A Game of Hearts
It was a chilly Saturday evening when Jimin and Minjeong found themselves sitting side by side in the dimly lit theater. The smell of buttery popcorn filled the air, and the soft hum of pre-movie chatter surrounded them.
Jimin, being the confident one, had insisted on getting the best seats—right in the middle, not too close, not too far.
Minjeong, on the other hand, clutched a bucket of popcorn, her small hands disappearing into the sea of golden kernels.
The movie started, a lighthearted romance-comedy, and for the first thirty minutes, everything was normal. That was until a jump-scare happened—completely out of nowhere.
It was supposed to be a rom-com! Why was there a sudden loud sound effect?
Minjeong, startled and flinched
Jimin blinked, then smirked. "Minjeong-ah… were you scared?" she teased in a whisper.
Minjeong huffed, her face heating up. "No! It was just... unexpected!"
Jimin chuckled, she shifted slightly, letting their shoulders press together just enough to be warm, but not too obvious.
As the movie went on, Minjeong slowly got absorbed into the story, occasionally letting out soft giggles or gasps at the cute scenes.
Jimin wasn’t even paying full attention to the film anymore—she was too busy stealing glances at Minjeong, completely captivated by how expressive she was.
At some point, Minjeong noticed Jimin’s eyes on her and frowned. "Why are you staring at me?" she whispered.
Jimin grinned, resting her chin on her palm. "You're more entertaining than the movie."
Of course she’s fine, Jimin thought. She’s always so—
BAM! A sudden jumpscare.
Jimin jumped in her seat, accidentally grabbing Minjeong’s arm.
Minjeong turned to her, clearly holding back a laugh. "Are you scared?"
Jimin refused to answer.
As the movie continued, Jimin found herself constantly flinching. At some point, Minjeong sighed and offered her hand.
Jimin stared at it. "What’s that for?"
"So you stop grabbing my arm randomly," Minjeong teased. "Just hold my hand properly."
Jimin’s brain short-circuited.
Slowly, hesitantly, she took Minjeong’s hand.
Just like that, Jimin forgot about the movie—because now, she had something much to deal with.
Her racing heart.
The movie had just ended, but instead of heading straight out, Jimin and Minjeong found themselves drawn to the small crowd gathering in. That’s when Jimin spotted the "Couple Cupid Challenge" booth.
Jimin stopped in her tracks, adjusting the sleeves of her oversized cream-colored sweater. She paired it with light blue jeans and white sneakers,
the soft pastels making her look effortlessly cozy. Minjeong, standing beside her in a sleek black hoodie layered over a white t-shirt, dark jeans,
and her well-worn high-top sneakers, tilted her head as she read the sign.
She grabbed Minjeong’s hoodie excitedly. "Look! If we complete the challenges, we get a polaroid camera and couple bracelets for 80% off!"
Minjeong raised an eyebrow. "And?"
"Let’s do it! I want that Ivory Polaroid" Jimin grinned.
Minjeong sighed, already sensing the trouble
Just then, an enthusiastic emcee holding a mic spotted them. "Oh! You two! Are you a couple?"
Minjeong's brain short-circuited. "W-We—"
"YES," Jimin answered smoothly, grinning as she slung an arm around Minjeong’s shoulder.
Minjeong turned to her with wide eyes. "Jimin!"
Minjeong groaned but didn't resist when the staff guided them to the center stage.
Several other couples were already there, some looking competitive, some shy. The challenge? They had to complete three couple tasks to win!
The first challenge? "Hold hands for 5 minutes."
Jimin grabbed Minjeong’s hand immediately. "Easy."
Minjeong looked away, hiding a tiny smile. "Your hand is sweaty."
Easy? the truth is Jimin's heartbeat actually race again
"Next up!" the emcee announced. "The Heartbeat Test!"
A small device was placed on Minjeong’s finger to measure her pulse.
The challenge? Jimin had to make her heartbeat race in under fifteen seconds.
Minjeong groaned. "Oh, come on—"
Jimin smirked. "This one’s too easy."
The moment the timer started, Jimin slowly, teasingly, reached out and tucked a loose strand of
Minjeong’s hair behind her ear, fingers lingering for just a second longer than necessary.
Minjeong froze.
Then, Jimin leaned in, her lips just barely ghosting over Minjeong’s temple. "Minjeong-ie..." she whispered.
