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Jimin might have downplayed- note massively- how big her crush on Namjoo was. It made Jimin feel stupidly silly and for lack of a better word, dumb.

She’s tall, has beautifully tanned skin, long straight black hair that was parted down the middle. She also had these dimples and her eyes that kind of made Jimin weak at the knees.

Jimin ran her fingers through her ashy blonde hair. It was getting long now, falling to her shoulders. Letting her hands fall from her hair down her chest. She didn't stand a chance. Even if Namjoo did like girls, she probably went for women. Jimin put her hands down with a sigh.

Jimin had done contemporary dance all of her life, and she had loved every part of it, it had shaped her body on the lean side, her muscles hard formed after years and years of effort. It wasn’t until she had entered college that she became much more aware how underwhelming she looked to other girls. Maybe she was just doomed to forever be seen as the small, cute one.

“I’ll be in the dorm later, if you need anything lemme know, alright?” Taeha gave her a quick hug before dashing off to her own class.

Jimin smiled to herself before finding her way to her usual spot. Getting herself situated, she did her proper, totally casual sweep of the front where she absolutely did not check out Namjoo.

This time those almond shaped eyes were already looking back at hers and Jimin had never looked away so fast. Her heart thudded loud in her chest and she felt heat rise to her cheeks. It seldom happened when their gazes met.

Namjoo was a competent TA. Not interfering with class unless prompted for help from their professor. Jimin had only ever heard her talk a few times, but she knew from those small instances when Namjoo had spoken, she was a phenomenal teacher.

The rest of the class seemed to fly by after that. Jimin recovered enough to be able to pay attention and take notes. Not that it super mattered to Jimin, this was just a class to get her basics out the way before she could start taking more classes related to her degree.

"Jimin!" her professor called.

Jimin clutched her backpack strap tighter and made her way to the front. Namjoo was also standing there patiently as Jimin approached them. She could already feel her face heating up, which was just ridiculous. All Namjoo was doing was standing there breathing.

For Christ’s Sake…

Jimin needed to find a grip.

“Jimin-ssi, I wanted to express my concerns with your current quiz scores," the professor continued, "I think tutoring here with Namjoo will have you shaped up in a few weeks." He gestured to namjoo at his side. "I’ll leave you two to figure out what works best.”

And just like that, their Professor flashed a smile, packed up and walked out. Leaving Jimin standing there to process everything that had just happened.

“So… Jimin-ssi.”

Jimin flinched, stunned out her silence. Closing her mouth because of course that had dropped open slightly. “Oh, I’m sorry. I don’t mean to be so rude.” Jimin said hurriedly. The smile she received was so warm, Jimin could melt right here on the spot.

~

Before Jimin knew it, she had a tutoring slot scheduled away for once a week with Namjoo.

The instant that Jimin got home, she immediately shoved her backpack off and threw herself on her bed with a long groan into her pillow.

“Well, hello to you.” Taeha turned around in her chair at the desk.

Jimin only groaned further into her pillow.

“Let it out Minnie,” Taeha’s deep and calming voice lured her to sit up, grunting a bit less now. “Mm, there’s that cute face. What’s up pumpkin?”

Jimin rolled her eyes at the younger.

“I’m older than you.” Jimin automatically replied with no real malice behind her words.

Taeha scoffed,“So what’s up then?”

Jimin fiddled with a loose thread on her comforter.

“So like, who’da thunk taking a course in literature when you have no previous knowledge in it would leave you with a less than stellar grade? Which is so dumb anyways, I don’t even really need this class for my future degree. It’s such a waste of my time and money.” Jimin ranted, almost running out of breath.

“Jimin, focus.”

Jimin heaved a sigh, “So now I’m going to be tutored by none other than Namjoo. Who I absolutely embarrassed myself in front of today. She must think I’m so weird now.” Jimin sank back down, face once more buried in the bed. She heard some shuffling and before she knew it, the bed was dipping.

“C’mon Minnie, I’m sure she doesn’t. Do you know how lucky she is to spend time with the prettiest girl in school?”

Jimin opened her eyes to see Taeha’s earnest eyes staring back at her. She felt safe here, like she truly believed everything Taeha was saying.

“Please trust me when I say that Jimin… You’re a catch.”

