Chapter Text
There was only an hour left until New Year's and until Minjeong turned twenty-two.
Every year, she used both her birthday wish and the magic of New Year's Eve to ask for the exact same thing. A girlfriend.
As long as she could remember, Minjeong had longed to be loved. Romantically loved. Desired. Adored. She wanted the kind of love that seemed to find everyone else so effortlessly but, for some reason, always passed her by.
Still, she never stopped wishing for it, hoping that one day the gods, the universe, or whatever force ruled fate would finally grant her that one simple wish.
Yizhuo's New Year's party had her completely captivated. Her best friend’s apartment was packed with people she'd never met, yet every single one of them smiled at her and wished her a happy birthday. Colored lights illuminated every corner of the room while the music pulsed beneath her feet, making it impossible not to lose herself in the moment.
“My girl! Having fun?“ Yizhuo wrapped her arms around Minjeong's waist from behind. “You're staying until midnight this time, right? Why aren't you drinking? Wanna try mine? Aeri made it.“
Minjeong rested her hands over Yizhuo's.
“You know I haven't had a drink in two years. Besides, I should get going. I need to make it home before midnight.“
She gently pulled Yizhuo's arms away, earning an exaggerated groan in return.
“Please stay.“
Her friend clasped her hands together, giving her the same puppy eyes that somehow worked every single time.
“Ugh... don't give me that look.“ Minjeong laughed. “I really can't disappoint my parents by not being home for New Year's.“
“Okay...“ Yizhuo sighed dramatically. “Tell them I said hi. And tell your mom the three of us are getting breakfast next week.“
“Sure!“ Minjeong smiled. “Have fun. Love you.“
“Love you too.“
Minjeong squeezed her way through a sea of people, bumping shoulders with strangers and murmuring an endless stream of “excuse me"s as she hurried toward the apartment door.
The second she pulled it open, a group of guys came barging inside.
Gross.
An ew was already forming on her lips when it died in her throat.
Because right behind them an angel walked in.
She was tall, with long black hair, the prettiest eyes Minjeong had ever seen, and enough piercings to make her heart skip a beat.
Minjeong froze. Should she leave now and make it to her parents' house in time, or stay just a little longer? Just a little longer couldn't hurt... right? In less than an hour, she'd be twenty-two. Surely she deserved to spend the last few minutes of being twenty-one admiring the beautiful angel who had just walked through the door. But was it really okay to do what she wanted if it meant disappointing her parents? Maybe just this once.
Besides, she'd already been born a lesbian. She seriously doubted getting home a few minutes late could disappoint them any more than that.
Minjeong slammed the door shut and ran.
“I think I can stay a little longer.“ She reached for Yizhuo's arm.
Her best friend blinked in surprise.
“Seriously? You're the best! Come on, let's go find Aeri.“
Before Minjeong could change her mind, Yizhuo laced their fingers together and pulled her down the hallway.
Minjeong barely paid attention to where Yizhuo was leading her. Instead, her eyes wandered through the crowded apartment, searching for one person. Until they found her.
The black-haired girl was standing by the drinks table, pouring herself a cup of something Minjeong couldn't identify. Every small movement caught the colorful party lights, making the piercings lining her ears glint against the dark strands of her hair.
Then it happened.
As if she'd felt someone watching her, she looked up and her heart stumbled. Their eyes met. The eyes with the most beautiful shape she'd ever seen. Two seconds or maybe less, But the music disappeared. The conversations around them faded away. Even Yizhuo kept pulling her through the crowd without Minjeong noticing.
And then the stranger looked away, turning back to her drink. Only then did Minjeong remember how to breathe.
If this was the birthday gift the universe had decided to give her before she turned twenty-two, she'd gladly take it.
Yizhuo and Aeri danced as if they were the only two people at the party.
Minjeong couldn't stop laughing. Watching her two best friends drunk was one of her favorite things in the world.
Even so, guilt found its way back every now and then. She'd promised she'd be home before midnight. Her dad was probably waiting for her. But then she'd glance across the apartment and find the black-haired girl again, and the guilt would disappear for a few more minutes.
She felt free and her heart wouldn't stop racing. She was happy.
So happy, in fact, that she hadn't even noticed her phone buzzing over and over again.
When she finally pulled it out of her pocket, her heart sank.
7 missed calls from Dad. 1 text from Mom.
Mom: It’s almost your birthday bby. Are you ok?
Minjeong: I’m ok mom, love u :)
Mom: Love you, my bby. I think your father is mad. I will talk to him. Don’t worry.