BEEP BEEP BEEP!
The device spiked instantly, flashing red.
The crowd erupted into laughter, and Minjeong yanked her hand away, "YU JIMIN!"
The Last Challenge is Touch and Tell.
One person had to be blindfolded while the other placed their hand somewhere on their body.
The blindfolded partner had to guess the exact spot.
Minjeong went first, the staff gently tying a silk blindfold around her eyes. She fidgeted, feeling vulnerable as she stood there in the middle of the crowd.
Jimin chuckled softly, stepping closer. "Relax, Minjeong-ah. It's just me."
Minjeong swallowed. That was exactly why she couldn't relax.
Jimin took Minjeong’s hand and guided it—placing it gently on her collarbone, right where her sweater’s neckline dipped slightly.
"Alright, where is your hand touching?" the emcee asked.
Minjeong felt the smoothness of Jimin’s skin, the slight warmth there. Her breath hitched. "U-Um…" She hesitated before whispering, "Your collarbone?"
Jimin grinned. "Correct."
Minjeong quickly pulled her hand away, but her ears were completely red.
"Okay, now switch!" the emcee announced.
Jimin let the staff tie the blindfold around her eyes, a confident smile still on her lips. "Go easy on me, Minjeong-ah~"
Minjeong huffed but hesitated before choosing a spot. Then, deciding to get back at Jimin,
she took Jimin’s hand and placed it lightly on the curve of her waist,
Jimin stilled for a second.
The moment she placed her hand on Minjeong’s waist, something inside her wavered.
The fabric of Minjeong’s hoodie was soft beneath her fingertips, but beneath that—warmth. A gentle, inviting warmth that made Jimin’s pulse stutter.
Her breath hitched, a slow realization creeping in that this wasn’t just a game anymore.
Then, to Minjeong’s horror, she smirked.
"Minjeong-ah," Jimin whispered, low and teasing. "Are you trying to make me flustered?"
Minjeong pushed her. "JUST ANSWER!"
Jimin chuckled. "Your waist."
"Correct!" the emcee cheered, while Minjeong immediately covered her face in embarrassment.
The staff and emcee, who had been giggling the whole time, handed them their prizes.
"Oh! How about one last challenge and we’ll giving this for free!"
Jimin raised an eyebrow. "What is it?"
The staff grinned handed them a card.
"Kiss your partner! Then you’ll get this for free!"
Jimin choked. "W-WHAT?!"
Jimin nervous “We’re okay with just 80% off! We’re gonna pay it. Right Minjeong?”
Minjeong, on the other hand, simply read the card carefully. Then, she smirked.
Jimin saw that smirk and immediately got nervous. "Minjeong, wait—"
Before Jimin could even finish her sentence, Minjeong leaned in and pressed a kiss to Jimin’s cheek.
Jimin froze.
Minjeong pulled back slowly, arms crossed smugly. "There. We did it."
The staff blinked. "Uhh… that was supposed to be on the lips—"
Minjeong pointed at the card. "It only says ‘kiss your partner.’ It never specified where."
The emcee stared at her, then burst out laughing. "Wow, you’re really smart. Fine, you win! You both got this polaroid camera and couple bracelet for free!"
Meanwhile, Jimin was still standing there, now completely red, her brain still processing what just happened. The small crowd cheering happily.
After successfully (and cleverly) winning the Couple Cupid Challenge, the staff handed them their couple bracelet and the ivory polaroid camera.
The bracelet shimmering with teal blue diamond, set in a hand-engraved starburst, sterling silver with a tiny star and heart charm
"Would you like to engrave initials on them? It’s free for today’s winners!" the staff offered with a friendly smile.
Jimin turned to Minjeong. "Do we?"
Minjeong shrugged, looking at the bracelet. "Why not?"
The staff handed Minjeong a small form to write their initials. Jimin expected her to write something simple but instead—
"JMJ"
Jimin squinted at the paper. "Wait… what’s JMJ?"
Minjeong handed the form back to the staff nonchalantly. "Just put that on."
Jimin grabbed her wrist. "No, seriously, what does it mean?"
Minjeong frowned "You really..."
-
Jimin flopped onto her bed, still processing about just what happened that day. Her phone buzzed, and she grinned when she saw the caller ID.
"Incoming call: Aeri"
Aeri was Jimin’s best friend since middle school but she got move in Japan when they enter high school, following her parents.
