Summary:
All Minji did was stop some books from killing a nerd.
It's clear that I put effort into the pictuređ
â fem readerđ§đœââïž
It was too early for public humiliation.
YN muttered a quiet curse under her breath as she adjusted her crooked glasses for the third time. She stood in the far corner of the university library, struggling with a stubborn book lodged high on the shelf. Her hoodie sleeves were pulled over her hands, her expression pinched in frustration. She knew she couldâve asked for helpâbut she didnât do help. She did solitude, sarcasm, and a healthy dose of avoiding all human interaction.
With a determined huff, she stepped up on the very bottom edge of the shelf, fingers stretching toward the book she absolutely needed for class.
With a terrifying creak and a swift betrayal by gravity, three other thick volumes gave up on life and came crashing down toward her head. Her eyes widened, body frozen, mouth opened in a silent screamâ
A warm, solid arm curved around her shoulders just as the books slammed into the air where her skull shouldâve been. Her back was pressed against somethingâor someoneâtall, strong, and inexplicably citrus-scented.
âWhatââ YN gasped, blinking up intoâ
The girl who had a fan club without even trying. Who looked good doing nothing. The cool, tall, âof course she plays basketball and gets straight Aâsâ type. Universally loved. Universally not in YNâs life. Until now.
Minji raised an eyebrow as she looked down at YN, a crooked half-smile forming. âYou okay? You looked like you were about to become one with the Dewey Decimal System.â
YN pushed her glasses up in a flustered panic and immediately scowled, stepping away as fast as she could manage. âI had it under control.â
âSure you did.â Minji crouched to pick up the fallen books. âThese just volunteered to attack for no reason.â
YN grabbed one of the books and clutched it to her chest. âI didnât ask for help.â
Minji handed her another book, unbothered. âYou also didnât die. Youâre welcome.â
YN turned, ready to disappear into a holeâor at least the nearest exitâbut Minji followed her like it was the most natural thing in the world.
âIâve seen you around, right? Youâre in that, uh... abstract painting class that smells like turpentine and sadness?â
YN narrowed her eyes. âHow would you know what sadness smells like?â
Minji grinned, undeterred. âItâs a talent. Iâm Minji.â
âI know who you are,â YN muttered, already walking away.
Minji kept pace beside her. âCool. So, who are you?â
YN sighed. âSomeone whoâs trying to study alone.â
âNoted.â Minji gave a mock salute but didnât leave.
YN stopped in her tracks. âWhy are you still following me?â
Minji tilted her head, like she was trying to figure something out. âBecause, I donât know⊠You look like the kind of person who forgets to eat while studying. And fall off ladders. You might need supervision.â
YNâs jaw dropped. âIâm not a hazard.â
Minji just shrugged, lips twitching like she was holding back laughter. âCouldâve fooled me.â
YN groaned loudly. âUnbelievable.â
âNice to meet you too,â Minji said brightly, and for some reasonâannoyinglyâYNâs heart skipped a beat.
YN absolutely hated mornings.
She hated mandatory events even more.
But what she hated the most⊠was walking into a crowded auditorium where the only thing louder than the echo of her footsteps was the collective energy of people who actually wanted to be there.
A university-wide âVision Conference.â Whatever that meant. Probably just another excuse for the administration to hand out tote bags and pretend they cared about student input. She dragged her feet inside the hall, hoodie half-zipped, earbuds dangling but not even playing anything. It was her last line of defenseâif people thought she was busy, maybe theyâd leave her alone.
She scanned the room. Packed. Great.
Some overenthusiastic emcee at the front was already shouting into the mic about student potential and growth and future excellence. YN tuned them out instantly.
Her eyes locked on the one safe space: the very last row, right by the wall. Perfect. Shadowed. No chatty people. Minimal eye contact.
She made her way toward it, clutching her water bottle and notebook like a shield. But as she weaved between knees and backpacks, her boot caught the strap of someoneâs oversized designer tote.
Her arms flailed like a windmill in crisis, and she mentally braced for impactâ
Except... again, it never came.
Because standing thereâlike some guardian angel with a basketball scholarship and a smug smileâwas Kim Minji.
âDo you fall a lot, or do I just have amazing timing?â Minji asked, holding YN upright by the elbow like she didnât just appear out of thin air like a protagonist.
YN blinked up at her, stunned. âAre you stalking me?â
Minji tilted her head, smirking. âPlease. If I were stalking you, Iâd know not to sneak up while youâre about to faceplant.â
âI wasnât going to fall!â YN snapped, yanking her arm free and immediately regretting it because she nearly lost her balance again.
Minji caught her again, with one arm, like it was nothing. âYeah. Super stable.â
âStop catching me!â YN hissed, cheeks burning.
âIâd love to,â Minji said cheerfully. âBut you keep launching yourself into the floor.â
Several students in nearby seats turned to look, curious about the chaos in the back. YN shrunk into herself, mortified.
âJustâgo sit with your fan club,â she muttered, finally making it to the empty chair and throwing herself into it like a sack of bricks.
To her horror, Minji didnât move.
In fact, she sat down right next to her.
âWhat are you doing?â YN whispered, horrified.
Minji leaned back in the chair, arms crossed behind her head like she owned the place. âKeeping an eye on you. Safety hazard, remember?â
âI am not a safety hazard.â
âTell that to the bookshelves. And the tote bag. And gravity.â
YN groaned and buried her face in her hands. âThis is a nightmare.â
âThen why is it kind of fun?â Minji said, glancing sideways at her with that maddening sparkle in her eyes.
âStop smiling at me,â YN muttered.
âCanât. Itâs a reflex when I see you trip over your own feet.â
YN looked away, jaw clenched, but her ears were glowing red. She didnât respondâand Minji didnât push.
For a few minutes, they sat in silence as the presentation continued, filled with overly enthusiastic buzzwords and PowerPoint animations no one asked for.
Then Minji leaned over and whispered, âBet you ten bucks the next speaker says âinnovationâ at least seven times.â
YN blinked, then... almost smiledâbefore catching herself. She elbowed Minji lightly instead.
âShut up.âMinji grinned, victorious
The laundry room smelled like lavender detergent and bad choices.
YN pushed open the heavy basement door with her elbow, her laundry basket balanced on her hip like a baby she didnât ask for. Her hoodie sleeves were rolled up, hair tied in a messy bun, and oversized glasses sliding down her nose. It was already a bad day, and the last thing she needed was other people.
She let out a long sigh when she saw it: only one washing machine free.
She marched toward it like a soldier in battle, muttering to herself. âJust ten minutes. In, out, peace.â
But when she got thereâ
The door to the machine shut just as her fingers touched the handle.
A beep. A cheerful whirr.
She slowly turned her head, and there she was.
Sitting casually on the folding table, legs crossed, back leaning against the wall like a scene from a youth drama, was Kim. Freaking. Minji.
She had her AirPods in, a half-eaten granola bar in one hand and a book in the other. She looked cozy. Calm. Incredibly annoying.
YN stared at her in disbelief. âAre you serious.â
Minji looked up, startled, and paused her music. âHey.â
âDonât âheyâ me.â YN gestured dramatically at the machine. âI was literally reaching for that.â
Minji tilted her head, blinking innocently. âI didnât see you. You move real quiet for someone who walks like she hates the ground.â
YNâs jaw dropped. âThat doesnât even make sense.â
Minji just grinned. âYou want me to cancel the wash and give it to you?â
âYes,â YN said, without hesitation.
âToo bad,â Minji replied, hopping off the table and walking over to the dryer. âLaundry rule #2: First come, first wash.â
âThere are rules?â YN groaned, setting her basket down with unnecessary aggression.
âYeah,â Minji said, opening the dryer and pulling out a hoodie. âRule #1: Don't bleach your roommateâs black shirt unless youâre ready to move out.â
YN sighed dramatically and sat on the edge of the empty counter next to the vending machine. âI hope your machine explodes.â
Minji glanced back, folding a sweatshirt neatly. âItâs not the machineâs fault youâre late.â
âI wasn't late. I was precisely on time. The universe just hates me.â
Minji chuckled, stuffing clothes into a laundry bag. âMaybe itâs trying to throw us together.â
YN looked at her, deadpan. âIs that a pickup line or a threat?â
âWould you prefer a threat?â Minjiâs voice was light, teasing.
