity Heights.”

Ni-ki’s mother smiled warmly as she embraced him. “Riki! You’ve grown so much. And you look so... responsible!” She adjusted the collar of his sweater. “Have you been eating well?”

Ni-ki nodded quickly. “Yes, Okaasan. Very well.”

“That’s debatable,” Jay muttered to Jake, who snickered quietly.

“Introduce us!” Sunoo whispered, nudging Ni-ki.

Ni-ki cleared his throat and gestured to the group behind him. “These are my neighbors. They’ve been helping me a lot.”

Jay stepped forward first, bowing slightly and greeting the family in fluent Japanese. “I’m Jay. It’s a pleasure to meet you all. Riki speaks very highly of you.”

Ni-ki’s mother beamed, clearly impressed. “Your Japanese is wonderful, Jay-kun.”

Jay grinned modestly. “Thank you. I’ve had a lot of practice.”

Next, Heeseung stepped forward, offering a polite wave. “Hi! I’m Heeseung. I live upstairs.” He paused, then added with a hesitant smile, “Nice to meet you.”

Ni-ki’s family responded with polite nods, though they looked a little puzzled. Jay quickly translated, and Heeseung let out a relieved laugh. “Oh, good. Thanks, Jay.”

Jake followed, flashing his signature grin. “Jake. Big fan of your son. He’s... unique.”

Jay sighed, muttering the translation under his breath.

Ni-ki’s father nodded stoically, though his expression seemed to ask: What does ‘unique’ mean in this context?

Sunghoon, holding Serenity, stepped forward next. “I’m Sunghoon,” he said in Japanese, bowing slightly. “Riki has told us a lot about his family. It’s an honor to meet you.”

Ni-ki’s father raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. “You speak Japanese?”

Sunghoon nodded. “A little. I studied it for a few years.”

Sola gasped. “Sugoi!” she exclaimed, clapping her hands. “Sunghoon-san is cool!”

Ni-ki’s glare could’ve burned holes through Sunghoon’s calm exterior. “What are you, a secret agent?” he hissed in Korean.

Sunghoon smirked but said nothing.

Sunoo stepped forward last, flashing his most dazzling smile. “Hi, I’m Sunoo. I live with Sunghoon. It’s so nice to meet you!”

Sola’s eyes widened. “Kawaii!” she exclaimed, pointing at Sunoo. “He’s so pretty!”

As the introductions made their way around, Ni-ki suddenly lit up and gestured toward Jungwon, who had been lingering at the back with a polite smile. “And you know my roommate I’ve been telling you about—this is Jungwon!” he announced with the dramatic flair of someone introducing a celebrity.

Jungwon blinked, caught off-guard. “Uh, hi,” he said in Korean, bowing politely. “I’m Jungwon. It’s nice to meet you.”

Jay smoothly jumped in to translate. “He says it’s an honor to meet you.”

Ni-ki’s father nodded deeply, his expression one of approval. “It’s good to finally meet you,” he said in Japanese. “Ni-ki has mentioned you many times.”

Ni-ki’s mother beamed, her hands clasped. “Ni-ki says you’re very responsible,” she added in Japanese, her voice brimming with pride, as though Jungwon were her own child.

Jungwon smiled, though he shot a suspicious glance at Ni-ki, who was grinning like the cat who got the cream. “Oh, has he now?” Jungwon said dryly in Korean. “Well, I do my best.”

Before Ni-ki could respond, Sola leaned forward, her big, curious eyes fixed on Jungwon. “You look like a cat,” she said in Japanese, her voice serious and matter-of-fact.

The room fell silent for a moment as Jay quickly translated, trying not to laugh.

Jungwon’s eyes widened in confusion. “Wait, what?”

Konon let out a soft laugh and nodded in agreement. “She’s right,” she said in Japanese, gesturing at Jungwon’s sharp features and wide, almond-shaped eyes. “You do look like a cat.”

Sola clapped her hands, delighted by her observation. “Your eyes are like Momo’s!” she exclaimed, referencing the family’s beloved pet cat.

Jay, barely able to contain his amusement, translated with a grin, “She says you look like their cat, Momo. Big eyes. Very charming.”

Jungwon blinked, unsure whether to feel flattered or confused. “Uh… thank you?”

Ni-ki burst out laughing, doubling over as he clutched his sides. “Hyung, you’re officially part of the family now! Sola loves you already!”

Jungwon glared at him, his expression unamused. “Ni-ki, this is your fault.”

“How is it my fault?” Ni-ki asked, still cackling. “I didn’t tell them you were part cat!”

Meanwhile, Ni-ki’s father nodded thoughtfully, stroking his chin. “I see it now. He does have feline features. Very sharp.”

Sola leaned closer, peering up at Jungwon with wide, sparkling eyes. “Can you meow?”

Jungwon’s face turned crimson as Ni-ki erupted into a fresh wave of laughter. “No, I cannot meow,” he said firmly, his tone exasperated.

Sola tilted her head, her gaze unwavering. “But you should try,” she said seriously, her tiny hands balled into fists of determination.

Before Jungwon could respond, Jay leaned in, grinning. “Don’t worry, Jungwon. Just embrace it. Cats are lucky in Japanese culture.”

“Yeah, Jungwon-hyung,” Ni-ki teased. “You’re our good luck charm now!”

Jungwon sighed deeply, pinching the bridge of his nose as Ni-ki’s family chuckled. “I don’t get paid enough for this.”

As the teasing subsided, Ni-ki’s father turned back to Jungwon, his expression softening. “Thank you for looking after Ni-ki,” he said earnestly in Japanese, his tone filled with gratitude.

Jay translated, and Jungwon straightened up, his cat-like features taking on a surprisingly regal air. “It’s no trouble,” he replied politely in Korean, glancing at Ni-ki with a smirk. “He’s like a stray I picked up and decided to keep.”

Ni-ki gasped, clutching his chest. “Hyung! Betrayal!”

Konon burst into laughter, and even Ni-ki’s father let out a chuckle, shaking his head in amusement.

The tenants had pulled out all the stops to create a warm and welcoming dinner atmosphere for Ni-ki’s family. The communal table in the lounge area was covered with a mix of Korean and Japanese dishes—a collaboration between Jay, Sunoo, and Heeseung. Candles flickered in the center, surrounded by folded paper cranes Ni-ki had insisted on making to impress his younger sister, Sola.

Ni-ki’s parents and sisters were seated at the head of the table, their expressions filled with curiosity and amusement as they took in the tenants’ chaotic energy. Serenity, Sunghoon’s cat, lounged nearby on a cushioned chair, looking thoroughly unimpressed with the proceedings.

“Welcome to our home-away-from-home!” Heeseung said in exaggeratedly polite Japanese, bowing so low that his hair flopped into his face. He straightened up with a grin, shooting a quick thumbs-up to Jay for moral support.

Jay, ever the translator and diplomat, followed up smoothly, “Heeseung-hyung means to say that we’re thrilled to have you here tonight.”

Ni-ki’s father nodded, his stoic demeanor softening as he surveyed the spread. “This is very generous of all of you,” he said in Japanese. “You must have worked hard to prepare this.”

Jay translated, and Ni-ki immediately jumped in, puffing out his chest. “I supervised everything,” he declared proudly in Japanese. “It’s part of my role as the responsible one in the apartment.”

Jungwon choked on his water, coughing violently as Sunoo smacked his back. Sunghoon raised an eyebrow, his lips twitching into a smirk.

“Responsible?” Sunghoon repeated in Korean, his tone dripping with disbelief.

Jay, biting back laughter, translated Ni-ki’s declaration word for word. Ni-ki’s older sister, Konon, tilted her head, giving her brother a long, skeptical look.

“Responsible, huh?” she said in Japanese, her voice laced with teasing. “Is that why your room looked like a typhoon passed through it during our video chat last time?”

Ni-ki flushed red, glaring at her. “That was before the cleaning,” he muttered defensively. “It looks great now!”

Sola, unfazed by the banter, pointed at the food with wide eyes. “Did you make all this, Ni-ki-nii?” she asked innocently.

Ni-ki hesitated, caught in the web of his own storytelling. Before he could dig himself into a deeper hole, Sunoo swooped in with a bright smile.

“Ni-ki was in charge of quality control,” Sunoo said, his tone gracious. “He’s very good at taste-testing.”

Jay translated, and Sola nodded seriously. “That’s important,” she said, turning to her father. “Right, Papa?”

Their father chuckled. “Yes, it is.”

Ni-ki shot Sunoo a grateful look, though Sunghoon muttered, “You just saved him for no reason. He’ll get cocky.”

The meal officially began, with everyone digging into the food. Jay seamlessly kept the conversation flowing, translating between the tenants and Ni-ki’s family, while the rest of the group tried their best to engage despite the language barrier.

“Try this,” Jay said in Japanese, gesturing to the japchae Sunoo had made. “It’s a popular Korean dish.”

Ni-ki’s mother took a bite, her eyes lighting up. “It’s delicious,” she said warmly. “Did Ni-ki help with this?”

“Absolutely not,” Sunghoon replied flatly in Korean, earning a snort from Jungwon.

Jay, suppressing laughter, translated diplomatically, “Sunoo made it. He’s an excellent cook.”

Sola, meanwhile, had turned her attention to Serenity, who was lounging elegantly on her chair. “Is she really Sunghoon-nii’s cat?” she asked in Japanese, leaning closer.

Sunghoon nodded. “Yes, her name is Serenity,” he said, his Japanese slower but confident. “She chose me.”

“Like magic?” Sola gasped, her eyes sparkling.

“Exactly like magic,” Sunghoon replied, his lips curving into a small smile.

“She likes me too,” Ni-ki interjected, reaching over to pet Serenity. The cat immediately swatted at his hand with her paw, earning laughter from everyone at the table.

“Sure, she does,” Sunghoon said dryly.

