Do you wanna go out with me?
Do you wanna go out with me?
Do you wanna go out with me?
Do you wanna go out—
Minjeong shook her head and sighed.
"Stop." She mumbled to herself and tapped her cheeks.
"You okay?" She heard the girl beside her say.
Minjeong just nodded and smiled a little. "Y-yeah."
Jimin glanced at her before returning her gaze back to the road. "Don't worry, we're already near."
The short haired girl didn't say anything and just looked away.
Apparently, Jimin worded it wrong.
When she asked the question, she didn't mean it to sound like she's asking for a date. And it turned out that Minjeong was just panicking for nothing.
When Minjeong asked for the real reason why Jimin said that, the latter said she noticed Minjeong's grumpy face while they were eating and thought that Minjeong doesn't like the food.
So she decided to ask Minjeong if she wants to grab some pizza at a nearby fast food restaurant.
That's all and nothing else.
Minjeong wanted to say that it was not because of the food as to why she had that grumpy look on her face earlier. It was because of the rumors going on with her sister.
But she doesn't think she can ignore Jimin's thoughtfulness, so she agreed.
And now, she's sitting on the passenger seat of Jimin's car.
Never in her life did she expect that she would find herself inside Jimin's car. What's even more surprising, is that she hasn't passed out yet.
Jimin's fruity scent is literally invading her nostrils and she hasn't passed out yet.
What a big character development for Minjeong.
Now that she's thinking of it, she remembers Aeri's signature smell. She has this expensive peppermint fragrance that is suitable for both men and women.
'Would Jimin like that scent?'
Minjeong doesn't know how she smells because she doesn't really use perfume that often. But according to her sister and to Ningning, she smells like a baby.
Like baby powder or something. Minjeong doesn't really get it. They said it suits her, so she didn't mind it.
"We're here."
Minjeong was stopped from spacing out when she heard Jimin speak. She looked at her side, seeing that the girl beside her was already out of the car. She was about to unbuckle her seatbelt when the car door beside her opened, revealing a smiling Jimin.
Jimin crouched down and went closer to Minjeong, which made the latter freeze.
"I'm going to unbuckle your seatbelt, okay?"
"But I can do it—"
"Let me."
Minjeong couldn't bring herself to speak after that. Jimin is too close for liking. It also didn't help that Jimin seems to be taking her time unbuckling the seatbelt.
"Here you go." Jimin happily said and gently pulled Minjeong out of the car. "Let's go inside?"
"S-sure."
They went inside the fast food restaurant with Jimin still holding Minjeong's wrist. They looked around, noticing that there's a lot of customers ordering and eating.
"It's cramped in here." Jimin faced her. "Do you want to sit first?"
"No, it's fine. I'll go with you."
"You might get lost."
Minjeong's jaw dropped because of the statement. She narrowed her eyes on Jimin. "I'm not a kid!"
The girl chuckled. "You're so…small. People might not notice you."
Minjeong felt irritated, even if Jimin didn't look like she said it as an insult. She was about to rebut back when Jimin let go of her wrist.
"Come here."
The taller girl pulled Minjeong close, wrapping her arm around the former's shoulders.
"It's better like this."
Minjeong, once again, couldn't bring herself to speak.
And honestly, what should she even say about the situation?
That Jimin is too close to her? That Jimin's long arm is literally wrapped around her? That she could feel Jimin's warm breath on the side of her head?
She's actually malfunctioning, if that can explain her situation.
She's just getting dragged by Jimin's arm whenever a customer in front gets their order.
"So, what kind of pizza do you want to order?" Jimin asked while looking up at the menu board. She glanced at the girl beside her when she didn't hear her speak. "Minjeong?"
"H-huh?"
Jimin smiled. "What kind of pizza do you want?"
"Hawaiian pizza?"
"Okay, Let's add more. Garlic or pepperoni?"
"Garlic?"
"Sure."
It's now their turn and Minjeong just watched Jimin state their order to the lady in front of them.
They went to the side when Jimin was finished.
"It will be a take-out. We can't really eat here since it's too crowded."
Minjeong just nodded, a bit relieved that she can rest her mind peacefully after this.
"But we're going to eat inside the car, is it okay for you?"
The smaller girl looked at the taller one.
No.
No it's not.
It's definitely not okay.
Minjeong badly wants to say it.
She can't handle being with Jimin for more hours or else she will really get it bad.
She wants to stay away.
This girl beside her, is Aeri's crush.
It's good to spend time with your best friend's crush. But not when it's also your crush.
'This is not a good idea. But…'
Jimin. The girl is looking like she's anticipating to hear a 'yes' from Minjeong.
Can Minjeong really ignore that? Surely not.
And she hates that this girl in front of her can just literally do anything and Minjeong would say yes immediately.
The power she has on Minjeong is so dangerous. And it's crazy because she doesn't even realize that.
Minjeong will fall, without Jimin even knowing it.
____
"My baptismal name is Katarina, but it's too long so I prefer Karina more."
"Does anyone call you Karina?"
"Hmm…no. As far as I can remember, no one calls me that. It's always Jimin." Jimin answered. "You? Do you have an English name?"
Minjeong pondered while taking a bite of her pizza. She chewed it first before answering.
"I remember my Mom calling me Winter because of my fair skin. I don't like being called like that, though." She chuckled.
"What do you like being called by then?" Jimin asked.
"Uh…my friends call me Minjeongie. My family calls me Minjeong-ah. I think that's it."
"Can I add one?"
Minjeong looked at her. "Uhm, sure. What do you like to add?"
