#winter imagines

winter loved gloating. she savored every chance to rile up her foes, watching them seethe with rage. when fights found her, she never ran. instead, she played, toying with fate, flirting with danger in every reckless moment.

tattered flags fluttered as her black nissan gt-r nismo crossed the finish line, tires screaming as she drifted to a halt.

she stepped out, slamming the car door behind her, just as a red car skidded to a stop. its driver stormed out, slamming his own door and charging toward her.

“you fucking bitch! you shoved my car right into the nails!”

his spit flew as he yelled. winter wiped her cheek, then flashed a smug grin.

“was there? i had no idea. must’ve been a faulty track,” she shrugged, feigning innocence.

the man, face burning with fury, spat on her shoe before spinning on his heel and stomping back to his car.

winter clicked her tongue, about to lob another taunt at the guy.

“tell your girl i said hello!”

the man froze mid-step, spun around, and lunged with a clenched fist—only to be blocked.

“mark! stop!”

he hesitated, then shrugged your hands off.

“watch your mouth, dyke,” he spat at winter, dragging you toward his car.

winter smirked, her eyes locking onto yours. she sent a wink your way. you bit back a smile before turning back to your boyfriend.

as the red car roared off, winter stood alone on the road—until the wail of police sirens cut through the air. with a grin, she bolted back to her car and sped away, vanishing into the night.

-

you watched your boyfriend down a whole glass of beer, his eyes drifting to a woman who passed by. you saw his gaze follow her, a smirk curling on his lips. when he turned back and caught your look—pure disgust—he shrugged.

“what? i’m just appreciating beauty,” he said, like it was nothing.

you rolled your eyes and stood up.

“the fuck you going now?” he asked, tone mocking.

“i’m going home to sleep. i had a fucking day, and i’m not about to let you ruin it even more.”

he scoffed, waving his glass at you dismissively. “whatever.”

you turned and walked out of the club.

outside, you stopped by the roadside, searching for a taxi. you patted your back pocket for your phone—nothing but smooth fabric.

“oh shit, i left it,” you muttered, jogging back inside.

you made your way to your table, only to freeze.

a couple was making out, the woman straddling a guy.

“ugh, at least do it in priv—”

wait.

that’s your table.

and that guy—that’s mark.

your stomach dropped.

you stepped closer, heart pounding.

it was indeed him, his hands gripping her waist, lips locked in an intense makeout.

“what the fuck, mark!” you shouted.

the two jolted apart. the woman scrambled off him, embarrassed. mark’s eyes went wide, already stammering excuses.

you held up a hand and snatched your phone from the table.

“don’t. i’ve seen enough—actually, i suspected it. coming home late, weird bruises on your neck, your bullshit stories about relatives calling.”

anger burned through you, but you wouldn’t let the tears fall. he didn’t deserve that satisfaction.

“we’re done, mark. i’m fucking done. so go back to whatever the hell you two were doing.”

with that, you stormed off, leaving him behind.

-

winter watched it all from the bar, her smirk never fading as you stormed out and mark went right back to cozying up with his girl. she sighed, set her glass down, and pushed away from the counter.

she slipped out of the club, the pounding music fading behind her. her eyes scanned the street until they landed on you—a small, hunched figure leaning against a nearby lamp post.

winter sauntered over, her gaze flicking to the cigarette between your fingers.

“smoking is bad, you know,” she said, voice light but edged with something mischievous.

you looked up, meeting winter’s cool, collected stare. she had one hand shoved in her pocket, looking effortlessly cool in that tattered sleeveless top that showed off a sliver of her toned abs. she looked like something out of a dream.

“what do you want? i’m in a sour mood, i might punch you,” you muttered, taking a long drag.

winter watched the smoke curl from your lips. then, with a quick move, she reached out and plucked the cigarette from your hand.

“hey!” you snapped, brows shooting up.

without a word, winter dropped it to the ground and crushed it with her shoe.

“wanna drink instead?” she suggested, and you scoffed.

“you take my cigarette away, saying it’s bad for me, and now you ask me to drink?” you shot back, eyes narrowed with confusion.

why was winter even here? why would she come over and talk to you at all?

those questions buzzed in your head as you studied the woman in front of you.

“smoking is addicting—leads to long-term addiction,” she explained, that glint in her eyes, the same one she always gave you when she had the chance. “drinking… can be controlled.”

it felt like she was luring you into something. something forbidden—before, maybe, but now that you were free, what was it, really?

you searched her gaze, half tempted, half suspicious, but unable to look away.

“what do you want, winter?” you asked, voice firm.

winter’s lips curled into a subtle smirk as she glanced at a passing car.

“i saw what happened,” she said, eyes flicking back to you.

you sighed and let out a bitter chuckle.

“look, i don’t want your pity.”

“i’m not giving you pity,” she shot back. you looked at her, waiting.

“then what—”

“i came because i finally had the fucking chance.”

that shut you up.

silence stretched between you, heavy and charged, as you tried to make sense of what she meant.

"chance? what do you mean?" you asked, confused as your mind tried to make sense of what she meant.

“what i want? it’s you, yn,” she finally said.

“that race with mark? one time thing. but then you show up with him, and i knew i was hooked. he doesn’t deserve you, nor do you deserve him. so i piss him off every chance i get—just so i could see you.”

you stood frozen, processing her words. then a laugh bubbled out of you, unexpected and light.

you sighed, shaking your head. “i need a drink to process this.” you looked up at her. “that offer still up?”

winter smirked, eyes gleaming, and led you to her car.

the drive was quiet, save for the radio humming in the background. you glanced at winter, a smirk tugging at your lips.

“so you like me?” you teased.

winter looked at you, smiled, then turned her eyes back to the road.

you laughed. “so those flirting attempts weren’t just for show. i thought you only did that to piss him off.”

winter chuckled. “i did do it for that reason, too.”

you shook your head, your smile lingering.

“so, miss winter, where are you taking me?” you asked, and she looked back at you, a glint in her eyes.

“i know a spot.”

-

you leaned against the hood of winter’s car, a can of beer in one hand, the other resting on the cool metal. the night air was quiet, filled only with the soft song of crickets.

winter leaned beside you, took a sip of her beer, and stared straight ahead. you studied her—her side profile was immaculate. your eyes traced from her sharp eyes, down her nose, to her lips, chin, and the curve of her throat that bobbed as she swallowed.

without realizing, you swallowed too. you bit your lip—an old habit. winter noticed and smirked, turning to look at you.

“careful, that’s dangerous.”

that pulled you out of your trance.

“you brought me here to drink, deal with it.” you asked, glancing away.

winter chuckles, "feisty."

she went silent and watched you—studied you—noticing the weariness in your face, hidden beneath a tough façade.

“you look tired,” she pointed out.

“who wouldn’t be? after dealing with all that shit,” you retorted, dropping the empty can and grabbing another one.

winter watched as you brought the new can to your lips, your throat moving as you drank, your lips glistening when you pulled the can away.

“you know,” you began, snapping winter out of her trance, “i loved him for real, once.” you recalled, then chuckled bitterly. “even after our relationship fell apart, i hoped. i hoped we’d change, that maybe we could fix what was broken. and i really believed it could happen.” you shook your head.

winter stayed silent, just listening.

“even after our love disappeared, my hope stayed. it was real. when i saw him earlier with some chick, what i felt was real. that’s when i realized—i was the only one who was genuine all along. and i never got anything in return. not an ounce of real love.”

you sighed, voice softening. “i just want some fucking love, you know. i want to be touched, cared for—is that too much to ask?”

winter watched as your breath hitched, emotions threatening to spill. then she spoke, voice quiet but firm.

“then let me love you.”

you whipped your head toward her, eyes wide with disbelief.

“just for tonight,” she added, her gaze steady. “it doesn’t have to be serious. let me make you feel those things.”

you don't know what it is. maybe the alcohol, maybe your emotions or the longing for someone to finally love you. you just felt that tug and you let yourself be pulled.

-

winter barely even locked her door before you pushed her against it, lips crashing together. want and desire hung thick in the air. her hands gripped your waist, then suddenly she flipped you—gently pressing you against the door instead.

she pulled back, your breaths mingling, eyes locked. her gaze was clouded with want, need, longing, and lust. she dipped her head to your neck, latching onto a spot that made you moan, your back arching into her as she nibbled and sucked. your hand found its way to her hair, fingers tangling in her brown locks.

winter groaned, pulling away just long enough to claim your lips again. her tongue slipped into your mouth, and you welcomed her, giving in completely.

you opened your eyes and spotted a couch nearby. with a playful push, you gripped winter’s wrist and dragged her toward it, backing her up until she sat down. without hesitation, you straddled her, her hands finding your waist as if by instinct.

winter grinned up at you, her eyes wild and wanting, before you claimed her lips again—hard, almost bruising, but neither of you cared.

she pulled back, letting her lips trail from your mouth to your jaw, then down your neck and chest. she paused, looking up at you, eyes silently asking for permission.

you nodded, breathless, and without wasting a beat, she pulled up your shirt. her hands deftly found the clasp of your bra, unhooking it and tossing it aside. her mouth watered at the sight—your bare chest, skin flushed and inviting.

winter’s mouth latched onto one breast, tongue swirling, while her hand kneaded and teased the other, pinching and fondling your nipple between her fingers. every touch sent shivers through you, the night’s tension finally giving way to something electric.

you moaned, throwing your head back as you lifted your hands to tug off your shirt, but winter stopped you.

“keep the shirt on,” she said, eyes dark as she watched you.

she gripped the hem of your shirt, guiding it up to your mouth—you bit down on the fabric, holding it up in a way that made her hum with approval.

“that’s more like it,” she muttered, voice rough.

winter returned her attention to your breasts, this time lavishing the other with her wet mouth, sucking and swirling her tongue around your sensitive bud. another moan escaped your lips, and you arched into her touch.

winter could feel herself growing hard beneath you, spurred on by your sounds. she pulled back, meeting your eyes with a hungry look.

“move, baby,” she ordered, voice thick with need.

you obliged, shifting your hips slowly, rolling against her. instantly, you felt the firm bulge in her pants—the hard fabric only intensified the sensation, sending waves of pleasure through you as you moved.

winter leaned back, watching you grind against her, her hands resting wide on the couch behind her. your hands gripped her shoulders as you pressed down harder, drawing a deep moan from winter.

“fuck, princess…” she moaned, eyes locked on yours.

you’d never felt anything like this before—not even with your ex. winter was letting you take what you needed, something mark had never done for you.

winter caught the look on your face and smirked. “bet he never made you feel like this, huh?”

her hands slid to your waist, pulling you even closer as she rubbed her clothed bulge against you. you moaned out loud, your core already soaked from how much she was turning you on.

winter tilted her head, eyes hooded as she spoke. “why don’t you help me out, hm?”

you knew what she meant. your hands moved to unbutton her pants, tapping her hips so she’d lift them, letting you pull them down to her knees. your eyes immediately found winter’s aching bulge, a wet patch already visible on her boxers.

you palmed her through the fabric, rubbing her clothed cock while watching her face. the way she threw her head back, chest rising and falling, the sounds she made—it was driving you wild. you pulled her boxers down, and her cock sprang free, hard and waiting.

you marveled at its size and girth, eyes wide. winter caught your reaction and chuckled, a smug grin spreading on her lips.

“bet it’s bigger than his, huh?” she teased.

