Work Text:
“Ning Yizhuo.”
A cold container is placed on top of her head as Ningning sits at the cafeteria, waiting for her friends. Ningning blinks and looks up to find Minjeong, her unnie and one of her closest friends standing over her.
“Fruit.” Minjeong says this nonchalantly, sitting down and sliding over a plastic container from the canteen.
“Oh, thanks, unnie!” Ningning beams and Minjeong nods. “Hey, doesn’t this usually come with pineapple?”
“You don’t like pineapple.” Minjeong points this out.
“I know, but this always comes with more pineapple than watermelon and I hate it, but maybe today I’m lucky!” Ningning beams, opening up the container with only watermelons and strawberries.
“Yeah, lucky.” Minjeong clears her throat, scratching at the corner of her lip where a sting from eating one too many pineapple slices remains.
“Puppy!” Jimin squeals, sitting down beside Minjeong and hugging her tightly.
Minjeong scowls and tries to pull away but Aeri sits on her other side and hugs her equally as tight.
“Minjeongie!” Aeri beams and Minjeong sighs, poking at her lunch as she’s being koala hugged by her two unnies.
“Unnie, you look really cute right now.” Ningning giggles and Minjeong blinks, feeling her cheeks warm at Ningning’s delighted laugh.
“O-oh.” Minjeong tries to be nonchalant—she really does, but there's one problem she has, and, well, she doesn’t see it as a problem but there’s an underlying issue attached to it.
Kim Minjeong has a crush, and it’s not on any cute or hot upperclassmen, but on their sweet little friend, Ning Yizhou—who she befriended in freshman year because she was lost as a little lamb and Minjeong was willing to help despite her introverted nature—and not because she thought Ningning was cute.
(She did).
Anyway, the problem with her crush was that she’s been trying to confess since the new year started because, new year, new me—however, she’s been exceptionally terrible at it. It’s like at every attempt she makes at hinting at her crush for Ningning, she’s interrupted by Ningning’s adhd tendencies or some external force.
“And the guy was totally fugly! Like he didn’t look like he did in that picture!” Aeri exclaims.
“No way, seriously!” Ningning gasps.
Minjeong and Jimin watch the two of them chat away and they poke at their lunch uninterestedly.
“Yeah and—”
The bell rings and Minjeong sighs quietly.
“Ugh, what class do we have next?” Aeri asks.
“P.E.” Jimin answers.
“Great, I’ll finish telling you when we change into our uniform,” Aeri beams, pulling Ningning up with her.
“Yes, I need to know what happens next!” Ningning bounces along.
Jimin and Minjeong sigh and take their trays back. Minjeong’s gaze follows Ningning and she bumps into Jimin, who’s looking down at her with a big grin.
“You are so cute, puppy; do you know that?” Jimin’s lips curl into an annoying grin.
“Shut up,” she huffs.
"Aw, come on, for how long?” Jimin slings an arm around Minjeong’s shoulder and she tries to push her off but she’s too tall and her arm suddenly weighs a tonne.
“For how long, what?” She scowls.
“How long have you liked little Ningie?” Jimin bends down to whisper and Minjeong’s ear burns with embarrassment as she finally shoves Jimin away.
“W-what?” She clears her throat and walks ahead.
“You can’t escape me, Kim Minjeong!”
She really can’t—not when they’re partnered up for this PE lesson.
“Stop smiling.” Minjeong looks away with a blush as Jimin continues smirking at her.
“Why?” Jimin grins toothily and Minjeong grumbles.
They’re doing sit-ups and Minjeong can’t help but glare in Ningning’s direction when she’s doing sit-ups with their grade’s top boy, Jisung.
“It’s not like you’re not in the same boat as me either." Minjeong says and Jimin sneers.
Aeri’s doing sit-ups with Jeno, a known playboy who has sweet charms for some odd reason. He’s also tried to ask Jimin out before but she “accidentally” kicked a soccer ball at him and he never tried again.
“Shut up…” Jimin huffs and Minjeong smirks. “Hold my feet properly.”
“You shut up; I'm holding your giant feet as best as I can,” Minjeong says.
“My feet aren't giant! Yours are abnormally small!” Jimin argues back.
“Yeah, okay, giraffe,” Minjeong snickers.
“Yeah, okay, wuss who can’t confess their crush.” Jimin smirks.
“Hey!” Minjeong blushes with a scowl. “I–I’m trying…”
“Yeah, well, not hard enough.” Jimin snorts.
“It doesn’t look like you are either!” Minjeong retorts.
One thing about Jimin and Minjeong is that they will bicker until the ends of the earth—a bonus to being childhood friends and family friends adjacent.
“I’m definitely doing more than you!” Jimin sticks her tongue out.
“Doesn’t look like it!” Minjeong does the same.
Jimin huffs, annoyed by her tiny friend, and as she rises from her sit-up with more strength than she can manage, she rams right into Minjeong.
“Ow!”
“Shit!”
Ningning and Aeri noticed the commotion immediately before rushing over.
“Oh my gosh, are you guys alright?” Aeri gasps.
“No… I’m gonna kill her,” Minjeong groans, clutching her head.
“U-unnie, you’re bleeding!” Ningning gasps with horror.
“Huh?” Minjeong blinks.
There’s a warmth trickling down her nose and she brings her hand to her nose and when she sees blood, her eyes trail over to Jimin.
