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The radio static echoing various advertisements for dog food or new blinds, goes in one ear and out the other for Minjeong and Ningning — certified best friends and proud platinum gold members of aespa’s online fanclub.
It had been weeks since the Ticketmaster disaster — or what Ningning refers to as ‘the bloodiest war she’d ever seen in girl-group pop music history.’
Okay, maybe not the bloodiest, but close enough! Minjeong had tried everything to secure tickets to aespa’s concert — nagged a presale code, early access, credit card on file — everything!
But luck had not been on her side. Turns out, a glitch in the system had given more people than intended an early access and completely flooded the site’s servers. Which would’ve totally been fine….if not for the shitty Wi-Fi at her and Ningning’s shared apartment.
They’re college students on a budget, sue them!
By the time their good-for-nothing internet connection was back up and running, the show had practically been sold out. And worse, scalpers were re-selling tickets at egregious prices in the thousands that neither girl could afford.
Now, the concert was only days away, and Minjeong had all but given up hope.
Thankfully, her better-half best friend did not!
On the single off-chance that she chose to listen to the radio instead of her multitude of Spotify playlists on her way home, Ningning almost gets in a car accident at the announcement of their local station’s giveaway — two front-row VIP tickets to aespa’s show.
Which brings them to their current predicament in the younger’s car, insisting on having Minjeong in her passenger princess seat at 6:45 am sharp, the contest in fifteen minutes. To sweeten the deal, she even bought them bagels and coffee – their minds need to be sharp to get these tickets.
“Ugh, these stupid radio ads are so long! Ning-ah, what if we don’t get through?” With a loud groan, Minjeong takes a generous sip of her coffee. Slumped in the passenger seat, Minjeong clutches her phone in one hand and her lucky photocard in the other.
"Not with that attitude!" Ningning said, her energy a sharp contrast to Minjeong’s gloom. She scrolls through her phone, wanting to pick a song to drown out the irrelevant radio chatter and smirks when she presses play.
Now Playing: ‘Lover’ - KARINA Solo (aespa ○ SYNK: PARALLEL LINE)
“Here,” Ningning said, her tone mockingly pouty as she teases her friend. “I know her voice ‘gives you strength’ or whatever you said on your tweet the other day.”
Minjeong’s cheeks burn, despite her current pessimism. “I don’t even want to hear their songs right now. It’s too painful.”
“Painful?” Ningning raised an eyebrow. “C’mon, you’ve been in love with Karina since, what, pre-debut? You can’t give up now.”
Minjeong turns to the younger girl in the driver’s seat, playing coy. “I…I happen to have many feelings for Yu Jimin over the course of being a fan sure”
“Wow, government naming her like that?” Ningning teased, grinning. “And as if. Kinda like how your ‘many feelings’ include, what did you say last week when we were drunk off our ass? That you’d let Yu Jimin use her eight-inch blue str—”
“Okay, okay, stop!” Minjeong sat up, flustered. “I don’t even remember saying that,” she mumbles to herself.
Ningning snorts.. “Right. Face it, we’re both obsessed, and that’s okay. We listen and we don’t judge.”
“This radio contest is literally our last shot, and the odds are next-to impossible.”
“You’re such a pessimist,” Ningning said, sitting up straighter. She gestured toward the radio, which was currently amping up to announce the prize. “See? This is fate. All we have to do is call in and answer a trivia question. Easy.”
Minjeong shot her a dubious look. “You do realize there are probably thousands of other fans trying to call in right now, right?”
“And yet,” Ningning said, holding up her phone with a confident smirk, “we’re going to win. Trust me.”
Before Minjeong could respond, the DJ’s voice interrupted. “All right, listeners! It’s time for our big giveaway! Call now for a chance to win VIP tickets to see aespa live in concert! The first caller to answer our trivia question correctly will win. Good luck!”
Ningning immediately hit the call button on her phone. “Come on, come on,” she muttered, pacing the room as the line rang. Minjeong watched her with a mix of amusement and resignation; she might as well hope to the gods for just this one thing.
