Jimin was right about this list. It looks never-ending.

When they get back, Taecyeon is outside trimming the hedges while Jessica and Grandma fix up the garden and it's like all systems go. Once again, her mom has gone a little overboard with the theme and now there are little Easter bunny statues in the yard along with giant decorative Easter eggs.

Jimin shakes her head as she and Minjeong pull up.

"Oh it's so pretty," Minjeong admires. She waves to Jimin's family as she hops out of the car while Jimin follows after her.

"Hey girls!" Taecyeon waves.

Jimin and Minjeong wave in return as they go up the walkway past Jessica and Grandma. They're on their hands and knees planting red tulips along the sidewalk.

"Aren't those supposed to come back like every year or something?" Jimin asks. "Where's the ones from last time?"

"They should but you can never have too many flowers," Grandma notes. "Makes the yard look nice."

"I agree! It looks really great," Minjeong compliments with a smile.

Jimin glances to her side and thinks suck up but it's more playful than anything else.

"Well, we're going to go in and check on the cascarones," Jimin tells Jessica and Grandma.

"Okay good," Jessica answers as she sits back on her heels. "I brought in some of those plastic eggs too from the garage. If you girls can fill them with the candies I have in the kitchen, that would be very helpful."

"You got it!" Minjeong replies happily.

"Wonderful," Jessica smiles before looking to Jimin. She doesn't say anything, but Jimin feels like that long awaited acceptance is just on the tip of her tongue, she just needs to spit it out already!

─

"I really need to ask how many people my mom is expecting tomorrow," Jimin deadpans as she and Minjeong stand before a huge tub of empty plastic eggshells. She notes the amount the tub contains and cringes. "Seriously...this woman is nuts."

"I think it's cool she wants to include everyone," Minjeong shrugs. "I needed someone like her in the neighborhood I grew up in. Everyone was boring and old and no one ever put on an Easter egg hunt."

"I guess," Jimin relents with a sigh. "Well, let's get started. The other shells aren't quite dry yet but after this, I'm sure they will be."

So Jimin and Minjeong set off with their next task. It doesn't take them long before they create a system that enables them to move as fast as they can. They're cracking eggs and popping in single pieces of candy before closing them up and setting them aside. They make a game out of who can do the most in a minute and they keep going until the tub is empty.

The score is all tied up, but Jimin swears Minjeong cheated. Minjeong only giggles and calls her a sore loser before they go back to finish off the cascarones.

"So here's the bowl of confetti," Jimin instructs. "You just pour some into the shell then put them back in the tray. We'll glue and tissue paper them when they're all filled."

Minjeong nods and they both set off to work on their final task for the day.

By then, Jessica and Grandma have moved into the kitchen to finish off prepping food for tomorrow while Taecyeon has been tasked with setting up the back deck for the party. There's music playing in the living room and it fills the house with lively energy. It reminds Jimin of her childhood, of running around playing tag with her cousins and stealing treats from the kitchen counter while the adults worked.

It reminds her of simpler times, back when all that mattered was who had the biggest pile of candy at the end of the egg hunt. Now, it's all about impressions and appearances, and acceptance. It's about who's Jimin dating now? And will she ever settle down? And you know that kind of reputation isn't good for business?

It's all about the talks and the looks and that feeling of always being...unworthy.

But as Jimin glances up and finds Minjeong standing there across from her, she softens. There isn't a care in the world; there's no malice, no bitterness – there's just a smile on Minjeong's face and it's all for her.

"Isn't this one cute?" Minjeong asks as she holds up a brightly colored shell.

Jimin admires the egg then shifts her gaze to Minjeong, "Very cute." (a/n - shes so down bad omg)

Minjeong's grin widens, happy with Jimin's answer as she goes to fill it with confetti. Jimin only watches, concentration etched in Minjeong's features but still that ever-glowing smile gracing her lips.

Seeing it makes Jimin wonder; would it be so bad if she were to lean over and kiss her right now? It would take her by surprise – sure, but would Minjeong complain? Would she mind it at all?

Jimin doesn't think she would, but she also doesn't try her luck either.

