When Jimin wakes the next morning, she's aware of two things: everything aches and she forgot to switch her phone to silent. Thankfully, her ringtone isn't up to full blast but that doesn't keep her from wanting to curse out whoever dares to call her at this hour. She's not even sure what hour it is, but it sure as hell isn't time for—

"Jimin...your phone," Minjeong mumbles sleepily.

Jimin freezes as Minjeong curls into her side, a mess of blonde hair hiding her face. Beneath the sheets, their naked limbs tangle together and Jimin can't help but pause to appreciate how nice it feels. The arm around her waist tightens and Jimin holds her breath, afraid that if she moves then Minjeong will roll away and their happy little bubble will pop.

The person calling is persistent though and even worse, they're a risk to waking Minjeong. So gently, Jimin reaches for her phone in attempt to decline the call but her grogginess has different ideas.

"Shit," Jimin curses when she accidentally hits accept. At least it isn't her mom this time though, with the current position she's got herself in – that's the last thing she wants to deal with as she brings the phone to her ear.

"Hey cousin, got a sec?" Yunjin greets happily.

Jimin sighs and looks to Minjeong. She doesn't want to wake her so she tries to keep her voice low as she answers, "Not really, Yunjin. You know what time it is?"

"Of course not, you know I never learned. I have Siri for that."

Jimin rolls her eyes, "Well, it's early so we're going to have to do this later. Bye."

"Wait, it's an emergency!" Yunjin shouts, nearly deafening Jimin. The sound is so loud that even Minjeong stirs.

Jimin sees and tries her best to settle the girl by drawing lazy circles over her exposed shoulder. It also acts as a way for Jimin to keep calm instead of lashing out at Yunjin for almost waking Minjeong.

"I'm listening," Jimin says while she keeps an eye on Minjeong.

"Okay so Ronaldo is totally down to whip up something spectacular for us which I'm really excited about because he's my absolute favorite and everything he does is perfect—"

"I'm not sensing an emergency here..."

"The emergency is that Ronaldo has to be in Milan next week for some show so he has a tiny window where we can work together but I don't want to do this by myself! If I don't have Ronaldo, I don't have anything! I need you here!"

"Okay first of all, who is Ronaldo and why do you need me?" Jimin asks, slow to connect the dots. "Is this a bridesmaid thing? Aren't there more of us?"

"Who's Ronaldo? Do you live under a rock? He is the greatest fashion designer of our generation and a close personal friend. I need you here because you're the only one who isn't on my payroll and the only one I trust to give me honest feedback!" Yunjin urges.

"Jesus...you have got to stop paying people to be your friend, Yunjin," Jimin replies. "That's just sad."

"Regular people only like me for my money anyway so it's like two birds and a stone or whatever. Anyway, when can you help me?"

Jimin scoffs, "You know I still have class for a few more days, right? I can't just drop everything to go on a shopping trip with you."

"A shopping trip? This is so much bigger! I have a very particular aesthetic and without him it's all ruined! I don't want to roll up to my own wedding looking like...poor."

Minjeong stirs a little more, lifting her head from Jimin's side to sleepily ask, "Who's that?"

"Yunjin," Jimin mouths guiltily. "Sorry."

Minjeong only smiles and shrugs. She does her best to untangle from the sheets so she can cover Jimin properly before she's rolling onto her back so she can yawn and stretch. As her back arches, the sheets fall to reveal small dark bruises trailing down to her navel that only Jimin could've left there the night before.

It makes Jimin swallow hard as she tries to focus on Yunjin's ranting instead of reminiscing. It's difficult when it seems that Minjeong notices those bruises at the exact same time too. Her fingers trace over them before she's glancing over at Jimin.

"Are you listening, Jimin? I'm in a crisis!" Yunjin shouts again, breaking both Jimin and Minjeong out of their staring. Minjeong smirks and pulls at the sheets to cover herself up again.

"Is she okay?" Minjeong whispers.

Jimin nods before focusing back on Yunjin, "Okay, I need you to get a grip. I'll be there. I'll just have to make another visit weeks before I intended, but I'll be there."

