part 2 of umbrella and hot chocolate
1.9k / fluff, neighbors to lovers
The interaction that happened on that rainy day, along with the hot chocolate, was the starting point for you and Johnny to become a constant part of each otherโs livesโwithout either of you even realizing it.
The encounters in the apartment hallways, especially when you were both heading out to your respective universities, started happening more frequently after that day. Johnny also showed himself to be someone you could trust, always ready to help. Like the day you had gone grocery shopping and came back home loaded with bags and, noticing how clearly you were struggling to carry them, Johnny appeared almost like magic, offering his help.
โYouโre always showing up to help me, huh? Like a hero.โ
Johnny laughed and blushed at the comment you made that day.
But the unexpected meetings between you didnโt happen only inside the building. You had decided to take a walk in the park near your place as a way to get back into healthier habits when, after a while, you ran into Johnny, jogging alongside a golden retriever.
โI swear Iโm not following you or anything,โ you said, raising your hands as if freeing yourself from any guilt, while Johnny laughed at your (attempted) joke. โWho is this most beautiful thing?โ you added, crouching down to pet the dog, who immediately lay down at your feet.
โThis is Flower, my auntโs dog,โ Johnny said, amazed at how, in such a short time, she already seemed completely comfortable with you. โWhenever I have some free time, I usually take her for walks here in the park.โ
โBecause it would be impossible to keep her in that apartment, right?โ
Johnny nodded in agreement.
โShe usually doesnโt get along well with strangers, but she loved you.โ
โBut Iโm not a stranger.โ You finally took your eyes off the dog and looked at the man in front of you. โIโm your friend, right?โ
Johnny froze for a moment, then smiled. He was happy to realize that, little by little, he was getting closer to the woman he had a crush on, even if, for now, it was just as her friend.
โWellโฆ it was nice meeting you, Flower.โ You stood up and held out your hand to the dog, who promptly placed her paw in yours, leaving both you and Johnny impressed. โI wonโt interrupt your walk anymore. See you later, Johnny.โ
โWait!โ Johnny practically shouted, instantly getting your attention. โDonโt you want to walk with us? We can drop her off at my auntโs place and then head home. If you want to, of course.โ He said, scratching the back of his neck, a little nervous about your answer.
That day, you walked together, talking, sharing funny moments from your lives, especially from childhood, laughing with complete ease. Later, you briefly met Johnnyโs aunt, who was absolutely lovely in the short time you talked, and you caught yourself wondering what Johnnyโs parents might be like. You didnโt notice when she winked and gave Johnny a thumbs-up, as if to say โsheโs the right one for youโ, which left him embarrassed, holding back a smile.
Those encounters, along with the messages you exchanged over the following weeks, made you even more interested in your neighbor, that you felt nervous every time you saw him. Still, you doubted he felt anything for you. What you didnโt know was that the same thing was happening in the apartment next door.
Johnny found himself torn between telling you that he had liked you for a while and the fear of ruining the closeness that had taken so long to build, afraid you might see him as nothing more than a friend or neighbor.
But everything changed on a Saturday afternoon.
You had bought a new shoe rack and were having trouble putting it together. So why not ask your neighbor for help?
You thought about sending a message, even typed it out a few times, only to delete it again. In the end, you decided to go to his apartment instead. You were nervous, and even standing right in front of his door, you considered turning back and trying to assemble the thing on your own one more time. But you took a deep breath and rang the doorbell.
You heard a muffled โwait a secondโ from inside. A moment later, the door opened and the scene in front of you made you momentarily forget how to breathe.
Johnny appeared slightly out of breath, his hair damp with sweat, shirtless and wearing only a pair of shorts, completely normal, considering he was alone. Still, it felt like he had stepped straight out of one of your most secret thoughts.
Your gaze dropped before you could stop it, slowly taking in his broad shoulders, the rise and fall of his chest with his heavy breathing, and the perfectly defined lines of his abs. When you realized youโd been staring for far too long, your face heated up and you quickly looked away, focusing on some random spot that suddenly seemed incredibly interesting.
You cleared your throat before letting out a soft โHi,โ quieter than you intended. Johnny took a moment to respond, and a brief silence settled between you, he had noticed where your eyes had been. He rubbed the back of his neck, a habit youโd already noticed whenever he got nervous, and let out a short, slightly awkward laugh.
โHey. Sorry, I was working out. I didnโt think Iโd have company, so I didnโt reallyโฆโ Johnny explained, gesturing over his shoulder toward the inside of the apartment and then at himself, unsuccessfully trying to justify why he wasnโt wearing a shirt.
โNo, itโs fine!โ you nodded way too fast, interrupting him, trying to sound normal, clearly failing. You silently prayed that Johnny couldnโt hear how hard your heart was pounding at the sight of him. โSorry for interrupting, Iโll just-โ
โNo!โ Johnny hurried to say. โI was already done. Did something happen?โ His voice dropped slightly.