Jimin closed her eyes again, curse Taeha and her weird ability to read her emotions before Jimin could even feel them.

~

Back in the dorm, Jungeun was sitting with Jimin on Taeha’s bed as the other stepped out to the store.

“Unnie are you okay? You keep zoning out,” Jungeun asked, peering at Jimin with her big doe eyes. Christ, how did Taeha ever concentrate?

“I’m sorry Jungeun. I’m a little out of it today,” Jimin confessed, no point in lying. Today was going to be her first session with Namjoo. So her attention was elsewhere- read completely scattered.

“Are you feeling sick? I can have Taeha bring you something. She said she just got to the store.” Jungeun began to reach for her phone, worry etched in her voice.

“That’s sweet of you bun, I’m okay though. I guess I’m just nervous.” Panicking. She was P A N I C K I N G.

“Oh? About what unnie.? You can talk to me!”

Jimin gulped. Ever since they had talked out their issues, Jungeun had quickly become like her little sister. “This is silly… I’m going to be tutoredbythegirlIreallylike.” She said in a big rush, feeling her heart steady a bit after being able to say it outloud.

Jungeun’s eyes widened, becoming impossibly bigger. “Unnie!! Oh wow, that’s so exciting.” Jungeun crushed her into a hug.

“Agh.. Thank you bun…” She said more into Jungeun’s shoulder as Jungeun gushed.

~

Before she knew it, Jimin was sitting at a library table. Her notebook out and tapping her pen against the wood. Normally Jimin wasn’t particularly punctual but today was an exception. Knowing that she was waiting here for NAMJOO somehow made those few extra minutes into some kind of torture.

Her thoughts came to an abrupt stop when hurried steps stopped at the table.

“I’m sorry Jimin-ssi. I hope you weren’t waiting long! I was on my way and then I saw a kitten and it didn’t feel right until I made sure that they were okay and safe.” Namjoo explained, beginning to set her stuff down.

She had to be unreal, right? Smart, beautiful and she tended to small animals? Namjoo was seriously a modern day Queen.

“Oh no, that’s perfectly fine! Very admirable of you Namjoo-nim.” And the small color that spread across Namjoo's cheeks made Jimin desperately want to see that again.

“Ah, please you can call me unnie. We’re going to be spending quite some time together, right?” It was Jimin’s turn to feel heat rise on her cheeks.

“Right unnie… I'm sorry if this is a bother. It’s a bit sad to get tutoring on something like literature.”

Namjoo shook her head, waving Jimin’s words off. “That’s nonsense Jimin-ssi. Don’t feel down about it, it’s my job! I want to help you.” And oh, she was smiling and her dimples were right there.

As the tutoring session went on, Jimin had to scold herself several times to just act normal. Just be herself. This proved to be astronomically difficult with the way Namjoo talked, and used her hands with emphasis. Jimin could listen to Namjoo talk all day if time permitted, If Namjoo didn’t find her totally weird for the way she kept fidgeting and spacing out on Namjoo’s lips, eyes, and those plump lips…

This was the first time Jimin can admit that she felt so strongly for another person. Growing up, she had completely thrown herself into dance. She never had time for things like crushes, dating, or love.

Even with Jimin’s minor freak outs- read abysmal- the session went pretty well. Jimin found herself with a deep new-found respect for Namjoo. Putting her disastracious crush aside, Namjoo had a way of speaking that made Jimin feel like she finally completely understood everything that had happened in this first semester.

“Thank you so much unnie,” Jimin said. After they had gathered their things, they walked out the building about to part ways.

“It was no problem, really Jimin-ah.”

Jimin’s heart fluttered for a moment with the familiarity. “R-right, I’ll see you at the same time next week!” She squeaked out before she could be anymore awkward around the elder.

~

“It’s absolutely hopeless Taeha. There’s just no way she likes me like that,” Jimin all but whined. Even though it had been two weeks exactly since they had first been paired together, they weren’t any better off than where they had started.

“You really just gotta lay it out there," Taeha cheered, "Show her who’s the boss here!” Taeha was getting more worked up with each word.

They were walking back from the convenience store, bags of junk food ready to be consumed. They both had been in a constant state of just studying, eating, maybe squeezing in some sleep here and there.

