ROOM 208 — jjk - 01
pairing: neighbor, college student!jeon jungkook x single mother!reader
fluff, slight angst??, eventual smut
summary: you're a single mother who lives at an apartment building in Room 207 with your daughter. You have a very normal life indulging yourself to an everyday routine of taking care of your daughter, work, go home then repeat. Until a new guy becomes your new neighbor in Room 208.
warnings in this chapter: cursing,, implied sex, playboy and snobbish jungkook >:D in this chapter
word count: > 4.2k
Please bare with me. English isn't my first language. Enjoy! :> Tell me what you think please!
You wiped your tears streaming down your face as you bounce the little girl, who has her face buried on your shoulder, staining your shirt with her tears and swayed her with your gentle humming voice, even though you want to cry your heart out.
You've been awake for five days straight already, juggling back and forth in working at a fast food restaurant then working remotely at night all while taking care of your three year old daughter. It's a never ending cycle routine. You barely eat and get a good night sleep these days. You think that a five hour sleep is already the longest time you've slept.
Your daughter, Ha-rin, has been clingy and needy for the past few days. Lately she's been always asking for your attention, waking up in the middle of the night to ask for milk and for you to carry her to sleep, read her a story before bedtime. You've done it before, but these past few days have been very busy. Getting all papers done because audit has been tough this season. So when you can't do what she asks you, she throws a tantrum, cries so loud until you break. You can never resist her.
You give her what she wants eventually. Afraid that your neighbors might yell at you or your landlady might kick you out because you're being a bad mother letting your daughter cry nonstop just because you don't give in to her needs.
It was okay at first but when pressure of work and bills piled up, you've been burying yourself to finish what was asked of you.
In addition to that, your next door neighbor was being so loud during midnight until the time you plan to take your sleep. It has been going on also for five days already.
The loud moans, and constant banging of the wall, the "oh my gosh, fuck me more!" "yes! yes, i'm cumming!" are getting in your nerves already. Thank God, Ha-rin's room is at the other side of the wall so she can't hear any of that.
As soon as Ha-rin fell asleep on your shoulder and you tried bringing her down to her bed, she clutched on to your shirt, the shirt that hasn't been changed from when you got home at six in the evening and it's already twelve in the morning. She made a sound of not wanting to let go, so you continue to carry her then proceeded to work on your laptop.
For about half an hour when you feel like she's deep in her sleep already, you tried again. You went inside her room full of her toys, and books that she wants you to read to her before bedtime. You slowly placed her on her bed, thanking the heavens that she didn't budge and instead snuggled her pillows while snoring softly.
You stare at her for a while, taking in her rosy cheeks, her long lashes that you think she got from you, oh and her button nose that you know she got from her... father. You caressed her hair and whispered how much you love her, kissed her cheek, and mumbled goodnight before going out her room and closing the door behind you.
You closed your eyes to release the stinging pain from your eye, probably because of being in front of the laptop for how many hours every night, before getting night clothes so that you can shower. You've been working since morning. Since you and Ha-rin are the only ones living in your apartment, you let her come with you to work. It's fortunate that your manager, Jihyo, lets Ha-rin be with you during your working hours. She's well behaved sitting on the corner of the restaurant playing with her toys, occasionally looking at you and smiling, her dimples showing, when she sees you looking at her.
Sometimes you worry about taking her to work. But there's no choice and you think it's better so you can watch over her from time to time. You don't have any close families you can leave her with for the mean time. It's just you and Ha-rin.
You left college as soon as you found out you were pregnant. And when you decided to tell your parents and tell them you'd like to keep the baby, they immediately felt the need to kick you out of their house. It was understandable, you were supposed to be studying your chosen course, Accountancy. Then graduate in three years time but then you got yourself pregnant by your boyfriend, Ha-rin's father.
Who, in fact, left you and your daughter behind.