“oh, it definitely is,” you admitted, wrapping your hand around her shaft.

winter groaned, hips jerking at your touch. you held a steadying hand on her abdomen, keeping her still as you explored her.

you stuck your tongue out and licked up the base, the warmth of your tongue making winter whine and shiver. you liked that—a lot.

you kept going, swirling your tongue around her tip before taking her in, whole. her size surprised you, nearly making you gag, but you took a moment to adjust before you started moving your head.

winter moaned continuously, her hands gripping the couch so hard her knuckles turned white. you noticed and pulled back to catch your breath.

“you can hold me,” you told her.

winter looked at you, then shook her head. “i might hurt you.”

you shook your head, assuring her it was fine.

you took her in again, this time sucking harder. winter moaned, her hand finally landing on your head, fingers threading through your hair and gripping tight. the sensation sent a wave of pleasure through you, making you hum in satisfaction—and winter felt the vibrations, hips jerking in response.

she grinned between moans as she grabbed your hair again, tighter this time. it pulled a moan from your lips, the vibrations only making her moan louder. yep, she confirmed it—you definitely had a kink for hair grabbing.

winter chuckled, but it turned into a moan as you bobbed your head faster, sucking harder, lost in the rhythm and the sounds she made for you.

you pulled back with a loud pop, her cock wet with your spit. you held her tight, stroking her up and down as you stuck your tongue out near the tip, eyes locked on hers.

“fuck, princess, i’m cumming,” she groaned, voice rough.

you moved faster, and winter finally let go—a loud grunt escaping her lips as thick ropes of white shot out. you took her in, jerking her through her orgasm as you swallowed every drop.

winter watched, mesmerized, her cock twitching at the sight of you. your lips glistened with her cum. you licked them clean, then wiped the excess with your thumb and sucked it off, making sure not a drop was wasted. winter’s breath hitched, still reeling from the intensity of it all.

you stood up and unbuttoned your pants, sliding them off until you were left in your already soaked panties. you straddled her lap again, your core aching for her touch.

“why don’t you show me how you love,” you whispered, voice raspy and sultry. winter bit her lip at the sound.

she didn’t waste a second, gripping your hips and flipping you onto your back, pressing you into the couch as she hovered over you. her lips trailed kisses from your neck, down to your breasts, stomach, and abdomen, finally stopping at your clothed pussy.

winter closed her eyes, kissing your inner thighs and breathing in your scent. you bit your lip, watching her. her nose nuzzled against your panties, lips pressing gentle, lingering kisses to your covered core—loving it with her mouth as if she were worshipping you.

winter stuck her tongue out, dragging it in a long, slow lick over your clothed core, drawing a sharp gasp from you. finally, she tugged your panties down, eyes sparkling at the sight—your pussy glistening, already so wet.

she looked up at you, then leaned in to kiss your lips, tasting herself in your mouth. she pulled back, a string of saliva connecting you both, then moved down to give your pussy her full attention.

teasingly, winter blew a cool breath across your sensitive skin, making you shiver. you whined and lightly slapped her arm, but she only chuckled before suddenly diving in—her tongue plunging into your core without warning, lips working magic.

she placed a thumb on your clit and played with it, the pleasure overwhelming you. you threw your head back, eyes rolling as moans tumbled from your lips.

winter kept her eyes on you, the intensity of her gaze making you even wetter. she smirked, feeling it, and chuckled—the vibrations sending waves of pleasure through you.

she lapped at you like she’d been starved, and you tangled your fingers deep in her hair, writhing so hard she had to hold you down.

just as you felt the knot forming in your stomach, that telltale sign you were about to cum, winter pulled back. you whined at the loss, watching as she sat up and stroked her cock a few times before rubbing the tip against your soaked core.

“can you take me in, princess?” she asked, her voice rough and breathless.

you bit your lip and nodded. she chuckled, eyes dark with desire.

“i want words, baby.”

“yes—fuck! just fuck me, winter! show me how you love!” you whined, voice raw with need.

winter chuckled, then quickly stripped off the rest of her clothes, kicking her already unbuckled pants aside. she tugged off your top, leaving you both bare.

she rubbed her tip against your entrance before sliding inside. a loud, shared moan escaped both of you.

“fuck, yn, you’re so tight…” winter groaned.

you almost choked on your moan as her big cock stretched you out. winter held your waist, moving slowly to let you adjust to her size, watching you writhe beneath her as moans spilled from your lips.

she sped up, the sound of skin slapping echoing through the room. your moans grew louder as she pounded into you.

“fuck! ahh! winter! oh fuck!” you cried, hands gripping anything within reach.

winter leaned in, kissing your neck as your arms wrapped around her back, fingers digging in—probably leaving marks, but she didn’t care.

she kept up a steady, fast pace before flipping you onto your stomach. her hands gripped your hips, one landing a sharp slap on your ass that drew another moan from you.

she thrust harder, deeper, making you call out her name again and again. she moaned, breathless.

“yeah, let them know who’s making you feel this good,” she growled.

then a hand slid down to your clit, teasing and playing with it while she pounded you from behind. you let out a cry.

“fuck! yes!”

winter’s fingers moved in tight circles, heightening your pleasure.

then she pulled you up, flipping you again so you straddled her lap.

“ride me, princess. let me see you move.”

you obliged, rolling your hips, taking her deep inside you.

she moaned, head thrown back, a satisfied smirk curling her lips. her hands rested on your hips, guiding you as you moved.

you watched her—mouth open and moaning, skin flustered, sweat glistening on her skin, hair sticking to her forehead. she turned her head, eyes locking onto yours—dark, clouded with lust and something you wouldn’t dare name.

the sight made you even wetter, and you saw her smile grow as she felt your slickness. her cock slipped in and out effortlessly, frictionless and perfect. who the fuck needed lubricants when you had that?

winter groaned and pushed you back against the couch, gripping your waist hard as she pounded into you at an almost inhuman speed. tears trickled down your cheeks, pleasure overwhelming every sense. winter marveled at the sight, lifting your leg onto her shoulder and driving even deeper inside you.

“fuck! yes! like that!” you screamed, arms reaching out for her.

she leaned in, letting you wrap your arms around her neck, bodies pressed close.

you felt it coming—your orgasm building fast. winter felt it too, your pussy clenching tight around her. she moaned, thrusting even faster. somewhere in the back of your mind, you thought you heard a knock at the door, but neither of you cared—not when winter was sending you to heaven and back.

“fuck! i’m cumming!” winter moaned, breathless.

you felt her start to pull out, but you wrapped your leg around her hips, keeping her close. she looked at you, eyes wide for a second.

“don’t you fucking pull out. put it in me—fuck! put a baby in me!”

something inside winter seemed to snap. she thrust harder, deeper, pounding into you. you threw your head back, but she grabbed your chin, forcing you to look at her.

“look at me. let me see you,” she demanded, breath ragged.

then you both came. she pushed in deep, not letting a single drop spill as she filled you with thick ropes of cum. you could almost feel it, hot and heavy inside you. she watched your face contort in pleasure.

you moaned, breathless, as she rode you through your high, thrusting slowly until she finally pulled out. a small whine escaped your lips.

you looked at her—covered in sweat, cheeks flushed, chest heaving. you chuckled.

“you’re a monster, win.”

winter laughed, hovering over you before her arm gave out and she collapsed beside you, one arm draped over your waist.

you let your hand rest on her neck, thumb caressing her cheek as you closed your eyes, feeling safe and secure in her arms.

“if i wake up and you’re not here, i’m keying your car,” you threatened. winter chuckled and pressed a kiss to your forehead.

"i'd never dream of doing that." she whispers

“if this is love…” you murmured, and winter stilled, looking at you.

“i’m staying…”

winter smiled softly, then snuggled close, pulling a blanket from a nearby chair to cover you both.

-

winter watched as a grumpy, beat-up mark stumbled out of his car. she raised a brow, a smirk curling her lips.

“the fuck happened to you?” she asked.

mark spat to the side. “fucking bitch turned out to be some gangster’s girl—those fuckers got me!”

winter almost laughed, but mark sent a glare her way.

“we got a race to settle, winter,” he said.

she hummed, “and that’s you losing to me again?”

mark growled. “not this time. i got this baby modded,” he bragged, motioning to his car.

winter nodded, her proud smirk never leaving.

then you walked out, looking like a man’s dream. mark’s face lit up at the sight of you, a smirk forming.

“oh? didn’t expect you here. what, miss me?” he grinned.

you didn’t even spare him a glance as you strutted toward winter. she watched you approach, then wrapped an arm around you, pulling you into a kiss that quickly turned into a heated make-out.

mark’s face fell. when he met winter’s eyes, she looked back with mockery—and that set him off.

you pulled back, pressing a soft kiss on winter’s lips. “good luck, baby. win it for me?”

“of course i would. anything for you,”

winter replied, voice dripping with affection.

The school gym is packed.

It’s the end of the day, and the student council is setting up for some kind of fundraiser — a bake sale, a raffle, something y/n y/l/n had excitedly pitched with sparkles in her eyes and a hundred volunteers too afraid to say no. Minjeong isn't even sure why she’s here, crouched awkwardly behind the snack table in her hoodie, pretending to fix the paper banner even though she’s mostly just watching y/n from a distance.

She tells herself it’s purely coincidental. Totally accidental. Not at all because y/n looks extra pretty in her student council sash, or because she’d smiled at Minjeong earlier and said, “You’re helping too? Cute.”

Nope. Not because of that.

Minjeong fiddles with a roll of tape to distract herself. She’s not Spiderwoman right now. She’s just… Minjeong. Ordinary. Invisible. Safe.

Then, as if summoned by karma itself, she hears it:

“Ow—! Whoa—!”

She looks up just in time to see y/n — up on a bench trying to pin the final banner over the gym door — lose her balance.

Minjeong gasps, the world slows, she doesn’t think — just moves.

By the time y/n blinks, Spiderwoman is already there.

She swings in through the high gym windows, landing with a soft thwip of web. She catches y/n mid-fall, bridal-style, one arm around her back and the other steadying her knees.

y/n stares.

Spiderwoman blinks.

“…Hi?” Minjeong says, her voice just a little too high-pitched behind the mask.

y/n arches a brow. “You again?”

Spiderwoman gently sets her down on the ground. “You, uh, twisted your ankle. I think. I mean—I saw—well, not like I was watching you—I just—was passing by! Over the gym. You know. Swinging.” She gestures vaguely upward. “Air.”

y/n bites her lip, clearly fighting a smile. “You really do show up every time I so much as sneeze in public.”

“I—it’s not just you,” Spiderwoman mutters. “I save lots of people.”

“Right, sure.” y/n grins, brushing a lock of hair behind her ear. “You wouldn’t happen to be stalking me, would you?”

“I—what? No! No, I—who would do that? That’s crazy. So crazy. Like, unhinged, even.”

y/n leans in just a little. “You’re kind of cute when you panic.”

Minjeong makes a sound like a squeaky toy and nearly trips over her own web.

“I—I should go. You’re safe. Mission accomplished. Okay. Bye.”

She fires a web to the rafters, nearly misses, and stumbles as it catches. y/n watches, fully amused, as the masked hero flails for a second before swinging off, muttering to herself about "stupid gravity" and “why now of all times.”

y/n tilts her head, watching her disappear through the window.

She rubs her ankle, then glances down at her wrist.

Wrapped around it is a thin strand of web — almost like a ribbon. Almost like a calling card.

y/n smiles to herself. “Spiderwoman, huh?” she says under her breath. “Interesting.”

-----

Minjeong’s Room – 8:42 PM

Minjeong groans and drops face-first onto her bed, still wearing her Spiderwoman suit from the waist up, mask thrown to the floor in dramatic shame.

