"Day 3: My body is slowly getting used to this newfound distance. But I still miss how things used to be before I found her unconscious on her kitchen floor. I feel so numb, like I am slowly losing touch with the outside world. This experience had taught me to never take things for granted and to always cherish what you have before it's too late. Food no longer taste the same... Things are so awkward now, even thinking about it gets me all sad and gloomy. On the bright side, I stepped outside into my backyard for the 1st time yesterday in ages. I realised being stuck inside all the time doesn't help the growing greyness within myself, so I finally decided to take the initiative to walk out into the wide open and the light made me feel great! I really needed that vitamin D boost. Sucks that a fly flew into my mouth the moment I opened the door though and the sun was so bright, it almost burned my skin-"

"Oh my god, Kim Minjeong" Ningning turns around from her table, with a very frustrated expression written all over her face "I'm trying to prepare for my next patient, can you not do this somewhere else?"

"Ningning," Kim Minjeong, who was currently reclined on the therapy couch during a deeply introspective session with herself, turned her head towards her best friend. "This is a therapy clinic. I'm having a session. It's my time to talk. Can you please not interrupt me?"

"Yes, that would be all great if it wasn't for the fact that you and I do not have a session booked!" The doctor put down her files and brought two fingers up to her forehead before letting out a sigh. "You've literally barged in here like this for three days now unannounced, sat yourself down, and just began spouting nonsense. Seriously Kim Minjeong, can you not bother someone else with your verbal journal entries?"

"Hey! It's not nonsense, this is meant to be a safe space!"

"This is MY psychology clinic for MY real patients!"

"I am a real patient, I'm troubled can't you tell?"

"Yes if the last three days haven't said anything I can see you're really troubled. TROUBLED AT READING THE ROOM! I have work to do Minjeong! So if you're done with your little rant about your love life. I would truly appreciate some peace and quiet" Turning around back to her desk, Ningning swallowed down any remaining words she had wanted to say to her friend... convincing herself it wasn't worth it. She continued, or at least tried to continue, to do her work.

"Hey... don't be like that" The blonde promptly gets up from the couch with an unusually cute and cheery voice now "Have you not heard of a very term called Mate's Rates?" She tried to egg the doctor on.

"Not in my vocabulary"

"No fair!" The girl plops back down onto the couch with a pout "I would offer you mates rate"

"With your managing style? No thanks," Ningning responded nonchalantly, her fingers swiftly moving across the keyboard as she typed up a few key notes.

"What's wrong with my managing style!?"

"Considering you managing your one and only client has gotten you here in therapy for three days straight... I'll say... everything"

"I'LL HAVE YOU KNOW-"

"Shut up Minjeong, I'm seriously trying to work"

Gloomily mumbling a few complaints, the blonde once again lied herself onto the couch and let out another purposely loud sigh. "I'm being serious too, you know. I really am actually sad.... Jimin... she's still so distant... I mean, there isn't anything else. She doesn't even complain about what I do anymore... She's just silent... as if she wants to avoid me, and I really don't know how to handle it, Ningning."

Removing her glasses and taking a deep inhale, the doctor finally gave up. It had become apparent to her now that she wasn't going to get any work done with Minjeong by her side.

So turning around, the Ningning finally decides to give her best friend her full attention.

"And I already told you since day one of you coming in here. Jimin just unloaded a lot of stuff onto you. Very not pretty ones... I bet those aren't just any memories she's keeping tucked away; they're likely haunting her every day... Opening up to you about it probably took a huge emotional toll on her. Think about it, everyone in her life left her at some point. It's going to take time for her to trust that you're different."

"But I told her! I told her that I'll be there for her, that I wouldn't do anything like what others have done to her in the past-"

"-And I'm sure she heard you, but something like this isn't going to just get better in a day or two. Just because someone tells her they'll never leave her, does not change the people that did leave her. And that alone will take her some time to adjust to, before she fully believes anyone would be any different."

"I know I know..." Minjeong groans and shifts to her side so her face was facing Ningning's now "But I'm still not sure what else I can do.. like what else should I do to show her that I won't be like the others..."