"Oh thank you! Don't worry about flights, I got you covered," Yunjin replies. "You book it and Daddy will pay. Tickets to Miami this time of year aren't cheap."

"Hold up. You want me in Miami?" Jimin sits up and every muscle suddenly feels tense. It makes Minjeong sit up too, watching Jimin with worry. "You couldn't have picked somewhere closer?"

"Don't complain, you aren't even paying," Yunjin jokes. "Also Ronaldo is based here in Miami so it makes sense that we go to him. You'll need to be here by Thursday night at the latest."

Jimin pinches the bridge of her nose, "Yunjin...that barely gives me any time to prepare. What the hell? I still have classes to wrap up."

Minjeong watches with a concerned look on her face and starts stroking Jimin's bare thigh. The touch is meant to be innocent, soothing even but Jimin only remembers how Minjeong held onto them last night. She only remembers watching her work her to the edge with that amazingly talented tongue of hers and her hands gripping her thighs, anchoring her to the bed.

Jimin shakes away the thoughts, "You have to be reasonable here."

"I'm sorry," Yunjin replies guiltily. "You can't have that much going on, isn't it the last week of school anyway? Do people even go to class?"

"I have perfect attendance," Jimin argues.

"Nerd."

"Hey! It's the only thing that's solidifying my spot at salutatorian, it's that close."

"Wait, what happened to valedictorian?"

Jimin glances to Minjeong who is already smiling guiltily. "I had some unexpected competition," Jimin answers as she starts to smirk at the blonde. "Anyway, the earliest I can do is Friday."

"But – "

"Take it or leave it."

"You know I wouldn't ask for your help if it wasn't important. Mainly because I know you'll always say no but I really need you this time."

"Which is why I'm agreeing to help," Jimin assures her. "But I can't leave any earlier than Friday so take it or leave it."

Yunjin lets out a huff, "I'll take it."

Jimin relaxes but she's not sure if it's because Yunjin gave up or if it's because of the way Minjeong's fingers feel against the inside of her thigh. "Okay," Jimin answers. "I'll be there then."

"Thank you! You're the best."

"I know," Jimin rolls her eyes. "I'll look at flights and book something in later today. I'm not flying anything lower than business class. Have your credit card ready."

"Of course, thank yo– "

Jimin doesn't let Yunjin finish before she's hanging up the phone and dropping it on the bedside table. She lets her head fall back against the headboard and closes her eyes. Being woken up by a distressed Yunjin wasn't how she expected this morning to go.

Actually, she didn't have any expectations but she knows a phone call from Yunjin definitely wasn't on the agenda.

"You okay?" Minjeong asks hesitantly. Her voice is gravely and it makes Jimin's stomach flip, "You seem stressed."

"What makes you think that?"

"This," Minjeong pokes lightly at Jimin's furrowed brows.

Jimin peeks at her with one eye open. When Minjeong only smiles back, Jimin relaxes a little more. After all, it's kind of hard to be annoyed when Minjeong's sitting there topless with bedsheets pooled around her waist. She feels like having any conversation while they're both completely naked should seem like a big deal but it doesn't.

Surprisingly, it feels rather...natural. Maybe that's what has Jimin sinking a little further against her pillows in attempt to cover up with the sheets. None of this should feel that normal.

"I'm having some slight regrets about the whole bridesmaid thing," Jimin admits in favor of filling the silence.

Minjeong chuckles, "Yeah. I figured that much. I heard as much too."

Jimin glances at Minjeong and frowns, "Sorry for waking you."

"It's fine," Minjeong shrugs before she begins to smirk. "There are worse ways to wake up."

"True," Jimin smirks too although she can feel her face starting to heat up at the way Minjeong eyes her.

It's the first time they've sort of acknowledged their current predicament but Jimin can't help but feel like it's too good to be true. This blissful bubble is all that it is, a bubble, and bubbles are bound to pop.

"So Miami, huh?" Minjeong mentions.