The odds were slim, but if anyone had the determination to pull this off, it was Ningning.
In a beat, the line connects.
“Hello? Am I through?” Ningning practically shouted into the phone.
“Congratulations, caller! You’re live on the air. Are you ready to answer the trivia question?” the DJ’s voice crackled through the speaker.
Ningning’s eyes widened, while Minjeong, who sat bolt upright, her heart suddenly pounding out of her chest.
“I’m ready!” Ningning said, her voice steady despite the excitement bubbling under the surface.
“Here’s your question,” the DJ said. “What was aespa’s debut single?”
Ningning didn’t miss a beat. “Black Mamba!” she shouted, her confidence unwavering.
There was a brief pause, and then the DJ’s voice boomed, “That’s correct! Congratulations, you’ve just won two front-row VIP tickets to aespa’s concert!”
Minjeong let out a strangled gasp as Ningning started screaming, rocking up and down in her seat like a maniac. “We won! We actually won!” Ningning yelled, grabbing Minjeong by the shoulders and shaking her. “Do you know what this means? We’re going to see aespa! Finally! Up close!”
“I-I can’t believe it,” Minjeong stammered, her mind racing. After all the heartbreak of losing out on tickets, this felt like a miracle. She was going to see Karina.
Karina.
Ningning smirked, her excitement giving way to a sly grin. “Fate, I told you! Now,” She claps. “First thing’s first, let’s plan our outfits because Giselle needs to know her future wife has arrived, yes.”
Minjeong laughed, her earlier despair replaced with a giddy sense of hope and overwhelming, stomach churning excitement.
And for the first time, Minjeong started to believe in fate, just a little bit.
Finally, the big day arrived.
The pair had spent the morning giddy with excitement, double-checking their outfits and making sure their lightsticks were fully charged. Ningning had gone for a bold, glittery look, complete with crescent moon hair pins she’d customized herself. Minjeong, on the other hand, had opted for something more subtle; choosing to curl her long blonde hair and a blue double denim ensemble, a nod to her idol’s favorite color.
The city was buzzing as they made their way to the venue, fans pouring in from all directions. The closer they got, the more the excitement built. Street vendors were selling unofficial merch, and groups of fans were gathered in circles — the energy was contagious, and Minjeong couldn’t stop herself from smiling ear to ear as she took it all in.
“This is insane,” Ningning said, her eyes wide as they passed a massive banner featuring the members of aespa. “Can you believe we’re actually here?”
Minjeong shook her head, her heart fluttering. “It doesn’t feel real.”
They picked up their VIP passes and were ushered into a special entrance where they indulged in gift bags containing exclusive goods, and first dibs on concert merchandise.
When they finally stepped into the arena, the sight took their breath away. The stage was massive, adorned with elaborate lighting rigs and screens displaying aespa’s logo. Their seats were so close to the stage that Minjeong gulped. She couldn’t believe Karina was about to be that close.
So close she can probably hear Karina speak without a mic; so close she can can see every detail of their choreography from top to bottom; so close Minjeong will probably get to see a bead of sweat run down the side of Karina’s beautiful, perfect face that she’s more than happy to lick o—
Alright, Minjeong will stop herself there.
She’s just nervous, and Ningning is too. “This is it,” Ningning whispered, her voice filled with awe. “We’re really here.”
Minjeong nodded, her hands gripping her lightstick tightly. The anticipation was almost too much to bear. She’d dreamed of this moment for so long, and now that it was here, it felt overwhelming in the best way possible.
“Don’t drool too much, unnie,” Ningning teased, nudging her with a sly grin. “The members might slip because you can’t stop looking at Karina unnie’s face.”
Minjeong’s cheeks turn scarlet, and playfully nudges her back. “I don't like her just because she’s beautiful, you know,” she says, her voice soft but firm. Minjeong would never dare claim to know her, she is a celebrity after all; but she’s seen enough of Karina’s content to have to know few, at the very least that “--she’s kind, sincere, and such a hard worker too. She’s incredibly talented and has an amazing voice, and–and she treats everyone around her so well, and…” Minjeong paused, her gaze fixed on the stage before turning back to her friend, “…she just so happens to have the most perfectly sculpted face on earth by sheer coincidence . Okay?”