She quickly answered, and Aeri’s face filled the screen. The girl had her usual mischievous smile, a blanket draped over her shoulders.
“Yah, Yu Jimin! Champion of the year! Congrats on your win!” Aeri cheered, clapping dramatically.
Jimin laughed, tilting her phone to show off her medal. “You see this? Gold, baby.”
“Of course, you won. Did you even have real competition?” Aeri teased, raising an eyebrow.
Jimin rolled her eyes. “Hey, I worked hard for this, okay?”
Aeri smirked. “I bet you just did it to impress a certain someone.”
Jimin froze for half a second before scoffing. “What are you talking about?”
Aeri gasped, leaning closer to the screen. “Don’t play dumb! You’ve been talking about Minjeong a lot lately.”
Jimin instinctively looked toward her bedroom door, as if Minjeong could somehow hear her from across town. She sighed, flopping onto her pillow. “It’s not like that. She’s just… interesting.”
Aeri smirked. “Oh? Do tell.”
Jimin thought for a moment, then chuckled. “Minjeong’s the biggest introvert I’ve ever met. At first, she was so quiet—like, completely in her own world. I honestly thought she hated people.”
“And now?”
Jimin’s lips curled into a fond smile. “Now, she’s still an introvert… but she’s so annoying. She’s quiet until she’s comfortable, and then suddenly, she’s stubborn, sarcastic, and keeps bullying me.”
Aeri snorted. “So, you’re saying she’s your kind of annoying?”
Jimin exhaled through her nose, pretending to be indifferent. “Maybe.”
Aeri narrowed her eyes playfully. “Okay, but you do like her.”
Jimin groaned. “We’re not talking about this.”
“Too bad! You brought her up!” Aeri laughed, but then tilted her head. “So, when are you confessing?”
Jimin grabbed a pillow and screamed into it. “I AM NOT—”
Aeri cackled.
Jimin sighed dramatically, trying to change the subject. “Anyway! We did this couple challenge thing today.”
“WHAT?!” Aeri almost dropped her phone. “Explain. Now.”
Jimin grinned. “It was one of those Cupid Challenge games at the mall. We will got a 80% off discount of couple bracelet and a polaroid as a prize.”
Aeri teased. “Did something actually cute happen?”
Jimin scratched her cheek, looking away. “Minjeong did something unexpected.”
Aeri leaned closer. “Spill.”
Jimin inhaled, remembering the moment.
“At first we must finish the 3 challenge. Minjeong is flustered and looks so cute so I keep teasing her. Then, suddenly the staff said we will
got the couple bracelet and polaroid for free if we kiss our partner” Jimin explain in one breath
“MINJEONG KISSED YOU?!”
Jimin covered her face with both hands. “It was just on the cheek.”
“Ohhh, so now you’re the flustered one?” Aeri teased, wiggling her eyebrows.
“Show me the bracelet.”
Jimin showing her wrist wearing silver chain with a tiny star and heart charm. “It’s pretty, right?”
Aeri deadpanned. “Wah Yu Jimin. You are literally wearing a couple bracelet with Minjeong.”
Jimin shrugged, a little too casually. “It’s not a big deal.”
-
The scent of warm eggs and butter filled the air as Jimin out of her bedroom, she prepare herself to go to school, it was still early but something felt different.
Then she heard the faint clatter of utensils.
Her brows furrowed. That was weird. She lived alone most of the time, considering how often her father worked late.
Jimin peeked around the corner—
There, standing by the stove, was Hakjun.
Her father, in his slightly wrinkled dress shirt from last night’s work, sleeves rolled up to his elbows, flipping eggs in a pan like it was the most normal thing in the world.
Jimin blinked, making sure she wasn’t dreaming. “Dad…?”
Hakjun turned, looking just as surprised to see her up this early. “Oh. Morning, Jimin.”
Jimin narrowed her eyes. “Are you real?”
Hakjun chuckled, though his voice carried exhaustion. “What kind of question is that?”
Jimin pulled out a chair and sat at the dining table, watching him suspiciously. “Because last time I checked, you were a ghost who only existed in work meetings and late-night phone calls.”
Hakjun sighed, a guilty smile tugging at his lips. “I deserved that.”
He turned off the stove and moved the food onto a plate sunny side up eggs, buttered toast, and a small bowl of fruit. He placed it in front of her before sitting across from her with his own plate.
