Winter Imagines - Blog Posts

this is such a beautiful ending to such a beautiful fic. good lord this a chef's kiss🤌🏻🤌🏻🤌🏻 i would frame this in a museum if i could 😭

𝑶𝒔𝒄𝒂𝒓 𝑾𝒊𝒏𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑻𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒔 - Part 5 (Final)

Winter x Fem!Reader

Word Count: ~9K

Pt 1 , Pt 2 , Pt 3, Pt 4, Pt 5

Synopsis: Kim Minjeong had heard all about the famous group of fuckboys and fuckgirls around campus. When Y/N Y/L/N, the leader of that group and student council president of the university, approached her with sweet smiles and soft gestures, Minjeong decided she would be the one playing her instead.

Except maybe Y/N took her relationship with Minjeong seriously and was never even a fuckgirl to begin with.

Tags: death, hospital setting, misunderstandings, run and chase, guitarist Minjeong, band!Aespa, doctor!reader

✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺

Y/N expected Minjeong to try even harder after the car ride.

She expected the flowers, food, and gifts to keep coming, and she expected the orange-haired singer to keep appearing in her life.

But no.

A week went by without any sign of life from Minjeong.

Then two weeks.

When a full month went by, Y/N assumed the singer had given up. She had bitten off more than she could chew, and when the reality of the situation finally hit her, she ran away and left the doctor behind once again.

Y/N didn't know whether to be happy or sad, so, as always, she focused on her work.

"Think I scared the carrot off?" Yana asked, trying to keep a proud smile at bay.

"Think you're pissing me off." Y/N didn't look up at her. She leaned back in her chair and focused on the document in front of her.

"You're such a sourpuss," Yana tutted, flicking Y/N's earlobe affectionately. Y/N swatted her hand away, but there was a hint of a smile on her face.

"And you're annoying," she retorted. "I'm busy, you know. I have things to do, papers to sign, patients to see."

Yana rolled her eyes, resting her hip against the edge of the desk.

"Or you're just trying to avoid going home."

Y/N almost scoffed. "Yeah, tell that to the eight-year-old diagnosed with a grade 2 astrocytoma."

Yana's expression softened momentarily, a hint of sorrow in her eyes.

"How is Yoonji doing?" she asked softly.

Y/N sighed, leaning back in her chair and rubbing a hand over her face. "As good as she can be," she said quietly. "It's serious, Yana, and she's young. The next few months..." Her voice trailed off, and she didn’t finish the sentence.

Yana was silent for a moment before speaking again.

"Maybe you should go home, Y/N, and come back with a refreshed mind. You've been here for almost three days now—it's not healthy."

Y/N shook her head, though weariness was evident in her eyes. The worry for her young patient weighed heavily on her shoulders, along with the mountain of paperwork on her desk.

"Can't. I have a surgery in two hours," she said softly, her voice betraying more exhaustion than she wanted to show.

Yana frowned, clearly worried. She knew how relentless Y/N could be when it came to her work, but she also knew the toll it took on her.

"Are you even listening to yourself? Three days without a proper break? You need to take care of yourself too. You’ll burn out at this rate."

She placed a hand on Y/N's shoulder, giving it a light squeeze. "Let someone else handle the surgery. Take a day off. Go home, take a bath, watch some trashy TV, and eat something other than hospital food for once."

Y/N sighed, knowing that Yana wouldn’t relent without an answer. She dropped her pen and turned in her chair to face her friend. "I'll do that after surgery, okay? Don’t worry so much about me. I'm fine."

Yana raised an eyebrow skeptically. "After this surgery, you'll just find another reason to stay. And then another after that. I know you, Y/N."

She crossed her arms, fixing Y/N with a stern look. "You need rest. And if you won’t take it voluntarily, I’ll make you."

Y/N shook her head, smiling faintly as she held up her pinky between them. "No, this is the last one, I promise. My schedule’s clear for tomorrow. I won’t set foot in this hospital."

Yana huffed but couldn’t resist the pinky swear. "Fine," she said, linking her pinky with Y/N's. "But if I catch you here tomorrow, I’ll knock you out and drive you home myself."

She let go of their pinkies and made her way toward the door. "Come say bye before you leave?"

Y/N couldn’t help but smile softly and nod. "I will."

As her friend finally left, she refocused on the documents in front of her. She was supposed to be analyzing the best procedure to adopt with the little girl who still didn’t know she had cancer, but it was a tricky situation. The cancer was advanced, and the only possible surgeries were incredibly risky given the girl's age. Y/N had been trying to come up with a solution for days, but nothing seemed viable.

Y/N sighed and ran a frustrated hand through her hair, not hearing the soft knock at the door or the quiet footsteps coming inside.

Minjeong slipped into the office, a smile spreading across her face at the sight before her. Y/N just looked so captivating when she was focused—her brow slightly furrowed, her bottom lip caught between her teeth. Minjeong had missed her.

"You look stressed," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Y/N's head shot up at the sound, her eyes widening in surprise. Minjeong stood in the doorway, her smile soft and warm.

Y/N’s heart gave a sharp thump against her chest. It had been a month since she’d seen the singer. Seeing her again now, after a month of silence, knocked the breath right out of her.

She quickly gathered herself. "What are you doing here?" she asked, her tone coming out a bit more brusque than intended.

Minjeong didn’t let the tone bother her. She approached and took a seat on the other side of the desk.

"I missed you, Y/N," she said softly, pulling a small gift from her pocket. It was a golden necklace with a small heart pendant. "Got this in Berlin...made me think of you."

Y/N’s gaze flickered to the necklace in Minjeong’s hand, her heart twisting at the sight. Her eyes then lifted to meet Minjeong’s, taking in her soft smile and familiar features.

She wanted to stay mad, to tell Minjeong to leave her office and leave her alone. But she couldn’t seem to find the words.

After a few moments of silence, Y/N finally spoke. "You've been gone a month," she said, cursing the slight waver in her voice.

Minjeong nodded, her eyes drifting away from Y/N's. "Yeah, it was the last leg of our tour. We're supposed to lay low for a while now—write songs for our new album and start the whole recording process again." She suddenly looked up at Y/N, her eyes lighting up with excitement. "Did you like the gifts I sent you while I was away?"

Y/N frowned in confusion. "What gifts?"

Minjeong's excitement immediately deflated, replaced by a look of disappointment.

"What do you mean? I sent you a letter before leaving. And I sent you gifts after every performance. Bouquets, letters, chocolates..." Her voice trailed off as the realization hit her. "You... you didn't get any of it?"

Y/N shook her head. "Where did you send them to?"

"The hospital," Minjeong replied, her eyebrows furrowing. "I put your name on it."

Y/N paused, an amused expression flickering across her face.

"Right… all gifts sent to the hospital are automatically taken to the donations office. Come to think of it, that’s probably why the kiddos in the pediatric department were walking around with flowers all month."

Minjeong paled at the thought, her eyes widening in horror.

"Shit," she whispered, her voice filled with disbelief. "All this time… I thought you were ignoring my gifts, and you... didn't even get any of them?"

A mixture of guilt and embarrassment washed over her. She had been so sure the doctor was rejecting her gifts.

Y/N smiled slightly, taking a moment to look Minjeong up and down as if to assess her well-being. Touring was incredibly taxing on people, but Minjeong looked okay. Tired, but okay.

"How was Berlin?" Y/N found herself asking without a second thought. Once she caught on to what had just happened, she inwardly cursed herself.

She wasn't supposed to show interest. She wasn't supposed to be interested.

Minjeong's initial embarrassment began to fade as she picked up on Y/N's unintended slip. She leaned forward slightly, her eyes softening with amusement. "Berlin was beautiful. Busy, but... beautiful," she said, her voice quieter now, almost as if she were trying not to break the fragile moment they were sharing.

Y/N did her best to appear disinterested. The subtle way she kept her gaze on Minjeong, how her hands stilled on the desk, and the way her jaw clenched when Minjeong smiled—all of it gave her away.

"It sounds like it," Y/N replied, keeping her tone neutral. She quickly moved to change the subject, leaning back in her chair and crossing her arms. "At least the gifts went to someone who actually appreciated them."

Minjeong smiled at the small jab. "I'll be more careful next time. But for what it's worth, none of this would've happened if you just gave me your number."

Y/N chuckled, shaking her head as she returned to her documents. "I'm not giving you my number."

"Why not?" Minjeong asked, her voice laced with a mixture of amusement and disappointment. She leaned back in her seat, watching as Y/N worked.

She decided right then and there to reach for her purse as well. She pulled out her phone and notebook as if it were the most natural thing in the world, leaving them on Y/N's desk as she stole one of the doctor's pens.

"'Cause you're perfectly capable of stalking me without it," Y/N declared, watching Minjeong with a raised eyebrow.

She was making herself at home, wasn't she?

Minjeong smirked, rolling her eyes as she settled comfortably into the seat.

"I prefer the term 'determined pursuit,'" she said, opening her notebook and focusing on it.

