ellie؛ ଓ

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— about ellie ; masterlist !

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LOST LETTERS - 04. letters

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author note: sorry for the long absence, uni has been taking me out honestly.

TAGLIST - @cazeeee @urwavvy @skz-xii @weepingmanon @wtfisthisnoclueman @ginathegrimm @vivinquisha @idkbriiiii @whoasukiii @notheroverthinker

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LOST LETTERS - 03. idgaf

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TAGLIST - @cazeeee @urwavvy @skz-xii @weepingmanon @wtfisthisnoclueman @ginathegrimm @vivinquisha

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LOST LETTERS - 02. jonah

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TAGLIST- @cazeeee @urwavvy

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LOST LETTERS - 01. car crash

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TAGLIST- @cazeeee @urwavvy

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lost letters

#content : swearing, +18, homophobia, dark humour, slow burn (kinda)

#synopsis : Y/n’s entire life implodes the second her secret love letters get sent—her crush Drew (and her older sister’s ex boyfriend) knows, Daniela got one, and her sisters… well, let’s not even talk about that. Now she’s hiding, scheming, and somehow stuck with Daniela (who has no idea Y/n is the culprit), all while her feelings are doing backflips she’s definitely not ready for.

(strongly inspired by to all the boys i’ve ever loved)

not losers / the populars

01. driving

02. jonah

03. idgaf

04. letters

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populars

daniela avanzini, y/n’s gay awakening

jonah david, daniela’s boyfriend

lara raj, daniela’s bestfriend

sophia laforteza, daniela’s bestfriend

main masterlist

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not losers

jeong im y/n

jeong im yoonchae and nayeon, y/n’s sisters

manon bannerman, y/n’s best friend

megan skiendiel, y/n’s best friend

drew starkey, y/n’s childhood bestfriend and nayeon’s ex boyfriend

main masterlist

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was that the end of gf contract?

it could continue tbh ! just don't rlly know how to restart it

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ᯓ .ᐟ ⊹ The Girlfriend Contract

- part two

ᯓ Pairing: Popular!Karina (Yu Jimin) × Cheerleader!Fem! Reader

ᯓ | When Jimin lies to her mom about being in a serious relationship, the last person she expects to drag into her mess is Y/n–the campus cheerleader she’s spent the last two years arguing with across lecture halls and parties. But now, to keep up appearances over the holidays, they have to fake date through family dinners, long car rides and even in school.

ᯓ Genre: Rivals to fake-dating to lovers, slow burn, college AU, family drama, soft angst, eventual fluff

ᯓ Warning: swearing, argument, a little toxic, family pressure.

ᯓ Content: 9k+ words.

part one, part two

It was Y/n’s idea. Obviously.

"We need to be more affectionate. You know—public bond, believable romance, all that.”

Jimin didn’t even look up from her phone. "Why would I want to be more affectionate with you?”

“Because if we don’t sell it, this whole thing falls apart, you didn't tell me that Yujin's cousin comes to our school." Y/n said, flipping her hair like she hadn’t just insulted Jimin’s entire existence by sitting on her couch in her cheer uniform.

Jimin rolled her eyes and let it go. She didn’t think anything would come of it.

Until the next morning.

A text. A photo.

Y/n in her mirror, ponytail tight, a smirk on her lips like she knew exactly what she was doing.

“Smile rating? GF points?”

Jimin stared at it for a full minute before typing back: "Try again. 6/10.”

She said it to be annoying, to remind her that they weren’t friends. And then—because apparently she was losing her mind—she stopped at the café before class and got Y/n’s stupid drink.

The next day? Another selfie. This one with a peace sign. The day after that, a sleepy one, pillow hair and all. And again the day after, a cute one with breakfast.

She kept sending them. And Jimin kept showing up with coffee.

Y/n just started saying “thanks, babe” in front of people, and Jimin would glare but not deny it.

She’d insult her taste in music in the car. Y/n would mock her driving. But every morning, there she was. Jimin didn’t know when it became routine. And she definitely didn’t know why it bothered her when Y/n forgot one morning and didn’t text.

When they got back to campus, nothing changed. On the surface.

Y/n still rolled her eyes every time Jimin made a snarky comment. She still called her “cheer vilain” under her breath and mimicked her perfect posture when she wasn’t looking. She was the same — effortlessly confident, occasionally unbearable, and totally unfazed by how tangled their fake relationship was getting.

The only difference was that Jimin was starting to notice… everything.

Like the way Y/n flipped her hair when she was annoyed. The way she chewed gum like she was trying to intimidate someone. The way she laughed when she didn’t mean to — not the cheerleader laugh, the real one, quick and unguarded.

It was infuriating.

And Jimin hated how easy it was for Y/n to slide into character. Holding her hand in front of their classmates like it was nothing. Wrapping their hands together when they passed by people from cheer. Whispering dumb things in her ear just to make her laugh — or to make it look like she did.

She was good at this. Too good.

And Jimin was starting to forget which parts were fake.

Which was why, when Heeseung asked how things were going, Jimin straight-up threw a pillow at his face.

“I’m just saying,” he grinned, holding up his hands, “you’ve been way less grumpy lately. Maybe dating your mortal enemy is actually healthy?”

“She’s not my—” Jimin stopped herself. “We’re faking it. I told you that.”

Heeseung shrugged. “Yeah, and I told you lying to your mom would spiral. Now look at you, making out in front of the cafeteria.”

“We didn’t make out. She kissed me on the cheek.”

“Ohhh, right. My mistake. Super platonic cheek kisses.”

Jimin groaned and buried her face in a cushion. “I hate you.”

“No, you hate her,” he said, casually scrolling his phone. “Except now you get her coffee every morning which you know how exactly she likes it and stare at your phone like a golden retriever waiting for a good morning text.”

“I’m not—!”

He raised a brow as she shut up. The problem

was, Y/n didn’t know. About any of it. She thought they were still playing a game — still pretending. And maybe Jimin was too. She just didn’t know if she was pretending to be her girlfriend…

or pretending not to care.

-

Y/n was sprawled comfortably on Jimin’s couch, her feet tucked under her as she answered her phone with a cheery, “Oh! I’ll take that—Heeseung, stop hating on Meredith. She’s a complex character. And shut up.”

Y/n kicked her legs lightly as she leaned back against the couch, phone balanced on her shoulder, voice light.

“Oh my god, you didn’t! Wait, wait, Mrs. Yu—no, Jimin did not say that!"

She was talking about her bestfriend, like this was a normal catch-up with a longtime family friend, not her fake girlfriend’s mother.

Jimin stared.

From the kitchen counter, she gripped her mug a little tighter than necessary, pretending she was busy scrolling on her phone. But she wasn’t. Not really. She was listening to every word. Every laugh. Every “you’re so funny” and “I’d love to see pictures of baby Jimin.”

Heeseung leaned closer and muttered, “You good?”

Jimin shot him a glare, low and deadly. “Don’t start.”

But he just smirked, nudging her elbow. “Your mom likes her, a lot, more than me.”

“I said don’t start.”

Across the room, Y/n covered the speaker with her hand and turned toward them. “She wants to know if we’re coming to Busan again for the long weekend.”

We. Not you. Not Jimin. We.

Jimin blinked. “Why would we—?”

“I said maybe. Depending on practice and, you know, your schedule and stuff,” Y/n added, casually, like it was nothing. “Anyway, she’s sending me a kimchi recipe. Apparently yours is trash.”

Heeseung choked on a laugh.

Y/n tossed him a smug smile and went back to the call, the warmth never leaving her voice. “Yes, ma’am. I’ll text you the moment we’re on the road. Pinky promise.”

Jimin just stood there, watching her. Watching the way she tucked her chin into the pillow, her voice dropping to that soft, familiar tone that wasn’t meant for people like Jimin.

And it hit her again—Y/n was good at this. Too good.

Then Y/n hung up, set the phone aside, and stretched with a satisfied sigh. “Your mom says hi, by the way. And that I should stop letting you drink too much coffee. Apparently it makes you meaner.”

Jimin scoffed. “I’m not mean.”

“You’re literally scowling at me right now.”

“That’s just my face.”

“Okay, Wednesday Addams,” Y/n smirked, standing to grab her jacket. “You’re lucky I like your mom.”

Jimin didn’t answer.

She just stood there, heart pounding, arms crossed tight. Wondering how someone could get so close without even trying.

-

The car was silent except for the occasional hum of the engine, Jimin had pick up Y/n from cheer practice as she was sitting in the passenger seat, staring out the window, but her thoughts were racing.

Finally, she turned to Jimin, who had been unusually quiet since they left the gym. “It’s almost Valentine’s Day, you know.”

Jimin glanced at her, her fingers tightening around the steering wheel. “Yeah, I know.”

Y/n took a deep breath, feeling a bit of hesitation in her voice. “We should do something for Valentine’s Day, don't you think?"

Jimin’s eyebrows furrowed, the confusion clear on her face. “Why?”

Y/n sighed, running a hand through her hair. “Well we're supposed to be—” Y/n paused, trying to find the right word, “—a couple, you know? Couples do Valentine's Day.”

Jimin’s expression hardened, clearly annoyed at the direction of the conversation. “I don’t get it. We’re just… pretending. None of this is real, it's unnecessary."

Y/n’s face tightened. “That's the thing we are pretending so we should do that sort of thing. What would your mom say when she will see we haven't post any pictures on Instagram, I don’t want her to get suspicious, Jimin.”

Jimin was silent for a moment, staring straight ahead as if trying to process everything Y/n had said. She didn’t want to admit it, but her mom had been obsessed with their couple.

But still, Jimin didn’t want to go along with this.

“Why do we have to force ourselves?” Jimin finally muttered, her voice low. “Why can’t we just let this… die down on its own? This whole fake relationship thing is already so messed up. Valentine's Day is way too intimate.”

Y/n rolled her eyes in frustration. “I'm not asking you to marry me because this isn’t about us or what we feel. It’s about keeping up appearances, keeping your family from questioning the whole thing.”

Jimin was quiet again, her fingers drumming on the steering wheel as she processed everything. She didn’t like it. Didn’t like how this was spiraling. But Y/n was right, and she knew it.

With a heavy sigh, Jimin finally muttered, “Fine. But just one day. One dinner. A couple of pictures. That’s it. After that, no more, okay?”

“Yeah, sure,” Y/n muttered, eyes fixed on the blurred city lights outside the car window. Her voice was low, tired. “Do you still hate me, Jimin?”

Jimin gripped the steering wheel a little tighter, jaw flexing. “Of course. What kind of question is that?”

“Just asking,” Y/n said, shoulders rising in a small shrug. The air between them grew thick with silence.

Jimin didn’t respond. The soft hum of the engine filled the car, headlights casting faint glows against passing cars.

Y/n spoke again. “Should I stop sending pictures every morning? You don’t even answer. Minjeong told me you might think it’s unnecessary.”

Jimin’s head turned slightly. “No—keep going. It’s only fair, I bring you coffee.”

“You don’t even reply.”

Jimin scoffed under her breath. “What am I supposed to do? Call you pretty?”

Y/n finally turned to face her, expression unreadable. “I’m your girlfriend. Fake or not, you never reply to any of my texts, Jimin. How am I supposed to know you—pretend to know you—if I can’t even get a ‘yeah, I ate’ or ‘I’m not coming over after tutoring lessons'? I sit there, alone, like an idiot, thinking maybe you’ll show up."

Jimin looked away, eyes fixed on the streetlights ahead. Her voice dropped. “I just don’t want it to feel real.”

“It’s already real, Jimin,” Y/n said quietly, not angrily, just… resigned. “We’re posting pictures. I’m talking to your mom. I’m showing up with you everywhere.”

Silence again. Then Jimin muttered, “I don’t want you close.”

Y/n laughed once, sharp and humorless. “Okay. I get it."

The car finally stopped in front of Y/n's building.

“I still hate you too. Just so you know,” she added.

Jimin’s hand twitched on the steering wheel. Her voice barely above a whisper: “Yeah. I know.”

Y/n didn’t move. Her hand stayed on the door handle, but she didn’t pull it open. She just sat there, eyes down, fingers curling slightly against the cold metal.

Jimin risked a glance at her.

Outside, the rain tapped lightly against the windshield. The city was quiet for once, wrapped in that stillness that only really came late at night. Inside the car, everything felt loud. Their breathing. The unsaid things. The weight of what they were doing—and what it was starting to become.

“Look,” Jimin started, voice low, like she wasn’t sure she should even say it. “I’m trying, alright? This was never supposed to go past Christmas. You weren’t supposed to be so… good at this.”

Y/n gave her a look. “Good at pretending?”

Jimin swallowed. “Good at… being part of my life.”

Y/n let that sit for a second before replying, voice sharp again. “Yeah, well, maybe if you didn’t act like being near me is some kind of punishment, it wouldn’t feel like I’m doing this alone.”

That stung more than Jimin expected.

Y/n finally opened the door but paused halfway out, leaning back in just enough to add, without looking at her, “Don’t worry. I won’t make it real for you.”

Then she shut the door behind her and walked up the steps to Y/n's building without another word.

Jimin stayed behind in the car, eyes locked on the steering wheel, her fingers tight around it. The silence returned, heavier than before.

She didn’t know why it bothered her so much. But it did.

And that scared her.

Jimin sat in her car for a long time after Y/n left. The empty passenger seat felt heavier than it should’ve, the air thick with things she didn’t want to name. She stared blankly through the windshield, her fingers clenched around the steering wheel like if she held on tight enough, maybe everything would make sense.

She hated this. Not Y/n—well, maybe a little—but mostly the way this fake thing was becoming something she had to think about.

“You don’t even reply.”

She remembered the look on Y/n’s face when she said that. Not angry. Just tired.

Eventually, Jimin drove off. No direction. Just a need to get away. She ended up at a small convenience store, the kind that still had yellowed tiles and humming refrigerators. She grabbed sushi without thinking—her comfort food, even if it was sad and overpriced in Seoul.

She sat with it in the car. Opened the little soy sauce packets. Took a bite. And for some reason, all she could think about was how Y/n would’ve complained about the rice being soggy.

Which is exactly how, thirty minutes later, she ended up back outside her own apartment.

Y/n opened the door in pajama shorts and a messy bun, half-surprised and half-annoyed.

“You’re back,” she said, crossing her arms.

Jimin held up the bag of sushi. “Peace offering.”

“You literally drove away.”

“I panicked. Shut up,” she muttered. “Anyway, I thought about what you said. And you’re right. If we’re going to do this until May, we might as well not suck at it.”

Y/n raised an eyebrow. “So your grand plan was… sushi?”

“And bonding,” Jimin added, stepping inside without asking. “You like stupid little bonding moments, don’t you?”

Y/n snorted. “You’re unbearable.”

They sat on the floor, Jimin spreading napkins like it was some sort of picnic. She passed Y/n her favorite roll, somehow remembering from a time they were barely speaking.

“Alright,” Jimin said, chewing, “since we’re ‘getting to know each other’—favorite movie?”

Y/n looked at her, skeptical. “Seriously?”

“Answer the question, cheerleader.”

Y/n sighed, but she played along. “Clueless.”

Jimin paused mid-bite. “…That tracks.”

Y/n grinned. “Yours?”

“Fight club.”

“Of course.”

The questions came easy after that. Favorite comfort food. Most hated teacher. First concert. They laughed when they realized they both snuck out to see BLACKPINK back in high school, probably standing in the same stadium at the same time.

Y/n leaned back on her hands. “Okay. Your turn. Deep question: if you weren’t scared of failing, what would you be doing right now?”

Jimin blinked.

She opened her mouth, then closed it.

“…Probably something completely different,” she said eventually, softer. “But I don’t know what. Not pretending, though.”

Y/n didn’t push. She just nodded and looked down at the soy sauce packet beside her.

They weren’t friends. They weren’t lovers. They were still enemies. But for one night, with cold sushi and honesty between them, they were something else.

Maybe something that mattered.

The soy sauce packet slipped from Y/n’s hand and splashed onto her wrist.

“Shit,” she muttered, wiping it off with a napkin. “You’d think after years of sushi runs I’d have mastered opening one of these.”

Jimin snorted, mouth full of rice. “You act like you’re graceful but you’re literally chaos.”

“Thanks,” Y/n rolled her eyes. “Remind me to never compliment you again.”

They were sitting cross-legged on Y/n’s living room floor, boxes of sushi and drinks scattered between them, backs resting against the couch. It was quiet in a comfortable way — almost too comfortable for two girls who swore they hated each other.

Jimin reached for another salmon roll. “So… what other things do we have to practice for this fake dating thing?”

Y/n blinked. “You’re actually taking this seriously now?”

Jimin shrugged, chewing. “Better than letting everyone realize we’re lying.”

Y/n leaned back on her hands, eyes on the ceiling. “Well. If we’re being thorough… Ningning is planning this ridiculous Valentine’s Day couple challenge thing.”

Jimin groaned. “Why are cheerleaders like this?”

Y/n rolled her eyes. "I don’t know, but you’re dating one. So suck it up.”

“Fake dating,” Jimin corrected quickly.

Y/n smirked. “Sure.”

Jimin side-eyed her. “What kind of things are in the challenge?”

Y/n hesitated. “Matching outfits. Answering question right. Sharing food. A cute morning selfie post. And, uh…”

Jimin raised an eyebrow. “And?”

Y/n kept her gaze on the sushi box. “There’s a kissing round.”

A beat of silence.

Jimin blinked. “And you’re suddenly shy? You literally kissed Jeno on the field once during a pep rally.”

Y/n’s face dropped. “No, I didn’t. That was rumour his friends started."

Jimin stared. “So what you have kissed him anyway." Y/n only look away from her. "You’ve never kissed him?”

Y/n picked at her chopsticks. “No. It just… never happened. Not with Jeno, not anyone. And now it’s supposed to happen with you in a couple challenge that Ningning’s probably livestreaming.”

