TO BE a certified ‘sprout’ is one of Mandy’s dreams because if you’re an official member of this fandom, it means that you are supporting Sproutoon with all your heart and soul. Sprout is what Sproutoon calls their fans all over the world, and Mandy is one of those low-key fans, a not-so hardcore sprout of Sproutoon.

She looked at her cell phone screen and watched Elias Hwan’s latest Instagram video. He looked so handsome that she can’t figure out why he didn’t become the group’s visual instead of being the leader. Mandy’s been a fan of Sproutoon since she was a freshman college student. Now that she’s in her graduating year as an AB Psychology major, she wanted to level up in her fangirl level. But how will she able to do that if she doesn’t have enough money?

She took a spoonful of cornflakes and ate it. “I need to find a job that will support my fangirling goals and earn my budget in flying to South Korea,” she said to herself without taking her eyes off the screen of her smart TV. “For my beloved Elias, I’m willing to give up my spare time.”

She was about to wash the dishes when she heard a noise from the outside. Mandy looked at her wall clock. It’s almost eleven p.m. Out of curiosity, she opened her door slightly and peeked outside. She saw a tall figure of a man dragging his large luggage bag towards the door beside her apartment. Mandy knotted her forehead. It looks like she’ll be going to have a new neighbor, and in a late night.

“Did he just arrived from the airport?” she asked, brows furrowed. She watched the man as he struggled to open the lock of his door. “He has to use force to open that door—” The man suddenly glanced at her direction. Mandy stepped inside and shut her door quickly. “He’s creepy!” she exclaimed, hand on her chest. “What kind of tenants does my landlady accepting?”

_________

“WHAT? You’ve got a new neighbor, and he’s kinda cringey?” Sherry asked Mandy when she told them about the guy last night. They're currently having a lunch at their school canteen. “What makes you say that?”

Jennie snorted. “What’s new? Mandy is such a judgmental person.”

Mandy glared at her Jennie. “Do you have a problem with me?”

But, Jennie just rolled her eyes heavenwards. She transferred towards the other table without even trying to answer her. Mandy can’t believe it, Jennie is bitchy with her now, and she hated it.

Mandy laughed bitterly. “Just because you’ve got yourself a boyfriend, you think that you can act like that in me? Is that what you’re trying to show off to me, Jennie?”

“Mandy, don’t mind her,” Sherry said and nudged her. “Tell me more about your new neighbor.”

Mandy blew her breath. She glanced at Jennie, who was now busy on her cell phone. It seemed like the bitch wasn’t going to explain herself to her. “What’s with Jennie?”

“Nothing,” Sherry replied casually. “Maybe she’s just not in the mood.”

She shook her head. “She started to be like that when she…” she trailed off. She can’t remember when Jennie started to be sarcastic with her. “Never mind.”

Sherry laughed. “So, what’s up with your new neighbor?”

“He’s creepy,” Mandy said. “He arrived at our apartment building late at night with his big and bulky luggage bag. His attire was like the ones in a crime fiction movie—”

They heard Jennie snorted from the other table. When Mandy looked at her, she just raised her phone saying that she’s not laughing at her, but to what’s on her screen.

“Whatever,” Mandy mouthed with an eye-roll.

Sherry tapped her arm on the table to get her attention. “Come on, tell me more. How does he look like?”

Mandy drew her brows together as she tried to remember what does the man looked like. “Well… he’s kinda cute, tall and lean. Actually, he has a little resemblance with Elias—”

This time, Jennie burst out laughing. “Come on, Mandy.” She raised from her seat and walked towards them. “Maybe it’s just your imagination? Because you often watched Elias Hwan’s videos, your mind created an illusion that your new neighbor looks like Elias.”

Mandy arched her brow to her friend. “I know what I see—”

“Tell me, what were you doing before you saw your neighbor?” Jennie cut off and propped her hand on her waist. With the style of their school uniform, Jennie looked like the ones in a high school anime series, plus that her eyes were chinky and her skin tone is rosy white. “You’re watching Elias Hwan’s live on Instagram?”

Mandy pressed her lips together and didn’t answer. Jennie was right that she’s watching Elias before seeing her new neighbor, but she’s sure that he looks like Elias. She can't be wrong because that's what it caught her attention. His broad shoulders, tousled black hair and chinky eyes. Plus the he also has pale white skin, he can be mistaken as Elias Hwan from a distance.

“Mandy,” Sherry called her. “Is it dark when you saw him?”

Mandy heaved a sigh and nodded. “But, there’s a bulb light on the apartment's porch—”

“Maybe, next time, provide a picture,” Jennie said and tapped Sherry’s shoulders. “Let’s go, Christian texted me, he’s inviting us to watch his game.”

Sherry raised from her seat. When she didn’t move, she nudged her shoulder. “Aren’t you coming with us?”

Mandy looked at her food. “I’m not yet done with my food,” she said and picked up her spoon and fork. “Go first, I’ll be there after I finish this.”

Jennie looked at her, but Mandy looked away. She doesn’t like what she sees in her friend’s eyes. It was as if she’s telling her that she doesn’t know her anymore. But, Mandy knew it’s the otherwise… Because it was them that's starting to be strangers to her.

***