soft rain

appears once in a while

[wherethefireliliesgrow]

Masterlist

TWICE

mina

Palette (series)

chaeyoung

Handle It

sana

Moonlight Sunrise Part 1 / Part 2 / Part 3 / Part 4

ITZY

ryujin

Feelings

NewJeans

minji

High School Part 1 / Part 2

hanni

Birds of a Feather

haerin

Among the Wildflowers Part 1 / Part 2

IVE

yujin

At My Weakest

AESPA

jimin

Clerestory Rendezvous Part 1 / Part 2

Make You Remember

Already Yours Part 1 / Part 2

minjeong (winter)

• Burning Memories

LE SSERAFIM

yunjin

Love You Twice

Make Me Happy

kazuha

The Moon and the Stars

Feel free to send requests!

The groups I write for are in the comments

[wherethefireliliesgrow]

HI SO IDK IF YOU REMEMBER BUT I SENT YOU A ASK ABT A KARINA FIc? MY ACCOUNT WAS BANNED AND NOW I CANT MESSAGE OR SEE ANYTHING IN MY INVOX😭 so if you remember please tag this user

HIII YESSSS I REMEMBER! Also the request to be added into the taglist, right? Do you mind sending me the story request again? I’m struggling to remember all of the details you wanted to see in the story The message was automatically removed with the ban 🥹

[wherethefireliliesgrow]

just noticed that I’ve reached 500 followers! thank you all for the support 🥹

this blog is almost two years old damnnnn

[wherethefireliliesgrow]

how are you doing author? <33

hello my dear anon❤️❤️ I’m doing great hbu?

finally on holiday now so I can get back to writing. excited to share more stories with you!!

[wherethefireliliesgrow]

First fic of 2025 👀

Happy new year everyone 🤘🏻🥳

I decided to start 2025 with something new - an arranged marriage AU

the overall structure is confirmed, but been having trouble deciding who should be the main interest. (set to be softer or has a gentler side) thought I’d let the girlies decide 🤍

The story should be released before next week!

Who do you want to see?

Yu Jimin (Karina) -AESPA

Kim Min-jeong (Winter) - AESPA

Hwang Yeji - ITZY

Kim Chaewon - LE SSERAFIM

Voting ended onJan 12, 2025

[wherethefireliliesgrow]

annnnddd the winner goes to Yu Jimin!

The first part of the story is out now!

Already Yours (Part 1)

Yoo Jimin (Karina) x Reader GENRE: angst, fluff, arranged marriage TYPE: Two Shot Inspired by: urs-NIKI A/N: i received several arranged

[wherethefireliliesgrow]

Already Yours (Part 1)

Yoo Jimin (Karina) x Reader

GENRE: angst, fluff, arranged marriage

TYPE: Two Shot

Inspired by: urs-NIKI

The heavy doors swung open, slamming against the wall with a resounding crash that echoed through the room. A tall, willowy figure dressed in a professional tan suit strode toward you, the sharp click of her heels punctuating the silence as she crossed the pristine marble floors. Behind her, two broad-shouldered bodyguards trailed in silence, their faces impassive. In contrast, her long black hair flowed behind her, each step full of purpose and anger. Scratch that. Lady Jimin was seething, her usually soft features now hard with barely contained anger.

“What is this, father?” Jimin addressed the old duke beside you, completely ignoring your presence.

Duke Yoo coughed, a nervous, helpless sound that filled the room. Sweat beaded on his forehead as he fidgeted, clearly at a loss for words.

Before he could find his voice, his son stepped forward, his demeanor calm and predatory.

“Pleasant surprise seeing you here, Jimin.” Heesung’s smile was too smooth, his voice disgustingly sweet.

“Not much of a surprise, since this is the signing of my marriage certificate.” Jimin snapped, her eyes burning with a fire so intense it felt like she could burn the entire Y/LN enterprise building to the ground.

Your father, ever the one to involve himself in drama, couldn’t resist. “Ah, Lady Jimin. It's nice to finally meet my my future daughter-in-law.”

He moved toward her, arms wide, offering a false sense of warmth.

“There’s no way I’m getting tangled in your slimy business ventures, Y/LN.” Jimin spat, laced with pure contempt.

The room fell silent, the tension thick enough to cut with a knife. The Duke shot a quick, nervous glance at your father’s impassive expression, sweat dripping down his chin now.

“I’m so sorry, Y/LN-nim.” The Duke hurriedly walked over to your father’s side.

“We didn’t have time to explain the agreement to Jimin. Let us talk to her first.”

“It seems she’s lacking in manners.” your father’s voice dropped several octaves, low and dangerous. “Perhaps we should address this before we finalize anything.”

Jimin’s anger flared, but it was quickly replaced by something darker—fear. As she caught sight of the cruel smile spreading across your father’s face, a cold shiver ran down her spine. The man was notorious for his ruthlessness, a cold, calculating figure who had controlled the country’s economy for decades. His power wasn’t just in his wealth, it was in his ability to make people tremble.

Even her bodyguards hesitated, inching closer to her but unsure whether to act.

That’s when you stepped forward, your silence broken at last.

You moved in front of your father, your hand gripping his arm and pulling him toward the desk. The weight of the room seemed to shift as your presence took control.

“Enough, father.” Your voice was soft, but unwavering, cutting through the tension like a knife. “Let’s just finish this.”

Without another word, you reached for the inkstand, pressing your thumb into the dark ink and leaving a red fingerprint on the flimsy paper.

You lifted your gaze, locking eyes with Jimin, expressionless.

Jimin let out a frustrated sigh, her fingers threading through her hair as she surrendered herself to the inevitable. She walked over and pressed her own delicate fingers to the paper, leaving a red mark beside yours. The blood-red ink seemed to mock her, a symbol of fate she could neither escape nor control.

“Good.” Heesung’s voice sliced through the silence, “Let’s let the lovebirds go and we can start talking business.”

.

.

.

.

The banquet buzzed with noise, of laughter, chatter, and clinking glasses. Friends, business partners, and classmates gathered, their faces painted with polite smiles and hidden agendas. Even the royal family was here to watch you and Jimin repeat the fake vows, marking as the wedding of the year.

The media waited outside, hoping to catch a glimpse of the wedding, to catch a glimpse of you and Jimin. After all, neither of you came from unknown backgrounds. Both of you were heirs to two of the most powerful families in the country. The cameras, the whispers...it was impossible to escape the spotlight, even if the marriage was nothing more than a strategic alliance disguised as a union.

Jimin, the eldest daughter from House Yoo of Luthraine, stood at the center of it all. Her family ruled the country’s banking, their influence far-reaching. The duke, her father, was weak and easily swayed. His wife, however, had made up for it with her sharp mind—until her untimely death left House Yoo in shambles, and its future in the hands of Heesung, her son. A reckless choice that led to disaster. Jimin had stepped up to manage the family’s failing finances as soon as she turned 18. Clever, soft-hearted, and breathtakingly beautiful, Yoo Jimin was someone everyone admired.

Then there was you.

The sole heir to Y/LN Enterprise, the largest multinational conglomerate in investment banking and real estate. You were known for your reserved demeanor, your sharp mind, and your ability to observe everything with calculating precision. Unlike your father, who was feared for his temper and ruthless business tactics, you operated quietly, out of the spotlight. Most people found you distant, cold even, but you never played the villain. You simply didn't care for the politics of the game.

Despite growing up in the same world, you and Jimin had never really connected.

You’d gone to the same prestigious, ridiculously overpriced private schools, but Jimin had always been surrounded by a crowd, adored by everyone. You, however, had preferred to keep to yourself, always in the background, never truly seen, yet always watching.

“What’s the bride doing here drinking alone?” A warm voice interrupted your thoughts, bringing a grin to your face.

“You should be celebrating with your wife for a happy marriage.”

“If that’s what you expect from an arranged marriage,” you laughed, sloshing the champagne in your glass, “then you’ve got it all wrong, Hwang.”

Yeji, your best friend and business partner, flopped down beside you. She smoothed out her lavender dress and white wool jacket with practiced grace. It was strange to see her in a dress, usually preferring professional suits for work.

“You look hot. Very lady-like,” you teased, earning a middle finger from her.

“Shut up, Y/LN.” She sniffed, then waved over a server to order a beer, an odd contrast to how she was dressed. “Besides, you’re the one who chose these stupid lavender dresses for the bridesmaids.”

“Jimin, not me.” You shrugged, your head spinning from the alcohol. “I didn’t attend any of the marriage meetings.”

Your gaze drifted across the room, landing on the raven-haired girl as she danced with her friends, smiling effortlessly, her usual scowl replaced with something more relaxed.

“Seriously?” Yeji’s voice was laced with disappointment.

“I didn’t expect you to let your partner do all the work. What happened to chivalry?”

“Honestly, Jimin looks like she’ll bite my head off every time I try to talk to her. So I thought I’d just let her decide.” You drained your glass, the words slipping out.

“I kind of ruined her chance for love, so the least I can do is let her have this.”

“You didn’t ruin anything.” Yeji’s tone softened. “You were trying to help her. I think you should just give this marriage a chance.”

You shook your head stubbornly, ordering another drink. Yeji’s concerned gaze bore into you, but you ignored it. This was your pity party, and you were the guest of honor.

“I’m planning on keeping my distance,” you said, wobbling off the stool and grabbing your fresh glass.

“And finding a way to get her out of this mess.”

Yeji rushed to steady you, wrapping her arms around you in a warm embrace. Her heart ached for you, but this was beyond anyone’s control.

“Just try, Y/N,” she said gently, before muttering, “Jesus, you’re drunk.”

She managed to straighten you up, her hands resting on your shoulders as she faced you.

“Besides, didn’t you have a crush on her in high school?” Yeji added, her voice thoughtful as she stood before you.

“Shut up, Yeji,” you hissed, suddenly sober, your eyes flicking to something—or rather, someone—behind her.

“I mean, you liked her for, like, three years? Four?” Yeji rambled on, oblivious to the fear flashing in your eyes.

“Yeji. Yeji. Yeji.”

“What?” Yeji followed your gaze, then stumbled back in shock.

Jimin stood with another girl, her face twisted in something you couldn’t quite comprehend, while the girl beside her shot Yeji a playful grin.

“Ah… Lady Jimin,” Yeji quickly bowed, her face burning with embarrassment. “It’s nice to finally meet you. I’m Yeji. Hwang Yeji.”

Jimin gave a curt nod, waving her off dismissively. “Just Jimin is fine. This is Ryujin, from the House of Shin.”

Jimin’s voice softened as she turned to you. “Y/N? Can I talk to you?”

You barely had time to compose yourself before you answered, “Yes.”

Without another word, Jimin walked off, expecting you to follow.

As you passed, you heard Ryujin's voice, teasing, “So… beer for the pretty lady? That’s special. I like special.”

The back door of the banquet hall creaked open as Jimin led you down a deserted hallway, pulling you into an empty room. You glanced over her, taking in the sight of her ivory lace wedding gown—still pristine, despite everything.

Yoo Jimin was undeniably beautiful, with soft brown eyes full of emotion, a delicate nose, and full pink lips. A cute mole on the corner of her mouth that would lift whenever she smiled. But ever since that fateful event two months ago, her face was set in a permanent frown, her brows furrowed in frustration. You wanted to reach out, smooth away the crease between them, but you stopped yourself.

“You’re drunk.” Jimin said, her voice a little softer as she surveyed your ruffled state.

“A bit.” you admitted, running a hand down your dress to smooth the creases.

She sighed, her expression softening. Then, she moved closer, adjusting the straps of your dress. The touch of her fingers against your skin sent a jolt of electricity through you. Your heart hammered in your chest.

You froze, then pulled away, putting more distance between you. Hurt flickered in her eyes, but she quickly masked it with annoyance.

“What did you want to talk about, Jimin?” you asked, trying to sound composed.

Jimin’s frown deepened as she met your gaze.

“I wanted to clarify a few things.” she said, her voice more subdued than before.

“I’ve been thinking about this marriage.”

You remained silent, waiting for her to continue.

“I never wanted this,” she continued, her words slow and deliberate. “I never wanted to marry you. I had no choice. I loathe your family—I know what your father’s been doing all these years—but my hands are tied. I just wanted you to know that before you get any wrong ideas.”

Her words hit harder than you expected, each one a jagged knife twisting in your chest. You knew how she felt, but that didn’t make it any easier to hear.

You forced a calm expression, masking the ache inside. “If I had a choice, I wouldn’t choose this either,” you said, your voice cool.

“Don’t worry, I’ll find a way to end this marriage soon.”

Jimin nodded, her expression softening for a second. “Good. Now let’s play the part of a happy newlywed.”

She grabbed your arm, pulling you back toward the banquet hall, both of you walking side by side, smiles on your faces. Neither one of them reached your eyes.

.

.

.

.

Living with you was unexpectedly easy.

You were quiet, meticulous to the point of being a neat freak, and even more of a workaholic than she was, rarely coming home before midnight. In the three months since your marriage, you hadn’t spent much time together. Yet, Jimin found herself looking forward to mornings. Brief moments where you prepared breakfast for both of you and shared a table. Most of the conversation came from her, while you listened quietly. You made it clear her words mattered, even if you rarely offered anything in return.

But she couldn’t shake the sense that she was speaking into a void. You were polite and attentive, yet you remained distant, never letting her glimpse beyond the surface.

She often snuck in a few glances at you while you drove her to work, admiring your side profile. She liked the sharpness of your cat-like eyes, always attentive to what she was saying, and the slight curve of your full lips whenever she said something funny. You were beautiful in an understated way, the kind of beauty that lingered in her mind.

Maybe marriage with you wasn’t as bad as she’d expected. But that didn’t stop her from craving something more.

.

.

.

.

Work had been unusually slow lately. Ever since her marriage to you, the problems plaguing the bank branches under House Yoo of Luthraine had mysteriously disappeared. Gone were the endless debt, trade misconduct, and countless scandals she’d spent months trying to resolve. Her brother was off doing God knows what, leaving her to manage everything else on her own. She could only hope he wasn’t causing more trouble...the kind that had landed her in this marriage in the first place.

Sighing, Jimin took off her thin-framed silver glasses and rubbed her eyes, signaling the rest of the board that the morning meeting was over. The meeting room gradually emptied, leaving the young royalty in solitude, save for Ryujin, casually leaning in the leather chair next to her with a sly grin.

“Yoo Jimin, tired of work? I can’t believe it.” The young duchess teased, “Did you and Y/N stay up too late doing the dirty?”

Jimin choked on her coffee, nearly spilling the dark liquid on her crisp blouse.

“What? No,” she sputtered, her face reddening at the thought. “I’ve just been having trouble sleeping.”

Ryujin raised a brow, clearly unconvinced. “Still hate her?”

“I don’t hate her,” Jimin muttered, her voice quieter now. “I never hated her. Just her family.”

“Well, you’re stuck with her now. Might as well make it work. Maybe you should try acutally talking to her.”

“We do talk,” Jimin countered defensively. “It’s just... one-sided. I’m the one doing all the sharing. She never talks about herself. It’s like trying to have a conversation with an AI.”

Ryujin held back a laugh, “well to be fair, you do talk a lot, Jimin.”

Jimin shot her a sharp glare. “I do not.”

Ryujin’s grin only widened. “Sure. And she’s always working late because she just loves the office, right? Has nothing to do with cleaning up your brother’s mess?”

“What mess?”

“Wait, she didn’t tell you?” Ryujin frowned. “Yeji mentioned they’ve been working overtime to cover up some of the debt Heesung left from one of your family branches. That was part of the marriage deal.”

Jimin slumped back in her seat, stunned. She knew her brother had contributed to the downfall of her family-led banks, but he’d kept the full scope of it hidden. She had assumed the marriage proposal was purely for your family’s access to her network and land holdings, not their debt.

You were the reason why her family debts were gone.

Ryujin’s eyes sparkled with mischief. “C’mon, let’s visit Y/LN Enterprise after work. I’ll drive.”

Jimin frowned, confused. “Why?”

“The way to the heart is through the stomach,” Ryujin said with a grin. “And I also want to see my girl.”

“Your girl?”

“Well, not yet. But I’m getting there,” Ryujin laughed, her confidence unwavering.

.

.

.

.

“What kind of food does she like?” Ryujin asked, backing her car out of the parking lot.

“I have no idea,” Jimin admitted reluctantly.

“Seriously?” Ryujin shot her an exasperated look, sighing in defeat. “Let me ask Yeji.”

This marriage was proving to be a tough case to crack.

Twenty minutes later, Jimin found herself standing in front of your office door, a box of jjajangmyeon in her hands. Ryujin had dropped her off with a giggle before driving away, Yeji seated beside her, cheeks dusted pink.

Jimin’s heart twisted with a pang of envy as she watched her friend. She wanted that kind of love, as much as she hated admitting it to herself.

Before she could muster the courage to knock, the door swung open, and you nearly bumped into her, face-first.

“What the f—” You stopped mid-sentence, eyes widening in surprise. “Jimin?”

“Hi.” Her voice was timid, suddenly laced with awkwardness.

“Is everything okay?” you asked, your concern obvious in your tone. “Did something happen?”

“No!” She cleared her throat hastily, then raised the box in her hands.

“I brought you dinner. Thought you might be hungry.”

“Oh, I—” Her gesture caught you off guard, your carefully constructed walls crumbling. You were already finding it hard to maintain your distance, and now this small act of care threatened to shatter your resolve completely.

“Thank you,” you said, regaining some composure. “Please, come in.”

You stepped aside, and she walked in, her gaze sweeping across the room.

Jimin took her time studying your office while you dug into the noodles, only now realizing just how hungry you were.

She paused at a photo on your desk, one of you and Yeji at senior prom. In it, Yeji was having the time of her life, while you looked like a drenched cat reluctantly dancing with your friend.

“You look so miserable,” Jimin giggled, her voice teasing as she turned to you.

Your mouth was full of noodles, and you hastily swallowed in an attempt to respond.

“Dancing isn’t exactly my forte,” you admitted, your tone calm, though the tips of your ears betrayed your embarrassment. “But you’re good at that, right? I remember you won prom queen that year.”

Her heart fluttered at your words. So you had been paying attention, even back then—even when Yeji had mentioned you had a crush on someone else in high school.

As she continued her inspection of your office, Jimin noted how bare it was. Aside from the photo with Yeji and a few scattered pens on your desk, there wasn’t much personality in the room. She made a mental note to change that.

When you finally finished eating, an awkward silence settled between the two of you.

“Thank you for the food,” you said again, your voice soft. “It was really good.”

Jimin hummed in acknowledgment, her honey-brown eyes piercing into yours. The intensity of her gaze made you fidget slightly, but you held it nonetheless.

“I know about the debt,” she said finally.

Your eyes widened briefly, but you masked your reaction quickly, choosing your words carefully.

“Sorry for not telling you,” you said, your tone steady, though your fingers twitched nervously against the desk. "I didn't know how."

She shook her head and reached over, her warm, soft hands covering yours. The simple touch sent your heart racing.

“Thank you,” she whispered, her voice gentle. Her lips curved into a smile, one that you weren’t used to seeing on her usually stoic face.

Your cheeks flushed scarlet, and you cleared your throat in embarrassment. “It’s nothing.”

At your feigned nonchalance, Jimin couldn’t resist teasing you. Maybe you weren’t as robotic as she’d initially thought.

With a mischievous grin, she intertwined her fingers with yours, her thumb drawing slow circles on your palm.

“Can you drive me home?” she asked innocently. “Ryujin drove me here.”

You quickly composed yourself, pulling your hand away and shaking your head as if to dispel the spell she had cast. Something about Yoo Jimin made resisting her nearly impossible, and maintaining your distance was proving to be an uphill battle.

“I can, but I have one more meeting tonight. Can you wait?”

She nodded, her soft smile making it hard to focus.

Just then, the speaker on your desk crackled to life.

“Ms. Y/LN, Ms. Kim is here.”

You pressed the button to respond. “Let her up.”

“There’s a meeting room next to my office,” you told Jimin. “You can wait for me there.”

She nodded again, her smile lingering as she moved toward the door. You couldn’t help but mirror the expression, the corners of your mouth lifting involuntarily.

“I’ll see you in a bit. Good luck with your meeting,” she said warmly, opening the door.

What she didn’t expect, however, was to come face-to-face with one of her flings from the past: Kim Minjeong of Legacy Capital Enterprise.

Jimin froze in the doorway, her breath hitching as recognition struck. Minjeong’s sharp gaze softened, her lips curling into a slow, confident smirk that Jimin had once thought charming but now found unbearably loaded with unspoken memories.

“Jimin.” Minjeong drawled, her voice dripping with smug familiarity. “It’s been a while.”

“Minjeong.” Jimin replied stiffly, her voice strained. Her fingers gripped the doorframe tightly, grounding herself as the weight of the past surged back, enveloping her in the awkwardness of their shared history.

Minjeong’s eyes flicked to the now-empty box of jjajangmyeon in Jimin’s hands, then trailed back up, her smirk deepening. “Didn’t expect to see you here. Late-night visits? How... intimate.”

Jimin’s heart skipped a beat. The insinuation in Minjeong’s tone made her skin crawl, her shoulders stiffening.

“I could say the same about you,” she retorted, her voice sharp but betraying a hint of nervousness.

Minjeong opened her mouth to reply, but before she could, you appeared behind Jimin, your steady presence immediately commanding the room.

“Ms. Kim,” you greeted coolly, your professional demeanor slipping into place. “Shall we?”

Minjeong’s gaze flicked to you briefly, her expression unreadable, before sliding back to Jimin. The smirk didn’t falter, but her eyes sparkled with something almost predatory.

 “Of course.” she said smoothly, stepping into the office.

Jimin stepped aside hastily, her shoulders tight, feeling the weight of Minjeong’s gaze lingering on her as she passed. She silently prayed that Minjeong wouldn’t say anything more, wouldn’t twist the knife any further.

“I’ll see you after the meeting,” you said softly to Jimin, your voice warm despite the neutral expression on your face.

Jimin gave a quick nod, her stomach twisting as you closed the door behind you, sealing her alone with her thoughts.

Inside your office, Minjeong wasted no time in testing your patience.

“You have a lovely wife.” Minjeong remarked, leaning back in her chair as if she owned the room. “You must be very... proud.”

Your eyes narrowed slightly, though your tone remained calm. “Jimin’s her own person. I don’t take pride in people like they’re possessions.”

Minjeong’s smirk didn’t waver. “Interesting choice of words.”

The meeting dragged on, but your focus remained sharp, despite the growing frustration bubbling beneath the surface. You didn’t have the luxury of cutting ties with Minjeong, not when your efforts to rebuild Jimin’s family’s branches relied on securing this partnership.

But with Minjeong’s intentions becoming increasingly transparent. She found opportunities to steer the conversation back to Jimin, her admiration thinly veiled beneath casual comments.

“She’s matured a lot.” Minjeong said at one point, her voice almost wistful. “There’s something about her...strong, yet so beautifully delicate.”

Your jaw tightened, but you forced yourself to respond evenly. “She’s always been remarkable.”

Minjeong’s smirk widened, as if she took your words as a challenge.

When the meeting ended, you walked Minjeong out, your tone polite but measured.

“Thank you for your time, Ms. Kim.”

She gave you a sly smile before glancing once more at the closed door to the meeting room where Jimin was waiting.

“I’ll be seeing you both soon, I’m sure.”

Her words hung in the air like a warning before she turned on her heel and left.

.

.

.

.

You found Jimin in the meeting room, perched on the couch with her phone in hand. She glanced up as you entered, her expression betraying unease, embarrassment, and something else, something she couldn’t quite mask.

“Is she gone?” she asked, her tone wavering, as if she was hiding something.

“She is,” you replied, sitting down across from her. “Who is she?”

Jimin hesitated, her fingers toying with the hem of her sleeve. “Someone I used to... see.” she admitted reluctantly.

Your brow raised slightly. “See, as in date?”

The young royalty nodded, her gaze dropping to her lap. “If you can call it that. It wasn’t serious, and it didn’t end well.”

You hummed thoughtfully, leaning back in your seat. “Well, for what it’s worth, she made it pretty clear she’s still interested in you.”

Jimin’s head shot up, her eyes wide. “She—what?”

You chuckled dryly, trying to cover your jealousy.

“She practically spent the whole meeting weaving you into the conversation. Subtlety isn’t her strong suit.”

Jimin groaned, covering her face with her hands. “I can’t believe her.”

A silence settled between you before you spoke again, your tone softer this time. “You know, about the whole marriage thing...”