“Yu Jimin.” Minjeong grits her teeth.
“I’m sorry! It was an accident!”
🩹
Minjeong and Jimin begrudgingly sit beside each other in the nurse's office on one bed and Minjeong keeps shoving Jimin, who takes it in stride since she feels a little bad that Minjeong bled.
“I said I was sorry.” Jimin whines, holding an ice pack to her head as she sways side to side as Minjeong bumps her shoulder against hers.
“Sorry doesn’t fix my bleeding nose!” Minjeong huffs, holding a heap of tissues at her nose and an identical ice pack to her head too.
“You’re not even bleeding anymore!” Jimin says.
“You two quit it.” Joohyun sighs, coming to check on Minjeong’s nose.
“Unnie, she started it!” Minjeong whines.
"No, I didn’t!” Jimin pouts.
“Jimin, shh, I hear enough of you at home already,” Joohyun says. Perks of being an older sibling who works part time as a nurse at her little sister’s high school.
Jimin grumbles and Minjeong smiles as Joohyun dotes on her.
"Cleary, you two are alright enough to argue like you always do.” Joohyun snorts. “I’ll let the other two in to see you. They’ve been begging to come in.”
Joohyun steps away and opens the door and in comes Aeri and Yizhou.
“Unnie!” Ningning runs over to Minjeong and Minjeong straightens up, no longer bullying Jimin.
“Ning.” Minjeong blushes.
Jimin snickers under her breath and Minjeong elbows her.
“We got you guys snacks.” Aeri beams and Jimin grins.
Minjeong rolls her eyes at Jimin’s 180° attitude.
“Unnie, I got you chocolate milk, your favourite.” Ningning beams.
“Oh, thank you.” Minjeong smiles, reaching for it but Ningning pulls it back.
“Hold on,” she says as she opens the tiny straw and inserts it into the carton for Minjeong. “Here!”
Minjeong smiles fondly as she takes a sip.
“How is it?” Ningning asks eagerly with wide, curious, childlike eyes.
“It tastes better because you got it for me.” Minjeong blushes.
“Aw, unnie! You’re so cheesy.” Ningning giggles.
“And gross…” Jimin gags.
“Shut up, stupid.” Aeri presses on the bruise on her forehead and Jimin cries out.
“Hey!” Jimin pouts.
“That’s what you get.” Aeri rolls her eyes, yet her actions contradict her words as she softly caresses over the bruise with gentle fingers.
When Joohyun finally has enough of them and the bell rings, the four of them head home and Ningning insists on carrying Minjeong’s bag. Jimin has her bag on her back and Aeri’s on her front because she’s chivalrous and won’t let her girl (not her girl yet) carry heavy things.
"You look more stupid,” Aeri says.
“No, I look totally cool. Who else has the greatest girl in the world by their side to carry their bag?” Jimin grins. “Aren’t you lucky, Uchinaga?”
Aeri rolls her eyes, a faint blush on her cheeks, as she walks ahead of Jimin.
“Hey, wait!”
Aeri and Jimin head off to Aeri’s house to hang out, but Ningning has to head home early since her grandparents are over and they’re meant to have dinner. Minjeong opts to sit out and decides to walk Ningning home, despite Ningning’s protests.
“Are you sure, unnie?” Ningning pouts and Minjeong smiles softly, ruffling Ningning’s hair.
“I’m okay. I’m not injured.” Minjeong says.
“You kind of are,” Ningning says.
“Not at all, I’m not.” Minjeong grins.
Ningning still carries Minjeong’s bag until the door of her house and Minjeong’s quiet. Not that she isn’t quiet all the time, but because she’s thinking deeply.
She’s never liked anyone this much before. She doesn’t ever recall liking anyone before Ningning. There’s a certain kind of affection Minjeong carries for Ningning that makes her forget anyone she’s ever met before. And maybe she’s still a kid and this is just puppy love, but Minjeong never wants to live another day that doesn’t have Ningning in it.
“Here’s your bag,” Ningning beams. “Thanks for walking me home!”
“You’re welcome.” Minjeong shrugs nonchalantly, even though her heart is beating rapidly and she doesn’t know when it started.
Ningning turns to open the door but Minjeong opens her mouth and Ningning stops.
“Hey, Ning?”
Ningning turns around and Minjeong’s heart stutters in her chest.
She’s so beautiful.
“Hm?” Ningning blinks.
“Um, I—”
I like you.
I like you so much; I don’t know what it’s like to be happy or how to function if I’m not near you.
“Uh, do you want to get ice cream tomorrow?” Minjeong swallows. “After school?”
“Ice cream? Hell yeah!” Ningning jumps and Minjeong chuckles fondly.
Ningning enters her house and Minjeong turns around to walk back home.
“Unnie!”
Minjeong turns around and finds Ningning tumbling out of her house.
“Wha—”
Minjeong blinks.
“Make sure to tell me if it hurts!” Ningning says this before running off into her house.
Minjeong freezes; a tingling sensation overcomes her body, especially at the bruise on her forehead. A featherlight press of affection is placed on the bruise and Minjeong blushes brightly, still reeling and feeling Ningning’s lips on her skin.
She smiles when walking home.
Maybe tomorrow, she thinks.
🍦
“Guess what?” Jimin sides up against Minjeong in the halls.
