Mail is one of those trivial things he always forgets to check, and he’s thankful the people nowadays have turned to more modern forms of communication because if he had to rely on snail mail and check his mailbox everyday, then no one would ever hear from him. He goes to grab it at least once a week if he’s lucky. But thankfully nothing super urgent ever comes for him in the mail– no packages from online shopping or post cards from relatives who’ve gone on vacation or anything like that.
He just so happens to remember to pick up the mail today; he stands in their apartment lobby by the stairs to actually open their mailbox to check what’s inside– bills, bills, flyers, and more flyers– he discards about half the pile into the nearby recycling bin, turns to the stairs to make his way up to his apartment– and that’s when he sees him. Re-encounters with Hoya have always been awkward, despite them leaving things on ‘okay’ terms since the last time they met– and speaking of which, it’d also been a while since he’s last seen him. From how he sees this, he has two options: one, ignore him and pretend like he didn’t see him, therefore avoiding the awkwardness, or two– confront him and say hello.
(But who is he kidding, he’s not the first type of person anyway)
So, he stops, taps the other male on the shoulder and, “Hey Hoya, long time no see! What’ve you been up to?” Was that too casual? Probably too casual.
hoya checks his mailbox and sees a few things inside addressed to him -- a few bills, spam letters, a letter from his family back in busan, some letters from friends in LA, but nothing out of the ordinary, but hoya’s not surprised after all. he did just recently move to seoul anyways. he finished perusing through everything, tossing out junk mail into the recycling bin and starts to head back upstairs only for someone to stop him.
he takes the earbud out and gives the stranger a curious glance but a smile nonetheless. of course, it has to be another weird encounter for hoya. he really can’t catch a break, can he? it’s almost as if this is karma for him doing something bad in a past life or whatever. hoya switches his music off and shoves his earbuds into his pocket, not caring if they tangle or not, and regardless, they were going to.
“it’s nice to see you, too?” hoya answers the stranger’s question with a question of his own and he hopes this meeting isn’t awkward, but too late. “uhhh, i guess i’m good? i uhhh, i’m getting settled in seoul, but it’s all good.” he searches the other’s face for a sign of familiarity, but it’s so faint, hoya’s not sure if he even knows this person or it’s just because the guy has a common face.
“i don’t wanna seem rude or anything, but uhhh, what’s your name again?” yeah, he probably made it awkwrd.