YN didnât answer. Instead, she pulled out her phone and began scrolling aimlessly, pretending not to notice the way Minji leaned casually against the washing machine now, looking at her instead of her book.
Minutes passed like thatâsoft humming of machines, awkward silence, and that quiet tension hanging in the air like steam.
Then Minji casually said, âSo⊠Do you always sort your laundry by color like a perfectionist, or is that just a nerd thing?â
YN raised a brow. âI am a nerd.â
âYeah,â Minji said, smiling. âItâs cute.â
YN choked on her own breath. âExcuse me?â
âI said itâs cute,â Minji repeated with absolutely no shame. âYour whole glasses-wrinkled-shirt-angry-girl-who-knows-how-to-fold-socks vibe.â
âIâm not angry,â YN protested, clutching her water bottle defensively.
âYou literally just wished death on my washing machine.â
Minji let out a real laugh thenâlow, genuine, relaxed. The kind that filled the echoey room and made YNâs face go hot. She hated how nice it sounded. She hated how warm she felt.
âIâll be done in likeâŠâ Minji checked her watch. âSeven minutes. You can have the next machine.â
âWow,â YN muttered. âSo generous.â
Minji leaned closer, elbow resting on the machine. âOr⊠we could share.â
YN looked at her, appalled. âIâm not mixing my laundry with a stranger.â
Minji shrugged. âIâve seen you trip three times. Weâre not strangers anymore. Weâre a recurring event.â
YN tried to hold back the smile tugging at her lips. âYou are so annoying.â
âYet here you are,â Minji said with a wink. âAgain.â
The campus bookstore was unusually crowded that day. A new shipment of specialty notebooks had arrivedâsomething about recycled paper, limited cover art, and QR codes that linked to calming lo-fi playlists. In other words:Â Gen Z bait.
YN didnât care about the trend.
She just needed one decent notebook to replace the one that got coffee-bombed earlier that week. (Still a sore subject.)
She ducked inside the shop, sleeves tugged over her hands, hair slightly damp from the drizzle outside. Her glasses fogged up instantly, and she muttered under her breath while trying to wipe them clean on the edge of her hoodie.
âUgh. This is fine. Totally fine. I love communal humidity.â
Navigating between displays, she headed to the back wall where the last stack of the limited edition sketch notebooks sat on a shelfâglorious, untouched, perfectly organized.
She reached for the top oneâ
The voice made her freeze.
She despised how familiar it was becoming.
She turned slowly to find Minjiâagainâstanding across the display, holding the same exact notebook, her smile far too pleased.
âAre you following me?â YN accused immediately.
Minji raised an eyebrow. âThis is a public bookstore. Youâre not the main character, Nerdy.â
YN blinked. âDid you just call meââ
âNerdy? Yeah,â Minji said, flipping the notebook cover open and inspecting the pages. âYouâve got the glasses, the emotional damage, and the tendency to argue with shelves. It fits.â
âI do not argue with shelves,â YN snapped.
Minji didnât even look up. âThe laundry room shelf still hasnât recovered from what you said to it.â
YN looked skyward, as if asking the ceiling to take her. âWhy do you keep showing up everywhere I go?â
âI think youâre underestimating how much you go where I go,â Minji replied easily.
âIâm not stalking you!â
âNever said you were,â Minji said with a grin. âBut youâre definitely consistent.â
YN groaned and turned to leave with the notebook clutched in her handsâbut not before Minji noticed which one she picked.
âOf course you went with the one with the tiny constellations,â Minji teased, falling into step beside her. âVery on brand.â
âWhy are you walking with me?â
âBecause Iâm bored,â Minji replied. âAnd maybe I like watching you pretend youâre not flustered every time we run into each other.â
YN stopped in her tracks. âIâm not flustered.â
âStop calling me that.â
Minji tilted her head, pretending to think. âHmm⊠Nah.â
YN glared at her. âDo you just collect nicknames for people you annoy?â
âNo,â Minji said, taking her notebook to the counter. âJust for the ones I like.â
Like actually froze-in-place kind of blink.
Minji was already halfway through paying when she turned back around and saw YN still standing in the same spot, eyes wide.
âRelax. It was a joke,â she said with a shrug. âUnless you want it not to be?â
YN didnât answerâmostly because she couldnât remember how to use words at that moment.
Instead, she quietly walked up beside her, placed her notebook on the counter, and muttered under her breath, âYouâre so annoying.â
Minji bumped her shoulder lightly. âYou keep saying that. Yet here we are.â
It was already a mistake.
YN knew it the second she stepped into the tiny, overly warm on-campus cafĂ©. The lights were dimmed to âemotional damageâ levels, and fairy lights were strung across the ceiling like someone tried too hard. A sign near the door read:
"Open Mic: Pour Your Soul or Go Home."
She absolutely should have gone home.
But her roommate had begged her to come. âCome on, YN, it'll be good for your soul or whatever. Youâve been staring at that same brushstroke for five hours.â And like an idiot, she caved.
Now she stood awkwardly near the espresso machine, clutching a cup of lukewarm tea and trying to pretend she didnât want to disappear.
A girl onstage was reciting a poem about being left on read. Someone in the crowd actually snapped their fingers in response.
YN grimaced. âI hate this timeline.â
âWow. Thatâs the most dramatic reaction Iâve heard and youâre not even on stage yet.â
She turned slowlyâand of course.
In jeans, a black bomber jacket, hair slightly damp from the drizzle outside, and that same cocky smile like she was here for entertainmentâand YN was the show.
Minji wasnât alone this time. Behind her was a whole squad of chaos:
Yunjin, who wore headphones around her neck and smirked like she knew everything about everyone.
Hanni, who was already waving excitedly at someone across the room and half-spilling popcorn.
Jiwon, the fashion major who looked like sheâd stepped off a runway and was judging the fairy lights.
âPlease tell me this is a simulation,â YN muttered, sipping her tea like it had answers.
Minji just laughed, nudging her shoulder. âWhat, you donât like poetry?â
âI donât like people.â
âFair,â Minji said, then motioned toward her group. âCome on. You already look miserable alone. Might as well suffer near us.â
Before YN could protest, Minji had already grabbed her by the wristâlightly, casually, like it was no big dealâand was pulling her toward a corner booth where her friends were camped out.
âGuys,â Minji announced as they sat down. âThis is Nerdy.â
YN nearly choked. âDonât call me that in front of people!â
Yunjin grinned. âNerdy? I love her already.â
Hanni scooted over excitedly. âHi! Youâre so pretty! Do you write poems? Can you write one about bread?â
Jiwon just raised an eyebrow, unimpressed but curious. âSo this is the girl Minji keeps talking about.â
Minjiâs face didnât even twitch. She just sipped her iced Americano.
YN turned to her sharply. âYou talk about me?â
âOnly when itâs relevant,â Minji said. âLike gravity. Or fate. Or sudden disasters.â
YN buried her face in her hands.
But despite the embarrassment, she didnât leave.
Because the energy around the table was stupid and chaotic and oddly warm. Yunjin made dry jokes under her breath, Jiwon kept critiquing every poem with fashion metaphors (âThis piece has strong 2019 Pinterest vibesâ), and Hanni kept offering everyone snacks from her oversized tote bag.
Minji, meanwhile, kept leaning closer to YN every time someone read a dramatic poem, whispering sarcastic commentary:
âOh my god, he said âI am the moon, and she was the tide.â Thatâs, like, peak Tumblr 2014.â
âTen bucks the next one mentions ârainâ as a metaphor for depression.â
âOkay wait⊠that one was actually kind of good.â
At one point, the host called out, âAnyone else want to sign up for the mic?â
And Hanniâtraitorâshot her hand up and pointed at Minji. âSHE DOES!â
The crowd clapped automatically.
Minji looked stunned. âWhat the hell, Hanni?!â
YN burst into real laughter for the first time that night.
Minji narrowed her eyes. âYou're enjoying this, Nerdy.â
âAbsolutely,â YN grinned.
