NEIGHBOR [chapter 2]

Author : anyakeshx

Rating : T

Genre : romance

Cast : 

• Kang Minhyuk
• You ( Readers )

Other cast:

• Jung Yonghwa
• Lee Jungshin
• Lee Jonghyun

FRIENDS

Its been two days since your break up with Ying Zhong and that crazy incident with your new next door neighbor, Kang Minhyuk.

You wanted to deny the fact that you weren't over the whole heart break, but it would be such a bad lie. In fact, you were hooked.

You find yourself crying at night, you didn't like to eat and somehow, everything else was dull. You didn't like to do anything. Even at this standpoint, where you were supposed to look for a job, it just seemed lifeless. You wanted to call him but something was stopping you. A force, actually.

You were inside your room, feeling a light breeze coming from outside, you left your window open again. This time, fully clothed and you haven't seen a trace of that smug little neighbor of yours.

You were browsing through a couple of old photos of you and Ying Zhong. You know that it wasn't right to torture yourself but two years of being together was a long time.

You found yourself crying again.

"You're clothed."

You heard a gentle voice came out of nowhere.

You jumped in surprise and hastily stuffed the photos back in the box.

You turned to your window and found Kang Minhyuk leaning on his window sill.

You ignored his remark and stood up to close the window. The sight of him seemed to make you feel more depressed.

You were about to slam it shut when he silently said, "I'm sorry about the last time."

He was looking at you sincerely. Somehow, those eyes were hypnotizing.

You let go of the handle and looked at him indifferently, not trying to look eager.

"Its fine," you muttered coldly.

He smiled at you sheepishly.

'Such a cute boy,' you thought absent mindedly.

"So ahjumma, why are you crying?", he asked fondly. Tilting his head to the right.

'And so rude too,' you added as an after thought.

"What do you mean ahjumma. You're older than I am," you retorted.

He snickered, "So, I'm your oppa."

"No, you be an ahjussi, you old geezer," you said, laughing silently at your childish behaviour.

Teasing him seemed to make you feel better. For the first time in days, a smile was playing on your lips.

He was staring at you now, amused.

"Wah, ahjumma. You look so cute when you smile," he giggled. "Better than you're frowning. You should smile more often, mm?"

You stopped and felt yourself blush. You wrinkled your nose and tried to duck out of the situation.

"Who are you kidding," you briskly said.

He shook his head with a hard laugh, "I'm telling you the truth."

"Whatever."

You were about to turn around and ignore him completely when,

"Ahjumma, lets be friends."

You turned to look at him as you gave him a confused look - then you laughed so hard.

He was somehow dazed at your reaction so he laughed nervously with you.

"Did I say something wrong?", he asked innocently, in fits of giggles.

You laughed even harder, "You sound like a kid!"

He became silent and was eying you smolderingly now.

You stopped, still unable to register the whole thing. Then you smiled genuinely at him, the feeling of depression leaving you at the very moment.

You approached your already opened window and held out your hand.

"Hi Minhyuk - ahjussi. I'm _________ - ahjumma. Nice to meet you."

With no hesitation, he took your hand and shook it gently.

HANGING OUT

"So Ahjumma, you haven't told me why you were crying the last time."

You were now in your house watching a movie. Kang Minhyuk pestered you to let him watch with you - somehow though, he was just disturbing your peaceful viewing.

"Ya! Kang Minhyuk! Are you here to watch a movie or are you here to annoy me?", you screamed at him.

He let out a soft laugh and leaned on the couch, "I just wanted to see you."

You stuck your tongue out but you felt strangely attracted to what he said. You decided to keep quiet.

"Ahjumma...", he called out, now poking at your arms. You ignored him.

He slowly crept up to you and was now bumping his head on your shoulders.

You glared at him, "Are you a dog or something?"

He smiled widely, "Well, you were ignoring me." Then he pouted.

Before you could answer, your moms voice rang in the kitchen, "Stop ignoring him!"

You groaned in defeat and turned to look at the boy begging for your attention, "Don't you have band practice or something?"

"I have one tonight. Want to come along?"

You shook your head, "No thanks."

He crunched his nose in disappointment, "Aren't we friends?"

"We are," you said shortly, eyes back on the TV.

"So why won't you accompany me?"

"Just because. Now can you please stop pestering me?"

He straightened up and was now quiet. His lack of annoyance for the past five minutes was somehow new. So you turned to him. His face was serious and he seemed to be in deep thought.

"Ya...", you called softly.

He ignored you.

You called him several times, still no answer.

You felt sort of bad for your early dismissal of his invitation. You thought about it and decided to just say yes.

You were about to tell him you were going, when he cut you right in.

"I'll treat you to chicken," he blurted out, seriousness apparent in his young face.

You burst out laughing again. Such a kid, you thought.

He frowned, "You don't like it?"

You smiled firmly at him and said, "Fine. It better be good chicken. I'll get my coat."

With that, he smiled that wide smile that seemed to get your heart racing, although you don't understand why.

BAND PRACTICE

"We're here, ahjumma. You're so slow!", Minhyuk teased when you reached the studio.