"Apparently," Jimin groans. "This girl...she's lucky she's family because if it were anyone else I would not be doing it."

Minjeong gives her a knowing look but doesn't say anything. Instead she glances away and starts to pick at the bedsheets, "I've never met someone who travels as much as you do. You're always on the move. "

"Seems that way, doesn't it?" Jimin chuckles as she watches Minjeong with a content grin on her face. The question comes before Jimin can even really think about it, "You wouldn't happen to be doing anything next Friday night?"

Minjeong lifts a brow and her fiddling pauses, "You trying to drag me to Miami with you?"

"More like whisk you away," Jimin teases before softening. "I don't know, it might be fun. Another place you haven't been. Wait, you haven't been there right?"

Minjeong nods, "Right."

"So," Jimin hums. "Let me help you scratch it off your bucket list then."

"Miami wasn't on my bucket list."

It's all about their tone as they speak and there's this underlying something that feels an awful lot like flirting instead of their usual banter. It probably doesn't help that they're still both sat in the bed they've spent hours having sex in the night before. It makes Jimin wonder what last night meant and what repercussions are coming their way.

"Okay, well can you come with to keep me sane? Be a buffer between me and Yunjin?" Jimin asks instead of voicing her thoughts.

"I don't know," Minjeong ponders the request. She glances Jimin's way again, "It depends."

"Depends on what?"

Minjeong shrugs as she starts to lean in. Her hand lands on Jimin's shoulder, her fingers gliding along the curve of it until the tips graze the hinge of Jimin's jaw. Jimin stiffens; her fists tighten in the sheets by her side as Minjeong starts staring at her lips.

"It depends on you," Minjeong husks.

Jimin doesn't know what that means, but she doesn't stop to ask before closing the distance between them. She can't remember the last kiss they shared last night, she can't even remember falling asleep. All she knows is she was completely sated and it was because of Minjeong.

"Jimin," Minjeong sighs and it triggers another memory. Jimin doesn't think she's ever heard someone sound so sexy and it drives her to keep going.

"Does this mean you'll come to Miami with me?" Jimin whispers as her fingers dance along Minjeong's ribcage.

"I'll come."

"Yeah?"

"Mhm," Minjeong hums as her hips buck but Jimin holds her in place.

But as hands begin to wander and legs start to tangle, Jimin wonders if continuing their antics from last night would be wise. A drunken hook-up is one thing, but doing it again while sober? That raises a few flags, but Jimin can't find it in her to stop just yet – not when Minjeong's is right there for the taking.

"Jaemin should be coming back soon," Minjeong mentions breathlessly as Jimin's hand lingers by Minjeong's hip.

Jimin hums before moving to kiss at Minjeong's jaw, "Check out is in a couple hours."

Jimin can feel Minjeong nod followed by the soft moan she releases when Jimin's hand curls around Minjeong's thigh. Her fingertips a greeted by a familiar feel, but Minjeong clamps her legs together to keep Jimin's hand trapped where it is – so close and yet so far.

"You'll be needing to go back to your room too," Minjeong adds and her tone is different than before although her eyes are still dark with want. "To pack and stuff."

Jimin gets the message and pulls away when Minjeong lets her. Trying to keep things light she jokes by asking, "Kicking me out already?"

Minjeong chuckles as she gives her a soft smile, "As much as I'd love to hide out in here with you a little while longer..."

Jimin bites her lip; there goes the bubble.

"Well, you know," Minjeong adds and the energy in the room shifts.

Suddenly, Jimin feels so small and unsure because no, she doesn't know anything.

It's a complete 180 compared to last night when she knew that a touch could bring Minjeong one step closer to falling apart in her arms. She knew where Minjeong wanted her and how she wanted her and how fast and how slow and how hard – but she doesn't know anything now.

If only she could drag the morning out a little longer. If only she could turn back time and redo the whole thing. Maybe then she could have Minjeong all to herself one last time before reality sets in and she has to face her consequences.

"There you go again," Minjeong whispers as she pokes lightly at Jimin's brow. "Thinking way too much."

