As the car raced through the streets, edging beyond just the legal speed limit, Jimin's heart hammered against her ribcage, with each beat echoing her rising panic. Her mind then, raced with a million scenarios, with each thought getting more and more dire than the last.

"Jimin? Minjeong wouldn't be able to drive you to the audition today"

Jun-woo's words were spiralling through her mind.. unable to go away no matter how much she had tried...

"She was involved in a car accident earlier and had been taken to the hospital. I understand today's audition for you is an absolute must, for both you and the company, so we've organised someone else to take you there instead in the meantime- hello? Jimin-"

The conversation faded into the background as the actress's phone slipped from her grasp, tumbling silently to the floor. In that moment, she felt disconnected from her surroundings, as if her body and mind were drifting apart...

The silence in the car was suffocating... The only interruptions were the occasional expletives from Aeri as she cursed out any driver who dared to impede her progress as she continued to drive towards the only hospital they know Minjeong could be.

"COME ON!" Her friend would yell, slapping the edge of her wheel as she attempted to swerve in front of a dude whom dangerously cut her off.

Aeri typically wouldn't be such a angry driver... but on this occassion with times being so desperate.. she was finding it harder and harder to keep her composure... especially since...

Glancing to her side...

Jimin's face looked completely pale....

Her hands trembled in her lap as her nails dug into her skin, fighting to keep her breathing as even as possible.

"I'm sure she's alright..." Aeri made an attempt to comfort the actress... putting on a strong face as she did "From what you told me, Jun-woo sounded way too nonchalant, for this to be a serious matter, I'm sure we're really just worrying for nothing"

It's funny really...

The way Aeri had said that.

She wanted to sound so assuring...

Yet...

Jimin didn't miss that hint of uncertainty mixed within her voice...

She appreciated the gesture, but right now, nothing was going to rest her heart at ease, until she saw the blonde for herself, safe and sound.

So, without answering, Jimin continued to remain in tense silence as another wave of different scenarios ran through her head. She knew she shouldn't be letting this happen, but her mind was absolutely running wild with potential images of Minjeong's bloody-covered face or body, the fear in her eyes, and the thought of her not being able to wake up.

"Hah-" Jimin's breath hitched as that very imagery became more and more vivid. Burying her head into her hands, the actress did everything in her power to prevent a complete mental breakdown to commence...

"Please... just.. drive faster" She begged... causing Aeri's heart to break along with Jimin's voice.

Without another word, the hostess bit the corner of her lip, her grip on the wheel tightening. Stepping on the accelerator, she hoped that if there were any speed cameras, she would be going fast enough for the pictures to turn out blurry.

⋇⊶⊰❣⊱⊷⋇

As they pulled up to the hospital, Jimin's heart lurched painfully in her chest. She practically leaped out of the car, her legs carrying her swiftly towards the hospital entrance, with Aeri following closely behind. Every step felt like an eternity, her mind spinning with a whirlwind of fears and and potential possibilities...

Daunting ones...

She couldn't lose Minjeong. Not now, not ever. The thought alone was enough to send a shiver down her spine, propelling her forward with a renewed sense of urgency. All she could do now was pray to whatever higher power was listening that Minjeong would be alright.

Cutting through waves of people and potentially even bumping into countless patients, Jimin didn't even stop to think about what to say the moment she made it to the reception.

"Minjeong, where is she? Is she okay? Is she going to be okay? How bad is it?" Those words were completed blurted out without any context... causing the poor nurse behind the desk to furrow her eyebrows in confusion.

"Sorry," Aeri finally catches up and gently pushes Jimin aside. "What my friend is trying to ask here is, we believe earlier this morning, a girl by the name of Kim Minjeong was brought to your hospital due to a car accident. Could you please provide us with her current state of health and let us know if she's going to be okay? Any information would be greatly appreciated."

"Kim Minjeong?" The nurse repeated "Let me have a look."

The girl began tapping away at her computer...

with every stroke of the keyboard, Jimin found it harder and harder to keep still... the horrors of the unknown was absolutely killing her and she really felt like she was about to explode.