Jimin lowered her hands slowly, looking at you with a mixture of curiosity and apprehension.

“It’s just for appearances,” you said, your voice calm but firm. “If you want to see someone else—Minjeong or anyone else—I’m not going to stop you.”

Her lips parted in surprise, and you continued.

“This arrangement isn’t about controlling you or your choices. You’re free to live your life however you want.”

Jimin stared at you for a moment, her honey-brown eyes searching yours. Then, a small smile tugged at the corners of her lips.

“Thank you,” she murmured, her voice tinged with something you couldn’t quite place

She hesitated before adding, “The same goes for you, you know. You didn’t exactly choose this either.”

Your chest tightened, but you quickly masked it with a nonchalant shrug. “Something like that,” you said, lying through your teeth.

You stood, offering her a hand. “Ready to head home?”

Jimin slipped her hand into yours, and as you led her out of the office, the warmth of her touch lingered far longer than it should have.

.

.

.

.

Your relationship with Jimin had changed in ways that felt both comforting and unsettling. The walls between you gradually fell, replaced by the kind of easy flow you hadn’t expected. She’d drop by your office for coffee, and linger during breaks, and suddenly it wasn’t just about the arranged situation anymore. It was about two people learning to be around each other, to talk, to laugh, to share moments that made you forget about the circumstances.

She’d visit you at work often, showing up unannounced just to grab coffee or chat. At first, it seemed like a random visit, but the more it happened, the more it became clear that she enjoyed spending time with you. You’d even look forward to her visits, finding comfort in the quiet moments you shared away from the chaos of your daily lives.

Social events became less of a hassle, too. Instead of sitting off to the side or making small talk with people you didn’t care about, Jimin would be there, and the two of you would engage in casual conversations, the kind that made you forget about everything else happening around you.

You were friends, you thought. Genuine friends.

But even in those easy moments, there were signs, small, subtle things that made you pause. You noticed Jimin staring at her phone more often, her thumb flicking over the screen in a way that was hard to miss.

You had a good idea of who it was. Minjeong. It wasn’t like you hadn’t expected this. After all, you’d given Jimin the freedom to see other people. You had told her—no, insisted—that this arrangement wasn’t about control, that she could live her life however she saw fit.

And yet, watching her respond to Minjeong’s texts, the way her face lit up when she’d see a new message, it grated on you in ways you didn’t want to admit.

You weren’t supposed to care.

But you did.

.

.

.

.

On your birthday, you could feel the familiar mix of emotions swirling inside you as Jimin walked into the office, dressed in a beautiful flowy dress that hugged her curves in all the right places. The soft fabric of the dress seemed to move with her effortlessly, its delicate hue catching the light in a way that made her seem almost ethereal. The way it draped around her waist and flared out just enough to hint at her figure was both graceful and captivating. Her hair, styled in loose waves, framed her face perfectly, soft strands falling gently over her shoulders and glowing under the office lights.

She had this quiet elegance about her, something so effortlessly beautiful that it made your heart ache just by looking at her.

Her eyes, always warm, had this soft, shimmering glow when they met yours, like everything around her faded a little, just so she stood out more. You couldn’t really explain it, but in that moment, it felt like she was the only thing in focus. She wasn’t trying to look perfect—she never had to—but the way she moved, how that dress just clung to her in the right places, it made your head spin.

You couldn’t take your eyes off her. It wasn’t like you wanted to stare, but she made it impossible to do anything else. She wasn’t trying, yet there she was, making everything else blur and all you could think about was how damn beautiful she was.

And in that moment, you thought she came to surprise you for your birthday.

But how silly it was to think that when you never told her your birthday.

Your eyes caught hers, but her smile was different. It was more forced, as though she was conflicted. You couldn’t quite put your finger on it, but it felt like she was already pulling away.

You tried to brush it off, but the question tumbled out before you could stop it.

“You look beautfiul,” you said, your voice casual but your stomach knotting with a strange feeling.

“Going somewhere?”

Jimin hesitated for a split second, a flicker of something passing across her face before she answered. “Yeah, I’m meeting Minjeong for dinner.”

The words hit you like a cold splash of water. You had known it was coming. You had prepared yourself for it. But hearing it out loud, so casually, felt different.

“Oh, Minjeong...” you said, trying hard to keep on the mask of calmness that seemed to be slipping the longer you were married to Jimin.

“Have fun.” You couldn’t keep the edge out of your tone, even though you tried to mask it with a smile. “I’ll be out drinking with Yeji later. Should be good.”

Jimin nodded, a slight unease in her expression, but she didn’t press the issue. She just smiled, a little too tightly, and turned to leave.

“I’ll see you later,” she said softly. “I just wanted to check on you first.”

As she walked away, the weight of your own words hit you like a slap. You had told her she could see whoever she wanted. You had given her the space to do so. Yet, the jealousy that twisted in your chest, like you were the one breaking the rules you had set.

Maybe you didn’t have the right to feel this way. Maybe you didn’t even have the right to feel hurt. You had told Jimin she was free to make her own choices, to be with whomever she wanted. And yet, the jealousy remained, simmering under the surface. You wanted to ignore it, to push it away, but it lingered, sharp and insistent.

You had given her the freedom to choose. But you had never thought about how hard it would be to watch her choose someone else.

.

.

.

.

It was well past midnight, and you were still at the pub with Yeji, both of you tipsy and getting progressively more sloppy. The karaoke was horrendous, your voices completely out of tune, but neither of you seemed to care. Shots kept coming, and you were taking them like it was a contest, each one making your thoughts blur a little more.

“I don’t get why you don’t just tell her you like her,” Yeji slurred, her voice thick with alcohol as she tried to keep herself upright.

“Tell her you like her, and you wouldn’t be here like this.”

You hiccupped, eyes half-lidded, and tried to focus on her. “You—” you muttered, “you know it’s not that simple.”

“How is it not?” Yeji pointed a finger at you, wobbly, but firm in her opinion.

“You’re married to her. Married. What’s the problem?”

You took another drink, feeling the burn in your throat, and shrugged. “I promised her… promised I’d work on getting a divorce. Promised her on our wedding day.”

Yeji made a face, clearly too drunk to hide her disbelief. “That’s fucking stupid,” she mumbled, staring at you like you were an idiot. “Your father would kill you.”

You sighed, glancing away, the alcohol making it easier to pretend it didn’t bother you. “Yeah, I know. But I’m worried about what happens to her after the divorce.”

“Is that why you’ve been making me do all this overtime with you?” Yeji waved her hand dismissively, clearly trying to piece things together. “Doing global stocks and all that shit?”

“I just want her to be okay,” you muttered, the words slurring slightly. “I want her to have someone who can protect her. Make sure her family ties stay strong.”

“And that person is Minjeong?” Yeji gasped, eyes widening with realization. You didn’t even look up, staring into your glass as you mumbled a response.

“She could be,” you said, taking another shot.

Yeji shook her head, still processing everything through her alcohol fog.

“Have you even asked Jimin if she still wants the damn divorce?”

You shook your head, a little too slowly. “No. She doesn’t know what happens if it does either.”

Yeji slapped you on the head, the impact startling you more than it should’ve.

“Ow,” you groaned, rubbing your forehead and glaring at her.

“You’re so fucking stupid,” Yeji muttered, slurring even more now. “Just tell her you like her and don’t get divorced.”

You sighed heavily, shaking your head. “I told you. She doesn’t like me like that.”

Giving up, Yeji signaled for another tray of shots, her face set in determination.

“Fine, fine. You’ll get it someday, I guess.”

You downed the next shot, feeling the warmth spread through you, and tried to shake off the uncomfortable tension. At this point, the only thing you could focus on was the next drink, the blur of the night, and the gnawing feeling in your chest that no amount of alcohol would fix.

.

.

.

.

Jimin was worried.

You hadn’t picked up your phone ever since she left your office that night, and it was nearly four in the morning. The unease in her chest only deepened as the minutes passed without a word from you.

Her date with Minjeong had ended up being a disaster. The evening had been an attempt to forget you, a futile one at that. Minjeong had asked Jimin out, and despite her hesitation, Jimin agreed, thinking it might help push her feelings for you out of her mind. But it didn’t work.

Every moment of the date was filled with thoughts of you, how you looked when she mentioned Minjeong’s name, that small flicker of hurt Jimin had seen in your eyes, and how much she wished you had been the one to ask her out instead.

Jimin had gone to dinner with Minjeong in a forlorn attempt to move past her emotions, but all it did was make her feel further from you. As the night went on, she couldn't shake the feeling of regret. She realized, with each passing second, that she didn’t want to be with Minjeong.

She wanted you.

She wanted you to be the one asking her out, to be the one sharing the moment with her. Instead, there she was, pretending to enjoy a night she didn’t want, with someone she didn’t feel for.

And then there was your birthday.

Jimin hadn’t even realized it until she saw Ryujin’s message. Your birthday. How could she have not known? She had been so wrapped up in her own conflicted feelings, and now she had missed it. She hadn’t even called you to wish you well. Instead, she had gone on a date with Minjeong, leaving you alone when you should have been her priority. The guilt gnawed at her. She should have been celebrating with you, but instead, she abandoned you for an old fling.

Jimin couldn’t stop thinking about how she must have hurt you, how selfish she had been.

Finally, the sound of the door opening broke her thoughts. One of your drivers had you slung over his back, and Ryujin was close behind, carrying Yeji in her arms.

You groaned as the driver gently set you down on the couch, before grimly walking out of the door.

Ryujin’s eyes met Jimin’s, and she simply shook her head in disappointment before carrying her half-asleep girlfriend away.

The young royalty stood there for a moment, feeling lost. You lay on the couch, flat on your back, murmuring incoherently, your arms covering your face. She couldn't stand seeing you like this—vulnerable and clearly intoxicated. It made her feel even worse for not being there for you earlier.

Jimin walked to your room and picked out your night clothes, the weight of her guilt growing heavier with each step. As she returned to you, she could feel her heart pounding in her chest, her emotions tangled. She knew she should have been there with you. She should have been the one to care for you on your birthday, not someone else. She couldn’t keep running from how she felt about you anymore.

She gently walked over to you and sat down next to you, her hands shaking as she reached for your arm. She didn’t know what to say or how even to start, but she had to do something.

“Y/N?” she gently shook your arm. “Let’s get you changed.”

When she reached over to remove your blazer, your eyes immediately flew open. The intensity of your gaze caught her off guard, and she froze for a moment, her breath catching.

Your hazy brown eyes met hers, and you frowned, your voice slow and slurred.

“You are a very pretty lady, but I am married.”You tried to pull your blazer closer to your chest. “My wife is very beautiful, and she won’t like it if you touch me.”

Jimin’s heart fluttered despite herself.

She couldn’t help but smile at how cute you were, drunk and a little delirious. Despite the alcohol, there was a vulnerability to you, a sincerity that made her chest tighten. You were a different version of yourself, and she couldn’t help but feel drawn to this side of you.

Exasperated but finding you incredibly endearing, Jimin giggled softly, her worries momentarily fading.

“I am your wife, pabo,” she said with a teasing smile, her fingers brushing your cheek as she gently cupped your face.

“Really?” Your eyes widened, your voice full of wonder.

“Yes,” she said, finally managing to remove your blazer and start pulling off your dress shirt.

You whistled, “Damn I got lucky.”

Jimin rolled her eyes, her face flushing pink as she avoided looking at your body, quickly pulling the nightshirt over your frame. It wasn’t easy, seeing you like this, vulnerable, messy, and it felt like everything that was left unsaid between you both was now laid bare in the silence.

After a while of wheedling and convincing, she managed to drag you into her bathroom. She gently lowered you onto the edge of the tub, sitting down behind you as she reached for the makeup remover.

You were a mess, leaning heavily into her as she wiped your face, the gentle motion soothing in the quiet. As she cleaned your face, her thoughts turned inward again, the guilt over the earlier part of the night resurfacing. She needed to say something, but she didn’t know how to start. She wanted to take it all back, to be honest with you about how she felt, about how much she wished you’d been the one there with her instead of Minjeong.

“I’m sorry,” Jimin whispered, her voice barely audible.

“Mhmm.” You slurred, still dazed, her mind a bit foggy. “For what?”

“For going on the date with Minjeong… and for not spending your birthday with you,” Jimin admitted, her words tinged with regret.

“S'not your fault.” Your voice was slow but comforting, the warmth in her tone meant to ease the guilt. “It’s okay.”

“But I hurt you,” Jimin pressed, her eyes searching for any sign of forgiveness.

“Maybe, but I had a crush on you since high school, so you get a free card.” your voice wavered with a small giggle, still distant, as though you words were floating in and out of consciousness.

What?

Jimin’s heart skipped a beat, a warmth spreading through her chest as the truth washed over her. The crush Yeji had mentioned on their wedding night...was Jimin all along?

Her heart fluttered at the thought, and in an unexpected twist, a wave of embarrassment rolled over her. She realized, with a soft flush, that she was jealous of the past version of herself.

She finished drying your face with a clean towel, but her mind was elsewhere. She needed to tell you. She couldn’t keep holding it back, even if she was scared, even if everything felt so uncertain.

“During the date, I kept thinking how much I wished it was you who asked me to go on a date,” she admitted, her words barely above a whisper.

You paused, looking at her with slow, heavy eyes, as if processing her words.

Jimin’s heart thudded in her chest as she waited for a response.

Was she too late? Had she ruined everything?

But then you looked at her, your eyes suddenly sharp and focused, and her heart stuttered in her chest.

“Do you still want a divorce?” you asked, your voice soft but carrying an emotion she couldn’t place.

Jimin hesitated.

Her emotions were swirling, you were the one she wanted, and had always wanted. But the doubt lingered, and she needed to hear you say it, needed to know if there was something real between you both.

“I…” She shook her head slowly, her voice almost trembling. “I don’t think so.”

Your face broke into a grin, that rare, beautiful smile that Jimin had longed to see, and her heart melted in response.

“Then would you like to go on a date with me tomorrow, Lady Jimin?”

She laughed, the nervous tension breaking. “Will you still remember this tomorrow?”

You quickly nodded, your voice steady, “Yes.”

“Then yes,” she replied, her heart soaring. “I would love to go on a date with you.”

You punched the air in excitement, nearly toppling over. Jimin couldn't help but laugh at your dorkiness. She had liked this side of you, so carefree, so you.

She couldn’t hide her adoration for you any longer. She leaned closer and whispered, “Close your eyes.”

You did without hesitation, trusting her with a vulnerability that mirrored her own.

And before you could even process it, her soft, full lips were pressed against yours. The kiss was gentle, lingering just a little longer than you expected. The touch of her lips, soft and sweet, sent a shiver down your spine, your heart pounding as the world around you seemed to stop.

It was more than just a kiss. It was everything that had been left unsaid, everything you both had been too scared to express. And as Jimin pulled back, your eyes still closed, a smile spread across your face.

It has always been her.

lots of angst in the next chapter! giving you guys a warning here first 😬 be prepared

[wherethefireliliesgrow]

First fic of 2025 👀

Happy new year everyone 🤘🏻🥳

I decided to start 2025 with something new - an arranged marriage AU

the overall structure is confirmed, but been having trouble deciding who should be the main interest. (set to be softer or has a gentler side) thought I’d let the girlies decide 🤍

The story should be released before next week!

Who do you want to see?

Yu Jimin (Karina) -AESPA

Kim Min-jeong (Winter) - AESPA

Hwang Yeji - ITZY

Kim Chaewon - LE SSERAFIM

Voting ended onJan 12, 2025

[wherethefireliliesgrow]

I love 'make you remember' oml. Jimin is so cute 😭😭😭 My ass would've immediately folded after the macaroons

Live. Laugh. Loser Jimin.

I’m glad you enjoyed the story 🥺🤍🤍

Same, or even just by her sitting there in front of me. Honestly I’m such a sucker for loser Jimin 😮‍💨

[wherethefireliliesgrow]

Make You Remember

Yoo Jimin (Karina) x Reader

GENRE: angst, fluff

TYPE: One Shot

Inspired by: Make You Remember - Lazy Weekends

A/N: i’ve been in a writing slump this year, but every now and then, i’d come here to read. recently, a few pieces caught my attention and reignited my urge to write. so, here we are! while revisiting my 2018 spotify playlists for a dose of nostalgia, i stumbled upon one of my favorite songs from back then—it felt like the perfect way to ease back into writing. (a little shoutout to @2cool-2die, her stories were what got me back into writing). anyway, hope you all enjoy the story!

“Stop staring at her like a creep,” Minjeong whispered, her large eyes narrowing in a protective glare.

Jimin couldn’t help herself. She had been watching you for the past hour—watching the way you threw your head back in laughter at something your friends said or carefully picked the tomatoes off your sandwich to hand them off to someone else. Her fists clenched at the sight.

You used to pluck off tomatoes and feed them to her, letting her play your knight in shining armor against your sworn enemy: tomatoes. It should’ve been her.

Oh, how she missed that smile you used to reserve just for her.

“Dude, I’m serious,” Minjeong hissed again, this time throwing a balled-up tissue at Jimin’s face. “This is getting out of hand.”

Jimin grunted in annoyance, lazily stretching her long arms overhead before sprawling out on the metal bench. Her head landed on Aeri’s lap as if she didn’t have a care in the world.

“I can’t help it. I miss her,” she admitted quietly, closing her eyes as Aeri absentmindedly began combing through her soft raven-black hair with her fingers.

“Well, you should’ve done better,” NingNing said flatly, taking a deep drag from her Juul. “She really loved you, you know.”

The girls expected Jimin to snap back, as she always did. Instead, they watched her deflate entirely, burrowing her face into Aeri’s stomach for solace.

“I know.”

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Jimin had always been sure of herself. She was proud of her decisions, every one of them. After all, she had transferred from one of the top universities in the UK to pursue her passion for dance in Korea—a choice that went against her parents’ wishes. They had warned her about the instability of a dance career, but she’d proved them wrong.

She had met Minjeong, Aeri, and NingNing shortly after her return, and together, they formed a dance group. Now in her third year of university, Jimin was part of AESPA, a group that had skyrocketed to fame after winning first place in a national competition.

With a growing fanbase, a promising future, and an upcoming performance in front of the president at the annual ceremony, Jimin had every reason to be proud of her choices.

Every reason—except for letting you go.

She had met you during her first year back in Korea. You were the university’s student ambassador, tasked with introducing new students to campus life. Since she was the only mid-semester transfer at the time, Jimin had the luck of spending the entire day with you, just the two of you.

You captivated her immediately. Your soft, angelic voice, dry sense of humor, and those big brown eyes that lit up with excitement over the smallest things…like the library. Jimin had thought you were the lamest, cutest little thing she’d ever met. And from that moment, she was hooked.

Jimin made it her mission to sweep you off your feet. Surprised but not surprised, you had plenty of admirers. You were popular, down-to-earth, and undeniably beautiful, the kind of person who effortlessly drew others in. That only made Jimin's task harder, pushing her to work tirelessly to win your heart.

To everyone else, you were the classy student ambassador, smart, athletic, and poised. But Jimin knew the truth: beneath all that polish, you were a total nerd. 

So, she went out of her way to prove how much she cared. She’d pick you up from class with your favorite snacks, even when her schedule was packed.

She once secretly drove across state lines to attend an anime expo, just to get you those rare Pokémon cards you’d been obsessing over…though she swore she lost at least a million cool points doing it. But every second was worth it when she saw your face light up. Jimin even sat through every Avengers movie, biting back sarcastic remarks just to see you smile. 

Before long, you were hers and she was yours. You found yourself snuggled into her arms during late-night movie marathons, or cheering from backstage as she started entering dance competitions.

You were her there to support when she doubted herself after losing a dance battle, always ready with a hug and soft kisses. You were AESPA's unofficial fifth member, helping them set up for street performances and cheering louder than anyone else when they won.

And when AESPA skyrocketed to fame, you stood faithfully by her side, despite the growing distance you felt creeping in. 

But fame did something to Jimin. Slowly, the girl who once drove hours for Pokémon cards began to lose sight of the things that mattered. You were the first to notice the changes. Jimin started craving the spotlight more than anything else, and you quietly faded into the shadows.

You stopped bringing up your hobbies after a fan on her livestream mocked you for being childish. You stopped asking her for late-night drives when her excuses became more frequent. And you stopped waiting for her to notice how tired you looked, how empty you felt. 

She didn’t notice when you began packing up your prized Pokémon collection, throwing it all away as if erasing a piece of yourself. She didn’t notice when you started leaving events early, hiding the hurt behind a polite smile. Jimin was so caught up in her world of adoration, flashing lights, and applause that she failed to see you slipping through her fingers. 

She didn’t notice until it was far too late. By the time she turned around, desperate to hold onto what was left, you were already gone. She had lost you. And in losing you, she lost the part of herself that had once felt complete.

.

.

.

.

“C’mon, Jimin. Get out of your head.” Jimin slapped her forehead in frustration as she stumbled through the routine once again.

The sound of sneakers squeaking on the polished floor was followed by a collective groan from the rest of the girls, who collapsed onto the studio floor in exhaustion. AESPA was under pressure. They were supposed to perfect a dance routine for a massive ad collaboration, a career-defining moment. But with finals looming and the team juggling school and practice, their patience was wearing thin. 

“I’m really sorry, guys,” Jimin said quietly, glancing at her exhausted teammates sprawled on the floor.

Aeri’s pink hair stuck to her damp face, and Minjeong lay flat on her back, staring blankly at the ceiling like she’d lost her will to live. 

“It’s been three months, Jimin.” NingNing sighed, rubbing her temples. “When are you going to get over her? This isn’t like you.” 

“I’m trying,” Jimin muttered, her gaze locked on her scuffed sneakers, her throat tight with unshed tears. “But at the same time…I don’t want to.” 

“Well, what do you want, then?” Aeri asked, sitting up with a tired glare.

She was drained. She was tired of practice, of exams, and most of all, of watching her leader spiral into a deep abyss of self-hatred and regret in front of her. 

Jimin hesitated, her dark brows knitting together as if weighing the weight of her answer.

“I want her back,” she finally admitted. “I want Y/N back.” 

“Absolutely not,” Minjeong snapped, suddenly sitting up and joining the conversation. Her arms crossed, and her expression was livid. “You broke her, Jimin. You fucking broke her heart.” 

Jimin lowered her head, guilt weighing heavy on her shoulders, but her she had already made this decision days ago. After finding one of your old LEGO pieces buried under her bed, a reminder of simpler, happier times, she had cradled it in her hands and cried like a baby.

That night, she spiraled into a social media stalking session, scrolling through your photos, searching for any trace of the love she had destroyed. That was when she decided she’d do whatever it took to make things right. 

“I’ll treat her right this time,” Jimin whispered, her voice trembling.

“I’ll do anything to make her happy.” 

Minjeong stood abruptly, storming over to Jimin, her smaller frame radiating fiery anger. Despite the height difference, Jimin instinctively cowered under Minjeong’s glare. 

“Do you know how many times she came to me crying in the middle of the night because you couldn’t even show up for a date? How insecure you made her feel? How your stupid fangirls tore her apart?” Minjeong jabbed a finger into Jimin’s chest with every accusation.

“She’s my best friend, Jimin. I won’t let you hurt her again. She gave you everything. She gave you so many chances, and you let her down every single time.” 

The room crackled with tension as Jimin’s lips parted to respond, but no words came out. Sensing a fight about to break out, NingNing and Aeri hurriedly stepped between the two girls. 

“Hey, now’s not the time to fight,” NingNing said gently, wrapping her arms around Minjeong’s shoulders to pull her back. “We all care about Y/N, okay? Let’s take a second.” 

“Please,” Jimin pleaded, her voice barely above a whisper. Tears rimmed her eyes, but there was an earnestness in her tone that softened her hardened edges.

“Just give me a chance. I swear I’ll never hurt her again.” 

“No. No fucking way,” Minjeong snapped, her voice firm. 

“How about we let Y/N decide herself?” Aeri suggested cautiously, flinching slightly under Minjeong’s searing glare.

“Jimin can talk to her. If she says no…then that’s it. Jimin walks away and never bothers her again.” 

The blonde hesitated. She knew how deeply you had loved Jimin and how much it had cost you when things fell apart. Letting Jimin reach out could undo all the progress you’d made. But at the same time…if she stopped this, would you resent her for it? 

With a heavy sigh, Minjeong finally relented. “Fine. Just one sentence. If she reacts badly to whatever you say, you stay the hell away from her. For good.” 