Minji stood up with a dramatic sigh. âFine. But if I die, Iâm haunting you.â
She walked up to the mic, stuffed her hands in her pockets, and with no prep, said:
âThis poem is called:Â âI wasnât supposed to be here tonight, but then I saw someone trip on a bookshelf and now I canât stop showing up.ââ
YN blinked, caught off guard.
Minji smiledânot at the crowd.
At her.
Not the dramatic storm kind, but the annoying drizzle that clung to your clothes and made everything feel damp and inconvenient. YN tugged her hoodie tighter, adjusting the sleeves over her hands as she jogged toward the small ramen shop tucked between two convenience stores near campus.
It was one of those hidden places that didnât even have a signâjust a flickering neon bowl in the window and the smell of broth that could bring tears to your eyes. It was comfort food for tired students and broke souls. Exactly what she needed.
She pushed the door open and stepped into the warmth. The bell above the door gave a soft chime.
The place was full. Great.
There were barely any seats left, and the one corner booth that she usually claimed was already occupied by a group of students who looked like they were planning a group projectâor maybe a coup.
She glanced around quickly, hopeful.
One empty seat.
At a two-person table.
Already taken on one side byâ
Oh, come on.
Sitting casually, long legs crossed under the table, chopsticks in hand, already halfway through a steaming bowl of ramen. Her hair was slightly damp, strands curling at the edges. She wore a grey hoodie under her jacket and looked like sheâd just wandered out of a music video.
YN considered walking out.
Truly. She turned toward the door.
âDonât even think about it,â Minji said without looking up.
Minji raised her eyes, one brow lifted. âThereâs nowhere else to sit. Come on, I donât bite.â
YN narrowed her eyes. âYou absolutely bite.â
Minji shrugged. âOnly people who deserve it.â
âPerfect. Iâll eat standing.â
Minji slurped some noodles, completely unbothered. âSuit yourself. But the owner does get passive-aggressive if people loiter.â
And as if on cue, the ahjumma behind the counter shouted,
âYou eat, or you leave!â
YN groaned and shuffled over to the table, dropping her bag and sitting across from Minji with all the grace of someone being punished by fate.
âThanks,â she muttered dryly. âI love being stalked by you across campus.â
âRight,â Minji said, chewing slowly. âBecause you totally invented this ramen place, and I just followed your scent like a wolf.â
YN gave her the most exhausted glare she could muster. âYou are unbelievable.â
âAnd yet,â Minji said, pointing to her with her chopsticks, âyouâre still sitting here. Across from me. Again.â
YN huffed and waved at the owner for a menu, refusing to meet Minjiâs eyes.
âYou always eat ramen alone?â Minji asked after a moment.
YN didnât look up. âYou always talk this much?â
Minji leaned back, stretching her arms behind her head. âOnly when Iâm bored. Or entertained.â
The menu arrived. YN ordered the extra spicy bowl, mostly out of spite. Minji raised an eyebrow.
âSpicy?â she asked. âDidnât take you for a masochist.â
âI didnât ask you to take me for anything.â
Minji smirked. âIâm just gathering data. Nerdyâs got layers.â
âStop calling me that.â
Silence fell for a while as they waited for YNâs food. The rain pattered gently against the windows. The warm yellow lights made everything feel slower, softer.
And for a moment... it wasnât so bad.
Minji tapped her chopsticks against the bowl. âYou know, I donât usually like sharing meals with people.â
YN looked up in surprise. âWhy not? Youâre everyoneâs favorite.â
Minji shrugged. âToo much talking. Too many expectations. I donât like pretending to care about shallow stuff.â
YN blinked. âThatâs surprisingly honest of you.â
âYou bring it out of me,â Minji said without missing a beat.
YN stared at her, suspicious. âThat... sounds like a pickup line.â
Minji just grinned. âWouldnât work anyway. Youâre immune.â
YNâs ramen finally arrivedâred, steaming, dangerous.
Minji leaned in slightly. âYou sure you can handle that?â
YN broke apart her chopsticks with the confidence of someone lying to herself. âWatch me.â
One bite later, she regretted everything.
Her eyes watered instantly, face turning red.
Minji burst out laughing. âOh my god. Youâre dying.â
âIâm fine,â YN coughed, grabbing her water.
âYouâre not fine. Youâre actively ascending.â
YN glared at her between gulps. âShut up.â
Minji handed her a napkin, still laughing. âYouâre cute when you suffer.â
YN nearly spit out her water. âWhat is wrong with you?â
âNothing,â Minji said, smiling. âYouâre just really fun to mess with.â
And as the rain continued outside, they sat togetherâtwo stubborn souls, sharing warm food, sarcastic banter, and something neither of them would admit just yet.
By the time they left the ramen shop, the rain had gotten heavier. Not storm-heavy, just that steady kind that soaked through your sleeves and made the world smell like wet asphalt and fresh beginnings.
YN tugged her hood over her head, but it was too lateâher hair was already damp. She groaned quietly, pulling her sleeves over her hands as she stepped out onto the sidewalk.
Beside her, Minji was unfazed. Hands in her pockets, face tilted slightly up to the sky like the rain didnât bother her at all. She looked annoyingly cinematic, like she belonged in a slow indie film with Korean subtitles and lo-fi music playing in the background.
They walked in silence for a moment, the only sound being their footsteps on the wet pavement and the cars whooshing by on the road.
Then Minji broke the quiet, as usual.
âSo,â she said, kicking at a puddle. âThat wasnât horrible.â
YN glanced at her. âThe ramen or your company?â
YN smirked. âWell⊠youâre tolerable in small doses.â
Minji grinned. âWow. The highest praise Iâve ever received.â
They turned a corner toward the main road where a few taxis idled under the shelter of a bus stop. YN spotted one with its light on and picked up her pace a little.
âHey,â Minji said behind her. âBefore you goâwhatâs your actual name, anyway?â
YN slowed just a little. âItâs YN.â
âThatâs it? No middle name? No tragic backstory attached?â
YN rolled her eyes. âJust YN.â
Minji stepped closer, smirking. âStill gonna call you Nerdy.â
âToo late. Itâs branded now. You even respond to it.â
âI do not respond to it.â
Minji leaned in just a fraction. âYou literally turned your head in the ramen shop when I said it.â
YN stopped in front of the taxi, hand on the door. âI was trying to figure out if I should throw miso in your face.â
âAnd yet,â Minji said, stepping beside her with a slight shrug, âyou didnât.â
YN shook her head and opened the door, then paused.
Minji tilted her head. âWhat?â
Without a word, YN reached behind her, shrugged off the black hoodie Minji had tossed over her shoulders when they left the shop earlier, and handed it backâfolded clumsily but warm from her body heat.
Minji blinked. âYou couldâve kept it. It looks better on you.â
âI donât borrow things from people who call me Nerdy.â
YN smiled faintly, already half inside the car. âWell... Thanks for the meal. Or the seat. Or whatever.â
âAnytime,â Minji replied, taking the hoodie with a slight grin.
YN closed the door, rolled the window down halfway, and leaned out slightly as the taxi started to move.
She gave a casual wave, as if they hadnât just spent the weirdest, warmest evening together.
As if she hadnât just memorized Minjiâs stupid smile.
âBye, Minji,â she said, emphasizing her name teasingly.
Minji stood on the curb, hoodie in hand, rain still falling softly around her. She didnât say anythingâjust lifted one hand in a lazy, smug wave.
But as the car pulled away, she watched it go with something restless in her chest.
Something that felt likeâŠ
âSee you soon, Nerdy.â
Even if she didnât say it out loud.
YN had made a very clear decision when she entered college: no sports. ever.
She hated noise. Hated uniforms. Hated the very concept of teamwork.
(Also? She once got hit in the face with a volleyball in middle school PE and never emotionally recovered.)
So how, exactly, did she end up standing at the edge of the universityâs indoor basketball court, clutching a bottle of water like it was a weapon?
It started when she got dragged by her roommate to âwatch the legendary Kim Minji at practice, just for fun.â Apparently, it was a thingâMinjiâs practices often attracted a crowd.
There was even an unofficial fan club:
Front row girls with matching headbands
A dude with a DSLR zoom lens the size of his arm
And one girl actually holding a handmade sign that said:
âMinji, step on me (respectfully) đâ
YN had rolled her eyes so hard it hurt.