The conversation moved to lighter topics, with Ni-ki’s parents asking about life in Seoul and the dynamics of the apartment. Ni-ki’s mother marveled at the tenants’ camaraderie, while his father nodded approvingly at their shared responsibilities.

“Do you ever argue?” Ni-ki’s father asked in Japanese, his tone curious.

Jay translated, and the tenants exchanged a series of glances.

“Define argue,” Jake said in Korean, earning a laugh from Sunoo.

“We bicker,” Heeseung admitted, shrugging. “But nothing serious.”

Ni-ki’s father nodded, his expression thoughtful. “It’s good to live with different personalities. You learn to adapt.”

Sunghoon, watching quietly, added in slow but deliberate Japanese, “Ni-ki is lucky to have us.”

The table erupted in laughter, and even Ni-ki’s father cracked a smile. “Yes, I can see that.”

As the meal wound down, Sola leaned toward Jungwon, studying him intently. “You’re really like Momo,” she said in Japanese, her voice filled with wonder.

Jungwon sighed, he didn’t need translation to know she said, his expression resigned. “I’m never living this down.”

After the meal, the tenants and Ni-ki’s family moved to the living room, where Jay had set up a casual tea station. The warm aroma of matcha filled the air as Sunoo handed out cups, ensuring everyone was comfortable. Serenity had taken up residence on Sunghoon’s lap, her tail flicking lazily as she dozed.

“So,” Konon said, sitting cross-legged on the floor, “what do you all usually do for fun around here?”

Ni-ki froze mid-sip of his tea, his eyes darting to the tenants. “Don’t answer that.”

Sunoo giggled. “Why not? She asked!”

Ni-ki’s father tilted his head, clearly intrigued. “What do you do, Riki?”

Before Ni-ki could deflect, Heeseung leaned forward, his grin mischievous. “Oh, he’s the life of the party! Always full of energy, always—”

“Breaking something,” Jake finished, smirking.

“Or getting into trouble,” Jay added with a shrug.

Ni-ki groaned, burying his face in his hands. “You guys are the worst.”

Konon laughed. “Sounds like nothing’s changed.”

“But,” Sunoo chimed in, his voice bright, “he’s also really thoughtful! Like that time he stayed up all night helping Jungwon with his clinic project.”

Jungwon nodded, his expression softening. “He’s great with animals. He’s been helping me with some of the more difficult patients at the vet.”

Ni-ki blinked, clearly surprised. “You guys actually think that?”

“Well, yeah,” Sunoo said, smiling warmly. “We tease you because we care, but you’re a good kid, Ni-ki.”

Ni-ki’s mother placed a hand over her heart, her eyes misty. “It’s so nice to hear that he has such wonderful friends.”

“Friends who aren’t afraid to embarrass him,” Sunghoon added, smirking.

“Exactly!” Heeseung said, raising his tea cup. “To Ni-ki—the chaos king of Serenity Heights.”

The group clinked their cups together, laughing as Ni-ki muttered something about finding a new apartment.

Later that evening, as the tenants cleaned up and Ni-ki’s family prepared to leave, Ni-ki lingered in the kitchen, organizing the leftover food. Sunghoon approached him quietly, Serenity tucked under one arm.

“You survived,” Sunghoon said casually, leaning against the counter.

Ni-ki snorted. “Barely. I feel like I aged ten years.”

Sunghoon set Serenity on the counter, the cat curling into a relaxed loaf position. “You did good today,” he said, his tone steady but kind.

Ni-ki blinked, looking at him in surprise. “Really? You’re not just saying that?”

Sunghoon smirked faintly. “Trust me, if you were a disaster, I’d tell you.”

Ni-ki laughed despite himself, though his expression quickly turned pensive. “I don’t know. It feels like no matter what I do, I’m never enough. Like I have to prove something to them—prove that I’m not just messing around here.”

Sunghoon studied him for a moment, crossing his arms. “You’re young. It’s normal to feel like that.”

“Yeah, but it’s like... everyone else seems to have their lives together. You, Jungwon-hyung, even Heeseung-hyung. And I’m just... here, trying not to trip over my own feet.” Ni-ki gestured vaguely, frustration evident in his voice.

Sunghoon was silent for a moment, his gaze thoughtful. Then, he leaned against the counter, his posture relaxing. “Can I let you in on a little secret?”

Ni-ki tilted his head, curious. “What?”

Sunghoon hesitated briefly before speaking. “I wasn’t always this ‘composed’ guy you see now. Actually, before I met Sunoo, I was... kind of like you.”

“Like me?” Ni-ki repeated, furrowing his brows. “How?”

“I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life,” Sunghoon admitted. “I didn’t have a clear direction. I was just coasting, doing what was expected of me but never really putting my heart into anything. I spent more time avoiding things than actually facing them.”

Ni-ki stared at him, stunned. “You? Mr. Cool, Calm, and Collected? No way.”

Sunghoon smirked, though his eyes softened. “It’s true. But then I met Sunoo, and... he kind of changed everything.”

Ni-ki raised an eyebrow. “What, like magic?”

“Not exactly,” Sunghoon said, chuckling lightly. “He didn’t fix me or anything like that. But being around him... it made me want to be better. To figure out what I really wanted and go after it. Sunoo has this way of seeing the best in people, even when they don’t see it themselves. He helped me realize I didn’t have to have everything figured out all at once—but I could start somewhere.”

For a moment, Ni-ki was quiet, processing Sunghoon’s words. There was something incredibly vulnerable about seeing his usually stoic hyung admit to a time of uncertainty. It made Sunghoon feel more... human. More relatable.

“Wow,” Ni-ki finally said. “So you’re saying if I want to get my life together, I just need a Sunoo-hyung.”

Sunghoon rolled his eyes, though there was a faint smile tugging at his lips. “It’s not that simple.”

“Well, maybe I’ll steal him,” Ni-ki said with a cheeky grin. “You know, borrow him for a few months, let him whip me into shape.”

Sunghoon shot him a flat look. “Over my dead body.”

Ni-ki laughed, raising his hands in surrender. “Relax, hyung. I’m kidding. Besides, you’d probably just glare at me until I gave him back.”

“Damn right I would,” Sunghoon muttered, though his tone was more amused than annoyed.

Ni-ki leaned against the counter, his grin softening into a small, genuine smile. “Thanks, hyung. For telling me that. It... actually helps a lot.”

Sunghoon nodded, his expression calm but warm. “Don’t sweat it. Just remember—you don’t have to figure it all out right now. You’ve got time. And people who’ve got your back.”

“Even you?” Ni-ki teased, raising an eyebrow.

“Even me,” Sunghoon said with a faint smirk. “But don’t make me regret it.”

Ni-ki laughed, the heaviness in his chest lifting just a little. “Deal.”

As Sunghoon picked Serenity up and turned to leave, Ni-ki called after him, his voice light but sincere. “Hey, hyung?”

Sunghoon glanced back over his shoulder. “Yeah?”

Ni-ki smiled. “You’re not as scary as you think you are.”

Sunghoon raised an eyebrow, his lips quirking into a smirk. “Don’t tell anyone. I have a reputation to uphold.”

Ni-ki chuckled, shaking his head as Sunghoon disappeared down the hallway, Serenity’s tail flicking lazily over his arm. For the first time in a long time, Ni-ki felt like maybe—just maybe—he was going to be okay.

As the evening festivities wound down, the Nishimura family began preparing to head back to their hotel. The apartment was quieter now, the lively chatter giving way to soft laughter and the clinking of dishes as the tenants worked together to clean up.

Ni-ki stood near the door, shuffling awkwardly as his mother fussed over his jacket. “You don’t need to worry about me, Mom,” he said in Japanese, trying to wriggle free from her grip. “I’m an adult.”

“You’ll always be my little boy,” his mother replied, smoothing out his collar before stepping back to admire her work. “And I worry because you’re far from home.”

Ni-ki groaned but didn’t pull away this time, his cheeks pink. His younger sister, Sola, giggled behind her hand. “Ni-ki-nii gets shy so easily,” she teased.

Sunoo, standing nearby with Sunghoon, chuckled softly. “You’re seeing the real Ni-ki now,” he whispered to Sunghoon, who smirked in agreement.

Jungwon approached with a tray of neatly packed leftovers. “I thought you might want these,” he said in Korean, holding the tray out to Ni-ki’s mother. He glanced at Jay, who smoothly translated his words into Japanese.

“Oh, thank you,” Ni-ki’s mother said warmly, accepting the tray. “You’ve all been so kind to us tonight.”

As the family prepared to leave, Ni-ki’s father approached Jungwon, who was tidying up the dining area. He gestured for Jay to join them, clearly wanting to speak.

“Ni-ki has told us a lot about you,” Ni-ki’s father said in Japanese, his tone calm and measured. Jungwon blinked, caught off guard. 

“He has?” he asked in Korean, glancing at Jay for translation.

Jay nodded, conveying the message in Japanese. Ni-ki’s father smiled faintly. “Yes. He says you are a good roommate and that you look out for him.”

Jungwon’s expression softened as he ducked his head modestly. “Ni-ki’s a handful sometimes, but he’s a good kid,” he replied, his words translated seamlessly by Jay. “I just try to keep him out of trouble.”

Ni-ki’s father chuckled, a rare warmth breaking through his composed exterior. “That is no small task,” he said. “But it is clear that you care for him.”

Jungwon hesitated for a moment before nodding. “He’s like family to me,” he admitted quietly. “I want the best for him.”

Ni-ki’s mother, who had been listening nearby, stepped forward, her eyes misty. “Thank you,” she said in Japanese, her voice thick with emotion. “It eases my heart to know he has someone like you here.”

Jungwon’s cheeks turned pink as he stumbled over his words. “It’s nothing, really—”

“It’s not nothing,” Ni-ki’s father interrupted gently. “It means a great deal to us.”

