Just My Luck

Yunho didn't think much about the guy next door after their short conversation. He had bigger things to worry about, like his assignments that's about to due, his shifts at the café, and not failing his next exam. The last thing he needed was to get caught up with some random neighbor.

But Wonho? Wonho had other plans.

The next morning, Yunho was rushing out the door, barely awake, when his new neighbor's door swung open at the same time.

"Yo," Wonho greeted, casually adjusting the hoodie he barely had on, like he didn't care that half of his collarbone was showing.

Yunho, still struggling to wake up, blinked at him. "…Morning."

Wonho took one look at the coffee Yunho was holding, then at his face. "Rough night?"

"Haha... Always been like this." Yunho sighed, already making a mental list of everything he had to do today.

Wonho smirked. "You should quit your job."

Yunho stared at him like he was stupid. "And starve?"

Wonho leaned lazily against his doorframe, totally unbothered. "I mean, there are easier ways to live."

"Yeah? Like what?"

Wonho shrugged, his smirk never fading. "You could just… not work."

Yunho scoffed. "Must be nice." He didn't have time for whatever conversation this was turning into, so he adjusted his bag strap and walked off.

Wonho, however, kept pace beside him like it was the most natural thing in the world.

"Where are you going?" Wonho asked.

"Class," Yunho answered flatly.

"Ah. College boy."

"…Aren't you also in college?"

"Technically."

Yunho narrowed his eyes. "What does that mean?"

Wonho just grinned and patted Yunho on the shoulder like they were already friends. "You'll see."

That should've been the first warning sign that his life was about to get more complicated. But Yunho, exhausted as always, just shook it off and kept walking.

Later That Night

After another long day of school and work, Yunho finally got home, kicked off his shoes, and collapsed onto his chair. His apartment was quiet, but he was already booting up Border of Fate, ready to escape into something that wasn't his real life.

As expected, Noctis was already online.

[Noctis]: "Took you long enough."

[Kyren]: "Some of us have jobs."

[Noctis]: "Sounds like a personal problem."

Yunho rolled his eyes. Typical Noctis. Dude was always online, always ready to raid, always acting like real life wasn't a thing. Must be nice.

[Kyren]: "We running something or what?"

[Noctis]: "Yeah, quick dungeon. Easy clears."

They queued up, and just like always, everything clicked. They didn't even need to call out plays anymore, it was just smooth, no-thought-needed teamwork. Yunho barely had time to breathe between work, school, and trying not to fail at life, but gaming? This was the one place where none of that mattered.

[Noctis]: "You ever think about quitting this game?"

[Kyren]: "Not really. Why?"

[Noctis]: "Dunno. Just wondering."

[Kyren]: "Kinda random, what about you? Ever think of quitting?"

[Noctis]: "Ain't going anywhere as long as you're still here man!"

Yunho leaned back in his chair, stretching. He wasn't about to get into a deep conversation at 1AM.

[Kyren]: "Anyway, I gotta crash. Another long day tomorrow."

[Noctis]: "Tsk. Lame."

[Kyren]: "You say that like I have a choice."

[Noctis]: "You do. Just… don't work."

[Kyren]: "Oh, yeah, let me just live off air and good vibes."

Yunho snorted.

[Kyren]: "Goodnight, Noctis."

[Noctis]: "Night, cutie."

Yunho froze. He felt his face heat up, "Did he just—? Gosh, I can't deal with his nonsense… He always catches me off guard."

With that, he logged off and crashed straight into bed.

2AM: Sleep? Nah, Not Tonight

Yunho was finally falling asleep when... THUD.

He cracked an eye open. Maybe if he ignored it—

THUD.

"…Nope," he muttered, shoving his blanket off. He dragged himself to the door and yanked it open, ready to throw hands if necessary.

And there was Wonho, standing outside his door like he belonged there.

Yunho blinked. "Dude."

Wonho, completely unfazed, looked up from his phone. "Yo."

"What the hell are you doing?"

"Dropped my phone," Wonho said, totally casual. "Twice."

Yunho just stared at him. "At two in the morning?"

Wonho shrugged. "Yeah."

"…Bro."

Wonho smirked. "You're one to talk. Aren't you up gaming all night?"

Yunho squinted. "How do you—"

"Thin walls."

Ohhh. . .

Yunho suddenly had so many concerns. Did this guy hear him yelling about a boss fight? Did he hear him losing his mind last week when a rare drop finally landed? Did he hear him talking to Noctis?

He shook his head. Not important. Yet.

"Whatever, just keep it down," Yunho muttered, already stepping back into his apartment.

But before he could shut the door, Wonho called out, "Hey."

Yunho groaned. "What."

Wonho tilted his head, looking way too amused for someone causing this much nonsense. "You free tomorrow?"

Yunho frowned. "Why?"

"Figured I should properly welcome myself as your neighbor. Lunch? My treat."

Yunho blinked. "You don't even know me."

"Yeah, but I'm trying to."

Yunho stared at him. There were like a hundred reasons to say no. He was busy. He had class. He barely had energy for himself, let alone making friends.

But also? Free food.

"…Fine," he sighed. "But don't make it weird."

Wonho grinned. "No promises."

Yunho groaned and shut the door.

END OF CHAPTER 2