Y/N watched her for a while and eventually gave up with a head shake. Figuring the singer out wasn't worth her time, but curiosity got the best of her.

"What the hell are you doing?"

Minjeong looked up from her notebook, a sly smile playing on her lips. "Working, of course," she said, her tone as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "Figured I'd write better songs with my muse in front of me."

Y/N raised an eyebrow, feeling a mix of annoyance and something else she didn't want to name.

"Just don't turn everyone against me this time around."

Minjeong's smile quickly vanished. She found herself hissing slightly and avoiding Y/N's eyes. "I never meant to turn anyone against you, you know? I... I couldn't have predicted that everyone would... react that way. And I was just so angry. I was an asshole. I'm sorry."

Y/N's expression didn’t change at the apology. Again, she told herself she didn’t need it. It had been too long; she had moved on. But even then, her younger self felt a little satisfied at finally getting the apology she had desperately craved.

She returned to her work without saying anything else. This wasn’t about Minjeong; she had a lot to do.

Minjeong pushed her feelings of disappointment and sadness aside to focus on her work. She figured she had to take things slow with Y/N. Overwhelming and annoying her was not the solution, so she opted for small, more discreet moments.

Also, she really did need inspiration for her new songs, and there was no one who inspired her more than the doctor.

So, the two got to work.

Minjeong glanced up from her writing, stealing glances at Y/N in between verses. She couldn't deny how comforting it was to be in the same space as her, even in silence.

Y/N also didn’t seem to mind Minjeong’s company. She’d never admit it out loud, but it felt good having the singer around again. She liked the attention and care that the orange-haired woman seemed to have for her. Sitting in front of her again reminded her of when they were younger, studying late into the night at the university’s library.

Nothing good really lasts forever, though, and soon Y/N’s pager rang.

It was time for her to prepare for surgery.

Minjeong watched her stand up and quickly got up to follow.

"Are we finally going home?" she smiled.

Y/N rolled her eyes softly. "You're going home. I have surgery."

"Oh." Minjeong's mouth fell open in slight surprise. She shrugged and settled back down in her chair. "I'll wait for you to come back, then."

Y/N halted her movements and stared at Minjeong. "It's a 5 to 7 hour surgery."

Minjeong didn't budge. "Even better. You'll be too tired when you come back, so I'll drive you home."

The doctor gaped at her. Minjeong was being so damn stubborn; it was almost as infuriating as it was endearing.

"You can't just camp out in my office for 7 hours," she snapped. "Go home. I don't need a babysitter."

Minjeong's smile widened at Y/N's outburst. She knew she was pushing her luck, but she couldn't help herself. There was something about Y/N that made her want to poke and prod and push.

She crossed her arms over her chest, raising her chin in a defiant gesture. "Do you have to complain about every nice thing I do? You'll be dead tired; I'll take you home."

Y/N's eyes narrowed as she looked at Minjeong. The girl was getting under her skin so easily, and the worst part was that a part of her actually enjoyed their arguments.

Her pager rang again, and she sighed. "I don't have time for this, Minjeong. Stop playing and go home."

She gathered her belongings and left, convinced that Minjeong wouldn't have the patience to wait that long. She figured the singer would last fifteen minutes alone in the office before heading home.

That thought was the reason why Y/N's eyes widened when she returned to her office eight hours later.

There had been complications in the surgery, so it took longer than expected.

Y/N had been certain that Minjeong would have left a long time ago. The sight of the singer laying on her couch, sleeping soundly, both surprised and frustrated her.

Y/N stood in the doorway, watching Minjeong. She wanted to feel angry, annoyed even, at the girl for sticking around all this time. But instead, a pang of concern and fondness took over her chest. Minjeong had just returned from tour; she should be resting well at home.

Y/N quietly walked over to the couch and stood in front of the singer, contemplating whether to wake her or just let her rest.

With a sigh, she walked to her closet and pulled out the fluffy blanket she usually used whenever she stayed back at the hospital. She covered Minjeong with it, watching her turn and sigh in her sleep before returning to her desk to start on her reports.

Y/N settled into her work, trying to ignore the soft sound of Minjeong's breathing in the background. It wasn't easy to concentrate, but she forced herself to focus. She'd get everything done and then deal with the singer, who’d probably wake up any moment now.

But Minjeong slept on, undisturbed, for the rest of the night. Y/N had just finished her tenth report, and the sun was high in the sky when she heard stirring from the couch.

Minjeong groaned, her eyelashes fluttering softly as she slowly opened her eyes. She sat up, a small yawn escaping her lips as she took in her surroundings.

Momentarily disoriented, her mind still foggy with sleep, her gaze fell upon Y/N, who sat at her desk surrounded by piles of paperwork.

The memory of last night came rushing back, and she felt a pang of guilt in her chest.

Clearing her throat, her voice still groggy from sleep, she said, "You were supposed to wake me up."

"You were supposed to go home," Y/N replied without looking up from her report, letting out a yawn. Yana would kill her if she knew she was still at the hospital.

"Why? So you could stay here all night and not sleep? I won't let you, doc."

Minjeong's voice was firm, but there was a hint of concern in her eyes as she observed the exhaustion evident on Y/N's face.

"I was worried about you." Minjeong stood up, her eyebrows furrowing as she walked toward Y/N. With a gentle touch, she reached for her pen. "Still am."

Y/N rolled her eyes at the gesture and sighed heavily. Truth be told, she was exhausted. She could barely remember the last time she slept, and her original plan had been to go home after her surgery. But it’s not like she could just leave Minjeong alone in her office, could she?

"Can you please just go home?"

"I will," Minjeong smiled. She almost felt bad at the relieved sigh that escaped Y/N's lips. "Just as soon as you do the same."

Y/N pursed her lips, her expression a mix of frustration and exhaustion. "You're impossible, you know that?"

Minjeong's stubbornness was both maddening and endearing, and Y/N found herself caught in this strange push and pull. Part of her wanted to yell and demand Minjeong go home, but another part quietly appreciated her persistence.

Minjeong smiled.

This was a tightrope for her to walk, and she really didn't want to mess up. "I'm in love with you, Y/N, and I've been trying really, really hard to make you like me back, so I usually wouldn't be this annoying. But I'm standing my ground on this—you need to rest."

Y/N's breath hitched slightly at Minjeong's confession. It felt surreal to hear those words after all those years. A wave of emotions washed over her, bringing back memories she had buried deep in her heart.

"Why do you..." Y/N started, her voice faltering slightly. Why did Minjeong still like her? Especially after everything she had done?

"I don't need you, Minjeong..." Her voice was firm. "I don't need you, and I don't want you, so for the love of God, can you leave me alone?"

Minjeong's smile faltered for a moment, her heart sinking at the harsh words.

She took a step closer, her expression a mix of vulnerability and determination.

"I know," she whispered, her voice choked with emotion. "I know you don't want me, and I know I don't deserve your forgiveness. But I'm not leaving. Not until I've proven to you how sorry I am."

"You can prove it by leaving me alone and not coming back." Y/N couldn't look at Minjeong—not when the singer was looking at her like that.

So she tried going back to her laptop.

Stepping forward, Minjeong reached over and gently closed the screen. Her hand landed on Y/N's, silently conveying her determination.

"I'm not leaving you alone when you're pushing yourself this hard. You need rest. You need to take care of yourself too, you know."

Y/N let out a deep, frustrated sigh, her shoulders sagging in exhaustion. She wanted to argue, to tell Minjeong to go away and leave her alone, but the weight of the past few days was catching up to her.

She reluctantly closed her eyes, her head drooping backwards against her chair. She knew she was too tired to fight.

"You're infuriating, you know that?" she mumbled, her voice betraying some vulnerability.

"Yeah, I know." Minjeong whispered in response.

She knew she was treading on thin ice, pushing boundaries she had no right to cross. But there was something about Y/N that brought out a protective side in her, and she found herself unable to simply walk away.

"I'm gonna take you home," she quietly suggested, her thumb gently caressing the back of Y/N's hand, "and you'll sleep for the next two days. Deal?"

"Whatever." Y/N huffed softly, pulling her hand away from Minjeong's to stand up. "This changes nothing between us."

Minjeong hid her smile at Y/N's words.

Of course, she didn't expect anything to change overnight, but this was a small win.

She nodded. "I know it doesn't, love. Come on, let's go before you collapse from overwork."

She walked around the desk, gently placing a hand on Y/N's back to help her take her coat off.

Y/N was too tired to put up much of a fight. She allowed herself to be assisted, her body feeling heavy with exhaustion.

As they walked out of the office, she found herself leaning into Minjeong's touch more than she cared to admit. The fatigue had left her defenses down, and she struggled to keep up her usual collected demeanor.

The ride home was smooth, allowing Y/N to lean her head against the window, her eyelids drooping with every passing minute.

"I really wish you were more awake right now. Last time I drove you home, I nearly ran over two people. Look at how much I've improved," Minjeong tried to joke.

Y/N let out a small, tired chuckle. "You were atrocious." She shifted in her seat, subconsciously seeking more comfort.

