#neighbor

[t-m-o-axel]

"walk"

I thought it would be cute to depict them together... as if their relationship was better before all the horror, maybe they even went for a walk together sometime

actually, I've been thinking a lot about the game lately... and I want to draw more, so I'll give you a lot of content

[f-like-m]

Pray for your neigbors

By linearcollages

[lambiebean]

MY SHAYLAS 😭 💕 💞

[missesstargirl]

panties thief

•·　　.　✸　•　　　　　.　　　•　　　.✸　　　•　•　　✦　

pervy neighbor megumi x reader!!

returning the favor ❂ laundry room

You noticed it one evening when you were folding laundry—your favorite worn-in t-shirt was missing. Not the flashy one you wore out, but the one soft from too many washes, the one you always reached for when you wanted comfort. You frowned, retracing your steps. Had you dropped it in the laundry room? Left it on the balcony?

When you bumped into Megumi later that night in the hallway, you asked without hesitation.

“Hey—have you seen a shirt? Grey, kinda old. I might’ve dropped it out there.”

His eyes flicked up, unreadable as always, then back down to the grocery bag in his hand. “No. Haven’t seen anything.” His tone was flat, but the faintest pause before his answer had your brow raising.

“Really?” you pressed, tilting your head. “It’s not like I have a lot of them. Just thought maybe it flew onto your side of the balcony or something.”

“Mm. No,” he repeated, pushing his keys into his lock. “Check again. Maybe it’s stuck in your dryer.”

And that was the end of it. He disappeared into his apartment with his usual cool dismissal, leaving you with the nagging thought that maybe, just maybe, he knew more than he was letting on.

What you didn’t see was the way his jaw tightened as soon as the door clicked shut behind him. Your shirt was upstairs, stretched tight around his pillow like a fitted case, the faint warmth of your scent clinging stubbornly to the fabric.

When he went to bed later, he pressed his cheek to it, eyes falling shut with a heavy sigh. He imagined you standing in the hallway earlier, teasing him about the missing shirt, the way your laugh would’ve sounded if you’d known the truth.

And even the next morning, when you asked again in passing—half joking this time—Megumi just shrugged. “Told you. Didn’t see it.” His voice was steady, but the image of your shirt against his skin was enough to make him avert his gaze before you could catch on.

It wasn’t supposed to happen—you weren’t supposed to be inside his apartment. But the building’s power had flickered out, your phone battery was dead, and Megumi was the only neighbor you trusted enough to knock on.

He’d opened the door like always, quiet and unreadable, and let you in without a word.

You sat in his living room while he looked for a candle, your eyes drifting toward the faint light spilling out from his half-open bedroom door. You shouldn’t have peeked. You knew you shouldn’t. But curiosity was a dangerous thing.

You padded closer, barefoot against the floor, and when you leaned your head just enough to peek inside—you froze.

There it was. Your missing t-shirt. Stretched tight over his pillow like a second skin. You could recognize it instantly, the fraying neckline, the faded logo. Only it wasn’t crumpled or forgotten—it had been chosen. Deliberately pulled over his pillow, like he wanted your scent to be the very last thing he felt before falling asleep and the first thing he woke up to.

Heat rushed to your face, equal parts shock and something darker twisting in your stomach. You should’ve laughed it off, should’ve walked away and pretended you never saw—but instead you stepped further inside, fingertips brushing the fabric, heart pounding when you caught the faintest trace of yourself still clinging to it.

“You shouldn’t be in here.”

His voice startled you, deep and even, though you could tell he hadn’t expected you to wander this far. He leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, but his eyes gave him away—dark, sharp, watching your hand still clutching the edge of the pillow.

You swallowed. “So you did see my shirt.”

For a moment, silence. Then, slow and deliberate, Megumi shrugged. “Guess I forgot to give it back.”

You let out a breathless laugh, turning fully toward him, the t-shirt still between your fingers. “Forgot? You’ve been sleeping on it.”

His jaw tightened, but he didn’t move. “And if I have?”

The air between you grew heavy, charged. The shirt slipped from your grasp, falling back onto his bed, and you realized with startling clarity that he wasn’t going to apologize. He wasn’t embarrassed. He’d been caught red-handed, and yet—Megumi only stared, waiting to see if you’d walk away or take another step closer.

You tilted your head, biting back a grin that was far too dangerous for the situation. “You’re not even going to try and deny it?”

Megumi’s eyes flicked down, then back up to you, steady and sharp. “What’s the point? You already know.”

Your laugh was soft, disbelieving. “So you just… what? Steal my shirt and sleep with it like some kind of—” you trailed off, smirking, “—pervert?”

The word made his fingers twitch against his crossed arms. He didn’t flinch, didn’t break eye contact. “If that’s what you want to call it.”

God, he wasn’t even ashamed. That realization sent a shiver down your spine, equal parts unsettling and thrilling. You stepped closer to his bed, tugging the shirt from his pillow and holding it up between two fingers.

“This one’s my favorite,” you said, teasing. “I wondered where it went. Guess it was keeping you company instead.”

His jaw clenched, a muscle ticking. He didn’t move, but you could feel the tension in him, like a string pulled taut. You pushed it further, lowering your voice.

“Is this the only thing you’ve taken, Megumi?”

Silence. Heavy. Loaded.

You let the shirt drop back onto his bed, brushing your hands off deliberately. “Or should I be checking my laundry basket more carefully?”

That got him. A flicker crossed his face, quick, gone in an instant,but enough. You caught it.

“Oh my god,” you laughed, eyes widening with mock realization. “You have, haven’t you?”

His arms finally uncrossed, his stance shifting, but not toward you—toward the door, like he was giving you a chance to leave. “You should go before you say something you don’t mean.”

