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Jan-di shot a glare at the apartment next to hers as she locked the door behind her. After he had left the previous night she had been so irritated it had taken her over an hour to fall asleep, causing her to sleep through her alarm. Now she was running late and she would have to sprint to make it to work on time.

She took off and kept a steady pace as she tried to remember what reading she wanted to do that day. Even though she had just finished school, she still wanted to keep up with the latest medical journals. She would be working a half day at the porridge shop and then spending the rest of the day at the clinic. Luckily, when it was slow there, grandfather didn't mind if she studied or read. Thinking about grandfather caused a worried frown to appear on her face. He had been feeling worse lately and she wished she could do something to make him feel better.

Coming to a stop outside the shop Jan-di bent over, trying to catch her breath. Hearing footsteps, she turned her head and saw Ga-eul coming up, looking like she spent a week at a spa being pampered.

If she didn't love her so much it would be so easy to hate her.

Ga-eul paused next to her and reaching in her bag pulled out a bottle of water that she proceeded to pass over. Not unsympathetically she studied her friend, "Slept in again, didn't you?"

"It was that jerk next door."

Ga-eul looked at her with interest, "sounds like there is a story here." Ga-eul followed Jan-di into the shop to listen to what happened.

Jun-pyo stared wistfully out his window at his neighbor's apartment. It had been dark for hours and not a peep had emerged from the home. His loud neighbor was obviously out and he was so hungry. She had fed him last night and he was waiting for her to have the pleasure of that duty again.

Reluctantly he moved to the packaged food he detested and opened one. He was about to take a bite when he heard singing from outside. Moving his curtains, he saw the short girl climbing the steps. Yes!

Jun-pyo practically danced out of the apartment and crossed over the walkway. Coming up behind the girl as she unlocked her door he cheerfully asked. "What's for dinner?"

Jan-di screamed and dropped her keys. "What is wrong with you?! How can you just scare a person like that?"

"What's for dinner?" Jun-pyo repeated.

Inserting the key into the lock, she twisted the key and yanked the door open. Somewhat violently, she turned and blocked him from entering. With a voice filled with curiosity that belied her lack of patience with the situation she asked, "Are you dumb?"

"No?"

Jan-di laughed when he phrased it like a question. "You must be if you think I'm cooking for you again."

Finished with him, Jan-di started to enter the house only to stop once again when he still tried to come in after her. Rolling her eyes, she shot her foot out and swiftly made contact with his shin.

"Oww! What's your problem?" He said as he stepped back and grabbed his sore leg

Not bothering to answer, Jan-di took a step in and quickly closed and locked the door behind her. Jan-di grinned at the outrage in his voice as he pounded on her door before she went to take a shower. "Hey! Do you want to die?!"

Jun-pyo sat in a chair outside his apartment and propped his feet up on the railing. It was Monday night and his friends had gotten back earlier today. Rubbing his hands together in anticipation, he wondered what they would be bringing him.

He heard footsteps climbing the metal stairs and glanced over only to be disappointed to see that it wasn't his friends but that… girl who dared to kick The Great Goo Jun-pyo. Seeing her again brought up the annoyance he had felt for her rising.

He glared at her, hoping she would notice his anger, and come to apologize but she didn't even glance his way. She was too busy laughing with a girl who was walking up with her.

If we were still in high school she would be red carded for sure, Jun-pyo thought as he remembered the way he used to handle problems.

Shaking his head at the absurdity of it all, he laid his head back and tried to get more comfortable as he waited.

The next thing he knew his feet were being kicked and he was surround, "Oh you're here." He yawned, stretching before he shot up. "Food."

Jun-pyo's love of sleep was so legendary among the F4, that it was with some surprise that they watched him immediately stand and walk into the apartment.

He started eating while the rest settled in.

"What did you do while we were gone?" Yi-jung asked.

"I almost died," Jun-pyo dramatically stated. "You guys shouldn't go on vacation again. How will you feel if you come back to that?"

"You seem to have survived anyways," Woo-bin pointed out.

Ji-hoo spoke up, "We are going to New Caledonia next weekend."

"What?" Jun-pyo tried to look mad, but it was weakened due to the pleasure showing on his face as he swallowed another bite of food.

Yi-jung and Woo-bin looked annoyed at Ji-hoo as well, but Jun-pyo's idea that it was due to loyalty to him was soon dashed when Yi-jung complained. "I thought we weren't going to tell him until Friday."

Ji-hoo shrugged, "I thought he should be prepared. Every weekend he makes such a fuss."

"Jun-pyo, you need to find a way to make money. If you did, you could afford to buy food when you need it," Woo-bin said logically.

Jun-pyo looked at him incredulously and pointed out indignantly, "none of these jobs are good enough for me!"

Yi-jung caught an appealing aroma and sniffed the air, "you were right about one thing Jun-pyo, your neighbor does know how to tempt you."

Jun-pyo nodded furiously, unable to speak since he had too much food in his mouth.