"Excuse me, but this is very urgent" The actress finally breaks, unable to hold anything in any longer "Could you please look faster-"

"Jimin," Aeri interjected, gently holding up her hand to signal for her to pause, before lowering her voice to a whisper. "I understand the urgency, but rushing won't help. Let's wait to hear what she says, okay?"

Jimin's chest tightened as she nodded silently, her fingers curling into fists at her side. She forced herself to take slow, steadying breaths, attempting to calm the turmoil of swirls inside her.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the nurse turned back to them, her expression somber. "I'm sorry, but I can't find anyone by the name of Kim Minjeong currently admitted here right now"

Jimin's heart sank, a cold dread settling in the pit of her stomach. "But... there has to be some mistake," she stammered, her voice cracking with desperation. "She was in an accident, she needs help!"

The nurse shook her head sympathetically. "I'm truly sorry, but there really isn't anyone by that name currently admitted here"

Jimin felt like the ground had fallen out from beneath her feet. She exchanged a helpless glance with Aeri, the reality of the situation crashing down on her like a tidal wave. Minjeong was out there somewhere, injured and alone, and they had no idea where to find her.

Aeri squeezed Jimin's shoulder reassuringly, her expression a mirror of Jimin's own worry. "We'll find her," she vowed, her voice firm with determination. "We'll find her, no matter what it takes. Maybe this is the wrong hospital, we must've gotten the wrong address... blondie can't be too far away..."

"Actually-" The two woman's head snaps towards the nurse, the moment she spoke "I can see here, whilst no one is currently admitted... there is a single record here of the woman by the name of Kim Minjeong who had already been discharged."

"Discharged?" Jimin immediately leaned over the desk. "How could that be? t, surely she couldn't have been treated that quickly.. were her injuries that minor?"

"Injuries?" The nurse's confused complexion only made both Jimin and Aeri even more confused by the second. "According to our records, Ms. Kim Minjeong was admitted to the hospital after experiencing a fainting episode in her car. However, there were no indications of any injuries sustained from a car accident. It appears she was found unconscious in her vehicle, and upon examination, it was determined that her fainting spell was likely due to a fever and overexertion. In cases of extreme stress and fever, the body can react in unpredictable ways, sometimes resulting in fainting spells. Ms. Kim received intravenous fluids to address dehydration and was discharged with instructions to rest for a few days. With adequate rest and care, she should recover fully."

Two bubbles above the two woman's head popped at the same time as the nurse's words finally settled in through their skull.

Jimin, although her heart had finally leaped with a flicker of hope... couldn't quite put coherent words into her head to speak... so Aeri broke the silence first.

"Wait so she's been sent home?"

"After regaining consciousness and undergoing a thorough assessment of her vital signs, Ms. Kim was deemed stable and fit for discharge. She was subsequently released from our care and was collected by a companion. Regrettably, I do not have information regarding her current location. However, it is reasonable to presume that she followed the doctor's advice and returned home to recuperate."

"Okay... that's reassuring... thank you for the information," Aeri breathed out, a relieved sigh escaping her lips. She glanced back at Jimin with a small smile, noting the visible relaxation in her posture. It seemed like Jimin was finally able to breathe freely after what felt like an eternity of worry.

"Oh, by the way! I recognize you both! You're Yu Jimin, right?" The nurse suddenly exclaimed, pointing excitedly at Jimin before turning with equal enthusiasm towards Aeri. "And you're Uchinaga Aeri from the Uchinaga show, correct? I'm such a big fan of both of you! I couldn't believe it was really you two, but the more I looked, the more certain I became. Could I please have an autograph from both of you?" The woman grabbed a clipboard without hesitation, seemingly unaware of the important patient information attached to it, and thrust it in front of the actress and hostess, who were left speechless by the sudden request. "Please, sign this!"

⋇⊶⊰❣⊱⊷⋇

"Car accident huh" Aeri chuckled as she drove her car, no longer fighting against the legal speed limit any longer now things were clear "That Jun-woo sure knows how to spin a story, making people worried sick" She shook her head at the thought of how worried they had been initially over nothing.