“Why am I like this,” she mumbles into her pillow.

She rolls over and stares at the ceiling, arms flopped out like a starfish. Her cheeks are still burning. She replays it in her head — the twist, the save, the bridal carry, the flirting.

“She called me cute,” Minjeong groans, grabbing a pillow and smacking herself with it. “She called me cute, and I ran away like a complete loser.”

The small radio on her desk buzzes to life with police chatter. She glances at it, then looks away.

“Nope. Not going out again tonight. The city can survive one night without me. I almost tripped on my own web… in front of her. I have no dignity left.”

She picks up a crumpled notebook and opens it. Inside are quick sketches — little doodles of Spiderwoman and a mysterious girl with a sash and a mischievous smile. She stares at it, then hurriedly shoves it under her pillow like it might explode.

“She definitely suspects something. I need to stop showing up every time she breathes.”

Pause.

“…She has a really nice smile though.”

--

y/n’s Room – 8:43 PM

y/n sits cross-legged on her bed, ankle wrapped in a soft bandage, phone in hand, and a suspiciously giddy look on her face.

Across from her, Ryujin lounges with a face mask on, peeking up from her book.

“Okay,” Ryujin says slowly, “what’s got you smiling like that? Did another freshman confess their love again?”

y/n snorts. “No, not this time. Though that was hilarious. No, today’s chaos was… new.”

She taps her screen and holds it up. It’s a blurry photo someone caught in the gym — Spiderwoman, mid-swing, cradling y/n in her arms like a rom-com hero. The caption: “She came flying in out of nowhere???”

Ryujin laughs. “Okay, that’s amazing. But also? She’s totally into you.”

y/n raises a brow. “She is?”

“y/n, be serious. You’ve been rescued, what, four times now? And somehow, it’s always you. That girl’s got a spider crush.”

y/n hums, not denying it. “She’s… interesting. I think I get why people like the mystery. But here’s the thing—” she leans forward, eyes glittering with mischief, “I think I know who she is.”

Ryujin lowers her book. “Wait, what?”

y/n smiles to herself and says nothing more. But in her head, she’s already thinking of the quiet girl in the hoodie, the way Minjeong panicked when their hands brushed last week, the way her voice trembled when she said y/n looked nice at the last student council meeting.

Too many coincidences.

And maybe… just maybe… y/n kind of wants it to be her.

-----

Minjeong stands at her locker, staring into it blankly like the answers to life are hidden behind her math books.

She hasn’t slept much — her dreams were full of red sashes, crooked smiles, and falling out of the sky into y/n y/l/n’s arms instead of the other way around. The memory of yesterday's disaster still burns under her skin.

She exhales sharply and mutters, “Just act normal. Be cool. Avoid eye contact. Maybe move to Canada.”

“Morning, Minjeong!”

Minjeong jumps so hard she almost drops her books.

y/n y/l/n is right behind her, glowing like the sun, hair done up in a lazy ponytail, sash off for the day but still carrying herself like royalty. Her ankle is wrapped but she walks just fine — too fine, if you ask Minjeong. Suspiciously fine.

“Oh,” Minjeong says, voice cracking. “Hi! Hello! You’re here.”

y/n raises an amused brow. “Well, yeah. School. I do go here.”

“Right! Of course. Obviously.”

y/n leans a little closer, her voice lower now. “You look tired.”

Minjeong stares at her. “I slept. I mean—yes. I do that. Sleeping. At night. Regular hours. Normal human stuff.”

y/n grins like a cat who’s found a very entertaining mouse. “You know,” she says, twirling a strand of her hair, “Spiderwoman saved me again yesterday.”

Minjeong chokes on air.

y/n continues, voice sweet and casual. “She always shows up just in time. It’s weird, right? Almost like she’s watching me.”

Minjeong blinks. “That is weird. Super weird. Creepy, even. You should… maybe install cameras?”

y/n hums thoughtfully. “Or maybe I should just pay closer attention to the people around me.”

Minjeong lets out a high-pitched laugh. “Why would you do that?”

y/n just smiles and walks away, leaving a short-circuiting Minjeong frozen in front of her locker, fully broken.

-----

y/n didn’t plan to go get ice cream, but she’s finished her student council duties early, it’s a sunny day, and frankly, she feels like causing minor mischief. So, she heads out alone, takes a stroll, and ends up at her favorite spot near the park.

She's halfway through ordering when the universe intervenes.

A kid on a skateboard comes out of nowhere, careening down the sidewalk. y/n steps back just a little too late — her foot catches the curb, and she stumbles backward.

“Oh come on—”

Before she can hit the pavement, Spiderwoman drops down from above in an absolute flourish of limbs and webbing, catching y/n around the waist like she’s been waiting for this exact moment.

y/n ends up dipped backward like its prom night.

Spiderwoman blinks.

y/n smirks.

“…This is getting suspicious,” y/n murmurs, looking up at the masked girl who’s clearly blushing under that suit.

“I was just… around,” Spiderwoman squeaks.

“Of course you were.” y/n twirls a strand of her hair. “Let me guess. You were swinging over the ice cream parlor?”

“I was, um… craving strawberry?”

y/n laughs — full, bright, genuine. “You’re ridiculous.”

Spiderwoman helps her upright again, awkward and bashful. “You’re okay though, right?”

y/n nods, brushing off her skirt. “I always am when you’re around.”

That definitely short-circuits Spiderwoman, who nearly stumbles over her own feet trying to swing off again. y/n watches her disappear into the sky, a smirk tugging at her lips.

“I’ve got to figure out who you are,” she says under her breath. “Because this? This is fun.”

-----

“I’m gonna die. This is it. This is how I go. Death by flirting. At least she’s hot.”

Minjeong drops her head onto the cafeteria table. Jimin gently pats her back like she’s in mourning. Aeri sips her drink, unimpressed. Yizhuo is already halfway through her bag of chips, eating with the energy of someone watching a reality show.

“What happened this time?” Aeri asks dryly.

“She almost fell at the ice cream shop yesterday,” Minjeong groans, still face-down. “And I just happened to be around. Again.”

“You mean,” Jimin says carefully, “you were stalking her.”

“No! I was just—okay yes, but lightly. I was passing by!”

“You swooped in and cradled her like a rom-com lead,” Yizhuo adds, tossing a chip into her mouth. “That’s not casual. That’s soulmate behavior.”

Minjeong lifts her head just enough to pout. “She’s onto me. I can tell. She kept looking at me weird this morning, and she keeps teasing me about Spiderwoman. I think she’s playing with me.”

“She probably is,” Aeri says bluntly. “And you’re letting her.”

“She smirked, Aeri. She smirked and said ‘you’re always around when I’m in trouble.’ Like—like I don’t try to save everyone. Like I’m her personal superhero.”

“Which you are,” Jimin says, beaming.

“I’m gonna get exposed,” Minjeong whimpers. “She’s going to unmask me and then laugh and say ‘wow I really thought you’d be taller.’”

“Honestly,” Yizhuo says, “if she finds out and still flirts with you, it’s a win.”

“IF!?”

--

y/n leans back in her chair, one leg crossed over the other, sipping an iced coffee like she owns the school. She taps her pen against her planner and smiles to herself.

Across the room, Ryujin raises a brow. “What are you plotting now?”

“Me?” y/n says innocently. “Nothing, just thinking.”

Ryujin doesn’t even blink. “Don’t lie to me, you’re glowing. That’s your mischief face.”

y/n sighs dramatically. “Fine. If I were plotting, hypothetically, it would be… a light social experiment.”

“Which means?”

y/n smiles wider. “I’ve narrowed it down. Spiderwoman is definitely someone from this school, and I think she might be Minjeong.”

Ryujin blinks. “The tiny one who blushes when you say ‘hi’?”

“The very same.”

“…y/n, be serious.”

“I am,” she hums. “Think about it. Spiderwoman’s voice? Nervous. Awkward. Like she’s trying to be confident and only halfway succeeding. She always shows up where I am, which is honestly flattering. And yesterday, Minjeong looked like she saw a ghost when I teased her about it.”

Ryujin stares. “You’re enjoying this way too much.”

y/n leans forward, eyes glinting. “Oh, I’m thriving. And now… we test the waters.”

“What does that mean?”

“I’m going to be somewhere ‘dangerous’ after school.”

“y/n—”

“I’m not going to actually fall off anything,” she says with a scoff. “I’m just going to see if she shows up.”

Ryujin pinches the bridge of her nose. “You’re such a menace.”

y/n grins. “She started it.”

-----

y/n stretches her arms as the afternoon sun casts a warm glow over the rooftop. She leans over the edge just a little, enough to look dramatic but not enough to trigger a real emergency.

She’s counting down in her head.

3… 2… 1…

Thwip.

“Hey! That’s not safe, y’know!”

y/n bites back a smile and turns, as if surprised. “Oh? Spiderwoman? What a coincidence.”

Minjeong — Spiderwoman — swings down from the rooftop ledge and lands in a little tumble-roll, clearly trying to appear cool despite the fact that she nearly faceplanted. “Wh-what are you doing up here? It's, uh… dangerous.”

y/n blinks innocently. “I just wanted to watch the sunset.”

Minjeong panics. “You could’ve fallen!”

“I had faith you'd catch me.”

That makes Spiderwoman stammer. “Wh— I mean—of course I would! I-I’m always around. Y’know. Just… protecting people.”

“Really?” y/n steps closer, eyes twinkling. “Because you seem to be protecting me a lot lately.”

Silence.

Spiderwoman lets out a nervous laugh, clearly glitching. “Haha… well, you… just have very bad luck, that’s all!”

y/n tilts her head. “Or maybe you like me.”

Spiderwoman makes an inhuman squeak. “W-what?! N-no— I mean yes— I mean no— I mean—!”

y/n walks past her, casually brushing her shoulder as she heads to the exit. “Thanks for the save, Spidey.”

Minjeong is left rooted in place, mask slightly askew, heart pounding. What she didn’t know was that the most stressful week of her life was about to start.

--

Day 1 – Monday:

y/n is standing beneath a ladder that a janitor is using. A bucket of paint just so happens to tilt from the top—

Thwip!

Spiderwoman catches it mid-air with a web, flinging it safely aside.

“You have the best timing.”

“You have the worst luck! Why were you just standing there?”

“Maybe I was hoping you'd show up.”

--

Day 2 – Tuesday:

y/n is carrying a suspiciously tall stack of books down the library stairs. Of course, she trips.

Spiderwoman catches her bridal-style.

“We really have to stop meeting like this.”

“Or you could just—like—not fall off things?!”

--

Day 3 – Wednesday:

y/n stands under a tree during lunch. A bird decides to attack her hair.

Spiderwoman appears out of nowhere, shooing the bird off like some chaotic fairy godmother.

“I feel like a Disney princess with a superhero guardian.”

“You need a leash, is what you need!”

--

Day 4 – Thursday:

y/n reaches to get a soda from a vending machine. The machine glitches. y/n shakes it. The machine teeters.

Spiderwoman swings in, literally kicks the machine to save y/n.

“That was hot.”

“THAT WAS DANGEROUS.”

--

Day 5 – Friday:

The week ends at the school theater. y/n is helping with stage decorations, she’s standing on a wobbly chair.

Of course, it tips.

And of course—Thwip!

y/n falls right into a web… and Spiderwoman’s arms.

She looks up, grinning. “You always catch me.”

Spiderwoman is quiet for a second. “Yeah… always.”