Jimin can't fight the smile as Minjeong stares back. Brown eyes shift back and forth, almost searching but Jimin doesn't know what for.

"What do we call this?" Jimin asks without thinking.

Minjeong shrinks a little, "What do you want to call it?"

Jimin tries to think but it's hard when she can feel Minjeong's bare leg resting against hers. It reminds her of when it was draped over her shoulder while she was two fingers deep. It reminds her of the whimpers and moans Minjeong would let out each time Jimin stroked that spot. It reminds her that those whimpers and moans are now committed to Jimin's memory. It reminds her of how Minjeong begged for Jimin to look at her while she was nearing the edge.

It also reminds Jimin of how she didn't look because she couldn't. She has a thing when it comes to something so intimate like that – don't do it. She already broke one of her rules when it comes to holding hands but that look, that's something she can't come back from.

So instead, Jimin pulled away and dropped down on her knees. She finished Minjeong off with her head buried between her thighs and kept her eyes squeezed shut. With Minjeong so lost in crying out her name, Jimin hoped she wouldn't have noticed how she hid from the request.

"I'm not sure," Jimin finally answers. "I can't think while I've got this horrible headache."

Minjeong smiles and pulls away to her side of the bed, but the way she keeps her hand resting against Jimin's is reassuring. It lets Jimin know she hasn't screwed this up completely.

"We drank so much last night," Minjeong chuckles.

Jimin smirks, "That's how Lions do it. The hangover that comes after isn't as fun though."

Minjeong shakes her head and laughs, "I see what you mean."

The sound is like music to Jimin's ears even if it makes her head ache a little more. The avoidance of the pink elephant in the room eases her nerves and she finds it way easier to make conversation.

"I wonder how your squad is doing," Minjeong wonders.

"They're probably doing very bad," Jimin jokes and suddenly there's a glimpse of that confidence from the night before. It makes her ask, "Do you want to grab breakfast with me? We can rate who looks the worst as they come down."

Minjeong hesitates while keeping an amused grin on her face and her eyes on Jimin. Again, the look makes Jimin feel a little anxious but she doesn't waver beneath it. If anything, she can't tear her eyes away. There's something about Minjeong sitting next to her just like this, covered in small bruises Jimin's lips left, with that unreadable look on her face and those brown eyes shimmering that's incredibly endearing.

"I should probably shower first," Minjeong says.

Jimin nods and her mind goes wandering off again.

This time, it's to the moment Minjeong told Jimin to show her just how bad she wanted to come. Minjeong had Jimin straddling her waist, letting her use Minjeong's toned stomach to chase her release. It was probably the hottest thing Jimin ever experienced and she's had many experiences, but the way Minjeong took control although Jimin was atop her, one strong hand on Jimin's hips guiding her to rock at an agonizingly slow pace despite Jimin literally begging for more – definitely the hottest thing she's ever experienced.

"True. I should do the same," Jimin blushes when she remembers how she left Minjeong's abs glistening with her own arousal. "Who knows what kind of state Minju and Jaemin left the room in though."

"Oh my God," Minjeong gasps. "I almost forgot that happened."

"I wish I did forget," Jimin jokes. "I'm definitely not looking forward to heading back and finding out."

"You could shower here?"

Jimin's eyes widen at the offer, "Uhh..."

"Seriously?" Minjeong starts to giggle. "We've already seen each other naked."

Jimin's blush deepens, "It's not that."

It's because showering together is way too intimate.

Minjeong quirks her brow, "Worried you won't be able to keep your hands to yourself?"

"As if you're any better," Jimin scoffs as she sits up, a tiny smirk breaking through while she swings her legs to dangle over the side of the bed.

"True," Minjeong shrugs nonchalantly. "Then again I didn't hear any complaints either."

"Minjeong!"

"I'm kidding," Minjeong teases as she slides out of bed and walks across the room. Hips sway gloriously and Jimin can't help but stare until Minjeong pauses to glance over her shoulder, "Not really."