“What?” Minjeong replies monotonously.
“Gee, can you sound any more excited?” Jimin snorts.
Minjeong glares at her and Jimin sighs, patting Minjeong's head.
“Alright, puppy; relax.” Jimin laughs.
“I’m not a puppy.”
“Okay. Anyway, guess who has a girlfriend?”
Minjeong pauses and looks up at Jimin.
“What?” She blinks.
“That’s right! Me!” Jimin prances around with a huge grin.
“What? When?” Minjeong asks.
“Yesterday!” Jimin slings an arm around Minjeong’s shoulder and Minjeong’s too shocked to care. “You remember I went to her house to hang out, right? Well, she was icing my forehead and she was just sitting in front of me and I just kissed her and confessed! She said yes!”
“That easy?” Minjeong frowns.
“You should try.” Jimin beams.
“Do not try; that’s not how it went.” Aeri rolls her eyes, pushing Jimin away from Minjeong. “Don’t corrupt the puppy.”
“I’m not—oh, who cares.” Minjeong sighs. “Aeri-unnie, tell me.”
Jimin remains unblinking as she sits on Aeri’s bed. Aeri’s in front of her, kneeling on the bed as she holds an ice pack to Jimin’s bruise.
“You’re stupid. How hard did you headbutt the poor girl for you to have huge matching bruises?” Aeri sighs.
Jimin blinks, her mouth slightly agape, as she stares at the goddess in front of her.
“Why are you staring? Is anything up there in your head?” Aeri snorts.
Jimin surges forward and kisses Aeri’s plush lips chastely. Aeri’s eyes widen and she fumbles, falling onto her back as she scrambles away from Jimin, leaning on the wall as she’s on the farthest edge of her bed.
“Y-yah! What was that?”
“Have I told you that you’ve been really pretty lately?” Jimin smiles and Aeri blinks.
“How hard did you hit your head?!” Aeri’s face flushes red.
“Not hard enough to confuse me. I like you, Uchinaga Aeri.” Jimin crawls to Aeri. “I’ve liked you for a long time and I guess hitting my head did something. If I ever hit my head too hard and can’t remember you or I literally die, I can’t fathom that you might not know my feelings for you.”
Aeri holds up the ice pack to protect her and it pushes up against Jimin’s mouth. Jimin blinks and Aeri squeezes her eyes shut.
Jimin gently pries the ice pack away and holds Aeri’s wrist to her side.
“I like you and I wanted to kiss you.” Jimin speaks softly. “I know you like me too; open your eyes.”
Aeri presses her lips together and hesitantly opens her eyes. She comes face to face with Jimin in a new light and her heart’s slamming against her chest—her defences are completely lost.
“And then we made out!” Jimin jumps.
“No, we didn’t!”
Aeri screams and pushes Jimin to the floor.
“Ow.” Jimin crumbles to the carpeted floor and Aeri gasps.
“Stupid!” Aeri huffs, going to the floor to pick Jimin up, but instead, Jimin drags her down right on top of her.
Jimin traps her and wraps her arms around Aeri, hugging her tightly.
“I like you.” Jimin giggles.
“I–I know, shut up!” Aeri blushes.
“Say you do too.” Jimin whines softly, nuzzling her nose against Aeri’s collar. “Say yes to me.”
“I…yes. I like you too, stupid.” Aeri sighs.
“Wow. You just said yes like that?” Minjeong blinks. “If it were me, I would’ve attempted to kill her.”
“Well, that’s what happens when you like me; you don’t want to kill me instead.” Jimin grins, holding Aeri by the waist and Aeri doesn’t refute the touch.
“Yeah, yeah.” Aeri rolls her eyes, despite the blush on her cheeks.
Ningning is preoccupied in the choir, so it’s only the three of them walking around.
“So, Ning told us you’re getting ice cream after school.” Jimin says.
“Yeah.” Minjeong nods.
“She thought it was the four of us, but I kindly corrected her and told her Aeri and I have plans.” Jimin smiles proudly.
“Oh, so you are good for something.” Minjeong teases.
“Hey!” Jimin pouts.
“But seriously, maybe come off more strongly to Ning, Minjeong-ah.” Aeri says it gently. “You’ll have to be specific because, god forbid, she is oblivious to her surroundings.”
“I’m aware.” Minjeong sighs, but she smiles softly, remembering the way Ningning kissed her forehead yesterday.
“Why are you smiling like a creep?” Jimin asks.
“No, I’m not.” Minjeong clears her voice and the smile wipes away from her ruddy lips.
“Don’t tease her; she’s probably thinking of asking Ningning out later, right?” Aeri says.
“Something like that.” Minjeong nods.
“Here’s what you should do, from someone who actually has a girlfriend right now.” Jimin says.
“Don’t listen to her.” Aeri snorts.
“Listen up, Minjeongie.” Jimin leans down to her height.
Although Minjeong would rather not listen to Jimin on usual occasions, today she might have to. She’s out of ideas and freezes up when she tries to tell Ningning about her feelings.
“You two are going to be sitting across from each other, right?” Jimin says and Minjeong nods. “Good! So we know Ningning isn’t the cleanest eater and ice cream is messy. So she’s going to get ice cream on her lips. So when you see that, what do you do?”
“Uh, get a napkin and wipe it for her?” Minjeong blinks.
