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“Mindeongie, come on.” Jimin giggles. “Let me reach it for you.”
Minjeong is 6 and Jimin is 7. And Minjeong swears that the only reason why Jimin is taller is their one-year difference.
“I don’t need your help! I can reach it just fine on my own.” Says the little 6 years old, moments before falling while trying to reach a book on the top shelf of the little bookshelf she had in her room.
Jimin wastes no time in going to help her little crying friend. Getting her up and blowing on her scratched knee while promising her that she will be okay. And moments later she was indeed okay, because Jimin not only helped her up, but also got her book for her and even read it until Minjeong stopped crying.
Minjeong is 10 and Jimin is 11. And Minjeong hasn’t seen her older friend the entire summer, because the older left on vacation with her parents.
“Kim Minjeong!” Minjeong basically jumps from her bed at hearing her best friend’s voice, making her way downstairs skipping as many steps as she could without falling.
“Jimin?” Minjeong calls as she finally reaches the first floor of her house and doesn’t see the girl.
Suddenly arms are wrapping around her from the back and she’s being lifted up from the ground. “Got you!” Jimin yells while spinning the smaller girl around. After a couple spins, Jimin puts the girl back on the floor, beaming at her. “I missed you so much Mindeongie.”
“I missed you so much too.” Minjeong is about to give Jimin a hug when Jimin suddenly stops her by holding her shoulders. Minjeong frowns at the older, not understanding, but Jimin just smiles while tilting her head, before getting close and kissing Minjeong’s forehead. Getting a giggle out of the younger. “What was that for?”
“While I was at my grandparents, they would always kiss my forehead, because they said I was small and that would make me feel protected. So... I will always kiss yours now.”
Minjeong rolls her eyes. “I’m not small, though.”
“Sure, you’re not.” Jimin beams before dragging Minjeong upstairs while telling her everything about her summer.
Minjeong is 13 and Jimin is 14. And Jimin just joined the basketball team. Now, Minjeong is in no way a jealous person. She always gets happy for other people’s achievements, especially those close to her. So, she isn’t jealous of Jimin. But she can’t help but be a bit down because she just wasn’t tall enough to join the team and this would be the first time Jimin would be doing something without her.
“Min, are you sure you’re okay with me joining the team?” Jimin asks for the nth time that day. “I won’t hesitate to quit if you’re not okay with that.”
“Jimin.” Minjeong waits until she has the older girl’s complete attention on her. “I am so happy and proud of you. Really. I don’t want you to quit. I am just a little sad that we can’t do it together... And that I don’t get to wear the cool uniform.” Minjeong pouts, but it lasts less than a second and she’s smiling again. “But I’m okay, really, don’t worry about it.”
Jimin smiles, walks to Minjeong, giving her one of the forehead kisses that Minjeong was so used to after years receiving it. “I’ll let you borrow my uniform anytime you want.”
Jimin didn’t know how much Minjeong would take advantage of that anytime and how the uniform wasn’t going to be the only piece of clothing Minjeong would be stealing from her, but it’s not like Jimin actually cared, considering how much she adored to see her small friend using her stuff, looking all tiny in the oversized clothes.
Minjeong is 15 And Jimin is 16. They’re walking home late, Jimin had won a game tonight and her team asked her to go celebrate it with them, and Jimin being Jimin, just had to drag Minjeong with her.
“Are you tired?” The older asks. After hearing Minjeong yawn for the nth time.
“Sorry.” Minjeong says. “Just a bit, but I'm okay”
Jimin stops in front of Minjeong, turns around and points to her back. “Hop on.”
“What? Jimin, are you crazy? There is no way you can carry me.”
“Come on, Mindeongie.” Jimin starts, putting emphasis on the nickname. “I’ve been working out a lot since I started on the basketball team and besides, you’re tiny, just hop on, trust me.”
“Fine. But if we fall it’s not my fault.” Minjeong shrugs.
Minjeong jumps on Jimin’s back and the older girl carries her completely effortlessly all the way home. And maybe this is one of Minjeong’s favorite things about not being tall – because she would never use the word short or small to describe herself – but just maybe.
Minjeong is 16 and Jimin is 17. It’s winter and both girls hate the cold.
