The moment Mira closed the door behind her— she leaned against it instantly.
Her heartbeat was still racing.
“Yeh abhi kya hua tha…”
For a few seconds, she simply stood there staring blankly at the floor while her brain tried processing the entire interaction.
The masked neighbor.
The soft voice.
The strange calmness.
And honestly—
“Why was someone wearing a cap and mask inside their own apartment?”
That part kept bothering her the most.
Mira slowly walked back toward the kitchen absentmindedly.
Then suddenly— her eyes fell on the almost empty pan near the stove.
She blinked once.
Then softly—
“Arre… maine khud toh taste hi nahi kiya.”
In all the nervousness of taking halwa to the neighbor— she hadn’t even eaten it herself.
A small laugh escaped her before she quietly took a little into a bowl and sat near the balcony with her tea.
Outside— light rain continued falling softly across Seoul.
For one brief second— everything felt calm again.
Then slowly—
Mira took the first bite.
And instantly— something inside her softened.
Home.
The taste immediately brought back familiar memories.
Her father sitting near the dining table waiting impatiently.
Her bhabhi making fresh halwa in the kitchen.
The warm smell spreading across the house.
Everyone eating together while talking loudly over each other.
And suddenly— the loneliness she had been ignoring quietly returned again.
A small emotional smile appeared on her lips.
“Ghar ki yaad aa gayi…”
For a moment— she simply sat there silently eating while looking at the rain outside.
Thousands of kilometers away from home.
Yet somehow— one familiar taste had brought her entire family close again, even if only for a few minutes.
Then slowly— another memory replayed unexpectedly inside her mind.
Tall.
Broad shoulders.
Black hoodie.
Fair skin visible near the eyes and neck.
And somehow— even with the mask and cap— the neighbor had looked unexpectedly handsome.
That thought instantly made Mira widen her eyes at herself.
“Kya soch rahi hai tu…”
Embarrassed immediately, she buried her face slightly into the warm tea cup.
the image of the mysterious masked neighbor quietly stayed inside her thoughts.
Meanwhile…..
inside apartment 506— the moment Yejun closed the door, Hoseok immediately stood up dramatically.
“WHO WAS THAT?”
Yejun looked at him calmly while placing the bowl carefully on the table.
“Next door neighbor.”
Hoseok blinked once.
“Oh… your neighbor?”
That instantly made Junho think about the girl.
Meanwhile Yejun quietly removed his cap and mask finally.
Hoseok stared at him suspiciously.
“You wore a disguise to open your own door.”
“Hyung.” — Yejun
“I’m just saying.” — Hoseok
“I should…
she doesn’t know yet who I am.
I’m trying to avoid these interactions so I can peacefully stay in this place.”
Junho shook his head while trying not to smile.
Honestly— the entire situation felt strangely funny.
And unexpectedly soft.
Hoseok immediately pointed toward the bowl curiously.
“So what did she give?”
Yejun glanced at the bowl.
“Some food from her hometown.”
“Ooooh.”
Hoseok immediately grabbed the bowl dramatically.
The moment he opened the lid— a warm sweet smell spread through the apartment again.
Junho unconsciously looked up from his phone instantly.
For one second— all three quietly stared at it.
The texture looked unfamiliar.
Soft.
Warm.
Sweet-smelling.
Hoseok blinked curiously.
“This is my first time seeing something like this.”
Junho leaned slightly closer.
“It smells sweet.”
Meanwhile Yejun quietly looked at the bowl too.
Honestly— he didn’t know what it was either.
Hoseok immediately looked excited again.
“Wait wait wait.
Get plates first.”
Yejun sighed softly before walking toward the kitchen.
A few moments later— the three sat around the table holding small portions carefully.
Hoseok took the first bite dramatically.
And immediately froze.
“…Oh wow.”
Junho looked up instantly. Read this novel at g.com for the best experience.
“That good?”
Hoseok looked genuinely shocked.
“This is REALLY good.”
That instantly made Junho try it too.
The sweetness was soft.
Warm.
Comforting.
Different from desserts they usually ate.
And strangely addictive.
Meanwhile Yejun quietly tasted it last.
For one brief second— he understood why the entire apartment had smelled comforting earlier.
Homemade food carried warmth differently somehow.
Junho looked toward Yejun curiously.
“What did she call this?”
Yejun thought for a second.
“I think… halwa?”
Hoseok blinked immediately.
“Halwa?”
Then suddenly— he grabbed his phone dramatically.
“Wait.
Let me search.”
Junho laughed softly already knowing where this was going.
A few seconds later—
Hoseok’s eyes widened slightly while scrolling.
“Ohhh… there are many types of halwa.”
Then suddenly— he paused.
“Wait.”
Both Yejun and Junho looked toward him.
Hoseok slowly lifted his eyes from the screen.
“Is your neighbor from India?”
For one brief second— the apartment became quiet again.
Yejun leaned slightly back against the chair thoughtfully.
“I’m not sure.”
Junho looked toward him quietly.
Yejun continued softly—
“But she’s probably not Korean.”
Hoseok nodded immediately.
“The food name sounds unfamiliar too.”
Meanwhile Junho stayed quiet.
Because unlike the others— he remembered the concert night clearly.
The excitement in her eyes.
The way she looked at the stage.
And somehow— the realization that someone from a completely different world was now living quietly next door to them felt strangely fascinating.
Meanwhile Yejun unconsciously glanced once toward the wall beside the apartment again.
And for some reason— the space no longer felt unfamiliar anymore.
In a familiar taste.
A warm smell.
Or memories hidden inside one small bite of food.
And maybe— when loneliness quietly grows inside the heart, even the smallest warmth begins feeling precious.