Jimin blinked again. “Oh.”

“Yeah.”

More silence. The rustling of chopsticks. The fizz of soda opening.

“I mean—” Jimin started, licking soy sauce from her lip, “—we can practice. If you want.”

Y/n turned to her slowly. “Practice?”

“You’re the one panicking about messing up a kiss in public,” Jimin shrugged, trying to sound casual but clearly a little thrown. “It’s not that deep. We’re pretending to be dating. It’s method acting.”

Y/n laughed nervously. “Do you… kiss all your enemies as practice?”

“No,” Jimin said, leveling her gaze. “Just the annoying cheerleader ones who send me selfies every morning and steal the last spicy tuna.”

Y/n’s heart beat a little faster, but she disguised it with a scoff. “Right. Strictly business.”

Jimin nodded. “Strictly.”

But neither of them moved to turn the TV back on. And neither of them reached for more sushi.

Just quiet tension, and a shared thought they both refused to say out loud yet.

Not yet.

“I mean, we don’t have to,” Y/n said quickly finally breaking the silence unsure why she even brought it up. “It’s not like they’re gonna kick us out of the couple challenge if the kiss is awkward.”

Jimin tilted her head. “You’re the one who brought it up.”

Y/n bit her lip, avoiding eye contact. “Because I didn’t think you’d actually say yes.”

A. beat passed. The dim light in Jimin’s living room made everything feel a little softer, a little quieter.

“I’m not gonna make fun of you,” Jimin said after a moment. “This is… weirdly serious for you.”

“It’s my first kiss,” Y/n admitted again, barely a whisper.

Jimin sat up straighter. “Okay.” She breathed in slowly. “We’ll go slow.”

Y/n blinked. “Right now?”

Jimin gave her a look. “You want to wait until Valentine’s Day with a hundred eyes watching you?”

“…Good point.”

Jimin leaned in just a little, like testing the water. “You okay?”

“Yeah,” Y/n nodded, heart racing. “Are you okay?”

“I’m not the one sweating,” Jimin teased softly.

Y/n shoved her shoulder. “Shut up.”

But then Jimin was looking at her again. Not in that way she usually did — the one with the sarcastic edge or exasperated sigh. This one was different. Patient. Curious.

“Okay, I’m gonna go,” Jimin said quietly.

And she did. Soft, careful, barely there — just a brush of lips. It lasted maybe two seconds. Then another one, a little more sure.

Y/n froze at first, but then she leaned in. Let it happen. The kind of kiss that wasn’t electric, or life-shattering — just warm and safe and real.

When they pulled apart, Jimin looked away first.

“That was…” Y/n said, voice stuck somewhere between a breath and a laugh.

“Not bad,” Jimin offered, standing up too quickly, pretending to stretch. “You’ll survive.”

Y/n just nodded. “Cool. Um… thanks. For helping.”

“No big deal,” Jimin muttered, already pretending to scroll on her phone. “Let’s forget it happened.”

But she didn’t forget.

-

Jimin walked in with Y/n by her side, their hands casually brushing, like it had become a habit.

Ningning’s place was decked out in the most excessive (and slightly chaotic) Valentine’s aesthetic imaginable. Pink streamers clung to every wall, heart-shaped confetti was already sticking to everyone’s socks, and a faint scent of chocolate and artificial strawberries lingered in the air.

Ningning’s living room had been transformed into a pastel heart-filled wonderland — balloons in every shade of pink and red, chocolate fountains on the kitchen counter, and a handmade photobooth Ningning had forced every couple into.

Y/n had already taken three photos with Jimin — one holding fake roses, one with a candy heart filter, and one where she leaned against Jimin’s shoulder. The first two, Jimin had scowled. The last… Jimin didn’t even realize she was smiling.

Now, as the party settled into casual chaos — soft music playing, people snuggled in corners, eating or playing card games — Jimin found herself standing by the drink table alone, watching Y/n laugh with Yizhuo and Liz like she’d always been part of this world.

“You okay?” Minjeong’s voice broke through her thoughts.

Jimin turned. “Oh. Yeah. Just tired.”

Minjeong handed her a chocolate-covered strawberry. “You guys are kinda perfect together. I didn’t think I’d ever say that.”

Jimin blinked. “…What?”

Minjeong smiled, eyes soft and sincere. “I’ve known her since we were kids. And I don’t think I’ve ever seen her this happy — this light. It’s like she doesn’t have to try with you. Like she can just be.”

Jimin didn’t say anything. She couldn’t. Her mind ran over every moment from the past few weeks — the morning selfies, the coffee runs, the sushi night, that stupid kiss practice that had her staring at the wall all night after.

Minjeong leaned closer, voice lowering like it was a secret. “She’s falling for you deeply, Jimin. I think you are too. Well if it didn't happen yet." She giggled.

Jimin’s heart clenched, not because Minjeong was right — but because she didn’t know how wrong she was.

This wasn’t real. Except, it didn’t feel fake anymore.

And that’s what terrified her the most.

“Okay! Everyone shut up — it’s game time!” Ningning called out, standing on her coffee table with a pink heart-shaped megaphone.

Y/n, curled up next to Jimin on the love seat, groaned quietly. “She’s been waiting all week to do this.”

Jimin leaned in, murmuring back. “Why do I feel like this is where we get exposed?”

“Because it is,” Y/n whispered, her voice dry.

Ningning cleared her throat dramatically. “Alright! Time for the Couples Challenge — Valentine’s Edition. You’ll be tested on how in sync you really are. And yes, there’s a prize, and yes, it’s stupidly cute.”

Minjeong, sitting below her girlfriend with an amused smile, added, “She made it. It’s a DIY ‘Most Adorable Couple’ plaque.”

“Oh my god,” Jimin muttered under her breath.

Ningning continued, clapping her hands. “Final round is a kiss. Not just any kiss — the longest kiss wins bonus points.”

Y/n turned to Jimin. “We’re not doing that.”

Jimin blinked, face already flushed. “Obviously.”

“But if we don’t, we lose.”

“We don’t need to win.”

“But your mom follows my Instagram.”

“…Goddamn it.”

ROUND 1: Trivia Match

“What’s your partner’s favorite midnight snack?”

Jimin blinked at Y/n’s paper. “You wrote… string cheese?”

Y/n nodded. “With honey mustard.”

“Disturbing.” Jimin held up “banana milk.”

“You know me so well.”

ROUND 2: Touch test

Y/n was blindfolded as she touched Jimin’s face — the curve of her jaw — she paused.

“Cheek?” she guessed.

Jimin looked at her strangely. “…Jaw.”

“Close enough.”

They didn’t hold eye contact after that.

ROUND 3: Most likely to...

Question: Who’s most likely to start a fight over nothing?

Y/n confidently writes Jimin. Jimin writes Y/n.

They glare.

“Really?”

“I’m not the one who slammed my locker because I couldn’t find my lip balm.”

“That was one time and it was lip gloss, Jimin!”

They get a point for “sync in chaos.”

ROUND 4: Spill or Kiss

Ningning reads the question:

“What’s the most romantic thing you’ve done for each other?”

Y/n panics. “We're not— I mean—”

Jimin shrugs, cool. “She sends me a photo every morning so I don’t forget her face.”

Everyone went "awwww.”

Y/n turns red.

Then Jimin turns to her and whispers, “Your turn.”

Y/n frowns. “She brings me coffee every morning… but she never says hi.”

Everyone went "awww" once again.

FINAL ROUND: The Kiss Round

The air in Ningning’s living room was warm with laughter and music, fairy lights glowing soft above their heads. Pillows were scattered, people were lounging with drinks in hand, and couples were tangled together like puzzle pieces that somehow fit.

Jimin sat upright on the floor, stiff, her hand clenching her soda can a little too tight. She wasn’t built for games like this — not ones that tugged at things she wasn’t ready to name.

“Alright,” Ningning announced with a clap, “Final round! The couples kiss. Audience votes. Ten seconds minimum. No cheating. And we want passion you have to kiss your partner like it’s the last time you’ll ever see them. Most convincing wins.”

Someone whistled. Jimin’s stomach sank.

She turned slightly, catching the glow of Y/n’s face beside her. Smaller, still out of breath from laughing too hard during the last round. Her hair was slightly tousled, her cheeks flushed. Y/n met her eyes and smirked just a little. “Should we lose on purpose?”

Jimin opened her mouth to say yes — please, let’s just bow out — but her mother’s voice rang faint in her ears: “You’re doing so well, sweetie. Y/n really grounds you.”

She couldn’t afford suspicion. Not now.

“No,” she muttered. “We’ll win.”

Y/n’s brows rose, surprised. “You sure?”

Before Jimin could answer, the spotlight — or Ningning’s dramatic pointing — landed on them.

“Y/n and Jimin. You’re up.”

Jimin turned to face Y/n, already feeling the warmth crawl up her neck. Everyone was watching.

It wasn’t like they hadn’t kissed. That practice kiss still lingered somewhere in the back of her mind. But that was private, awkward — tentative. This? This was a performance. And maybe something more.

The whole room faded to the background.

“We said we should act like it’s real,” Jimin whispered softly for only the cheerleader to hear, almost like a warning. Then, lower, “So let’s make it real.”

And before Y/n could answer, Jimin leaned in and kissed her.

It wasn’t hesitant. It wasn’t delicate.

It was full-bodied, anchored. Jimin kissed her like she meant it — like the room had disappeared, like Y/n wasn’t the girl she hated for years, but someone she knew. One hand still firm on Y/n’s jaw, the other moved to her waist, pulling her closer like she couldn’t stand the space between them.

Y/n’s breath caught. Her hands found Jimin’s hoodie, gripping it weakly, the edges of her world spinning. She didn’t know where to put the flood of feeling rushing through her — wasn’t sure if it was the kiss, or the fact that Jimin was really kissing her.

When Jimin finally pulled back, there was a beat of silence — heavy and stunned.

Then the room exploded. Laughter, clapping, cheering.

“Okayyy!” Ningning screamed. “I think we have a winner!”

-

The knock on the door came just as Y/n was flicking through the most depressing fridge she’d ever seen. Empty shelves. One sad can of soda. Half a lemon.

She opened the door and blinked when she saw Jimin standing there, holding a bag of takeout and looking way too casual in sweatpants and a hoodie.

“You looked hungry through text,” Jimin said, walking in without waiting.

“I didn’t send a selfie this morning.”

“I know.”

Y/n’s brows rose, but she didn’t say anything as Jimin unloaded the food on her small kitchen table — tteokbokki, kimbap, and fried chicken. All her favorites. Y/n couldn’t help but grin a little.

“Okay. I’ll allow you to invade my apartment if you keep doing this.”

“You love me,” Jimin smirked, almost out of habit.

“You wish,” Y/n muttered around a bite, lips stained with red sauce.

They sat together on the floor, legs stretched under the table, food between them. The TV played in the background, but neither was paying attention. They laughed more than they had in days — mostly at Jimin’s terrible impersonation of Heeseung trying to flirt.

Jimin was happy.

But she didn’t realize just how happy until Y/n, lying back on the floor with her stomach full, casually said:

Jimin licked some sauce off her thumb, catching Y/n staring. “What?”

“Nothing.” Y/n grinned. “You’re just—so serious when you eat.”

“I’m focused.”

“You’re dramatic.”

Jimin rolled her eyes but her lips tugged up. She hadn’t realized how easy it had become to laugh with her.

Y/n nudged her shoulder. “You’re fun when you’re not hating me.”

“I still hate you,” Jimin replied, but it came out too soft to sound convincing.

“Sure.” Y/n smiled, stretching out. “Hey, Jack’s throwing a party tonight. Wanna come?”

Jimin raised an eyebrow. “Jack? As in frat-boy Jack?”

Y/n laughed. “Yeah, but it’s not that deep. Minjeong’s going. Everyone will be there.”

“I didn’t think you’d wanna show up with me.”

“Why wouldn’t I?” Y/n looked up, genuine curiosity in her voice. “We’re dating, remember?"

Jimin blinked. “Right. Dating.”

Y/n didn’t press. She just stood, brushing off her sweats. “We can go for like an hour. If you want.”

And for some reason, Jimin found herself nodding.

-

The house was already packed when they arrived — music thumping, voices rising above the bass, neon lights flickering against the walls like a heartbeat. Jimin followed Y/n through the crowd, her hand barely brushing the back of the cheerleader’s head. She could smell her shampoo in the air between them. Peach and vanilla.

The moment they stepped into the living room, a chorus of cheers erupted.

“Y/n!” Ningning squealed from across the room, a red plastic cup in one hand and her girlfriend, Minjeong, barely managing to hold her back with the other.

Y/n laughed. “I told you they’d be loud.”

Jimin offered a faint smile, nodding to Minjeong — the only one here who seemed to feel the same way as her about the party — before being swept into a crowd of unfamiliar faces.

At first, it was fine. Y/n stayed close. She introduced Jimin as her girlfriend with casual charm that made it almost believable. They clinked drinks, smiled for a few pictures, even laughed with Liz and Beomgyu about how badly they’d bomb a couples trivia round.

But then it shifted.

Y/n got pulled into Ningning’s circle — all glossed lips, glittery eyeshadow, and voices sharpened with popularity. She blended in too well. Her laughter grew louder. She tossed her hair over her shoulder like she knew every eye was on her — because they were.

And Jimin? Jimin stood at the edge of it all, invisible.

She hated how familiar it felt. Watching Y/n shine while she sank into the background. She tried not to let it bother her. Tried to remind herself that it wasn’t real. None of this was.

But then he appeared.

Jeno.

Jimin’s stomach twisted the second she saw him, drink in hand, grin stretched lazy across his face as he moved through the crowd like he owned it. He spotted Y/n almost immediately and slid up beside her, leaning in to speak close — too close — lips nearly brushing her ear.

Y/n laughed.

Jimin’s jaw clenched.

Her cup was empty. She didn’t even remember drinking it. She turned to leave, needing air or silence or literally anything but this — but then it hit her.

The reason Y/n agreed to this in the first place.

She wasn’t trying to help Jimin.

She was trying to make him jealous.

Jimin froze at the doorway, eyes still on Y/n and Jeno, the way he placed his hand on her waist like it belonged there.

It shouldn’t bother her.

But it did.

Because the way Y/n looked tonight wasn’t just pretty. She was breathtaking. Real and here and laughing at a joke that Jimin would never get to hear.

She suddenly didn’t want to be here anymore.

She wanted to disappear — or worse — pull Y/n away and ask who she thought she was trying to hurt, because it sure as hell wasn’t Jeno anymore.

It was her.

Jimin hadn’t said a word in ten minutes.

She stood in the middle of the crowded party, surrounded by people she barely knew and music that was starting to feel like static.

It made Jimin’s chest tighten.

“You look like you’re about to punch someone,” a familiar voice teased behind her.

She didn’t need to turn around to know it was Minjeong.

“Just tired,” Jimin muttered, arms crossed as she forced her gaze away.

Minjeong moved beside her, sipping from a red cup. “Tired and jealous look eerily similar on you.”

Jimin didn’t respond, jaw tightening slightly.

Minjeong smiled knowingly. “You know… I didn’t think Y/n was the relationship type. But you really changed something in her.”

That made Jimin turn, brows pulling together. “What?”

Minjeong tilted her head, sincere now. “She used to get bored of people so easily. Even with Jeno, it never looked like this. But with you? She glows. She’s actually letting someone see her — and I’ve known her long enough to know how rare that is.”

Jimin blinked. Her heart stuttered.

She wasn’t sure what hurt more — the fact that Minjeong believed it, or the fact that she didn’t know if it was still fake.

“I…” Jimin started, voice dry but no words came out.

Jimin stared blankly at the floor. Minjeong gave her a pat on the arm and disappeared into the crowd, leaving her alone with her thoughts and the dull pulse of music in the background.

Then—

“Jimin!” Y/n's voice.

Her name cut through the bass-heavy music, and Jimin glanced up just in time to see Y/n weaving through the crowd toward her. Her cheeks were flushed from the heat, maybe from the drinks, and she had that wide, excited grin she always wore when she was riding a high of attention.

“There you are,” Y/n said, catching her breath. “Come play beer pong with me.”

Jimin blinked. “What?”

“C’mon,” Y/n tugged her hand without waiting, “I need a partner. Ningning already took Minjeong, and I am not playing with Beomgyu again, he does the absolute most.”

Jimin didn’t want to. She wanted to leave, actually. But Y/n’s hand was warm, and the way she was smiling made it hard to say no.

So she followed.

The basement was louder, smell of beer and too much perfume mingling in the air. Jimin could barely hear herself think, but before she could protest, someone handed her a red solo cup and Y/n was lining up the ping pong ball.

“I’ll start,” Y/n said confidently, and Jimin just raised a brow.

They were winning — mostly because Y/n was competitive and charismatic, and people liked watching her. But every time someone made a comment like “Damn, power couple!” or “You two are too hot, this is unfair,” Jimin took a longer sip of her drink.

She wasn’t counting how many she’d had. She just knew she was warm, her cheeks tingled, and she felt a little too exposed every time Y/n leaned into her personal space to laugh, or high-five, or whisper something in her ear to throw off the other team.

By the fourth round, Jimin’s aim was off.

Y/n turned to her, chuckling. “You good?”

“Fine,” Jimin mumbled, but she was squinting at the cups like they were multiplying.

“You’re drunk.”

“I’m not—” Jimin paused, swayed slightly. “Okay maybe a little.”

Y/n smiled, stepping closer, her hand grazing Jimin’s lower back. “You’re a lightweight.”

Jimin stared at her. “You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?”

Y/n just grinned wider, dimples showing. “A little.”

And then someone cheered — they had won again — and Y/n turned to give Jimin a hug, arms wrapping around her shoulder as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Jimin froze.

Not because she didn’t like it — but because she did.

And that terrified her.

