Neighbors

Armin has been studying nonstop for almost two weeks while preparing for the hardest exam of the semester. Not only did he need a good grade, but Armin also had to do almost perfectly since his scholarship depended on it. Without that help he couldn't afford the school nor the flat he lived in.

The building he was living in was perfectly boring, with workers or students like him going about their quiet lives, not bothering each other. The noisiest it got was with Eren visiting, his best friend would always talk too loudly climbing the stairs. The only reason Armin would study at the library was for the books since they were always too heavy to carry home. For this exam he spent most of the two weeks at the library consulting different books for a better understanding, but the cost was a heavy backache.

On this specific day, Armin woke up too early after one of those nightmares you’ll remember all day. As always, he decided to go jogging as a cure for stress, even if the cold morning of the beginning of March made it a bit less enjoyable. Being sleep deprived and barely eating two meals a day weakened him, so after less than twenty minutes, Armin was done. Before returning home, he stopped by the bakery at the corner of the block to buy bread for his lunch.

After a shower, a call with Eren, and a warm tea, Armin was ready to resume his studying of the possible effects of narcotics on the functionality of the heart and ways to treat them. It was a lot, but Armin liked studying and learning new things even though his brain was unable to apply the knowledge to his own body. Knowing something, understanding it, and not doing it regardless was the only thing Armin was ashamed of. He believed studying biology to become a researcher would help him recover, but after a year of college, he was only getting worse.

A noise from the apartment above his caught Armin’s attention. The clock showed it was past twelve in the afternoon, over three hours since he sat down at the table. Armin tried to focus once again, but the dragging of furniture wouldn’t stop, and it began annoying him.

— What in the world are they moving? —he groaned. Armin grabbed the earplugs and pushed them in his ears, but they didn’t muffle the noise enough, so Armin moved to the bedroom.

It was not long after that the movement stopped and Armin was focusing again. He set an alarm for one thirty to remember lunch and to call his parents. With a black coffee and a sandwich that he filled with turkey ham and cheese, Armin sat at the kitchen table and dialled his mother’s phone. When he moved out, he promised to call every day for a brief update, that turned into once every few days as his mother relaxed a bit about his safety. However, Armin never elaborated on his nightmares, anxiety or lack of sleep, putting on his best smile while bragging about a high grade. They were proud, both of them, even though his father barely contacted him once a month.

Armin washed the dishes and sat back down at the table to resume his labour but. The text was dense and Armin lost track of time memorizing which side effect was caused by what toxin. However, at some point in the evening people began gathering in the apartment above his, the noisy one, and then soft music began playing.

— I’m going insane.

It was quieter at the beginning, more bearable with the earplugs on and from the bedroom Armin managed to remain focused. However, as the night progressed the multitude grew and so did the music.

— A party? Really?

Armin stared at the ceiling with a deep frown on his face and his glasses in his hand. Alright, let’s try something else.

Armin searched for his headphones and played soft piano music that muffled the noise much more than the earplugs. However, the party seemed to be extremely fun because the laughter and the music were only increasing to the point the vibrations were noticeable as Armin walked with bare feet.

— Oh, my lord! —he groaned and stopped the piano.

Armin’s only hope was another person to complain so he could keep studying, but half an hour passed by and the noise was only increasing, more people arriving and filling the already crowded place with extra laughs and dancing. Armin was desperate at that point, his last nerve cracking the moment a glass object fell or was thrown to the floor, scattering into pieces with a loud ‘woo’ screamed by who knows how many people. The good and nice Armin was fading as the anger took over with a throbbing vein on his neck and dark, cold blue eyes capable of freezing anyone’s blood.

Armin rushed out of bed not caring about his outfit, he took his keys and shut the door close with a loud crash. He rushed up the stairs and directly to the door, knocking as hard as he could, but no one opened. He knocked multiple times bruising his knuckles in the process until a girl opened the door and behind her a bunch of people were squeezed into a not-so-big apartment.

— Oh hey —she said with a wide smile—. Come in!

— No. I want to talk to the owner —Armin’s heart was racing as the girls smile dropped in a silent “oh”. She nodded, understanding the situation.

— I think... —she turned around searching for someone in the crowd, and then she waved, raising her arm above her head and almost getting on her tiptoes for a moment before looking back at Armin—. He’s coming.

A tall guy replaced the girl at the door, blocking Armin’s view of the apartment. Raising more than a head over Armin, this guy and his brown eyes caused Armin to step back, suddenly intimidated and feeling shy.

— Who are you?

The guy spoke in a husky voice and Armin looked away. The look of him caused Armin to lose his train of thought for a moment.

The music. I’m here for the music.

— C-can you turn down the music? —Armin was so flustered his voice became barely a whisper.

— What? —the other raised his voice startling Armin in the process—. I can’t hear you!

— The music!

Armin spoke louder, gathering what was left of his nerves and looked at his neighbour in the eyes. He was expecting a bored expression, eyes rolling at him or someone to shut the door in his face, but instead he saw a small nervous smile growing slowly on the boy’s lips softening his features.

— Sorry! Sorry... That stupid kid doesn’t listen.

His voice was loud, but his tone was soft and embarrassed. Suddenly, Admin found the rest of how courage and spoke up again.

— I’m trying to study and my whole apartment is shaking.

— I’s that bad? —the guy chuckled and turned around to another guy in the room—. Tell Connie I will throw him out the window if he doesn’t lower that fucking music.

This other person laughed, nodded and pushed his way through the crowd.

— Thank you. —Armin smiled slightly feeling much more relaxed—. I’m Armin. I live right below you. I mean, the 3E.

— Jean. —The guy offered his hand for a shake and Armin accepted—. And I’m sorry again. I hope I’m not getting kicked out of here right after moving in.

— Don’t worry about it —Armin smiled and lowered his eyes. It was too difficult to stare back into those dark globes without his knees trembling. It may be the exhaustion, or maybe not—. Welcome to the building.

Armin smiled again and bowed before walking away. His palm was still tingling when he got back to his flat, and his heart was pounding madly. The music lowered, and even the laughs and steps were less noisy by the time he sat back on his bed. But now, after meeting his new neighbour and almost fainting in the process Armin’s mind got stuck remembering his eyes and the sudden shyness that took over himself.

Guess I’m done studying for today, he thought while looking at the ceiling.