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Minjeong always imagined she'd date outside of the idol industry. Someone private, unknown, didn’t see her as Winter but as Kim Minjeong. Someone who didn’t really understand the intricacies of fandom politics, who wouldn't care about stage outfits or choreo stumbles, someone who didn't understand the language of comebacks schedules and jacket shootings.
She wanted something simple, real, and normal. After all she'd spent nearly her entire youth under a microscope and the idea of settling down with a non celebrity sounded like a salvation as she got older and older.
Then again, it might be a bit of a stretch to get all those marks checked off, given her face was plastered everywhere.
But a girl could dream.
However, that dream, that thought, that idea gets utterly demolished the moment someone entirely opposite of what she’d hoped for starts showing interest in her.
Center, face of the group, lead vocalist and lead dancer of Twice, Im Nayeon.
At first, it’s nothing. Nothing huge enough to really get her mind thinking “oh…she pays real close attention to me”. She was after five years her junior in the industry and Twice were like a group of magical goddesses that she was a huge fan of growing up.
It starts with introducing themselves as Aespa to Twice one time and then it completely goes from there after Minjeong had filmed a TikTok trend involving the b-track “Look at me” during the SMTOWN concerts.
It hadn’t just been Nayeon who commented but other members as well, staking their claim on Minjeong immediately and honestly, Minjeong had screamed feral when reading the comments because hello, Twice!
But then it turns into warm greetings backstage whenever they're at the same award show or music show. Nayeon is there with a gentle hand on her shoulder, sweet compliments like “You really suit blonde,” or “You were amazing tonight, Minjeong-ah.”
It’s innocent. Pure. Just sunbae and hoobae interactions.
But then, the compliments become more personal. The glances linger longer, Nayeon starts seeking her out at events, standing beside her like its second nature. They exchange contact information not long after, only because Nayeon had said it’d be easier to get a hold of each directly.
Their messages had started with congratulations on winning music shows, or Nayeon saying aespa did well in their performances. Then it turns into being asked to meet up for coffee and a sweet treat under the guise of needing “girl talk”.
Girl talk only involves Nayeon paying for their stuff and then letting Minjeong blab about whatever she wants to get off her chest or just to chatter about her current interests and hobbies all while Nayeon nods and grins like it’s a highly informative speech by the president.
But Minjeong knows she's in full trouble when she starts counting down days until the next festival or colliding schedule or their next free day to just even catch a glimpse of her.
And when Nayeon smiles at her, all soft and knowing, making Minjeong's knees feel like they've melted she starts accepting that she's sincerely doomed.
It doesn’t matter that Nayeon is five years older. It doesn't matter she's part of the Nation’s girl group and is known for her teasing charm and sparkly charisma. It doesn't even matter that this goes against her post-idol plan she mapped out.
Because Nayeon is so cool. And sweet. And hot. And perfect in every single way.
And Minjeong? She falls. Hard and fast. No safety net. No hesitation. No regrets.
Minjeong confides in her members during one of the nights they find themselves under the same roof again--this time it’s in Minjeong and Aeri shared apartment. Her voice had been barely above a whisper, like saying it too loud might make it more real than it already is.
They're all sprawled out in the living room, a movie playing in the background, snacks half eaten on the coffee table.
“I think I have a crush on Nayeon unnie,” Minjeong says, eyes fixed on the ceiling as if she's trying to send her confession into the void instead of directly to them.
There's a beat of silence.
Aeri doesn't even look surprised. She just hums knowingly and says, “I mean, yeah. It’s Nayeon. That's kind of a given.”
Jimin tilts her head, then smiles. “Shes very attractive. And I've seen the way she talks to you. Honestly? I could see something growing there.”
Yizhuo, who's halfway through sipping her drink, chokes so hard she has to clutch her chest. “Holy cow, Minjeong! You have a crush on Nayeon?! As in Twice’s Nayeon?! As in Nation’s girl crush, walking heart attack, flirts like she breathes Nayeon?!”
Minjeong groans, pressing a cushion over her face. “Dont say it like that. I know. Believe me, I know.”
