When the two rivals in the photography course need to deal with each other's stubbornness when they are paired up in a one-semester-worth project, it seems like everything is just going well.

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Fourth year, second semester, photography degree.

Minjeong was popular with her amazing photo skills on human daily life activities — A woman smoking beside a lampost, a guitarist playing by the street, an artist painting murals on the walls, bakers kneading the dough on the counter — everything she captured of human in her camera lenses beyond perfection. Everything looks like an awe of beauty, a moment to remember, and an activity to treasure.

Meanwhile, Jimin brought her own charm with a different medium. Nature, and street photography. It is building here, building there, trees here, mountain there, river here, sea there. All of her pictures make you gawk, giving you that strong pull to love your surroundings; everything in her camera lens feels like it just came out of fairytales — Too breathtakingly unreal to say that it is real. It is a real-life taken picture.

With that much differences, they were popular among their classmates, for being too perfect. It feels like Minjeong had chosen dad while Jimin chose mom. Two factors at perfection, are too different that if you bring them together, it would feel like doomsday in their class.

Well, this would be their first dooms of the day then.

"For this final project, we would do them in pairs." The professor said as he called names. Some were glad that they were together, but some didn't. Some groans, and some cheered.

However, Jimin and Minjeong absolutely loathe each other.

The two girls had excused themselves to the library. Their plan is to discuss their project, what should they do, what kind of medium they will choose, and what pictures will they take.

For the two, it feels like it is World War II.

"I told you, we could just get out there, find a secluded area near a mountain or something, and we could take the pictures—"

"No! Yours was too lame! Nature is bullshit. Why not meet new people and capture their moments of life? I know that they would appreciate it—"

"I do not appreciate this!" Jimin slammed their table harshly, only to receive many glares and hushes from the people around them. She flashed each of them her apologetic smile before she turned back to Minjeong, giving her the most deadly glares. "Sure, they would appreciate your pictures of them, but hell no. Human means nothing without nature. We are not living in hell, this is Earth, and Earth got nature!"

The younger girl just snorted in return, arms on her chest as she flashed her annoyance to Jimin. "Well, earth got humans too, you dumbass."

That is an insult! "You fucking—"

"Students!" a librarian came by, closer to them with a thick book in her hands. The grumpy woman ain't the nicest librarian out there to deal with, the two girls knew much. "Get out of my library and do your love quarrels outside!"

*****

"Great! We got kicked out because of you!" Jimin glared at the younger girl who seemed too nonchalant about the whole thing. Minjeong bored her eyes into her phone deeper, too lazy to entertain the nuisance girl. "That is because you act like a maniac."

Jimin eyes rolled in annoyance. Oh god, how can she keep up with this lunatic for four months? This is only their second day, and now you are telling Jimin that she needs to go through Minjeong's frustrating antics for four months? Literally a whole long semester!

"Fine! Whatever you say. I am not failing my degree because of a psycho, lunatic, crazy dumbass like you," Jimin groans angrily as she snatched away Minjeong's phone from her hand. Arguing, Minjeong glared back as angry as Jimin did. "What the fuck are you doing?"

"I'm giving you my number, you asshole," Jimin glared once before continue typing her number on Minjeong's phone. This time, thankfully, Minjeong didn't argue back. As much as she hates this, she knows she needs Jimin's number to get this right.

The phone was tossed back to Minjeong in an instant, and Minjeong could see how Jimin formally inputted her own name as 'Yu Jimin' there. Remind Minjeong to change it to 'Lunatic Jimin' later.

"If this is how we going to work on things, then, fine. Let's make a deal," the older girl ran her hands between her hair in frustration, sighing so loud only for Minjeong to hear them.

"I'll choose the place, and you get to take a picture of a human, as you wanted."

Minjeong eyebrows lifted, and confusion flashed in her eyes. "A human, who?"

Jimin's next word was too much for the younger girl as Jimin slowly leaned in, too dangerously close for anyone to call this a normal 'friendly' space gap.

"Me."

