It started with the soft jingle of a bell down the hallway.

At first, you thought you were imagining it. Ddori, your cat, wasn’t exactly the sneakiest creature alive - she liked to throw things off counters and scream at invisible ghosts - but she was persistent. And lately, she had developed an obsession with your balcony, more specifically, whatever lay just beyond it.

It wasn’t until you left the window opened one afternoon and returned to an empty apartment that you realized she was climbing down the emergency ladder like some feline spy.

You panicked, obviously. She was barely smart enough to avoid jumping into the toilet - what was she doing wandering off?

You bolted out the door, called her name like a maniac, and were halfway down the stairs when you heard it. Laughter. From apartment 38.

And then: “Ddori, you really don’t care about boundaries, huh?”

You froze.

A few seconds passed. Then, the door opened.

Yang Jungwon looked surprised to see you - but only for a moment. He was holding Ddori like a smug little princess, her paws flopped over his arm, completely unbothered.

“I was wondering when her real human would show up,” he said with a small smile.

You didn’t know what to say at first. You’d seen him before - always warm, always smiling, but from a distance. His friends called him sunshine for a reason, didn’t they? Even when he wasn’t talking, he lit up a space.

“I’m so sorry - she’s never done this before,” you began, flustered.

He stepped aside. “You wanna come in? She’s been here every day this week. Figured you’d be curious.”

Inside was… cozy. Plants lined the windows, warm light bathed the room, and a record spun something soft in the background. There were books on the table, a blanket draped over the back of the couch, and your chaotic little cat curled up on a cushion like she lived there.

“She only eats the treats I give her now,” Jungwon said, watching you gently scold your cat. “I think I’ve been adopted.”

You glanced up. “I think she’s been cheating on me.”

He grinned. “Not cheating. Just expanding her social circle.”

From that day, it became a pattern. You’d knock. He’d open the door, Ddori would meow and dart inside like she paid rent. You started staying longer. Talking more. Finding excuses to drop by, even when Ddori wasn’t with you.

He always had tea ready. Sometimes, he’d play you a new song he was learning on his guitar. You’d tease him when he fumbled a chord. He’d tease you when you blushed.

You started to wonder - who was really visiting whom?

One evening, rain hit the windows, soft and constant. Jungwon handed you a towel for your damp hair while Ddori perched in his lap, half-asleep. The moment was quiet, tender, warm in a way you hadn’t realized you needed.

“You know,” he said, voice low, “I've never used to think this apartment was too quiet.”

You looked over, meeting his eyes.

“Now I kinda do." he continued. "Kinda miss it when you’re not around.”

He smiled, and something in his voice curled gently into your chest. Not heavy. Not rushed. Just... honest.

Then he added, softer: "Stay for a bit? I haven’t made you try my famous tteokbokki yet."