Chapter Text
The papers were slapped down onto the table, quite forcefully, by Minjeong Kim, who sat opposite her on the living room carpet. Right after, Minjeong stretched her body and leaned back against the sofa legs behind her, resting her head against the seat while staring up at the ceiling.
Yes, the person sitting across from her was Minjeong, her close friend since high school.
That meant they had been together for eight years.
And throughout those eight years, Minjeong had been the witness to all the highs and lows of her life. Aside from the fact that Minjeong herself was someone who would always be a part of her life.
It was Jimin Yu who held her breath for a moment before exhaling wearily.
Jimin watched Minjeong, who wasn't looking at her, before glancing down at the sketched papers she had just been handed. Slowly, Jimin reached for the sheets, examining the work of the blonde-haired girl with whom she planned to build a business together, a year after they both graduated from college.
"You drew so many..." Jimin observed the pages one by one, admiring them. She truly hadn't expected Minjeong to pour all of her talent into this.
Even though... they had majored in different fields, despite attending the same university.
Minjeong had taken architecture, while Jimin had pursued business. When Jimin mentioned wanting to start a clothing business—a streetwear line of sorts—Minjeong agreed to partner with her. It was as if doing so wouldn't interfere with her work as a young architect, who for now was still working as a freelancer in the field.
"I've always loved your designs, Minjeong," Jimin said, marveling at the sketches. "I can't believe that with just your taste in fashion, you could pull all of this off—you even wrote down detailed notes on the fabrics needed for each design. Trust me, I can barely even make sense of all this yet."
"I know," Minjeong replied without changing her position. "You owe me big time—oh, do you also want me to design our store later?"
Hearing that, Jimin let out a soft chuckle, carefully placing the papers back onto the table before turning toward her open laptop. "I told you, we're opening an online store first so it won't disrupt your work. Right now, I just need to show you the expense details I wrote down—though this doesn't include the raw materials yet."
"If materials aren't included yet, there's no point in me looking at those figures."
Jimin pouted at Minjeong's response. "Can't you appreciate what I've done? Because I feel like you're doing way more than I am, when I'm the one who actually wanted this business."
A brief pause settled between them before Minjeong glanced over from her position. Minjeong slowly adjusted her posture—still leaning back—before shrugging at her. "You talk as if I've never helped you over these past eight years."
"Oh, as if I haven't helped you~?" Jimin gasped, countering in an adorably annoyed tone.
Minjeong chuckled, then pointed a finger at her. "Hey, my contributions weigh way more, okay? I used to help lie to your parents all the time back in high school whenever you wanted to go on a date or stay over at your boyfriend's house—"
"Minjeong!" Jimin gasped, letting out a sharp squeal.
Minjeong cut her sentence short by force, and letting out a huff. "You've always dated lousy guys. Is that really your taste? Making you go to them instead of them coming to—"
"My current boyfriend is different, okay?" Jimin countered, lowering her voice with a slight edge, hoping Minjeong would read the room. She cast a brief glance around to make sure their conversation wouldn't be overheard before leaning in close to her. "Please, don't you know Arthur is the first boyfriend who actually cares about me? I mean, we're right here—in Arthur's house, as in, I'm living with Arthur. In the end, I didn't end up dating a... manchild, right?"
Minjeong pressed her lips into a tight line, holding back a laugh.
Jimin felt her ears flush red, burning with embarrassment. "W-what?"
"With a guy who cares more about football than you?"
Jimin stared at Minjeong, letting out a sigh. "Minjeong, come on. Arthur is busy right now—you know he's trying to secure a spot on the national team, okay? Arthur is trying, that's why—"
"He doesn't pay attention to you, right? Or has he actually never paid attention to you at all?" Minjeong interrupted, showing no fear in speaking her mind. "You folded just because he's the first boyfriend to ask you to move in with him, promising you a nice life once he makes the national team. Trust me, Jimin, none of that is going to happen. He'll be busy—so busy that you won't mean a thing to him anymore."
Those words stung Jimin, though... she couldn't tell which part hurt more. Was it because Minjeong was insulting her boyfriend, or... because it sounded like the truth?
Minjeong shook her head before pressing her fingers against her own temple. "Why don't you compare him to me, hm? I'm busy, yet I still help you achieve your dreams. Shouldn't you be using your best friend here as the standard for your love life?"
Even though it sounded logical... Jimin... felt hurt.
It was as if she were holding Minjeong's future back.
Even though... Jimin herself genuinely enjoyed doing things together with Minjeong.
"Do you want to... take that back before you hurt my feelings?"
Minjeong let out a low chuckle in response. "Why should I, hey? I'm not a friend you only meet up with for air kisses. I'm your closest friend. Of course I'm going to slap you with reality, Jimin."
