"Hello?"
Jiho frowned at the loud noise on the other end. Blaring horns and someone shouting unintelligibly in the background.
"This is Jiho from 302. My lock isn't working, I've tried it multiple times already. Did something happened?"
"Oh, that... Right. That might be because we updated the security lock during the maintenance checkup yesterday."
Jiho's eyes twitched. "And no one thought of notifying the tenants who actually live here?"
"Well, I meant to send out a notice, but then I had to catch a train out of town. Family thing, please understand."
The manager sounded way too casual to argue with. Jiho pinched the bridge of his nose. "Okay, so what now?"
"Hmm... not much I can do from here. I'll be back around ten tonight. I'll bring your new key then."
"That's like… seven hours from now."
"Yeah, so just crash at a friend's place till then." The manager suggested cheerfully.
... I'm sorry, how is that helpful in anyway?
"...You want me to crash at a friend's place?"
"Come on, you're young. Don't you college kids all have sleepovers or something?"
"I don't have time for that."
"Even better."
The mechanic beep signaled the call was over. Jiho stared at his phone and slowly put it down.
Heh.
I'm gonna sue this person for emotional damage.
"See? That is why you don't push people away, hoobae-nim."
A familiar voice broke through his internal meltdown.
Damn.
How did he forget this man was still around?
Jiho adjusted his glasses and then he took a deep breath. He turned around without a word.
Minjae leaned leisurely against the doorframe and his arms folded. "Need a place to crash, dear neighbour?"
Jiho could literally smell the smugness radiating off him.
He groaned under his breath. "No need. I'll call my friend."
"Oh? That's news. Do you even have friends–"
"I do have a–" friend...
"... Except Kyungho."
This scum.
How did he know?!
Seo Minjae grinned. "Are you sure you don't need my help?"
Jiho pursed his lips silently. He hesitated.
It would be easier to just walked away and figure something out. But that would also mean wasting time when he could be finishing another peice of work.
He also had a deathline coming up.
Tch.
Damn it.
"Wait."
Pride was a heavy thing to swallow.
Minjae paused, raising a brow.
Jiho cursed internally when he saw the entertained smirk on Seo Minjae's face while waiting for him to yield.
He stiffly added. "... Just for a bit."
"Oh? I thought you wanted to keep things strictly 'stranger level'"
Haah.
Right. That.
He really wanted to punch himself in the face, still choking on the bitter taste of his own words.
Yeah, who was the one saying he wanted to be strangers just a few minutes ago?!
"Sunbae, do you always talk this much?"
Jiho ignored the smirk tugging at Minjae's lips and stared straight into his eyes.
"Only when I like it." Minjae said, walking inside with a lazy gesture. "Come on in, neighbour."
Well... this is only for productivity.
Jiho stepped inside reluctantly, warily looking around the apartment.
But the moment he entered, he was caught off guard.
The layout was nearly identical to his own unit. But the living area was unexpectedly spotless, minimalist and clean. And not a single crumb in sight.
... Compared to his own, it was practically a showroom.
Jiho lamented his doubt. "Looks like a place a human actually lives in."
"Did you expect a pigsty?"
"Considering your personality, yes." Jiho replied bluntly.
"Well, guess I'm full of surprises." Minjae grinned and casually tossed him a drink. "Make yourself at home, hoobae-nim."
Jiho dragged his sleeves cautiously like a little kid visiting a strangers place.
He sat down on the couch while holding bottle awkwardly.
Minjae stretched his arms with a yawn. "I'm gonna take a quick shower. Try not to burn down the place while I'm gone."
Jiho inwardly rolled his eyes. "I'm not planning on touching anything."
"Good. I've got hidden cameras everywhere." Minjae joked with a laughed before heading toward the bathroom.
Jiho was left sitting alone on the couch.
Without the owner around, it felt awkward to move or even look around too much. The silence was heavy.
So he pulled out his tablet and opened a draft to work on.
Well, just for productivity.
Definitely not because he had nowhere else to go.
***
For god's sake, don't you have any self-esteem?
Minjae roughly raked a hand through his hair, trying not to think.
Which naturally, made him think harder.
He pulled off his white shirt and stepped into the shower, warm water running down his sculpted form as it washed away the tension.
His finger slicking through his damp hair, letting the heat soak in.
He really was too damn kind.
After all, he'd just taken in the human embodiment of social cactus with enough emotional repression to fill a thesis.
Well, if Yun Jiho caught a cold staying outside, Minjae might've felt bad.
Probably maybe.
Okay, at least a little bit.
Because apparently, Seo Minjae is a freaking saint now.
He stepped out of the bathroom, appearing in the living area half-dressed with a towel lazily slung over his head. A pair of loose track pants hung off his hips, the waistband barely clinging to decency.
"What are you doing?"
Jiho was still seated on the couch. It could've been a pretty scene if not for his cold judgemental stare and damn care attitude.
"Sunbae… do you think you're filming a drama? Put on some clothes."
Hmm?
Minjae looked down at himself.
Well, he was wearing pants.
He casually pulled the towel from his head, slinging it over his shoulder like it was part of the costume.
"It's a habit. Do you wear full armor at home too, hoobae-nim?"
"I don't have the same exhibitionist habits as you."
Exhibitionis–?
"You're interesting when you're not speaking." Minjae commented, popping down on the couch unaffected.
Is it concerning that he was starting to get Jiho's humor?