SWEETS

BEAT'S POV

When I woke up, I realized my parents had already returned. To my surprise, they had brought back a ridiculous amount of sweets. Curious, I asked Mom about them. She smiled and explained that the sweets were for the landlord and the second-floor renters. "We just arrived here; we need to build good relations," she said casually.

But then she dropped the bombshell: I'm the one who has to deliver the sweets.

Oh, great. Just great. Why are my parents like this? They know that, while I can be outgoing, this is a completely new environment for me, and I feel awkward as it is. Yet they seem to take pleasure in pushing me out of my comfort zone.

Reluctantly, I took the box of sweets and went up to the landlord's door. Ringing the bell, I braced myself. She opened the door with her ever-present bright smile, but before she could say a word, I shoved the sweets into her hands, muttered a quick greeting, and bolted downstairs.

I knew I'd left her stunned. But I also knew if I let her start a conversation, she'd inevitably bring up the boy on the second floor again. I wasn't in the mood for her teasing.

Next, I headed to the second floor. Standing outside their door, I hesitated, feeling my palms get clammy. What if they were as talkative as the landlord? Or worse, what if they thought I was weird? My heart was pounding as I rang the bell.

The door opened, and the woman I'd seen that morning greeted me with a friendly smile. I awkwardly returned the gesture and handed her the sweets. She invited me inside, and though I wanted to refuse, politeness got the better of me.

Her home was clean and cozy, with a warm atmosphere. In the middle of the hall, a little girl-barely three and a half years old-was playing with her toys. I sat stiffly on the sofa, unsure of how to interact. I've never been great with kids. Being an only child, I didn't grow up surrounded by them. Even my village friends didn't have siblings, so I wasn't used to this kind of energy.

When the little girl saw me, her face lit up, and she toddled over, trying to climb onto my lap. Caught off guard, I panicked internally. What do I do? What do I say? After a moment, I managed a big smile and gave her a gentle hug. She seemed happy with that, but I still felt awkward.

I noticed the boy from the second floor wasn't there. It was just the woman and her child. She disappeared into the kitchen for a while and returned with a small plate of snacks. Normally, I avoid eating at other people's homes, but she insisted so much that I felt compelled to take a few bites.

As we chatted, she told me to call her "Sister," saying I am at the same age as her younger brother. Without thinking, I asked about him. Her face softened as she explained that he'd gone out to celebrate a friend's birthday.

The moment the words left my mouth, I felt embarrassed. Why did I ask that? My curiosity about her brother felt misplaced, and I scolded myself internally. Still, I kept my composure and politely asked for permission to leave, citing the time.

As I descended the stairs, my thoughts were a whirlwind. I couldn't stop replaying the awkward moments of the conversation. I was so lost in my own head that I almost didn't notice someone passing me on the staircase.

It was a boy.

He was tall-maybe two inches taller than me-and undeniably striking. His sharp jawline looked as if it had been chiseled by an artist. His eyes, even in that brief glimpse, were mesmerizing. His frame was lean but athletic, and his posture was confident and effortless.

Wait. Was this... him?

I froze for a split second. This had to be the boy from the second floor.

He walked past me without so much as a glance, his expression unreadable. His aloofness only added to his air of mystery.

What the heck am I thinking? Why am I noticing so much about him?

Shaking my head, I tried to brush it off. This sudden interest in him was probably just the landlord's words lingering in my mind. Or maybe it was the odd coincidence of our names.

Still, I couldn't deny the truth: he'd left an impression.

As I stepped into my room and closed the door, I found myself thinking about him again. What's his deal? I couldn't help but wonder.

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