Jimin’s lips curved into a genuine smile for the first time in months, a smile full of hope, the kind that crinkled the corners of her eyes.

“One sentence is more than enough to make her remember.”

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.

.

.

They say the easiest way to someone's heart is through their stomach, so Jimin threw herself into her first mission with relentless determination. The five-hour drive to Busan and back didn’t faze her—this was for you. She needed to remind you of the small things, the little joys you used to share.

The memory of your trips together flooded her mind: your hand in hers, your voice belting off tune to whichever K-pop song was stuck in your head, and your infectious laughter filling the car. She prayed to the gods to hear that laugh again. 

By the time she returned to Seoul, the darkness of the night had already cloaked the streets. Armed with the pink box of macarons from your hometown bakery, Jimin’s heart raced with anticipation and dread. Aeri had passed along a tip (reluctantly overheard from Minjeong, who would never willingly disclose your whereabouts to Jimin) that you were working a shift at the local bistro. 

When Jimin walked into the cozy bistro, the soft chime of the bell drew attention from other patrons. Murmurs rippled through the room as people recognized her, AESPA’s leader, a rising star. But Jimin’s focus was on you. Only you. 

You stood behind the counter, your hair tied up in a messy bun, concentrated on preparing a tray of drinks. You weren’t as put-together as you are in school, with your crisp white shirt bearing faint creases, but to Jimin, you were as breathtaking as ever. 

She made her way to the counter, sitting directly in front of you. She waited, patient and quiet, as you prepared another Long Island, your tongue sticking out in concentration. 

“Hi, sorry for the wait. What can I—” You froze mid-sentence as your eyes met hers.

Recognition flickered across your face, followed by a flash of pain. Your expression changed into something cold, guarded. 

“No.” Your tone was flat, final. “Please leave.” 

Jimin didn’t flinch. Her gaze softened, a melancholic smile tugging at her lips. She didn’t respond, she couldn’t. Not yet, she only had one chance. All she knew was that seeing you here within an arms length, was enough to momentarily soothe the ache in her chest. 

As much as you tried to suppress it, your heart betrayed you, fluttering at the sight of her. Jimin looked effortlessly stunning, her leather jacket rolled up to reveal familiar tattoos snaking down her forearm. She was exactly how you remembered and yet entirely different. 

She stared at you for another moment, her silence unnerving. Her eyes brimmed with emotions you couldn’t understand. Finally, Jimin rose to her feet, placed the pink box on the counter, and lightly squeezed your arm before turning to leave. 

You stared at the box, stunned, your mind reeling. It was from your favorite bakery in Busan, the one she had driven hours to visit countless times when you were together. Your chest tightened as you realized the lengths she must’ve gone to for this gesture. 

But you couldn’t let yourself fall for her again. Not this time. 

“I’ll be right back!” you yelled to your coworker, grabbing the box as you stormed out of the bistro.

The cold November air bit at your skin as you scanned the street for her. 

You found her leaning against a lamppost, a cigarette dangling from her lips. The sight stopped you in your tracks. When had she started smoking again? Fury flared in your chest. You strode toward her, plucking the cigarette from her fingers and tossing it to the ground. 

“What the hell, Jimin?” you snapped, glaring at her. “I thought you quit.” 

She continued to stay silent, her dark eyes fixed on you as if trying to engrave your face in her memories.

Your anger wavered. You shouldn’t care. You couldn’t care. Not after everything. Shoving the pink box back into her hands, you hissed, “Don’t ever come to this bistro again.” 

The words tasted bitter, and regret coiled in your stomach the moment they left your lips. But you couldn’t take them back. Not now. 

Jimin nodded wordlessly, her lips curling into a soft, bittersweet smile—one that inexplicably cut deeper than any argument could. With that, she turned and walked away, disappearing into the cold night. 

.

.

.

.

It seemed after that night, Jimin had made it her mission to claw her way back into your life, whether you wanted her to or not. She didn’t speak, didn’t push, but her presence was always there, an unspoken reminder of everything you’d once shared.

You could feel her eyes on you during lunch, lingering from across the cafeteria as if she thought she could will you to look back. Even on your way to work, you swore you’d catch her silhouette in the distance, leaning against a lamppost or sitting on a nearby bench, always careful not to cross any boundaries but still there.

The weekends were no escape either. When AESPA was invited to perform at the school fair you unfortunately was in charge of organizing, it felt like fate, or perhaps Jimin, was mocking you. She stood front and center, capturing attention with her effortless charm, but every so often her eyes would search for yours in the crowd, a desperate glance that left you feeling raw and exposed.

What annoyed you most, though, was her silence. She never spoke to you, never tried to bridge the impossible gap between you. And yet, as much as it infuriated you, you hated to admit how much you missed her voice.

The way it would rasp slightly in the mornings when she whispered sweet nothings into your ear, or the confident drawl she carried when talking to others.

This Jimin, silent and unsure, almost timid, felt like a stranger. It was disarming, and you weren’t sure if you hated her for it or if it broke your heart just a little more.

As much as you tried to build walls around yourself, Jimin had a way of chipping at them, bit by bit, with gestures that felt achingly familiar.

One evening when you finally left the library, you found a gift on the hood of your car, neatly wrapped in brown paper and tied with twine, was a book you had mentioned loving once, years ago before you got together with her, a rare edition of poetry that you never got the chance to buy.

Tucked inside was a small card with her unmistakable handwriting:

For when you need an escape.– J

Your heart twisted painfully, remembering how she used to surprise you with little things like this, whether it was a book, a drink she knew you loved, or a random trinket that reminded her of you.

Another day, on your way home from a long shift, you found her waiting by the campus fountain. She didn’t approach, didn’t say anything, just held out a single stem of a sunflower, your favorite flower, the kind she used to bring to your dorm every time you aced an exam.

You wanted to yell at her, to demand why she was doing this now, but instead, you took the flower silently, clutching it tightly all the way home.

The memories came rushing back. The way she used to sit with you for hours in the library, pretending to study but really just stealing glances at you over the top of her books. How she’d wake up early to walk you to class, even if it meant cutting her own sleep short. The nights she stayed up late with you on the phone, talking about nothing and everything until you both fell asleep to the sound of each other's breathing.

Jimin knew exactly how to unravel you, and she was relentless in her quiet persistence.

Another day, after a particularly stressful day, you find yourself staring at a box left outside your apartment. Inside was a Slowpoke doll (you used to call her your SlowPoke because she was always running late and had a knack for falling asleep in random places) and a note: 

I know how these made you feel like you weren’t good enough, but these are the things I love about you. All your interests, your little habits…don’t stop.

You shoved the box under your bed in a haze of shame and anger. You’d given up your obsession with Pokémon long ago, sacrificing that part of yourself just to appease her fans and their cruel remarks. But as the days stretched on, your resolve wavered. You caught yourself glancing at the box more often than you cared to admit, the memories flooding into your mind. 

Eventually, you couldn’t help yourself. With a reluctant sigh, you pulled the Slowpoke doll from the box and placed it on your bed. That night, you held it close as you drifted off to sleep, comforted by a piece of the past you thought you’d lost. 

Each gesture tugged at the guarded heart. You hated her for how easily she slipped back into your life, even as you found yourself clutching the flower she’d given you, rereading her notes late into the night, and biting your lip to suppress the warmth spreading in your chest.

You hated her, and yet, you couldn’t deny your feelings for her. You never could.

.

.

.

.

You wrapped your scarf tightly around your neck, shielding yourself from the brisk evening wind as you waited for Minjeong outside the movie theater.

The newest Marvel movie had finally been released, and although you’d downplayed your excitement, your heart raced. Your lame obsession with Avengers had always been a sore spot, especially since Jimin’s fangirls used it to mock you mercilessly.

Over time, you tried to bury that part of yourself, to hide how much you still adored superheroes. It was easier than facing the ridicule—or the memories tied to it. 

When Minjeong, your best friend since elementary school, asked if you wanted to see the movie, you hesitated at first. But her easy acceptance of your quirks had always been earnest, so you agreed.

The sound of tires crunching gravel pulled you from your thoughts, and you looked up to see a sleek black Mercedes pulling into the parking lot. Minjeong stepped out, her face drawn in a disgruntled scowl. She spotted you and quickly brightened, crossing the space in a few brisk strides before pulling you into a warm hug. 

“Hey, Y/N-nie. Have you been waiting long?” she asked, her voice light, though her body was stiff against yours. 

You shook your head, but something about her demeanor made you pause. Your gaze drifted back to the car, the sleek black exterior gleaming under the parking lot lights. A pit formed in your stomach as realization hit. 

“Was that… Jimin?” you asked cautiously. 

Minjeong froze. Her jaw tightened, her grip on your arms faltering slightly before she let out a resigned sigh. She avoided your eyes as she nodded.

“Yeah,” she admitted reluctantly. 

“She’s the one who asked me to bring you here,” Minjeong added after a pause. Her tone was careful, measured, as though she were treading on thin ice. “She even bought the tickets beforehand.” 

You blinked at her, stunned. 

“I didn’t want to do it,” Minjeong continued quickly, frustration in her voice. “I told her this was a bad idea, but…” She trailed off, biting her lip as her gaze dropped to the ground.

“She was persistent.” 

Your heart did a strange flip at that. You could almost picture Jimin sitting across from Minjeong, stubborn as ever, insisting that she take you to the movie. She must have known showing up herself would only push you away, so she found a way to make sure you’d still see it. It was so… Jimin. Thoughtful in a way that made your chest ache. 

“She’s been doing things like this for weeks,” Minjeong muttered, almost to herself. “Little things. She thinks they’ll fix everything.” Her round eyes flickered with an anger she didn’t bother to hide.

“I told her to leave you alone. I told her you didn’t need her messing things up again.” 

“She hasn’t been bothering me,” you said softly, reaching out to squeeze Minjeong’s hand in reassurance when her voice grew sharp.

“I promise, Jeongnie. She hasn’t done anything. Don’t worry.” 

Minjeong’s shoulders sagged slightly, but her lips pressed into a tight line. “Has she talked to you yet?” 

You shook your head. “No. Weirdly, she hasn’t said a word. Just… left some gifts every now and then.” 

At that, Minjeong’s eyes widened, and she groaned, slapping her forehead.

“I’m so stupid,” she muttered, half to herself. 

“What?” you asked, confused by her sudden exasperation. 

She shook her head quickly, waving the question away. “Nothing. Come on, let’s go inside. The movie’s about to start.” 

As she guided you toward the theater, her arm looped protectively through yours. Though Minjeong was close friends with the leader, it was clear she didn’t like Jimin trying to worm her way back into your life.

You could see it in the tightness of her jaw, the subtle furrow in her brow. She didn’t trust Jimin. Not her promises, not her intentions, and certainly not her ability to heal the wounds she’d caused. After all, it had been Minjeong who had patiently helped you piece yourself back together, bit by bit.

And yet, the fact that she’d brought you here today, using Jimin’s tickets, betrayed the tiny sliver of hope she held for her.

.

.

.

.

This was the fifth time that day Jimin walked past the bistro, casually peering through the windows with her hands stuffed in her leather jacket pockets before walking away.

You watched her each time, fidgeting, kicking the ground with her boots, looking like she wanted to step inside but was holding back. It was endearing, not that you’d admit it. But every time, she chose to walk away, opting to follow your words from before instead.

It had begun to snow, and you couldn’t stop yourself from worrying.

“Stupid oaf,” you muttered, before slipping outside to call out Jimin’s name.

She was already on her sixth round of circling the bistro, her slender figure blending into the gray snowfall.

“Yoo Jimin!” You called, your breath forming a cloud in the cold air.

The raven-haired girl stopped in her tracks, her shoulders stiffening before she slowly turned around to look at you. A nervous grin tugged at her lips, and your heart fluttered involuntarily.

“Just…just come in.” You sighed, avoiding her gaze.

Jimin’s face lit up, her eyes sparkling with glee like a little kid as she quickly made her way over.

You led her through the busy bistro, past the tables full of customers, to the counter, exactly where she had sat the first time she came. You couldn’t help but feel self-conscious at the way she was staring at you, her face resting in her palms, eyes wide and starry.

Sighing, you pushed the menu to her. “What do you want to order?”

Jimin merely looked at you, a silly smile gracing her lips. Your eyes flickered to it, momentarily lost in the soft curve of her mouth and her luscious lips, before quickly looking away.

“Fine.” You mumbled, quickly pouring her a cup of warm coffee.

Fortunately, you were distracted by the steady stream of orders. It was a Saturday night, after all, and that meant people were coming in for drinks. You were busy making drinks, serving them, but with Jimin there, it felt different, lighter, happier.

That was when Joon, a usual customer and a tall, blurry figure, stumbled over to the counter, clearly drunk. You tensed instantly. Joon was always handsy when he drank, more often than not, and you always tried to stay out of his way.

“Y/NNNNN,” he slurred, leaning way too close for comfort, his breath heavy on the counter.

Jimin’s eyes narrowed, and you saw the muscles in her jaw clench.

“I missed you,” Joon continued, leaning forward, his gaze lingering in a way that made your stomach churn.

“How about we go on a date? My place is just around the corner.”

“I’m not interested, Joon.” You pushed back, trying to create some space. “Please, leave me alone.”

Joon’s expression twisted into something more sinister, his hand suddenly reaching over the counter to grab your arm, his fingers digging into your skin. You winced at the pressure, red marks forming on your arm as he held you tight.

That’s when Jimin had had enough. She stood up, towering over him, her height equal to his, but with a quiet strength that commanded attention.

“Get. Your. Hands. Off. Her.” Her voice was cold, and before you could react, she pushed Joon off, sending him stumbling backward into the wall.

Joon recovered quickly and swung at Jimin, narrowly missing her face by a hair. You stepped forward, panic flooding your chest, quickly pulling Jimin away from him.

“Let it go, Jimin,” you urged, your voice shaky as you tugged her close to you. “Please, stop.”

Jimin hesitated, her eyes softening as she looked at you. She reached down and gently cradled the arm that Joon had grabbed, her cold fingers brushing over the tender skin, sending a shiver up your spine.

“I’m okay,” you said, trying to reassure her.

She looked like she was about to say something when a yell from your coworkers snapped your attention back to the scene. You turned just in time to see Joon charging forward, having managed to break free from the grip of your coworkers. His fist collided with Jimin’s temple with a sickening crunch, and she crumpled to the floor.

You screamed, panic rising as onlookers rushed to contain Joon. Jimin lay motionless, and you immediately knelt by her side, heart racing.

“Jimin?” You screamed, rushing to her side. The blood had already begun to trickle down her temple, and a bruise was swelling rapidly.

You knelt beside her, panic clawing at your chest. “Jimin? Baby? Please, wake up.”

You cupped her pale face in your trembling hands, her skin cool against your palms. She was so still, and it terrified you.

After a few moments of desperate attempts to rouse her, her eyelids finally fluttered open, and you let out a shaky breath of relief.

“Oh thank god,” you sighed out in relief, your chest tightening as her eyelids slowly fluttered open.

“Jimin? Can you hear me?”

Her cheeks were squished as your hands cupped her face. You might have found it cute if you weren’t so worried. Her dazed expression and the way her chubby cheeks puffed out only made your heart ache more.

“Am I dreaming?” she asked, a dopey smile still lingering on her lips.

You leaned back, running a hand through your hair in relief and exasperation.

“No, Jimin,” you said, your voice barely above a whisper. “You just got punched. This is very real.”

Her grin faltered in realization. Her eyes widened in horror as she scrambled to sit up.

“Fuck, fuck, fuck,” she muttered, groaning in embarrassment, her hands shooting up to touch her tender forehead.

“Please forget I said anything. Please.”

She couldn’t believe that she wasted her only chance, her only sentence, just to ask her if you were real.

You reached out, gently stopping her from touching her injury. “Don’t touch. You’re bleeding.”

Your manager let you leave early after apologizing repeatedly to Jimin. After all, one of the biggest rising stars had just been injured in his bistro.

Jimin smiled good-naturedly and shrugged off his apologies, clearly not phased. She had refused to go to the hospital for a check-up, and unable to stop yourself, you found yourself driving her back to your apartment.

You promised yourself this was a one-time thing, that you were just being a caring, responsible friend. Anyone would’ve done the same for her, right?

As you led her into your room, she glanced around, the familiar space tugging at something in her heart. Her eyes landed on her sweatshirt that she had lost so long ago, still draped casually over the chair.

She noticed the absence of the photos on your vanity mirror, ones that once captured all the memories of the two of you. But, then, her gaze softened as it settled on the SlowPoke doll still sitting on your bed. Her heart skipped a beat. You had kept it.

You still cared, even if you seemed so distant, so far away.

Maybe, just maybe, you hadn't forgotten her love.

You paused in your tracks as you saw Jimin poking at the SlowPoke on your bed. You turned a brilliant shade of pink, flustered, before quickly ushering her to sit down so you could tend to her wound.

"Don't move," you muttered, your voice softer than you intended as you reached up gingerly to disinfect the cut on her temple.

She winced and hissed in pain but didn’t pull away, remaining still, her dark eyes never leaving your face. The closeness of your bodies was unnerving, her skin so warm under your touch, and that tight white shirt she wore, showing off her tattoos, only added to the flurry of thoughts rushing through your head.

Why did she have to be so damn beautiful?

Jimin, on the other hand, couldn’t take her eyes off you. The softness in your eyes and the gentleness of your touch, was making her heart race. She wasn’t sure if she'd ever have this chance again.

"Why are you doing this, Jimin?" you asked, your voice coming out a little more strained than you'd planned, your hands trembling as you applied a thin layer of medicine.

Jimin’s brows furrowed in confusion. "Doing what?"

"All this," you said, motioning between the two of you. "Not talking to me, but following me around... giving me gifts..."

Jimin paused, taking a deep breath, before saying, “I wanted to make you remember.”

“Remember what?” you asked, your voice barely above a whisper as you finished applying the medicine.

She let out a small breath, trying to steady herself. "Remember us."

She looked down at her hands, then back up at you, her voice growing quieter, more vulnerable. "And... make you remember my love for you."

You froze, your hands retreating from her face as your heart pounded in your chest. You searched her eyes, so open, so full of regret and hope.

And in that moment, you knew you still loved her too.

"Jimin..." You tried to form words, but your throat was tight, the emotions threatening to spill over. “I-“

Before you could finish, Jimin quickly knelt beside the bed, gently cradling your hand in hers and placing it in your lap.

“Please, give me another chance, Y/N,” she begged, the tears she had been holding back finally breaking free.

"These past few months without you have been... miserable. I know I hurt you. I know I lost myself, but I promise, I won’t let this happen again. I love everything about you, your softness, your quirky obsessions... everything. I’m sorry I didn’t reassure you when you were doubting yourself, or protect you from the hate.”

She took a shaky breath, and in a voice barely above a whisper, she said, “I don’t think I could ever love anyone as much as I love you.”

Your heart clenched, the weight of her words crashing over you. The pain you had felt for so long, the loneliness that had settled deep in your soul, began to break. You missed her, but you're scared, so scared. Scared of trusting her again, scared of the hurt she could cause, scared of how much power she held over you.

“You hurt me, Jimin. So much,” you said softly, unable to keep the pain from your voice. “I don’t know if I can trust you.”

Jimin nodded, her face softening with understanding, though the sadness in her eyes remained. But she wasn’t giving up.

“I know,” she said, her voice steady. “But I will spend the rest of my life earning back your trust.”

And in that moment, with everything on the line, you finally gave in.

“Okay.”

“Okay?” Her eyes widened, and that smile, so hopeful, so full of warmth, spread across her angelic face.

“Yes, Jimin. One chance.” You whispered, your heartbeat thudding loudly in your ears.

“Yes!” Jimin punched the air lamely, her eyes sparkling as she grabbed your hand, pulling you up effortlessly.

Before you could even react, she spun you around in a twirl, making you let out a small scream in surprise. The sudden rush of laughter filled the room as you both stumbled and collapsed onto the bed, her arms immediately wrapping around you.

.

.

.

.

The soft thud of Jimin’s heartbeat was lulling you to sleep, a comforting rhythm that calmed your racing thoughts. You gently traced the ink on her forearms, each line and curve filled with her memories. Her steady breathing was a lullaby, peaceful and steady, as you cuddled up to her.

After tending to her injury, you had given her a change of clothes, and let her stay the night. She refused to let go of you, her arms wrapped tightly around you, her lips pressing soft, affectionate kisses to your forehead. It was a strange feeling, like nothing could go wrong in that moment.

For the first time in months, your heart felt whole again, free of the old pain that had lingered too long.

But then, a thought crept into your mind. Gently, you pulled away slightly, your eyes meeting the beautiful dancer’s.

She whined, unhappy at the space between you. You laughed softly, seeing the playful pout on her lips. Outside, she was fierce, confident, and intimidating even, but here, in front of you, she was just a clingy baby.

“I wanted to ask,” you began, brushing a lock of hair behind your ear, “Why did you want me to forget about what you said at the bistro? When you told me to forget it?”

A faint pink blush spread across her cheeks, and she shifted uncomfortably, not meeting your eyes.

"It was because..." she trailed off, her voice hesitant, and you gently cupped her chin, forcing  her gaze to meet yours.

“Because of what?”

"Because Minjeong said I could only talk to you once. One sentence. If you reacted badly, I would have to leave your life for good," Jimin admitted, looking away in embarrassment.

"I couldn’t believe I wasted that one sentence on asking if you were real. I was scared Minjeong would beat me up if you got mad."

You stared at her in disbelief. "That was why you refused to speak to me?"

Jimin nodded, her lips twisting into a sheepish smile.

"You’re so fucking stupid, Jimin," you muttered under your breath, shaking your head, though a fond smile tugged at your lips.

"Thank god you’re good at dancing, or else I’d be worried about your future."

"Hey!" she whined, pushing you playfully. "I’m not stupid! It’s just... Minjeong is scary when she’s mad."

Unable to hold back your endearment for this stupid lovable girl, you finally leaned down to press your lips to hers.

Jimin froze, marveling at the feel of your soft lips against hers. She had been dreaming about this moment for so long, and she quickly kissed you back with just as much enthusiasm. The kiss was soft at first, tentative before it deepened following the quickening of your heart beats.

When the air between you became a problem, you both pulled away, gasping for breath, but neither of you made a move to break the closeness. Your foreheads rested together, and for a moment, you just smiled into the space between your lips.

“What did you plan to say then?” You whispered, still breathless from the kiss, “The sentence.”

“Oh, I was going to say: Look at this cool tattoo I got.” She said mischievously, before sitting up and pulling off her shirt, leaving herself in nothing but a bra top.

You blushed immediately, eyes instinctively flicking to the defined muscles of her abs as she twisted to show you the back of her shoulders. For a moment, you couldn’t help but be distracted by the way her muscles flexed before your gaze landed on a small patch of ink on the corner of her right shoulder.

“You got a tattoo of a Charmander?” you sputtered, almost disbelieving.

“Yeah, it’s cute, right?” Jimin grinned, proud of herself.

“It reminded me of you. You have the same eyes as Charmander. And also, it’s your favorite Pokémon, so it’s a win-win.”

“Jimin, my favorite Pokémon is Chikorita…” you sighed, shaking your head in exasperation.

“Chikorita.” She repeated, her lips pursing in thought. “Not Charmander?”

“Not Charmander.”

She thought for a second, then shrugged with a grin. “At least it looks like you.”

Unable to contain yourself any longer, you grabbed the collar of her top and pulled her into another kiss, one that made her remember that you were definitely hers.

got a bit carried away so some scenes kinda dragged out 😬

but hope you all enjoyed this loserish version of jimin!

[2cool-2die]

babe, WAIT, I have an idea floating around in my mind, KAJSKAJA. imagine an au where the Yu twins (Yu Karina and Yu Jimin) exist in which Y/N ​​has to marry Jimin but she doesn't want to get married bc she has a partner, Jimin thinks of a plan to avoid marrying Y/N, and what better way than to convince Karina that she should be the one to marry Y/N. could it be gip? but without smut? or w smut, whatever JAHSKAK

𝐒𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐒𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫

Karina x Fem!Reader

Word Count: ~5K

Synopsis: Yu Karina, the youngest twin of the Yu family, enjoys the freedom that comes with being less burdened by responsibility. Known for her party-loving ways and womanizer reputation, she’s content living her own life. But when her father forces her sister, Jimin, to go on a date with Y/N, the heir of another Chaebol family, Jimin asks Karina to step in—since she already has a girlfriend, Kim Minjeong.

Will Karina go along with Jimin’s plan, or will she refuse to get caught up in this family drama?