“Hey, there you are,” Jeno's voice appeared behind her, slipping next to her like nothing. “Thought I lost you earlier. I wanted to finish what we were talking about.”

"I thought we had finished talking." Y/n smirked.

“Come on,” he laughed, leaning in slightly. “You don’t have to keep pretending now. We both know this whole ‘girlfriend’ thing is because you wanna get back at me."

Before Y/n could answer, Jimin stepped into the conversation.

“What did you just say?”

Jimin’s voice wasn’t as sharp as usual — it had that drunk haze to it, slurred just at the edges. But her eyes were burning. There was no mistaking the fire behind them.

Jeno raised an eyebrow, amused. “Relax, it’s a joke. Just saying it’s cute, the way she’s dragging this whole thing out. Didn’t expect you to fall for it.”

Jimin stepped forward, a little unsteady on her feet, but not stopping. “Dragging what out?” she asked, low.

Jeno chuckled, sipping his drink like he hadn’t just poured gasoline on something dangerous. “You really think this is real? Come on, you don’t even look like her type. Thought I had her figured out, but guess not.”

“You don’t know anything about her,” Jimin snapped, pointing a lazy finger at him. “She’s not yours to talk about.”

“Oh, so she’s yours now?”

The words hit her like a slap — and not in the way he expected. She stood a little straighter, less wobbly. Drunk or not, Jimin’s voice sharpened.

“Yeah. She is.”

Jeno blinked, his smug expression faltering.

“I know what you’re doing,” Jimin continued, a little louder now. “You wanna feel important again, so you bring her up like you still have something on her. You don’t.”

People were starting to watch now, the party quieting around the scene.

Jeno looked to Y/n, like she might save him. “You’re just gonna let her talk like that for you?”

Y/n took a breath, but before she could speak, Jimin cut in again.

“She doesn’t need to say anything,” she snapped. “But I’m not letting you throw some fake ego tantrum at her like she owes you anything. You lost her, Jeno. That’s on you.”

There was a thick silence.

Then Jeno’s voice dropped lower. “You don’t know what she’s like when she gets bored.”

That was when Jimin laughed — bitter and breathy as she shove him.

“You really think she’s pretending?” Her words slurred again, but they hit harder than ever. “You think she’d waste her time playing around with someone like me just to get back at you?”

Jeno stared. Didn’t answer.

Jimin smiled, sharp and crooked. “You don’t know her at all.”

He muttered a curse, stepping back. “Whatever. You two are a f*cking mess.”

And then he walked away.

Jimin stood there, swaying slightly, the adrenaline mixing with alcohol. Her chest was heaving.

Y/n stepped in, gently wrapping a hand around Jimin’s arm. “Okay. That’s enough. You need water.”

“I’m fine,” Jimin muttered, but her voice broke a little.

“You’re not,” Y/n whispered. “But thank you.”

Jimin didn’t say anything — just let herself be led away, Y/n’s arm steady around her.

And even drunk, even overwhelmed, she knew:

She wasn’t pretending anymore. Not even a little.

-

The second the apartment door closed behind them, Jimin stumbled out of her shoes, nearly tripping on the rug. Y/n caught her by the arm.

“Okay—whoa, slow down, champ,” she said, trying not to laugh. “You’re wasted.”

“I’m not,” Jimin slurred, squinting at her. “I’m just… dizzy. From the rage. And… beer pong.”

Y/n guided her to the couch, where Jimin dramatically collapsed, draping herself across the cushions like a fallen hero.

“I could’ve taken him,” Jimin muttered, staring at the ceiling. “I should’ve punched him harder. Right in the stupid, smug face. Who names their kid Jeno, anyway?”

Y/n grabbed her a glass of water and sat next to her. “You didn’t punch him at all.”

“I wanted to!” Jimin sat up, unsteady. “He doesn’t deserve to look at you like that. Like you’re his. Like he owned some part of you. You’re not—” she paused, eyes heavy. “You’re not his anymore.”

Y/n blinked, her breath catching. “You’re really mad.”

“I am,” Jimin nodded seriously, and then her face crumpled. “I think I’m gonna cry. Wait, no—no, I’m good.”

Y/n stared at her, her expression unreadable in the low glow of the streetlights. Then she said, almost shyly, “You’re really bad at hating me, you know that?”

Jimin snorted. “No. I’m excellent at it. I’ve just got layers.”

“Yeah? Like what?”

“Like… I can hate you and still think you deserve better.”

That shut Y/n up.

Y/n held the water to her lips, and Jimin drank obediently, blinking slowly as she leaned back. There was a pause, quiet, soft.

“You know…” Jimin mumbled after a beat. “I forgot why I hated you in the first place.”

Y/n turned to her, surprised. “Seriously?”

Jimin nodded again, looking up at her with a haze in her eyes. “I think you’re really pretty. Even when you’re annoying.”

Y/n’s heart jumped.

“I mean,” Jimin added, “you’re still you, but… when you smiled earlier—like, when you were talking to Ningning? You looked happy. And I liked that.”

Y/n was quiet, processing her words.

“Jimin…” she whispered, voice lower now.

“Hmm?”

“Maybe you should sleep.”

Jimin closed her eyes slowly. “Only if you stay.”

Y/n hesitated, then reached for the blanket on the back of the couch and pulled it over both of them. Jimin curled into her like it was the most natural thing in the world.

And as the room fell into a sleepy silence, Y/n sat there, heart pounding, wondering when all of this—this pretend—had started to feel like something she couldn’t untangle herself from.

Something real.

The sky outside was still dipped in early morning grey, barely tinged with pink. It bled softly through the curtains, scattering gentle light across the small living room. Jimin blinked slowly, her eyes adjusting as a dull throb pulsed behind them. Her mouth felt dry, her skin warm, and she could feel the weight of something—someone—pressed beside her.

Y/n.

At first, she thought she was still dreaming. Her head felt too light, her limbs too heavy. But as she turned her head slightly and was met with the very real sight of Y/n tucked against her side, reality settled in fast.

Her breathing paused.

Y/n was curled up, almost instinctively, against her chest, her body pressed close like it belonged there. Her hand rested against Jimin’s waist, fingers slightly curled into the fabric of her shirt. Her face was buried just beneath Jimin’s collarbone, the rise and fall of her breaths steady, calm, unaware.

Jimin swallowed, her heart thudding against her ribs.

The last thing she remembered was the party. The noise. The crowd. The heat.

Jeno.

The thought of him made Jimin’s stomach twist. His voice, that smug tone, the way he looked at Y/n like she still belonged to him, like Jimin had stolen something. Like she didn’t matter. And maybe the drinking hadn’t helped, maybe she had been reckless—but God, the way her blood boiled when he touched Y/n’s arm, the way he had spoken down to her, dismissed her like she was disposable—

And then it was a blur. Arguing. Yelling. The shoving. Hands almost flying. And then someone pulling her away—maybe Y/n—and the next thing she remembered was being wrapped in a blanket, in the dark, Y/n’s voice soft beside her.

“Just sleep it off, dumbass,” Y/n had muttered, but there was a gentleness in her voice. Not anger. Not annoyance.

Just concern.

And now they were here.

Wrapped up in each other like they hadn’t spent the last few months pretending. Like they weren’t faking everything for the sake of their reputations and a lie they told their families. Like this wasn’t supposed to be temporary.

It was quiet.

So quiet it made Jimin’s chest ache.

She looked down again. Y/n’s hair was a little messy, her lips slightly parted. She looked peaceful—nothing like the girl who usually rolled her eyes at Jimin during practice or called her names under her breath when she thought she couldn’t hear.

She looked… soft.

And Jimin realized, with a sharp pang in her chest, that something had shifted.

Not just last night, not just in the heat of that party—but somewhere along the way. Somewhere between the morning coffees and the pillow forts, the fake confessions and the forced laughs. Somewhere between the effort to make this look real and the moments where it felt real, she had stopped noticing the difference.

She let her head fall back onto the pillow and closed her eyes.

“This is fake,” she whispered to herself, as if saying it out loud would ground her again. “This is fake.”

But even in the stillness of the morning, even with Y/n breathing against her neck, Jimin felt like she was lying to herself.

The problem was—it didn’t feel fake anymore.

And Jimin didn’t know what scared her more:

The fact that Y/n might feel it too.

Or the fact that she absolutely didn’t.

-

As the cheer competition approached, Jimin found herself spiraling. She wasn’t sure if it was the looming pressure of the event, her parents’ constant reminders about her summer plans with Y/n, or the fact that the end of their fake relationship felt closer than ever. Maybe it was all of it — the excitement, the anxiety, the weight of it all pressing against her chest like an invisible hand.

Her mind was clouded. For weeks, she’d buried herself in the act — the fake dates, the fake affection, the fake moments that somehow felt a little too real. But now, with the final competition in sight, Jimin couldn’t shake the feeling that the bubble they’d been living in was about to burst.

Every time she saw Y/n, it felt like the end was inevitable, like the ticking clock of their arrangement was growing louder. The summer was coming, and Y/n’s family was already making plans for them — plans that Jimin couldn’t shake. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to be part of Y/n’s life, but that terrified her even more. What would happen when the competition was over? Would they just go back to being nothing? Would everything they’d shared disappear?

Y/n didn’t seem affected by any of it. She didn’t talk about the end of the arrangement or what would come after. It was like nothing was changing for her. It only made Jimin’s heart ache more. She felt like she was standing at the edge of a cliff, staring down at the abyss.

But every time she looked at Y/n, she couldn’t help but feel drawn to her. How could something so real feel so fake?

The day of the competition arrived, and Jimin found herself driving Y/n to the bus. Y/n’s cheer squad was heading to the finals, and Jimin’s heart was heavy with more than just the usual nerves.

“Good luck, okay?” Jimin said quietly as she parked in front of the bus. She glanced at Y/n, her heart skipping a beat when their eyes met.

Y/n smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes. She kissed her fingertips and pressed them against Jimin’s cheek, a casual gesture, but Jimin felt the heat of it all the same. It didn’t matter that it was part of the act. It felt too real.

Y/n’s smile softened. “I’ll text you after,” she said, stepping out of the car, giving Jimin a final wave.

Jimin didn’t watch her walk away. Instead, she drove off, her heart aching as she tried to keep her emotions in check. What if it was really over this time? What if she drove away and never saw Y/n again?

She couldn’t shake the feeling. The whole thing was too much.

That’s when Heeseung texted her.

“Why don’t you come see Y/n at the finals? I’m sure she’d love to have you there.”

Jimin felt a knot tighten in her stomach. Heeseung was right — Y/n would probably want her there. But would she want to see Jimin after everything? After the doubts? After the way things were spiraling?

But Jimin couldn’t let herself back out now. If she didn’t go, if she didn’t show up, it might be the last chance she had to truly connect with Y/n before it was too late. She couldn’t let the fear hold her back.

Jimin stepped into the competition arena, still slightly nervous about being here, even though it was Heeseung who had convinced her to come. She had avoided Y/n’s texts, unsure of what to say — unsure if she was even ready for this. She had told herself she was here to support Y/n, but she wasn’t entirely sure how to act around her now, given the mess of emotions tangled up in her chest.

As Jimin and Heeseung walked into the venue, her eyes immediately scanned the crowd, trying to find Y/n. There was no way she’d be able to concentrate on anything else when she was in this space with all the tension swirling in her head. And then she saw her — Y/n was standing backstage, adjusting her uniform, laughing with a teammate. Jimin’s heart thudded in her chest, a strange flutter filling her stomach.

She had been hearing about Y/n’s cheer competition for weeks now, but seeing her in action was an entirely different thing. There was something about the way she stood there — confident, poised, yet radiating warmth and energy.

But Jimin couldn’t focus on that for long. A voice cut through her thoughts.

“Jimin, Heeseung, hey! You made it!” Minjeong waved her over.

Jimin turned and saw Minjeong standing with Y/n’s brother, Yeonjun, and her father, Chanwoo. Jimin felt her nerves kick into overdrive, unsure of how this would go.

“Hey,” Jimin said, giving a hesitant wave as she walked over. She wasn’t sure what to expect, but she had to admit, it was a bit overwhelming meeting Y/n’s family after everything that had been happening between them. She hadn’t been prepared to be this nervous.

“Oh, you’re Jimin, right?” Chanseo asked with a friendly smile as he extended his hand. He seemed relaxed and welcoming. “I’ve heard so much about you. Y/n’s always talking about you.”

Jimin’s stomach flipped. She hadn’t expected to be recognized so easily, but then again, Y/n’s dad was clearly up to date on her Instagram posts and everything.

“Yeah,” Jimin said awkwardly as she shook his hand, “I’m Jimin. Nice to meet you.”

Chanseo smiled knowingly. “Y/n talks about you a lot, you know. I see your posts — she’s always tagging you, saying how much you help her. You seem to be a good influence on her.”

Jimin froze, unsure how to respond. She couldn’t help but glance at Yeonjun, who was watching her closely, a teasing grin on his face.

“Don’t worry,” Yeonjun added, “Dad’s been on Instagram again. He keeps tabs on everything Y/n does.”

Jimin nodded, trying to mask the awkwardness that was creeping up on her. She didn’t know what Y/n had told them about her, or if they even knew about the whole “fake dating” thing. But before she could say anything else, Chanseo was already looking over at the stage.

“Looks like it’s almost time,” Chanseo said, nodding toward the main stage as the announcers began the countdown for the final teams.

Jimin followed his gaze, her heart racing. She wasn’t sure what to expect from this whole competition, but now that she was here, she felt like the stakes were higher than ever.

When the final whistle blew and Y/n’s squad was announced as the winners, the gym erupted into chaos—cheers, confetti, teammates screaming and tackling her into a group hug. The win felt unreal. Her heart was pounding, her throat dry from shouting, but all she could do was laugh, overwhelmed with joy.

She hadn’t even thought to look for Jimin. Honestly, she hadn’t expected her to show up. The fake dating thing had become so tangled, so confusing lately—half teasing, half arguments, and a small, quiet part of her that had started hoping it wasn’t fake at all.

But then she saw her.

Jimin, standing by the bleachers in her black hoodie and that unreadable expression, hands tucked into her pockets like she hadn’t just stood there watching the whole routine. Watching her.

Y/n froze, blinking like she wasn’t sure if she was imagining it.

Her dad was there. And her brother, clapping wildly in the stands, waving like maniacs.

But standing quietly to the side, like she didn’t want to be noticed—was Jimin.

Y/n hadn’t known Jimin was coming.

She hadn’t let herself hope Jimin would come.

But she was here. And suddenly, the noise, the confetti, even the gold medal around her neck faded into the background.

And then she ran.

Not toward Minjeong. Not her dad. Not Yeonjun.

Straight toward Jimin.

No hesitation. No teasing quip or smug grin. Just full speed, eyes wide and shining with something raw and real.

Jimin barely had time to react before Y/n threw her arms around her, burying her face into her chest, the energy of the win still radiating off her.

“You came,” Y/n breathed, her voice muffled, almost like she was afraid to believe it.

Jimin held her tightly, like she didn’t want to let go. “Of course I did.”

Y/n pulled back just enough to look up at her, face flushed, eyes shining. “I thought you didn’t care about this stuff.”

Jimin gave a soft smile, brushing a strand of hair from Y/n’s face. “I didn’t,” she said quietly. “Until it was you out there.”

And just like that, the fake label hanging over them didn’t matter anymore.

Her dad reached them first, eyes still glassy from pride. “There’s my champion,” he said, pulling her into a hug, then giving Jimin a warm, knowing smile. “What a lovely couple! Y/n, you shouldn't have hide her from us!”

Her brother, older and nosier by nature, raised an eyebrow. “You didn’t tell us she was gonna be here.”

Y/n shrugged quickly, trying to keep her voice steady. “She surprised me.”

-

The confetti had settled. The cheers had died down. The crowd was dispersing. Y/n and Jimin stood just outside, the noise now replaced by the steady hum of late afternoon footsteps and distant chatter.

“This is it, right?” Jimin asked quietly, voice tight but steady.

Y/n’s heart skipped. She swallowed, forcing herself to meet Jimin’s eyes. “Yeah. After today… we’re done.”

No one had said it out loud before. Not really. But now it hung heavy between them, as real as the gold medal still shining around Y/n’s neck.

Jimin exhaled, the tension in her shoulders easing for a moment. “I thought… maybe it wouldn’t feel like this at the end.”

Y/n’s fingers tightened around the medal ribbon. “Me too.”

They looked at each other, a thousand unspoken words swirling in the space between them. The fake smiles, the sarcastic teasing, the constant battles — all of it had been a mask for something else. Something neither of them had dared to name.

“Do you regret it?” Jimin asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Y/n blinked, then shook her head. “No. Not even for a second.”

Jimin stepped closer, her hands hesitating at Y/n’s hand. “So why does it feel like I’m losing you already?”

Y/n swallowed hard, the sudden vulnerability catching her off guard. “Because maybe we’re not as fake as we thought.”

Jimin’s gaze softened. “What if we don’t have to break up? What if this—us—doesn’t have to end?”

Y/n’s breath hitched. The medal felt heavy, but this moment felt even heavier — full of possibility and fear all at once.

“I don’t know,” Y/n whispered. “But we can’t pretend forever, we have plans on our own. We can’t hold back each other from finding love—”

Jimin cut her off, voice steady but raw. “I don’t want to find someone else. Not anymore.”

Y/n’s breath caught as she looked up, surprised by the sudden confession.

Jimin took a small step closer, searching her eyes. “This fake relationship… it was supposed to be just a game. But it stopped being fake a long time ago. I don’t want to pretend anymore. I want us to be real.”

The words hung between them, heavy and full of hope.

Y/n’s heart raced, the medal around her neck suddenly feeling lighter. She reached out, brushing a loose strand of hair from Jimin’s face.

“Then let’s stop pretending,” she whispered back. “Let’s be real. Together.”

