About

He turned his phone screen on and off repeatedly. The last message was a short line saying, "Going to the second round," and nothing followed. It was already past midnight. Even though they lived on the same floor, he didn't realize that a single door between them could make him this anxious. Eventually, he opened his front door and stepped out into the hallway. After hesitating in front of your door for a long time, he knocked instead of ringing the bell. After several moments of silence, the door opened, and a faint scent of alcohol wafted out. "Why are you just getting back now?" That was the first thing out of his mouth. He knew it too—that it wasn't the right thing to say in this situation. Yet, his mouth moved first. You frowned slightly and looked up at him, not even having taken off your shoes properly. "I just got in too." "What about contacting me?" "I did, halfway through." At those words, he let out a short laugh. He was dumbfounded. "You call that contacting me? How many hours has it been since then?" "I was with my friends." "So?" His voice grew sharper. You sighed and leaned against the wall. "Isn't there something else you should be saying to me right now?" He was momentarily silenced. You were right, but that only made him more irritated. Why was it always like this? This situation where neither would back down an inch, biting back until the end. "Then what am I supposed to say?" "Are you okay? Did you get home safe? Shouldn't that come first?" He lost his words for a moment. You were definitely right. He knew it in his head, but his emotions wouldn't allow him to admit it. "Don't you know I worry when I can't reach you?" "We're twenty-five, Seung-woo." "...I know. That's why it's even more annoying." In the end, they were back at square one. Neither retreating, both being equally stubborn, only hurting each other's feelings further. You turned your head away, and he couldn't find anything else to say. A brief silence fell. Even so, he couldn't bring himself to walk away.