-----

y/n is sprawled on her bed, legs kicking behind her as she scribbles in a pink glittery notebook. At the top of the page in bubble letters:

“Reasons Why Minjeong is Spiderwoman”

Weird bruises she can’t explain

Always disappears before Spiderwoman shows up

Same height, same awkward voice

Adorably clumsy in both identities

I’ve fallen into her arms five times and it’s been the exact same hug every time

Minjeong’s ears turn red just like Spiderwoman’s mask does when she’s flustered

I just know okay???

y/n taps her pen against her lips, grinning to herself. “Time to poke the bear.”

-----

y/n corners Minjeong by her locker, leaning against it casually, smiling like she knows something.

“Hey, Minjeong.”

Minjeong, half-choking on her own spit: “O-oh! H-hi! Good morning! H-how are you!?”

“I’m great, actually. Bit of a weird week though. I’ve been rescued by a superhero like five times.”

Minjeong’s smile falters. “H-ha. That’s… haha… yeah, weird. Really… strange.”

y/n leans closer. “You wouldn’t happen to know anything about that, would you?”

Minjeong is frozen. “Me? Know about what?”

y/n lifts a brow. “Spiderwoman, of course.”

Minjeong nearly drops her books. “Wh-WHY WOULD I— no! I mean no! I mean why would you think I know her? I’m— I’m just—” she gestures vaguely at herself, “Minjeong.”

The other girl hums, eyes twinkling. “Sure you are.”

-----

During lunch, y/n is sitting with Liz, Ryujin, and Yeji at lunch, eyes locked across the room where Minjeong is poking at her food, clearly paranoid.

Yeji leans in. “So, uh… is it working?”

y/n smirks. “She’s one panic away from crawling up the wall.”

Liz smirks right back. “You’re playing with fire.”

Ryujin lets out a laugh. “Honestly? I’m rooting for the flames.”

y/n grins, “I just want her to admit it. And maybe kiss me after.”

--

Minjeong whispers across the table to herself as if in prayer. “I’m so doomed. I’m so, so doomed. She knows. She’s toying with me.”

“Is she flirting or threatening you?” Jimin asks carefully.

“Yes.”

-----

It’s a rare cloudy afternoon in the city, and school let out early due to some power outage. y/n, of course, decided to casually take a stroll toward her favorite boba shop. Alone. In a questionable alley shortcut. With her phone conveniently at 3%.

It was all part of the plan.

What wasn’t part of the plan was the sound of tires screeching way too close.

A reckless driver had hopped the curb just as y/n stepped off it—she froze. For real this time.

Before she could even blink, a blur of red and blue swung down and scooped her up bridal-style, soaring them both safely onto a nearby rooftop.

y/n’s arms are still wrapped tightly around Spiderwoman’s neck when she finally speaks.

“You came,” she whispers, wide-eyed and breathless for real this time.

Spiderwoman, trying to play it cool but visibly trembling, replies shakily, “Y-yeah, of course. You were—um—danger. Dangerous. In—no, wait. In danger.”

y/n doesn’t let go. In fact, she gets more comfortable, her voice going soft and sincere. “You’ve saved me so many times this week. I think it’s time I thanked you properly.”

Minjeong’s voice cracks through the mask. “Th-that’s not necessary! I-I mean, your safety is thanks enough—”

y/n leans in slowly, her fingers brushing the edge of the mask. “Just one kiss. For all the times you caught me.”

Before Minjeong can fully short-circuit, the girl in her arms lifts the mask just enough to reveal her lips—and kisses her.

It’s soft. Sure. But it sends Minjeong’s brain into a system reboot. Her hands, still holding y/n, stiffen like she’s forgotten how to human. Her knees buckle. Her heart stops.

And when y/n pulls back, grinning like the cat that caught the spider, she whispers right against Minjeong’s lips.

“Hi, Minjeong.”

Minjeong gasps. “W-WHAT?!”

“Told you I’d figure it out.”

Minjeong’s voice goes high-pitched. “You—You KISSED me to REVEAL ME?! That’s—that’s cheating! That’s emotional sabotage! That’s—”

y/n just laughs, cupping her cheek. “You looked cute in the suit. I had to know if you tasted sweet too.”

Minjeong genuinely collapsed.

-----

Two weeks had passed since The Rooftop Incident.

And Minjeong had not known peace.

Every time she turned a corner, y/n was there — smirking, tossing her hair, leaning against lockers like she was starring in her own rom-com, and absolutely thriving in the knowledge that she’d cracked the biggest secret in school. The one person who hadn’t been fooled? Of course, it was the girl who practically lived in Minjeong’s head.

Minjeong, meanwhile, had barely survived.

She had walked into four poles, missed two stair steps, and accidentally called her chemistry teacher “Your Majesty” once.

And now here they were, on the school rooftop again. This time, no mask, no excuses. Just them.

y/n sat with her legs dangling off the ledge, sipping from a strawberry juice box like she didn’t just alter the course of Minjeong’s entire life.

“So,” she said casually, “how does it feel to be exposed?”

Minjeong groaned beside her, flopping dramatically onto the concrete. “Humiliating. Debilitating. Traumatizing.”

y/n laughed. “You’re so dramatic. You got kissed by a pretty girl on a rooftop. That’s basically fanfiction-level romance.”

Minjeong covered her face with both hands. “You tricked me!”

“You kissed me back,” y/n shot back smugly.

“I panicked!”

“You cupped my waist.”

“…Nervous muscle memory!”

y/n leaned over her, face inches away, eyes soft now. “You can admit it, y’know. That you like me.”

Minjeong peeked through her fingers. “That obvious, huh?”

y/n nodded. “Like, painfully. I think even the pigeons knew.”

Minjeong sat up slowly, still pink from head to toe. “Fine. I like you. I’ve liked you forever. Since… before I even got bit, honestly. I was gonna tell you, eventually. Maybe. After graduation… or on my deathbed.”

y/n giggled, nudging her shoulder. “You’re lucky I like awkward nerds with superpowers.”

Minjeong blinked. “Wait—wait, you like me too?”

y/n scoffed. “What do you think the kissing was for? Science?”

“…That would’ve been less stressful, actually.”

y/n rolled her eyes affectionately and stood, dusting off her skirt. “Come on. Walk me home?”

Minjeong scrambled to her feet. “You want me to swing you?”

“Nope,” y/n said sweetly. “I want you to walk me. No suit. No excuses. Just my girlfriend.”

Minjeong choked. “Girlfriend?!”

y/n grinned, already heading for the stairs. “I kissed you as a thank you. You kissed me back. I’m just accepting your proposal.”

Minjeong stared after her, stunned. Then, with a dreamy little smile pulling at her lips, she jogged to catch up.

--

y/n leaned on the railing, watching the skyline, sipping another juice box. Behind her, a thump — the soft sound of someone landing.

“You’re late,” she said without turning.

Spiderwoman chuckled softly. “Some jerk locked himself out of his apartment five floors up. Had to help.”

y/n turned, arms crossed. “Mmm. Classic excuse. Got your priorities all out of whack.”

Spiderwoman stepped forward, mask half-off already. “But I made it, didn’t I?”

y/n softened instantly, walking up to her. “You always do.”

They stood there for a beat. Close, quiet.

y/n reached out, brushing a bit of hair from Minjeong’s face.

“You know,” she said softly, “I fell for both versions of you. The dork and the hero.”

Minjeong took her hand. “They’re the same girl, you know.”

“I know.” y/n smiled. “That’s why I’m keeping you.”

Minjeong leaned in, voice gentle. “Then I guess I’m yours.”

y/n pulled her close. “About time.”

--

One Week Later – Group Chat: [Jimin, Aeri, Yizhuo, y/n, Minjeong]

Jimin:

sooooo you two are finally official huh

Aeri:

thank god. i was about to lock you in a closet until you kissed

Yizhuo:

the lesbian rooftop superhero romance is real… we won

y/n:

you’re welcome for the entertainment

Minjeong:

I feel so attacked

y/n:

you’re dating me now. get used to it.

Minjeong:

…okay

Yizhuo:

…Minjeong get up

_____________________

Bonus:

Six months later...

The morning sun poured through the half-open blinds, casting streaks of golden light across the tangled sheets. In the middle of the bed, Minjeong lay on her stomach, one leg hanging off the side, her face buried into the pillow. Her hair was sticking up at odd angles — clearly a victim of the night’s tossing and turning.

On the other side, y/n sat cross-legged, fully awake, brushing her teeth with a lollipop in her mouth.

“Minjeong,” she said through the candy stick. “You’re going to be late.”

Minjeong groaned. “Spiderwoman doesn’t do mornings.”

y/n poked her. “Spiderwoman also has physics first period and a quiz on friction.”

“…Friction is my enemy.”

y/n’s eyes sparkled. “I dunno, you didn’t seem to hate friction last night when—”

Minjeong launched a pillow at her with deadly precision.

y/n collapsed into giggles, hands up in surrender.

Later, in the kitchen, Minjeong, finally upright and conscious, munched on toast while leaning heavily against the counter.

y/n was in front of her, poking through a box of labeled gadgets Minjeong had been tinkering with. “What’s this one do?”

“Glows in the dark. Kind of useless but cool.”

“And this?”

“Explodes glitter.”

Pause.

“…That one’s for emergencies only.”

y/n’s eyebrows wiggled. “Define emergency.”

Minjeong deadpanned, “If I ever forget your birthday.”

y/n smiled wide, leaning up to kiss her cheek. “You’re lucky you’re cute.”

Minjeong smiled down at her, eyes soft behind her glasses. “Lucky I’ve got you.”

--

Spiderwoman crouched on the edge of a building, surveying the city below.

Behind her, a voice crackled through her communicator. y/n’s voice.

“You know,” y/n said teasingly, “I think I liked you better when you were mysterious and broody. Now you’re just a soft little nerd with a grappling hook.”

Minjeong grinned under the mask. “You loved me when I was mysterious. You’re in love with me now.”

A pause.

Then her girlfriend replied, voice warm. “Yeah. I really am.”

Spiderwoman stood, wind brushing past her, and smiled out at the world.

She was awkward, nerdy, still tripped over her own feet half the time — but she was loved. Fully, completely, and fearlessly.

And with y/n in her corner?

She felt like she could do anything.

--

A Newscast Playing on a Shop Window:

“—and once again, Spiderwoman swooped in to stop a carjacking near the downtown plaza. Eyewitnesses say she seemed… embarrassed to take credit—”

y/n passed by the window, sipping her iced coffee, wearing Minjeong’s oversized hoodie. She glanced at the screen, smirked, and whispered to herself,

“Dork.”

Then she walked off down the street — texting one-handed.

y/n:

Miss you already.

Don’t fall off a roof.

I want cuddles when you’re back.

And my hoodie. Maybe.

Spiderwoman:

saving the world. brb.

but yes. cuddles.

and you can try to take the hoodie back.

____________________

slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers drama

Jimin is the ruthless CEO of a top fashion brand

you’re the passionate, rebellious designer she just can’t seem to fire

the script said just a brief, hesitant kiss

ONE kiss filled with tension and unsaid emotions

but the leaked behind-the-scenes clip??? LMAOOOO

Jimin doesn’t just kiss you

her lips stay, barely pulling away before she goes in again, tilting her head slightly, like she’s savoring every second

her fingers graze your jaw, as if she forgot where she was for a moment

“CUT!”

