Work Text:
Minjeong’s agency seems to think that she’s in some sort of a mid-career crisis.
She’s under the impression that her management’s just kind of overreacting.
Not getting casting calls like she used to was not really that bad… right? Well, she did get a few calls from variety shows but her agency just doesn’t think that’s enough. You’re an actress not a comedian, they would say. Which she shamefully shared the same sentiment with because Minjeong thinks she’s not even remotely that funny. She’s just really super bad at games and people would often equate her embarrassment or failures to slapstick comedy.
And Minjeong was mostly fine with it. Mostly. But she was a great actress and she’s very much trained to just take it with grace whenever things wouldn’t go her way.
She sighed, placing a palm under her chin as she taps an idle finger to wake her phone screen. Aeri was fifteen minutes late prior to their meeting. She received an “urgent” text from her manager not more than thirty minutes ago. Saying that she needed to get to the headquarters ASAP so here Minjeong was, sitting in an office chair while the cup of stale coffee one of the staff handed her remains untouched.
She wondered what this meeting was for. Maybe Aeri booked her a job. Though that’s highly unlikely because if she did, she wouldn’t have summoned Minjeong all the way here and just tell her over phone call.
As if being summoned solely by her thoughts, Aeri rushes in a flurry of motions. The woman had taken pride in always looking pristine. Pressed suit and skirt paired with black pumps that Minjeong often wondered how she could even balance on. Minjeong could barely stand on her 3 inches sometimes. Doesn’t matter, she had always preferred sneakers over them, anyway.
“Hey, you’re late.” Minjeong jutted out her lower lip as she straightened from her slumped position.
Aeri looked nervous, a folder in her grip when she offered a tight smile to Minjeong.
Oh no. That’s not good.
There are two ways Aeri would normally greet her. It’s either with a blinding smile which would entail good news, or that unsure, nervous look which would normally ruin her good mood.
Minjeong’s pulse quickened, suddenly glad that she didn’t touch the coffee to further infused the anxiety bubbling up her throat.
“Am I fired?” The unbidden words spilling out despite the attempt to calm her racing thoughts.
Aeri’s eyes widened a fraction as she nearly balked at the words. “What? No!”
Minjeong breathed a little easier at that. “Okay. So, what’s with the face?”
Aeri pursed her lips in a tight line. She rolled out an office chair before meeting Minjeong’s gaze, “Promise you will hear me out first before you’d react.”
“Okay?” Minjeong leaned back rather unsurely.
Aeri slid the folder in front of her. She does it so meekly, as if Minjeong’s a skittish animal that would run the moment she detects the slightest bit of movement. Minjeong was just vaguely amused as she raised an eyebrow before flipping the folder. Her eyes scanned the paper, it’s a contract. She’d seen enough of those papers to confirm that it was in fact, a contract.
This time though, it was different. Oh, it was entirely different as Minjeong’s expression darkened upon reading the contents of it.
Dating. For publicity. Yu Jimin.
Minjeong had seen enough.
She snapped the folder close.
“No.” Minjeong said, a tone of finality in her voice.
Aeri’s gaze turned pleading, “Minjeong, please.”
“Aeri, I thought I was done with this?“
“Believe me when I say I tried talking them out of it. I really did, but the higher ups were adamant about this.”
“Do I even have a say in this?”
“Yes but they’ll have to put you on a hiatus if you refuse.” Aeri’s eyes softened, the guilt in her them slipping through the cracks. Hiatus is bad. Hiatus in the entertainment vocabulary is just a nice way of saying that we don’t know what to do with you anymore so just rot here in the dungeon until people forget about you so we would have to eventually end the contract with you without making us look bad.
Minjeong crossed her arms, tone almost in awe but the bitterness clouding every words was palpable. “So I don’t have a say in this.”
“I’m so sorry, Minjeong. I wish I could do something.” Aeri stopped talking to momentarily press a finger in her ear, speaking in her bluetooth earphones silently.
Minjeong huffed and doesn’t even let Aeri finish when she stood from her seat in a rush. She doesn’t mean to be a drama queen. She really doesn’t. “I need to think about this.”
Aeri was calling her name but Minjeong was already reaching for the office door handles, it slipped out of her grasp and before she knew it, she comes face to face with a rather stumped looking Yu Jimin herself. Her dark hair had gotten longer from the last time she saw her and she’s wearing a bright blue beanie over it. She looked comfortable in her loose grey sweater, and dark Givenchy jogger pants. The gleam of the golden cross pendant hanging off her neck caught Minjeong’s gaze until it traveled further up, up, up, meeting equally brown amused eyes.
Something within Minjeong snaps.
“Oh, you’re kidding me.” Minjeong swiveled to face Aeri who had a sheepish smile on her face.
“Minjeong, I believe you’ve met Jimin. We called in for a meeting. Discuss the logistics of it.”
Minjeong counted five backwards to one in her head. Her therapist made her do a bunch of those before. Breathing exercises are good. Would help ease the nerves coiling unpleasantly inside your stomach.
5,4,3,2,1…. When she snapped her eyes open again, Jimin and Jisu, who she didn’t even noticed before, were already seated. Jisu’s warm smile made the erratic beating of her heart soften, at least. Jisu… Jisu is an old acquaintance. She was Jimin’s manager. Jisu was nice. She doesn’t even dare sparing a glance at Jimin’s way because she knew it would only worsen her all over the place emotions.
Minjeong’s movements were stilted and stiff as she sat herself on one of the chairs. She wanted to cry. No. She wanted to scream. But there would be time for that later. Right now, she’s expected to sit and listen to whatever Aeri was going to say. She’s still pissed. And she knows it’s not fair to Aeri that she’s making this difficult for her. It’s not Aeri’s fault. She’s just following orders, much like Minjeong, a puppet on a string.
So she sits there in agonizing silence. Prim and proper. Placing her hands over her lap.
Aeri’s brown eyes softened, as if conveying a silent ‘thank you’ before proceeding to discuss the logistics of it. Minjeong had let the details flow from one ear to another, which would probably come bite her in the ass later on but she just didn’t have the energy to put in actual effort in being interested with this. Much less, pretend.
Yu Jimin for her part, seemed serious about this. She had her head inclined towards Aeri, intently listening when she nodded at parts that would deemed necessary so. Minjeong crossed her arms, scoffing something along the lines of 'asshole' to herself. Jimin seemed to pick up on it though as her gaze momentarily flicked towards Minjeong. Her lips pulling into a noticeable quirk before returning to the contract in Aeri’s hand.
An hour had passed. Or more, Minjeong wasn’t really keeping track. But she’s suddenly being pulled out from her musings when she felt three sets of eyes boring into her. Minjeong’s entire demeanour froze, dropping the phone she was lazily thumbing through before sitting up from her slumped position. “I’m sorry, what?”
Aeri was the one who spoke first, a flash of genuine concern painting her features. The mask had come off. This wasn’t manager Aeri. This was her long time friend Aeri. “We’re already done. Do you have any concerns? I’m really sorry for springing this up on you, Minjeong.”
“It’s fine.” Minjeong breathed a puff of air because she can’t really do anything about it. She had to be fine about this. She’s a professional.
“You didn’t tell her?” Jimin said, a flash of concern crossing her face for the first time regarding the whole situation. Good. She’s finally catching up.
“Does she even like girls?” Minjeong blurted out the question if only to save Aeri from explaining further because she knew she’d already been difficult enough to deal with. Minjeong gave a vague flourish of her hand towards Jimin’s direction who seems to be the only one getting a kick out of this with that stupid smug look on her face.
“Princess, if you didn’t spend the whole time using your phone, you would know the answer to that.”
Okay. So maybe she should’ve listened. Minjeong cuts her gaze to Jimin, who isn’t the least bit deterred and just lets her impish grin grow, “Don’t call me that.”
“Okay, Minjeong.” Jimin sing-songs, and not for the first time, Minjeong thinks that she doesn’t like Yu Jimin one bit.
“That’s Winter to you.”
Oh, she is not going to enjoy this.
2 years ago.
(Minjeong was fanning herself with the banner in her grip when she noticed a flock of guys pointing at her.
Oh no.
Despite the situation, Minjeong gave a slight tilt of her head if only not to come off as rude. She starts walking away before pulling out her phone.
Minjeong: Not to rush you or anything but. Are you done yet???
Yizhuo, her dear bestfriend, was currently in a fan-meeting with her favourite band.
Minjeong was not that famous (or so she likes to tell herself) but she could definitely pull the right strings to get Yizhuo an exclusive backstage pass or something. But Yizhuo, ever the dramatic one, just gave her an affronted look and says: not to sound ungrateful or pretentious but I could probably do it myself since you know, I’m kind of a famous model too but do you think I’d ever use those privileges to get closer to my favorite band? What do you take me for, Minjeong? I’m a real fan!
So Minjeong drops it and finds herself accompanying her in the said event on a Sunday night instead.
She pulls the visor of her cap further down her face as she pushes off the wall and once again eyed the phone in her grip, dialling Yizhuo when she sees no reply from her friend. She ducks on a more secluded area, biting her lip anxiously upon seeing the mild crowd milling around her. Minjeong was used to it. Doesn’t mean that she had to like it, though.
Yizhuo’s phone went straight to voicemail.
Minjeong curses under her breath and starts panicking when people pulled out their phones as they raise to aim the lenses towards her. The camera flashes started blinking. The sounds of clicking filling her ears. Minjeong gritted her teeth, willing the swirling anxiety bubbling up her throat to go away when—a woman’s voice slinked her ears. She drops a hand on Minjeong’s shoulder, slightly out of breath when she speaks.
“Oh god, you were so fast.”
Minjeong flinches at the sudden contact, the alarm bells blaring inside her head but upon seeing the ID hanging off her neck, Minjeong’s stance sags. ID means good. ID means staff. ID means safe. She’s safe.
“Uhm.” Minjeong blinks, her mind still slightly reeling as she clutches the device in her grip.
The woman’s eyes reminded Minjeong of the crescent moons when she smiled, “It’s okay. Aeri already gave me a heads up that you guys were coming. I’m Jisu, aetzy’s manager.”
