CHAPTER 1: LEASE AGREEMENT
Jae-min arrived first.
The apartment was empty. Five doors. White walls. Smell of old paint.
He walked through each room. Checked windows. Tested locks.
The smallest room—corner position. View of the entire hallway.
He chose it.
Not humble. Strategic.
---
Twenty minutes later, footsteps on the stairs.
A guy appeared. Mid-twenties. Grinning. Carrying two bags like they weighed nothing.
"Yo! First one here?"
"Second," Jae-min said.
The guy looked at the ceiling. Water stains. Brown. Spreading.
"Oh man. That one looks like it's been through a divorce." He pointed. "I'm calling him Gerald."
Jae-min stared.
"Park Min-jae." The guy extended his hand. "Communications major. Professional disappointment to my parents."
Jae-min shook it. "Yoon Jae-min."
Min-jae took the room at the end. Furthest from everyone.
"I snore," he explained. "It's a public service."
---
Third arrival.
A woman. Early twenties. Minimal luggage—one bag, one backpack.
She moved quietly. Looked at Jae-min's door. Then the one directly across.
Chose that one.
Said nothing about why.
Min-jae leaned out. "Hey! I'm Min-jae. That's Jae-min. Welcome to—" He paused. "—we don't have a name yet."
"Han Seo-rin." She smiled. Polite. Gave nothing.
"What's your major?"
"Psychology."
"Oh, dangerous." Min-jae grinned. "You're gonna read us all like books."
"Maybe." She went into her room. Closed the door gently.
Min-jae looked at Jae-min. Whispered, "She's terrifying."
Jae-min said nothing.
---
Fourth arrival.
A guy. Carrying three bags. Plus cleaning supplies.
Buckets. Sponges. Spray bottles.
"Oh—sorry, I just—" He set everything down. Bowed slightly. "I thought maybe we'd need—I mean, the listing said partially furnished, so I figured—"
"Relax, man." Min-jae appeared. "I'm Min-jae. You're a saint."
"Choi Kyung-ho." He smiled. Nervous. "I'm from Andong. First time in Seoul long-term."
His accent was softer. Countryside.
"What's your major?" Min-jae asked.
"Education. I want to teach middle school."
"Wow. You really *are* a saint."
Kyung-ho laughed. Unsure if it was a compliment.
He took the room next to Min-jae's.
"I brought extra dish soap," he said. "In case anyone needs it."
No one had asked.
---
Fifth arrival.
A woman. Quiet. She didn't announce herself.
Just appeared in the doorway. Watching.
Everyone had already chosen rooms.
"Hi," Min-jae said. "I'm—"
"Park Min-jae. Communications." She smiled softly. "I heard."
"Uh. Yeah." He blinked. "And you are?"
"Lee Hae-in. Literature major."
She looked at the remaining room. Next to the bathroom.
"I don't mind noise," she said.
She went inside. Closed the door.
Min-jae looked at Jae-min again. "Okay, *she's* terrifying."
---
An hour later.
Everyone ended up in the kitchen.
Awkward. Standing. No one sitting first.
Min-jae broke it. "So. Introductions. I'll start. Park Min-jae. I make jokes when I'm uncomfortable. Which is always."
Kyung-ho went next. "Choi Kyung-ho. Education major. I'm, uh, really glad to meet you all. I think this will be great. I mean, I hope—sorry, I'm talking too much."
Seo-rin smiled. "Han Seo-rin. Psychology. I like cooking. Sometimes."
Hae-in nodded. "Lee Hae-in. Literature."
She didn't add more.
Everyone looked at Jae-min.
"Yoon Jae-min," he said.
Pause.
"...That's it?" Min-jae asked.
"Economics."
"Riveting."
Seo-rin laughed. Small. Controlled.
---
Min-jae leaned against the counter. "Okay. House rules. Do we need a chore chart, or are we just gonna passive-aggressively leave notes?"
Kyung-ho straightened. "Actually, I think a chore chart is a good—"
Everyone laughed.
Kyung-ho stopped. Looked around.
Then laughed too.
A beat later.
---
That night.
Five closed doors.
Jae-min sat on his bed. Opened a notebook.
Wrote:
*Day 1. Everyone's performing.*
*Min-jae – humor as shield.*
*Seo-rin – control through politeness.*
*Kyung-ho – kindness as currency.*
*Hae-in – observation without participation.*
He paused.
*Question: who stops first?*
He closed the notebook.
Turned off the light.
The apartment was silent.
Not peaceful.
Just silent.
---
**END OF CHAPTER 1**