And just like that, the walls they’d built around their hearts began to crumble, leaving only the possibility of something real — something worth fighting for.

Jimin’s gaze softened, her breath catching just slightly. Slowly, she closed the distance between them, her hand reaching up to gently cup Y/n’s cheek.

Y/n’s heart hammered in her chest as their eyes locked, the world around them fading until there was nothing but the two of them.

Then, with a quiet, almost hesitant tenderness, Jimin leaned in.

Their lips met — soft at first, a question in the gentle press, then growing bolder as the hesitation melted away.

Y/n melted into the kiss, her arms slipping around Jimin’s shoulder, pulling her closer.

It was everything they hadn’t said, everything they’d both been holding back — raw and real and trembling with possibility.

When they finally pulled apart, their foreheads rested together, breaths mingling.

Jimin whispered, “Real, then?”

Y/n smiled, heart full. “Real.”

[vrstual]

This is probably a stretch but have you seen the new lesbian Korean dating show?(it’s called ToGetHer). I was wondering if you could do a series based on that…with Karina, Ning Ning, Wonyoung, Yujin, Sana, Momo, Miyeon, and Kazuha. If not, totally fine:)

That's not a bad idea actually but I haven't watch it!! If I have time to watch it, I'll fulfill your request! <3

[vrstual]

ᯓ .ᐟ ⊹ The Girlfriend Contract

- part one.

ᯓ Pairing: Popular!Karina (Yu Jimin) × Cheerleader!Fem! Reader

ᯓ | When Jimin lies to her mom about being in a serious relationship, the last person she expects to drag into her mess is Y/n–the campus cheerleader she’s spent the last two years arguing with across lecture halls and parties. But now, to keep up appearances over the holidays, they have to fake date through family dinners, long car rides and even in school.

ᯓ Genre: Rivals to fake-dating to lovers, slow burn, college AU, family drama, soft angst, eventual fluff

ᯓ Warning: swearing, argument, a little toxic, family pressure.

ᯓ Content: 7k of words

part one. part two.

Yu Jimin wasn’t in love.

She’d made that clear enough times.

The guy from last week still texted her sometimes — a dumb meme or a photo of his cat — and she hadn’t blocked him, but she hadn’t replied either. Not because he did anything wrong. He just wasn’t what she wanted. No one ever was.

Not that her mom would believe that.

Jimin leaned against the kitchen counter, phone in one hand, a cooling cup of black coffee in the other.

She never understood how her best friend could be so different from her. Where she overthought, Heeseung floated. Nothing seemed to stick to him — not stress, not pressure, not the constant need to prove something. He just existed, unbothered and perfectly content in his own lane.

Sometimes she envied that. Other times, it annoyed the hell out of her.

She scrolled through her texts — mostly her group chat with Heeseung and some old party invites she never answered.

Half a pizza box balanced precariously on a pile of textbooks, a soda can sweated onto the corner of a magazine she never finished reading. The air smelled faintly like old takeout and peppermint gum.

“I swear to god, if Meredith cries one more time…” Heeseung muttered.

Jimin didn’t answer. She was too focused on the vibration of her phone lighting up again. It was her mother

Jimin stared at it for a second.

“You gonna answer that?” Heeseung asked, glancing over.

“She’s just gonna ask when I’m coming home,” Jimin muttered, already standing up. “And why I’m still single. Can’t wait.”

She slipped into her bedroom and closed the door gently behind her, pressing accept as she sank down onto the edge of her bed.

“Hi, Mom.”

Her mom’s voice was warm but clipped. “Jimin-ah. I’ve been calling.”

“I was busy. Sorry."

“Too busy to talk to your mother?” she teased lightly. “Are you still planning to come home on the 23rd?”

“Yeah. I already finished my suitcases."

A pause.

“You know, I don’t like you driving alone. That highway gets dangerous in the winter.”

“I’ll be fine. I’ve done it every time to come home.”

“Just… you know I worry.” Her mom sighed.

Jimin nodded, even though her mom couldn’t see it.

“You don’t have to come alone, you know,” her mom said. “Wonyoung is bringing her girlfriend. They’ve been together almost a year now. Very sweet girl. Thoughtful. Studying medicine.”

Jimin didn’t reply.

“And Giselle’s new boyfriend is coming too, he's American. Apparently he’s learning Korean just for her. Isn’t that romantic?”

Still, silence.

“I just think… maybe it’s time you stopped pretending this doesn’t matter to you.”

Jimin blinked. “What doesn’t?”

“This. Being with someone who cares about you. You’re always so… distant. I know you’re busy with school, but you don’t even talk about anyone.”

“It's nothing to worry about, mom." Jimin said quietly.

Her mom sighed again — soft, but full of meaning. “I just want to see you happy, Jimin. That’s all. Not just smart, not just successful. Happy. With someone who looks at you like you matter.

That was the part that stuck. Jimin sat frozen for a beat too long, the lump forming quietly in her throat.

So she did what she always did when emotions got too close.

She lied.

“I’m not alone,” she said suddenly. “I… I’ve been seeing someone.”

There was a pause on the other end of the line, and for once, her mom sounded surprised.

“Oh? Really?” Excitement was running through her mother voice, she could sense it.

Jimin’s brain stalled. And then, without thinking, she said it.

“It's uh... Y/n."

A pause.

Her mom’s tone changed instantly — from excited to genuine curiosity.

“Y/n? That girl from the cheer team? The one from last summer Giselle's gala? She’s very pretty. I didn’t know you two were close, I thought you hated her."

Jimin forced a breathy laugh. “Yeah. Neither did I.”

“Well, I’m glad,” her mom said gently. “I really am. You could bring her over to Christmas you know!"

Jimin didn’t know what to say. She mumbled something about studying and hung up as soon as she could without seeming suspicious.

She sat in the quiet of her room afterward, staring at the floor.

Y/n?

Out of everyone?

She was so screwed.

-

Heeseung bit back a laugh, but it slipped out anyway — low and sharp. He couldn’t help it. For two years now, it had been tradition: every time Y/n’s name came up, he and Jimin would roll their eyes in sync, trading sarcastic commentary like it was a sport.

She’d complain about Y/N’s perfect routines, and he’d mock her perfect smile. It was a shared hobby at this point — hating on Y/n from the sidelines. So when Jimin stood in the doorway, looking vaguely shell-shocked and muttered, “I told my mom I’m dating her,” Heeseung practically choked on his drink.

“You’re joking,” he said between wheezes. “Tell me you’re joking.”

“I’m not—stop laughing, it’s not funny, Heeseung!” Jimin whined, smacking his shoulder with the back of her hand.

Heeseung doubled over, laughter spilling out now, almost gasping. “No, it’s hilarious. You? Dating Y/n? You’ve literally called her a walking ego devil in a cheer skirt.”

“That was one time,” Jimin muttered, crossing her arms.

“You said she practices her fake angelic smile in the mirror like a villain!"

"Okay, two times.”

Heeseung just shook his head, still grinning. “How the hell are you gonna fake-date someone you can’t even make it through a room with?”

Jimin flopped onto the couch with a groan. “I don’t know. But now my mom thinks we’re soulmates or something.”

“Well, good luck with her."

-

Jimin had been waiting—maybe an hour, maybe two—just outside the gym, tucked under the edge of the overhang by the side door. Rain slid off the roof in steady sheets, cold and relentless, soaking the tips of her shoes.

She’d run out of things to scroll through on her phone half an hour ago. Now all she could do was stare at the wet pavement and rehearse what she’d say.

“Hey, so this is going to sound insane, but I need you to pretend to date me for the sake of my mom’s sanity.”

No. Too direct.

“I told my mom I’m dating you, and now I might need your help not getting disowned.”

Even worse.

She exhaled, breath fogging in the cold. Practice usually ran late — Jimin knew that. She’d walked past the gym enough times to hear music blasting well past dinner. But it was really starting to feel like Y/N wasn’t coming out at all.

Maybe this was stupid. Maybe Y/N would laugh in her face. Or worse — tell the whole squad. Jimin could already picture it: her name and the word desperate flying through the hallways by tomorrow.

Still, she stayed. Because this was the only way. And if she didn’t ask — if she didn’t try — she’d be walking into Busan with a lie and no backup. That wasn’t an option.

The gym door creaked open. Jimin’s breath hitched.

There she was. Hoodie pulled over her cheer uniform, earbuds in, completely oblivious.

Jimin stepped out from under the overhang, heart pounding.

It was now or never.

“Y/n!” Jimin called out, but her voice barely cut through the rain — or the music playing through the girl’s headphones. “Y/n!”

Still nothing.

Frustrated, Jimin jogged forward, slipping slightly on the wet concrete before reaching out and grabbing Y/n’s shoulder. The other girl flinched, startled, twisting around sharply.

Y/n pulled one earbud out, blinking. “What the hell—?”

Jimin let go immediately, a little breathless. “Sorry. I just— I’ve been waiting.”

Y/N looked her up and down, taking in the damp hoodie, the ruined sneakers, the obvious nerves. Her brows lifted slightly. "Are you okay?"

Y/n didn't cared, in fact she was just confused.

“No,” Jimin admitted, voice sharp and awkward. “I mean, yes. Kind of. Can I talk to you? It’s… important.”

Y/N crossed her arms, skeptical but curious. “Did you really wait out here in the rain for me?”

Jimin nodded.

A beat passed.

“This better be good,” Y/n muttered, stepping back under the cover of the overhang. “Talk.”

“I thought we could discuss this in a café, it’s pouring rain and it’s—uh—cold…” Jimin said, her voice trailing off awkwardly as she realized how lame it sounded.

Y/N rolled her eyes, clearly unimpressed, but the edge of a smirk tugged at the corner of her mouth. "You’re gonna drag me out of the rain to talk in a café? What’s next? Do I get a flower and a soft jazz playlist too?”

Jimin rubbed the back of her neck, feeling the heat rise to her face. “No, it’s not like that. I just—It’s a lot to explain, okay?”

Y/N sighed but didn’t walk away. “Fine, whatever. Lead the way.”

Jimin exhaled in relief, hoping the warmth of a café would settle her nerves and that somehow, she could make this mess work.

-

“Okay, what the fuck is wrong with you?!” Y/N asked, her voice incredulous as they sat down in the café. She crossed her arms over her chest, still soaking wet but visibly irritated.

“It’s the first name that came to my mind, I swear!” she shot back, desperate to defend herself. “I panicked, okay?”

Y/N raised an eyebrow, clearly not buying it. “Panic doesn’t usually make you pick someone you can’t stand and that can't stand you either!"

“I know, I know,” Jimin groaned, slumping in her seat. “But it just… happened. I thought I could get away with it. But then she—my mom—asked me to bring you home for Christmas.”

Y/N’s eyes widened slightly, clearly thrown off. “What? Me? You want me to pretend we’re dating and then go home with you for Christmas? Unbelievable."

“Exactly,” Jimin muttered, looking anywhere but at her. “It’s not like I want to ask you, but… she’s really pushing it. And I don’t know what to do anymore.”

Y/N just stared at her, blinking slowly. “You’re asking me to fake-date you in front of your whole family… so your mom won’t be disappointed?”

“Please,” Jimin begged, her voice low. “I can’t go back home without some sort of backup. I can’t just let her think I’m this messed-up failure. You don’t know what she’s like.”

Y/N was quiet for a moment, then leaned back in her chair, still processing. “And what’s in it for me?”

Jimin bit her lip, her eyes flickering up to meet Y/n's. “I’ll do anything. Anything you want. Please.”

Y/n exhaled, a small smirk forming at the corner of her mouth. “Anything? Interesting…”

Jimin’s stomach dropped. “Yeah. I mean it.”

Y/N looked at her for a long, hard beat, and Jimin couldn’t tell if she was about to laugh in her face or agree. Finally, Y/n shrugged.

“Alright. I’ll help you out. But just so you know, I’m not doing this for you. I’m doing it because I broke up with Jeno weeks ago and this will make him furious.”

Jimin let out a relieved breath. “Deal.”

A long pause.

Then Y/n spoke again, casually stirring the straw in her iced drink.

“So… what’s the storyline?” she asked, eyes narrowing just a bit. “What exactly are we supposed to do? Am I supposed to sell Minjeong on the idea that I fell for you in a night?”

Jimin sank further into her seat, visibly cringing. “I mean… yeah. Basically.”

Y/n snorted. “You’re unbelievable.”

“I didn’t say it made sense!” Jimin shot back, flustered. “It was a heat-of-the-moment, life-flashing-before-my-eyes type of decision.”

Y/n leaned in a little, her voice laced with sarcasm. “Right. So what’s our epic love story, then? Did we bond over our mutual hatred for each other? A steamy hallway makeout after cheer competition?”

Jimin blinked. “…Wait, that’s not bad.”

Y/n raised a brow, deadpan. “You are so lucky I’m bored enough to play along." She sighed. "Let's at least make it romantic."

Jimin blinked at her. “Wait… you’re actually taking this seriously?”

“If I’m going to lie to your mom and sit through family dinners between your family members, yeah—might as well make it convincing.” Y/N shrugged, a slight smirk tugging at her lips. “Besides, if I have to pretend to like you, I deserve Oscar-worthy levels of drama.”

Jimin scoffed, but there was the tiniest smile threatening to break through. “Fine. Romance it is.”

Y/n eaned forward, mock-serious. “So? What’s our meet-cute? Something dramatic. I want tension. A little forbidden energy. Give me the enemies to lovers arc.”

Jimin stared at her. “You want me to plot out a fake fanfic?”

“Exactly,” Y/N said with a satisfied nod. “You started this. Now we’re doing it right."

Y/n grinned, resting her chin on her palm as she eyed Jimin across the table.

“Also,” she added, voice almost playful, “I’ve always liked K-dramas with the worst tropes. So please, get creative.”

Jimin narrowed her eyes. “Worst tropes?”

Y/n nodded, unfazed. “Give me a tragic backstory. I want a dramatic rooftop scene. A tension-filled rain fight. Maybe even my jealous ex. I want to suffer.”

Jimin blinked. “You’re unhinged.”

“No,” Y/n said with a mischievous glint in her eye. “I’m committed to the bit.”

Jimin leaned forward, tapping her nails against her coffee cup. “Alright. New story. We met by accident. Late night. Campus convenience store.”

Y/n raised an eyebrow. “Go on.”

“It’s pouring rain,” Jimin said, eyes distant like she was setting a scene in her head. “I was out of ramen. You were there for honey butter chips and cold brew.”

Y/n nodded slowly, already picturing it. “We reach for the same drink?”

“No,” Jimin smirked. “You drop your chips. I step on them. Instant tension.”

“Classic.”

“I apologize, kind of. You roll your eyes, say something smart. I snap back. But we’re both too tired to really argue. So we leave it there.”

Y/n sipped her drink, clearly invested now. “And then?”

“We run into each other again. Couple nights later. Same store. This time it’s late. Like, past midnight late. No one else around. You’re in sweats. I’m in my stupid hoodie. You ask if I always eat instant food this late.”

“And you say?”

"I say, 'Only when I can’t sleep.' And then you pause, just a second too long, and say, 'Same'"

Y/n smiled softly, leaning into the vibe. “So then what, we just keep running into each other?”

Jimin nodded. “Like fate. We never plan it, but somehow, we’re always there around the same time. We start sitting outside together. Talking. Bickering. You offer me your chips. I start bringing an extra drink.”

Y/N tilted her head. “Then something shifts.”

“Exactly,” Jimin said. “It’s three in the morning. We’re sitting on the curb, legs stretched out, talking about family and futures and shit we never tell anyone. You lean your head on my shoulder.”

Y/N blinked. “And that’s when we kiss?”

Jimin grinned. “Almost. But we don’t. Not yet. Just enough tension to make it hurt.”

“Oh, I love this one. It’s giving sad gay indie K-drama energy.”

“Right?” Jimin smirked. “Now we just have to convince my mom we’re emotionally intertwined and have a history that no one else could understand.”

Y/n smiled slowly. “She won’t stand a chance.”

-

The car ride to Busan started off in near silence. Rain tapped lazily against the windshield, and the highway stretched ahead like it was daring them to speak.

Jimin had one hand on the wheel, jaw tense. Y/n sat in the passenger seat, arms crossed, headphones in — but the music was off. She just didn’t want to talk.

Until she did.

“You drive like you’re allergic to speed limits,” Y/n muttered, not even glancing over.

Jimin scoffed. “I’d rather get there fast than be stuck in this car with you for an extra hour.”

“Charming,” Y/n said dryly, turning to look at her. “Remind me again why I agreed to this?”

“Oh, I don’t know,” Jimin snapped, “maybe because you begged for a dramatic K-drama moment and I handed you one on a silver platter?”

“Right, because nothing says romance like you glaring at me every time I breathe too loud.”

“I’m driving,” Jimin bit back. “I need to focus.”

“You need to unclench.”

Jimin hit the signal light a little too aggressively and merged lanes. “If you hate this so much, you could’ve said no."

“If I said no, I wouldn’t get to witness you crash and burn in front of your family. That’s worth the ticket.”

They were quiet for a beat. Just the low hum of tires on wet road, the occasional flick of windshield wipers.

Then—

“You always think you’re so much better than everyone,” Jimin muttered, not looking at her.

Y/n blinked, taken off guard. “Excuse me?”

“You walk around like you own every hallway. Like no one can touch you. Even now, sitting in my car, doing me a favor, and still acting like you’re above it all.”

Y/n stared at her. “You don’t know anything about me.”

“Maybe not,” Jimin shot back. “But you make it really easy to hate you.”

Another beat. The silence this time was heavier. Then Y/n laughed — just once. A dry, disbelieving sound.

“Well,” she said, settling back in her seat, “that makes two of us.”

Jimin’s fingers tightened on the wheel.

They didn’t speak for the next twenty minutes.