They’re at the older girl’s bed, watching a horror movie; Minjeong’s choice. Minjeong is wearing Jimin’s favorite hoodie (at least that’s what Jimin told her, but Minjeong doesn’t understand how it is Jimin’s favorite when Minjeong seems to wear it way more than the older, Minjeong would even go as far as to say it smells more like her than like Jimin by now), but the hoodie seems to be doing little against the cold. Not that Minjeong minds it much, especially when Jimin is hugging her closer and closer anytime a scary scene comes on the screen. Making her feel all warm.
Soon the movie is over and they get ready to sleep. Now, this wouldn’t be the first time Minjeong sleeps over, she did it countless of times. Jimin had a huge bed, so they both could easily stay on one side each and sleep peacefully, but tonight was freezing cold. At least to Minjeong, Jimin didn’t seem to mind it much though.
“Jimin...” Minjeong hated bothering people or having to ask for anything, but this was Jimin, so she didn’t and would never hesitate to ask the older girl for anything.
The older just hums.
“I’m cold.” Minjeong feel the bed shuffle and she thinks that Jimin is going to get up and get them more blankets. Instead, the older get closer to her and wraps her arms around Minjeong, spooning her. “What are you doing?” Minjeong giggles.
“Cuddling.” Jimin simply answers. “We have no more blankets and you’re cold, so, we cuddle.”
They both stay quiet for a while. After some minutes Minjeong starts to realize how good cuddling with Jimin feels like. She doesn’t know if it’s the cold or the action itself, but she is enjoying it a lot. “This feels really nice.”
“Of course it does,” Minjeong can feel the smile just by Jimin’s done. “You’re the perfect size for being a little spoon.”
Minjeong decides to not even answer that. After all the years she’s known her best friend, she is proud to say that she considers herself immune to the height jokes.
That night, Minjeong decides she loves cuddling with Jimin and that maybe, their height difference might be just perfect for it.
Minjeong is 17 and Jimin is 18. And Minjeong is finally realizing that this might just be their last year together.
Minjeong always thought that the worst part of being younger than Jimin was that Jimin ended up being taller. And yes, even now, 11 years later, Minjeong still swears Jimin is only taller because of that stupid little age difference even though everyone tells her it isn’t. But now, with Jimin being a senior and Minjeong entering her junior year, she realized that no, their height difference wasn’t the worst part of her being younger.
Jimin is right on her front porch, backpack hanging on one shoulder, her big smile that could light up an entire town in full display. “Hey, Mindeon- Minjeong.” Jimin has been trying to let go of the nickname ever since Aeri (one of Jimin’s same aged friends) said Minjeong was too old for Jimin to be calling her like that.
Although Minjeong understood where Aeri was coming from, she did love the nickname, especially since Jimin was the one to give it to her and also the only one that would use it. It felt especial, somehow. “I don’t know any Minjeong.” Minjeong says as she walks past Jimin.
“Are you sure you don’t mind me calling you Mindeongie? You’re in your junior year, don’t you want to act all grown up? Me calling you that, added by your height might make things quite difficult, you know?”
“I don’t.” Minjeong rolls her eyes, completely ignoring the height joke. “Maybe you do, though. Since you’re a senior and all.”
“Me? Nah.” Jimin laughs. “I could be 60 and you’d still be my Mindeongie.”
They finally reach the school after a couple more minutes of walk and Minjeong stops on her tracks when she hears Aeri calling Jimin. Minjeong sighs. Aeri and Jimin had been spending an enormous amount of time together and next year the older would even be going to college and rooming with the other until Minjeong could join her only on the year after. “You should go, might be important.”
Jimin hums. “I’ll see you at lunch?”
“Of course.”
Jimin then does what she always does whenever they’re going to part ways, no matter for how long it will be. She grabs Minjeong shoulders and kisses her forehead. When they were kids Minjeong used to think that was silly. How could she feel protected by a forehead kiss? But the more she grew older, the more she felt like it just made sense. She had no explanation as to why. But whenever Jimin would do it, she would feel better about anything. Minjeong thinks it’s just the knowledge that Jimin cares that makes her feel better. The fact that Jimin, would always make sure she felt protected before leaving her for even like an hour or two. “I’ll see you later, Mindeongie.”
And with that, Jimin is gone, making her way to her basketball team. And Minjeong makes her way to class and starts overthinking the fact that next year she won’t be getting any forehead kisses before class.