“Are you gonna do something about it?” Jimin asks gently, nudging her leg with her own.
Minjeong peeks out from under the cushion. “I don't know. We’ve built this…friendship. We talk a lot now. We text. She even sends me pictures of her dog randomly. And like…I like that. I don't want to ruin it. What if I mess it up and she pulls away?”
Aeri sighs, crossing her arms. “Okay, but what if you don't mess it up? What if she likes you back and is giving you the chance to decide if you want to do something with this? You’re not in high school anymore. You don't have time to be pining.”
“Shes already in your life,” Jimin adds. “That's the hard part. You've built something real already. We don't know her as much as you do but from what we've seen, she seems genuine and sweet and if she happens to not feel the same, I don't think she'll disappear.”
Yizhuo nods with wide, still slightly panicked eyes. “Also, can we just acknowledge the flex here? Twice Nayeon is texting you dog photos and not just any dog, it’s the infamous Kookeu that everyone knows. That's soulmate behavior.”
Minjeong smiles weakly, cheeks flushed. She felt lighter saying it out loud and thinks hearing the thoughts of the closest people to her might have been exactly the push she needed.
Their comebacks coincide almost perfectly. Stage schedules back-to-back and waiting rooms separated by just a hallway. It feels like fate, especially for Minjeong who's simultaneously thrilled and on edge every time she knows Twice will be in the same building, the same vicinity.
After one particular Music Bank stage, Aespa decides to stop by Twice’s waiting room to properly greet their unnies. Formalities are long gone by now; there's been enough backstage encounters and award shows that its all warm smiles and easy conversation. The moment they step in, its like a switch flips.
The members of Twice instantly light up when they see them.
“Aespa's here!" Dahyun grins, clapping her hands as if she summoned them herself.
Sana practically flies towards them, hugging each member, especially Yizhuo who had been on her show where they match each other's squeals.
Then Sana makes a beeline back to Minjeong, commenting, “Minjeongie, look at your hair! You’re so pretty, its actually unfair,” she pouts dramatically.
Jeongyeon follows suit, grabbing Minjeong's hand and turning her slightly to admire her. “And that stage outfit? Whoever styled you knew exactly what they were doing.”
Jihyo chuckles and leans against a table nearby, sipping on her drink as she watches them. ” Youve really grown into yourself this comeback, Minjeong-ah. You're glowing.”
Minjeong laughs, a little flustered, cheeks warm from the barrage of attention. She's used to compliments, sure, but not from Twice, and not all at once. “Unnies, please…youre all being too nice.”
From her spot near the makeup counter, Nayeon watches, expression unreadable but Minjeong catches the way her fingers fidget slightly with the hem of her sleeve and how she maintains that stiff, polite smile whenever their eyes happen to meet but no longer than two seconds.
Minjeong can't quite decipher what this means but if she had to take a guess…she thinks jealousy might be an accurate depiction.
Because Minejong is being passed around the room like a fun new toy and Nayeon stays in her spot watching it all and Minjeong is waiting for the moment Nayeon decides to move forward and say something.
It’s after Sana has touched her hair for the fifth time does Nayeon finally arise from her spot, moving toward them.
“Youre gonna give her a complex if you keep fussing over her like that,” she teases lightly, reaching over to pluck something Minjeong knows doesn't exist off her shoulder. “youll make her think she's the favorite of something.”
Minjeong looks up, smiling instantly, “Oh, I already think I'm the favorite,” she says, playful but quiet enough to just be heard by Nayeon.
And for a split second, Minjeong can see the way Nayeon falters but quickly gathers herself.
“Good,” she murmurs, “you should.”
It starts quietly, like all rumors do. Murmurs in comment sections and subtle edits on fan accounts, but then it grows. Fast.
Minjeong is spotted at Twice's concert, lowkey, cap covering most of her face, holding a lightstick. She’d just finished a schedule of her own, having only slept maybe around two hours for the day but she refused to miss the concert.
Her body was yearning for her bed but watching Twice perform gave her the energy to wave her lightstick back and forth like the rest of the Once there. That and seeing Nayeon perform her solo stage was exuberant.