Freaking asshole. You cursed inside your head when you remembered the guy who left you and your daughter to fend for yourselves. You did tell Eunwoo, your boyfriend.. scratch that.. ex boyfriend, that you were pregnant. Expecting for him to step up as a father because you both were in love and you were going to risk everything for your baby. Well actually, the asshole did a good job of showing you how excited he was to find out that your constant love making made him a father and you, a mother. After a week of love bombing you, he suddenly disappeared while you found out that he just moved across country and left you tend to your problems that supposed to be overcome by you and him.
Fortunately, you found a job. You started working when Ha-rin was just three months old inside your belly. The earlier you work, the more you can save for you and your baby. You thought. The student-friendly restaurant in front of the university you were once enrolled in before you decided to drop out accepted you as their staff once you applied for the job. You were hired as a waitress, the pay was good. It helps you tend to your daily needs. You also found a freelance work remotely where the industry deals with finances. You were hired since you indeed have a background in finances even though you didn't graduate and have no prior working experience.
You left work for a while, it was understandable for your bosses, since you're granted a maternity leave.
You've heard that giving birth was so painful that you'd wish to never do it again. But, Ha-rin did not make you scream from pain during the labor. It was just a normal delivery, then ta-da, Ha-rin's born. Although your parents chose to kick you out, they still contacted you a month before your due date. They're the ones who paid your hospital bills. You were thankful for them, but since you didn't want to be a burden and to feed off from their money as their daughter who got pregnant in college, you continued living by yourself... not alone anymore, but with Ha-Rin.
Your bundle of joy became your comfort and home. You thought home was where you live, four corners in a building. But no, Ha-rin is your home. The feeling of having her by your side makes you tear up regularly. It was tiring for the first few months — taking care of her, but Ha-Rin was never the crier. She's silent but she'd cry when you cry. She'd feel your sorrow, your sadness. But despite having these kinds of emotions, you never regretted bringing Ha-Rin to this world, she was so precious. She makes you happy.
You managed to slave yourself to work while bringing Ha-Rin to your workplace. It's actually surprising that the manager gave you permission to bring her with you, she said she understands as she was a single mother herself too. Sometimes, when she's not working, Jihyo, your manager, takes care of Ha-Rin. If you're other co-workers weren't on their shift, they'd stay in the restaurant and ask you to let them take care and play with your daughter.
You were very thankful to have friends like them. They love Ha-rin. It makes your heart feel big to know that somehow, not only you loves your daughter. That she's being showered with love even though her father left her.
As you went in the shower, you sighed in relief as the warm water touches your body. You rolled your shoulder feeling the tension and ache across your body from standing and walking around in the morning and sitting continuously in front of your laptop until the evening.
Once you finished your bath time, you prepared yourself to go to bed and get some sleep since you'll be waking up again at seven in the morning. You opened your daughter's door, you peek in to see that she's still sleeping soundly. You closed the door yet again and finally head towards your room across hers.
You felt like you could cry when your back hits the soft mattress. It didn't take long for you to yawn and make your eyes flutter close. You were about to drift towards dreamland when you heard a movement from the wall where the headboard of your bed was against.
You opened your eyes, staying still to listen if you'll hear it again.
Bam.
You gritted your teeth when you heard a creaking sound from the wall followed by another pound against it, and a fucking moan.
"Yes, there! There! Ah!" you heard a girl moaned and was followed by another pound.
You closed your eyes tightly trying to silence the sounds that you were hearing against the thin walls. But it just gets louder and louder.
"Fuck, yeah? That's it.. Come for me? Yeah?" a voice of a man said.
You put your pillow on the top of your face. Of course, you're in an average apartment. It was a good catch to have this kind of apartment with two rooms in it and with a reasonable amount to pay. But of course, it comes with consequences. The consequence is the thin walls. Where you can hear every sound behind the walls next door.
Your new neighbor, Room 208, began to be a menace last week. Ever since then, the events in your neighbor's room is one of the things that robs you of your good, peaceful sleep. There would be a gathering in his apartment, if not, a fucking whole ass party which involves booze and loud music. And lastly, hookups.
It's a shock that no one hasn't reported him yet. You think maybe you'll be the first on if this continues.