Oh. Oh. She did recall Aeri mentioning that.
“I’m Winter.” She blurts out her screen name and she gets the sense that Jisu already knows, which should undoubtedly make Minjeong feel stupid but with the way Jisu was smiling kindly made the worries ebb away.
“You can just wait in the dressing room until your friend’s done.”
Minjeong follows obediently as Jisu guided her through a hallway until they stopped in front of a door. Jiau faces her again, a guilty smile stretching her lips.
“Is it okay if I leave you in here for a while? I still have to help wrap up the event.”
“Yes. Sorry. I don’t want to cause you too much trouble.”
Jisu waves her off, “Aeri’s a close friend.”
Minjeong nods, allowing herself a small smile as she crossed the room. It’s nothing much. It’s almost an exact carbon copy of the rooms she’d been in when she’s attending award shows. The only stark difference is, the hanged garments had too much leather jackets. And beanies. Minjeong scrunched her nose, not exactly her type of fashion.
She wanders to the vanity area. Haphazardly used cosmetics lining the table, her finger skimming over them before stopping on a magazine which unsurprisingly had the band as the cover. Monster Rookies.Written in black bold letters at the page upfront. Interested, she flips it open, silently judging the three members of Yizhuo’s current obsession. Yeji. Ryujin. Jimin. Mm. Pretty. Minjeong wouldn’t say she’s a fan. But she’d heard them enough on radio stations to admit that they were… adequate. She had Yizhuo to keep her updated as the woman would always send her their new tracks.
“Who let you in here?”
Minjeong drops the magazine she was holding and whips around so fast she’s surprised she didn’t give herself whiplash. Her eyes immediately zeroed in on a tall figure standing not more than a feet away from her who had her arms crossed. Oh. Minjeong’s gaze flits to the picture in the magazine for a second. That’s Jimin. Magazine Jimin was entirely different from well… real life Jimin. While magazine Jimin looked pristine and immaculate, this Jimin looked more like… well rugged and disheveled. Not in a bad way, though. She’s in an oversized tee this time, her ripped jeans hugging her thighs as if it’s second skin and a ballcap shadowing her face so Minjeong couldn’t really quite make out the expression she was wearing.
“Oh. Your manager did.” Minjeong answers meekly as she starts fiddling with the hem of her shirt.
“Right.” She’s not sure but she thinks she might’ve heard Jimin scoff, “You one of Ryujin’s groupies?”
Minjeong nearly balked at that, this time, it was her turn to arch an appalled eyebrow, “Excuse me?”
Jimin passes her a glance, disinterested, and it was enough to irk Minjeong. What a bitch. “Don’t worry. No need to play dumb. It’s not the first time she’d done this. Are you going home with her tonight?”
Hold the fucking phone.
“What?” Minjeong splutters, stricken at the words she’s hearing, “I’m not even a fan!”
Jimin gave her a flat look. Her eyes dropped down to the shirt Yizhuo made her wear.
I <3 aetzy.
In black bold letters. Minjeong’s whole face burned.
“This isn’t mine!” Minjeong hisses through gritted teeth, “Do you not know me?”
“Was I supposed to?” Jimin blinks, squints her eyes, then she snaps her fingers, “Oh. Wait. Are you a staff?”
Minjeong’s mouth dropped open. She cannot believe this is happening.
Where the fuck is Jisu?
As if being summoned solely by her thoughts, Jisu chose to barge in right that instant, “Winter, I’m sosorry. I found Yizhuo and she’s waiting for you at the back doors. I also informed security so they’re doing crowd control right now. Do you need me to call your driver?”
Minjeong simply shook her head as she gave Jisu a grateful smile, “No, it’s okay. I’ll do it myself. Thank you, Jisu.”
Fully intent on ignoring the other occupant of the room because this asshole just ruined her mood, she sidesteps past them but before she could fully get out, a voice stops her.
“Wait.”
Minjeong stops, takes a deep breath before plastering on a fake smile, “Yes?”
“You left this.” Jimin’s barely there smirk grows. Minjeong’s eyes slips down to the object in Jimin’s hand. It’s the fucking banner Yizhuo made her hold up during the con.
Minjeong snatches it with much force than necessary, nearly tearing it in half. Jisu was passing them glances, as if she’s trying to figure out a riddle being shown in front of her.
“Thanks.” Minjeong grits out before walking away. Not once looking back.)
When Minjeong gets into her apartment, the first thing she did was scream. Then she got a tub of ice cream inside the fridge, drops herself on the kitchen island before dialling Yizhuo’s number as she shoves a spoonful of the cold dessert in her mouth.
Yizhuo picks up in three rings.
“Finally, I’ve been trying to reach your for hours when you sent those alarmingly abundant of cryingemojis.”
“Sorry. I just got home.” Minjeong scrunched her nose as she can make out people shouting over the phone, “Are you working?”
“No—yes. I’m still in a shoot but—one sec—“ Minjeong hears a soft rustling, a door being closed and then, “There. Better?”
“I don’t want to get you in trouble.”
“It’s fine. I have fifteen. What’s up?”
“I went on a meeting with Aeri.”
“Oh, no. That’s either good or bad and judging by the sulky tone you have going on right now it’s the latter.”
“We went over a contract.”
“Oh? A job? And that’s a bad thing because?”
“It’s—“ Minjeong takes a moment to gather her thoughts. Truthfully, she’s still kind of in the murks about it, as if she can’t believe herself that she’s in this situation again. When she finds her voice it was soft and defeated. All the fight sapping away from her body, “They want me to fake date for publicity.”
She heard Yizhuo’s sharp intake of breath, “I swear to god you should’ve left that shitty company long ago. What did Aeri say?”
“Well, she couldn’t do anything about it so don’t be mad at her.”
Minjeong can almost picture Yizhuo pinching the bridge of her nose upon hearing the next words, “Please tell me they’ve at least paired you up with someone good.”
“I think you’re going to like her.” Minjeong sighs.
“Oh, her? At least your agency is doing one thing right this time.”
“It’s Yu Jimin.”
There was silence. And then, “Bitch, what?”
“You heard me the first time.” Minjeong rolled her eyes to no one in particular before it settled on the ice cream tub in front of her. Glaring as if the inanimate object personally offended her.
Then Yizhuo was screeching. Like honest to god screeching that would put the banshees to shame and Minjeong had to momentarily pull the phone away if she didn’t want to damage her eardrums. “What the fuck. Are you kidding me?”
“Believe me, I wish I was.”
“Oh my god. This is so good!”
“You were literally just cursing my agency thirty seconds ago for this.” Minjeong’s tone was flat. “Where is the energy for that now?”
“Well, that was before I found out it was going to be Yu Jimin.”
“Regardless, it’s still bad Yizhuo.”
“No, no. This is actually so good.”
Yizhuo sounded so self-assured then that Minjeong had to furrow her brows as she blurted rather snidely, “If she’s so good then why don’t you fake date her instead?”
“She’s not my type.” She hears Yizhuo’s voice dropping an octave lower, “Your manager, on the other hand…”
“Oh my god, I told you to just get her number!”
“Why can’t you just give it to me?”
“Because that would be unethical and unprofessional and Aeri’s not a fan of bypassing a message. She’s more of like if you want something from me, you have to get it yourself.”
“Wow, okay, because that doesn’t sound intimidating at all.”
“Just do it, coward.”
Yizhuo hums thoughtfully. “Some other time, maybe. But we’re not talking about that now. I mean, Jimin?”
Minjeong heaved a long sigh, “She was actually in the meeting earlier.”
“Oohh, how did that go?”
“Still as insufferable as ever.”
“You know, I will never understand your hatred towards her.”
“Hate is a strong word. She just gets on my nerves.”
“You just hate her because she retaliates.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Isn’t that your type?”
“Excuse me? I don’t have a type. I’m their type.”
“No, no really. Your dating track record says otherwise. You love the challenge. Someone who could keep up with you and not just take your punches with a roll.”
“I’m sorry, since when did you become my shrink?”
Yizhuo laughs, loud and boisterous. Only Yizhuo could get away with teasing the actress like this. Only Yizhuo. “You know I’m right. You’ve always loved a good beating. Jimin just knows how to punch back.”
Minjeong was deathly silent after that.
“That sounds very bad, Yizhuo. Let’s not word our sentences as such.”
“Okay. You’re right. Bad example but you get my point.”
“I truly don’t.” Minjeong lied, the tone of her voice overly saccharine as she switches the topic altogether, “When’s your free day?”
“Nothing this week, but the following one is on Wednesday.”
Minjeong hums as she absently scratches the label of the ice cream. “Okay. I’ll see you then. Oh, and Yizhuo?”
“Yes?”
Minjeong trapped her lower lip between her teeth before exhaling, “Do you think I’m not enough?”
“Oh, Minjeong.” Yizhuo’s voice had gone significantly soft. Gone was the mischief in her tone, “What made you say that?”
Minjeong willed her voice not to tremble, “It’s stupid.”
“Try me.”
“They just keep saddling me up with someone since the start of my career. And I understood it then, you know? Because I was just starting. I thought I made a name for myself after that, though right now? I’m not so sure. It could only go on for so long before you start to believe that maybe all of those things that you did before was not enough for you to be enough. Makes you think, right? It’s stupid—you know what? Ignore that. I’m just tired.” Minjeong says it all in one breath. If there’s one thing she knew about being vulnerable with her feelings, it’s that she should just let it all out at once. Like ripping off a band aid.
“Minjeong, don’t you dare think less of yourself just because of your agency’s inability to handle an artist well. This isn’t your fault, okay? In this industry, people will take and take from you. They would do everything just to stay on top. They are fucking ruthless. Don’t let them do that to you. You’re so much more than that and they should be so damn lucky to have a Kim Winter in the industry.”
“Well, gee, Yizhuo now you’re going to make me cry.”
“As long as you don’t use my shirt to wipe the snot off your face.” Yizhuo chuckles.
“That was one time.” Minjeong whines.
“And a million other times after that, you big baby.” Yizhuo says before her voice had drifted into a much lighter tone, “Is that why you’re so upset about this?”