"You should eat more often, the way you end up eating when you are starving is gross," Yi-jung informed him,

Ignoring that, Jun-pyo spoke around his food and told them about how his hostile neighbor treated him while they were gone.

Instead of the outrage he expected his behalf Ji-hoo was laughing softly, while Yi-jung and Woo-bin exchanged glances and looked back at him with pity.

Yi-jung thought aloud, "How can someone with an IQ over 150 be so, so dumb."

"Hey!"

"No he's right Jun-pyo," Woo-bin agreed.

"What?!"

Ji-hoo straightened from his slouch, "No please... let me answer this. Jun-pyo let me ask you a few questions first. Okay?"

Jun-pyo nodded reluctantly, still smarting over the insults to his intelligence.

"This girl worked all day and your whining over food was keeping her from sleep, correct?"

"I don't whine, but yes to the rest."

"She took pity on you and even though she was tired and cooked dinner."

Jun-pyo ignored the pity remark, and nodded.

"During which you proceeded to eat everything, and then ask for more."

He brightened, "Ramen is so good, did you guys know?"

"You would too if you hadn't refused to sully your sophisticated palate with commoner food whenever we invited you to eat it with us," Yi-jung pointed out.

Ji-hoo grinned, "Now that is the truth Yi-jung, but we have to keep Jun-pyo focused. You can remind him of his narrow-mindedness later."

He paused and mumbled, "Now where did I leave off?"

Woo-bin helpfully told him, "Jun-pyo was greedy and ate all the food, not even leaving a bite for the poor, tired girl."

"Hey! She had a bite."

Yi-jung snickered in the background.

Ji-hoo ignored them both, "Thank Woo-bin. So you ate all her food and then left without a word, yes?"

"Yes, I was done eating. What else was I supposed to do?" Jun-pyo asked, annoyed with the way Ji-hoo was retelling the story.

Ji-hoo ignored the questions and continued, "Not bothering to introduce yourself or saying thank you, right?"

"She should feel honored that she had the opportunity to cook for me."

"I'll take that as a yes. Let jump to yesterday. You said you kept an eye out for her and she was gone until very late at night."

"Oh yes! So impolite, when a person is sitting here starving and she is out."

"I think we can assume she spent the day working," Ji-hoo said drying, subtly pointing out his friend's selfishness.

"She might have been," Jun-pyo conceded, albeit with a wealth of doubt in his voice.

"You show up at her home late at night expecting her to cook for you and when she declined you tried to follow her in anyways."

Jun Pyo opened his mouth to respond, but Ji-hoo was no longer waiting for confirmation and continued speaking.

"She then kicked you and closed the door in your face. You pound on her door, but she proves to be more stubborn than even you and refuses to open."

Jun-pyo nodded reluctantly, still annoyed that she managed to ignore his pounding on the door when he hadn't been able to the same first.

"Jun-pyo, one last question… okay?

"What is her name?" The three looked at him expectantly while Jun-pyo struggled to remember. It was then that he realized he never bothered to learn it.

Jun-pyo shrugged, looking at Ji-hoo and saying, "She never told me."

"And you never bother to ask." Ji-hoo sighed, and then told his friend. "You better learn how to be nice; otherwise I don't know what you'll do when we are gone."

"Try saying thank you," Woo-bin suggested.

"And don't treat her like your servant," Yi-jung added helpfully.

Ji-hoo thought, "Don't try to push your way into her home. Regardless of the circumstances… it's creepy."

Woo-bin thought of another one and tried to add, "Don't-"

"Stop! This is stupid. I don't want to talk about this anymore." Jun-pyo said, even more irritated; both at his tacky neighbor and his so-called friends, who were currently laughing at him.

"Shoot!" Jan-di mumbled to herself as she stopped undressing and tried to remember if she really left the document at the clinic. It was Sunday evening and she had arrived home from work a short while ago.

In order to start her residency in a few weeks she had to have the director of her department sign off on her graduation and completed work. She had taken care of that earlier in the week but she had only finished filling out the rest while on break today. Tomorrow morning she had a appointment with the chief resident to insure her place in the program.

If she didn't have all her forms in order she was toast.

"Ugh. There is no is not helping it. I'm going to have to go back and get the forms tonight," Jan-di moaned as she pulled her clothes back on. Shoving her feet into her shoes, she quickly made her way out of the apartment, in a hurry to get there and then back home. "If I wait until the morning I just know I'll be late to my appointment. I've been having that kind of week."

Jan-di stepped off the stairwell and turned to go the clinic.

"Oof!" Jan-di screamed as someone stepped in from of her as her foot left the last of the stairs, causing her to collide with him. Even though she thought it was his fault, she still apologized. "Sorry, I didn't see you."

She bowed slightly and moved to continue on her way. Only to be stopped by a hand gripping her arm.