Tags: chaebol, bratty!Karina, twins, lying

Notes: Hey, gorgeous, thank you so much for the request! I genuinely hope you like the story. Couldn't really add the gip aspect to it since I saw no window for it...but maybe in part 2? :)

✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　

The Chaebol culture in South Korea was one of the most toxic, unfair, and disgraceful things in the world.

There were a handful of families that owned the biggest conglomerates in the country.

They were the top of the top. Rich enough to not even be called rich.

Samsung, Hyundai, SK Groups, and the list went on.

The most recent company to have joined that group was Yu Industries—known for their fast-growing upscale hotel line and cork production. The Yu Hotels were famous for being reserved all year-round. Their prestige attracted the richest people in the country, so much so that wedding reservations had to be made years in advance.

The Yu's were relatively new to wealth.

Mister Guyn was the founder of their company, who invested a lot in the prestigious aspect of the hotels. And his son, Mister Jyung, was the current CEO, who promoted the hotel line better than anyone else. He was a smart, ruthless man.

He was also an asshole of a father.

"I don't care what you think, you're marrying that girl."

Karina looked up from her plate, munching on her salmon as her eyes fell on her twin sister, Jimin.

She could see the irritation quickly taking over. Jimin was quite responsible and put together. She was the better out of the two of them, but she was never the most patient when it came to her girlfriend, Minjeong.

Jimin clenched her jaw and looked away from their father, who sat at the head of the long, marble table.

"I have a—"

She was cut off by their mother. "Sweetie, just try to go on a date with her first. What's so hard about that?"

Jimin clenched her jaw and sighed deeply. She didn't get to reply before her father spoke up again.

"Difficult? Difficult?! She's going on a date with what will soon be the richest person in this country. The only thing difficult about this is her stupidity!"

Karina bit the insides of her cheeks to not giggle.

Her dad was a dick. A controlling, arrogant dick.

As much as she loved to rile him up and get a rise out of him, her older twin didn't, so she decided to stay quiet for the time being and finish her meal.

"Jyung..." Their mother tried to chastise softly, but he wasn't having it.

"Jyung, nothing!! This is Samsung we are talking about! We are living in the Republic of Samsung, and this is not a joking matter! I don't care if you have that useless girlfriend of yours, Jimin, you're marrying the heir!"

Karina bit her tongue and watched her sister's shoulders tensed up as the anger took over.

Her older twin was always the one to be the good girl, the proper one, the one who always got the brunt of their father's arrogance.

On the other hand, Karina got the free pass to live her life as she pleased. She went out with whoever she wanted, whenever she wanted.

She was the younger one.

She didn't have a conglomerate to inherit.

Their father always had a stick up his ass for some reason, but not with her.

Just like their mother despised Karina but loved Jimin.

Favoritism at its best.

"You don't get to talk about Minjeong like that!" Jimin quickly defended. Her pride was definitely hurt—this was her first time openly challenging her father. "She's the best student in her degree and she's making a name for herself!"

"Yeah, what major? Fucking arts?"

"It's called Oriental Painting!"

"Oh—give me a fucking break, Jimin!! Are you kidding me?!"

Karina couldn't hold her tongue anymore and burst out laughing.

"Even your sister is making fun of you!" Jyung pointed out.

Her mother's face had turned into a tomato as she glared at her, and Jimin gave her a threatening look, but Karina couldn't care less about it.

She knew her sister loved her girlfriend, but the fact that she'd been so stupid as to introduce her to their parents baffled Karina.

She hadn't said anything though.

"My bad, I'm sorry."

Jyung rolled his eyes and pointed a steak knife at Jimin. "You have a week to make your decision. Her representative wants to arrange a meeting as soon as possible. So do the only thing you're good for and marry her!"

Jimin stayed silent, hands clasped tightly together on her lap as she looked down, clearly pissed.

His timeline was essentially useless.

Jimin had made her decision the second he gave her his ultimatum.

She wasn't going to leave Minjeong, and that was it.

So, it was with a hurry to her steps and a seriousness to her face that she marched into Karina's bedroom that night.

"You're going on that date as me."

Karina, who had been reading a magazine, looked up and raised a brow. "What?"

A soft smirk spread on her lips as she sat up in the bed.

"Why would I do that?"

Jimin squinted her eyes at her twin sister and crossed her arms in front of her chest.

"Because you owe me. You owe me for saving your ass when you were going to fail your economics exam. You owe me for saving your ass when mom almost caught you making out with her assistant. You owe me for saving your ass when you sent your car down the ravine. You owe me—"

Karina held her hands in the air in a defensive way as Jimin rambled. "Hey, hey, hey, chill—what if someone hears you?" She hissed, glancing out the door of her room, which her sister had left open.

"So...?" Jimin raised an eyebrow, leaving Karina no other choice but to sigh.

"Fineee."

Jimin smiled in relief. "Perfect! Just make sure it goes as horribly as possible, and the Lees will never want to see our faces again."

Karina huffed and tossed the magazine on the bed before standing up.

"That's not exactly easy for me to do... How do I not accidentally charm her?"

Karina smiled as she watched her twin sister roll her eyes and turn to leave the room.

"Just be your normal self, and we'll be fine."

Karina clutched at her chest dramatically, despite knowing her sister wasn't looking at her anymore. "Oof! I'M WOUNDED! Soldier down!"

Jimin flipped her off as she left.

So, the date between Karina and Samsung's heir was planned and set.

It was mostly the Lees doing all the work—Karina just had to show up and be pretty. She didn't even have to act like her older sister. It's not like they knew Jimin.

And so, true to her standards, she arrived twenty minutes late to the date. Why? Well, because she had another date right before the Chaebol one, and the girl ended up taking more of her time than planned.

Karina arrived at the fancy restaurant and faced the receptionist. "Hi, I'm meeting up with Miss Lee?"

The old man raised a judging eyebrow at her and looked her up and down. "You're late."

Karina was surprised to say the least.

Why the hell did the waiter care if she was late or not?

Then she remembered who her date was.

Who was she kidding? The Lees probably owned the restaurant and its personnel.

"Gotta keep my date on her toes, you know?" She smiled charmingly.

He grimaced, clearly not believing her, but eventually accepted the excuse.

"She's on the 7th floor in the VIP Room. Take the elevator, and there will be another waiter waiting to give you instructions." The man looked her up and down one last time and turned with a sigh to call for the private elevator.

Karina thanked him and stepped into the elevator when the doors opened.

The elevator was almost silent as it went up.

Karina took the time to look at herself in the mirror.

She was wearing a casual black crop top with a leather jacket, her hair down and messy.

She hadn't bothered dressing very appropriately for the date—she was only there to ruin it, after all.

She only regretted her choice a little when the doors opened and the new waiter also looked her up and down.

"Follow me." He simply instructed coldly.

Karina sighed and shoved her hands in her pockets, following the waiter through the restaurant.

They passed tables and tables, and the atmosphere felt... stiff.

Most attendees were older men and women, and they all stared at Karina like she was an ant.

She bit the inside of her cheeks and tried her best not to feel too judged.

She was rich as well, why the fuck was everyone so judgy?

"Here." The waiter finally arrived at a private room at the end of a long hallway.

The VIP Room was very simple, compared to what Karina expected.

There was a table in the middle, covered by a white tablecloth.

On the wall, a huge glass window gave a perfect view of the entire city.

Karina was about to make a comment when her attention was drawn to the girl who was sitting at the table.

Karina's heart skipped a beat when her eyes fell on the figure, sitting with her eyes down.

This girl was pretty. Very, very pretty.

Maybe Karina shouldn't have arrived late after all.

"Nice to meet you." The girl smiled politely and stood up to shake Karina's hand. "I'm Y/N."

This was the heir to Samsung?

This girl that seemed to be around Karina's age?

Karina's heart skipped a beat again, and she almost missed the extended hand.

She cleared her throat, mentally cursing herself for the way her body was reacting. She was just a girl.

"Pleasure." She grabbed Y/N's hand and gently shook it.

"I'm..." she paused, remembering she wasn't supposed to be herself. "Jimin." 

Y/N nodded, inwardly enjoying 'Jimin's' entire outfit.

She had been on many dates in the past few months. Everyone always dressed to the nines, but 'Jimin' seemed to be more at ease. More confident.

"Jimin..." She repeated, memorizing the name. "Thanks for coming." Truth be told, after 25 minutes of waiting, she began thinking her date wouldn't be showing up.

Karina was surprised to hear politeness in the girl's voice.

Most of the people she socialized with were all spoiled brats.

"Of course." She chuckled anxiously, shoving her hands in her pockets.

Karina mentally cursed herself. Why was she so nervous?

"I'm sorry for being late. I had another date before this one." Karina could swear she saw something in the girl's eyes, but it was gone way too soon.

Y/N chuckled and sat back down, gesturing at the table. "No problem, at least you made it."

She was charming. Despite the nerves, Karina couldn't help but relax in her presence.

The two sat down, and Karina immediately took a look at the menu, a frown appearing on her face.

"Are these our only options?" She muttered out loud, her nose scrunching up.

Y/N frowned, looking down at her own menu. It seemed pretty diverse to her... maybe for 'Jimin' it wasn't?

"Would you like to go somewhere else?"

Karina hummed, looking over the menu once more and sighing.

She leaned her chin on her palm, her eyes landing on her date and staying on her for a long moment.

Y/N was pretty. Pretty eyes, pretty hair, pretty face, soft skin. She was pretty rich too, so being here or at another high-end restaurant wouldn't matter to her. She was used to it all, and Karina had to make her hate this.

A new idea suddenly sparked up in her mind.

"Yes, actually." She shrugged. "If I'm going to have a boring dinner, I'd at least like to pick our spot."

Surprised, Y/N closed her menu and looked at Karina, tilting her head to the side.

"Where would you like to go then?" She inquired curiously, wondering how this date would go if this was how it started.

Karina smirked and rested her hands on her lap, crossing one leg over the other.

"You'll see when we get there."

And that's how they found themselves stepping through the doors of McDonald's.

Y/N smiled somewhat nostalgically and pushed a chair out for 'Jimin' to sit. "Already know what you're gonna order?"

Karina sat down with a slight chuckle, watching Y/N take the seat in front of her.

"I'll have a Big Mac, a McFlurry, and a double cheeseburger." She confirmed, drumming her fingers on the table.

She had hoped to ruin the date at a minimum, but the sight of Y/N being fine with the location was throwing her off.

Y/N nodded and stood up to go order for them. She appreciated the choice to get out of the fancy restaurant and come here. It made things feel less uptight and more personal.

Karina watched her leave for the counter and leaned her chin into her palm, eyeing Y/N's figure.

She looked way too good to be eating at McDonald's. There was no hint of discomfort on her face.

Karina silently cursed.

She needed to up her game.

"Here we go." Y/N came back with two trays of food.

She didn't seem too sturdy on her movements, so Karina reached out to help her, only to find herself with a Happy Meal box in front of her.

Karina stilled for a moment, and the corners of her lips tugged up into a smile as she stared from the girl in front of her to her food choice.

"A Happy Meal? Really?"

Y/N shrugged, not bothered by the comment, and reached for the box. "They come with cool toys."

Karina squinted her eyes in amusement. She wasn't supposed to be enjoying this date. "Cool toys made for kids, you know?"

"Cool toys nonetheless."

Karina chuckled and watched Y/N gently open the box and free the toy from it.

"Does Mr. Samsung know his future heir likes to play with toys?" She raised an eyebrow as she unwrapped her hamburger.

Karina watched as Y/N tensed up. It wasn't very noticeable, but Karina caught the way her shoulders tightened up.

"My father is a very busy man." Y/N smiled, leaving her response at that.

Karina nodded along and chewed on her food.

A thought popped up inside her mind, and she leaned back in her chair, a smirk adorning her face.

"Does he know you're here? On a date with a girl who's barely a Chaebol?"

Y/N looked up from her burger. "Yes, he does. He basically gave me a list of names to choose from, and you were on it, Jimin."

Karina raised an eyebrow. Well, that was unexpected.

"A list for what?"

Y/N looked at her like it was obvious. "For the people I may marry in the future. I've already met a lot of the guys on the list, none of them took me to McDonald's."

Karina bit back a huff, doing her best to control her expressions.

"My father is the same."

Y/N smiled knowingly. "Yeah, I figured you didn't have much of a choice when it came to this date." That's why she was being so nice—she knew 'Jimin' didn't want to be there, so the least she could do was make the entire thing as enjoyable as possible. "I also figured your choices are much more narrow."

Samsung was number 1, so they had all the other conglomerates to choose from.

Yu Industries were smaller Chaebols, so the fact that they had a chance to form this connection with Samsung was surely the most important thing to them. Y/N could only imagine the pressure 'Jimin's' father was putting on her to ensure this date went well.

She appreciated 'Jimin's' willingness to keep being herself. To not suck up to her and make sure everything was perfect.

Karina gulped, taking a step back from the entire conversation.

She was there as Jimin, not as herself, but something about the genuine emotion in Y/N's eyes made her want to open up.

She cleared her throat and looked down at her hamburger. "Yeah, my younger sister, Karina, is much luckier. My father just lets her do whatever she wants, with whoever she wants, whenever she wants. He's always much more focused on me, since I'm the heir."

Y/N hummed, understanding the situation. "I mean, that doesn't really seem like love to me, honestly. My younger siblings are like that as well. They pretend they don't care and that they're happy our parents only focus on me, but I can see that they also suffer. Every kid wants attention from their parents."

Karina halted for a few seconds, her breath caught in her throat as she looked back at the girl in front of her. In just a few seconds, Y/N had managed to dissect and analyze the very core of Karina's life without even knowing it.

"Given the chance, would you have chosen to be in your sibling's place or not?" she asked, her voice more serious than before.

Y/N thought about it for a few seconds. "I guess, yeah. It's a lot of pressure to know that everything will eventually fall on your shoulders. That you need to be strong enough to handle it." She shrugged, nodding at Karina. "You understand, right?"

No. No, Karina really didn't. But she gained a bit more respect for her older sister.

"Yeah," she let out a fake chuckle, remembering what she was supposed to be doing in the first place. "Not really. I think you're weak for feeling that. I expected the heir of Samsung to be more confident."

Karina didn't know why she said that. It just came out, and it was too late to take it back.

Y/N froze for a moment and stared at her.

Karina expected Y/N's eyes to widen or for her to become angry.

She anticipated harsh words or even being reprimanded for saying such a thing.

Instead, Y/N's lips tugged into a small smile. "Your confidence is admirable. I've always wanted to be more self-assured."

Karina felt a pang of guilt when her eyes landed on the smile on Y/N's face.

She was supposed to be making the date horrible for Y/N, supposed to be making Y/N dislike her.

"You..." She stopped, struggling to find the right words.

What was she supposed to say?

"You're very pretty," Karina blurted out, the words falling off her lips before she could even process what she said.

She mentally cursed herself, looking down at her lap to hide the sudden pink shade that dusted her cheeks.

Y/N was surprised to say the least.

She chuckled softly, enjoying 'Jimin' far more than she ever thought she would. The people she went out with were always very proper and boring. 'Jimin' was unique in the best way.

"I appreciate it, though I don't think my looks can be compared to yours."

Karina felt her heart skip a beat again and mentally chided herself.

She had no idea what the hell was going on, why she was suddenly feeling this way.

"That's not true...I-" She struggled to find the right words to say.

Karina was supposed to be making Y/N hate her, supposed to be making her despise being around her, and she was failing miserably.

"Just shut up and eat your stupid Happy Meal," she eventually huffed, stuffing her mouth with her food as Y/N laughed.

Karina went on to do her very worst throughout the rest of the date.

Nothing worked.

If anything, Y/N only seemed to be getting more amused as Karina became more and more charmed.

It was ridiculous. So much so that when the date ended and Karina returned back home, she could barely reply to her twin sister.

"How did it go?" Jimin asked, lying on the couch with Minjeong in her arms.

Karina didn't need to ask if her parents were home. The simple fact that Minjeong was there was answer enough.

"Aced it. She hates you."

Jimin opened her mouth to probe into the date even more, but Karina didn't let her.

"I'm going to bed! You two better not bother me."

Her words were enough to reassure Jimin.

The date was done. The heir didn't like her and would never call her again.

Of course, that's what the older twin originally thought.

A week later, she found out she was wrong.

"Jimin, I'm glad you've come to your senses." Her father's compliment was as unexpected as a meteor flying by right at that moment.

Jimin looked up from her plate of food with a raised eyebrow. "I'm sorry?"

Mister Yu smiled, a sight that was so rare it creeped Jimin and Karina out. "The Samsung heir apparently liked you a lot. She proposed another date between the two of you."

Jimin almost spat out the juice she was drinking, just barely managing to maintain her composure as she turned to glare at Karina.

"She...she did?" She choked out, jaw clenched.

Karina gulped and shrugged. She had done her very best to ruin the date...it's not her fault Y/N liked her. But why did she feel happy about the news?

"Indeed, I'm proud of you."

Jimin almost rolled her eyes.

She had been her high school student of honor. She had graduated from the university her father chose for her, under the degree he chose for her. He never uttered a word about it. The one time she really didn't want to do something was the one time he was proud?

"Of course." She smiled tightly, kicking Karina's leg under the table. It was the only thing she could do to not jump on her twin right then and there.

Karina felt the kick against her leg and did her best to suppress a wince, pretending that nothing was wrong.

She shouldn't be happy...but she was.

Would she ever tell her sister that she had developed a small crush on Samsung's heir? No, no, of course not.

Instead, when Jimin burst into her bedroom ready to kill her, she went with: "It's not my fault!! I told you that it was a possibility she would fall for me!"

Jimin growled, almost punching her twin in the face.

"You had one job!! One single job! Ruin the date!"

Karina shrugged her shoulders, a smug smile on her face. "I did, I was rude, I was sarcastic, I was a complete brat the entire time."

"Then why does she want a second date?! I want to marry Minjeong, not that stupid fucking heir," Jimin complained, falling backward on the bed.

Karina didn't know why, but she felt offended at the way her twin called Y/N.

She cleared her throat and shook her head. "She's actually quite nice..."

"Are you serious?" Jimin raised her head from the bed, a bewildered look on her face. "Did she charm you too? It's her entire plan, you know. She's nice so you start to think she's cute and-"

"She is cute. She looks like a damn model," Karina defended again with a roll of her eyes. "But that doesn't matter. Her charm didn't work. You'll see, I'll completely ruin this next date. She won't call again."

Jimin groaned and covered her face with a pillow, mumbling a few curses.

"You're so damn useless." She huffed before finally removing the pillow.

"Just... just don't ruin it any more than that, will you?" Jimin sat up on the bed and looked at her twin.

"You know I don't play with Minjeong."

"I knowwww, I know. I promise I'll take care of this."

And again...

Karina tried.

She really did.

On the second date, she decided that 25 minutes just wasn't enough anymore. So, she arrived a full hour and a half late.

Y/N didn't show any hint of annoyance. Instead, the sweet smile on her face got wider as she welcomed the late girl.

"There you are. Hi, Jimin."

And Karina almost cursed the Gods. Her sister's name sounded so sweet brushing past those pretty lips. This was unfair. It should be hers.

"I didn't plan on seeing you again." She went straight to the point with a slightly icy tone. Guilt clawed at her chest when she noticed the way Y/N's smile fell ever so slightly.

"I was hoping we could go to Burger King this time."

The joke made Karina's lips lift into an unwanted smile.

God, why was this girl so fucking endearing?

Karina did her best to maintain a serious expression as she shook her head at the mention of another burger place.

"No, no, I was thinking we could try something else."

"What do you have in mind then?" Y/N asked, tilting her head to the side as she fiddled with the ends of her blouse.

Karina's eyes couldn't help but stray to the way the girl's fingers moved against the silk material of the beautiful clothing. It was simple but elegant and probably worth more than a house.

Shaking the distracting thoughts from her mind, she couldn't help but smile at the idea that suddenly crossed her mind.

Karina knew that her family's hotels were completely filled at that time of the year. It was September, wedding season.

And so, the two girls would spend the rest of their afternoon hopping from hotel to hotel, visiting wedding after wedding.

It was the worst date idea Karina could think of, but, surprisingly, even that turned out alright.

From what Karina could remember... they both got drunk, met a Bruno Mars impersonator who insisted on being called by his real name... Johnny; had a small beef with a dude who was hosting a podcast in the corner of the hall; thought they saw Jennie and Lisa from Blackpink; ate some cake, and then found themselves on the dance floor.

"Don't get me wrong, I'm loving the weddings, but I was really craving that Burger King." Y/N leaned in to talk in Karina's ear.

Karina's entire body shivered, feeling Y/N's warm breath dancing across her neck.

"We can do that on our next date." Karina didn't know what she was saying.

Next date?

Jimin would kill her.

But then Y/N smiled softly and nodded, "Give me your phone."

Clarity took over Karina's mind.

This was perfect.

Y/N could just directly call her for their next dates, without having to bring her dad into the mix. Jimin wouldn't know, and Karina could continue seeing Y/N.

Karina's phone never flew out of her pocket so fast.

Fuck it.

She would do whatever she wanted, as always.

They went on that Burger King date the following day.

Karina would never forget the brightness that took over Y/N's eyes when the Whopper appeared in front of her.

"I studied in America last year... my friends and I always went out to eat fast food after our classes," the heir admitted, taking a big bite out of her hamburger.

Oh, so that's why Y/N liked going to McDonald's so much?

Karina smiled amusedly, "What did you study? Business administration?"

Y/N rolled her eyes softly. "Obviously... but I also minored in astronomy. Don't tell my father, please."

Needless to say, Karina was surprised.

Astronomy?

Samsung's heir was interested in astronomy?

They went to Seoul's Cosmos Science Center for their next date.

When Karina cursed out the asteroid for killing her "pretty dinosaurs," Y/N figured out the location for their fourth date—Seoul's Museum of National History.

The two essentially spent the month together.

Karina couldn't even count the number of dates they had been on. Ranging from things as crazy as the weddings to more simple hangouts.

And she enjoyed every single one.

They both forgot about their families. They forgot about the expectations placed upon them and the future that awaited them.

They grew addicted to each other.

So much so, that Karina started arriving on time to their dates.

So much so, that Karina started inviting Y/N out, instead of the other way around.

Y/N stepped inside the closed pool at midnight, frowning in confusion and looking down at her phone to check the time.

Karina was laying on a beach chair, a towel around her body hiding her swimsuit.

She had her eyes closed. Her body was tense and she had a soft frown on her face.

"You're... you're here early." Y/N raised an eyebrow.

The Yu girl rolled her eyes at the surprise in her expressions and shrugged.

"My day was too much today. I was hoping to freshen up a little."

Oh.

So that's why Karina had sent her a text message telling her to suddenly meet up at the Yu Hotel of central Seoul. Karina had shut down the entire pool just for herself and Y/N. Her father would probably curse her out tomorrow morning, but she couldn't care less. It's not like this was her first time doing things like this.

Y/N walked to Karina, a worried glint taking over her eyes as she discarded her belongings and sat on the expensive beach chair beside Karina's.

"Do you wanna talk about it?"

Karina wanted to talk about it.

She really did.

She wanted nothing more than to vent about her mother ignoring her the entire day.

She wanted nothing more than to tell Y/N that her parents had decided to go out for lunch with her sister and not her.

But she couldn't.

Jimin was not ignored by their parents. She was.

She was not the precious heir Y/N thought she was. Which only frustrated her more.

"It's nothing." She ended up huffing out.

"Are you sure?" Y/N reached her hand out and placed it on top of Karina's, fingers wrapping comfortingly around it.

Karina looked up and felt any argument in her mind die as she stared at Y/N's sweet smile.

It was impossible to stay mad, frustrated, or annoyed when Y/N smiled at her like that.

Her features immediately softened, and she let out a small sigh.

"Yeah, I'm sure..."

She wasn't really.

But it didn't matter anymore.

She was with Y/N. It was just the two of them. So she was fine now.

"Let's go for a swim." She stood up, using their interlaced fingers to hoist Y/N up.

Y/N felt her eyes widen when the towel fell past Karina's shoulders to the ground, revealing the most perfect body she had ever seen.

Her cheeks reddened, and she found herself looking away.

"Are you coming or not?" Karina asked, already walking to the swimming pool.

"Yeah, yeah." Y/N smiled softly and took off her shirt to reveal the bikini she was wearing underneath. "So impatient."

Karina couldn't help her eyes from wandering away from Y/N's face and down her body.

