#hoonworks

the village you basically grew up with now gradually changed into one of the worst nightmare people had ever conceived. it all started with a drunk guy getting murdered near the famous bar in the village—and that's enough to shock the whole villagers—to guys who had done a bad deed in their life got murdered every week.

and yet, the serial killer hasn't been caught by the police officers. it's hardly foreseeable for a serial killer to be good at shrouding clues with their strategic thinking to protect their identity but didn't even bother leaving the lifeless bodies exposed to the public to show the result of their wrongdoing.

after all, psychopaths have a lack of empathy. even worse if they can mimic empathy to fool people. it's one of their charms when it comes down to it.

and that's the reason why the victims could be easily lured by her gesture that was contrived to deceive.

daniela avanzini.

a face of an angel, with devilish intent. she was never a saint.

but she knows how to mimic a saint effortlessly to fool the sinners masquerading as saints. daniela would use her usual trick—with those bewitching eyes and false flattery of her silvered tongue, just the way they like it—before killing them in ways whatever she wants.

the sound of their begging was her favorite part of the killings. daniela relished their desperation, so feral and frantic it reminded her of rabid animals. and she finds it ridiculous for the sinners crying for mercy, blind to the fact they’ve never granted it to begin with.

however, it's even hilarious for stained condemning the stained. as it is often said, a sinner’s worst enemy is a sinner of a different kind. yet daniela would rather silence their breaths than hear them linger. because to her, the living were nothing but mistakes better erased—and nothing is wrong if it serves her satisfaction.

the same goes for anything she desires. she ensures she gets whatever she sets her mind on. for example; you. jeung y/n.

for the first time she lands her gaze on you when you enter her shop, her heart that no longer beats for anything but indulgence begins to beat for another reason.

desire.

for daniela, desire is the same as having.and she would do whatever it takes to get you all by herself.

“unnie, we should ask father to leave this village,” yoonchae began to speak, breaking the silence between the two of you in the small kitchen. “i’m worried for his safety.” she added, concern clear in her tone.

“but you know father won't leave this village just like that,” you replied to your younger sister, your eyebrows knitted together in concern. “and yes i’m worried for his safety too. but he's a police officer, yoonchae. we can't let him abandon his job like it's nothing. it's not just us that he has to protect."

yoonchae could only rub her temples with a small groan, overwhelmed by the feeling like the killer breathing down her neck when the murder kept increasing day by day and the police couldn't do anything about it.

a number of villagers had already abandoned their homes, terrified of being the next victim. those who stayed pressured the authorities to protect the village further, to prevent any more deaths.

silence merely lingered as they sat across from each other, letting the heavy rain speak in their stead. “do you ever think that we could be their next victim?” yoonchae asked, looking up at you now.

“well, if you asked me, i don't think so,” you replied, rubbing your chin to think further. “because, if you notice, the serial killer is only targeting guys and not women,” you added, now sitting down across yoonchae. “i consider women to be safe for now. but i’m still worried for our father because he's a guy.”

just before yoonchae could speak more, multiple soft knocks interrupted their conversation that made both of you turn your head.

“i’ll get it!” yoonchae exclaimed, rising from the chair as she jogs to the door.

“during heavy rain? could it be father? why is he coming earlier than most days?” you whispered to yourself, getting up from your chair to heading towards the door too. but then, you stopped yoonchae from turning the lock. “be careful.”

“right, okay.” yoonchae opened the door with a slow creak and peeked through the narrow gap, only to find daniela, a woman whose beauty didn’t fit the blood and steel of a butcher’s life, she thought to herself.

“meat delivery from avanzini’s butchery to mr. jeung’s house~” daniela sang her words in a lilting cadence, the tradition she used to seem polite in front of people although the heavy rain is pissing her off.

“oh, daniela!” you said with a smile as your eyes lit up when your eyes met hers. “you should come in! it's dangerous to be out there in this weather.” you offered, taking the meat from daniela as you usher her inside while yoonchae closed the door.

truth to be told, you had been captivated by her for the moment you entered her butchery shop. you recalled how gentle the curve of her smile rising to greet you, and much to your surprise, you two got close—like it's still normal to find peace—in the midst of chaos in the village.

“thank you for the meat, unnie!” yoonchae exclaimed eagerly, watching you put the meat inside the fridge.

“your welcome, yoonchae. your father ordered it the morning before he gets to work,” daniela casually remarked and sat on the couch. “oh ya where is mr. jeung? still working?”

“probably,” yoonchae grunted, now flopping onto the couch with a pout. “i hope he's doing fine, i don't want him to be the next victim.”

“hm… anyone could be the killer’s next victim,” daniela said without a care, her eyes unreadable as she watches you serve hot chocolate milk in each glass on the coffee table. “perhaps even him.”

silence.

you and yoonchae turned your heads to her in unison, disbelief etched across your faces as though her words demanded to be heard twice. however, it could be possible and daniela is not wrong. none of you could deny the truth.

the corner of daniela’s lips twitch when the silence stretches further, hinting her to say something to break the silence. “okay, that came off too harsh. but isn’t it true? the killer doesn’t care who it is.”

“yeah... you're right,” you muttered before sipping your glass of hot chocolate milk, as if doing so could wash away the uncomfortable feeling. “unless it comes to women.”

“yeah actually i wonder what makes the serial killer target on men,” yoonchae looks at you, then daniela, searching for an answer. “there must be a reason…” she added, leaning back to the cozy sofa.

“i thought you knew the reason since your father handled the case?” daniela questioned. “oh yeah did the police find a clue?”

“no… the killer is too good at hiding their identity,” you sighed softly. “i feel bad for my father and his co-workers, they tried so hard to find a clue but the villagers kept pressuring them,” you continue with a low grunt, sipping the hot chocolate to calm down. “those men should've helped the police to find a clue instead of barking like a dog.”

“well, only those who barks the most must've done something bad in their past that they are so afraid of being the next victim,” daniela said casually, finishing the hot chocolate milk. “hm, sweet. i love your hot chocolate, y/n.”

while you were busy flustering over daniela’s compliment, yoonchae furrowed her eyebrows and noticed something odd about daniela for tonight. she convinced herself she's just paranoid, but when daniela mentioned something bad in the past for those men, chill ran down her spine instantly.

how would she know?

“yoonchae,” your voice pulled her back to her senses as she blinked two times before realizing she's in the same room as someone who gave her creeps.

yeah, now daniela creeps her out.

“you look tired, yoon. you should go to sleep.” you added, pinching her cheek softly.

“but what about you?” yoonchae asked, tilting her head aside.

“i will be sleeping later,” you replied with a smile. “i want to talk more with daniela.”

as much as yoonchae wants to voice out her concern, she doesn't want to seem obvious. with that, she decided to keep it to herself for now.

“goodnight, unnie.” yoonchae kisses your cheek and looks at daniela, giving her a small wave before heading off to her shared bedroom.

now that you were left alone with daniela on the small couch, you brace yourself to not embarrass yourself in front of the girl you had a crush on. silence enveloped between you and daniela as you don't know what to talk about. your eyes stayed on the empty glass on the coffee table.

then, daniela slid smoothly close to you until your shoulders brushed against each other, her right arm resting on your back as if she knew her touch could make you nervous.

“so when are you going to sleep, y/n?” she asks casually, her eyes trailing over your features while her warm breath hits your skin. “it's late.”

“i um… want to talk to you more,” you reasoned, eyes darting everywhere around the room but daniela. “it's dangerous to go back to your place at this hour, so it'll be good if you stay in my house until the rain stops.”

“cute, just say you miss me, y/n,” daniela teased, the corner of her lips curling up into a knowing smirk, loving every second of how easy your body language was for her to read like a damn open book. “it's been awhile since we hung out. i miss you, you know…”

“i miss you too, but work keep you busy and i don't want to disturb you,” you state, scratching the back of your neck awkwardly. “you work until late night, and im afraid you bumped into the killer. who knows if the killer changed plans. they're sick in the head,” you pout, finally looking up to look into daniela's sharp eyes. “i don't want to lose you.”daniela's sharp eyes softened, her hands moved to cup your cheeks. “don't worry, they won't kill any women they see,” she muttered without a care, but seeing those big clueless eyes, she continues. “because they only target on men, don't they?”

you nodded your head wordlessly, somehow lost in her gaze that you can't even focus on anything else at that moment.

how could you not? when she looks so beautiful under the incandescent lights. however, you would never know the danger outside that keeps you aware of everything around you that was never there, but rather in front of you, a devil dressing as a pretty butcher by hiding her dirty little secret behind her charms.

“would you mind if i kiss your lips to stop my mind from wondering what it tastes like?” daniela asked you like she's asking where the toilet is. and that makes you jolted awake from your thoughts.

your eyes widened as your cheeks flushed red, you weren't expecting to hear something like that from daniela. especially when you just met not long more than a month. “kiss my lips…?”

“mhm, i want to claim your lips for mine to kiss,” daniela replied with her voice low and seductive, leaning closer towards you to trap you deeper into her dangerous gaze. “...you’re mine, y/n.”

without wasting time, daniela closed the distance between you and her, stealing away your breath as her lips crashed against yours deeper, as if not wanting you to break the kiss.

your hands were awkwardly above daniela’s hips when her hands gently guide yours to rest on her shoulders, while hers trail down your body to stop and stay on your hips. the kiss was great for a first kiss. your first kiss. and she seems experienced by the way she leads. you wouldn't mind. your crush is kissing you. and you couldn't think of anything but her lips on yours.

then, you break the kiss, your hands still on her shoulders as you're trying to catch your breath. the sight of you out of breath makes daniela licks her lips. regardless of how much she wants to kiss you again, daniela has to hold back for now. she can't afford to lose control.

not when someone's watching.

“i’m heading back to close my shop,” daniela said as she stood up from the couch, smoothing her shirt while looking at the top of the stairs where yoonchae is peeking. “you shouldn't be sneaking up like that, yoonchae,” she added before pinching your right cheek casually. “do it better next time.”

“i’m sorry…” yoonchae whispered an apology as she stood up. you could only hide your flushed face with a pillow, not wanting anyone to see how flustered you were when you realized your very own sister caught you kissing with daniela.

“daniela…” you called her name softly, though muffled by the pillow. you open your one eye and look at daniela with a shy expression. “be careful.”

“i will be, don't worry,” daniela answered as she walked close to the door but stopped to glance at you again. “love you, y/n.” she winks and walks out of the door, leaving you all flustered.

once the door clicked shut, the silence lingered in the living room for one minute before yoonchae spoke up.

“so care to explain since when you're dating daniela unnie?”

but you were so flustered that you can't even mutter an explanation for yoonchae. you could only bury your face deeper in the pillow while squealing.

yoonchae only shakes her head. she wants to tell you about her bad feelings about daniela, but now that she found out you were with daniela, she can't make herself look like she's trying to ruin your relationship.

with a sigh, she fetch her rain jacket and open the door, the heavy rain show no sign of stopping at any time. “unnie, i’m going out to meet father at the police station,” yoonchae tell you while wearing her rain jacket. “i’ll be back later.”

“but it's dangerous, yoonchae…” the concern in your voice stopped her from taking another step outside. “the heavy rain isn't stopping, why don't you just wait for our father like we always do?” you questioned, tilting your head aside.

yoonchae didn't reply right away. instead, she looks at you. “don't worry, the killer only targets men, don't they?” she gives you a reassuring smile and closes the door shut as her legs lead her to the police station.

“still… be careful, yoonchae…”

elsewhere, daniela closed her shop like usual, it had become her second nature by how often she has done it. however, her mind couldn't stop playing over the moment you and yoonchae kept worrying about your father with filial affection.

it pissed her off. so fucking much.

for daniela, your father is just as equal as the men she murdered. pretending to be a saint, while their past explains that they are just stained saints. in her mind, if those are done, then nothing could erase the bad deed.

by nothing daniela won't even spare anything to let your father walk alive for tonight. she needs to kill him. blood for blood.

daniela wears a black coat after taking off her rain coat—making it easier for her to blend in the shadows—and tossing it somewhere. without a sound, she stealthily slipped into the alley your father was known to take, her hand tightening around the kitchen knife with the firm intention to murder him.

at the exact time the clock struck twelve, daniela caught a glimpse of the shadow of a man she had claimed as her prey moved down the alley alone. his body slouched as he plodded down the alley with an umbrella in his grip, each footstep echoing his weariness of the day.

a smirk etched into daniela's lips as she follows him from behind, who's completely unaware of the danger lurking behind him.