The rest of the car ride was relatively quiet, with only the occasional sound of the car's engine and the soft hum of the music from the radio filling the silence. Y/N's eyelids grew heavier with each passing mile, and she found herself fighting against the pull of sleep.

As they neared her house, Minjeong glanced over at her, taking note of her drooping head and sleepy eyes. She stifled a smile, finding the sight incredibly endearing.

"Hey," she said softly, breaking the silence. "We're almost home. Hang in there a little longer, okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine." Y/N snapped herself out of her sleep-induced state with a shake of her head.

She looked around the street to keep herself awake, raising an eyebrow at how well Minjeong still remembered the way to her house.

"You still live here, right?" Minjeong asked as she pulled up to the familiar mansion. "Because this is about to be really embarrassing if you don't."

"I sold the house five years ago."

Minjeong's eyes widened. She was about to put her car into park but quickly backtracked, starting to pull out of the driveway. "Shit, I'm so sorry!"

Y/N chuckled. "I'm joking, I'm joking, Minjeong."

The singer let out a sigh of relief, stopping the car once more. She shot a half-hearted glare at Y/N, who was smirking in the passenger seat.

"Not cool, you know?" she muttered, parking the car again. "I swear, I'll punch you next time you scare me like that."

As she turned off the ignition, she couldn't help but notice how much lighter the tension between them had become.

"You're exhausting," she said with a huff. "Let's go inside, come on."

But Y/N quickly shook her head, reaching out for the door handle to leave the car. "You're not coming in."

A pout immediately reached Minjeong's lips. She leaped out of the car and ran to the other side, hoping to at least help Y/N close the door. "I—why not?! I wanna come in."

Y/N dismissed her attempt with a wave of her hand and closed the door herself. She had been nice enough for one day. "Well, I don't want you coming in."

"Why—" Minjeong reached out to wrap her hand around the small of Y/N's back and lead the way to the front porch. "Are you sure you'll manage to get to your room? There are a lot of stairs to climb!"

Y/N, who was trying hard to remain upright, nodded. "I can manage."

They finally arrived at the front porch, and Minjeong watched with a resigned sigh as Y/N opened the door. "I'll be here tomorrow morning to take you to work."

"There's no need for that." Y/N dismissed her again.

"But you left your car at the hospital!"

"I have other cars, Minjeong."

"What about the one you left at the hospital?"

"I'll have someone pick it up."

Minjeong rolled her eyes at Y/N's stubbornness. Why did she have to make things so difficult?

"Just let me help you," she insisted, placing a gentle hand on Y/N's arm. "You look like you're about to collapse any second now. It won't kill you to let me walk you to your room and make sure you actually get there in one piece."

Y/N almost smiled. Almost.

"Don't push it." She threw Minjeong one last glance and walked inside her house, closing the door before Minjeong could even take a peek inside.

So the singer was left standing on the front porch, a smile rising to her face as she slowly shook her head and walked back to her car.

And so, with Minjeong now back at home, a new routine was formed.

The singer would visit Y/N at the hospital from time to time—always careful not to cross the line and always mindful of Y/N's boundaries.

Even then, it was months and months of rejections. If Minjeong put aside a penny each time Y/N dismissed her, she'd probably have enough to by herself one of those good, expensive ice creams from Ben & Jerry's.

Sometimes Y/N was nicer and conversed with her a little. Other times she looked at her face, rolled her eyes and let out a small "Out of my way" as she walked by. It depended on her mood, really.

It was an eye-opening experience that made Minjeong realise she needed to become Y/N's friend first and then move on to something more personal.

So she gave up on the expensive gifts and took her time simply being herself and being there for Y/N. Some days, she was able to spend more time with the doctor; other days, she essentially sat in Y/N's office alone for hours on end as the doctor worked on her patients. She was fine with whatever, anyway. She knew that just being at the hospital made an impact on Y/N. She could see that Y/N was becoming more accustomed to her presence—their tense bond had turned into somewhat of a friendship.

It was a painstakingly slow process but it was finally beginning to bear its fruits.

"So then, what are we doing after that?"

Minjeong perked up at the familiar voice. She was leaving Y/N's office after another day of not seeing the doctor much, but then she turned and saw her—walking down the hallway alongside a little bald girl wearing a beanie.

"Then... then I want to play Lego with you!" the kid announced, looking up at Y/N like the doctor hung the stars in the sky for her.

"You do? No way!" Y/N played along, completely unaware of Minjeong's eyes on her. "What Lego should we build first?"

The sight of Y/N interacting with the little girl was endearing—a side of the doctor that Minjeong had never seen before.

She watched silently from the doorway, a soft smile on her face as she observed the exchange. It was clear that Y/N had a soft spot for children, which only added to her appeal in Minjeong's eyes.

The little girl seemed to ponder her options for a moment, her face twisted in deep concentration. Finally, she pointed a finger in the air, exclaiming, "The Avengers Tower! We should build the tower first!"

Y/N feigned shock, her eyes widening as she responded in an equally enthusiastic tone, "The Avengers Tower? Oh wow, that sounds like a fantastic idea! I'll buy it and bring it to you next week."

"Don't listen to her; the Avengers helicarrier is so much cooler to build."

The little girl looked up, eyes widening when she saw Minjeong standing in front of her. She froze, quickly holding on to Y/N's coat and hiding behind her legs.

Y/N looked down as the little girl clung to her, then followed her line of sight to where Minjeong was standing.

She shot the singer a slightly amused look, raising an eyebrow as if to say, Are you just gonna stand there and watch?

Minjeong gulped, not expecting the reaction. She wanted to make a good impression on Y/N.

Maybe the kid was just very, very shy, and Minjeong scared her?

She was such an idiot.

She turned to Y/N with a helpless look, searching for some assistance, but the doctor did nothing but reach down to affectionately pat the kid's head before smirking at her.

"Hello..." Minjeong gulped nervously, "I'm Minjeong."

The little girl peeked out from behind Y/N's legs, her eyes wide with amazement. She looked up at Minjeong again, and a small squeak left her lips before she ran down the hallway, away from their view.

Y/N chuckled to herself, knowing that Yoonji knew her way around the hospital better than some doctors, and turned to Minjeong again.

The singer's heart was heavy with guilt. "I'm so sorry, I—I didn't want to scare her."

Y/N smiled, walking past Minjeong to enter her office. "Don't flatter yourself; you couldn't scare a mosquito if you tried, Minjeong."

Minjeong huffed in fake annoyance, following Y/N. "Excuse me? I could totally scare a mosquito. I could scare a whole army of mosquitoes."

She sat down on the sofa, pouting as she looked at the doctor, who was busy tidying up some papers on her shelf. "I scared that kid. I'm terrifying," she finished.

"You didn't scare her, you idiot." Y/N chuckled. "Yoonji's a fan of your band. She was freaking out because you're her favorite."

Shr reached for a small white paper and handed it to Minjeong along with a pen. "Sign that for her; she'll be happy."

"She's..." She paused for a moment, as if processing the information, before her eyes widened. "She's a fan? Of... me?"

Suddenly, all her worries about scaring the kid disappeared, replaced by a sense of unexpected joy. A small smile tugged at the corners of her lips as she wrote down a cute note on the paper and signed it.

"Wait... did you just call me an idiot?"

She playfully threw a pillow in Y/N's direction.

Y/N was barely nudged, back turned to Minjeong as she looked through her documents. "Did you just undermine your popularity?"

"No, I—"

Minjeong paused, realizing that she had indeed subconsciously downplayed herself. "Love, I'm a big deal, you know. Don't make me throw another pillow at you."

Y/N chuckled, amused by the antics, and picked the pillow up from the ground to throw it back at Minjeong.

Minjeong caught the pillow with dramatic flair, clutching it to her chest as if it were a precious treasure. With a smug smile, she leaned back on the sofa and playfully tossed the pillow from one hand to the other.

She watched Y/N with a curious gaze. The doctor seemed engrossed in her work, reminding Minjeong that they were in a hospital, after all.

"You should come to my show next week."

Y/N finally looked up from her documents, raising an eyebrow at the singer.

"Your show?" she repeated, not bothering to hide the hint of disbelief in her voice. "Why on earth would I waste my time watching you flaunt around on stage?"

Despite her sharp words, there was a flicker of playfulness in Y/N's eyes.

Minjeong shrugged, recognizing the teasing in Y/N's voice. "'Cause... I'm pretty hot."

She chuckled when Y/N rolled her eyes, standing up from the couch to approach the doctor. "And also because we are always meeting up here at the hospital, and you're always stuck on 'super hot and busy neurosurgeon' mode, so I don't get to see the more relaxed you."

Y/N rolled her eyes again, though she couldn't help but let out a short, amused chuckle at Minjeong's words.

She leaned back in her chair, a smirk playing on her lips. "So... you want to see me more relaxed and think a crowd full of screaming kids is the ideal place for that?"

"Yes," Minjeong replied bluntly, her grin widening at Y/N's sarcastic response. "I think seeing you amongst the crowd, swaying to my music and having a good time, would be very relaxing for me."