But their thoughts were loud.

“I don’t pretend anything,” Y/n said sharply, sitting up straighter. “You’re the one lying to your mom.”

“Oh my god,” Jimin muttered, eyes fixed on the road. “Are we really doing this right now?”

“You started it.”

“You agreed to this!”

“Because I thought it would be funny, not—this.” Y/n gestured vaguely, annoyed. “I thought we’d take a few fake couple pics, smile through some awkward dinners, go home. Not—argue like we’re married in your beat-up Hyundai on the highway to hell.”

“It’s a Kia,” Jimin snapped, glaring briefly. “And you made it personal.”

“I made it personal?” Y/N laughed, incredulous. “You’ve been picking fights with me since sophomore year.”

“Because you’re infuriating.”

“Because you take everything as a personal attack!”

They were both breathing hard now, voices raised, heat building fast.

Then—

“You’re exhausting,” Jimin muttered.

“So are you,” Y/n said, quieter this time, not quite looking at her.

A long stretch of silence settled between them again, except now their breathing had slowed, tension simmering instead of boiling.

Outside, the rain picked up. Inside, the heat from the vents started to fog the windows a little.

“…I didn’t mean to pick you,” Jimin said eventually, her voice low. “Your name just came out. I didn’t even think.”

Y/n looked at her out of the corner of her eye. “I know.”

“I guess,” Jimin continued, “if I’m honest, it’s because… you’re always there. Like, in my head. Whether I like it or not.”

Y/n's brows furrowed, confused. “So you hate me but I live rent-free in your mind?”

“Don’t say it like that,” Jimin groaned, but the corner of her mouth tugged upward anyway.

Y/n bit back a smirk, then looked away. “You’re still annoying.”

“You’re worse,” Jimin muttered.

A small pause.

Then Y/n spoke, softer. “Do I look okay?”

Jimin glanced over, confused. “What?”

“For your family,” she said. “Do I look like someone you’d… bring home?”

Jimin blinked at her, eyes flicking from her face to the slight slump of her shoulders.

And despite everything — the tension, the insults, the years of barely tolerating each other — she answered honestly.

“Yeah,” she said quietly. “You do.”

Y/n didn’t say anything after that. But she smiled. Just a little.

And Jimin didn’t admit it, but she saw it in the reflection of the windshield.

That was the first time the silence between them felt almost peaceful.

-

Y/n was stressed.

She told herself she didn’t care — obviously she didn’t care — but the second Jimin put the car in park in front of the house, her chest tightened like it had something to prove.

It was just a stupid lie. A favor. One awkward week with Jimin’s polished Busan family, pretend to hold hands at dinner, maybe smile for a few photo. That was the plan.

So why did her palms feel clammy? Why did her heart jump into her throat the second Jimin looked over at her and said, quietly,

“We’re here.”

The house was bigger than she expected. Not mansion-big, but definitely expensive. Warm yellow lights glowed from the windows, laughter spilled faintly from inside, and the front door was already cracked open like they’d been watching the driveway all evening.

Jimin didn’t move to get out yet. She just sat there, keys still in the ignition, fingers twitching on her lap.

Y/n swallowed hard.

She was used to pretending.

It was her thing, actually.

Hide her true emotions. No one ever saw past it — not her teammates, not her classmates, not the girls she flirted with when she was bored and didn’t feel like going home.

And for the longest time, Y/n liked it that way.

But something about this felt different.

Maybe it was the way the front door swung open and warmth spilled out — real warmth.

Or maybe it was the fact that the second Jimin’s hand brushed against hers at the threshold — not even holding, just a touch — something inside her chest flinched.

Not in fear.

In recognition.

She was good at pretending. Always had been.

They stepped out of the car, the cold evening air biting at Y/n’s exposed skin. Jimin walked around to the trunk, popped it open, and pulled out the suitcases with a grunt. Y/n didn’t move to help—just stood there, arms crossed, watching with her usual unreadable expression.

Jimin rolled her eyes. “Of course.”

“What?” Y/n said, feigning innocence. “You looked like you had it handled.”

Jimin groaned under her breath, dragging the suitcase toward the walkway just as the front door burst open.

“Jimin, sweetie!” a voice called out, full of warmth and sugar and just a pinch of chaos.

A woman rushed out into the night, arms already stretched wide, face glowing. She wrapped Jimin into a hug so tight it made the younger girl lose her grip on one of the bags.

“I missed you!” she said into Jimin’s shoulder, then pulled back to look her over like a mom checking for battle wounds. “Why do you look skinnier? Have you been eating? I told you to stop drinking iced americanos for dinner!”

“Hi, Mom,” Jimin replied, almost shyly. Her smile softened the edges of her usual sarcasm. She bent to pick up the suitcase again.

Then the woman turned to Y/n.

“And you must be Y/n! I'm Taeyeon!"

Y/n froze like a deer in headlights for a second before schooling her features into something charming — the soft smile she used at cheer fundraisers, the kind that got her free coffees and made teachers forgive late assignments.

“That's me” she said, stepping forward and offering a hand, just a beat too stiff.

But Jimin’s mom didn’t shake it — she hugged her.

Y/n’s eyes widened as the woman pulled her in, warm and familiar, like she’d known her for years.

“You’re gorgeous, oh my god,” Jimin’s mom gushed, stepping back and holding her at arm’s length. “And tiny! Jimin always had a thing for tiny girls, didn’t you, honey?”

Jimin choked. “Mom.”

“What?” she grinned, waving it off. “I’m just saying! When she was younger—”

“Okay, inside, now,” Jimin interrupted, grabbing the last suitcase and brushing past them, ears turning red.

Y/n stood there for another second, a little smirk on her lips, before Jimin’s mom looped her arm through hers.

“Come on, dear. You’ll sit next to me at dinner. You’ll tell me everything about how you and Jimin met.”

Y/n glanced ahead, saw the slight panic in Jimin’s shoulders as she disappeared through the doorway.

She smiled.

Oh, this was going to be fun.

As soon as they stepped into the house, warmth wrapped around them — the kind of lived-in, cozy heat that smelled like soy sauce, steamed rice, and something baking in the oven.

And there were a lot of people.

“Well, well,” a voice called from the hallway, smooth and teasing. “Jimin didn’t tell us she was bringing someone this cute.”

Y/n looked up, caught off guard by the tall boy leaning casually against the doorframe, arms crossed. He looked familiar — must’ve been her brother.

“She did,” Y/n replied coolly, raising an eyebrow. “You probably weren’t listening.”

Sunghoon smirked, clearly amused. “Feisty. I like it.”

“She’s my girlfriend, Sunghoon.” Jimin cut in flatly as she dropped the suitcase by the stairs. “So stop being weird.”

Y/n fought a grin as Sunghoon dramatically clutched his chest. “Girlfriend? You didn’t say she was taken!”

“I said she was coming,” Jimin muttered. “And I said to behave.”

“Jimin,” her father said warmly, stepping forward to hug her. “You should’ve called when you were getting close.”

“I wanted to surprise you,” she mumbled, hugging him back, softer now.

Then he turned to Y/n and gave a polite, reserved bow. “You must be the girl we’ve heard so little about.”

Y/n smiled awkwardly and bowed in return. “Nice to meet you. I’m Y/n.”

“Well I'm Misook, Jimin's father." he said, stepping aside and motioning toward the living room, “Make yourself at home."

The house had already started filling with noise — the comforting kind. Plates clinking, someone laughing down the hall, a pot of stew boiling gently on the stove. Jimin and Y/n had barely finished setting the table when the front door swung open again, snow blowing in with the familiar chaos of family arrivals.

Jimin muttered under her breath, “And here comes the entire circus.”

Y/n looked up from folding napkins, eyebrows raised. “You weren’t joking.”

Aunt Haeun came in first, cheeks rosy from the cold, tugging off her scarf. “Where’s your mother? Oh, something smells amazing—”

Behind her, Uncle Hyunsoo carried two suitcases and a box of mandarin oranges like he was preparing to stay a month. “Why do we always pack like we’re moving in?”

Then came Wonyoung, tall and glowing even in the oversized coat she shrugged off effortlessly. Her girlfriend Yujin followed, already slipping out of her gloves and handing over a small gift bag with a shy smile.

Wonyoung’s eyes scanned the room — and landed on Y/n.

“Oh,” she said. “This must be her.”

Y/n stood a little straighter. “Hi, I'm Y/n.”

Yujin gave her a polite nod. “Nice to meet you.”

Wonyoung, however, looked her up and down without hiding it. Not rudely. Just… observantly. “You’re even prettier than your Instagram.”

Y/N blinked, surprised. “Thanks… wait you stalked me– how?”

“Wanted to know who my cousin was dating, just saying” Wonyoung added, stepping inside. “Jimin usually likes chaos. You look a little too put-together for her.”

Jimin rolled her eyes. “Nice to see you too.”

Before anyone could dwell on that, the door flew open again and Giselle arrived with her usual flair, dropping her weekender bag dramatically in the hallway. Her boyfriend trailed behind, carrying a cake and visibly regretting not wearing thicker socks.

Giselle’s gaze found Y/n almost immediately.

“Wow. You’re the girlfriend?”

Y/n offered a polite smile. “Yes. I think that’s me.”

“You look like someone who gets invited to the cool rooftop parties and never shows up.” Her tone wasn’t exactly mocking — more amused, a little intrigued. “No offense.”

“None taken,” Y/n said, eyes steady. “I do get those invites.”

From the living room, someone called out, “Stop crowding the hallway!”

Soobin appeared then, towel slung over his shoulder like he’d just helped clean something — tall, soft-eyed, and entirely too charming for his own good.

He gave Jimin a quick hug before turning toward Y/n. “And you must be the famous girlfriend.”

Y/n shook his hand, noticing the dimpled smile right away. “Famous really?”

"Well it's been only a week since Jimin told aunt Taeyeon and she kept talking about you. Anyway, I’m Soobin. Jimin’s cousin — sadly still single, in case that wasn’t obvious.” He winked.

Jimin groaned. “Can you not.”

Mrs. Yu popped her head in from the kitchen, apron tied around her waist. “Everyone’s here? Good. Come help me set the soup, please!”

Y/n was about to follow, but Soobin cut in again. “You cook too?”

“I try,” she said.

“She does,” Jimin mumbled, grabbing the stack of bowls. “She’s basically Miss Perfect.” She says trying to show that she knew her–fake–girlfriend.

“Wow,” Giselle said under her breath, exchanging a look with Wonyoung. “So that’s new.”

Wonyoung smiled tightly. “Can’t wait to hear that story.”

And just like that, Y/n felt it — not hostility, not even dislike. Just curiosity. A little skepticism. Like they were all trying to figure out where she fit in the picture. If she was just a visitor in Jimin’s life — or something more.

Jimin passed her a bowl and gave her a look.

“You okay?”

Y/n nodded, quietly. “Yeah. It’s just… a lot.”

Jimin paused, then added, “It always is. But they’ll get used to you.”

-

The dinner had been… surprisingly pleasant. Y/n couldn’t deny it. The food had been delicious, and as much as she tried to stay neutral, she found herself laughing with Wonyoung and Giselle more than she’d expected. They’d shared funny anecdotes about Jimin’s childhood, embarrassing family moments that made her realize how normal Jimin’s life was outside of the walls of college, outside the walls they’d built up around each other.

Y/n had laughed, genuinely. It felt so… human. Like they were showing her parts of Jimin that she’d never even considered before. She found herself liking it, maybe too much.

But Jimin had been quiet through it all, picking at her food, her eyes darting between Y/n and the rest of the room. It was subtle, but it didn’t go unnoticed. Every time Y/n made a joke or spoke a little too easily with her cousins, Jimin’s smile seemed to falter, just for a split second.

It was like she didn’t want Y/n to get too comfortable. To become too familiar with her family.

To cross a line.

Home.

Y/n thought about that word as she sipped her drink, the weight of it settling in her chest. It wasn’t just where they were sitting right now, under laughter ringing in the background. It was the way Jimin’s face had softened just a little when talking about her mom earlier. Or how her brother, Sunghoon, had cracked a stupid joke and Jimin had genuinely laughed — not the sarcastic kind, but the real one that reached her eyes.

For a second, Y/n let herself consider it — maybe it wouldn’t be so bad if I really fit in here. If I could stay a little longer, get used to them…

But then she glanced over at Jimin, who was still sitting at the edge of the table, half turned away from the conversation, looking like she wanted to say something but couldn’t quite get the words out. The shift in her mood was palpable.

She didn’t want her to get close. That was obvious.

Maybe she didn’t want Y/n the warmth of home — it was too real. Too personal. And the thought of someone else, especially someone like Y/n, having access to it? That was too much for Jimin to handle right now.

Still, as Y/n looked across the table at her, she realized something else, too. Maybe Jimin wasn’t as cold as I thought. Maybe, just maybe, she didn’t hate the idea of being trusted with someone.

-

Y/n lay awake in Jimin’s old room, the one of her childhood — memories frozen in time. After a long and tiring Christmas dinner with Jimin’s family, everyone had finally retreated to their rooms. But something about the stillness in the air, the way everything seemed to breathe a different kind of quiet here, kept Y/n wide awake.

Her eyes wandered around the room, taking in the familiar yet unfamiliar sight. It was cozy, yet clearly a room from another time. There was a mix of things: an old, dusty teddy bear tucked in the corner, a few scattered school trophies on the shelf, and colorful plush pillows that had been there since Jimin’s middle school days. Her room, untouched by time, told the story of someone trying to hold onto childhood, even in the face of growing up.

Y/n rolled over and glanced at the photos hanging on the walls. There were a few frames of young Jimin, her face so different from the confident, polished woman Y/n had come to know. Here, Jimin was just a girl — a middle schooler, awkward and shy, posing for the camera with her family and friends, her eyes shining with innocence. There were pictures of her grinning with friends Y/n would probably never meet.

The one that caught Y/n’s attention the most was a picture of a much younger Jimin, standing beside a smiling boy who looked remarkably like her brother, Sunghoon. The two were at what appeared to be a family picnic, both holding ice cream cones. Jimin’s smile was wide, carefree — a stark contrast to the guarded look she wore now. Her eyes softened as she studied the picture.

She had never considered Jimin as someone with a life before everything — before the fierce exterior, before the social circle and the reputation. She wondered, briefly, what had shaped Jimin into the person she was now. Who was she before all of the expectations? Before her family’s high standards and the pressure of being in the spotlight?

Y/n reached up and gently traced the edge of one of the frames, her thoughts drifting to how little she actually knew about Jimin’s past. She felt a small pang of guilt, realizing how little she had ever really cared to know. She had always seen Jimin as a barrier, a target of her own insecurities and fears. She had never stopped to consider what Jimin had been through to become the person she was today.

The silence in the room grew thicker, and the weight of everything they had both been pretending began to settle over Y/n’s chest.

Suddenly, Jimin’s voice cut through her thoughts as she opened the door coming back from shower.

“You’re still up?”

Y/n snapped out of her thoughts, looking over at the doorway where Jimin stood, her face partially obscured by the dim light from the hallway. She was wearing a loose shirt and pajama pants, her hair slightly messy as she leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed.

“Yeah,” Y/n replied softly, her voice betraying a hint of surprise. “Just… looking around.”

Jimin walked into the room and sat down on the edge of her bed, glancing at the photos the cheerleader had been looking at. “I see you found my middle school pictures,”

Y/n gave a faint nod, feeling awkward for lingering over something so personal. “You were… really different.” Her voice was quiet, as if not wanting to intrude too much.

Jimin let out a small, dry laugh. “I guess. People change.”

Y/n paused for a moment, unsure whether to ask the next question. But her curiosity got the best of her. “Do you ever miss it? The… before?”

Jimin’s eyes flickered with something unreadable, her fingers tracing the edge of her blanket. There was a long pause before she answered, her tone surprisingly soft. “Sometimes,” she admitted quietly. “But I think I had to grow up too fast. I didn’t really have a choice. My mom… she wanted me to be perfect, and I guess… I tried.”

The words hung in the air, heavy and raw. Y/n wasn’t sure what to say, not sure if she was crossing a line or not. But the vulnerability in Jimin’s voice felt different from anything she had ever heard from her.

“I think your mom wanted you to be happy, to build your future so you could be happy. She must have done it wrong.... It's a lot.” Y/n finally said, her voice quieter than before.

Jimin shrugged, as if it didn’t matter. “It is what it is. You can’t change the past.”

They both sat in silence for a moment, the weight of the conversation lingering in the room like an unspoken truth. It was the first time they had really opened up to each other, even if just a little. It wasn’t much, but it was something.

After a few more minutes of quiet, the two of them, still sitting in the dimly lit room, began to realize just how awkward the situation was.

Jimin shifted uncomfortably, her eyes darting to the bed, and then to Y/n, before finally settling on the door as if it might suddenly offer an escape. But of course, there was no escaping the reality of the room. There was one bed. And they were both stuck here for the night.

Y/n, sensing the tension, turned to look at Jimin. Her gaze met Jimin’s for a split second before both of them awkwardly glanced away. It was strange, they were forced into an entirely new situation. They had been at each other’s throats for so long, but now, it felt like the walls were starting to crack.

“Uh,” Y/n began, breaking the silence with an awkward laugh. “I guess we’re supposed to… sleep here?”

Jimin, her arms crossed tightly in front of her, didn’t seem thrilled about the prospect. “Yeah, looks like it,” she muttered, eyes narrowing as she looked at the bed, as though it had personally offended her.

Y/n glanced at the single bed again, then back at Jimin. A thought occurred to her. “So… how do you usually do this? I mean, not like… ‘this’—but… you know…”

“Well,” Jimin started, her voice almost hesitant, “my family thinks we are a couple, one bed is actually normal…” She let out a deep breath, clearly at a loss for words. “This is beyond the usual.”

