"So how long are we gonna be here for?" Minjeong asks after banging her head against another hanging pot. She scowls at the object in question, muttering curses under her breath.

Jimin suppresses a smile at the sight. "As long as it takes to find all the seeds and bulbs I want."

Truthfully, she's already lingered longer than necessary just to spend more time with Minjeong. Last night seemed like some sort of fever dream, something she may have imagined in the twilight between sleep and wakefulness. Even now, she can't picture herself unlawfully entering the botanical garden. But with Minjeong it seemed almost like it was the right thing to do at the time. Maybe Minjeong was onto something when she said she'd be corrupting her. Jimin doesn't feel as bothered by that fact as she probably should.

Minjeong certainly doesn't seem to be acting any different; she's just as energetic as usual, happy to occasionally push Jimin's buttons as they look through all the plants in the flower shop.

"What is this one?" Minjeong points at a potted bunch of white-and-pink flowers. "I saw a lot of these ones last night."

"Those are stargazer lilies." Jimin responds after giving them a quick inspection. "Do you like them?"

Minjeong nods, not taking her eyes off the flowers. "Stargazer..." She mumbles. There's a dangerous gleam in her eyes that Jimin is already beginning to recognize. Minjeong had an idea, and it probably involved another illegal activity.

Before Jimin can ask about what she's thinking, Minjeong turns away to fiddle with some of garden gnomes on display. "You should really get a few of these guys." She suggests, poking the creature's belly.

"And why is that?" Jimin asks, amused.

"To scare away anyone who might want to ruin the garden like a complete ass." Minjeong answers after a moment of thought. She finally looks directly at Jimin, her smile fainter than usual.

"I don't think I ever properly apologized for the damage I caused to the original garden." Her head dips down and she scuffs the floor with her shoe. "So, I'm sorry."

Jimin can't help but run a hand up Minjeong's arm. "I forgive you." She says simply. A smile curves onto her lips.

"You've been very helpful with the new garden."

It's true; despite some occasional grumbling, she put more than a half-hearted effort into her digging the other day, which was frankly unexpected. And there weren't any complaints when Jimin asked for her assistance at the flower shop.

But the garden would most likely be done by the end of the day. All they needed to do was finish the barrier around the area and place the new seeds and bulbs in the ground. What would happen after that? Would Minjeong leave her life as abruptly as she entered it? Would she pretend she never knew Jimin once school started again?

She glances over at Minjeong, who's chatting with the shopkeeper, waving towards the gnomes and trying to haggle over their price. Just about all the rumors Jimin heard about her were false, so surely she wouldn't treat Jimin as someone who wasn't 'cool' enough to hang out with, right?

"I think I'm done." She says, interrupting Minjeong. "We can bring these back to my place and plant them." She tucks away the item she's going to purchase for Minjeong, determined to give it to her whether or not she ever saw the other girl after today.

Minjeong blinks in surprise. "Oh, okay." She turns and smiles at the shopkeeper. "You win this round, but I'll be back with a better offer."

Once all the new plants are secured in the trunk of Jimin's car, they head back to her house and start the tedious process of figuring out where each plant will be. Jimin, who would normally be able to plot a garden in no time at all, is going much slower than usual. By the time the first half of the plants are in the ground, the sun is starting to set.

Jimin stares up at the sky and wipes some sweat away from her brow. "It looks like we won't get done today after all." She says, though she can't force herself to sound disappointed by that admission.

Beside her, Minjeong just nods. She doesn't seem disappointed that she has to come back another day. In fact, that troubling look is back in her eyes.

"I was just thinking..." Minjeong starts as she takes off her gloves.

Jimin narrows her eyes in suspicion, because surely nothing good can come from that statement. Her gloves off, Minjeong flexes her fingers and continues. "I was just thinking that you have like, a really nice roof. I bet you can see all sorts of stars from up there."

"I've never tried to go on the roof before." Jimin admits, not terribly fond of heights.