─

"Oh! I completely forgot," Jessica says as she comes wandering into Jimin and Minjeong's quiet bubble. There's a pack of what looks like sunflower seeds in her hand, "My friend Maria, suggested I use bird feed this year for the cascarones. Easy clean up and it's eco-friendly."

"Mom," Jimin sighs. "We're nearly done already and you're telling us this now?"

"Don't you care about the environment?"

"I don't know, does the environment care about me?" Jessica tuts at her while Minjeong only giggles.

"It's okay. We haven't sealed them up so we can still sprinkle the seeds in?" Minjeong offers. "Or we can just do the rest with seeds? I think there's like three trays left?"

"See, optimistic and a problem solver. Thank you," Jessica compliments in Minjeong's direction. "That's what I like to see."

"And that's why I call Minjeong my better half," Jimin jokes. "But seriously, think about this. If you feed them, they will come and they will stay. The yard is gonna get covered in disgusting bird shit. Do you want that? Do you want bird shit all over your yard?"

"Say shit to your mother one more time," Jessica warns.

Jimin quickly softens, "I'm just saying. Think of the roses. For all we know, Maria is just trying to sabotage you so she can claim prettiest yard on the block or whatever it's called."

"Huh," Jessica falters. "You're right. After things fell through between you and poor Francesca, she has been acting a little different."

At the mention of the girl, Jimin stiffens and Minjeong instantly notices. "Who's Francesca?" She asks.

Jessica glances guiltily to Jimin and Jimin glares right back.

"What was that? You need me, Mom?" Jessica suddenly calls out to exactly no one. "Sorry, Grandma's calling. She might've fallen or something, I'll go. You stay."

Jimin's jaw drops as Jessica swiftly makes her exit leaving Minjeong staring at her with a playfully curious look in her eye.

"Jimin...what'd you do to poor Francesca?" Minjeong teases. "You break her heart too?"

Jimin scoffs, "I did nothing of the sort."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, I'm sure," Jimin grumbles. "I don't know what she's talking about. I didn't even ask to go on that date so whatever happened after is really not my fault."

"Ah," Minjeong averts her attention to the table. "Bad date?"

"More like a blind date."

"Oh, she was blind."

"What?" Jimin looks up to find Minjeong looking back at her innocently. "No, no she wasn't blind. The date was blind like I was set up with someone I didn't know?"

"Oh!" Minjeong blushes, "Right. People still do that?"

"Apparently," Jimin feels slightly embarrassed about it.

She hoped details from that time of her life would never ever resurface again, because of how mortifying it was but leave it to Jessica to go digging things up. Even worse, digging things up in front of Minjeong.

"It was before you happened– obviously," Jimin adds. "My mom tried her hand at matchmaking. She set me up with her friend's daughter, it didn't work out."

"Why not?"

Jimin lets out a nervous laugh, "I don't know? It just didn't. I mean, Francesca was hot and smart and– "

"Impressive?" Minjeong supplies with a smirk.

"Yeah," Jimin rolls her eyes at the jab. "But it also felt forced."

"So you rather date someone you hate," Minjeong whispers so only they can hear. "Than try for something real with her?"

"I rather choose who I want to be with on my own," Jimin corrects her. "I rather have control over my life than to have someone else making decisions for me. I don't need people arranging dates because they don't approve of my love life."

Minjeong nods and Jimin expects her to ask more questions, but she doesn't. Jimin watches and waits but Minjeong only concentrates on filling the last of the cascarones. After a while, Jimin moves on too but there's just one thing she wants to get straight before the moment passes.

"For the record," Jimin mentions softly. "I don't hate you. Maybe a strong dislike at certain times, but...never hate."

Minjeong glances up at her, taking in the words with a quiet nod, before a small smile appears. It's the biggest relief and it's all Jimin needs to see before they fully move on.

─

Later that night, Jimin and Minjeong tiredly make their way upstairs. It's been a long day of errands and chores and preparations; now all they want is to head to bed and get as much rest as possible. It feels like the trip thus far has been building up for tomorrow and Jimin can't say that she's mentally prepared for it yet.

She just imagines the kind of packed house it was on New Year's Eve plus a million kids and it's like a recipe for a killer headache. But she knows she needs this for her and Minjeong. She's closing in on making her point, she can feel it in her bones.

