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It was supposed to be a typical Sunday sunrise for Jimin.
She was almost finished with tying the laces of her shoe— the morning run that she’s been planning to do, but have always pushed to another day, is finally happening today.
Supposedly.
Not until she received a rather bizarre message from a person she deemed to be the complete opposite of an early bird.
Puzzled at the unexpected notification from her best friend, Jimin huffed a breath, sitting down straight; Leaving her shoelaces undone and deciding to humor Minjeong some of her precious time.
meepjeong: jiminjhh
Hold on.
A crease immediately formed between Jimin’s eyebrows.
She was about to reply using only her one hand when another message chimed in her notification.
meepjeong: comeover pleasw
With that text, Jimin seemed to have forgotten the plan she had made for days now: The shoes that were once hugging her feet were replaced by her blue-colored crocs (matching Minjeong’s purple ones), and the tumbler on her hand is now accompanied by her keys, wallet, and a hoodie that she took fresh from her clean laundry.
She figured that pushing the morning run to another weekend wouldn't hurt, when there's something far more important for her to do right now.
———
Jimin arrived fifteen minutes after she replied to Minjeong's message with a: you alright? on my way.
She grew more anxious as she didn't receive any reply from her best friend after that. It was just so unusual.
This is so not Minjeong.
Well, let’s give you a little background about Jimin’s best friend.
First, she’s not a morning person. Definitely. They’ve known each other for half of their lives, and not once did Minjeong ever liked the idea of waking up early. Moreso, joining Jimin on her sunrise escapades and grabbing some breakfast with her willingly.
Second, Minjeong doesn't type her messages like that. She’s the grammar police! Hell, even Jimin doesn't have a pass when it comes to Minjeong’s prim and pristine standards in typing. I bet even you wouldn't last on her Typing101 lessons.
Lastly, she won't ever– ever!– ask Jimin to “come over” just like that.
Maybe she’ll say, “I’m cooking something. I need someone to taste it”, or, “There's this new movie I want to watch”, but not once did her best friend just straight up ask Jimin to “come over” (and with a little “please” at that!)
I guess now you can certainly say that it is valid for Jimin to feel baffled right now. Because, really, everything about this is so unusual.
Especially when there's no grumpy blonde-hair that greeted her on the other side of the door.
Minjeong’s apartment feels a little quieter, eerily so.
Even though her best friend’s not a fan of mornings, she always made sure that she'll at least greet Jimin with her furrowed brows and still sleepy eyes, after the older is done with jogging. If she’s feeling a little generous, she’d invite her to some hot coffee from her pot in the kitchen, and spend the rest of the morning in comfortable silence.
But today, it's different. There's nothing but a lonely pair of fluffy slippers at the entrance of her place; Bought solely for Jimin to use.
She also checked the kitchen for a trace, but found an unattended pot of coffee instead. The crease on Jimin’s forehead never left as she made a beeline to her best friend’s room, after making sure that everything in the kitchen was in place.
“Minjeong?” A knock was followed.
“Hey, I’m here.” Jimin called for the second time, but was, once again, only replied with silence.
Slowly, she turned the knob open, nudging the door gently so as to not make a sound and possibly disturb her best friend.
It was dark inside, although not completely, because of the lamp that Jimin randomly gifted to Minjeong one Thursday afternoon. (Jimin would defend herself and say that it wasn't actually random– the lamp was of a silly otter, laying down with a big bulb of light between its legs and being played by its hands, and it just reminded her of her best friend!)
The taller heard some shuffling of sheets before she finally let out a sigh of relief after finding Minjeong buried under the duvet.
“Jeongie?” She called softly.
“Hmm? Jimin…?” Her voice was hoarse, her heavy eyes trying to open themselves, but Jimin was much faster with getting to her side and leaning over to check her state.
It didn't take Jimin even a beat to say her observation.
“You're not well.” She said with her brows furrowed, reaching for Minjeong’s forehead and brushing the stray strands of blonde hair away from her flushed face.
