Minji’s breath heaved as the music finally cut. Even though her lungs burned, she kept her final pose steady with a practiced smile on her face. “Perfect!” the dance coach called out.
The moment the word left his mouth, the entire room collapsed. Bodies dropped onto the wooden floor as groans filled the practice room after hours of rehearsing.
“I’m going to die,” Hyein groaned dramatically, spreading her arms and legs across the cool floor as if she might melt into it.
Haerin was already sitting up beside Dani, the two of them quietly sharing a water bottle while catching their breath. Hanni, however, was nowhere to be seen. “Minji unnie,” Hyein suddenly said, turning her head toward the older girl.
Minji was crouched by her bag, pulling out her water bottle while wiping the sweat from her neck with the back of her hand. “She took sick leave. Said she’s cramping too. you know how bad her period cramps are" Minji twisted the cap open and took a sip before answering without looking up. “Why are you asking me?”
Hyein raised an eyebrow and turned to Dani, giving her a small knowing smile that Minji almost caught if she hadn’t been busy rummaging through her bag.
“Nothing,” Hyein said lightly.
Minji narrowed her eyes slightly, suspicious, but decided not to question it.
,,
Hanni and Minji had been secretly dating for almost seven months.
It had happened during their debut days when they were in Spain. One late night, after everyone else had already gone to sleep, the two of them had quietly slipped out of their rooms and climbed up to the hotel rooftop. The city stretched out beneath them in golden lights, and the air was warm against their skin as they sat side by side.
Minji had confessed that night. Her voice had been quiet and careful, she was afraid saying the words too loudly might ruin the moment. Hanni had stared at her for a second before breaking into a soft smile.
“Girlfriend,” Hanni had whispered slowly, letting the word linger on her tongue as if she was testing how it felt.
Then she giggled softly and nodded. “I like it.”
The memory alone still made Minji’s chest feel tight.
However, because of obvious reasons, they both knew the relationship had to remain a secret. At least, that was what they thought they were doing. The truth was that they were far less subtle than they believed.
Haerin was the first to notice. Dani caught on not long after, and of course Dani being Dani meant that Hyein was immediately told as well.
Still, the three of them had agreed on one thing.
They would never tell Minji and Hanni that they knew.
Watching the two of them attempt to act normal was simply too entertaining.
They saw the quiet glances across the room, the way their hands brushed together when they thought no one was looking, and how they somehow always ended up sharing a dorm room. Even their small arguments during practice were painfully obvious to anyone paying attention.
They thought they were being subtle.
They absolutely were not.
,,
“Someone should check on her,” Haerin suggested casually while stretching her legs out in front of her. “Yeah,” Dani added quickly, playing along. “Her fever might be getting worse.”
Hyein slowly pushed herself off the floor with their help before brushing imaginary dust off her pants. Then the three of them looked at Minji almost at the same time. Minji looked back at them with a deep frown.
“What?”
“You’re the oldest,” Hyein said simply, placing her hands on her hips.
The other two nodded in agreement.
“My steps are still off,” Dani said quickly, glancing toward Haerin. “I need Haerin to help me with my timing.”
“Go,” Hyein added, waving Minji toward the door. “I’ll tell the coach you had to check on a sick member. I’m sure he’ll understand.”
Minji immediately started protesting, but they didn’t listen to a single word she said. Her bag was shoved into her arms and she was practically pushed toward the door before she could argue further.
The moment she stepped out into the hallway, the door shut behind her. Minji let out a dramatic groan and shook her head.
“Unbelievable.”
But only a few seconds later, she was already pulling her phone from her pocket. A message was waiting for her.
HannyPammy <3
goodluck with prractice baby
Minji felt the corner of her mouth lift into a smile before she could stop herself.
Hanni loved ridiculous nicknames. At first Minji had cringed every time she heard one, but somewhere along the way she had gotten used to them. Now she even found herself using them back sometimes, mostly because she loved the way Hanni’s face would scrunch up in embarrassment before she broke into that soft giggle she always tried to hide.