The sincerity in their voices left Jungwon momentarily speechless. He gave a small bow, his respect for Ni-ki’s family growing with each passing moment. “Thank you,” he said simply, his voice carrying genuine gratitude.

The tenants gathered at the door to bid farewell to the Nishimuras, their voices a mix of Korean, Japanese, and laughter as they exchanged warm goodnights.

“Thank you for everything tonight,” Ni-ki’s mother said, her gaze sweeping over the group. “You’ve made us feel so welcome.”

“Please visit again,” Sunoo said brightly, clasping his hands together and Ni-ki’s mother smiled, nodding.

Sola clung to Ni-ki’s arm as they headed outside the gates, looking up at him with wide, pleading eyes. “You’ll visit us soon, right?” she asked in Japanese.

“Of course,” Ni-ki replied, ruffling her hair. “And maybe next time, I’ll bring some friends.”

“Like Jungwon-nii?” Sola teased, glancing over her shoulder with a grin.

Jungwon groaned softly, covering his face as the group erupted into laughter.

As the Nishimura's one by one went inside their ride, Ni-ki turned to wave one last time, his usual playful demeanor softening into something more earnest. “Thanks, guys,” he said, his voice quieter than usual. “For everything.”

“Don’t mention it,” Heeseung called out, throwing an arm around Jay’s shoulder. “We’re family here, remember?”

The car doors slid shut, and the tenants stood in silence for a moment before Ni-ki’s absence left a noticeable void in the air.

“Well,” Sunghoon said, breaking the silence, “that was eventful.”

The next morning, the lobby of Serenity Heights buzzed with anticipation. Everyone was ready for a grand day out, including the unexpected additions of Karina and Mr. Shin. Karina had been invited by Heeseung, who insisted it was a “perfect group bonding opportunity.” Mr. Shin, overhearing the plans, casually declared, “Even old bones need fresh air,” and decided to join.

The energy was electric, with Ni-ki bouncing on his toes and Sola clutching her camera like a seasoned tourist. Konon stood beside her, looking sharp yet excited, while Mr. and Mrs. Nishimura maintained their calm composure, though their eyes shone with anticipation.

Sunoo clapped his hands together, a wide grin on his face. “Alright, everyone! Today, we’re going to show you the best of Seoul!”

“Do we have a plan, or are we just winging it?” Sunghoon asked, slinging an arm around Sunoo’s shoulders.

“I always have a plan,” Sunoo said confidently, pulling out a detailed itinerary he’d written the night before.

Jay peered over his shoulder, eyebrows raised. “You even color-coded it?”

“Of course,” Sunoo replied with a wink. “Presentation is everything.”

Their first destination was the iconic Gyeongbokgung Palace. The Nishimuras were in awe as they walked through the historic grounds, their cameras clicking nonstop.

“This place is amazing,” Konon said, admiring the intricate architecture. “It’s like stepping back in time.”

Sola ran up to Ni-ki, pointing at a couple in hanbok. “Ni-ki-nii, can we dress up like that?”

Ni-ki groaned. “Do we have to?”

“Yes,” Sola said firmly, already dragging him toward the rental booth.

The tenants exchanged amused glances as Ni-ki emerged moments later in a bright blue hanbok, his expression a mix of embarrassment and resignation. Sola followed, looking radiant in her pink and white attire.

“You look like a prince,” Sunoo teased, snapping a photo.

“More like a court jester,” Jay muttered, earning a laugh from Jake.

“Laugh it up,” Ni-ki said, glaring at them. “At least I can pull it off.”

Sola tugged on Ni-ki’s sleeve, ignoring his protests. “Let’s take a family photo!”

The group gathered for a picture in front of the palace gates. Sunoo handed his phone to a passerby, then quickly positioned everyone.

“Okay, big smiles!” Sunoo called out.

“Say kimchi!” Jake added, grinning.

As the camera clicked, Serenity, nestled comfortably in her cat backpack on Sunoo’s back, let out a loud meow. The Nishimuras burst into laughter, and the photo ended up being a candid masterpiece.

Their next stop was Insadong, a lively district filled with artisan shops and street food stalls. Karina stuck close to Heeseung, who took every opportunity to impress her with trivia about Korean culture.

“Did you know this area has been a hub for traditional crafts since the Joseon dynasty?” Heeseung said, gesturing to the shops.

Karina smiled. “You’re like a walking encyclopedia.”

“More like a walking Wikipedia,” Jake muttered, earning a laugh from Jay.

Meanwhile, Ni-ki’s family was busy exploring. Sola excitedly pointed out every shop selling cute trinkets, while Konon examined handcrafted jewelry. Mr. and Mrs. Nishimura sampled traditional teas, their appreciation clear despite the language barrier.

“Try this,” Jay said, handing Mr. Nishimura a freshly fried hotteok. Mr. Nishimura took a bite and nodded approvingly.

“Good,” he said in English, giving Jay a thumbs-up.

Jay grinned. “See? Food is a universal language.”

Ni-ki and Jungwon, meanwhile, were pulled into a caricature booth by Sola. The artist quickly sketched them side by side, exaggerating their features in a way that had Sola laughing uncontrollably.

“You look like a cartoon cat!” Sola exclaimed, pointing at Jungwon’s drawing.

Jungwon sighed. “Great. Now I match Serenity.”

Up next was Lotte World, a massive indoor amusement park that immediately lit up Sola and Ni-ki’s faces.

“Roller coasters first!” Sola declared, dragging Ni-ki and Jungwon toward the nearest ride.

“I don’t do roller coasters,” Jungwon protested, though he was no match for Sola’s enthusiasm.

The group split up, with Sunoo and Sunghoon taking Serenity for a leisurely stroll through the park. Serenity, safely tucked in her backpack, occasionally pawed at the clear window, eliciting coos from passersby.

“She’s stealing the show,” Sunoo said, glancing back at the growing crowd of admirers.

Sunghoon smirked. “She’s just following her owner’s lead.”

Sunoo rolled his eyes but leaned into Sunghoon’s side, his smile giving away his contentment. “You’re so cheesy.”

Elsewhere, Jay and Jake were locked in a fierce battle at the arcade, their competitive spirits drawing an audience.

“Is that all you’ve got?” Jay taunted as he landed a perfect combo in the dance game.

“Watch and learn, old man,” Jake shot back, matching his score.

Karina and Heeseung wandered through the quieter parts of the park, sharing cotton candy and trading jokes. Heeseung, ever the smooth talker, pointed out the view from the park’s observation deck. “It’s almost as stunning as you.”

Karina laughed, nudging his shoulder. “You’re ridiculous.”

Back at the thrill rides, Sola had convinced Ni-ki and Jungwon to ride the spinning teacups. Ni-ki clung to the center wheel, his knuckles white as Sola spun it at lightning speed.

“Sola, stop!” Ni-ki shouted, his voice shaky.

“This is fun!” Sola yelled, laughing maniacally.

Jungwon, pale but composed, muttered, “This is not fun.”

By the end of the ride, Ni-ki stumbled out, clutching his stomach. “Never again.”

As the day wound down, the group gathered by the park’s fountain, their energy spent but their hearts full.

Sunoo and Sunghoon sat on a bench, Serenity curled up contentedly in Sunoo’s lap. Sunghoon stroked her fur absentmindedly, his other arm wrapped around Sunoo.

“You’re really good with her,” Sunoo said softly.

Sunghoon smirked. “She’s family.”

Not far away, Ni-ki and Jungwon shared a bag of cotton candy, their earlier misadventures forgotten. Sola snapped a picture of them, declaring, “You two look like a couple!”

Ni-ki choked, his face turning bright red. “What are you talking about?!”

Jungwon sighed, though his ears turned pink. “Ignore her.”

Jay handed Jake a stuffed bear he’d won at the claw machine. “For your consolation prize.”

Jake took it, his expression unreadable. “Next time, I’m winning.”

“Sure you are,” Jay said, his smirk teasing but fond.

Even Mr. Shin seemed lighter as he leaned against a railing, watching the Nishimuras laugh together. “Not a bad day,” he said to no one in particular.

After their exciting time at Lotte World, the group decided to wind down at Han River Park. Armed with picnic blankets, snacks, and rented bicycles, they settled near the water as the sun dipped low in the sky, casting a warm glow over the city.

Sunoo and Sunghoon set up a cozy corner for Serenity, complete with her backpack, a little water dish, and a soft blanket. The cat, ever the queen, lounged regally, her amber eyes surveying the scene like a monarch inspecting her kingdom.

“She’s so spoiled,” Sunghoon said, handing Sunoo a drink.

“She deserves it,” Sunoo replied, smoothing the blanket. “She brings joy to everyone she meets.”

“Except me,” Jay muttered, catching Serenity’s unimpressed glare as she flicked her tail in his direction.

Nearby, Ni-ki and Sola raced their rented bikes, with Sola yelling, “I’m gonna beat you, Ni-ki-nii!”

“You wish!” Ni-ki shouted, pedaling furiously. Jungwon trailed behind them at a more leisurely pace, a small smile playing on his lips as he watched the siblings bicker.

“Wonie-nii, pedal faster!” Sola called back.

Jungwon rolled his eyes but obliged, his long legs making it easy to catch up. “You know you’re both terrible at this, right?”

“Don’t ruin the fun!” Ni-ki retorted, swerving dramatically to block Sola’s path.

As the bikes were returned, the group gathered on the picnic blankets, snacking on kimbap, fresh fruit, and convenience store treats. Karina sat beside Heeseung, laughing as he tried (and failed) to peel a tangerine in one piece.

“You’re hopeless,” she teased, taking the fruit from him and finishing the job.

“Hopelessly lucky,” Heeseung quipped, flashing her a grin that earned him an eye-roll from Jay.