Jimin sat beside her, head leaned against the window as she breathed out a sigh of relief, the sensation spread through her chest, as she felt the tension drain from her shoulders, allowing them to relax. The knowledge that her manager was safe and not in critical condition, bleeding profusely, or undergoing surgery, was finally information that was able to unwind the knots in her stomach.

"And you were so worried too" The hostess continued to tease her friend, with the aura around them feeling lighter than ever.

"You didn't seem that better yourself." Jimin retaliates in a monotoned and quiter fashion, the initial adrenaline from that whole rush to the hospital had drained her of any argumental and banter energy left.

However, a lingering worry still remained at the back of her mind, despite the reassurances she had received. She needed to see the younger woman herself to confirm Minjeong's wellbeing and completely allow her mind to be at ease. Aeri had agreed to be her designated driver for that particular purpose.

Although Jimin did start slightly regretting that decision once the very girl decided she was going to break the silence with a game of "Time to make fun of Jimin."

"You're right but I wasn't the one with tears in my eyes."

"Oh my god, just shut up and drive already," Jimin finally exclaimed, sitting back up straight to turn to her friend with her complaint. "Ooft!" However, her back immediately thumped against the backrest as Aeri obliged instantly by stepping on the accelerator.

⋇⊶⊰❣⊱⊷⋇

"Did you want me to wait for you?" Aeri opened her window to call out to Jimin who just left her car as she found parking.

"You've done enough driving today, Aeri, I'm happy for you to just leave, don't waste your time on this any further"

"Yep ok, I'm convinced now. I'll wait for you."

"Huh?"

"Well it's not like blondie is going to take you home correct? Unless your diva self is really going to force her-"

"Of course not!"

"Great! So it's settled. Besides, I heard it's not good to keep ordering Ubers. You never know when you're going to meet a bad blood out there, now go and settle things with your blondie already" Aeri reclined her seat and unbuckles her seatbelt. "I need a nap after this morning"

...

...

...

"Hey Aeri..."

"Hmmm?"

"Thank you."

"For what?"

"Everything."

...

Without the another word Jimin turned on her heels and made her ways towards Minjeong's apartment complex... all the while Aeri's stared lingered for a moment... being placed onto the taller as her figure gets smaller and smaller...

"Heh" She chuckled to herself one last time before breaking her gaze and leaning her head back to relax.

"You really have changed Jimin."

⋇⊶⊰❣⊱⊷⋇

Standing in front of what she presumed was Minjeong's door, Jimin took a moment to gather herself. "This should be the right one... I think," she muttered to herself, scanning her memory for any clues from her previous visits to Minjeong's place. Since their last time was amidst a rather meltdown that she hadn't been particular proud of... the actress hadn't had the chance to pay much attention to the exterior of the building, but she vividly recalled a small snowflake sticker above the peephole.

Positioning her knuckles so it was now levelled to her eyes, Jimin prepared to knock when the door suddenly swung open, startling her to take a few steps back in shock.

"Oh-" The woman whom the actress did not recognise on the other end just stared back at her with wide eyes.. her mouth making an O shape as she did... although it was clear to Jimin by that gaze alone she had known exactly who the actress is.

The woman had raven black hair, tied up into a bun. She was wearing a white coat indicating to Jimin that the woman was from some type of medical field...

And if the coat didn't give it away... the name tag that read "Dr Ning Yi Zhuo" Definitely did.

"Oh, sorry I... um..." The actress cleared her throat, noticing they'd been engaged in a silent staring contest for a bit too long. "I'm looking for Minjeong. Is she home?"

"Yes! Yes! She's home!" The doctor beamed... recovering from her slight shocker because one... THE famous A-lister Yu Jimin was standing right in front of her and two, Minjeong's internal love dilemma had just said she was here to visit her. As a friend and a normal fan of dramas and movies in general, how could Ningning not feel a little bit excited? "She's just fallen asleep, but I reckon if you tug at her, she'll wake up just fine.. I'm sure Minjeong will be happy to see you too..."