“Wrong!” Jimin shouts and Minjeong flinches. “You lean over, cup her cheek, whisper seductively; oh, you have something, and then you lean in and kiss her! Then confess.”
Jimin nods proudly and Aeri slaps her own forehead, not understanding why this person is the one she likes.
“Um… that’s a bit much. I don’t think I can do it.” Minjeong shakes her head, very worried about this afternoon.
“Trust me, take her by surprise and she’ll swoon.” Jimin grins.
“Minjeongie, do the complete opposite. I'm sure she’ll like you for you. Don’t do something you wouldn’t do, please.” Aeri says.
“Okay.” Minjeong nods but side-eyes Jimin, somehow considering that option if all hell breaks loose.
So then Minjeong finds herself sitting across from Ningning at their usual ice cream joint without the other two.
“I’m glad it’s just me and you today, unnie.” Ningning grins, scanning the menu.
“O-oh, really?” Minjeong blushes, trying to compose herself after the sudden confession from Ningning.
“Yeah, I mean, I love Jimin-unnie and Aeri-unnie too, but it’s also nice to just spend time with you like we used to before we all got close.” Ningning grins and Minjeong blushes, picking at the corners of the menu without looking back up at Ningning.
“Uhm, I’ll go order now.” Minjeong clears her throat, standing up in front of the booth. “Our usual, right?”
Ningning nods, chuckling at Minjeong’s tsundere behaviour.
Minjeong orders and while she’s standing at the counter, waiting for their order, she silently tries psyching herself into telling Ningning that she likes her.
‘I can do it’, she whispers to herself. ‘I can—’
“Here’s your order!” The man says it loudly and she flinches.
“R-right, thank you.” Minjeong blushes, taking the cups of ice cream and bringing them back to their seats.
Thanks!” Ningning digs in immediately and Minjeong carefully spoons the ice cream into her mouth, staring at Ningning, still trying to psych herself up.
Ningning begins a tangent of stories and Minjeong listens attentively, nodding, reacting and chiming into some parts to let Ningning know she’s interested, but in fact, she’s getting distracted by how fast Ningning cycles through her story-telling and also by the fact that Ningning has ice cream on the corner of her mouth.
She instinctively picks up a napkin but pauses when she remembers what Jimin had told her earlier.
Minjeong stands up and leans over, a hand reaching to cup Ningning’s cheek.
“Unnie, what—” Ningning blinks at the sudden, close proximity.
“Y-you have something,”
Jeez, she stuttered! Minjeong winces mentally.
It’s as if time slows down and Minjeong’s heart rams against her chest. She’s been close with Ningning since they became friends. This shouldn’t be weird. She’s also taken care of Ningning, wiping her hands and face without care, and they hug, cuddle and do other things. But why is it so weird right now?
“Ning?” Minjeong’s eyes fall to her lips.
“Unnie?” Ningning remains unblinking.
“Um…”
I like you. I really like you and—
“Uh, nevermind.” Minjeong swipes the ice cream with her thumb and sits down, wiping it on a napkin. “What does your ice cream taste like? You must be enjoying it if you’ve got it on your mouth.”
“Oh!” Ningning giggles. “It does taste good! More today than the other days. Maybe it’s because I’m only with you today, right?”
“Right, yeah, maybe.” Minjeong blushes, swallowing thickly.
They finish up and Minjeong walks Ningning home again.
“Thanks for paying again, unnie.” Ningning smiles, linking her arm with Minjeong’s.
“You’re welcome.” Minjeong smiles, trying to hide the way her arm stiffens when Ningning clings to her.
She sighs softly.
Maybe next time.
🍫
Minjeong decides on a different approach. Ningning had been whining about not being able to buy these chocolates that she’s been wanting to buy because her parents said no, and also about the fact that they're hard to find in stores. So Minjeong buys it online and it arrives the morning she’s heading to school.
With a burst of confidence, Minjeong walks into school with chocolates in her bag, planning to give them to Ningning at recess when they’re in the cafeteria.
It’s recess and Minjeong’s palms are sweating as she sits down at their usual table. Ningning comes shortly after with a bright smile and Minjeong reciprocates the expression.
“Minjeong-unnie!” Ningning beams, bouncing behind Minjeong as she hugs her tightly.
“H-hi. How was class?” Minjeong asks, since they don’t share that period.
“It was fine but I was getting bored.” Ningning pouts, sitting down next to Minjeong.
“Hey, um, I have something to cheer you up.” Minjeong says.
“Really?” Ningning perks up. “What is it?”
Minjeong unzips her bag and pulls out the box of chocolates and Ningning gasps.
“Unnie! How did you get these?” Ningning’s eyes widen comically as she holds the chocolates in her hand.
“I ordered them online directly from the brand. I got them for you.” Minjeong blushes.
“Gosh, thank you, unnie!” Ningning squeals. “Why’d you get them? Is there a special occasion I’m not recalling?”
Here goes nothing.
“Well, actually—”
“Sweet! Chocolates!” Jimin snatches the box from Ningning’s hands and Minjeong pales.
“Oh, yum!” Aeri rips open the box. “These are delicious; where’d you get them, Ning?”
“Minjeong-unnie actually—”
“Can we have some?” Jimin pouts.
“Sure, let’s share!” Ningning grins.