Minji stared at the message for a moment longer before typing out a reply. If Hanni was sick, then there was no way Minji wasn’t going to check on her.
...
Minji quietly unlocked the dorm door, careful not to let it click too loudly behind her as she stepped inside. The dorm was calm and dim, the late afternoon light barely slipping through the curtains. She slipped her shoes off near the entrance and glanced down the hallway toward Hanni’s room.
The door was closed, and the lights inside were off. Minji felt her shoulders relax a little.
Good. She’s resting.
She set the grocery bag down on the kitchen counter and smiled faintly to herself before pulling out her phone. After slipping one AirPod into each ear, soft music filled the quiet apartment as she rolled up the sleeves of her hoodie.
she wanted to make something for her groupmates as well, when they come back for dinner ofcourse.
From the grocery bag she pulled out a few things: ingredients, and a small box of cooling forehead patches she had grabbed on impulse after remembering how warm Hanni’s skin had felt that morning.
Minji moved around the kitchen comfortably, humming quietly along to the music as she chopped and stirred. The familiar smell of simmering kimchi stew slowly filled the apartment, warm and rich, curling through the air. She imagined Hanni waking up to it later, sleepy and wrapped in blankets, complaining about how sick she felt while still eating every bite Minji gave her.
The thought alone made her smile.
Minji stirred the pot with a wooden spoon, leaning slightly over the stove as the stew bubbled gently. She hummed louder, completely lost in the rhythm of the song in her ears.
Completely unaware that the bedroom door had quietly opened. Or that someone had been standing in the hallway watching her for a full thirty seconds.
Hanni leaned lazily against the wall, arms folded, hair messy from sleep. Her eyes were heavy and half-lidded from the fever, but there was a small, entertained smile on her face as she watched Minji hum and move around the kitchen like she owned it.
She waited.
And waited.
Only stepping forward when Minji turned her back to reach for the counter.
Two arms slipped around Minji’s waist. Minji startled slightly before relaxing almost instantly. She knew those hands.
Her shoulders relaxed, and a smile slowly spread across her face as she looked down at the fingers loosely clasped over her stomach.
“Hanni.”
Behind her, Hanni tiptoed and rested her chin lightly on Minji’s shoulder, her cheek warm against the fabric of Minji’s hoodie.
“You’re loud,” Hanni murmured.
Minji blinked.
“I’m humming.”
“Exactly.”
Minji giggled quietly as she reached forward and lowered the stove heat, letting the stew simmer now that it was finished. She set the wooden spoon aside before resting her hands over Hanni’s arms.
“You’re supposed to be asleep,” Minji said gently.
Slowly, she turned around in Hanni’s arms. Hanni loosened her hold just enough to let her move, but the second Minji faced her, those arms wrapped around her again without hesitation. Up close, Minji could see the faint flush on Hanni’s cheeks and the way her hair was messily falling into her eyes. She looked half-asleep and completely unbothered by the fact that she was clearly still sick.
Minji lifted a hand and pressed the back of it against Hanni’s forehead.
Still warm.
“You’re still warm.”
Hanni hummed quietly.
“Your hands are just cold”
“That’s not the point.”
“It is to me.”
Up close, the fever was obvious. Hanni’s cheeks were flushed and her hair was falling into her eyes, but she was looking at Minji with that slow, sleepy gaze that always made Minji forget what she was saying.
Hanni watched her for a moment, a faint smile forming. Then she slowly leaned forward and rested her forehead against Minji’s shoulder again. Minji froze briefly before her hand came up automatically, gently brushing Hanni’s hair back.
“You’re acting dramatic,” Minji murmured.
Hanni didn’t respond. Instead she nudged her nose into Minji’s hoodie and breathed in slowly.
“You cooked my favourite.”
Minji’s ears turned faintly pink.
“You’re easy to feed.”
Hanni’s lips curved. “You're the easy one”
Minji gave her a look.
Hanni just blinked back innocently.
“Eat before it gets cold,” Minji said, nudging her lightly.
