Chapter Text
The dorm smelled faintly of instant ramen and the fabric softener Chan swore by. Mina was perched cross-legged on Chan’s bed, scrolling lazily through her phone while Chan rummaged in his closet for something—probably his sneakers.
The door banged open, and Jisung trudged inside like a storm cloud in human form. His hoodie was half-zipped, hair mussed from the chilly evening wind, and his shoulders slumped in utter defeat.
“Date night went well?” Chan teased without looking up.
Jisung threw himself face-first onto his bed with a groan. “Worst night of my life. Kill me.”
Mina arched a brow, amused. “That bad?”
He rolled over dramatically, throwing an arm across his eyes like a tragic actor. “She looked at me like I was some kid brother she was forced to babysit. And the whole time I couldn’t string together a normal sentence. I swear, my hands were sweating like I’d just run a marathon.”
Chan snorted, already familiar with this routine. But Mina tilted her head, studying him with new curiosity.
“You know,” she said thoughtfully, “when we first met a month ago, I actually thought it was… cute. The way you got all shy.”
Jisung peeked at her from under his arm, incredulous. “Cute? Girls only ever think that when I’m firmly stuck in the friendzone. Try to date them, and suddenly the sweaty-palmed introvert thing is gross.”
His cynicism earned him a sympathetic smile from Mina. She leaned forward, elbows on her knees. “Or maybe you just haven’t met the right person yet—the one who still thinks you’re cute even when you’re rambling or wiping your hands on your jeans.”
“Right,” Jisung muttered. “So, do you happen to know anyone weird enough to have that kind of type?”
Mina hummed, pretending to think. “Actually… yeah. My twin would totally go for that.”
Jisung blinked, lifting his head. “Your… twin?”
Chan perked up too, intrigued.
“Mm.” Mina’s lips curved in a mischievous little smile. “Minnie has always liked the awkward, nervous type. Finds it endearing, for some reason.”
“Seriously?” Chan laughed, shutting his closet. “That’s hilarious.”
“Dead serious,” Mina said, hiding the truth with practiced ease.
“Didn’t know you had a twin.” Jisung remarked. Truth to be told, she and Chan only started dating around a month ago and most of the time they were all lovey-dovey and Jisung let them be.
“Yeah, I have. We’re fraternal twins, but… Minnie’s the pretty one. Long lashes, perfect nose, ridiculously smooth skin, all that.”
Jisung sat up, trying to mask his embarrassment with sarcasm. “Great. So, your twin is a model, and I’m… sweaty-palms McGee. Perfect match.”
“Hey,” Chan cut in with a grin, “you might be onto something. Changbin’s throwing that house party this weekend—off-campus, at his giant apartment. Mina, why don’t you invite your twin? Who knows, Ji… maybe you’ll get lucky.”
Jisung groaned again, tugging his hoodie over his face. “This is going to be a disaster.”
“Not necessarily,” Mina said lightly, pulling out her phone as if she was already drafting the invitation. “You never know—Minnie might surprise you.”
Chan grinned. “Oh, this I have to see. Changbin’s party just got way more interesting.”
Jisung peeked out from under the hoodie, caught between dread and curiosity. He didn’t know if Mina was serious or just messing with him… but either way, the idea of meeting her mysterious twin was suddenly lodged in his head, refusing to leave.
The sound of sizzling oil drifted from the kitchenette as Chan stirred something fragrant in the pan, humming under his breath. Mina sat cross-legged at the small table, sipping water after their walk along the Han River, cheeks pink from the evening chill.
Jisung, however, wasn’t relaxed at all. He sat on the edge of his bed, bouncing his knee at dangerous speed, gnawing at his thumbnail.
Chan glanced over his shoulder. “Talk to me, Sungie.”
Jisung’s hands flailed helplessly. “I can’t! I don’t know what to wear, what to say, how to act—your girlfriend said her twin is basically a model with Disney-princess eyelashes! Do I bow? Do I joke? Do I just… combust the second we meet?”
Mina bit her lip to hide her smile. “Oh my god. You’re really nervous, huh?”
Jisung dropped backward onto his bed with a groan. “Mina, I’m doomed. It’s going to be embarrassing enough just existing next to someone like that. What if I get sweaty again? What if I trip? What if—”
“Okay, okay,” Mina cut in, raising her hands in surrender. “Do you want me to ruin Minnie’s image for you? Just enough so you don’t freak out so hard?”
Jisung peeked at her from under his arm, eyes wide and pleading. He nodded with all the desperation of a drowning man.
She laughed softly, tucking her hair behind her ear. “Fine. So… Minnie might look like a model, yeah, but trust me, that doesn’t mean perfect. First of all, Minnie’s an introvert too. Meeting strangers? Total pain. Gets nervous, overthinks, sometimes disappears into their phone just to cope. So you’re not alone there.”
Jisung sat up slowly, listening like she was reciting gospel.
“And…” Mina smirked, “Minnie’s blunt. Like, no filter blunt. Says whatever comes to mind, even if it makes people roll their eyes. Can be a menace sometimes, actually. But…” She hesitated, softer now. “Deep down, Minnie has the biggest heart. Weirdly wired, sure, but the kind of person who actually cares once you get past all that.”
Jisung chewed on this, shoulders finally lowering a little. “So… introverted, blunt, kind of scary, but soft-hearted. That’s… oddly comforting.”