Y/n bit her lip, her mind racing for a solution. They couldn’t exactly sleep side by side in the same bed. That would be far too strange. The thought made her skin crawl a little, and she saw that Jimin was just as uncomfortable as she was. The idea of sharing such a small space for the night—close quarters like this—seemed impossible for two people who barely tolerated each other.

“Wait!” Y/n suddenly exclaimed, the idea coming to her as she looked around the room. “Pillows.”

Jimin blinked at her. “What?”

“No, hear me out,” Y/N said, her voice gaining confidence as she scanned the room. “We can make a pillow barrier, a—uh—‘fortress’ between us. We’ll each have our own side of the bed, and it’ll be like an invisible wall.” She motioned to the pillows on the bed and around the room.

Jimin paused, staring at her like she’d just suggested something absurd. “A pillow fortress?”

Y/n grinned. “Yeah, it’s genius, right? Just a row of pillows between us, and we’ll have our own little spaces. It’ll work.”

Jimin rolled her eyes but finally relented. “Fine. Let’s build your… fortress.”

Y/n wasted no time. She started pulling pillows from the bed and stacking them between them, creating a makeshift barrier down the middle. Jimin watched her for a second before grabbing the remaining pillows and joining in, her usual sarcasm temporarily forgotten.

When they were done, they stepped back and admired their work. The fortress of pillows between them was not exactly elegant, but it served its purpose—each side was now officially off-limits.

“Well,” Jimin said after a moment of silence, raising an eyebrow. “At least now I have some distance from you. It’s like a little… wall of peace.”

Y/N leaned back against her side of the bed, satisfied. “Exactly. Now we can both sleep peacefully without worrying about invading each other’s space.”

There was a pause. Then, a soft, unexpected chuckle escaped from Jimin. “This is ridiculous.”

Y/n grinned, unable to help herself. “It works, though.”

Jimin shook her head, though a small smile tugged at the corners of her lips. “Yeah, yeah, whatever. I don’t even want to know how long you’ve been plotting this.”

Y/n laughed. “You have no idea.”

And for the first time since they had started this whole fake dating charade, the tension in the room seemed to dissipate, even if just for a moment. The fortress was still silly, still an odd solution to an odd problem, but it somehow brought a sense of lightness that neither of them had expected.

As they lay there in the dim room, the pillow wall between them, they both found it a little easier to breathe.

-

The apartment door clicked shut behind them, the hum of Seoul’s city noise instantly muffled. The silence between them wasn’t comfortable. It was tense, like a storm waiting to break.

Jimin kicked off her shoes and dropped her bag by the door, heading straight for the kitchen without saying a word. Y/n followed, arms crossed, scowl already forming on her face.

“Where's Heeseung?" Y/n asked earning only a small shrug from Jimin. "So, are you gonna tell me what your problem is?” she snapped.

Jimin scoffed as she opened the fridge, staring inside like it had answers. “My problem? You’re really asking me that?”

“Yeah, I am. You’ve been acting like a brat ever since we got off the car.”

Jimin shut the fridge a little too hard and turned around. “Because my mom wants to invite you to her spring birthday lunch. Because Wonyoung asked if you’d come for Chuseok. Because suddenly everyone loves you, Y/n.”

Y/n blinked. “Okay, and?”

“And now I have to explain why my so-called girlfriend disappears before my mom can start sewing you into the family tree.”

“Oh, so now it’s my fault that your entire family likes me?” Y/n said, voice rising. “You dragged me into this lie and now you’re mad that it worked well?”

Jimin’s jaw tensed. “It was supposed to be a week. A performance. You were supposed to be a cold and indifferent cheer brat—like you usually are."

“Well, sorry for having manners,” Y/n bit back. “Maybe your family’s just desperate to see you with someone who isn’t a Tinder hookup.”

Jimin’s face snapped toward her. “Watch it.”

“No, you watch it. I helped you. I played the role. I met your weird aunt and sat through your cousin’s playlist of EXO dance covers. You’re mad because your lie worked too well.”

Jimin paced, dragging her hands through her hair. She wasn’t yelling anymore—she was spiraling. “They’re already talking about summer. Asking when I’m gonna bring you again. My mom was glowing.”

Y/n leaned against the wall, crossing her arms. “Then tell her we broke up.”

Jimin froze.

Y/n raised a brow. “Simple solution, no?”

“Yeah. Except she’ll want to know why. And how. And when. And then she’ll cry and say it’s because I don’t try hard enough with people and that I ruin everything.”

Silence.

Y/n let out a slow exhale. “Okay. So… what now?”

Jimin hesitated, then sighed. “We fake it a little longer.”

Y/n blinked. “How much longer?”

“Until May.”

“May!?”

Jimin shrugged, already sounding resigned. “That’s when your cheer nationals are, right? It makes sense. We break up after—‘distance’, ‘conflicting schedules’, whatever. Clean timeline.”

Y/n stared at her, baffled. “You really thought this through.”

“No, I’m thinking it through now, because my mom just texted me again asking what your favorite color is.”

Y/n stared. “What is wrong with her?”

“She’s a hopeless romantic. She thinks you’re the one.”

Y/n dragged a hand down her face. “Fine. We fake date until May. But you’re driving me to every practice and buying my coffee. Non-negotiable.”

Jimin rolled her eyes. “Deal. But you’re texting my mom on my behalf until she stops sending me couple bracelets on Instagram.”

They locked eyes, and for a split second, something like amusement flickered between them. But it passed as fast as it came.

The war was still on.

Only now… it had a timeline.

Jimin reached for her phone, already typing a reply to her mom, something about Y/n loving the color navy blue and tulips. Y/n watched her from the kitchen doorway, still not quite sure how the hell this became her life.

“This is so dumb,” she muttered.

Jimin didn’t look up. “You agreed.”

“I didn’t say I wouldn’t complain about it.”

They locked eyes again, this time without yelling, just the sharp simmer of something complicated brewing beneath the surface.

“Just survive until May,” Jimin said, voice flat.

Y/n nodded, grabbing her bag again and heading toward the spare room. “Easy,” she muttered under her breath.

Neither of them believed that.

-

[vrstual]

ᯓ .ᐟ ⊹ headphones

ᯓ from the serie: unexpectedly yours

ᯓ paring: mean!jimin x fem!reader

ᯓ summary: Y/n accidentally breaks her cherished headphones because of Jimin. Later, Heeseung invites her to party where she didn't expected to run into Jimin.

Y/n walked through the crowded hallway, headphones shoved in her ears, music blasting loud enough to drown out everything around her. She tried to focus on the beat, let it block out the noise of her classmates chatting and laughing as they passed by. The hallway felt too full, the constant movement of people reminding her how out of place she sometimes felt.

She kept her head down, eyes fixed on the floor, trying to ignore the ache in her chest that seemed to be there no matter how hard she tried to shake it. Every time she looked up, there was Heeseung, laughing with his friends, and her heart twisted. He never seemed to care about her that much.

She let the music take over, hoping it would drown out everything else for a little while.

"No!" She whispered as she kneeled down.

Without noticing, Y/N bumped into someone, and her headphones fell to the floor with a sickening crack

“Maybe if you watched where you were going, they wouldn’t be broken." Yu Jimin’s voice cut through, her tone laced with sarcasm, no sympathy in sight.

Y/n’s hands shook as she tried in vain to fix the headphones, her heart sinking. It wasn’t just some cheap pair—this was a gift from her mother two anniversaries ago. It had meant so much to her. The thought of it being ruined made her chest tighten, but she kept her face carefully neutral, not allowing the anger or the ache to show.

She swallowed the bitterness building in her throat, forcing herself to meet Jimin’s gaze without a flinch.

Yu Jimin stood there, her gaze sharp as she watched Y/n, her eyes narrowing slightly. She studied her carefully, as if trying to figure out what exactly was going on beneath the surface—what that broken pair of headphones really meant.

Y/n could feel Jimin’s eyes on her, intense and unrelenting, and for a moment, she had the overwhelming urge to look away, to hide what she was really feeling. But she didn’t. She kept her expression neutral, fingers still fumbling with the broken pieces, though the ache in her chest was only growing stronger.

Y/N felt her breath catch, the words hanging in the air for a moment before Jimin turned to walk away.

Without sparing her another glance, Jimin tossed over her shoulder.

"Look where you’re going next time.”

The coldness in her voice stung more than Y/n wanted to admit. She clenched her jaw, swallowing back the surge of frustration that threatened to spill over. Jimin didn’t care. She never did. Y/n watched her walk off, shoulders stiff, her own anger simmering just below the surface.

She glanced down at the broken headphones again, a mix of sadness and irritation gnawing at her. But instead of letting it show, Y/n just stood up, brushed off her jeans, and walked away, her heart heavy but her face carefully blank.

It was just headphones anyway.

Y/n got to class, slipping into her seat at the back, fingers tapping nervously on the desk. She kept her gaze on the door, kind of excited to see Heeseung walk in.

He was always the one who could make her day better, the one who seemed to light up the room with his smile, even if he didn’t know how much she needed it.

Her heart fluttered a little at the thought, hoping he’d sit next to her like he usually did. It was the one part of her routine she could count on, the small comfort that made the long, exhausting school day bearable.

She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, trying to keep her expression casual, even though the butterflies in her stomach wouldn’t calm down. Y/n knew she was holding onto the hope that maybe today, Heeseung would notice her.

Maybe today, he’d be the breath of fresh air she needed from everything else.

As Heeseung slid into the seat next to her, his usual bright smile lighting up the room, Y/n’s heart skipped a beat.

“Hey, close your eyes,” he said, his voice filled with a playful tone.

Y/n blinked in surprise but obeyed, wondering what he was up to. She could feel him place something in her hands a few moments later. Hesitantly, she opened her eyes and looked down at the delicate necklace now resting in her palms.

“I saw this and thought of you,” Heeseung said, his smile softening. “You should wear it to my friend’s party.”

Y/n felt her cheeks warm, a smile tugging at the corner of her lips.

"Thank you, you didn't have to." She whispered, her voice barely above a breath, as she gazed down at the necklace in her hands.

Y/n’s eyebrows suddenly furrowed in confusion.

"Wait, what friend’s party?”

“Oh? I was planning on inviting you to go with me to my friend’s party.” Heeseung leaned back in his chair, his smile still warm.

Her heart thudded in her chest. She blinked a few times, still processing the surprise.

“Why?” she asked, voice softer than usual, unsure of what to make of the sudden invitation.

Heeseung shrugged slightly, his smile growing just a bit more genuine. “Like your company.”

-

As Y/n stepped into the living room of the party, she was immediately hit with the overwhelming noise of people talking, laughing, and music blasting in the background. She paused for a moment, feeling her anxiety spike, but then she saw him.

Heeseung was standing near the entrance, a bright smile spreading across his face as soon as he spotted her. His eyes lit up, and he took a couple of steps toward her.

“Hey, you made it!” He said, his voice filled with genuine happiness.

It made Y/n’s heart skip a beat to hear that enthusiasm directed at her. She smiled, feeling a little more at ease just seeing him.

"Yeah, I made it. She replied, her voice softer than usual as she took in the scene around her.

Heeseung stepped closer and, without missing a beat, pulled something small out of his pocket. He held it out to her, his eyes glinting with excitement.

Heeseung looked at her collar bone, clearly happy she was wearing it.

"Glad you like it." He said eyes never leaving the necklace, then added, “You look amazing, by the way.”

Y/n’s heart fluttered a little at the compliment, and she found herself smiling more than she expected.

"Thank you, Heeseung..." She said, her voice soft, but something deeper behind her words.

Heeseung’s eyes stayed on her for a moment longer, then he gestured to the rest of the party.

"I’m glad you came, really. I was hoping you would.” Y/n felt the warmth of his words settle in her chest.

For a brief moment, everything else faded into the background. Maybe the party was overwhelming, but in this moment with Heeseung, it felt like the only thing that mattered.

As the night wore on, Y/n found herself getting lost in the excitement, but it didn’t take long for the noise and chaos of the party to start eating away at her. Laughter, chatter, music, people everywhere—it all felt like too much. Her chest tightened, and the overwhelming flood of emotions made her head spin. She needed to get away.

After excusing herself from the group, Y/n wandered through the crowded house, looking for a place to breathe. Finally, she spotted a door at the end of the hall, slightly ajar. Without thinking much, she pushed it open and stepped inside, only to freeze when she saw who was sitting by the window.

Jimin.

She was alone, perched on the edge of the windowsill, smoke swirling lazily around her as she exhaled a long drag from her cigarette. Her eyes flicked up to Y/n, and for a moment, neither of them said anything.

Y/n instinctively took a step back, but the door had already closed behind her.

"Jimin" She called, her voice barely above a whisper, hoping she could avoid the awkwardness that was sure to follow.

Jimin didn’t even flinch, her expression cold and unaffected as she took another drag, staring straight at Y/n.

"Didn’t expect you to be the type to hide in rooms." Jimin teased, her voice sharp and a little too casual for Y/n’s liking.

Y/n’s chest tightened, her emotions bubbling up. She tried to hide it, but she couldn’t help the irritation creeping in.

Y/n closed the door behind her.

Jimin raised an eyebrow, exhaling another puff of smoke and flicking the ash carelessly.

"Why did you came here if you couldn't handle party." Her words were blunt, cutting through the tension in the room.

The two of them stood there in the silence.

"You shouldn't do that–."

"Save it, it gets even more annoying the more you hear it." Jimin studied her for a moment, her eyes unblinking.

Y/n sat on the edge of the bed, her hands in her lap, still trying to steady her breath. The noise of the party felt miles away in the quiet of the room, but it still buzzed in her mind. The energy, the chatter, the laughter.

The air in the room felt cooler, a faint draft from the slightly opened window brushing against her skin. She stared out at the lights of the street below, the stars barely visible behind the glow of the city. It was strange. The stillness of the night made everything feel more real, more raw.

Suddenly, there was movement beside her. Y/n turned her head slightly, but didn’t say anything as Jimin quietly sat down next to her. The silence between them felt heavy, but not in the same way it had before. The air was different now—there was no tension, just the coldness of the room filling the space between them.

Jimin didn’t look at her right away, just leaned back against the wall, her gaze focused on something far off. She took a deep drag from her cigarette, exhaled slowly, and then flicked the ashes into the small tray on the floor beside her.

Y/n, still unsure what to make of the situation, couldn’t help but notice how calm Jimin seemed. There was something about her that was always so steady, like nothing ever affected her. Maybe that’s why she annoyed Y/n so much. She couldn’t understand how someone could be so unaffected by everything.

The quiet stretched on between them, the only sound the faint rustling of the window and the soft hiss of Jimin’s cigarette.

Y/n shifted, pulling her knees up to her chest, wrapping her arms around them. The air around them felt colder now, and she shivered slightly, though she didn’t move away from the window.

After a long pause, Jimin finally spoke, her voice low and almost tired.

"Did you came here for your boyfriend?"

Y/n blinked, caught off guard by the unexpected words. She looked at Jimin, whose eyes were still fixed on the faint glow of the street below, but her expression was unreadable.

“Heeseung– he's not.” Y/n said softly, her voice a little defensive, but it didn’t come out as harsh as she thought it would.

Jimin exhaled another puff of smoke, her eyes briefly flicking over to Y/n before returning to the window in front of then.

"Sure.” Sarcasm.

Y/n didn’t know how to answer that.

Jimin turned her head slightly, her gaze locking onto Y/n for the first time in what felt like ages.

“Well you guessed right away it was him I was talking about.” Jimin said, her voice softening, just enough that Y/n could tell she wasn’t being completely cold anymore.

Y/n stared at her, unsure of how to react. The words caught her off guard. Jimin wasn’t the kind of person to care if you weren't her friends, not like this. It was… different.

"Why do you care?" Y/n asked , the words slipping out before she could second-guess them.

Jimin turned her head slightly, her expression unreadable for a moment before she let out a quiet laugh—one that didn’t quite reach her eyes.

"I don’t." She replied, though there was a small tremor in her voice that betrayed the confidence in her words. “But you can't always ignore things… people.”

“Why?” Y/n found herself asking again before she could stop herself, her curiosity growing. “Why does he matter to you if you don’t care?”

Jimin stared at her for a long moment, her fingers absentmindedly tracing the rim of the cigarette as if it were a lifeline.

"He doesn't matter, I just wondered. Something like that."

Y/n wasn’t sure what to say to that. A part of her felt like asking for more. Another just told her to keep it quiet.

Instead, she just nodded, letting the silence return between them, both of them sitting in their own thoughts. The cold from the window was still there, but now, it felt less suffocating. There was an unspoken understanding between them, even if neither of them had fully admitted it.

Y/n didn’t know what would happen next, but for the first time in a while, she didn’t feel so alone.

-

ᯓ main masterlist

[vrstual]

ᯓ.ᐟ unexpectedly yours (series)

ᯓ synopsis: Y/N has always liked Heeseung, convinced he’s the one—until she starts spending time with Jimin. They don’t get along at first, and for no real reason, they just rub each other the wrong way. But between petty arguments, unexpected moments, and late-night talks, something shifts.

Heeseung was supposed to be the dream. So why does Jimin feel more like home?

ᯓ genre and content: slow-burn, romance, frenemies-to-lovers, love triangle, wlw

ᯓ warnings: mild angst, miscommunication and jealousy, love triangle tension, light swearing, emotional vulnerability

blurbs

༘⋆ headphones

asks

specials/extras

text messages/twitters

[vrstual]

# synopsis: Kim Y/n was "forced" by her parents to intend a school trip so she could make new friends. Being alone, she was obliged to sit next to Yu Jimin, one of the most popular girl in school...

# content: kinda angst, fluff, wlw, cursing. (This is very long...!)

— masterlist !

“Dad, please, I don’t want to go.” Kim Y/n whined, her voice tinged with a mix of frustration and anxiety as she stood by the family car.