She turned back to the stove and began filling two bowls. Hanni didn’t leave. She leaned against the counter beside her, watching Minji quietly while she worked. Her head tilted slightly as Minji handed her a bowl.
“Careful,” Minji said.
Hanni took the bowl but didn’t move. “You’re going to spill it,” Minji added.
Hanni hummed thoughtfully before finally walking toward the living room, putting the bowl on the table and sitting herself on the carpet. Her back leaned against the couch.
Minji followed with her own bowl.
The second Minji sat down, Hanni settled beside her she leaned sideways and rested her head against Minji’s shoulder. Minji barely reacted. She simply adjusted a little so Hanni could lean more comfortably and grabbed the remote control.
Hanni kept her head on her shoulder, eyes half-lidded as she watched the screen flicker to life. The room was dim except for the soft glow from the television and the warm kitchen light spilling faintly into the living room. It was quiet in that comfortable way that only happened when the apartment was mostly empty.
Minji balanced her bowl on one knee and started eating, her attention drifting between the show and the quiet weight leaning against her side. After a moment she glanced down. Hanni hadn’t touched her food.
Her bowl was still sitting on the table in front of them, while she lazily hugged one of the couch plushies to her chest. The plush was slightly squished between them, and Minji realized she was absentmindedly holding onto another one herself, her arm hooked around it while she ate.
“Hanni,” Minji said.
Hanni hummed softly in response but didn’t move. “You’re supposed to eat.”
“I am,” Hanni murmured.
Minji looked down at the completely untouched bowl.
“You’re not.”
“I’m thinking about it.”
Minji sighed.
“You need to eat if you’re going to take medicine.”
Hanni shifted slightly, pressing her cheek more comfortably into Minji’s shoulder. “I’m tired.”
“You’re sick,” Minji corrected.
“That too.”
Minji watched her for another second before shaking her head and setting her own bowl down on the coffee table, grabbing Hanni's bowl. Minji scooped up a spoonful and held it out.
“Open.”
Hanni turned her head slightly, looking at the spoon with mild suspicion.
“You’re really doing this?”
“You’re really refusing to eat.”
"You corn ball" Hanni stared at the spoon for another moment before finally opening her mouth and letting Minji feed her. Minji waited until she swallowed before scooping another bite.
They fell into a quiet rhythm after that.
Minji watched the show while feeding her a spoonful every few moments, barely even looking down anymore. Hanni leaned against her the entire time, occasionally mumbling something about the show or shifting a little closer when she got comfortable.
At some point Minji noticed the blanket had slipped down around Hanni’s legs.
Without thinking, she reached down with one hand and pulled it back up, tucking it around both of them so the warmth stayed trapped around the couch.
After a few more bites, Hanni finally reached up and gently pushed the spoon away.
“Full?”
Hanni nodded against her shoulder. “Okay,” she said softly.
Minji set the bowl down beside the other one on the coffee table before leaning back into the couch again.
Hanni shifted slightly under the blanket, curling a little closer into Minji’s side. The plush stayed tucked between her arms while Minji still had the other one loosely hooked under her arm. Minji glanced down at her.
Hanni’s eyes were already drifting closed.
“Don’t fall asleep yet love,” Minji murmured.
Hanni made a small sound of protest and shifted further into Minji’s shoulder, clearly trying to ignore her as her hands slid out from under the blanket and quietly grabbed the sleeve of Minji’s hoodie.
“Medicine.”
That word made Hanni’s eyes open halfway. She tilted her head back just enough to look up at Minji, her expression immediately suspicious.
“No.”
Minji almost smiled.
“Yes.”
“I hate medicine.”
“You always say that.”
“Because it tastes like ass,” Hanni muttered.
Minji exhaled softly through her nose, already used to this exact conversation. Carefully, she slid out from under Hanni’s weight and stood up from the couch.
The moment she moved, Hanni made an annoyed noise and tipped sideways into the cushions, the blanket bunching around her. She hugged the plush closer to her chest like it had personally betrayed her.
