The Longest Ride

The rodeo grounds buzzed with energy. Dust rose in thick clouds under the orange glow of the setting sun, and the air was heavy with the scent of hay and leather. Families gathered in clusters, their chatter blending with the excited cries of children running between the stands. Riders prepped their gear, checking ropes and saddles, while bulls snorted impatiently in their pens.

Kim Minjeong adjusted her scarf against the cool evening breeze, her polished boots crunching against the gravel. This wasn’t her scene, not by a long shot. She’d spent most of her life in lecture halls and libraries, surrounded by art books and canvas reproductions. But when her roommate, Ningning, had insisted on a night out, Minjeong had reluctantly agreed.

“Come on, Minjeong,” Ningning had said with a dramatic eye roll as they parked. “You’ve been cooped up in your room all week, sulking over Jaemin. You need to have some fun.”

Minjeong bristled at the mention of her ex. Jaemin’s betrayal was still fresh, and though she hated how much it lingered, she couldn’t shake the bitterness. “I’m here, aren’t I?” she replied, glancing at the crowd with apprehension.

Ningning grinned and looped her arm through Minjeong’s. “Exactly. Now, loosen up. Maybe you’ll even meet a pretty cowgirl.”

Minjeong doubted that. The rodeo wasn’t her idea of romance. But as they found their seats in the stands, her gaze wandered to the arena below. A rider mounted a massive bull, the animal’s muscles rippling under its coarse hide. The announcer’s voice boomed over the speakers, and the crowd erupted as the gate flew open.

The rider lasted seven seconds before being thrown violently to the ground.

“Damn,” Ningning whispered. “I don’t know whether to be impressed or terrified.”

“Both,” Minjeong replied, watching as another rider prepared for her turn. This one seemed calmer, more deliberate. She adjusted her grip on the rope, her broad shoulders tense but composed. Her worn hat shaded her face, but there was a confidence in her movements that drew her attention.

The gate clanged open, and the bull exploded into the arena, twisting and bucking with ferocious power. Minjeong held her breath as the rider held on, her body moving fluidly with the bull’s wild jerks. The seconds ticked by, each one more intense than the last, until the buzzer sounded, signaling the end of the ride.

The crowd roared as the rider dismounted, narrowly avoiding the bull’s horns. She tipped her hat to the cheering spectators, revealing a face rugged and dust-streaked, yet undeniably beautiful.

“That’s Yu Jimin,” Ningning said, leaning closer. “One of the best riders around. And single, by the way.”

Minjeong rolled her eyes, but her gaze lingered on Jimin as she strode confidently out of the arena.

–

Yu Jimin leaned against the wooden fence, wiping the sweat from her brow. The ride had been a good one, but her shoulder throbbed from a close brush with the bull’s horns. She’d grown used to the aches and pains over the years, though she knew they were warnings she couldn’t ignore forever.

“Nice ride, Jimin,” one of the other riders said, clapping her on the back.

Jimin nodded, her mind elsewhere. The ranch weighed heavily on her—her mom’s mounting medical bills, the debt threatening to swallow their land. Bull riding wasn’t just a sport for her; it was a lifeline, albeit a dangerous one.

As she glanced toward the stands, her eyes landed on a pair of women near the top row. One of them waved enthusiastically, but it was the other who caught her attention. She sat quietly, her blonde hair spilling over her shoulders, her posture elegant in a way that stood out among the boisterous crowd.

Jimin didn’t know why, but she couldn’t look away.

“Jimin!” the announcer called, pulling her back to reality. She tipped her hat toward the crowd and turned, but the image of the woman stayed with her.

–

Later that evening, as the crowd thinned and the music from a nearby barn dance began to play, Minjeong found herself wandering near the arena. She’d wanted a break from Ningning’s relentless flirting with the locals, and the quiet outside was a welcome reprieve.

“Enjoy the show?”

The deep voice startled her, and she turned to see Jimin, the bull rider from earlier, standing a few feet away, a small smile playing on her lips.