But you didn’t move. Instead, you closed the space between you, standing close enough to feel the heat rolling off him. Your voice dipped low, daring:

“Tell me, Megumi. What else have you taken?”

His breath hitched almost imperceptibly, but his voice stayed level, rough. “...You don’t want to know.”

You smiled, leaning in just enough to brush past his shoulder, lips near his ear. “You’re wrong.”

The silence dragged, thick and dangerous, and you swore you could hear the way his pulse quickened in the space between you.

Your whisper lingered at his ear, too close, too tempting. “You’re wrong.”

His head tilted slightly, like he was trying to shake it off, but you saw the way his hands clenched at his sides, restless. Finally, his voice came out low, rasping, every word weighed down with a truth he couldn’t stuff back inside anymore.

“I’ve taken your panties.”

You froze, heat shooting straight through your veins. He didn’t flinch—didn’t even look ashamed. His eyes caught yours, sharp and unrelenting.

“Not just taken,” he continued, voice steady, shameless now, “I’ve kept them. Used them. Thought about you while I—” his jaw flexed, like the words were too filthy to drag out, but he forced them through anyway, “—while I got myself off.”

Your stomach flipped, not with disgust, but with something darker, heavier. You should have slapped him, shoved him away. Instead, your breath came quicker, a traitorous tremor in your chest.

“M-Megumi”

He stepped closer, closing the gap like it was nothing, his voice dropping into something almost intimate. “You wanted me to say it, didn’t you?”

The worst part was,he was right. Your throat was dry, your body rooted in place as his words wrapped around you like heat.

He leaned down, slow enough to give you time to stop him. His lips brushed close to your ear, the ghost of a touch that made your skin prickle.

“They smell like you,” he murmured, his tone dark, reverent. “Sweet. Familiar. Every time I close my eyes, I think about how they’d look sticking to your skin instead of crumpled in my fist.”

A shudder wracked through you, your body betraying the storm in your head.

“You should hate me,” he added, voice like gravel, though there was no apology in it. Only hunger.

You swallowed, hard, the words slipping out softer than you intended. “But I don’t.”

That made him finally smile—small, sharp, dangerous. Like a predator who’d finally been given permission to stop pretending.

Your pulse was a mess, pounding so loud you swore he could hear it. You’d let the words slip, you’d given him that opening—and Megumi wasn’t the type to let it go.

Without breaking eye contact, he slid his hand into his pocket. For a second you thought maybe he’d just brush it off, pretend he hadn’t said anything. But then—he pulled out the proof.

A pair of your panties.

Your breath hitched, a sharp little sound that only made his gaze darken further. He dangled them between his fingers, the faintest curve of a smirk tugging at his mouth.

“Recognize them?”

You did. Of course you did. The soft cotton, the faded lace trim—disappeared from your laundry a week ago. You’d searched everywhere, blamed the dryer, but now… your stomach twisted at the thought of where they’d actually been.

“Megumi” your voice broke, shame and arousal tangling until you couldn’t tell which one was stronger.

He didn’t let you finish. He stepped closer, pressing them into your hand before dragging your wrist down between his thighs. The bulge there was impossible to ignore, thick and heavy against your palm even through his sweats.

“I used them here,” he muttered, low and unashamed, guiding your hand to squeeze him. “Wrapped around me. Thought about your face. The way your voice would sound if I touched you instead of just” his breath hitched, sharp, “instead of fucking this.”

Your knees nearly buckled, heat crashing through you at the raw filth of it. The thought of him, quiet and restrained, fisting your panties in his hand while he bit back groans with your name stuck to his tongue—

You clenched the fabric tighter, a soft whimper slipping free before you could bite it back.

He caught it, eyes flashing. “You like that?”

You should have lied. You should have said no. But your body betrayed you, pressing closer, your thighs squeezing together.

“Yes,” you breathed.

That single word shattered the last of his restraint. He tore the panties from your hand, brought them to his mouth, and dragged his tongue over the fabric—slow, deliberate—never breaking your gaze.

Your breath stuttered, every nerve ending sparking. He looked almost reverent, eyes half-lidded, his voice rough when he finally spoke again.

“Show me.”

It wasn’t a request.

He didn’t wait for hesitation. The panties were already in his hand, twisted tight between his fingers as he caught your chin with the other, forcing you to meet his eyes.

He let the panties fall to his lap eventually, slick with his spit, his hand working faster now as his gaze never left your face.  And then—he shoved his free hand down the front of his sweats, his knuckles bulging against the fabric as he wrapped around himself, stroking slow and deliberate. The panties stayed pressed to his face, soaking up every ragged breath, every muffled groan.

“Get closer,” he ordered, voice thick with restraint that was barely holding. “If you’re gonna let me do this, you’re gonna fucking watch.”

Your body moved before your brain caught up, stepping closer, your knees brushing his.

Megumi tilted his head, almost smiling, almost soft—if not for the way his fist was moving desperately under the stretch of his sweats.

“You see what you’ve done to me?” he rasped, holding up the panties for you to see, damp and wrinkled, before pressing them flat against himself, rubbing them against the length straining beneath his clothes.

“Stay right there,” he said, breath hitching, “and don’t look away when I come all over these—your fucking panties—again.”

Megumi’s breathing grew harsher, his chest heaving under that thin black tee. The rhythm of his hand turned frantic, and the sound of him—skin dragging against skin beneath his sweats—was obscene in the quiet of your room.

The panties were pressed tight against his cock now, his knuckles straining the fabric as he rubbed himself through them. His eyes never left yours, dark and unblinking, a silent dare.

“Y’see this?” he rasped, voice breaking on the edges. “All for you. You make me this fucking pathetic.”

You couldn’t answer—not when your mouth had gone dry, not when your knees threatened to give out at the sight.

And then his head tipped back, a sharp curse torn from his throat as his hips bucked up. White spread fast across the ruined fabric, soaking into the panties he’d stolen from you, dripping over his fist as he worked himself through the throes of release.