Jake, ever the opportunist, had brought a frisbee and insisted on a quick game. The frisbee, however, had a mind of its own, sailing wildly into the air—and straight into Mr. Shin’s lap.

The older man didn’t even flinch, calmly catching it mid-flight. “Amateurs,” he muttered, tossing it back with surprising precision.

Ni-ki gawked. “Mr. Shin, are you secretly a frisbee champion?”

“Wouldn’t you like to know,” Mr. Shin replied cryptically.

As night fell, a surprise fireworks display lit up the sky. The Nishimuras gasped in awe, their faces illuminated by the vibrant bursts of color. Serenity, surprisingly unbothered by the noise, watched with wide, curious eyes from Sunghoon’s lap.

“She’s not even scared,” Karina observed.

“She’s fearless,” Sunghoon said, stroking her fur.

“She’s like you,” Sunoo added with a teasing smile, leaning against Sunghoon’s shoulder.

Meanwhile, Ni-ki sat with Jungwon and his family, explaining the history of the Han River with exaggerated flair. His father nodded along, while Sola giggled every time Ni-ki mispronounced a word in Korean.

“You should narrate history documentaries,” Jungwon said dryly. “They’d be... unique.”

Ni-ki beamed. “You mean inspiring.”

The night ended with the group sharing desserts—patbingsu and churros—by the water. Sola, in a burst of energy, tried to teach Serenity how to “high-five” with a churro as bait, much to Ni-ki’s horror.

“Don’t feed her that!” Ni-ki exclaimed, snatching the treat away.

“She deserves a treat!” Sola argued.

“She already gets treated like royalty!” Ni-ki shot back, gesturing at the fully decked-out cat.

Sunoo laughed, watching the exchange. “This was a good idea,” he said softly to Sunghoon.

Sunghoon nodded, his hand resting on Serenity’s back. “Yeah. It’s days like these that make all the chaos worth it.”

The group lingered a little longer, soaking in the calm of the river and the warmth of their shared laughter, before finally heading back to the apartment building.

The group returned to the building, their energy slightly worn from the day but their spirits high. Serenity was nestled in her backpack, purring softly, seemingly satisfied with her day as an honorary tourist.

Ni-ki’s family lingered in the lobby, reluctant to say their goodbyes. Sola tugged at Ni-ki’s sleeve, her face scrunching in exaggerated annoyance. “Nii-chan, I still can’t believe you live here. It’s... chaotic.”

“That’s the charm,” Ni-ki replied, grinning. “And don’t pretend you didn’t have fun.”

Sola crossed her arms but cracked a small smile. “Fine, but I still don’t get how you manage.”

“He doesn’t,” Jungwon chimed in, smirking. “We manage for him.”

“Snitch,” Ni-ki muttered, though his tone lacked any real bite.

Ni-ki’s father clapped him on the shoulder, his grip firm yet warm. “You’ve grown up, son. Even if your hair still makes you look like a delinquent.”

Ni-ki laughed nervously, scratching the back of his neck. “I’m working on it.”

“Good,” his father said, his expression softening. “We’re proud of you.”

His mother pulled him into a tight hug, her voice laced with emotion. “Take care of yourself. And don’t forget to eat properly.”

“I won’t,” Ni-ki promised, his grin faltering slightly under the weight of her concern. “Thanks for coming.”

Sola and Konon waved at the tenants, with Konon adding, “Take care of my brother, okay? He’s hopeless.”

“We’ve noticed,” Jay replied, earning laughter from the group.

Back upstairs, the tenants gathered in the lounge for a final wind-down. Mr. Shin joined them briefly, sipping tea and offering cryptic advice about life and cats before retreating to his apartment.

Serenity, now free from her backpack, hopped onto Sunghoon’s lap and promptly fell asleep.

“I swear she’s got a better life than all of us,” Jake muttered, stretching out on the couch.

“Not wrong,” Sunoo replied, running a hand through her soft fur.

Ni-ki flopped onto the floor dramatically. “I’m so tired.”

“From what?” Jay asked, raising an eyebrow. “We did all the work.”

Ni-ki grinned cheekily. “Emotional labor is exhausting.”

As the group settled in, sharing jokes and recounting highlights from the day, Sunghoon leaned closer to Sunoo, their shoulders brushing.

“Tired?” he asked softly.

“A little,” Sunoo admitted, smiling at him. “But happy.”

Sunghoon nodded, his hand brushing against Sunoo’s. “Same.”

From his spot on the floor, Ni-ki groaned. “If you two start being all lovey-dovey again, I’m leaving.”

“Goodnight, Ni-ki,” Sunoo said brightly, throwing a pillow at him.

The room filled with laughter as Ni-ki dramatically “fainted” from the impact. It was a fitting end to a day filled with chaos, laughter, and a little extra love for their chosen family at Serenity Heights.

Chapter Text

The warm glow of Mr. Shin’s convenience store flickered slightly, a reminder that the ancient fluorescent lights were hanging on for dear life. The place smelled like instant noodles, newspaper ink, and the faint but ever present aroma of Mr. Shin’s kimchi jjigae simmering in the back.

At the tiny seating area in the corner, Jake and Sunoo sat across from each other, their post-work exhaustion evident. Jake was slurping up his cup of instant ramyeon with the enthusiasm of a man who had given up on cooking, while Sunoo happily chewed on a skewer of spicy tteokbokki and fish cakes, occasionally fanning his mouth.

“You do this to yourself every time,” Jake commented, watching as Sunoo’s face scrunched up from the spice.

“I like to feel something after a long day,” Sunoo shot back, waving his hand dramatically in front of his mouth before taking a huge gulp of his banana milk. “So what’s up? You look like you have a question, but you're trying to pretend you don’t.”

Jake smirked, stirring his noodles with his chopsticks. “Okay, fine. You and Sunghoon—how did that even start? You guys seem solid, but I can’t imagine how.”

Sunoo raised an eyebrow. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Jake shrugged. “I dunno, man. Sunghoon’s got that whole ‘silent brooding protagonist in a drama where his love interest has amnesia’ thing going on. You’re, like, sunshine personified. I just don’t get how that happened.”

Sunoo snorted, twirling a fish cake skewer between his fingers. “Oh, trust me, I also didn’t get it at first.”

Jake leaned in, clearly intrigued. “So? Spill.”

Sunoo took a deep breath, a fond smile creeping onto his face.

“We met through mutual friends in college. At first, I thought he was straight as hell. I mean, I first saw him at a party, and this guy just—”

Sunoo paused for dramatic effect, then leaned back and imitated Sunghoon’s ‘socializing skills’ by stiffly sitting with his arms crossed, staring at the wall.

Jake nearly choked on his ramyeon. “That’s uncanny.”

“He just sat there—on the couch—alone. The party was buzzing, people were mingling, and this man was just existing in his own little broody world. Didn’t talk to anyone unless they talked to him first. He even ignored me.”

Jake shook his head, laughing. “Damn. And you, the social butterfly, must’ve been like ‘Who is this mysterious recluse and why is he ruining the party vibes?’”

“Exactly!” Sunoo threw his hands up. “And then, a week later, our mutual friend tells me that Sunghoon actually thought I was cute and was asking if I was dating anyone.”

Jake’s jaw dropped. “Wait, so while he was pretending to be the human equivalent of a stone wall, he was secretly checking you out?!”

“RIGHT?!” Sunoo laughed, stabbing a piece of tteokbokki with unnecessary force. “I was SHOCKED.”

Jake shook his head in disbelief. “So, what happened next?”

“Well, since I was single at the time, our friend set up a meet up. And let me tell you, Sunghoon is a completely different person when he likes you.”

Jake raised an eyebrow. “Go on.”

Sunoo sighed dreamily, his chopsticks tapping against his bowl.

“He’s the sweetest person ever. He’s always shy about it, but he loves spoiling me. He’d buy me my favorite snacks when I had exams, send me random texts like ‘Did you drink water today?’, and he always finds ways to hold my hand, even if we’re just walking to the bus stop.”

Jake groaned. “Ugh. Disgustingly cute.”

“I know,” Sunoo grinned. “But the moment I knew—the moment I accidentally told him I loved him—was at our college band competition.”

Jake’s eyes widened. “Wait. Sunghoon was in a band?”

Sunoo leaned forward conspiratorially. “Listen, I had no idea Sunghoon could play the drums. Like, I knew he was into music, but I had never actually seen him perform. So, we’re at this band competition, and his group comes on stage, and then BAM—this man is a beast.”

Jake’s chopsticks froze mid-air. “...Sunghoon? Plays. The. Drums?”

“Not just playing the drums, OWNING the drums,” Sunoo corrected, dramatically gripping his own chest. “The way he played—the focus, the intensity, the damn sweat glistening under the lights—”

Jake gagged. “Okay, spare me the thirsting, please.”

“I CAN’T,” Sunoo wailed. “It was too much. My brain just short-circuited. Before I could stop myself, I stood up in the crowd and yelled, ‘SUNGHOON, I LOVE YOU!!!’”

Jake clapped his hands over his mouth, eyes wide. “NO WAY.”

“YES WAY.” Sunoo groaned, covering his face in embarrassment. “Like a stupid groupie. Loud and proud. In the middle of his solo. He doesn’t even know that’s when I first told him—”

Jake held up a single finger. “Hold that thought.”

He pulled out his phone, scrolled through his contacts, and put it on speaker.

After a few rings, a voice picked up: “Yo, Jake. What’s up?”

Jake inhaled sharply, his expression deadly serious. “Hyung, it’s happening. SHEESH is coming to life.”

On the other end, Heeseung gasped dramatically. “SHEESH?! ARE YOU SERIOUS?!”

Jake nodded solemnly, despite the fact that Heeseung couldn’t see him. “Sunghoon. Plays. The. Drums.”

There was a moment of silence.

Then—

“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!”