God, she was so screwed.

"Definitely not impatient, take your time." She barely registered the words as they escaped her mouth.

Y/N let out a soft chuckle and shook her head, leaning down to remove her pants.

Karina, in the meanwhile, tried to commit Y/N's gorgeous body to memory.

The girl was beautiful.

"You're staring."

Her voice pulled Karina out of her thoughts, realization striking her when she noticed the amused smile on Y/N's lips.

"I have a right to stare at my future wife."

"Wow, future wife?" Y/N couldn't help but smile as she stepped up to Karina.

Karina nodded, satisfied with herself.

She wrapped her arms around Y/N's neck and pulled her closer.

"Mhmm, you said it yourself on our first date."

"I'm pretty sure I was joking that day." Y/N replied, rolling her eyes lightly.

Y/N definitely hadn't been joking that day.

Karina chuckled softly, her index finger brushing against Y/N's collarbone.

"Well, are you joking now?" The words left her mouth just as she took a step forward. They were definitely very close. Closer than they had ever been before.

All it would take for their lips to meet was a small lean in.

Y/N gulped, feeling hypnotized as she stared into Karina's eyes.

She didn't know how to respond, so she did the only thing that came to her mind.

She took two steps forward, forcing Karina to take two back, and they both fell into the pool.

Karina couldn't hold back her gasp when her back splashed into the water.

It was cold against her skin but soon warmed up as Y/N's body collided with hers.

Her hands found purchase on the girl's hips, pulling her closer as they both re-emerged.

"You're terrible." She smiled, lifting a wet hand to push back the strands of hair that stuck to Y/N's face.

"You flustered me, I'm sorry." Y/N's honesty was just as endearing as ever.

Karina couldn't control herself.

In that moment, she felt completely overwhelmed by the love she was feeling towards Y/N.

So, she leaned in and kissed her.

Y/N melted against her body.

She let out a soft gasp into the kiss, but her arms encircled Karina's neck, bringing her infinitely closer.

The water didn't feel cold anymore. At that moment, everything felt warm. From the way their bodies pressed together to their joined lips.

Y/N's fingers traveled up and tangled in the strands of wet, black hair.

Karina parted her lips slightly, allowing Y/N more access to her mouth. Her fingers dug into Y/N's hips as she pulled the girl even closer, wanting to completely eliminate the nonexistent distance that separated them.

She deepened the kiss, biting on Y/N's lower lip and drawing a surprised gasp from the girl's mouth. Karina's tongue quickly took advantage of those parted lips, exploring every crevice she found in Y/N's mouth.

"You're so perfect," she breathed out between kisses.

"So, so—" and another kiss, "perfect."

Y/N chuckled softly, leaning in to peck Karina's lips.

"You're perfect, Jimin."

Karina froze, her blood running cold and her lips stopping all movement.

Suddenly, all the thoughts and memories she'd carefully buried away came rushing to the surface.

Her parents, her sister, the deal that had started all of this...

She stepped back, slipping out of Y/N's embrace and avoiding looking into her eyes.

God, she was such an asshole. 

"We should go."

Y/N frowned in confusion.

Maybe they had taken things too far?

Maybe they had gone too fast for 'Jimin'?

"Hey, it's okay. We can take things slow—" She tried to reach out for her hand, but Karina pulled away and interrupted her.

"Let's just go, come on. We can't keep the pool closed for too long."

Karina didn't even bother drying her hair or her body after getting out of the pool. She hastily gathered her clothes and rushed out of there.

Y/N simply watched her, completely frozen in place as her brain tried to process what had happened.

Everything had been going so well.

Karina was the one who kissed her, so it's not like Y/N was crossing any unknown boundaries.

The heir of Samsung sighed and shook her head.

By the time she dried herself and left the pool area, Karina was long gone.

She tried texting and calling her.

She tried it several times over the next few days, only to be completely ignored.

Frustration, anger, and hurt soon began to take over... as one would expect.

So, Y/N used her connections to get what she wanted and found herself stepping up to the porch of the Yu family's mansion.

She rang the bell and crossed her arms in front of her chest.

When the door opened and the familiar face she had come to love appeared in front of her, she didn't know whether she wanted to cry out of happiness or sadness.

But Jimin—the real Jimin—only smiled politely. "Hi, you must be the new gardener my parents are waiting for."

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Taglist: @hopeless-y

[wherethefireliliesgrow]

I-this is so good????

Inspired me to start writing again damn

[2cool-2die]

𝑶𝒔𝒄𝒂𝒓 𝑾𝒊𝒏𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑻𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒔 - Part 3

Winter x Fem!Reader

Word Count: ~8K

Part 1, Part 2 , Pt 3

Synopsis: Kim Minjeong had heard all about the famous group of fuckboys and fuckgirls around campus. When Y/N Y/L/N, the leader of that group and student council president of the university, approached her with sweet smiles and soft gestures, Minjeong decided she would be the one playing her instead.

Except maybe Y/N took her relationship with Minjeong seriously and was never even a fuckgirl to begin with.

Tags: fighting, making out, university setting, misunderstandings, guitarist Minjeong, band!Aespa, studentcouncilpresident!reader,

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Y/N sat stiffly, shoulders squared and jaw clenched as she looked at the girl in front of her. "I'm sorry?"

"You heard me," Ae-chae scoffed, glaring at Y/N with clear disgust in her eyes. "My boyfriend said he had something with you. Is it true or not?!"

Y/N cleared her throat, her tired eyes drifting around the student council room.

She found herself staring at the small couch—the one where she had sat with Minjeong before their entire relationship (or what she thought was a relationship) crumbled before her eyes. She could still feel Minjeong's warm hands on her hips, taste the mint chewing gum Minjeong liked, and smell her familiar perfume in the air.

"That's ridiculous!" Gayeon spoke up loudly. "This is a student council meeting. Your love life has nothing to do with our business, so you should take your personal matters somewhere else!"

Ae-chae rolled her eyes and pointed at Y/N, who was sitting at the head of the long table. "My love life is the student council's business when your slut of a president has messed with my man!!"

Y/N gulped, ignoring the gasps from the council members seated around her. She didn't understand why they were still surprised—this wasn't the first, second, or even third time this had happened. Normally, the student council opened meeting spots for students to share their problems. It was a good way to connect with everyday students and fix small issues. But ever since Minjeong and her band, Aespa, came out with that stupid song, these meetings had become more about gossip and hurtful accusations than anything else.

"What's the name of your boyfriend?" Y/N asked, even though she knew the accusations were false. She was hopeless anyway.

In the song, Oscar Winning Tears, Minjeong accused a 'lover' of being a player—someone who built a reputation around the university by secretly dating multiple people and asking for favors to rise to power. People wouldn't guess it was about Y/N based on that alone, but the entire student body knew Y/N and Minjeong had been seeing each other before their fallout, so... yeah, not very discreet.

Since then, rumors spread across campus. Boys came forward with stories about their time with Y/N. Girlfriends and exes were jealous. The glares, mean gossip, and outrageous accusations began.

Ae-chae scoffed again, her expression dramatic as she glared at Y/N. "Of course you wouldn't know... been with too many guys, right?"

Y/N didn't respond, meeting her gaze with expectant eyes.

"Si-woo. His name is Si-woo. Ring any bells?"

Y/N shook her head, lips pursed as she looked down at the documents in front of her. She had other things to do. Gayeon's mishap with the Russia-Ukraine theme was still unresolved. "Never met a Si-woo."

Ae-chae refused to accept that answer. "Why would he lie about sleeping with you?"

To inflate his ego? To become more popular? To feed the gossip around SM? To play a power game with Y/N?

The president wasn't sure. But she did know she had received several messages on social media from guys threatening to "spill the beans" on her if she didn't validate their stories, give them her number, or go out with them. Some even said they'd stay quiet if she slept with them.

"I've never met a Si-woo, I'm sorry."

"Bullshit. Bullshit. You fucking slut." Ae-chae was visibly upset, her features twisted in anger as she walked closer to Y/N. The rest of the council members stayed silent, watching the scene unfold.

She slammed her hands on the table, leaning over Y/N. "I'll rip your goddamn eyes out. What makes you so sure I won't tell the whole school—tell the whole world—who you really are, huh?! My parents have a lot of money and influence. I can screw you over whenever I wish!"

Y/N remained impassive, her gaze still on the documents. She was exhausted. This whole situation was draining her more and more with each passing day.

She had thought the rumors and gossip would fade away after the first week or two, but they only seemed to be getting worse.

"You've exceeded your meeting time. It's time to leave now."

"Don't treat me like a child!" Ae-chae snapped, her hand reaching out to grip Y/N's chin. She forced the president to look into her eyes, clearly irritated by the lack of eye contact.

"Who the hell do you think you are? That pretty face is going to grow old and saggy one day, and what will you do then, Miss 'President of the Council'? You'll be thrown away because no one actually wants you! You're a manipulative, cold, heartless bitch!! If you weren't so selfish, everything wouldn't be a mess right now!" she yelled, her voice echoing through the room.

Her grip on Y/N's chin tightened, hand trembling from the force.

"Let her go." Gayeon's voice broke through the tension, quieter but firm.

"Shut up," Ae-chae snapped, not even bothering to look at her. "She's the one who destroyed my relationship. She has to take responsibility for it."

"Let her go." This time, Gayeon's tone was more assertive. The other council members exchanged uneasy glances, unsure of how to intervene.

When Ae-chae still didn't release Y/N, Gayeon took matters into her own hands—literally—and delivered a swift, precise punch to Ae-chae's jaw.

Gasps filled the room as Ae-chae stumbled backward onto the hard floor, her hand pressed against her jaw. Her eyes widened in shock as she looked between Gayeon and Y/N, disbelief and anger in her voice. "You..."

The rest of the council members were speechless, their expressions a mix of shock and fear.

"You fucking bitch!!!" Ae-chae quickly got back to her feet and lunged at Gayeon.

Chaos erupted in the room as the two girls fought like wild animals. Screams and shouts filled the air as they traded blows and insults. Several council members tried to pull them apart, but their efforts were in vain.

Y/N could barely process what was happening, standing up to help the others separate the two and stop the fight.

It took some time, but they finally managed to break it up.

After Ae-chae and Gayeon were sent to the infirmary, Y/N quietly gathered her belongings, put on her jacket, and slung her backpack over her shoulder.

She didn't say a word as she left the room, nor as she walked through the university hallways, where everyone's glares followed her.

Only a day later, she received a call from the dean of the student council, telling her that she had to step down from her role as president due to her "unprofessional and dishonest behavior."

Everything in her life was falling apart.

But at least not everyone was suffering. Not everyone was watching everything they had ever worked for crumble before their eyes.

Minjeong, for example, saw nothing but success after her song was released.

Aespa gained more fans and started receiving attention online. They were invited to an interview at a local radio show and had their first appearance at a university festival in Seoul.

It was a sudden thrust into popularity, unlike anything the girls had experienced before. So much so that they found themselves prioritizing their newfound fame over their university life.

This would've been fine, of course, if they had completely given up on their degrees.

But that wasn't the plan. So Minjeong, dead-tired from a full day of shows and interviews, found herself stepping into the university library late in the evening.

The place was practically empty—except for the librarian and a few scattered students.

Minjeong shuffled in, looking for an empty table. Despite her exhaustion, she still had studying to do before she could finally go home.

As she scanned the rows of books, a familiar figure caught her attention.

Y/N sat there, headphones on and her bottom lip caught between her teeth as she worked on an exercise. As a student majoring in medicine, Y/N was never far from the library. Before the rumors started, she went whenever she felt like it. But after they spread, the constant glares and whispered comments distracted her too much to focus, so she began visiting the library later at night, when it was mostly empty.

Minjeong paused, unsure of what to do. Y/N had her headphones in, seemingly immersed in her work. She looked tired and a bit disheveled, and Minjeong felt a small twitch in her chest.

She was about to turn around and quietly find another table when Y/N suddenly looked up, as if sensing her presence.

Their eyes met, and a brief moment of silence passed between them.

Y/N gulped, wondering if her exhaustion was making her see things.

She hadn't seen Minjeong since that fateful day at the student council meeting. Since then, she had gone out of her way to avoid her—canceling tutoring sessions, skipping lunch in the cafeteria, even taking a fifteen-minute detour to avoid the music department. And yet, here she was. The person who unknowingly set off a chain of events that derailed her life, standing right in front of her.

Y/N didn't know if she wanted to cry, scream, or run. Her body chose to freeze, leaving her staring back at Minjeong with a rigid posture.

The surprise on her face didn't escape Minjeong. She hesitated, unsure of what to say or do.

Part of her wanted to walk over, sit at the same table, and talk things out—to forgive Y/N for everything that had happened. But the other part of her still felt hurt, resentful, and confused.

Eventually, Minjeong slowly made her way toward Y/N, awkwardly hovering in front of the table. "Can I sit here?"

Y/N remembered the day Minjeong rejected her.

The harsh words and accusations she'd had to endure from the girl she liked. The revelation that everything between them had been a ruse. That stupid song, which had thrown what little stability she had in her life away.

She shook her head. "No."

Minjeong blinked, taken aback by the blunt response.

Her heart sank in her chest, a mixture of hurt and anger bubbling up. Y/N was the one in the wrong, not her. And yet, she still had the audacity to act like this when Minjeong was trying to be the bigger person and talk things out?

Had it been anyone else, Minjeong would've taken the hint and found another seat. The library was practically empty—there were plenty of places she could sit.

But this was different. It was Y/N. And Minjeong's pride was bruised.

"Too bad." She pulled out a chair and sat down in front of Y/N.

Y/N clenched her jaw, glaring at Minjeong as if daring her to speak. The tension between them was almost tangible.

For a few moments, silence hung in the air as they stared each other down. Then, without a word, Y/N turned her music back on and returned to her work, as though Minjeong wasn't even there.

Minjeong sat quietly, simmering in her frustration. The audacity of Y/N to treat her like this—when she was the one at fault.

She observed Y/N, noticing how much more exhausted she looked. Dark circles under her eyes, an overall weariness clinging to her.

Minjeong fidgeted in her seat, fingers tapping impatiently on the table. The silence was almost unbearable, but she refused to back down.

Finally, she leaned in and spoke in a low voice, "You know you can't ignore me forever."

Y/N didn't look up. Truthfully, she didn't even hear Minjeong—Kendrick Lamar was blasting in her headphones.

"Hey," Minjeong repeated, growing more agitated by the second. When Y/N continued to ignore her, Minjeong reached over and gently pulled one of the headphones out of her ear.

"I'm talking to you. Can you stop pretending I'm invisible and just talk to me?"

Y/N glared up at Minjeong, and the singer froze ever so slightly. It was one thing to see Y/N throw that look at other people, but it was entirely different to be on the receiving end.

"You were in the wrong, and I caught you. We both kn—"

Y/N abruptly stood up, pushing her chair back and gathering her books, cutting Minjeong off mid-sentence.

She refused to give in to Minjeong.

She refused to give her the emotional reaction she clearly craved. She refused to stoop so low as to defend herself against such stupid accusations.

If Minjeong genuinely believed that Y/N would ever even consider making a bet on her, then she didn't deserve closure. She could keep her entitlement and delusions to herself because Y/N wasn't going to give her the satisfaction of explaining herself. 

Without another word, Y/N walked away, not even sparing Minjeong a second glance.

She hoped that would be the last time she saw Minjeong. She needed time and space to move on from the painful relationship they had almost shared.

She needed to focus on her life and fix all the messes that had piled up around her.

But, as always, the universe wasn't on her side.

"Y/N, clients at table seven—can you check on them?" Lee Ji's voice interrupted her thoughts.

Y/N glanced up and nodded. At least there was one silver lining to being removed from her position as student council president—it gave her more time to work. The small restaurant near her house needed help, and apparently, her "pretty face would give their clientele a boost," or so Lee Ji claimed.

She finished cleaning up the table she'd been working on and grabbed two menus from the counter.

"Good evening, I'm—" Y/N cut herself off, realizing who she was speaking to. Her heart skipped a beat as she looked up to see Minjeong and her bandmates staring back at her. She wanted to dig a hole in the ground and disappear. "Hi."

The four members of Aespa froze, their eyes locked on the former president.

For a moment, silence hung in the air, thick with tension. The entire restaurant seemed to pause as Minjeong cleared her throat and finally spoke up.

"You work here?" Minjeong asked, her eyes taking in the sight of Y/N in her waitress uniform. She looked good. The outfit accentuated her curves in a way that Minjeong couldn't ignore, and the way her hair framed her face only made her more captivating.

Minjeong bit her lip, trying to suppress the sudden flutter in her chest.

Y/N ran a hand through her hair, squinting at Minjeong before glancing down at her uniform and then back up at the guitarist. It was an action that had the singer pursing her lips, cheeks flushing slightly as the sarcasm hit her.

The other girls exchanged glances, clear disdain for Y/N etched into their expressions. Aeri, in particular, couldn't hide her bitterness, still recalling how their last interaction had played out.

"Since when does the president have time to be a waitress?" She asked, her tone sharp. Minjeong shot her a warning glance, silently urging her to back off.

Y/N's expression shifted subtly, her jaw tightening. If it hadn't been for their song, she would still have her position, her reputation, her calmer life. She cleared her throat and handed the group their menus. "I'm not the president anymore."

"I figured," Aeri muttered under her breath.

Minjeong shot another glare in her direction, then turned back to Y/N. "Why are you working here?" she asked, this time with genuine curiosity.

"Yeah, don't you own a Mustang?" Ning suddenly chimed in, her eyes fixed on the menu. There was no malice behind her words, just a lack of awareness about the sensitive topic.

Minjeong frowned and elbowed Ning subtly, silently telling her to stop talking. She didn't want it to look like they were ganging up on Y/N.

Aeri, however, had no such qualms. She leaned back in her chair, fixing a cold stare on Y/N. "What, did your parents cut you off from the family money or something?"

Y/N smiled slightly, keeping her professional demeanor intact as she replied curtly,  "Yeah, sure. Call me when you're ready to order."

"Wait—" Minjeong called out, reaching for Y/N's wrist gently.

Her heart thudded in her chest at the brief contact, and the rest of the group watched, eyes flicking between the two of them with growing interest.

"Can I talk to you—alone?" Minjeong asked, her voice softer, almost pleading.

Y/N pulled her wrist from Minjeong's grasp. "No, no you cannot."

She glanced over the group one last time before walking away.

Minjeong slumped back in her seat, frustration and defeat washing over her. The other girls remained silent as they watched Y/N leave, each of their expressions reflecting different emotions.

Aeri huffed, crossing her arms. "She's so full of herself."

Jimin, who had been watching quietly, shot a concerned look in Minjeong's direction. "You okay?"

Minjeong nodded, her eyes trailing Y/N's figure as she walked back to the counter. A man was stepping up to pay, and the seductive smile that suddenly appeared on Y/N's face had Minjeong clenching her teeth.

She noticed everything.

From the way Y/N leaned over the counter, just enough to show off a hint of cleavage, to the way her eyes sparkled with a flirtatious glint only she could pull off. She caught how Y/N's gaze lingered on the generous tip the man left in the jar. And the moment his back was turned, Minjeong saw the way Y/N's smile dropped, her fingers flicking the small card he handed her into the trash without a second thought.

Why was Y/N even doing this?

She was rich. She drove a Mustang. She had a maid, wore the nicest designer clothes, and lived in a luxurious villa in one of Seoul's most exclusive neighborhoods. She had everything. There had to be a reason—an ulterior motive for her to be working there. But what?

Minjeong cleared her throat, forcing her focus back to her friends. "You guys shouldn't be rude to her."

Aeri raised an eyebrow, rolling her eyes at Minjeong's statement. "Right," she replied sarcastically. "Because she totally deserves our kindness and respect after everything she's done."

Minjeong squinted at Aeri, her jaw tightening. "I'm just saying... it's been months. Let's drop it. I don't want you being rude to her. She's got enough of that at the university already."

They hadn't been attending as many classes lately, busy with their own schedules, but the gossip was inescapable. Their Twitter notifications blew up daily with new rumors about Y/N—more guys stepping forward, claiming to be her exes or current boyfriends. It was as if someone had unearthed Y/N's secrets, laying them bare for the world to dissect and judge.

Minjeong knew the disdain people felt was justified, at least partly. Y/N had hurt people, manipulated situations, left chaos in her wake. But seeing her be torn apart so publicly, so viciously, made Minjeong feel uneasy. The rumors, the relentless accusations, the flood of hateful comments—it was brutal.

The girl who once seemed untouchable was being dismantled, bit by bit.

"Why do you think people are talking about her so much?!" Aeri shrugged, dismissive. "Clearly, they have their reasons."

Minjeong sighed, glancing back at Y/N, still busy behind the counter. "Even with all the reasons... don't you think it's kinda... cruel?"

Aeri shot her a side glance, her tone sharp. "You think she's the victim now? After all the stunts she's pulled? After what she did to you? She was the one that was cruel to you."

Minjeong shook her head, trying to explain, though her own voice wavered with uncertainty. "I don't think she's the victim. I just don't think everyone piling on her like this is helping. Whatever, it doesn't matter." She could hear the doubt in her words. Why did she care? After everything Y/N had done to her, why was she still trying to understand?

Aeri rolled her eyes again but didn't push it further. It was clear that Minjeong had hit her limit, and their argument was going nowhere. Thankfully, their focus shifted to hunger as they raised their hands to call Y/N back to the table. 

However, instead of Y/N, an older lady stepped over. Her heavy presence and disapproving look were unmistakable, and her gaze lingered on Minjeong a second longer than the others, as if she recognized her.

"What can I get for you?" she asked flatly, tapping her pen against her notepad.

Minjeong's heart sank. Every time she tried to catch Y/N's attention throughout the night, the older woman, Lee Ji, appeared instead—no matter how free Y/N seemed or how far Lee Ji was. It felt like a deliberate wall between her and the person she desperately wanted to speak to.

As the evening dragged on, the frustration built inside Minjeong. Eventually, she spotted Y/N stepping out the front door, still in her uniform. Without thinking, Minjeong excused herself and slipped outside, unnoticed by Ning and Aeri, who were too busy talking about a movie, but not Jimin. The older girl shot her a small, knowing glance—one that told her to be careful.

Outside, Minjeong found Y/N leaning against the brick wall, a cigarette perched between her lips, with the gentle rain falling around her. The small roof of the restaurant kept Y/N mostly dry, but her shoes stuck out, soaked by the steady drizzle.

"As a medical student, you should know those things will give you cancer," Minjeong snapped, her voice sharper than intended.

Y/N exhaled a puff of smoke, her eyes fixed on the empty street. "As a medical student, just being near you right now feels like it's giving me cancer," she said, taking another drag.

Minjeong bristled at the response but couldn't tear her eyes away from Y/N. The sight of her smoking, though irritating, was oddly captivating. The way she handled the cigarette, her lips curving around it, her cheeks hollowing as she inhaled—there was a quiet allure to it, even though Minjeong found smoking repulsive.

"It's not a good look on you," Minjeong said, arms crossed, trying to keep her composure. "The smoking, I mean."

Y/N almost smiled at the absurdity of the moment. Minjeong was clearly fixated on her, yet still had the audacity to criticize. "You lie so easily."

"Excuse me?" Minjeong's tone turned defensive. "I'm not lying. Smoking just makes people look... I don't know, reckless and trashy."

Y/N raised an eyebrow, her lips twitching slightly in amusement. She turned her head, blowing the smoke away from Minjeong's face, before facing the blonde away. "Do I look trashy to you right now?"

Minjeong felt her pulse quicken. Y/N was using the same charm she'd employed earlier, with that man inside the restaurant. The calculated gaze, the sultry tone—it was infuriating how effortlessly it worked, how it left Minjeong feeling like she was the one being played. She hated that it worked so well, hated that she still found herself drawn in, despite everything.

"Yes," Minjeong muttered, but her words lacked conviction.

Minjeong swallowed hard, her eyes involuntarily flickering down to the soft press of the cigarette between Y/N's lips. She suddenly became hyper-aware of how close they were standing, the rain and dim lights of the street casting shadows on them.

No, Y/N didn't look trashy.

She looked classy and elegant, standing in the rain, in the back of a small restaurant, in a waiter's uniform. It was ridiculous.

"Yes," Minjeong finally said, her voice quiet. "You do look trashy."

Y/N chuckled softly. "Glad you're being honest with me now." She looked away, her smile fading ever so slightly. "Had to start somewhere, didn't you?"