The sight was filthy. Raw. Completely unashamed.

When it was over, his hand loosened, his chest still rising and falling hard. He pulled the damp, messy fabric away from himself, dangling it between two fingers as he looked back at you.

“Put them on.”

Your lips parted, a protest caught on the tip of your tongue—but your body betrayed you again. The heat pulsing through you made your fingers twitch, made your thighs press together as if begging for something to happen.

Megumi saw it all. Of course he did. He always saw more than you wanted him to.

When you didn’t move fast enough, he crouched slightly, sliding his hand beneath the hem of your shorts. Your gasp filled the room as his knuckles brushed the bare skin of your thigh, and then he was tugging at your waistband—slow, unhurried, like he’d been planning this moment forever.

“Off,” he muttered, voice low, command sharp enough to make your pulse stumble.

The shorts hit the floor with a soft thud, leaving you bare and trembling in front of him. Megumi’s eyes darkened, and he lifted the panties to your hips, dragging the fabric up your legs with agonizing patience until the cotton was snug against your skin again.

But instead of stepping back, he hooked two fingers beneath the waistband and snapped it lightly against your hip, watching the way you jolted. His mouth almost curved into a smile. Almost.

“You have no idea what I’ve done with these,” he said, voice gone hoarse, the confession spilling like venom. “How many times I came holding them. How bad I wanted this” his knuckles pressed harder, dragging along the damp heat growing beneath the thin fabric, “instead of pretending.”

Your head spun, your body a live wire under his touch. The thought of him, your quiet, unreadable neighbor, unraveling in secret with nothing but your panties fisted in his hand—it should have horrified you. Instead, your thighs pressed tighter, a soft, needy sound leaving you before you could stop it.

Megumi caught it instantly. His lips brushed your ear as he leaned in, his words searing.

“Tell me to stop.”

But you didn’t.

You couldn’t.

Your silence was all the permission he needed. His hand slipped lower, cupping you through the stolen fabric, his breath hot against your temple.

“Good,” he muttered. “Because I’m not done showing you.”

He didn’t back away after cupping you through the thin cotton. If anything, he pressed closer, crowding you until your back brushed the wall. The air between you was heavy, sticky with the knowledge that this wasn’t something he could take back.

And he didn’t want to.

With a deliberate slowness, Megumi’s fingers left your heat. He hooked them into the waistband of your panties again, tugged once, twice, before peeling them down in one smooth pull. You stepped out of them automatically, dazed, and he was already curling the damp scrap of fabric around his fist.

You expected him to pocket them like before. Hide it. Pretend.

But this time, Megumi’s gaze locked on yours as he sat back on the edge of your bed, his legs spreading casually wide. He dragged the panties up his wrist, like a band, before pressing them to his mouth—breathing you in shamelessly.

“Fuck,” he muttered against the fabric, the word broken, reverent. “You don’t even know what you do to me.”

Your pulse thundered in your ears. “Megumi”

He cut you off with a sharp glance. “Don’t pretend you don’t like it.”

You should’ve looked away. Instead, you were frozen, your thighs squeezing tight, heat spiraling through your stomach as you watched your quiet neighbor unravel in the most obscene way, right there in front of you.

“Guess these don’t go back in your drawer,” he muttered, lips curling into something dangerous.

He held them out to you. Not to return them—but to show you, to make sure you saw every inch of the sticky mess he’d left behind.

Your stomach flipped. Heat coiled low.

Megumi leaned back on his palms, spent but far from softened, his gaze still sharp on you.

“Pick them up,” he said quietly. Not a plea—an order. “You’re not walking away until you do.”

Your breath hitched, the weight of his words pressing down on you. Megumi’s tone left no room for play—it was shameless, commanding, dripping with that quiet dominance he never showed outside these walls.

The panties dangled from his hand, heavy with his release. When you didn’t move right away, his brow twitched, sharp eyes narrowing.

“I said pick them up,” he repeated, voice low, dangerous.

You stepped forward on shaky legs, every nerve alight, until you were right in front of him. Slowly, hesitantly, you reached for them—but Megumi didn’t let go. His fingers tightened, forcing you to tug just enough for the fabric to smear against your skin.

“Good girl,” he murmured, watching you like a hawk, gaze dropping to your trembling hand now holding the ruined fabric.

Heat burned your cheeks, humiliation and arousal twisting deep in your stomach. You wanted to look away, but his eyes kept you there, trapped.

“Don’t just hold them.” His voice was softer now, but it made your pulse spike even higher. “Put them in your drawer. Pretend they’re clean. Pretend you don’t know exactly what I did to them.”

Your lips parted, a weak protest dying in your throat as you realized he wasn’t joking. “Or…” His hand slid up your thigh, ghosting just shy of where you burned the hottest. “…use them. Right here. While I watch.”

The air between you cracked, heavy and unbearable.

[craigslisthorses]

Jane says she does not like unknown white boy

[heevnly]

ˋ°•*⁀➷ 𝐁𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐓𝐨 𝐘𝐨𝐮⋆༄

One

𝐏𝐀𝐈𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆 : Lee Heeseung × Fem!Reader

𝐅𝐄𝐀𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆 : Ni-ki, Eunchae, Jake, Jay, Sunghoon, Heedo, Lee family & Park family.

𝐆𝐄𝐍𝐑𝐄 : Childhood Neighbors AU, Friends to Lovers, Slow Burn, First Love, Tutor AU, College AU, Long Distance, Reunion, Fluff, Angst, Slice of Life, Mutual Pining, Domestic Romance, Happy Ending.

𝐖𝐂 : 4,857

𝐒𝐘𝐍𝐎𝐏𝐒𝐈𝐒 : The boy next door taught her math, fed stray cats every night, and accidentally became her first love. Years later, they meet again only to realize that some feelings never really leave—they simply wait for the right time to come home.