Jimin expects her to shove her hand away and deny the obvious situation,
But what she gets instead, is the complete opposite of that.
Jimin expected Minjeong to push her away and say that she’ll be fine,
And not this.
“Minjeong..?”
“Your hand’s cold.”
Well, yeah. Pretty obvious. You have it placed on your cheek and you're even leaning on it, of course you’d feel the cold! Jesus Christ.
But Jimin only bit her tongue and decided to ignore the tingling on her hand and the voices in her head.
“Come on,” she cleared her throat, hand still under her best friend’s touch, “let’s get you changed. You're sweating.”
Minjeong only mumbled a few things, incoherent at all to Jimin’s ear. But she figured it's just the younger’s usual complaining when she's being asked to do something she doesn't want to.
Jimin, with her other free hand, tries to tuck the blonde hair escaping again, tapping Minjeong’s warm cheek lightly after. The younger’s eyes are still closed, but the familiar meeting of her eyebrows are present under Jimin’s gaze.
“Minjeongie.” The taller girl called again. To be honest, she doesn't have any problem with Minjeong not wanting to get up at all. She's sick, and her body must feel so heavy at the moment. But! Jimin is starting to feel her muscles getting tired from hunching down and getting to the younger’s level, while she's just there laying down and using Jimin’s hand as a pillow. It's not fair.
(Or maybe she wasn't really talking about their position, but rather the calmness on Minjeong’s face in opposition to her agitated heart beat).
Jimin sighed, giving up for now. But Minjeong’s eyelids went open for the second time, and Jimin shouldn't have hope that there will be anything good for her after that. (Or for her heart, at least.)
The older one felt a tug on her drew lilac hoodie, before she almost stumbled down on Minjeong’s body. Almost. Good thing she caught herself, and the hand that was once under the younger’s cheek, is now planted on her side, Jimin’s knee was now buried deep in the soft duvet, while her other arm is supporting her weight to not completely straddle her best friend.
She then, sinisterly, came face to face with the younger’s face. Jimin can see the mole under Minjeong’s eye (which is now closed again) and on her cheek. Her pillow lips were slightly apart, a steady breathing coming out of it. And Jimin could swear she could feel it under her chin.
Jesus christ.
As if torturing her even more, Jimin felt her best friend's arm making their way around her neck.
What the fuck?
“You’re comfy…”
What the fuck.
Let us add another background to her little tormenter of a best friend.
She has never– EVER– been this affectionate.
Sure they hold hands from time to time, and sometimes she’s leaning on Jimin’s shoulder too when she's sleepy (which is most of the time):
But never did she once allow the taller to be this close.
Minjeong burying her face on the crook of Jimin’s neck is definitely not on her 2024 bingo list. (Or even in the following years!)
Jimin felt like all the other crises she has faced before were nothing compared to the situation she's in right now.
Minjeong’s breath was hot on her skin, tickling her with the steady air. Her nose touches Jimin’s neck lightly, and the goosebumps it almost gave the latter made her face flushed.
Holy dinosaurs.
“Minjeong…” Please. She almost begged. Please let me escape from this predicament you’ve caused.
Jimin wouldn't deny that she sometimes wonders what it would be like if Minjeong is clingier or more affectionate than how she is. Would she survive? Or give in to the temptation?
She’ll enjoy it, she said. Certainly, she said again.
Well, news flash!
She doesn't.
Jimin’s not enjoying any of this at all!
(Her heart is almost out of her ribcage, so how can she enjoy it?)
And she doesn't even know if she's surviving this, let alone give in!
How the hell do you even breathe in this situation?
(She’s been short of it for a while now.)
———
After what felt like forever, Jimin finally felt Minjeong’s arms loosen around her neck.
She released a sigh of relief, but groaned at the next second: Her arms felt numb, her thighs almost trembling from the stress she put on it while steadying herself.
Great, Jimin. Torture yourself instead of just hugging back your best friend and let her cuddle with you like normal friends does. Really great!
The taller slowly pulled herself out the trap she carelessly walked into, ignoring the voice in her head that longed for the warmth she had lost; She can't afford to be that close again (because a few minutes were enough for Minjeong’s embrace to burn on her skin.)