"is she okay..?"

"She's alright" Ningning lightly chuckled to herself "when I picked her up from the hospital, she insisted she was starving and demanded a stop at McDonald's. We even swung by the drive-through. So, I'd say that's a good sign she's on the road to recovery."

"Typical" The side of Jimin's lips curls up at the imagery of sick Minjeong begging for fast food.

"I'm Ningning by the way, not sure if Minjeong ever mentioned me, I'm a friend of her's from college"

"Jimin" The actress introduced back..

"I know." With a small smile, the doctor stepped aside to give way to the taller woman "Well, don't let me take away anymore of your time, I'm in a rush to get back to work anyway, I still have patients waiting for me"

"General Practitioner?"

"Clinical Psychologist, actually"

"Minjeong has smart friends" The girl's gaze follows Ningning as she made her way out the door whom smiled at her in response.

"I'll leave you to it then. If Minjeong wakes up and asks for gummies or chocolate, just bonk her on the head for me and say no," Ningning joked before bidding her farewell. With that, the two women exchanged polite goodbyes, and Ningning made her way down the stairs of the apartment complex toward the parking area.

As she walked silently by herself and finally confirmed she was alone, the doctor literally let's out the biggest breath she's ever held in her life. "AW man that was nerve-wracking," she exhaled, feeling the tension leave her body. She couldn't believe she managed to maintain her composure in front of the biggest A-list celebrity she had ever encountered in real life... who by the way is wayyy prettier in person than on the big screen.

"Minjeong" Ningning continued to mumble to herself. "You lucky girl, you" chuckling to herself one last time, those small laughter came to a halt the moment her eyes lands on the most expensive car she's ever seen parked within this tiny parking lot.

But it wasn't the extravagant, out of place car that literally made her jaw drop. It was the sight of a woman reclining in the driver's seat with the windows down, her head tilted back, and her eyes closed. And this woman wasn't just anyone.

It was Uchinaga FREAKING Aeri...

"Oh... my.. fucking god....."

Ningning must've won the celebrity jackpot today....

⋇⊶⊰❣⊱⊷⋇

"Minjeong?" Jimin whispered, gently pushing open the door to Minjeong's bedroom. Seeing no immediate response, she tiptoed into the room, careful not to disturb the sleeping figure. There, she found Minjeong deep in slumber, her chest rising and falling with each deep breath.

It looked like a comfortable sleep indeed...

The blonde had her eyes softly shut with strands of bleached hair dangling all over her forehead, whilsts her mouth was half agape... with a small trace of drool at the beginning of it's emergence at the corner of her mouth....

The girl looked like a sleeping mess...

But for some odd reason to Jimin... the very sight had been completely endearing....

She freezes for moment... unsure of what to do... there was a great urge in herself that wanted to wake Minjeong up... and give her a piece of her mind for making her worry so much... another part of her wanted to grab a hold of her and hug her tightly because she's so relieved that Minjeong was here safe and sound...

And the last part of her... just didn't want to disturb Minjeong's peace... wishing to let the girl rest away her illness just that little bit longer...

Without thinking she slowly made her way next to the blonde's bed and kneeled beside her... analysing the sleeping figure... her finger, finding a mind of it's own, decided to make it's way up to the blonde's cheek, before poking it slightly...

Cute...

Trailing from her cheeks, she expands her hand to feel the shorter's forehead into her palm.

Ah-" She almost flinched at how hot it felt underneath her skin.

Shit.. she's burning up...

"hmm"

Jimin quickly retracted her hand, as she watched Minjeong stir in her sleep....

"Minjeong..." Jimin whispered as their gaze met each other's through the blonde's sleepy eyes...

"mmm lucky me.." Her voice crackled with sleepiness as her cheeks were still mush against the pillows... a lazy smile spreading across her face "I even get to see your pretty face in my dreams... hehe... he.he" Her heavy eyelids slowly dragged down until it shut completely...

...

...

...