"You can use the bathroom first this time," Minjeong offers as she heads to the closet for her bedding.

"I was already going for it," Jimin jokes with her pajamas in hand.

Minjeong chuckles at her eagerness for bed and gets to work making her own on the floor.

Jimin doesn't waste time either; unlike the night before, she's quick about washing her face and getting her teeth brushed before changing her clothes. She gets it done in record time and is back in the room before Minjeong can even reach for her own pajamas.

"Oh. That was qui—"

Minjeong's interrupted by a knock at their door followed by Jessica's voice.

"Girls?"

Jimin's eyes widen and she glances down at Minjeong's pile of blankets on the floor. They both know what to do before they even say anything.

"One sec!" Jimin calls out before she and Minjeong scramble to throw the makeshift bed back into the closet.

They're bumping into each other and blankets and pillows and sheets are flying as they quickly try to hide the evidence that they actually sleep separately.

"See, if you weren't so stubborn we wouldn't be doing this," Jimin chastises in a hushed whisper. "If you would just give up on this thing about sharing a bed with me then–"

"Well if you weren't so," Minjeong falters. "So handsy then maybe it could be an option."

"Handsy? Me?" Jimin lets out a quiet laugh.

"I don't know what's so funny. It's true!"

"Speak for yourself, Minjeong. You're the one that wanted all up on this the other night."

"Like you didn't want the same!"

"I've got self-control, thank you very much."

This time Minjeong lets out a laugh. They're inches away from each other, noses nearly touching as they both glare at one another. There's not much bite to their words, Jimin's definitely pulling her punches this time but there's a noticeable tension that's for sure.

"Bullshit," Minjeong accuses.

"Bullshit?"

"Yeah," Minjeong whispers. "You're full of it."

Jimin scoffs at that, matching Minjeong's devious smirk.

"You should know by now that I can play," Jimin leans in just a little closer and her eyes bounce from Minjeong's lips to meet her gaze. "I can play all day and that's only because I've got self-control. If I didn't, that night would've ended much differently."

"Oh yeah?"

"Yeah."

"Girls?" Jessica calls out again breaking the two from their staring contest.

"Come in!" Jimin replies sweetly before they rush to act natural.

"Sorry, I know you're getting ready for bed," Jessica apologizes as she glances to the two. "I was just wondering if you want to come to the Sunrise Service? Grandma and I will be going. Minjeong, you can come too if you'd like?"

Minjeong glances to Jimin but the girl is already shaking her head. Church is the last thing on her mind right now and there's no way she'd be up at the crack of dawn for all that. No offense to the Big Guy upstairs.

"I can't do a Sunrise Service," Jimin tells her. "That's way too early for me and I don't want to be grumpy on Easter."

"Are you sure?"

"Very," Jimin nods before glancing to Minjeong. A sweet smile on her lips but there's nothing truly sweet about it, "Unless Minjeong, do you want to go?"

Minjeong falters for the first time under the spotlight, but she recovers quickly.

"No, I don't think I can get up that early either," Minjeong replies with an apologetic smile. "Thank you for the offer though."

"That's okay," Jessica bows her head and bids them one last goodnight.

Once she goes, Jimin and Minjeong are left staring at each other. Jessica's interruption relieved most of the tension from before, but that kind of tension – although they were arguing, it wasn't like their usual kind. No, this kind came from a very different place.

A place that's been a lot more active since Johnny's party.

But still, Jimin feels a little bad for taking it there. Judging by the look on Minjeong's face, she feels the same.

"I'm sorry," Jimin apologizes first.

"Me too," Minjeong replies. "I don't know where that came from. We don't do that anymore."

"I don't know either," Jimin shrugs. "Maybe we're just tired?"

"Maybe."

"Go get changed," Jimin says. "I can fix your bed for you."

"Okay," Minjeong smiles. "Thanks."

Jimin only nods as she goes to her closet for the bundle of blankets and sheets without another word.

─

The next day, the Easter festivities are in full swing within a blink of an eye. It was like one minute, the house was calm and peaceful, and then the next it was packed with her aunts and uncles and cousins toting even more food than Jessica and Grandma already prepared.