She perched herself on the edge of the desk, facing Y/N and leaning in slightly. "Come on, just humor me for one night. It won't kill you."

"It will kill my ears," Y/N said, not looking up at Minjeong. "And my self-esteem. Your bandmates despise me."

Minjeong rolled her eyes, gently smacking Y/N's shoulder. "They don't despise you. They did—but not anymore. I told them about... you know? The whole bet thing being fake. That's why they were so sheepish when they saw you."

Y/N looked up again, a hint of surprise in her eyes. "You... told them?"

She tried to keep her face neutral, but the revelation was unexpected. Despite her best efforts, a part of her warmed at the thought of Minjeong defending her.

She quickly masked it with her usual sardonic tone. "Why on earth would you do that?"

Minjeong shrugged nonchalantly, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. "They're my friends, and they were always giving you a hard time."

She leaned back slightly, her eyes fixed on Y/N's face, trying to read her emotions. There was something in the doctor's reaction that didn't quite match her snarky words.

Y/N shrugged. "Doesn't matter; it's not like we ever saw each other again. They could've gone their entire lives not knowing about it."

Minjeong couldn't help but scoff at the doctor's nonchalant attitude. "Stop downplaying it. You know it's not that simple."

She reached out, gently placing a hand on Y/N's arm.

Y/N tensed slightly at the unexpected touch, her eyes darting down to where Minjeong's hand rested on her forearm. She swallowed, trying to ignore the small flutter in her stomach. Minjeong was messing with her head.

"I don't care what they feel," she muttered, not meeting the singer's gaze.

Minjeong noticed the brief stiffness in Y/N's body and the way her gaze flicked away. She pressed on, her touch light but her words firm. "But I do."

She shifted, moving a little closer to the doctor. "And I would really, really appreciate it if you could come to support me... as my friend. Please? You could even bring that crazy nurse with you or maybe Minji?"

Y/N couldn't help but smile. She knew what Minjeong was doing—giving her an easy out and trying to make her feel as comfortable with the situation as possible. She appreciated it, looking up at Minjeong with a glint in her eyes.

"I haven't talked to Minji in seven years."

Minjeong's eyebrows shot up in slight surprise. "Seven years?" she repeated, her initial surprise giving way to curiosity.

"Why?"

As they spoke, Minjeong was painfully aware of how close they were now, her hand still on Y/N's arm. The doctor's reaction to her touch was becoming a pattern—a subtle shiver, a slight tension in her shoulders. It intrigued Minjeong.

"Well... she let me have a one-night stand with the pretty blonde that completely destroyed my reputation and love life to go make out with another girl." Y/N shrugged lightly. Her instincts told her to downplay the entire thing and not turn it into a big deal, but she had been hurt, and it was a feeling she couldn't easily shove aside. "Not very best friend-like, is it?"

Minjeong's cheeks flushed, caught off guard by Y/N's bluntness. "Um... yeah, that's... fair," she stuttered out, still trying to process the new information. "What about Niki and Yeonjun?"

Y/N tensed up even more.

She knew the entire drama culminated from the two boys being absolute idiots, but they had once been her family. The entire group was incredibly tight-knit. They looked after one another and protected each other. Maybe that's why the entire bet felt like such a betrayal to her—why she took such drastic measures.

"Also cut them off. They tried to apologize countless times, but I guess I just shut myself off after what happened. I didn't know who I could trust, so I trusted no one." Her voice had unconsciously quieted down as she looked down at her own fingers. When she realized what she was doing, she cleared her throat and straightened her body to speak in a firm voice. "Then we all graduated, and I never saw them again."

Minjeong felt her heart drop at the vulnerability in Y/N's voice. It was a side of the doctor she'd never seen before—a side that was raw, vulnerable, and a stark contrast to her usual cool demeanor.

She moved even closer. "I'm really sorry that all happened to you."

She paused for a second, taking a deep breath. "And I'm also sorry that I... that I was part of it."

Y/N would usually have disregarded the entire apology. She would have told Minjeong that it didn't matter, that it happened a long time ago and that she didn't care anymore, that she had moved on.

But this time, she couldn't stop the emotions bubbling up in her throat. She swallowed, her composure faltering ever so slightly as a pang of vulnerability took over.

Minjeong gulped at the silence and pressed on, taking it as Y/N finally listening to her and giving her a chance to properly apologize.

"I shouldn't have written that song, and I shouldn't have let everyone turn against you. It was my fault, and I didn't protect you when it was the least I could've done. I really, really am sorry, Y/N."

Y/N's face softened at the singer's sincere apology. She felt herself resisting it, but the vulnerability and genuine regret in Minjeong's eyes gave her a strange urge to reach out and comfort the singer. She fought against it, cleared her throat, and averted her gaze.

She knew she should resist, protect herself, and keep up her front. But as she looked up at Minjeong again, her resolve faded.

"I forgive you, Minjeong," she muttered, her voice uncharacteristically soft.

Minjeong exhaled, a wave of relief washing over her. "You do?"

The singer felt her heart flutter at Y/N's forgiveness. The soft look in the doctor's eyes, the way her voice had lost its usual sharpness—it all felt like a weight being lifted off her shoulders. Hell, it felt like more than that; she felt like she could finally breathe properly again.

Y/N nodded, reaching out for Minjeong's hand to play with her long fingers. It was a good distraction. "It wasn't your fault that you overheard Niki and Yeonjun. I do wish you would've talked to me before deciding to play me, but... I understand that you were hurt."

"Thank you..." Minjeong murmured, biting her lip to contain her growing smile. "And for what it's worth, I never really played you. I was just falling for you more and more every day and pretending I wasn't."

Y/N's breath caught in her throat at the singer's words, the gentle confession catching her off guard. She looked up, meeting Minjeong's eyes—a mixture of surprise and something else in her gaze.

"You weren't?" she managed to say, her voice slightly breathless.

She was suddenly hyper-aware of their close proximity, the way Minjeong was practically sitting on her table, leaning down to be closer to her, and the way her own hands were still playing with Minjeong's fingers. Everything felt overwhelmingly intimate.

Minjeong chuckled softly, a small, self-conscious sound.

"No," she admitted, her eyes glued to the way Y/N's hands played with hers. "I fell head over heels for you. Then I heard about the bet and told myself that I could get over my feelings after playing you too."

She paused for a moment, still watching their joined hands. It felt so natural, so comfortable.

"It scared me when all that time went by, and I still couldn't get you out of my head," she added in a whisper, the confession heavy with all the emotions she'd been holding back. "That's why I'm so adamant about getting you back... I know you're the one for me, Y/N."

Y/N felt her heart skip a beat at the singer's words. The intimacy of their proximity and the way Minjeong was looking at her sent a shiver down her spine. It was like the world around them had faded, and all that existed in that moment were the two of them.

She swallowed hard, her fingers still wrapped around Minjeong's. The confession was a lot to take in, and it took her a few moments to find her voice.

"Is that so?"

Minjeong hummed softly, smiling as her eyes dropped to Y/N's lips. She found herself unconsciously leaning in, wanting nothing more than to taste their softness for the first time in so long. She was close—so incredibly close—already closing her eyes as pure ecstasy began to take over her body. But then two hands landed on her shoulders and gently pushed her back.

"You keep those lips away from me, Kim Minjeong," Y/N chastised, an unwanted smile slowly taking over her face.

Minjeong pouted, her eyes snapping open at Y/N's words. "But I want you so bad," she protested, her tone whining and petulant.

She was just millimeters away from Y/N's face, her heart racing in her chest. The closeness, the way Y/N's hands felt on her shoulders, the way they were both smiling—it was all too much and not enough at the same time. There was no doubt in Minjeong's mind that Y/N could feel her racing pulse under her touch.

"That's too bad." Y/N patted her arm and fully pulled her back. "You'll have to work more for it."

Minjeong huffed softly. "I've been working so hard, though."

"Work harder then," Y/N taunted, crossing her arms and leaning back in her chair. Her heart was racing, and her hands were trembling, but she was not going to let Minjeong win so easily. Not this time.

Minjeong nodded, reaching out to pull a strand of hair behind Y/N's ear. She couldn't complain; her heart was already practically bursting with happiness at the forgiveness she had been given. She wouldn't push her luck too much.

"Will you at least come to my show then?" she asked in a soft voice.

Y/N had to fight hard not to shiver under Minjeong's touch and her soft tone. Damn, she had missed her so much.

She paused for a moment, eyeing Minjeong critically before replying. "If I say yes, will you stop pestering me?"

It was a genuine question. Y/N had been enjoying their banter—their playful back-and-forth—but she also had Yoonji's case in the back of her mind and needed to focus on it.

"Yes, I will stop pestering you," Minjeong promised with a smile.

She took Y/N's silence as a reluctant agreement, her excitement flaring up within her again.

She chuckled, giving Y/N's shoulder a firm slap. "You better keep your word!"