Minjeong is walking to lunch with Yizhuo, who as always, has been talking about anything and everything but Minjeong is paying no attention because all she can think is about Jimin and her stupid height that makes it perfect for her to kiss Minjeong’s forehead. Minjeong wonders how things would have been if she was the taller between the two of them. Would she be the one giving Jimin kisses? Would Jimin come from her grandparents’ house and instead of giving Minjeong a forehead kiss, ask for one? Minjeong will never know. Because unfortunately, as much as she hates to admit it. She is smaller than Jimin. Just a bit, a tiny little bit. But she is.
They reach the table and soon Minjeong sits next to Jimin, Yizhuo making her way to sit next to Aeri.
“Oh, we have to tell you guys something.” Yizhuo says at some point during lunch. “It’s no biggie, but, yeah... Just want to make it clear, you guys probably already noticed anyway, but we’re dating.”
Minjeong almost spits her apple juice right at Yizhuo’s face. “You’re what?” Minjeong looks at Jimin, expecting her best friend to look just as surprised as her, but Jimin is just smiling. “Aren’t you surprised?”
“Not really? They spent a lot of time together and they’ve been going on dates for like months now.”
“Dates? What dates?” Minjeong asks feeling as confused as she has ever been.
“What do you mean what dates, Minjeong?” Yizhuo rolls her eyes at her friend’s stupidity. “We even went on double dates.”
“Double dates? Okay, now I know you are crazy.” Minjeong laughs. “I never even dated in my life Ning Yizhuo.”
Aeri, who’s been awfully quiet throughout the whole exchange so far finally speaks. “If you’ve never dated, then what about Jimin?”
“She never dated either. She would have told me.” Minjeong shrugs.
Both Aeri and Yizhuo open their mouths as if they’re about to speak, but Jimin cuts them off waving her hands. “Drop it. Lunch is almost over anyway.”
Aeri is looking at Jimin in kind of a sad way, while Yizhuo is just looking at Minjeong like she grew another head. And Minjeong is starting to get worried that she said or did something wrong. She wants to ask what’s the problem, but then Jimin is standing up and Minjeong just stands up too. As always Jimin grabs her shoulders and gives her a forehead kiss, this one lasting a bit more than usual. When Jimin is done with the kiss she beams at Minjeong and all of Minjeong’s worries are instantly gone just like that. “I’ll see you after class, Mindongie.”
After classes are done and Minjeong is walking home with Jimin she starts thinking about the whole exchange during lunch. “Jimin?”
“Yeah?” Minjeong tries to look at Jimin, but with the way she needs to tilt her head up whenever she wants to actually look into the older girl’s eyes, and the sun that is setting right behind Jimin’s head right now, it’s too hard.
“Nothing.” Minjeong decides she wants to have this conversation when she can actually look at the taller girl.
Minjeong eventually forgets about asking Jimin about it, so they just move on with their lives. It’s weeks later, when they’re out with Aeri and Yizhuo that Minjeong thinks about it again. They’re walking around the park after just having dinner, Yizhuo was complaining about being cold and Aeri, being the amazing girlfriend that she is (Yizhuo’s words), lend the youngest her jacket, getting a million cheek kisses and hugs from the youngest in return. It made Minjeong wonder what was the big deal with Aeri lending her jacket, what did that have to do with Aeri being an amazing girlfriend? Jimin would always lend Minjeong her jackets and hoodies, sometimes even when Minjeong knew the taller was also cold. Minjeong makes a mental note to ask Yizhuo about that later.
That night Jimin leaves Minjeong home with one of her jackets and a forehead kiss, just like it would always be whenever they would hang out. And Minjeong can’t help but wonder how Yizhuo would even live if she was friends with Jimin, considering how much she freaks out over Aeri doing the same things Jimin has always done to her.
Monday morning Minjeong walks to school with Jimin with only one thought in mind: ‘Ask Ning Yizhuo why the heck Aeri is such a great girlfriend for lending her a jacket.’ Minjeong could barely enjoy her Sunday because her mind for some reason kept overthinking that the entire day before.
Minjeong wastes no time. As soon as she sees the school gates, she is already marching her way inside trying to find her friend. As expected, Yizhuo is on her usual bench with Aeri, Minjeong almost runs there. “Hi. Ning, can we talk?”