Minjeong let out a quiet sigh and the guilt came rushing back all at once. Before she could decide whether to call her dad, a familiar voice echoed through the apartment.
“Can I have everyone's attention for a second?“
Minjeong looked up. Yizhuo was standing in the middle of the living room with a microphone in one hand and considerably more enthusiasm than balance.
“Is everyone having fun?“
A chorus of cheers answered her.
“You guys ready for the countdown?“
The cheers only got louder.
“But before we start, tonight isn't just New Year's Eve. It's also my best friend Minjeong's birthday!“ Without the slightest hint of embarrassment, Yizhuo pointed directly at her. “So when the clock hits midnight, I expect every single one of you to yell happy New Year and then happy birthday, Minjeong!”
Minjeong wanted the floor to swallow her whole. Heat rushed from her neck to her cheeks, and she didn't need a mirror to know she was bright red. And before she could disappear into the crowd, Yizhuo threw one arm into the air.
“Ten!“
“Nine!“
“Eight!“
The voices shook the walls.
“Seven!“
“Six!“
“Five!“
A smile spread across Minjeong's face before she could stop it.
“Four!“
“Three!“
Her heart was beating so loudly she could barely hear the countdown anymore.
“Two!“
“One!“
“Happy New Year!“
The apartment erupted into cheers.
“And happy birthday, Minjeong!“ Yizhuo shouted into the microphone.
“Happy birthday, Minjeong!“ everyone echoed.
Minjeong couldn't do anything but laugh.
While everyone else was hugging each other and raising their glasses, Minjeong's eyes searched the crowd for her.
Just one more time. She only wanted to know if she was looking for her too. But she couldn't find her. So, with a small smile, she closed her eyes.
A girlfriend, please. Let me have a girlfriend.
It had been her birthday wish for as long as she could remember.
Maybe staying at that party had been the best decision she'd made all night.
“Is it your birthday?“
Minjeong's eyes flew open. The black-haired girl was standing right in front of her. For one second, Minjeong wondered if the universe really could grant wishes in a matter of seconds.
She nodded so quickly it almost made her laugh.
“I hope you have a wonderful birthday, Minjeong.“
Her voice was even prettier than Minjeong had imagined.
She held her breath as the girl stepped closer, gently tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
“I'm Jimin.”
Definitely, staying at that party had definitely been the best decision she'd made in a very long time.
“Can I borrow your phone for a second?”
Minjeong nodded before her brain had a chance to catch up. She pulled her phone from her pocket, unlocked it, and handed it over.
Unlocked.
Was she really this easy? Had she not even considered the possibility that this complete stranger could take off with her phone?
No. And, if she was being completely honest she didn't even care. Because Jimin's eyes looked even prettier in the glow of the screen. And that eyebrow piercing...
God.
How could one tiny piercing make someone so attractive?
Minjeong didn't even realize she'd been staring for several seconds without blinking.
“Do I have something on my face, Minjeong?”
“Your piercing,” She tore her eyes away. “It's pretty.”
The words barely came out above a whisper and Jimin let out a soft laugh.
“Done. Now you have my number.”
A few more taps on the screen, and she handed the phone back.
Minjeong looked down.
Jimin :)
She had to physically stop herself from bouncing up and down with excitement.
“Let's be friends.”
Friends. Right. She could live with that.
“Jimin?!”
Both of them turned at the sound of Aeri's voice. She appeared out of nowhere, looping an arm through Minjeong's before pointing excitedly at Jimin.
“You guys know each other?” Minjeong asked.
“She's my cousin's best friend! She's always at her house.” Aeri looked back at Jimin. “What are you doing here? Wait, did you get a new piercing? It looks so good! Now I kinda want one too.”
Jimin smiled and for just a second, her eyes drifted back to Minjeong before she turned to answer Aeri.
“Thanks. So I've been told.”
That one glance was enough to make Minjeong's heart forget how to beat all over again.
A girlfriend, please. Let Jimin be my girlfriend.
As the night went on, Jimin gradually became part of Minjeong, Yizhuo, and Aeri's group. And that couldn't have made the birthday girl any happier. She was probably having the happiest birthday of her life and only two hours had passed since she'd turned twenty-two. It might have even topped her ninth birthday, when her parents had surprised her with the entire new Littlest Pet Shop collection. Up until now, no birthday had ever managed to beat that memory.
Jimin fit right in. But every now and then, she and Aeri would drift into conversations about people they both knew, stories about Aeri's cousin, or gatherings Minjeong had never been to. And Minjeong couldn't understand why that made her stomach twist.