And then weeks later, Nayeon is in the midst of the audience at Aespa’s kick off concert for their own tour. She’s on her feet, shaking her lightstick passionately and is even shown on the big screen when Aespa thanks their special guests.
Fans point it out but say how nice and cool it is to see members of these famous girl groups getting along well.
Until Minjeong and Nayeon make their own coincidence in the form of the same phone case styles and colors. When sending selfies through bubble, fans of both groups have made this connection and ran with it.
But the real moment that sends everyone through a mini frenzy is when Nayeon posts on her instagram story a picture of a bouquet, with just a text saying “thank you”. but fans analyzed and zoomed on the card that had just made the picture, albeit only a tad blurry.
“You killed it. As always. -- MJ”
From there fans start putting together timelines. Edits flood TikTok. It’s huge and chaotic. Just the pure thought of a Nayeon and Minjeong friendship sends everyone into a spiral.
That night, Nayeon calls her.
It's just past midnight when Minjeong's phone lights up. WHen she sees the name, her heart lurches.
“Nayeon unnie?” she answers softly, voice scratchy from sleep.
“I want to see you,” Nayeon says, straight to the point. “But I know its late--”
Minjeong sits up, suddenly wide awake. “No, it’s fine. I don't mind.”
There's a pause. Minjeong hears Nayeon exhale on the other end, like she'd been holding in that one breath all day and just now was able to breathe properly.
“Okay,” Nayeon whispers. “Come over to my place.”
Minjeong stands outside Nayeon's apartment, heart thudding so hard it feels like it might bruise her ribs. She hadn’t notified her manager or her members, believing if less people knew of what she was doing, the less likely it'd be risky.
She breathes in and out several times, trying to steady her nerves. There's a thousand things she wants to ask, to understand, to prepare for but she knows she’d probably be too shy for any of it.
The door opens after she knocks twice.
Nayeon's in sweats and a loose tee, hair in between that phase of dry and wet right after a shower, face bare but glowing. SHe looks relaxed, like she's been waiting as if it was natural instead of nerve wracking,
“Hey,” she says with a soft smile, stepping aside.
“Hi,” Minjeong replies, voice small but warm as she steps inside.
It's like stepping into a new world.
The apartment smells faintly of jasmine tea and takeout. One the table is a spread of late night comfort food. Ramyeon, kimbap, and tteokbokki along with two steaming mugs of what Minejgon can only hint as tea.
“I hope you don't mind late night snacking,” Nayeon says, motioning for Minjeong to join her at the table.
“I’m a fiend for late snacks.”
Nayeon grins. “Noted.”
They eat slowly, talking about everything and nothing. Work, stages, choreo practice, ridiculous moments that happen in between. For a moment, it feels like things could stay this way forever. Light, easy, like they were just two girls and not two idols.
But then Nayeon sets her chopsticks down and looks up at her with clear eyes. “I want to talk about you.”
Minjeong stills, heart tightening. “Me?”
Nayeon nods. “I know how you feel, Minjeong-ah. I've known for a while.”
Minjeong's throat goes dry but she doesn't deny it.
Instead she lays herself out like an open book. quietly but honestly. SHe talks about the first time she noticed Nayeon in a new way. How her crush grew inexplicably. How she kept trying to convince herself it would go away. How the friendship scared her only because it meant so much to her. LIke it was too precious to risk.
She tells Nayeon everything, even the parts that embarrass her. Even the fear.,
And Nayeon listens. Carefully. Tenderly. Never once interrupting but asking questions here and there. When did it change? What scares you the most? Why didn't you just tell me?
And then, finally, once Minjeong is quiet, completely bare in her vulnerability, Nayeon learn in, voice low and sincere.
“Would it be okay if I…took it to the next step?”
Minjeong swallows hard. Her eyes flicker up to meet Nayeons, wide with emotion.
“You mean…”
“I mean us,” Nayeon says gently, like she's trying not to scare her off. “I don't want to dance around it anymore. Honestly, I'm scared but I don't want to miss this with you. So, If I kiss you, I want to do it knowing you'll kiss me back.”