Jimin stared at it, then at him. “It’s been a while since we ate breakfast together.”
Hakjun lowered his gaze. “I know.”
There was a pause. He looked tired—more than tired. Jimin noticed the faint dark circles under his eyes, the way his posture was slightly slumped,
like the weight of his work never truly left his shoulders. But what surprised her the most was the expression on his face.
He looked sorry.
Jimin hesitated before picking up her fork. “Long night?”
Hakjun hummed in agreement. “Got home around five.”
She frowned. “You should be sleeping.”
Hakjun gave her a small, tired smile. “I wanted to make breakfast first.”
Jimin swallowed the lump in her throat. She couldn’t remember the last time he’d done this.
Maybe back when she was in middle school—before everything got so busy, before their schedules barely lined up.
She glanced at him, then back at her plate. Her voice softened. “Thanks, Dad.”
Hakjun exhaled, running a hand through his hair. “I know I haven’t been around much, Jimin and I know that’s not fair to you.”
Jimin stopped mid-bite, eyes flickering up to meet his. He wasn’t the type to say things like this.
“I wish I could be home more,” he continued. “I don’t want you to feel like you’re alone.”
Jimin blinked. She wasn’t sure how to respond to that. It wasn’t like she hadn’t already accepted that this was just how things were.
But hearing him say it out loud, admitting it—felt different.
She chewed on her toast, pretending to be unbothered.
“Well… it’s not like I’m that lonely. I have friends. Minjeong is always around. You don’t need to worry on me.”
Hakjun chuckled “Minjeong, huh?”
Jimin coughed. “That’s not the point.”
He smirked but didn’t push further. Instead, he reached over and ruffled her hair. “Still. I’m sorry.”
Jimin rolled her eyes but didn’t pull away. “You should be.”
Hakjun sighed, setting his fork down. “Jimin… I need to tell you something.”
Her chewing slowed. That didn’t sound good.
Hakjun rubbed the back of his neck, looking more tired than before. “We’re moving.”
Jimin froze.
The word moving echoed in her head, like she misheard it—like it didn’t belong in their conversation.
“…What?” she asked, her voice quieter this time.
Hakjun exhaled deeply. “We’re moving to another city.”
A beat of silence.
Jimin placed her fork down carefully. “Why?”
“It’s for work,” he said, too quickly. “There’s a position I need to take. It’s a better opportunity, and—”
“You’re lying.”
Hakjun flinched. Just slightly, but Jimin caught it.
She knew her father well—how he phrased things, how his tone shifted when he wasn’t telling the full truth. The way he avoided eye contact now? That sealed it.
Jimin’s chest tightened. “You’re not telling me everything.”
Hakjun hesitated, then sighed, pressing a hand to his forehead. “Jimin—”
Jimin clenched her fists under the table. “Dad what are you doing. Why won’t you just tell me?”
His silence was answer enough.
Hakjun closed his eyes for a moment before looking at her again. There was something in his gaze—something heavy.
Her stomach twisted. This wasn’t just about work. It was something bigger—something he didn’t want her involved in.
She swallowed hard, trying to steady her voice. “When?”
“A month from now.”
Jimin’s breath hitched. A month?
Just like that? No warning? No discussion?
She had school. Taekwondo. Minjeong. Rigel.
Her throat tightened.
Hakjun reached across the table, placing a hand over hers. “Jimin, I know this is sudden. But please trust me on this.”
Jimin stared at their hands, her father’s warmth grounding her.
She wanted to argue. To demand more answers. To tell him he couldn’t just uproot their lives without warning.
But the exhaustion in his eyes—the fear, the weight of whatever he was carrying—made her hesitate.
She clenched her jaw. “I don’t want to leave.”
Hakjun’s expression softened. “I know.”
Her chest felt tight, her mind buzzing too loudly to process anything. Moving? Leaving everything behind? She refused to accept it.
So she did the only thing she could.
She stood up.
“Jimin—” Hakjun called, but she was already grabbing her bag.
“I’m going to school.”
“You haven’t even finished—”
“I’m not hungry anymore. Thank you for the breakfast”
Jimin didn’t look at him as she slung her backpack over her shoulder. Her throat burned, but she forced herself to swallow it down.
If she stayed, she might explode and she didn’t want to deal with that. Not now.
Not when everything felt like it was slipping out of her hands.