"Minjeong... would you say you deeply care about Jimin?" The blonde's legs rolls off the edge as her body shifts up so she's completely sitting on the couch now, before giving her friend a small nod" Great, because it's clear to me, with our past couple of conversations, you truly do care for her and want to support her. I think that's awesome.. however, you need to remember, support isn't just about acts of service and verbal affirmation, sometimes it's about stepping back, realising that some people have boundaries... they need time to adjust, their own time. And although it's frustrating, being there for someone means in addition to the what you're doing for her now, it's also about being able to accommodate to her despite those setbacks. So you" the doctor points at Minjeong with her pen "You need to learn to be more patient. Just because the distance is there now, doesn't mean it'll be there forever. Support her, but don't overwhelm her. Don't keep trying to rush her because of your own impatient."

"And you really think if I just leave her alone.. it'll all be alright?"

"I didn't say leave her alone, I mean work around her, because she needs time to realise she can trust you fully, so let her handle that the way that's best for her. In the meantime, do what you've been doing, be there for her when she needs it, talk to her, joke with her, be yourself. But do not push her to do something you can tell she doesn't feel comfortable with."

"Boundaries?"

"Boundaries." Ningning affirms "you've already overstepped it once. And whilst that was something that did end up making somewhat of a positive impact, I wouldn't keep pushing it, it's true sometimes people just need a little push to move forward... but being too forceful can also break them..."

"Yeah... you're right, I guess I'll just continue with how things are... test the waters.. and if she needs me, then I'll be there" The blonde finally stands up with a small smile "Thanks Ningning... this had been very helpful... you're really the best psychologist around here I swear!"

"Don't try to flatter me now, Minjeong" The woman chuckles "Are you off ?"

"Yeah, I have packed day ahead, Jimin is on a program today with some other celebrities, it'll be on Uchinaga's show again and tomorrow afternoon she has an audition for a new role that's coming up"

"Sounds busy"

"Very... I should probably head off now then, once again.. Ningning.. thank you.. I mean it"

"No worries, now that'll be 300 bucks"

Kim Minjeong who was just about to place her hands on the handle of the exit door came to complete halt "300 BUCKS!? for what!?"

"For this therapy session, you took away my precious time to assess other patient files, so this will be charged to you as a consulting session"

"Wha-"

"I'm considering mate's rate here, you've came in here unannounced 3 days now, I'm practically charging you for one session out of three."

"One!? Why are these sessions so expensive!?"

"My ears don't come for free. Alternatively since your going to be on Uchinaga's set, how about this. You get me Aeri's signature and I'll write that off as payment instead."

"URGHHHHHHHHHHH"

⋇⊶⊰❣⊱⊷⋇

The atmosphere inside the car was thick with tension, suffused with an awkwardness that Minjeong just could not dispel. Gone were the usual banter and camaraderie that characterized their drives together. Instead, Jimin's silence hung in the air like a heavy fog, enveloping them in a veil of discomfort.

Minjeong couldn't shake the feeling of being watched, of Jimin's eyes boring into her from the side. Yet, when she stole a glance at the actress, the latter would only look away instantly, giving the blonde no opportunities to question any of it.

It wasn't the typical Diva-Manager dynamic they often danced around any longer. Instead, it was a chilly detachment that left Minjeong feeling isolated, unsure of where she stood with Jimin. Each passing minute only served to deepen the silence between them, making the air feel heavier around them.

Minjeong can't believe she's saying this, but she misses the usual pushy, demanding and slightly grouchy Jimin, and she prefers it way more than this new, oddly polite and soft spoken one.

The actress had even asked the blonde how her morning was today.

Her morning.

Jimin has never asked about her morning before EVER... instead those were usually replaced by:

"Ya you're late again!"

"Seriously Minjeong, you have bread crumbs on the corner of your mouth can you be anymore clumsy!?"

"Hey, why are you spacing out, focus on driving already!"

Not these recent...

"Minjeong.. hey..."

"How are you..?"

"You're here early..."

Early? EARLY!?

Minjeong's never been early. Earlier than five minutes anyway. Which isn't considered early.

And don't get the shorter woman wrong, she knows she shouldn't be feeling this way... if anything they have made some progress recently right? Jimin had, although in a bit of a breakdown, unleashed her past onto Minjeong and in return the blonde had shown no judgement, only wanting to be the backbone that supported Jimin back up.

But even so, the unwritten length between them was undeniable.

She wasn't sure how Jimin was feeling about the whole ordeal, but Minjeong didn't dare to ask... she felt that she's already pushed the older too far recently...