"…Mindoongie."
"Mindoongie?"
"Yeah, I think it's cute." Jimin giggled.
"Mindoongie…Mindoongie…" Minjeong mumbled, as if she's testing the new nickname. She then shrugged, realizing that it does sound cute.
She faced Jimin and asked, "How about you? What nicknames do you have?"
"My friends and family call me Jimin and nothing else."
"Oh…" Minjeong trailed off. "W-would you like to have one?"
Jimin smiled. "Really?"
"Yeah. I mean, you gave me one, so I think it's fair if I…give you one." Minjeong said, mumbling the last part. "B-but it's okay if you don't want to! It's fine, it doesn't really—"
"Cute."
"H-huh?"
"Nothing." Jimin shook her head. "It's okay. You can give me one. I'd love that."
"Oh, okay. Uhm," Minjeong looked up, seemingly thinking about what nickname would fit Jimin while the latter just stared at her.
"Yuji."
"Yuji?"
"It came from Yu Jimin. I just added the surname and the name. I think it's cute." Minjeong said before looking at her. "O-or not?"
Jimin chuckled. "It's cute, don't worry." She then smiled and patted Minjeong's head. "And from now on, I want you to call me Yuji." She said.
"Okay."
"I'll call you Mindeongie."
"Okay."
"It's only reserved for us two, okay?"
"…Okay."
And as Jimin eat her pizza happily, Minjeong couldn't help but to stare at her and think,
'Am I really going this far?'
____
Lisa looked at Jennie, then to Minjeong, then to Jennie again.
"You sure have some great…genes."
Minjeong glared at her. "Are you talking about our height?"
Lisa's eyes widened as she immediately shook her head. "N-no! I'm talking about how pretty you both are!"
"Make sure of that, Manoban." Jennie said, also glaring at Lisa.
The latter gulped.
Somewhat unfortunately, the rumors are true.
Jennie is indeed going out with Lisa. Minjeong just confirmed it when she went home last night and asked her sister about it.
And it's also the reason why Jennie is staying in Korea for a few days, because she planned to introduce Lisa to Minjeong.
She didn't think that the news would come to Minjeong first before she could even tell it, that's why she spent her night babying her grumpy sister.
And according to Jennie, they are still not official. Lisa is just courting her. She want Lisa to ask Minjeong's permission first because as Jennie said, her sister's opinion is important.
Minjeong really appreciates that, so she didn't continue sulking all day.
"Lisa Unnie."
"Y-yes sir—I mean, Ma'am?!"
"Do you really like my Unnie?"
"Yes, Ma'am!"
"Are you honest?"
"Yes, Ma'am!"
"Are you faithful?"
"Yes, Ma'am!"
"Are you a good cook?"
"Yes Ma—" Lisa froze. "Uhm, actually, no."
Minjeong turned to her sister. "I don't like her."
Jennie chuckled before pinching Minjeong's cheeks. "Her father is a chef."
"A good one?"
"Do you know Marco Brüschweiler?"
"The Thai chef?"
"Yeah, that's her Dad."
"Oh." Minjeong nodded slowly. "I have one more question to ask, Lisa Unnie."
"S-sure, go ahead."
"Do you like snacks?"
"Uhm," Lisa gave her a confused look. "I do. It's my favorite, actually."
"Okay. Good. You passed." Minjeong stood up from her seat and hugged Jennie. "I need to go now, Unnie. My friends are waiting."
"Okay. Do I need to send you there?"
"No need. I want to walk today." She then turned to Lisa and gave a stern look. "And you,"
"Y-yeah?"
"Take care of my Unnie, okay?"
"Of course, you can count on me." Lisa smiled brightly.
"Good." She took her bag from the other chair and waved goodbye to them. "I'll go now, bye!"
She then ran her way out, leaving the two inside the house.
"She's weird…but adorable." Lisa muttered, which made Jennie chuckle.
"She sure is."
____
"Minjeongie!"
That's what Minjeong heard as soon as she went past the gates and got inside the school. Aeri, Ryujin, and Yuna are sitting at a bench, waiting for her.
She approached them with a frown. "You're too loud, Ryujin."
"What's the problem about that?" The soccer player asked and looked around, seeing that a lot of students were staring at them, and she knows why.
Because Minjeong is with them.
Ryujin was about to call them out when Minjeong tapped her shoulder.
"Don't mind it."
"Seriously, what's their problem with you?" Aeri asked, a bit irritated also.
"They're just jealous." The short haired girl jokingly said.
"Hah! They should be!" Yuna exclaimed.
"It's a miracle that you all don't have training today." Minjeong told them.
"Well, Aeri here…" Ryujin trailed off as she hooked her arm around Aeri's shoulders. "…said she wanted to tell us something."
"We already know it, by the way. We're just waiting for you to come so we can tell you." Yuna said.
"Oh? What is it?"
Aeri was about to speak when someone suddenly shouted.
"Mindoongie!"
They all turned to look at the person, seeing Jimin and her friends walking towards them. A certain tall girl went to approach Minjeong with a smile.
"H-hey, Jimin."
Jimin playfully glared at her. "It's Yuji for you, silly."
"Yuji?"
Minjeong froze when she heard Aeri speak.
"You have nicknames for each other?" Jisu asked with a knowing smirk.
Jimin turned to face her friend. "Yes, we made it for each other yesterday."
"Yesterday?"
She heard Aeri's voice. Again. But this time, she could feel Aeri's gaze at her.
She smiled awkwardly.
'Shit, I'm dead.'