Until it snapped right back open again as her entire body leaped right back up from her slumber, startling Jimin slightly and like a robot, the blonde's body immediately twist to face the taller. "Jimin!?"

Minjeong blinked at her a couple of times before raising her right hand and slapping her forehead making an audible noise in the process.

I'm not dreaming... she's really here right now..

"Jimin.. what are you- what you doing here?" The girl's eyes slowly widened as she watched Jimin slowly approach closer to her with an unreadable expression on her face.

BONK

"AH-" Th blonde held onto her head with both hands, shielding the area that Jimin had just karate chopped down onto "WHAT WAS THAT FOR!?"

"FOR SCARING THE HELL OUT OF ME MINJEONG"

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN-"

'If you're going to be sick, can you at least do it properly? Call in sick and take the day off to recover, why the hell did I get a call from Jun-woo telling me you were in a freaking car accident, just for me to rush to the hospital to be told you weren't in a crash but just fainted in your car and went home!? Like what kind of situation even is that?"

"You went to the hospital..?" Minjeong was hardly able to register the words that was yapped at her... and her body searing up from her fever was definitely not helping "Jun-woo called you?"

"He made it sound like you were in a brutal crash Minjeong! If you're ill, why in the world did you even attempt to work today!?"

"I didn't know I was going to be this bad okay! And plus you have a busy day ahead.. and I needed to make sure you get there on time... I thought it was just a runny nose at first.. I really didn't know I was going to faint-" Her arms slipped back down from her head. BONK. Only for them to immediately go back up again in defence. "AHH- STOP DOING THAT!"

Jimin's voice thundered with anger "So you knew you were unwell too!? Yet you left the house!? Are you crazy?" Her frustration boiled over as she scolded the shorter woman, her tone tinged with disbelief. "What would have happened if you weren't so lucky, huh? What if you hadn't fainted while the car was idle? What if it had happened while you were driving?" Jimin's arms dropped in exasperation, her anger rising through the roof at this point. But beneath the surface-level of fury, there was a flicker of something softer—an unmistakable concern for Minjeong that fueled her outburst "What would have happened if you actually ended up in an accident... can you even imagine how worried I was.. could you?" Her voice softened, the intensity of her anger simmering down giving way to something more vulnerable as a hint of a crack echoed in her voice.

"Jimin.. I- I-" The blonde's eyes suddenly widened, realization dawning upon her as she remembered just how much of an important today was meant to be for Jimin. She was meant to auditon for the next biggest film anticipated since the last blockbuster "Wait- did you.. come straight here from the hospital??"

"Of course I did!"

"And you did nothing else?"

"No! Why are you even asking? How could I do anything else when I thought something had happened to you!?"

"I'm.... I'm sorry.."

"You freaking should be Minjeong" But the intense fire in Jimin's eyes couldn't stay any longer... not as she realised the shift in Minjeong's demeanour immediately...

Minjeong's voice wavered, her eyes filled with remorse as she looked down, unable to meet Jimin's gaze. "I'm sorry..." She repeated... Her words came out in a soft whisper, barely audible in the tense silence between them.

The fire that was fusing on top of her head burnt out instantly as she continued to stare at the blonde.... not liking the sudden glumness she was alluding....

The blonde just looked so sad...

"You..." Minjeong hesitated, her throat tightening with guilt. "You missed the audition because of me... this was the one everyone had anticipated for you for so long too... especially after your previous international success... everyone at the company had so much hope for this movie.. yet- yet you missed it... all because I was freaking sick" Her shoulders slumped as if the weight of her regret was physically pushing her down.

"Audition?" Jimin's mind raced to recall the forgotten event, but amidst the chaos of the day – Aeri's intervention, Jun-woo's troubling call, and the frantic rush to the hospital – that very schedule had honestly completely slipped from her memory entirely with Minjeong being the only thing that it was filled to the brim with.

"I was meant to drive you there... I was supposed to get there on time .. but I couldn't even do something as simple as that I- I'm sorry" Minjeong's voice quivered as her eyes turned glossy....