“die.” daniela whispered under her breath—though drowned out by the heavy rain—as she swung the kitchen knife precisely onto his back.

he crumpled to his knees with a yelp instantly, the umbrella he's holding now on the dirty wet ground, pain wracking his body as his wide, frantic eyes searched the shadows to find the threat ahead.

“who the hell—” he choked out, struggling for air as he scrambled upright. unfortunately, he received another strike under his ribs from behind that put him completely under a vulnerable position. the rain washed over him, mingling with his blood as it seeped into the puddles.

daniela's wicked grin stretched wider as she moved closer, slipping the gun off his belt out of his reach. “pathetic.” she taunted, stepping over his wound while ignoring his cry of pain.

“l-let me go…” he gasped. the heavy rain made it hard for him to call out for help. for now, he had to endure the pain and fight back the killer. “my daughters are waiting for me–”

he choked on his own cries as daniela stepped harder into his wound. “woah, you're a devoted father now, aren't you? strange… where is the same devotion when a little girl you abandoned for the price of a bribe back then?”

his eyes widened, the pain suddenly clouded by adrenaline. his heart beats twice faster than before as he recalled the time he let his greed take over him for a bribery. “i’m sorry... i’m wrong… spare my life, please…”

“as always, stupid people will admit their wrongdoing after getting called out,” daniela said as she rolled her eyes. nothing's new when she kills men. but their writhing pain makes her keep going. “and what's the point of apologizing to me? go crawl to that little girl's grave and apologize properly to her.” she said as she kicked his body like he's nothing but a piece of trash.

“y/n… yoonchae…” he mutters his daughters’ name under his breath as he tries to crawl away from daniela weakly. “y-you sick psycho… you're not as good as you think for killing people you think are bad!” he yells through the heavy downpour as he's struggling to breath due to the wound under his ribs. “kill yourself because you're just as bad as people you killed!”

then, he forced himself onto his back despite the pain as he writhed. when daniela kicked his face, he immediately caught her foot and pulled her down to the ground.

“fuck!” daniela grunted as he staggered on his knees to choke her. “bold move, old man.” she huffed out a small laugh while he tightened his grips around daniela’s neck. her hood now slipped down revealing her face under the moonlight.

“d-daniela?” he muttered, disbelief written clearly on his face as his grips loosen up. he couldn't bother to wipe the blood on his nose. “w-what.. w-why did you…”

“your daughters are waiting at home,” she smirks, still managing to overpower the man with just her words. “too bad their father is going to abandon them tonight,” she added before her smirk went off as she fetched the kitchen knife and immediately sliced his neck, blood splattering out like fireworks. “like how he used to abandoned that little girl.”

he coughs out blood and pressed his neck, as if the efforts itself can stop the blood from flowing out. unfortunately, there's nothing he can do about it. he has to wait for death to get him. and that's why daniela is standing in front of him with a triumphed grin.

“die, old man,” she sneers, watching his lifeless body laid unmoving on the wet ground while his blood bled into the torrents, vanishing in the flood of rain. “hope you find her and apologize properly.”

"father!”

yoonchae’s piercing scream rang out the empty alley, cutting through the heavy rain. she was standing at the end of the alley, her eyes wide with fear, unsure if she should move forward.

without further ado, daniela quickly lifted down her hood to hide her face and fled away from the scene before yoonchae could chase her.

that was close. daniela thought.

but well, the job is done and she's satisfied with her wrongdoing. that's what matters to her.

“no, no, no…” yoonchae mewl softly under her breath as she cradled her father in her arms. “wake up… please…”but the body remains stilled despite the pleas.

suddenly, yoonchae notices a glint in the puddle. at first she thinks it’s just a glass or a coin left on the ground, but slowly, she picks it up and scrutinizes the earring, her brow furrowed when she recognizes daniela had the same one.

“what… why would her earring be here..?”

a week passed, the situation became increasingly chaotic as many residents had left the village out of fear—where they thought it was better to leave than to rely on the hopeless authorities—until the village seemed abandoned.

and somehow, the killings dwindled too. as if the killer got bored and decided to stop. the case was left unsolved and those men who were murdered never got justice.

nor did they deserve any.

“make sure to get home safe after you visit his grave, unnie,” yoonchae murmured in concern as she hugged you tight. “i’ll stay and pack what's left in here.”

“i will,” you replied back with a small smile after pulling away from the hug. “don't worry, yoonchae. i won't leave you alone. i'm still here.” you pointed your index finger above her chest. “you too, be careful, okay? we will leave this village tonight.”

yoonchae wordlessly nodded her head, watching you leave the house until your figure disappeared from her sight. then, she let out a quiet sigh before returning to pack some food.

after losing your father, you were so sad that you cried so much until your eyes were red and puffy. even so, you still let yoonchae stay by your side, sharing grief together.

daniela, too, in fact stayed by your side. she doesn’t try to talk too much. instead, daniela would hold your hand in silence, or keep you close in her embrace while you cry. even planting comforting kisses on your temple after you broke down. the kind of gesture you would believe she was being thoughtful.

honestly, that puts yoonchae in doubt whether to trust her instinct about something is wrong with daniela. especially when she noticed daniela is missing the earring that she found last week. however, seeing how comfortable you are with daniela and how daniela takes care of her older sister makes her hesitate.

not long after, multiple knocks on the door from outside enough to jolt yoonchae awake from her train of thoughts. she puts down the last lunchbox she filled with apple slices and makes her way towards the door, wondering if it's you.

but then when she opened the door, she's wrong.

it's daniela.

“hey, yoonchae,” daniela greeted the younger woman with a faint smile. she seems like she's about to leave the village too. judging by the way she dresses and the white van she owned parked outside. she usually walk to get here. “can i come in?”

“sure, unnie, why not.” yoonchae mirrored the same gesture—despite feeling uneasy—as she let daniela step inside, closing the door and guide her to sit on the couch.

“your sister isn't home?” daniela asked yoonchae, seemingly looking for you.

“yeah, y/n unnie is out visiting our father's grave for a while,” yoonchae answered, coming back with two glasses of ice chocolate. “what makes you come here, unnie?”

“ah, that's quite unfortunate,” daniela sighs softly, but then changes her wording. “i mean, i want to meet your sister… but she's out visiting her father's grave. i miss her.”

yoonchae didn't reply right away, she offered a glass of ice chocolate to daniela. “our father means so much to her. especially after our mother passed away,” she muttered softly, taking a sip of her ice chocolate. “and she wants to visit his grave before we leave tonight.”

daniela nodded her head, taking every word in her head. “me too, i mean it's no use to open my shop here anymore, most people leave this town and it's getting boring. so i should do the same,” she sighs, not touching the ice chocolate. “so that's why i want to see you and your sister for the last time.”

“ohh i see..” yoonchae nodded her head, uncertain to ask daniela a question that has been stuck in her head for a long time. “um, unnie, can i ask you something?”

daniela nodded her head casually, leaning on her elbows on her knees while tilting her head aside. “what is it?”

yoonchae took the earring out of her pocket pants. her fingers tightened around the small earring, its silver surface glinting faintly beneath the couch’s incandescent lights. “did you lose one of your earrings? because..” yoonchae trailed off, slowly holding up the missing earring to daniela. “i think this belongs to you.”

for the first time, daniela froze. just for a heartbeat. too quick for most to notice. then her lips curved into a practiced smile, now barely reaching her eyes. she reached for the earring with careful fingers. “so that’s where it went,” she laughed lightly. “i thought i'd lost it. thank you, yoonchae.”

without waiting for a response, daniela probes gently. “where did you find it?”

yoonchae swallowed, her heart tightening. “in the alley… near the police station.” she answered cautiously, still wanting to hear daniela’s response.

for a second, silence stretched between them. but then, daniela stood up from the couch slowly, her eyes sharp on yoonchae. “are you okay? you look tense…” she stated.

when yoonchae didn't answer and started backing away, she tilted her head deceptively. “why do you look at me like that, yoonchae? did i do something wrong?”

yoonchae held back her tears and forced down a lump in her throat. “you… did you kill my father?” she asked straight away.

daniela remained silent, a faint smile playing on her lips. “i would never,” she finally answered. though her voice carried the eeriness of the tension between them. “what makes you think that?” she takes another step closer to yoonchae but the younger one falls off the couch and that makes her stop. “that’s horrible.”

“you scared me.”

with that, daniela's smile faltered that made her jaw tightened. “don’t say that.”

“leave,” yoonchae breathed out. “you need to leave.”

daniela simply let out a little chuckle. and just like that, her hands immediately shoot out to grab yoonchae by the collar with a surprisingly strong grip. “you’re just as annoying as your stupid father,” she clenched her teeth. “people like him don’t get second chances, yoonchae. i make sure of that.”

“w-who gives you the right to kill him for his sins!?” yoonchae snapped, although her voice shakes with dread. “y-you’re scarier than the monster you claim he was!”

as daniela held her silence, yoonchae carried on.

“you're just a fucking monster!”

just then, daniela burst out a sharp laugh, the kind of humorless laugh that sent shivers down yoonchae's spine. “no, no… i’m not a monster… monsters kill people for fun. i kill people for a purpose. there’s a difference,” she explained to yoonchae proudly, being self-righteous about herself. “i’m not a monster.”

“i’d rather die in your hands than hearing you admit yourself that you're not a monster.” yoonchae spat.

daniela's lips twitch into a smirk, her eyes glinted with twisted amusement. “if that's what you want…” daniela trailed off, her hand reaching out a pocket knife behind her pocket pants before lifting it up. “i’ll grant you that.”

before daniela could bring the knife down, the front door swung open. both daniela and yoonchae look up and find you're standing at the doorway, clearly terrified of the sight before you.

“daniela?” you croaked out. when you notice the glint of the pocket knife in daniela's grip right above yoonchae's head, you immediately run to push daniela off your younger sister without a second thought.

“unnie!” yoonchae shouted, quickly hugging you tight with a sigh of relief escaping her lips. “you came back.”

“i’m here, i’m here.” you whispered gently to yoonchae, hugging her close to you.

daniela hurriedly got on her knees with a grunt and pulled you away from yoonchae, hugging your body from behind as she held out the pocket knife, daring yoonchae to come closer.

“come closer, and i’ll kill your sister right in front of your eyes,” daniela threatens with a firm voice, pressing the pocket knife above your neck. “i’m not joking.”

“yoonchae, please—” you gasped, hands gripping uselessly around daniela’s arm. “please, listen to me, listen to me…” you sobbed, having trouble speaking when a pocket knife is one inch away from slicing your flesh.

“yes…” daniela bared a twisted smile, her legs dragging away further from yoonchae as her grip around you got tighter possessively. “listen to your sister, yoonchae…”

“run…” you muttered under your breath, sniffling while looking at yoonchae with misty eyes. “and don't look back.” you added softly.

“but—”

“go!” you shouted, making her flinch but quickly get up to run out of the house.

she followed what you said to her; run and don't look back. and definitely run to the police station right away to get some help.

“how could you do this to me, dani?”

“he better off dead, y/n…” daniela replied with her voice low and seductive. her lips hovering closely over your neck while the knife is now placed near to your chin, as if a reminder that you're trapped in this situation. in her arms. “his sins will stain you,”

“you're talking nonsense!” you cried out, squirming to get away from daniela but it was no use. you can't even move an inch. “that’s just a lame excuse for you to kill my father!” you barked, tears now wetting your cheeks.

daniela only let out a low laugh, her breath hitting against yours as she places a soft kiss on your wet cheek. “cute,” she whispered, sharp eyes trailing over you; that fear in your eyes, the tears, the ragged breathing, and the determination to escape. it intrigued her. “don't leave, y/n…”

“let me go!! please! i hate this! i hate you!” you cried out, now desperately, as if begging farther could make daniela change her mind.

but escaping is impossible to you when the wolf had finally lured the rabbit into her trap. most importantly, there was no way out. and possibly, you won't make it out alive.