Minjeong's heart clenched at the shift in Y/N's expression, guilt creeping in. What she said had been harsh, but she refused to let herself be swayed—not this time.

"What's that supposed to mean?" she challenged, arms still crossed.

Y/N huffed softly, looking at her with an almost pitying smile. "You'll figure it out eventually." She flicked her cigarette to the ground, crushing it beneath her heel as she turned to head back inside. "You're a big girl."

"Wait—"

Without thinking, Minjeong reached out and grabbed Y/N's wrist, stopping her in her tracks. The brief contact sent a shiver through her, but she ignored it.

"Don't walk away from me. We're not done here."

Y/N felt a sharp tightness in her chest as she yanked her wrist free, crossing her arms. She was exhausted, drenched, and her head was pounding. "We're not done here? What, you want to keep telling me how awful I am? Or maybe you can call your friends so they can ask me about my dead fucking parents again. Then you could all write another song about me and destroy the rest of my fucking life, does that sound good?!"

Minjeong's breath caught in her throat. She hadn't known about Y/N's parents. It was a mean jab from Aeri, and she was realizing it now.

"That wasn't—" she started, but the words stuck.

For a moment, Minjeong stood there, struggling to respond. But then a familiar wave of anger surged through her.

"This isn't about me," she snapped. "It's about you and your shitty behavior!"

Y/N let out a disbelieving chuckle. "My shitty behavior?"

"Yeah, your behavior," Minjeong shot back, voice rising. "You act like you don't care about people, then you use them. You hurt them." She stepped closer, hands clenched into fists. "You're scum, Y/N. You finally got treated the way you treat everyone else, and clearly, you can't handle it."

Each word was laced with a mix of frustration, resentment, and something more vulnerable. The rain poured down, soaking them both, as tension hung heavy in the air.

Y/N's jaw clenched as she took the words in.

The shock factor was gone now that she knew what Minjeong really thought about her, but the sting was still prominent inside her chest.

She stared back at Minjeong, wetting her lips as she got closer to the blonde. "Listen to me, Minjeong. I know you get some kind of fucked-up satisfaction from chasing me around and watching me suffer, but I'm not gonna let you do it anymore. I'm done with you, I'm done with your friends, and I'm done with your stupid fans. I want you out of my life. I want to forget you and every interaction we've ever had, and I can't do that when you're constantly showing up."

Minjeong let out a bitter laugh. "God, you're so self-centered! You don't even realize the damage you've caused, do you? You don't care about anyone but yourself." The words poured out like venom, months of resentment finally finding their outlet.

Y/N ignored the tears that filled her eyes, hoping the rain would mask them.

"Stay away from me from now on, Minjeong."

Y/N turned and walked away.

She swore to herself right then and there that that would be her last time speaking or looking at Minjeong.

She had to forget about the blonde. She had to respect herself. She couldn't do this anymore.

As Y/N walked away, Minjeong stood rooted to the spot, the rain pouring down around her. The anger that had fueled her earlier dissolved into a hollow emptiness. She watched Y/N's retreating figure, her thoughts a tangled mess of confusion and frustration.

She didn't understand why her heart ached or why a part of her wanted to call out and bring Y/N back. But she knew she had feelings for her—and that it was time to let them go.

So they parted ways again, and their lives regained the illusion of normalcy they once knew.

The second semester of Y/N's third year at the university brought forward a shift. She began covering clinical studies, spending less time at the university and more in its prestigious hospital. Her routine became a complicated whirlwind, drifting between the hospital, her job, and home, each workday blending into the next.

It was a mess—but one she appreciated.

Meanwhile, Minjeong continued her composition degree as Aespa's popularity settled. The buzz surrounding their song eventually died down, but a core group of new fans stayed, following the band's progress.

Three months passed, but not a single day went by without them thinking about each other.

It frustrated Y/N to still have Minjeong so present in her mind. When she was working and studying, it was fine because she could focus on other things, but when she had nothing to do, the thoughts quickly became too much.

That was the main reason she found herself sitting at the counter of a bar in a modest part of town, holding onto the shot glass in front of her.

"You know they miss you..." Minji went on, making Y/N sigh and down the contents of her glass.

"Another one, please." She sent the bartender a small, appreciative smile.

"Stop drowning your sorrows in alcohol and listen to me." Despite her slurry words, Minji took a big sip of her drink. "Niki is miserable and barely comes to classes anymore. And Yeonjun has been going around with a different girl every night—he barely sleeps anymore. Can you please just forgive them? Please?"

Y/N closed her eyes and leaned against the counter, the buzz of the alcohol starting to take effect. "It's not that easy, Minji," she said, her voice laced with resignation. "It's not just about them; it's about... her."

The image of Minjeong flashed through her mind, stirring up a mix of emotions she definitely shouldn't be feeling.

"It's complicated," she added quietly, tracing the condensation on her shot glass with a finger.

"Well then make it uncomplicated for me." Minji slurred her words, her warm hand resting on Y/N's shoulder. "You've been spending more time at the hospital. Niki and I will soon begin our exam season. Yeonjun is barely seen around... we are drifting apart from each other, and it sucks because we are almost at the end of university. We don't have time for this. In no time, we'll each be going our own ways, and god knows when we'll all be together again..."

Minji had always had this separation anxiety problem.

She was the one who always convinced Y/N to go out, saying that university was the perfect time to enjoy life while they were young.

In some ways, Y/N understood her. It was like they were constantly losing a race against time.

Now that Niki, Minji and Yeonjun were in their last year of uni, this reality became closer with each passing day.

Y/N felt a pang of guilt as Minji spoke about the group drifting apart. She hated the thought of their tight-knit group falling apart, but she was still hurt and angry about what had happened.

"I know," she said quietly, running a hand through her hair. "I just... I need more time. They were betting on my relationship. Minjeong—hell, most students at the university—started hating me. None of this would've happened if they were just... decent people."

She downed her next shot, the burn in her throat providing a temporary distraction from her thoughts. Thankfully, before she could get too focused on her misery again, the bartender filled her glass.

Minji nodded at the bartender, silently thanking him for refilling Y/N's glass. Her hand remained on Y/N's shoulder, offering a steady presence amidst the turmoil of emotions.

"They messed up, I know," she agreed, her voice softer now. "But they're not terrible people, Y/N. They made a mistake."

She paused, her gaze tracing the patterns on the countertop.

"Look, I'm not saying you should forgive them right away," she continued. "But maybe... just try to understand why they did what they did."

"Cause they are fucking idiots, that's why."

Minji let out a sigh. "Yes, they made stupid decisions," she admitted. "But they're not evil, Y/N. They care about you."

She turned toward Y/N, her gaze filled with concern.

"This frustration of yours isn't doing anyone any good. Not you, not them, not—" She cut herself off suddenly.

"Not even her," she added quietly.

Y/N turned to follow Minji's gaze, her breath catching at the sight of Minjeong stepping onto the small, makeshift stage in the corner of the bar.

She looked different—not in appearance, but the brightness in her eyes seemed dimmed.

Y/N hated the knot of concern that tightened in her chest. It had been three months. Minjeong had probably forgotten about her. Y/N needed to stop thinking about her.

She downed her drink again.

"Goodnight, everyone," Minjeong began, smiling softly as the audience recognized her and cheered. "I usually come up here with my friends, but tonight I figured I'd do it alone... just for the hell of it."

Minji glanced between the stage and Y/N, her worry evident. She could see the effect Minjeong's presence was having on her friend, the way Y/N's eyes couldn't help but be drawn to the girl on stage.

"Are you okay?" Minji asked quietly, her hand still firmly on Y/N's shoulder.

On stage, Minjeong strummed her acoustic guitar a few times, testing the sound. The room fell silent, everyone focused on her, waiting for the performance.

"Of course," Y/N cleared her throat, quickly looking away from Minjeong. She couldn't do this to herself. She had to stop. "Why wouldn't I be?"

Minji wasn't convinced by Y/N's forced calmness, but she knew better than to push.

"If you say so," she relented, her gaze shifting back to the stage.

Minjeong began to sing, her voice clear and strong as it filled the room. Despite the bright smile on her face, there was a subtle sadness behind the lyrics, a melancholy that only someone who knew her well could pick up on.

Y/N downed another shot. For a few long moments, she considered standing up and leaving. Then the alcohol started speaking, as Minjeong's soft voice wrapped around the bar, and she felt the urge to confront her—interrupt the performance, demand an explanation for how she could break her heart like that. Tell her she hadn't been part of the bet.

But her instincts told her to stay put and keep drinking. To show indifference. Pretend she didn't even know Minjeong was there. Pretend she didn't even know who Minjeong was.

She lost count of the shots, but the worried glances from Minji and the bartender didn't go unnoticed.

"Hey, slow down, will you?" Minji wrapped an arm around Y/N's back, reaching for the glass as her friend went for another shot.

"I—I'm fine." Y/N shrugged her off and returned to her drink. Her words were slurred, and a noticeable flush colored her cheeks.

Minji was about to protest when a tall woman approached them, a smirk on her face as she turned to Minji.

"Hey, gorgeous."

Minji instinctively went to wave her away, knowing she needed to keep an eye on Y/N, but when she glanced at the woman's face, her eyes widened slightly. "Hello."

The tall woman chuckled at Minji's reaction, leaning against the counter with a confident smile. She was attractive and clearly enjoyed the attention she was getting from the people around her.

"Sorry to interrupt," she said, her gaze lingering on Minji before shifting to Y/N. "But is this seat taken?" She nodded toward the seat next to Y/N.

Y/N blinked slowly, raising a hand. She stumbled slightly as she stood, grabbing her drink. "Just... you can just have my seat."

Minji frowned. "Y/N—"

"It's fine, Minji." Y/N smiled, her voice soft and tipsy. "I'm just going right there." She pointed vaguely at the wall, making Minji chuckle, alcohol also buzzing through her. Before the future lawyer could protest, Y/N was gone, and the woman had taken her place.

Y/N didn't make it far, settling down further along the counter and giving the bartender a knowing smile as he handed her another drink.

"Thank you," she murmured.

Y/N was fine by herself. She always felt at peace when alone, knowing there was no one to observe her, decipher her, or expect anything from her.

That's why she barely noticed Minji and the woman heading to the dance floor. And why she didn't notice the person approaching her from behind.

"I told you so."

Y/N frowned in confusion, turning to see a familiar face sitting beside her. It was the girl who got punched by Gayeon... Ae-chae?

What the hell did she want?

"What?" Y/N mumbled.

Ae-chae smirked, her eyes narrowing as she took in Y/N's state. She could tell Y/N was far from sober, and the sight seemed to bring her satisfaction.

"You're drunk," she stated bluntly, leaning against the counter with an air of superiority. "And you shouldn't be drinking alone."

Ae-chae signaled to the bartender, gesturing between Y/N and herself. "A shot, please. On her tab."

Y/N smiled, nodding when the bartender looked at her for confirmation. She wasn't sure what was happening, but why wouldn't she be nice?

"One more for me too, please," she added.

Ae-chae raised an eyebrow, surprised. "You know what? Make that two more shots for my friend. Let's keep the good vibes going."

The bartender nodded, quickly preparing the drinks. Ae-chae chuckled, shooting Y/N a calculating look.

When the shots arrived, Ae-chae picked up one of the glasses and held it out toward Y/N. "Here you go."

Y/N took the shot, downing it as Ae-chae nodded in satisfaction. Ae-chae drank hers slowly, turning to fully face Y/N.

"So... now that we're being more honest with each other, why don't you tell me what really happened between you and my boyfriend?"

Y/N blinked a few times, trying to process the question through her drunken haze. Ae-chae's words were sharp and demanding, but her tone was coated in sweetness. It was confusing for Y/N's foggy mind.

"Your boyfriend?" Y/N repeated, her words a little jumbled as she tried to focus on the girl in front of her.

"Yeah," Ae-chae shot back, still smiling. "Si-woo? You slept with him, didn't you?"

Y/N frowned, the name stirring up a confusing mix of memories. Her brain felt too fuzzy to really get it.

"Who's Si-woo?" she mumbled, shaking her head. Everything looked blurry, and she leaned against the counter for support. The alcohol was definitely winning.

"My boyfriend!" Ae-chae snapped, losing her cool. "You know? The one you slept with?! He told me everything. You don't have to lie."

Y/N's confusion deepened. "Why is he still your boyfriend if he cheated on you?"

A spark of victory flashed in Ae-chae's eyes. "So you are admitting it!"

Before Y/N could even think, Ae-chae's hand met her face, snapping her head to the side. A sharp pain shot through her cheek, and she instinctively touched her reddening skin.

"I—" she started, but her words got stuck. She was too stunned to think straight, too drunk to process anything.

The noise of the bar—the music, the chatter—faded as she tried to figure out what just happened.

"What? Surprised you finally got what you deserve?" Ae-chae laughed, a twisted satisfaction in her tone. "I told you I was powerful. I got you kicked out of the student council, didn't I? Now that you admitted it, I'll make your life a living nightmare—"

She raised her hand to hit Y/N again, but someone grabbed her wrist.

Minjeong's grip was strong, her voice low and serious. "Don't. Touch. Her."

The blonde stepped closer, putting herself between Y/N and Ae-chae. For a moment, her gaze darted to Y/N, taking in her state. It hurt to see her like this, but she kept her expression tough as she turned back to Ae-chae.

Ae-chae's eyes widened before narrowing again. "I—" she tried to chuckle, "Minjeong? Nice to meet you." She had seen Minjeong at Aespa's shows before, but they'd never really talked. You could call her a fan.

Minjeong didn't budge. "You don't get to touch her," she repeated, her tone icy. "And you don't get to talk to her either."

Slowly, she pushed Ae-chae away, her voice steady. "Stay away from Y/N. Got it?"

Ae-chae huffed but eventually backed off without much fuss, leaving Y/N and Minjeong to process everything that just happened.

One of them had a mind a little clearer than the other. For Minjeong, this run-in reopened a wound that hadn't even begun to heal. For Y/N, Minjeong was like a guardian angel showing up after three long months.

"Minjeong." Y/N said softly, a small smile creeping onto her face.

Minjeong's heart squeezed at the sight of Y/N. The usual sharpness in her expression was replaced by a drunk, almost innocent vulnerability, which stirred up a whirlwind of emotions in her.

She stepped closer, her voice serious. "What are you doing, Y/N? You're completely wasted."

Y/N couldn't let herself get too caught up in Minjeong's tone. Minjeong was back, and she'd missed her so much. That's all that mattered.

"Minjeong..."

The blonde sighed, running a hand through her hair as she thought about what to do next.

"Come on, let's get you home." She wrapped her arms around Y/N's waist and helped her stand.

Y/N leaned into Minjeong, both because she needed the support and because she longed for the girl's presence. Feeling Minjeong's familiar frame against hers almost made everything feel right again, like it used to be.

She smiled at Minjeong, too wrapped up in her to notice her best friend stumbling towards them.

"Y/N—" Minji's eyes widened at the sight of Minjeong holding her best friend. "What the fuck—"

Minjeong tensed as soon as she saw Minji approaching. Her grip on Y/N tightened, not willing to let go. Her gaze flicked between the two best friends, a protective air surrounding her.

"I'll take her home," she said firmly. "Don't worry."

Minji hated seeing her best friend in the arms of the person who'd hurt her so much. She hated the starry-eyed look Y/N had, and she hated—

A hand wrapped around Minji's, tugging her. "Babe, let's go dance some more," the tall girl beside her chuckled.

Minji hesitated, glancing at Y/N one last time. She'd be okay, right? Minjeong was sober and more responsible. She'd take care of her.

"I'll cover her tab," Minji said, letting herself be pulled back to the dance floor.

Minjeong watched Minji disappear into the crowd, she took a deep breath and refocused on the girl in her arms.

Y/N was totally wasted. Her body was warm and leaning heavily against Minjeong, and that alone was enough to make Minjeong's heart race.

Slowly, she started guiding Y/N towards the exit.

Her Fiat 500 wasn't nearly as fancy as Y/N's Mustang, and she'd only been driving for a few months, so the ride wasn't exactly smooth. But Y/N didn't seem to mind.

At one point, Minjeong glanced over at her and felt her heart clench at the sight. Y/N's eyes were closed, her face peaceful, and it took everything in Minjeong not to reach out and brush her cheek.

She swallowed hard, gripping the wheel tighter as she forced her eyes back on the road.

"Almost there," she murmured.

The drive to Y/N's house was familiar but oddly nostalgic. Minjeong hadn't been in this part of town in a while—a few months, to be more precise.

"Do you have your keys?" she asked as she helped Y/N out of the car.

Y/N nodded and reached for her purse. She had difficulty opening it, her vision slightly blurry from the drinks and the darkness of the night, so Minjeong squeezed her hand before looking for the keys herself.

It was a silent, reassuring act—one that reminded Y/N of that day. Of the moment she was holding on to Minjeong's hand and asking her to be her girlfriend. Of the rejection and heartbreak that followed.

"I didn't do it, you know?"

Minjeong took the words in as drunken rambling. She mumbled as she continued looking for the keys. "Didn't do what, Y/N?"

"I didn't—I didn't make that bet."

Minjeong paused, the sound of Y/N's slurred confession catching her off guard. Her fingers froze over the keys as the girl's words washed over her.

She looked at Y/N, taking in her state. The girl was clearly not in her right mind.

Minjeong took a deep breath, pushing down the sudden wave of emotions that threatened to surface. "Just hold still," she grumbled, thanking the gods when the door opened from the inside and Rose's face popped up. She was the housekeeper and maid of Y/N; most times, it was just the two of them against the world.

Rose looked worried for Y/N, but Minjeong quickly dismissed her back to bed—knowing it was late for the old woman to be up.

"Minjeong, I didn't know about the bet. I wasn't a part of it. Niki and Yeonjun—I—they are idiots. They mentioned it—I heard them talk about it, but I shut them down. I promise you—I like you, Minjeong. I wasn't playing you—I've never played anyone."

Minjeong clenched her jaw, the words stabbing at her with painful precision. She tried her best to keep her face neutral, but it was a struggle. She wouldn't believe the words of a drunken mouth—not after all the people coming out with stories about Y/N. Not after she had heard Niki and Yeonjun with her own two ears. Not after all the heartbreak she had felt.

"You're drunk," she stated bluntly, her voice strained. "You don't know what you're saying."

She led Y/N down the hallway, her hand on the small of the girl's back as they made their way through the familiar corridor.

"Minjeong, please..." Y/N felt desperate to make her believe her. Hours ago, she couldn't have cared less if Minjeong believed her or not. She knew the truth. She didn't need to make anyone else believe her. Right at that moment, though, she was drunk and wanted nothing else but for Minjeong to finally understand her—feelings were speaking louder than logic. "Please, please, you have to believe me. You hurt me; I didn't hurt you. Why aren't you believing me?"

Minjeong's heart ached at the raw emotion in Y/N's voice. But she couldn't let herself be swept away by it. Not again.

She decided to change the subject, hearing Rose close the door of her bedroom upstairs. "Why were you working at that restaurant?"

Y/N frowned in confusion, and her fuzzy mind took its time adjusting to the new subject. She shrugged, as if it was the most obvious thing ever. "I need money."

Minjeong frowned, leading Y/N to the living room and settling her down on the couch. "You live in a mansion and drive a Mustang—you don't need to be a waitress."

The drunk girl leaned back on the couch. "My parents left me the car and the house... they also left me a debt of 15 million."

Minjeong gulped loudly. Y/N had never told her about such a big debt. Then again, she also hadn't told her about her parents, so maybe they weren't as close as she thought.

"What about Rose? She works for you, right?"

"For free." Y/N hated the topic, but if it meant putting Minjeong at ease, she'd completely open herself up to her. "She raised me since I was a newborn and didn't want to leave me when my parents died." A big yawn escaped her lips, and Minjeong blamed herself for keeping Y/N up. They needed to sleep. She needed to go back home.

"Right... you need to rest," she said firmly, avoiding the girl's pleading gaze. "You'll feel better in the morning."

Minjeong knew she was being cold and dismissive, but it was the only way she could protect herself from getting hurt again. She wasn't about to accept the fact that she had been an asshole. That she had broken the best relationship in her life over a possible mistake. That she had been wrong for writing that song about Y/N.

She simply wasn't.

Not when Y/N was drunk out of her mind.

"I don't need rest; I need you to believe me. I didn't make that bet."

Minjeong didn't listen to her. She stood up to leave, but Y/N suddenly tilted her head, and the sight of her red cheek had Minjeong halting in her actions and biting her bottom lip. Instead of walking back to the front door, she made her way to the kitchen and returned to the living room a minute later with an ice pack in hand.

The act of settling down on the couch beside Y/N felt weirdly intimate, but Minjeong pushed her thoughts away before pressing the ice pack against her cheek, the cold sending a shiver down her own spine. She tried to keep her touch light and impersonal, but it was hard when the girl's face was so close.

"Just... don't say anything," she muttered, her eyes fixed on the ice as she avoided making eye contact. "Just stay quiet and sober up."

Y/N leaned back on the couch, her eyes shining with a mix of desperation and love as she stared at Minjeong. "I like you, Minjeong."

The words felt like a punch to the gut for Minjeong. She swallowed hard, her hand trembling slightly as she held the ice pack in place.

"Shut up," her voice was barely above a whisper. "You're drunk."

Y/N's heart pounded as she watched Minjeong tend to her, the cold of the ice pack no match for the warmth surging through her body. Minjeong's proximity, her touch—it all felt too real, too close to the memories she had been clinging to for months. She couldn't stand this denial of her own feelings. What else did she have to do for Minjeong to believe her?

Three months. Three months had gone by, and she was still hung up on her.

She reacted before she could think things through, sitting up and capturing Minjeong's lips with her own.

Minjeong froze at the unexpected feel of Y/N's lips on hers. Her heart skipped a beat, and her mind went blank as the taste and scent of the girl hit her like a ton of bricks.

For a brief moment, she forgot about everything that had happened between them.

Then reality came crashing back, and she pushed Y/N away, a mix of anger and confusion storming in her eyes. "What the hell, Y/N? You're drunk! You don't know what you're doing!"

Y/N smiled, cupping Minjeong's cheeks as her eyes landed on the latter's lips. "Trust me, I know exactly what I'm doing."

There was zero hesitation in her actions as she kissed Minjeong again.

The blonde's body reacted before her mind could catch up. Her fingers tangled in Y/N's hair, pulling her closer as their lips met again.

The taste and feel of Y/N were intoxicating, and for a moment, the world around them faded away. All rationality was gone, replaced by a raw, desperate desire. But then sense kicked in, and she pulled back again, her breathing ragged. "We can't do this," she said firmly, her voice shaky. "You're drunk, and—"

"—and very much so in love with you." Y/N's kisses drifted down from Minjeong's lips to her jaw and neck. She pressed on Minjeong's shoulder, making her lay back on the couch before she climbed on top of her.

"Would you like me to stop?" Her hooded eyes stared down at her.

Minjeong's heart was pounding wildly in her chest, Y/N's words and touch sending her thoughts spiraling out of control.

She wanted to object, to push Y/N away, but something within her refused to let her. Her body felt warm and responsive under the girl's kisses and touches, making it impossibly hard to resist the pull.

"We..." she started to protest, but her voice trailed off as those soft lips found her neck again, making her back arch unconsciously into Y/N.

Y/N pulled back. Minjeong's body was as receptive as always, but she needed more. She wanted a verbal confirmation. "We...?"

Minjeong's mind was a battlefield of emotions. There was the rational part of her, the part that reminded her of all the reasons why this was wrong. But then there was the part of her that was screaming louder, telling her that this was Y/N on top of her. She'd have to be fucking stupid to refuse this.

Her body was thrumming under Y/N's touch, yearning for more and more of the girl who had caused her so much pain but could still make her feel so much pleasure.

She closed her eyes, torn and unsure, her voice a trembling whisper. "We... should stop."

Y/N stopped.

She felt rejected again but ultimately nodded, respecting Minjeong's wishes.

As soon as she went to stand, Minjeong's hand shot out, grabbing her wrist and pulling her back down onto the couch.

The motion was instinctual, driven by a need that Minjeong didn't fully want to understand. But when she looked up and found Y/N looking down at her again, all logic went out the window once more.

Her hand moved from the girl's wrist to her neck, pulling her even closer, so their lips pressed together again.

The feeling of Y/N's body against hers was like a jolt of electricity, and Minjeong couldn't find the strength to resist any longer. She pulled Y/N closer, her hands roaming over the girl's hips, waist, back, and hair, seeking to memorize every inch of her body. Her tongue grazed over Y/N's bottom lip, silently begging for entrance—one that was quickly granted.