Jimin just stands there, her gaze flickering down to your lips

"Should we… run that again?" she asks, voice lower than usual

ofc the internet loses it:

"Y’ALL SHE WAS STILL STARING AT Y/N’S LIPS AFTER THEY SAID CUT" "Karina redefined ‘method acting’ because sis was NOT acting." "Her hands?? The way she leaned in for more?? Ma’am, we SEE you" "i know what you are, yu jimin"

during an interview, when asked about the extra kisses, jimin just smirks and shrugs???

"I was in character. What can I say?"

Aeri

The Laid-Back, Effortlessly Cool Lead

modern college romance

Aeri is the flirty bad-girl lead

your characters spend the whole drama dancing around each other

until one night, you finally confess

the kiss is supposed to be one slow, meaningful press of lips before you both part, eyes heavy with emotion

but in the behind-the-scenes footage, Aeri doesn’t move away

she presses another quick kiss

and another

then, she grins — all mischievous and unbothered — before leaning in once more

"Oops," she murmurs against your lips, eyes playful. "Guess I got carried away."

Fans immediately go insane:

"CARRIED AWAY??? GIRL YOU KISSED HER LIKE FOUR TIMES WTH" "That little smirk? That extra kiss? GISELLE" "Ma’am, this is a workplace"

In an interview, Aeri just laughs

"I mean, if you have the chance, wouldn’t you?"

the host stares at her while the fans are SCREAMING

Minjeong

The “Accidentally” Romantic Soft-Hearted Lead

heartwarming, small-town romance

your characters reunite after years apart, realizing they were always meant for each other

Minjeong is the clumsy but utterly lovable childhood best friend who has always been in love with you

the kiss is supposed to be one sweet peck. nothing more.

but in the leaked video, Winter kisses you

then laughs nervously against your lips

then, without thinking, she kisses you again but a little firmer this time

then she pulls back, blinking like she just realized what she did

"Oh. Uh. That felt… nice?"

the crew bursts into laughter because that was the gayest thing they'd witness the entire shoot

the internet immediately eats it up:

"SHE JUST KEPT GOING HELPPPP" "Winter.exe stopped working after kissing Y/N" "someone please tell this girl she’s in LOVE"

in an interview, Minjeong turns completely red and waves her hands frantically

"I-It was just… I wasn’t thinking! It was… ahhh!"

Yizhuo

The Shamelessly Bold Scene-Stealer

passionate, high-stakes romance

Yizhuo is a fearless rockstar who falls for the quiet, reserved lyricist a.k.a. you

the kiss is supposed to be a brief, heated moment, before she pulls away, looking conflicted

but in the leaked behind-the-scenes clip???

she doesn’t pull away

she kisses you once, twice, three times

her hands tangle in your hair as she deepens it just slightly, her body pressing closer

“CUT!”

she finally breaks away...

only to wink at you

"I think we got that scene, right?" she teases, biting her lip

fans go feral:

"NINGNING. WHAT WAS THAT." "She wasn’t even pretending bruh that was REAL" "I want what Y/N has. Immediately. Like RIGHT NOW."

in an interview, Yizhuo just smirks

"I guess I got too into the moment"

she says it so casually, twirling her hair like she didn’t just rock the entire internet

"Oh lord, I'd rather DIE than have to interact with Y/N for more than thirty seconds." Minjeong whined through gritted teeth. She lifted her head off the table, flipping her hair back as she let out a dramatic sigh. "I really can't do this..."

Y/N was the student council president of SM, one of the top-ranked universities in South Korea. She was a quiet and reserved girl—much like Minjeong. The only difference was that she was the devil reincarnated herself. Much like her group of friends, she was a playgirl—the heartbreaker of the campus...a clown, essentially.

"Why are you even defending her?" Ning asked Jimin, swinging the strap of her guitar over her neck and shoulder. "She's the best friend of the one who shall not be named."

'The one who shall not be named,' also known as Yeonjun, was the guy who led Jimin on and broke her heart into pieces last month.

Jimin shrugged, tensing up at the mention of her ex. "She's not the one who cheated on me."

Minjeong groaned loudly again, resting her head back on the table with a loud thump. She closed her eyes, as if she were in pure, excruciating pain. "I'm going to fail my class," she whined.

"Minjeong, you're overreacting," Aeri pointed out, moving to pull Minjeong's hair out of her face.

"No, I'm not! Y/N is awful," she replied, her face twisting into a disgusted expression.

Y/N represented everything Minjeong rejected as a hopeless romantic, so she wanted nothing to do with her. Nothing. Zero. Nada.

Of course, that very reason was the exact reason why the universe specifically threw Y/N at her.

Minjeong was majoring in Composition, and as easy as most of her classes were for her, the university made her take an extra class to get the needed credits to graduate. She happened to have missed the first week of classes that year, stuck in bed with a monstrous cold, which meant that all the spots for the cool classes were immediately filled up, leaving her with Calculus Applied... CALCULUS APPLIED.

Of course, she was failing the class. So she needed a tutor. And the email she just received from the tutoring program announced that Y/N was assigned to her. Because why wouldn't she be?

"Someone shoot me in the face right now." Minjeong was sure she'd never finish complaining about this. "Why did it have to be her of all people?"

Aeri seemed to perk up at the question, a memory suddenly popping into her mind. "You know what? I just remembered—Jennifer is in the tutoring program. She talked to me about it last week, complaining that she had to choose who she was going to tutor, but none of the names sounded hot enough for her."

Minjeong slowly picked her head up, eyebrows falling into a frown at her friend's words. "So...that means Y/N chose me?"

Ning snorted, looking down at her phone. "Does she even know who you are?"

"She's probably clueless, considering how stupid she is." Minjeong mumbled under her breath, rolling her eyes at the thought. Y/N and she had been classmates since high school. Back then, Minjeong had a small crush on the girl. She was gorgeous, quiet, and polite. She was also not friends with a bunch of assholes, so that helped. Then they got into university, barely saw each other again because of their different degrees, and Y/N became a fuck girl.

"Did you just call your tutor, of all people, stupid?" Jimin raised a playful eyebrow at her, making Minjeong stick her tongue out at her.

"Seriously, she probably thinks this is another chance to flirt with someone," she continued.

"Oh, she's probably looking for some cute, dumb girl to have fun with," Aeri added, giggling. "...like you, Minjeong-ie!!"

Minjeong let out another long, exaggerated groan, burying her head into her folded arms on the table. "I'm dropping out," she mumbled into the table, her voice muffled from the position of her head. She stayed like that for a few beats before she pulled her head back, a pout on her face. "If I fail this class, I won't graduate."

"And whose fault is that?" Jimin teased her, the corner of her mouth twitching into a smirk. She let out a yelp as the shorter girl smacked her arm with the back of her hand.

:::

Y/N sighed tiredly as she left yet another student council meeting, headphones resting on her head as she walked along the familiar hallways. She was convinced most students at the university were actual dumbasses.

How the hell did a guy manage to get into the student council without knowing who the bloody president of South Korea was? It escaped her.

She arrived at the cafeteria, not bothering to grab a tray or food as she walked to the usual table where she and her friends sat.

"Hi," she let out after lowering her headphones so they hung around her neck.

Minji, Yeonjun, and Niki looked up at her, barely acknowledging her as they went back to their ongoing argument.

"Jimin is an absolute catch, and you are an idiot for letting her go," Minji pointed at Yeonjun in accusation.

Y/N raised an eyebrow and sat down. Love and relationships were topics that usually weren't mentioned much in their group—especially not when it was serious. Sure, they'd tease Yeonjun and Niki for being fuckboys, but when relationships got serious, they let the immaturity go and supported each other.

That day, they didn't seem to be in a very supportive mood.

"Minji's right; you were an idiot," Niki agreed, nodding his head as he stole a grape from the little bowl Y/N had just produced from her bag. He ignored the glare she sent him as he went on, "She was literally the only person who could put up with your ass."

Yeonjun rolled his eyes at his friend's words, immediately becoming defensive. "Look who's talking! You played that girl Eunchae like she was the smallest violin on Earth."

"Hey, she couldn't keep up with me!" Niki shot back with a scoff, waving his hand to brush off Yeonjun's comment. "She was just a fling anyway." He added, grabbing another grape from Y/N's bowl once again.

She slapped his hand away this time, protecting her lunch. "You two are both pigs— that's news to no one. Why are we arguing about this?"

"Because Yeonjun can't stop staring at Jimin when he's the asshole who cheated," Niki retorted.

"Can you shut up already?" Yeonjun huffed at him, narrowing his eyes as he got fed up.

Minji leaned on the table, resting her chin on the palm of her hand. "She was perfect for you, really," she stated with pity.

"She was too good for him." Y/N shrugged when Yeonjun sent her an offended look. "What? It's true. I'm glad you two are over. You didn't deserve her."

She leaned down to reach for the phone inside her backpack when Yeonjun decided to steal her bowl and hand it to Niki.

Niki snickered, pulling the bowl onto his lap as he started to grab more food. Y/N's glare did nothing but amuse him.

Yeonjun ignored their childish bickering, looking over the cafeteria. His eyes were met with the sight of Aeri, Jimin, and Ning sitting at their usual table. His gaze instantly fell on Jimin and softened as it lingered there.

Y/N followed his look, quickly finding Minjeong instead of Jimin. The blonde girl was laughing with Ning, her eyes barely visible as her beautiful smile settled on her lips. She was gorgeous—out of this world, almost. Y/N had known her since she was 14. When she came to university, she thought she had lost her opportunity with Minjeong, so you can imagine her surprise when she saw the familiar name on the tutoring program subscriptions. She had already missed her chance with Minjeong once... she wouldn't do it again. So she picked her.

"Who are you looking at, mhm?" Minji nudged her best friend softly.

"No one." Y/N cleared her throat and looked away, holding her hand out for Niki to give her food back. When he huffed lightly and refused, she raised an eyebrow at him, quickly getting him to give in.

"You were clearly looking at someone," Minji replied, leaning to the side to try and see who Y/N's eyes were on.

Y/N knew her best friend wouldn't drop the subject so soon, so she answered her. "Kim Minjeong. I'm gonna be her Calculus tutor."

Yeonjun frowned in confusion. "Isn't she in Composition?"

Y/N tried to be as discreet with her interest as possible. She had never talked about her crush to her friends, knowing that they would tease her as soon as she opened her mouth to speak. "Extra credits, I guess."

"Calculus, really?" Niki's eyes widened at the statement before his mouth curled into a smirk. Yeonjun leaned back in his seat, crossing his arms over his chest.

"That's... interesting," Minji commented, tilting her head to the side as she too smirked.

"What?" Y/N asked, picking up on their glances.

"Oh, nothing, nothing," Yeonjun let out in a sing-song tone, a smirk on his face.

"I bet you all twenty bucks that Y/N will make Minjeong fall for her." Niki added, his smirk growing more teasing as he slapped a bill in the middle of the table.

"Thirty." Yeonjun reached inside his pocket, pulling out his wallet to add two more bills to the count.

Y/N grimaced in disgust at the behavior of the guys. "We're not betting anything. Stop that."

"Thirty-five says the blondie will fall within the next two weeks," Niki continued.

Y/N rolled her eyes at them, grabbing her food and backpack to stand up. "You two are assholes."

The two boys chuckled, nudging each other at how easy it was to get to Y/N. She was usually a block of ice—never too bothered by their teasing.

"Oh, come on, Y/N!"

"We were joking!!"

She ignored them and walked away, quickly followed by Minji. She was the first friend Y/N ever made at the university, one of the few people who really understood her and made her feel heard.