His hookups are the worst. Even though you haven't seen the guy yet, you've unbelievingly known how soft his skin was, how long and bouncy his hair was, how his back muscles are so sexy... and how big his dick according to the women he's been pounding on his poor mattress every single night.
You tossed and turn, trying to make yourself doze off as you see the hand of the clock tick at three in the morning. You wanted to cry again, you felt frustrated and angry.
Instead of tolerating your neighbor like you have been doing for the last days, you got up from your bed and went out to the hallway of the floor of your apartment. You can still hear the moans, groans and mixture of their dirty talks. Honestly? How is it that the land lady hasn't kick him out yet and no one has been trying to report him.
You drag your feet towards his door. Scrunching your nose in disgust from the prominent sounds you hear as you get closer, you bang on his door twice.
"Can you keep it down?!" you shouted through the door.
You thought someone was might open the door so they could talk to you, maybe apologize. But you were mistaken. You just heard a chuckle inside both from the individuals who has been going at it for almost an hour already.
"Sorry!" the guy called out from his unit. "She'll try to keep it down. Won't you, sweetcakes?" he probably asked the woman he's with.
You heard the girl giggle, yeah that's how thin the walls are, "Yeah, i'll try to keep it down. Sorry!"
You hit the door once again and mumbled incoherent things before going inside your room. Truth to be told, you didn't hear a sound again.
But you sure are did hear and feel every pound of your neighbor's bed against your shared wall. For fucks' sake.
You woke up to your alarm signifying it's already six in the morning and you need to go to work at eight. You indulge yourself to just lay down for a few minutes while staring at your ceiling for five minutes before you stand up to check on Ha-rin.
Ha-rin was starting to wake up when you open her door. She was tossing on her bed while rubbing her knuckles on her eyes.
"Good morning, flower." you greeted her with a smile. You sat down on her bed and cup both of her cheeks, showering her with pecks on her face. She slightly giggled and wrapped her hands around your shoulder.
She laid her cheek on your chest as she looks up to you. Her dimples are showing even though she isn't doing anything. "Dud mowning, mama." she mumbled.
You both hug each other for a while before she asks you to carry her. You both went to the kitchen, planning to make both of you some breakfast before leaving. You placed her on her safety seat in front of the counter as you make her food. Bananas, carrots and her favorite soft boiled eggs.
You're thankful that Ha-rin isn't a picky eater. She's going to eat anything that you give her. She loves eating vegetables, she definitely got it from you.
You prepared yourself a bowl of cereal and checked your messages on your phone. Without any relevant texts, you hurried yourself to take a shower while she's busy with her food.
When she finished eating, you also helped her take a bath. You chose to dress her in a blue floral shirt and her yellow leggings - which she loves the most. As you watch her play with her toys, you dressed up yourself with simple plain white shirt and a jeans, you'll just changed in to your uniform later at the restaurant. You packed up your things including Ha-rin's as you get ready to leave.
"Ha-win wants to take mwister bwear..." you swear her baby talks are the most precious thing in the world. You'd be quite sad once she grows up and learns how to pronounce words properly. You though to yourself how weird you are. Or is it normal because you don't want Ha-rin to grow up just yet. You'd love to baby her everyday.
You nodded at her as she carries her teddy bear, you gave her as her birthday gift, in her arms.
"You ready, flower?" you asked her and she nodded her head. You helped her put her shoes on while you struggle your balance in putting yours while your hand is holding hers and your bag slipping from your left shoulder.
Once you both were ready to go, you lock your door. Trying to open the door knob to see if it's locked.
Your ears pick up the sound of an opening door next to you. You turned to look at your left side, where your neighbor, Room 208 is.
Outside the door is a blonde haired girl wearing the tightest shirt you've ever seen and the shortest skirt you've ever laid your eyes on. She was giggling, her face flushed, looking up to the man she was talking with.
You'd be a hypocrite to say the man.. isn't gorgeous.
He fucking is. You look at him and saw how his black hair slightly reach his broad shoulder. His over sized shirt covering the muscles you know are there. You also took a peek of his tattoo since his arms were leaning against the door framed. His handsome face had a smug expression while talking to the woman.