Pt2 , Pt3

The moving truck stopped in front of the two-story house just as the evening sun began to set.

"Careful with that box!" Mrs. Park called out as two workers carried another carton inside.

Y/N stood on the sidewalk, holding her small plush bunny against her chest. Her long hair was tied into a messy ponytail, and she looked around the unfamiliar neighborhood with curious eyes. New house. New area. New school. Everything felt strange.

"Y/N, don't just stand there. Bring your backpack inside," her father said with a smile.

"Coming, Dad." She picked up her bag and slowly walked toward the house. A few houses away, someone was watching.A tall boy wearing a gray hoodie stood near a flower pot, his hands inside his pockets.

Lee Heeseung. Nineteen years old. First-year university student. Basketball player. And currently very curious about his new neighbors. He watched the girl carefully. She looked young. Maybe a high-school student. She looked shy too, constantly hugging the plush bunny in her arms. Then she accidentally dropped her keychain. "Oh!" She quickly bent down to pick it up. Heeseung smiled slightly. Cute. Before he could think further, a voice called from inside. "Heeseung-ah!" He turned around. His mother was standing at the door. "Come help me." "Coming."

He took one last glance at the new girl before entering his house. Inside the Lee residence, delicious smells filled the kitchen. Mrs. Lee had cooked enough food for an entire army. Heeseung looked at the dishes. "Mom... are we opening a restaurant?" She laughed. "Our new neighbors just moved in. They must be tired and hungry." "You made all of this for them?" "Of course." Heeseung smiled. His mother had always been like this. Kind to everyone. A few moments later, she packed the food into containers. "I'm going to deliver these." "Should I come?" "No need."

Meanwhile, inside the Park house, boxes were everywhere. Mrs. Park sighed. "I think we'll be unpacking until midnight." Y/N giggled. "At least my room is nice." The doorbell suddenly rang. "Ding dong." "I'll get it!" Y/N said. She opened the door and found a smiling woman standing there.

"Hello. I'm your neighbor." Mrs. Lee lifted the containers. "I brought some food."

Y/N blinked. "Oh..."

Before she could say anything, her mother appeared. "Oh my goodness, you didn't have to!"

"It's nothing," Mrs. Lee said warmly. "I know moving can be exhausting." Mrs. Park looked touched. "Thank you so much. Please come in."

A few minutes later, the two mothers were sitting in the living room, chatting like old friends. Y/N sat quietly beside her mother. "So, your family just moved from another district?" Mrs. Lee asked. Mrs. Park nodded.

"Yes. My husband got transferred."

"And this is your daughter?"

Mrs. Park smiled proudly.

"Yes. She's our only child."

Mrs. Lee looked at Y/N.

"What a pretty girl."

Y/N immediately became shy. "Thank you..." Mrs. Lee chuckled. "You're adorable." Then she introduced her own family.

"My husband works in an office. My eldest son is Heedo. He's already working. And my younger son, Heeseung, is in university."

"University?" Mrs. Park asked.

"Yes." The adults continued talking while Y/N listened quietly. Little did she know that the name 'Heeseung' would become one of the most important names in her life.

───

Over the next few days, the Parks finally settled into their new house. Y/N spent most of her time arranging her room. She placed her books neatly on the shelf and lined up her plushies on the bed. At night, she sat beside the window. The neighborhood looked peaceful. Then she noticed someone outside. A tall boy. He was crouching near the street, petting three cats. The cats surrounded him happily. He laughed softly. Y/N watched curiously. Then one of the cats climbed onto his lap. She couldn't help smiling. The boy looked up. For one terrifying second, their eyes met. Y/N immediately hid behind the curtains. Her heart raced. Why was she hiding? She didn't know. Outside, Heeseung chuckled. So the new girl liked watching people from her window. Cute. Very cute.

A week later, Y/N's first day at her new school arrived. She stood nervously in front of the gate. "Deep breaths," she whispered. She entered the classroom and introduced herself. The entire day felt awkward. Until lunch. "Can I sit here?" Y/N looked up. A cheerful boy smiled at her. He had bright eyes and looked friendly. "I'm Ni-ki." Another girl sat beside him. "And I'm Eunchae." Y/N smiled. "I'm Y/N." "You're new, right?" Eunchae asked. She nodded. "Don't worry," Ni-ki said. "We'll adopt you." Y/N blinked. "Adopt me?" He grinned. "Yep." Eunchae laughed. And just like that, Y/N made her first friends.

One evening, Mrs. Park was talking with Mrs. Lee outside. "Actually, I'm looking for a tutor for Y/N," Mrs. Park said. "She's struggling with math."

Mrs. Lee thought for a moment. Then she smiled. "What about Heeseung?" "Your son?" "He tutors sometimes." Mrs. Park looked surprised.

"Really?" "He's patient and good at explaining." "That would be wonderful." And that was how Lee Heeseung accidentally became Park Y/N's tutor. The first lesson was awkward. Very awkward. Y/N sat straight like a statue. Heeseung almost laughed. "Relax. I'm not scary." "I'm relaxed." "No, you're not."

She looked away. He smiled. "So, what's your worst subject?" "Math." "Your favorite?" "Everything except math." He laughed.

"You hate math that much?" "Very much."

"Why?"

"Because numbers hate me."

He laughed even harder. For the first time, Y/N looked at him properly. He had pretty eyes. And a really nice smile. "Don't worry," he said.

"We'll make peace with numbers."

She looked doubtful.

"I don't think that's possible."

"Challenge accepted."

And that was the beginning. The beginning of late-night tutoring sessions. The beginning of friendship. And the beginning of feelings neither of them understood yet.