Ningning could only laugh and tsk. “Down astronomically bad.”
As the lights dimmed and the opening VCR played, the crowd erupted into cheers. The idol duo appeared on stage, their entrances more dazzling than the last. The concert was everything they’d hoped for and more. The duo performed hit after hit — their energy infectious, their talent undeniable.
Nothing could have prepared Minjeong to see Ningning scream herself hoarse during Giselle’s parts, making her unnie wonder if her family heard her all the way from Harbin.
Minjeong found herself utterly entranced every time Karina took center stage; her heart nearly stopping when Karina neared their seats, her long red-wine hair shimmering under the stage lights, her presence commanding and magnetic.
It felt like Karina’s gaze lingered in her direction for just a second too long during one of the performances, her cheeks burning at the sight of a sweet, cheeky smile thrown in her direction.
At the halfway point of the concert, a particular VCR started playing on the big screen, the stage still darkened, marking the beginning of Karina’s solo stage. The crowd roared in response, the excitement reaching fever pitch.
Minjeong’s heart raced as she realized what song was coming. Lover was one of her favorite tracks — a slow, intimate ballad that showcased Karina’s vocal prowess and emotional depth — a change from her usual upbeat solos. It was a song meant to be performed with feeling, and Minjeong could hardly wait to see it live, her heart already singing its heartfelt lyrics.
She was so engrossed at the big screen that Minjeong failed to hear the staff member, clad in all black and a mask, attempting to get her attention past the barricade.
The staff member hurries to the barricade in front of their seats as Minjeong and Ningning exchange confused looks. “What’s going o–” Minjeong starts but is quickly interrupted.
“Excuse me, you are the contest winners correct?”
The two best friends exchange another round of looks, blinking and startled before in unison. “Yes, that’s us!”
The staff member smiled. “Great. We’re doing something special for Karina’s solo stage, and we didn’t just want to get anybody so anyway, we’d love it if one of you could be a part of it. Would you be interested?”
Minjeong’s mind went blank. “P-Part of it?” she stammered, her voice barely audible over the roar of the crowd.
Before she could parrot another stuttered response, Ningning speaks up for them. “Minjeong unnie would love to!” She gives her a wink and a stupid giggle.
Minjeong is almost frozen in place. What the fuck .
“Amazing! It’s nothing too complicated,” the staff member said quickly, as though sensing her hesitation. “You’ll just need to sit on a stool while the dancers perform around you. Karina will serenade you as part of the act. That’s all.”
Minjeong’s cheeks turned crimson, her legs shaky. The woman of her dreams will do what now? “She’ll… she’ll serenade me?”
Ningning grabbed her arm, practically shaking her with excitement. “Say yes, Minjeong! This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance!”
“Y-Yes,” Minjeong managed to squeak out, her head spinning.
“Great,” the staff member said with a smile, already ushering her and partly opening the barricade toward the side stage area. “Quick, quickly. Follow me, we’ll get you set up.”
Ningning waved frantically as Minjeong was led away. “That’s my best friend, oh my god! Don’t faint!” she called, her laughter echoing behind them.
Minjeong’s legs felt like jelly as she followed the staff member, her mind racing.
Holy fuck.
This can’t be real.
Holy fuck.
I’m gonna pass out.
She was about to share the stage with Karina, the woman who’d captured her heart from thousands of miles away and now she’s just supposed to sit there while Karina sings her a love song?
How is she supposed to survive this?
When Minjeong stepped onto the stage, guided by a staff member, the spotlight hit her, and the crowd erupted in cheers. She felt like a deer in headlights, her legs trembling as she sat on the stool placed at the center of the stage.
And then she saw her.
-
Jimin adjusted her in-ear monitors as she stood backstage, waiting for her cue.
The production staff had mentioned earlier they’d be choosing an audience member for her to serenade during Lover , a fun addition to make the performance feel more personal to the fans.
