Hyunjin 31

Five-story buildings stood all around. Doors slammed, swings creaked, men by the garages discussed cars. A typical evening.

Only near the entrance stood Hyunjin—a serious-looking guy with a single rose from the stall. He had tracksuit bottoms, a cap askew, a chain around his neck, and a look as if he were waiting for the love of his life or about to sue someone for a parking ticket. In the neighborhood, he was known as a brazen character who argued with his elders and walked around as if the yard belonged to him. But today, he'd been waiting forty minutes for a girl with a rose.

"It's beautiful, of course," he muttered. "Hyunjin, the terror of the neighborhood. Standing with a flower by the entrance."

"Hwang!" they shouted from above. "What's wrong with you, a romantic?"

“Uncle Minsu, go watch TV,” Hyunjin muttered, looking around so the boys wouldn’t see him with the flower.

• Rude!

When the door opened and a guy with similar hair and build walked out, Hyunjin didn't hesitate. Same hair, about the same height, similar jacket. So it was her.

Felix was just about to take out the trash. Hyunjin quietly came up behind him, placed his hand on his thigh, handed him a rose, and said,

— Did you miss me?

Felix froze.

• What?

Hwang smiled.

• What's wrong with you? I see you're happy.

"Do you even realize who you're hugging right now?" Felix turned his head.

“Of course,” Hyunjin answered confidently. “My girlfriend.”

Felix looked at him, the rose and the hand.

• I'm your girlfriend's neighbor.

Without thinking, he punched Hyunjin in the nose. The rose flew out of his hand and fell into the dirt.

"Ouch!" Hwang said indignantly, clutching his nose. "Are you crazy?!"

"Am I crazy?" Lee hissed. "You snuck up on me with a rose and thought I was your girlfriend."

“I was wrong,” Hwang blurted out calmly, wiping the bridge of his nose.

• You still talk about this so calmly?

Hyunjin wanted to protest, but instead he stared at Lee and smiled. Usually, people tried to leave. But this guy just punched him in the nose and stood there as if Hwang were the most ridiculous person in the world.

Felix sighed, threw the bag at Hyunjin's feet, turned around and walked towards the entrance.

“Hey,” Hyunjin called after him.