Heeseung’s ungodly scream was so loud it broke the sound barrier. The entire convenience store vibrated with the force of his excitement.

Mr. Shin, from behind the counter, didn’t even flinch as he reached for a mop. “If the walls crack, you’re paying for it.”

Sunoo clutched his chest, visibly traumatized. “WHAT WAS THAT?!”

Jake pointed at his phone. “That was Heeseung hyung learning that his long-dead dream is alive again.”

On the other end, Heeseung was still screaming. “JAY! GET OVER HERE, IT’S FINALLY HAPPENING!!”

Sunoo covered his ears. “Someone control him before he ascends to another dimension.”

Jake grinned. “Sunoo, congratulations. Your boyfriend is about to become a rockstar.”

Sunoo slumped in his chair. “I just wanted to eat my tteokbokki in peace.”

SHEESH: Serenity Heights' Extremely Enthusiastic Sound Heroes

Sunoo blinked in horror. “...Please tell me that name was made up under the influence of alcohol.”

Heeseung, still breathless, spoke up again. “YEP. Two years ago. When we found out Jay could play guitar.”

Sunoo frowned. “Wait, so you didn’t know Sunghoon played drums?”

Jake shrugged. “Dude, Sunghoon literally radiates ‘I do my hobbies in secret and tell no one’ energy.”

On the phone, Heeseung was already planning their first jam session.

“Tell Sunghoon we’re meeting in the lobby tomorrow at 8am. This is not a request. SHEESH is BACK, BABY!”

Sunoo, exhausted, took a deep breath and looked at his unfinished food.

Then he looked at Jake, who was absolutely glowing with excitement.

Then he looked at his phone, where Heeseung was probably hyperventilating from pure joy.

Finally, he let out a long, dramatic sigh. “…Sunghoon will hate me for this.”

Sunoo stood at the bottom of the stairs, staring at the entrance of the lobby like a man awaiting his execution. Next to him, Jake was vibrating with excitement, Heeseung was pacing like a coach before a championship game, and Jay was leaning against the wall, arms crossed, already regretting his life choices.

Across from them, Ni-ki was tuning a guitar he definitely did not need to tune yet, but he insisted on looking like a professional.

Sunoo let out a long, dramatic sigh. “Sunghoon is going to kill me.”

Jake clapped him on the back. “That’s a problem for future Sunoo.”

Before Sunoo could bemoan his fate further, the familiar sound of footsteps trudging down the stairs signaled the arrival of their very confused victim.

Park Sunghoon emerged from the stairwell, hair slightly damp from a shower, wearing his usual expression of someone who was perpetually exhausted by existence. He blinked at the group assembled before him.

“…What is this?” he asked, voice still groggy.

Sunoo shifted uncomfortably. “Uhhh… surprise?”

Jay, as always, cut straight to the point. “Congrats, Sunghoon. You’re our new drummer.”

Sunghoon blinked.

Then blinked again.

Then slowly, very slowly, turned his head toward Sunoo, betrayal written all over his face. “Sunoo.”

Sunoo smiled weakly. “Yes, my love?”

Sunghoon narrowed his eyes. “Did you just sell me into a band against my will?”

There was a painful silence before Sunoo awkwardly finger-gunned at him. “Surprise?”

Sunghoon’s expression remained unchanged as he looked around the room. Heeseung was beaming like a proud mother, Ni-ki was strumming dramatically on an unplugged electric guitar, Jake was nodding encouragingly, and Jay just sighed, clearly resigned to the stupidity of it all.

Sunghoon inhaled deeply. Then—

“No.”

And he immediately turned on his heel, heading back up the stairs.

“WAIT, WAIT, WAIT!” Heeseung practically lunged for him. “Hoonie, listen to me—”

“Please don’t call me Hoonie.”

“My favorite neighbor, Sunghoon, listen to me—”

Sunghoon pushed Heeseung off him like someone swatting away an annoying mosquito. “I don’t play in bands anymore.”

Jake, seeing a golden opportunity, leaned against the wall and casually said, “You know, Sunoo told me he fell in love with you because of your drumming.”

Sunghoon froze mid-step.

Sunoo immediately whipped around, horrified. “JAKE HYUNG, WHAT THE HELL?!”

Jake grinned. “Just thought he should know.”

Sunghoon turned back to Sunoo so fast it was a miracle he didn’t get whiplash. “Wait. What?”

Sunoo groaned, burying his face in his hands. “Don’t listen to him. That’s completely out of context—”

“It’s not,” Jake interrupted. “Sunoo was a full-blown groupie. He screamed his first ‘I LOVE YOU’ in the middle of your drum solo at your band competition.”

The silence was deafening.

Heeseung gasped so loudly it echoed up the stairwell.

Jay choked on absolutely nothing.

Ni-ki dropped his guitar.

Sunghoon’s entire soul left his body.

Sunoo, now absolutely melting from embarrassment, weakly waved his hands. “Haha, um, you know, the past is the past—”

“YOU FIRST CONFESSED TO ME MID-DRUM SOLO?!” Sunghoon asked, scandalized.

Heeseung grabbed Sunghoon’s shoulders, shaking him. “DO YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT THIS MEANS?! YOU WERE DESTINED TO BE IN A BAND!”

Sunghoon looked genuinely distressed. “That’s literally not what that means at all.”

Heeseung ignored him. “SHEESH has been waiting for this moment! With me on keys, Jay and Ni-ki on guitars, and Jake on bass—”

Sunghoon’s head snapped to Jake. “You play bass?”

Jake grinned. “Used to play violin in high school. Turns out, you just remove the bow and make it cooler.”

Sunghoon blinked. “That’s… not how it works, but okay.”

Heeseung clapped his hands dramatically. “All we need now is a drummer—”

Sunghoon crossed his arms. “Get a new one.”

“No,” Heeseung said immediately. “We summoned you for this purpose.”

“Summoned?!” Sunghoon looked at Sunoo, as if expecting him to save him.

Sunoo pretended to sip his banana milk to avoid eye contact.

Jay sighed, rubbing his temples. “Just say yes. They’ll wear you down eventually.”

Sunghoon exhaled through his nose. “Fine.”

The room exploded.

“YES!” Heeseung fist-pumped the air.

Ni-ki tackled Jay in excitement, who shoved him off immediately.

Sunoo latched onto Sunghoon’s arm, squeezing him. “You’re the best, Hoonie!”

Sunghoon, still processing his life choices, sighed deeply. “I’m going to regret this, aren’t I?”

Jake grinned, throwing an arm around Sunghoon’s shoulder. “Absolutely.”

Now that SHEESH was officially formed, the next logical step was deciding who would be the lead singer.

Which, unfortunately, meant that everyone thought it should be them.

It started off innocent enough.

“I mean, obviously, I should do it,” Heeseung declared, tossing his hair. “I have the natural charisma of a frontman and I always get the best scores in karaoke.”

Jay immediately rolled his eyes. “Natural charisma doesn’t mean you can actually sing.”

Jake smirked. “What, and you think you should do it?”

Jay crossed his arms. “I have a good voice.”

“You’re a guitarist,” Jake pointed out.

Ni-ki perked up. “I can sing.”

Everyone turned to stare at him.

“…What?” he asked.

“You sound like a TikTok sound effect,” Jay muttered.

Ni-ki gasped. “RUDE.”

Jake shrugged. “Look, I used to be in choir. I have range. I should be the lead singer.”

Sunoo choked on air. “I’M SORRY, WHAT?!”

Jake smirked. “I was a first tenor.”

Heeseung immediately raised his hands. “Lies.”

Jake raised an eyebrow. “Want me to prove it?”

And that’s how, five minutes later, the entire apartment building was subjected to the most dramatic, over-the-top sing-off in Serenity Heights history.

Jay was belting out high notes like he was auditioning for a K-drama OST.

Heeseung was doing vocal runs just to flex.

Jake was harmonizing aggressively.

Ni-ki was deadpan singing just to annoy them.

Sunghoon, watching all of this unfold, slowly turned to Sunoo. “...Is it too late to quit?”

Sunoo grinned. “Oh, absolutely.”

After what felt like fifteen minutes of the Great Vocal War of SHEESH, Sunoo took charge, because if he didn’t, they’d still be screaming at each other in falsetto by next week.

"Alright, listen up, you incredibly talented but deeply misguided fools," he declared, standing on the couch like a charismatic cult leader rallying his followers. His eyes gleamed with the righteous power of someone who could not endure another second of off-key falsetto belting. “We’ll settle this professionally. Auditions. This afternoon. In the lobby. May the best voice win.”

Jake frowned. “But I already know I’m the best voice.”

Jay scoffed. “Hilarious. I was thinking the same thing about myself.”

Heeseung, never one to be left out of a drama, placed a hand over his heart, eyes full of faux humility. “Guys. We all know I was born for this.”

Ni-ki, sitting on the floor, barely looked up from his phone.

Sunoo narrowed his eyes. “Ni-ki, what are you doing?”

“How to sing better in 10 minutes,” Ni-ki muttered, scrolling with the focus of a student cramming for an exam he didn’t study for.

Sunghoon, watching all of this unfold with the patience of an exhausted babysitter, leaned toward Sunoo. “This is gonna be a disaster.”

With auditions set for later, the apartment bustled with life as everyone carried on with their day.

Jake and Jay went out to buy groceries where they ended up in a full-blown debate over instant coffee versus ground beans for the new shared coffee nook in the lobby. (“It’s about efficiency, Jay! Efficiency!” – Jake. “It’s about FLAVOR. We are not heathens!” – Jay.)

Ni-ki was supposed to be cleaning the apartment, but his version of that involved wiping one countertop before dramatically collapsing onto the couch and watching cat videos.

Heeseung locked himself in his room for what he called “serious vocal preparation,” which Sunoo suspected was just him watching concert footage and trying to copy stage presence.