If this was the truth... Jimin didn't think she was ready for it.
She just wanted to believe she was happy... in this relationship, wasn't she?
A bedroom door swung open, revealing a tall man with an athletic build who strode hastily toward them, a sports bag slung over his shoulder.
Jimin's gaze shifted toward her lover, a smile gracing her face. She offered him her sweetest smile while tilting her neck up toward him. Right at that moment, she received a gentle pat on her head as he came to a stop beside her.
"Hey, sorry to disturb you two," Arthur said before locking eyes with Jimin. "I'm leaving for training and selection for two weeks. Are you okay with me leaving you for that long?"
Jimin shook her head, offering him her best puppy eyes. "I'll be lonely, but it's fine. You have dreams to pursue, and you know I'll always support you."
Arthur smiled, leaning down to press a kiss onto her forehead. After that, he turned to Minjeong, who was watching him with a smile...?—before greeting her with a light chuckle. "We rarely talk, Minjeong, but I'm really, really busy, so I'm leaving my beloved girlfriend in your care, alright?"
"You've only known her for a year," Minjeong smiled. "I've been with her for eight."
Arthur's brows furrowed slightly.
Jimin herself felt a wave of panic, instantly darting her eyes toward Minjeong.
Minjeong caught her glance before looking back at Arthur, tilting her head. "Relax, Arthur. I always take care of your girlfriend—she's my dearest friend, okay? Easy."
"Okay," Arthur accepted cautiously, letting out a laugh before shrugging at her. "I heard yesterday that you got another tattoo besides the one on your wrist. Where did you get it?"
"Oh," Minjeong flicked her eyes toward Jimin. Naturally, Jimin was the one who had mentioned it, even though Jimin herself didn't actually know where Minjeong had gotten the new tattoo. Minjeong looked back at Arthur as she answered. "On a part of my body that isn't visible when I'm fully clothed."
Arthur looked surprised before bursting into laughter. "My girlfriend was right, you really are wild. A complete contrast to Jimin's innocence and gentleness."
Minjeong looked toward Jimin.
That startled Jimin, forcing her to look back at her lover while briefly brushing her hand against his thigh to regain his attention. Jimin smiled up at him as Arthur turned his gaze back to her. "Aren't you in a hurry? I'll walk you out and—"
"Well, I was actually about to offer Minjeong a ride home, since you said her car is at the shop, right? We're heading in the same direction, so..."
Jimin immediately looked toward Minjeong.
Meanwhile, Minjeong stood up straight from her spot on the floor, grabbing her phone from the carpet and casually shrugging her shoulders. "Yeah, I'm heading out. I have movie plans with someone."
Instantly, Jimin gasped, immediately confronting her. "Who?"
Minjeong looked at her, shrugging her shoulders again. "Why do you want to know?"
"W-well... because..." Jimin stammered before realizing Arthur was watching her closely. She swallowed hard before continuing. "Well, y-you didn't mention you were seeing anyone. I was just curious."
A subtle smirk played on Minjeong's lips as she replied. "A pretty girl, innocent and soft—since you're not the only one."
"Eh, is that your type too?" Arthur chimed in quickly, letting out an awkward laugh. "Okay, I get that you like women, but you two really never had anything going on before this, right? I mean, there's no way my girlfriend is a lesbian, right?"
Minjeong looked toward Jimin, demanding an answer.
Jimin stammered, frantically looking back at her boyfriend. "H-huh? No. Never—that would be impossible. I could never... do strange things with... my best friend, and... I-I'm also... not... a l-lesbian?"
"Are you sure?" Arthur frowned. "You sound unsure?"
Jimin didn't know why she was stuttering when the answer should have been simple. In her entire life, Jimin had never been in a relationship with a woman, so there was no way she was a lesbian—or at least bisexual, right? Yet Jimin couldn't shake the intense tension flooding her chest as Minjeong watched her, waiting for her answer.
Hastily, Jimin rose to her feet, standing on tiptoes to press a soft kiss onto Arthur's lips to deflect from the topic.
"Then let me walk you both out to the front. So neither of you ends up being late, right?"
Jimin was bewildered as to why she had been feeling so restless and uncomfortable all night long. Was it because she felt nervous answering Arthur earlier, which might have raised suspicions against her—even though Jimin had done nothing behind Arthur's back? Or was it because... she felt uneasy that Minjeong... was out with someone she didn't know?
Truly, Jimin felt utterly uncomfortable.
Lying on the living room sofa, Jimin squeezed her phone tight in her grip.
Even though her boyfriend was texting her during his free time before sleep, telling her about his day.
