Title: The Guy Next Door
Character: Kangjun, Ray, You
Genre: Romance,  Slight Angst
Rated: PG-13

Summary: When Outgoing and charming clash with introvertive and grumpy, things are bound to get interesting. 

A happy smile spread across your lips. It was exciting moving into your own place. You had gotten lucky enough to find a relatively cheap one bedroom in a decently sized apartment complex. It was a bit of a bus ride to work, but you would manage. You had finished unloading all of your boxes from the moving truck when you decided to greet some of your new neighbors. Or at least the ones living on the same floor as you. So with a skip in your step you headed to the main hallway. You started with the door on the right of you, but no one answered. Shrugging, you headed to the apartment directly across the hall from you. You knocked loudly and waited for a second. Soon enough a stoic faced boy who looked about the same age as you answered the door. Your eyes lit up.

"Hi! I’m (Y/N), Your new neighbor. And I-"

"No."

"E-excuse me?"

"I don’t care." He mumbled, shutting the door again. You stood there confused for a second.

"Don’t waste your energy." A bit startled by the new voice, you jumped, looking around for the source. You saw another boy around your age walking towards you, a couple bags of groceries dangling from his finger tips.

"I beg your pardon?" He stopped when he was directly in front of you, nodding his head in the direction of the door that had just been slammed in your face a few seconds prior.

"His name’s Kang Jun. He doesn’t care about anyone or anything. I’ve lived here for two years. Not once have I seen him have company. He’s just plain nasty to everyone and prefers to be left alone. So don’t waste your time on him. Nothing good will come of it." You felt slightly saddened by his discouraging words.Surly he couldn’t be that bad of a guy. But you pushed the thought to the back of your mind for the time being.

"Well what about you?" The boy smirked, shifting the bags he was carrying from one hand to the other so he could hold it out for you to shake. 

"The names Kim Hyun Il. But you can call me Ray." You politely shake his outstretched hand and smile brightly.

"Hi. I’m (Y/N)!"

"Well, (Y/N). It’s nice to meet you. But if you don’t mind, these are kind of heavy." He holds up the bags in his hands. You gasp.

"Oh, sorry! I didn’t mean to keep you." You move out of his way and watch as he heads to the door you had previously knocked on but got no answer. 

"Ah. So you are my neighbor." You stated. He grinned back at you after unlocking his door.

"Is that so? Well then, i’ll look forward to seeing you in the future." He states with a wink, entering his apartment. 

~~~~

The next few days were somewhat uneventful to you. All you had done was unpack boxes and organize your new place to your liking. But you were hoping today would be different. It was your first day back to work since the move. New things tended to excite you and riding the bus was one of them. Before, you had lived within walking distance to your job so there was no bus ride required. You still weren’t used to this new schedule, however. And ended up getting to the bus stop just before it was ready to take off. Heaving a sigh of relief once you were boarded, you looked around for an empty seat. There were several and at first you were going to sit in the one closest to you when a familiar face caught your eye. You hauled yourself to the back of the bus quickly and sat down next to the person. Several people nearby gave you strange looks, but you just ignored them and continued smiling.

The man noticed right away that the seat next to him was occupied and he looked in your direction with an annoyed frown.

"What are you doing?" You smiled back at him.

"Sitting down. What are you doing?"

"That’s none of your damn business, Now move."

"Why should I? This is a public bus. There are no assigned seats. Plus, I’m your new neighbor. We should get to know each other better." You stated, not once loosing your smile. The people around you shifted uncomfortably.

"Are you always this annoying?"

"Are you always this grouchy?" You shot back. He grunted.

"Look. Leave me the hell alone. I don’t want to be friends. I don’t need friends."

"But being alone is lonely."

"That’s kinda the point. Now get lost." You pouted cutely and just stared at him. He tried his best to ignore you but then you inched closer.

"WHAT?! WHAT NOW?!" He raised his voice, making the strangers around you jump back.

"It’s not nice to yell in public. People might think your crazy." You stated, still not losing your smile.

"My god, you are so annoying. Forget it. You stay. I’ll move." He was about to get up when the bus hit a huge bump, making him lose balance and sit back down in his seat.

"Unbelievable. The world is against me." He mumbled, resting his head against the window as he closed his eyes.

"Are you okay? You look a little pale." His eyes shot open and he glared at you.

"I’m fine. Just sick of you." He stated through clenched teeth.

"Okay, okay. I won’t talk anymore. Jeez." You pouted. The rest of the ride was silent.

~~~~  

You now had a routine. It had been several months since you had started living in your new apartment. On the days that you would have work, you would always sit next to Kangjun on the bus. He had protested for the first few weeks, calling you every name in the book to try and get you to leave. But after that he had given up, accepting your presence silently. Some days he would even make light conversation with you. But that was very rare and they usually ended with him insulting you. But still, it felt like progress. Sometimes he would also be on the bus ride home. His presence would always make you smile.

On the days you didn’t go to work however, you were most likely hanging out with Ray in his apartment next door. You had learned that he was quite a good cook and he even taught you some things. That was currently what you were doing now. He was cooking you some lunch while you stared at him in wonder, amazed at his natural talent. He looked a little down today. But you hadn’t pressed the issue much. Ray didn’t like talking about things that bothered him and as his friend, you respected his privacy. But silence was never really your thing, and as you two ate in the quiet, you couldn’t help but ask.