She finds herself again in the kitchen, moments later.
Clearly shaken off from the situation, Jimin released a shaky breath of relief. She clutched the side of her chest where she’s reminded of how it always is for her whenever Minjeong would exist beside her. Her heart needs to stop pumping blood this fast, or else, it’ll be harder to ignore the persisting adoration she's been trying to shove under the deepest of a rug for years now.
Jimin distracted herself by taking out a ready-made soup from her best friend’s pantry. She also made herself a hot cup of coffee (that probably explains the nerves she has), her back leaning on the countertop while casually scrolling through her phone.
When Jimin was finally satisfied with the temperature of the soup, she turned the heat off and prepared the food along with a glass of water, in addition to the medicine she looked for earlier.
She smiled proudly while giving herself a tap on the shoulder after assembling the tray that she’ll deliver to Minjeong’s room.
“Jimin?”
Surprised with the sudden appearance, Jimin almost jumped out of her skin after seeing the younger girl in front of her instead of being in her room.
“Minjeongie! You should've been in your room.”
“But you’re not there.”
Jimin felt absolutely crazy when she heard those words coming out of Minjeong’s pouting lips. It also doesn't help that she looks absolutely adorable with her blonde hair in a mess while looking smaller because of the oversized shirt and baggy pajamas. Jimin notices the pair of socks she's wearing and fights a smile when she realizes it was the cat-printed ones they bought to match.
She cleared her throat when she saw Minjeong frowning at her lack of reply. “I was about to go back right now!”
“Liar.” Her frown deepens.
“I’m not! I was preparing something for you to eat.”
Jimin stepped aside to show the tray she arranged just before Minjeong came into the scene. The sparkle on the latter’s eyes shouldn't have flattered Jimin too much, but when Minjeong obviously perked up with her still flushed cheeks accompanying a smile, the older knew she stood no chance at surviving this at all.
———
“Are you cold? Do you want me to get your blanket?”
“Yes, please.”
“Let me get you some water.”
“Thank you, Jiminie.”
“Should we watch your favorite movie?”
“That would make me feel better.”
“Do you need anything else?”
“Can you come closer?”
Jimin froze on her seat at the question. They are currently sitting side by side on Minjeong’s beloved couch. She was fixing the blanket to properly cover them both, and finally start the film projected on the blank white wall of the latter’s apartment, when she was caught off guard yet again by her best friend.
She secretly rubbed the tip of her ears to make the redness go away (but it didn't do anything at all).
When the younger didn't receive any reply, nor felt the older girl coming close, Minjeong– unfortunately for Jimin– moved position herself.
“Wait, Minjeong–”
“Hmm?”
The older held her breath when the girl suddenly looked at her with a short distance between their faces. Minjeong chose to wrap the older girl’s left arm around her, leaning her head on her shoulder— almost close to where her heart rests. The familiar smell of sugared coconut hit her nose at the flick of her best friend’s blonde hair.
Jimin took note of how doe and bright Minjeong’s eyes are, especially when she’s looking at her like this under her eyelashes. She was drawn yet again to the mole below her eye and on her cheek, scolding herself from wanting to kiss them gently. Minjeong’s lips were plump and pink, moisturized by water that she gave her; and not for the first nor second time, Jimin held herself back from leaning down and claiming it with her own.
“Jimin?”
“I want to kiss you.”
Jimin’s eyes went wide when she realized what she just uttered. Her heart thumped loudly against her chest and on her ears, while she stares in horror at Minjeong, whose big eyes continued to look at her in complete shock.
The older tried to gather all the words she could in her head to form a convincing excuse and deny her way out of this situation. There's no way she would explain the origin of her desires. There is no fucking way she’ll have this conversation with her best friend for 12 years. There's just no way!
But her tormenter of a friend really likes to torture her.
She does. Oh, she really really does.
“N-Not now. I’m still sick…”
Jimin couldn't survive an affectionate Minjeong after all.