She had every intention of hiding in the back row of the bleachers and sketching quietly on her iPad.
Until the coachâs voice boomed across the gym:
âWeâre short a player for the scrimmageâanyone want to volunteer?â
And before YN could process what was happeningâ
âSheâll do it!â
Minjiâs voice.
Loud.
Clear.
Pointing straight at her.
YN nearly dropped her water bottle. âWHATâ?â
Too late. The coach waved her in.
Minji was already jogging toward her with that damn smirk on her face.
âCome on, Nerdy. Letâs see if youâre useful outside of sarcasm.â
YN whispered harshly, âI donât do sports!â
âYouâll be fine. Just run around and pretend you care.â
YN found herself somehow in gym shorts (borrowed, too big), standing awkwardly on the court, surrounded by tall, intimidating athletes and... Minji, who looked completely at home, spinning the ball on one finger like a showoff.
YN didnât run so much as she panicked while moving forward.
She got in peopleâs way, ducked instinctively every time someone passed the ball, and screamed once when someone just looked like they were about to throw it at her.
The team was wheezing with laughter.
âMINJI! YOUR GIRLâS GOT DEFENSIVE MOVES LIKE A CRAB!â
âCAN WE GET A HELMET FOR HER?â
âYO, FAN CLUB, CHEER FOR HER TOO!â
Even the fan club started chanting:
YN wanted to dissolve into the floor.
Minji, of course, was thriving. Effortless dribbling, perfect form, tossing the ball in with a casual flick that made people in the bleachers scream.
Every time Minji passed near her, sheâd throw in a smug:
YNâs answer was always a death glare.
Someone threw a clumsy pass from behind. YNâtoo shocked to reactâjust stood there.
The ball flew past her ear.
Minji shouted, âWatch out!â and ran to interceptâonly it was too fast, too close, andâ
The ball bounced somewhere off-court. People gasped.
Minji instinctively grabbed YNâs arms to keep her from falling completelyâbut the momentum pulled them both down to the floor in a heap.
The gym faded. The laughter stopped. Even the fan club paused.
Because suddenly, Minji was on top of YN, both breathless, tangled limbs and pounding hearts.
Minjiâs hands were braced on either side of YNâs shoulders, her breath hot and fast.
YNâs glasses were askew.
Their eyes locked.
YNâs voice came out barely a whisper:
Minji blinked. Her voice was weirdly soft.
Minjiâs eyes flickeredâYNâs flushed cheeks, the rise and fall of her chest, the way her lips parted slightly like she wanted to say something but couldnât. Her breath hitched. Just a little.
It was the closest theyâd ever been.
Closer than teasing.
Closer than sarcasm.
Real.
And that was what made it terrifying.
The spell broke with a loud whistle.
âYOU TWO GONNA MAKE OUT OR GET UP?â someone from the team yelled.
The gym exploded in laughter.
Minjiâs ears turned red.
She scrambled up quickly, brushing her hair back.
YN just lay there for another second, staring at the ceiling, silently begging the universe to end her.
Later, outside the gym, Minji caught up with her near the vending machine.
YN didnât look at her. âDonât.â
Minji grinned. âYou didnât completely die.â
âI literally got tackled by a basketball and you.â
âYouâre welcome,â Minji said, handing her a sports drink. âFor the hydration and the trauma.â
YN took it silently, cheeks still pink.
Then, softer: âThanks... for catching me. Again.â
Minji glanced sideways at her, smirked.
âItâs becoming a habit. Guess I just like falling into you.â
YN choked. âMinjiâ!â
Minji only laughed, turning away, her voice echoing in the hallway.
The moment YN woke up, her brain kindly played the memory of Minjiâs face hovering inches from hers on repeat.
Again.
And again.
And again.
The way her hair had fallen into her eyes.
The way her voice softened when she asked, âYou okay?â
The way their noses almost touchedâ
âNOPE.â
YN flung a pillow at the ceiling and rolled out of bed like it had betrayed her.
This was fine.
She would go to campus.
Avoid Minji.
Pretend the incident was a dream.
Maybe she hallucinated it from sodium overload.
9:22 AM â Art Building Courtyard
YN ducked behind a stone pillar, clutching her iced coffee like a weapon.
Minji was standing across the courtyard with some friends, her bomber jacket slung over one shoulder, laughing at something Jiwon said. She looked carefree, magnetic⊠exactly how she always did.
YN didnât even mean to stop and stare.
It just⊠happened.
For like, three seconds.
Until Minji turned, as if she felt the stareâ
and locked eyes with her.
YNâs soul left her body.
She ducked back behind the pillar so fast she hit her own elbow.
âNope. Nope. Just a ghost. She didnât see me. That wasnât real.â
She spent the next ten minutes taking the long way around campus to avoid passing within five meters of Minji.
YN tiptoed into her favorite section and crouched behind the philosophy shelf, clutching a book she didnât intend to read.
âAre you hiding from me, or do you just like creeping next to Nietzsche?â
Minji was leaning on the opposite shelf, one hand in her pocket, smirking like sheâd just discovered YNâs search history.
YN cleared her throat. âIâm not hiding.â
âOh really? Because you ducked behind a literal pillar earlier. I thought you were reenacting a spy movie.â
âI was just⊠admiring the architecture.â
âIn the opposite direction?â
Minji stepped closer. âIs this because I tackled you?â
YN stepped back, hitting the shelf. âYou fell on me.â
Minji shrugged. âTomato, tomahto.â
Too much eye contact again.
YN stared at the floor. âI just didnât sleep well.â
Minji tilted her head. âWas it⊠the emotional damage? Or the physical proximity?â
âDonât flatter yourself.â
Minji grinned. âYouâre blushing, Nerdy.â
âIâm literally notââ
YN pushed past her, muttering. âGod, youâre so annoying.â
Minji followed her, slow and smug. âYou keep saying that, but you never leave.â
âBecause you keep showing up!â
âMaybe I like watching you panic.â
YN spun to face her. âWhy?!â
Minjiâs smirk flickered, just for a second.
Something real passed behind her eyes.
She leaned in.
Not close, but⊠closer than necessary.
âMaybe it makes me feel something.â
Minji leaned back with a shrug, already turning away.
âAnyway. Iâll see you in class, Nerdy.â
YN stood frozen in place, heart hammering against her ribs like a drum solo.
She whispered to herself, âWhat the hell is she doing to meâŠâ
Later That Day â Cafeteria
YN finally sat with her roommate, trying to zone out and eat in peace.
Then, out of nowhere, a tray slid next to hers.
She didnât have to look.
Minji sat beside her, biting into an apple like she belonged there.
Then casually, softly:
âYou still taste like blushing.â
YN almost choked on her rice.
Minji reached out and handed her a napkin without a word.
When their fingers touchedâjust brieflyâ
It was worse than yesterdayâs fall.
Because now, she was aware.
Every breath. Every graze. Every heartbeat.
Louder. Closer. Realer.
âRemind me again why Iâm awake before sunrise and holding a hiking backpack?â YN muttered, adjusting the strap on her shoulder with the enthusiasm of a hostage.
BesideÙۧ, her roommateâSoheeâbeamed like she was going on a honeymoon.
âBecause you never go out, you live like a vampire, and Iâm worried for your social development.â
âIâm perfectly developed. Socially deficient, by choice.â
They reached the university bus parking lot, where students were already milling around, chatting and loading their bags. A large chartered bus waited with the engine running, its front plastered with a big printed sign:
âFaculty Cross-Department Nature Retreat: Art x Media x Sportsâ
YN groaned. âI can already feel my soul dying.â
Sohee shoved a paper into her hands. âGroup B. Sit wherever. Itâs a two-hour ride, so make friends or at least donât bite them.â
Inside the bus, it was already buzzing with energy. Someone was playing K-pop quietly from a speaker in the back. A couple of athletes were throwing snacks across seats. Fan club girls had already claimed the row behind the driver and were whispering excitedly while scanning the aisle.
YN climbed aboard and scanned for the least chaotic spot. Spotting a window seat halfway back beside a quiet-looking student from media studies, she slid in without a word and immediately put in one earbud.
She slouched, pulled her hoodie up, and stared out the window. If she ignored everyone long enough, they might forget she existed.