Minjeong deflates, feeling the need to smash her head into the wall.
“I’m going to the bathroom,” she says, standing up.
“Oh, do you want me to come with?” Ningning asks.
“No, it’s fine.” Minjeong sighs.
She walks away and finds her way to the bathroom. She stares at the sharpie graffiti littered walls with a vacant look in her eyes. Why is everything going wrong? She just has to say, ‘I like you; please go out with me!’ But she can’t do it. Something keeps getting in the way and maybe she’s really not cut out for this romance thing.
Minjeong is on autopilot for the rest of the day, all the way until lunch, which Ningning notices, and the other two realise their mistake later on.
Ningning is already at their lunch table and Aeri and Jimin are following closely behind Minjeong as they head to the cafeteria to meet with her.
“We said we were sorry, Minjeongie.” Aeri whispers. “We really didn’t know.”
“We thought you were being your normal self.” Jimin whispers. “We didn’t know you were trying to, y’know, confess.”
“It’s fine.” Minjeong says it lifelessly.
“We feel bad.” Jimin says. “What can we do to help?”
“Maybe we can come up with a plan for you to ask Ning out.” Aeri suggests.
“It happened, and it’s over. It doesn’t matter anymore; don’t mind it.” Minjeong sighs.
“No!” Jimin bursts and Minjeong doesn’t even flinch. “It’s not over!”
“Yeah, it can’t be over!” Aeri follows.
Minjeong shakes her head and walks to their table, finding Ningning. She slides into the seat beside her and melts against the table, lying her arms and head on the cold surface.
“Unnie, are you feeling okay?” Ningning frowns.
“M’fine.” Minjeong responds.
“Are you sure?” Ningning asks.
“I’m okay, Ningie.” Minjeong lifts her head to smile softly at Ningning. “Don’t worry; I’m just tired.”
“Okay.” Ningning accepts the answer, reaching to fix Minjeong’s hair and to pat her head like she would a puppy.
It’ll be fine.
💌
The annual winter ball is coming up and the school faculty has been busy running around for its preparation. Almost daily, days before the dance, there have been asking outs left and right, up and down the halls.
Yesterday, Minjeong had to witness Jimin’s over-the-top, cheesy question. She prepared a giant bouquet of roses, a poster (which Minjeong held), and a teddy bear that was in Ningning’s arms.
Aeri was rightfully embarrassed but she was swooning at Jimin’s stupid face and accepted it immediately.
Minjeong definitely wasn’t going to do something like that because she thinks it might kill her dignity and whatever respect is left in her body. She stayed up all night handwriting Ningning a letter and practising how to say it. She was planning on asking her today and finally confessing after school on their walk home together.
She fiddles with the paper in her hand as she walks through the halls. Aeri sides up against her and she startles slightly.
“Hey!” Aeri smiles.
“Hi. Where’s Jimin?” Minjeong asks.
“She’s somewhere.” Aeri shrugs with a grin. “She’ll find us later.”
A sudden proposal is done in the hall, with one of the footballers running down the hall and sliding on his knees to his cheerleader girlfriend. Everyone moves out of the way and Aeri drags Minjeong to the wall to protect them. Minjeong blinks at the extravagance of it all and almost gags at the way she squeals and jumps into his arms with a sloppy kiss.
“Wow. Okay.” Minjeong snorts.
“Hey, you’re going to ask Ning to the dance, right?” Aeri asks, turning to Minjeong.
“Y-yeah,” Minjeong nods shyly. “I wrote a letter for her. I don’t think I can do the whole ‘huge asking out’ thing like that. Or Jimin’s cheesy one.”
“She’ll love it. Don’t worry.” Aeri smiles, patting Minjeong’s head. “She’ll care more for an intimate gesture than a giant superficial one, not that Jimin’s was superficial. She’s just like that all the time.”
“She really is,” Minjeong chuckles before sighing softly. “But are you sure she’ll say yes?”
“I’m very sure.”
A newfound confidence ignites in Minjeong’s figure and she nods determinedly. After school, knowing that they all walk home together usually, Minjeong asks Aeri and Jimin to head off first so she can lag behind with Ningning. While walking Ningning home again, she plans to hand the letter over, ask Ningning out to the dance, and also officially confess her feelings.
She smiles to herself and skips out of the school doors when she’s done with school. Ningning usually finishes first since her last period class is closer to the exit. When Minjeong spots her, she opens her mouth to speak but halts when she sees something else in front of her.
Ningning and Jisung.
Jisung with a letter in hand.
She walks back and hides behind a nearby pillar, her heart beating out of her chest as she purses her lips together.
She was too late and now Jisung is asking her out.
“Yes!”
Minjeong blinks; her heart seizes in her chest as she hears Ningning’s unmistakable cheerful voice.
No.
The letter crumbles in between Minjeong’s fingers and she runs off without looking back. She can’t be here; she can’t see Ningning; she feels sick.
The next thing she knows, she’s knocking on Jimin’s door, barely holding herself together.
“Hey!” Jimin grins, opening the door. “What’s—”
“ Unnie.” Minjeong almost whimpers.
Jimin’s eyes widen as her smile disappears.
Minjeong hasn’t ever called her unnie since they were kids and that was a long time ago when Minjeong was whiny and couldn’t do anything herself.
“What’s wrong?” Jimin blinks.
