Chapter Text
‘Is this the right apartment number?’ He thinks to himself, hand hovering over the door. ‘409, right?’
Shaking his head as if to physically dispel his doubts, Jiung knocks on the door. And when nothing happens, he knocks again. And when nothing happens after the third set of quick knocks, he resigns to letting himself into the apartment.
Jiung fumbled with the keys, trying to balance the bag hanging off his shoulders and the guitar case swinging in his grip. He was beginning to contemplate just knocking on the door yet again when the key finally turns and unlocks the door to the apartment.
The door pushed open easily despite the troublesome lock and Jiung slid off his shoes by the others flung haphazardly by the small table placed by the door.
“Hello? Is there anyone here? I’m sorry if I’m intruding, but I was told to just come in if no one answered the door. I’ve got a key, if it makes it any better.” Jiung trailed off with a nervous chuckle.
A muffled yell of Coming and quick footsteps are heard from somewhere in the small apartment. The person starts speaking again, this time more clearly.
“I’m so sorry for not greeting you at the door. I got kinda caught up in my writing and didn’t realise how late it had gotten until-” The voice cuts off as the person comes into the hallway.
And there, in all his disheveled, annoying glory, stands Yoon Keeho.
“You!” He says, well, more like accuses.
‘Fuck. As if this whole thing wasn’t difficult enough.’ He metally cursed, dropping his bag. ‘Now I have to deal with this asshole. ’
“You’re the roommate Intak set me up with?” Keeho seeths. “I cannot believe him. I’ve told him about you. He knows about-” He cuts himself off, gesturing wildly between the two of them, still standing on opposite ends of the hallway, “this .”
He moves over to where Jiung is still hovering by the doorway. “You know what, this isn’t going to work for me.”
He picks up the guitar case he had set down upon toeing off his shoes and wrenches the door open. “I cannot live with you.” He shoves Jiung backwards out the door, ignoring the ‘hey!’ that leaves his mouth, and pushes the heavy case into his arms. “I will not live with you. I’m sorry if this ruins your perfectly set plans.” Keeho retreats into the apartment again, returning with Jiung’s shoes, dropping them outside the door.
“Did I say I was sorry?” The last thing Jiung sees before the door is slammed in his face is a look of pure loathing and a small smirk flit across his features. “Well I’m not.”
And he is left staring at the tarnished 409 sitting right in the middle of the apartment door.
✦✦✦
“Intak, literally why would you think that I would want to live with him of all people?”
“Bro, chill. Slow down, you know I can barely understand you when you talk that fast. Take a breath, sweetheart.” Jiung hears over the phone speaker. “Ready? In-” He waits for Jiung to audibly take in a breath. “and out. See, isn’t that better?”
Jiung growls into the phone.
“Okay, okay, I hear you killer. What were you saying about my idea to live with him? Who's him again?” Intak says, and Jiung can hear the exasperation in his voice.
“Intak! You know who he is! Tak, why would you think that sending me to live with him was a good idea? It’s like the worst idea you’ve ever had. I thought he was gonna rip my head off or something when he came down the hallway. Not that I was much better. Oh my god, Intak I swear if I ever have to see him again I don’t know what I’ll do. Jesus, he just makes me so mad I just wan-’
“Jiung! Do you even hear yourself right now? The Jiung I know wouldn’t have some homoerotic fantasy-”
“It is not homoerotic !”
“About murdering some guy he had bad blood with in highschool or whenever you decided you hated him.”
“I didn’t decide I hated him, Intak. I realised that he was a completely self-centred asshole , who doesn’t give a shit about anyone but himself!” Jiung hissed.
“That is usually what self-centred means, Ji.” He hears over the speaker.
“Shut up, Intak. This is serious.” Jiung says. “I need a roommate I can actually stand to be around. I can’t afford to live by myself, Tak.”
“I know, honey.” There’s some shuffling on the other end of the line. “Jiungie, listen, I know you don’t like him. I really do, but can you hear me out for a minute?”
Jiung opens his mouth to speak. “Without interrupting me?”
“Yes, mom .” He grumbles.
“Good. Listen, I know you don’t like him better than anyone. You two have some weird tension and honestly, I can understand that. You guys had a relationship that-”
“Intak, it was not a relationship.”