โWellโฆ I bought a new shoe rack,โ you explained, trying to focus on literally anything other than the shirtless man in front of you. โI thought I could put it together by myself, but I guess thatโs not really one of my skills.โ You laughed nervously. โCan you help me? It doesnโt have to be right now.โ
Johnny smiled, finding the way you got flustered, and tried so hard to stay focused after all that embarrassment, adorable. โOf course Iโll help. Just give me about twenty minutes to take a shower.โ
You thought that once he was dressed, youโd calm down. But just the idea of spending more time around him was enough to make you nervous all over again. You tried to blame it on your hormones, but you knew you were just making excuses.
Johnny was already in your apartment, kneeling on the living room floor, trying to organize the pieces scattered around from your failed attempt at assembling the shoe rack. You stayed close in case he needed help, but instead you found yourself watching every little detail of him: the way he furrowed his brow while adjusting a screw, how his arms flexed unconsciously during the process, the small glimpse of his tattoo whenever the sleeve of his white shirt slid up, the sweat starting at his forehead and trailing down his neck, the way he bit his lower lip when something didnโt fit right away.
Every movement made him even more attractive, leaving you nervous, your heart racing in a completely unexpected way. Just as unexpected as the words that slipped out of your mouth:
โHow can you be so hot doing something like this?โ
The silence that followed was broken only when Johnny choked on his own breath, his hand flying to his chest, eyes wide. You rushed to the kitchen, grabbed a glass of water, and handed it to him. He drank it quickly.
โWhat?!โ he asked, his voice louder than he meant it to be, and in that moment, you just wanted to disappear. Your face burned as you scrambled to explain what youโd just said.
โI-I mean, you-you know, thatโs not what I-well, it is, but-ugh, I donโt know!โ Johnnyโs initial shock slowly gave way to an overwhelming urge to laugh at how completely tangled you were in your own words.
โFine! I think youโre really attractive. Handsome. Polite. Funny.โ You listed his qualities on your fingers, gesturing way more than necessary. โLately, Iโve caught myself wanting to kiss you more than once.โ Your voice softened. โI donโt know if itโs my hormones, but I think Iโm actually starting to like you.โ
Silence settled in again, as if Johnny were processing everything youโd said, making sure it wasnโt a dream or something his mind had made up. Then he set the glass of water down somewhere on the living room floor and stepped closer to you, who now stared fixedly at a random spot in your apartment.
He spoke again, calmer this time. โItโs funny, because Iโve been liking you too, for a while now. Even before that umbrella and hot chocolate thing.โ You looked up at him, eyes wide with surprise. โI just didnโt know how to get closer. And later, I didnโt want to ruin what we were building. That friendship you talked about back at the park.โ He continued. โBut lately, Iโve realized itโs not just a crush anymore. Iโm falling for you. For real.โ
You swore your heart skipped a beat. Johnny Suh liked you too, long before youโd even realized he existed.
Johnny stepped even closer, gently touching your face, smiling shyly as he watched your cheeks turn pink once again.
โIf you still want to,โ he said softly, โI really want to kiss you too.โ
You didnโt answer. You just grabbed his shirt, and the look in your eyes was all the confirmation Johnny needed before his lips met yours. The kiss started slow, careful. Johnny was afraid of ruining everything, even after waiting so long.
His lips were warm and soft, even better than youโd imagined over the past few days, and the tenderness with which they moved against yours made your heart stutter.
Johnny sighed against your mouth, sending shivers through your entire body. His hand rested at the back of your neck, caressing gently before deepening the kiss, drawing a soft smile from his lips. Even as it grew deeper, the kiss wasnโt rushed, there was desire there, and your hands, now roaming over his back through his shirt, carried just a hint of mischief that made the kiss last longer than it probably should have.
You didnโt realize when you ended up lying down on the living room rug, pulling Johnny down with you. The need for air eventually forced you to break the kiss and your foreheads were resting together. Johnny looked into your eyes, as if trying to memorize every second of what had just happened.
โThat was way better than I imagined,โ he said, pressing a lingering peck to your lips, like he never wanted to pull away.
โAnd you really thought about me that much?โ
โAll the time,โ he confessed, smiling, half shy, half emotional. โI imagine you at a family lunch on a random Sunday. I imagine holding your hand. I even imagine our wedding, with Flower bringing the rings.โ
โJohnny!โ you laughed, giving him a light tap on the shoulder as he laughed too, just picturing it. โLetโs slow down, okay? Youโre rushing things.โ
โSorry, I just want you to know that when I like someoneโฆโ He gently ran his fingers through your hair, holding your gaze, completely serious. โโฆI really mean it.โ
And that afternoon, with the shoe rack only half assembled, you pulled him into another kiss, this one a little more urgent, allowing yourself to imagine a future with the sweet man who lived right next door.