Minjeong’s tears run down her cheeks as she runs into Jimin, circling her arms around Jimin’s waist tightly—wanting to seek comfort after her heart was literally ripped from her chest.
Minjeong sobs and Jimin holds her tightly.
“You’re okay; it’s okay.” Jimin coos, dragging Minjeong into her warm house.
Aeri trudges down after Jimin hasn’t come back to the room yet after saying she’ll get snacks.
“Hey— oh, what’s happened?” Aeri frowns, asking quietly as she walks up to them.
Jimin shrugs, patting Minjeong’s back soothingly.
Jimin manages to drag Minjeong upstairs, where she wraps Minjeong into a cocoon with her comforter and leaves her on the bed. Aeri sits beside Minjeong, rubbing her back soothingly as Minjeong sobs.
The two of them have never seen Minjeong like this—well, Jimin did when they were children, but this is very different. Their friend is usually stoic, nonchalant and aloof on most, if not all, days. This is a new sight and they don’t know how to fix it.
After a while, Minjeong stops crying and there’s a pile of tissues filled with snot on Jimin’s bed, and Jimin is too worried about her to care. Minjeong finally tells Aeri and Jimin what happened from the top and Aeri can’t fathom how the day escalated so fast. She still remembers Minjeong’s little shy face in the morning with her handwritten letter, which isn’t on the girl at the moment.
“Are you sure that’s what happened?” Jimin asks, leaning on her desk.
“Yes.” Minjeong sniffles.
“Seriously? But I don’t think Ning likes him. I was so sure she liked, well, that she liked you.” Aeri frowns.
“You think she liked me back?” Minjeong asks hoarsely.
“Well, yeah.” Aeri nods.
“Then—then, why’d s-she—”
“No, hey, Minjeong—”
Then Minjeong bursts into tears again and Jimin sighs, shaking her head slightly. It already took Minjeong so long to calm down and now she’s crying again. Jimin walks over to Minjeong and brings her face to her clothed stomach, letting Minjeong wail against her. She wraps her arms around Minjeong’s back and pats it a bit hard, like a dad would, as Minjeong wraps her arms around Jimin’s torso.
“Is that comforting?” Aeri frowns at the way Jimin is consoling Minjeong.
“Hey, I grew up with her. Trust me, it works.” Jimin says.
Minjeong gasps as she pulls away from Jimin and she’s no longer crying.
“Oh, wow. It did work.” Aeri blinks.
“Good now?” Jimin asks and Minjeong nods. “No more crying, okay?”
Minjeong nods again.
The three of them sit down on Jimin’s bed.
“Maybe you should talk to her. Ask her what’s going on.” Aeri nudges her.
“I can’t. It’s so over for me. I’ve tried too many times and all of them have ended in failure.” Minjeong groans.
“Well, maybe just blurt it out this time.” Jimin says. “It’s only like your second time properly trying, right? Third time’s a charm.”
Minjeong’s bottom lip juts out again and Aeri blinks.
“Hey, hey, no more crying!” Jimin groans.
“It won’t even be the third time asking her out!” Minjeong cries again. “It’ll be the fourth!”
“Fourth?” Jimin asks.
“I tried the day Jimin and I hit our heads!” Minjeong sobs.
“Oh, see, you guys hitting your heads did something.” Aeri snorts.
“Babe, seriously.” Jimin sighs and Aeri grins sheepishly.
“Come on, you’re going to man up, look good for the dance in four days and sweep Ningning off of her feet, okay?” Jimin pinches Minjeong’s cheek.
“Ow–okay!” Minjeong nods.
“Good.” Jimin grins.
⭐🦋
The dance is buzzing with fun and filled with dressed up students. Minjeong feels nervous and the place just seems so big for her small self. She’s wearing a suit but left her blazer in Jimin’s backseat since she was getting nervous and getting cold sweats. She loosened her tie slightly and scanned the auditorium for Ningning.
There she was, chatting with other students, yet Jisung wasn’t there with her.
She wondered where her date was.
She clenched her hand and unclenched it with anxiety.
“Aren’t you going to go up to her?” Jimin nudges her and Minjeong flinches.
“Well, uh, there—there’s too many people around her.” Minjeong excuses.
“Nervous?” Aeri smiles knowingly and Minjeong nods.
“Crazy nervous.” Minjeong agrees.
“Just go up to her; quit being chicken.” Jimin says.
“I–I’m not chicken! They’re having fun and she’s talking to them.” Minjeong says. “I'm not going to go up to them and take her away. What if I do take her away, confess to her and then everything’s weird when we get back?”
“It won’t be weird; relax.” Jimin rolls her eyes.
“I can’t, not right now. I just got here. I need time.” Minjeong inhales sharply.
So then a waiting game begins.
Minjeong busies herself at the snack table and she takes giant gulps of the punch to occupy herself and calm her nerves. She fiddles with her tie and her shirt; she paces around, lingers at the back of the hall and ends up having to make small talk with some teachers.
Unknowingly, someone has been watching her the whole time.
When people begin to disperse, Minjeong sees an opening to head up to Ningning. She shakes out her jitters and begins her journey. Ningning doesn't’ spot her yet and she doesn’t blame her since the girl has terrible eyesight.