Minjeong waggles her eyebrows at her, looking ridiculous. "Wanna give it a try?"

Jimin studies Minjeong, wondering what she wants. "I suppose we can." She says before she realizes what she's agreeing to.

But it's too late to back out now— Minjeong's face positively light up. "Cool, let's go!" She says happily, walking off towards the house.

She waits for Jimin once she takes her dirty shoes off, revealing mismatched socks. "Which way to your room?"

Jimin takes her shoes off as well, swallowing a lump in her throat. Minjeong was going to be in her room, where her books, posters and bed are. She tries especially hard not to think about that last item, because 'Minjeong' and 'bed' don't need to be thought of together.

At all.

She leads Minjeong through the house and up to her room, closing the door and trying not to feel self-conscious about her white bedspread or the motivational sayings pinned on the walls. Against her will, her eyes slide over to her desk, where Minjeong's bouquet sits. The flowers are already starting to bloom, healthy and strong. Jimin imagines them clenched in Minjeong's determined grip as she broke into her backyard for the second time that day.

Minjeong looks around in interest before making a beeline to the window and sliding it open. She peers out of it and then steps out onto the roof without hesitation. A pleased sound leaves her throat.

"This is really neat, Jimin!"

Jimin sighs and pokes her head out the window, not surprised to see Minjeong already laying down against the slate shingles. Before she can think better of it, she follows Minjeong's example and starts to climb out her window.

But as she gets one leg out, she hears the front door open and close. She nearly loses her balance, though she manages to haul herself back inside instead of becoming a splatter on the porch below.

"My dad's home!" She hisses when Minjeong gives her a questioning look. Minjeong's eyes widen and she sits up and scrambles back into Jimin's room.

"What am I supposed to do?"

Jimin's having a hard time thinking— heavy footsteps are sounding on the stairs, and it probably won't be long until her dad reaches her room. It would be stupid to ask her to jump off the roof, right?

"J-just hide in my closet!"

She opens the door and practically shoves Minjeong into the space, having never been more glad to have a walk-in closet than now. Minjeong topples against something lacy, accidentally pulling it off its hanger and taking it down with her.

Minjeong holds up the item in front of her, a cheeky grin on her face despite the situation. "When are you planning on wearing this? Because—"

Jimin slams the door shut, refusing to acknowledge that Minjeong just had to land against her one and only piece of nightgown.

Not even ten seconds later, her dad knocks on the door. "Jimin, can we talk?" He asks, deep voice muffled by the wood.

"S-sure." She says, opening the door. Her dad looks more disheveled than usual, his tie is loose around his neck and his hair is ruffled. "You're back early."

He rolls his eyes. "The last few days of the conference are for sight-seeing Seoul or participating in team-building exercises. I opted to fly back instead."

Of course he wouldn't want to relax and enjoy a few days off work. "Oh." Jimin replies, not sure what to say.

He surveys the room and sits at her desk. "I wanted to apologize for the way I came across at dinner the other night." He says carefully.

Jimin just stares at him. As unexpected as it was for Minjeong to apologize, it's even more so for her dad. Was he having second thoughts about letting her choose her own major?

He tiredly runs a hand through his hair. "I just don't think you realize how little you could do with those degrees." He says the last word like it's a placeholder for something lesser and he doesn't want to anger her.

Her heart sinks.

This isn't a real apology, this is just him wanting to get his point across. Proving her assumption, he continues on. "I'm not saying the environment isn't important. It's just with a degree in architecture or especially engineering, you can go much farther in life."

"I don't want to be an engineer, dad." Jimin says, trying not to let her temper get the better of her. "And I don't want to be an architect. I'd be miserable."

He shakes his head. "You would love it." He argues.

"You're so good at math and I've seen your drawings—"

"Those stupid sketches were for an art class, it doesn't mean I want to be an architect! You're just seeing what you want to see." Her voice is too loud and she knows Minjeong can hear all of this, but she doesn't care.