Jimin relaxes as she watches Minjeong make her way over to her side of the bed. There's nothing left to the imagination and Jimin struggles so hard to keep her eyes on Minjeong's as she nears. It's even worse when Minjeong chooses to stand right between Jimin's legs and her fingers dance along Jimin's shoulders until they scratch at the back of her neck.

They start to tangle in her hair and it's hard to keep from transporting to yet another memory from last night, but Jimin manages to keep it at bay by reaching for Minjeong's wrists. She knows where this is going and this time she's in a better position to press pause. She stares up at her, trying to be as delicate as possible.

"We shouldn't make a habit out of this," Jimin says solemnly.

Minjeong stiffens and Jimin can feel her fingers tense in her hair before she's pulling away.

"You have regrets," Minjeong says questioningly.

"No," Jimin reaches for Minjeong before she pulls away out of reach. "Of course not. Last night was great. Amazing! I definitely have no regrets."

"Okay then...," Minjeong looks to Jimin expectantly as if she's waiting for more.

"I just," Jimin pauses. She attempts to think of her words very carefully.

Jimin crossed lines she swore she wouldn't and now what? Jimin has no idea, she doesn't know how to do this and she definitely doesn't want to hurt Minjeong in the process but she can't help but feel like that's inevitable. There's no outcome where they walk away without someone getting hurt.

When she looks up at Minjeong again, there's hope there and Jimin wishes she could rely on that alone but she's seen what having too much hope does to people.

"I just," Jimin tries again. "I don't want to complicate this even more than we already have."

"By taking a shower?"

Jimin sighs and gives her a look, "By taking one with you."

Minjeong's shoulders start to droop, "Oh."

Jimin notices and instantly feels like the biggest jerk in the world. It's not what she intended so she quickly tries to explain.

"It's too...intimate," Jimin admits quietly. Minjeong looks questioningly at her and Jimin sighs again, "I don't know what any of this means yet and I don't want to complicate this with intimacy."

"Intimacy?" Minjeong shakes her head and smirks, "It's a little late for that, don't you think?"

Jimin starts to blush as she pulls away, "Can we not do this right now? Please? My head is killing me and I'm trying so hard right now not to say the wrong thing but I feel like I am and I don't want to."

Minjeong watches her for a long moment before nodding, "Okay."

The softness in Minjeong's tone catches Jimin off-guard. She expected Minjeong to get frustrated and push Jimin outside of her comfort zone, but she doesn't. When Jimin looks up, she finds Minjeong only smiles back. It's kind and soft and filled with patience that Jimin doesn't think she deserves.

"Okay?" Jimin questions. "That's all you're going to say?"

Minjeong shrugs casually, "I always try doing things my way but that doesn't work when it comes to you so I guess we'll do it your way instead. We'll take the scenic route."

Jimin's brows furrow, "What does that even mean?"

It's Minjeong's turn to sigh, but the smile remains as she cups Jimin's cheek.

"The fact that you even have to ask..." Minjeong shakes her head again and chuckles.

Jimin watches as Minjeong turns away to head towards the bathroom, leaving Jimin even more confused in her wake. She pauses by the door though and looks back.

"It means I'm going to shower," Minjeong says. "You can join me if you want – it's up to you."

Jimin only stares blankly as Minjeong disappears into the bathroom to get the water going.

─

Jimin's still stuck in the same place five minutes later. She can hear Minjeong humming to whatever song is playing on her phone like she doesn't have a care in the world. It reminds Jimin of how she danced last night, she was so carefree and happy.

Jimin wishes she could be like that too. She wishes she could get rid of all this baggage weighing her down and act on her feelings. She wishes nothing held her back and she could explore whatever is going between her and Minjeong.

Jimin also knows that there's a high chance she'll find a way to ruin this, that's just the kind of luck she has when it comes to having feelings for someone. So she wonders if it's best to stay put instead of taking Minjeong up on her offer but she also can't stop thinking about what Minjeong said before about doing things her way.

What's that supposed to mean? What does her way even involve?