“Well, yes, but also because Jimin’s still an insufferable asshole.”
“Oh, there she is. She’s back.” Yizhuo’s laughter rang through the static end of the line, “Feel much better now?”
“Yes, actually. Think I’ll just head to bed.”
“Okay. I’ll see you soon.”
“Yeah, thank you, Yizhuo. Seriously.”
“Always, Minjeong.”
Minjeong was stepping off the shower, toweling her hair when she sees her phone buzzing on her bedside table. Not thinking much of it, she taps the screen and her eyes widened upon seeing that she had eight missed calls from Aeri, two from Yizhuo and one message from her bestfriend as well. Still feeling the salt in the wound from her manager’s decisions, she decides to open Yizhuo’s message instead of calling Aeri first.
Yizhuo: check twitter omg!!!
And below it is a screenshot of the worldwide trends. Her eyes zeroed in on the name Kim Winter that Yizhuo even bothered to put a red circle on as if Minjeong’s wouldn’t recognize her own name. Minjeong’s first thought was oh crap, what did I do this time as she mentally ran through the events of the past week.
She hung out with Yizhuo, did a little online fanmeeting event, met Yu Jimin and then stayed home for the rest of the week moping about it. So what is it? Why was she trending? Because surely there’s something that would warrant an attention like this. People don’t often talk about her unless she messed up or did something really embarrassing. Plus, Aeri’s eight missed calls were really telling.
Deciding that her running a mile thoughts wouldn’t really help, she takes a deep breath before clicking her twitter app. She doesn’t even use this often. Her job was to only take a couple of selfies and then the social media admin that Aeri hired would take it from there. The only thing that she really had full control on was her instagram so once the app loaded, Minjeong immediately frowned at the piling notifications. She clicks the little bell in the middle and she sees a bunch of people tagging her on the same video clip.
Minjeong held her breath, clicks play and the first thing she notices is how good Yu Jimin looked in her sweat clad muscle tee, dark ripped jeans with strands of hair sticking to her face. She has a guitar slung over her body and she’s gripping the microphone with a guitar pick between her fingers, “You guys I met a really beautiful girl this week.”
The crowd roars. And Minjeong’s breath stops. Oh god, oh god, oh god. She knows where this is going.
“So I’d like to take this opportunity to dedicate this next song to her. Winter, I hope you’re listening somewhere.”
She says Minjeong’s name like it’s some sort of dirty little secret. And it pisses her off. The clip was cut off after that and the last thing she heard was the crowd going wild and the ear shattering shriek from the person holding the phone.
Minjeong doesn’t comprehend it at first. Had a hard time with it as she sat on the edge of her bed and watches the clip maybe three more times before she opens her iMessage app and fires a series of texts to Aeri.
Minjeong: This is exactly why I’m so against this. What the hell, Aeri??
Minjeong: I thought we had a planned out story for this???
Minjeong: We would meet at an award show or something like that and stay lowkey. That was definitely not lowkey.
Minjeong was anxiously nibbling on her bottom lip when Aeri’s messages comes a minute later.
Aeri: That was definitely not me. Or Jisu. Apparently, that was all Jimin. Even Jisu was very much shocked and is trying to do damage control right now. Sorry, Minjeong. I guess we’re gonna have to speed things up a little and go through this plan lol. :(
Minjeong wondered how the hell could Aeri put the ‘LOL’ and a stupid sad emoji in the same damn sentence but figures that she has a much more pressing matter to think about.
Minjeong: What am I supposed to do then? I wasn’t briefed for this.
Aeri: Just answer her.
Minjeong: How? I don’t even have her number.
Aeri: Minjeong, please remember that we’re doing all this for publicity and it would really negate the purpose of it if you answered her through a private message. Just tweet something.
Minjeong: What? I’m not embarassing myself in front of the whole world.
Aeri: Okay. Fine. I’m gonna have the admin do it.
Minjeong: No, wait. Please, don’t. I’ll do it. I’m actually scared of what you guys might come up with.
Aeri: You know Jimin’s harmless and really nice once you get to know her. You guys could be real friends.
Minjeong: Aeri, she is a menace!!! She once thought I wanted to sleep with her bandmate.
Minjeong: Which I clearly don’t!!
Minjeong: And even if I did, why does she have to be super judge-y about it???
Aeri: Will you ever let that go? She already apologized.
Minjeong: Correction. Jisu apologized. For her.
Aeri: It’s the thought that counts…?
Minjeong: Sometimes I do wonder which side are you on.
Aeri: Always yours. But I am really sorry, Minjeong. You know if I had known that sooner, I would never let that happen.
Minjeong: It’s fine. I know you won’t. But you still owe me a lot for this.
Aeri: I know.
Minjeong closes the iMessage before switching back to the Twitter app. She heaves a long sigh before she starts typing:
taylor swift was a little cliché. thought you might be more creative than that. say, an original song next time? maybe i would’ve been more impressed. :)
Minjeong hits the tweet button before she could even change her mind. She doesn’t tag the official Twitter of the band nor the personal account of Jimin.
She picks up the hairbrush from her dresser instead, runs it once through her still wet hair and looks at the vanity in front of her then counts one, two, three to even her breaths.
It doesn’t make her feel better. But at least it lessened the stuttering in her chest.
Minjeong wakes up the next morning with an instagram DM notification from Jimin’s official account. She rubs her eyes to rid herself of sleep as she checks the contents of it.
@yjmofficial: what’s wrong with taylor swift? are you a hater? because if you are then this whole relationship will have some major problems
Minjeong’s face immediately soured.
@kimwinter: Oh. You mean YOU being the other half of this fake relationship was not a major problem alone?
A few minutes passed before her phone was pinging again.
@yjmofficial: ouch, princess, i come here in peace
@kimwinter: Peace? Last night says otherwise.
@yjmofficial: yeah about that.
@yjmofficial: i got in trouble for that
@yjmofficial: so i’m here to say sorry
@kimwinter: That is the worst, most insincere apology I’ve ever gotten in my entire career. Even Perez Hilton did better than that when he “apologized” for spreading those fake pregnancy rumors about me.
@yjmofficial: look i’m not good at this
@yjmofficial: and wow you were pregnant who was the dad? :o
@kimwinter: My nonexistent “military” boyfriend.
@yjmofficial: very scandalous!!!
@kimwinter: It was stupid. I was visiting my dad that time!!!
@yjmofficial: oh right, you come from a military family.
@kimwinter: Yes. A general, might I add.
@yjmofficial: oooh sounds dangerous
@kimwinter. Yes. So, you know. I’d be very careful with crossing me if I were you.
@yjmofficial: ok i’m really sorry tho :(
@kimwinter: Was the sad emoji supposed to make me feel bad?
@yjmofficial: is it working?
@kimwinter: It is not. Goodbye.
@yjmofficial: wait!!
@yjmofficial: i am really sorry, winter. can i please make it up to you?
@kimwinter: ?
@yjmofficial: dinner :)
@kimwinter: With you?
@yjmofficial: no. with my pet shark.
@kimwinter: …Has anyone ever told you that in all that glory of your edgy leather jackets and combat boots, you’re actually just a huge loser?
@yjmofficial: hm. there’s a compliment in there somewhere. but yeah dinner with me
Minjeong chose to pointedly ignore the comment.
@kimwinter: Why?
@yjmofficial: allow me to apologize properly.
@kimwinter: Fine. But I’ll pick the place.
@yjmofficial: okay, princess
@kimwinter: Aeri will text you the details.
@yjmofficial: why won’t you do it instead?
@kimwinter: Because I have better things to do.
@yjmofficial: which are?…
@kimwinter: Not letting an insufferable vocalist ruin my day.
@yjmofficial: awwww it’s cute that you think about me enough to let me ruin your day
Minjeong groans to her pillow, wondering how she will ever survive dinner with Yu Jimin.
“So what’s our story?”
“What do you mean?”
“People are going to ask. Our friends. We have to have our story. Where, when, how we met.”
“Two years ago when I went to your fan event. It was plastered all over the headlines the day after. Just roll with that.” Minjeong rattled off the information as she twirls the pasta with her fork.
The restaurant Aeri made a reservation for them wasn’t too flashy, but also without the risk of being gauche and Minjeong appreciated her manager for it. She knew Minjeong never really liked the idea of being lavish. There was a live band playing soft jazz music and Minjeong’s eyes would covertly stray at the sight. She had always loved indulging herself with music in every aspect of her life and Aeri was aware of that too. Sometimes, Aeri would even go as far as to tease her; why pursue acting when she could’ve done singing? It was within the vicinity of her current expertise, anyway. And Minjeong would often just shrug and say: maybe in another life.
“Oh, I got one.”
And Minjeong immediately knew she wasn’t going to like what’s going to come out of Jimin’s mouth. What with the way her tone was teasing and her smirk widening.
“You had a crush on me. You asked our manager to let you in our dressing room to talk to me and get my number that time.”
Minjeong’s expression darkened. “Except that would make me sound like a power playing bitch with the tendency of being a stalker.”
“But isn’t that kind of what happened?” Jimin’s smile was smug and Minjeong wants to wipe it off with her bare hands.
“Why do I have to be the one crushing on you?”
“Well, it works with the context we have going on when people saw you at our fan event.”
Minjeong huffed, “Why can’t it be you who invited me to your show that time because you were attracted to me?”
“Because that’s not believable.”
Minjeong’s grip on the steak knife tightened. Dear Lord… “How so?”
“If I had liked you back then, I wouldn’t have waited this long to make a move. We would’ve been together already.”
“So what, we only got together now because I decided to finally make the move?” Minjeong only meant it as a joke, sarcasm dripping her tone as she rolled her eyes at the smug look on Jimin’s face.
“Yes.” Jimin leaned back in her seat, an ounce of nonchalance in her tone as her lips pulled into a lazy smirk, “You were pining oh so much until you decided you couldn’t anymore so you professed your undying love to me.”
Minjeong was going to scream. She is honest to God going to fucking scream in the middle of the restaurant.
“Well, gee, I’m not sure if it’s your hair or your ego’s just really that big.”