By 3:00 am, the four of them were sitting near the apartment's balcony, enjoying the cool air drifting in through the open sliding door.
Then a car honked outside. Minjeong leaned over just enough to peek through the railing and she recognized the car immediately.
Dad.
“I guess I should get going.” She stood up, grabbing her jacket and her bag. “Thanks for giving me the best birthday I've ever had.”
Yizhuo and Aeri let out an exaggerated “aww” before throwing themselves at her, wrapping her in a hug and covering the top of her head with little kisses.
“I'm actually a little nervous about seeing my dad right now.”
“I'll walk you downstairs.”
Before Minjeong could answer, Jimin took her jacket and bag with one hand. Then, as naturally as if she'd done it a hundred times before, she reached for Minjeong's free hand and laced their fingers together.
Minjeong felt like she was dreaming.
Was it really possible for someone to make her this nervous by doing something so simple? They had only known each other for a few hours. They were supposed to be friends. That's what Jimin had said. And yet there she was, desperately hoping Jimin wouldn't notice that her heart was trying to beat its way out of her chest.
“Bye, guys.” Minjeong lifted her free hand in a small wave as Jimin led her toward the apartment door.
As they were about to step into the elevator, Jimin stumbled slightly. Before she could lose her balance, Minjeong instinctively reached out to steady her.
Right. Jimin was drunk. Minjeong had watched her pour herself one drink after another all night. Besides, the blush on her cheeks and the way she occasionally slurred her words weren't doing much to hide it.
Once they reached the ground floor, Jimin walked her all the way to the entrance of the apartment building. When it was finally time to say goodbye, she stepped closer and wrapped Minjeong in a hug.
Relax, Minjeong. Your friends hug you too.
“Happy birthday, Minjeong,” Jimin whispered without letting go. “Go on. Run.”
Minjeong closed her eyes for a brief moment and hugged her back a little tighter. That was when she caught a faint smell of cigarette smoke mixed with Jimin's perfume. She frowned slightly, but let it go. It wasn't that important right now.
She pulled away and hurried toward her dad's car. Before getting in, she looked back one last time. Jimin was still standing there. She smiled and lifted a hand to wave goodbye and Minjeong smiled back and waved too.
Her heart was racing, her cheeks were warm, and she couldn't stop smiling. Nothing could ruin her night.
“Who was that girl?” her dad asked as he started the car.
“A friend.” Minjeong replied quietly.
“I don't know her. She wasn't Yizhuo or Aeri.”
“Because she's a new friend.”
Her dad was silent for a few seconds.
"Then why did she hug you like that?”
“Am I not allowed to have friends?”
Minjeong sighed. Besides, it had been a completely normal hug.
Completely.
It was perfectly normal for a friend to wrap an arm around your waist, tuck a strand of your hair behind your ear, rest her face against your neck for a few seconds, and absentmindedly brush her fingers against yours before letting go of your hand.
“This road...I thought I’d be spending the night with you.”
“It's too late to change the route now, Minjeong. We're only three minutes away.”
Minjeong sank a little deeper into her seat. Well, maybe spending the night at her apartment with Pponyo was better than staying at her parents’ house after that awkward conversation.
“Good night. Thanks for the ride.” Minjeong said as she got out of the car.
“Happy birthday, sweetheart.”
“Thanks. Tell Mom good night for me.”
She unlocked the door to her apartment and immediately heard four little paws racing down the hallway. A second later, her puppy came bounding toward her, wagging its tail so hard it looked like its entire body was saying hello. Minjeong dropped her bag and jacket onto the floor before crouching down to greet it, laughing as she showered its head with gentle pets and little kisses.
This was exactly what she needed to make her birthday even better.
As she sat on the living room floor playing with it, her thoughts inevitably wandered back to the same person. Did Jimin like dogs too? Did she have any pets? Did she live nearby? Would she say yes if Minjeong invited her over to meet Pponyo someday?
Eventually, Minjeong settled onto the floor with her legs crossed and scooped Pponyo into her arms.
“Pponyo, I really, really want my birthday wish to come true this time. I mean it. Do you think it will?”
Pponyo gently nibbled one of her fingers.
“Ow! Was that a no?!”
As its only reply, the little dog hopped out of her arms, trotted over to its bed, curled into a tiny ball, and closed its eyes.
“Well…" Minjeong murmured with a smile. “You're just a puppy. You don't know anything about these things!”