And Jimin... to put quite simply... felt absolutely flabbergasted... she couldn't fathom why the blonde was blaming herself over something that wasn't even her fault.. she was literally getting emotional to the point of tears because she couldn't make the drive on time....when no one controls when they get sick...yet here she is.. apologizing profusely as if it were her fault. But what was she even apologizing for?

Like was it a fever haze that was making Minjeong talk in such a manner?

"I'm stupid... so, so stupid," Minjeong lamented, her voice still filled heavily with self-blame. "If only I had just driven to you straight away... then none of this would have happened."

"Hey.. Minjeong.. what are you talking about? Don't speak like that.." Jimin quickly grabbed a tissue and reached out to tenderly wipe away a tear forming at the corner of Minjeong's eye. "Don't apologize for being sick. You couldn't have predicted this."

"It's not about being sick.. it's about the promises I made to you"

Minjeong's response caught Jimin off guard... her hands had come to a complete stop as her heart skipped a beat processing what Minjeong had said... "Promises?" she echoed softly, her gaze locked with Minjeong's, searching for some form of clarity within those misty eyes.

"You were being so distant lately.. I didn't know what to do..." her voice wavered as she poured out her heart, her fingers clenching onto the sheets below her with a mixture of frustration and vulnerability" I know you're dealing with your own personal things... and need space... but I don't know... things just feel different now... and it was starting to scare me.. I was scared that I was losing you... but more importantly I was scared these days.. you were probably feeling sad.. or alone... but I didn't know how to be there for you... I wanted to make you happy somehow.. even if it meant cheering you up just a little bit and I know today's a big audition for you.. so I went down to the convenient store to grab you some jelly and twisties to surprise you before I drive you in.. but then... I couldn't even make it out of the driveway... I'm sorry Jimin, I really didn't know I was sick like this, I really did just think this was just going to be a stuffy nose and it would've all run over after this morning... I-" Her words just continued to tumble out of her in a rush.... causing her to bury her head into her hands... feeling embarrassed that she couldn't even keep her composure in front of the older....

"I'm just so sorry.. I promised to drive you... I promised I would, but I couldn't even be there today on one of your most important days too..."

Promise....

***

"That's what family is for. We will always be here for you. I will always be here for you.... I promise"

"I promised your mother I would be devoted to her as her husband, and I promise you, as your father, I will always be there for you as your father figure. "

***

" I promised to make you happy.. I promised to always be there.." Minjeong continued to ramble on... her mouth now seemingly having a mind of its own... and her words beginning to crack as she visually shook in regret... "But I couldn't even be there for you in the most dire of times... you- Her eyes went dark..."You must be so disappointed in me.."

As if nothing there was nothing else in the world she was more afraid of than that...

And seeing that....

Jimin could do nothing... but just continue to stare as her pupils began to wobble on their own as well... with her mind playing a series of flashes of memories that she had wished to forgot for a long time now...

Promises... right.... she had heard promises many times in the past....

And throughout her life if Jimin had learnt a very important lesson about promises...

They were nothing more than an elegant deception, a pretty lie, adorned with the shimmering veneer of hope... yet beneath that facade... laid a treacherous path, one that had inevitably only paved the way to one path... and one path only...

Despair

Because any promise that had ever been said to her had always been a lie... no one... no one had ever cared about how those lies would affect her... no one cared just how much it hurts to have such a pretty lie be told to her.. just to have the truth unveil itself.

Lies...

They were all just lies.

A false narrative that were all made up in the moment....

They never meant anything more to Jimin..

They couldn't...

So why is it right now...

If promises were just pretty lies....

Why is Minjeong acting so remorseful ?

Why was she apologising so much..?

Why is she crying...

All because she couldn't keep a promise.... A pretty lie that was never meant to be kept...

"I'm sorry Jimin.. I'm just so sorry... I really just wanted to make you happy... I really-"

"Shut up."