"You're so lameee"
“Stay there,” Minji said.
Hanni watched her shuffle into the kitchen, her eyes following lazily as Minji turned on the light and started rummaging through the grocery bag.
When Minji came back, she had a small glass of water in one hand, a pill in the other, and a cooling forehead patch tucked between her fingers.
Hanni groaned the second she saw it. “You’re unbelievable. I'm not a child”
“You're clearly acting like one” Minji replied simply, sitting back down beside her.
Hanni slowly pushed herself up just enough to sit again, though she immediately leaned back against Minji’s shoulder. Minji pressed the back of her hand against Hanni’s forehead first, checking the warmth again before opening the cooling patch and smoothing it gently across her skin.
Hanni scrunched her nose.
“It’s cold.”
“That’s the point.”
Hanni muttered something under her breath but didn’t resist when Minji held the pill out in front of her.
“Open.” Hanni stared at it like Minji had just handed her poison.
“It leaves that weird aftertaste,” Hanni insisted, her voice quieter now but still stubborn.
Minji waited.
Hanni crossed her arms under the blanket and leaned back into the couch again, clearly preparing to lose this argument with dignity.
“I’m warning you,” Hanni muttered, her voice hoarse from the cold. She pulled the blanket tighter around her shoulders and glared at the small pill sitting in Minji’s palm. “I’m going to complain about it.”
Minji didn’t even look offended. If anything, she looked mildly amused. “You already are.”
Hanni shot her a look that was meant to be threatening but mostly just came out tired.
Minji huffed a quiet laugh and held the pill a little closer. Hanni leaned away immediately, scrunching her nose like Minji had just offered her poison.
“Absolutely not.”
Minji didn’t argue this time, she leaned forward and slipped the pill between her own teeth.
Hanni blinked.
“Minji-”
But Minji was already reaching out.
Her fingers gently found Hanni’s chin, The movement was slow enough that Hanni could have pulled away if she wanted to, but she didn’t.
Minji leaned in and pressed a kiss to her mouth. Hanni’s eyes squeezed shut on instinct, and the pill slipped from Minji’s mouth into hers.
By the time Hanni realized what had happened, Minji had already pulled back.
Hanni sat there for half a second in stunned silence before immediately scrambling for the water bottle beside them. She took a hurried sip, swallowing quickly, then made a face like she had just tasted the most offensive thing on earth.
“There,” Minji said calmly, settling back against the couch like nothing unusual had happened. “Not so bad, was it?”
Hanni stared at her slowly lifting a hand and pressed it against Minji’s cheek, pushing her face away with a cringing grin spreading across her own.
“You’re so corny, bro.”
Minji laughed quietly, the sound low and warm. Before Hanni could shove her any farther, Minji caught her wrist.
“Hey.”
Hanni’s hand stilled in her grip. Minji didn’t let go right away.
Her grip on Hanni’s wrist loosened a little, she shifted slightly on the carpet, turning more toward her.
The movement brought them closer without really trying. Their knees brushed under the blanket, and Hanni’s shoulder slid a little against the couch cushion until it was angled toward Minji.
The show was still playing, but neither of them were looking at it anymore.
Hanni glanced down briefly, noticing the way Minji’s hand was still around her wrist. When her gaze lifted again, Minji was already watching her.
For a second neither of them said anything.
Hanni’s hand relaxed in Minji’s grip.
Minji slowly let her fingers slide down from Hanni’s wrist to her hand instead, Their hands settled loosely between them on the carpet, half-hidden by the blanket.
Hanni shifted again, just slightly.
Minji tilted her head a little.
Hanni’s gaze dropped for a split second efore coming back up again.
"Don't" Hanni warned. "You're going to get sick"
Minji shook her head and leaned in.
It started slow, she was testing whether Hanni would pull away.
She didn’t.
If anything, Hanni leaned in a little more, her fingers curling loosely into the fabric of Minji’s shirt while the blanket slid further down around them on the carpet.