Jimin was right about the kids too; it's like everywhere she goes they're there, trying to wipe their snotty noses on her very expensive dress. Thank God for the Easter egg hunt though, she's able to finally breathe again while they were all confined to the backyard.

Minjeong does a better job than her, naturally. She doesn't actually mind the kids as much. In fact, the kids love her. They love how playful she is and how she entertains all their curious questions and she's always down to run around with them.

Once again, Minjeong is a damn pro.

Jimin can only stare at her in awe from the deck while Minjeong runs around the yard with some of Jimin's younger cousins trailing behind her. How the hell does she do it? How the hell does she make everything look so easy? How the hell is she so perfect?

Jimin can hear her laughter from where she stands and like always, it's infectious.

"Heart-eyes much?"

Jimin instantly frowns as she turns to find Yunjin smirking, but before she can even say anything – Yunjin's smacking her hand atop Jimin's head, squealing in delight as she's covered in confetti.

Jimin's quick though, she's kept a pile of cascarones on the table she leans against and reaches for one with the reflexes of a viper. Soon, Yunjin matches her with eggshells and confetti all up in her hair.

"I thought I could catch you by surprise this time," Yunjin pouts.

"Maybe next year," Jimin jokes when she notices that there's a plastic egg in her other hand.

"Those are for the kids," Jimin points out.

"Uh, I found this fair and square."

Jimin gives her a look before snatching it out of her hand.

"Hey!" Yunjin pouts.

Jimin doesn't falter, just throws the egg into the nearest bush for a kid to find later.

"Rude. I think that one had money in it," Yunjin grumbles but her grumpiness doesn't last long and soon a smile is back. "Hey, did you get my invite?"

Jimin laughs as she brushes off eggshells from her hair, "You mean your butterfly torture cage? Yeah, I got it."

Yunjin's unfazed, "It was so cute, right?"

"I guess," Jimin shrugs with another laugh. "Jaemin liked the chocolates."

"I got the good stuff," Yunjin winks. "Cost a fortune but Bruce didn't mind."

"Probably too stoned to noticed," Jimin jokes.

Yunjin wonders and nods, "Yeah. Probably."

Jimin snorts and continues to watch Minjeong play, a soft smile on her lips.

"So I see you two are still together," Yunjin notes. "What's this, your longest relationship yet?"

"Something like that."

"Congrats," Yunjin says genuinely as she comes to stand next to Jimin.

They both linger there a moment, watching as Minjeong helps the younger kids look for hidden eggs. For as tall as she is, she crouches down in an attempt to get on their level while she holds their basket. She hunts with them with the same kind of enthusiasm and cheers excitedly all the same when they strike gold.

Jimin finds herself smiling at the sight of it.

"So, you bit by the baby bug yet?" Yunjin asks.

"What? Fuck no!" Jimin laughs and the question is enough for her to turn her back on the scene completely. "What's the matter with you?"

Yunjin only chuckles as she takes another bite of her twizzler, "Just asking."

"Well don't," Jimin cringes. "It's weird. We've only been together for a few months. I'm still in college, I can't think about that kind of stuff. I still have a life to live!"

"What are you worked up about now?" Jessica jokes as she comes to stand between the two. For once, Jimin's thankful for this interruption.

"I was just asking if Jimin wanted to have Minjeong's babies," Yunjin says casually.

Jimin's jaw drops; she could kill this girl!

"Or vice versa," Yunjin amends when she sees the look. "Whatever. Your body, your choice."

Jessica eyes the two and laughs, "Yunjin honey, would you mind grabbing my drink? It's on the kitchen counter."

"Sure thing," Yunjin grins and happily fucks off.

Jimin's shoulder drops a little as soon as she's gone before looking to Jessica in thanks.

"I know," Jessica chuckles. "Your cousin is a little crazy."

"Yeah. We were not even talking about that," Jimin clarifies. "We were just...we were talking about how long Minjeong and I have been together."

"Ah yes," Jessica nods and starts to smirk. "Must be a new record."

Jimin sighs, "That seems to be what everyone thinks."

"Can't really blame them though."