Minjeong grabbed Y/N's phone from the table, unlocked it by pointing the face lock at her, and quickly sent herself a message to finally have her number.

Then, without warning, she leaned down and placed a kiss on the top of Y/N's head before leaving the office.

She was absolutely ecstatic to finally have Y/N at one of her shows. So much so that she sent all the details of the gig that same night, a full week before the concert.

On the day of the show, Minjeong couldn't keep her feet from bouncing with each step she took. She was as excited as she was nervous, knowing that this was a big step in their relationship but also feeling the pressure of having Y/N watching her.

She asked her makeup artist to prepare her with even more attention than usual, talked with her stylist to make sure her outfit was on point, planned the entrance access with her security to give Y/N no trouble going backstage, and gave it her all during practice to ensure everything would go perfectly.

The girls noticed her newfound excitement but didn't comment on it, simply smiling at how happy she was.

But that happiness was whipped away when the show started and ended without any sight of Y/N.

Minjeong tried texting her. She called countless times. Then she gave up on waiting for nothing, an hour after the show ended.

Minjeong stepped inside the familiar hospital at one in the morning, no trace of her usual smile present on her face. She was angry, hurt, and confused—a tangled mess she had difficulty dealing with.

When she reached the office, she didn't bother knocking. She pushed open the door to find Y/N crouched down outside on the balcony. Y/N was facing away from Minjeong, but the singer could see her shoulders heaving up and down.

Minjeong stepped forward, the anger quickly giving way to concern.

"Y/N?" she called out softly, her voice cracking in the still night air.

Y/N's shoulders were shaking, her breaths coming out in strangled gasps. It wasn't a sound or sight Minjeong was familiar with—not when it came to the woman who was always so composed.

She stepped closer, crouching down beside her.

"Hey," she said quietly. "Hey, are you alright?"

"I-I couldn't— I couldn't do it, Minjeong."

"What do you mean?"

Minjeong reached out, gently placing a hand on Y/N's back and rubbing small circles.

"What's wrong?"

Y/N did her very best to compose herself. She hated that Minjeong was seeing her like this, but right at that moment, she couldn't help it. She could barely breathe properly, much less control her tears.

"She died. I couldn't—I couldn't save her. I—I tried— I tried so hard. I wasn't—enough."

Minjeong took a sharp intake of breath, her heart sinking as the realization hit her.

Yoonji?

Y/N had grown so attached to the little girl.

She wrapped her arms around the doctor's shoulders in a tight embrace, pulling her close.

"Hey, no. No," she whispered fiercely, her fingers curling into the material of Y/N's scrubs. "You are enough. You're so much more than enough."

Y/N shook her head, her forehead dropping to Minjeong's shoulder as her tears kept falling.

"I wasn't."

"Stop saying that," Minjeong chided gently, one hand coming up to run through her hair while the other still held her tight. "You're the smartest, strongest person I know. You're more than enough."

She paused, taking a moment to gather her thoughts.

"You can't save everyone, Y/N. You can't blame yourself for that."

The way Minjeong was holding her, the soothing tone of her voice, the gentle way her hand ran through her hair—it all overwhelmed Y/N. It made her heart ache and her chest feel heavy.

She shook her head again, a strangled sob escaping her.

"I tried—" she started, before cutting herself off.

She had tried so hard. She had put in every last ounce of effort, every last trick she knew.

She was about to leave for the show when a nurse called her, telling her Yoonji was having a seizure. She left everything behind, ran for her life. Used every drop of knowledge in the emergency surgery.

And Yoonji still died.

Minjeong's heart broke at the sound of Y/N's strangled sob.

She held her tighter, her own eyes wet with tears as she continued to run her fingers through Y/N's hair, trying to soothe her.

"You did everything you could," she asserted, her voice cracking.

She leaned forward, pressing her lips to the side of Y/N's head in a gentle kiss.

Y/N squeezed her eyes shut, her tears falling faster now. The last time she felt so utterly helpless was when she was watching her life fall apart in front of her very own eyes years ago.

Now this felt more crushing. The weight of the failure, the guilt of not doing enough, it was crushing.

But the feeling of Minjeong's arms around her, the soft kisses to her temple, stopped her from breaking completely.

She turned to bury her face in Minjeong's neck, taking comfort in her warmth and scent.

Minjeong continued to hold Y/N tightly, running her fingers through the doctor's hair and whispering words of comfort and reassurance. She could feel the sobs racking through Y/N's body, the raw pain and grief of the loss.

"I'm here. I've got you," she repeated in a soft voice, feeling her own eyes starting to water again.

She wanted to take away Y/N's pain, to make it disappear. She didn't know if that was possible, but she knew she would try.

And try she did.

The two sat on that balcony for the next half hour, unbothered by the cold wind blowing at them or the countless times Y/N's pager rang.

When the tears finally eased up a little, Minjeong helped Y/N up and directed her to the couch to help her change out of her scrubs.

"It's nothing I haven't seen before, love," she let out softly, noticing the reddening of Y/N's cheeks.

"Shut up," Y/N replied quickly, sighing when Minjeong pressed a soft kiss to her cheek and continued assisting her.

Right as Y/N finished getting changed, the door burst open once again. This time, a tall, worried nurse ran inside. She glared at the sight of Minjeong but quickly shoved that anger aside to hug her best friend.

"I'm so sorry, sweetheart. Doctor Kim told me what happened."

Minjeong watched as Yana pulled Y/N into an embrace, her heart still heavy with a mix of sympathy and helplessness.

"I—" Y/N started, her voice breaking as a fresh wave of tears hit her.

Minjeong stepped back then, feeling like she was intruding on a private moment between the two friends.

She grabbed Y/N's bag and shoved all her belongings inside it before leaving.

The sounds of the two friends inside the office were muffled but still reached Minjeong's ears. Her heart ached, both for what Y/N was going through and for the helplessness she felt, witnessing it all unfold.

So she waited outside, leaning against the wall of the corridor and scrolling through her phone idly. It seemed to take an eternity, but the office door finally reopened, and Yana stepped out, glaring at Minjeong.

"My shift is not over for another five hours."

Minjeong nodded. Even if her shift was about to end, Yana would probably fight to be the one taking care of Y/N. "I'll take her home; don't worry."

Yana squinted her eyes at her, walking closer so the two were standing face to face. "Break her heart again, and I'll break your face, Winter." She let the name out with disgust laced in her voice. "I'm not kidding."

Minjeong swallowed hard at the threat, knowing all too well how serious Yana was about it.

"I won't; I promise."

She held the other nurse's gaze, trying to convey her sincerity through her words.

"I'll take care of her."

And she meant it.

"Yeah, don't get too comfortable with her and don't you dare push the limits."

Yana wanted to go on and warn Minjeong about every boundary not to cross with Y/N. She wanted to threaten her with every little dangerous thing that came to her mind, but then her pager rang.

With one last warning look, she sighed and walked away.

A more composed Y/N was the next to step out. She wasn’t crying anymore, but she looked absolutely spent and emotionally exhausted.

"Come on, let's get you home." Minjeong reached out to wrap her arm around Y/N's back and lead the way out of the hospital.

This time around, the ride back home was completely quiet. However, when they arrived at Y/N's house, the doctor opened the door and pulled Minjeong inside with her.

Y/N led Minjeong into her house, her steps slow and heavy. The grief still weighed heavily on her heart, her mind replaying the events of the day over and over again.

Once they were inside, she let out a deep sigh, slumping her shoulders. She looked at Minjeong, her eyes tired and red-rimmed.

"Can you stay with me tonight?" The question escaped her mouth before she could stop it. She quickly shook her head. "I mean—only if you want to, of course. You're probably tired from the show and—"

Minjeong was already nodding before Y/N finished her sentence. "Of course," she replied quietly, her eyes holding Y/N's in a reassuring gaze.

Seeing the doctor look so worn tore at Minjeong's heart. She wanted nothing more than to take away the pain, to do something—anything—to help.

"Come on," she said gently, taking Y/N's hand and guiding her toward her bedroom. "I'm not leaving you alone tonight."

She helped her settle in—brought her water as Y/N changed into her pajamas and helped her dim the lights after she laid down. It took a while, but after some long moments of crying, Minjeong finally managed to get Y/N to fall asleep.

Minjeong herself was spent, but she had difficulty closing her eyes, wanting to be there in case Y/N had a nightmare and suddenly woke up.

She shifted closer, adjusting the covers on Y/N to keep her warm, and sat down on the small, fancy couch beside her bed.

At least the lines of worry had softened on Y/N's face, making her look younger and more vulnerable. Minjeong saw the younger version of Y/N in front of her—the one she had hurt. Her heart ached.

Unable to help herself, she reached out to trace Y/N's eyebrows and nose.

"I'm sorry, Y/N."

The soft touch seemed to bring a small sigh of contentment from the other woman.

"I won't hurt you again, I promise."

For the next few days, weeks, and months, Minjeong kept being a constant presence in Y/N's life. She was the first to make her smile again after the entire ordeal—just as she was the first to make her laugh.