“you hate me?” daniela repeated the last sentence. in an instant, you're now placed on the ground while daniela sat on top of you, wicked grin stretched wider as she throws the pocket knife aside to wrap her hands around your neck. “hate me all you want. i’ll make sure you won't leave me,” daniela remarked, her eyes and her grin tells you enough that she's holding onto her words. her fingers now began to tighten around your neck. “because i don't hate you, y/n. i love you.”

“if you love me, you wouldn't do something like this to me, dani!” you choked out, struggling to breath now that you're getting choked. “you—you sick!” you added, legs began to thrashing around.

“beg,” daniela purred, her thighs clamping around your hips to hold you firmly from moving too much and her hands refusing to ease. “say my name and let me hear you beg properly, pretty.”

“please—” you coughed out, right hand helplessly gripping daniela's shoulder. “p-please, daniela, please… please let me go!” you beg harder, tears blurring your vision as your trembling fingers reach to the pocket knife, praying daniela wouldn't notice.

“i love you… hah… i love you, y/n.” daniela whispered, leaning down to kiss your lips as her grip around your neck loosen to cradle your tear streaked cheeks.

your fingers eventually clench around the pocket knife and without wasting time, your hand swings to stab daniela’s shoulder.

daniela yelped in pain, clutching the pocket knife that was stabbed deep in her shoulder, blood seeping out of the wound. “fuck!” she screams in rage more than pain.

you quickly kick her chest and get on your feet to run out of the main door to escape, a relief dangerously clinging to you.

however, daniela pulled out the pocket knife and threw it straight to you, the blade sharply stabbed right in your calf as you fell on the porch.

“don’t leave me, darling…” daniela chuckled softly, her voice laced with possessive warmth—that makes your stomach knotted with dread—as she tangled her fingers in your hair, guiding you back into the kitchen. your weak hits landed against her legs helplessly, your cries spilling out in ragged breath but she only pulled you closer, as if holding something precious she refused to let go.

“j-just kill me…” you panted, teary eyes locked with daniela’s intense gaze. “you'll only make me suffer if you do this to me.”

daniela didn't reply right away, but her wicked grin twitched the thought of killing you. she never thought of killing you, no, never, at all, and when you bring it up, it makes daniela's heart stutter in her chest.

weird, her heart never beat for consternation.

however, twisted amusement never runs dry for a psychopath like daniela.

“if you want me to kill you so bad…” daniela paused, letting the silence stretch between them as she wrenched the pocketknife from your calf aggressively, your cry of pain only making her eyes linger on the stream of blood spill out of your flesh. “then let's die together, sweetheart.”

that’s when her eyes landed on the gasoline tank sitting against the wall, hidden beneath the sink as a dangerous, wicked smile tugged at her lips. daniela tilted her head—the gesture that mixed with curiosity and giddiness—as her fingers twitched at her side, seemingly itching for it.

“wouldn’t that be romantic?” she murmured under her breath, eyes turning back to you. “to end it all in fire… turning us into nothing but ash?”

“please, daniela…” you plead, ignoring her obvious intention. “just stab me or—”

your words died on your tongue when she kissed you, this time, gently like she's kissing you for the first time. “no, y/n.” daniela refused the idea of killing you after breaking the kiss, her tone as gentle as the previous kiss. “as cruel as i may be, i can't just take the life of one so precious to me.”

without giving you a chance to speak, daniela rose to her feet and seized the gasoline can, pouring it across the kitchen and living room while your pleas fell on deaf ears.

“if i can’t have you alive, i’ll at least make sure you aren’t taken without me.” daniela declared after discarding the empty tank with a careless thud.

then, daniela fished a lighter from her pocket pants, thumb rolling over the metal with the ease of someone who’d done this a thousand times in her mind. she crouched near the trail of gasoline, eyes fixed on you with that unnervingly tender smile.

“now, we'll never be apart.” she whispered, almost like a wedding vow, before flicking the flame alive.

the fire caught in one blink of an eye, racing across the slick floor in a greedy flash. heat licked up the walls, the kitchen erupting into a snarling fire where you sat slumped down against the kitchen drawers.

your screams tore through the air, raw and desperate. but within moments, the roar of the fire swallowed them whole until only the crackle of burning wood remained.

“please get there faster! you have to capture the killer and save my sister from her!” yoonchae cried, demanding for the policemen to drive faster towards her place.

“wait what's that?” one of them asked, pointing at the direction as yoonchae's eyes shifted to the smoke lingering in the air, coming from her place. the sight before her knocked the breath right out of her as a scream tore out of her lungs in the police car.

“it's hot, daniela! stop it! stop it!” you scream while stumbling back from the growling fire, coughing and choking, fresh tears streaming down your face as you fight to breathe.

“shh.. y/n..” daniela kneeled in front of you and wiped your tears, brushing the messy strands of your hair before cradling your face in such a tender touch despite the storm around them. “it'll stop.”

“i don't want to die, please…” you plead, looking into her eyes. “yoonchae… i don't want to leave her alone, please let me go…” you added while gripping her shoulders tightly, both in pain and fear. “i don't want to die…”

“you told me to kill you earlier, now you don't want to die?” daniela chuckled, the sound that used to make your heart race for affection now changed to fear. “cute. you held such devotion like your father, but you're so pure, that's what i love about you, y/n.”

“what are you…”

“you never make me feel like this throughout my life…” she began to pour the words out from her heart, her hands now holding tight with yours, her thumb brushing yours as if to comfort you. “for the first time i laid my eyes on yours, my heart raced with desire for the first time…” she trailed off, flashing a smile that always meant for you—not twisted, but pure with affection that she never thought would have it in her. “and i don't want it to fade, so i have to end it like this. just to be with you.”

“daniela… this is—”

“say it,” daniela cut you off with a firm voice. “say that you love me,” she said as she brought your hands close to press her lips against your knuckles. “please, y/n…”

defeated, you mutter weakly. “i love you, daniela.”

a burning beam crashed to the floor behind her, sparks erupting closer to where you are. she didn’t even look back. her eyes were merely locked on yours, as if she saw nothing beyond you and the fire that would seal you together.

“i love you too, y/n.” she whispers, her thumb now smearing soot across your cheek tenderly. after that, she leans down again to kiss your lips gently, to steal away your breath, to end it all with a kiss when the ceiling groans above, ready to fall.

“you’re mine in life,” she whispered between the kiss with a soft gasp, her words slow and deliberate, while her firm eyes locked on your eyes that filled with fear. “and you’ll be mine in death.”

with that having said, even a gentle kiss hides the ruin it brings in the end.

even at three in the morning, fluorescent lights buzzed overhead like a swarm of bees buzzing around your head, monitors from each ward beeped behind closed curtains, and medical staff bumping into each other in every hallway.

as for minji, she really does need to rest after being sleep deprived for weeks. one hour ago, she had almost walked into the radiology room instead of the elevator while on her way back to her office because she swore it looked like an elevator at first glance. so when she successfully dragged herself to her office and slumped on the chair with her eyes half closed, she didn't care to acknowledge that someone was knocking on the door anymore.

the knocks on the door had been repeating several times before the door gently being opened slowly like it could disturb anyone in the office.

“minji?”

silence.

“minji-ssi?” 

did i start hallucinating? minji sleepily thought to herself as she cracked one eye open and saw the blurry sight of you standing in front of the table, making the corner of her lips rise up into a lazy smile.

pathetic. whenever she hallucinates—which happens frequently ever since the lack of sleep has taken a toll on her—she could see you like she thought she's going crazy. it wasn't a big deal to her if you weren't her crush. hell, minji couldn't even strike a conversation properly with you. the reason why she has a crush on you is that you always make it easier for her to be herself. funny how a simple crush could make the guarded minji lose composure effortlessly. bumping into each other in the hallway at 2am? you would smile at her and give small encouragements to lift her up. the two of you happen to stand side to side in front of the vending machine? you would playfully trade snacks with her and maybe even have a small talk—you didn't complain even when you do the most talking—before eventually having to part ways to get back to work. minji passing out in her office from staying awake for too long? you would leave a reminder note to take care of herself and drape a blanket over her shoulder before leaving.

it had eventually become moments that minji would patiently look forward to because it was the highlight of her day. however, work has been the reason minji can't see you nowadays. and of course, she missed you. might as well be the reason why minji hallucinates you. no?

“minji-ssi?”

there, another hallucination of you. minji is indeed going insane when you are nowhere near her.

“you came back…”

you frowned when you heard her murmur, a confusing smile appeared on your lips as you stride your way closer to see if minji is awake or sleep talking. but seeing the dark circles sitting beneath her eyes and the way her eyes are half closed made you sigh out of concern. “i come here to check on you, minji.”

with a mindlessly hum, minji reached out to you without thinking. her fingers curled around the sleeve of your white coat. it was strangely real. hallucinations of you weren't usually this vivid. “y/n…”

"you should go home," you murmured softly, having no idea what is minji doing. "i can see you're exhausted.”

instead of responding with words, her fingers found the sides of your waist before her arms slowly curled around your waist to pull you close to her which made you caught off guard by her sudden action. is minji losing her mind? probably. before you could say anything, minji leaned forward so her forehead came to rest against your stomach area.

“...minji-ssi?”

“don't leave…” minji muttered weakly, her eyes already fully closed after resting her face on your stomach yet her mind is still conscious despite being in an unconscious state.

“what are you talking about, minji?” you stiffened. it was the first time she'd ever initiated any kind of contact with you. and it was obviously the very first time she'd ever let herself get this close to you. you have always thought minji is a firm woman who has a wall around her that makes it hard for you to get through despite the efforts of getting to know her, so how is this the same guarded minji you have known?

her face pressed close to your stomach as her arms wrapped loosely around your waist, barely holding on due to unconsciousness. "i know you're not real." she mumbled mindlessly. 

"huh?"

"but it's okay… it's… okay…" her sleepy voice was muffled against your clothes. “i don't want you to leave yet. so, please… stay longer in my dream tonight… i miss you, y/n…"

you stood completely still now rather stiffened as you could feel the steady warmth of her forehead through the fabric. you don't have a word to say in this situation. aren't you always the one talking whenever you're with her? 

however, the last thing you wanted was to ruin the way she unconsciously relaxed into you before she let out a tiny sigh. she looked peaceful under you. "so warm..."

your hand hovered awkwardly above her head, unsure whether touching her would make her melt into you or jolt awake and probably send you out because she's embarrassed. "minji…”

minji hummed in response, holding you tight before losing the grip unconsciously. “mmm, i love you."

your heart suddenly refused to beat normally by the moment you heard those three words coming out of minji's lips. the words came so naturally that they almost sounded like a confession.

or was it actually a confession?

what the hell is happening? are you hallucinating too?

“i love you, y/n…” minji repeated as she buried her face against you with a tiny sigh. “i think… about you all the time… even when i don't want to…” she cuts herself off by letting out a sleepy giggle. “i guess you have your way etching onto my mind…”

slowly, your fingers move to brush a loose strand of hair away from her face after spending minutes debating with yourself to not do it because you're afraid she might wake up. then, despite your hesitation, you let your hand linger against her soft cheek when she leaned into your touch like in instinct. her eyes never opened, and the way her cheek rested fully in your palm with a soft sigh made your hesitation fade away.

unexpectedly, minii pressed a sleepy kiss against the center of your hand, making your entire body freeze.

minji kissed my hand? you thought to yourself with a puzzled look.

the kiss lasted not more than one second. it was barely a brush against your skin yet it left an impact on your skin.

“your hand feels warm…” minji muttered absentmindedly in her sleep, “i like it.” she leaned into your hand again, another impossibly gentle kiss finding your palm before she let out a contented sigh.

you couldn’t speak at all. not that you expect this to happen on a random busy night shift. it was as if the things minji did—though unconsciously—managed to leave your mind blank. now that words had failed you, the only thing you could do is look at her sleeping face resting so perfectly against your palm with her arms unconsciously holding your waist, as though letting go would mean losing you. 

“i’d stay working here forever if it meant seeing you everyday…”

after a moment, silence settled between you. minji seemed to stop talking. you thought to yourself as you looked down at her and noticed her eyes had fallen shut while her breathing had evened out. yeah, she seemed deep in sleep now. you confirmed by seeing a tiny, exhausted crease remained between her brows.