Tonight though, Taeha suggested they just turn off for the night. No studying, no cramming, no thinking about impossibly beautiful and intelligent girls. Well, that last one was for Jimin, obviously.

“Alright, let it out Minnie. What’s really stopping you from just confessing, huh?” They had settled on Taeha’s bed. Jimin was mid slurp in her ramen with some anime playing in the background.

“What makes you think there’s something more?” She asked around a mouthful, hoping the other girl would get distracted by the food as well.

“I know that we haven’t known each other for long but I just feel like there’s something that’s bothering you. More than just having a crush.” Curse you, Taeha.

“Yah, alright, damn. How do you even do that?” Her eyebrows furrowed as she sat her noodles down. “I just… I don’t know… I feel so inadequate when I’m with her. Just like, not grown up enough? Like I have a child’s body…” She more or less mumbled the last part, picking at her cuticles, not wanting to look at Taeha.

“Whoa, whoa. Minnie, what the fuck. I wish I could make you see how amazing you are. You know that ‘being smart’ or whatever comes in all different ways. You’re so talented in so many things babe. And like, do you know how banging your body is? Seriously, you and Jungeun-ah have some of the hottest thighs I’ve ever seen. It should be a crime.” Taeha took Jimin's hand in her own, flicking her chin to make Jimin look up at her.

Damn Taeha for being so… bare with her word choices. “Okay, alright… You’ve made your point.” She smiled at the other, feeling heat radiating from her cheeks. “Thank you Tae… I really would be lost without you.” Both girls embraced.

~

At their next session, Jimin had stopped by a cafe and picked up two coffees. That was a common thing friends did, buy each other coffee. Sitting at a library together for like two hours…

Jimin may have also upped her outfit. Subtly. Always subtly. How else could she let the other girl know she was absolutely head over heels in… Her thoughts were halted when Namjoo came into view. Sometimes Jimin was a simple woman. She liked rainy days, walking through the park, girls wearing knee high boots that accented their already long legs. Oh wait, what was she talking about?

Maybe the height difference between them did things to Jimin’s already fragile heart, what of it? “Hi unnie!” She chirped, holding her hand out with the other cup toward Namjoo. Who looked genuinely surprised when she accepted the cup. “I figured, it’s still cooler these days and you’ve already spent three weeks with me. I owe you something.” She was one sentence short of rambling.

“That’s very sweet of you, Jimin-ah.”

This was definitely a win for her, right? Friendly, inviting, not a weird stuttering mess… Well, the session just started, there was still time for Jimin to make this awkward.

Honestly, that coffee really created a shift. She couldn’t quite tell what it was but Namjoo and herself seemed less… tense. Less cautious.

It was nearing the end when someone came up to their table. Up until now their sessions had always remained fairly professional. No one had interrupted. In fact, Jimin rarely ever got to see the elder around campus.

Today, another girl came up to the table. No, scratch that, a woman. This was it. This was when she found out Namjoo was lesbian all along but she already had an absolutely stunning girlfriend. Seriously. Jimin didn’t even know that women like this EXISTED! She had plump lips, and was just as tall as Namjoo, her body slender and long.

“Joo-ah!” The other announced her presence, ruffling Namjoo’s hair.

“Yah, unnie, c’mon!” Namjoo immediately whined.

Oh, okay. Wow. So she’s just also really fucking cute. Fuck. Okay.

“I remembered you said you’d be here and I was in the area. Figured we could just grab dinner on the way home.” The new girl stated nonchalantly. Namjoo recovered enough to shuffle some of her papers together.

“Right, okay. Yeah, that sounds good,” Namjoo agreed.

The other girl hummed, seeming to shift her attention over to Jimin now. Who really wasn’t jealous of the familiarity the two obviously shared. “Wow. You’re very pretty. Jimin-ssi, right?”

Jimin burned under the compliment, “Y-yeah! Nice to meet you.” She attempted a bow, but well, she was still sitting.

“Yah, you’re making my student nervous. I tell you all the time to tone it down a bit!” Namjoo scrubbed her hands over her face.

Jimin would have also found this painfully endearing if it wasn’t for the other girl brushing off Namjoo’s statement.

“Anyways, I’m Seojin. Nice meeting you as well.” Seojin, huh.

“I’m sorry about this Jimin-ah. Seojin is my roommate but also my best friend. So she forgets how to treat her dongsaeng sometimes,” Namjoo sighed.