“Just play up the whole ‘serenading’ act just a tad, okay? They’ll love that!” Her manager said.
Oh they’ll love it alright , she thought, knowing exactly how much they love this kind of fan-service. Especially their female fans.
But as the spotlight gleamed down on the chosen girl, Jimin’s breath hitched.
She isn’t completely sure her staff plucked this girl from the audience and not straight out of her dreams. Long blonde hair, curled so prettily , framed her adorable puppy-like face, with pouty lips. Her eyes, god her eyes — soft, inviting, and full of wonder and nervousness —stared back, unblinking, locking onto Jimin with an intensity that felt like the world had narrowed down to just the two of them.
The girl looked like someone who didn’t belong in the ordinary world, too perfect for anything outside of a dream.
Jimin never believed in silly things like love at first sight, and she still doesn’t….but if she did, she’d say it’s happening right fucking now.
For a moment, Jimin forgot where she was.
Her grip tightened on the microphone as she stared, her heart pounding in a way couldn't quite explain.
As the opening notes of Lover begin, Jimin is pulled back to the present, bringing her lips to the mic.
We could leave the Christmas light up 'til January
And this our place, we make the rules
And there's a dazzling haze, a mysterious way about you dear
Jimin was lost in the magic of it all, physically unable to take her eyes off the girl’s.
Have I known you, 20 seconds or 20 years?
The tender, dreamy melody filled the arena like a lover’s embrace. Each word was meant to be for the fans, for the performance, but they spilled out like a question…a hopeful suggestion meant solely for the girl before her. She continued to sing, her voice steady despite the storm raging inside her.
Can I go where you go?
Can we always be this close forever and ever?
And ah, take me out, and take me home
The dancers circled around the mystery girl, their movements fluid and hypnotic, but Jimin registered neither them nor the deafening cheers of the audience.
Her entire world had narrowed to the girl on the stool.
Her heartbeat matched the rhythm, every note flowing through her, her voice caught in the web of emotion that had woven itself around her the moment their eyes met.
Jimin didn’t even know her name yet, but it felt like it belonged to her already. The girl of her dreams continued to sit there with her hands clasped nervously in her lap, her cheeks tinged with the faintest blush as Jimin sang the next line directly to her.
You're my, my, my, my
Lover
She shoots her a wink, causing the girl to bury her face in her hands, noting the redness quickly spreading from her chest to her lovely, lovely neck.
When the bridge of the song approached, the dancers melted into the shadows, leaving only Jimin and the girl under the spotlight.
The air shifted, heavy with unspoken tension. Jimin acted on pure impulse, her heart dictating her movements before her mind could catch up. She reached out, gently taking her hands in hers. They were small and warm, trembling slightly as Jimin pulled her to her feet.
Up close, she could see the girl in her full radiance as she whispers “What’s your —”
“Minjeong. Kim Minjeong,” The girl squeaked out in time for Jimin to catch the count of the upcoming music cue.
“Wrap your arms around me, Minjeong” Jimin whispered, the words slipping past her lips before she could second-guess them. Minjeong hesitates for a heartbeat before nodding shyly, a soft eagerness in her eyes, her arms sliding around the idol’s neck.
What am I doing? Oh god, What am I doing?
I don’t do things like this! This is the first time a girl has even —
As soon as the gentle fragrance of lavender and vanilla that is Minjeong’s unmistakable presence wafted her way, her mind stilled.
The closeness was intoxicating.
Jimin rested her hands lightly on Minjeong’s lithe waist, searching her eyes for any hint of unease as they sway to the light string embellishments song. Their movements were slow, almost dreamlike, as if the rest of the world had ceased to exist before the idol in her brings the microphone to her lips.
Ladies and gentlemen, will you please stand?
With every guitar string scar on my hand
I take this magnetic force to be my lover
Jimin couldn’t help but be entranced by how close they were; the distance between their faces felt almost unbearable as she sings with the microphone almost between them. Minjeong’s breath, warm against her skin, sent shivers down her spine. With each subtle movement, their bodies were moving as if they had always known how to fit together, as though they were two parts of a puzzle that had just finally clicked into place. In a state of wonder, Jimin takes a split second to examine Minjeong’s eyes again for any trace of doubt.