“minji-ssi…” you murmured her name with your voice barely rising above a whisper. "so that's what was on your mind all this time. i thought you don't feel the same."

minji didn't hear what you said, of course. she only breathed steadily against your stomach as if resting her head on your stomach was better than a pillow.

throughout the silence, you stayed frozen while she slept against you comfortably, seemingly unaware that every buried confession she had said out loud tonight had been heard by the woman she liked for months.

“i love you too, minji-ssi.”

the next day arrived and minji woke up with a sleepy grunt. rubbing her eyes and massaging the ache in her neck, she found herself in her office before recalling that she had passed out right after slumping onto the office chair. but something feels off. yet, the memory of her hallucination last night took over as she brought her hand close to her cheek.

the warmth of your palm somehow lingered on her cheek. “it feels so real…” minji muttered to herself, unsure to believe whether it was just a stupid hallucination or a reality. 

minji blinked. no, it had to be a hallucination. she thought to herself, almost like forcing herself to believe what she wants because there's no way she would lean into your touch and confess her feelings to you last night. right? minji had experienced hallucinations before. so last night's hallucinations counted as one too.

the thought of it makes minji groan, dragging a hand down her face because never in her life could she be at peace. yet she couldn't refuse to forget about the faint warmth of your hand and the faint scent that lingered stubbornly in her mind. the steady pulse of your heartbeat thumped in her ear sounds too vivid too.

ugh, get a grip, kim minji. she ended up blaming exhaustion as she pushed herself upright and that's when she noticed a navy blue blanket slid off her shoulders like running water. for a moment, minji froze where she was standing. weird, she didn't remember draping a blanket over her before passing out.

wait…

eventually, her feelings were no longer just assumptions as the blanket proved her wrong.

then, minji noticed the paper cup of tea on the table beside her patient charts, now cold from being left untouched. she also noticed the familiar handwriting on the paper cup.

it was in fact your handwriting.

a cup of tea for you!! i did this because you look really exhausted last night :P

her breathing stopped the moment realization settled inside her. the office was painfully quiet as her mind replayed every second from last night that wasn't a hallucination at all. by that means, the vivid memory of you, and her confession to everything she'd hidden were in fact real. not a hallucination. and definitely happened last night. every single confession and words were exposed.

"...fuck, i need to resign.”

she didn't, obviously.

resigning required paperwork, and she was too embarrassed to make eye contact with the administrative staff. ever since that happened, she couldn't make eye contact with anyone without remembering what happened that night and it wouldn't leave her mind.

so a cowardly move was all she did, she chose the next option which is avoiding you in every possible way; if she heard your laugh in the hallway, she'd immediately turn around to use another hallway. if she saw your name on the shift board, she'd miserably volunteer to cover another department. even pathetically willing to take the stairs instead of the elevator after spotting you using it.

i am such a coward. minji thought to herself dejectedly.

she has been avoiding you for a hell of a week now. even though deep down in her heart, she misses you so much but the lack of courage held her back from confronting you. she knows herself that she couldn't keep this up forever. problems could never be solved if you keep avoiding them, right?

if only minji could be aware of how often you hopelessly seek her presence ever since you noticed she has been avoiding you…

the hospital was busy like it always was during midnight. after minji checked the last assigned patient from the second floor, she wandered straight toward the vending machine—your favorite one because you often told her it sells apple juice—with heavy steps.

sleep never comes, hallucinations keep getting worse. last night she mistook a mop as one of her patients that she vividly remembers having greasy white hair until the janitor entered the room and blinked in confusion.

“i should sleep after this.” minji murmured to herself as she stood right across the vending machine. for one cruel minute, she thought of you. if you were here, you would have urged her to buy apple juice because it tastes good.

kim minji, you are pathetic. minji thought to herself as she groaned while dragging a hand across her face before she fished coins from her purse and stared blankly at the glowing buttons of choices.

the apple juice button stared back at her like it expected her to press it. minji only let out a soft sigh before pressing the button and wait for it to fall. but nothing happened which made her eyebrows frown. “what the hell.” she grunted and pressed it again with a harsh tap. still, nothing happened.

"that machine jams sometimes."

a recognizably soft voice spoke behind her out of the blue, making minji's heart nearly stop as she jolted and turned behind her in the blink of an eye that her head almost hit the vending machine. she saw you standing a few feet away from her, hands in your pockets while looking at her with an expression she couldn't quite read for the first time.

no. wait. you weren't actually there. this must be another silly hallucination playing tricks on her after not getting enough sleep. minji thoughtlessly thinks to herself. 

“god, help me, i'm genuinely going insane…” minji grunted under her breath, rubbing her tired eyes before giving the machine one last hopeless look. "i should probably sleep."

then, she turned around sluggishly, intending to walk past you like you didn't exist at all until your hand caught her wrist gently. every drop of color drained from her face when she realized you in fact existed right in front of her eyes right now.

"how much longer are you going to avoid me, minji-ssi?”

at that time, minji considered every possible escape route to flee from you; jumping out a window near her sight, or even enrolling in another medical school to start over again under a fake identity.

“minji?”

"...y-yes!” minji quavered after snapping back into reality.

both were quiet for a moment, your eyes hadn't left hers like you're trying to find answers on her face instead. then, your fingers slipped away her wrist. "i’m asking you a question...”

minji immediately tore her gaze away from you, and couldn't even look at you when you started talking. “i…” she trailed off when she didn't have any excuse to lie on your face. “i wasn't… ignoring you.”

you tilted your head at her nonsensical answer as the corner of your lips rose slightly because you noticed her cheeks are getting red. is this even the guarded minji you know? “i’m aware that you've been running away from me,” you sighed and carefully stepped closer to her so she won't run away. "...why?"

you'd waited long enough and you couldn't wait for another day without her presence anymore.

“pretend you never heard every word i said to you that night.” minji told you straightforwardly, her eyes are still on the ground instead of looking up at you.

"i'd rather hear you say it again," you muttered honestly from your aching heart that her head snapped up. “i don't think i can pretend it never happened, minji-ssi,” you swallowed your fear and let out a deep sigh. “i love you too.”

minji was speechless. did she just confess in front of me? am i hallucinating? she thought to herself. she decided to rub her eyes and slap her cheeks a little too hard to see if you were still there; well, you were, in fact, still standing in front of her. minji is now wide awake despite feeling worn to a frazzle a while ago. 

“you… love me too?”

“you heard me,” you beamed immediately at minji's reaction. “honestly, it was hard to figure you out at first. but i really enjoyed every time i got to talk to you,” you explained while getting close to her, only stopping when you're one step closer to her. “when you confessed to me that night in your office, i got my hopes up thinking our feelings are mutual…” you trailed off with a sigh that sounded deflated the moment after seeing minji had avoided you for a week, thinking of it as just a fleeting feeling. “...but you seemed so genuine that night. so was i a creep for reaching out to you like this because i want to stop pretending it doesn't fuck me up?”

minji's eyes widened before she shook her head frantically. "n-no," she stammered immediately, her fingers curling into the sleeves of her coat and looking down instinctively. "you're not a creep, y/n... i’m just..." she trailed off as her voice dwindled into something barely audible to the world but not you. "i… was actually embarrassed," she refuses to meet your gaze and keeps her gaze on her polished shoes instead. "i can’t believe i actually confessed to you," she mumbled, the words tumbling over each other with her shoulders drawing up. “and you heard all the words.”

a small smile found its way onto your face. "can you look at me, minji-ssi?"

still, minji stared stubbornly at the floor as her face got even redder. "...no."

"please?"

after a long pause, minji reluctantly lifted her head. god, you look pretty up close. “yes, y/n?”

"there's nothing to be embarrassed about," you declared gently, holding her gaze to convince her that you are serious about this. "the way you confessed that night was kind of flattering, actually…" you chuckled when you noticed her shoulders had eased after you reassured her. "but now i wanted to ask you something."

"hm?"

"do you always hallucinate me?"

minji buried her face in her both hands, following with a tiny groan. "...y-yes."

a laugh slipped out before you could stop yourself, it sounded genuine that it made minji’s chest tightened with adoration. she has always loved your voice. then, minji peeked through her fingers to see you—a beautiful sight of you smiling—only to immediately cover her face again. "i'm sorry, y/n. i’m sorry for avoiding you because i'm such a coward."

the laughter had gradually faded. then, your hand reached over and gently nudged one of her wrists away from her face. "hey, it's okay," you beamed. "i accept your apology, minji-ssi. i love you."

slowly, minji's hands fall to her sides. her face is still red, yet she wanted to look at you. “i… love you too, y/n.”

i did it. I'm not a coward anymore. minji thought to herself gleefully.

the tension between you had disappeared. and as if the universe had been waiting for the right moment, the apple juice eventually tumbled from the vending machine and landed in the retrieval slot with a thud. then, the two of you stared at it before giggling together.

“good morning, my love!” greeted minji with joy as she promptly pulled you into her warm embrace from behind, catching you off guard that the honey syrup bottle you were holding almost slipped from your grip. “what are you cooking for breakfast?”

“good morning, baby,” you greeted back and put down the honey syrup bottle on the counter. “i just make pancakes for breakfast. nothing's new.” you explained softly to minji, flipping the two pancakes upside down with such precision before leaning your back comfortably against minji.

“new or not, i’d still eat it,” minji grinned, her chin resting against your shoulder while her arms refusing to let you go, wrapping around your small frame adamantly. “your cooking is always delicious, honey.” she whispered in your ear before pressing her lips on your cheek.

you chuckled a little, glancing at minji with love in your eyes. “good, i don't want my girlfriend to starve.” you murmured under your breath and pecked minji's lips, leaving the latter's face turned crimson red.

“i won't be starving here,” minji replied, her voice laced with confidence. “not when you're around~” she tightens the embrace and gently swings you side to side, while her lips brushing on your neck and shoulder for kisses. “i love you so much, y/n.”

“i love you so much too, minji,” you answered back with soft giggles. keeping minji's defined wrist pressed against your abdomen, you carefully scooped the pancakes off the pan onto a plate with your free hand. “it's all done, you should sit down so i can serve you.” you told her after turning off the gas.

“but what if i don't want to let you go?” minji stopped kissing your neck to ask a question, the corner of her lips lifted mischievously, knowing how you couldn't resist her. 

“such a clingy baby. do whatever you want to me, then.” you playfully rolled your eyes and let her do what she wants—even though you are struggling to move around the kitchen when minji is hovering over your back with her lips can't stop kissing your neck and shoulder. “ah, that spot is ticklish, baby~” you crooned with a soft giggle, neck jerking to the side when her lips had brushed the ticklish spot on your neck. “stop kissing me now. you have to eat, baby.” you chuckled, your hands now shifted to push her hips but she didn't move quite a bit. 

hesitation flickered across her face before she eventually pulled away from you. not without another firm kiss on the shoulder. however, just as you thought you could sit down and eat your breakfast, minji lifted you by the waist like you were just a sheet of paper and put you down on the counter gently as her lips sported a mischievous grin.

“what now, kim minji?” you quipped, couldn't suppress a soft smile when your cocky girlfriend looks so pretty right now in front of you. “are you trying to get on my nerves?”

“of course not, honey,” minji replied with a soft giggle. glancing at your lips, she scooched over to close the gap between you that you can feel her breath fanning over your cheeks. “i just need my daily morning kisses. please?”

“you’re lucky i love you, kim minji.” you gave her a playful exaggerated eye roll before your hands gently cupped her cheeks and leaned in to press a soft kiss on her lips, causing minji to melt into it like she needed it for her dear life.

then, to take a short break, minji pulled away from the kiss and beamed at you like she can survive the world when you’re around. “and i am indeed very lucky to be loved by you, baby.” she murmured before capturing your lips in soft, little kisses, later on turning slowly into desperate kisses.

after a moment, you tried to pull back from the kiss, your hands shifted to press lightly against her shoulders to tell her to stop but she only slid her left hand to the back of your neck, keeping you close as if she wasn’t ready to let go just yet. of course, what do you expect from kim minji? the worshipful girlfriend of yours would let herself get scolded just to feel the taste of your lips against hers. 

the kiss deepened a moment longer before you wrapped your arms around her neck, melting into the kiss despite wanting to pull away. but then, your left thigh nudged against her hip as if to snap her back to reality after losing herself in your kiss. only then did she pull away from the kiss with a ragged breath while the silence enveloped between you.

