Chapter Text
There were loud noises in the hallway and Kim Rok Soo was sure it was a burglar, so he grabbed the golf club he had next to him and opened his door, but his neighbor, a man he hadn't talked to even after he'd moved in, had the same idea and now they’re standing in they were both in their pyjamas in the hallway with something in their hands and missed a cat trying to get in an apartment down the hall in the middle of the night. The neighbor's name was Alberu.
They had been neighbors for years but had never seen each other before due to the difference in the timings they worked.
"Who're you?"
"That should be my question." Kim Rok Soo responded coolly.
"A resident."
"Same here."
"Then what was the noise about?"
"I don't know."
'Seriously?' Alberu thought.
'This person looks terrible. Is he even eating on time? He looks like he hasn't slept in days.'
Alberu had been in such a rush that he hadn't noticed how ragged he looked.
'How the hell does one have eyebags, while sleeping? Wait, I have eyebags while I sleep, don't I. No wonder Choi Jung Soo nags me about getting more sleep. I am never ending up like this guy. I'll save up for my early retirement as well.
Kim Rok Soo sighed.
"Meow."
Alberu flinched. "Where did that come from?"
Kim Rok Soo looked at the cat puzzled. He'd definitely seen that cat somewhere, but the question was where?
He gently picked it up and stared at it, making eye contact with the grey cat for a solid minute. He then checked it's gender.
"It's female."
'And what am I supposed to do with that information?' Alberu thought looking at the taller, eccentric black haired gentlemen confused.
The unknown man looked older than he was and due to his shoulder length hair looked a little grizzly.
"Grrrrr"
One more cat appeared. His coat was a shade of red resembling maroon. The red one looked smaller than the other but more fierce.
Kim Rok Soo just stared at the kitten.
"Male."
Alberu was now speculating whether the man in front of him was insane.
“You wanna adopt one of ‘em?”
Alberu shook his head.
“No thanks."
“Ok then.”
Alberu let his guard down quickly since he didn't feel any hostility from the man in front of him. His expression of neutrality was completely dropped and his inner thoughts were on full display.
'Probably tired.' He thought to himself.
Kim Rok Soo picked up the two other cat.
He looked surprised.
It was awkward, and quiet.
Alberu felt odd. As if it was alright to show his emotions to this man, even though he looked gruff and taller than him.
The man noticing the atmosphere, turned to walk to his apartment.
“Then I’ll get going”
“Um, before you leave."
Kim Rok Soo looked at the man, and sighed again annoyed at the fact that he hadn't said anything when they were standing there but was speaking now.
“What?”
“ Um… Ahjussi, if it's alright could I visit sometimes?”
Kim Rok Soo sighed.
He had already realized that he was weak to these kinds of things.
“Sure.”
He then walked back to his apartment pissed at the fact that his sleep had been interrupted.
He put the two kittens down inside before hearing a snarl.
'The youngest looks like the feistiest. How funny.' He chuckled, remembering the start of his own life. He had also struggled in this way all because he had been an orphan, well that was before the Henituse family had adopted him of course. He was lucky. He smiled at the two, feeling some responsibility for them.
"Fuck."
He said remembering his neighbor, 'I didn't know that he was that dark.'
He smirked.
"Just my luck. He's just my type."
***
6:00 a.m.
Alberu woke up earlier than he expected.
He rubbed his eyes and slid out of bed, walking straight to the kitchen in a trance.
He put some hot water to boil before going to the bathroom to brush his teeth.
Washing his face, he looked in the mirror, seeing deep eyebags adorning his bronze face.
He sighed at the fact that he had wasted his one holiday by waking up early.
Becoming the heir of the family was hard work, it was even harder to maintain the high position with his 'different' skin tone.
He had been abused by his step mother every single day when he lived with his family just because of his color and hair, he was treated as an outcast by his family, the only reason he was able to snatch the position was because of his constant hard work and glib tongue. He scrunched his eyebrows at the disgusting memories.
Calming himself he remembered his neighbor, the taller and eccentric man.
'He felt similar. Somehow, he makes me feel at ease.'
Alberu brushed his teeth and went back to the kitchen to brew his tea.
He then took a seat and sipped on the chamomile tea that he had grown to like, thinking about the work he had to complete after this seemingly short break of his.
By the time he was done the tea had gone cold in his hand.
He gulped it down and decided to go on a walk to be alone with his thoughts.
When he opened the door he flinched.
`It's the insane man.'
Kim Rok Soo just looked at him while locking his door.
"Good morning." Alberu greeted him and walked out of his house.
Kim Rok Soo returned the greeting and walked past the younger man.
Alberu nodded at the mutual agreement to not talk to each other since he was also not the type to talk. He walked quickly, following the other man to the elevator.
The door closed in his face with his neighbor's stoic face right behind the door.
Alberu was flabbergasted.
'That impolite bastard. Isn't it common courtesy to wait for the other person if there's going the same way. He was crazy and he was a complete bastard.'
Alberu paused, remembering last night.
'Maybe a little kind but that's it. A slightly kind, impolite and bastardly neighborhood ahjussi.'
Alberu decided to call him a crazy bastard for now since he did not know his name and it suited him perfectly.