She stepped into her shoes and walked out the door.
Hakjun didn’t stop her.
But the weight of his unspoken words followed her all the way to school.
Jimin wasn’t herself that day.
She barely spoke in class. She didn’t joke around with her friends. She didn’t even react when her friends messed up his English presentation
so badly that even the teacher had to pause and process what he said. Normally, she’d at least smirk. Today, she just stared at her desk.
And most importantly—
She avoided Minjeong.
It wasn’t easy. Minjeong had this annoying way of always finding her, like some kind of radar specifically tuned to Jimin’s presence.
Usually, Jimin would pretend to be annoyed while secretly enjoying it. But today, she kept her answers short, gave weak excuses, and walked just a little faster whenever Minjeong tried to catch up.
Minjeong wasn’t the type to pry, but Jimin caught her staring more than once. Those quiet, searching glances. The small frown when Jimin barely responded to her teasing.
Normally, Jimin would’ve caved. Would’ve let Minjeong pull her in, let her make everything feel lighter.
But today, she couldn’t.
Because no matter how much she tried to push it away, the weight of her father’s words still sat heavy on her chest.
We’re moving.
A month. That was all she had left here. And it made her stomach turn.
But that wasn’t the only thing bothering her.
Jimin tapped her fingers against her desk, staring blankly at her open notebook.
There was something else—something that had been nagging at her for weeks.
Something she found one night when she got home earlier than expected.
A week ago
Jimin had just come back from late practice, her duffel bag slung over her shoulder.
Hakjun wasn’t home yet—he never was at this hour—so she went straight to the kitchen for a quick snack.
But as she passed by his home office, the door was slightly open.
Which was weird.
Hakjun was usually strict about keeping it locked.
Curiosity got the better of her.
Jimin pushed the door open quietly, stepping inside. It was dimly lit, papers scattered over his desk.
His laptop was there, but she didn’t touch it.
Instead, her eyes landed on something else.
A name card.
It was crisp, neatly placed among the documents. The name printed on it was clear.
Bae Joohyun.
Jimin frowned, picking it up.
She didn’t recognize the name. It wasn’t someone from his company—at least, not anyone she’d ever heard him mention.
Before she could look further, the sound of a car pulling into the driveway made her panic.
She quickly placed the card back where she found it and slipped out of the room just as the front door unlocked.
That night, she couldn’t stop thinking about it.
Then, a few days later, she heard it again.
She was walking past his office when his phone rang.
Jimin wasn’t the type to eavesdrop, but the name flashing on his screen made her pause.
Joohyun.
Not Bae Joohyun, just Joohyun.
The way Hakjun answered, his voice quieter, almost hesitant—it didn’t sound like a normal work call.
Something about it felt off.
Jimin never asked him about it.
She didn’t even know why she felt so weird about it.
But now, with the sudden announcement about moving—and the way Hakjun wouldn’t tell her the real reason—Jimin couldn’t shake the feeling that it was all connected.
That Bae Joohyun had something to do with it.
Minjeong had been watching Jimin.
She smile at the bracelet that shiny on her left wrist
And then she saw it. Her smile drop
Jimin’s fingers.
They were trembling slightly as she rested them on her desk. At first, Minjeong thought she was just fidgeting out of habit. But then—
A small red stain bloomed on the corner of her paper.
Minjeong’s stomach dropped.
Jimin was digging her nails into the side of her fingers—hard enough that the skin had split, small droplets of blood gathering along the edges.
Minjeong didn’t think.
She grabbed Jimin’s wrist.
Jimin flinched, eyes widening as she looked up.
“Stop,” Minjeong whispered, voice firm but gentle.
Jimin opened her mouth—probably to deny it, to brush it off—but Minjeong wasn’t having it.
Without letting go of Jimin’s wrist, she reached into her bag with her other hand, pulling out a small pack of tissues and band-aid She took Jimin’s hand, carefully dabbing at the small wounds.
Jimin stiffened but didn’t pull away.
They weren’t deep, but they were fresh, red against her pale skin.
“Why are you doing this?” Minjeong asked quietly, not looking up.
Jimin stayed silent.
Minjeong let out a small breath, shaking her head.
She held Jimin’s hand a little tighter then pulling out a band-aid. She tore the wrapper open with practiced ease before carefully taking Jimin’s injured finger.
Jimin swallowed.