Minjeong blinks, trying to fight off the urge to tear up. “I’m okay,” she says, voice trembling slightly. “I want that. I want you.”
Nayeon smiles, full of warmth and security. “Good,” she whispers.
After they clean up and the air between them settles into something warm, Nayeon leads Minjeong to the couch where she plays with her fingers and grins widely.
“You should sleep over.”
Minjeong blinks. “Really?”
“Mhm.” Nayeon stretches her arms above her head then lets them fall with a content sigh. “I think waking up to your face might be the best feeling ever.”
Minjeong feels herself flush. All over. “Don’t say stuff like that or I’ll combust into a bunch of particles."
Nayeon laughs, standing. “I would lend you pjs but I see you’re already prepared.”
Minjeong looks down at herself, having forgotten that she had literally rolled out of bed without thinking about changing the moment Nayeon called her to come over.
Nayeon says to give her some time to fix up her room, stating Minjeong deserves fresh linen on the bed.
So Minjeong finds herself wandering the apartment, curiosity taking charge. It’s cozy and comfortable. Clean but not sterile. On one shelf are an array of photos. Moments frozen in time. Sana flashing a peace sign with a toothbrush hanging from her mouth, Momo midair in a jump, Jeongyeon fast asleep and wrapped in a blanket cocoon, Jihyo and Mina both playing a video game, Chaeyoung making a roar pose toward the camera, Tzuyu squeezed into a hug by Nayeon herself, and Dahyun T posing in an empty train cart. There are several more and it's clear that they were more than just members of the same group, they’re a family.
There are awards too, Twice light sticks, signed albums by other artists, and a framed poster of one of their earliest concerts.
Minjeong is enthralled. It wasn’t the entirety of Nayeon’s life, but it was the majority of it laid out there for her to see.
When Nayeon returns, she joins Minjeong at her side.
“You really love them,” she comments, gesturing at the photos.
“I do,” Nayeon says. “They’re my greatest friends, my sisters, my everything.”
Minjeong hesitates for a moment but then asks, “Did you ever think you'd get this far?”
Nayeon hums. “Being a trainee was hell,” she admits. “Brutal hours, constant doubt. And going on Sixteen was even worse. It was like I had to earn my place every single day, even after debut. But maybe it had be that hard.” Nayeon picks up a photo, a whole group one, and continues. “I think it built us into something solid. We fought, we cried, we nearly broke apart but we never actually did. And now? I wouldn't trade it for anything.”
Minjeong nods, heart swelling with understanding, respect, admiration…maybe love.
Nayeon glances at her with a sheepish grin. “Also, they've already teased me about you.”
“What?”
“Oh yeah, Sana’s the worst. She told me she saw the heart eyes from day one. Jeongyeon told me to get over myself and just tell you.”
Minjeong hides her face behind her hands, mortified. “Then I must’ve been obvious too.”
Nayeon pulls her hands away. “You were but they also said if I ever did anything stupid to you, they wouldn't let it fly.”
Minjeong softens, chuckling. “I feel so protected.”
“You are,” Nayeon responds, seriously. “By them. By me.”
They eventually make their way to the bed. Surprisingly Minjeong doesn't feel half as nervous as she did earlier. She curls up next to Nayeon naturally, thinking that maybe waking up to Nayeon’s face will be her favorite feeling too.
Minjeong wakes up first. But it's as if Nayeon senses her being awake and soon after opens her own eyes, blinking several times to adjust.
The bed is warm and the curtains keep the room very lowly lit by what Minjeong can assume is the early glow of the sunrise but they just lay there, facing each other.. There’s no rush, no pressure. Just the sound of quiet breathing and shared air.
Minjeong plays with the edge of the blanket between her fingers before she speaks.
“I used to admire you so much,” she admits, voice barely above a whisper. “Back when I was still a trainee. You were…” She pauses, eyes fluttering shut like she’s embarrassed to say it out loud. “You were my bias.”