Sunghoon? Suspiciously quiet. Probably rethinking every decision that had led him to agreeing to be in the band.

Sunoo, meanwhile, was on his way to the laundry room, humming a cheerful tune as he prepared to grab their freshly washed clothes.

Then, he heard it.

At first, he thought someone had left their phone playing music. But no—this was live.

A voice.

Soft. Warm. So heartbreakingly beautiful that it stopped Sunoo right in his tracks.

His breath hitched. He tightened his grip on the laundry basket as if it could anchor him back to reality.

“Who…?” he whispered to himself, utterly entranced.

Carefully, moving with the grace of a professional spy, he peeked through the slightly open laundry room door.

Inside, standing completely unaware of his audience, was Yang Jungwon.

Jungwon, their sweet, responsible, reliable neighbor.

Jungwon, who was folding his laundry with practiced ease, as if he wasn’t currently shattering the fabric of Sunoo’s reality.

Jungwon, who was singing like he belonged on the soundtrack of a heart-wrenching drama.

Sunoo almost wept on the spot.

He had spent all morning listening to the members of SHEESH butcher harmonies, scream high notes, and nearly come to blows over "artistic integrity".

And meanwhile, Jungwon was just… here?

IN THE LAUNDRY ROOM?? SINGING LIKE THIS???

Sunoo pressed himself against the doorframe, clutching his chest like he had just witnessed something divine.

This was it. This was the answer.

Jungwon wasn’t just going to audition.

Jungwon was about to effortlessly obliterate every single person at those auditions.

With a slow, stunned smile creeping onto his lips, Sunoo realized something.

SHEESH was about to get a serious reality check.

The Serenity Heights lobby had been transformed into a makeshift audition hall. The coffee table had been shoved against the wall, a lone microphone in a microphone stand (that no one remembered Heeseung owning) stood proudly in the center, and someone—probably Ni-ki—had drawn the words " SHEESH IDOL SURVIVAL SHOW " on a piece of cardboard and taped it to the wall.

Sunoo sat comfortably on the “judging panel”—which was actually just a rickety plastic chair next to Sunghoon, who looked as if he had lost all faith in humanity. Serenity, his beloved cat, was sprawled across his lap, watching the proceedings with the air of someone who had seen better performances in her sleep.

"Alright, welcome to the official auditions for lead vocals of SHEESH!" Sunoo announced, beaming.

On the couch sat Heeseung, Jay, Jake, Ni-ki, and Jungwon. Some buzzed with excitement, others looked far too confident for people who had spent the past few hours butchering harmonies.

Jungwon, sitting at the very edge of the couch, looked perfectly relaxed, completely unaware that he was about to be betrayed.

"First up, Heeseung hyung!"

Heeseung cracked his neck like he was about to go into battle, grabbed the microphone, and adopted the stance of a man about to change lives. "Thank you, thank you. I’d like to dedicate this performance to all my fans—"

"There are no fans," Jay deadpanned.

Heeseung ignored him. "Then I’d like to dedicate this to myself for being amazing."

And he launched into a performance that was entirely too much.

His voice? Technically good.

His presence? Somewhere between an idol and a Broadway actor trying too hard.

The way he inserted unnecessary high notes and ended with a dramatic bow? Deeply excessive.

Sunoo blinked. "Okay, hyung, that was—a lot."

Sunghoon sighed, still petting Serenity. "You didn’t need to scream."

Serenity flicked her tail in agreement.

Jay snorted. "You sound like you should be starring in Les Misérables ."

Jake nodded. "Yeah. Good voice, hyung, but too theatrical."

Heeseung gasped, deeply wounded. "Art cannot be contained!"

Sunoo moved on. "Next up—Jay hyung!"

Jay rolled his shoulders and took the microphone. "Watch and learn."

And he sang.

And it was cool.

Too cool.

Jay had that effortless, lazy voice that made him sound like a mysterious indie band frontman who had just gotten his heart broken in a coffee shop.

Sunoo nodded slowly. "Okay. That was sexy."

Sunghoon narrowed his eyes. "Are we voting on sex appeal or vocal ability?"

Jake hummed. "Good voice, but he’s got no range."

Jay shrugged, already sitting back down. "I don’t need range. My vibe is immaculate."

"Okay, moving on!" Sunoo clapped. "Jake hyung, let’s hear it!"

Jake, who had been suspiciously quiet about his choir background, stood up and absolutely delivered.

His voice was smooth. Stable. Technically impressive.

Ni-ki threw his hands up. "OH, COME ON, HYUNG. Why do you sound like you’ve been secretly training for this?"

Jake smirked. "First tenor, baby."

Sunoo rubbed his temples. "Okay. Everyone is somehow good, but not quite right."

Ni-ki took his turn, and it went exactly as expected. He relied more on enthusiasm than actual technique. He even danced along with his vocal routine.

"Ni-ki, that was… energetic." Sunoo tried to be diplomatic.

Sunghoon added, "Yeah, if we were singing for my students."

Ni-ki groaned. "You guys suck."

Sunoo sighed dramatically. "We still don’t have a lead vocalist. We need someone warm, steady, emotional but controlled—"

He turned slowly to Jungwon, who was happily enjoying everyone else embarrassing themselves.

"Jungwon."

Jungwon paused mid-sip. "Yes, hyung?"

Sunoo smiled sweetly. "Sing for us."

Silence.

A deep, ominous silence.

Jungwon blinked. "Come again?"

"You! Sing!" Sunoo repeated cheerfully.

Jungwon let out a nervous chuckle. "Haha, no, no. I’m just here to watch and judge. Right, Sunghoon hyung?"

Sunghoon raised an eyebrow. "When did I agree to judge?"

Jungwon’s entire body stiffened. "Well, uh, you—you’re sitting here, so, obviously—"

"You’re sitting there too," Sunoo pointed out innocently. "So obviously, you should sing."

Jungwon’s panic levels skyrocketed. "Haha, you guys don’t want to hear me! I mean, it’s not like I’m bad, but I’m not—I’m just—"

"Wait a minute—now that I think about it—you’ve lived here for years and successfully avoided every karaoke request," Jake noted, eyes narrowing.

"Suspicious." Jay nodded.

" Very suspicious," Ni-ki agreed.

Jungwon sputtered. "I just don’t like karaoke!"

Sunoo leaned forward, eyes twinkling with mischief. "Jungwon~ Please~?"

Jungwon shook his head furiously. "Nope! Nope! I will simply not be doing that today."

Sunoo placed a hand over his heart. "But Jungwon, you love me, right?"

Jungwon flinched. "Hyung. What."

"If you love me, you’ll sing~"

Sunghoon let out a wheezing laugh. Serenity meowed, as if encouraging the chaos.

Jungwon’s eye twitched. "...You guys are never going to let this go, are you?"

The entire room shook their heads.

Jungwon sighed, dragging a hand down his face. "Fine."

Sunoo clapped excitedly.

And then—Jungwon started singing.

And the room went dead silent.

Because, of course.

He was perfect.

His voice was steady, emotional, effortlessly controlled.

Sunoo knew it. He had known it the moment he heard Jungwon singing in the laundry room earlier. That same angelic voice that had stopped him in his tracks was now washing over the entire lobby, effortlessly obliterating everyone who had auditioned before him.

Jake’s jaw dropped. Jay slowly put his head in his hands. Heeseung looked personally betrayed.

The lobby was dead silent after Jungwon’s voice faded into the air. For a long moment, everyone just stared at him, as if he had just revealed a hidden superpower.

Then Ni-ki, still in a state of pure betrayal, dramatically pointed at him. “YOU LIED TO US.”

Jungwon coughed. “I never said I couldn’t sing.”

“That’s literally the same thing!” Heeseung yelled, throwing his hands up.

Jake, still visibly processing what just happened, finally closed his mouth and nodded slowly. “Okay, so we all agree Jungwon is the lead vocalist, right?”

Jay sighed, rubbing his temples. “Yeah. No point in arguing.”

“I hate this but you’re right,” Ni-ki muttered.

Heeseung, who had spent the last two years believing he was born to front this band, took a deep breath and shook his head in resignation. “Honestly, him being the lead avoids a lot of unnecessary fights.”

Sunoo, who was grinning so hard his cheeks were starting to hurt, clapped his hands together. “Perfect! It’s settled then—Jungwon is the new lead vocalist!”

But Jungwon, ever the shy and polite neighbor, immediately shook his head. “No, no, no. Absolutely not.”

Everyone froze.

Sunoo frowned. “Wait. What?”

Jungwon, visibly flustered, waved his hands. “You guys should just pick one of the original members. I mean, you’re all really good! I don’t need to—”

“Everyone here literally voted for you,” Jake interrupted flatly.

Jungwon blinked. 

Heeseung gestured vaguely to the rest of the band. “Look, if we let anyone else be the lead vocalist, we’re gonna have fights breaking out every practice. You, my dear Jungwon, are our solution to world peace.”

Jungwon still looked unsure. “But… what even is this band for?”

Heeseung tilted his head. “Huh?”

Jungwon sighed. “Like… what’s the point? Are we just messing around? Are we performing somewhere? Is this just so Sunghoon hyung can suffer?”

Sunghoon, who had been quietly petting Serenity this whole time, nodded. “It’s mostly for my suffering, yes.”

Jake beamed. “We’re making memories, Jungwon! And also, yes, we might perform eventually. Just imagine how cool we’d be!”

Jungwon bit his lip, clearly hesitant.

Then, after a long pause, he sighed and crossed his arms. “…Fine.”

Sunoo gasped. “Really?!”

Jungwon nodded. “But.” He lifted a finger, expression serious. “I’ll only do it if Sunoo hyung is co-lead vocalist.”

Sunoo stopped breathing.

Jay leaned forward. “Oh, that’s good. Let’s do that.”

Sunghoon snorted. “Absolutely.”

Jake grinned. “I love this idea.”