"Fine, Jimin," He stands abruptly. "I don't know if this is some kind of rebellious phase you're going through, but you're too young to know what you want from life."

"And you know what I want?" Jimin fires back at him, stung by the unfairness of his words. "After this year, I won't be another student of yours— you won't be able to dictate my life and push me into something I have no interest in." She breathes heavily, surprised at how she talked back to him.

He clearly wasn't expecting this much of an argument, and he shakes his head in disappointment. "You're starting to sound like that Minjeong kid or one of her friends. They have no respect for authority and mark my words, they won't be going very far in life."

"I'd rather go through life happy than miserable." Jimin says quietly, resolutely. "And if that means I have to go against your advice, then I will."

At that, something that sounds suspiciously like a squeak comes from her closet. "I'm tired, dad." Jimin says when he opens his mouth. "We can talk more about this tomorrow."

Despite clearly wanting to stay and argue his case, he leaves her with a stiff nod, closing the door behind him and stomping towards his room. Jimin releases a shuddering breath. She had never said such things to him before, even though she desperately wanted to.

After taking a moment to compose herself, she opens the closet door. She expects a smarmy remark from Minjeong or at least some kind of insult directed at her dad as she comes back into the room.

Instead, Minjeong's lips are settled in a thin line. She looks unhappy, almost angry, as she paces the length of Jimin's room. Jimin just sits on the bed and watches her, unsure of what to do in the wake of that conversation.

Minjeong finally speaks up, her voice is barely above a harsh whisper. "To hear him talk and he talks all the goddamn time, there's nothing you can do that's not a crime." She stops pacing when she's right in front of Jimin.

"He rails against everything, doesn't he?" Minjeong asks softly.

Jimin stares at her, urging her eyes not to get teary. The stress from dealing with her dad and the worry from wondering if Minjeong will still want to spend time with her after gardening threaten to crash down on her.

"He's difficult sometimes." She manages to say, sniffing.

Minjeong places her hands on Minjoo's shoulders. "You were right though, you should do what makes you happy. From the sound of it, you're still going to college. It's not your fault he's such a control freak." Jimin nods, marginally comforted by the words.

"I'm sorry he said those things about you and your friends." She murmurs. "It wasn't fair."

Minjeong shrugs like it doesn't matter.

"There was some truth in there." She admits. Then her eyes narrow and in the most determined voice Jimin's ever heard. "But I can go as far in life as I want to. We're the ones in control of our lives, not the adults who push and prod us to go where they want us."

There's a pause, and then Minjeong releases Jimin with a small smile. "Anyways, umm...we'll be done with the garden tomorrow, right?"

Jimin feels as dazed as if someone hit her over the head. "Yeah, it probably won't take too long. My dad will be away during the day, so come over when you're free." Jimin responds once she regains her bearings.

"Alright, then I'll see you tomorrow. And don't worry." Minjeong adds when seeing Jimin's expression. "I'll sneak out quietly." She makes her way to the door, but hesitates before she touches the knob.

Fuck it.

Turning quickly, she walks back to Jimin and brings her into a crushing hug. Startled, it takes Jimin a moment before she's able to return the gesture and she loops her arms around Minjeong's neck.

"Hang in there," Minjeong whispers against Jimin's hair. "It's only another year. Then you'll be off at school and you can do whatever you want."

Jimin smiles into Minjeong's neck. "I don't think it will be that easy, he's still my dad." She reluctantly breaks the hug. "But thank you, I mean it."

They stand awkwardly for a moment before Minjeong clears her throat. "Right, well. I'll see you tomorrow then."

Jimin silently walks with her until they reach the backyard and then waves at Minjeong as she climbs over the fence. Back in her room, she prepares for a long, hot shower.

Once she's under the spray, she can't help but recall the sensation of Minjeong's arms around her. The other girl was so supportive, so sweet, earlier. She seemed so determined to make sure Jimin knew she could do whatever made her happy. She believed in her, and she didn't try to talk down to her at all.

It makes Jimin believe she really can pave her own way.

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