Minji’s hand stayed at her cheek at first, thumb still resting there, but after a second it slid gently down to the side of Hanni’s neck. Her fingers settled just under her ear, warm against her skin.
The kiss deepened.
Minji using her thumb to coax the corner of Hanni's mouth, kissing her with her tongue. She felt how messy Hanni was being, and she loved it.
When they shifted again, Hanni ended up leaning further into her, one knee sliding against Minji’s leg under the blanket. Minji adjusted without breaking the moment, her other hand moving to steady Hanni at the waist.
Her palm rested there lightly at first, fingers splayed over the soft fabric of Hanni’s shirt.
Then they curled slightly when Hanni moved closer, sneaking under the fabric rubbing slightly at her sensitive skin. Hanni breathed out, her body gently leaning into Minji's cold hands.
Hanni’s hand slid up from Minji’s shirt to the back of her neck, fingers brushing through the hair there as she tilted her head a little to the side.
Minji reacted immediately, the hand at Hanni’s waist pulling her a fraction closer against her.
Their shoulders pressed together now, the couch behind them keeping them from moving much farther back, leaving them half-leaning into each other on the carpet.
Pulling back, Hanni kept her eyes on Minji's mouth. her breathing ragged, somehow being sick made her feel more needy.
Minji’s thumb brushed slowly along the side of Hanni’s neck, just under her jaw, the motion gentle but grounding. The blanket had slipped almost completely off Hanni’s shoulder now.
Minji let out a quiet breath against her mouth, Hanni felt her stomach drop.
When they finally broke apart, it wasn’t by much. Minji’s lips lingered near hers for a moment before she shifted slightly, her nose brushing along Hanni’s cheek. Hanni let out a hum, her head tipping back just slightly against the couch cushion without really thinking about it.
Minji noticed immediately.
Her hand slid from Hanni’s waist up to her side, fingers resting there as she leaned in again. but this time her mouth didn’t find Hanni’s lips.
Instead, it brushed the corner of her jaw. Hanni’s grip in her hair tightened a little. Minji paused for half a second, checking if that was okay before her lips moved lower.
A soft kiss just under Hanni’s ear.
Hanni inhaled sharply through her nose.
Minji smiled against her skin, barely visible, before leaving kisses along her neck. Hanni ran her fingers through Minji's hair letting out whines that seem quieter.
Hanni’s fingers curled tighter into her hair as her head tipped back further against the couch, giving Minji more room without even realizing she was doing it.
Minji took her time.
Her thumb brushed slow circles against Hanni’s side while she left gentle marks down to her collarbone, usually Hanni would scold her cause she has work to get done, but in stead she shivered to the feeling.
"Harder" She muttered out. Minji breathed in, her lips curving into a smile against Hanni's skin. She sucked, this time being rougher. Her teeth grazing on the skin forming bruises that were starting to be visable.
"Minji.."
Minji only hummed, tongue running along the mark she made to calm it down a bit. and then...
The door suddenly swung open. Both of them jumped.
Minji pulled back so fast she nearly slid on the carpet, her hands running along her hair trying to fix how messy it looked. Hanni straightened at the exact same time, scrambling to sit upright as the blanket slipped halfway off her lap.
They ended up about a foot apart in the span of two seconds.
Silence.
Hyein stood in the doorway with Dani just behind her, both of them blinking at the scene in front of them. Hanni was staring very hard at the TV. Minji was staring at the floor.
Haerin stepped into the room last, her gaze drifting from the two of them. The quiet stretched for a second.
Then Dani spoke.
“…Did we interrupt something?”
“No,” Minji and Hanni said at the same time.
Hyein slowly walked into the living room, glancing between them with a suspicious little smile. Dani followed, already trying not to laugh, while Haerin casually dropped onto the couch behind them like nothing unusual was happening.
Hanni grabbed the edge of the blanket and pulled it back over her legs, clearing her throat.
“We were just watching TV.”
Dani tilted her head.
“Mm.”
Hyein crouched down slightly, peering at them like she was examining something interesting.