Heeseung immediately clapped his hands. “UNANIMOUS DECISION!”

Sunoo, still short-circuiting, waved his hands frantically. “Wait, no, no! I’m just the groupie and the band manager! I’m not that good at singing anyway!”

Jungwon raised an eyebrow. “That’s not true.”

Sunoo scoffed. “It is! I’m—”

“I saw your audition,” Jungwon said casually.

Sunoo froze. “…My what?”

Jungwon tilted his head. “Your audition for the non-profit theater downtown.”

Sunoo’s soul left his body. His eyes widened in pure horror. “How do you know about that?!”

Jungwon shrugged. “Because…” He scratched his cheek, looking mildly embarrassed. “I auditioned too.”

The entire room lost its mind.

“WHAT.” —Jay.

“YOU TWO ARE SECRETLY THEATER KIDS?!” —Ni-ki.

“EXPLAIN YOURSELVES IMMEDIATELY.” —Heeseung.

Sunghoon, who had been watching all of this unfold in amusement, raised an eyebrow. “Hey, you never even told me about that.”

Sunoo, still staring at Jungwon like he had just been personally attacked, let out a strangled noise. “Because it was a secret?!”

Jungwon blinked innocently. “I mean, I didn’t tell anyone either…”

“You DIDN’T tell anyone because you actively dodge all karaoke nights and everyone assumes you just don’t like singing!” Ni-ki argued.

Jungwon sighed, looking way too calm for someone who just exposed Sunoo’s deepest secret. “I was going to tell you guys eventually.”

Sunoo, still spiraling, pointed dramatically. “YOU HAVE STOLEN MY SECRET!”

Jungwon crossed his arms. “You were the one who told me to sing, hyung.”

Sunoo clutched his head. “THAT’S NOT THE POINT.”

Heeseung leaned back on the couch, clearly enjoying this. “Okay, but now we all know Sunoo can sing too.”

Sunghoon, smirking slightly, tilted his head. “So, co-lead vocalist?”

Sunoo groaned, dramatically flopping onto the floor. “I was supposed to be on the sidelines! Let me live!”

Serenity, as if judging his life choices, hopped off Sunghoon’s lap and gracefully walked over to sit beside Jungwon.

Sunoo gasped. “EVEN YOU, SERENITY?!”

The cat yawned.

Jungwon smiled, looking down at the fluffy traitor now sitting beside him. He then looked up at Sunoo with the most innocent, wide-eyed expression. “…So is that a yes?”

Sunoo, still on the floor, groaned into his hands.

SHEESH now had two lead vocalists.

The lobby of Serenity Heights had changed overnight.

Where there were once couches, a coffee table, and a cozy seating area for residents to chat, there was now a complete band setup taking over the entire space.

Sunoo stared at it all, horrified yet deeply amused. The drum set, keyboard stand, microphone stands, amplifiers—everything was there.

Jake, looking suspiciously casual, adjusted the strap of his bass and smirked.

Sunoo crossed his arms. “Jake hyung… where is all the lobby furniture?”

Jake didn’t even blink. “They’re in a better place.”

Sunoo’s stomach dropped. “WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?!”

Jake turned away, plucking a few bass strings. “Don’t worry about it.”

Sunghoon, meanwhile, was having an existential crisis in front of the deeply questionable drum set.

“This…” He exhaled through his nose, pinching the bridge of his nose like he was trying not to scream. “This drum set is older than I am.”

Heeseung grinned as he plugged in his keyboard. “Yeah, my friend got it back in high school but stopped playing after his mom banned him from practicing in the house.”

Sunghoon’s eye twitched. “Banned?”

“Yeah,” Heeseung said. “She said he was ‘bringing dishonor to the household.’”

Sunghoon ran a hand down his face. “Fantastic. Just fantastic. My first band practice in years, and I’m playing on an ancient relic that was banned by a mother.”

Serenity, who had hopped up onto the keyboard stand, meowed in agreement.

Jungwon, standing beside Sunoo and clutching his microphone, looked like he was questioning every choice that led him here.

“So…” Jungwon muttered. “This is really happening, huh?”

Sunoo nodded, suppressing laughter. “Yep. Welcome to SHEESH, bestie.”

With everyone finally in position, it was time to start.

Heeseung sat behind his keyboard, cracking his knuckles like he was about to enter battle.

Jay adjusted his lead guitar strap, flipping his hair dramatically.

Ni-ki, on rhythm guitar, looked way too confident for someone who only started playing because he wanted to impress a classmate.

Jake looked ridiculously comfortable on bass, like he had always belonged in a band.

Sunghoon, behind the cursed drum set, looked ready to throw hands with fate.

Jungwon was gripping the microphone like it was a lifeline.

Sunoo was grinning ear to ear, living his best life.

“Alright! Let’s do a sound check,” Heeseung announced, tapping a few keys. “Jay, let’s hear you.”

Jay strummed one chord and the entire lobby shook.

Sunoo immediately ducked. “WHAT WAS THAT?”

Jay blinked. “...Volume might be a little high.”

Jake sighed. “Turn it down, rockstar. We live in an apartment complex.”

Jay begrudgingly adjusted his amp.

Next, Ni-ki strummed his rhythm guitar.

Sunghoon frowned. “Why does it sound like your guitar is arguing with itself?”

Ni-ki scowled. “Excuse you! This is art.”

Jake raised an eyebrow. “It’s out of tune.”

Ni-ki froze. Then coughed. “...I knew that.”

Sunoo held back laughter as Ni-ki frantically started tuning.

“Okay, Jake?” Heeseung prompted.

Jake plucked his bass strings, the deep notes sounding effortlessly smooth.

Sunghoon sighed. “At least one of us knows what they’re doing.”

Heeseung hit a few chords on the keyboard, his confidence borderline unsettling.

Then, finally—Sunghoon lifted the drumsticks.

Everyone held their breath.

With one deep inhale, Sunghoon brought the sticks down.

…And one of the drums squeaked.

The room went silent.

Sunghoon’s entire body stilled.

Jungwon slowly turned to Sunoo. “Hyung. Did the drum just meow?”

Serenity, perched on Heeseung’s keyboard, let out a long, judgmental meow answering back.

Sunghoon threw the drumsticks into the air. “I QUIT.”

After securing Sunghoon back onto the cursed drum set, it was finally time to start their first song.

“Okay, so we’ll start easy,” Heeseung said. “Basic rock progression. Just follow my lead.”

Jay rolled his eyes. “Yeah, yeah, we got this.”

Ni-ki nodded confidently. “Born ready.”

Jake adjusted his bass. “Let’s just try to stay on beat.”

Sunoo turned to Jungwon, smiling. “First time singing in a band?”

Jungwon let out a slow breath. “Hyung, I’m so scared.”

Sunoo patted his shoulder. “You’ll do great.”

Heeseung counted them in. “One… two… three… GO!”

And it was an absolute catastrophe.

Jay and Ni-ki started playing two different songs.

Jake, the only one actually playing correctly, immediately yelled at them.

Sunghoon tried to start the drums but realized the hi-hat was broken.

Heeseung was doing far too much on the keyboard for a beginner session.

Sunoo started singing but immediately got drowned out by Ni-ki’s extremely unnecessary guitar solo.

Jungwon, in pure panic, forgot to come in at all.

By the fifth second, Sunghoon stood up mid-performance and ripped off his drumsticks. “NOPE. I REFUSE.”

Jay, still shredding his guitar, yelled over the noise, “WHY IS EVERYONE SCREAMING?!”

Jake threw his pick at Ni-ki. “STOP SOLOING, IT’S LITERALLY NOT YOUR TURN!”

Ni-ki dodged. “IT JUST FELT RIGHT!”

Sunoo and Jungwon stared at each other, gripping their microphones, completely ignored in the chaos.

Sunoo exhaled. “So… do we just start singing or—”

Jungwon shook his head immediately. “Absolutely not. We will die in this.”

After three minutes of absolute noise pollution, Sunghoon slammed his drumsticks onto the snare. “STOP. STOP. EVERYONE SHUT UP.”

The room froze.

Sunghoon took a deep breath. His eye twitched. “We are trying that again. AND WE ARE GOING TO GET IT RIGHT.”

Silence.

Then Heeseung coughed. “So… like, from the top?”

After multiple failed attempts, near fistfights, and a brief existential crisis from Sunghoon, the members of SHEESH finally started to sound like a real band.

It didn’t happen immediately. No, there were still a lot of questionable moments.

Ni-ki still tried to sneak in unnecessary guitar solos, only to get smacked by Jay.

Heeseung kept overcomplicating his keyboard parts until Sunghoon literally threw a drumstick at him.

Jake was the only one holding the rhythm together while looking mildly exhausted by everyone else.

Sunoo and Jungwon kept missing cues because they were too busy nervously glancing at each other.

But slowly—oh so slowly—it started to come together.

The transition was so gradual, no one really noticed at first.

Sunoo, still riding the high of absolute chaos, suddenly realized something mid-verse.

They sounded… good.

Like, actually good.

Jay’s guitar melded effortlessly with Ni-ki’s rhythm, and for the first time, it didn’t sound like they were playing two different songs. Jake’s bass line was steady and warm, grounding everything.

Sunghoon, after finally getting over his grudge against the drum set, locked into a groove, the beat perfectly in sync with the melody.

Heeseung, after being threatened multiple times, played exactly what he was supposed to, filling in the space just right.

Then there were the vocals.

Jungwon came in first, his voice soft but confident. Sunoo followed, their harmonies sliding into place like they had been doing this for years.

Sunoo’s voice was bright, full of warmth, carrying the energy forward, while Jungwon’s was steady and controlled, balancing everything out.

For the first time, it didn’t sound like seven guys making noise in an apartment lobby.

It sounded like a band.