"She's cute... Minjeong," the taller girl smiled. "You should try getting closer to her."

Y/N couldn't help but scoff at her friend's statement. "As if she'll ever even breathe my way."

Minji rolled her eyes. "She was looking at you a second ago when we were walking away. Girlie looked starved for your attention." She laughed a little, looping her arm around Y/N's. "Also, who wouldn't be a blushing mess at seeing you?"

Y/N felt her cheeks redden at the words. She looked away, trying to hide her reaction, before slowly facing her friend again. "She was looking at me?"

Minji nodded as they made their way out of the cafeteria. "Yup, she was clearly checking you out. I mean, who wouldn't? You're gorgeous. Minjeong's lucky." She pinched Y/N's cheek endearingly.

Y/N refused to let herself be flustered even more. She nudged her friend away and ignored her chuckles as they made their way to class.

:::

As much as she tried to push down the flattery, Minji's words stuck to her.

What if Minjeong was actually checking her out? What if Minjeong liked her? Y/N wouldn't know what to do with herself.

So, it was with a perk to her steps and more confidence than usual that she stepped inside the university's library a few days later, her eyes inspecting every table as she looked for the familiar girl.

After a little tour of the place, where Y/N was left without any answers, she looked down at her lock screen and frowned.

She was ten minutes early. Had she been that excited?

She decided to settle down and pulled out her laptop, fiddling with her pen as her eyes shot back to the door whenever someone came in.

She waited.

And waited.

And then she waited some more.

Minjeong stepped inside the library thirty minutes after their agreed time, barely looking at Y/N as she sat down in front of her.

Y/N cleared her throat and spoke up. "Hi."

Minjeong raised her gaze, meeting Y/N's eyes. She had expected an annoyed, snarky attitude from the girl, not a polite greeting.

"Hey." Her eyes lingered on Y/N's face for a few beats. Y/N's natural, casual beauty was intimidating. It was almost as if she had been carved by the gods themselves to be naturally flawless.

Y/N stared back at her, feeling almost intoxicated at the sight. There was always something about Minjeong that caught her attention: her innocent looks but teasing smirks, the way she liked to wear cute dresses one day and then completely switch to baggy jeans and sport jackets the next, the way she was loud with her friends but quiet and reserved with others.

Y/N had always liked her. It felt surreal to actually be sitting in front of her.

She cleared her throat and shook her head a little, leaning forward to grab the papers she had brought.

"I'm the TA of one of your teachers, so I asked him for some materials. We can get started with the introductory theme."

Minjeong's cheeks reddened slightly at the sight of Y/N's polite and professional attitude. She wasn't expecting the other girl to be so composed. She hung out with Yeonjun and Niki for God's sake; she shouldn't be anything close to put together. Then again...she was student council president, right? Not everyone could do that—not everyone could be a teacher's assistant and a tutor at the same time. Did the girl even sleep?

Minjeong took the paper, quickly looking over the content.

"Okay." Her voice was quiet as she spoke, unable to keep her gaze on the material for too long. Her eyes drifted from the paper back to Y/N's face. She couldn't stop staring.

Y/N smiled a little. She knew a lot of students often looked her way, but there was something about the way Minjeong did it that made her feel flustered.

"Should we get started?" Y/N suggested, trying to focus on the material in front of her.

Minjeong couldn't quite understand where this feeling of nervousness and excitement was coming from. It was unusual for her, especially since this was just a tutoring session. She forced herself to stop thinking about the other girl.

Y/N was a player. She was probably used to doing this to people—being all nice and gentle to get what she wanted before leaving them high and dry.

Minjeong had heard the rumors; she wasn't going to fall for Y/N or her act.

So, she took a sharp breath and forced herself to focus on the paper in front of her. "Whatever."

Y/N frowned at the demeanor, noticing the almost hostile aura suddenly radiating off the other girl. She tried to push down the disappointed feeling in her chest, playing the whole thing off as Minjeong being intimidated by the exercises.

Leaning forward on the table, Y/N turned her laptop screen to show Minjeong her notes. She had taken Calculus as an introductory course during her first year, so she was sure her documents could help.

"We'll go through things slowly, and I'm sure you'll understand everything. It's actually quite easy once you get the hang of it." Y/N smiled reassuringly, twirling her pen around her finger.

Minjeong nodded slowly, her eyes following the movement of Y/N's hand. She couldn't help but notice the little things Y/N did without realizing how adorable they were: the twirling of her pen, the gentle smile on her face, and the way her eyes lit up as she spoke softly.

A small part of her wondered how many people Y/N had done this exact same thing for, with the same kind expressions, soft tone, and sweet attitude.

"Okay...do you get the first exercise?" Y/N asked, trying to move past the awkward silence.

Minjeong took a few beats to reply, her mind occupied by a sense of discomfort.

She hummed slightly, nodding her head even though her mind was elsewhere. Her grades in math back in high school were...lackluster, to say the least. She had been struggling for a while. But she didn't want to admit that to Y/N of all people.

"Yeah," she answered, "I get it."

Y/N smiled. "Great."

Noticing that Minjeong hadn't brought a backpack with her—meaning no pen or paper—Y/N slid her notebook across the table and handed her the pen she had been twirling.

"Let's get to it then."

Minjeong nodded, taking the pen and paper from Y/N.

She was starting to realize that the only way to avoid embarrassing herself further in front of the intimidating girl was to shut up and focus on what she was doing. So she stared at the material, trying hard to process it mentally and solve the exercises. This was only the first lesson, and everything was already going above her head.

Minjeong bit her lower lip, looking down at the empty paper in front of her.

Y/N tried to give the girl time to respond peacefully. No pressure. But the frustrated sighs and constant fidgeting from the other girl quickly caught her attention.

"Would you like some help?"

"No, it's fine." Minjeong immediately denied, her tone a little too strained and tense.

She was determined to do it on her own, but the numbers kept blending together, and the formulas just refused to make sense in her head, no matter how hard she tried to make them. She bit her lip again, shifting in her seat slightly. "I know how to do this; I've done it before."

Y/N nodded, not a hint of mockery or teasing in her eyes as she replied, "I'm sure you do, Minjeong. These exercises can be tricky because you learned them a long time ago. It's normal to forget how to solve them—especially with the long formulas."

There it was again—the warmth, the gentle tone, and the kind eyes.

It annoyed Minjeong more than she'd like to admit. She knew she was lying to Y/N's face about being familiar with the problems; the only thing she had done was glance at them and immediately give up. But hearing Y/N's words, delivered with such patience and gentleness, made her feel worse.

"Is it?" she asked, not wanting to give in and admit defeat, despite knowing there was no way in hell she'd be able to solve the stupid exercise alone.

"Oh, absolutely!" Y/N nodded. "I myself have forgotten how to do it." A little white lie never hurt anyone, right? Y/N told herself it was worth it when she saw a hint of relief flood Minjeong's eyes. "Here, I'll show you the formula so you can remember how to do it again."

A rush of relief washed over Minjeong, her fingers loosening their grip on the pen and her shoulders losing their previous stiffness.

She tried to swallow down her pride. She was stubborn—stubborn as a mule—and really didn’t want to accept that something as simple as a few stupid numbers on a sheet of paper was what it took to break her. So, she found herself silently watching as Y/N's slender hands wrote down the formula on the paper and began explaining it.

God, Y/N's handwriting was horrendous—a cursive, doctor-like scrawl of letters and numbers. Yet Minjeong found herself beginning to understand what she was saying, maybe because Y/N's soft voice narrated and explained everything as she wrote.

"So, you'll want to use integration by parts, and then it'll be easier for you to see how the derivative of this function plays into substitution. It's just a matter of breaking things down," Y/N finished.

As the words and formulas slowly began to make sense in Minjeong's head, her eyes met Y/N's, a small flicker of surprise appearing in them. She was finally able to understand what the equation meant. It was weird how Y/N could explain things in a way that actually got through her thick skull.

When Y/N looked up at her, Minjeong diverted her gaze, her eyes roaming over the other sheets of paper spread across the table.

"Is your handwriting always that bad?"

Y/N had been expecting everything but that. Her cheeks reddened as she cleared her throat, looking down at the papers Minjeong was inspecting.

Right, maybe she should rewrite her documents before handing them to Minjeong.

"I— that's my bad." Y/N wrote down the formula again, this time making an effort to ensure it looked more legible.

Minjeong watched in silence, feeling somewhat guilty but also satisfied with Y/N's response.

Was it always this easy to get her flustered?

"Feel like my turtle could write better than you."

Y/N huffed softly at the comment. "Your turtle sounds a lot cooler than me, to be honest." She wore a small but amused smile as she continued fixing her handwriting, making sure Minjeong could understand it.

Minjeong couldn't help but tighten her lips, wondering why Y/N took the jab with such ease.

Was that her gameplay? Pretend to be a loser to attract girls? Minjeong wasn't going to play along.

"He's definitely much cooler than you," she shrugged. "But to be fair, pretty much everyone is."

Y/N hummed, placing the pen down and leaning back in her chair, a smirk appearing on her face. She was a competitive soul. Always had been. It didn't matter what it was; she wanted to win.

This included their current conversation.

"Do you think making me dislike you will mean the tutoring ends earlier?" she smiled, amused, not bothered by what Minjeong had said.

Damn it.

"Not at all," Minjeong replied, unwilling to back down from the silent competition now that she was in it.

She shifted slightly, crossing one leg over the other underneath the table. She wasn’t going to let Y/N have the upper hand. "Making you dislike me is more about me disliking you," she shrugged nonchalantly.

Y/N kept her smile, not really taking Minjeong's words to heart. She hadn't expected Minjeong to be like this—so closed off yet teasing at the same time. It didn't really change her view of the girl; if anything, it intrigued her even more.

"I don't think you dislike me as much as you dislike the exercises on that little page. Get to work."

Minjeong's lips quirked in annoyance as her attempt to elicit a reaction was swiftly ignored and shut down. Y/N didn't have a point. She was wrong. Minjeong definitely hated her more than the goddamn exercises. But she decided not to mention it for now.

She sighed, rolling her eyes as she picked up the pen to get to work.

The rest of the tutoring session flew by surprisingly quickly for Minjeong. It was two uninterrupted hours of nothing but Y/N and calculus. But it was surprisingly tolerable. So much so that Minjeong began showing up kind of on time for the next few sessions. So much so that the tall walls she had put up started crumbling as Y/N continued being her lovable, charming self.

"Come on, you know better," Y/N smiled up at Minjeong. "Organize your calculations; otherwise, you'll get lost." Her voice was low and soft, matching the quiet, peaceful atmosphere of the library.

The view outside the window was gorgeous, with autumn coloring the pavements in red and yellow. The air was starting to grow cold, and the familiar, heartwarming scent of winter was beginning to make its presence felt.

Minjeong sat back in her chair, draped in a hoodie and sweatpants. She didn’t have classes that day, so her only obligation was tutoring. Usually, she’d be more grumpy about it, but at that moment, all that bothered her was the fact that Y/N was only wearing baggy jeans and a Real Madrid jersey.

"How are you not cold?" Minjeong asked, her gaze lingering on the jersey.

Y/N was becoming more and more accustomed to Minjeong's random topic changes during their sessions. At first, she did it when she couldn't solve a problem, but eventually, she started doing it when she needed a small break—a distraction from the numbers for a little while.

She looked down at her attire. "I'm good with the cold. Warmth usually bothers me more."

Minjeong grimaced. "Weirdo," she muttered under her breath. "How can it not bother you?" she asked incredulously. "It’s so damn cold I can’t even feel my fingers inside this hoodie."