"Why so quiet today?" He just shrugged and took a bite of his food. You sighed and continued eating.

"I saw you with Kangjun yesterday. What were you two doing?" He asked. Now it was your turn to shrug.

"We take the same bus is all."

"Oh." He was silent for a few moments, just staring at you. Then he looked back down at his food and stirred it idly. 

"He’s no good, (Y/N). You should stay away from him." You looked up at him.

"He doesn’t seem that bad to me. For some reason I just feel drawn to him, you know. I think I can really help him open up and-" Ray slammed his chop sticks down on the table and glared at his plate.

"Can we stop talking about Kangjun?!" You looked at him a bit startled.

"But you’re the one who brought him up. I was just-"

"I know! I know…But let’s just stop, okay?"

"Okay, sorry." You didn’t know why this was such a sore subject for him, but you left it alone for the rest of the evening.

~~~~

"See you later, Ray." He smiled at you and tussled your hair from his spot by the doorway. You smiled back.

"We still going to the movies tomorrow?" He asked.

"Of coarse! I’m super excited. I’ve been waiting for this movie to come out for ages."

"Then it’s a date. See you tomorrow, love." He winked. You punched him playfully in the arm.

"Yah! Stop being so greasy!. I’ll see you tomorrow.” He chuckled and shut his door. You sighed and turned towards your apartment, surprised to see Kangjun standing in front of his door, fumbling with his keys. You walked to your own door, about to go inside when you heard him cough violently and the rattling of keys dropping to the ground. Turning, you saw Kangjun hunched over, looking about ready to pass out. Immediately you rushed to his side.

"Kangjun? Are you alright?" You rested a hand on his shoulder and he violently shook it off. 

"Don’t touch me." He stated coldly.

"But-"

"Go away."

"Kangjun, I’m not going to leave you like this."

"I said-" He was interrupted by another outbreak of coughing. This time he fell to his knees, head bobbing with exhaustion. You quickly picked up his keys and unlocked his door. Then you hauled him to his feet, placing one of his arms around your shoulders for support. He didn’t protest as he leaned most of his weight on you. You carried him to his bed and proceed taking his jacket and shoes off before tucking him under the blankets. Feeling his forehead, you became alarmed.

"You’re burning up!" He just groaned in response, too disoriented to yell at you for touching him.

"Hold on. I’ll get something to help." It was then that he passed out.

~~~

You had spent all of that night looking after him, hoping his fever would break. Regrettably, you had sent a text to Ray telling him you couldn’t make your movie date. He would be a bit bummed but you would just have to make it up to him later.

You had found a bottle of pills sitting on his bedside table. A little curious, you had read the label. They had looked pretty serious. Maybe he had forgotten to take them and had fallen ill because of it? You would have to ask him when he woke up.

You sat next to him on his large bed. He didn’t look so glum and angry while he was asleep. You were surprised when a part of you found him unbelievably attractive. It made your heart start to race a little and you couldn’t help but slowly reach over and caress the side of his face lightly. Suddenly, a hand shot up and gripped your wrist tightly. His eyes shot open and glared at you.

"What are you doing?"

"J-just checking your fever. Let go." You winced as his grip tightened before he released you.

"Get out."

"No."

"What did you say?" He sat up and hardened his gaze on you.

"I said no. If it wasn’t for me, you’d be passed out in the hallway. I stayed up all night taking care of you and I’m not leaving until you are better." You stated firmly. He blinked a few times and looked at you in shock. You leaned over him and grabbed the pill bottle off the night stand. He gasped and held his breath at your close proximity.

"W-what are you doing?" You leaned back again and showed him what was in your hand.

"Is this why you are sick? Because you didn’t take this medication? I looked it up while you were asleep. This is some pretty serious stuff. You shouldn’t skip your doses." You popped open the lid and tried handing him one.

"Forget it. I’m not taking that."

"Yes you are." You crawled over to him, straddling his waist. He leans back in surprise, eyes growing wide. You expected this outcome and had planned on forcing him to take it anyway.  

"Open your mouth, or I’ll make you."

"Y-your crazy." His face flushes at your closeness. It takes a few minutes of him struggling against you, but you finally succeed.

"Okay I took it. Happy? Now get off." He shoves you to the side and you fall backwards into his bed. He watches as you lay there smiling up at him. Images start flooding his head. About how nice it would be to wake up to that smile every morning. How utterly perfect you would look wrapped up in his bed sheets cuddled against his side. His facade falters and suddenly his body is acting on its own accord. He hovers over you and pins your hands above your head, nose brushing against your cheek.

"K-Kangjun…" You breathe out. He growls lowly.

"You’re so annoying, you know that? Why do you make me feel these things?! It’s so frustrating."

"W-what are you talking about?" You whisper.

"I’m talking about how you make my heart race every time you smile at me. I’m talking about the feelings you give me every time your arm brushes against mine. And how your scent leaves me breathless. Or how I want you more than I have wanted anyone in my entire life. It’s all so annoying." You blushed, pulse quickening. He leaned back to look you in the eyes.

"The most annoying part is how I want to kiss you right now."

"Then do it." You challenged, looking back at him just as intensely.

"If you promise me one thing."

"Name it."

"Never. Ever. Leave my side."

"I promise."