Chan turned off the stove with a grin. “See? Sounds like a perfect match. Two socially awkward disasters at the same party.”
“Thanks, hyung,” Jisung muttered, but his lips twitched like he couldn’t hold back a smile.
Late afternoon sun slanted across the campus lawns, painting everything in warm gold. Chan and Mina walked side by side, fingers brushing occasionally before he caught her hand outright. Students milled around them, heading toward the library or the cafeteria, but the two of them strolled lazily, in no rush to get anywhere.
“So,” Chan said, tilting his head toward her, “are you really trying to set my roommate up with your twin?”
Mina chuckled at the suspicion in his tone. “What, you think I’m playing matchmaker?”
“Aren’t you?”
She shook her head, lips curving. “I’m not forcing anything on either of them. Honestly. It’s just… I have this feeling they might click. Two weirdos with enough similarities to understand each other but enough differences to keep things interesting. If nothing else, they’d at least have something to talk about.”
Chan squeezed her hand, amused. “That’s surprisingly thoughtful of you.”
Mina shrugged, gaze drifting ahead. “I just… haven’t seen Minnie actually go out since high school prom. And that was compulsory. No joke, it’s like Minnie lives in their own little bubble—anime, manga, cooking experiments in the kitchen, repeat. Social events? Forget it. Dates? Hookups? Used to happen, but… yeah. Most ended up like poor Jisung’s disasters.”
Chan laughed, but she didn’t join him. He glanced at her, noticing the crease between her brows.
“You’re worried,” he said softly.
“A little,” Mina admitted. “Minnie was never the party type, but at least tried. Lately, it’s like the outside world doesn’t even exist. I don’t think it’s healthy to be scooped up for too long. So, whatever happens with Jisung—or doesn’t—it’ll at least be a good excuse to drag Minnie out to socialize for once.”
Chan’s grin returned, teasing now. “You know, you sound like an overprotective older sister.”
“I’m literally the same age,” Mina shot back, rolling her eyes.
“Still,” he said with a laugh, “it’s kind of cute.”
She nudged him with her shoulder, but the truth lingered in her chest—she wasn’t matchmaking for fun. She just wanted to see her twin step outside their shell, even a little.
Jisung sat on the edge of his bed, staring at the same three shirts he’d cycled through six times already. One was too casual, one too stiff, and one looked like he was trying way too hard. His knee bounced as he muttered under his breath.
“This is stupid. Why am I stressing? I don’t even know if I’ll like this person. What if they don’t even show up? What if—”
His phone buzzed. A text from Changbin: Yo, you alive?
Jisung sighed and called him instead. “Hyung, I’m dying.”
Changbin’s laugh rumbled through the speaker. “Already? Party’s not until tomorrow.”
“I don’t know what to wear,” Jisung confessed dramatically. “Chan and Mina are trying to set me up with her twin, and apparently, she’s, like… model-level gorgeous. I’m gonna look like a clown no matter what.”
“Wait,” Changbin cut in, amused. “They’re setting you up? Ohhh, now I get why Chan was asking me if the guest rooms were ready.”
Jisung froze. “Guest rooms?”
“Yeah,” Changbin said, like it was obvious. “I’ve got plenty. If things go right, you can disappear into one of them. No one will bother you.”
Jisung nearly choked. “Hyung—!”
“What? I’m being a good host. Stocked each room with lube and condoms already. Safety first.”
“Why the hell would you tell me that now?!” Jisung groaned, dragging a pillow over his face.
Changbin’s laughter boomed through the line. “Because you’re spiraling. Look, worst-case scenario, you wear whatever shirt you want, get rejected, and eat free food. Best-case scenario, you click with this twin and… well, I already prepared for that. Either way, you win.”
Jisung peeked out from under the pillow, torn between gratitude and absolute mortification.
“You’re insane.”
“Insanely thoughtful,” Changbin corrected. “Now stop stressing about shirts. Just wear the one that makes you feel least like you’re about to puke. You’ll be fine.”
Easier said than done, Jisung thought. But for the first time that day, he laughed, even if it was weak and nervous.
Mina’s phone buzzed while she was brushing her teeth. She spat, rinsed, and glanced at the screen.
Minnie: btw what’s the dress code
Mina sighed, thumbs flying across the screen.
Mina: 🙄 it’s a house party, not a gala
Mina: wear whatever you feel comfortable in
Mina: just… not the sweatpants + t-shirt combo
Mina: put on a shirt, that black one looks really good on you
A pause. Then the dots appeared.
Minnie: are you actually serious about introducing me to some cute guy tomorrow
Minnie: or is this bait to lure me out of my cave
Mina rolled her eyes again, flopping onto her bed.
Mina: i’m serious
Mina: he’s chan’s roommate
Mina: total cutiepatootie
Minnie: …patootie??
Mina: shut up 😑
Mina: listen
Mina: he’s a weird introvert too
Mina: talks a mile a minute when he’s nervous
Mina: big doe eyes, pouty heart-shaped lips…
There was a longer pause this time.
Minnie: okay okay
Minnie: i get it
Minnie: he’s totally my type
Minnie: and presumably real
Mina: 🙄 yes he’s real. you’ll see tomorrow. now sleep.
Mina dropped her phone on the nightstand, shaking her head fondly. For once, Minnie didn’t immediately shoot down the idea. That alone felt like progress.