───

A month had passed since Y/N moved into the neighborhood. Things were slowly becoming familiar. The streets no longer looked strange, and she had finally memorized which cabinet held the plates in their kitchen. Most importantly, she had made friends.

"Y/N! Hurry up!"

Ni-ki waved from the school gate while Eunchae stood beside him holding two strawberry milks.

"I'm coming!" Y/N said, running toward them.

"You almost made us late," Eunchae complained dramatically.

"I was feeding a cat."

"You and cats are becoming inseparable," Ni-ki laughed.

Y/N grinned. Maybe she had learned that habit from someone.

For some reason, every evening she found herself looking out of her bedroom window. And every evening, she would spot Lee Heeseung feeding the neighborhood cats. Sometimes he sat on the curb. Sometimes he talked to them. Sometimes he simply smiled while petting them. She didn't know why, but those little moments always made her smile too.

"Earth to Y/N."

Ni-ki snapped his fingers in front of her face.

She blinked.

"Huh?"

"You've been smiling at nothing."

"I wasn't."

"You definitely were."

Eunchae narrowed her eyes.

"Do you have a crush?"

Y/N nearly choked on her juice.

"W-What?!"

The two laughed.

"Relax, we're joking."

She sighed in relief. A crush? No. Definitely not. She had only known Heeseung for a month. That evening, there was a knock on the Park family's door. Y/N already knew who it was. She opened it. Heeseung stood there with his backpack hanging from one shoulder.

"Good evening."

"Hi."

For some reason, she still became shy around him.

"Ready for math torture?"

She frowned.

"Can we study literally anything else?"

"Nope."

"You enjoy my suffering."

"I do."

She gasped dramatically.

"You admit it?"

He chuckled.

"You should become an actress."

The tutoring sessions had become a routine.

Every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday evening, Heeseung came to their house. At first, Y/N had been nervous. Now, things felt easier. She still respected him and listened carefully, but she wasn't nearly as shy. Sometimes she even argued with him.

"Why does x always disappear?" she complained.

"It doesn't disappear."

"It does. One minute it's there and then suddenly it's on the other side of the equation."

He laughed.

"That's called solving."

"It's called black magic."

He nearly dropped his pencil from laughing.

"Math isn't black magic."

"It absolutely is."

"Y/N."

"Yes?"

"Study."

She sighed dramatically.

"You hate seeing me happy."

"I promise you'll thank me after your exams."

"I won't."

"You will."

"I won't."

He smiled.

"You will."

A few minutes later, she groaned.

"My brain hurts."

"We've only studied for thirty minutes."

"Exactly."

He laughed again. Honestly, teaching her was fun. She understood concepts quickly once they were explained properly. She just hated numbers. And she made the funniest comments.

"You know," he said, "you're actually pretty smart."

She looked up.

"Really?"

"Really."

Her face brightened. That tiny smile made something strange happen inside his chest. He quickly ignored it. She was just his student. A cute and funny student. Nothing more.

A few days later, Heeseung was sitting with his friends in the university cafeteria.

"So…" Jake said.

"How's your little student?"

Heeseung looked up.

"Why do you care?"

Jake grinned.

"You talk about her a lot."

"I do not."

"You do," Jay agreed.

Sunghoon nodded.

"Yesterday you spent ten minutes telling us how she thinks math is black magic."

"Because it was funny."

Jake smirked.

"Sure."

"Stop smiling like that."

"What?"

"That smile."

"What smile?"

"The annoying one."

The three burst into laughter.

"You're attached to your student," Jay said.

"I am not."

"You are."

"I'm not."

"You are."

Heeseung sighed.

His friends were impossible.

───

Meanwhile, Y/N's life at school was getting better too. She and Eunchae often ate lunch together while Ni-ki entertained them with random stories. One afternoon, the three sat under a tree.

"So…" Eunchae said.

"How's your tutor?"

Y/N smiled.

"He's nice."

"Handsome?" Ni-ki asked.

She blinked.

"I mean… I guess."

Eunchae gasped.

"You think your tutor is handsome?"

"I didn't say that!"

"You literally did."

"No, I didn't!"

"You did."

Y/N covered her face with her hands. Her friends laughed. She had no idea why she was blushing. Weeks passed. Summer arrived. The tutoring sessions continued. And little by little, Y/N changed around Heeseung. She became comfortable. Very comfortable.

"You're late," she said one evening.

"I'm two minutes early."

"That's basically late."

He laughed.

"You've become bold."

"I learned from the best."

"Me?"

"Unfortunately."

He placed a hand on his chest.

"You wound me."

She giggled. And just like that, they started teasing each other.

"Do this problem."

"No."

"Y/N."

"No."

"You need practice."

"I need peace."

"You need math."

"I would rather eat my textbook."

He laughed.

"You're unbelievable."

"Thank you."

"That wasn't a compliment."

"I'll take it anyway."

Their tutoring sessions slowly became one of their favorite parts of the week. They studied. They laughed. They talked. Sometimes they ended up discussing movies, music and random things instead of equations. He learned that she loved reading. She learned that he loved basketball. He learned she talked to her plushies. She learned he couldn't sleep without listening to music. One evening she accidentally confessed something.

"I still talk to my stuffed animals."

He looked up.

"You what?"

She froze.

"I… didn't say anything."

"You talk to your plushies?"

"No."

"You absolutely do."

She covered her face.

"This is embarrassing."

He laughed so hard he almost fell from the chair.

"Stop laughing!"

"Sorry."

"No, you're not."

He grinned.

"No, I'm not."

───

A month later, the results of her exams were announced.

"Y/N!"

Eunchae came running.

"You got third place!"

"What?!"

Ni-ki grabbed her shoulders.

"Third place! You genius!"

She stared at the list in shock. Math. She had scored ninety-two.Ninety-two. She immediately smiled. That evening, she practically ran home. The first thing she did was knock on the Lee family's door. Mrs. Lee opened it.

