𝗼𝗰 𝗻𝗮𝗺𝗲 : 𝗞𝗶𝗺 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗷𝗶

_

Kyung-jun was this close to throwing his phone out the window when it started buzzing for the fifth time in a row. He groaned, rubbing his temples as he grabbed it from his nightstand.

Na-hee (Annoying): Pick up, idiot!!
Yoon-seo (Brat #2): Answer the damn phone, it's an emergency!!

Kyung-jun sighed before finally answering, his voice dripping with irritation. "What the hell do you want?"

"KYUNG-JUN, FINALLY!" Yoon-seo practically screamed into the phone. "You need to come pick up Minji!"

He frowned, sitting up. "What? Why would I—"

"Because you're the only one who's awake!" Na-hee interjected. "And we're literally begging you right now."

Kyung-jun scoffed. "Not my problem. Let her find her own way home."

"You heartless bastard! She's completely wasted!"

Kyung-jun pinched the bridge of his nose. Out of all the people in the world, why did they have to call him? He and Minji weren't exactly on friendly terms. In fact, they spent most of their time arguing. She was too cheerful, too reckless, too much of a headache for him to deal with.

But then Yoon-seo's voice softened. "Please, Kyung-jun. She's not safe like this."

That made him pause.

With an exasperated groan, he grabbed his keys. "Fine. But you owe me."

When Kyung-jun arrived at the party, he immediately spotted Minji slumped on a couch, giggling to herself. Her cheeks were flushed, and her hair was a mess.

"There's my favorite enemy," she slurred as she spotted him, pointing dramatically. "Why do you look so grumpy all the time, huh? You need a hug?"

Kyung-jun exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. "Minji, get up. We're leaving."

"But I don't wanna leave," she whined, crossing her arms like a stubborn child.

"Too bad. I'm not about to babysit you all night."

She pouted. "You're so mean to me... always glaring and rolling your eyes. But you have pretty eyes, you know that?"

Kyung-jun froze. His brain short-circuited for a second.

Did she just—?

No. Nope. She was drunk. He was not going to entertain this.

Ignoring the weird flutter in his chest, he grabbed her wrist and pulled her up. "Let's go before I leave you here."

Minji giggled as she stumbled against him, pressing her forehead against his shoulder. "Mmm, you're warm... and smell good."

Kyung-jun stiffened. "Minji—"

"You always act so tough," she continued, poking his chest. "But I bet you're secretly nice. You're picking me up, after all. My knight in grumpy armor!"

"God, you're insufferable."

"And you love it." She grinned up at him, eyes twinkling.

Kyung-jun's ears burned.

Without another word, he scooped her up into his arms and carried her out, ignoring her squeals and giggles.

Maybe she was right. Maybe he did love it.

But she didn't need to know that.

_

Kyung-jun regretted his entire existence.

Minji was currently slumped in the passenger seat of his car, humming to herself and kicking her legs like a little kid. She was grinning, cheeks flushed, completely unaware of how much she was testing his patience.

"Kyung-jun, Kyung-jun," she sing-songed, turning her head to look at him. "You're sooooo nice. But you pretend to be mean."

He gripped the steering wheel a little tighter. "I am mean."

She gasped dramatically. "Liar! You picked me up, didn't you? That means you care about meeee."

Kyung-jun clenched his jaw. "Your annoying friends forced me."

Minji leaned her head back against the seat, giggling. "Mmm, nope. You could've said no. But you didn't."

He refused to look at her, keeping his eyes on the road. His ears felt hot. This was dangerous. A drunk Minji had zero filter, and he wasn't sure how much more he could take before losing his mind.

Then, her voice softened.

"Kyung-jun..."

He glanced at her. "What?"

She pouted, looking up at him through half-lidded eyes. "You don't hate me, right?"

Kyung-jun almost slammed the brakes.

She looked... small. Vulnerable. Nothing like the usual Minji who teased him endlessly, who laughed at his grumpiness, who shined so brightly it was infuriating.

He swallowed. "Tch. No. I don't hate you."

She smiled, eyes fluttering closed. "Good. Because I don't hate you either..."

Silence.

Then, barely above a whisper, she mumbled, "In fact... I think I like you."

Kyung-jun's heart stopped.

He whipped his head toward her, but—

She was asleep.

He cursed under his breath, gripping the wheel so tightly his knuckles turned white. Did she mean that? Was it just the alcohol talking? Was this some kind of cruel joke?

His mind was racing, but one thing was painfully obvious.

He was in trouble.

The Next Morning

Minji groaned as she sat up, holding her head. Her brain felt like it was being punched.

Where...?

Her eyes widened when she realized she was in her room. Someone had tucked her in, left a bottle of water and painkillers on her nightstand.

And then, she saw it.

A note.

Her stomach flipped as she picked it up.

"You're an annoying drunk. Don't get used to me being nice. - Kyung-jun."

Her lips curled into a smile.