She wasn’t sure why, but suddenly, the air between them felt… different.
Minjeong’s touch was gentle, her fingers warm against Jimin’s skin as she wrapped the band-aid around the wound. Her expression was unreadable, concentrated, serious, yet oddly soft.
Jimin tried not to focus on how close they were. How Minjeong’s lashes were long enough to cast faint shadows against her cheeks. How her lips pressed together slightly in focus.
“There,” Minjeong murmured, smoothing the band-aid in place. She finally looked up, her eyes searching. “Does it hurt?”
Jimin quickly shook her head. “No.”
It was true.
Her finger didn’t hurt.
But her chest did.
Because Minjeong was looking at her like that again. That quiet, knowing gaze that made Jimin feel seen in a way that scared her.
Jimin forced a grin. “Are you my nurse now?”
Minjeong rolled her eyes but didn’t let go of her hand.
“You don’t even realize when you’re hurting yourself, Jimin.”
The words were simple. But they hit harder than she expected.
She felt the lump in her throat grow, so she quickly forced out a laugh. “You sound like an old lady.”
Minjeong sighed but didn’t fight her on it. Instead, she gave Jimin’s hand one last squeeze before finally letting go.
“Just… stop picking at it, okay?” Minjeong mumbled, looking away.
“I don’t like seeing you bleed.”
Jimin blinked.
Her heart did a weird thing in her chest.
And for the first time that day, she forgot about everything else.
Because all she could think about was how Minjeong had said that so softly.
Like she really, really meant it.
-
The Yu’s house was quiet, except for the faint sounds of rustling papers and hurried footsteps.
Hakjun stood by the living room table, flipping through stacks of documents with furrowed brows. He had barely gotten any sleep since coming back home, and the exhaustion was catching up to him.
But he couldn’t stop.
Not yet.
He exhaled sharply, rubbing his temple. The weight of everything pressed down on his shoulders. Jimin had left for school without another word, and he knew she was upset.
But he had no choice.
He had to do this.
Just as he reached for his phone, a sudden knock echoed through the house.
Hakjun froze.
It was too early for Jimin to be back. And he wasn’t expecting anyone.
Cautiously, he made his way to the door and opened it.
Standing outside was a familiar face—Kim Doohyeon.
Minjeong’s father.
A firefighter, always carrying that same calm yet firm presence. Today, though, there was something different in his expression. A knowing look.
Hakjun straightened. “Doohyeon.”
Doohyeon gave a small nod. “We need to talk.”
Hakjun sighed, stepping aside. “Come in.”
-
The final bell rang
Jimin exhaled in relief, slumping back against her chair. Today had been long—not because of the classes, but because of everything weighing on her mind.
She barely had time to process before Minjeong standing beside her desk, her bag slung over one shoulder.
“Hey.” Minjeong tilted her head, studying her carefully. “Are you going home now?”
Jimin blinked. “Uh… yeah, I guess.”
Minjeong pursed her lips before reaching out, lightly tugging Jimin’s sleeve. “Let’s talk for a bit?”
Jimin hesitated. A part of her wanted to say no—she wasn’t sure if she could keep up a normal conversation right now. But when she met Minjeong’s eyes, she saw something there.
Not just curiosity.
Worry.
Jimin sighed. “Okay.”
They ended up on the rooftop.
It was quieter here, the late afternoon sun casting warm golden hues over everything. Jimin leaned against the railing, staring at the sky while Minjeong stood beside her, arms crossed.
For a while, neither of them spoke.
Then, Minjeong broke the silence.
“…Is this about the kiss yesterday?”
Jimin almost choked on air.
“What?!” She spun to face Minjeong, wide-eyed. “Why would you—”
Minjeong simply raised an eyebrow. “Because you’ve been weird and avoiding me all day.”
Jimin opened her mouth to argue—but then stopped.
Okay. Maybe she had been avoiding Minjeong. But not because of that!
…Or at least, not just because of that.
Minjeong sighed. “Look, I know it was kinda sudden, but—”
“No, no, it’s not that,” Jimin quickly interrupted, shaking her head. “I mean, yeah, you surprised me, but—”
“Oh?” Minjeong smirked, tilting her head. “Did I make you shy?”
Jimin murmur, covering her face. “Minjeong, please.”
Minjeong chuckled, clearly enjoying this. “I mean, you did look cute when you got all flustered.”