You ignored his statement as you made your eyes travel everywhere. The place was so cozy and it seemed to be fit for private band practices.

You seem to be in awe, "Woah. Whose place is this, Minhyuk?"

He laughed as he watched your curious reaction towards the place, "Its Yonghwa - hyung's. My bandmate. I'll introduce you to them in awhile."

Just as he said that, a man came out of the door from the other side of the room.

He was tall and gangly, like Minhyuk. He had long hair though. He smiled as he walked towards you, his thin arms in place.

"So, you brought your girlfriend, brat," he said as he scanned you from head to toe. "She's cute."

"Ah, Jungshin. She's pretty isn't she?", Minhyuk asked as he gave you a wink. You kicked him lightly.

"Hey, when have I been your girlfriend", you gritted your teeth. "I came here because you begged me to."

The man called Jungshin laughed at your frolicking. He turned around and picked up the bass guitar lying on the floor.

"You two seem sweet enough to be in a relationship," he teased as he connected the wires in place.

You ignored him and stared at Minhyuk who was now laughing uncontrollably. He looked up as he heard you approach him.

"What have you been telling people, you pervert", you asked him in irritation, pinching his cheeks hardly.

He squinted his eyes in pain and you let go, arms folded. He straightened up, massaging his face. Then he faced you, smiling.

"Not the bra tale, no", he said, giggling. But oh yes, he did.

You felt irritated that he blabbed to his bandmates about that incident. You'd rather much forget about it.

You turned around, making an attempt to bolt right out the door. You were about to take a step when two other good looking boys stepped inside the room, followed by a couple of girls, squealing.

"Ah, hyung. You're here," Minhyuk said. "And you brought cute girls."

As soon as the girls heard cute escape from Minhyuk's mouth, they squealed and hurried towards him, leaving you stunned.

"You must be _______-ahjumma," someone said from behind you.

In surprise, you jumped slightly and turned around. The guy laughed and continued, "I'm Yonghwa. I'm the bands vocalist."

He offered his hand for you to shake. You took it relunctanctly, giving a small and nervous smile.

"I'm ___________. Nice to meet you," you managed to say.

Minhyuk's head snapped up and he stopped entertaining the girls who were surrounding him. He parted them away and walked towards you and the vocalist.

"I see you got yourselves acquainted," he said quietly. He was smiling but his eyes seemed cold. Or maybe because his eyes were naturally squinty.

Yonghwa laughed, "No need to feel threatened, you crazy boy. She's all yours."

With that, he left your company and joined Jungshin who was now playing silently.

You looked at him and saw that he was looking back at you. You didn't know how it happened, but the connection of that stare seemed to send electricity through your whole body. You shuddered.

"Hey, you haven't introduced me to your cute friend."

This time, it was the guy who came in with Yonghwa. He was handsome. His smile was so warm. You couldn't help but  smile back.

"I'm Jonghyun, nice to meet you ahjumma." With that, he turned around and grabbed his instrument.

You hunched your arms and faced Minhyuk with an accusing stare, "Why is everyone calling me ahjumma?"

He just looked at you and smiled widely.

"Its cute," he said sweetly. "Wait up, we're going to practice now."

Before you could say anything, he ran towards the other band members and positioned himself behind the drums. The girls surrounding them took a step back and were basically standing with you at the same spot.

All of them were eying you as if you were dirt. You gave them a nervous smile.

"Ya, who are you?", one girl asked.

"Uhm. I'm ________. Minhyuk's neighbor", you answered calmly. These girls are so rude.

They looked at each other and one asked, "You're not dating him, are you?"

You shook your head almost too fast that your vision blurred. They gave you one last look of annoyance and turned their heads to the group of boys playing.

As soon as the music started, you were hooked. It was one of the best you have heard. Yonghwa's vocals were hypnotizing and everyone was in sync. This was the sort of music you pay expensively for in concerts. You bobbed your head up and down to the beat.

You eyed everyone and figured that all four of them were very talented.

'They could become famous,' you thought to yourself, smiling. 'They're really good.'

As you looked at each one of them, you couldn't help but linger at the person behind the drums. Kang Minhyuk.

He looked like he was enjoying so much. Something you were very happy to see, although you weren't sure why. You were staring hard.

Suddenly, he met your gaze. He gave you that same wide smile that seemed to send your heart racing. You didn't want to look away. You smiled back.

Then the music died down and you were thrown back at reality.

They bowed to their limited audience and high fived each other.

"Okay, guys. Short break," Yonghwa said, setting the mic stand aside.

All four of them left their instruments and began to walk off their practice area.

You fidgeted and panicked when you saw Minhyuk walk towards you.

'Why am I feeling so nervous?', you asked yourself, not knowing what to do. Instead, you gave him a small smile.

"Hey, what do you think of it? I mean the music," he asked, staring at your eyes.

"You were hot - I mean, it was hot. Very nice, you know," you certainly didn't know what you were talking about.

He giggled and placed his hand on his pockets.

"Wanna head out and get some fresh air?"

You looked at him and nodded.

-TBC-