Mine
im not lying, all of em r so damn brutal! fuck! im exhausted babe :/
Jimin replied to the freshly delivered message.
get some rest baby <3
i already told u to rest earlier
u hv to wake up really early tomorrow rite?
im praying hard that u make the cut my love
It was now 11:30 PM.
Was Minjeong still... out?
Was she still watching a movie with... who even was this innocent and soft girl anyway?
Irritating.
Mine
ill be able to sleep if u send me a pic of u :D
Ah...
Arthur asked for her pictures far too often.
With a sigh, Jimin opened her camera app and raised her phone high, switching to the front-facing camera. Jimin made sure her face looked presentable before taking a photo and sending it over to him.
go straight to sleep ok :*
In a single second, the message was read.
And a reply came through instantly.
Mine
not that kind of pic bb
Sighs...
Jimin really was not... in the mood for this.
And didn't Arthur love her for being an innocent and soft girl? Why did he keep pushing her from the other side to act like anything but that? Jimin couldn't even understand what kind of person she truly was anymore, being constantly pressed into a specific narrative.
Mine
pls bb send it quick just ur huge tits is fine
Jimin froze for a moment at those words.
Hh...
Jimin glanced down at the pajamas she was wearing. Slowly, Jimin unbuttoned the first and second buttons of her shirt. Naturally, with no bra underneath, her cleavage was drawn into stark relief, firm breasts hanging beautifully against her chest.
Okay, how should she pose?
Mine
bb cmon
Jimin let out a soft groan, searching for a good angle using her front camera, but she struggled.
It was hard because... Jimin simply had no heart in it. It felt as if her photos were becoming a... terrifying form of consumption, especially because... Minjeong was right. Arthur was so busy he barely ever spent time with her. So... over the past year, despite the good moments with Arthur, there was still... an overwhelming emptiness.
Whereas Minjeong...
No matter how busy she was, she was always there for her...
Ever since the very beginning.
Mine
bb send it fast or im going to get really pissed off
Arthur was already getting mad, and—
Miminjeolma
Try sending the expense breakdown you made earlier.
My date knows a lot about this stuff.
Huh?
What?
The woman with Minjeong... why did she need to know about this?
Tsk.
Jimin's mood instantly soured.
Yet one thing was certain that Jimin never ignored Minjeong, ever.
So Jimin pushed herself up from her spot to grab her laptop, which was still sitting on the table over there. Jimin opened her laptop, pulled up her calculation sheets in a spreadsheet table, and snapped a photo of the screen with her phone.
At the exact same time, Arthur sent her another message.
Mine
bb r we rlly doing dis again?
i told u not to piss me off
i never ask u 4 much but when it comes to doing smtng simple for me u make it so difficult
meanwhile im out here chasing my dreams so we can have a future together
im not asking for much
not asking for a sleep call
a sex call
or whatever
im just asking for a simple thing a girl can give her boyfriend when he misses her
Ah, please don't start this...
Jimin felt... suffocated every time Arthur got like this.
Driven by the pressure, Jimin hurriedly unbuttoned her entire pajama top, laying her deep cleavage completely bare. The edges of her shirt barely covered her nipples, which were slightly perked from the chill of the air conditioner. Jimin snapped a photo in a rush and sent it straight to Arthur. She also immediately sent the photo of the expense details to Minjeong, intending for Minjeong to reply quickly afterward.
Sent.
Done.
Both of them had received their photos.
Jimin closed her laptop again before rebuttoning her shirt, stepping toward the light switch to turn off the lights. She was just going to go straight to sleep, hoping Arthur was satisfied with the photo she had sent.
And then her phone chimed.
Twice.
There were two replies.
Jimin immediately opened Arthur's message first so she could quickly say goodnight to him.
Mine
r u sleepy?
ur tits bb
not a photo of some breakdown details
dis isnt important
hurry up
before my roommates come back in
i want to jerk off real quick
W-what...?
A photo...
Of the expense details...?
Jimin scrolled up her screen slightly to confirm that...
Yes, Jimin had sent the expense breakdown to Arthur.
Which meant... Minjeong...
Jimin felt her heart hammering violently inside her chest the moment she exited Arthur's chat room. Jimin stared at the illuminated notification bubble, containing a single unread message that... she could read.
Miminjeolma
You sent it to the wrong person, Jimin.
Not entirely...
Miminjeolma
But fuck it, your boyfriend doesn't deserve your beauty anyway.
...the preview notification was enough to...
Miminjeolma
I'm coming over right now, Jimin.
I'm sick of holding back for 8 years.
You can't refuse me.
...drive her out of her mind.
Miminjeolma
You can be the first person to see my new tattoo :)