"Ew, what?" Minjeong throws herself away from Jimin immediately. Hands in the air, totally not satisfied with this. "You? Out of all people? Are you fucking insane—"

"Because that is the only thing I could think of to make this as fair and as square to both of us!" Jimin cuts her, groaning more in frustration. "You get what you wanted. A human, which is me. I also got what I wanted. Nature, and I'll choose the location for you. Nothing else I could think of other than this. You got that?"

"Fine!" Minjeong groaned in defeat. Seems like this was the best for them to complete their degree with flying colours. "You choose the place, and I'll take your picture."

*****

Exactly the next week, Jimin had texted Minjeong the place for their first photography session. It wasn't that far. Just that hill right behind their university building, surrounded by trees — tons of trees; too much beyond Minjeong's liking.

This is one of the reasons she hates taking pictures of nature. There are too many mosquitoes here! It feels like Minjeong would turn into a blood-sucking victim for hours!

"Minjeong!"

"What?" Minjeong shouted back as she glared at Jimin who was standing right next to the rusty gate. 'No entry' was written on them, but a stubborn girl like Jimin would never care about it.

"Stop your baby whining and help me kick these gates down!" Jimin protests, kicking so hard onto the gates with her shoes. Metals clanked as she did, but this place was beyond far for their university police to hear them. "Do you even hear what I am saying?"

"Fine. Fine! I'll do it!" Minjeong sighed in defeat, kicking the gates side by side with the older girl until there was just enough space for them to slip in between.  Jimin was the excited one, so she entered first without thinking twice. But, unfortunately, her backpack got stuck between the gates as she did.

"Won't you help me?"

"It is your fault to bring so many things here! You stupid!"

*****

Jimin was the one to lead their way towards the destination she chose as Minjeong silently followed right behind her, looking around only to see trees here, trees there — too many greens. Minjeong felt like puking.

"We are almost there," Jimin said with heavy breath as she coordinated them between bushes. Minjeong was about to complain about how these bushes and branches grazed her godly smooth skin, but it took her into a pause when Jimin ran happily forward, opening her arms so wide, running like a toddler.

"We are here!" Jimin cheered. So bright, so happy, so... pretty. Minjeong's stomach twisted, she did not like this feeling.

Jimin had brought her to an abandoned lake near the top of the hill. The lake is breathtakingly a beauty — Minjeong couldn't stop herself from gasping in awe. The lake was illuminated with wild cattails and lilies. The purple iris flowers accompanied by yellow perennials make it even better. It really feels like it came out of a fairytale.

Too pretty to be real.

"This place is nice," Minjeong muttered silently between her breath, slowly and silently taking out her camera from her bag. This is really a moment to admire.

"I told you so," Jimin giggled as she ran happily around. "I told you this place going to be worth it."

Minjeong didn't mind the older girl's comment as she snapped a few pictures randomly.  The view is too unreal, really. Who thought the hill behind their university building had this heavenly hidden spot in between, hidden by heavy trees and bushes?

Jimin keeps running around nevertheless, nature is her medium because she loves it more than anything in this world. The surroundings sure look shabby with long-grown grasses and tiny wild flowers everywhere. But, you ain't getting this everywhere. Beauty is sometimes just too hidden from people's eyes.

Well, at least that was what Minjeong also thought at that moment. She pulled her camera away to inspect her pictures on the screen, and — oh wow. Has she been awed this much before?

It's just pictures of Jimin running; since she is the main subject for this whole damn thing. Minjeong scrolled each of them, seeing how the sunshine above them rays onto the lakes, illuminated the water so that it shines unrealistically pretty. Jimin's genuine, happy smiles make it better. The way her hair flew as she ran. The way her eyes closed as she laughed. The way her mole under her lip smiling as well. The way her fingers grazed between long grass and wildflowers.

This is too perfect. Minjeong ain't believe this.

"Run around more," Minjeong instructed, putting the lenses back onto her sight, ready to take another breathtaking picture. "Run more, Jimin."

