I've always felt that life sometimes comes down to luck.
Like exams, job hunting, and renting a place.
After graduating from culinary school, I barely hesitated before moving straight to this big city.
The pace is fast and opportunities are plenty.
It's more competitive too, but I don't mind.
At least compared to staying in my stiflingly remote hometown, it's much freer and more diverse here.
That day I dragged my luggage to my newly rented apartment.
The landlord who came to hand over the keys was a middle-aged man who seemed easy to talk to.
"This is the living room.. next to it are the bedroom and study. The lighting in this place is pretty good, right? The previous tenants all loved it."
"Yeah, looks nice." I nodded.
While checking out the living environment, I also glanced at the neighbors on both sides.
Honestly, besides work, my main goal in coming to the big city was to find a good partner.
After all, big cities are more open, and there are more people like me. It's way better than my rural hometown.
So to be honest, I was secretly hoping the neighbors might be interesting.
And... if a handsome guy lived next door... just thinking about it made me a little excited.
Even if nothing happened, seeing him every day would still be a nice way to heal my tired work mind.
"By the way, is anyone living next door?" I asked casually.
The landlord smiled.
"Oh! Yes, yes. That place is also mine. Rented to a young guy."
My eyes lit up for a second.
"Really? What kind of person is he?"
"Says he's an engineer, works at a tech company."
My mind went quiet for three seconds.
Engineer.
……Crap.
My brain automatically pictured the usual engineer stereotypes:
Glasses, plaid shirt, unkempt, quiet, and so on.
Maybe even a bit socially awkward.
I nodded silently.
"Oh…… I see." That was a bit disappointing.
Just as I was finishing up with the landlord and about to put the keys in my pocket—
"Hey, landlord!"
Suddenly someone on the street called out to the landlord.
I followed the voice and looked over.
Then— I froze.
A man ran up to us and stopped.
His upper body was completely bare.
Sweat slid down his chest muscles.
Broad shoulders, defined lines, abs not exaggerated but perfectly toned.
His skin glowed with a healthy shine under the sunlight.
His breathing was a little quick, chest rising and falling slightly.
In that moment, only one thought remained in my head—
……If only he lived next door.
"Just finished a run?" the landlord said with a smile.
The man stopped and scratched his head.
"Yeah, got off work a bit late today."
His voice was low.
And pleasant to listen to.
"Oh right, your new neighbor." The landlord pointed at me.
"He just moved in."
I was stunned.
He looked at me.
The moment our eyes met—
My heart skipped a beat.
"Hi." He smiled.
Naturally.
No sense of distance.
I felt a bit flustered.
"H-Hi……"
"He's the engineer I just mentioned." The landlord added casually.
My brain short-circuited.
Wait.
This guy?
An engineer?
I looked at his clearly well-trained physique.
Then remembered the image I had in my head earlier.
……I was wrong.
Thank god I was completely wrong.
From that moment on, I kept fantasizing about how a romance might spark between us.
Even if we didn't end up together, I at least wanted to have sex with him once.
So after moving in, I started "naturally" creating opportunities.
After all, my specialty was clear.
Cooking.
The first time, I brought over some freshly made sandwiches.
Rang the doorbell.
My heart was beating a little fast.
When the door opened, he was only wearing a bath towel around his waist.
His hair was still a bit damp.
He had probably just finished showering.
"Sorry to bother you…… I just moved in and made too much. Can't finish it all by myself."
I smiled innocently.
He paused for a moment.
"Oh…… Thanks."
When he took it, our fingers touched briefly.
Very short.
But I remembered it clearly.
From that day on.
I started cooking "a lot."
Sometimes stew.
Sometimes dessert.
Sometimes just simple home-cooked meals.
The reason was always the same—
"Made too much."
At first he was a bit polite.
Later he started chatting a little.
Then—
He invited me in to sit for a while.
"You're really good at cooking." He said one day.
"It's my specialty after all. I'm good at all kinds of cuisines." I smiled.
"No wonder the flavors are all different."
He looked at me with a somewhat serious gaze.
It actually made me a little uneasy.
After all, my intentions weren't pure at all. I was only hanging out with him because I wanted to sleep with him.
"Do you always eat alone?" he asked.
"Yeah."
I shrugged. "I'm used to it."
He nodded.
Didn't say anything else.
Days passed like this.
We got closer.
But not that close.
Just right on the edge of ambiguity.
Until that night.
I had already fallen asleep. The room was quiet.
Suddenly—
Ding dong.
Ding dong.
Ding dong.
Not just once.
It kept ringing.
Along with the sound of the doorknob being turned.
I woke up startled, heart racing.
"Who is it……"
I walked to the door and looked through the peephole.
Then froze.
It was the handsome engineer next door.
His whole head was leaning against the door, breathing a bit heavily.
He looked…… drunk.
I hesitated for a moment.
But eventually decided to open the door.
"Hey, what's wrong?……"