Nayeon blinks, then grins, a playful sort of pride lighting up her face. “Oh? Was?”
Minjeong groans softly and hides her face in the pillow. “Don’t make it weird.”
Nayeon laughs, reaching out to gently nudge her. “I’m not! I think it’s adorable.”
Minjeong peeks at her, expression softening again. “But seriously, it’s… kind of insane. That I’m here. That I’m in your bed. That I get to talk to you like this. Not as a hoobae, not as a fan but just…as me. As a woman. It feels surreal. Like I’m living out someone else’s dream.”
Nayeon’s smile fades into something deeper, more sincere. She tucks a strand of Minjeong’s hair behind her ear.
“When Aespa debuted,” she says, voice quiet, “you caught my eye right away.”
Minjeong stills.
“I liked the name ‘Winter.’ It sounded strong, but graceful. Like you.” Nayeon’s thumb brushes the back of Minjeong’s hand. “And then I kept watching. How you performed. How you moved. And then I saw how much you were growing. Into your voice, your presence…yourself.”
Minjeong’s throat tightens. “You noticed all that?”
“I noticed you,” Nayeon says. “Even before we really started talking. You were always doing more than people realized. Quietly working hard, but never needing the spotlight to prove it. I liked that.”
Minjeong’s eyes shimmer faintly in the dark, emotions swirling in the space between them.
“I never thought I’d be good enough for someone like you,” she says, barely audible.
Nayeon leans in closer, their foreheads almost touching. “You were always good enough. You just didn’t know it yet.”
Minjeong stays quiet for a while after Nayeon’s words settle into the depths of heart. She keeps her eyes on the older woman, her thumb tracing soft, idle circles on the back of Nayeon’s hand.
Then she asks, quietly, “When you said ‘next steps’… what exactly did you mean?”
Nayeon doesn’t hesitate. Her voice is calm but sure, every word deliberate.
“I mean making you fall in love with me,” she says, eyes locked on Minjeong’s. “I mean making you feel safe. Protected. Adored.”
Minjeong’s breath catches.
“I mean becoming yours and you becoming mine,” Nayeon goes on, her voice softer now, but still steady. “I mean doing all the things that come with being a real couple, not just some hidden maybe. I mean building something. A future.”
The room falls into a hush, a heartbeat between them growing louder and louder.
Minjeong stares at her, heart pounding so hard she’s sure Nayeon can hear it. Her lips part, but no words come out, just a shallow breath that trembles on its way out.
And then she moves.
She leans in and kisses her.
Slow and certain.
There’s no hesitation, no shyness this time. Just her lips pressing softly into Nayeon’s like she’s surrendering, like she’s saying yes without needing words at all.
Nayeon’s hand cups the side of Minjeong’s face, gentle but full of emotion, and she kisses her back with that same quiet intensity.
When they finally pull apart, foreheads resting together, Minjeong exhales shakily.
“I already fell,” she whispers.
Nayeon smiles, wide, soft, full of promise. “Good. I’m going to make sure you don’t stop.”
After the kiss, the quiet confessions, and the promise of next steps everything between them begins to bloom.
Nayeon and Minjeong start going on dates. Quiet, stolen ones. Coffee shops on the outskirts of the city. Late-night drives where Nayeon sings terribly to the radio and Minjeong laughs until her stomach hurts. Private dinners where they sit just a little too close, their knees always touching under the table.
They’re careful, of course. They wear masks, hats, and layers. They enter separately, leave in intervals. It’s not perfect, but it’s enough. For now.
Minjeong tells her members.
Jimin’s immediate reaction is to scream into a pillow. Yizhuo looks like her soul left her body. Aeri smiles knowingly and says, “Called it.”
They’re supportive. Protective. Maybe a little too nosy, but that’s expected.
Still, they try to keep it under wraps. Until one day it slips.
A blurry photo gets posted online: Nayeon and Minjeong at a small flower market, just on the edge of a back alley road. Their masks are on, their hats pulled low. But the closeness, the way Minjeong’s arm is lightly around Nayeon’s waist as she leans in to whisper something, it doesn’t read like casual sunbae-hoobae.