Minjeong forced Y/N to take a break from work because, obviously, Y/N had numerous vacations and breaks put on hold and shoved aside for later.

The neurosurgeon was a walking crime with how many hours she had overworked.

And yes, Minjeong knew that was the reason Y/N had managed to pay off her parents' debt, why she had been able to buy all her fancy cars, and why she could provide Rose with the big house she had always dreamed of. But she also knew Y/N deserved to stop.

So, the two spent their free time going on little dates. They closed down the central aquarium of Seoul to wander around without any fans bothering Minjeong. They visited the countryside and spent two nights in a traditional Korean house. Minjeong even managed to convince Y/N to visit the dorm she shared with the other Aespa girls.

They apologized for being so rude when they were younger, and despite it being awkward as hell at first, they all eventually got to know each other and became close friends. So close, in fact, that Christmas was spent at Y/N's house that year.

It was perfect.

Would you like to know what wasn't perfect?

The A Minor that Minjeong had just completely botched.

She groaned, her head falling back in frustration as she ripped the studio headphones off. She was ready to throw them across the recording booth when a soft laugh caught her attention and immediately eased her nerves.

"What are you laughing at, hmm?" She raised an eyebrow at Y/N.

The doctor sat against the wall, surrounded by the comfortable pillows that Minjeong had arranged for her. There was a couch in the studio connected to the booth, but no matter how many times Minjeong had tried to teach her, Y/N couldn't learn what buttons to press to hear Minjeong through the speakers and make herself be heard. So they had settled for this.

"Say, you're the guitarist, no?" Y/N raised a playful eyebrow. "What the hell are you doing in the recording booth?"

Y/N was joking, obviously. She had heard Aespa's songs, and Minjeong had the voice of an angel, but a little teasing never hurt anyone, right?

Wrong.

Minjeong pouted playfully, discarding the headphones to join Y/N. She had been trying to record the guide to the group's new song, but Y/N's presence was way too distracting. "I'm a singer as well! I probably have more talent in my little finger than you in your entire body."

The most acclaimed neurosurgeon of Seoul's most prestigious private hospital chuckled as Minjeong landed right beside, head resting on her lap. "You're certainly right, my Goddess of Modesty. I will forever repent my horrific sins."

She watched with an amused smirk as Minjeong huffed like a kid, reaching out to poke her stomach. "You did more than fine; stop stressing so much."

"You're only saying that because you don't know what it's supposed to sound like," Minjeong mumbled, rolling her eyes as she sat up.

She looked at Y/N with a small groan, their arms pressing together as they faced each other. "You're not allowed to be this beautiful. How can I focus with you being so distracting?"

Y/N laughed at Minjeong's dramatic words. "Is that so? My mistake then, oh Great One," she replied in a mocking tone, her hand coming up to poke Minjeong's side again.

Y/N continued to chuckle as Minjeong huffed and looked away, a small smile spreading on her face.

Minjeong suddenly leaned closer with a raised eyebrow, a teasing remark on the tip of her tongue, but Y/N spoke up first. "Careful, honey, I've been told my beauty can be quite distracting." She reached out gently, and her hand landed dead center of Minjeong's face, pushing her away. "Don't get too close."

"A doctor and a comedian?" Minjeong reached for Y/N's hand to take it away from her face. She intertwined their fingers and left a chaste kiss on Y/N's palm. "What a talent, my love."

Y/N chuckled at Minjeong's words, giving the guitarist's hand a gentle squeeze, her thumb tracing circles on her knuckles. "I mean, not to brag or anything, but I'm also a great cook."

Minjeong gulped, remembering the dinner Y/N had prepared for them last week.

The gesture was incredibly endearing. It had been a cute picnic set in a secluded park. The sunset was gorgeous, the flowers were to die for, and Y/N looked breathtaking—much like the chicken she had cooked. Minjeong had been two seconds away from drinking the water from the small, polluted lake nearby after tasting the spicy food.

Y/N was as close to perfection as Minjeong had ever seen, but no one was completely perfect, and she had finally found a flaw in the doctor: her cooking skills.

Was Minjeong about to tell Y/N she didn't like the chicken?

Fuck no. She'd rather die.

She let out a small, confirming sound and looked away.

Y/N watched with a knowing smile as Minjeong struggled to keep a straight face. The guitarist’s attempt to act casual and not reveal her true feelings about the spicy meal was endearing, to say the least.

“You’re being awfully quiet,” Y/N teased, leaning her head back against the wall. “Anything to say about my cooking skills?”

She reached out, her fingers gently poking at Minjeong’s side, just above her hip.

Minjeong tensed at the poke, her eyes narrowing as Y/N continued to tease her. Damn, this woman was perceptive.

With a dramatic sigh, she relented. "Okay, fine. Your cooking..." She trailed off with a grimace, her tongue poking out. "Your cooking is..."

She looked at Y/N, who was watching her with a growing smirk, and let out another sigh.

Minjeong caught Y/N's hands in her own, halting the poking, and spoke up. "It's... perfect. I loved it. You can cook for me every day."

Y/N tilted her head as she listened to Minjeong's words, a knowing smile playing on her lips. It was adorable that the singer was trying so hard not to hurt her feelings. Just like it was adorable that Minjeong had kept eating the chicken that day at the park. Just like it was adorable that she was playing with her fingers right at that moment.

Y/N couldn't stop herself.

She cupped Minjeong's cheeks and leaned in to press their lips together.

Minjeong's heart halted.

Seven years and eight months.

That's how long she had been waiting for.

It was torturous to be so close to Y/N yet so far away. There had been several moments where she was a second away from losing all control and just kissing the doctor. But she told herself to be patient, to give Y/N her time and let her come to her instead of forcing anything.

Seven years and eight months...every second was worth the wait.

She was certain of that as she melted into the kiss.

Y/N smiled against Minjeong's lips, her fingers slipping into the soft strands of her hair. The kiss was gentle at first, a soft brush of their mouths against each other, but as the moment grew, the doctor's grip on her hair tightened, her desire growing with each passing second.

Minjeong deepened the kiss, sliding her tongue gently across Y/N's bottom lip, seeking entry. Her heart was racing, the feel of Y/N's body pressed against her own sending sparks of desire coursing through her veins.

Y/N was the first to pull away, lips brushing against Minjeong's as she spoke up in a raspy voice, "I could cook dinner for us tonight."

Minjeong's eyes widened in panic. She shook her head and wrapped her arms around Y/N's waist, pulling her impossibly closer.

"I'll be your dinner tonight, babe."

✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺

Final Notes: Thank you so so much for everyone who commented on and liked my posts of this series. I honestly don't deserve all the love I've been getting but really appriciate it nonetheless. Thank uuu :)

Taglist: @vyvvycg , @myouiiiiiiii, @sixflame438, @yourstrulytrissmerigold , @ourlovesarang , @noooodlessstuff , @throughthebluesea , @undercuver , @orphanoblitirator , @kimminjiissosjdirbidnsjje , @imahallucination11 , @kyakpack

warnings: age gap, fingering, kisses obvi

a/n: y'all i did not plan this to be this long😭😭 this was meant to be a short thought but ok ig i'll write a full fic later😔

imagine older-sister's-bestfriend!minjeong that secretly keeps an eye on you whenever she comes over. breath hitching everytime you walk into the room with shorts just waaaaay above your thighs, or catching gazes at your exposed stomach when you reach for something on the higher cabinets. so, let's say you're jimin's lil sister, always look presentable, cute, sweet. but hmmm, you might've had a not-so-innocent-imagination, especially minjeong is around. the thought of cotrupting her plays over and over again in your head whenever minjeong's giving you extra attention when the three of you are baking, or when she sleeps over and comes out fresh out of the shower smelling like your scent because she said she likes how you smell.

”excuse me,” in the kitchen, minjeong puts both of her hands on either side of your hips, passing behind you to get something from the cupboard. and ARRRRRRGGGHHHHH same as minjeong, you secretly steals a glance on her toned abs, but quickly back to stirring the cookie dough because jimin catches you staring and is about to tease you.

at last, you two finally meet up without telling jimin-unnie in a secluded cafe outskirts and she is so giggly!!! telling you she had been crushing on you for everrrrrrr, holding your hands and all that sweet shits. she brings you flowers, buys you gifts, cuddles you (in her apartment), kisses you everywhere, so sweet i might get a toothache myself🥺🥺

guess what? jimin-unnie eventually finds out by herself because you two are not being very subtle with the "accidental" touching and glances, and oh my did she become a complete ass about it. literally teasing you to the point you want to shove her mouth with raw cookie dough (you threw flour to her face).

you were the first one who initiated you want more than just holding hands and brief kisses (heh bold), minjeong turns so red you're afraid she might get a fever! but she nodded, fumbling with her fingers and not knowing what to do. you finally asks her to undo her shorts and OH MY GOD HER FACE TURNS TOMATO RED, ”unnie, if you don't want to do it just say it,” you jokingly said to which minjeong replied with shaking her head, ”n-no, i want to do it...”

with minjeong basically-half-naked in front of you, you slowly guides your hand to touch her nape, then kisses her lips slowly but surely before lowering your hand to her waist and the other to cup her breast. she squirms when you squeezes her boob and brushed your thumb over her clothed nipple. unhooking her bra with ease, and pulling it up along with the shirt, minjeong is naked at last.