Jimin's brows furrow, denying. She didn't follow Minjeong's instructions, but instead, she squatted down by the lake, arms hugging her knees as she studied the content of the lake itself. "It is so pretty," Jimin murmured as she smiled, looking at the purple flowers and perennials.

Minjeong didn't realise herself as she took her shots, mumbling a "You are so pretty..." in between. Even her lips silently formed into a satisfied smile, walking closer to Jimin as Minjeong burst her shots at the other girl.

Is Jimin this pretty before? Minjeong isn't sure. She was too busy taking other people's pictures to even realize Jimin got a worthy one to be taken as well.

The sunrays hit the lakes, flashing onto Jimin's face making it more... ethereal. Minjeong was so stunned that she paused her action for a while, pulling her camera slightly from her eyes so she could capture them with her own living orbs.

It looks like Jimin has glitters on her face. It feels so... painfully, good. For Minjeong.

The smile on the younger girl's face got wider. She took more pictures of Jimin silently, not that Jimin cared about it much since the older girl knew she was the subject of their project.

When Minjeong said she was satisfied enough with her pictures, a wide smile on her face, only then did Jimin nod her head, agreeing to go back, wrapping up their day.

It was silence from Minjeong on their way back down the hill.

Her stomach doesn't feel too good as well.

*****

The project goes on like that, with Minjeong was the one in charge of taking the pictures, and Jimin was the one who would choose places.

Minjeong never realised how much she loved nature before, but every place Jimin handpicked for their next shoot, it always ended up breathtaking — ethereal — unrealistic — too good to be true.

Minjeong never sees nature as beautiful as it is when she is with Jimin.

Over time, Minjeong also realized how much she was affected by her own captured pictures. Sure, the nature is hella pretty. But, Jimin makes it even better.

Her smiles, her laughs, how the nature illuminated her beauty, how everything makes Jimin look so... heavenly perfect. Too ethereal to Minjeong's eyes that sometimes she thought Jimin wasn't even human; she was an angel.

Weeks turned months, and Minjeong knew at this rate, she ain't hating this anymore. Maybe, just maybe, she loved this too much. Taking pictures of Jimin was like a healing process between all of Minjeong's stressful university life. It was like the bandage to every scar Minjeong got deep inside her.

She wants more to capture with Jimin, and Minjeong knows, she is not stupid to define herself.

She likes Jimin.

It is now the third month since their project started, and Jimin had told the younger girl that they won't have any photography sessions this week, because assignments piling up for Jimin. Too piling up, to be honest.

Last week, as she took pictures of Jimin on that flower field, she couldn't see the shine in Jimin's eyes. She couldn't see the smile Jimin always showed her every time she took her pictures. Her eyes didn't squint as goofy as it should. Her mole did not smile too, and Minjeong hates the fact that she did not like this either.

She did not like to see Jimin like this.

So, on a Saturday evening, Minjeong had surprised the older girl that she would visit her apartment, which thankfully, was agreed to by Jimin.

A few knocks on Jimin's door sent them slightly open, and Minjeong hated it when she could feel her stomach start to churn painfully.

This is not the Yu Jimin she knew.

"Are you okay?" was the first thing that came out from Minjeong's lips the moment Jimin's figure came into her eyes. Baggy eyes, tired face, no smile. Jimin is not shining, Minjeong just knew. "I would be. Come in."

Minjeong hesitated as soon as she entered the older girl's apartment. Papers are everywhere on the floor even though Jimin starts to pick them up one by one, putting them aside. Unfinished snacks on her study table. Books with various markings. Seems like Jimin was too deep into studying, at the moment.

Jimin was the first one to sit down before she tiredly asked the younger girl. Her face didn't shine the way Minjeong liked. "So, you are here to choose the pictures, right?"

"Yeah," Minjeong simply nods as her brows furrow. Of course, it is an excuse. She only wanted to be here to see Jimin. Her eyes still stuck onto Jimin worriedly. "But, are you really okay, Jimin?"