“i’m addicted,” minji broke the silence after a moment, her smile lingers on her lips while her gaze stayed on your lovely face and her arms moved to rest on the kitchen counter. “i love kissing you.”

“you always flirting, you know that?” you complained without a mock, your arms engulf minji's frame so she can't go away. not that minji would do that anyways. you know how clingy she can get when you're around. “and i hate that it works on me.”

“you can't resist my charm, princess~” minji cooed cockily, wearing the satisfied expression of someone who knew she'd completely swept you off your feet. 

well, who doesn't? it's kim minji!

“fine, you’re right,” you accepted the defeat. “i guess i just can't resist my girlfriend's charm~” you cooed along, a fond smile tugging at your lips. 

the sweetest moment between you somehow got interrupted by the sound of your stomach growling in hunger. laughter burst out of minji's lips right when you tear your gaze away from her face in embarrassment.

your cheeks had turned crimson red when you heard her laugh in front of you. “s-stop it! it's not funny, babe!” you tried to scold her firmly, instead seeing her laughing makes you soften because she looked so happy. “i'm hungry now, let me get down.”

“say ‘i love you’ first.” 

you groaned at her command. but, you cleared your throat first before softening your voice to make her melt. “i love you, minji-ah~”

minji chuckled at your confession, completely smitten like a fool. “can i also get a kiss on my lips, please?”

shaking your head and letting out a soft sigh, you leaned over to press a soft kiss on her lips as told. “there,” you murmured with a soft smile. “are you done?”

minji nodded her head sheepishly. “yes, i’m done, baby,” she nudged her chin towards the pancakes served on the table awhile ago that most likely had gone cold from being left forgotten and uneaten. “now we can eat breakfast together.”

“oh finally, i'm starving.” you grumbled, letting minji pick you up in ease and guiding your light frame to the chair.

“i’m so sorry, princess,” minji kissed your forehead as an apology. then, she sits down near you like she couldn't function if she sits too far from you. “let's eat, i’ll feed you.”

without complaining, you beamed at her reply and opened your mouth instinctively, letting her feed you the pancakes you cooked. “mmm, it tastes good,” you murmured between bites. “you should eat too, babe.”

minji hummed softly in response. then, she feeds herself the pancake before nodding her head in agreement. “baby, your cooking never fails,” she complimented you with a wink, then feed herself the pancake two times before turning to feed you next when she noticed you opened your mouth, waiting for her to feed you. “you're cute, baby.”

you didn’t reply. instead, you hummed softly in satisfaction while swaying slightly in place because the sweetness had your body moving in small motions like a flower nodding in the breeze. was that pancakes too good?

minji watched you for a moment before letting out a quiet giggle, easily entertained by how you act around her. however, her laughter slowly fade out as her gaze caught something near your lips—a thin streak of honey syrup clung at the corner of your lips.

“you got something on your lips, baby.”

“really? can you wipe it for me?”

“sure, i can do that.” minji answered and leaned in—not using her thumb like you expected—to use her tongue for skimming up the thin streak of honey syrup that clung right at the corner of your lips. after that, she pulled back a little to meet your eyes, as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened. “it tastes even better on your lips, princess.” she teased lightly, mischievous grin forming as she leaned in again to press a soft peck to your lips.

“what a flirt.” you quipped with a snort. “you could've just wipe it with your thumb.”

ever since you generously lent minji your umbrella before disappearing into the heavy rain, you’ve seemed to appear everywhere minji goes. she couldn't help but keep bumping into you, no matter which corner she turned in the school—the corridors, the hallways, the empty stairs, the cafeteria, even in the toilet—as if the universe conspired to keep you within her sight. 

yet, she couldn't help but wonder what compelled her to why she was so drawn to you despite the lack of direct interaction and why did her heart skip a beat each time your paths unwittingly crossed. 

the intrigue only grew deeper with each coincidental meeting and she longed to understand the inexplicable emotions you invoked.

"here," minji extended the dry umbrella towards you, her composed demeanor masking the rapid beating of her heart. "thank you for lending me your umbrella," she noted with a tinge of stoicism as usual. " though i didn't ask for your help, but i appreciate it just the same." minji paused, to think how to continue despite the storm inside her. "also, i apologize for not returning it sooner. i had an extra class the other day."

"no need to apologize!" you reassured her with a pretty, warm smile on your face as you gently received the umbrella from minji. "i figured you needed one given to the pile of papers you were carrying that day."

then, minji's lips curled into a small smile. it was such a rare sight. minji rarely showed people with such an expression. curiously, her gaze flickered towards your math exercise book, causing an unexpected surprise to cross your features.

"oh! uh, i haven’t finished it yet, just a habit of mine," you chuckled awkwardly, promptly shutting the book and setting it aside so minji wouldn’t see how ridiculous your formula looked. "i'll try to finish those problems before mr. lee's class, though," you added, quickly taking your seat and tucking your umbrella neatly under the desk.

"i can help," minji offered help, the words spilling out unexpectedly.

this moment was her opportunity to get close to you. to spend more time in your presence, and explore the inexplicable pull she felt towards you. minji herself doesn't know how she found the courage to face the storm of emotions you awakened in her.

"wait what—"

minji didn't let you finish your sentence as she already pulled a chair closer, positioned it across from yours and sat down with a quiet grace she always had. her eyes lingered on you, waiting patiently for you to open the math book and reveal the problems that needed solving. "i can help."

with that, you sheepishly opened the math exercise book. "sorry about the messy handwriting," you chuckled awkwardly, noticing the deep furrow etched onto her forehead as she strained to decipher your scrawl.

"it's alright," minji reassured you softly, accepting the pencil from your hand. though the messy handwriting made it difficult to read, she refrained from mentioning it. instead, she offered a small compliment to appease you from being embarrassed. "it's unique," she said, before setting about solving the problems one by one, providing clear explanations along the way.

before you knew it, the tasks were completed, you had finally conquered the entire exercise with minji’s help.

"woah, i had no idea it was that easy!" you exclaimed, your eyes widening in surprise. "seems like i should do more of these exercises," you mused aloud, your words followed by a firm handshake. perhaps, a tad too enthusiastic for your liking. "thank you, minji!!" you thanked minji, a sincere smile of gratitude on your face.

minji's gaze fell upon your small hands encircling hers, and a subtle smile tugged at the corners of her lips. a quiet moment of contemplation as she found the sight strangely endearing.

however, misinterpreting her gaze as judgment, you hastily released her hands, embarrassment washing over you. "i'm sorry about that," you apologized, your cheeks staining a light shade of pink.”i didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.”

minji simply blinked, her expression unfazed. "don't be, it’s not a big deal," she assured you gently, righting the chair at its previous position. "think of this help as a way for me to thank you for the other day," she continued, offering a warm smile that seemed slightly forced. in an adorable way.

"o-okay, thank you once again, minji," you expressed your gratitude, this time your head slightly bowing in respect.

minji nodded silently in return. then she walked out, her figure disappearing through the door of classroom D. you remained sitting at your chair, dumbfounded by the odd but charming exchange that had just taken place. especially, when it comes from the untouchable school president kim minji.

if only you knew the truth, minji had turned into a blushing mess the moment she left the classroom D. hiding in the restroom as her usually stoic facade had crumbled, replaced with a rosy hue on her cheeks and a racing heart in her chest. 

"what have you done to me, y/n?"

from that moment onwards, minji had grown hopelessly smitten with you, all because of that kind gesture you had extended to her when she least expected it.

every small interaction with you—even exchanging smiles in the hallway—brightens her days. it has always been her favorite part of daily routine at school other than completing her schoolwork.

but minji is too shy to get to know you more by getting closer to you. with determination, she turned to a different approach.

by means of hanni—her extrovert friend.

"hey, hanni," minji called out to her friend, who had just emerged from the restroom. her relaxed tone belied her inner excitement as she posed the question, trying her best to appear casual, knowing that hanni was all too keen to tease her for it. "do you happen to know y/n by any chance?"

hanni paused immediately, her eyes gleaming with mischief as a sly grin crept across her face upon hearing the question from minji. "you mean kang y/n, the broadcasting club president haerin's older sister?" hanni asked, her tone laced with cheekiness. earning a faint nod from minji, hanni continued. "hm, as far as i know she’s an athlete-student on the swim team. quite popular for her butterfly swimming technique," she added, wiggling her eyebrows suggestively. "why do you want to know?"

minji shot hanni a look, trying to remain composed under her friend's mischievous gaze. "i was just wondering," she admitted with her voice carefully neutral to avoid getting teased by hanni. "i've seen her around lately, but i don't know much about her. that's all."

what a lie. 

minji studies you as seriously as she gives to her studies. if she were asked what’s your favourite drink, then she’ll answer green grape juice without hesitation. if she were asked what’s her favourite thing about you, then she’ll answer the way your lips tugged a bright smile, revealing your dimples—that you don't think much but means a lot to minji—after like a fool in love.

wait, no, not like a fool. 

like someone discovering what butterflies feel like for the first time.

hanni nodded her head, yet her grin unwavering. "weird, you don't usually take an interest in other people unless if you’re... " she trailed off as her eyes locked on minji.

“unless.. what?" she asked innocently.

hanni merely shrugged her shoulders. "oh, nothing," she replied airily, a knowing smirk playing at the corners of her lips as she leans against the wall. "i just think it's kind of funny. you, taking an interest in someone for once."

minji rolled her eyes indifferently, trying to deflect hanni’s teasing. "it’s not a big deal," she said, a slight edge to her voice. "i just met her once and she seemed nice, that’s all."

hanni snickered, her teasing grin widening. "and you just can’t stop thinking about her, right? minji has a crush, minji has a crush~" she sing-songed in a mock-childish tone.

minji felt her cheeks warm with embarrassment when some students in the hallway turned their heads to hanni. "whatever you say, hanni," minji muttered under her breath as she strode off, but hanni quickly caught up and fell into step beside her.

while hanni trotted alongside minji, a mischievous grin on her face as she spoke up. "if you want to know, haerin and i decided to hang around in school until evening after the council meeting," even after hearing nothing from minji, she continued. "we want to watch y/n practice, since she has a swimming competition coming up next two months."

then, minji caught sight of the picture on the school billboard, featuring your winning smile in the swimming competition, your dimples which caught her attention the most. her eyes lingered on the image, and she merely hummed in acknowledgment as the thoughts of you swirling in her mind. "she seems quite accomplished in swimming," minji commented quietly, her gaze still fixed on the billboard. there was a hint of admiration in her voice, even though her expression remained stoic.

hanni chuckled, glancing at her friend from the corner of her eye amusingly. "yes, she does," she agreed, noting the underlying tone of praise in minji's voice. "wonder why you’re suddenly taking an interest in her when you wouldn't spare a second glance before. haerin kept bragging about her too but you choose to pay attention to your beloved math book."

"shut it," minji retorted, shoving her hands into her pockets. hanni’s words hit a little too close to home, and she knew it was true. she'd never given much thought to anyone before, especially not someone like the girl whose face was still etched in her mind.

hanni merely smirked, seeing how her words made her friend that never showed her emotion freely. "oh, come on, don't be so grumpy, pres," she teased, nudging minji with her shoulder playfully. "it's not a bad thing, you know. it's about time you paid attention to someone other than your own studies for once. it's cute~"

minji let out a huff of annoyance, but there was a subtle blush on her cheeks betraying her actual feelings. "i pay attention to plenty of things," she protested half-heartedly. "just not people.”

hanni rolled her eyes at minji's comment, flicking her hair in an overly dramatic gesture. just to annoy minji. "well, if that's how you want it to be," she said with a hint of provocation. "do you want to come and watch y/n practice with us or not?"