But then—flashes of last night came back to her.

Her breath hitched.

Oh God.

Did she...?

Did she confess to Kyung-jun?!

Minji slapped her hands over her burning face, kicking her legs in panic.

She was so screwed.

Minji was dying.

She spent the entire morning pacing in her room, clutching her head, trying to convince herself that last night didn't happen.

But the evidence was right there.

The note. The memory of Kyung-jun's stupid, grumpy face as he drove her home. The fact that she had confessed to liking him—out loud, to his face, like a complete idiot.

She wanted the earth to swallow her whole.

But she had to face him eventually.

So, with shaky hands and a racing heart, she made her way to school.

—

Minji spotted him immediately.

Kyung-jun was leaning against his locker, arms crossed, looking like he was born to be annoyed. As usual.

But when his sharp eyes landed on her, his posture stiffened for just a second.

Then—he smirked.

Oh no.

"Morning, drunk mess," he drawled, tilting his head slightly. "Sleep well?"

Minji clenched her fists. "You—" She inhaled deeply, trying to not throw herself out the nearest window. "About last night—"

Kyung-jun's smirk grew.

She hated him.

"Hmm? What about last night?" he asked, pretending to be innocent.

Minji felt like punching him. But no—violence wasn't the answer (probably).

Her face burned. "I didn't mean what I said."

Kyung-jun raised a brow. "Really?"

"Yes!" She crossed her arms, avoiding his gaze. "I was drunk. People say stupid things when they drink. It meant nothing."

Silence.

Minji finally dared to look at him—only to find him watching her intently, his usual sharp expression unreadable.

Then, slowly, he took a step closer.

Minji froze.

"You're a terrible liar," he murmured.

Her breath caught in her throat.

He was too close. She could see the amused glint in his eyes, the way the corners of his lips curled up ever so slightly.

He knew.

Minji's heart was slamming against her chest.

Kyung-jun leaned down slightly, his voice dropping lower.

"If it really meant nothing," he mused, "then why are you turning red?"

Minji immediately smacked his shoulder, making him chuckle.

"You're insufferable!" she huffed, stomping away before he could see how much more flustered she was getting.

But just as she turned the corner, she heard him call out—

"I'll be waiting for when you really confess, sunshine."

Minji's brain short-circuited.

She was so screwed.

—

Minji swore she wasn't going to think about him.

She promised herself she wouldn't fall for his stupid smirks, his annoyingly deep voice, or the way he always found a way to tease her until she was flustered beyond belief.

And yet—here she was.

Standing in front of Kyung-jun's house.

At 11 p.m.

In the rain.

Holding a single can of his favorite iced coffee like some tragic main character.

"Ughhh," she groaned, squeezing her eyes shut. "This is humiliating."

But after what happened this morning—after he called her out on her very obvious crush and basically dared her to confess—Minji knew she had to say it first.

Before he did.

Because if Kyung-jun got to say it first, she'd never hear the end of it.

With a deep breath, she knocked on his door.

A few seconds later, the door creaked open.

Kyung-jun stood there in sweats and a hoodie, his hair tousled from sleep. He blinked, eyes narrowing slightly. "Minji?"

Minji shoved the iced coffee into his hands. "Here."

He frowned. "...Did you come all the way here just to bring me coffee?"

She cleared her throat, suddenly regretting all her life choices. "No—I mean, yes, but no—"

Kyung-jun arched a brow, stepping aside. "Come inside before you catch a cold, idiot."

Minji muttered something under her breath but followed him in.

The moment the door shut, she took a deep breath and blurted, "Okay, listen—I did mean it."

Kyung-jun, who was in the middle of opening the iced coffee, froze.

Minji swallowed hard. "That night. What I said. I meant it."

Silence.

She forced herself to look at him.

He was just staring at her. Completely unreadable.

Her heart was pounding.

Then—he took a slow step closer.

Minji sucked in a breath.

"You're really bad at this," he muttered.

Minji scowled. "Excuse me?"

Kyung-jun set the coffee down, closing the distance between them until there was barely a few inches between them. His gaze was steady, his voice quieter.

"You could've just said you liked me, you know."

Minji's face burned.

"S-shut up," she stammered, refusing to look at him. "This is already humiliating enough—"

Kyung-jun suddenly reached out, his fingers brushing against her wrist.

She froze.

Then, in a voice way too soft for someone who usually insulted her daily, he murmured—

"Took you long enough, sunshine."

Minji barely had time to react before he leaned in, pressing a kiss against her forehead.

Her brain short-circuited.

Kyung-jun smirked as he pulled back. "Now, are you gonna let me take you on a real date, or are you just gonna stand there and explode?"

Minji, still recovering, could only sputter.

Kyung-jun chuckled, grabbing his coffee. "I'll pick you up tomorrow at 7."

And with that, he walked off—leaving Minji standing there, completely and utterly in love.

—

𝐄𝐍𝐃 !

( request open : )