As soon as his eyes went to you, sensing another presence besides them, you held your daughter's hand and ushered her to walk pass them to ride the elevator.
"So, when can I see you again?" you heard the girl asked while she was twirling a strand of her hair on her index finger.
"Sorry, darling. Maybe never?" the man ruthlessly said but there's laughter behind his tone. You raised your eyebrow when you heard him say that.
"I'll call you then?"
"Sure, Melissa."
"What the fuck?" she muttered while you passed by them both. "My name's Melody. Who the fuck is Melissa?"
"It actually sounds the same."
"Ugh! Jerk!"
Before you could close the elevator, the woman catches up to you, all while the man is staring at you with amusement in his eyes.
"Okay, flower. You need to behave, okay?" Ha-rin nodded as soon as you talk to her about the rules she need to follow while waiting for you. She nodded and you bring her to an empty seat at the corner of the restaurant, giving her her backpack which contains her toys, books, coloring books and her crayons.
You placed a kiss on her head before asking one your co-worker, Hyejin, to look for her a bit as you change into your work clothes. She enthusiastically accepted.
The day passed by quickly but exhaustingly. After your lunch break, you bonded with your daughter, who asked for fries, chicken and a smoothie for lunch, you carried on to your duties.
It was Friday today, meaning you get off early from work. So when the hand of the clock strikes to four in the afternoon, your shift has already ended.
"Good bye, sweet girl! Be sure to come again next week, okay?" Jihyo, your manager waved her hand to Ha-rin and your daughter smiled back while nodding her head.
You rode a taxi back to your apartment and notice that Ha-rin was already sleeping on your lap while her head is on your arms. You smoothed you hand on her back. Poor girl must be exhausted.
The driver stopped right before your apartment building came into view because you needed to buy pastries before going home.
Ha-rin also requested, "Mommy, I wan dwonufs.." well who are you to refuse such request?
You carry Ha-rin with your left arm as she twirls the strands of your hair in his finger to keep her accompanied. The smell of freshly baked pastries fill your nostrils as you entered into the cafe. There were many people chattering and going all about inside the establishment. One particular group caught your eye as the lady behind the counter repeats your order.
His doe eyes were staring right back at you and before you can even place your eyes on him, you realized he was already looking at you while you go in the cafe. He was surrounded by other guys as they talk and laugh loudly with each other.
You raised your brow at him and you saw how amused he was as his index finger caressed his lower lip right before you tore your sight away from him.
"Thanks." you muttered to the lady with a smile and you went out.
Ha-rin's playing on the mat with her favorite toys. You watch her make her dolls and stuffed toy speak with each other while you make her dinner. Milk and her favorite chocolate and vanilla donuts.
You both just woke up from a two hour sleep after you got back to your apartment. In your defense, it was supposed to be just a fifteen or thirty minute nap as you watch Ha-rin watch TV while you were both lying down on the sofa. But once she was tired and snuggled beside you, you both immediately felt tired and closed your eyes, reminding yourself to just take a nap because probably you won't be sleeping any time soon, so will Ha-rin.
It was already eleven in the evening, you mentally scolded yourself for sleeping in and for making dinner for Ha-rin a little late.
"Ha-rin, flower, let's eat dinner.." you cooed at her as she flayed her arms asking you to carry her. You carried her to her high chair and gave her her milk, she's still learning to drink from glass, and her donuts.
She immediately gobbled her dinner. At this time, you appreciate how you actually have Ha-rin in your life. Such a precious child. You think that maybe she feels for you. It's actually amazing how she just sit on her place at your work place for how many hours, minding her own business, occasionally glancing at you and babbling to her toys. How she's not a picky eater and doesn't play with her food, how she just asks for your attention when you're home. Except when you're working remotely and she's very needy and clingy. It's normal and understandable. She wants and loves her mama.
You both took your time eating while watching the TV from the kitchen. When Ha-rin finished her dinner, you gave her a warm bath and then carried her to her room to clothe her.
"Sleepy?" you asked as you put her favorite pjs on. She was constantly closing her eyes then opening it as if she's scared you're gonna leave her. She nodded her head in a tiny cute way.