”unnie, can you spread your legs? it's hard to-” you haven't finished your sentence when she spread her legs abruptly while bringing her arms to cover her face (still red), slowly dipping your fingers after drawing lazy circles on her clit as you simultaniously whisper praises in her ear.

you also call her 'puppy', 'good girl', and various other nicknames but you can feel her cunt clenches around your fingers tighter when you call her 'minjeong' without unnie, ”oh? you like that minjeongie?” her cunt just cleches harder.

that went on for several minutes because minjeong cums all over your fingers soon after you undress and grinds your cunt on her🩷

i miss home (but this is home)

kim minjeong x fem!reader

synopsis: when you step into the house, the smell of your mother’s cooking greets you, as if reminding you of all the memories long buried. but behind your warm smile, there’s a voice in your heart whispering, ‘this isn't the home you wanted.’ even though you’re here, your soul longs for the place you left behind—a place where you felt free and full of hope.

warnings: implied cheating; angst; mention of food; i wrote this in 5 hrs and i’m sleep deprived so it may not make sense at some parts; the story is set in japan (mostly) but i didn’t know much japanese idols so please ignore my character selection🙏; i forgor abt amari at the end.

a/n: i actually proofread this one once yay👍 actually got this idea while listening to NIKI’s split a d reading tbhk comic volume 8. #i'm grindimg yoo🔥🔥🔥 forgot to say that the story is mostly taking place in japan😭

exactly four years ago during winter, after you’d finished your daily task of shoveling snow from the driveway, a silver sedan parked at the house across from yours. that house had been empty for a long time; its last residents were an elderly couple—mr. and mrs. jones. your family had become quite close to them after being neighbors since the day your parents moved into the house. by the time you and your sister were born, they were like a third set of grandparents, often inviting you over to play. unfortunately, they decided to spend their old age in europe when you were nine.

though you were curious about the new residents, you decided not to watch the movers unload boxes—or their child, gleefully carrying their own box—after hearing your mom call you for dinner. only after everyone had gathered—your parents, your older sister karina, and the family’s beloved doberman, amari—did you mention what you saw earlier. “hey, did you know someone moved into grandpa jones’ house?” everyone turned to you in confusion.

“yn, sweetheart, did you forget or were you not listening to what i told you yesterday, huh?” karina playfully pinched your cheek, which you allowed. after a moment of thinking, you slapped your forehead.

“ah! i totally forgot. it’s, uhh, mr. and mrs. jones’ son and daughter-in-law, right? when are we visiting them, dad? i want to give their kid a present!” without waiting for a reply, you said enthusiastically, “oh, they have a kid?” your dad replied in the same cheerful tone.

“yeah, looks to be about my age.”

and that’s how you found yourself in this situation, punching the face of a school bully notorious for picking on new kids—especially the ones who looked timid and helpless.

“wow, wow. looks like someone wants to be a hero…” yunjin, their leader, sneered at you, wiping the blood dripping from her lip. she ordered her twin, yujin, to fight back, but before she could swing, you grabbed the new kid’s wrist and took off running.

after escaping through the school gate—the guard was stupidly asleep—and stopping once you felt safe, you let go of her wrist. you went in search of the nearest convenience store for drinks, and she followed you quietly.

“pick anything you like, it’s on me!” your positive energy seemed to surprise her a little, but she didn’t say much after you both chose drinks and you paid.

“thank you..” she said softly after you both sat down on a swing in the park just a stone’s throw from your house.

“no problem! uh...”

“minjeong. my name’s kim minjeong..” her soft voice spoke again.

“ah! so you’re korean too! i’m yn, kang yn! nice to meet you, minjeong.” you switched to speaking korean, extending your hand. and in that split second, you both somehow knew you’d quickly become inseparable friends.

“don’t go anywhere without me, okay? yunjin’s gang is known to be… well, you saw, right?” you shrugged, making sure minjeong was safely inside her house before heading back home.

“whoa, dropping off your girlfriend, huh?” your nosy sister (who was about to leave for her evening class) teased when you got home.

“no! just a friend. besides, i’m old enough to get mom’s permission to date, right, mom? i’m fifteen this year.” your mom just hummed in agreement.

the next day, as you requested, minjeong waited for you in front of her house to walk to school together. “morning, minjeong!!” you waved your hand energetically with your full energy at the early hour.

at school, you didn’t run into yunjin’s gang; your classes were on completely different floors. they were in class F, while you were in class B—not bad for someone a little lazy. unfortunately, minjeong hadn’t taken her class placement test yet and was temporarily assigned to class F. when you learned this, you were worried to death, but minjeong assured you she’d be fine, so, reluctantly, you let go of her arm—and you swore you heard yunjin’s gang’s mocking laughter.

at lunch, you let your friends know not to wait for you in the cafeteria since you’d brought lunch from home, and then you sprinted to minjeong’s classroom. “minjeong-ah! let’s eat lunch together!” you yelled unashamedly, causing a teacher passing by to jump a little. you both picked a spot under a big tree near the soccer field to have lunch together. “how’s class? did yunjin’s gang bother you?”

“no, i threatened them. told them i’d make them pay if they messed with me. i told them i was actually a taekwondo expert, and they didn’t dare touch me.” you burst out laughing at minjeong’s story, “ha! oh my god! my stomach hurts! they’re so gullible?” wiping tears from your eyes.

and so went your high school days, with minjeong—who quickly became close to your group—you, ningning, and kazuha, though you ended up closer to minjeong because of how close you lived. sleepovers, movie nights, and study sessions filled your evenings—and your sister’s pranks. you didn’t realize it then, but your understanding of home started to change because of the person eating ice cream beside you.

winter passed by quickly, and summer came with all its love stories. minjeong, who was once calm and gentle, began to pick up some of your traits, cheerful and spirited. once again, you found yourself in minjeong’s room.

“got any plans for summer break?” you asked, lying on her bedroom floor while she sat on her bed, playing her nintendo.

“uhuh, spending it with you.” it happened again, your heart rate suddenly spiking, and your face flushing red, “i mean— to, uh… what are you planning to do?” you stopped fanning yourself.

“i dunno, whatever you wanna do, i’m in.”

turns out she wasn’t lying. you decided to help at a local eel farm for harvest season! minjeong, who absolutely hates eels, hesitantly dipped her feet into the muddy pond full of eels, and as soon as one coiled around her ankle, she screamed and fell right in (in the end, you were the only one helping with the harvest, but at least minjeong agreed to forgive you and keep you company under the shade of a tree after you bought her two handfuls of ice cream). with clothes full of mud, you two spend the rest of the day cycling through the entire village—with minjeong being your passanger princess. a few days later, you both visited some high school festivals with food stalls and arcades before attending the big event together with your families—the tanabata star festival.

“are you ready?” your dad's head popped in from the front door. he and your mom were wearing matching yukatas, as was your sister with her girlfriend giselle, and you...

“minjeong!!!” after getting out of your respective cars, you quickly returned to minjeong's side, linking arms with her.

“remember, you need to be back by 9 sharp if you don’t want to walk home alone,” your mom reminded you again.

and so began the great snacking adventure at the stalls with minjeong! you started with classic food, takoyaki. the steaming, round snacks tempted you to eat them, and you devoured them hot. minjeong reached out her hand, and you reflexively spit a round piece of takoyaki into her palm. she tossed it into the nearest trash can and washed her hands three times with soap before you both bought melon soda at the adjacent stall. after that, the tanabata star festival wouldn’t be complete without playing goldfish scooping and shooting games! you successfully got the teddy bear you wanted, but seeing minjeong's disappointed face when she couldn’t win the bunny plush she desired, you decided to trade yours for it.

“what did you write for your wish?” the night grew late, and the fireworks show was about to start. even though it was already 9:30, you and your sister agreed to go home together in your dad's car after your parents were too tired to continue and headed home first. “you better not turn on do not disturb!” your sister shouted before her girlfriend pulled them away for a photo.

“...it's a secret.” minjeong covered her tanzaku paper.

“hey, i gave you my red tanzaku!” ah, there it was; your childish side hadn’t fully faded yet.

“fine, but show me yours too.”

bingo. minjeong wrote, ‘i hope i can always be with yn,’ and you wrote, ‘i hope minjeong can always be with me.’ you quickly exchanged your papers and then laughed awkwardly—at least you got the green light. after hanging your tanzaku on the large bamboo tree, you climbed a hill a bit away from the crowd, spread out a blanket, and laid out the food.

you sat under the starry night sky, enjoying the scattered lantern lights around the festival. minjeong glanced at you, who was busy finishing the takoyaki you had earlier—both of you had agreed to eat while sitting. after a moment, minjeong smiled and began to tell a story.