Jimin struggles to figure it out as she hops out of bed and grabs her clothes. It's weird putting on the outfit she wore the night before, but she doesn't have anything else and she feels weird rummaging around Minjeong's things while she isn't around.

It ends up being a smart move to get changed because only a minute later, Jaemin waltzes through the door. There's that goofy 'I just had sex' look on his face that Jimin's unfortunately grown accustomed to since living together for the past couple of years.

"Yo," Jaemin greets as he throws his leather jacket on his bed. He looks around suspiciously, "Where's Minjeong?"

"Shower," Jimin nods to the bathroom door as Jimin ties her hair up in a bun.

"Oh," Jaemin replies as he glances to Minjeong's bed then to Jimin standing off to the side of it. He smirks as he asks, "Fun night?"

It's then that Jimin realizes Minjeong's clothes lie haphazardly around the bed, specifically her bra which hangs off the lampshade and Jaemin has definitely taken notice. Jimin blushes through her annoyance and removes it.

"Can you mind your business for once?" Jimin grumbles as she tosses the garment on Minjeong's suitcase.

"Damn, you're usually nicer after getting laid."

"Don't," Jimin holds up a finger at him. "Nothing happened."

Jaemin raises a brow, "Come on. I've seen enough of your morning after's to know when you got up to something. I mean, you shared a room together."

"Well, where else was I supposed to go?" Jimin grumbles as her cheeks continue to flush. "You took over mine!"

"I'm not even sorry about it either," Jaemin grins smugly. "Me and Minju; something beautiful happened. Our bodies were like one."

"Gross," Jimin fakes a gag. "Spare me the disgusting details."

Jaemin only stares off in space dreamily, "I'm pretty sure she's the one." Jimin gives him a look, "You say that about every girl."

"It's different with her."

"Does she know that?"

Jaemin pauses to think, "Not sure. She wasn't there when I got up."

"Yeah, that's not usually a good sign," Jimin chuckles as she nears to give him a pat on the shoulder. When Jaemin waves her off, she continues to laugh. "Anyway, I'm going to go get showered. Please tell me you've left my room in one piece?"

"No promises," Jaemin jokes before wagging his brows.

"Gross," Jimin complains again. "Tell Minjeong I'll meet you guys in the restaurant for breakfast before you head off."

Jaemin just nods as Jimin heads for the door. She considers letting Minjeong know that she's leaving herself, but she doubts she'll really end up going if she opens that door. It's better that she just goes before they complicate things even further. They've already made a big enough mess as it is.

─

In the days following Nationals, things between Jimin and Minjeong are oddly okay. They're better than okay even, they're completely normal and it's the weirdest thing! They carry on as usual on campus, living out the last days of their classes while still preserving their image as this perfect couple.

They don't talk about their night together in Philly. They don't talk about what nearly happened again the morning after. They don't talk about what it all means and whether it changes things. Judging by the normalcy of the last few days, Jimin assumes that what happened hasn't changed a thing.

And it's odd, very odd.

For Minjeong to be so easy-going with this newfound veil of indifference, Jimin worries that she has missed something. How could someone go from tell me what you want to...whatever this is. Any other time, Jimin wouldn't be complaining because this is the type of situation she thrives in – but it all feels wrong when it comes to Minjeong.

And yet, she has no idea to approach the topic. They say if it isn't broke then don't fix it, so Jimin honors that. Like Minjeong, she just goes with the flow but with Jimin's luck they're bound to hit an impasse.

─

It's their final class with Professor Kang and he greets everyone with amazing news. Apparently, the results of the grant recipients have been emailed to him and Jimin and Minjeong are among the select few who will be awarded.

Neither of them are surprised, but they fake it anyway as Professor Kang presents them each with a certificate. Receiving free money isn't such a bad way to end the school year!

"Isn't it amazing what can happen in a semester?" He jokes with them. "In the beginning, you two were always arguing. I couldn't get through a single class without you butting heads. You even refused to work together!"

Jimin glances at Minjeong who is already staring back with this shy smile.