“Hanni,” she said.
Hanni looked at her.
“hows your fever”
Hanni cleared her throat. “I'm fine.”
“It’s warm in here.”
“Is it?” Dani asked, glancing around the room dramatically. Another small pause passed before Minji suddenly clapped her hands together once.
“Anyway,” she said quickly,. “I made kimchi jjigae.”
That caught their attention.
Hyein’s eyes lit up instantly.
“You did?”
Minji nodded, already stepping toward the kitchen like nothing had happened. “Yeah. It’s on the stove.” Dani straightened immediately. “Wait, seriously?”
Haerin got up from the couch without a word and followed after them. Hanni stayed sitting on the carpet for a second longer, pressing the back of her hand to her face before letting out a quiet groan.
Minji passed by her on the way to the kitchen and, very quickly reached down and tugged lightly at Hanni’s sleeve. Hanni looked up. Minji’s expression was completely normal again.
“Come eat,” she said.
Hanni narrowed her eyes slightly, but she stood up anyway.
By the time they reached the kitchen, Hyein was already opening the pot.
“Oh my god, it smells so good.”
Dani leaned over her shoulder immediately. “Move, I want to see.”
Haerin grabbed bowls from the cabinet. Minji moved past them to grab spoons, brushing shoulders with Hanni briefly as she passed. Hanni glanced at her.
They ended up gathered around the small dining table a few minutes later, bowls steaming in front of them. The room smelled warm and spicy now, a sharp contrast to the quiet living room they had just been in. The TV was still playing faintly in the background, but everyone had migrated to the kitchen.
Minji sat at one side of the table, pretending to be very focused on ladling soup into everyone’s bowls.
Hanni sat beside her, still wrapped in the blanket like she had refused to let it go.
She looked a little miserable in that way people do when they’re sick but she was eating more. Which Minji clearly counted as a win.
Dani was already halfway through her bowl.
“This is actually so good,” she said, mouth still half full.
Hyein nodded enthusiastically. “You should cook more.”
Minji shrugged, trying to look casual about it. “I'm just amazing huh.”
Hanni quietly took another bite. The blanket had slipped a little as she moved, bunching around her elbows while she leaned over the table.
Across from her, Haerin looked up.
Her gaze lingered on Hanni’s neck for a second. Then her eyebrows pulled together slightly in confusion.
“Hanni,” she said calmly, Hanni looked up mid-bite.
“You have something on your neck.”
Minji froze with her spoon halfway to her mouth and Hanni blinked.
“What?”
Haerin tilted her head slightly, still studying it.
“Here,” she said, casually lifting her own hand and pointing to the same spot on her own neck as a reference.
Right along the side exactly where Minji had been earlier.
Hanni’s brain caught up about half a second too late. Her eyes widened. She immediately grabbed the collar of her shirt and yanked it up toward her neck like that would somehow erase the problem.
The movement only made things worse.
Because in the process, she accidentally pulled the fabric high enough that the edge of the mark became even more obvious for a split second. Across the table, Hyein had just taken a sip of water.
The moment she registered what she was looking at, she abruptly turned her head away, her hands over her mouth trying not to laugh. "Oh my god"
Dani’s spoon slowly lowered back into her bowl. “Oh,” she said quietly. Minji had gone completely still beside Hanni.
“It’s nothing,” she said quickly, voice slightly higher than normal.
Haerin blinked, Her eyes flicked between Hanni and Minji. “Oh,” she repeated softly, finally understanding then calmly returned to eating her soup like nothing had happened.
Hyein still wasn’t looking at them. Her face was turned toward the wall, shoulders trembling slightly while she tried very hard to keep it together.
Dani finally broke.
A quiet laugh slipped out before she could stop it.
Hanni sank further into her blanket.
Then Hyein cleared her throat, finally turning back toward the table. “Damn, soup was good huh,” she said carefully.
Dani lost it again, Haerin getting hit everytime she laughed but she just sat there and took the beating.
Hanni kicked Minji lightly under the table.