It vanished when Minjeong, soft in the shell of her ear, utters “It’s okay, its okay,”
My heart's been borrowed and yours has been blue
All's well that ends well to end up with you
Swear to be overdramatic and true to my lover
Minjeong’s eyes never left hers even as she sang, the gaze so intense it felt like they were speaking without words. But Jimin couldn’t take it anymore. She took a breath, turning her head slightly to the side and barely finishing the last note, as if needing space to steady herself. Her voice was barely above a whisper, but her words as well as the following gasp from the girl in her arms, felt like they rang louder than anything else in the room. “You’re so beautiful.”
And you'll save all your dirtiest jokes for me
And at every table, I'll —
The last few words remained unsung, lost in the space between them.
Jimin’s body reacted before her mind could catch up, as if it had known the answer all along. Without thinking, she leaned in just the slightest bit, her lips brushing against Minjeong’s cheek. Their heads turned just a fraction, but it was enough to close the space and before Jimin could stop herself — kissed her.
The kiss wasn’t hurried or desperate. It was slow, almost reverent, as if the world had stopped for that brief moment to allow them to share this intimacy.
Jimin’s hand slid from Minjeong’s waist to the back of her neck, pulling her closer and feeling the delicate warmth of her skin beneath her touch.
Minjeong’s arms tightened her grip around the idol’s neck, responding to the kiss with a pathetic mewl , then a soft moan. For a brief few seconds, their lips moved in sync; each kiss a soft punctuation to the lingering emotion that had been building between them throughout the song.
When they finally pulled away, foreheads rested together, a quiet and breathless “Oh my god,” came from Minjeong.
Locked in a gaze of understanding, Jimin’s hand brushed the side of Minjeong’s face, her thumb tracing the outline of her jaw in a tender gesture that spoke volumes more than words could before her voice echoes through the arena one last time.
Darling, you're my, my, my, my
Lover
As the lights dimmed, the world seemed to rush back into focus. The magic of the moment — the kiss and the undeniable pull between Jimin and Minjeong — hung in the air, but reality crept in swiftly, and the vibrant energy of the stage jolted back, shattering their bubble with a sudden burst.
Before she’d inevitably be pulled too far away, before the distance could grow too wide, Jimin reaches out to grasp Minjeong’s nimble hand, gently but firmly, giving it a reassuring squeeze. The touch was simple, but it spoke volumes in that moment. It was a silent promise, a reminder that this wasn’t the end.
Minjeong looked at her, eyes wide in disbelief as if she was, and most likely, asking herself ‘Did that really just happen?’
But there was something else there too. “That was…” Minjeongs starts, but is cut off by a flurry of staff ready to usher, almost drag, her back to her seat.
Jimin’s gaze locks with Minjeong again, yearning for one final glimpse before she’s ushered offstage.
The staff behind her began to murmur in hushed, flustered voices, their whispers thick with confusion. The sudden shift in the atmosphere, the unexpected kiss, had clearly thrown everyone off.
“What the heck was that, Yu Jimin?! Yah! You’ve really done it this time” said her better-half member and friend, Aeri, half-shocked, half-amused, as she quick-changes.
“I—what even happened out there?” another staff member stammered, her hand still at her chest as if she could somehow will the fluttering of her heart to settle. “That was not part of the plan! We said ‘lean into the act’ not lean in to kiss her!”
“Oh god…I’m not looking forward to that phone call after this,” another added, voice low and tinged with a touch of concern.
Jimin barely registers their words, their comments hardly piercing the bubble of emotions swirling inside her. Her body is moving thanks to muscle memory, they still have a show to do after all; but her mind is still replaying the kiss, the way Minjeong had looked at her — how they had shared something so raw , so unspoken.
Still, there was a slight pang of worry, a thought, a frantic — ‘What have I just done?’
But no further thoughts entered Jimin’s mind for the remainder of the evening with the exception of the lingering, yearning curiosity of —
I need to see her again.