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Hours had passed since their concert in Mexico, but Jimin’s mind was still racing, thinking back to what had transpired. The brief touches that maybe meant nothing to anyone but her.
She rolled onto her side, eyes settling on her phone. A barrier of walls and restless thoughts separated them, yet Minjeong was close enough that Jimin could picture her perfectly, hair still damp from the shower, curled into herself like she always did when she couldn’t sleep.
Something felt different tonight.
Glances that lingered too long and accidental touches that Jimin swears were intentional. With every single interaction, they had danced around a line she didn't know if she could cross. Honestly, Jimin wasn’t sure if she was just imagining things anymore.
A message lit up her phone screen.
Minjeong: Are you awake?
Jimin’s breath hitched.
Yeah.
The response came quickly.
Come outside.
Her heartbeat stumbled, fingers tightening around her phone. She hesitated for a moment before slipping out of bed, careful to move quietly as she stepped into the hallway. The air was cool, the lighting casting long shadows that stretched toward the end of the hall and the figure standing by the window, arms crossed. Her posture was calm, but Jimin knew better. Her fingers tapping against her sleeve gave her away. It was a nervous habit.
Jimin stopped a few steps away. "Couldn’t sleep?"
Minjeong’s gaze met hers. "Not really."
Jimin exhaled, a quiet chuckle escaping her. "Me neither."
There was a long pause, while they stared outside the window in silence. Jimin rocked back on her heels, and looked at Minjeong. "What's on your mind?"
Minjeong shifted her weight, hands playing with the sleeves of her hoodie, twisting them nervously. She avoided Jimin's gaze before speaking. “Everything and nothing."
Jimin nodded slowly, her gaze shifting to the floor for a moment. "Yeah, I get that." She replied quietly, crossing her arms. Not quite satisfied with Minjeong’s cryptic choice of words.
"I wasn’t going to text you."
Jimin smirked slightly. "But you did."
A chuckle. "I did."
"Why?"
Minjeong hesitated, then shrugged. "I don’t know.”
Jimin tilted her head, a knowing smile tugging at her lips. "Hmm, I think you do."
Minjeong huffed, shaking her head lightly. "You always do this."
"Do what?"
Minjeong let out a quiet laugh. "Make me say things first."
Jimin considered that, eyes tracing the shape of Minjeong’s jaw, the slope of her nose. Her lips parted slightly, as if she was about to say something else. But she didn’t. "Well, you never really open up to me.”
Minjeong swallowed hard, her gaze dropping for a split second. Then she shook her head, an unreadable expression flickering across her face.
"Come with me." Jimin said.
Minjeong didn’t ask where.
They moved quietly through the hallway as they reached Jimin’s room, the door clicking shut softly behind them. Minjeong lingered near the edge of the queen-sized bed, her arms now wrapped around herself, suddenly feeling smaller.
Jimin still wasn’t saying anything. Her thoughts swirled an endless loop of doubt, maybe she was reading too much into things. Maybe, Minjeong just needed her best friend, comfort, nothing more. Though the way she looked at her, made Jimin wonder if she wasn’t the only one holding back.
Minjeong was the first to break.
"I don’t know what I’m doing." She admitted.
Jimin leaned against the door, arms crossed. She studied her, the corner of her lips lifted, despite the tension. "That makes two of us."
Minjeong clicked her tongue. "That’s not comforting."
Jimin took a slow step forward. "Then what do you want me to say?"
Minjeong’s gaze lifted to meet hers, neither could pretend not to notice it. They couldn't dance around their feelings anymore. Somebody was going to have to be brave enough to make a move.
"That it’s not just me." Minjeong whispered.
Jimin’s breath caught, Minjeong’s words crashing over her like a violent wave. All those years of ambiguity and touches that burned against her skin suddenly rushed back to her. Every knowing look that had ignited whispers, their members' teasing, every moment that made the fans speculate and analyze countless videos. Minjeong had felt it too. Jimin spent so long convincing herself that she was imagining things, that the way Minjeong looked at her, touched her, stayed close to her even when she didn’t have to, it was all just wishful thinking, but it wasn't.
"What do you mean?"
Minjeong’s lips parted slightly, but no words came out at first, like she was still trying to convince herself that she was allowed to say them. Her fingers curled into the sleeves of her hoodie, shoulders tense.
And then she let go.
"I mean I can’t stop thinking about you." She admitted. "Every time you’re near, I don't know how to act."
Jimin’s heart slammed against her ribs.
"I mean it’s always been you, Jimin." Minjeong exhaled, the words spilling out. She didn’t even realize how tightly she’d been holding them in, how long they’d been sitting at the back of her throat, begging to be said. "I don’t want nobody else."
She was silent for a bit too long, and Minjeong's chest tightened. Minjeong’s confession echoed in her mind, the honesty in her voice making Jimin's heart beat erratically. All this time, Jimin had always sensed it, but hearing it spoken out loud, was something else entirely.
She took a slow breath to steady herself. She couldn’t hesitate now that Minjeong had just laid everything bare.
Minjeong froze as she saw Jimin step closer, following her gaze.
"I want you too." Her tone leaving no room for doubt."God knows I want you, Minjeong."
Minjeong surged forward without hesitation, her hands finding Jimin’s face, lips crashing against hers in a desperate kiss that was long overdue.
She curled her arms around Jimin’s neck, pulling her closer like she was afraid to let go. Jimin responded in kind, her own hands sliding around Minjeong’s waist, holding her tight as if she feared the same thing. She tilted her head to deepen the kiss.
When they finally pulled apart, their foreheads rested against each other, chests rising and falling in sync. Minjeong’s eyes were still closed, lips parted, her hands now resting against Jimin’s chest. Jimin grinned like she’d just won a prize. Her fingers holding onto Minjeong’s waist, and she couldn’t stop a goofy smile from creeping up her face.
"Okay. That was—"
"Yeah..." Minjeong exhaled, still a little breathless.
Jimin chuckled lightly, shaking her head. "I swear, I was this close to altering the trajectory of our entire lives tonight, can you imagine the headlines?"
Minjeong blinked a few times, in both amusement and disbelief. "You’re ridiculous." She muttered, though her eye smile softened her words.
Jimin shrugged. "It’s part of my charm."
Minjeong sighed. "You’re impossible."
"I know." Jimin nudged her playfully. "But you love it, apparently.”
Minjeong shook her head, crossing her arms. This was just so Jimin-like. Jimin could see the tiny smile tugging at the corners of her mouth, despite her best efforts to hide it. She could never really pull off the annoyed act for long. Not with Jimin. Never with Jimin.
Jimin brushed a strand of hair from Minjeong’s face. "What now?"
Minjeong paused for a moment to think, her smile shifting into shyness. "I don’t know but, let's not pretend anymore, at least not between us."
Jimin’s fingers tightened around Minjeong’s waist, her pulse picking up again at the words.
Let’s not pretend anymore.
How long had they been doing exactly that? How easy it could've been all this time they didn't let themselves act on their feelings. How many times Jimin laid awake at night, thinking she might have been going crazy? How many chances had they passed by? Finally, all they had now was time. Time to unlock years of hidden and suppressed emotions that were clearly reciprocated.
Jimin could only nod, eyes all twinkling and loving.