It looks like something more. Something unmistakably tender.
The internet catches fire within hours.
Minjeong stares at her phone for a long moment before she calls. Her chest is tight, heart knotted with nerves she can’t quite swallow down. But she knows she has to say it—clearly. Honestly.
When Nayeon answers, her voice is gentle but laced with concern. “Hey,” she says softly. “You okay?”
“It’s out. It’s not difficult to tell that it’s us, how intimate the photo is,” Minjeong starts. Her voice trembles, but only a little. “It’s… a lot.”
Nayeon hums, carefully quiet. “Yeah. I figured it would be.” Then, after a pause: “We don’t have to push it, Minjeong-ah. If you’re not ready to be known like that—with me—I understand. I really do.”
There’s something in her voice, disappointment carefully hidden beneath grace. Sadness she’s trying not to let show too much.
Minjeong bites her lip, heart aching. “Unnie…”
“It’s okay,” Nayeon says, and she means it. She’s always been the one trying to protect the both of them from the chaos of the world. “I’ll be fine. We can go back to being lowkey. Quiet. Just us.”
But Minjeong shakes her head, even though Nayeon can’t see it. “No,” she whispers. “That’s not what I meant.”
Nayeon is quiet on the other end.
“I meant I can’t pretend,” Minjeong says again, firmer now. “Because it’s real. Super real. And I don’t want to keep pretending like I’m not walking around every day completely in love with you.”
Nayeon’s breath catches.
“I want the world to know,” Minjeong continues, voice soft but unwavering. “That it’s you. That it’s you who makes me laugh, who holds me when I’m scared, who listens to me when no one else does. I want them to know that you’re the one I’m fully and undoubtedly in love with.”
For a moment, there’s silence.
And then Nayeon exhales sharply, a breath that sounds like disbelief and relief and love, all tangled into one.
“You’re going to kill me,” she murmurs, voice trembling with emotion. “You just keep making me fall harder.”
Minjeong smiles, tears stinging her eyes, but in the best way.
“Good,” she says. “Because I’m not planning on stopping anytime soon.”
Before anything official goes out, before statements, confirmations, or the inevitable media frenzy Minjeong and Nayeon decide they want their families on the same page.
Which, in idol terms, means one very delicate, very loaded event: Aespa and Twice hanging out together.
They plan it on a free weekend. Rent out a private villa outside Seoul with good food, better views, and zero fans or cameras. Just thirteen girls, two tight-knit groups, and one growing love story tucked quietly between it all.
From the start, the vibe is chaotic in the best way.
Sana and Yizhuo giggle over games on their phones and invent weird inside jokes within the hour. Aeri and Jihyo take charge of grilling the barbecue, sleeves rolled up like it’s a mission. And Jimin—being Jimin—flirts shamelessly with Momo until Minjeong has to shoot her a warning glare that says not now, for the love of god.
And of course, in the middle of it all are Nayeon and Minjeong—hovering close, smiling more than they realize, slipping glances and soft touches when they think no one’s watching.
They are very wrong.
At one point, Sana plops down beside them with a can of soda and smirks. “You know what this feels like?” she says loudly. “It feels like when two families meet because their kids are getting married.”
Nayeon chokes so hard on her water she has to grab a napkin, coughing and waving her hand like she’s dying.
Minjeong goes bright red, practically sinking into the sofa.
Jimin lets out a howl of laughter. “I knew that’s what this was!”
“Should we start planning a joint stage or a honeymoon first?” Yizhuo adds, grinning.
“I vote honeymoon,” Momo says, winking.
Minjeong groans into her hands. “I hate all of you.”
But when she peeks out, Nayeon is looking at her with the fondest, softest smile, like yeah, okay, maybe it’s a little like that.
As the day winds down, they roast marshmallows over the firepit and pass around blankets. Someone puts on an old Twice song, and Yizhuo jumps up to dance the choreography although badly, but passionately. Everyone joins in, and soon the villa is echoing with off-key singing, stomping feet, and loud laughter.
It doesn’t feel like two groups.