Her parents were already there, her suitcase in her father hands, the black wheels sinking slightly into the gravel driveway in front of Y/n's school.

“Y/n, we’ve talked about this… this trip is perfect for you to make new friends!” Mr. Kim exclaimed with enthusiasm, his hands animated as he gestured toward the car.

She glanced at the bus, its white exterior, and saw students already in groups, laughing and chatting, ready to have the best time of their lives. They looked so carefree, so sure of themselves, while she was panicking inside. Y/n felt the familiar sting of envy as she watched them, she had always wondered ever since she was a child what was wrong with her for her to be so alone.

“Look at them." She murmured, shaking her head slightly. “I’m never going to fit in.”

Her heart raced as she mentally replayed the last few months: the awkward moments at school, the feeling of being on the outside of friend groups, and the endless worry about not being cool enough or fun enough. What if this trip was just another reminder of how alone she felt?

“And, it’s not like I’m going to magically find friends in a week." Y/n continued, her voice tinged with exasperation.

“Hey, it’s going to be fine." Mr Kim tried to rassure his daughter noticing her gaze drifting towards the bus. “There will be tones of activities that will force you to talk to others! You won't be alone!"

Taking a deep breath, she tore her gaze away from the bus, forcing herself to focus on her parents instead. The looks on their face were full of hopes, she knew that they only wanted to fit in, to be less lonely.

She knew they wanted Y/n to be less like herself in a way, less shy and friendless.

“Fine, I’ll go.” She simply said, her tone firm but lacking enthusiasm, as she took her suitcase back from her father.

“That’s the spirit! And remember, it’s just a week. You can do this.” Mr. Kim smiled broadly, relief flooding his features.

With a deep breath, she hoisted the suitcase up, its worn wheels scraping slightly against the pavement as she moved toward the bus.

Her parents exchanged relieved glances, a silent conversation passing between them. They wanted this to be a good experience for her, to open doors to new friendships and adventures, but she felt trapped in a whirlwind of doubt. As she walked, her mind raced with thoughts of how this trip would unfold.

The chatter from the other students grew louder as they began to board the bus, their voices bubbling with excitement. Y/n’s heart sank as she imagined them effortlessly forming bonds while she struggled to find her place.

She glanced back at her parents one last time before putting her suitcase inside the bus, feeling a swell of mixed emotions. Their encouraging smiles and reassuring nods felt like lifelines, but she also sensed their hopes resting on her shoulders. Y/n wanted to be the first to enter, hoping that by doing so, she could claim a seat without having to force someone to accept her next to them.

With a quick inhale, she stepped up the narrow bus stairs, the metal cold beneath her fingertips as she gripped the handrail. The interior of the bus buzzed with excitement, laughter ringing out from groups of friends already settling into their seats. She felt a pang of longing for that easy camaraderie, but she pushed the thought aside.

As she moved further in, she scanned the rows of seats, searching for a spot where she could sit alone or next to someone that seemed kind.

While the idea of being alone among so many people made her stomach turn, she kept reminding herself that this was an opportunity, chance to break out of her shell, even if she felt like a fish out of water.

“Just find a seat." She muttered to herself, trying to somehow reassure herself.

“Excuse me…?” Mr. Park, her English teacher and one of the chaperones, called out to her, his brow furrowed in concentration as he tried to remember her name.

He shifted his weight, glancing at the other students boarding the bus before locking eyes with her, the familiar warmth of his smile reassuring yet slightly flustered.

“Y/n. Kim Y/n." replied, her voice steady despite her nerves.

Mr. Park’s smile widened as if he had indeed recalled her name, the familiarity easing the tension in the air.

“Great to see you, Y/n. Have you found a seat?” he asked hopefully, his eyes scanning the bus filled with students.

The anticipation in his voice made her feel a bit more welcomed in the bustling atmosphere. She shook her head, a hint of uncertainty and anxiety rushed back into her mind. Everyone had found a sit and she was the last one without one.

“How about you sit right here, next to Jimin?” He suggested, gesturing to an empty seat beside a girl with bright blonde hair.

Mr. Park glanced back at Jimin, who immediately turned her attention away from her friends and looked up at the teacher with a frowned.

Oh no, Y/n thought, her heart sinking as she finally registered who Karina was, the blonde popular girl who usually walked past her in the hallway as if she were nothing more than a piece of trash. Y/n recalled the way Jimin and her friends would laugh together, their voices ringing out like a chorus of exclusion while she stood to the side, feeling invisible.

The memories hit her hard: the way Jimin would toss her hair over her shoulder, glancing at Y/n with an expression of disdain as if she was nothing but an obstacle in her path. Y/n could almost hear the whispers of the other girls, the way they snickered and exchanged knowing looks as they passed. Each encounter had left Y/n feeling smaller, a shadow lingering in the background of Karina’s bright, glamorous world.

A wave of anxiety washed over her. She could already feel the weight of judgment pressing down on her, the familiar fear of being belittled creeping in. The last shred of her confidence wavered, and she hesitated for a moment, biting her lip as her thoughts raced.

“Yeah, sit here.” Jimin said dismissively, turning back to chat with her friends seated in the row just in front of her.

They both glanced back at Karina, eager to continue their conversation, leaving Y/n feeling even more isolated. Y/n remembered their names: Ning Yizhuo and Kim Minjeong. She quickly scanned the bus for the fourth member of their group and spotted Aeri Uchinaga sitting next to a boy, laughing animatedly with him. Aeri seemed completely at ease, likely in one of her talking stages.

As she took her seat by the aisle on the bus, she sighed, feeling the annoyance wash over her.

Y/n hated that spot.

The constant bumping from people moving up and down the aisle, the lack of a window to lean against, and the feeling of being just a bit too exposed.

Meanwhile, Jimin's friend obligated to sit properly in their assigned seats, quickly turned away and began chatting amongst themselves, their laughter and animated whispers forming a bubble of friendship that felt just out of reach.

“What’s your name again?” Jimin asked, her gaze fixed on the other girl with a strange intensity.

It wasn’t exactly unfriendly, but it lacked the warmth of genuine curiosity. Her eyes narrowed slightly, as if she were trying to place the other girl in her mental list of people, but she was too outcast to be in anyway. Y/n felt a bit on edge under her stare, unsure if she was supposed to laugh, answer quickly, or just look away.

“Y/N. Kim Y/N." She replied, her voice barely above a whisper as she kept her eyes down, focusing on her hands as they fidgeted in her lap.

She even didn’t dare look up to meet Jimin's gaze, feeling strangely self-conscious under her scrutiny. The bus hummed around Y/n, filling the silence that followed her response, and she wondered if she’d say anything else or if she’d just keep watching her with that unreadable expression.

As the ride went on, Jimin kept stealing glances at Y/n, trying to gather the courage to speak. Her fingers tapped nervously against her phone, mind racing with thoughts of what to say.

Should I break the silence again? She wondered, shifting slightly in her seat. Every few seconds, she looked over, only to turn away quickly when Y/n’s eyes drifted in her direction.

"Do you know Tyler, The Creator? He released an album a while ago, it's pretty good." Jimin’s voice cut through the silence, almost tentative, but carrying an edge of curiosity.

"Yeah... I know him, his music is great." Y/n blinked, momentarily taken aback by the question, but quickly caught on. "But I haven't listened to the new album." Y/n continued.

Jimin’s earlier annoyance seemed to dissolve, her features softening as she fished out an AirPod and, without a word, held it out to Y/n. Y/n hesitated for a moment, surprised, but then took the AirPod from Jimin’s outstretched hand, her fingers brushing against hers for a split second. Jimin quickly looked down, pretending not to notice, as she scrolled through her phone and tapped the album.

The first notes of the song began to play, the beat filling the silence between them. As each track flowed into the next, they both seemed to relax, caught in the same rhythm, lost in the same lyrics. Jimin didn’t say anything, but every so often, she’d sneak a glance at Y/n.

In the quiet intimacy of shared sound, the world around them faded, and for the first time, the silence felt comfortable like a language only the two of them understood.

—

“So… how was the ride?” Giselle’s voice broke the spell, her tone light and teasing as she appeared behind Jimin, arms crossed and a smirk dancing on her lips.

Jimin startled slightly, pulling out her suitcase as she turned to face Giselle, her eyes meeting the pink haired girl's.

"It was fine." She answered unbothered, earning Giselle to raised an eyebrow.

“‘Just fine?’” Giselle scoffed, hurrying to catch up with Jimin, who had already started to walk away toward class, clearly eager to escape the conversation. “Bro, this girl fell asleep on your shoulder, and you let her! When it’s me, you always pinch me awake the second I drift off.”

Jimin stopped mid-step, rolling her eyes as she turned back to give Giselle an exasperated look.

“Oh, I’m just saying." Giselle continued, leaning in conspiratorially. “The two of you, sharing music, all cozy and quiet… It’s cute.”

“Fuck off, Gi. Stop trying to ‘gay-ize’ me I have a boyfriend." Jimin shot back, her expression firm, as she folded her arms across her chest, clearly hoping to put an end to Giselle’s teasing.

"I am not 'gay-izing' you, you're already bi!" Giselle scoffed, rolling her eyes dramatically.

“Still have a boyfriend, and she’s super nerdy. We have nothing in common, she's the kind of people we walk on." Jimin muttered under her breath, giving Giselle a pointed look.

Giselle just smirked, unfazed, but Jimin wasn’t paying her any more attention. Her gaze had drifted back to Y/n, who was standing alone a few feet away, glancing anxiously at the crowd of students. She looked a little out of place, fiddling with her bag strap as if it might anchor her, a hand holding tightly her white suitcase.

Without realizing it, Jimin’s expression softened. It felt weird, she almost felt bad for the girl. Giselle raised an eyebrow again, noticing where Jimin’s attention had landed again.

"What is her name again?" Giselle only smiled before talking.

“Y/n or something, why?” Jimin asked, turning her head back toward Giselle, who was already striding toward Y/n with an air of confidence.

“Hey, Y/n!” Giselle called out, her tone friendly and casual. “What are you doing standing here all by yourself? We’re just about to head to the reception to get our rooms.”

Jimin’s eyes widened, and she took a step forward, her instinct to intervene kicking in.

“Giselle, wait! I don’t think—” The blonde tried to stop, but Giselle has already gotten Y/n 's attention.

Y/n felt a surge of nervousness coursing through her veins. Although she had grown a bit comfortable around Jimin over the ride, that didn’t mean she was ready for an actual conversation with her, especially not in the presence of one of her best friends.

She could feel her heart racing, her palms becoming clammy as she thought about how she might stumble over her words. The cold air of winter felt stifling, and she played with her fingers, trying to focus on the comforting sound of footsteps on snow that other around were making.

Scared, she felt beyond scared.

It had to be some kind of cruel joke for them to actually be interested in her, how could anyone be genuinely drawn to someone as invisible as Y/n?

She often felt like a shadow, blending into the background while others shone in the spotlight. The idea that someone could see her, really see her, felt utterly surreal. Was it possible they were just playing a game, testing the limits of her self-doubt? The thought made her stomach twist in knots, a mix of disbelief and a flicker of hope that maybe, just maybe, she wasn’t as invisible as she believed.

But no, Giselle and Jimin couldn't actually be interested in getting to know Y/n.

She pushed her thoughts aside and smiled nervously, though her nose burned from the biting winter air. And she wished she had remembered to pull her scarf out of her suitcase before leaving. The cold wrapped around her like a relentless chill, and she rubbed her hands together, trying to summon warmth.

“Do you have roommates, or are you alone?” Giselle asked politely, her genuine smile lighting up her face.

She leaned slightly closer, her curious eyes sparkling with interest. Y/n could sense Giselle’s friendliness, which made her feel a little less out of place. But it was weird, considering how Giselle could look from outside, how scary she could get by just smiling at you in the hallway.

Or maybe it was just Y/n, maybe she just portrayed them as bad person because she was scared.

“Obviously, she’s alone. She had no choice but to sit next to me for the ride,” Jimin explained coldly, her gaze fixed on Y/n.

There was no warmth in her voice, just a hint of annoyance that made Y/n’s stomach churn. The embarrassment washed over her, and she wondered if Jimin saw her as a burden. The winter air felt even colder now, and Y/n shifted uncomfortably, feeling more isolated in the moment.

Giselle frowned at Jimin before gently nudging her shoulder, Jimin merely scoffed as she crossed her arms. The blonde girl leaned back against the but slightly her expression remaining indifferent. The contrast between Giselle’s warm smile and Jimin’s cool demeanor was striking, and Y/n couldn’t help but feel caught in the middle.

“Don’t mind her, she’s always that straightforward." Giselle chuckled, waving a hand dismissively in Jimin’s direction. “I already have a roommate, but Jimin doesn’t. How about you two share a room?”

"You have a roommate? You haven't told me." Jimin’s eyes widened at Giselle’s statement, surprise flickering across her face.

Meanwhile, Y/n stayed frozen, unsure of how to respond. The suggestion sent a rush of apprehension through her, but it was quickly overshadowed by her insecurities.

Would Jimin even want to share a room with her? The thought made her heart race.

Jimin’s cold demeanor lingered in the back of her mind, leaving Y/n feeling vulnerable as she awaited Jimin’s response. The blonde girl simply got closer to Y/n before she opened her mouth.

"Looks like you're stuck with me, Y/n."

—

The trip was almost over, they should go by the next morning and ever since the first day Giselle had been relentless in her invitations for Y/n to join her and the others. Y/n finally met Minjeong and Yizhuo, who were just as sweet as Giselle but somehow different.

The girls and Y/n were seated in a cozy café, the warm ambiance wrapping around them like a comforting blanket. They sipped on steaming mugs of hot chocolate, topped with fluffy whipped cream, while the rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee lingered in the air.

“Hey, baby.” Y/n heard a voice behind her, and as the other girls turned around, she caught sight of Heeseung, Jimin’s boyfriend.

Y/n felt a flutter of nerves as he approached, his presence radiating confidence. The way he interacted with the girls made her feel a bit out of place; he greeted them with playful hugs and friendly nudges, instantly putting everyone at ease. Jimin, who had been sitting with her arms crossed, softened at the sight of him, a small smile breaking through her earlier aloofness.

For a moment, Y/n wished she smiled at her like that.

“Are you ready for some fun?” Heeseung asked, his eyes sparkling with excitement. "Tonight, you're all invited to a party with my friends and I. We met some dudes and they said to bring anyone we knew." He said as he smiled at Y/n.

For the very first time, she had been invited somewhere, and a genuine smile spread across her face while her eyes were stuck into Heeseung's. She turned her attention to Jimin, but when she glanced at her, she noticed that Jimin’s eyes were icy.

It was different, a stark contrast to how they had been in the days before. The warmth that usually radiated from Jimin seemed to have faded, replaced by an expression that suggested she was deep in thought or perhaps even a bit annoyed.

The atmosphere shifted, becoming more lively as the girls laughed and exchanged eager glances. Expected for Y/n and Jimin who seemed to have a eye battle from how Jimin was staring into her soul.

Perhaps Jimin was jealous of Y/n, but it felt impossible to her. After all, Y/n was nothing compared to Jimin. She couldn’t understand why Jimin would feel that way; surely, she must have been misinterpreting Jimin’s icy demeanor.

Y/n wondered if Jimin thought she had some sort of ulterior motive regarding Heeseung, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Yet, as she caught Jimin’s cold gaze, Y/n felt a knot of anxiety tighten in her stomach. It was frustrating to think that her mere presence could be misread as a threat.

Trying to shake off the uneasy feeling, Y/n focused on the laughter and conversation swirling around her. She reminded herself that she was here to have fun with friends and enjoy this moment, regardless of the tension that lingered between her and Jimin. Still, a part of her longed for Jimin to see her as a friend rather than a rival.

A friend? Was Jimin a friend to Y/n?

The pink-haired girl shot Jimin a glare, clearly frustrated by her cold demeanor. Meanwhile, the blonde girl simply shook her head as she gestured for her boyfriend to sit next to her. Heeseung, ever cheerful, took the invitation and settled into the seat beside her, leaving Jimin positioned awkwardly between Y/n and him.

The atmosphere around them shifted slightly, the laughter of the other girls rising and falling like a wave, but Y/n couldn’t shake the feeling that the dynamic had changed. She glanced at Jimin, hoping for a hint of the warmth they had shared earlier, but all she found was that icy gaze still directed toward her, making her wonder if the day would turn out the way she had hoped.

“Oh my god, we should head back before Mr. Park kills us. We have this shitty chocolate factory to visit." Yizhuo declared, her voice filled with a mix of excitement and mock horror.

The mention of the chocolate factory elicited a chorus of groans and laughter from the group, breaking the tension that had settled around the table.As everyone began to gather their things and rise from their seats the girls chatted animatedly as they made their way to the exit, Y/n falling into step beside Heeseung.

“What’s so bad about a chocolate factory?” He asked with a teasing grin, clearly enjoying the playful banter.

Y/n shrugged, feeling a little more at ease.

“It sounds like a lot of fun! I mean, who doesn’t like chocolate?” She replied, hoping to keep the mood light.

Deep inside she was clearly panicking, it was the very first time she ever spoke to this man.

“Hey, how come I’ve never seen you around? I’m Lee Heeseung." He said with a smile, extending his hand toward Y/n for her to shake.

Y/n hesitated for just a moment, caught off guard by his directness, but then she reached out and shook his hand, feeling the strength of his grip.

"I'm Kim Y/n." She answered as their hands touched.

With the cold air hitting them as they stepped outside, the group bundled up, ready for the adventure ahead. Even with the lingering tension, Y/n felt a flicker of hope that the day would turn out better than expected.

They finally reached their teacher, who was waiting near the entrance of the hotel they stayed in, and Y/n could feel a slight shift in the atmosphere. Jimin, walking a step ahead, seemed to purposefully ignore her, her focus solely on their teacher as if Y/n didn’t exist.