But of course, peace doesnât last when Minjiâs fan club is within a 20-foot radius.
The bus erupted in noise as soon as Minji boarded.
Cheers, claps, and someone actually gasped.
Minji walked down the aisle, unbothered as ever, wearing a black baseball cap low over her eyes, hoodie sleeves pushed up, and a duffle bag slung casually over one shoulder.
âWhy is she dressed like a main characterâŠâ YN muttered under her breath.
âMinji-unnie! Sit with us!â
Minji gave them a small wave, barely smiling. âIâll find a spot.â
She passed YNâs row. Didnât glance. Didnât stop.
The bus had settled into soft chatter and occasional snoring. YN had almost managed to doze off, forehead resting lightly against the window.
âWeâre stopping for a break! 15 minutes!â
The bus driverâs voice echoed through the speaker.
The bus jolted slightly as it turned into a rest station.
YN blinked awake, grumbling, and followed the crowd off the bus to stretch her legs.
Sohee appeared out of nowhere with a coffee and handed it to her.
âDrink. You look like you fought sleep and lost.â
As she wandered toward a vending machine, Minji passed her in a soft jog, earbuds in, doing small stretches like she wasnât made of bones and fatigue.
YN tried not to look.
She really did.
But the way Minji flicked her ponytail, took a long sip from her water bottle, then leaned against a railing with her head tilted backâ
It was criminal.
YN huffed and looked away.
The seat beside YN⊠was taken.
Great. Someone had filled it while she was out.
She turned, looking for an open spot. Everything toward the back was now filled. A group of three girls had merged into two seats. Someone had their feet stretched out.
âThereâs a spot here,â
a voice said behind her.
Minji.
Sitting alone.
Patting the empty seat beside her.
YN opened her mouth. Closed it.
Opened it again. âWhy?â
Minji tilted her head. âWhy not?â
âThe fan club will start a petition to assassinate me.â
Minji leaned back casually. âLet them try.â
YN stood awkwardly, debating. Her old seat was gone. Everyone else was paired.
Minji gave her a slow smile.
âCome on, Nerdy. I wonât even talk if you donât want.â
YN groaned and slid in beside her. âOnly because I have nowhere else to go.â
Minji shrugged. âSure, letâs call it that.â
Ten minutes later, they were back on the road.
The bus vibrated gently under them, mountains rolling by through the window.
They sat in silence at first.
Minji was looking out the window, one earbud in, foot tapping lightly.
YN stole a glance at her.
Minjiâs profile was⊠calm. Unbothered. Like nothing could shake her.
Like falling nose-to-nose yesterday didnât faze her at all.
YN turned her gaze back forward and sipped her coffee.
âYou really didnât want to sit next to me, huh?â Minji said suddenly, voice soft.
YN tensed. âI didnât say that.â
Minji looked at her, eyes narrowed playfully. âYou said everything but that.â
YN hesitated. âYouâre⊠distracting.â
Minji raised a brow. âThatâs a compliment, right?â
YN flushed. âNo. Itâs a warning.â
Minji chuckled, low and warm.
âWell, Nerdy⊠weâre stuck on this ride for another hour.
Might as well get used to being distracted.â
The bus finally rolled to a stop at the retreat site â a cozy mountain camp nestled between pine trees and misty hills. The crisp air bit gently at everyoneâs cheeks as they stepped out one by one, stretching, yawning, groaning.
YN rubbed her eyes and looked up at the cloudy sky. âGreat. Nature. Dirt. Cold. Love this.â
Sohee bounced beside her, camera out already. âDonât be grumpy! Look how peaceful this place is.â
âPeaceful until the mosquitoes find me.â
In front of them, a staff member was setting up a whiteboard. She banged a metal triangle loudly for attention, like this was summer camp for overworked adults.
âAlright everyone! Weâre assigning tents now. Two people per tent. Grouped randomly from the sign-up list. No swaps!â
YN whispered, âPlease not Minji. Please not Minji. Please not Minjiââ
âGroup 4,â the staff called. âKim Minji and... YN.â
YN stared blankly at the board.
Minji, standing a few feet away, looked over her shoulder with the most smug face YN had ever seen.
âThe universe is getting bold.â
One of the fan club girls gasped dramatically. âWHAT?!â
Another muttered under her breath, âThere must be a mistake. Minji-unnie wouldnât voluntarilyââ
Minji ignored them completely and strode toward YN with her duffel bag, stopping just a foot away.
âGuess weâre roommates now. Try not to kill me in my sleep.â
YN looked up at the sky. âTake me, Lord.â
Their tent was small, beige, and way too intimate.
It had just enough space for two sleeping bags side by side. Maybe six inches apart.
Minji tossed her bag down on the left side, flopped back like this was her private studio apartment.
YN stood at the entrance, still clutching her backpack like a shield.
âAre you going to stand there all day?â Minji asked, head tilted.
âThis is a nightmare.â
Minji smiled. âYou say that, but you still came on the trip. Must be fate.â
âI was blackmailed by my roommate.â
âFate with extra steps, then.â
YN finally threw her bag down on the right side and sat, arms crossed.
Outside, they could hear the others setting up nearby. Laughter, gossip, zippers opening and closing, someone struggling with a lantern.
From just beyond their tent, a whisper:
âI heard Minji was smiling when she read the tent list.â
âDo you think she likes her??â
Minji and YN froze at the same time.
YN whispered, âDo they not know we have ears?â
Minji grinned. âLet them wonder.â
âYou enjoy this, donât you?â
Minji turned her head slowly toward her. âWhat, sharing a tent with you?
The best sleepover I never asked for.â
YN glared. âI hope you snore.â
âI hope you talk in your sleep. Iâm curious what secrets are locked up in that head.â
They stared at each other for a beat too long.
âCAMPFIRE IN TEN!â someone shouted outside.
Minji stood up, stretching. âLetâs go, Nerdy. Iâll save you from the mosquitoes.â
YN sighed. âCan you save me from yourself?â
Minji smirked. âUnlikely.â
By the time the sun dipped behind the trees, the campfire was already crackling, painting everyoneâs faces in warm orange light.
Students gathered in a messy circle, legs crossed, marshmallows in hand, mugs steaming with cheap cocoa.
Minji flopped onto one of the camp chairs like she owned the mountain.
YN stood at the edge of the group, clearly evaluating if this was worth her social energy.
âCome on, just sit! Stop hovering like a socially anxious bat.â
âI am a socially anxious bat.â
âThen come hang upside-down next to Minji, Batgirl.â
Before YN could object, Sohee shoved her into the only empty spot.
Right beside Minji.
Minji looked over, casually raising an eyebrow.
âLook whoâs back. Canât stay away from me, huh?â
âI was forced. This is a crime.â
Minji offered her a marshmallow on a stick without a word.
YN narrowed her eyes⊠then took it.
The first activity started:
âPass the Questionâ â someone spins a bottle, and whoever it points to has to answer a random prompt.
Jiwon grinned. âAlright, superstar. The question isâŠÂ Describe your type.â
Minji didnât flinch. She sipped her cocoa.
âSomeone who doesnât annoy me.â
The entire circle booed dramatically.
âThatâs too vague!â
âClichĂ©!â
âBe specific!â
Minji smirked. âFine. Someone smart. A little weird. Quiet but secretly deadly.â
Someone laughed. âYou mean like⊠a cat?â
YN, trying not to react, sipped her cocoa like her life depended on it.
Minji glanced sideways at her. âYeah. Like a cat.â
A few rounds later, the bottle spun againâ
and landed on YN.
âYEAHHH letâs gooo!â someone shouted.
âWhatâs your most embarrassing school memory?â
YN blinked. â...Thereâs a list.â
She hesitated. â...In 10th grade, I accidentally entered the boys' bathroom, panicked, ran into a urinal, knocked it off the wall, and then slipped.â
The circle exploded in laughter.
Sohee was wheezing. âYou told me it was a faucet!â
âYou broke a urinal?â
YN groaned. âPlease bury me in this fire.â
Minji grinned, voice low:
âThatâs iconic, Nerdy.â
Later that night, everyone broke off into mini-groups.
Some were roasting marshmallows. Others doing riddles.
A group was playing âGuess Whoâ â where they stuck post-its on each otherâs foreheads with a name, and had to guess who they were.