"I'm fine. Just too many assignments, and I am tired. I didn't get much sleep these days," Jimin answered flat, opening her laptop as Minjeong handed her the memory card to her camera where she had all Jimin pictures in 'em.

Minjeong didn't say anything after that as Jimin opened through files of pictures. Minjeong had pointed out some, which she likes, and which she doesn't. It does not match Jimin's preferences sometimes.

"You look so good on this one, believe me!"

"No, Minjeong. I look like a teenager who smiling over a stupid flower. That looks weird."

"It is not weird!" Minjeong voice was stronger this time that she didn't realise that she somehow shouted at Jimin. Her actions startled Jimin before the older girl glared back at her angrily. "Why are you getting angry?"

"You smiling at the flowers ain't dumb, Jimin. You look damn pretty there, couldn't you see?"

Jimin's brows furrow at Minjeong's statements. Sure, whatever she said, but Minjeong wasn't supposed to be that angry. "I don't care, I am deleting this one."

"No!" Minjeong suddenly snatched away the laptop from Jimin. Her brows furrow deeper, "I like that pictures, you ain't deleting them!"

"It's my pictures, and I had the right to delete them or not!"

"It's the picture I've taken, and it is my memory card! I have the right to keep them there!"

"But, that's my picture! I have rights to—"

"But, I like you!" oh wait, that came out wrong. Now, Jimin turns quiet as Minjeong tries to make up for her mistakes with flushed cheeks. "No, I mean— What I mean is that— I like that picture, of you!"

It became worse when Jimin's cheeks started to blush as well. No words formed within her stunned lips as her eyes still darted at Minjeong in shock. Nevertheless, Minjeong tried to push it away. "G-gosh! I like that picture, that's it. Don't think... too much about it!" Minjeong aggressively taps the next button, trying so hard to hide her feelings from Jimin.

But, Jimin also wasn't a fool of herself.

She realized how by weeks and months, her relationship with Minjeong became civil. They didn't shout at each other anymore. No more pulling each other's hair or sarcasm on each other's faces. Jimin also realized how Minjeong would say yes to anything she had decided, and she realized how much Minjeong smiled every time they were together. Jimin didn't hate that fact she realized Minjeong was a great company for every photography session they had.

She could think of things, and she felt some, too.

Minjeong abruptly keeps pushing the next button to the next picture. With no doubt, Minjeong couldn't help but like every one of them. She didn't want to delete it at all. It is all Jimin, and she likes her so much.

But, despite Minjeong being sure enough about her feelings, Jimin was still in deep denial. She snatched her laptop again from Minjeong with a scowl, "I had rights on this project as well!"

She pushed the next button, and more next, next next. When she was about to delete another one of herself, Minjeong stopped her, again. "What is freaking wrong with you!"

"I told you not to delete them, I have the rights!"

Jimin ain't buying this any longer. She is too tired, too stressed with her piled-up work, her head might explode anytime soon, and Minjeong might be a poor human for her to let out her anger. Her time bomb is ticking. "Fine! You choose them! Take all of them, the pictures are yours! Get out of my sight, and we will never, ever, have any meet up again!"

Jimin's sudden outburst panics Minjeong. No, she didn't mean it that way. She didn't mean to make Jimin angry that way. It is just that every picture of Jimin is so precious, that Minjeong could stare at it the whole day, she couldn't delete any of them. "Jimin, that's not what I'm—"

Jimin swatted Minjeong's hand from trying to reach her. "Do not touch me! I had no business with you anymore! Mind your own, and get the fuck out of my apartment! You make me stressed out!"

"I couldn't delete them," Minjeong confessed, bold enough, strong with her statements.

"Just fucking delete them. There are tons of my pictures there which look like a fucking snorty kid being happy over skies and butterflies, smiling like a fool, bubblegum, cheesy, looking so ugly—"

"I like every single of them," Minjeong beats her once more, leaving the older girl speeches again. "What did you say?"

"I like... every single... of your pictures. I couldn't delete them. I like them so much."