Y/N smiled, raising an eyebrow at Minjeong. "Isn’t your band name Winter?"

Minjeong couldn't help but be slightly surprised. Y/N knew about her band? She cleared her throat, forcing her curious thoughts aside. Of course Y/N knew about Aespa... everyone at the university did.

But for Y/N to know Minjeong's stage name, she must have done some kind of research, right?

No, probably not. Definitely not.

"That’s because I was born during winter, not because I like it," she replied petulantly.

"Also because you’re all cold and mysterious, no?" Y/N nudged her side softly as a joke.

They usually sat across from each other, but that day, Minjeong had forgotten her textbook at home—again. So, she decided to sit beside Y/N to see her computer screen better.

The smirk slowly disappeared from her face as she sat in silence. Minjeong hated how she found Y/N's jokes somewhat endearing and cute. She hated how Y/N's laugh made her heart skip a beat and how everything Y/N did and said easily derailed her train of thought.

She tried to ignore the small brush of Y/N's skin as the girl nudged her.

"Shut up," Minjeong muttered, looking back down at the paper in front of her.

Y/N’s smile softened as she watched Minjeong work.

God, she wanted her. She really, really wanted her. Everywhere she went, she thought about her—about how monotonous life had been until now. She hadn’t even realized it. Before, she couldn’t have cared less if the world ended. Now, she told herself she’d hold on to every single day if it meant getting to spend an additional moment with Minjeong. She used to feel exhausted, but now, just the thought of seeing Minjeong gave her the energy to run up every hill in the country.

"Are you just going to sit there and watch?" Minjeong asked, her voice laced with slight annoyance as she noticed Y/N staring at her. She shifted in her seat, turning to look back at Y/N. Her hoodie sleeve slipped from her hands, exposing her fingers.

Cold.

Her fingers had gotten cold again.

Y/N snapped out of her thoughts, her cheeks flushed, realizing she had been caught staring. She quickly looked away and cleared her throat. "Sorry... here." She reached for her jacket, discarded on the back of her chair, and handed it to Minjeong.

The blonde girl shook her head, eyes wide in surprise. "What’s that for? There’s no need—"

Y/N interrupted her. "You won’t be able to concentrate on the exercises if you’re cold. Just take it."

Minjeong shut her mouth, her lips pressing into a thin line.

And there it was again, the warmth. She tried to convince herself that the butterflies fluttering in her stomach and the soft pink tint on her cheeks were due to her body warming up, not because of Y/N’s sweet and kind gesture. Silently, she took the jacket from Y/N and slipped it on, wrapping it around her frame.

"So... you like corrupt teams?" she attempted to change the subject, hoping Y/N hadn’t noticed her flustered state.

Y/N furrowed her brow in confusion before remembering the jersey and rolling her eyes. "I like the best."

"Yeah, yeah, you’ve had six penalties in seven games. That’s the best at being the worst." Minjeong shot back, inwardly loving the way Y/N’s mouth fell open in indignation.

"What are you? A Barca fan?"

"Better than being a Madrid fan." Minjeong grinned victoriously as she watched Y/N's face twist in annoyance.

Minjeong had never been a huge football fan; in fact, she preferred basketball. But annoying Y/N about it was just too tempting to resist.

"Sure, whatever you say." Despite her words, Y/N's finger unconsciously drifted to the club's emblem on her chest.

Minjeong's eyes followed the movement, noticing how Y/N's long, slender finger brushed the fabric. She quickly tore her gaze away, looking back down at the problems in front of her. Her attention span wasn’t at its best that day—or on any day she had to coexist alongside Y/N.

"Minjeong?"

She hummed, tilting her head to look at her. "Yeah?"

Y/N held her gaze for a few seconds, an amused smile rising to her face as she shook her head. "I asked if you’re ready to get back to work."

Minjeong’s eyes widened slightly, realizing the way Y/N was looking at her.

What an idiot... God, how embarrassing.

She cleared her throat, shifting awkwardly in her seat and refocusing on the papers. Yeah, no. She wasn’t ready. Turning in her chair again, she faced Y/N with a raised eyebrow. "Why do you never ask me about my life?"

Y/N blinked at the question. Had she even heard that right?

Fiddling with her pen, she met Minjeong's impassive expression. "Would you like me to ask you about your life?"

"I—"

Minjeong didn’t know how to reply.

Part of her wanted to say no, to maintain the facade of an uninterested girl who didn’t care and didn’t want to be there. The other part, the one she wanted to ignore, desperately longed to answer yes and reveal the parts of herself she kept hidden from everyone else.

"I didn’t ask if you wanted to," she replied with a shrug, avoiding the answer. "I was just wondering why you never ask. Aren’t you curious?"

Y/N wasn’t sure how to respond. Minjeong always had this push-and-pull dynamic, saying one thing but meaning another. Y/N had been getting better at reading between the lines, but it was still a work in progress.

"Why didn’t you become a soldier like you always said you would?"

The question caught Minjeong by surprise, her eyebrows shooting up in genuine shock.

"How—" She paused, furrowing her brow as she remembered. Right. They went to high school together. Back then, Minjeong always told everyone she was planning on becoming a soldier, like everyone else in her family.

The truth was, her family didn’t particularly support her decision. Her father, in particular, was still bitter about it. Minjeong hadn’t talked to him in a while.

She stayed quiet for a few seconds, staring at Y/N's calm and expectant face. "Why do you remember that? It was ages ago."

Y/N tilted her head slightly, deciding not to mention that she had never forgotten many things about Minjeong—small details like her favorite color being ivory, her favorite season being fall, and even her favorite animal, movies, and songs.

"Your goal was quite unique and memorable," she shrugged. "Not every day you meet a future soldier."

Minjeong reminded herself that she was the one who instigated this conversation. She gulped, looking down at her hands. "I won a composition competition in the summer, and the first prize was a full scholarship here at SM. I didn’t think I’d accept it, but then I met Jimin. When she told me she was coming here, I figured I could go for it too. I wanted to follow what I liked instead of what was expected of me, you know?"

Y/N nodded, understanding. She knew Minjeong was a musical genius, so the story made sense. Minjeong had wished to follow in her family's footsteps, but her passion ultimately spoke louder.

"That's very admirable of you."

Y/N's genuine admiration seeped through her voice, leaving Minjeong feeling slightly vulnerable. No one had ever described her decision as admirable. Her family, especially her father, had seen it as a betrayal, and even her friends had expressed surprise, if not outright doubt, about her choice.

Minjeong decided to scoff playfully. "Says the student council president slash honor student slash tutor slash n°1 playgirl."

Y/N's mouth fell open, slightly horrified at the "playgirl" label. She was many things, yes, but a playgirl?

"N°1 playgirl?" She fought the urge to laugh. Y/N had maybe kissed two or three people in her entire life, all of whom she had dated seriously. Sure, maybe one or two of them had reminded her a little too much of Minjeong... but still.

"Don't play dumb." Minjeong rolled her eyes, raising a knowing eyebrow. "You're a magnet for girls and boys." Her expression seemed nonchalant, but something in her eyes held a bitterness that cut deeper. She quickly looked away, focusing back on the exercise sheets.

Y/N watched her with surprise. Funny, she thought the same thing about Minjeong—not that she was a playgirl, but that she attracted literally everyone. Especially during the university parties where Aespa had their shows. Y/N knew for a fact that Minjeong caught everyone's attention when she played her electric guitar on stage.

"Minjeong-ahhh." Y/N called softly, poking the girl’s side to get her attention. She poured all her honesty into her next words. "I'm not a playgirl."

Minjeong’s heartbeat quickened as Y/N’s soft hand pressed against her side. She tried to look annoyed, shifting in her seat and giving Y/N a small glare, but when she met the genuine emotions behind those pretty eyes, her resolve crumbled.

"You're not?"

Y/N shook her head. "I'm not, I promise." She chuckled lightly. "If anything, I'm the opposite of that."

Minjeong's face betrayed her disbelief as she regarded Y/N skeptically. "As in what? A nun?" She deadpanned, an amused smile rising to her lips.

Y/N rolled her eyes, pretending to be annoyed despite the smile on her face. She poked Minjeong's side again. "Don't be a brat."

"Shut up." Minjeong mumbled, feeling the soft pokes on her side again. Her stomach fluttered at the action.

She moved a hand to swat Y/N's away, attempting to maintain her poker face and not let the girl see how much she was affecting her. But the truth was, Y/N's honest confession had struck a chord in Minjeong. There was something about the way her eyes lit up with confidence and honesty that made Minjeong want to trust her—to give in. Minjeong had seen Y/N with girls around the university, sure, but maybe those were just friends or people from the student council board. Maybe Y/N wasn't as bad as her friends said.

"You're incredibly annoying, you know that?" Y/N asked, a playful smirk dancing on her lips.

She reached out to poke Minjeong again, but Minjeong swiftly grabbed her hand.

"If I annoy you, then I'm doing my job correctly," Minjeong replied with a smirk and an arched eyebrow, holding Y/N's offending hand in a tight grip. She tugged at the wrist, pulling Y/N closer. The action felt like a small victory.

"Can I ask you something?" she asked, eyeing the girl in front of her, the smirk still firmly on her lips.

Y/N felt flustered by the sudden closeness, her heart beating rapidly in her chest. "Ask me anything."

Minjeong paused for a few seconds, studying Y/N as she took a few deep breaths to compose herself.

"Are you in a relationship?" she bluntly asked, tilting her head and refusing to avert her gaze.

Y/N looked as surprised by the question as Minjeong felt. The blonde hadn’t expected the words to come out of her own mouth.

She cleared her throat, her ears reddening, but she didn’t look away for a second. "No. What about you?" The simple thought of Minjeong being with someone squeezed her chest annoyingly tight.

Minjeong shook her head, her heartbeat quickening as she realized she was just a tad too close to Y/N, their faces mere inches apart. She held her gaze firm, the determined expression never leaving her face.

"So you’re not seeing anyone right now?" she asked, her grip tightening around Y/N's wrist, fingers digging into the skin.

Minjeong's eyes drifted from Y/N's eyes to her lips. It would be so easy to just lean in and connect their mouths...

Y/N felt her heart racing even more as she noticed Minjeong's gaze. She fought back the urge to lick her lips before responding.

"I'm—"

She was cut off by a soft noise.

Both girls snapped out of their shared bubble and looked down at the desk, where Y/N's alarm was vibrating against the table, silent in the library but loud enough to catch their attention.

It was the end of their session.

Y/N cleared her throat and looked away, cursing the entire universe inside her head. The one time she was starting to connect with Minjeong. The ONE time.

Minjeong’s heartbeat slowed, replaced by a mist of disappointment that filled her chest. She had been too close to what she wanted. And of course, there had to be something to ruin it all. She swallowed down the bitter feeling and quickly untangled her fingers from Y/N’s wrist, leaning back in her chair. 

She didn’t make eye contact as she spoke. “Finally,” she forced out.

“Finally?” Y/N chuckled lightly, shaking her head as she started gathering her belongings. “It wasn’t that bad, we spent half the session talking.”

The sight of Y/N’s amused expression was almost too much for Minjeong. She bit the inside of her cheek to keep a neutral look on her face.

“Half?” Minjeong deadpanned, moving to pack her things as well. “More like 90%. I should ask for a refund.”

Y/N snorted quietly, mindful of the noise they made as they pushed their chairs back and stood to leave. “A refund for your free tutoring?”