“What did I say about interrupting me, hmm?” Intak hums over the phone speaker.
Intak sighs, “You guys were close and then he betrayed your trust. I completely get why you wouldn’t want to live with him. But Jiung, please. It’s not like you have very many other options.”
“I know I don’t, Tak. That’s why I’m so upset. Because now I’m in a situation where I have to rely on him to help.” Jiung sniffs, eyes watery. “And now I’m crying, god can this day get any worse?”
He wipes his eyes on the sleeve of his shirt. “Besides,” He sniffs again, “even if I decided to live with him, he basically kicked me out of the apartment when I let myself in.”
“He did? That doesn’t sound like Keeho.” Intak trails off. There's some more shuffling over the phone and he says, “I’m gonna call you back, Ji. Something just came up.”
“Hey, wait! Intak, don’t you dare hang up on me!” The line cuts off in the middle of his sentence.
“Shit.” Jiung curses, pulling the phone from his ear. “Why did he just hang up like that?”
Mumbling to himself, Jiung shoves his phone in his back pocket and picks up the guitar case and bag sitting on the bench next to him as he stands. “Fuck, what am I gonna do now?”
Just as he was beginning to wallow in his own self pity, his phone started ringing again.
“Hello? Intak?” Jiung said, picking up the call.
“Yeah, Youngie. Listen, I’ve sorted it out.”
“Wait, Intak, what?” Jiung was confused now. “What do you mean you’ve sorted it- sorted what? The roommate thing? Because I told you, I don’t think I’m welcome in his life let alone his apartment. Besides, I don’t know if I’m ready to live with-”
“Babe, chill. Hear me out. Keeho said he’s willing to let you live in his apartment if you follow the rules he's gonna send you.”
“Hold on. Rules? That he’s going to send- Intak, did you give him my number ?” Jiung hissed into the phone. “Tak. Intak . Don’t you fucking hang up on me again. Hwang Intak !”
“Okay, bye sweetheart! Love you!” And once again, Intak hangs up the phone on him.
“Goddamnit, Intak!” Jiung drops his head back onto the bench with a heavy thud. “Well, shit.”
✦✦✦
Jiung, while waiting for the message that would apparently determine whether or not he would have a consistent place to sleep for the foreseeable future, he went to the cafe across the street from the bench he was sitting on. He was sipping on his coffee, scrolling through random posts, trying very hard not to freak out over the fact that Intak literally gave his number to Yoon Keeho and he’s expected to message him . Jiung hasn’t messaged him in, god he doesn’t know. It’s probably been years at this point. He knows it’s been years since they’ve held a civil conversation with each other, let alone a conversation at all.
Jiung is startled out of his reverie by his text tone chiming angrily at him. ‘Fuck, I can’t do this.’ He thinks to himself.
Unknown Number (Might Be - Yoon Keeho)
4:32 Is this Choi Jiung? I got your number from Intak. Listen, I’m not the most enthusiastic person about this situation but I do need a new roommate.
4:35 If you’re willing to follow a couple rules, I think I can tolerate living with you.
Choi Jiung
Yeah this is me 4:36
Sure okay, what’re your conditions, your highness? 4:36
He snorts, ‘Who does he think he is? Setting rules and shit like I don’t get a say in this arrangement.’
Unknown Number (Might Be - Yoon Keeho)
4:38 First, I would appreciate it if you keep your things out of the living room. And you have to provide yourself with your own groceries, I won’t share any of mine.
4:39 Also, and I know this might be difficult for you, but try to keep visitors to a minimum. I know how much you need other people’s validation, but I have a busy schedule to keep to and would prefer not to have people over at all hours of the night.
Jiung scoffs. ‘I need validation? God, he’s such an asshole.’ He types out a scathing response.
Choi Jiung
Of course, your majesty. 4:42
Although I seem to remember that you were the one who needed constant validation. 4:43
But I might be wrong, it’s been a while Keeho 4:43
He smirks, proud of his snarky response to the entitled prick. ‘That’ll show him.’
Unknown Number (Might Be - Yoon Keeho)
4:45 Fine.