Jimin thinks. She did. But she is too tired. She did not want to hope for anything. Being in a romantic relationship with Minjeong was the farthest thing she could ever think of between all her stressful work. "Don't make me assume things, Minjeong. If it is not what I think it is, you better take that memory card off my laptop and get your ass out of my apart—"

"I like you," Minjeong finally says it. God, she finally says it. She had been crushing on Jimin for more than two months now, and confessing to her made her heavy heart feel lighter. "I like you, Yu Jimin. From the first day I took your picture, I realised how your nature ass wasn't a hoax. How everything around you turns pretty when you are there. How you slowly became ethereal in my camera lenses every time I take your pictures. I couldn't help loving every—"

"We are rivals, Minjeong. Don't you remember?" Jimin tried to sort things out on her own, grabbing her hair in frustration, almost shedding tears. "You like humans, and I like nature. We are too different, and I—"

Minjeong walked closer. "But, the human I like is you," she pulled Jimin's hand off from her hair, holding it in her own. Now that Jimin dark hair starts to flow down again. "I really, really like you. I am sorry for hating you too much at first. I am wrong."

Jimin finally shed tears. No, it is not like she did not like this confession. She likes it. She likes it so much. God knows how much Jimin is in denial about her own feelings for Minjeong as well, but between all this stress, Minjeong is the one who would make her feel the others?

"I am stressed out, Minjeong," this time Jimin's voice softened. Her brows were tense as she stared back into Minjeong's sincere eyes. "I want to give you an answer, but I am stressing out now. I don't feel too good right now."

Minjeong shakes her head like she understands. She didn't need answers, because she already knew what Jimin would say. Her eyes tell everything. "I know it is a yes," Minjeong slowly put her hand behind Jimin's neck. "Tell me to stop if it is a no."

She leans in immediately, kissing Jimin's lips passionately as she means it. She had been dreaming about this for weeks, and now that Jimin had done nothing for Minjeong to stop their intimate kiss, Minjeong finally got her answer.

Jimin likes her too, and that is all that matters.

Minjeong placed another of her hands behind Jimin's neck as well, pulling her deeper into the kiss. Jimin meanwhile gives in, letting Minjeong delve into every part of her mouth, her hands slowly circling around Minjeong's waist, wanting more.

It took them another few seconds before Minjeong pulled out from the kiss, glaring deep into Jimin's eyes. "How bad has your work stressing you out?"

"A lot," Jimin breathed out heavily. She still has tons to do after Minjeong walks out of her apartment later. "I still have a lot."

"Have you ever taken a break this whole week? You look so bad, you know. I couldn't see the shine in your eyes," Minjeong sighed desperately. As much as Jimin wanted her peace, Minjeong just wanted to see that shine on Jimin's usual face again. Couldn't see it for a bit over than a week makes Minjeong sad as well.

Jimin shook her head gently. "I couldn't. I don't have time to take a break."

Minjeong never let Jimin's neck off her hands, still holding her close. Jimin did the same before Minjeong continued, "How about you take a day off today? It is Saturday. Just let me stay for the night, and I'll make you feel good for tomorrow."

Even if the idea was there in Jimin's mind, she still acted innocent, asking back with her low, deep, clueless, cute voice. "How?"

A smirk flashed on Minjeong's face as she moved her hands, cupping both Jimin's cheeks. She wiped the tears away from the skin, before she whispered assuringly, so soft and sweet. "I'll show you."

Minjeong dives in again, kissing Jimin's lips like she owns them, and she means it. Jimin never argues, and Minjeong knew by this time, she never would.

Minjeong had promised to make Jimin feel better, to make her feel good.

By the time night arrived, only god knows that Minjeong had made Jimin sing, twice. Clothes littered around Jimin's bed, and Minjeong was right with her words because the next morning, Jimin woke up with a smile on her face, so bright, that Minjeong was there, on the bed with her.

Jimin just knew, her days would be better now.

[[ of pictures and natures ]]
end