Jun-pyo sat on the chair outside of his apartment, curious as to why the girl next door had run in and out of her apartment. He had been tempted to try to get her to feed him again, but he had given up on that idea for now. He had paid attention her comings and goings more often in the past week than he had the previous two and it seemed like she kept a very active schedule. If on-

Jun-pyo's thoughts were interrupted by a screaming coming from the base of the stairs, recognizing the screams he shot up. Stingy neighbor girl! Without hesitation, he ran down the stairs. Hurrying he was able to see her at the bottom with a man holding her arm.

Her incredulous voice carried up to him. "You are robbing me?"

"Just give me your money and you won't get hurt."

"Hey idiot! Can't you see I'm not carrying anything?" Jun-pyo shook his head; this girl desperately needed his help. Didn't she know you were supposed to do what robbers wanted? Not that I would, but it's completely different for me.

Jun-pyo peeked over the railing and saw they were still where he last saw them. Hurrying when he heard, "Then I'll just have to take something else..."

He turned the last corner and only had one set of stairs left. But instead of continuing down he paused in shock, his stingy neighbor had just elbowed the man in the gut and used a spinning roundhouse to kick him in the face.

He watched as she kicked the moaning man lightly in the side, seemingly trying to get his attention. "Hey! I really don't have time for you right now, but I swear if you are here when I get back you are really going to regret it." With that, she turned and rushed away.

Jun-pyo hurried after her only pausing to study the man on the ground. Memorizing his face for later, he followed the girl curious to where she was going.

It wasn't far, and it seemed to be some kind of clinic. He stood a distance away and tried to keep cover in the doorway of another building. She was only in for a few minutes before coming out holding a folder. Moving quickly she walked right past him without noticing and he followed her, oddly curious. They made it to their respective homes without incident and he watched as she entered her apartment again.

Thoughtfully, he glanced at the apartment one last time before entering his own.

Jan-di linked arms with Ga-eul and they talked happily as they walked to Jan-di's home.

Jan-di's appointment with the chief resident had gone great. Along with her academic papers, the letter of recommendation from the former president of Korea had turned out to be worth its weight in gold.

Usually Jan-di would have been appalled at using that kind of connection, but she knew that during her six years at the clinic she had learned much and helped a great deal of people. Even if Yoon Seok-young hadn't been the former president, the glowing recommendation from a doctor would have still helped her in her chosen profession.

Ga-eul was satisfied because she had a date the previous night that had not turned out badly. They had plans again for the coming up weekend and Ga-eul was pleased with her prospects.

To celebrate Jan-di had invited her friend over to eat. She planned to pull out the grill and bar-b-cue some karbe and vegetables. They went inside and dropped off their stuff. Ga-eul went to the small kitchen and started to wash rice while Jan-di went outside to set up her grill. Once she got the fire going she went inside and pulled the meat and vegetables she had started marinating the previous night.

Once the meat and vegetables were on the grill she stretched and raised her face to the sun. Enjoying the feeling on her face she was even more pleased that, for once, she was home before it was too late to enjoy it. Glancing around she noticed her annoying neighbor was also taking advantage of nice afternoon and was spending it outside.

He has been quieter for the last week; Jan-di allowed and continued to study him as he lay back in his chair. He is still rude, but maybe he is trying...

Jan-di was surprised when he moved suddenly and caught her staring at him. Jan-di didn't know how long they gazes held one another, but for her it was as if time stopped. He had dark, intense eyes and maybe it was just because he had only just woken but they were softer somehow. Not as sneering and demanding, but something entirely...

The spell was only broken when he turned and looked at the food cooking behind her.

Jan-di cursed lightly under breath when she realized that she had forgotten about her food while she was staring at her neighbor. She went to make sure that nothing had overcooked. She stacked the cooked food on a platter and hurried to put it inside.

Ga-eul looked over from where she was thumbing through a magazine at the counter. "The rice is almost done and I set out the kimchi."

Jan-di nodded, "I'm just going to make sure the fire in the grill is out."

She went outside again and quickly took care of the necessary tasks. She paused before she entered her home again, remembering the wistful look in her neighbor's eyes. Maybe he really isn't eating enough, if a little bit of food cooking causes him to stare at it like that. Jan-di looked over her shoulder, ready to invite her neighbor to make a plate, but he was no longer there.

She shook her head, and told herself that any disappointment she felt was for her neighbor's sake.

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Thank you for taking the time to read and review!

AN 01) I'm so pleased that the story already had such a positive response. Thanks guys! *\0/*

AN 02)To answer a couple of the review questions.

Jae-kyung doesn't love Jun-pyo because he is still the way he was in BBF before he met Jan-di. He also hasn't learned yet how deeply he loves, which is something that Jae-kyung was drawn to.

It's not very likely that I will ever pair up Ga-eul and Woo-bin.

If I do give Ji-hoo a love interest it won't be someone he meets in the hospital who he need to take care of or anything like that. I have never read a fic where Ji-hoo was with a crazy woman though. Mostly I think people throw Mary Sues at him, which I find boring.

Ji-hoo hasn't made up with his grandfather.

j'amieleprintemps-that is such a nice compliment! To be compared to the real show. Thanks! :)

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Disclaimer: I do not own Boys Before Flowers or Hana Yori Dango

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