It feels like one big, weird, wonderful family.
And for Minjeong and Nayeon, sitting side by side under a shared blanket, fingers interlaced and heads leaned in close, it feels like the beginning of forever.
As the sun dips low and the chaos of their two groups starts to settle into mellow conversation and shared desserts, Nayeon nudges Minjeong with her knee and jerks her head toward the villa. “Come on,” she murmurs, just loud enough for Minjeong to hear. “I’m stealing you.”
Minjeong doesn’t even hesitate.
They sneak off, leaving the warm buzz of laughter behind, and find a quiet little balcony overlooking the trees. The air is cool, and the sky is slowly turning the kind of blue that promises stars. They sit on the outdoor sofa close enough that their legs touch, the silence between them soft and easy.
Minjeong rests her head on Nayeon’s shoulder, then lifts it again a beat later. “Can I ask you something dumb?”
Nayeon chuckles. “You can ask me ten dumb things. Go ahead.”
“Did you ever…” Minjeong toys with the hem of her sleeve. “Did you ever have a crush on any of your members?”
Nayeon laughs, caught off guard but not offended. “Oh my god. Of course people thought I did.”
Minjeong looks at her, curious.
“Everyone was convinced I liked Jeongyeon,” Nayeon continues, grinning. “Probably because I was way too possessive over her in the early days. We used to joke that we were a married couple because of how much we bickered, but really I just…clung to her. She made me feel safe when everything was new and terrifying.”
Minjeong hums, nodding.
“And then Sana,” Nayeon says, groaning with a smile. “People never shut up about her. Mostly because of that time we accidentally kissed during a fan meeting. The angle was weird and it wasn’t even on purpose, but people ran with it. Even the girls teased me about it.”
“Did you like her?” Minjeong asks, lips curling in amusement.
“I mean,” Nayeon shrugs, “Sana’s beautiful and chaotic, but no. Not like that.” She hesitates for a moment. “If I had a crush, it was probably…Mina.”
Minjeong blinks. “Really?”
“Yeah,” Nayeon says, her voice quieter now. “She’s always been so calm. Peaceful. Like this gentle, grounding presence when everything else was noise. I think I was drawn to that. But nothing ever came of it. I love her like a sister, truly. That was all.”
Minjeong smiles. “That’s kind of sweet.”
“Your turn,” Nayeon says, nudging her with her elbow. “Spill it. Trainee crush? Idol crush? Who was it?”
Minjeong looks away for a moment, then back. “It was Jimin.”
Nayeon raises an eyebrow. “Jimin? Your Jimin?”
Minjeong nods, smiling softly. “Yeah. Back when we were trainees. She was the first person to really care about me. Like, really see me. And I guess I mistook that comfort for something more. I even confessed.”
Nayeon blinks. “Wait, you confessed?”
“We tried,” Minjeong says, laughing quietly. “We gave it a shot. But it didn’t take long to realize we were better as friends. It wasn’t romantic…it was just safe. And now she’s my best friend. My person.”
Nayeon leans her head against Minjeong’s shoulder. “That makes sense. She is really protective of you.”
“She always has been,” Minjeong says fondly. “But you know…it’s different with you.”
Nayeon lifts her head slightly, eyes curious. “Different how?”
Minjeong smiles, turning to look at her. “It feels like I’m choosing something. Not just what’s safe or easy. But something that excites me. Challenges me. Makes me feel seen in a different way.”
Nayeon’s breath hitches, just a little. “I’m glad. Because that’s exactly how I feel with you.”
And they sit there in silence for a while longer, two hearts full and open under the quiet sky, grateful for the journey that led them here.
The stars have come out by the time they’ve run out of teasing stories and old crushes, and the air between them is thick with something quieter now. More thoughtful.
“You know,” Nayeon says softly, “I can see us being together for a long time.”
Minjeong turns, brows lifted. “Yeah?”
Nayeon nods. “Not just this year or next. I mean the long run. Something lasting. Something real.”
Minjeong’s lips curve into a grin. “That’s sounding awfully like a proposal, unnie.”