“I have terrific hair. Haven’t you heard? It’s the talk of the town.” Jimin a show of dramatically flipping her long dark locks over her shoulder, revealing the expanse of her collarbones as she’s opted to wear a strapless dress tonight. Minjeong wouldn’t deny the fact that Jimin was attractive. She had two sets of eyes as proof and she would not go as far as denying that little known fact just because she found the woman extremely annoying. She is not that petty. What she wouldn’t allow though, is to let herself be swayed by it.
“I wouldn’t know because I don’t really make a habit of googling my enemy.” Minjeong snipped back, lowering her voice considerably so as to not attract attention.
Jimin snorts out a laugh and it’s annoying how that sounded elegant even to her own ears, “Well, it’s a good thing I’m not your enemy, babe.”
“You know for someone who invited me out here to apologize, you sure are doing a stellar job in piling it up with something more to apologize for.”
Jimin’s smile faltered slightly at that, she reached for a cloth before dabbing it daintily against her lips as she fixes Minjeong with a levelled gaze, “You’re right. I’m sorry about that, Minjeong. Jisu gave me an earful.”
Minjeong arched an eyebrow, “Which I’m sure you greatly deserved.”
Jimin nibbled on her bottom lip, as if she’s hesitating to say something, “Your manager told me you don’t like… surprises?”
“I just have a lot of bad experiences with it and I don’t like the unwanted attention it would entail. I don’t like not being prepared, it makes me really anxious when I’m put on the spot. I’ve done this a lot before and that’s my number one rule. Talk to me first before doing something that might involve me.” Minjeong brings a palm to cover her mouth, if only to keep up manners as she chews on the food. “Though, I’ll let this one slide. It’s mostly my fault that we didn’t get to talk about this before anyway, so I’d like to apologize too.”
Jimin’s face fell at the words. It was almost comical with how it happened, it’s like a switch had been flipped and Minjeong would’ve laughed at it if Jimin didn’t looked like she might actually cry. “Minjeong, forgive me. It wouldn’t happen again. I promise. From now on, I’ll talk to you about it first.”
Minjeong hums thoughtfully. Jimin sounded sincere. Hm. She’s better than those vapid people she’d been paired up with, Minjeong will give her that. “Thank you, that’s all I ask.”
Jimin’s throat visibly swallowed, “So, mind rehashing some of those bad experiences so I don’t have to fall into the category as well?”
Minjeong sees no harm in sharing. If they were going to do this, they might as well start by actually communicating. “As I’ve said, I’ve done this with guys who clearly don’t know the meaning of boundaries or communication before and let’s just say that in some of the fans’ eyes, their lovable boys could never do wrong so guess who always took the brunt of it.” Minjeong shuddered at the unpleasant memories. She’d grown immune to them by now. Before though, oh it was not pretty. Minjeong had long since learned to stop searching for her name on the internet. For the sake of her own sanity. “Just talk to me, Jimin. It’s really that simple.”
Minjeong eyed Jimin nodding resolutely to herself as she says in the most oddly calm disquiet tone she had ever heard from the aloof woman since she met her, “I promise I’ll treat you better.”
Minjeong almost chokes on thin air as she forces out a laugh, “What’s that supposed to mean?”
Jimin shrugs, “It means exactly as it is. I’m going to treat you better than those guys. I want you to feel comfortable and safe in this as much as possible.”
Minjeong didn’t know what to say. She was quite stunned by the candor in those words. So Minjeong did what she does best. She deflected. Rolling her eyes, she waves a dismissive hand in the air, “I won’t hold my breath.”
But Jimin just smiles, deepening the dimples on her cheeks. “So while we’re on the topic of discussing boundaries, I’ve been meaning to ask you something.”
“What?”
“Are you cool with public kissing?” Jimin’s tone was low and tentative.
Minjeong frowned at this. It never really crossed her mind because it hadn’t really been something she deemed worthy to think about before. That’s one thing didn’t need discussing before. It came as an unspoken rule between them; kissing is allowed, they were acting. It was all part of an image that they were trying to sell. It was never a big deal. However, she realized that this was the first time Jimin was doing this nor she’s an actress, “I’ve had my fair share of public kissing. I mean, hell, I get paid to kiss people in front of cameras. So let me ask you. Would you be okay with kissing in public?”
“Yeah. I’m fine with it.” Jimin bites her lip. Suddenly finding the floor interesting than her companion. “Do we have to—uhm—practice or?”
Minjeong was staring at her, slightly astonished at the words she’s hearing, “Practice? What is this, a high school play? Have you never kissed someone before?”
“No.” Jimin threw her a glare, “Obviously I’ve kissed people before but not like this.”
Minjeong stared. She stared until Jimin could do nothing but tear her gaze away as her cheeks tinted to a lovely shade of pink.
Oh. Oh. Jimin was shy at the prospect of kissing her. Suddenly boldened by the thought, Minjeong’s confusion melted into a devilish grin. She twirls the champagne glass in her grip, watching Jimin over the rim as she took a tentative sip, it left a red hued mark with the shape of her lips over the glass rim and she notes with rapt attention as Jimin’s eyes glazed over at the sight.
Minjeong found a chip in her armour and she’s determined to latch onto it, like a lion’s teeth sinking on a gazelle’s neck. Minjeong was in her element while Jimin was found slipping in her own foot.
Her smirk grew wider, then ever so slowly, she gathered her long dark locks over one shoulder before gracefully standing up from her seat. She takes one, two steps towards a confused looking Jimin now. Minjeong’s hand found purchase on the singer’s bare sturdy shoulders, she leans down, down and she hears Jimin’s breath hitching a little. Minjeong waits for her to pull back but when Jimin only licks her lips, Minjeong smirked.
She pressed a short but lingering kiss on Jimin’s lips before pulling back.
“Was that good enough practice for you?”
“Yeah.” Jimin croaks out, sounding slightly winded and Minjeong knew she won.
“Now, would you get the tab for us, babe?” Minjeong stressed the last word, a smile too sweet to be considered sincere plastered on her face.
Jimin nods, her ears are a dark shade of red as she fumbled to wave a waiter over.
Despite Minjeong’s bravado, she can feel her own heart thudding against her chest. Jimin’s lips was soft and pliant against hers. She turned away to hide the unbridled press of her own fingertips against her own lips, the tingling sensation never leaving until they were out of the door, the cold gush of wind slapping her flushed skin, a stark reminder that maybe she shouldn’t be playing with fire.
Predictably, the photo of her kissing Jimin started circulating the headlines the next day. Minjeong didn’t even bother reading a single article. Not even a peep. Aeri was the only one who informed her, sounding slightly impressed over phone call and Minjeong simply answered it with a rather bored: I’m just doing my job.
Minjeong locked herself out social media too. And she hadn’t seen Jimin since. The woman had gone considerably busy over the course of week which is fine because well, she kind of needed a break too.
Minjeong rubs at her eyes, stifling a yawn behind her palm as she tries to keep up with Yizhuo who seems to be faring much better as she pushes a small grocery cart with a bright glint in her eyes.
She’s on a late grocery run with Yizhuo, barely past 2AM and the 24 hour convenience store was mostly deserted aside from two employees arranging the stocks and one cash registrar who is nodding off and most likely two seconds away from passing out in her seat. She knows she could have someone do this, but Minjeong likes to keep some semblance of normalcy in her life as much as possible.
It’s nothing huge or insane, she still has to google the weirdest grocery store in the middle of nowhere and choose doing it between ungodly hours of time but it’s still something that keeps her in check. Thankfully, Yizhuo was more than willing to accompany her everytime.
Alright, she might’ve bribed her with a McDonald’s drive thru earlier but her bestfriend wasn’t very hard to please.
Minjeong finds out about this the hard way when Yizhuo literally bawled her eyes out of frustration one afternoon for always being on a strict diet. Apparently, model agencies are stricter when it comes to those things. She only gets to eat actual real food, as Yizhuo would like to tell her, when she’s with Minjeong. The actress kept mum about this, of course, because she wouldn’t want to get her bestfriend in trouble. But it still doesn’t stop her blood from boiling everytime she’d remember that day.
Her thoughts were cut off by Yizhuo’s audible gasp beside her. She grapples for Minjeong’s arm and holy crap—this girl has a grip.
“Ow, Ning, what the hell?”
“Oh my god.” Yizhuo whispers, as if in awe, then she actually bounces in her heels.
“What is it?” Minjeong turns her head, her entire face dropping and she wondered who did she wronged in her past life to deserve this.
Because there, Yu Jimin was standing in a Balenciaga ballcap as she stared at the two brands of cereals in her grip. Her brows were furrowed, as if she was having the world’s greatest debate inside her mind and Minjeong would’ve laughed at the absurdity of it all if she just wasn’t mildly panicking inside. Jimin still hadn’t noticed them. That’s a good sign. Minjeong snaps into action.
“We have to go.” Minjeong immediately grabs Yizhuo’s arm but Yizhuo apparently had other ideas.
Here’s the thing. Minjeong was not and will never be an athletic person. That’s why as much as possible, she tries to stay away from all those show guesting that would require a lot of physical strength. And Yizhuo was much, much stronger than her so she was literally manhandled towards the direction of Jimin.
“Hi!” Yizhuo greets without preamble and Minjeong curses under her breath as she tries to pull down the visor of her cap further down her face.
Jimin startled a bit, apparently too engrossed with her cereal debate inside her head to notice them walking up. Her eyes lands on Yizhuo first. And then it flits towards Minjeong.
When recognition dawned in, Jimin’s furrowed brows morphed into a genuine smile. Revealing a set of pearly white teeth and a dimple that Minjeong doesn’t find adorable. At all.
“Oh. What a nice surprise.” Her eyes lingered a bit on Minjeong when she said this and the actress tried not to let it irk her. Jimin’s gaze keep going back to Yizhuo, hesitancy clouding her features. “Babe..?”
Minjeong tilted her head, bemused, before stating flatly, “Don’t trip over yourself, Yizhuo knows.”
Jimin’s shoulders sags, releasing a breath and Minjeong had to bite her lip to hide the smile fighting to stretch her lips at the endearing display.