"Now look at you both," Professor Kang chuckles. "You make a great team and an even better couple. You two are going to go very far."

"Thanks Prof," Jimin replies bashfully while Minjeong nods along with her. She's not sure if the last comment means success-wise or what but it still feels nice to hear such a compliment from a professor she really respects.

"Thank you, Professor," Minjeong adds. "And thank you for pushing us to work together. Maybe things would've ended up differently for me and Jimin if you hadn't encouraged us to team up."

Jimin glances to Minjeong again, wondering if she's doing her usual routine of sucking up or if she's being genuine. Really, they have Jaemin to thank for forcing them to team up but Professor Kang was the first to point out how their wits could benefit one another.

"Of course," Professor Kang bows his head. "Well, you two deserve this grant for all your hard work. Maybe you can even take the summer to relax a little. I know you have the internship, Minjeong, but I'm sure you can squeeze in some time beforehand."

Jimin's brows rise as she looks to Minjeong, "You got it?"

Minjeong bobs her head shyly, "I was going to tell you later. I got the email this morning."

Jimin doesn't know how to react. She's obviously happy for Minjeong, but it's also bittersweet. The internship was the one thing standing in Minjeong's way of being Jimin's date to the wedding and if they're already making selections then dates would have to be locked in. And if dates are locked in then Minjeong would know whether or not she could go to the wedding.

Jimin can't find it in herself to ask though, too afraid of hearing the wrong answer.

"I'm sorry," Professor Kang apologizes. "I didn't mean to ruin the surprise."

"It's okay," Minjeong assures him with a kind smile.

"Well enjoy your summer, ladies," He says. "Don't work too hard."

They both smile and give Professor Kang their final thanks before bidding him goodbye.

─

Once they're outside the building, Jimin finally feels like she can breathe again. She hadn't realized she was holding so much tension in her shoulders until she feels the sun on her face. Minjeong must notice too because she pulls them off to the side of the path.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner," Minjeong says. "About the internship, I mean."

Jimin shakes her head and smiles, "Don't be. It's amazing news, Minjeong."

"Yeah?"

"Totally," Jimin grins as she reaches for Minjeong's hand to squeeze. "I knew you would get it. Like I said, they'd be crazy not to pick you."

Minjeong smiles bashfully, "I was hoping we'd get good news on the grant today so we could maybe celebrate both before our flight."

Minjeong's shy demeanor has Jimin relaxing even further. She can't be selfish in wanting Minjeong to miss out on the opportunity just so she could come to the wedding. Even if she finds it a little disheartening, Jimin does her best to mask the feeling.

"That sounds like a capital idea," Jimin grins. "Do you have anything in mind?"

Minjeong bites her lip, "Well..."

─

Minjeong's idea ends up being a picnic.

With the weather being so nice lately and their flight later in the night, Minjeong suggested they grab an early dinner and head off to a park just off-campus. It's not really Jimin's thing to be so one with nature but she finds herself making an exception when it comes to Minjeong– as if she could tell her no anyway.

It's surprisingly nice, peaceful even if Jimin has to ignore the possibility of a bug falling on her at any second. They sit side by side on a blanket Minjeong brought with her and nibble on slices of pizza straight from the box while they watch a couple of kids play catch by the stream.

She doesn't know what it is about it, but it reminds Jimin of their time in Lima although they've never sat in a park somewhere eating pizza. Maybe it's all the trees that seem so misplaced in the concrete jungle and the distant sounds of laughter and the way sitting with Minjeong like this feels so natural.

If she were to close her eyes right now, she probably wouldn't even be able to tell the difference. It's then that she realizes they've been sitting in silence for quite some time.

"You know what?" Jimin prompts after she swallows her last bite of pizza.

Minjeong lifts her brows as she chews, "What?"

"I've never been on a picnic before."

"Really?" Minjeong reaches for a napkin to dab at her mouth. "I wish I would've known before. I took a shortcut with the pizza."

"Pizza's a shortcut?"