“Sure.” Yizhuo starts, then she eyes her friend. “But is there something wrong, Min?”
“Yes. No- I don’t know.” Minjeong sighs. “I just need to talk to you alone.”
Jimin who was just quietly listening, taps her shoulder. “Why didn’t you tell me that you needed to talk? You know I'm here for you.”
“I know. It’s just that Ning is the only one that can help me with that.” Minjeong purses her lips. “That might be able to help me with that, actually. I'm not even sure.”
“I bet it is some kind of surprise for Jimin.” Aeri butts in.
“Is it?” Jimin beams. “Well, I don’t want to keep you two then.” Jimin gives Minjeong’s usual forehead kiss before joining Aeri on the bench. Waving to the two younger girls as they make their way inside the school.
Minjeong finds an empty classroom and drag Yizhuo inside. “Aeri. Why do you think that she is such an amazing girlfriend?”
“Because she is, duh.” Yizhuo rolls her eyes.
“But why? She doesn’t do anything that amazing, I mean, yes, she is nice, but so is most people I know. I am nice, Jimin is nice, you are nice.”
“Are you talking bad about my girlfriend? Because you're one of my favorite people but if you are-”
“What? No! God, Ning, no. I’m just trying to understand what is it that makes her such an amazing girlfriend because Saturday night you were talking about how amazing she was and all she did was lend you her jacket and Jimin always does that to me so I just don’t understand.”
“Oh!” Yizhuo chuckles. “Well, Jimin is a pretty amazing girlfriend too, don’t worry.”
“Jimin is a- What?” Minjeong almost yells. “Jimin is not my girlfriend.” Minjeong’s voice is barely a whisper as she finishes.
“Are you sure? She treats you like you are.”
“She doesn’t.” Minjeong shakes her head. “That’s just how Jimin is. She is a nice person; she treats everyone kindly. You know that.”
“Well, yes. Kindly. But with you it’s more than that. She kisses you all the time, she is always with you doing whatever you ask or want, she literally would go as far as to carry you whenever you say you’re too tired to walk, that girl would even let you steal her entire wardrobe even though we both know it is worth more than the money we’ll make in our entire lives, combined.”
Minjeong thinks about what Yizhuo just said but just laughs it off. “She gives me forehead kisses since we were like 11 years old, Ning, and it just started because she thought I was small and I would feel protected. She is always with me because we grew up together and she always thought she had to be with me to help me with stuff because, well, she still thought I was small. She only carries me because, guess what? She says I'm small and it’s easy. And the clothes it’s just because she thinks I look funny on her big clothes, because, yeah, once again, she thinks I'm small.”
“Minjeong. Do you even hear yourself? What kind of person would do all that just because they thought someone was small?” Yizhuo deadpans. When Minjeong doesn’t respond, Yizhuo decides to ask another question. “Well, if Jimin does all that because she thinks you’re small, why do you let her? What do you think of her?”
Minjeong thinks and thinks and thinks. Why does she let Jimin do all that? Because it’s good. She knows that at the end of the day Jimin is mostly just making fun of her height through all those actions, but it doesn’t make the actions any less nice.
Now, what does she think of Jimin? “I think that Jimin is nice, has always been. She’s also reliable and understanding. And Jimin is also considerate. And Jimin is pretty. And she’s always the prettiest when we go home from school and the sun is about to set and I have to squint my eyes because the sun is always almost blinding me when I have to tilt my head up to look at her, because Jimin is, in fact, a few inches taller than me, even if I hate to admit it. And I think that the beauty mark she has near her lips is the cutest thing I've ever seen and that maybe, just maybe, if I was taller I could kiss her lips all the time just like she kisses my forehead and-” Minjeong eyes widen in shock when she realizes what she just said.
“Well, that was... a lot.” Yizhuo chuckles. “Does that mean that you want her to be your girlfriend then?”
“I don’t know. I’ve never had a girlfriend. What if it doesn’t work? What if I’m a bad girlfriend? What if Jimin is a bad girlfriend?” Minjeong is panicking, walking like a madwoman around the room. “What if she doesn’t want to be my girlfriend?”
“Minjeong. Do I need to go over everything Jimin does for you again? You two are basically dating. Aeri and I thought you were dating.” Yizhuo holds her friend in place before finishing. “Now, we’re going to class and after school you can tell Jimin how you feel, is that alright? You can do it during the sunset or whatever it is that you said she looks the prettiest on.” Minjeong just nods.