"i've got extra history class today," minji gently declined the invitation, though internally her mind was at war, wanting to accept it but unable to. however, catching the flicker of disappointment in hanni's eyes, she quickly added. "fine, i'll try to join you once the class is over." 

secretly, she found some comfort in the idea, she just made it up for a reason to see you.

in fact, she misses you after a long day. how could she refuse such an offer?

hearing that, hanni's face lit up with a mischievous smile at minji's words. "great! see you in the evening then~" 

after the history class concluded, minji wasted no time as she swiftly made her way to the school's swimming pool. the thought of seeing you had been niggling at the back of her mind the entire day—though the rain pissed her off because she didn’t bring an umbrella for today—and now she was eager to satisfy her desire to see you.

once minji entered the pool area, hanni immediately waves her hand towards minji in excitement while haerin is beside her, immersed in her phone. both of them are seated on the edge of the pool. as minji approached, hanni's smile widened, her eyes twinkling excitedly. "you finally made it, pres!"

haerin looked up and gave a small wave before returning back to her phone. later the three of them settled down by the side of the pool, watching as you glided through the water with effortless elegance.

"so skilled…" hanni noted dreamily, her gaze fixed on you as you moved in the water. haerin hummed in agreement, momentarily setting her phone aside while minji's eyes followed your every movement, silently agreeing with hanni's sentiments but keeping her thoughts to herself.

seeing this right in front of her eyes, minji couldn't help but think of how graceful you are in the water. like a swan.

as the practice session came to an end, you climbed out of the pool, grabbing your towel from haerin to dry yourself off. without being told, haerin helped to pack up your things while hanni got up to stretch her limbs with a soft sigh. 

“all done.” haerin muttered, turning to look at you approaching and earning a soft pinch on the cheek, which haerin later pushed your hand gently.

"you were incredible out there, really," hanni said genuinely, her eyes sparkling with admiration.

haerin simply gave a thumbs up. that’s her way of showing support in her own quiet way. meanwhile, minji stood behind hanni, watching silently while her hands clasped in front of her as she tried to control the flutter in her chest just by seeing your face.

you smiled appreciatively at hanni's words, a slight blush appearing on your cheeks. "thank you, hanni." you replied and looked behind her. there was no mistaking the slight fluster in her usually impassive expression—something you noticed but chose not to mention—when you met her gaze.

haerin noticed the brief exchange, and a sheepish grin tugged at the corners of her lips. it was clear to her that there was some kind of mutual attraction happening. she can feel it. her instinct is always correct. "hanni unnie, we should be off then," she said, grabbing hanni by the elbow as she casually brought the older out to leave early. 

"we'll see you around, y/n!" hanni bids goodbye before walking out with haerin, excited that the younger is going to treat her bread at the convenience store that she forgot to tease about  leaving minji alone with you. something she’d usually do.

once they had left, a silence enveloped between the two of you, as minji couldn't help but feel a tinge of embarrassment, knowing that her reaction had been noticed by the sisters. meanwhile you stood there, still towel-drying your wet hair as you hummed the song lingering in your mind, hoping it would somehow ease the tension hanging in the air.

then, minji noticed your slightly exposed state—not to mention that your body was trembling from the cold air in your swimsuit—and quietly slipped off her blazer. “you did well out there, y/n,” she commented, trying to sound casual, though the tips of her ears turned red as her gaze briefly dropped to your legs before darting away. she held out the blazer to you, and as you took it, she murmured shyly. “figured you need it. the towel didn't help at all.”

"thank you, minji," you murmured as you slipped on the blazer and feeling the fabric warming against your cold skin. "that's nice of you."

minji merely hummed, looking down at her hands because she wouldn't dare to meet your eyes. or maybe she's afraid her eyes would trail off your exposed legs again. 

she feels like a pervert.

a hint of a smile tugging at the corners of your lips when you caught the way she looks around but not you. there was a certain gentleness in her eyes. seeing this side of her, different from the usually composed demeanor she projected, made your chest flutter slightly.

it feels lucky. not the kind you would be proud of after winning your swimming competition, but the kind where you feel special for being the one to witness. 

or better yet, for being the reason it did.

"i didn't know you were into sports.” you speak up after a while. 

minji lifted her head slowly, a small frown creased on her face, trying to keep her cool demeanor. "i, uh, don't usually watch this kind of thing," she admitted with a shrug, eyes keep flickering to the swimming pool and your eyes. "but... i wanted to watch your practice." she added, the admission came out softly, quietly, yet you caught it clearly.

you didn't miss the soft tone in which she reasoned. a wave of something washed over you—surprise, that she cared enough to watch you practice, maybe also a hint of happiness when you realized she stayed till the end. it wasn't just your imagination, was it? you could see the faintest blush on her cheeks, and she was trying to hide it. interesting. you thought, as a small, cheeky smile tugged at your lips. with that, you decided to test the waters. "you... came just to watch my practice?"

minji felt her cheeks heat up even more as you repeated her words back to her. she cursed herself for allowing how easy it was for you to make her falter for a moment, despite her usual composed demeanor. she avoided your gaze again, trying to maintain her cool facade. "yeah," she muttered, fiddling with the hem of her uniform shirt. "well... thought i might as well see what hanni was so excited about."

it was clearly a poor attempt at hiding her true intentions. but you found her attempt endearing. the way her gaze flickered and her hands fidgeted told another story. you took a step closer, closing the distance between you a bit. then, deviousness linger in your eyes. "and? was it worth it?"

minji swallowed, her heart rate quickening for someone like her who ruled the morning assemblies without a tremor in her voice. shit. you had gotten closer, and were now standing very near to her. it took an enormous amount of internal willpower to keep her cool, to not show how much such a small act was affecting her. "uh... yeah," she replied, looking down and then back up, her gaze flicking to yours. "you swim... really well."

there was a small pause before she added softly. "it was worth watching."

you couldn't help but feel a surge of pride at her comment. you certainly didn't expect it to feel this good hearing it come out of her mouth. who wouldn’t? the composed and untouchable school president kim minji is crumbling just under your gaze. the way her eyes darted up and down, unable to look at you for too long made you smile wider. you leaned in slightly, bringing your head closer to hers. "thanks," you said, your voice lower. "next time, i'll swim even better for you."

"is that so?" minji responded lowly, her voice a little breathless. the effect you were having on her was visible, and it was getting harder to hide the effect you had on her. "well... i'll look forward to that."

your cheeks flushed red as you glanced down at yourself, realizing you were still in your swimsuit. "i should probably change." you then looked back up at her, a small smile plastering on your face. "i'll meet you outside, yeah? then we can head out together." before you turn around, you pointed at your umbrella placed near the door. “i figured you didn’t bring your umbrella today so you can use my umbrella!”

"uh, yeah, you're right about that, um, thank you." minji replied, watching you head off towards the locker room, her heart still beating a bit too hard from the proximity. then, she took a deep breath and tried to regain her usual poker face, somehow a small smile tugged at the corner of her lips as she grabbed the umbrella and  waited outside.

later on, you and minji walked side by side under your umbrella that minji insisted on holding for both of you. the rain is surprisingly calm compared to the other days, like the rain itself doesn't want to disturb you. your shoes tapping against the wet pavement and neither of you said anything, the silence is comfortable despite the soft pitter patter of the soft rain. thankfully. it’s odd to feel this kind of comfort even though they rarely talk. minji thought to herself as she watched how perfectly fit her blazer was on you. either way, minji don't want the odd feeling to end when it comes from you. she hopes for the odd to bloom into something beautiful, like how she hopes the love she’s feeling right now would be.

after a few minutes, minji spoke up. "so... how long have you been swimming?" her question broke the silence, and she looked over at you with curiosity in her eyes. 

"i started swimming in middle school," you replied, looking over at her as you walked forward. you would never thought you could be under your umbrella with minji beside you. except her face softens when she’s with you; there’s warmth in her expression, just like now. "my physical education teacher recommended it, and i caught interest in it pretty quickly. so i joined the school team as soon as i entered."

minji nodded her head understandingly, there was something about the way you spoke so passionately about swimming. she could tell you genuinely loved it, and the sight of your passion was endearing to her. especially when she can see those dimples that formed at the corners of your smile. "it's amazing that you've been doing it for this long," she said with a tone of admiration in her voice. "you must have practiced a lot... and had some pretty intense training."

"yeah, the coach is pretty strict," you said with a chuckle. it's softer than the rain. minji had never known a sound—your laugh, to be specific—could be that beautiful. "but the training has definitely been worth it. i've learned a lot, and it's helped me build up my stamina and technique."

"i can tell." minji said without thinking, then regretted the words the moment they were out of her mouth. but it was too late to take it back. there was no hiding the redness that had risen to the tips of her ears as she looked away from you.

"thanks," you replied shyly, brushing a strand of your hair behind your ear absentmindedly. "all those hours spent in the pool are definitely paying off."

after a moment, you glanced sideways at minji, her eyes now glued to the path in front of you. seeing her absorbed in her thoughts, you tried to initiate a conversation in return. "so... when you're not studying, what do you usually do?" you inquired, your grip inadvertently tightening around the strap of your bag unconsciously.

"not much, honestly. i usually just sleep if i'm not studying, or go for walks when i need a break." minji responded, her grip tightening around your umbrella handle to keep it steady.

her answer was simple. you could tell she wasn't the kind of person who liked to over-schedule her time. still, though it looked easy, you knew she probably had a lot of responsibilities and expectations on her shoulders due to her grades and reputation.

"it's nice that you get some time to yourself," you responded. "it's important to take breaks, even if you're really focused on studying." then another thought crossed your mind, and you spoke without thinking too much. "maybe someday we could go for a walk together, if you don't mind.”

the moment the words left your mouth, you inwardly winced. that was bolder than you'd meant it to sound. but, to your surprise, minji didn't look uncomfortable. instead, a small, shy smile tugged at her lips. 

"sure," minji murmured, surprising you in exchange. "i'd... like that."

you beamed at her response. finally, you reached your house, the silence between the two of you returned, now comfortable but filled with anticipation. you stopped and turned to minji. "this is it," you mutter. "i'll see you at school tomorrow?"

minji hummed as she stepped closer, handing you back your umbrella. but then, her movements hesitant, later she steadily closed the distance between you with a hug. her arms wrapped around you delicately as if afraid you might push her away. however, the tense in her shoulders relaxed when you leaned closer to her.

after a moment, minji pulled away from the hug, her cheeks dusted with a hint of pink. her voice was a bit shaky as she spoke. "see you."

this was unusual for her to initiate a hug. you never see her hug anyone. hell, not even hanni. perhaps this was her shy way of saying 'thank you’ for... spending time with her? you weren’t quite sure, but one thing was clear—the hug felt fragile, like both were testing the line between comfort and confusion.

you smiled in response, a warm feeling in your chest when you noticed her cheeks but chose to not make a big deal out of it. "yeah," you replied. "see you tomorrow, minji."

then, you handed back your umbrella to her. your hands gently clasping around minji's before pulling back, leaving the warmth ghosting against her skin. “and don't think i would let you go home without an umbrella!”

“right, what was i thinking,” minji let out a soft laugh as she scratched the back of her neck. “thank you again, y/n. i'll return your umbrella tomorrow.” 

“i’ll be waiting for you, then.” 

with that, you took a step back and gave her a small wave bid of goodbye. "get home safe, minji.”

with a final wave of goodbye, minji turned her back and walked away. you stood there under your roof watching her go with her under your umbrella until she disappeared from the sight before you.

“she's so cute.”

the next day you found minji in the library after school, where she was currently perched on a ladder, convincing she was helping the librarian to organize some books because she has free time. obviously.

the sight of her there looking too immersed in organizing the books brought a small smile to your face. typical minji, always finding some task to do.

"hey," you greeted as she turned to you, her lips breaking into a smile. your name sounded different in her soft voice. you watched her climbed down from the ladder with a small stack of sorted books around her left arm. "i brought your blazer back," you continued, taking off her blazer in front of her and handing it out. "thanks again for letting me wear it.”

minji took her blazer from you, her fingers brushing yours ever so briefly. "you’re welcome, y/n.” she murmured, putting aside the books to wear her blazer. “but honestly, i should thank you too… for the umbrella,” she trailed off, crouching again to collect the books in her arms and stand up to look at you. “your umbrella is still in my class, actually.”

“i can't let you go home drenched in rain," you let out a little giggle, leaning closer to adjust her collar. you swear you could hear her breath hitched at that moment. but you pretended not to notice as you continue. "if you get sick, i can't see you today.”