Jimin had to stifle a giggle behind her hand. A rush of relief flooded through her though. She let her posture slack a bit with it. “It’s okay unnie. We were done anyways, right?” Jimin looked at the older girl across from her, giving Namjoo her best sweet smile.

“Heh… Yeah, you’re right. I’m sorry about Seojin-unnie again,” Namjoo as she gathered the rest of her stuff.

“It’s fine. Really. I’ll see you next week!”

Namjoo gave a smile back, oh dimples, I just want to touch. Just once…

~

“I didn’t even realize you knew any upperclassmen,” Jungeun said more than asked. Jimin was lounging about on her bed, listening to the conversation between the couple, but more focused on letting her eyes drift closed.

“Mm, yeah. They’re all really sweet and great and they invited us over so like, c’monnn.” Taeha had brought it up an hour ago, and Jungeun almost immediately tried to come up with other things they could do.

Jimin felt indifferent. She could go or lay here, with her headphones in and pretend her life was a music video as she moped about her failed attempts at love. Alright, that was a bit dramatic but Jimin could only come up with one conclusion and it was one she couldn't bear to even think. A heterosexual. Oh God, what if she had been trying to put ‘moves’ on a straight girl? All of that just further spiraled in Jimin’s muddled thoughts.

Taeha huffed, “Listen here you two, parties aren’t my forte either but we’re barely twenty! Let’s just have one stereotypical college party. Please?”

Even if with her eyes closed, Jimin could tell Taeha had pulled her puppy dog eyes. She could also pinpoint the moment that Jungeun caved.

“Unnie that’s… fuck, okay fine.” Jungeun folded.

Maybe if Jimin just kept her eyes closed, faked having flitted off to sleep already…

“Alright, give it up Min. You’re coming too. I invited you both,” Taeha said firmly.

Well, shit. Jimin opened her eyes, blinking against the warm sunlight filtering in through their crappy blinds. The sun was setting now.

She met Taeha’s fierce gaze, one eyebrow quirked up. There was… no fighting this. She was definitely going to this typical ass party. “Jeez. You already won, you don’t have to make such a dumb face.” Jimin smiled to herself, knowing that jibe would rile up the other girl. Before she had time to register what was happening, a pillow collided with her face. She heard stifling laughs behind the offending object.

“You brat!” Jimin shot up, crossing the short distance between the beds.

“Jungeun-ah! You traitor!” Taeha exclaimed as her girlfriend helped hold her down and she and Jimin began a fierce tickle attack. Jimin was sure that their laughs and screams were pretty loud to their neighbors, but so sue them.

That was how Jimin found herself standing outside a fairly moderate-sized house. She shifted her stance nervously. Jimin was usually pretty good in crowds. She could do just fine on her own, but that didn’t mean that she didn't low-key want to be back at the dorm. She needed a night to just properly mope.

“No, no moping. Look how good you look unnie," Taeha gestured at Jimin's outfit and continued, "what a waste this all would be. You walk in there and it’ll be ‘Namjoo who?’”

Jimin pouted, listening to Jungeun-ah give a small snicker.

Jimin thought, maybe Taeha wasn’t exaggerating about that point. This had been the longest Jimin had taken to get dressed in a long while. Mostly since her last dance competition just before she finished highschool. Before she was accepted into college and started a more adult path in life.

Taeha had convinced her to go with a high waisted skirt that showed a sliver of her toned stomach thanks to the very fitted cami crop top she had on. It was velvet and the spaghetti straps felt kind of pointless. Paired with her ankle boots and her usual rings, Jimin felt suitable enough. She let Jungeun play with her makeup since the younger one had expressed her interest in it.

The other two girls went with some matching concept because of course they were that couple. Jungeun in tight black leather pants and leather jacket matching with Taeha’s own leather jacket and short dress.

Luckily, it looked like there were quite a few people already there. The music was just loud enough to be heard from the outside. They entered the house to a bustle of people. It was almost exactly like Jimin had pictured it might be and also a little underwhelming, to be quite honest. There were a few people dancing in the main room and a lot more scattered along the walls or sitting at the couches. Some talking, some singing and cheering loudly, and some in what looked like heated discussions.