Y/n’s heart sank once again at the sight.

Feeling a mix of disappointment and frustration, Y/n forced herself to concentrate on the teacher’s words. The factory was going to be an interesting experience, and she didn’t want to let Jimin’s attitude ruin it for her. With Heeseung still beside her, she tried to push her concerns aside as they walked together toward the chocolate factory.

She could hear the laughter of the other girls ahead, but Jimin was the one she looked at.

—

“Jimin, can we talk?” Y/n asked hesitantly as they both entered their room.

The door closed behind them as Jimin turned to face Y/n, her expression unreadable.

“About what?” Jimin replied coolly, crossing her arms as she leaned against the wall.

“I just… I wanted to clear the air,” Y/n said, her voice steadying as she spoke. “You've been acting distant since the café and I don't really understand, is something wrong with me?"

That was such pick me of you, Y/n! She slapped for herself mentally.

Jimin’s gaze softened just a fraction, but her expression remained guarded.

"There's nothing wrong with you. I'm just tired." Jimin replied as she turned to face Y/n completely.

"You're not lying to me?" Y/n took a step closer, trying to bridge the gap.

Jimin paused, her defenses wavering for a moment as she contemplated Y/n’s words. The silence hung in the air, and Y/n held her breath, hoping that Jimin wasn't mad at her.

“I am not lying to you. Just prepare yourself while I'm doing my makeup here; we’re going out in an hour, Heeseung and his friends had invited us, remember?" Jimin stated matter-of-factly, her tone leaving little room for argument.

Y/n nodded as she smiled at the taller girl before heading toward the bathroom. Jimin paused for a moment, glancing over her shoulder.

After a moment of silence, Y/n finally stepped out, and Jimin felt something flutter in her chest at the sight of her. Y/n looked stunning, her outfit perfectly complementing her features and giving off an effortless charm. The soft light from the room illuminated her, making her look warm and inviting, and for a moment, Jimin was taken aback by how pretty she looked.

Jimin’s heart raced unexpectedly, the icy facade she had been maintaining beginning to crack.

“Come on, let’s go.” Jimin said as she turned sharply toward the door, a hint of fluster creeping into her cheeks as she avoided making eye contact with Y/n.

Y/n followed closely behind, sensing the sudden shift in Jimin’s demeanor. As they walked past the other girls, who were laughing and chatting, Y/n felt a knot of confusion twist in her stomach.

"Are you okay?" Y/n frowned, trying to understand what had caused this sudden chill.

“I’m fine." Jimin snapped, perhaps a bit too sharply. Her voice was firm, but Y/n could see the slight tremor in her hands as she adjusted her jacket, a telltale sign of her inner turmoil.

“You sure? You seem… different." She ventured, her voice barely above a whisper.

Jimin shot her a glance, her eyes filled with an undercurrent of something deeper, something that hinted at her own frustration.

“I said I’m fine." She repeated, crossing her arms defensively.

Giselle, who had been chatting with the other girls, noticed the scene unfolding between Y/n and Jimin. Her brow furrowed in concern as she watched the tension between them, trying to understand what was going on. Y/n shrugged in response, her shoulders rising helplessly.

Y/n glanced back at Jimin, who was now looking away, her expression stubbornly set.

After a moment they walked on, Y/n felt a growing sense of frustration mingling with her confusion. She had hoped the night would be a chance to strengthen their bond, but instead, it felt like they were drifting further apart.

It was weird, she never had friends and here she was getting all frustrated around of the most popular girl in school.

It felt weird.

It felt even weirder because as soon as they entered the party, Heeseung began shamelessly flirting with Y/n. The vibrant atmosphere of the place was filled with laughter and music, but all Y/n could focus on was Jimin's eyes as Heeseung pulled his easy charm and he leaned in close to her.

"You look great!" He flashed Y/n a dazzling smile as he yelled over the music into her ear.

Jimin’s expression darkened slightly as she stood back, arms crossed, watching the exchange with a glimmer of anger and irritation.

“Thanks, I guess!” Y/n replied over the music, trying to keep her voice light despite the discomfort settling in her stomach.

She glanced at Jimin, she tried to reach for her hand, her arm, anything. Y/n wasn't sure why, but she needed to feel like Jimin was still beside her, still with her. But instead she was met by two dark obs glaring at Heeseung.

As Heeseung leaned closer, his playful teasing and charm only served to heighten Jimin’s apparent anger as she pulled Y/n away from him.

“Heeseung, what the hell?” Jimin snapped at him, her voice cutting through the loud music.

The sudden outburst drew the attention of the girls and Heeseung's friends, and Y/n felt her heart race at the unexpected tension that had just escalated.

Heeseung looked taken aback, his playful demeanor faltering for a moment as he straightened up, clearly surprised by Jimin’s sharp tone.

"What? I was just—” He began, but Jimin interrupted him.

“Just what?” she shot back, her eyes narrowing slightly.

Y/n hated, she hated how Jimin hands were tightly grabbing onto hers in anger because she knew Jimin wasn't holding it in a act of softness. Perhaps she was reaching for comfort as she yelled at her boyfriend.

“I was just trying to make Y/n feel welcome!" Heeseung replied, his voice tinged with confusion, but Jimin didn’t soften.

“Jimin, it’s fine." Y/n interjected, hoping to ease the mounting tension. “Heeseung was just being friendly.”

Jimin glanced at her, and for a brief moment, her icy facade seemed to crack as she saw Y/n’s genuine attempt to defuse the situation. Y/n took a deep breath, feeling caught between them.

It was the very first time this kind of situation ever happened to her, and she wasn't a fan of it at all.

"Let’s just enjoy the night, okay?” One of Heeseung's friend suggested, trying to shift the focus back to the fun atmosphere around them.

Jimin shook her head in frustration, her blonde long hair swaying gently as she turned away from the bustling party. The vibrant music pulsed through the air, laughter and chatter blending into a lively backdrop, but she felt out of place. Y/n and Giselle exchanged glances, their expressions a mix of concern and understanding, before quickening their pace to catch up with her.

“Hey, wait up!” Y/n called, her voice barely rising above the noise, trying to reach for Jimin's hand again.

Jimin spun around, her face flushed with anger, and without thinking, she pushed Y/n away, the force of the shove surprising both of them. Y/n stumbled back, her eyes widening in shock. The lively atmosphere of the party faded into the background, and for a moment, it felt like they were the only two people in the room.

“Fuck you! You've been nothing but a pain in the ass ever since you came into our lives!" She snapped pointing her finger towards Y/n.

“W-what? I was just trying to be friends with you guys, I didn't meant to make you feel that way..?” Y/n glanced at Giselle, who stood nearby, her expression a mix of concern and confusion.

“What? You thought we were friends with you? You're just some nerdy fucker who keeps following us around!” Jimin shot back, her heart racing.

"Jimin!" Giselle moved closer, trying to mediate the escalating tension.

Y/n heart stopped for a moment, it felt weird to have friends. It felt weird because they weren't her friends, they didn't cared about her, at all.

It felt weird to feel appreciated for once.

Y/n couldn’t stop the tears from falling, hot and unrelenting, tracing down her cheeks as she struggled to catch her breath. Each drop felt like a shard of glass, piercing through the layers of her heart. She turned away, unable to face Jimin, the weight of the moment suffocating her. The laughter and music from the party faded into a distant hum, leaving only the raw pain of their confrontation.

Jimin’s eyes widened in shock as she saw the tears streaming down Y/n’s face. The realization hit her like a wave, washing away the anger that had fueled her words. Regret flooded her heart, each pang a reminder of how easily things had spiraled out of control.

"Y/n- I didn't meant to say that-!" But Y/n held up a hand, shaking her head as she struggled to compose herself.

"Y/n, I swear this isn't true we wanted to be friends with you!" Giselle stepped in, her heart aching for both of her friends.

For a moment, Y/n looked torn, the tears still flowing freely as she searched Jimin’s gaze for sincerity. Jimin’s heart raced, praying for forgiveness, hoping that they could find their way back from this painful moment.

"Please, just let me explain,” Jimin continued, her voice trembling but earnest. “I never wanted to hurt you like that I-"

“Drop the act, I get it,” Y/n said coldly, her voice barely above a whisper as she turned away from Jimin, her heart heavy with hurt and disbelief.

She began to walk away and Jimin stood frozen, a surge of desperation welling up inside her.

"No, wait!" She tried to call after her but Y/n stepped out into the dimly lit street, snowflakes began to fall, delicate and silent, blanketing the ground in a soft, white layer.

Jimin watched in anguish as Y/n’s figure slowly disappeared into the darkness, the soft glow of streetlamps illuminating her retreating silhouette. Snow began to accumulate on the ground, each flake a reminder of the fragile state of their friendship. Jimin’s heart raced with regret, the words unspoken hanging heavily in the air between them.

“Y/n, please don’t go!” she shouted, her voice cracking with emotion.

But Y/n didn’t stop; she continued walking, leaving Jimin standing alone in the stillness of the night, surrounded by the falling snow.

"Now, what the fuck, Jimin?" Giselle looked at her disappointed as she started running after Y/n.

It felt weird, weird to feel her heart pounding like that for a nerd.

—

Y/n stepped off the bus as soon as the doors opened, her heart pounding in her chest. She had spent the entire ride next to Giselle, carefully keeping her distance from Jimin, who sat several seats ahead, surrounded by a small group of friends.

The air in the bus had felt thick and suffocating, filled with unspoken words and unresolved tension that pressed down on her.

As Y/n stepped out the bus, the cool evening air hit her, refreshing yet stark against the storm of emotions swirling inside her. She took a deep breath, trying to clear her mind, but all she could think about was the hurt and anger that had driven her away from Jimin.

She wished she could just disappear, to retreat back into the shadows where she felt safe and invisible, like she used to before everything got complicated. The thought of going back to her parents, to the familiarity of home, offered a bittersweet comfort.

She longed for the simplicity of her old life, where there were no confrontations, no emotional turmoil, and certainly no heartache.

Y/n perceived her parents waiting by the car, their expressions a mix of concern and anxiety that tugged at her heart. As she approached, her mother stepped forward, a smile on her face trying to hide her nervousness.

"How was it? Was it great? Have you made new friends?" Her father asked behind her mother.

"Yeah, it was really nice. I made plenty of friends." Y/n nodded, forcing a small smile despite the turmoil inside.

Her parents high fived each other relief rushing over them.

“Let’s get you home! You better tell us everything!” He said, opening the back door of the car and gesturing for her to get in.

As her parents climbed into the front seats, Y/n stared out the window, watching the snowflakes dance against the glass. Each flake seemed to mirror her feelings, delicate yet full of chaos. The streets blurred by in a haze of white, but she couldn’t shake the heaviness in her chest.

She met Jimin eyes who was along Heeseung, she seemed desperate for to talk to her. Y/n only turn her look away as her parents drove away.

—

Y/n had been away for the weekend, visiting relatives, and now that she was back home, a familiar sense of loneliness enveloped her. The quiet house felt oddly empty, the silence only broken by the soft hum of the heater. After the whirlwind of emotions from the party and the fallout with Jimin, she found herself craving a distraction, something to pull her away from the heaviness in her heart.

When Giselle texted her, asking if she wanted to hang out, Y/n jumped at the chance. The prospect of spending time with her friend lifted her spirits, offering a welcome escape from her thoughts. “Of course! I’d love to,” she replied quickly, a sense of anticipation stirring within her.

A little while later, the doorbell rang, and Y/n rushed to answer it.

But instead of seeing Giselle standing by the poarch, she was met by Jimin.

"Oh hell no." Y/' said as she was about to close the door but the blonde girl stopped her.

“I’ve driven around the whole town and got stuck in traffic just for you to hear me out." Jimin breathed out, her voice steady but laced with urgency. "Did you knew your house is at the opposite of my place?"

Y/n felt a mix of surprise and apprehension wash over her. The night air was crisp, and the distant sounds of the bustling town seemed to fade away as she focused on Jimin’s intense expression. The weight of their unresolved conflict hung heavy between them, and Y/n wasn’t sure if she was ready to confront it.

“Please, just give me a chance to explain myself.” Jimin urged, stepping closer, her voice softer now but no less earnest. "Actually, I'm terrible with words and usually they got stuck in my throat. But, you're the best nerd I ever had the chance to meet, you made this week so special and it felt like we were meant to cross paths. But I got scared, I got scared because you're something new, this whole world you have on your own, it's so different than mine."

Y/n took a step back, feeling the turmoil within her bubbling to the surface. She wanted to be angry, to hold onto the hurt, but she also felt a flicker of hope at Jimin’s words.

"And I'm so sorry, for letting you thinking we acted in a act of pure of pity but it wasn't. You're not an act of pity, Y/n." Jimin finally finished, you could see her red cheeks and the way she was moving her hands.

She was nervous, and it was the very first time ever you had seen her in this state.

With the air thick with honesty and vulnerability, Y/n knew they were at a turning point, one that could either mend their friendship or push them further apart. But for the first time in days, she felt the possibility of healing.

“Get in, you’re not even wearing a coat! You’re going to catch a cold." Y/n said, her voice laced with concern as she glanced at Jimin standing outside in the frigid air, shivering slightly.

Jimin hesitated for just a moment, her breath visible in the cold night air, swirling around her like a ghost before she stepped closer. A small, grateful smile broke across her face as she opened the car door and slipped inside, the warmth of the house enveloping her like a comforting embrace.

“Thanks." She murmured, tucking her hands under her thighs to warm them.

—

“Okay, but playing Minecraft at your age is really nerdy of you,” Jimin affirmed, her tone playful as she lay sprawled on Y/n’s bed, propped up on her elbows.

The room was dimly lit, the soft glow of fairy lights creating a cozy atmosphere, and the faint sounds of the game played from Y/n’s laptop resting on her lap.

"But you've been watching me play for an hour now. I think you like nerdy things." Y/n rolled her eyes, a grin tugging at her lips.

"Yeah and that's why I like you, my nerdy bestfriend." Jimin laughed, shaking her head as she watched the other girl's focused expression.

Y/n felt a sting in her heart but she decided to play it cool, still looking at her screen.

“Did I upset you?” Jimin asked, with a soft smile as she watched Y/n’s expression shift.

“No.” Y/n replied, her eyes glistening slightly as she fought to keep her emotions in check.

“Are you sure I didn't upset you by calling you 'my nerdy bestfriend'” Jimin insisted, her tone urgent as she leaned in closer. "Y/n?"

Y/n looked away, staring out the window as the world outside blurred past, lost in thought. Her head filled with a million thoughts.

“You’re not great at hiding your feelings, you know." Jimin remarked with a half-smile, glancing sideways at Y/n.

"What?" Y/n cheeks flushed slightly, and she laughed softly in panick, shaking her head. “What are you talking about?”

Jimin chuckled getting closer to Y/n, her hands touching Y/n cheeks.

“I know you like me.” Jimin teased and Y/n sweared she felt her heart drop in her stomach. "I've tried to talk to you about it, but you're so oblivious it's getting annoying."

"Don't hate me, I swear I don't know how to deal with this kind of things! I didn't meant to feel that way about you, especially since Heeseung and you are getting better–!" She couldn't even finish her rambling, the blonde had already pushed herself onto the younger.

Her lips met Y/n’s, and they felt like sweetsm soft and inviting, like the sugary confections that melted on the tongue. The moment was unexpected yet electrifying, an explosion of warmth that sent a rush of exhilaration through Y/n’s body. It was as if time had slowed, the world around them fading into a distant blur as they surrendered to the sweetness of the kiss.

Y/n was kissing, Yu Jimin. She was kissing someone else girlfriend, but she felt a wave of emotions crashing over her: surprise, joy, and a spark deep within her.

She could taste the remnants of the strawberry lip balm Jimin had worn, a flavor that was both familiar and intoxicating. The kiss lingered, a perfect balance of tenderness and eagerness, as if they were savoring a treasured treat.

"I guess obliviousness goes with the nerd act, doesn't it?" Jimin smiled shyly, a faint blush creeping onto her cheeks.

“Yeah, it does." Y/n agreed, feeling the heat radiate between them. "But what about Heeseung?"

"I broke up with him a while ago, he had clearly a crush on you, just like I have." Jimin laughed again as she caressed Y/n cheek.

A comfortable silence enveloped them, charged with the weight of what had just happened. In that instant, everything felt different—more vibrant, more alive. They both knew this kiss had shifted their friendship into uncharted territory, opening up a world of possibilities neither had dared to imagine before.

“But most importantly, are we okay?” Jimin asked, her eyes searching for Y/n’s, trying to understand what was going on in her head.

“We’re more than okay." Y/n nodded her head multiple times, making Jimin laugh loudly.

As they sat there, the taste of sweetness still lingering between them, Y/n felt a sense of hope and excitement blossom in her chest. They were on the brink of something new, and she was ready to embrace it.

It felt weird being liked by Yu Jimin.

# AN: it's my very first fic so I am sorry if it seems rushed or if it's not as good as it could've been !

[vrstual]

masterlist !

—𖥔 aespa

꩜ .ᐟ yu jimin

- ski trip with you

- unexpecly yours

- the girlfriend contract: one, two

꩜ .ᐟ aeri uchinaga

none yet

꩜ .ᐟ kim winter

none yet

꩜ .ᐟ ning yizhuo

none yet

—𖥔 Katseye

꩜ .ᐟ manon bannerman

none yet

꩜ .ᐟ daniela avanzini

- lost letters

꩜ .ᐟ lara raj

none yet

꩜ .ᐟ jeung yoonchae

none yet

꩜ .ᐟ sophia laforteza

none yet

꩜ .ᐟ megan skiendiel

none yet

— ellie's blog

[vrstual]

who i write for? katseye aespa ive

LANGUAGES ! french ᡣ𐭩 english

ME ! 06, ellie ᡣ𐭩