"Okay," Sunoo clapped his hands, still buzzing with excitement. "Now that we’ve established that we’re not completely terrible, we need to figure out what song to play for our first official band practice."

Silence.

Then—

"I vote for Shout Out," Heeseung suggested immediately, adjusting the settings on his keyboard. "It’s got a sick build-up and it’s fun to perform."

Ni-ki’s eyes lit up. "Ooooh, I second that!"

Jay scoffed. "Yeah, no thanks. That song is way too aggressive for a first practice."

"Oh, so what do you wanna play?" Jake raised an eyebrow.

Jay shrugged. "Something more laid back. Maybe You Were Beautiful by Day6."

Sunoo gasped dramatically. "YES. I APPROVE."

Jungwon perked up. "Wait, I know that one!"

Ni-ki frowned. "Yeah, but it has too many high notes. Why don’t we go with something easier like Spring Day?"

Jake groaned. "I refuse to play Spring Day. I barely survived hearing it on loop when I worked at the convenience store in college."

Jay smirked. "Weak."

Sunghoon, who had been quiet this whole time, finally spoke. "If we’re choosing something with vocals in mind, then we should pick a song that doesn’t make everyone sound like they’re screaming."

"EXACTLY!" Sunoo pointed at him. "Thank you, my love, for being the voice of reason."

Sunghoon scoffed, but didn’t deny it.

"So what song do we all actually know?" Jake asked, rubbing his temples. "One we can all agree on?"

Silence.

Everyone exchanged glances.

Then, as if the universe aligned—

"Polaroid Love?" Sunoo and Jungwon said at the same time.

The room fell quiet.

Jay snapped his fingers. "Ohhh, that’s a good one."

Heeseung nodded. "Yeah, that’s actually perfect."

Ni-ki leaned back. "It’s got chill instrumentals, catchy vocals—"

Jake smirked. "And no one has to scream for high notes."

Sunghoon sighed in relief. "Finally."

Before anyone could grab their instruments, Jake suddenly pulled out a tripod and a small video camera.

Sunoo blinked. “Uh… hyung? What’s with the setup? Are we filming a documentary?”

Jake grinned as he adjusted the camera angle, making sure everyone would be in frame. “I just think it’d be nice to have a memory of our first ever band practice.”

Jay raised an eyebrow. “You mean our first ever disaster?”

“Exactly,” Jake said, completely serious.

Sunghoon groaned. “Oh my god, do we have to record this?”

Jake shrugged. “When we eventually become famous legends, we’ll want to look back at where it all started.”

Ni-ki gasped. "Ohhh, imagine if we go viral for being so bad, we actually get famous!"

Heeseung clapped his hands together. "SHEESH: The Band That Had No Business Existing.”

Jake nodded proudly. "I’d watch that."

Sunoo laughed, shaking his head. "Alright, fine. Set up your sentimental footage."

Jungwon, standing beside Sunoo, looked a little nervous. “Does this mean… everything we do will be recorded?”

Sunoo patted his back reassuringly. “Don’t worry, Wonie. If we suck, we can just delete it.”

Jake gasped in offense. "Delete?! This is history in the making!"

Sunghoon rolled his eyes. "Fine, fine. Just… make sure it doesn’t capture my suffering too clearly."

Jake zoomed in on Sunghoon’s exhausted expression. "Too late."

With the camera rolling, the band finally prepared for war.

Heeseung adjusted his keyboard, cracking his knuckles. "Time to romanticize life, boys."

"Okay, let’s do a test run," Jake said. "No pressure, but if we sound awful, I might cry."

Sunoo clapped. "Alright! Heeseung hyung, count us in!"

Heeseung nodded, then started the intro on the keyboard.

The moment he played the first note, everything changed.

Jay and Ni-ki strummed in perfect sync.

Jake’s bass line blended effortlessly, grounding the melody.

Sunghoon, now focused, started the beat—steady, smooth, confident.

Then—

Jungwon took a deep breath and started singing.

"It’s like a polaroid love…"

Sunoo came in right after, their voices blending effortlessly.

And for the first time—it sounded right.

Like, actually right.

Like they were meant to be doing this.

By the time they reached the chorus, it didn’t feel like a practice session anymore.

It felt like a real band.

They weren’t just playing notes.

They weren’t just trying to get through a song.

They were making music.

And for that one moment—everything clicked.

As the final notes faded, no one moved.

Jake exhaled deeply, like he had just realized he’d been holding his breath.

Jay ran a hand through his hair, stunned. “That was…”

“Sick,” Ni-ki finished.

Heeseung turned to Sunghoon. "Did we just sound… good?"

Sunghoon, for the first time since joining, actually smiled. “Yeah,” he admitted. "We did."

Jungwon, still gripping his mic, swallowed. “Hyung… that was real, right?”

Sunoo, still breathless from the rush of it all, laughed and threw an arm around his shoulder.

"That was very, very real."

For a moment, they all just stood there.

Then Jake clapped his hands together. "Alright, guys. I think we just became an actual band."

Ni-ki fist-pumped. "WE’RE THE FUTURE OF MUSIC."

Heeseung grinned. "Who’s ready for our first gig?"

Sunghoon immediately sighed. "We just got through one song. Can we not get ahead of ourselves?"

Two hours after their first official band practice, the members of SHEESH were sprawled across the lobby, physically and emotionally drained.

Sunghoon was lying face-down on the floor, refusing to move. 

Jay had his feet propped up on an amp, staring at the ceiling like he had just had an existential crisis.

Ni-ki was half-asleep against the keyboard stand.

Heeseung was still playing random keys, too full of adrenaline to sit still.

Jungwon was clutching a juice box for dear life, looking like he had just survived war.

Sunoo, as always, looked way too happy about everything.

Jake? Jake was grinning like an evil mastermind.

And that was the first red flag.

Sunoo, who had known Jake long enough to recognize danger, squinted at him. “Hyung… what’s with the face?”

Jake, absolutely beaming, held up the video camera. “It’s time to watch our masterpiece.”

With everyone too exhausted to protest, Jake set up the camera on the TV and played back the recording.

The video started off normal enough.

The camera zoomed in on each member, capturing them tuning their instruments, adjusting their microphones, cracking jokes.

Then the music started, and—

It was actually good.

Like, really good.

The instrumentals were tight, the vocals were smooth, and it sounded like an actual band.

For a solid minute, everyone sat in stunned silence.

“Oh my god. We sound legit.” Jay whispered.

Jake smirked, looking way too proud. “Told you this would be historic.”

Jungwon, still sipping his juice box, nodded slowly. “It’s actually… kinda cool.”

Sunoo, beaming, threw an arm around him. “Welcome to rockstardom, Wonie.”

Ni-ki grinned. “Okay, but wait—let’s really see how we looked.”

And that’s when everything fell apart.

The moment they shifted their focus from the music to their actual performance, the secondhand embarrassment kicked in.

It started with Heeseung, who was swaying dramatically at his keyboard like he was playing in a Broadway musical.

“Hyung, why do you look like you’re in a Disney movie?” Ni-ki asked, horrified.

“It’s called stage presence!” Heeseung defended.

Then came Jay, who, for no apparent reason, kept flipping his hair every five seconds.

“Why am I so dramatic?!” Jay groaned.

“You are the definition of a K-drama lead in a music festival AU.” Jake snorted.

Then they shifted to Ni-ki, who was very clearly mouthing random words because he forgot the lyrics.

Everyone immediately screamed.

“EXPLAIN YOURSELF!” Jake pointed at him.

Ni-ki cackled. “I PANICKED, OKAY?! I DIDN’T KNOW THE WORDS.”

They then focused on Sunghoon, whose expression ranged from dead inside to pure regret.

“Hoonie, why do you look like you’re being held hostage?” Sunoo giggled.

Sunghoon, stone-faced, sighed. “Because I am.”

Serenity had somehow made it into the shot, sitting in the background, staring directly into the camera. She looked completely done with all of them.

Then finally, they looked at Sunoo and Jungwon.

And that’s when things got worse.

Sunoo? Absolutely thriving, bouncing along to the beat like he was living his best life.

Jungwon? Jungwon looked so stiff it was like he was actively trying not to exist.

“OH MY GOD, WONIE, WHY DO YOU LOOK LIKE YOU’RE BEING PUNISHED?” Heeseung wheezed.

Jungwon covered his face. “I WAS NERVOUS, OKAY?!”

Jake paused the video at a frame where Jungwon was gripping the microphone like it was the only thing keeping him from running away.

Sunoo, laughing so hard he was crying, patted Jungwon’s shoulder. “Wonie, you look like you’re trying to astral project out of this band.”

Jungwon groaned. “I WAS PANICKING.”

“I CAN SEE THAT.”

As the video came to an end, everyone just sat there, recovering from the sheer absurdity of it all.

Then Ni-ki turned to Jake. “So… are we posting this or what?”

Jake grinned. “Oh, absolutely.”

Sunghoon’s head snapped up. “NO. ABSOLUTELY NOT.”

“Hyung, imagine if we go viral!” Ni-ki wiggled his eyebrows.

“NO.” Sunghoon repeated, standing up like he was about to physically fight the idea.

Sunoo gasped dramatically. “But, babe, imagine all the fan edits.”

Sunghoon glared at him.

Sunoo batted his lashes. “Imagine all the drummer boyfriend edits.”

Sunghoon paused.

Jay pointed at him. “NO. DON’T GIVE IN TO THE AESTHETIC.”

Sunghoon sighed deeply, rubbing his temples. “Fine. Do whatever you want.”

Jake excitedly pumped his fist in the air. “LET’S GOOOO.”

Jungwon, still coming to terms with his internet debut, groaned. “So… we’re really doing this, huh?”

Sunoo grinned, throwing an arm around him. “Oh, we are absolutely doing this.”

SHEESH was officially real.

And whether they went viral for being talented or an absolute mess—

It was happening.