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Today’s finally the day Haerin leaves this hellhole, the day she goes to her dream school where she can pursue art instead of all those numerical subjects. Her friends are, thankfully, also going to the same school.
A buzz from her phone pulls her out of her thoughts. She picks up the phone and her heart skips a beat at the name on the screen.
minki🐻
Rinnie~
Picking u up in 5
See you!
kittykang
ok
see you unnie
Haerin had no idea when her heart started beating faster around Minji. Was it when Minji let her hold her hand when she was nervous, or was it when she gave flowers to Haerin on Valentine’s Day? Maybe it was when she got asked to prom by her.
She announced her leave to her parents before walking out the door. Her best friend’s car parked at the mailbox in front of the house smells like lemongrass and cologne and something that screams Minji.
Upon entering, Haerin was greeted with a bouquet that you can tell was hand-picked by her. The car just started moving when something square caught her eye in the rearview mirror. When she turned to face the backseat– boxes?
“What’s all this for?” Haerin turned towards Minji.
“Dorms,” She answered smoothly.
“What do you mean?”
“Our dorm? for university? duh.”
“... It’s today?”
Minji couldn’t help but laugh at the look on Haerin’s face. “Today and tomorrow, I can help with some stuff if you’d like?”
Wait. Our dorm? I’m sharing a dorm with my best friend I have a big fat crush on?
“And maybe we could turn it into a place we’d actually live in, not some place with office-like living conditions,” Minji turned towards the side window. “I… I want to be able to see you every morning when I wake up,” Haerin couldn’t see her face, but she can tell Minji was blushing with how red her ears are.
“That’s… so sappy, unnie,” Haerin smiled. “Sweet, but very sappy.”
They laughed as Minji stopped at the parking lot of a shop three blocks away from their school. Kinda sucks that it doesn’t have a parking lot for students.
Hyein ran towards Haerin and Minji when she saw them coming in. Minji asked the whereabouts of Hanni and Danielle, but anyone can guess they’re in the music room singing their ears off.
The three of them walked side-by-side to the auditorium for the run through of what would be happening in six hours. It was grand, decorated with balloons and confetti and party streamers that reached the floor from the ceiling.
Graduation photos will be taken at the courtyard. Unfortunately, it is separated from the main building by a field that floods easily, especially so since the weather has been unstable lately.
—————
The clouds were dark when the photoshoot started. Everyone was lining up in the auditorium, waiting for their names to be called. Minji was talking with Haerin since her photos have been taken. A loud crackle of thunder struck and rain started pouring a few people before Haerin’s turn. If this keeps up, it might flood.
It flooded.
The rain just hit harder and harder with each student called outside. Haerin didn’t know how she’d get to the courtyard without getting her gown wet in knee-deep floodwater.
“Get on my back,” a voice beside her said gently. She turned and saw Minji with her back towards her, a steely look of determination on her face.
“What?”
“You heard me, I’m going to carry you over.”
Haerin rejected the offer. What if you get wet? Minji didn’t care, her photos were already taken anyways. She hoisted the younger onto her back and ran.
“It’s been quite long since I’ve carried you like this!” Minji shouted with glee as she ran through the rain. Haerin was brought back to when a seven-year-old Minji piggybacked a six-year-old her home after she scraped her knee at the playground.
“You still remember?” Haerin asked softly. She cozied her head into the other’s neck, it felt unnaturally warm and her pulse was racing.
“Why wouldn’t I?” Minji chuckled under her breath. She gently put Haerin down when they reached the fountain the photographer was standing in front of.
Minji stood at the side shouting compliments at Haerin while the photographer directed her poses. The rain hadn’t stopped so Minji carried Haerin back to the hall, she didn’t have to though.
—————
Six in the evening. The principal handed out diplomas one after the other, then he handed a certificate to the student who’s achieved the best of the best.
Valedictorian — Kim Minji
Her friends cheered the loudest when Minji got on stage with the brightest smile she’s ever put on, her grades were one of the things she prioritized since she was young. But only Haerin saw how Minji’s gown, up until the very top of the shins, looked wrung out and was a shade darker than the rest of the clothing. Seems like Minji really didn’t care.
It’s close to midnight and everyone is tired. Minji insisted Haerin should sleepover at her house because the older’s parents are overseas, she has the whole house to herself and they can do whatever they want since tomorrow is Saturday.
She had been fidgety the whole evening, Haerin noticed. Hanni, Danielle and Hyein were constantly whispering in Minji’s ears and patting her on the back as well. It took about seven separate pep talks for her to walk over to Haerin, red as a beet.
“You know, Haerin, I think I’d carry you wherever you like if you let me,” Minji took out a tomato frog plushie from her backpack. “If I confessed with this instead of a bouquet, would you accept it?” she held it out to Haerin and turned away.
“I would’ve accepted even without the plushie,” Haerin wrapped her arms around Minji’s neck and pulled her down to kiss her cheek. “I think I’ve wanted this for a while now.”
Minji gingerly placed a hand on Haerin’s waist and used the other to caress her cheek. “Can I–” she was cut off by Haerin’s lips moving tentatively against hers. She smiled into her now-girlfriend’s lips before reciprocating the kiss with all the love she had for Haerin.