Once she was out of breath, Y/N pulled back and sat up on Minjeong's hips to pull off her shirt. She ran a hand through her hair, smiling at the sight of the wide-eyed blonde beneath her.

Minjeong reached out a hand, hesitantly tracing it along the curves of Y/N's waist and stomach. It had been so long since she'd touched her like this, and she had almost forgotten how much she craved it.

She pulled Y/N back down towards her, their bodies pressing together once again, and buried her face into the crook of the girl's neck to pepper it with kisses, inhaling the familiar scent that was so uniquely Y/N.

Y/N's lips found their way to Minjeong's earlobe, hot breath making chills run down the blonde's back.

"I want you." Her voice was low and smoky.

Minjeong's body reacted instantly to the sound of those words. Her breathing grew shallower as heat pooled in her stomach. She tangled her fingers into Y/N's hair, pulling the girl's face a little farther away from hers so that she could look her in the eyes. There was a small part of her that was still warning her that this was a bad idea. That there would be consequences come morning. But she didn't listen.

"I want you, too."

Y/N felt a shiver running down her body at the confirmation she had been so desperate for. Her eyes were fixed on Minjeong's lips as she spoke, "Show me."

And Minjeong did, indeed, show her.

She knew she was treading on dangerous ground, but at that moment, she didn't care.

They both didn't care, actually.

And when Y/N woke up the following morning with a killer headache and turned to find a naked Minjeong at her side, her eyes widened as panic took over.

The feeling of self-disrespect overwhelmed her, so much so that she grabbed her clothes and left her own house, only coming back later that day. Minjeong was long gone by then. ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺

Taglist: @vyvvycg , @myouiiiiiiii

[wherethefireliliesgrow]

dropped by for some light reading and inspiration. Ended up finding this masterpiece Can’t wait for more 🥺

[wherethefireliliesgrow]

High School

Kim Minji x Reader

Part 2

GENRE: angst, slight fluff

TAGS: high school, right person wrong time

TYPE: Two Shot Inspired by: High School- Alexander 23

When the name Kim Minji is mentioned, people immediately associate her with being the oldest member of one of the world's biggest girl groups. They think of her elegant visuals, unwavering talent, and professional mannerism on screen. It's hard to determine whether it's a blessing or a curse to be the one who knows her true self off-screen. You were the only person who witnessed her relentless dedication to achieving her dreams of becoming an idol, the sparkle in her eyes at the mention of her favorite flavored ice cream, her self-consciousness about her ears, and the sweetness of her lips when they were locked with yours. At least, you used to know all of these things.

You both crossed paths on the very first day of high school, a tale that could be described as a cliché love story. Fate placed you together in the chemistry class, but instead of finding chemistry within the subject, you discovered it between yourselves (resulting in your failed class, as you were too distracted by her). From the moment your eyes met, you were immediately captivated by her presence. Her shy smile, causing her eyes to squint into crescent moons, enchanted you completely.

A powerful connection effortlessly formed between the two of you, and you quickly became inseparable best friends. Over time, your circle expanded, gradually incorporating more people. She possessed a magnetic charm, attracting others to her like the sun in your small high school solar system, while you and your friends orbited around her like planets.

Despite her growing popularity and busier schedule as the captain of the school's dance team, she never let you slip from her thoughts. She would eagerly whisk you away to museums, dance rehearsals, and amusement parks, making sure you were always a part of her life. You were her best friend, as she was yours. Nights were spent in the warmth of her embrace as you stayed over at her house, seeking comfort after long hours of homework, and days consisted of the two of you finding each other in school hallways after going to different classes.

"I missed you," Minji would always say, a warm smile spreading across her face as you reunited in the bustling hallway. With a casual ease, the taller girl would sling your bag onto her back and intertwine her fingers with yours, walking you to your next class.

Your friends often teased, playfully suggesting that your relationship seemed more like dating than mere friendship. Blushing, you would shyly deny their claims, even though the racing of your heart whenever she pulled you close, betrayed your true feelings. Deep down, you yearned for something more, but it remained unspoken, concealed beneath the surface of your friendship.

Luckily, Minji thought the same thing, as she finally mustered up the courage to ask you out on the last day of your second year in high school. She had called you after her dance practice, telling you to meet her outside your house. Opening the door, you discovered her nervously fidgeting, concealing something behind her back. It took several attempts to get her attention, and when her eyes finally met yours, her face flushed a bright shade of red.

It took Minji a few minutes to gather her thoughts and confess her feelings to you without stumbling over her words. You found her absolutely adorable, with her timidly tugging at the sides of her sweatpants and swaying slightly back and forth. That was the day you shared your first kiss. The memory of her soft lips against yours, her long arms wrapped around your waist, became etched in your mind forever.

"I really like you," she whispered against your lips, her eyes closed, intoxicated by your closeness.

"I can tell," you laughed, accepting the bouquet of flowers she held out to you and nuzzling your nose into her neck, inhaling the familiar scent of pine and mint that belonged uniquely to her.

Your relationship was sweet, even till the end.

Minji had successfully entered Hybe as a trainee during your third year in high school, and could no longer attend most of the classes at school. Nevertheless, she always found ways to surprise you, leaving cute notes in your locker or sneaking into your room at midnight with a bag filled with your favorite snacks and movies. When you were busy preparing for college entrance exams, the aspiring idol made sure to take you on small dates, providing you moments of comfort. You loved her with all your heart, but deep down, you knew that your relationship had an expiration date. Her talent shone brightly, and you were confident that she would successfully debut. 

She broke things off a few months leading to her debut. As she struggled to find the right words, you nodded in understanding, pulling her into a final embrace and burying your tear-streaked face in her shirt.

"It's okay. I understand," you whispered. "They will love you just as much as I love you."

"But I only want you," she responded, her broad shoulders slumped in defeat.

It was the first time you had ever seen doubt in her eyes. She had always been so certain about her future and her dream of becoming an idol. As much as you adored her, you refused to be the reason for her hesitation.

"You'll still have me. Together or not, I will always be here cheering you on." 

You stood on your tiptoes and kissed her for the last time in forever. 

As you had predicted, the world fell head over heels for Kim Minji.  She was adored right from the start, the moment her face graced the debut lineup. They loved her for the person she had become – poised, stunningly beautiful, and incredibly talented. Their adoration for her was so immense that it led to sold-out stadiums and her topping the charts for months.  

However, as you lay alone in bed every night, it was the pure and genuine version of Minji from the past that filled your thoughts. You had loved her then, flaws and all, and you still loved her now. You loved the way she would pull on the tips of her long hair whenever she was thinking or nervous, you loved the way she looked in her baggy sweatpants and scruffy shoes after a day of rehearsals.

Most of all, you loved the way her eyes softened when she looked at you. 

But that was all part of the past now. All you had left of her was the soft bunny-eared hat she had gifted you right before her debut, the very same design she wore in her latest music video. And that was okay. She was loved by millions, and that was what truly mattered.

You found solace in knowing that crowds would cheer her on as she stood on stage, chanting her name in adoration. You made a promise to yourself that you would continue to love the Minji you knew, even when the stage lights dimmed. You were determined to ensure she felt loved no matter where life took her.

She was your high school love, and you were content with that.

Part 2

[wherethefireliliesgrow]

long overdue update!! Part 2 is finally up (after a whole year 😬 😬)

[wherethefireliliesgrow]

High School (Part 2)

Kim Minji x Reader

Part 1

GENRE: angst, fluff

TYPE: Two Shot - Final Part Inspired by: bansanka - tuki.

A/N: this has been long overdue! i received several requests for the second part but never really found the inspiration to finish it. then earlier this year, while on a work trip in osaka, i stumbled across this song playing in the background of the izakaya i was at. it was one in the morning, the streets were deserted and lonely, and it just clicked with me how this could be something the minji here would definitely relate to. so, tada! hope you enjoy this final part.

The soft hum of the air conditioning ruffled Minji’s hair as she stood at the center of the empty stage, gazing out at the deserted seats. The once-thriving stadium, now half-dark, was strewn with colored ribbons, a reminder of the vibrant energy that filled the space just hours ago. Thousands of voices had chanted her name, but in this quiet moment, all Minji could feel was the loneliness.

It was a familiar ache—one that had followed her for five years, since the day she left you crying on your doorstep. The very same doorstep where she had confessed her love for you.

Lately, she’d been missing you more than usual, which was saying something because there wasn’t a day when you didn’t cross her mind. Through Jimin, your mutual friend, she knew that you had gone to college in the States with Jimin, and here she was now, closer to you than she’d been in years.

Breathing the same air.

Just a few hours’ drive away, that’s all it would take. The thought made her heart ache even more. Were you in the crowds today? Had you cheered her on from the stands, hidden among the sea of strangers? Did you miss her as much as she missed you?

“You okay, bro?” Hanni’s soft voice broke through Minji’s thoughts. The shorter girl walked over and sat down beside her, swinging her legs over the edge of the stage like a little kid.

“Yeah, just tired.” Minji shrugged, trying to sound nonchalant.

But Hanni wasn’t fooled. She knew Minji too well, knew that something deeper was bothering her. She remembered the way Minji used to shine, her laughter infectious when they were trainees. But ever since debut, she had lost her spark. The sadness in her eyes had only worsened since they arrived in the U.S., and Hanni couldn’t help but notice it.

“You don’t have to pretend,” Hanni said softly, giving Minji an awkward pat on the back.

“I’m fine, really,” Minji said, her voice softening when she realized how sharp she had sounded. She stood up slowly, trying to shake off the heaviness that clung to her.

“Thanks for checking up on me.”

The younger girl looked up at Minji, her heart aching in concern for her friend. Minji looked so lost, her thick brows furrowed, the corners of her lips drooping.

“You should go see her,” Hanni said with a sigh. “The girl in the picture.”

Minji’s head snapped back to look at Hanni, her face stunned. “What?”

“The girl in the picture,” Hanni clarified, pulling nervously at her socks that were falling down her ankles. “I wasn’t snooping, I swear. You asked me to grab your glasses once, and I saw it in your drawer.”

Minji’s heart raced. She hadn’t realized Hanni had seen the photo, the one she kept hidden, a tiny piece of you she clung to. It was a strip from a photo booth, the two of you captured in a moment of joy. Minji’s arms wrapped around you, her eyes crinkled with a wide smile, while you pressed a kiss to the corner of her mouth, cheeks flushed. The edges of the photo were worn down, not from age but from being held too often. At the bottom, in your familiar handwriting, was a simple message: I’ll always be your biggest fan. – Y/N.

Minji tugged nervously at the ends of her long hair, her mind racing for a lie. But no words came out of her mouth. How could she deny your importance in her life?

Denying you would be like denying a part of her soul.

“I can’t,” Minji finally said, her broad shoulders slumping in defeat.

“Why?” Hanni stood up, determined to talk some sense into her. “She’s here, right? That’s why you’ve been so off this month.”

“I just…I can’t.” Minji repeated, her voice barely audible, her eyes glistening with tears.

“Why not?” Hanni waved her hands in frustration. “Bro, if you miss her, just go see her. I’ll cover for you.”

“I can’t.” Minji looked up at the ceiling, trying hard to hold back the tears. It was embarrassing enough that Hanni was seeing her like this. She didn’t want to cry in front of her. “I made her cry. I’ll only make her cry again.”

Hanni put her hands on her hips, her eyes twitching in frustration like a tiny dwarf straight out of The Lord of the Rings, ready for battle. If Minji hadn’t been so miserable, she would've laughed right in her face.

“Are you serious, Kim Minji?” Hanni huffed, stepping closer. “Then stop making her cry! Be romantic or something! Make her happy if you love her so much. For the love of god, I can’t believe how stupid you are.”

Before Hanni could grab Minji’s shirt collar and shake some sense into her, Danielle’s voice interrupted.

“Pham Hanni!” Danielle, followed closely by Haerin and Hyein, hurried over. “What’s going on? Don’t fight.”

Another gasp. “Did you make Minji cry?!”

“Bro what? No-” Hanni tried to defend herself. “It’s not what it looks like.”

.

.

.

.

To clear up the misunderstanding (and to avoid getting murdered in her sleep by Hanni), Minji told the girls about you. With a heavy sigh, she told the girls everything—about you, your love, and the heartbreak that followed. How she left you behind for her dream, even though you had been nothing but understanding. How she never stopped thinking about you, and how, no matter what she did, she could never move on.  The girls listened sympathetically, and even Haerin, who was rarely the one to have physical contact, pulled Minji into a hug.

After some convincing, they finally persuaded Minji to call Jimin and ask about you. Despite the late hour, Jimin picked up immediately.

The sound of loud music blasted through the phone, forcing Jimin to yell to be heard.

"Hey, superstar!" Jimin’s voice rang out. "Long time, no talk!"

“Sorry, is this a bad time?” Minji asked, already second-guessing her decision. “I can call back-"

“Nah, I’m just at a rave, but honestly, it’s kinda boring. So talk!”

“You’re at a rave?” Minji asked, bewildered.

She never quite understood how you and Jimin became such close friends when you were so different. Then again, maybe you had changed, too.

“Yup.” Jimin popped the p dramatically. “But don’t worry, she’s not here.”

“I’m not worried.” Minji muttered, before sighing. “She deserves to do whatever makes her happy.”

Jimin made a fake gagging sound. “Ew, that’s so cliché, but also kinda sweet.”

Minji hesitated, her heart in her throat. “Is she doing okay?”

“Yeah, she’s good. Busy with school, trying to land an internship. We’re graduating next year.” Jimin paused, then added, “She still misses you, you know.”

Minji’s heart skipped a beat. “I miss her too,” she admitted softly.

"Then why didn’t you ever call her?"

“I didn’t want to be a burden. It wasn’t fair to drag her into the spotlight, and I didn’t want to make her cry anymore.”

“Why now, though?”

“Now…because I’m not happy without her. I’m tired of giving up the things I love just to be an idol.”

“Okay, ew gross.” Jimin sighed dramatically. “But fine, you pass. I’ll text you the address to our apartment. Just don’t screw it up again, okay? If you make her sad again, I swear I’ll hunt you down, idol or not.”

Minji laughed, feeling lighter than she had in years. For the first time, it felt like she could breathe again.

“I’ll try my best not to.” she said, before adding, “Do you need a ride back? Did you drink?”

“I didn’t drink. Stop being such a grandma. Now go get your girl,” Jimin teased before hanging up.

Jimin laughed to herself as she texted the address to Minji. “Such a loser. No wonder Y/N loves her so much.”

.

.

.

.

Minji was running out of time.

She had to steal her manager's car, buy the things needed to win back your heart, and make the hour-long drive to your place. And somehow, she still needed to make it back before the tour bus left at dawn.

Her heart pounded in her chest, nerves twisting in her stomach. After years of drowning in regret, she was finally close.

You were close.

She wouldn’t stop until you were back in her arms.

Fate seemed to be on her side tonight. She’d managed to slip away from the label unnoticed, with a little help from her bandmates. Stealing the keys straight out of her manager’s pocket had been a risk, but she was too far in to back down now.

“What am I even doing?” Minji muttered to herself, catching her reflection in the rearview mirror. Her hair was a mess, cheeks flushed from nerves and the wind. It was too late to chicken out. She bit her lip, tightening her grip on the wheel as the car sped down the empty street.

A stop at the 24-hour supermarket later, she found herself standing outside your apartment building. The quiet neighborhood felt strange for a Saturday night near campus. The silence made her footsteps sound louder as she walked through the small yard.

She paused at the garden beside the front steps, a small smile tugging at her lips. Rows of blue daisies swayed gently in the breeze. You must’ve planted them, just like back in high school. She remembered how excited she’d gotten during that school trip to the botanical garden when she saw them for the first time. Since then, you’d always planted blue daisies so they could cheer her up after a rough day at school or practice, when she would meet you in front of your house.

And now, years later, those same flowers were here, in front of your rented apartment. The sight of them made her heart race, this time for an entirely different reason.

You still remembered.

With the bag she bought at the supermarket hidden behind her back, Minji took a shaky breath, giving herself a final pep talk. Her hand trembled slightly as she pressed the doorbell. The blood rushed to her ears, heart thudding with each step she heard on the other side.

“Jimin, I swear to god, stop losing your keys.”

The door swung open, revealing your familiar face, first annoyed, then frozen in shock.

"Minji?" you whispered, eyes wide.

You stood still, taking her in. She looked different: taller, more mature, with the kind of calm confidence you had seen in her music videos and interviews. Yet there was a vulnerability about her now, standing in front of you, fidgeting with the hem of her shirt. You had kept up with her promotions, sure, but seeing her here, right in front of you, felt surreal.

You hadn’t realized how much you missed her until you saw her standing there. Her soft, warm eyes, the curve of her lips.

You wanted to kiss her. God, you wanted to kiss her.

“H-Hi, Y/N.” Minji stammered, her brain suddenly forgetting how to form words.

She tugged at her shirt, staring at her scuffed sneakers. She cursed herself for not wearing something better. Here she was, bare-faced, dressed in ragged sweatpants and old sneakers she’d thrown on after the concert.

Little did she know, this was your favorite version of her.

“What are you doing here?” you asked, your voice softer than you intended. The lump in your throat was making it hard for you to talk.

Minji was staring at everything but you, as if the door handle had suddenly become the most fascinating thing in the world.

“I… um… I was in the neighborhood and thought it would be nice to… drop by.” Her voice wavered as her ears turned bright red.

You couldn’t help but bite back a smile. She was so confident in front of millions of people, yet here she was, too nervous to even look at you.

“Really?” You arched an eyebrow.

“Y-yeah.” Her voice was barely above a whisper when she finally raised her eyes to meet yours.

At that moment, it felt like the world stopped spinning. Your eyes were still the same, those honey-brown hues holding all the emotions Minji loved so much. She used to be able to read you with just a glance, all of your thoughts and feelings. Minji remembered the way you looked right before she kissed you for the first time, the expression on your face when she finally confessed, and the night she left. Your eyes had always shown her the direction, but now, for the first time, she couldn’t understand what they were conveying.

Minji swallowed hard, her throat dry as she took a shaky breath. “I know it’s been a long time,” she began, her voice barely steady, “but I-I couldn’t stop thinking about you. About us.”

You were speechless.

You hadn’t expected the love of your life to show up at your doorstep at one in the morning, let alone halfway across the world. And now, here she was, telling you she missed you.

Worried about your silence, Minji continued, her hands gripping the bag behind her back to stop them from shaking.

“I kept telling myself I’d move on, that we were just kids, and it didn’t matter. But it did. You mattered. More than I realized back then. I thought chasing my dreams was worth everything, but nothing is worth more than you, Y/N.”

Her confession hit you like a wave, stirring emotions you’d buried long ago. You had convinced yourself that a clean break was best for both of you, but you still spent countless nights crying, watching her from afar, keeping your promise to be her number-one fan. As her texts slowed and eventually stopped, you assumed she had moved on, that she was happy. You thought you were the only one who couldn’t move on.

But it seemed the idol hadn’t been doing well either.

“I didn’t know what else to do back then,” Minji admitted, a tear slipping down her pale cheeks. “Everything was happening so fast—my career, the label, the spotlight. I got scared. I thought leaving you behind was the only way to move forward, to protect both of us. But I was wrong. And I’ve regretted it every day since.”

You shifted uncomfortably, her words ripping open old wounds that you tried so hard to heal.

“I don’t know what to say,” you whispered, your voice shaking. “It wasn’t your fault.”

Minji nodded slowly, her eyes searching yours for a glimmer of hope. “You don’t have to say anything right now. Just... can I come in? Please. I want to keep a promise I made. And if...if after tonight you want me to leave, I will.”

You looked at her in confusion. “Promise? What promise?”

Minji flashed you a lopsided grin, the same silly, hopeful smile she always reserved just for you. Your heart fluttered despite yourself.

“I promised I’d make you dinner.” She raised the bag from behind her back.

You couldn’t help but laugh. “It’s one in the morning, Minji.”

“So? It’s never too late for food.” Minji’s confidence grew, proud of herself for finally making you laugh.

You sighed but let her in, shutting the door and leading her down the hallway to the kitchen.

As she followed, she noticed the sweatshirt you were wearing—a familiar blue bunny design on the back. Her heart skipped a beat.

“Nice shirt,” she commented, earning a playful glare from you.

“Shut up.”

You turned on the kitchen lights and sat at the island, watching her closely.

Her earlier confidence faltered in the silence. She cleared her throat, tying her hair into a messy bun and rolling up her sleeves. Your eyes never left her as she fumbled with the pots and pans, preparing the ingredients for what was sure to be an unconventional meal. The whole situation felt surreal. Minji, after all these years, standing in your kitchen, just within arm's reach.

“So...you cook now?” you asked, breaking the silence.

“Yeah,” she paused, meeting your gaze. “I took a few classes.”

You chuckled, recalling a memory from high school. “Remember when you tried to make kimchi stew in year two?”

Minji grinned. “I had to wash dishes for a whole month because I burned the pot.”

“You stuck to making appetizers after that. Not that I was complaining though, you were pretty good at making salad.”

She laughed softly, then admitted, “It always felt wrong to only make appetizers for you. So I promised I’d take cooking classes.”

Your heart softened at her words. You remembered that night, after her horrible attempt at cooking, she had sleepily pulled you into her arms and promised to learn how to cook for you someday when you went to bed.

“I didn’t think you’d remember,” you said quietly, your fingers tracing the edge of the counter as you tried to ground yourself in the moment.

It felt impossible that she was here again, fulfilling a promise you thought had been long forgotten.

Minji looked up from the pot she was stirring, her eyes full of affection and regret. “I never forgot anything about you, Y/N. Not a single thing.”

Her words made your heart ache in both the best and worst ways. You had spent so long believing you were just a distant memory to her, something she had left behind without a second thought. But now, seeing her, hearing her, you realized she had carried pieces of you with her all along, just as you had with her.

The kitchen fell into a quiet rhythm as Minji resumed cooking, her movements unhurried, as if she were trying to weave this moment into her memory. You watched her, noticing the way her hair framed her face in its messy bun, the unevenly rolled sleeves she never quite fixed, and the concentration on her face, just as you remembered when she wanted everything to be perfect for you.

She was still the same Minji after all these years. Your Minji.

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Minji had managed to cook a full-course meal—salad, steak, pudding, and, to your surprise, kimchi soup.

“That’s a unique combination,” you laughed as she sat down in front of you, a streak of orange from the kimchi on her chin.

“Well, kimchi soup is your favorite, and the market didn’t have anything else Korean, so I had to settle with st-” Minji’s rambling was abruptly cut off as you reached over and gently wiped the streak from her chin with your thumb.

“Thank you,” you said, meeting her eyes. “Thank you for remembering the promise.”

Minji froze, gulping as your touch sent a familiar rush through her. It was ridiculous how easily you still had this effect on her.

You pulled your hand away like it was nothing, while she was left sitting there, trying to regain her composure.

As you both began eating, it felt natural to fall back into old habits. The conversation flowed easily, like all those years hadn’t passed. You reminisced about high school, laughing over shared memories, those late-night study sessions, sneaking out after curfew, the silly inside jokes that only the two of you would understand.

It was almost like old times, yet there was an unspoken boundary between you. Neither of you dared to bring up the past in any deeper way, avoiding the real reason why she was here. The air was thick with everything unsaid, but for now, it seemed enough to just pretend everything was fine.

When the last of the meal was finished, silence fell over the kitchen once more. The clinking of dishes stopped, and you both sat there, looking at everything but each other. Minji glanced at her watch, inwardly cursing when she saw it was almost 3 a.m. The tour bus left at six sharp, and she was running out of time. But looking at you, your face tinged with a hint of melancholy, she couldn’t bring herself to talk about your relationship. Not yet.

“You kept the daisies,” she said softly, breaking the silence.

“Yeah…I did.” You glanced at her, your heart tightening. “Old habits die hard, I guess.”

Minji’s heart sank. Did you let her in tonight because she was just another habit? But before her thoughts could spiral, you added,

 “But mainly because they made me think of you.”

Minji’s head snapped up, her heart soaring with hope. It was now or never. Either she bring up the past and work on a future with you, or she left, again, with nothing.

She took a deep breath. “Listen, Y/N, I-”

“You never called.” You cut her off. Your voice was soft, not accusatory, but the hurt behind it made Minji wince.

“I know.”

“You stopped replying to my texts.”

Minji pulled at the tips of her hair, a nervous tick she had never managed to get rid of.