"Huh-" Minjeong voices hitches as the taller suddenly lunges forward to hold onto either side of the girl's shoulder's tightly. The taller's own head was lowered making it difficult for the blonde to make out her expression as a result.... but nevertheless the sudden closeness still did wonders in keeping the blonde speechless.

"Idiot..." Jimin's words mumbled...

"What..?"

"You're an Idiot! Kim Minjeong!" She finally snapped her head back up, revealing a stream of tears that were trailing down her own cheeks "Idiot Idiot Idiot!" Jimin continued to yell at Minjeong...

"Jimin..."

"You're such an idiot! Do you have any idea how worried I was about you? Minjeong, you have a 40-degree fever, and it's clearly frying your brain. You shouldn't be pushing through it; you should have been happy to call in sick and take the day off. You should have forgotten about today and taken your time to recover. How can someone ignore all the signs their body is screaming at them and willingly push through it just for someone else's sake? I don't get it. You're sick... you were sick... but here you are apologizing to me... apologizing because you couldn't drive me... because you couldn't buy me snacks to make me happy? When you fainted because of how sick you were... How much of an idiot can you be?"

"Stop calling me that!"

"No! Because it's true. You're an idiot, Minjeong!... especially because," Jimin's voice was thick with red hot anger as she leaned in closer to Minjeong's face, her words delivered with a mixture of frustration, relief and... affection. "You have no idea how happy you make me already!"

Who cares about some stupid audition...

Who cares about the industry...

Who even cares if she was going to get scolded for missing the biggest audition she was meant to participate this year...

It didn't matter at all...

no...

because all that mattered to Jimin, in this instance... was Minjeong...

In the blonde....

Maybe... just maybe she finally realised it now...

Yu Jimin would be a fool.. to continue to push her away... a mindless and blind nitwit to not see... just how pathetic Kim Minjeong really is...

A pathetic, selfless, genuine, kind-hearted loser who wouldn't hesitate to prioritize others over herself, even if it meant sacrificing her own well-being to the point of exhaustion.

"Idiot.."

With a sudden surge of boldness, Jimin desperately closed the remaining distance between them, her heart pounding in her chest as she leaned in... tears scattered around her like tiny gems... as the whole heat of the moment finally propelled her forward...

No longer afraid...

No longer held back by a possibility of a curse... or pulled down by a constant shadow...

Promises...

If there was one promise she wanted to make to herself then and there...

It was Kim Minjeong.

In that moment, with her heart on the verge of bursting, Jimin silenced her mind's doubts and fears, choosing instead to listen to the one thing she had ignored for far too long:

Her heart

With a gentle touch, Jimin cupped Minjeong's cheeks, drawing her closer with a tender touch. As their lips met in a sudden kiss, Minjeong's eyes flew open in wide-eyed surprise, her breath catching in her throat at the unexpected but electrifying contact.

In that fleeting moment, time seemed to stand still as Jimin's arms enveloped her in a tight embrace, pulling her closer with an intensity that sent a thrill down Minjeong's spine.

Every sensation felt heightened, every touch more meaningful. The softness of Jimin's lips against hers, her uneven breaths caressing her skin, and the tightness of her hold—all combined to ignite a fire within Minjeong. Her body heated up immensely, and she had a strong intuition that it wasn't solely her fever at play.

She wanted to pinch herself, convinced that she was still in a fever-induced haze, imagining the whole scenario. Yet, as she found herself sinking further into the warmth of Jimin's arms, a realization dawned upon her with unmistakable clarity: this was no mere figment of her imagination.

Jimin was really kissing her....

Yu Jimin...

The woman who had been occupying Minjeong's thoughts for the longest time... was kissing her.... HER...

Eyes fluttering closed, Minjeong surrendered to the moment, releasing all her initial hesitation. She allowed Jimin to envelop her senses completely as their kiss took a turn further and became more passionate... losing herself in the intensity of the moment with her own arms now instinctively making it's own way up to grasp the taller's head to desperately pull her closer....

Never realising until this moment...

just how badly she had yearned for this sudden contact until now....

And boy... now that she's had a taste of that very touch... was it going to be hard for her to give it all up now...