Taeha ran into her friends as they walked further into the home. They were the most handsome men Jimin had probably ever seen. Taeha and Jungeun were both on the taller side themselves, and these guys were the same height. Although to Jimin, Taeha's friends were broad shouldered and they all towered over her.

Taeha was laughing at something one of the boys had said but Jimin was sweeping her eyes over the crowd of people. Her heart stopped short for a second as she came upon familiar black hair. She was interrupted from her very obvious gaping by Taeha's question. “We’re gonna head outside, didja wanna follow?” Somehow Taeha and Jungeun were sporting cups in their hands. How long had she been staring at Namjoo?

“Oh, no. That’s alright. I think I’m going to stay here,” Jimin replied.

Taeha gave her one last look before she and Jungeun walked off together. First thing first, she needed to find a cup and also pour some sort of alcohol in it, stat. If she was going to muster up the courage to walk over there and talk to Namjoo, she at least needed a drink.

Jimin didn’t know how long she had spent hyping herself up but after two cups of some awful mixed drink, she deemed herself ready. The alcohol was warm in her blood, or maybe that was just her senses becoming more heightened as she drew nearer to the older girl. Namjoo was holding a beer in one hand, talking animatedly to two other girls. Oh wow, they are both stupidly gorgeous. They weren’t that much taller than Jimin herself, one had straight bangs and sharp cheekbones. It made her face structure stand out. The second was just so fucking soft looking, maybe Jimin really should just turn around…

“Oh! Jimin-ah!” Jimin had to take a moment and blink. Well here goes nothing…

“H-hi unnie. I hope I’m not interrupting.”

In typical Namjoo fashion, she waved aside Jimin's worry. Actually signalling for her to come closer. “These are my friend’s Momo-” straight bangs- “And Mina.” -soft. Just soft. “This is my dongsaeng, Jimin-ah.”

Jimin was absolutely flushing because of the alcohol and not anything else. Not from the way Namjoo spoke so warmly or gave her that damn smile.

The two other girls said hello before dismissing themselves to leave them alone. Together. Which was absurd. They literally spent hours together once a week for almost a month now.

Now that it was just them two, Jimin took the moment to take in what the older girl was wearing. It didn’t super surprise Jimin that she continued to wear earth toned colors. Her shorts were a deep blue, and came to her mid-thigh. She had a soft green hoodie tied low around her waist. Her shirt showed just a small portion of honey skin and it was just a t-shirt but the way Jimin could see the fabric pulling over her chest… Oh no, oh wow…

Jimin pulled her thoughts out the gutter before she accidentally gave herself a nosebleed or something. Oh, but the blood quickly rushed to her cheeks when her eyes finally met Namjoo’s. Namjoo had definitely been checking her out, right? With the way she caught Namjoo's eyes racking down her body and slowly back up. Oh fuck.. Oh what? What!?

“So, what brings you here Jimin-ah?” Namjoo asked casually, something changing in her eyes when she looked down at Jimin.

Jimin felt the warmth flush throughout her whole body at this point despite only having two drinks. “My roommate. She’s friends with the hosts. Or something like that,” she giggled nervously, and brought her hand up to her mouth. Mostly to help hide the horrible fire roasting under her cheeks.

“Taeha-ssi. Right?”

Jimin nodded, “Yeah! My proclaimed soulmate.” She didn’t know if that was the right thing to say but she needed any potential anything to know that Taeha was a big part of her life. “What about you unnie? I don’t strike you as the party type.”

Namjoo actually laughed deep. “You’re cute Jimin-ah.” She took a swig from her beer. Jimin was trying to recover that very sly compliment.

“You’re right though. It’s not my usual scene I guess. I also have some friends who are friends and dragged me along.” Nah, she was absolutely flirting. What with the way she moved closer to Jimin’s space. “You’re not cold, are you? Even with all these people in here, it’s still a bit chilly at night.” Jimin would have seriously moaned at the concern in Namjoo’s voice.

Jimin swallowed hard before replying, “Oh, ha… Yeah. I suppose that’s the sacrifice I made tonight.”

“Do you mind?” Namjoo asked as she went and unwrapped her hoodie from her waist. Jimin couldn’t even form words right now, barely mustering enough sense to shake her head ‘yes’. Time stood still in that moment of Namjoo pulling the hoodie over Jimin. Namjoo's fingers brushing against the bare skin on Jimin'a shoulders. Goosebumps erupted across Jimin's arms, her breath hitching as Namjoo finished pulling the fabric over her.