“Yeah, don’t worry.” Yizhuo leans in as she cups a hand around her mouth and drops her voice to a stage whisper, “I can keep a secret.”
Jimin chuckles, absently scratching her chin as she says, “I appreciate that.”
“Sorry for sneaking up on you like that. You probably don’t know me.”
“No, I know you. You’re that model. Crowned as the youngest model of the year at BFA.” Jimin offers a hand that Yizhuo gladly took.
“Someone did their homework.” Minjeong grumbles under breath. Jimin passes her a flitting glance, the quick upturn of her lips tells Minjeong she heard it.
“You were also with Minjeong that time, right? When we held our fansign at Busan.”
“You remember?” Yizhuo gasps as she exchange glances with Minjeong.
“I do.” Jimin puts the cereals in the shelves again as she buried her palms inside her pants. “So, grocery shopping too huh? What are the odds.”
“Yeah, this weirdo likes doing it herself.” Yizhuo thumbs back at Minjeong who only rolled her eyes before crossing her arms. Jimin’s grin widened, “And this is the only way she wouldn’t get mobbed.”
“Same. We’re actually just supposed to grab coffee. But Ryujin got sidetracked so now we’re apparently going grocery shopping too.”
“Your other bandmates are here too?”
“They’re around.”
“Oh my god, can I take a selfie with you?” Yizhuo was practically gushing and Minjeong could only stare in shock. The betrayal.
“Yeah, of course. Should I call them?”
“No, it’s okay! I’ll wait for them. Can we do yours first?” Yizhuo at least had the decency to sound sheepish.
Jimin waved her off as she takes the position beside Yizhuo. Minjeong observes in amusement, Jimin was at least a foot taller than her bestfriend so it was endearing to see her bend her knees slightly if only to accommodate the camera in front of them. Yizhuo’s camera clicks at least three times before she’s stepping out of Jimin’s space.
“Nice. You should send it to Minjeong so she can text me the copy later.”
Minjeong scoffs, rolling her eyes, “I don’t even have your number.”
Jimin mock gasps, placing a hand dramtically over her chest, “Then I guess I’m gonna have to give you mine so you can text yours.”
“Okay, that was smooth.” Yizhuo’s voice was laced in awe, her jaw dropping slightly and Minjeong was just about ready to drag Yizhuo out of there. Athletic person or not. “You should totally join us this week! Minjeong and I are catching up with some friends at my place.”
“Oh, no.” Minjeong’s eyes widened, “She can’t. You’re busy, right?” She hisses through gritted teeth when she turns to Jimin.
Jimin raises an amused brow, “No, actually, I’m free.”
“No, you’re not. You have like, an upcoming radio guesting this week.”
“Ah. Someone did their homework.” Jimin says, throwing back her words from earlier.
Minjeong doesn’t even try to tame her annoyance as she breathes out a huff, “It’s pretty hard to miss when that’s all my twitter feed is talking about.”
Jimin’s smile turned dangerous, “Do you have my band as one of your following topics?”
Minjeong’s ears reddened, “Aeri made me do it.”
“Sure.”
The sound of voices and a cluttering of shoes made the snarky remark on the tip of her tongue halt. A few steps from them, two women appeared around the corner. It didn’t take too long before Minjeong recognized them. Ryujin and Yeji. Yeji looked surprised as she stretched an arm to effectively block Ryujin path if only to stop her from walking further. And Ryujin for her part just frowned, and is she wearing pyjamas? Over a long ass black trench coat? Minjeong didn’t have the time to dwell with that dizzyingly combination of clothes as Ryujin’s eyes widened.
“Oh! Fake girlfriend!” Ryujin all but shouts and Minjeong had to wince visibly at that. She’s suddenly glad that no one was around to hear that.
“Quiet.” Yeji hisses as she nudged her elbow to Ryujin’s side, then she throws a smile to Minjeong upon offering a hand, “Hello, I’m Yeji. Thanks for taking care of our Jiminnie right here.”
“Yeddeong.” Jimin warns, but there was a small bashful smile on her face. It’s a new look. She’d grown so accustomed to the smirk and cocky attitude that Minjeong could only arch a questioning eyebrow as her eyes lingered on the newly found expression before taking Yeji’s hand with a genuine smile of her own.
“Hi.” Minjeong simply says, and just because she couldn’t not have the last word, she adds, “Has she always been this insufferable?”
Yeji’s smile grows, and Ryujin was barking out a laugh as she rounds an arm across Jimin’s shoulders who appeared amuse yet affronted all the same.
“Damn, certainly met your match.” Ryujin coos as she pinches her cheeks, which Jimin could only swat away.
They are very fond of Jimin. She was well aware of that.
After proper introductions were made, Yizhuo did get her selfies. Jimin did give her number, and Minjeong (begrudgingly) accepted it. To add to Minjeong’s horror, Yizhuo made her promise to Jimin that she’d text her.
It was already past 4 in the morning when Minjeong returned home, the sun had started painting a purplish hue in the skies, coalescing with its inky blackness as it transitions to daybreak. She brought the grocery bags on the kitchen counter before slipping into bed and doesn’t wake up until her alarm does it for her to prepare for a schedule.
She doesn’t find the time to text Jimin, not until she was allowed a moment of reprieve in the form of a 1 hour break in the middle of her photoshoot. She tugged off the straps of her killer heels, sighing in relief as she felt the ache ease. Aeri who seemed to materialize out of thin air was by her side in an instant, placing fluffy slippers for her to change on.
“Thank you. I’m still kinda mad at you, but thank you.” Minjeong pouts as she gave her manager a grateful squeeze on the forearm before slipping her feet into it.
“Well, you’re gonna have to get over it real quick because I’m pretty sure you’re stuck with me for a while.” Aeri adds as an afterthought. “Unless you fire me.”
“I’m not going to fire you. I don’t even have the power to do that.” Minjeong was slightly offended. “Wait, do I have the power to do that?”
“Are you considering it?” Aeri doesn’t even look fazed. As if she’s already used to the banter and merely raises an unimpressed eyebrow.
Minjeong hums playfully, tapping a finger against her chin, “Mmmaybe?”
Aeri nods once, the sole of her heels clicking against the tiled floor as she walked back to her seat, “Then good luck finding someone who would put up with a brat like you.”
“Hey!” Minjeong protests before winding her gaze at Aeri’s feet, “I don’t understand how you could stand in those all day.”
Aeri only gave her an incredulous look as she regarded her own high heels and gave a noncommittal shrug, “It takes a lot of practice. Maybe you should ask your model friend to help you.”
Minjeong’s eyes glittered. “You’d like that, wouldn’t you?”
Aeri’s expression faltered for a moment. A flash of emotions crossing before it was gone as soon as it had come. “Whatever do you mean?”
She was seriously going to lock those two in a closet one of these days. Or, you know. Yank them out of the closet. Whichever works. “Nothing, miss denial queen. Can I please have my phone now?”
Aeri narrowed her eyes into slits before handing the said device to Minjeong without a single word. Her body was a whole production as she spins on her heels before resuming scrolling through the tablet in her hand.
Minjeong flops down on her own seat, checking her reflection in the vanity in front of her. She smacks her lips softly a few times before running a hand through her long hair once, puffing it out for good measure before redirecting her gaze to her own phone.
Minjeong: Here, you look stupid in it.
Then she attaches the image, the one she took earlier with Yizhuo. Minjeong raises an eyebrow when Jimin’s reply comes a second later. She was half expecting her to answer not after at least a few hours considering the girl’s schedule. She knew they were on a tight one lately due to their tour dates (not that she’s keeping tabs or anything. Aeri would usually just update her. Yeah. She’s definitely not searching them up on Google.)
Jimin: who’s this?
Minjeong rolled her eyes.
Minjeong: Your worst nightmare.
Jimin: oh no. big bird from the sesame street???
Minjeong snorted and can’t help the small smile tugging her lips.
Minjeong: You’re scared of a character from a kids show?
Jimin: birds are an abomination vile creatures to this world. imagine an 8 foot tall version of it just walking around freely.
Minjeong: Are you scared of birds???
Jimin: i was once late for a rehearsal when i couldn’t get in my car because a pigeon was perched on my sideview mirror.
Minjeong: Omg. Wait.
Jimin: what’s up?
Jimin: hello?
Minjeong: Give me a sec.
Jimin: ????
Minjeong: I’m editing your wikipedia page as we speak.
Jimin: ?!?!
Minjeong: There we go. The almighty Yu Jimin’s biggest fear: Big Bird from the Sesame Street.
Jimin: i don’t really appreciate strangers making fun of me. don’t you know i’m a big shot superstar??
Minjeong: More like a “big shot doofus”.
Jimin: hey now. you’re walking on thin ice here.
Minjeong: Oh no, I’m shaking in my boots.
Jimin: maybe i’ll forgive you if you send me a selfie so i know who i’m talking to :)
Minjeong scoffed before typing out a response.
Minjeong: In your dreams.
But Minjeong might be feeling a tad generous that day because Jimin did agree to meet and humor Yizhuo when she very much could have refused because of her busy schedule. So she places a palm under her chin, tilts the camera and aims it towards the mirror in front of her then she snaps a shot before sending it to Jimin. Her phone buzzes a couple of times after a minute.
Jimin: oh my god you’re the award winning actress kim winter!!!!
Jimin: soooo prettyyy
Jimin: i bet your girlfriend is soooo lucky ;)
Then there’s a picture attached to it too. Jimin was wearing huge beanie that Minjeong shouldn’t really find aodrable but she does. It looks like she’s in a studio and it’s so stupid how she looked ridiculously endearing with her toothy grin aimed towards the camera. Stupid Yu Jimin and her stupid adorable mole.
Minjeong: ‘Fake’ girlfriend. You look like a dork.
Jimin: why, thank you, princess! i’m sorry we mere mortals couldn’t live up to your standards
Minjeong: I thought I told you to stop calling me that.
Jimin: okay winter :)
Jimin: hey, i’m not sure if it’s really okay with me joining you guys over to yizhuo’s. i know you couldn’t do anything about it earlier but if you’re not comfortable i could totally cancel and make up an excuse to yizhuo myself :)
Minjeong: While I appreciate the sentiment, I really don’t mind.