"I guess," Jimin lets out a breath before she turns on the optimism. "I told you though, I was just looking for the right person. Now look, even Grandma is all about us."

"Well once she found out Minjeong has been learning Korean just so they can talk about kdramas, that just about did it for her," Jessica explains with a laugh. "Grandma loves you two together. She's always on the lookout for a new picture of you two on Instagram."

Jimin can only grin but as she looks up again to watch Minjeong play, she finds that the blonde has all but disappeared. Jimin figures she's climbed a tree or something, egged on by the kids in attempt to find more Easter eggs.

What she doesn't expect is for Minjeong to have crept up behind her.

"Got you!" Minjeong cheers as she crumbles an egg atop Jimin's head. Unlike Yunjin, who aimed to concuss Jimin – Minjeong's a lot more delicate but Jimin's covered in confetti again just the same.

"Minjeong, you got it all in my tits!" Jimin scolds but her laughs soften the blow of it.

"Sorry! I didn't account for the breeze affecting the trajectory," Minjeong giggles as she comes in close to help. "Let me try – again!"

Another egg is cracked over Jimin and Minjeong bounces happily in her spot at how perfect that attempt was. Jimin's hair is covered in colorful confetti and although she wants to frown, she just can't without how pleased Minjeong is of herself.

Jessica throws her head back and laughs too, reaching over to high five Minjeong as the blonde comes around with a great big smile on her face.

"Two-timed by my own mother," Jimin gasps. "The betrayal!"

"It's all out of love," Jessica teases with a pinch to Jimin's cheek.

Jimin only narrows her eyes before directing her gaze to Minjeong who now attempts to brush off the tops of her boobs. If her mom wasn't right there, Jimin would be making all kinds of inappropriate jokes.

"The confetti really brings out your eyes," Minjeong flirts.

"How would you know?" Jimin fires back. "Your eyes aren't up here."

Minjeong gasps at the quip and looks up, "I just want to make sure you're properly taken care of. Eggshell in the bra doesn't sound like a good time to me."

"Uh-huh. I swear, if that was one with seeds in it, I'm out of here," Jimin warns jokingly. "I am not trying to be a human birdfeeder. Those things scare me."

"Birdfeeders?"

"No, birds."

With Minjeong mildly distracted with cleaning up her mess and Jimin's cleavage, Jimin's able to reach around to her pile of cascarones without anyone noticing. With quick hands, she retrieves two and soon Minjeong and Jessica's heads are covered in confetti and shells.

"Hey!" Minjeong laughs as a shower of confetti rains down on her. "You distracted me!"

"That's karma, baby," Jimin smirks.

Minjeong narrows her eyes, "Okay. Game on. I'll be back, when you least expect it!"

Jimin's brows rise at the playful threat but before she can give a warning of her own, Minjeong's pressing a kiss to her lips and it's like Jimin's momentarily stunned. She thinks that must be Minjeong's goal because while Jimin stands there in a daze, Minjeong runs off again to join the kids in the hunt.

"I can't believe her," Jimin chuckles as she tries getting confetti out of her dress.

"She's a wonderful girl, your Minjeong," Jessica notes with a smirk. "I was beginning to lose hope that you'd find someone like her; someone you gel with, someone who balances you out. I'm so happy for you."

Jimin pauses her efforts as she looks to Jessica.

Is this it? Is this the moment she's been waiting for? Is this when Jessica finally announces her acceptance and dubs Jimin worthy of a seat beside her?

"I know right?" Yunjin adds her two cents once again. "They're so cute together."

Jimin slumps; guess she won't be finding out today with Yunjin around! Jimin can't even roll her eyes at her cousin's reappearance though.

Instead, she only thinks of Minjeong and how lucky she is that someone like her was so willing and able to go along with this plan. And yeah, the start was a little rocky but they figured it out. They're no longer enemies, nor are they rivals or even acquaintances – they're much more than that. They're—

"In love always," Yunjin coos.

Jimin snaps out of it and glances around, "Huh?"

Jessica and Yunjin don't seem to hear her though. Instead, they carry on their own conversation as if Jimin isn't there.

"Do you see the way they look at each other? It's adorable!"

"Yes, it is. I know that look too. I've been fortunate enough to have seen it twice. With Jimin's father and Taecyeon."