Nayeon’s smile falters but not in a bad way. Her eyes hold Minjeong’s steadily, serious in a way she rarely is.
“What if it was?” she says, voice low and even.
Minjeong blanches, her eyes going wide. “W–What?”
Nayeon doesn’t break eye contact, doesn’t blink. For a moment, Minjeong genuinely believes she’s about to get proposed to on a villa balcony in her pajamas.
And then Nayeon’s lips twist into a wicked smirk.
“I’m kidding,” she teases, laughing now. “Kind of. Maybe.”
Minjeong groans, burying her face in her hands. “You’re the worst. I actually stopped breathing for a second.”
Nayeon rests her chin on Minjeong’s shoulder. “That’s because you know you’d say yes.”
Minjeong grumbles something unintelligible, cheeks blazing.
But she doesn’t deny it.
Minjeong, still red in the face from the emotional whiplash of maybe-proposal to evil smirk, finally exhales and shifts, throwing her legs over Nayeon’s lap and straddling her, catching her completely off guard.
“Okay,” she says, leveling her with a look, “before we start planning wedding venues or matching rings or whatever dramatic thing you’re already imagining…”
“I was thinking of cherry blossoms in Jeju,” Nayeon deadpans, arms wrapped around Minjeong's waist.
“Unnie,” Minjeong groans, but she’s laughing. Then she softens, the smile tugging at her lips turning a little shy. “Why don’t we start with just…being girlfriends?”
Nayeon blinks like she wasn’t expecting that kind of softness.
“I mean, we’ve basically got approval from the most powerful woman in the industry,” Minjeong adds. “Jihyo unnie already called me her ‘new favorite,’ and I’m pretty sure that’s, like, holy ground.”
Nayeon gasps, mock-offended. “She said that?”
Minjeong nods proudly. “Exact words. I quote: ‘If Nayeon screws this up, I’m replacing her with you.’”
Nayeon groans, burying her face in Minjeong’s shoulder. “Unbelievable. Jihyo’s already choosing sides.”
Minjeong shrugs happily. “She chose the winning side.”
Nayeon lifts her head just enough to grin. “So it’s official then? You’re my girlfriend?”
“If you want me,” Minjeong says softly.
Nayeon kisses her quickly, smiling. “I’ve always wanted you.”
They don’t need a formal announcement or a big gesture. Just two hearts aligning under a quiet sky, sealed with a kiss and a promise whispered between laughter.
Nayeon pulls back just enough to look at Minjeong properly, her hands still resting lightly on her waist, her smile brighter than the stars above them.
“You know what this means now, right?” she says, tilting her head.
Minjeong raises a brow, amused. “That I’m officially dating Nayeon of Twice and probably unlocking a new tier of chaos?”
Nayeon lets out a delighted laugh, then leans in close, nose almost brushing Minjeong’s. “That and you better be ready for me in full love mode.”
Minjeong blinks. “Oh god.”
“No no, you don’t get it,” Nayeon grins, eyes wide with dramatic flair. “I am dedicated to the art of being in love with the most gorgeous woman in front of me. Like, I’m talking about clingy texts, random snack deliveries, wanting to hold your hand constantly even when it’s inconvenient. Especially when it’s inconvenient.”
Minjeong tries not to laugh, but it’s hopeless. “That sounds intense.”
“Oh, and I’ll get jealous too,” Nayeon adds, unapologetically. “Like, if someone looks at you for too long, I’ll just stand in front of you and glare like a human security system. And I will definitely need attention at all times, or I will wither like a houseplant that hasn’t been watered in three days.”
Minjeong is wheezing now, nearly doubling over with laughter. “You’re so dramatic!”
“I’m in love, Minjeong. This is who I am now.”
Minjeong catches her breath, eyes crinkling with joy. “Then I guess I’ll have to keep you watered, huh?”
Nayeon’s grin softens into something devastatingly tender. “Every damn day, please.”
“Deal, girlfriend.”
And Minjeong, her heart bursting with joy and disbelief that this is her life now, just pulls Nayeon back into her arms.