“I did.”

“Even when you promised you would still keep in touch with me.”

“I know.”

“Why?”

Minji met your gaze, and the pain in your eyes burned her. She had caused that.

She exhaled shakily. “I made you cry, Y/N. I didn’t want to make you cry anymore. I couldn’t bear that I hurt you because I selfishly wanted everything. I wanted you, but I also wanted the fame.”

You looked at her, the girl you had loved so deeply. She still looked like the 17 year old who had cried on your doorstep all those years ago, her broad shoulders slumped in defeat. So much had changed, and yet, so little.

Minji continued, her voice trembling. “Your texts got me through training for a while. But I was selfish. I wanted you there with me, wanted to pretend we never broke up. But when Jimin accidentally let slip that you hadn’t been sleeping, that you cried when you thought she couldn’t see, I realized I was only hurting you more by not letting you move on.”

“It hurt me more,” you admitted, your voice barely above a whisper, “when you just stopped replying without any explanation.”

“I’m sorry, Y/N. So so sorry.” Minji couldn’t stand the distance any longer.

She left her spot across the table and knelt down beside you, reaching for your hands. She brought them close to her lips, her cool breath sending shivers down your spine.

“There hasn’t been a day that’s gone by where I didn’t think about you and regret what I did.”

You looked down at her, your heart aching. “Minji, you’re still an idol. You’re more famous  than ever. Dispatch, the fame, your label... nothing has changed.”

“But I’ve changed, Y/N.” Her eyes glistened with tears, reflecting the soft yellow kitchen light, making them glow golden.

“I doubted how I showed my love. I was scared of hurting you, so I only gave you small parts of myself. Appetizers, small crumbs of my heart. I prioritized everything else over our relationship. But now, after all these years, my feelings for you haven’t faded. They’ve only grown stronger, more sure. And if you’ll let me, I want to give you the full course of love I never realized I had.”

Your vision blurred with tears as Minji’s words struck deep. You felt like you were falling apart, but she was here, trying to piece your heart back together.

Mistaking your silence and tears as rejection, Minji’s hand slipped away from yours.

“I’m sorry for bothering you,” she muttered, trying to choke back her own tears. “I’ll leave now.”

She began to rise to her feet, but you reached out, grabbing her arm.

She froze, looking down at you. Your tear-streaked face was red and puffy, but to Minji, you were the most beautiful sight she had ever seen.

Without another word, you grabbed the collar of her shirt and pulled her down, crashing your lips against hers. Minji stumbled, but quickly steadied herself, her arms braced on either side of you against the chair. The kiss was urgent, and passionate. It was a release of years of longing and unresolved feelings. You wrapped your arms around her neck, pulling her closer still, a smile curling on your lips as she nearly toppled over in her rush to kiss you back.

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Later, the two of you sat curled up on the living room sofa, your head resting against Minji’s chest. Her heart was beating softly beneath your ear, a rhythmic reminder that she was really here. Each breath she took sent a gentle rise and fall beneath you, and the familiar scent of her pine and mint invaded your senses. Her fingers traced shapes on your thigh, silent words of her love etched with every gentle brush.

You played with her other hand, your fingers threading through hers, relishing the warmth and weight of them. Her calloused fingertips brushed against your palm, a reminder of her hard work over the years. But here, in this quiet moment, she was just Minji—your Minji.

“I have to leave soon,” she whispered, sounding reluctant. It was almost 5 a.m.

At her words, you buried your face deeper into the crook of her neck. The thought of her leaving again, even if only for a few weeks, pained your heart.

“When will you come back?”

“In three weeks,” Minji said softly.

“We’ve got a few shows left, but as soon as the tour’s over, I’ll come back. I promise. And then we’ll have all the time in the world to talk, to figure everything out.”

You nodded, trusting her words. This Minji felt different, she was more determined. You could feel the weight of her promise from the way she held you like she never wanted to let go.

The world outside was still dark, the streets quiet, lonely even. But inside, the room was soft, assuring, and full of warmth.

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You walked her to the door, making a fuss about how cold it was in the early morning as you handed her your volleyball team hoodie. Secretly, you just wanted her to have something of yours, a reminder that she was real. Your last name stood proudly on her back as she leaned against the door, a goofy, lovesick grin on her face. It felt like the roles had reversed. You used to be the one wearing her clothes in high school, but now here she was, your oversized hoodie fitting her perfectly.

She was effortlessly perfect.

“I’ll miss you,” you said, unable to help yourself.

Her grin blossomed into a full-blown smile as she pulled you in for one last kiss. A promise of more to come.

When she finally pulled away, your face was flushed, and your heart was racing. She had that effect on you.

“I’ll call you,” she said, her eyes sparkling with adoration.

“You better,” you teased, tugging on her hoodie collar.

She gave you a playful salute, her thick eyebrows wagging. “Every day. Scout’s honor.”

You laughed, before finally releasing your hold and her and pushed her toward the car. “You’re such a loser.”

“A loser for you.” She walked backward, eyes locked on yours and giving you a playful wink as she got in.

You stood there, in front of the blue daisies, watching the love of your life leave, just like you had all those years ago. But this time, it wasn’t a goodbye. It was a promise.

She was your high school love, and the promise of everything that lay ahead.

Part 1

[wherethefireliliesgrow]

High School Part 2 will be out this week!

Been receiving requests for this for the past year but I never had the chance to work on it🤡

[wherethefireliliesgrow]

We love pablo the bird Pigeon 🦅🦅🦅🦅(no pigeon emoji) - i'm officially pablo the Pigeon bird now🦅

🦅🦅 queen Pablo supremacy 🙏🏻

[wherethefireliliesgrow]

Birds of a Feather

Pham Hanni x F reader

GENRE: fluff, slight angst

TAGS: college love, friends to lovers

TYPE: One Shot

Inspired by: Birds of a Feather - Billie Eilish

A jump and rustle in your bed woke you up with a start. Your heart raced at the shock and possibility of an intruder. But before you could turn on the lights, the familiar smell of citrus and raspberries filled the air. It was your best friend and flatmate, Hanni.

She had flopped face-first onto your pillow next to you, her annoyed groan slightly muffled. Your heart thumped loudly at the close proximity of her skin next to yours, but you quickly rubbed your eyes, trying to wipe away the drowsiness and the tingling feeling in your chest.

“What the hell, Pham?” you muttered, glancing at the clock on your nightstand. “Why are you in my room at 3 in the morning?”

She merely pushed her face deeper into your pillow and inhaled, sighing in defeat.

Hanni was many things—she may be a tiny little thing, but she was insanely loud, vibrant, and expressive. So her silence meant something was seriously wrong. That was when you remembered she had left last night for a date with another boy from her major. She had been so excited, but it seemed the date did not go well. You secretly cheered at the thought of her not falling for another guy, but guilt quickly followed. Your friend was here, wallowing in misery, and all you could think about was your own feelings.

“I take it the date with Jun didn’t go well?” you softly asked, reaching over to stroke her raven-black hair.

Finally deciding to answer, she turned around and buried her face in your neck, her small body curling toward your warmth. You wrapped your arm around her and pulled her close, soothing her like you had since you met in freshman year. Your bodies fit together perfectly, like pieces of a puzzle, or birds of a feather.

“It was… okay,” she muttered defeatedly.

“Then what’s wrong? I thought you liked him.”

Hanni let out another sigh, her cool breath brushing against your neck and sending shivers through your body.

“I thought he was cute. But it just doesn’t feel right. There’s no connection, no spark.”

“Don’t force it if it doesn’t feel right,” you said, rubbing her arm soothingly.

“But when will it ever feel right?” Her voice raised slightly, a hint of tears in her eyes.

“I’ve been on at least twenty dates in the past few months, and none of them ever feel right. I’m so tired of this. Maybe I’m just not meant to be with anyone. Maybe no one would ever like me.”

Your heart twinged at hearing Hanni say this. It pained you to see such a wonderful and sweet girl doubt herself so much, beaten down by all the failed dates and rejections.

“Don’t say that, Hanni. From my time with you as your best friend and roommate, I can assure you that you are very lovable and one of the best people in the world. You deserve all the love you can find. Don’t ever let anyone else make you think otherwise.”

Hanni paused in silence at your words, and you started to sweat, worried that she had caught on to your feelings. The room was too dark for you to see her expression, but finally, she softly leaned her head toward you and pressed her lips on your cheek gently before drawing back.

“Thank you, Y/N, for being here, for being my best friend,” she whispered, before cuddling back into you.

Her breathing slowed, indicating that she had fallen asleep.

Your face burned where her lips had touched. You knew this was the closest thing to love you could get from her, but you were content with just being her friend.

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The blow of the whistle echoed in the gymnasium, along with the roar from the crowd in the stands. Your volleyball team had managed to catch up to the competing team, head-to-head in the final round of the quarter-finals. Hanni knew her friends were talking about something, but her eyes stayed glued to you, watching you furrow your brows in concentration as you listened to your coach discuss the next game plan.

“If you stare any harder, your eyes are going to fall out,” Minji, one of her close friends and the class president, teased the shorter girl, nudging her gently out of her trance.

“Huh?” Hanni finally drew her eyes away from you and looked back to see her group of friends all looking at her with stupid, knowing grins on their faces.

“Sorry, what were you guys saying?”

“We were talking about when you were going to ask Y/N out,” Haerin drawled, her cat-like eyes glinting with mischief.

“What?” Hanni quickly shook her head, her heart pounding at the thought. “I don’t like Y/N.”

“If you say so,” Haerin snickered, enjoying watching her friend panic.

“Seriously, I’m not gay,” Hanni’s voice raised slightly, tinged with both anger and fear that they had caught on to her feelings.

“We know, Haerin was just joking,” Danielle quickly cut in. Ever so sweet and a ball of sunshine, she smoothly changed the subject to soothe Hanni’s nerves. “What do you guys want for dinner after?”

As the girls chattered around her, all Hanni could hear was her blood rushing in her ears. She wasn’t gay; she couldn’t be. She only dated boys, even if the dates were always disappointing. She just cared for you as a friend—a best friend. Yes, that must be it. She liked paying attention to you because that’s what a good friend should do. She tried to push the thoughts of how much she enjoyed your attention, how nice it felt to be in your arms, out of her head.

You leaped up high and struck the volleyball, the ball moving so fast that Hanni couldn’t see anything but a blur of white, followed by the sound of a slam and the referee’s whistle. The crowd roared in glee as your teammates all piled on top of you. You had made the final point and secured your school’s ticket to the finals.

Hanni jumped to her feet and screamed your name, waving a towel with your last name on it in celebration.

“Whipped,” Minji muttered to Haerin, and Hyein snickered. Danielle quickly turned around to shush the older girl, but was also grinning as they watched Hanni run from the stands and onto the court to congratulate you.

You caught her mid-jump and twirled her around, the number on your jersey catching the court light as it mirrored the one on Hanni’s body.

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Ever since the girls mentioned the idea of Hanni having feelings for you, she tried her hardest to avoid having these allegations whenever you guys hung out in public. Hanni, who was always around, who always filled the room with her bright energy, began to drift away. She started to avoid you. It wasn’t immediate, but you noticed. It started with her not sitting next to you  in classes, then she stopped responding to your texts as quickly as she used to. Eventually, she stopped joining in on Friday movie nights in the living room. She used to look forward to these so much.

You couldn't understand what had changed. Everything was fine until the game. The closeness you two shared, the comfort in each other's presence, was suddenly replaced by a wall that the shorter girl seemed determined to build. When you asked her if everything was okay, she’d shrug it off, avoiding your eyes.

“I’ve just been busy,” she’d say, forcing a smile that didn’t reach her honey-brown hues eyes. “Lots of assignments, you know?”

But you knew it wasn’t just assignments. The warmth that used to be in her voice when she talked to you had been replaced by something cold, something distant. She no longer confided you in her problems, no longer snuggled up towards you, and no longer wanted to spend time with you.

Your friends noticed too. Minji, Haerin, and Danielle would exchange glances when they saw the two of you together, the awkward tension between you crushing the room. They didn’t say anything directly, but their concern was evident in the way they tried to lighten the mood, filling the silence with jokes and stories. But it wasn’t the same.

One evening, after another failed attempt to talk to Hanni, you lay in your bed, staring at the ceiling, wondering where things went wrong. Your chest felt heavy, like you were carrying around a weight that you couldn’t shake off. All you wanted was to understand, to know why she was pulling away. But Hanni kept her distance, leaving you alone with your thoughts and the growing ache in your heart. Did she somehow, figure out your feelings for her? Did the thought of you liking her make her withdraw in disgust?

The dreams of her haunted you once again.

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A few week passed with little change. You decided to get some fresh air, clear your mind from the confusion that had been clouding it. Your shared flat was too quiet, and Hanni’s door was always shut, as if she wanted to keep you away from her as much as she could.

You went off campus, deciding to visit your cousin Jimin. She always knew how to help you make sense of things. As you sat in a small, cozy coffee shop, you poured your heart out to her, explaining how Hanni had changed, how you didn’t understand what had gone wrong.

Jimin listened patiently, her eyes full of empathy. “Maybe she’s going through something she doesn’t know how to talk about,” she suggested, placing her hand on yours in a comforting gesture.

Unbeknownst to you, Hanni had walked past the coffee shop at that very moment. She had heard you leave the dorm and decided to go for a walk herself.

Though she seemed nonchalant, the time away from you had taken a toll on her. Dark circles shadowed her eyes, and she couldn't eat. All she wanted was to crawl back into your arms and apologize for pulling away. You must be so confused about the sudden distance. She was confused herself. She had finally come to terms with the fact that the reason all her relationships and dates had failed was that she had feelings for you all along. A part of her wanted to confess, but a bigger part had convinced herself that she could get through this silly crush on you if she just avoided you, that it was just a phase.

But maybe, just maybe, you liked her too. This thought lingered in her mind, fueled by her friends who kept insisting that you had feelings for her.

She promised herself she would talk to you soon.

As she walked through the town, the autumn chill made her pull her jacket tighter. She couldn’t help but think of the times you would take off your scarf and wrap it around her because she was too cold, or the way you’d laugh at her pink nose and buy her a cup of hot coffee.

Just when she thought things couldn’t get worse, her heart sank as she saw you in a random coffee shop with another girl. The way the girl’s hand rested on yours twisted something painfully in her chest. She felt a sudden surge of jealousy, something she didn’t want to acknowledge. In her mind, she began to piece together a story that wasn’t true—that you had moved on, that you had found someone else, or that you never liked her in the first place.

After all, she was a girl who could never find love.

The rest of the day, Hanni couldn’t focus on anything. All she could think of was the pretty girl paying attention to everything you said, the way your eyes sparkled when you talked, and the sight of her hand in yours.

That night, Hanni took a pair of scissors and chopped her hair short, the long locks that you used to run your hands through falling to the floor. Snip after snip, she chopped off her hair the way you had broken her heart, piece by piece. She stared at herself in the mirror, her heart racing as she tried to convince herself that this was a fresh start, a way to move on from the confusing feelings she had for you.

The next day, when you saw Hanni with her new haircut, you were shocked. She looked different—fierce, determined, but there was something else behind her eyes, something that didn’t quite fit the image she was trying to project. You couldn’t help but wonder what had driven her to such a drastic change. She had always adored her long hair. Though you thought she looked just as good with short hair and choppy bangs, you thought she looked good in anything, to be honest.

“You cut your hair,” you said, trying to sound casual, but the surprise in your voice was evident.

“Yeah, felt like a change,” she replied curtly, not meeting your gaze.

“Why?”

“It’s really none of your business.” She snapped, instantly regretting it when she saw the hurt look on your face.

Hanni quickly grabbed her bag and left for her morning class, the one she had with you.

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The tension between you both only grew thicker. The silence that used to be comfortable now felt suffocating. Days passed without much exchange until one evening, something snapped. Hanni had had a terrible day and overheard NingNing, her classmate, talking about considering asking you out since you seemed to be open to dating now.

You were in the kitchen, preparing a late dinner, when Hanni walked in, her expression hard to read.

“Is something wrong?” you asked, trying to keep your voice steady.

“Why would anything be wrong?” Hanni shot back, her tone sharper than you expected.

“I don’t know, Hanni. You’ve been acting strange, avoiding me. If I did something, can’t you just tell me?”

She clenched her fists, her breath quickening. “Maybe you should go ask the girl you were with at the coffee shop.”

The words hit you like a punch to the gut. You blinked, trying to process what she had just said. “The coffee shop? What coffee shop? What girl?”

“The one by the train station.” Hanni rubbed her forehead in frustration, trying to calm herself down. “Aren’t you dating her or something?”

Your eyes widened, and your mouth formed an O. You looked so stupid and adorable, and all Hanni wanted to do was punch you (or kiss you).

“Hanni, that was my cousin Jimin.”

Her eyes widened slightly, the color draining from her face as the realization dawned on her.

“Your cousin? I never knew you had a cousin.”

“Yeah, she was here on a business tri—”

Before either of you could say anything more, a loud thump echoed from the window. Hanni let out a scream, her scream scaring you more than the thump itself. The room fell silent, both of you turning toward the sound.

“What was that?” Hanni whispered, her voice shaky.

You moved toward the window, your heart pounding.

“Y/N!” Hanni hissed, reaching to pull you back. “Don’t go too close. It might be a serial killer.”

At that comment, you snorted and decided to walk forward.

Pulling the curtain aside, you saw a pigeon lying on the ground, its wing awkwardly bent.

“It’s just a pigeon,” you said, opening the window carefully.

“Get it out of here,” Hanni said, her voice rising with panic. She backed away, her fear of birds evident in the way she trembled.

“Y/N, I’m serious. Pigeons are covered in germs.”

Ignoring her protests, you gently brought the pigeon inside, placing it on the table.

“It’s hurt, Hanni. I’m calling Dani. She’ll know what to do.”

A few minutes later, Danielle arrived, her vet kit in hand. She worked quickly, soothing the frightened bird and bandaging its wing. Hanni watched from the doorway, her fear momentarily forgotten as she observed the tenderness with which you handled the situation. You looked at the pigeon so softly and caringly, while Hanni just thought it was the ugliest bird ever. It was balding, and just a flurry of gray and white spots.

“Thank you, Dani,” you said as she finished up, giving you a reassuring smile before she left.

“It’s never a problem, Y/N. Bring it to the clinical room tomorrow, and our professors can check it out.” Dani said cheerfully, her grin brightening the whole room.

“I’m glad you guys are talking again,” she giggled, before shutting the door behind her.

As the door closed, the room was quiet again, but the tension between you and Hanni remained. She looked at you, her eyes filled with regret, and for a moment, you thought she might say something. But she simply averted her gaze and focused her attention on the bird.

“That bird is not staying in my room,” she said, wrinkling her nose in disgust.

You shrugged, at least she was talking to you again. “I’ll keep it in mine then.”

“It’s one of the ugliest birds I’ve ever seen.” She walked a bit closer to the pigeon, which gave a weird squawk and turned its bald head to look at her.

“Yeah, it’s kinda ugly.”

The two of you stood in the middle of the living room awkwardly, looking anywhere except at each other.

“I’m going to name it Pablo,” Hanni said suddenly before walking back to her room.

You laughed at her randomness, feeling a bit better than you had in weeks.

The door to Hanni’s room was left half-open.

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.

.

Neither of you addressed the weird distance that had grown between you over the past few weeks. But Hanni seemed to be in a better mood, and you noticed that she was slowly warming up to you again. She even visited Pablo with you, despite her initial disgust toward birds. Sometimes, she would bring bird seeds for the pigeon to snack on or sing to him with her beautiful, sweet voice when she thought you couldn’t hear her.

You weren’t back to normal, but you were getting there.

Hanni, on the other hand, had a plan. After all the heartbreak and misunderstandings she had accidentally caused, she was determined to set things right. She couldn’t imagine herself dating anyone else but you, and the thought of you holding someone else made her heart ache.

So she was thinking of a way to confess to you. She wanted nothing more than to be in your arms again, but as the days blurred into weeks and winter’s snow melted away into spring, she still hadn’t mustered the courage.

That was until the day you were to release Pablo back into the wild.

It was spring, and Dani had said that Pablo’s wing was fully healed and that it was the perfect time for him to rejoin nature.

As you and Hanni said your goodbyes to Pablo (you teared up a bit, while Hanni, still wary of the bird, merely poked its now fluffy head with her forefinger tenderly), she insisted on tying a small pink ribbon on one of Pablo’s feet.

“Just in case he ever flies by, I’ll recognize him,” she explained with a shy smile.

You drove to a nearby park with Hanni, talking and laughing along the way, similar to what you used to do, but with a sense of shyness hanging in the air.

Hanni opened the cage to let him go.

The two of you watched as he took flight, joining a flock of pigeons in the trees.

Finally, deciding to brave yourself again, you asked, “Hanni, what did I do before to make you hate me?”

Hanni’s face fell, sadness washing over her as she realized how you’d been feeling.

“I never hated you. I hated myself.” She whispered.

“Why?”

Hanni took a deep breath, her voice trembling slightly as she spoke. “I was confused about how I felt about you. I like you, Y/N, and I was so scared of that. I was scared that you didn’t like me back or that maybe I wasn’t really... you know, into girls.”

You sighed, relief and understanding flooding your heart.

You reached down to grab her hand, squeezing it gently. “I’ve always liked you, Hanni. I just didn’t want to make you uncomfortable.”

Hanni’s eyes lit up with a mix of surprise and happiness. Her sweet face broke into a smile, the smile that she reserved only for you, and stood on her tiptoes.  She wrapped her arms around your neck, pulling you closer, so close that you could feel her breath on your lips. The smell of citrus on her skin was dizzying, in the best way.

The flock of pigeons took flight behind the two of you, their wings flapping in the background as if in celebration.

Hanni looked up at you, her voice soft and full of meaning. “I kept thinking... that’s us.”

You frowned, confused. “The pigeons?”

“Yeah,” she nodded, her smile growing. “We’re birds of a feather. We belong together.”

You chuckled, shaking your head in disbelief. “Hanni, you’re scared of birds.”

Hanni playfully rolled her eyes. “Just shut up and kiss me.”

As Hanni’s words hung in the air, a playful smirk danced on her lips, but her eyes shone with a deep, genuine vulnerability. You could feel your heart pounding in your chest, the world around you fading into the background as the moment between you grew more intense. The light breeze rustled through the trees, carrying the soft scent of blooming flowers, but all you could focus on was her.

When your lips finally met, it was gentle at first—soft, tentative, as if testing the waters. But then, as if something clicked, the kiss deepened, full of the emotions you’d both been holding back.

Her hand slid up to the back of your neck, pulling you closer, while you wrapped your arms around her, feeling the warmth of her body against yours. The world seemed to fall away, leaving just the two of you in that moment.

When you finally broke apart, it was only because you both needed to breathe. Hanni’s forehead rested against yours, her eyes half- closed, a soft smile playing on her lips. Her cheeks were flushed, and there was a sparkle in her eyes that hadn’t been there before. You could feel her breath on your face, still quick and uneven, and you realized yours was the same.

“I’ve been wanting to do that for so long,” you whispered, your voice barely audible. Your thumb gently brushed a stray lock of hair from her face.

Hanni chuckled softly, her laugh full of relief and happiness.

“Me too,” she said, pressing a quick, sweet kiss to your lips before pulling back slightly, just enough to look into your eyes again. “Me too.”

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The start of the new semester filled you with a sense of excitement. It had been just a year since you and Hanni had gotten together, and everything seemed brighter.

One morning, as Hanni was drying her hair with a towel, a loud thump against the window startled her. She let out a small scream, her hands flailing in surprise and nearly poking her eye.

“Are you okay, babe?” you called out from your shared room, the term still feeling endearing and intimate.

Hurrying out of the room, you found Hanni standing by the window, her eyes wide with fear as she pointed at something outside.

You sighed and walked over to her, gently pulling the curtains aside. The scene outside was familiar yet baffling—an ugly pigeon with a pink ribbon tied around its leg was perched on the windowsill. But this time, there was something different: the pigeon had made a nest and was now sitting on a batch of eggs.

Hanni blinked in disbelief and turned to you, her confusion in her voice.

“Pablo is a girl???”

A bit rushed 🥶 Getting kind of rusty after not writing for a while

[wherethefireliliesgrow]

finished?? nooooo 🥹🥹😭😭

moonlight sunrise is very amazing. it’s so worth waiting for!! you did amazing author! 🫶

I’m glad you enjoyed the story! This means a lot to me 🥹

an epilogue is coming soon 🥰