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One thing about Jimin and Yoonji was that they were perfect at working together quietly.
Maybe it was a reason why they functioned so well as best friends and roommates. It was great. They were stable this way. They could talk and be silly, but they could also be quiet and productive.
More often than not, lately, they would find themselves sitting at their kitchen table together, headphones on and both engrossed in their college work.
Yoonji obviously needed their headphones, as a music major. Jimin just followed along and listened to music while she was working.
She majored in political science, with a minor in dance. So when she wasn't sitting down reading one of the books or writing an essay, she could be found in the studio.
Yoonjis minor was literature. Yes, they spend a lot of time on their laptop.
Once in a while during their study sessions, one of them would get up to get new coffee or a snack to live through another hour of texts. Today, however, Jimin wasn't catching up on her course work. Instead she was sorting through finances, bills that were due and other things both she and Yoonji had to manage.
The task had something domestic, Jimin always thought. And being domestic with Yoonji? There were days when that was all she wanted. But it wasn't enough reason to romanticize the task in the end.
Being independent and having their own flat had upsides as well as downsides. She loved the calm amd quiet they had. But now that she was looking at their expenses, Jimin could only see the downsides of their living arrangement.
She let out a big sigh.
Yoonji must've seen or heard it because they freed one ear from their headphones. "That sigh looked actually painful", they commented.
Jimin promptly let out another sigh.
"Yeah, well. You would sigh like this too if you took one look at our bills and compared them with our bank accounts."
Yoonjis brow furrowed. It wasn't like they didn't know what was going on financially. They just didn't know every tiny detail.
The two of them sort of had an agreement. Jimin did the planning, finances and stuff. Yoonji on the other hand cooked almost everyday. They had basically divided all of their tasks like that. It was easier.
So yeah, obviously Yoonji knew that money was tight. But Jimin paid all the bills and kept an eye on their accounts.
"That bad huh?", they asked. Jimin gave her a strained grin. "I mean, we will survive the next month, probably, but yeah."
Yoonji pulled their headphones off completely now. Jimin copied that action.
"You wanna talk about it?", Yoonji asked. "Or maybe just rant about it. It'll make you feel better."
Now Yoonjis whole attention was on her. Their screen still glimmered in the background and illuminated their tousled mullet. They looked very comfy and also kind of sleepy in the hoodie they were wearing. Maybe Jimin could get a hug or even cuddles later.
"I know I chose to do the bills but sometimes it's just so much. I look at our accounts everyday and I worry everyday."
Jimin took a breath.
"And then sometimes we don't have enough money left for proper meals at the end of the month. And I always feel so guilty, even though it isn't even my fault."
Yoonji grabbed Jimins hand. "It really isn't", they repeated and oddly enough, it did comfort Jimin to hear her roommate say that.
"I know." Jimin squeezed Yoonjis hand.
Yoonji was quiet for a while, then they asked: "Do you want me to do it? I can at least help you out on it."
Jimin smiled teasingly. "Oh come on. We both know you're not good with money and planning." Yoonji smiled back at her. "I mean, I could still try-"
"I'm not letting you go near that, Eonni."
Jimin looked at them earnestly. Yoonji just chuckled. "Let's talk about something else. I think I just need a break from this", Jimin proposed. "Yeah, sure", Yoonji answered.
Jimin scooted closer with her chair to look at Yoonjis laptop.
"How's your song coming along?" Yoonjis eyes went back towards the screen and Jimin missed the way they were focused on her already. But if she was about to get an excited rant from Yoonji about music instead it would be worth it.
"Well, it isn't finished yet."
Jimin waited for more, but uncharacteristically, Yoonji stayed silent.
"Well, can I still hear it?"
Yoonjis laugh came a little awkward. "Uhm, I don't know. It's really not finished yet. But I think it could be really great." Yoonji normally wasn't this private about their music.
"Oh come on, I'm your best friend, your roommate. We literally tell each other everything. Let me hear it! I'm not gonna judge or laugh."
Yoonji looked at Jimin with a raised eyebrow. Jimin tried her best puppy eyes. They relented.
"Yeah, okay. Just...really, don't laugh."
With that they took their own headphones and placed them over Jimins ears, careful that no hair would be caught between the headphones and her ears.
Jimin could've easily done that herself, but Yoonjis hands in her hair, on her cheeks had her paralysed. Yoonji smiled at her and then turned back to their screen to start the song. Jimin only had seconds to focus back onto the music she was about to hear.
She hadn't expected what she heard a moment later.
It wasn't Yoonjis usual style. Jimin heard a soft acoustic guitar, violins, a cello. She was captivated by the soft, yearning melody. There was no voice, no lyrics, but everyone who heard the melody would understand that it was bittersweet, full of longing and love. It was also sad at times.
Jimin felt her heart clench. Who'd made her best friend feel like that? This had to be about someone specific. Was Yoonji unhappily in love? But Jimin was sure that they would've told her about that.
The song was still pretty short. It ended after one minute.
"Wow", Jimin said when she took of the headphones.
"Do you...like it?", Yoonji asked, hesitant. Jimin nodded. "Yes. It's crazy good. I can't believe how you can capture so many emotions in such a way. How did you do that?"
Yoonjis smile grew on their face. "It just...came to me. But I really like it too. I think it has a lot of potential. It could be my breakthrough." Jimin smiled back.
"I like your confidence. It looks good on you." Jimin saw a slight pink tint on Yoonjis cheeks. "Thanks."
Yoonji had been uploading their music for a while now, but their hip hop and rap was pretty underground. They had a steady fan base, but there just weren't that many.
Yoonji had always been okay with that; as long as they'd been able to share their music with other people, no matter how many of them, they'd been happy. They wanted to make music only because they wanted to.
But Jimin had always wished for more people to recognize how good Yoonjis music and lyrics were. Now it sounded like Yoonji also wanted more people to listen to their music.
"You know, if this song is as successful as I think it could be, if I make it big someday..." Their eyes found Jimins dead on. "Maybe everything will change. We'll finally have money and can live comfortably."
Jimins eyes widened. Not only did Yoonji break out of her principles here.
"You...you said we?"
Now Yoonjis cheeks were flaming red.
"Yeah. I like...this. Us living together. It...works." Jimin smiled.
"And you want to keep living together? After college?"
"I mean, if you want to too?" Jimin smiled back at them.
"Yes. I do."
Now both of them turned red.
"God, why did that sound like I was answering to a marriage proposal", Jimin whined. Yoonji just giggled, slightly embarassed.
"So, we're gonna do it? Like, life? Together?", Jimin asked. Yoonji nodded. "Yes. I'd like that." Jimin smiled a beaming smile.
"I'm gonna get more coffee", she announced and stood up.
Maybe that conversation should've been a big deal, but it seemed like both of them had been on the same page since forever. Probably another reason why they function together so well. Like Yoonji said, it just works.
"Alright", Yoonji answered and turned back towards her screen.
Jimin stopped when she walked through the door towards the kitchen. Another thought had come to her. She turned around.
"Eonni?"
"Mhm?"
Yoonji hadn't put her headphones on yet. She turned around in her chair. "If we both turn 30 and aren't married by then, I'm gonna ask you to marry me."
Yoonjis mouth fell open.
"But...it isn't legal in South Korea." Jimin smiled bravely. "Is that a no?" Yoonji shook their head, stunned. "No", she breathed.
"Then that's not gonna stop me."