"Y/N?"

"Is Heeseung home?"

"He is."

A moment later, Heeseung appeared.

"Everything okay?"

She held up her report card.

"I got third place!"

His eyes widened.

"Really?"

"And I got ninety-two in math!"

A huge smile spread across his face.

"I'm proud of you."

For some reason, those four words made her happier than getting third place itself.

"Really?"

"Really."

She smiled so brightly that he couldn't help smiling too. Mrs. Lee watched the two and chuckled quietly. They looked adorable. Neither of them realized it.

───

Unfortunately, life was never peaceful for long.

A week later, Heeseung was playing basketball with his friends.

"Pass!" Jake shouted.

Heeseung jumped to catch the ball. Unfortunately, he landed badly. The next thing he knew—

THUD.

"HYUNG!"

Pain shot through his leg.

"Oh no."

"Don't tell me—"

"I think it's broken."

A few hours later, he returned home with a cast on his leg. Mrs. Lee looked worried.

"You should rest."

"I will."

"You definitely can't teach this week."

"I can."

"No."

"Mom."

"No."

But Heeseung was stubborn. The next day he asked Mrs. Park if Y/N could simply come to his room instead.

"Really?" Mrs. Park asked.

"You should rest."

"I'm fine."

"Health is important."

"I promise I'm okay."

Eventually she agreed. That evening, Y/N knocked on the Lee family's door. Mrs. Lee smiled.

"He's upstairs."

She nodded.

"Thank you."

She entered his room nervously. It was the first time she had ever been there. The room was neat. Books everywhere. A basketball near the desk. A guitar in one corner. And a sleeping cat plushie on his bed. Cute. She smiled.

From the bathroom, his voice came.

"Open your books and wait."

"Okay."

She sat on the chair.

Then—

BANG.

The door suddenly opened. Three boys entered.

"HEESEUNG, WE BROUGHT—"

They froze. A girl was sitting there. Y/N nearly jumped. The boys blinked. She blinked. Silence.

Then—

"WHO ARE YOU?" Jake shouted.

Y/N nearly dropped her pencil. At that exact moment, Heeseung walked out of the bathroom.

"What are you doing here?"

The three pointed dramatically at Y/N.

"WHO IS SHE?"

Heeseung sighed.

"My student."

"Oh."

"Oh."

"Oh."

The room became silent again.

Then Jake grinned.

"Your student is pretty."

"Jake."

"What?"

"Sit down."

Jay laughed.

Sunghoon smiled politely.

"Hello."

"H-Hi."

A few minutes later, Heeseung started teaching. His friends, however, refused to behave. Jake watched videos at full volume. Jay somehow tripped over absolutely nothing. And Sunghoon accidentally threw a basketball at Heeseung's head.

"Sorry," he said.

"It slipped."

"You weren't even holding it properly!" Heeseung exclaimed.

Y/N tried not to laugh.

Then Jake leaned toward her.

"What are you learning?"

"Math."

"Oh."

He made a dramatic face.

"My condolences."

Y/N burst out laughing.

Heeseung looked betrayed.

"Please don't encourage them."

Unfortunately, it was already too late. She was laughing with his friends. And for some reason, seeing her laugh made him smile too. Even if his friends were complete disasters. The tutoring session that day ended much later than usual. Mostly because studying had turned into chaos. Jake somehow convinced Y/N that taking a "five-minute break" was necessary. Those five minutes became thirty. Jay had discovered the snacks Mrs. Lee left on the table and ended up eating almost all of them. Sunghoon was bouncing a basketball with one hand while reading a comic book. And Heeseung...

Heeseung had completely given up trying to control his friends.

"Why are they like this?" Y/N whispered.

He looked at her with tired eyes.

"I ask myself that every day."

She giggled.

"You should get new friends."

"Too late."

Jake dramatically placed a hand on his chest.

"After everything we've been through, you're replacing us?"

"Yes."

Jay gasped.

"I thought we were brothers."

"We're not."

Sunghoon nodded seriously.

"I support your decision."

"You're all terrible," Heeseung said.

The room burst into laughter. For the first time since moving here, Y/N felt like she belonged somewhere. She liked this. The laughter. The teasing. The comfortable atmosphere. And maybe... Just maybe... She liked the person sitting beside her a little too much.

A few days later, Y/N was lying on her bed.

Her math notebook was open in front of her. But she wasn't studying. She was staring at the ceiling. Why was she thinking about Heeseung again? It had become a habit lately. She remembered the way he smiled whenever she got an answer right. The way he patiently explained things. The way he listened to her random stories. And the way he laughed at her dramatic complaints. She sighed. Her plush bunny sat beside her.

"Do I... like him?"

Silence. Then she looked at the plushie.

"You can't answer me."

Another sigh. Her bedroom door opened.

"Who are you talking to?" her mother asked.

Y/N nearly jumped.

"No one!"

Mrs. Park laughed.

"You've been talking to your plushies again, haven't you?"

"No."

"Y/N."

"...Maybe."

Her mother smiled and closed the door.

Y/N covered her face with a pillow.

This was embarrassing.

──

The next day at school, Eunchae and Ni-ki were eating lunch with her.

"You look distracted," Eunchae said.

"I'm not."

"You are."

Ni-ki leaned closer.

"Confess."

"I have nothing to confess."

"You definitely do."

She sighed.

"I think... I might have a crush."

Both of them gasped.

"WHO?" Ni-ki almost shouted.

"Lower your voice!"

"Who is it?" Eunchae whispered excitedly.

Y/N hesitated.

Then she whispered back.

"...My tutor."

The table became silent.

Then—

"LEE HEESEUNG?!" both of them exclaimed.

She nearly dropped her juice.

"Shhh!"

"Oh my gosh!" Eunchae squealed.