"Awh, stop it! Bruce's given me that look too. That's when I knew, you know?"

"Oh, I know."

"Wait. What look?" Jimin tries again.

"Honestly, I never thought I'd see the day," Jessica confirms with a smile in Jimin's direction. "I haven't seen my girl this smitten before, but I can see why."

"Minjeong's so lovely! Maybe she's the one?"

"Maybe?"

Jimin's eyes widen, "The what?"

It's the first time they glance at her, appearing to have finally heard Jimin, but they don't exactly say anything. They just stare at her with these knowing looks that make Jimin's stomach churn. Suddenly, she would much rather be anywhere else but between them.

"The one," Yunjin repeats like it's obvious. "You and her, you're like perfect for each other."

Jessica nods in agreeance, "She brings the best out in you. You don't come across that very often."

"Apparently you came across it twice," Jimin rebuts in an attempt to take the focus off of her.

Jessica doesn't take the bait, "That's because I was lucky."

"You can just tell how you feel about her," Yunjin adds. "It's written all over your face."

Jimin's palms start to sweat.

"What you have with Minjeong, it's lucky too," Jessica continues. "It seems serious, lasting."

Next, Jimin gulps – the word lasting has the hairs on the back of her neck standing on end.

"It has to be, especially if Grandma loves her," Yunjin adds jokingly. "Grandma doesn't like anyone!"

"She's very particular now," Jessica chuckles. "Especially when it comes to Jimin. I just hope that you're conscious of that. You don't go playing with people's hearts unless you're ready for the misery that follows."

Jimin looks between the two, her heart rate spiking, but she tries to keep her cool despite a reply being stuck somewhere in her throat.

"You'll have to bring Minjeong to the wedding," Yunjin tells Jimin on a much brighter note. "It's a given that she's invited but also no randoms allowed considering you're a bridesmaid so don't go breaking up any time soon. Oh, by the way – do you want to be a bridesmaid?"

"Oh, a bridesmaid?" Jessica gasps at the offer. "Yunjin, how lovely! Jimin, what do you say?"

Jimin feels as though she's just had whiplash and when they both turn to her with such adoration and anticipation, Jimin doesn't know what to do.

She looks to Minjeong for help, but she's too far away – too busy with the children to notice her flailing. Too distracted to see that Yunjin and Jessica have effortlessly pinpointed Jimin's dirty little secret without realizing but it's not their secret, the one that would blow up the whole illusion of their fraud of a relationship, the one that would expose them.

No, they've pinpointed Jimin's– the secret that would expose her.

And maybe it's best that she's alone on this one now, because untangling their web of lies is one thing but working together to untangle hers? That might be even worse.

It's something only Jimin can do.

And yet, she's flailing.

It would be easy to go along with Yunjin and Jessica because fooling them into thinking she and Minjeong are this perfect was part of the plan, but Jimin didn't expect that part of the plan also included pointing out her feelings. Feelings that weren't supposed to be real, but suddenly...they are?

No. That wasn't part of the plan at all.

What makes it worse is that they're telling her how and what she should feel; it's like she's see-through because they're spot on and it's terrifying. It's all so confusing because everything's a lie and they fell for it hook, line and sinker and that's supposed to be a good thing. That's supposed to be a great thing – but Jimin didn't account for also falling victim to their deception.

She didn't account for actually catching feelings for Minjeong.

And that's the first time she lets herself admit the truth.

She has feelings for Minjeong – like real feelings for her – and now she's fucked.

She feels like the walls are closing in, trapping her in a lie within a lie. Again with the talks and the looks and the truth. Jimin's losing her handle on everything and that wasn't the plan – it wasn't her plan!

It makes Jimin feel sick.

Actually, she is going to be sick.

"I've gotta – I gotta go," Jimin quickly pushes off the two and makes a run for it.

Jimin doesn't give them or Minjeong a second glance as she bolts inside. She doesn't stop running until she's in her room with the door closed firmly behind her.

____

SHE IS IN LOVE YOUR HONOR!!!

hope you guys enjoyed! upvote and comment for faster update! <3 really appreciate it if you does! <3 let me know if there's any mistake!