~

At some point, the two did end up outside. Sitting on the canopied swing bench. Moving it gently, Jimin was fucking screaming inside as she pulled the sleeve of Namjoo’s hoodie more over her hands. They were tucked in the corner enough away from the business happening just a few feet away. Jimin was now on her official fifth drink of the night and the alcohol was settling deeper in her veins.

Conversation between them was flowing easy. As were the super obvious stares both girls were doing when they thought the other wasn’t looking. Namjoo was so fucking respectful, it was going to make Jimin kind of explode. The way the elder would try her hardest to maintain eye contact but Jimin caught Namjoo’s eyes slip to Jimin’s legs, obviously drinking in the sight and trying to be subtle about it.

“Minnie! Jungeun and I are getting ready to take off now! Are you alright here, or?” Taeha stopped in front of them. A giggly and pink faced Jungeun was clinging to her arm. Jimin hadn’t even realized how much time had apparently passed since they got here. “Oh damn… What time is it?”

Taeha shuffled around her pockets before she replied, clearly also affected by the alcohol. “Just after one a.m. This one here thought she could hang this time.” Taeha giggled, bringing her hand to brush over Jungeun’s cheek. It was a sweet gesture that made Jimin painfully aware how touch starved she really was.

“If it’s alright with you Jimin-ah, I can take you home later when you want.” Namjoo cut in, Jimin turned to her. Her heart began to pound hard in her chest when she caught Namjoo’s eyes. “Y-yeah. I’ll be alright here.”

Taeha was too preoccupied now with Jungeun-ah, “Okay… Yeah, alright. Be safe, I’ll see you later.” She mostly mumbled as the couple walked away together, practically glued.

“That’s her girlfriend. They’ve been together over a year now. Most of the time I’d say they’re fairly cute. Other times I’d say they’re terrible people who seem to forget they’re not the only ones in the room.” Jimin was rambling, but oh well. Blame the alcohol. Namjoo chuckled.

“Ah, for a long moment I thought you two were the couple.” Namjoo admitted, a soft hue coloring her cheeks.

Jimin felt the moisture in her mouth go dry, “Oh?” She inquired, trying her hardest to keep her voice steady.

“Yeah. You two have just always been together. Hugging, touching. I just assumed.” Namjoo shrugged, taking the last swig from her current beer. Jimin’s mind was spinning and she was about to ask something bold.

“How… um, does that change things now?” Jimin sucked in her breath when the words left her lips. Namjoo set the empty bottle on the ground, a beat passing before she looked at the other girl.

“It changes lots of things.” She nearly whispered, low and rough and Jimin wasn’t going to make it through the rest of the night at this rate.

After Jimin finished her last drink, Namjoo offered her hand. Helping the younger one off the swing. It took Jimin a rough second to gather her bearings. Namjoo’s hand around her waist helped steadied her wobbly legs. It took a moment to adjust to stable ground once more but with Namjoo’s help they walked out of the party together. Maybe she didn’t need Namjoo’s help anymore, but oh well, Jimin wasn’t complaining about the way Namjoo pulled her even closer to her side.

Namjoo was seriously unreal. She had to be, right? She walked Jimin all the way back to her dorm. Granted, the party wasn’t terribly far on foot. Jimin was now in that state where the alcohol was fading off in her system and the overall tiredness was taking over.

They walked in relative silence. It was comforting. They hadn’t brought up their earlier conversation since it happened and honestly, it was driving Jimin wild. She was itching to ask the elder what she meant.

“Oh… we’re here.” Jimin was trying so hard to hide her disappointment. She began to take off the hoodie.

Namjoo’s warm hands stopped her. “Keep it for now. You look nice in it.” Jimin was just about this close to short circuiting if Namjoo didn’t stop.

“Thanks for walking me all the way here, unnie.” Jimin almost murmured.

“Listen, Jimin-ah. I want to ask you something, but I’d feel better if we did it when we’re both sober and it’s not like, three in the morning.” Namjoo chuckled, holding Jimin’s hand in her own now.