Minjeong’s almost there—if she leapt over, she’d be right at Ningning’s feet
She opens her mouth to call her name, but halts when someone else approaches Ningning. Her feet are rooted to the sticky auditorium floor and Jisung’s right in front of Ningning again.
Ningning greets Jisung with a huge smile, the apples of her cheeks reaching her eyes, and Minjeong’s world slows. That’s the kind of smile Ningning greets her with, and now she's watching someone else on the receiving end of it.
Her hand unclenches and it falls limply at her side.
Maybe she’s really not cut out for this crush thing.
It’s suffocating.
All the couples around her, the bright and colourful lights, the bass boosted music—and especially the way Ningning laughs with Jisung—it’s just all so suffocating.
Suddenly out of place, Minjeong turns around and walks out of the hall, in need of a breather. She’ll just take a break and go back in like nothing happened. She’ll pretend like her heart never jumped and came to life when she was around Ningning. She’ll pretend she never thought of Ningning in a different light and that she never wanted that kind of affection.
Minjeong finds herself sitting on the concrete pavement outside the hall, watching people go in and out who don’t spare her a single look. Gosh, she’s barely of adult age and she’s such a disaster; she feels pathetic.
She brings her knees to her chin and looks up at the starry sky, picking at the loose pebbles in the ground.
“Minjeong-unnie?”
Minjeong startles at the voice and scrambles up from her position, dusting her clothes as she turns to find Ningning.
“Um, h-hi.” Minjeong swallows.
Woah.
Minjeong blinks.
Seeing Ningning in her dress, styled hair and pretty make-up up close is enough to shut Minjeong’s brain down.
“Wow, um, you’re beautiful.” Minjeong blurts.
“Oh. Thank you.” Ningning blushes.
“I–I like the butterflies.” Minjeong points at the butterfly clips in her hair and the butterfly accents in her dress.
“Thank you.” Ningning grins. “Mum helped me with them last night.”
“You... you look perfect, Ning.” Minjeong says softly.
A weird silence follows and Minjeong’s shoes scrape against the pavement as she fidgets.
“What are you doing outside all by yourself?” Ningning asks.
“Just, uh, taking a breather.” Minjeong scratches her nape.
“You’re missing out on the fun.” Ningning says softly and Minjeong swallows.
“I’m not missing too much, I think.” Minjeong chuckles awkwardly.
“It’s not fun without you.” Ningning emphasises, and Minjeong blinks.
“You should, uh, go back inside. I’ll be there soon.” Minjeong says.
Ningning sighs.
“That’s it?” Ningning asks.
“W-what?” Minjeong blinks.
“That’s all you’re going to say to me after four days of radio silence? We’ve never gone without speaking for that long.” Ningning stresses with a frown on her face.
“I didn’t mean to. I got busy…” Minjeong lies. “What do you want me to say?”
“I want you to say what you’ve been meaning to tell me.” Ningning says and Minjeong’s blood runs cold. “You’ve been trying all this time to say something to me, right? But you kept hesitating or things got in the way. I know you, unnie—I could tell. So tell me now. I’m right in front of you and nothing’s coming in between now.”
It seems futile, all the efforts Minjeong’s tried to make to just say three words. Here’s the girl of her dreams, standing in front of her, practically starting off the confession for her.
“Ning, I…” Minjeong buzzes with anxiousness.
She clenches her hand into a fist.
Why is it so hard to say?
“You like me, right?” Ningning smiles softly at the way Minjeong is trying so hard to push herself out of her comfort zone.
“I—what?” Minjeong’s eyes widen comically. “How did you—”
“You’re obvious.” Ningning smiles, reaching forward to take Minjeong’s hand in hers. She unfurls Minjeong’s fist and holds her fingers. “And I guess I wanted to wait to see if you could actually manage to ask me out. I didn’t want to steal your thunder, but I am now, since I thought you were going to ask me out to be your date tonight, but you didn’t.”
“I’m sorry. I... things happened.” Minjeong flushes. “But, wait, what do you mean?”
Ningning chuckled, poking Minjeong’s forehead and Minjeong stumbled slightly.
“Do I have to spell it out for you?” Ningning laughs. “Jimin-unnie isn’t the only one who’s stupid. Maybe that’s why you two get along so well.”
“W-what?” Minjeong blinks.
“Unnie. Kim Minjeong-unnie, I like you, too. I thought I was being clear enough.” Ningning sighs, smiling softly. “I don’t run around kissing people for fun.”
“You—you like me, too?” Minjeong blushes.
“Of course I do. How could I not?” Ningning pouts. “I like you for you. You’ve never changed in the years I’ve known you and you take care of me so well, unnie. No one looks after me like you do. You just have so much love in you; it’s heartwarming to know that some of that love is mine.”
“But what about Jisung?” Minjeong asks, still in disbelief.
“What about him?” Ningning blinks.
“I saw him ask you to be his date and you said yes.” Minjeong frowns.
“Well, maybe if you weren’t avoiding me like an idiot, then you’d realise Jisung is in there dancing with his boyfriend, Mark.” Ningning chuckles. “He was practising how to ask Mark out and I said yes because I agreed his proposal was perfect.”
“O-oh. Oh.” Minjeong blinks.
“Yeah, oh,” Ningning chuckles.