"That's so cute!"

"No, it's not."

"It is."

"It isn't."

Ni-ki grinned.

"I knew it."

"You did not."

"I did."

"You absolutely didn't."

He shrugged.

"Still."

Y/N sighed and rested her head on the table.

"This is a disaster."

"Why?"

"He's older than me."

"Three years isn't that much."

"He's in university."

"So?"

"He probably sees me as a child."

Neither of her friends said anything.

Because honestly...

They didn't know.

───

As months passed, life continued peacefully. Y/N focused on school. Heeseung focused on university. The tutoring sessions continued. And her little crush quietly grew. She never planned to tell him. Never. Because she was sure it would disappear someday. At least, that's what she thought.

───

Winter arrived. One evening, Heeseung knocked on the Park family's door. He looked nervous. Mrs. Park noticed immediately.

"Is everything alright?"

He smiled softly.

"I got accepted."

"What?"

"I'll be transferring to a university in another city next semester."

Silence.

"That's wonderful!" Mrs. Park said.

"Congratulations."

"Thank you."

Y/N stood frozen. Another city? He was leaving? For some reason, her heart sank.

"Oh..." she said quietly.

He looked at her.

"I'll be leaving in two weeks."

She forced a smile.

"Congratulations."

"Thank you."

He noticed how quiet she became. But before he could ask anything, her father started asking about the university. The conversation continued. Meanwhile, Y/N remained silent. She didn't understand why she suddenly felt sad. That night she sat by her window. The streetlights glowed softly. She could see Heeseung's bedroom light. He was probably packing. The thought made her chest hurt. Her phone suddenly buzzed. It was Eunchae.

Eunchae: How are you?

Y/N: Not good.

Eunchae: Because he's leaving?

She stared at the message.

Then slowly typed.

Y/N: I think I really like him.

───

The next two weeks passed too quickly. Before she knew it, moving day arrived. Boxes filled the Lee family's living room. Mrs. Lee was already crying.

"You'll visit often, right?"

"Of course."

"Call me every day."

"Mom."

"Every day."

He laughed.

"I will."

Outside, Y/N stood awkwardly. She had come to say goodbye. But now that she was here... She didn't know what to say. He walked toward her.

"You look sad."

"I'm not."

"You are."

She sighed.

"Maybe a little."

He smiled.

"I'll still visit."

"I know."

"And you can call if you need help with math."

She looked up.

"You'll help me even from another city?"

"Of course."

A small smile appeared on her face.

Then he gently patted her head.

"I'm proud of you, you know."

She blinked.

"What?"

"You've changed a lot."

She looked confused.

"When you first moved here, you barely spoke."

She laughed softly.

"That's true."

"But now..."

He smiled.

"You laugh a lot."

She felt her cheeks warm.

"That's because of you."

He didn't realize how much those words meant.

A car horn sounded. It was time. He picked up his bag.

"I should go."

"Okay."

"I'll see you soon."

She nodded.

"Take care, Heeseung."

"You too, Y/N."

Then he got into the car.

She stood there until the car disappeared. For some reason. She wanted to cry.

───

The following years passed faster than anyone expected. Y/N graduated from high school. She got accepted into college. And to her surprise— Ni-ki got into the same college. Meanwhile, Eunchae entered another university. Despite the distance, the three remained close friends. They met often. Called each other constantly. And nothing really changed.

As for Heeseung. He graduated with excellent grades. He built a life in another city. Then another opportunity came. A job abroad. And he took it. At first, he called home every week. Then life became busier. The calls became shorter. Less frequent. But he never forgot his family.Or his old neighborhood. Or the girl next door. Even if he didn't realize it.

───

Years passed. Y/N completed her degree. Then she left the country for higher studies. Living abroad wasn't easy. The first few months were lonely. She missed home. She missed her parents. She missed speaking her own language every day. But she worked hard. She studied. She made friends. She grew. She became more confident. More independent. And slowly... She built a successful career. Along the way, she met someone.

Sam.

They dated for almost two years. He was kind. Funny. Reliable. She genuinely liked him.

But...

Something was missing. Eventually they realized they wanted different things in life. They broke up peacefully. No drama. No hatred.

Just two people choosing different paths.

Meanwhile, Heeseung's life abroad was also busy. He worked hard. Built his career. Made new friends. Became successful. His parents couldn't have been prouder. And somewhere along the way... He started dating someone. A beautiful woman named Mina. Everyone thought they looked good together. Everyone...

Except his family.

Mrs. Lee didn't dislike her. But something felt off.

The same went for Jake, Jay and Sunghoon. None of them could explain it. They just had a strange feeling.

───

Ten years passed.

The shy girl next door was now twenty-seven years old. One morning, Y/N stood in the airport.

She smiled. Home. After years abroad. She was finally coming home. She didn't tell anyone. It was a surprise. When she opened the front door.

"Mom?"

Mrs. Park looked up.

A plate almost slipped from her hands.

"Y/N?!"

"MOM!"

They hugged tightly. Moments later, her father joined the hug. The entire house was filled with laughter and happy tears. She was finally home. And the neighborhood looked exactly the same.

Except. Everything felt smaller. Later that evening, she visited her friends. Ni-ki almost screamed when he saw her. Eunchae cried.

Then all three ended up laughing together.

"So..." Eunchae said.

"You look amazing."

"You do too."

Ni-ki nodded.

"You've changed."

"Good change or bad change?"

"Good."

They spent hours talking.

About careers.

Life abroad.

Old memories.

Everything.

It felt as though no time had passed at all.

───

A few days later, another person returned home.

Lee Heeseung. He stepped out of the car and stretched. Finally. A vacation.

He entered the house.

Mrs. Lee hugged her son immediately.

"My baby is home."

"Mom, I'm twenty-nine."