‘A single word answer, he must be getting frustrated.’ Jiung chuckles, watching as the chat shows that Keeho is typing.
4:46 I’m out right now, but you can let yourself in. It seems you don’t have a problem inviting yourself into places that aren’t your own.
Choi Jiung
Fine 4:47
Unknown Number (Might Be - Yoon Keeho)
4:48 Don’t go into the second room past the kitchen. That’s my room.
Jiung shakes his head, “This asshole.” He gathers up all his various bags and things, dropping the used coffee cup in the recycling bin and leaving the cafe.
✦✦✦
Jiung trudged all the way back to the small apartment. He pulled out the keys, hesitating a little before unlocking the door and entering the apartment. He walks down the hallway that leads into the living room.
The living room is cramped and bare. There’s barely any decorations in the room, making it feel like it isn’t lived in. The couch looks like it’s barely used and the coffee table has a single out of date magazine and what looks like an old textbook laying haphazardly across the surface.
To the left of the living room is the kitchen. It’s once again small and crowded, but at least it looks like it’s used for more than just a glorified hallway. There’s fruit in a bowl on the counter and a few dishes in the sink.
Jiung spots a hallway leading deeper into the apartment. He follows the hallway and comes to a door. “Shit, did he say the first or second room was his?” He pulls up the chat with Keeho.
Yoon Keeho (Asshole Landlord)
4:45 Fine.
4:46 I’m out right now, but you can let yourself in. It seems you don’t have a problem inviting yourself into places that aren’t your own.
Choi Jiung
Fine 4:47
Yoon Keeho (Asshole Landlord)
4:48 Don’t go into the second room past the kitchen. That’s my room.
“So this one’s mine.” He says, staring at the door to the room. Pushing the door to his new room open, he’s met with a slightly dusty, dark, well- bedroom. “Where the hell is the light switch?”
He puts the guitar case down and fumbles around the wall for the light switch.
The lights flicker on when Jiung finally locates the light switch. He’s met with an average apartment bedroom that looks like it hasn’t been used in months. “How the hell did he afford this apartment by himself? It doesn’t look like he’s had a roommate in a long time.” He mumbles to himself, milling around the room.
There’s a small desk in one corner and a single bed frame in another. “Well, that’s not gonna work. I’m going to have to get Intak to help me move my bed in.” He checks the clock on his phone. 7:39
“Jesus, is it already that late?” He sighs, ‘I’ll have to ask him tomorrow, his shift’s probably already started.’
‘Fuck, I have to ask him for blankets. God, this just keeps getting better. ’
Yoon Keeho (Asshole Landlord)
4:48 Don’t go into the second room past the kitchen. That’s my room.
Read
Choi Jiung
Hey. Do you have any extra blankets? 7:56
Yoon Keeho (Asshole Landlord)
8:02 In the closet down the hallway.
Choi Jiung
Would it kill you to be a bit more specific? 8:02
Read
‘Fuck him.’ Jiung thinks as he shuffles down the hallway in search of the ‘closet’. Passing the second room in the hallway, he sees a small door that he assumes must be the closet that Keeho was talking about. He pulls open the door and is immediately assaulted by blankets falling off of the shelves. “Shit!”
‘And now I'm being attacked by blankets. Fucking perfect.' Jiung thinks, picking up the blankets and pillows off the floor.
He pads back to his room, blankets and extra pillow in tow. Once he closed the door, he looks dejectedly at the floor. ‘I really don’t wanna sleep on the floor.’ He pauses, ‘But my other option is the couch.’ At the thought of Keeho coming back to the apartment and seeing him on the couch Jiung suppressed a shiver, and he unwillingly remembers that Keeho is very particular about his rules. And his first rule was ‘keep all your shit out of the living room', and Jiung assumed that applied to his body as well.
So he spread one of the blankets he grabbed on the floor and threw the pillow down on top. Jiung flopped down onto the makeshift bed and pulled the other blanket over himself. He pulls his phone out of his bag lying next to the desk. 8:30 .
‘Well, I have nothing better to do. I’ll just look through twitter until I get tired. ’
He lasted about 15 minutes of mindlessly scrolling before the phone hit the blanket, and Jiung was asleep.