âSit here!â someone from media waved at Minji.
âNoâsit here!â her fan club chirped, patting the log beside them.
Minji ignored them, walking straight to where YN sat cross-legged on the ground, doodling idly in a small notebook.
Without asking, she sat beside her.
âBusy drawing how much you hate this trip?â Minji asked.
YN didnât look up. âNo. Drawing ways I could disappear.â
Minji peeked over. âThatâs⊠actually kinda cool.â
Just then, someone tripped over a rock near them and fell forwardâ
accidentally bumping into Minjiâ
Straight into YNâs shoulder.
Minji didnât immediately move.
Neither did YN.
Their heads were practically touching.
â...Youâre warm,â Minji murmured.
YN, heart hammering: âThatâs because you landed on me.â
Minji didnât apologize. Just leaned back slowly, that unreadable smile on her lips.
From across the fire, someone whispered, âAre they flirting? Or about to fight
The next morning started with a megaphone and far too much energy.
âWAKE UP CAMPERS! Stretch, hydrate, and meet at the flagpole in fifteen!â
YN sat up in the tent with a groan. Her hair was a mess, her back ached from the thin sleeping bag, and MinjiâŠ
Minji was already up, stretching outside like a human anime protagonist.
Sohee passed by with a protein bar. âMinjiâs already awake? Of course she is. Did she even sleep?â
YN stepped out, blinking at the sunlightâ
only for Minji to toss her a water bottle without turning around.
âDrink before you pass out, Nerdy.â
YN caught it, scowling. âThanks, I guess.â
The first activity was a group hiking challenge.
Teams of five had to follow a marked trail, collect puzzle pieces hidden at waypoints, and return in under an hour.
YN tried very hard to be placed on any team but Minjiâs.
âTeam Three: Minji, YN, Sohee, Jiwon, and Lina.â
YN stared at the trees like they were the gates of doom.
Minji shouldered her backpack with a grin.
âDonât worry. Iâll carry your body down if you pass out.â
Sohee whispered, âWhy does she say stuff like that like itâs sweet?â
Thirty minutes into the hike,
YN was sweating, breathing harder than she wanted to admit, and absolutely regretting all life decisions.
âWhy. Are. There. So. Many. Hills.â
Jiwon looked back. âYou okay back there?â
âIâm fine!â she snappedâjust as she tripped on a root.
Before she could hit the ground, Minji caught her by the wrist, pulling her upright with one quick movement.
Their faces were close again.
Too close.
Familiar close.
Minji tilted her head. âThatâs twice now.â
YN muttered, âStop catching me like Iâm fragile.â
Minji replied without thinking, âYou are fragile.â
YN looked away quickly. âIâm not made of glass.â
âNo. But you walk like you're allergic to the ground.â
The teams had a short break.
Everyone spread out on blankets, eating snacks and chatting.
One of Minjiâs admirers approached YN with a sugary voice:
âAre you sure youâre supposed to be here? This is more for, like, active people.â
YN raised an eyebrow. âOh, I didnât realize gatekeeping fitness was trendy now.â
The girl pouted. âJust saying. Wouldnât want you to slow anyone down.â
Before YN could snap back, Minji walked up behind herâslow, calm, dangerous.
She stepped right beside YN and said simply:
âShe didnât slow anyone down. I was watching.â
The girl blinked. âOhâI didnât meanââ
âYeah, you did.â
Minjiâs voice didnât rise. It didnât need to.
The girl shrank away with a nervous laugh and scurried off.
YN blinked up at her. âYou didnât have to do that.â
Minji sat beside her on the blanket. âSure I did. That was my job.â
YN narrowed her eyes. âSince when is it your job?â
Minji looked at her like the answer was obvious.
âSince you keep needing saving.â
Final activity: Sketch & share.
All students were told to find a view, sketch something they felt described the trip, and present it to the group.
YN sat on a rock, pencil in hand, drawing the surrounding forestâbut her focus kept slipping.
Minji walked up, tossing a snack into her lap.
Minji sat behind her this time, back against a tree, arms crossed.
YN tried to draw.
But her mind kept returning to the way Minji caught her earlier.
The way she stood up for her.
The quiet comfort of her presence nowâeven saying nothing.
âWhy are you always near me?â
Minji opened her eyes, voice low, teasing.
âMaybe I just like your gravitational pull.â
YN snorted. âThatâs not how gravity works.â
âIt is when itâs you.â
The late afternoon sun began to dim behind the trees as the last activity of the day commenced:
"Solo Exploration."
Pairs were given small paper maps and told to collect colored tokens placed along a short forest loop trail. "Short" being a very generous word.
Minji and YN wereâof courseâpaired again.
âItâs only a fifteen-minute loop,â the staff reassured. âYouâll be back before sunset!â
Spoiler: they were wrong.
Ten minutes into the trail, the path had become narrower, rockier, and completely unmarked.
YN held the map upside down. âThis is either a hiking route or a prank.â
Minji leaned in to glance. âYou're holding it backwards, Nerdy.â
âIâm not used to manual orientation! My GPS is emotional support.â
Minji took the map gently from her hand. Their fingers brushed.
YN didnât comment, but her heart did a little skip.
âWeâll figure it out,â Minji said, folding the map and tucking it in her pocket. âJust stay close.â
And for onceâYN didnât argue.
They walked in silence for a while. The forest around them grew quieter⊠thicker.
The path forked, and Minji took the left instinctively. YN followed, careful not to step on anything slippery.
But then the wind shifted, the trees creakedâ
and the trail ended.
Like, fully.
Gone.
No signs. No markers. Just ferns and shadows.
YN stopped, chest tightening slightly. âWait⊠this isnât right.â
Minji scanned the area. âWe didnât turn wrongâŠâ
YN spun. The way they came now looked⊠unfamiliar. The light had changed. The air felt colder.
âOkay. Slightly terrifying.â
Minji pulled out her phone.
âCool,â Minji muttered. âNatureâs so welcoming.â
YN folded her arms, trying to stay calm. âOkay, itâs fine. Weâre probably not lost-lost.â
Minji raised a brow. âDefine âlost-lost.ââ
Just thenâ
A loud crack echoed nearby. Like a branch snapping hard.
YN instinctively moved closer, almost pressed against Minjiâs side.
ââŠThat was probably a squirrel,â she whispered.
Minji smirked, voice low. âA demon squirrel?â
They kept walkingâslowly, now.
Minji lit her phoneâs flashlight and held it out.
YN shivered slightly as the air grew chillier, evening creeping in fast.
ââŠHere.â
Without warning, Minji shrugged off her hoodie and draped it over YNâs shoulders.
YN blinked. âWhat are youââ
âYouâre cold. Your shoulders were tense. I noticed.â
YN clutched the hoodie tighter. It smelled like detergent, pine trees⊠and Minji.
Her voice softened. âThanks.â
Eventually, they reached a mossy log and sat for a moment to rest.
Everything was quiet now, almost too quiet.
YN leaned forward, elbows on knees. âI always hated being lost.â
Minji watched her. âYou panic?â
YN shook her head. âNo. I just hate not knowing where I stand.â
She wasnât just talking about the trail.
Minji picked up a small twig, twirled it between her fingers.
âYou always try to control things, huh?â
âOnly because Iâve seen how messy people are when they donât.â
Minji gave her a look. âYou're not one of those âpeople are disastersâ people, are you?â
âI am the disaster. I just try to limit the damage.â
âI like your damage,â Minji said quietly.
Their eyes met. Neither looked away.
A cool gust of wind passed, and YN shivered again without meaning to.
Minji noticed.
She leaned slightly closer, shoulder brushing against YNâs.
YN nodded, but her voice came out small. âYeah.â
Minji didnât move away.
They sat like that a moment too long.
Close. Warm.
Uncertain.
YN quietly reached out and held Minjiâs hand.
It was small. Almost nothing.
But Minji didnât pull away.
Her thumb gently brushed against YNâs knuckles.
Because words⊠wouldâve broken whatever this was.
Eventually, voices in the far distance echoedâstaff calling names.
They stood, still hand-in-hand for a beat longer, then let go as if nothing had happened.