"Still my baby."

He laughed. Everything seemed perfect.

Until that evening. He went outside to feed the street cats. Some things never changed. A familiar voice suddenly spoke.

"Still bribing cats for friendship?"

He froze. That voice...

He slowly turned around. And nearly forgot how to breathe. A woman stood under the streetlight. She was beautiful. Long hair. Warm smile. Confident eyes. It took him a few seconds.

Then—

"Y... Y/N?"

She grinned.

"Missed me?"

He stared at her.

"You..."

"What?"

"You changed."

She laughed.

"I hope that's a compliment."

"It definitely is."

She smiled.

And for some reason. His heart beat a little faster. For a few seconds, neither of them said anything. The only sound was the soft meowing of the cats gathered around Heeseung's feet.

One of the cats rubbed against Y/N's leg.

She immediately bent down and picked it up.

"Oh, hello there."

The cat purred happily. Heeseung smiled.

"You still like cats."

"And you still feed every cat in the neighborhood."

"Some things never change."

She looked up at him. Some things definitely had changed. The boy she remembered had become a man. He was taller somehow. His features looked sharper. His hair was longer than before. And somehow... He was ridiculously handsome. Dangerously handsome.

"Why are you staring at me?" he asked.

Y/N blinked.

"I wasn't."

"You were."

"I was not."

He chuckled.

"You still deny everything."

"And you still enjoy teasing me."

They both laughed. The comfortable feeling surprised them. It had been years. Years. Yet talking to each other felt easy. Natural. As if no time had passed.

"When did you come back?" he asked.

"A few days ago."

"A few days ago? And you didn't tell me?"

She crossed her arms.

"You didn't tell me you were coming home either."

"...Fair."

She grinned.

"Exactly."

He looked at her again.

"You really changed."

She smiled.

"I think living alone in another country forces you to grow up."

He nodded.

"I understand that."

For a moment, they simply stood there. Then she looked at the cats.

"They're still here."

"Not all of them."

His voice softened.

"Some disappeared over the years."

She looked at him.

"Oh."

"I miss them sometimes."

She smiled gently.

"You really are a cat person."

"Completely."

"You know, I used to think you were secretly a Disney princess."

He blinked.

"What?"

"The cats followed you everywhere."

He laughed.

"That's ridiculous."

"It's true."

She grinned.

"You looked magical."

"Magical?"

"Yes."

He laughed harder. She found herself smiling at the sound. She had forgotten how nice his laugh was.

"So," he asked, "how have you been?"

That one question somehow led to another. And another. And another. Soon they were walking down the quiet street together. The cats had long disappeared. Neither of them noticed how much time had passed. They talked about everything. College. Work. Friends. Living abroad. Funny stories. Embarrassing memories.

"I nearly burned my apartment down once," she confessed.

He stopped walking.

"You what?"

"It wasn't my fault."

"It absolutely was."

"The recipe said medium heat."

"What did you make?"

"Pasta."

"You almost burned your apartment making pasta?"

She sighed.

"I wasn't blessed with cooking skills."

He laughed so hard he had to hold his stomach.

"Stop laughing!"

"I'm sorry."

"No, you're not."

"No, I'm not."

She rolled her eyes.

Some things truly never changed.

"And you?" she asked.

"Any disasters abroad?"

He looked thoughtful.

"I accidentally got locked out of my apartment."

"How?"

"I forgot my keys."

She burst out laughing.

"That's so stupid."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome."

They continued walking. The night felt peaceful. The air was cool. Streetlights illuminated the empty roads. At one point, they ended up sitting on a small bench in a nearby park.

Y/N leaned back.

"I missed this."

"This neighborhood?"

"Home."

He looked at her quietly.

"I missed it too."

A comfortable silence settled between them.

Then she suddenly spoke.

"I used to wonder how you were doing."

He blinked.

"You did?"

She nodded.

"I'd see your mom sometimes whenever I visited home."

"Oh."

"I heard about your promotions."

He looked surprised.

"You kept up with my life?"

She laughed softly.

"Not in a creepy way."

He laughed.

"Good."

"What about you?"

He looked at her.

"What about me?"

"Did you ever wonder about me?"

He smiled.

"Sometimes."

Her heart did something strange.

"I wondered if you still hated math."

She gasped.

"Unbelievable."

"It's an important question."

"I still hate it."

He laughed.

"I knew it."

"You haven't changed at all."

He looked at her.

"Neither have you."

For some reason, his voice sounded softer. She looked away. The silence returned. It wasn't awkward. It felt nice. Familiar.

Then—

Her phone buzzed. She looked at the screen. 3:07 a.m. Her eyes widened.

"WHAT?!"

He nearly jumped.

"What happened?"

"It's three in the morning!"

He looked at his phone.

"...Oh."

"We've been talking for hours!"

He blinked.

"Oh."

She laughed.

"You didn't notice either!"

"I really didn't."

They stared at each other. Then both started laughing.

"Your parents are going to think you've been kidnapped," he said.

"Your mom probably thinks the same thing."

"Probably."

They stood up.

"I should take you home."

"It's literally two houses away."

"Still."

She smiled.

"Okay."

They walked back slowly. When they reached her gate, neither of them immediately went inside.

"Goodnight," she said.

"Goodnight."

Neither moved.

She laughed.

"Why are we still standing here?"

"I don't know."

They laughed again.

Finally she opened the gate.

"See you tomorrow?"

He looked surprised.

"Tomorrow?"

"You're on vacation, right?"

"Yeah."

She smiled.

"Then let's hang out."

A smile appeared on his face.

"Okay."

"Okay."

"Goodnight, Y/N."

"Goodnight, Heeseung."

She went inside. And for some reason. Both of them smiled the entire night.

TO BE CONTINUED...

[dqjinx]

No, I'm Not a Human (NINAH)