“Y-yeah. Of course unnie!” Jimin nearly stuttered out. Although, if you asked her, she was feeling a lot more sober now. Namjoo stared at her so affectionately and the butterflies were flying rapidly in her stomach.

“I look forward to our next session then. Text me when you get inside, okay?” Namjoo called to her as Jimin reached for the doors.

Jimin was butter. Pure melted butter in Namjoo’s hands. “I will! And you better too or else I won’t be able to sleep properly.” She pouted and Namjoo stifled a laugh, “Yes, of course little one.”

What was she trying to do? Make sure that Jimin didn’t make it through the morning, she was sure of it. “I will.” With that, the two finally parted ways. Jimin needed to catch her breath before she entered the dorm, squealing just under her breath before she opened the door.

~

The next few days after the party were some of the most torturous days of Jimin’s life. She knew, she knew what Namjoo was going to ask and it was driving her up the wall with anticipation.

“Man, what is it that we give off that so many others think we’re together?” Taeha had asked when she relayed everything that had happened at the party the next day to a normal Taeha and a miserable Jungeun. Jimin had shrugged, because she didn’t really get it either.

Thursday couldn’t come soon enough at this rate. It was probably bad how much she wasn’t paying attention to most of her classes. Jimin tried to school her expression. Calm, cool and collected. She tried repeating to herself.

She approached the familiar building, heart ready to leap out her chest at this rate. Namjoo was already standing there, holding a small bouquet of what Jimin could only describe as daffodils. “Jimin-ah.” Namjoo said her name so tenderly, Jimin wanted to cry.

“Here. I… These are for you. Before we start our session, I wanted to explain what these meant.” If Jimin hadn’t known Namjoo the way she did now, she wouldn’t have caught the subtle nerves coming off the elder.

“These are jonquils, they’re in the same class as daffodils. They mean ‘affection returned’.” Namjoo gave a shy smile and that wasn’t okay for Jimin right now. Namjoo was confessing in the only way that made sense for someone like Namjoo too. Jimin was going to cry.

She already could feel the sting of tears brimming her eyes as she took hold of the flowers. Smelling them instinctively.

“I don’t even know if this would be breaking rules of any sort, I’m still a TA. At the party though, I realized that maybe I should stop wasting time. So, Jimin-ah will you go on a date with me?”

“Yes!” Jimin exclaimed without missing a beat. Batting off the tears still falling from her eyes. “I’d be more than happy, unnie.” Finally able to look up at the other girl, and the smile she received back was close to making Jimin buckle.

“Can I hug you?” She nearly whispered and yeah, Jimin might’ve cried again.

~

Jimin was so absolutely chill right now. Her thoughts were not a jumbled mess, heart beating ten times too fast, and yep, her palms were sweaty. Gross. Jimin was so completely out of her element right now. All that she knew was that Namjoo told her to dress mostly comfortably.

What did it mean though…

“You’ve honestly gotten through the hardest part, if you ask me. Getting that confirmation that they like you back?” Taeha made a chef’s kiss motion as she was ruffling through Jimin’s wardrobe.

“Mmm… Here. I think this hits all the marks.” Taeha threw some articles of clothing right at Jimin’s face. Which, fine, she was kind of busy staring at her flowers and making her mind rethink of the scene from the other day all over again.

Jimin didn’t know how Namjoo was going to top that but somehow Jimin knew she could. And probably would. They eventually got Jimin ready. Taeha added some glitter to Jimin’s water line. “Oh, this is going to make everything pop!”

Now Jimin was standing outside her dorms, blanking out for a second when Namjoo drew near. “Jimin-ah, you look beautiful.” She greeted when she stopped in front of her. Jimin didn’t think this part through. Receiving open compliments and attempting to accept them from Namjoo was new and she never wanted it to stop.

“Thank you unnie. You look really beautiful as well.” She would shower the elder in compliments if she could always watch the way it made a pink hue spread over her cheeks. They started walking toward the bus stop. The conversation became easy going as they got into it.

“What’re we doing anyways, unnie?” Once they had settled on the bus ride, it occurred to Jimin she still had no idea what exactly they were going to do.

Namjoo honest to God booped her nose and Jimin went a bit cross eyed with the gesture. “I don’t want to ruin the surprise!”

“O-okay..”