Ningning steps forward and wraps her arms around Minjeong’s neck, standing on her tip-toes lightly as she leans forward. Minjeong’s breath hitches and her eyes remain unblinking as they roam over Ningning’s face, suddenly breathless and enamoured by the girl in front of her.
Hesitantly, Minjeong holds gentle hands at the small of Ningning’s back.
“Aeri-unnie told me you were going to ask me out with a letter. Did you want to do it now since the air is cleared?” Ningning smiles.
“Well, um,” Minjeong swallows, blushing. “I–I don’t exactly have the letter right now... or ever. I ripped it up.”
“But you know your feelings well enough to tell me, right?” Ningning chuckles.
Minjeong smiles, nodding softly.
“Yeah. I guess I do.” Minjeong says softly.
Ningning settles back on her feet and looks up at Minjeong expectantly. Minjeong grins, feeling her hands shake despite the jittery feeling in her heart. She takes a deep breath and holds Ningning’s squishy cheeks in her hands.
“I’ve known that I’ve liked you since the start of junior year. I don’t exactly remember how it came to be, but I knew I liked you a little more than I would anyone else and wanted to care for you at every turn.” Minjeong confesses. “I think you’re the most beautiful girl who’s ever walked this earth, more beautiful than Aphrodite and I hope she doesn’t curse me for saying that. Call it puppy love, but I don’t care. I know I like you and I know it runs deep. I want to know you forever, Ning Yizhuo… So, if you wouldn’t mind, will you take me as your date for the rest of the dance? And for life?”
Ningning giggles, hitting her head against Minjeong’s chest as she laughs. Minjeong smiles softly, holding Ningning close to her.
“Was it too cheesy?” Minjeong shrinks shyly.
“No.” Ningning still giggles. “It was perfect. It was cheesy and you’re cheesy, but I like it. I like you.”
Minjeong grins and the next thing she knows, it’s almost instinct without plan, but she’s leaning down—one hand at Ningning’s jaw and one at the small of her back, leaning in for a kiss.
It’s clumsy, it’s new and it’s their first. Teeth meet after supple lips and Ningning giggles, and Minjeong’s wide grin breaks the kiss.
Ningning tastes sweet and Minjeong isn’t as gentle as she looks, still clumsy and learning as she expresses her quiet affection for Ningning. Ningning pulls away yet places a chaste kiss on Minjeong’s cheek before she backs away with an outstretched hand.
“Dance with me.” Ningning smiles.
“Here? You don’t want to go back inside the hall?” Minjeong asks.
“No, I’m so overstimulated in the hall with the loud music and everyone else there.” Ningning shudders. “I feel like bouncing off the walls in there. Plus, we can still hear the music out here.”
“Okay.” Minjeong grins.
The music is almost muted behind the backdrop of their slow dance. Ningning has her arms around Minjeong’s neck as she leans her head against her shoulder and Minjeong hugs Ningning’s back, swaying side to side, moving her feet like she practised.
“You seem pretty good at this,” Ningning says.
“Well,” Minjeong chuckles shyly. “I practised in my room. I was excited to ask you out and I didn’t want to make myself a fool when you’d ask me to dance.”
Ningning laughs out loud and Minjeong rolls her eyes with affection.
“Oh, unnie, you’re so sweet and silly.” Ningning giggles.
“Yeah, yeah.” Minjeong snorts.
Minjeong surprises Ningning with a twirl, yet the execution ends in giggles when Ningning stumbles forward into Minjeong’s arms, stepping on her toes.
“Sorry, I thought that was going to end well.” Minjeong giggles sheepishly.
“I thought you were going to be cool for once.” Ningning snorts.
“Hey! I am cool.” Minjeong pouts.
“Eh,” Ningning shrugs.
“...I’m cooler than Jimin-unnie, though, right?” Minjeong quips.
“Well… You guys aren’t childhood best friends for nothing.”
“Hey!”
They head back inside the hall, hand in hand, in search of snacks and some unspiked punch, and to also look for Aeri and Jimin.
“Hey, did I tell you how dapper you look in your get-up?” Ningning squeezes her hand and Minjeong blinks.
She looks down at her untied bow, her untucked dress-shirt from her pants and the rolled up sleeves. She thinks she looks like she just went through four divorces, but whatever floats Ningning’s boat.
“Oh, I thought I looked messy. But, thanks.” Minjeong beams.
“You look hot, pretty boy. Don’t worry.” Ningning giggles and Minjeong blushes furiously.
“There you two are!” Aeri finds them and she’s dragging Jimin behind her. “We have to leave!”
“Leave?” Minjeong blinks. “Why?”
“ Someone spiked the punch and the student council president is going around searching everyone! If he doesn’t know we weren’t here, then we’re not suspects.” Aeri huffs.
They all exit and run to Jimin’s car, but Aeri slides into the driver’s seat instead of Jimin, who is abnormally quiet in the passenger seat.
“So, who spiked it?” Ningning asks.
Aeri doesn’t speak but she slowly turns to glare at Jimin and Minjeong snickers.
“Oh, that’s rich.” Minjeong chortles.
Jimin whines, “ It wasn’t even that much!”
The drive home is full of laughter, open windows and screaming the wrong lyrics of songs into the open night air and Minjeong feels so happy, seated in the back seat, hand intertwined with Ningning’s, who’s looking at the stars out of the window.
Minjeong smiles upon her very own star, right beside her.
THE END <3
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