Minjeong: It would be nice if you’d meet my friends. Although fair warning, Chaeryeong and Yuna can be a bit of a handful.
Minjeong: But they’re really nice so if you wouldn’t mind some chaos, I’d want you to be there.
Minjeong: I mean, you would break Yizhuo’s heart if you refused. So yeah.
Minjeong: Just come, Jimin.
Jimin: okay winter <3
Ugh. Minjeong locks her phone-screen.
“What are we smiling about?”
Aeri’s voice was like a cube of ice slinking against her back.
“What? Nothing. I’m not smiling.”
Minjeong turns her gaze to her manager. Aeri was the picture perfect of a professional businesswoman. Tablet cradled between those perfectly manicured fingers, her blur eyes remaining impassive behind those framed glasses, yet the quick upturn of her lips would shatter the image, “And you say I’m the denial queen.”
“Minjeong-unnie!” It was Yuna who greeted her first and hugged her. Despite the situation, Minjeong can’t help but melt into the warmth that is Yuna. She’d missed her friends, of course and she felt guilty for not exerting an effort to see them more.
“Yuna! It’s so nice to see you.”
Chaeryeong comes in from the kitchen, a small excited smile on her lips before jumping into the hug as well. “It’s been too long!”
Minjeong pulls back, feeling slightly admonished but Chaeryeong was quick to point out. “Nuh-uh, we know it’s not your fault. We just really missed you, is all. So don’t give us that kicked puppy look.”
“I don’t have a kick puppy look. But I did miss you both.”
“We are so excited to meet your girlfriend! How come you did not tell us? We had to find out online. And it’s Yu Jimin of all people.”
Minjeong tries not to stiffen at the words. Instead, she casts a gritted smile at Yizhuo’s way who was looking at anything but her. “I’m so sorry. Management wanted to keep it under wraps for a little while, for privacy and safety purposes. But you guys are meeting her in a bit so yay.”
Minjeong had let out a forced chuckle in the last bit. And she didn’t sound enthusiastic at all but Chaeryeong and Yuna are already talking amongst themselves to notice. Minjeong took that opportunity to stride towards Yizhuo and whisper, “You didn’t tell them it was fake, right?”
Yizhuo mimes keeping her mouth shut, “Of course I didn’t. My lips are sealed.”
Minjeong breathes out a sigh of relief. Thank God. The lesser people know, the better. And it would be more believable. She feels slightly guilty for lying to her closest friends but she can’t really do anything about it.
The buzzing against the door interrupted their musings. Chaeryeong and Yuna shared knowing glances. Yizhuo subtly coughs behind her palms while Minjeong just heaved a long sigh. Here goes nothing…
When she yanks the door open, she was greeted by the sight of a very… nervous looking Jimin. She swipes a palm over her dark jeans before lifting the bottle of wine in her grip. “Hi.”
Minjeong’s lips quirk, trying not to smile at the sudden display, “Hey, come in. They’re waiting for you.”
“That shouldn’t sound as ominous as it sounds but it does.” Jimin whispers back, already removing her shoes.
Minjeong snorts, “Jimin, I’m not asking you to walk into your execution. You’re just meeting my friends.”
Jimin scoffs, “Might as well be. I might need to impress them.”
“What? That’s ridiculous. You don’t need to do that. Just be yourself.” Minjeong gives a her a playful once over before adding, “Okay, maybe not too much of yourself.
Jimin shoots her a glare but she chuckles softly, “Shut up.”
Minjeong watched in silence, arms crossed as Jimin was literally bombarded by none other than Yuna with a hug and a series of questions. Chaeryeong on the other hand, was much more tamed than her. She just took the bottle of wine from Jimin before proceeding to the kitchen. Jimin catches her gaze, a somewhat helpless look in her face. Minjeong merely raised an eyebrow, sticks her tongue out at her before following after Chaeryeong.
“So, how did you guys meet?” Chaeryeong says as she arranges the plastic bags upon the kitchen counter.
Minjeong absently picks on the grapes before popping a piece in her mouth, “I met her in Busan, when I went to her concert with Yizhuo.”
“Really? That was like, two or three years ago?”
“Yes.”
“Have you liked her back then?” Chaeryeong had this curious look in her eyes. Perceptive. If there’s one thing Minjeong knows about her friend, is that she’s very perceptive. Minjeong has to tread carefully here.
“Not precisely, I mean to be honest, she was kind of a dick when we first met.” There. A half truth and a lie. Thankfully, Chaeryeong seems to buy on it as her lips finally graces into a soft smile.
“That’s like, the true rom-com story out there.” Chaeryeong says once Minjeong finishes a fabricated story about them. Okay, so maybe she lied about bits and pieces.
Minjeong truly thought she was out of the woods. Until Chaeryeong spoke again. “So like, is she allergic to anything? I wanna know cause I’m cooking today.”
Oh no. Minjeong truly had no idea. She could pull out her phone and google a quick query about Jimin but that would’ve been too obvious. Chaeryeong was still staring at her, the obvious perceptive gaze returning so Minjeong kind of panics and blurts out the first thing she sees on the cupboard that Chaeryeong was using.
“Uh, tomatoes. And onions.” Oh my god is that even a real thing? Onion and tomato allergy? “Also butter. And basically just some dairy products cause she’s lactose intolerant.”
There. There we go. Now that’s a much more common allergy.
Chaeryeong frowned. “You should’ve told me sooner, these mostly contain dairy.”
Minjeong laughs awkwardly before clearing her throat. Her eyes darted towards the bottle of wine Jimin brought. “Yeah, just give her something with less… dairy in it. Anyway, I’ll open this and give it to everyone. They might be thirsty already.” Minjeong grabs wine glasses before dashing off into the direction of Jimin.
She finds Jimin sitting at the couch, Yuna was in a phone call while Yizhuo was thumbing through the Netflix selections. She makes a beeline towards Jimin.
“Hey.” Minjeong whispered under her breath so only Jimin could hear. She places the wine glass in Jimin’s hand, “Are you allergic to anything? Chaer’s cooking and she’s asking me but I have no idea.”
Jimin arched an amused brow before simply saying, “Histamine. Suffocation is one side effect. Very fun.”
Minjeong scrunched her nose. “Yikes, what does that consist of?”
Jimin smiled, and then ever so slowly, she placed the glass Minjeong just handed to her on the table in front of them. Then she turns to Minjeong, the grin on her lips never leaving her face before saying, “Wine.”
Oh, shit.
Minjeong’s face burned, her eyes cutting a glare towards where Jimin had put the glass as if it had personally offended her, “You brought us wine today.”
Jimin shrugged, “I had no idea what to bring, and Yeji-unnie told me it’s the best thing to bring to some fancy dinner stuff.”
“Oh my god, I’m sorry for what’s about to happen.” Minjeong shakes her head before downing the wine in one go.
Jimin scrunches her brows before gently swiping the glass from Minjeong’s grip, “Hey, slow down with that. What’s wrong?”
Minjeong could only give her a grim smile. “You’ll see.”
“Sorry, Minjeong told me you were allergic to tomato, onion, and mushrooms. I don’t have anything else aside from the veggies so I had to whip something up real fast.”
Minjeong tries very hard not to laugh at the mortified look Jimin was giving her upon seeing the green beans, spinach and a bunch of other green veggies on Jimin’s plate right now. But then just as quickly, her frown morphs into a dashing smile as she faced Chaeryeong, “It’s fine. I love it.” Then she bumps her shoulders with Minjeong who startled a bit at the sudden jostle, “Thanks for taking care of me.”
Minjeong recovers, smiling sweetly as she redirected her gaze to Jimin, “Always, babe.”
Dinner went by in a flash. Unsurprisingly, Jimin doesn’t touch her food much opting to instead converse with Yuna as she puts little bits of pieces of food into her mouth. Minjeong almost felt guilty for clearly putting the girl into such situation.
Almost.
Besides she had no other choice, she wasn’t expecting the question from Chaeryeong so she said what comes to mind first.
“Jimin-unnie, where’s your glass? You need to drink more of this expensive stuff you bought for us!” Yuna exclaims, holding the bottle of wine in her grip.
Before Jimin could speak, Minjeong snatches the new glass that Yuna refilled with the red liquid and downs it in one go. Jimin was staring at her, a bemused smile on her face. Minjeong averts her gaze, “Sorry, no more drinking for her. She’s driving me home.”
“Unnie, you live like, two blocks away from here.” Yuna deadpans.
“So? I don’t feel like walking two blocks.”
Minjeong could only smile sweetly at Yuna’s sour expression. Dinner went by in a flash. Thankfully, there were no more mishaps involved. Yuna kept conversation going. As the night wore on, Jimin’s stance finally relaxed. It was nice. She missed her friends so much. Being one of the most in-demand actress doesn’t really give you the luxury of relaxation. Which suddenly brings her to her current pendulum. Maybe not being in one of the most in demand actresses actually has its perks. She gets to spend time with her friends and family like this.
They were walking side by side at Yuna’s garage, the cold breeze of the air grazing her skin when Jimin stops, effectively stopping Minjeong as well.
“Of course you ride a bike.” Minjeong notes, and it’s not just any bike either, she notes as her eyes rake over the dark-knight Diavel Ducati parked up front.
Jimin snorts, grabbing the black helmet perched atop the bike’s leather seat, “Sorry, I don’t have a pumpkin carriage for you, princess.”
Minjeong rolled her eyes, the words slipping out of her mouth unbidden, “I didn’t mean it like that. It’s just so... you.”
Jimin raises an eyebrow, but doesn’t comment on it as she hands Minjeong the helmet, “I didn’t bring a spare so use mine.”
“I was kidding. I just said that so they would get off your back about the wine. It’s literally a five minute walk.”
“Okay. Let me walk you then.”
And then Jimin is shrugging the leather jacket off her shoulders as she wordlessly handed it to Minjeong.
“Oh.” Minjeong fights the blush she can feel creeping up her cheeks, “No, thanks. I’m not cold.”