It’s needless to say that Minjeong paid little to no attention to any of her classes that day. But after a whole day of thinking of all the ways she could tell Jimin how she felt, there they were, walking home like they would always do. Minjeong looks up at Jimin and as always, she is beautiful, the sun almost setting right behind her, making the sunrays shine around her in that way that just made her glow. And Minjeong always thought Jimin was beautiful, she wasn’t blind. But after her conversation with Yizhuo earlier, and finally acknowledging her feelings, she felt like she was seeing Jimin on a whole new light. Her eyes were almost hurting from looking against the sun for too long and she was sure she could fall any minute now if she kept on ignoring her surroundings to admire the taller girl, so when they’re near the park that’s on the way to their houses, Minjeong grabs Jimin’s hands and pulls her in that direction.
“Detour?” Jimin asks.
“Yes. I don’t want to go home yet; I want to be with you.” Minjeong simply answers.
“You could stay with me at home, though.” Jimin laughs.
“You look so pretty in the sunset.” Minjeong says without even thinking. “You’re always pretty, but when the sun is about to set and I look up at you, you’re just... breathtaking.”
“Look who’s talking. You’re the prettiest girl I have ever seen, Minjeong.” Jimin rolls her eyes.
“No. I mean it.” Minjeong cups Jimin's face, making the taller girl look at her. “I realized something today. That I should probably have realized way before.”
Jimin holds Minjeong’s gaze, and the smaller girl takes that as her cue to keep going. “I love you, Jimin. I love how you’ve always been there for me. And how you understand me better than anyone else. And how you always take care of me. And how you make me feel protected-” Minjeong pauses, tiptoes and plants a kiss right at the spot where Jimin’s beauty mark can be spotted. “I know it’s not a forehead kiss, but you know...” Minjeong points at herself. “Height problems.” Minjeong can’t help but crack a joke. “But, yeah. I love everything you do for me. And I love how you’re the girlfriend I never had. I love you. I’m in love with you, Jimin.”
“Minjeong...” Minjeong always thought Jimin was the prettiest during the sunsets when they were walking home, but right now, standing at the park, sun setting behind her, giving Minjeong the best smile Minjeong has ever seen, this was the prettiest Minjeong has ever seen Jimin. “I waited for this for so long. I’ve liked you since- I don’t know, 6th grade maybe? And I always wondered if you’d ever like me back. Sometimes I thought you did, sometimes I just had no idea. But I was fine either way because I love you, Minjeong. And I always will. I love how you still need help to reach the highest shelves but won’t ever ask for it. I love how you don’t mind me calling you Mindeongie in front of everyone. I love how you’re so small that I could carry you around in my pocket.” Jimin jokes. Earning a playful slap on her arm. “I love how all my clothes look so big on you, which makes you look even tinier than normal. And I love how you’re just about the perfect height for us to perfectly cuddle and for me to walk up to you and kiss your forehead whenever I want.”
“You know, I used to hate being called small. And I used to think I would never admit this. But yes, whatever, you are taller.” Minjeong playfully rolls her eyes. “And maybe, just maybe... I like it, because it means I get forehead kissed, piggyback rides, big comfy clothes and a girlfriend to carry me around. So I'm fine with that.”
Now, Minjeong always thought about how she had to tilt her head up to look at Jimin and how she hated that, but now as she puts her hands on the taller girl’s shoulders and tiptoes while tilting her head up to kiss her, she realizes that maybe it wasn’t so bad as she initially thought. She pulls Jimin a bit down so she can finally crash their lips together. And she swears she never knew something – someone – could make her this happy. “I love you.”
“I love you too.” Jimin grins. “So... Can we finally go on real double dates with Ning and Aeri? As girlfriends?”
“Stop.” Minjeong groans burrowing her head on Jimin’s chest. “I was so dumb. I should really have realized before.”
Jimin laughs. “It’s okay. Maybe I should have said something, I just really didn’t want to lose you in case you didn’t feel the same way.”
Minjeong pulls away while shaking her head. “I was just clueless.”
“What matters is that you know it now.” Jimin shrugs. “So, girlfriends?”
“Yes.” Minjeong beams. “Girlfriends.”