By the time Minji and YN made it back to the campsite, the sky had gone deep blue and the stars had started to blink through.
They emerged from the treeline quietlyâcalm, walking close, a little dirt on their knees, leaves tangled in their hair.
The fire was already lit again. The others turned at the sound of footsteps.
âThey're ALIVE!â
Sohee practically shouted, clutching her chest dramatically.
âI thought weâd have to call mountain rescue!â
Jiwon grinned. âWhere the hell were you two? It's been, like, an hour and a half.â
YN opened her mouth, but Minji answered first.
âWe took a wrong turn. It was... scenic.â
Lina raised a brow. âYou mean romantic?â
Minji didnât respond. She just walked past them all, brushing leaves off her shoulders.
YN followed, flustered, head slightly lowered.
One of them whispered, way too loudly:
âThey came back together?â
âThey werenât even talking last week!â
Another one crossed her arms. âMinjiâs probably just being nice. Like always.â
As if on cue, Minji turned, looked directly at themâthen right back at YN.
It wasnât a wide smile.
Not smug.
Not sarcastic.
Like she was seeing something no one else did.
Her heart: not beating.
Her brain: rebooting.
Her body: floating.
Later that night, the campsite quieted.
The stars stretched across the sky like scattered wishes.
Inside tent 4, everything was dim. Soft. Breathing slow.
YN lay on her back in her sleeping bag, eyes fixed on the ceiling of the tent.
Minji lay a few inches away, hands behind her head, staring at nothing.
It was loud in its own way.
Like every breath was saying what mouths couldn't.
Finally, Minji spoke, voice hushed.
âAre you mad I dragged you off trail?â
YN turned her head slightly. âYou didnât drag me. I followed.â
Minji looked over. âYou didnât have to.â
YNâs voice was quiet. âI know.â
The moonlight barely lit Minjiâs face. But even in shadow, her eyes were visibleâwatching.
âBack there,â Minji said. âYou held my hand.â
YN swallowed. ââŠYeah.â
Minji didnât tease. Didnât smirk.
Just looked at her like she was trying to figure something out.
She rolled to her side to face her.
They were so close now. Only the thinnest air between them.
YN whispered, âYou always act so calm. Like nothing fazes you.â
The words dropped like a match in dry grass.
Neither moved. Neither blinked.
ThenâMinjiâs hand reached out slowly, like she wasnât even thinking, just drawnâ
She brushed a strand of hair from YNâs face.
And her fingers lingered. Just for a second.
YN whispered, ââŠGoodnight, Minji.â
But neither of them slept.
The final morning of the retreat arrived with sleepy yawns and messy hair.
Students packed up their tents, laughed over spilled toothpaste, and posed for last-minute selfies with the mountain in the background.
The vibe? Lighthearted.
The emotions? Chaotic.
YN zipped her bag with a yawn, ready to disappear into the bus and sleep for three hours straight.
Sohee, however, had other plans.
âThereâs still one last group activity, sleepyhead! Donât you want to say goodbye to nature properly?â
Sohee dragged her anyway.
At the camp center, the instructors had set up a fun final activity:
âCompliment Circle.â
Each person had to give a quick compliment to someone they appreciated during the trip.
âLetâs end on a positive note,â the coach said, clapping. âSpread good vibes!â
YN immediately tensed. âThis is a trap.â
Minji leaned behind her, whispering:
âYouâre gonna compliment me, right?â
YN turned, deadpan. âI was thinking the squirrel that didnât attack us.â
Minji smirked, hand brushing her shoulder.
âRude. I literally gave you my jacket and my hand.â
âYeah, and now your fan club wants to curse me.â
When it was Soheeâs turn, she stood with sparkly eyes and announced:
âI want to compliment my roommate YNâwho actually came on this tripâand was super brave even when we thought she got eaten by a bear.â
Everyone laughed.Then Sohee added, smiling playfully:
âAlso⊠Mr. Jaehwan from the media department for helping us find the trail again.â
From the side, a tall guy in glasses raised his hand with a polite smile. âThatâd be me.âHe walked up to give Sohee a high-fiveâthen turned to YN.
âGlad you made it back safely. You were⊠walking with Minji, right?â
âYou looked cool. Very survival-movie aesthetic.â
Across the circle, Minji stared.Expression: neutral.
Body: stiff.
Aura: âWho is this tall discount actor and why is he looking at Nerdy like that.âSohee whispered to YN, âOh no. She saw the wink.â
YN looked at MinjiâAnd yep.
The glare. The micro-pout. The crossed arms.
She wasnât even trying to hide it.Later, during the goodbye group photo, Jaehwan walked past Minji and casually said:
âYouâre lucky to be her tentmate.â
Minji tilted her head.
Smiled.
âOh, Iâm not just that.â
He blinked. âOh?âMinji leaned slightly closer.
âIâm the reason she made it through this trip alive. So, yeah. Luck is a funny thing.â
YN, watching this from a few feet away, muttered to herself:
âWhat is she doing? Marking territory?â
Sohee whispered, âAre you jealous now?âYN: âNo. Iâm annoyed. Very different
Back at campus, the world felt louder.
Traffic. Cafeterias. Lecture halls.YN walked across the quad with her sketchbook, headphones in.
Trying very hard to pretend her heart wasnât still on a mountain trail holding Minjiâs hand.
From a distance, she spotted Minji across the lawn.Surrounded by her usual group.
Laughing. Hair down. Head tilted back. That easy charm.
And yetâ
Her eyes scanned the crowd.Until they landed on YN.Just for a second.They didnât wave.
Didnât smile.Just⊠held the gaze.
Too long. Too much.And then looked away.
Like nothing happened.YN exhaled and walked faster. âThis is getting stupid.âLater that week, Minji passed by YN outside the art building.Their eyes met.Minji slowed.
YN didnât.Minji called out, casual:âStill ignoring me, Nerdy?âYN turned just enough to reply:âYou seemed busy. With your fanbase.âMinji blinked, amused. âAre you mad?âYN didnât answer.
Minji leaned in slightly.âYouâre cute when youâre jealous.âYN stopped. Turned.
Eyes blazing.âIâm not jealous.âMinji grinned.âSure, Nerdy. Whatever helps you sleep at night.âYNâs heart was racing.But she said nothing.She just walked away.Minji watched her go.Still smiling.But nowâ
A little softer.Like she already knew:This war?
Far from over.
The party was loud. Of course it was.It took over the campus quad like a swarmâfairy lights hanging overhead, music pounding through portable speakers, half-spilled drinks sloshing in red cups, and students everywhere. Dancing. Laughing. Falling over.
YN stood on the edge, hoodie on, expression blank.Sohee nudged her. âYou promised to stay at least an hour.ââI didnât promise. You threatened.â
âSame thing.âSohee twirled away toward a circle of students, leaving YN alone under a swaying light.As usual.
YN took a seat near the fence, where the music felt more like distant thunder than a personal attack. She pulled out her sketchbook, only half-seriously.
Just as her pencil touched paperâ
âIs that your version of dancing?â
YN didnât look up. âIs bothering me your version of flirting?â
Minjiâs voice curved with amusement. âYou admit Iâm flirting?â
YN finally raised her head.
And immediately regretted it.
Hair tied up loosely, skin glowing under the golden lights, leather jacket slung casually over a fitted shirt. She looked like a scene from a movie. Unreachable. Unapologetic.
YN looked away. âDidnât think this kind of party was your style either.â
Minji shrugged. âI go where the chaos is.â
âThen youâre in the right place.â
âAnd apparentlyâŠâ Minji stepped a little closer.
Soon enough, other students spotted them.
âLook who came out of hiding!â
âYN, you clean up nicely!â
âMinji, is she your bodyguard or your girlfriend?â
The teasing escalated. Minji shot back with sarcasm, YN rolled her eyes.
A guy stepped into their space. Tall, energetic, clearly tipsy.
âHeyâyou're Minji, right? Iâve seen you at the gym.â
Minji nodded politely. âYeah.â
The guy turned to YN. âAnd youâre... the artist? Iâve seen your stuff in the atrium.â
âYou two together?â he asked, not really caring about the answer.
YN opened her mouth to say something bitingâ
but Minji beat her to it, jokingly:
Everyone laughed.Even the guy.Everyone⊠except YN.