Jimin smiled before gently grabbing Minjeong’s wrist to place the jacket in her grip. She startled at the touch as it left a prickling sensation against her skin, “Come on, ”
“Tonight was nice.”
Minjeong hums, a playful grin on her face, “Cross your heart?”
Jimin snorts, “Okay maybe not the part where you made me eat grass.”
Minjeong can’t help the startled laugh in her throat, “I panicked!”
“Also lactose intolerant? If rumours actually spread about that, I’m blaming you.”
“Don’t worry, I’m sure your fans wouldn’t condemn you for that.” Minjeong worried her bottom lip between her teeth, “Thank you for coming. I’m sure you made my friends really happy. Especially Yizhuo.”
Jimin waved her off, “Thank you for inviting me. It’s been a while since I’ve had that. Just y’know, catching up with old friends.”
“What about Yeji and Ryujin?”
Jimin sighs almost wistfully, “Don’t get me wrong. They’re almost like family to me and I love them to death but there hasn’t been a time wherein the three of us could just sit and talk and not worry about our schedules. Or eat a meal that hasn’t been microwaved or bought from a fast food chain.”
“Oh. I get it.” Minjeong swallowed audibly as she racks her brain on how she would articulate the words she wants to say, “My friends and I do these from time to time. You should—you’re totally free to join whenever. Maybe even bring your bandmates too next time.”
Jimin’s face lights up at that, “Really?”
“Yes. Really.”
Jimin peers up her lashes, hands finding the back of her neck as she says in the most bashful tone she’d seen Jimin ever, “Maybe you can cook for me next time? Preferably with less grass and actual real food.”
And oh god, Minjeong’s finding it very hard not to feel something for this woman who appears to be a hardass in all the glory of her leather jackets and combat boots but looks about she’s ready to explode as she asks for a home-cooked meal from Minjeong.
So Minjeong just smiles, lets the erratic beating against her chest, “It’s a deal.”
Three days after that, Minjeong would tell herself multiple times that she’s taking crash course in cooking because she wants to and definitely not because of a certain vocalist who has an affinity for home cooked meals.
Because if she does so, maybe she’d believe it.
“What do you get out of this?” Minjeong asks one afternoon, idly sipping on her Starbucks tumbler as they lounged by Jimin’s patio. They were having one of those “off cam hanging out” days because despite everything, Minjeong actually thinks that Jimin was a pretty decent company. Perhaps she would even dare say a friend. But Jimin didn’t need to know that.
Jimin hums, absently strumming a chord on her guitar, she scribbles something on a sheet of paper, probably a lyric of some sort before answering Minjeong, “What do you mean?”
“This whole fake dating thing.”
Jimin blinks and she looks taken aback for a second, as if she wasn’t expecting that to come out of Minjeong’s mouth. She thinks about it and then, “Uh. Publicity?”
Minjeong huffs out a laugh, “Jimin, let’s leave the acting to me. You’re not very good at it.”
Jimin pouted, like full on jutting out her bottom lip as she sets her guitar aside, “What makes you say that?”
“Well, for one, we both know you don’t care much about that. I get the sense that you’re genuinely happy with what you have right now. You’re just enjoying what you do. And you guys are pretty popular already, you have a solid established fandom, you would sell out stadiums, top the charts, so you don’t really need any more publicity for that matter. So there must be something else.”
“Maybe I just wanted to fake date you because you’re pretty and you make for a good arm candy.” The annoying half-grin, half-smirk was back and Minjeong could only roll her eyes.
“We both know that’s a lie. But sure, I guess if you don’t want to tell me then that’s fine too.” Minjeong says, shrugging as she went back to sipping her drink and drops the topic altogether. She gets the idea that Jimin wouldn’t tell her no matter how much she pries. And that’s totally fine. Minjeong wouldn’t push. She’s not that type of person.
“It’s not that I don’t want to tell you, I just feel like it isn’t my place to tell but,” Jimin then trails off before she held up a finger, “I trust you.”
Minjeong arched an eyebrow, waiting for Jimin to drop the bomb when Jimin unceremoniously did just... that.
“Yeji and Jisu are dating.”
Minjeong almost chokes on the liquid halfway down her windpipe. Okay. She was definitely expecting anything but that, it takes her a minute to gather her wits, “Your bassist and your manager?”
Jimin nods, “They were caught by some media outlet. They were not exactly in a compromising position but one didn’t need to be a genius to figure it out. It got out. Rumors are starting to spread and you know how unforgiving the Korean netizens are when it comes to these things. Jisu could lose her job. My agency didn’t want that, we didn’t want that so they suggested something to alleviate the attention which is,” Jimin gestured to her own body as if in some sort of a grand gesture, “I was really cool with it. I was out for a year already and people have been mostly fine with it. Yeji and Jisu were against it because they were worried about me and Jisu was seriously considering just quitting but I wasn’t going to let that happen over something really stupid.”
“God that’s—that’s fucked up.”
“I know.” Jimin nods, tone solemn, “And that’s the first time I actually heard you swear.”
“What? Disappointed that I’m not actually the angel the media is painting me out to be?”
Jimin snorts, “Not really, I kind of knew that already. Nobody’s that perfect.”
“But seriously, you’re fine with this? Isn’t it like—some weird invasion of your privacy? Fake or not. Your agency is basically using you to tamper for something when they could just, I don’t know? Defend their artists? Protect their employees? They’re just taking the coward’s way out.”
“You said it yourself. It is fucked up. But I’m not doing this because my agency asked me to. I’m doing this for my friends. If they can’t protect them, then maybe I can. In my own way.” Jimin shrugs, like it’s not a big deal that she is basically throwing herself out there to the wolves too. Minjeong mmediately stops that line of thought and wonders when did she start caring for Yu Jimin.
“That’s very nice. I just hope you, uhm, know what you’re doing.”
It’s the closest thing Minjeong could offer without outright saying the words please take care of yourself too but it’s something. And Jimin seems to pick up on it too because her gaze softened as she smiled in that lopsided way that Minjeong couldn’t help but find annoyingly charming.
“God, this thing suck.” Minjeong suddenly exclaimed, desperate to change the topic. She wipes her lips with the back of her hand.
“What is that, anyway? You’ve been carrying that tumbler around lately.”
“It’s some ginger juice that’s supposed to help me with better digestion. They want me on a diet because I’m filming these slimming pills ad in like, a week so Aeri is making me try a bunch of stuff.”
“They want you on a diet? But you’re the perfect weight already. Is that even healthy?” Jimin looks actually mortified and serious with her remark. Not an ounce of smugness that would usually follow the compliment that Minjeong is so used to. The actress fought a blush threatening to dust her cheeks as she cleared her throat.
Minjeong just shrugs, not trusting her voice at the moment.
Jimin could only shake her head as she tutted under her breath, “I’m taking you out to a buffet dinner first thing right after that ad filming.”
Minjeong nodded mutely, idly stirring with her straw and wonders not for the first time that day, when did she start seeing Yu Jimin in a different light.
“Hey, Minjeong. Thanks for coffee!”
“Yeah, sure!” Minjeong was in the middle of taking out her eye-contacts when the words register in her brain. She spins on her seated position, “Wait, what?”
The staff held up the cup in her grip, “The coffee truck?”
Minjeong frowned. She definitely did not do that. Maybe Aeri?
“Oh, I didn’t know. Maybe my manager did.”
The staff shrugs as if to say whatever before speeding off. Minjeong shoots off from her seat, intent on finding Aeri when she finds the culprit in the form of a five foot tall with a newly dyed dark blue hair talking to their director.
“Hey, you’re here?” Without thinking much of it, Minjeong steps in to give Jimin a hug. Jimin’s cologne that smells of sandalwood filling her senses. She missed her.
“Oof.” She hears Jimin say before putting her arms around Minjeong. “Hello.”
The director, Mr. Lee, gave them a smile before scurrying off. Minjeong inclined her head before pulling back to stare at Jimin, “I thought you’re not back until tomorrow?”
“I lied.” Jimin says, looking almost too pleased with herself, “I wanted to surprise you.”
“With a coffee truck?”
“Mhm.”
“You couldn’t just send it over?”
Jimin scoffs, as if offended that Minjeong had just suggested that, “Because those are overrated, why not bring it myself to you?”
“You’re nuts, you know that?” Minjeong can’t help the warmth settling inside her chest.
Jimin inclined her head side to side, as if weighing the options, a smug smile tugging her lips, “I’ve been told a few times or so.”
“No jetlag? You want something to eat?” Minjeong appraises Jimin’s body, she realized she’s not fully let go of Jimin’s arms just yet. Somehow, the notion doesn’t seem to bother her. She wants to be close to Jimin. She really did miss her.
Jimin’s eyes softened, letting Minjeong fuss over her. “I’m okay, promise. You on the other hand, looks about ready to pass out.”
Minjeong drops all pretense and says, “I’m so tired.”
Jimin doesn’t say anything as she immediately gathered Minjeong in her arms again. Minjeong lets herself be pulled in. She buried her face in the fabric of Jimin’s shirt against her shoulder, she smells like lavender detergent which soothed Minjeong’s nerves. It’s familiar. Safe. She feels Jimin dropping a light kiss to the side of her head and Minjeong finds herself wishing that was real and wasn’t an act.
“Your co-star’s looking this way.” Jimin mumbled against her ear, arms still around her.
Minjeong still had her eyes closed as her words were muffled by Jimin’s shoulder, “God, I hate him he wouldn’t stop talking about the brand of his hair gel.”
Jimin snorts, “Maybe it’s a good brand.”
Minjeong feels herself smiling, “Does it look like I fucking care?”
Jimin mock gasps, her voice still barely above a whisper, “The darling actress of Korea just swore! Alert the press!”
“Shut up.” Minjeong giggled, burying herself further in the warmth that is Jimin as she drops her head on the taller girl’s chest.
“Hey.” Jimin gently jostles her as she tightened her arms around Minjeong’s waist.
Minjeong hums, feeling drowsy at being held like this. Jimin was so warm. And she smells so nice.
“Baby, don’t fall asleep on me. They still need you back there.”
Minjeong frowned. As much as the idea of staying here forever was tempting, she very much can’t, “You’re right.”