“It was… interesting,” she replied, suddenly self-conscious.

“Interesting?” she repeated, raising an eyebrow. “Is that a good thing or a bad thing?”

“Good,” she admitted, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “Though I don’t think I could ever do what you do.”

“Most people can’t,” she said with a shrug. “Takes a bit of crazy, I guess.”

Minjeong laughed, and Jimin smiled wider.
“I’m Yu Jimin, by the way,” she said, extending a hand.

“Kim Minjeong,” she replied, shaking it. Her grip was firm, her palm rough from years of work.

“Nice to meet you, Minjeong. So, what brings a city girl to a place like this?”

“Is it that obvious?” she asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Just a little,” she said with a chuckle.

“I’m from New Jersey. My roommate dragged me here. She said I needed some breaks from the stress of art life” the girl sighs.

“Sounds like you need better company,” Jimin said, the corner of her mouth twitching upward.

Minjeong laughed, surprising herself. “And you’re offering?”

She tipped her hat slightly. “If you’re willing.”

Minjeong and Jimin’s conversation had been flowing smoothly, almost effortlessly. Despite their obvious differences, they found themselves laughing at the little absurdities of their lives—her academic world of art history lectures and her high-octane, adrenaline-filled bull riding career. For once, Minjeong wasn’t thinking about her messy breakup or the path she was supposed to be following. She was simply enjoying the present, in this odd, dusty place.

“So, you don’t get scared out there with the bulls?” Minjeong asked, her tone teasing as she watched her. “You’re a lot braver than I thought.”

Jimin gave a slight chuckle, the hint of a mischievous grin forming on her lips. “Oh, I get scared. Trust me. I’ve had a few... close calls.” She tapped her chest with a finger. “But the trick is, you don’t show it. If the bull senses fear, it’ll make sure you feel it. It’s like a game of chicken, but with a thousand-pound animal.”

Minjeong raised an eyebrow. “Sounds like a movie.”

The bull rider leaned back, her expression turning mock serious. “The rodeo: The Real Story. Coming to a theater near you.”

Minjeong laughed, and for a moment, the noise of the crowd and the music from the barn dance faded as she looked at Jimin, something light and easy passing between them. “I think I’ll stick to my history textbooks. Fewer bulls and more... Renaissance art.”

“Well, you’re welcome to join me in the real history class,” Jimin said, her smile widening. “It’s full of heart-stopping action, dangerous animals, and cowboy hats.”

Before Minjeong could respond, a loud, rather uncoordinated giggle pierced the evening air. She turned just in time to see Ningning, a few beers into her evening, stumble toward them with a crooked grin plastered on her face.

“Minjeong!” Ningning announced, slurring the name a bit more than necessary, her voice way too loud for the quiet of the night. “What are you doing here, talking to... her?” She waved her hand toward Jimin dramatically, like she was some sort of celebrity, her movements swaying from side to side. “She’s a rodeo girl! Do you know what that means? It means... it means... bulls, Minjeong! Bulls!”

Jimin’s eyebrow quirked up in amusement, while Minjeong’s cheeks flushed with embarrassment. She opened her mouth to apologize, but Ningning wasn’t done.

“Bulls!” Ningning continued, getting louder. “They’re dangerous. She probably wakes up every morning, chugs a gallon of... I don’t know, bull milk... and gets ready to fight bulls.” She wobbled slightly on her feet, a hiccup following her last word. “Are you sure you’re ready for that, Min? I mean, I love you, but do you really wanna deal with a girl who wrestles with bulls?”

Minjeong gave Jimin a quick, apologetic look, but Jimin only shrugged, her smile never leaving her face.

“Sounds like she’s got me all figured out,” she said, giving a playful glance at Ningning.

Ningning paused for a dramatic moment, squinting at Jimin as though she was analyzing her for some crucial detail. “Oh, I’ve got your number, cowgirl. You're... too much of a woman for her, I think.” She looked at Minjeong like she was giving a sage piece of advice. “Min, remember that time you tried to lift those boxes in the library? You could barely carry your books! And now you want to chase bulls around?”

