1: The New Neighbor
The apartment was small but cozy, with pale cream walls and large windows that flooded the living room with sunlight. Jo Yi-Su set her last box on the floor and sighed, brushing a strand of hair from her flushed face. This was her fresh start, a new chapter in her life. At 23, she had spent years living under her aunt's roof, supported by her generosity, but something inside her yearned for independence.
"This is it," she murmured to herself, taking in the space. "My own place."
It wasn't much, but Jo Yi-Su loved it. The neighborhood was peaceful, the kind of place where neighbors greeted each other with friendly nods, and the streets were lined with trees that rustled in the cool breeze.
By evening, she had unpacked most of her belongings, her small kitchen now stocked with simple ingredients. Cooking was one of the few things that brought her joy. After finishing dinner, she decided to bake cookies—a welcome gift for her new neighbors.
The warm aroma of chocolate chip cookies filled the apartment as Jo Yi-Su placed the golden treats on a plate. "Time to introduce myself," she said, her voice brimming with determination.
She headed to the apartment across the hall. From what she'd seen earlier, it was a family unit. Maybe a kind older couple or a family with children lived there. Standing before the door, she adjusted her dress and knocked.
The door opened, revealing a tall young man with sharp features, dark hair falling slightly over his eyes, and an indifferent expression. His presence was magnetic, almost unnerving.
Jo Yi-Su blinked, her confidence faltering for a moment. "Oh… um, hi! I'm your new neighbor." She held up the plate of cookies. "I made these for your mom."
The man stared at her for a moment before turning his head. "Mom, someone's at the door," he called, his voice deep and unamused.
An older woman appeared, her warm smile contrasting sharply with the man's cold demeanor. "Oh, how sweet of you! Thank you, dear," the woman said, taking the plate. "I'm Su-Mi, and this is my son, Ki-Joo. We just moved in a few months ago.
"Nice to meet you, Su-Mi," Jo Yi replied, bowing slightly. She glanced at Ki-Joo, who seemed utterly uninterested in the exchange. "And you too, Ki-Joo."
Ki-Joo gave a slight nod but said nothing, his hand resting on the edge of the door as if eager to close it.
"Well, I won't keep you," Jo Yi said, sensing his impatience. "Enjoy the cookies!"
Su-Mi thanked her again, and Ki-Joo shut the door without another word. Jo Yi stood in the hallway for a moment, her cheeks tinged with embarrassment. "Not exactly a warm welcome," she muttered, heading back to her apartment.
---
That night, as Jo Yi sat by her window, she noticed something curious: her window faced Ki-Joo's. The curtains on his side were half-drawn, and through the small gap, she could see him sitting at his desk, absorbed in a book.
"Guess he's the quiet, brooding type," she mused aloud, resting her chin on her palm. She wondered what kind of person he was. He seemed cold, almost dismissive, yet there was something about him that intrigued her.
The next day, Jo Yi found herself baking cookies again. This time, she didn't even try to convince herself it was for Su-Mi. She wanted to see Ki-Joo, though she couldn't explain why. Maybe it was his quiet presence or the mysterious air around him.
When she knocked on the door, it was Ki-Joo who answered again. He looked at the plate in her hands and raised an eyebrow.
" mom's not home," he said flatly.
"Oh, that's okay," Jo Yi-Su replied quickly. "I just wanted to ask... do you fear cockroaches?"
Ki-Joo blinked, clearly caught off guard.
"Cockroaches," she repeated, tilting her head. "Do they scare you?"
Ki-Joo sighed. "Why are you asking me that?"
Before she could answer, he suddenly grabbed her arm and pulled her inside. "It's in there," he said, pointing toward a corner of the living room.
Jo Yi followed his gaze and spotted the offending insect. She laughed, earning a glare from Ki-Joo. "So, you are scared of them."
"Just get it out," he muttered, standing behind her as if the cockroach were a feral beast.
Jo Yi took care of it with ease, scooping it up with a piece of paper and releasing it outside. She turned back to find Ki-Joo standing stiffly, his arms crossed.
"You're welcome," she teased, flashing a grin.
He looked at her for a long moment, his expression unreadable. "Thanks," he said finally, his voice softer than before.
It was the first time Jo Yi saw a glimpse of vulnerability in him, and it only deepened her curiosity.
---
Over the next few weeks, Jo Yi-Su found herself looking forward to their small interactions, no matter how brief. She would wave at him through the window, though he often pretended not to see. When she knocked on the door, he always claimed Su-Mi wasn't home, but he never turned her away outright.
One evening, as they stood awkwardly in his living room after she dropped off yet another batch of cookies, Jo Yi-Su couldn't help but ask, "Why don't you like talking to people?"
Ki-Joo hesitated, then shrugged. "I just don't."
"That's not an answer," she pressed, smiling.
He glanced at her, his eyes dark and searching. "Some people prefer to be alone."
Jo Yi tilted her head, studying him. "I don't believe that. Everyone needs someone."
Ki-Joo said nothing, but something flickered in his gaze, something Jo Yi-Su couldn't quite place.
As she left his apartment that night, she couldn't stop thinking about him. Ki-Joo was a puzzle she was determined to solve, even if it meant breaking through his walls one small act of kindness at a time.
Little did she know, those walls were not just built from solitude, but from secrets that would soon complicate their lives in ways she could never imagine.