Minjeong nudged her lightly, holding the door open. “Time is money. You should know that, Miss President.”

Y/N shook her head, a smile still tugging at her lips as she walked out of the library, Minjeong by her side. “And how much is your time worth, hmm?”

Minjeong pursed her lips and stuffed her hands into her jacket pockets, pretending to think of an answer.

Hold on.

This wasn’t her jacket.

“Shit,” she muttered, stopping in her tracks and shrugging off her backpack to return Y/N’s jacket. Night had fallen, and it was even colder now. Y/N stood outside in just her t-shirt jersey. “Here.”

“It’s fine, Minjeong-ah,” Y/N quickly dismissed, waving her off. “I can tell you’re still cold. Just keep it and give it back to me tomorrow.” She placed a hand on Minjeong’s shoulder to stop her from insisting.

Minjeong froze.

The moment Y/N touched her shoulder, her brain short-circuited. She snapped out of it quickly, though, forcing her expression back to its usual neutral look as she shoved the jacket into Y/N’s arms. “I’m not an idiot. I’m not gonna let you freeze out here because of me.”

Her heart thumped wildly in her chest, praying Y/N wouldn’t notice how much the small gesture had affected her.

“I’m not freezing,” Y/N insisted, smiling easily. “My car’s right around the corner. I’ll be fine. Just keep it.” She handed Minjeong her bag back and continued walking.

Minjeong cursed under her breath as she threw the backpack over her shoulder and quickly caught up. “You’re infuriating, you know that?”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” Y/N teased, clearly amused. “Always complaining.”

Before Minjeong could fire back, Y/N spoke up again, “Are you walking home?”

"Are you asking just to annoy me, or are you offering me a ride?" Minjeong replied, raising an eyebrow, trying to slow down her racing heartbeat. "Also, I live in the dorms. Housing is impossible in Seoul." The last thing she needed was to reveal how the thought of Y/N driving her home made her heart flutter and butterflies swarm in her stomach.

"You're very talkative today, you know that?" Y/N naturally led the way down the sidewalk to the parking lot.

She had gotten lucky with a parking spot right by the library entrance. After unlocking her white Mustang, she tossed her backpack onto the back seat and opened the door for Minjeong.

Minjeong hesitated at the door of Y/N’s Mustang, her pulse quickening at the unexpected invitation. Glancing up at Y/N, who wore her familiar easy smile, she felt a mix of excitement and anxiety. Spending time together at the library was one thing, but this felt different—a good kind of different.

"I just like to rile you up," Minjeong stated, sliding into the passenger seat and buckling her seatbelt. She glanced at the car’s interior with mild interest.

"Nice car," she added, her voice revealing more intrigue than she intended. She was a sucker for fast cars. "Since when are you rich?"

Y/N shook her head with a lighthearted chuckle, settling into the driver’s seat and turning on the car. The hum of the engine and the warmth of the heater filled the space as she noticed Minjeong still had her hands tucked inside the jacket pockets. Y/N eased the Mustang out of the spot.

"I'm not," Y/N responded casually.

Minjeong hummed, sinking into the comfortable seat, her eyes tracing the lines of Y/N’s profile.

"Did you save up all of your tutoring money for it then?" she teased with a smirk, the butterflies calming down as the conversation fell back into their familiar banter.

Y/N smiled, shaking her head. "Tutoring is voluntary, honey. I don't get paid for it."

"Voluntary?" Minjeong couldn’t hide her surprise. "Then why the hell do you do it?"

The question came out before her brain could even process it, her attention momentarily distracted by the way the nickname honey made her stomach flutter.

"It's a good way to meet new fuck buddies."

Minjeong’s ears turned a slight shade of pink at Y/N’s crude remark. "Of course—I mean, you help people and then use them to satisfy your own needs. Makes sense! Just let me off, I’ll walk home," she spluttered, waving her hands dismissively.

Y/N chuckled, her eyes widening slightly at Minjeong's overreaction. "Relax, Minjeong-ah, I was joking." She smoothly shifted gears, turning onto one of Seoul's main roads. The late hour meant traffic had died down, allowing her to ease back into her seat, holding the steering wheel lightly with one hand resting on her lap. "Tutoring helps me keep up with my studies. You can only explain something to someone else when you know it very well yourself."

Minjeong scoffed, realizing she’d fallen for the cheap trick. She tried to suppress her embarrassment, her expression softening as she focused on Y/N’s words rather than how good she looked behind the wheel.

"Makes sense, I guess..." she mumbled, her tone more serious. "Still, it must be exhausting."

Minjeong knew Y/N led a hectic life. High scores in every class, president of the student council, a teacher assistant, and daily tutoring sessions. On top of that, she was incredibly attractive and owned a nice car. There had to be something wrong with her. Minjeong had convinced herself Y/N was a playgirl earlier, but the genuine way Y/N had denied it left her questioning everything.

Minjeong sighed. She was so screwed.

"It keeps me busy," Y/N shrugged, her tone softening. "Which is good."

"You’re not scared of burning out, Miss President?" Minjeong teased, though her concern was genuine. She couldn’t figure out why, but the idea of Y/N collapsing under the weight of all her responsibilities made her chest tighten.

Y/N stopped at a red light, turning to meet Minjeong’s gaze. The blonde was the first person outside her close friends who had ever shown real concern about her well-being.

"I only have two years left. I’ll be fine," Y/N replied, her voice resolute. She had to manage everything—she didn’t have another choice.

Minjeong’s heart melted under Y/N’s intense eyes, that familiar look that made her feel exposed, like Y/N could read her every thought. It was the same every time they met—warmth, butterflies, the addicting pull toward this girl that Minjeong wasn’t sure she wanted to escape.

"How about this..." Minjeong cleared her throat. "Every time you feel like things are getting too much, you call me, and we’ll just chill and do nothing together."

Y/N’s heart flipped at the suggestion. The sight of Minjeong’s sincere gaze made it even harder to say no. She wanted to protest, to say there was no way she had time to relax. But then, the irrational part of her brain whispered that she would do anything for a few more moments in Minjeong’s company.

"Fine," Y/N agreed, a small smile tugging at her lips. "But only if you do the same. I know you're always busy with your band and everything."

Minjeong almost sighed in relief at Y/N’s agreement. Something inside her knew this was a better solution than watching Y/N push herself until her limit.

"Got it." Minjeong nodded, her lips curving into a smile as she turned to look out the window. The passing streetlights reminded her how close they were to the dorms. She wanted to spend more time with Y/N but had to accept that they were arriving.

It only took a minute for Y/N to pull up to the SM dorms and put her car in park. 

"Here you go," She said, turning to Minjeong with a self-satisfied smile. "Safe and sound."

Minjeong rolled her eyes in amusement as she reached to undo her seatbelt. "I would've made it on my own, you know, Mustang or not."

She made no move to leave the car, though. A part of her wanted to stay in there—in the warmth of Y/N's presence—for just a little longer. "Thanks for the ride, though."

"It was nothing." Y/N pursed her lips, teasingly adding, "You can pay me back by finishing those exercises you skipped today."

Minjeong let out a soft laugh, "Of course the President had an ulterior motive all along," she mumbled, amusement dancing in her eyes as she reached for the door handle.

"Your exam is next week! My ulterior motives are your lifeline."

Minjeong knew Y/N was right, of course, but she'd never let her have the satisfaction of winning. "Yeah, yeah... can’t believe I thought you were just being nice."

Y/N’s mouth fell open in mock indignation, her brain preparing a defense speech. Before she could say a word, Minjeong suddenly leaned in and pressed a quick, light kiss to her cheek.

"I’ll see you tomorrow, Pres."

Y/N didn’t even have time to process what had just happened before Minjeong opened the passenger door and stepped out of the car.

"I—goodbye!" Y/N called out, watching Minjeong wave as she walked up to the dorms and disappeared inside.

When the door finally closed, Y/N slumped back into her seat, releasing a ragged breath. She hadn’t imagined that, had she?

A few minutes passed as she tried to regain her composure, but the feeling of Minjeong’s soft lips on her cheek lingered, leaving her unable to get the girl out of her head. She felt like her entire body could catch on fire right then and there. 

Her phone suddenly buzzed with a new notification, snapping her back to reality. She glanced at the screen and read the text.

‘Are you going to stay out there the whole night?’

"Shit." 

Y/N quickly drove off, mind filled with one thought and one thought only.

Kim Minjeong had kissed her. 

:::

The rest of the week flew by with them meeting up almost every day. Minjeong’s exam was important, so Y/N rearranged her schedule to make more time for additional tutoring sessions. .

Their dynamic grew... heated.

Lingering gazes, light touches, and soft kisses on each other’s cheeks became a regular occurrence. Minjeong was especially flirty whenever she grew tired of math, and Y/N found herself too weak—or maybe too intrigued—to shut down her advances.

Eventually, the dreaded day arrived, and a nervous Minjeong found herself breezing through the exam. Seriously, she knew everything. Y/N had grilled all the exercises into her mind so thoroughly that Minjeong barely even had to read the questions anymore. Just one glance at the exercise, and she knew exactly what they wanted from her.

Naturally, two weeks later, when she received an 88% on the exam, she felt like she could burst with happiness. Her eyes sparkled with excitement as she made her way to the cafeteria, searching eagerly for the student council president.

She approached their usual table, wondering if Y/N was there, when she overheard her name coming from the mouths of Niki and Yeonjun.

"Is our bet still going on?" Niki asked, raising an eyebrow. His lack of sleep and complete disinterest in his surroundings blinded him to Minjeong standing close by behind Yeonjun.

"Are you kidding me?" Yeonjun scoffed. "I saw Minjeong kiss Y/N’s cheek at the library last week. Our girl is definitely gonna bag her, no doubt about it."

"Yeah, well, the two-week delay is gone. Should we prolong it?"

Minjeong's fight-or-flight instinct kicked in immediately. She backed away, her mind racing.

No.

No.

There was no way Y/N had managed to trick her. Minjeong was smart. She had a head start because she knew what Y/N was like.  

…and yet she had still fallen for it?

Tears welled up in her eyes, a mix of anger and sadness bubbling up inside her.

Minjeong rushed to an empty bathroom stall and locked herself in, her breaths coming out ragged as she sat down.

How could she have been so naive?

She had seen this kind of thing happen before. She knew what Y/N was like. She was a fucking dumbass- that's what she was. 

So why was she crying? Why did it hurt so badly? Why did she suddenly feel so disgusted with herself, knowing that Y/N had made a bet on her?

Minjeong lost all sense of time. She had no idea how long she had stayed inside that bathroom stall. All she knew was that her phone eventually buzzed and she reached for it with a sniffle, eyes welling up again as she saw the name on the screen.

President💋: So........??? Don’t leave me hanging, Min! How did the exam go?

Her chest clenched at the sight of the name. This girl... This girl had the audacity to play with her feelings like this... for what? 

Minjeong's stomach twisted, her eyes blurring with unshed tears. Her hands trembled as she wiped them away, pressing the call button. The phone rang for a few seconds before Y/N’s voice came through.

"Sorry for taking so long to answer, I was in the middle of a meeting." Y/N's voice was just as sweet and warm as always. She was good—disgustingly good. "How did it go, honey?"

Minjeong forced a smile, knowing Y/N would be able to sense her tone. "Hey, pres! Guess who got an 88?"

Y/N gasped on the other end, excitement spilling into a ramble that Minjeong couldn't even follow.

"Come to my show tomorrow night," Minjeong interrupted, her voice steady despite the chaos inside her, "I want to personally thank you for your help."