Neighborly [Seo Changbin + FemReader]

[3.3] Y/N

I nearly choked on the gimbap. "Really?" I waited a second for him to nod in agreement. "Are you famous? Am I supposed to know who you are?" What I didn't expect was to hear him burst out into the most contagious, raucous laughter I'd ever heard. I couldn't help but laugh a little just because of his laughter.

He had doubled over to lean on the island on his elbows with his face in his hands, laughing up a storm.

"I didn't mean to offend you if I did." I offered.

He did his best to catch his breath, but he was struggling. "No, no, that's fine if you don't recognize me. It's even better actually." He covered his mouth to suppress the giggles coming out of it.

Giggles. This grown ass man was giggling! It was endearing, honestly.

"Okay..." I shoved another piece of gimbap in my mouth and sighed happily at the feeling of my stomach filling with food.

It wasn't hard to talk to him. In fact, it was surprisingly easy to talk to him about many different topics. I was impressed by his ability to keep pace with our conversations and how the more I learned about him the more likable he was becoming. He asked sincere and appropriate questions about me and about Yu-Jin. I explained without the dark, negative details about my divorce and raising Yu-Jin the last 3 years. I told him about my aunt and how good she had been to us. He shared with me about his relationship with his mother growing up and how much he still cherished his relationship with her. He also told me a little about the story of his music group. I had grown so completely comfortable in conversation with him that it felt like we'd known each other for years.

Before I knew it, it was nearing midnight. Yu-Jin had turned on some YouTube channel within the last hour and had fallen asleep watching it on the couch. Changbin and I had gone through a six pack together. And the mixture of alcohol and exhaustion was caving in on top of me. I needed to get back home and in bed before I ended up staying here and regretting it in the morning.

"We should go." I yawned and exhaled a deep breath. I turned to look at Yu-Jin and began to think about how I was going to get him downstairs and in his bed.

"I've got him." Changbin stood up from the stool he had brought to the other side of the island so that we were facing each other while we talked instead of side by side, and he walked over to the couch. Slowly and gently, he scooped my eight-year-old son up without waking him and carried him toward the door.

My heart nearly beat out of my chest. I was confused by that reaction. What was it trying to say and why was it trying to say anything at all?

I got up and followed him to his front door, opening it up for him. We walked together in silence to the elevator and waited for it to arrive. When we stepped into the elevator and the doors slid closed, the quiet and small atmosphere engulfed us. I swore he could hear my pulse; it was beating so hard. He didn't seem phased by me though, and we exited to the floor below and walked to my door. I opened it and let him in.

"His room is on the left." I pointed, panicking slightly at whether I had cleaned up enough for him to not think anything ill of how we live.

"Okay," He simply said and carried Yun-Jin to his room. Laying my son down on his bed, Changbin then untied his shoelaces and slipped both shoes off his feet. He handed them to me, and I put them away. When I turned back around, he had already pulled the blanket over Yu-Jin's still sleeping frame.

My heart swelled in appreciation for the kindness and gentleness he was showering my son with, who deserved all of it and more but hadn't received it. I couldn't help but not hold the tears at bay. Several slipped out rebelliously and cascaded down my cheeks.

Changbin looked up and caught my eyes. His brows scrunched together in confusion and he motioned for us to leave Yu-Jin's room. Once in the hallway after closing Yu-Jin's bedroom door, Changbin faced me and placed both hands on my shoulders. He cocked his head to the side, peering down at me in concern.

"Why are you crying?" He asked softly.

"Because," I sniffled and wiped at my eyes, "that boy in there deserves so much more than I've been able to give him alone, and just seeing someone else care about him is overwhelming. You barely know us and you've shown more care for him in one day than his father ever did."

It felt so natural that when he pulled me to his chest and wrapped his arms around my back, hugging me to him, that I didn't question it at all. One of his hands patted comfortingly at my middle back, and I rested my head against his shoulder. I felt him press a soft kiss to the top of my head, and that made me tear up all over again.

"You're doing a great job with him. Don't sell yourself short. He talked about you to me so much before you came tonight. Yu-Jin thinks the world of you and would do anything for you. You're his hero."

That was it. I couldn't hold it in anymore, and I began to sob quietly into his shirt. And he let me.

"It's okay. Life gets really hard at times, but don't give up. You're going to make it through. And sometimes, life sends you some help." His voice was soothing and encouraging.

"Thank you." I sighed against his chest and pulled myself away to look him in the eyes. "Seriously, Changbin. Thank you."

Silence surrounded us and the intimacy of that moment drew tighter around us. Him staring down at me. Me staring up at him. Realizing just how close we were holding each other. One of two things could happen...

And I knew which one I wanted it to be.