"Well yeah," Minjeong shrugs. "You're meant to make everything, like little sandwiches and snacks. My parents used to take me on picnics all the time when I was younger and we'd spend the whole morning making things. We had a little picnic basket and everything."

Jimin chuckles as she pictures a younger Minjeong toddling around with a basket, "That's cute. I thought those picnic baskets were just decoration, not a real thing."

"Nope, they're totally real," Minjeong assures her.

"Well this is still nice for my first time," Jimin replies. "Got a good view, the best pizza around and the company isn't so bad either."

Minjeong bumps her with her shoulder as she playfully glares. Jimin giggles and bumps her back.

"I'll be more prepared next time," Minjeong tells her. "I'll make us tiny triangle sandwiches like my mom used to make. Sandwiches cut into shapes always taste better."

"So there's gonna be a next time?" Jimin jokes but somewhere deep down begs to know what having a next time means. It's more plans for the future and it makes Jimin wonder what that future is meant to look like for them.

"If you want," Minjeong says casually and looks at her with soft, kind eyes. "Up to you."

Jimin bites her lip. She wants to mask the giddiness she feels with something witty, but it doesn't come. All she does is melt into a puddle despite feeling like thinking about the future is something too good to be true.

"Maybe once you come back from your internship," Jimin suggests. "I'll be done with the wedding and we'll be...we can have another try."

"At having a picnic?"

"Yeah."

Minjeong slow to nod but when she does, her eyes are averted to the half- eaten slice of pizza in her hand. "I haven't told you the dates of my internship, have I?"

Jimin shakes her head.

"It'll last three weeks instead of two," Minjeong mentions. "I heard that it usually takes place during the last couple of weeks of June but this year they've pushed it until after Fourth of July."

Jimin immediately perks up, "Wait...does that mean– "

"Yup," Minjeong grins. "You've got yourself a date to the wedding."

"Oh my God!" Jimin shrieks. She surprises the both of them when she throws her arms around Minjeong for a hug. "Yes, you're a lifesaver!"

Minjeong chuckles as she pats Jimin's back, "And you're suddenly a hugger."

Jimin blushes and quickly pulls away, "Sorry."

"Don't be sorry," Minjeong grins. "You've got the best hugs."

"Oh," Jimin tries to laugh off the embarrassment. "Well, I'm really glad you're coming to the wedding. It'll definitely make it a little more bearable."

"Me too," Minjeong beams. "It'll be fun."

"Hopefully," Jimin chuckles. "You'll get a taste of what I have to deal with when we get to Miami. Yunjin isn't always about eccentricity and throwing twenties at people. She is a menace to society."

"You're so dramatic," Minjeong laughs before nodding to their pizza. "Finish up, we should get back to campus soon so we can pack."

"True," Jimin replies and reaches for the last slice. "God, Yunjin better have us staying someplace nice to make up for all this last-minute traveling."

─

And Yunjin does – in fact, Yunjin spares no expense. As soon as Jimin and Minjeong's flight lands, there is a chauffeur awaiting their arrival who takes care of their luggage and escorts them to a heavily tinted SUV outside.

"I'm starting to see what you mean," Minjeong whispers to Jimin as the driver opens the door for them. "Is Yunjin like...famous?"

"She wishes," Jimin jokes as she bows her head in thanks to the driver before sliding in.

Minjeong follows suit and looks around the inside of the cab skeptically. Jimin watches with an amused grin as she texts Yunjin that they've arrived and are heading to the hotel now.

"This is weird," Minjeong mutters while the driver moves to help secure their luggage.

Jimin chuckles as she squeezes Minjeong's knee, "Just think of it as an Uber."

"An over the top Uber," Minjeong jokes.

Shortly after, the driver returns and checks if Jimin and Minjeong are ready to depart. Minjeong quirks a brow at the seriousness but Jimin only squeezes at her knee once more before answering for them.

____

omg!!! htdy #1 for winrina!! we did it!!! thank you so much for all the love and support towards htdy omg this is so insane i honestly can't believe it :')

as a reward i'll do double update! thank you so much again <3

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!