She regretfully untangles herself from Jimin but before she could fully pull back, Jimin stops her.
“Do you have—uh kissing scene with him?”
Minjeong’s smile turned impish, “Why, are you jealous?”
Minjeong was kidding. Jimin was supposed to flush out of embarrassment not—not stare at her with that scorching look before capturing Minjeong’s lips in a long, searing kiss. It was almost embarrassing with how Minjeong lets out an undignified whimper at it. Jimin’s kisses were insistent and Minjeong could do nothing but open up to her as she lets Jimin take the lead.
“Why would I be? Everyone knows I’m yours as you are mine.” Jimin pecks her lips once more time before pulling back. She made a call me hand sign to Minjeong as she disappears in the doorway.
Minjeong just stood there. Dumbfounded. Did that really just happened?
Only when she’s in the safe space of her trailer would Minjeong realise that she was wishing for the whole kiss to be real and Jimin had called her baby.
That’s so not fair.
Minjeong was pissed. She woke up with a searing migraine that morning which soon followed a whole taxing schedule with a director who keeps calling cut with just the slightest of inconvenience. Usually, Minjeong wouldn’t mind because she’s a bit of a perfectionist herself so she understood the craft of wanting to making the perfect scene but right now, she’s just majorly pissed and exhausted especially when she got a phone call from Yeji.
“I’m here to see Yu Jimin.”
“Visitation hours are over. Unless you’re a family member.”
Minjeong’s eyes darkened, crossing her arms haughtily as she pulls herself into her full height, “I’m her girlfriend.”
“Uh, last time I checked that’s not family, ma’am.”
“Okay, fine. I’m her wife.”
“I’m sorry, ma’am. It’s best that you just come back tomorrow.”
And Minjeong briefly thinks, this is it. This is how I’m going to go down. Not for the sudden drop of casting calls being thrown her way but rather she’s going to slap this man right in front of everyone else’s eyes.
Before her thoughts could bleed into action, she feels an arm being slung over her shoulder.
“Hey, what’s going on here?”
Minjeong was ready to rip the arm of the owner because who dares touch her but when she turns, Ryujin’s innocent grin greeted her as she regarded the man behind the counter who straightened his posture. The starstruck look filling his eyes upon seeing the drummer was palpable. Minjeong could barely suppress her scoff.
“This man wouldn’t let me see Jimin.”
The man turned to her. At least he had the decency to look guilty now, “I’m just following the protocols. I’m just an intern here and I don’t want to cause any trouble.”
Ryujin disentangled herself from Minjeong as she stepped forward, “Come on, man. This is Jimin’s girlfriend.”
“I already told him that.”
“It’s against the rules, ma’m.” The man stood his ground but he’s looking swayed by each passing second.
“Nobody would know. You’re alone here.” Ryujin leaned her weight towards the counter as she made a show of looking to her left and right. She slapped a hand on the man’s shoulder. As if they’re some long lost buddies and well—Minjeong sees where this is going. The man, Minjeong’s eyes darts towards his nameplate, Jaehyun, was eating this shit up. With the way his awestruck eyes are sparkling and his slightly parted lips. She can’t believe this is actually working.
“Y-yeah. Okay. Fine. Just this once.”
Minjeong doesn’t even wait for his response as she dashes through the hallway once the man gave her the room number. Minjeong pushes against the door, not even bothering to knock.
“Why are you here?” Jimin’s voice was slightly wavering, cleaely stunned.
Minjeong ignored her. She stands in front of Jimin, arms crossed and foot tapping impatiently on the tiled floor.
Yeji offers an exasperated smile, then pats her shoulder on the way out, “Go easy on her.”
Minjeong waits until she heard the door click shut before speaking, “What were you thinking?”
Jimin rolled her eyes, “Yeah, I’m fine thanks for asking.”
“There are videos everywhere. You lunged at him first.”
“Sorry, did I trampled on your perfect little reputation, princess? Because you don’t have to worry this ruse will all be over soon, anyway.”
Minjeong almost recoiled at the bitterness dripping in those last words. She ignored it though choosing instead to focus on Jimin’s stubbornness.
“You know, I’ve tolerated you being an asshole at times, what I wouldn’t though is you putting words right into my mouth.”
Jimin hung her head low as her tone softened, “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that. I shouldn’t have said that.”
Minjeong sighs. Trying to control her flaring temper. In the span of few months, she learned that deflecting Jimin’s stubbornness with her flippant remarks doesn’t get her anywhere. So she relaxes, breathes through her nose and says in the most calm tone she could muster, “Why did you punch him?”
“Well, I wouldn’t have punched him if he just kept his mouth shut.”
Minjeong raises an eyebrow at the words, “What did he say?”
Jimin’s face flushes before averting her gaze as she mumbled, “Nothing. He was talking shit.”
“Jimin, you really suck at lying.”
Jimin threw her a dark glare but Minjeong was not deterred.
“What did he say?”
She saw Jimin’s jaw tightened, “He called you names.”
Minjeong stiffened but tries to mask it with an impassive face. Her experiences from the past suddenly coming back to haunt her, “And?”
Jimin finally lets her eyes flit towards Minjeong, her brows furrowed, “What do you mean and?”
“So he called me names, it’s not the end of the world. Don’t you think I get that everyday? In this industry? You would know, and it’s not really worth the bruise on your face right now.”
Jimin scoffs, “I didn’t like it.”
“What? You can’t just swing your fist at someone just because you didn’t like their opinion.”
“This is different.”
“How is this different?”
“Because it’s you and I didn’t like it!”
“And I don’t like seeing you get hurt!” Minjeong finally snaps, her tone bordering into a helpless plea.
Jimin’s eyes widened slightly at the sudden outburst. She could see it. She was probably not expecting Minjeong to raise her voice like that. Minjeong was kind of surprise herself too but it was already too late to take it back. So she steps a little closer, cradling Jimin’s face as she gently thumbs at the purpling bruise just above her left cheekbone, spreading across the bridge of her nose. And she could see the moment Jimin’s gaze softened as she allowed herself to lean against the touch, “Promise you would walk away next time?”
“I don’t—“
“Please, Jimin?”
Jimin sighed heavily, “I promise. But I’m not apologizing for what I did.”
“I’m not asking you to.” Minjeong bit her lip, shaking her head. This is so stupid, she had long since been used to the occasional unwanted comments from fans and non-fans because of her so called relationships in the past. She even had some of her previous boyfriends participate on it themselves and here, she had this one girl who she didn’t even genuinely liked at first willing to punch some random reporter just because she didn’t like that he called Minjeong names. “Thank you. No one has ever stood up for me before.”
“And I would do it again.”
Minjeong glared weakly, “Dummy. Not if it would cost you this, okay?”
Jimin nods, “Okay. It’s not that bad. You should see the other guy.”
Minjeong could only roll her eyes, “You big, brave, stupid fool.”
Jimin smiles but slightly winces, “His elbows just caught me when he swung. It’s not that bad. Ryujin told me it makes me look cool.”
“It’s not funny, you could’ve had a serious concussion or something.”
“No, the doctors said I can go home tonight.”
“Fine but you’re coming home with me.”
Minjeong didn’t know what made her say that. Perhaps it’s the way Jimin was softly looking at her, bathed in the yellow lamp of the hospital room. And it shouldn’t sound romantic at all, what with the way they were surrounded by the stench of metallic sterile room and the loud buzz of the old ventilation of the room.
Jimin just smiles softly, “Okay.”
Minjeong has a predicament. She likes Jimin. And she doesn’t mean it in a platonic-fake-dating-sense-like, she means it in a i-want-to-kiss-your-stupid-face-and-make-you-home cooked-meals-every-night.
In short, she had fallen for Jimin. For real. She couldn’t help the breathless laugh escaping her lips at the realization. It doesn’t really surprise her, a bit anticlimactic if you’d ask her, because it had always been there. Lingering at the back of her mind like some strange white noise in the background. She just chose to ignore it. So now she’s facing it.
“Minjeong?”
She hears Jimin’s voice from the living area. She’s thumbing through her phone, the bruise on her face now slightly healed. “Can I show you something?”
Minjeong drops beside her, snuggling closer, “What is it?”
“You want to see how the fans are taking our relationship?”
Minjeong’s stomach drops. The comments, articles about her past suddenly flashing her mind like a horror film reel. She remembers those nights Aeri would spend consoling her. The panic attacks coupled with restless nights. Her first, immediate answer was no, thank you. I’ve subjected myself into that horror long enough to almost make me lose my sanity. But Jimin’s face was kind, gaze gentle and her voice was soft when she speaks, “Do you trust me?”
Minjeong could only blink, suddenly finding her words scarce as she nods.
Jimin hands her phone, shows her a thread and Minjeong braces for impact… she scrolls and scrolls and she hadn’t even realised that she’s the one looking for some nasty comment about her because these messages are… well filled with lovely ones. They were all supportive and before she knew it, tears are suddenly pricking her at the back of her eyes. “Your fans are… nice.”
Jimin holds her tighter as she jostles her playfully, “Yeah. They’re not wrong though. I’m the luckiest girl alive to be dating prettiest girl to ever exist.”
Minjeong sniffs, “Jimin, what if I told you that I want this to be real?”
Jimin’s smile widens, “Good. Because it’s been real for me since the moment I walked in those glass doors and you called me an asshole.”
Minjeong tugs at her front shirt, kisses Jimin like she’d done so many times before.
Only this time, she doesn't have to pretend.
They walk together in the meeting room with Jisu and Aeri.
Aeri takes one look at their intertwined hands and says, “Thank god you’re not going to make me orchestrate a fake break up.”
Minjeong’s jaw drops, voice indignant, “I haven’t even said anything yet.”
She hears Jimin chuckling and feels her arms around her shoulder, pulling her in as she drops a light kiss on the side of her head, “So, there wouldn’t be a problem right?”
Jisu shakes her head, eyes fond, “No, you look happy, Jimin.”
Minjeong huffs, tone playful, “Well, she should be so lucky to have me in her life.”
“Yeah, yeah. I am lucky.”
[BREAKING] Korea’s It Couple finally getting married After 7 years of dating!