“o-oh… i see..” minji answered after a moment, her eyes fixated on the books in her arms. “do you want to go home now?” she asked, glancing at you before looking out to the windows. “it's raining again, i can give your umbrella now if you want to go home.”

you didn't answer right away, but after smoothing out her collar, you take a step back with a satisfied sigh. “i’ll stay with you.”

“eh, for what?” minji tilted her head.

she's really cute. like a confused puppy.

you thought as your lips widened. “i could help, too. i've got nothing to do at home anyway."

minji raised an eyebrow at this, clearly not expecting your offer. "um, it’s fine, i can handle it—" she began, but you interrupted her.

"i don't mind, minji," you insisted softly, a casual tone in your voice as you step closer to her, your index finger tracing the books in her arms. "it's just sorting books, right? it'll go quicker with the two of us." you added, glanced up with a quiet sort of charm.

minji wet her lips, her cheeks warm upon seeing your face so close to her face. she hoped her heartbeat wasn’t as loud as it felt. to hide her nervousness, a shy, appreciative smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. “if you insist.”

with that, she started giving you instructions on how to sort the books, and you both got to work side by side, falling into a comfortable routine.

“you don't have swimming practice today?” she began, her eyes glancing at you and the education books she's sorting. 

your hands paused mid-air as you picked up a fiction book about romance before looking at her side profile. “nope, my coach told me to rest today. it's been raining lately and she doesn't want me to freeze to death.”

a smile tugged on minji's lips. “can't let the champ get sick.”

that makes your heart still. admiration clear in her soft voice. you didn't say anything next, just glancing down at the romance book you were still holding—the cover depicting a couple embraced in a passionate kiss—before putting it down onto the fiction shelf. 

"have you ever thought about falling in love, minji?"

minji looked up at the question, an unreadable expression on her face before turning to you. at that moment, the two of you held each other’s gaze—one searching for an answer while the other waiting for it. 

to dwell on it, minji never thought about it before she met you. "no," she answered eventually, her voice quiet. when she noticed the tilt of your head, she looks away to focus on the books in front of her. "it's not something i've thought about."

“why?" you pressed, trying to keep your tone light and curious. your attention now is on minji rather than romance books. "anyone you're interested in would be lucky."

minji's hands halted. lucky. really? she’s never been the kind to bother with crushes. never even have someone to share her heart too. the only thing she kept herself busy with was her responsibilities. 

but not until she met you, though.

after a moment, she finally spoke up, her voice still quiet. "it's not that simple, i think,” she paused as her eyes slowly finds yours again. “i’ve never cared enough about that because it's ridiculous,” she added. however, upon seeing your confused expression, she explains why. “the thought of sharing my heart to someone else is ridiculous to me because, what if they stop one day and act like nothing happened?” she tilts her head. “it may feel heartwarming at first, but if one’s heart changes, what’s left are only bittersweet memories.”

“oh, so that means you're scared of getting hurt…” you trailed off, putting the last book on the shelf.

“yeah, like that,” minji nodded her head, clearing her throat when she realized she's sharing her thoughts of love to you. something she never does to anyone. but i wonder why i allowed my feelings to keep blossoming for you. minji thought to herself. maybe it's because i don't feel scared when you awaken these feelings in me.

“but, minji,” you paused and stepped closer to her, resting your hands on her steady shoulders. “trust me, love isn't scary when you're with the right person!” you continued, eyes shimmering with honesty. 

“... right person?” 

“yeah! the kind of person where you'll feel like everything's right when you're with them.” you explained sincerely. 

minji’s heart quickened once more. with you this close, there was nothing she could hide from you. not the warmth rising to her cheeks, nor the way your words made her chest flutter.  “i-i see,” she muttered. “you sound like you’ve done this before, y/n.”

you blinked. “eh.. how do you know?”

with that, the two of you ended up walking home under a soft drizzle while minji listening intently as you talked about your past. and as she learns you actually have an ex boyfriend before, her stomach twisted, a mix of confusion and envy she tried to bury beneath a polite smile. this must've been jealousy.

but whatever it was, minji knew the luck he once had was gone.

now it was her turn to make you hers.

“and… this is it,” you said when you reached your house, pulling minji out of her thoughts as the two of you stopped walking and turned to look at each other. “sorry for talking too much… i shouldn't have said things that happened in the past. but he just pissed me off.” you added, scratching your nape sheepishly.

“don't apologize,” minji muttered softly, her fingers tightening around the umbrella handle. “at least he’s not in your life anymore.” 

“you're right!” you exclaimed, nudging her shoulder slightly that made her stumble a little. “oops, my bad.” you stuck out your tongue and pat her shoulder as if your nudge hurt her.

“it's okay,” minji blushed, steadying herself and clearing her throat. “i hope you don’t mind me borrowing your umbrella again.”

“i don't mind at all, minji,” you reassured her. “you can keep using it,” you said, leaning closer to her with mischievousness gleaming in your eyes. “so we can keep seeing each other and walk together like this everyday."

having said that, minji’s breath hitched and darted her eyes away from your eyes. “t-then, i’ll keep borrowing your umbrella so we can keep seeing each other and walk together like this everyday.” she repeated your words, a shy smile formed on her face.

“good, i like spending time with you, minji,” you uttered gently. slowly, your arms wrapped around her, pulling her closer to you. in the hush of a pitter patter of the rain, her rapid heartbeat drowns out everything else when you rest your head against her chest. and without realizing, the corner of your lips lifted slightly. “let's keep spending time with each other.”

minji took a shallow breath as her whole face heated up like a damn hot kettle. even the umbrella she was holding in her grip was trembling slightly because she couldn't handle how much you affected her. “y-yeah, i’d love to spend time with you, y/n.”

then, you finally pulled back just a little to look at her face. “get home safe, minji.”

“i will,” minji breathed out, a trembling smile plastered on her face. “see you tomorrow, y/n.”

“see you tomorrow, minji.” you muttered as you turned to get inside your house. but before you twist the doorknob, you turn back again to wave at her. “i like your perfume by the way!” 

just like that, you rushed inside your house with a little giggle, leaving minji standing with her face still hot under the cold air.

“i think i’ve fallen too far for you, y/n.”

ever since then, minji started carving out time for you. she'd stick around the school after her extra classes, just to spend time with you right after you're done with your swimming practice. she'd sit quietly by the poolside, watching you and your teammates push yourselves harder in preparation for the upcoming competition, only two weeks away.

over time, what started as a one-time thing soon became her daily routine. there wasn’t a single day she would miss. not when you’re always in her mind. she'd head to the pool to watch you swim, finding solace in the repetition of your graceful movements and the sound of the water after a long day of burying her head in her studies and additional lessons.

and undoubtedly, her love for you kept blooming beautifully like the way spring arrives after the harshness of winter each day passed.

“earth to minji?” hanni clicked her fingers in front of minji's face to pull her out of her thoughts. “you kept zoning out nowadays.” she added and sat down across minji just when minji looked at her.

“sorry,” minji muttered as she hid her smile behind a small sigh, but the warmth in her eyes gave her away. it was clear as the daylight. she decided to look down on the desk, pretending to read so hanni wouldn't notice. “i’m sleepy, i guess.”

unfortunately, hanni noticed.

obviously.

“sleepy, my ass,” hanni huffed out a wide grin. “you can't fool me, min. i’ve been your close friend for decades! you would usually get some sleep immediately when you're feeling sleepy!” she declared, leaning her elbows on minji's desk.

shit.

minji let out a soft sigh and looked up at hanni with a small smile. “what do you mean decades? we’ve been friends for just 7 years, dummy. it doesn't count as decades yet.”

“still,” hanni pouted, crossing her arms and leaning back to her chair. “sounds like decades for me.” she muttered, rolling her eyes playfully before noticing minji wasn't wearing her blazer for like.. honestly, hanni had lost count for it. but all she knows is that minji’s blazer has stopped being just hers when she keeps seeing you're wearing it.

that sparked her suspicion. yes, hanni is aware.

“whatever you say, han.” minji drawled, closing her eyes as she rests her head on her folded arms, her voice muffled against the fabric of her sleeves. 

“so,” hanni paused, leaning on her elbows again, this time, her lips quivering with a mischievous grin. “care to explain why does y/n keeps showing up to school in your blazer?”

with that having said, minji's eyes snapped open and her head whipped up toward hanni in an instant. “what's there to explain?” she breathes out, her words came out rushed.

“so there’s really nothing going on between you and her?” hanni prodded, resting her chin on both of her palms. “because lately, i've been noticing that you're getting close to her,” hanni chuckled. “she keeps wearing your blazer and you keep using her umbrella.”

“and… what about it?” minji tilted her head to the side cluelessly although her heart was racing from nervousness. no, she can't risk letting hanni find out about her crush on you. “i was running late and forgot my umbrella again.”

if hanni finds out, she'll never let her live it down so easily. 

but somehow, hanni seems to be two steps ahead.

“tch… you? running late? forgot? coming from the ‘always prepared’ school president kim minji? that's not you at all,” hanni giggles, glancing at your umbrella at the side of the table before looking back at minji. “so that means you’re telling me you’ve been running late and forgetting your umbrella ever since you met y/n?” she teases minji, telling her the stuff she's been noticing ever since minji got to know you. “i guess being with y/n must’ve been really distracting for you.”

minji’s eyebrows furrowed in annoyance as she crossed her arms. “oh here we go again,” she muttered and looked away from hanni, staring outside the window as her cheeks flushed red. “you're reading too much into it. it's just a coincidence.”

“coincidence?” hanni tilted her head in mock innocence. “even walking her home after extra classes is just a coincidence?”

minji's heart stopped for a heartbeat. oh fuck. minji turned her gaze back to hanni. “well, i clearly don't have an umbrella to walk home with. so that’s why she offered to walk with me,” she deduced, hoping hanni wouldn't suspect anything.

but minji is wrong.

“for the whole two months?” hanni pressed, her smirk growing wider. “still a coincidence?” she wiggles her eyebrows, seemingly restless unless she's getting the answer she wants to hear. “come on, min, just say that you like her!”

minji froze for a moment before letting out a scoff, though she's trying hard to think of how to dodge hanni's justified accusations that hit too close to home. hanni is getting smarter about this. minji is screwed. “shut up.”

“hah! you don't even deny it!” hanni slammed her hands on minji's desk while wearing a triumphant grin, and didn't even care about receiving a few turned heads. “you’re so obvious!!” 

minji cleared her throat, as if trying to shake off how mortified she felt. “w-whatever,” she mutters under her breath. “you're being nosy.”

“don’t be grumpy, pres,” hanni leaned closer to tap minji's nose playfully. “so when are you planning to confess to your beloved kang y/n~?”

“lower your voice, han,” minji glared at hanni as she looked around so no one would hear them. then, she locks eyes with hanni again with a soft sigh, accepting her fate that now hanni finds out her secret. “don't get too excited. i’m not sure when i will confess to her.” 

“bro,” hanni deadpanned, her expression unimpressed as she held both of minji's hands tightly, as if that little gesture could convince minji how much she wanted minji to reach for you, for the sake of being honest to her feelings. “go get what you want, min,” she paused, looking into minji's eyes. “y/n won't be in school for one week because of her swimming competition.”

“but—”

“don't hold back,” hanni encouraged minji, her voice firm but determined. “you’ll never know if she likes you back. but you just have to try and confess to her. it’s either now or never, minji.” she added, eyes flicking towards the rain outside before looking back to minji. 

“fine,” minji rolled her eyes, pulling her hands from hanni's grip. “i will try.”

after that, minji found herself walking you home under your umbrella, smiling to herself as she watched you drink the green grape juice she’d bought for you.

after you put the empty drink in the trash, you turned your head to minji. “thank you again, minji,” you said happily, flashing a bright smile to her. minji's eyes immediately catch the dimples appearing at the sides of your smile out of habit. “next time, i’ll buy two green grape juice for the two of us.”

a gentle smile softened minji's features. “i’ll look forward to it.” she muttered shyly, earning a faint nod from you.

a comfortable silence enveloped between the two of you, letting the sound of your steady footsteps stepping against the wet pavement and raindrops hitting the umbrella above you absorbing the moment.

then, minji's eyes trailing over her school blazer on you, how it suits perfectly against your frame. and she thinks it feels just right. especially at this very moment with you.

perhaps even the universe itself is waiting for minji to speak her heart.