Jimin chuckled softly. “I think I’ve met my match,” she said, pretending to be alarmed. “But seriously, if I can survive this conversation, I can survive anything.”

Minjeong shot Ningning a warning look, feeling her face grow redder with every passing second. "Ning, I think it's time we—"

“Oh, I’m not done,” Ningning said dramatically, shaking her finger in the air like a wise old sage. “Listen,” she said, leaning in closer to Jimin. “She’s a city girl, okay? She’s all about those... fancy books and fancy... what do you call it, Min? Frappe-eee-no-whatsit coffee?” Ningning’s eyes widened with faux seriousness. “She probably doesn’t even know what a cowboy hat is!”

“Hey, I know what a cowboy hat is,” Minjeong said, trying and failing to keep the grin off her face. “I’m just not sure I’m ready to wear one.”

Ningning winked at Jimin. “Well, you can always teach her... if you’re willing to have a sophisticated lady by your side. The kind who drinks, like, matcha lattes and reads books and knows what a Picasso is!”

Minjeong groaned, placing a hand on her forehead. “Oh my God, Ningning, I can’t believe you.”

Jimin’s grin widened, clearly entertained by Ningning’s antics. “I don’t know, Minjeong,” she said with a teasing tone. “You sound pretty high-maintenance.”

“Oh, I am,” Minjeong said dryly, looking at Ningning, who was now spinning in a circle and giggling to herself. “Totally.”

Ningning nodded approvingly. “See? High-maintenance.”

“I can’t even with you right now,” Minjeong muttered, rolling her eyes. But despite herself, she couldn’t suppress the laugh that bubbled up.

“Don’t worry,” Jimin said, her voice soft but teasing. “I’ve been called worse.”

Ningning, still oblivious to the growing tension of the situation, stumbled over to them and threw an arm around Minjeong’s shoulders. “You know, if you want, I’ll drive you both to the hospital when this wild bull-taming romance goes horribly wrong,” she offered with all the sincerity of a drunk friend.

Minjeong gave her a flat look. “Please stop talking. You’re embarrassing me.”

Ningning gave her a dramatic sigh. “Fine, fine. But I’m still taking full credit if you two get married and have cowboy babies.” She gave Jimin a mischievous wink before wandering off to find another drink.

Minjeong turned back to Jimin, mortified but also amused by the entire exchange. She gave a sheepish smile. “I really am sorry about that. She’s... she’s been drinking.”

Jimin chuckled. “It’s all good. She makes for good entertainment.” She paused for a beat, her eyes softening slightly as she looked at Minjeong. “But seriously, I’d like to get to know you better. When you’re not dealing with your, uh, wild friend, maybe we can grab a coffee sometime?”

Minjeong’s heart gave a little leap, though she tried to keep it casual. “Sure,” she said, a little more confidently now. “That sounds nice.”

Jimin’s eyes lit up as she pulled her phone from her pocket. “Great. Can I get your number?”

Minjeong hesitated for a brief moment, feeling the weight of the situation. But something about the way Jimin was looking at her made her feel like this was a good idea. With a small smile, she handed Jimin her phone.

“Here you go,” she said, trying to ignore the flutter of nerves in her stomach.

As she typed in her number, their fingers brushed lightly. The simple touch sent an unexpected thrill through her.

“Thanks,” Jimin said, giving her a grin that was all charm. “I’ll text you soon, Minjeong. And I’ll try not to bring any bulls to the coffee shop.”

“I’d appreciate that,” she replied with a laugh, the tension easing away as she returned her smile.

As Jimin walked off, Minjeong stood there for a moment, still processing the unexpected turn her evening had taken. She glanced at the empty space where Ningning had wandered off to—likely causing another ruckus—and then at the number on her phone.

Well, that was something, she thought, unable to shake the feeling that this night might just be the start of something... unexpected.