“you know, yn?” minjeong started, her voice soft, almost like a whisper. “this tanabata festival actually has a really romantic story. it’s about two stars, ori-hime and hiki-boshi… they are a couple living in two different worlds, separated by a great river called ama-no-gawa—which we know as the milky way.”

you paused from putting food in your mouth and looked at minjeong; of course, she knew. your siater’s japanese girlfriend had told her about it at the tanabata star festival three years ago. but you tried to maintain a look of amazement.

“they can only meet once a year, on the night of the tanabata festival,” minjeong continued, gazing at the sky as if searching for the two stars. “that’s why people like to write their wishes on tanzaku, hoping their love can be as strong as ori-hime and hiki-boshi’s. even though they’re separated, they keep looking for each other… they believe that one day in a year is enough to strengthen their love.”

you smiled softly, a bit shy. “that sounds like an unforgettable love story.”

minjeong nodded slowly, then looked at you with a gentle gaze. “yeah… there’s something beautiful about people who are willing to wait, right? they both remain strong and faithful, even though they have to be apart for so long.” minjeong paused for a moment, as if savoring her own words. “maybe true love doesn’t always have to be together every day. sometimes, just waiting for each other and believing that in the end, they will meet again is enough.”

you felt your heart race at minjeong’s words. slowly, you smiled as if you understood the hidden meaning behind the story. you both looked up at the sky again, each with a wish tucked away in your hearts (which were actually the same).

as the moments leading up to the fireworks display drew closer, the atmosphere around you became increasingly tense and filled with anticipation. the sound of people whispering filled the air, while the lanterns flickered in the night breeze. minjeong looked at you with sparkling eyes, as if she wanted to express something that had long been buried.

“yn,” she said softly, her voice almost drowned out by the crowd around. “i… i feel like there’s something more between us. ever since the first time we met, my heart has raced whenever i’m with you.”

a gentle smile formed on your face, your heart beating faster. “i feel it too, minjeong. you make me feel comfortable and happy like never before.”

time seemed to stand still as minjeong leaned closer, the distance between you narrowing. the fireworks began to adorn the night sky, bursting forth in stunning colors. in that magical moment, you locked eyes, ignoring the commotion around you.

“do you want to share our wishes tonight?” minjeong asked, her face trembling with hope and tension.

“of course, i do,” you replied, feeling your heart race with excitement. before you realized it, the fireworks exploded above you, casting bright lights that made the night even more dazzling. amidst the cheers and awe surrounding you, minjeong leaned in and gently touched your face before her lips found yours in a soft, heartfelt kiss. as the fireworks erupted in the sky, their colorful lights created the perfect backdrop for that moment—the moment when two hopeful hearts finally united.

after that night, you officially became the subject of teasing in your household. returning home with slightly messy lip tint, both of you were immediately put on the spot by karina and giselle in the car. “did you just kiss?” checkmate. no one dared to speak, but your flushed cheeks answered their question. your parents of course knew right away because the first rule in the house was: ask for permission if you want to date! and it shouldn’t affect your grades.

but oh, it’s true that summer and seventeen are inconvenient times to fall in love. your dad was reassigned to the us after spending 19 years in japan. three months before your departure back to the us, he finally told you. it was the first major fight.

after hearing the news about your father's move to the us, you feel worry creeping into your heart. mixed emotions fill your mind—happy for newfound love, but also afraid of loss. that night, you decide to talk to your mother in the kitchen, a place that has always felt comfortable for you.

“mom,” you say, your voice soft. “what should i do? we're leaving, and i… i don’t know what will happen with minjeong.”

your mom pauses for a moment, looking at you gently. “honey, i know how you feel. love can be strong, even when separated by distance. i experienced something similar with your father back then.” she reminisces, a nostalgic look filling her eyes. “we had to communicate, trust each other, and do our best to stay connected. love won’t disappear just because of distance.”

her words offer a little relief, but the worry still lingers in your mind. after that conversation, you feel a bit calmer. and surprisingly, minjeong doesn’t even cry when you tell her about the news—or perhaps she’s just accustomed to staying calm in all situations.

the night before your departure, minjeong takes you to your favorite spot, where the night sky is filled with stars. there, she has a little surprise for you.

“yn, i want to give you something,” she says, pulling out a beautifully decorated tanzaku paper. “this is our hope for the future.” you open the paper and read: ‘may we always be together, no matter the distance that separates us.’

your heart races as you see it. “minjeong, this… means so much.”

minjeong then gives you a small bracelet made of colorful threads. “this is a reminder for you, so you know i’m always with you, no matter where we are.”

you both exchange warm hugs, feeling the emotional moment as the stars shine above.

“can we write letters to each other? even though we can also text every day...” you suggest, the idea making you feel more at ease.

“of course,” minjeong replies with a smile. “every month we’ll exchange letters. it’ll be our tradition.”

as you write down your hopes and dreams on the paper, the atmosphere feels full of warmth and love. when the letters are exchanged, you feel the bond between you grow stronger. even though distance will separate you, you believe this love can endure.

but oh, you are wrong again. in the early years, you and minjeong did exchange messages every day, writing to each other every month, but suddenly all that stopped. you both got busy with your respective studies, especially with graduation day approaching. you, studying law, were busy helping to handle cases at the firm where you interned.

time passed, and the messages that once filled your days began to dwindle. at first, you hoped everything would be okay, but without realizing it, distance and busyness gnawed at your relationship. the longing was there, but no words came out. one day, as you returned to the city where you first met during your semester break to visit your sister who continued her studies and lived with her girlfriend there, you decided to visit the famous tanabata festival again. the atmosphere felt nostalgic, reminding you of all the beautiful memories with minjeong. you almost wanted to call her but changed your mind, wanting to surprise her by picking her up on the bicycle you used to ride to the eel farm. even though your relationship over the past two years was unclear, your status was still girlfriends—or at least that’s what you thought, and you hoped to see her (hoping those feelings still existed).

upon arriving at the festival, the lively and festive atmosphere reminded you of the moments with minjeong. you strolled around, observing the lanterns shimmering in the night, hoping to feel her presence. suddenly, your ears caught sound of a familiar chuckle.

minjeong.

she stood near the bamboo tree, surrounded by a crowd, but something was different. as you approached closer, your heart raced. minjeong looked radiant in a beautiful dress, her face is still pretty as ever but the lines of her face have grown to be more... mature.

“i feel like i’ve known you forever! you’re so easy to be around.” she said as she laughed with someone standing beside her, your heart felt a deep ache. it felt like time stopped for a moment as you stared at her. however, as her gaze shifted to the person beside her, you felt something was off. when she reached out for the person’s cheeks, you finally noticed the sparkling ring on her finger. ah, you were too late, it seemed. you’re pretty sure that the tanzaku you and minjeong once wrote were still hanging at the tree because look, you are together right now. how funny, you should’ve been more specific. you turned around with a chuckle, decided to go home and pack for the earliest flight to US. unbeknownst to you, minjeong catch glimpses of you when you were stopping by the kiosks. she made a mental note to visit you after she’s done with her date.

as minjeong and her ‘date’ wrapped up their evening, her thoughts kept drifting back to that glimpse of you she'd caught at the kiosks. she couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that something was left unsaid, unfinished. after parting ways, she decided she couldn’t wait any longer and headed straight to your place.

meanwhile, you’d already started packing (karina was at her girlfriend’s). the memories were overwhelming, and each item you placed in your suitcase felt like a little piece of the life you were leaving behind. just as you zipped up your suitcase, you heard a familiar knock on your door. surprised, you hesitated, debating whether you should ignore it. but then you remembered her smile, the tanzaku you’d both written, and the promises whispered under the stars. with a sigh, you opened the door.

there she stood, slightly out of breath, eyes searching yours. she seemed hesitant, almost as if she was second-guessing herself.

“are you…going somewhere?” she asked, her voice soft as usual.

you nodded, trying to keep your composure. “the earliest flight to the US,” you replied. a moment of silence passed between you, filled with all the things neither of you had said. her gaze dropped to the ring on her finger, then back to you.

“look, i…didn’t know how to tell you,” she whispered, the weight of the moment evident in her tone. “but when i saw you today, something just…clicked. i couldn’t stop thinking about us, and how we were—”

you cut her off gently, a bittersweet smile on your face. “you don’t owe me anything, minjeong. i’m happy for you. really, i am.”

but she stepped closer, not letting you finish. “maybe not, but i owe myself the truth. and the truth is…there’s been someone i’ve been seeing since you left-” she glanced down, biting her lip as if debating whether to say more.

“then why did you…” your voice faltered as you glanced down at her ring, a painful reminder of how things had turned out.

“i was- i love you yn, but it’s hard for me to consistently giving love to someone who’s not present.” she admitted, her voice barely a whisper. her eyes searched yours, guilt and longing all wrapped into one.

frankly speaking, you wanted to beg for her to love you one more time, you want to throw that ring across the continents but you two remained silent. your gaze fell down as you told her, “i loved you too, kim.”

kim minjeong was your home after all.