“it’s cold,” you began to speak out of the sudden, rubbing your hands against your arms. “i hope this rainy season ends quickly… i hate it.” you added with a small pout, putting your hands in your pocket.

“why do you hate it?” minji asked, looking at you with curiosity. 

“because it freezes me to death everytime i have my swimming practice,” you answered with a soft laugh. “honestly, i don't like the cold. i could get sick easily.”

minji nodded her head understandingly. “i used to hate it too,” she trailed off, tightening her grasp around the handle of the umbrella. “i hate rain because of the muddy puddles, how it soaks my socks, or worse, getting splashed by passing cars…” she said with a soft sigh, biting her lips nervously, battling herself to get the words out. about how she loves the rain now. because of you. 

in the end, she found the courage to say it out loud as she looks up to you. “and now i love the rain because of you, y/n.”

with that having said, you stopped walking. she mirrored your movement as your eyes met hers and your lips curled into an appreciative smile. “that's sweet, minji.”

“i love the rain because that's when you started to appear in my dull life, y/n,” minji repeated, her gaze on you grew even softer. “from the moment you lent me your umbrella, i never thought that simple gesture stuck in my mind everyday.”

you blinked, heart pounding against your ribs as your cheeks started to get warm. what should you say? you've been in this situation before. yet somehow, hearing minji—the one whom you thought always keep her heart guarded—lay her feelings bare to you, leaving you at a loss for words.

this is like a miracle to you.

to minji, this is revelation.

“remember when you told me that love isn't scary when you're with the right person while we were sorting books in the library?” minji questioned, her voice shaking with eruption. 

receiving a faint “yes” from you, minji continues to unveil her heart. “and it makes me realize that every moment i’ve spent with you feels right,” she breathes out. “because i love walking you home under your umbrella and i love seeing your dimples when i see you after my extra classes.”

taking a step closer, minji finally confessed her feelings. “you're the right person for me, y/n.” 

every words that has escaped her lips caught you off guard that you cover your hands close to your mouth to stifle your gasp. “w-what?” you stammered out. not out of confusion. hearing her saying the words out loud surprised you. you never thought she would be this bold. albeit aware of how her presence changes around you.

“i feel everything's right when i'm with you, y/n.”

“oh, you’re so funny,” you huffed out, thinking she's just messing around with you. why would a school president like her have a crush on you? but then again, your laughter gradually died in your throat when you noticed her eyes explained everything her lips couldn't. “oh.”

minji's empty hand reach out to tuck the strands of your hair behind your ear before her fingers trail down your arm to find your fingers, her touch deliberately gentle, afraid you'll pull away from her grasp at any moment. “i mean it, y/n.”

“you… really mean it?” you asked while tilting your head to the side, letting minji caress her thumb against your knuckles.

“yes, y/n,” minji answered quickly. slowly, she lifts your tangled hands close to her chest. letting you feel each rapid heartbeat of hers. “do you feel that, y/n?”

“y-yes, i feel that,” you nodded your head, your eyes couldn't tear away from how captivated by how genuine minji's eyes are. “prove me then, minji.”

“how?”

you didn't reply right away. you merely led her trembling hand to your cheek and pressed against her hand, clinging to the warmth of her skin. “by kissing my lips.”

minji gulped. kiss your lips? that means kissing you would be her first kiss. honestly, minji never kissed anyone. however, she hopes she doesn't mess this up.

in that moment, her pounding heartbeat in her chest was louder than anything else she could hear as her gaze fell on your lips. you were waiting, yes, your eyes move in tandem with hers as your heart hammering in your chest with anticipation.

“i’m… going to kiss you.” minji muttered softly, her hand—that still warmly pressed—against your cheek moving slowly to the back of your neck, gently pulling you closer to her. 

her eyes closed too early that you tilt your head to avoid bumping noses, letting her lips reach closer to you as the fragrance of her perfume wrapped around you. eventually, her nose bumped yours clumsily before her lips pressed against your lips.

a small laugh escapes your lips. cute. her lips were soft, trembling slightly just like her hand placed at the back of your neck. also the hand that was holding the umbrella. in that moment, everything seemed to stop when minji finally kissed you. although it's just soft, small pecks instead of the confident one.

at least, she tried.

being the experienced one, you gently led her hand from the back of your neck down to your waist and leaned closer to deepen the kiss, which made minji gasp a little before sealing her lips close to you again.

after a while, minji finally pulled away, breathing heavily due to holding her breath for too long. her cheeks burning as her hand gripped your waist a little too tight, as if not wanting to fully step away from you. 

her shy glances at you shows that she's looking for your approval. with that, you speak. “breath, minji,” you watch her follow you take deep breaths together, finding her mirroring your gesture cute that the corner of your lips lifts slightly on its own. “yeah, like that.”

“was that okay?” minji questioned you, her eyes avoiding yours while her fingers played with yours.

“more than okay,” you answered her question, gently cupping her face in your hands. “you're doing well, min.”

her cheeks are getting warmer in your hands as her eyes struggle whether to stay on you or look away so she could function better. “um, did i? the kiss is clumsy though…”

you pecked her lips for reassurance. “yes, i’ll teach you how to kiss me without bumping my nose first when we have time,” you teased her, enjoying how soft and unguarded she looked in front of you. “still, i love the kiss,” you paused and brushed your thumbs on her cheeks, eyes softening. “and i love you, minji.”

“i-i love you too, y/n!” minji gasps out.

“you're so cute, min,” you complimented her and planted a soft peck on her lips again before hugging her arms tightly. “let’s go home.”

“home? b-but it's your house?” minji asked in confusion yet still began to walk to match your pace.

“my house is already yours the moment you became my girlfriend, min,” you declared while resting your head on her arm. “do you mind sleeping at my house today?”

“i don't mind, y/n.” minji blushed, her cheeks hurt from smiling too much.

“good.”

“y/n?”

“yes, minji?” you look up at her and see her gaze already on you.

“good luck on your competition tomorrow,” she said softly, so soft you wanted to grab her by the back of her neck and kiss her again. “i’ll miss you while you're away.”

“thanks, minji. i’ll miss you too while i’m away.” you replied, fingers tightening around her sleeves. “i’ll put my best effort to win.”

minji looked away and smiled to herself. “i'm sure you will win.”

after a moment, she called you again. “y/n?”

“yes, min?”

“i love you.”

she's your 8pm. and you're her 8pm too—it was a familiar daily routine in your relationship to be available for each other at that time.

usually, nothing big happens when you and hanni spend time together, both of you prefer little things for quality time. for example, hanni and you cooking dinner in different places over a video call while exchanging stories could bring smiles to your faces.

matter of fact, those small intimate moments were so undeniably precious. at least, for a long distance relationship like you and hanni. hell, not even a day neither of you missed it because it felt incomplete without spending time with each other at 8pm.

until one day, all you got was the unanswered calls before it changed to the voicemail of hanni apologizing to you and explaining that she wasn't available at that time because she has to attend a special event to perform. for the first time you were left alone at 8pm, the missed hour feels longer than the entire day.

it was dramatic for people, sure it is. however, think about it, what could you even do when distance won't allow you from seeing your girlfriend, for she is the only one who has ever made you feel at ease at the end of the day?

you went to sleep with a heavy heart that night.

phammiee ❤️

hi and good evening my love!!! 😚

i will call you tonight, okay??

god, i miss your voicee

i miss your face too!

and i miss youuuu so muchhhhie

can't wait for tonight… wait for me, sweetie!!! ❤️❤️❤️

the corner of your lips immediately lifted up in a relieved smile right after seeing the notifications you've been looking forward to finally popping up in your phone.

and when the clock strikes at 8pm, your phone buzzes with an incoming call from hanni. so, you answered her call without a second thought. why would you think before answering anyway?

“oh my god. hi, baby!!!” hanni's voice crackled excitedly through the phone speaker when she saw your face. “god, i miss you. i’m very, very sorry because we couldn't spend time together yesterday.” she went on, her face lighting up even more when she saw you wave at her shyly.

“hanni, hey, baby, it's okay, i understand that you were caught up with last night's event,” you reassured her in the softest way possible so she wouldn't continuously blame herself for what had occurred last night. “how was last night's performance, baby? tell me.”

hanni sighed into the speaker softly. you watch her shifting sitting in the living room to be in her bedroom, making her way to lay flat on the soft mattress and show her face from the top view. it reminds you of the days you used to tip your chin down to look at her and play with her hair while listening to her ranting about how she doesn't like it when her friends call her unicorn plushie pregnant, or anything in particular.

“it was… good, i assumed,” hanni stopped and offered an embarrassed grin towards the bright screen before chuckling slightly when she saw you raise your eyebrow curiously. “god, okay, my voice unexpectedly cracked slightly during the bridge. but i went on anyway, still my vocal coach praised me for not stopping.”

“i'm proud of you for not stopping too,” you murmured before your lips breaking into a sheepish grin, making your eyes turned into ‘u’ upside down. “you already did well, baby. you are amazing. i'm not lying. i've seen the video you've sent me.”

“thank you, sweetie,” hanni thanked you in a shy manner before giving you a flying kiss and you unabashedly took it to guide your hand to your chest like you can feel your chest warm just by her flying kiss, making her laugh at your action. “but i still feel guilty for yesterday. you must've felt really alone without me. i'm so sorry…” she voiced her concern with a pout.

you glared at her playfully, then huffed out a small sigh where hanni clearly knew she's about to get lectured by you. “hanni, baby, it's okay, you don't need to apologize because you shouldn't apologize for things you can't control,” you rambled in concern. “though, i have to admit that i felt really alone without you last night.”

with that, hanni's expression fell, guilt written all over her face when she heard your words. “see? you felt lonely because i left you alone.” her voice was small through the speaker, and you could feel how it affected her.

“but you didn't choose to leave me alone, am i right?” you asked her, tilting your head to the side while keeping your eyes on the screen.

hanni lowered her gaze, absentmindedly picking at her sleeve instead of looking at you. "i still feel bad, love. ever since we were away from each other we already promised we'd spend the night together every 8pm…" she paused to sigh like she just committed a serious crime. "i'm a terrible girlfriend."

what the fuck? terrible? hanni? that didn't fit in hanni at all. never throughout the relationship she is being terrible to you. if she did, it was to herself instead.

"pham ngoc han," your voice came out firmer than hanni ever heard before. and did you just call her by her full name? she's screwed tonight. "don't say that. look at me, please."

however, hanni bit her lower lip because she's still unconvinced as she looked up at you. “you’re not mad at me?”

"no, of course i’m not going to be mad at you, baby…" you gently declared with a softened voice because you couldn't bring yourself to scold her sternly. "one missed night doesn't erase everything we've done together,” you explained to her. “you're allowed to be busy because you clearly have a life, and you're definitely not a terrible girlfriend just because you are unavailable for one night."

silence settled between the two of you for a moment as you watched hanni rub her eyes in a penitent way before it was broken by hanni's tiny sigh of defeat. “okay, i'm not a terrible girlfriend. i'm sorry for being mean to myself.”

you smiled softly when you saw hanni's lips pucker. she never fails to look so adorable. you would have painted her cheeks with your red lipstick if you were close to her. "you know, the thought of me being mad at you is ridiculous,” you chuckled softly, which made a small smile curled up on hanni's lips. “i just missed you."

that makes hanni bring the phone close to her face. "i missed you too, baby," she murmured, the guilt still lingering in her eyes despite she knew arguing with you any further was pointless. she was clearly wrong in this argument. “did you sleep well last night?”

you only shake your head with a smile. “one missed night without you feels incomplete to me. i couldn't sleep well last night because i miss your face,” you sighed out, hopelessly wishing hanni could be in your arms instead of inside your phone. “they stole my 8pm.”

“but not anymore,” hanni shook her head with a comforting smile. “i'm all yours tonight, love.”

you beamed. “can it stay that way forever?”

“yes, love,” hanni nodded her head wholeheartedly without hesitation. “it will stay that way forever. you won't escape me because i love you very much.”

“i love you very much too, hanni. so i am right where i want to be.”