As they arrived at the Han River, Jimin immediately picked up on the course of the date. They grabbed their bikes and Jimin was genuinely excited. She hadn’t done something simple like this in what felt like forever. School and studying had basically become her norm for the better part of a year now. In childhood and all throughout highschool, she had thrown herself to dance. So little things like a walk in the park or bike riding were things she probably hadn’t done since she was kid.

“I hope this is okay.” Namjoo started, buckling up her own helmet.

“Unnie! Are you kidding? This is seriously… so cool. I’m excited!” Jimin happily exclaimed.

Now getting on the actual bike proved to be the real challenge. “Here. Let me help.” Namjoo offered, her hands finding their way around Jimin’s waist. It was the briefest of touches, feather light in the way Namjoo always seemed to do when it came to any kind of skinship.

It made Jimin go just a tad wild on the inside with how polite and caring she was. With a gentle push from the other girl, Jimin was able to find her balance and began peddling. They went down the path for a bit now, enjoying the sunlight and sounds of other people chatting off in the distance.

“Do you want to grab something to eat now?” Namjoo asked after they had been riding for what had to be an hour. Jimin had just become aware of how hungry she was. After returning their bikes, it didn’t take them long to find a little cafe.

Sitting across from each other, they both took the time to properly look at each other. Jimin was still having a hard time believing any of this was happening.

Namjoo broke the silence first, “Y’know Jimin-ah, I’m sometimes a little oblivious when it comes to certain things. I really would have let you slip by had I not gotten some reassurance from Seojin-unnie.” She chuckled, shaking her head at herself.

Jimin’s face was certainly burning, “W-what do you mean?” She managed to ask in an even tone.

Namjoo coughed, clearing her throat, “I… I kind of have always had my eye on you. I thought for a long while that there was something between you and Taeha-ssi. At the party though, that obviously shifted my perception,” she confessed. They were momentarily interrupted by their orders arriving at the table.

Thanking the waiter for the food, Jimin took an appreciative sip of her drink to calm her racing thoughts.

“I suppose you must be a bit oblivious. I thought there were moments where I felt I came on too strong. Or you were just really nice and weren’t interested in girls.” Jimin fiddled with her straw as to not make direct eye contact after admitting her fears out loud.

She heard Namjoo giggle and that prompted her to finally meet the other’s eyes. “Seems like we’re both a bit out of our league.” That seemed to cut the tension for the both of them, the atmosphere light and easy again.

“To be honest unnie, you’re um… you’re the first person I’ve ever been on a date with,” Jimin confided quietly.

Namjoo stopped her fork half-way to her mouth, and a look of genuine surprise crossed her face.

Jimin held her breath as Namjoo set her food down.

“I’ll be honest too, I misjudged you quite a bit Jimin-ah and that was terrible of me. I’m kind of honored you accepted my date then.”

Jimin shook her head, “I like you a lot, unnie.” Saying it out loud in front of Namjoo still felt a bit unreal.

After they finished their food, they bussed back to the dorms. Jimin might have been a little sad- read completely devastated- that the date was drawing to an end.

Standing in front of her building now, Namjoo took Jimin’s hands into her own. It was the first time they were holding hands on their date and it should be embarrassing how much it made her skin tingle.

“Jimin-ah. I realized a lot of things today. You’re far more beautiful than I ever thought was possible. I don’t want to be an oblivious fool anymore and it would be a real honor if you accepted being my girlfriend.”

Namjoo’s smooth and rich voice floated through her ears but Jimin was finding it hard to breathe at the moment.

“Yes! A Million times yes!” Jimin replied as soon as she found her voice. She was crying again but oh well. That didn’t matter when Namjoo was giving that dimpled smile and stepping closer.

“Can I kiss you?” Namjoo whispered.

Her breath was ghosting across Jimin’s lips as her eyes slipped shut. Goosebumps erupting across her skin,

“Yes, of course, yes.”

Their lips met in a soft and sincere moment. Jimin never wanted this moment to stop. She pushed up on her tiptoes to make the kiss deeper and prolong it. Her small hands fisted gently in Namjoo’s shirt and a small whine left her throat as the other withdrew. Namjoo chuckled lightly at the younger's reaction.

Jimin could live in this moment forever, but well, she had way too many new experiences she was excited to spend with Namjoo.