Ten minutes later, YN sat back down, face unreadable.
Sohee came over, cautious.
âYou okay?â
âIâm going back to the dorms.â
âWhat? Itâs still earlyââ
Sohee didnât argue. But she watched her walk away with quiet worry.She wasnât the only one watching.
From across the party, Minji saw it tooâ
the way YN left without a word, shoulders tense.
Something in her chest twistedIt took Minji a few minutes to shake off the voices around her, the noise, the drink in her hand.
She followed the direction YN had gone.Away from the lights.
Past the quad.
Into the garden path behind the library building.
There she was. Sitting on a bench under a lamppost, hoodie up, arms crossed.Alone. Again.
Minji didnât say anything at first. Just walked up and stood in front of her.YN didnât look up.
ââŠWhy are you here?â she asked quietly.Minji's voice was low. âWhy did you leave like that?â
YN scoffed. âWhy does it matter?â
YN finally raised her eyes. There was fire there. But underneath it? Something brittle.
âYou act like you care,â she said. âBut then you joke. In front of everyone. About how I wish we were together.â
âA joke?â YN stood up suddenly. âRight. Thatâs what you do. You flirt, then pretend it was nothing. Youâre always half in, half out. You always act like youâre in control, and Iâm justâwhat? Entertainment?â
Minjiâs jaw clenched. âThatâs not fair.ââNeither is this!â YN said, her voice cracking for the first time. âI didnât ask for this! I didnât want to feel anything. You just kept showing up. Every time I tried to keep space, you closed it. Every time I hated you, you saved me. You made me need you and nowââ
Minji stepped closer.One step.
Then another.
Their faces were inches apart now. Breathing heavy. Words gone.âSay something,â YN whispered, voice trembling.And Minji said nothing.
It wasnât careful.
It wasnât soft.
Fingers tangled in the hoodieâs collar, pulling her in.
Lips pressed like theyâd been waiting for this exact moment to stop pretending.
All the teasing, the fights, the denialâit melted, burned, collapsed into this single kiss.
YN didnât freeze. She melted into it.Hands finding Minjiâs shoulders, then her hair.
Their bodies fit like puzzle pieces. Like a crash and a landing at the same time.Minji pulled back just slightly, eyes half-lidded, lips flushed.
âYou have no idea what you do to me,â she whispered.
YN, breathless, shook her head.
Minji kissed her again.Slower this time.But deeper.
More desperate.
Like she wanted to memorize every second.
It was hot. Messy. Real.And when they finally pulled apart, foreheads resting together, the silence returned.But this time, it wasnât empty.It was full of everything they couldnât say.
The kiss had ended.
But they hadnât moved.
Minjiâs forehead still rested against YNâs.
Their hands were still tangled in each otherâs sleeves.
Their breaths? Still fast. Still shared.
YN blinked slowly. Her voice came out low.
âSo⊠thatâs what all the teasing meant?â
Minji pulled back a littleâjust enough to look into her eyes.
Her gaze was raw. Stripped.
Minjiâs voice was quiet. Shaky. Real.
âIt meant less than this.â
Then she leaned in againâ
and pressed a kiss to YNâs cheek.
Then the corner of her lips.
Tiny, desperate kisses like her body was acting faster than her brain.
âI didnât mean toâŠâ
A kiss near the ear.
âFall this hard.â
A kiss against the neck.
âBut I did.â
A pause. Their eyes met.
Minji swallowed. Her voice broke just a little.
âAnd now I donât know how to stop.â
YN didnât move.Her heart was pounding, but her body felt frozen.
Not with fear.
With the terrifying softness of being truly seen.Minji looked at her like she was standing on a cliffâ
And falling.
âI kept telling myself it was nothing. That I was just being stupid. That the reason I noticed when you were cold, or mad, or quiet was because⊠I liked annoying you.â
âBut I wasnât teasing you. I was⊠looking for reasons to be near you.â
YN felt like she couldnât breathe.
Minji touched her face again, this time slower, her fingers brushing her cheek.
âAnd then tonightâwhen you walked awayâI panicked. I thought, âSheâs leaving. And Iâll never get to tell her what she does to me.ââ
Her thumb traced YNâs lower lip, eyes flickering.
âHow every time you look at me like Iâm a problem⊠I want to be solved by you.â
Thenâ
Another kiss.This one softer. Lingering. Barely there.
Like her mouth was writing an apology against YNâs lips.
Minji tried to pull back. Her voice cracked.
But she didnât.She kissed her again.Once.
Then again.
Each kiss shorter. Hungrier.
Like she was trying to hold back but failing.
âI told myself just once would be enough.â
âI donât want to stop.â
YN whispered, breath catchingâ
Minji sank into her.A tangle of fingers in hair, jackets slipping from shoulders, lips pressed with desperation.But in all that heat, there was something achingly gentle in the way Minji held her.Like even as she consumed herâ
She was trying to protect her.When they finally broke apartâagain, breathless, quietâ
Minji leaned her forehead against YNâs and whispered, almost like a secret:
âI donât know what weâre doing.â
Minjiâs hand closed around hers.âBut I donât want to pretend anymore
The campus laundry room was dimly lit, humming quietly with the low mechanical growl of washing machines and the occasional clink of zippers tumbling in metal drums.
YN shoved a basket of clothes through the door, hoodie halfway off her shoulder, hair tied in a lazy knot, eyes half-closed from lack of sleepâand mood fully grumpy.
She muttered under her breath as the door squeaked behind her.
âWhy are college students incapable of doing laundry at reasonable hours?â
She made her way down the row of machinesâonly to find them all either full⊠or blinking âOUT OF ORDER.âAll except one.The last one.YN narrowed her eyes.And thenâ
âOh. You again.âMinji.
Leaning against the last washing machine like it was hers by divine right, sleeves rolled up, hair down in soft waves, wearing a T-shirt way too big to be anything but stolen from YNâs drawer.
She was smiling, of course. That soft, slow, smug sunshine smile.
âFancy seeing you here, nerdy.â
YN sighed. âPlease tell me you didnât actually use the last one.â
Minji shrugged. âI was here first.â
âHow much is in there?â
Minji peered through the door.
âWell⊠about half of my stuff. And half of yours.â
YN blinked. âWaitâwhat?â
Minji looked over her shoulder, feigning innocence.
âYou left your laundry basket outside our room. Again. I just figured⊠joint life, joint wash.â
Minji took a step closer, arms crossed.
âOr should I separate your socks out next time?â
âYou washed our clothes together without asking?â
Minji tilted her head. âI mean, we already sleep together. It felt symbolic.â
YN blinked twice. âYouâre so annoying.â
âAnd yet.â Minji grinned wider.
âYouâre here.â
They stood like that for a beat.
Two people who still clashed like fire and iceâ
but now, the warmth in the middle belonged to both of them.
Minji leaned back against the machine, arms open in mock surrender.
âGo ahead. Glare at me. Grump about it. Iâll still kiss you.â
YN stepped closer, expression unreadable.
She did glare.
But only for a second.Then she leaned forward and kissed her.A slow, drawn-out kiss.Soft at firstâjust the press of lips. Familiar now. Easy.
But then⊠longer. Warmer.Minji smiled against her mouth.
YN sighed through her nose and deepened the kiss.Their bodies leaned closer, comfortably tangled.
Fingers slipped into hair.
A hand brushed down a waist.
A soft, muffled hum filled the space between them.Outside, the night kept moving.
But in here?
It was just them.
The washing machine beeped.They didnât flinch.Minji pulled away just enough to whisper:
âCycleâs done.âYN tucked her face into Minjiâs neck.âLetâs stay a little longer.âMinji smiled. âWe can dry them later.âEventually, they opened the machine.
Pulled out a pile of warm, tangled fabric.Minji held up a hoodie. âYours.âYN held up a black t-shirt. âYours.âThey looked down.The rest? A mix of shirts, jeans, socks. No difference. All blended.Just like them.
âYou realize,â Minji murmured, âwe really are that couple now.âYN smirked, brushing her shoulder against Minjiâs.âGross.â
Minji kissed her cheek.âYou love it.â
YN didnât answer.She just smiledâsoft, hidden, shy.The kind of smile only Minji could bring out of her