“Minjeong.”
“Especially when your ears turned all red.”
Jimin grabbed her by the shoulders. “You are annoying.”
Minjeong only grinned. “See? This is the Jimin I know.”
Jimin hesitated, her grip loosening.
Minjeong’s teasing had softened, her eyes searching again. Like she was trying to pull Jimin out of whatever hole she had fallen into today.
Jimin sighed, running a hand through her hair. “It’s not about the kiss, Minjeong.”
Minjeong’s smile faded slightly. “…Then what is it?”
Jimin bit her lip.
She wasn’t ready to talk about her father. About the move. About Bae Joohyun.
So instead, she reached out and flicked Minjeong’s forehead. “Hey!”
“It’s nothing.”
Minjeong pouted, rubbing the spot. “Liar.”
Jimin chuckled. “You’ll survive.” then she walk away
Minjeong rolled her eyes but didn’t push further. Instead, she leaned closer, nudging Jimin’s arm.
“Whatever it is, you know you can tell me, right?”
Jimin swallowed.
Yeah. She knew.
She just wasn’t ready yet.
So instead, she simply smiled.
“Let’s go to my apartment. You didn’t miss our son’s?” Minjeong pull her
For now Jimin grinned
-
The scent of coffee lingered in the air as Hakjun poured two cups, setting one in front of Doohyeon before sitting down across from him.
Doohyeon’s eyes flicked over the mess before settling on Hakjun. “You’re still digging, huh?”
Hakjun exhaled, rubbing his tired face. “I don’t have a choice. It’s too late”
Doohyeon sat down, his posture heavy. “Neither do I.”
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
The firefighter sighed. “Hakjun… I get it. I really do. But you have a daughter to protect.”
Hakjun’s jaw clenched. “And you don’t? Like me you also want to reveal the truth right?”
That struck a nerve. Doohyeon’s fingers curled slightly, but he didn’t snap back. He just looked at Hakjun with that same heavy gaze—the kind that had seen too much.
The kind that knew exactly what Hakjun was feeling.
“…you’re moving?” Doohyeon finally said after saw a lot of box but barely touch
Hakjun tensed. “It’s for work.”
Doohyeon gave him a knowing look. “Bullshit.”
Hakjun chuckled and tapped his fingers against the table, his mind still tangled in documents, secrets, and the conversation he had yet to have with Jimin. Meanwhile, Doohyeon sat with his hands clasped, his expression unreadable when he read some documents
“Let me burn this, Hakjun” Doohyeon stand up and reach a lighter
“No!” Hakjun trying to stop Doohyeon
“…It’s worse than I thought, isn’t it?” Doohyeon murmured.
Hakjun exhaled shakily. “They’re getting too close. I have to get Jimin out of here.”
Doohyeon’s gaze hardened. “They sent you something again?”
Hakjun didn’t answer. Instead, he slid the photo toward him.
A picture of Jimin, taken recently from her Taekwondo Tournament
Doohyeon’s jaw clenched.
“They know” he muttered.
Doohyeon hesitated. “Listen Hakjun. This getting more dangerous. I think they know you have something they want”
Hakjun’s stomach twisted.
Hakjun’s grip tightened on the flash drive in his pocket. “I do.”
Doohyeon’s expression darkened. “Then you can’t leave it with you.”
“I know,” Hakjun said. “That’s why I called you.”
Doohyeon exhaled through his nose. “So, you’re finally asking for help?”
Hakjun didn’t answer.
“Don’t worry…I can keep it safe. They don’t know we’re connected” Doohyeon finally said.
Hakjun looked at him, uncertain.
“Doohyeon—”
“You trust me, don’t you?” Doohyeon cut him off, crossing his arms. “If you’re worried about my family, don’t be. I know how to handle this. Sejeong and Minjeong were safe”
Hakjun hesitated, then slowly handed him the small, secured case.
“This is everything,” he muttered. “If something happens to me—”
“I’ll make sure the truth comes out,” Doohyeon said firmly. “But nothing’s going to happen to you..or Jimin.”
Hakjun swallowed hard. He wanted to believe that.
Doohyeon tucked the case into his jacket, his expression unreadable.
“I’ll contact you when it’s safe,” he said, heading for the door.
Hakjun nodded. “…Be careful. Thank you Doohyeon”
Doohyeon gave him a sharp look.
“You too.”
Then, he was gone.