Since you didn't have to work tonight, you decided to read her a story for bedtime. On your fourth page in the book, you see her falling asleep already.
But not for long.
A loud booming of music, boisterous laughters and clanking of bottles were heard across your daughter's room. Of course, it was again room 208. What did you expect?
You were surprised when Ha-rin started crying, reaching up to you. You carried her in your arms and swayed her, shushing her to fall asleep again. But instead, she cried harder when she heard the screech and loud bass of the speakers.
She's like this when she just got her sleep. She was a shallow sleeper when she had fallen asleep prior and when she just closed her eyes for a minute. She'd either cry because she was disturbed or because she was surprised. Now, it's probably both.
She continued crying as you stood up and went outside her room. It was a mistake not closing the door when you decided to tell her a story while she tries to fall asleep, and now she's awake because she's heard the noise from next door.
You couldn't stop Ha-rin from crying as you heard so much commotion next door. It should be just okay if they're not thumping on the wall like animals.
You're still carrying a now calmed down but still sobbing Ha-rin in your arms when you went outside from your unit. Room 208's door was open, so that's why you can clearly hear them from your unit.
You hesitated to go their and ask them to keep it down because it's already nearing midnight. People are either falling asleep or studying for their exams while they are hosting a party where they can actually disturb people on their floor.
Your eyes flickered when you saw a man as nearly tall as the door frame outside your neighbor's unit. He has his side view faced to you and followed by a slightly shorter but taller than you, definitely.
You felt your face flushed, embarrassed, getting caught standing outside your unit and just standing there staring at room 208's unit.
"Hey there!" the shorter man waved. You slightly gulped as you adjusted Ha-rin in your arms. She raised her head to look at the man who just called you. Her eyes were puffy and cheeks were red from her crying.
You decided, fuck it it's not a bad thing to reprimand them to tone it down a bit. You walked towards their direction with determination.
"Hi there, darling." you ignored the taller man who called you with the endearment. Both were definitely not the guy you saw early in the morning.
"Would you keep it down a bit? It's actually midnight and some people are not like you who still has the energy to party." you said. "I hope you know you're disturbing the people on this floor."
"I don't seen others complaining about us?" you look at where the voice came from. The voice belonged to the man who's been keeping you awake very late at night and not in the very good way.
"And I hope you hear me a complaining about you." you squinted your eyes at him. Both of the guys who were outside the unit chuckled. "You should know that you've been so loud ever since you got here."
"Eavesdropping now, are we?" he leaned his shoulder on the door frame and crossed his right feet over his left.
He looks so hot! But you mentally shook your head as you were trying to focus on the problem on hand. But still, you can't help but admire the guy in front of you. If only he wasn't obnoxious.
"The walls are thin." Ha-rin shoved her face on the juncture between your shoulder and neck. The guy's eyes flickered from yours to Ha-rin, then back to you. "I'm not stopping your party, I'm just asking for you to notch it down a bit."
The guy on the doorframe with a full sleeved tattoo on his right arm looked back to the people inside his unit drinking beer and laughing loudly at each other. There were like five to eight people inside, excluding the two guys beside you, watching the guy with the tattoo and you argue.
"No can do. They're having fun.." he turned to look at you again. "Unlike someone." with a suggestive tone. This jerk.
"Sorry, princess. We'll talk to our friends to quiet down." the guy beside you said as the taller one with the plumped lips followed. "Jungkook, man, c'mon."
"Don't call me that." you shook your head at the guy who called you princess even though he probably didn't hear you.
The guy with the tattoo, who's still leaning on the doorframe, and who has his brow raised at you was called Jungkook.
"Look. If you're still going to be like this until one in the morning, I'll just have to call the landlady." You threatened him.
He stared at you for a bit before scoffing and smirking.
"Sure."
You were about to talk again when he turned away, walked inside and slammed the door right in front of your face.
Refraining yourself from cursing and banging the door because you have your daughter with you, you bit your lip and gritted your teeth walking back to your unit.
Asshole.
