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Minjeong mindlessly traced shapes on the foggy window of the coffee shop. She was huddled in the corner, hat pulled down with a mask on, hoping nobody would recognize her.
The news about their disbandment was still fresh on the presses.
She wouldn’t want to be caught in public and bombarded by questions without her managers or bodyguards around, but she has to be here.
Minjeong has to see Jimin.
Even though the news had just come out, what the public didn’t know was that they had already ended things months prior. They were doing their own projects, living separately, Minjeong hardly got to see her members even during their last years.
“Minjeong.”
She whips around to see the older girl, mirroring her disguise with a hat and mask. But Minjeong would recognize Jimin anywhere.
“Hey!” She scrambles to her feet awkwardly, feeling silly when Jimin just takes the seat across from her at the same time. Minjeong sits back down. “How’s life? How’s your family?”
“Good.” Jimin answers shortly. “Nice coat. It’s pretty cold today, huh?” She doesn’t mention that she gave Minjeong that very coat a few Christmas’ ago.
Minjeong snuggles into it, a faint memory from that day tries to worm its way to the forefront of her mind. But she couldn’t let it distract her from the reason why she was here, sitting in front of Jimin.
The apology burned on her tongue, and her heart ached seeing the older girl’s distant eyes.
“I’m—“
“Karina? Winter?”
They both whirl around at the sound of their stage names, coming face to face with a growing crowd of people next to their table. Minjeong grabs Jimin’s wrist and makes a run for it out of the coffee shop.
So much for not getting recognized in public.
“Minjeong! What are we doing?” Jimin huffs and puffs once they are out of reach in a small alleyway.
Minjeong groans in frustration, months and months of agonizing over their last conversation finally breaking through the surface she so carefully crafted to avoid her feelings.
“I love you.”
Minjeong’s heard those three words from Jimin countless times before, uttered through laughter, mumbled through tears, as an expression of thanks.
But never like this. As a confession.
“What?” Minjeong whispers in disbelief, heart thumping erratically in her chest. She never thought the older girl would actually say it out loud.
“You had to have known this by now.” Jimin pointedly avoids her stare, out of embarrassment, out of shame, Minjeong isn’t sure. “Because I know you feel the same.”
Minjeong is at a loss of words. The older girl eventually brings her head up to gauge her reaction. “Right?” She whispered so quietly, uncertainty tainting her voice, she nearly missed it.
“I’m sorry!”
This is me swallowing my pride, standing in front of you, saying im sorry for that night.
“I’m sorry for being a coward. I’m sorry for not being brave.”
I wish I realized what I had when you were mine.
“I’m sorry for not being what you deserved.”
Minjeong rips off her hat and mask, shutting her eyes tight, overcome with emotion. Her heart beats in her ears and she can’t stop the ever growing fear of the unconditional love she feels towards Jimin.
After years and years of saying they were going to get their driver’s license, Minjeong finally makes it through the tests with flying colors and is the group’s first to legally be able to drive.
To celebrate, the four of them rent out a fancy car to drive down the coast line.
Jimin naturally claims the passenger seat while the others file into the back.
Minjeong remembers the exact moment, when Ningning cracked a joke and Jimin erupted into a fit of giggles as the sunset shined through the passenger side window, making the older girl glow.
Just like magic.
Minjeong still has her eyes shut tight when she feels herself being pulled into a warm embrace. The familiarity brought tears to her eyes.
“I forgive you, Minjeong.”
Her heart aches at Jimin’s compassion and understanding.
“But you’re wrong.”
Minjeong’s breath catches in her throat. She finally opens her eyes, immediately locking onto Jimin’s deep pools of dark brown swirling with so much warmth.
“You are so much more than that.”