Boundaries Minjeong. Respect her boundaries. Be patient.

She would keep reminding herself over and over again when the going gets tough...

And god has it been tough...

Look into the bright side MinJeong

She tried to comfort herself amidst her own spiralling thoughts...

She supposes, although the two had less to say to each other recently since everything that had unravelled... glancing to the side one last time as she continued to drive... at the very least... Minjeong was just glad, that Jimin still chose to sit at the front beside her..

⋇⊶⊰❣⊱⊷⋇

Minjeong made her way though the bustling crowd, doing her best not too bump shoulders with too many individuals as she tried not to have her stack of meal boxes that she is currently holding, tip over.

The Uchinaga show boasted a lineup of several celebrities, each accompanied by their own respective managers who joined them on set.

It seemed logical for each manager to procure meals for their respective clients, but during filming, the entire staff group vanished elsewhere, leaving Minjeong to handle everyone's orders single-handedly.

The blonde couldn't deny her frustration. While she didn't mind the extra workload when others were occupied, it was the sight of several of them taking a smoke break outside that really irked her as she stepped out.

But she pushes back, not wishing to start any unnecessary drama. And hey, at the very least she can also give Jimin some face as well right?

Yu Jimin has the best manager in the industry, not only does she manage Jimin herself, but she can also manage other celebrities with their insanely equally absurd lunch orders.

That's a strong title!

So quickly scooting her way back into the staff trailer, the blonde swiftly distributed each individual meal, despite the loud chatter drowning out her voice. Though no one heard her, her memory served her well enough to distribute the meals accurately.

Giving out the last box meal, Minjeong was finally ready to rest her legs by placing her butt on a seat, when one of the celebrity that she had fetched a meal for decides to come up to make a very loud complaint.

"Excuse me, I never ordered this salad, it's all wrong! The dressing, the lettuce everything!"

The man was shorter a lot shorter than most people here.. Minjeong had seen him a few times in action films, usually acting mainly as the hero's lacky that typically gets pushed into the background very quickly. She heard from a few insiders, he was finally able to pay off a director in a recent film to be chosen as one of the main casts.

"Oh I'm sorry, you ordered the Caesar salad with chicken correct? What's wrong with it?"

"I didn't want the Caesar sauce and I hate lettuce"

"You.. hate lettuce.. but you ordered a salad?"

"Is there an issue? I wanted a chicken Caesar salad with no lettuce or dressing!"

"So... just chicken and cheese... and bacon?"

"It's a caesar without the lettuce and dressing yes. Are you stupid? how could you get such a simple order wrong!?"

"Ok well..." Minjeong had to bite her tongue, she really didn't have time for.. whatever childish interaction she was having right now, let alone be scolded by some man child over 'not salad', "I'm sorry, that requirement wasn't specified to me by your manager, I heard you guys are expected to be back on set in 15 minutes, would it be okay to make do just this once? I do deeply apologise"

"Are you seriously saying no to me right now?" The little man began to raise her voice... but as Minjeong looked down at his small red face... the intimidation just wasn't setting in "I said! I want my salad the way it's made right! Are you fried or are you dense?"

Oh my god.. I am so underpaid.. Minjeong closed her eyes briefly and inhaled a deep breath. She knew she couldn't really do anything or talk back, not whilst she's working and especially not towards a celebrity in the industry... even if he is just a mere C-lister.... so all she could do was take this man's unbounded complaints and hope after he's done trying to assert whatever little dominance he had, she'll finally be left alone to rest.

"Are you even listening to me?" The C-list celebrity continued "I'm talking to you!"

"HEY"

The two individuals instantly turned their heads towards that raised voice... only to be presented with a very piercing Yu Jimin... staring daggers at the short man in front of her.

"If you have an issue with your meal, go take it out on your own manager, instead of wasting the time of mine" Her voice was filled with authority, like she was a mother scolding a three year old. "Don't you try and blame your own manager's incompetence onto my one again... and let me make this very clear to you." The A-lister had taken a few step forward and was practically leaning over the shorter man now... even from here Minjeong could hear the audible gulp made by the latter as he stared back into Jimin's eyes with fear. Anyone within a mile away could tell.. the girl was absolutely pissed off.. if her eyes didn't give it away.. then the reddening colour on her cheeks and her tight fist definitely did. "Don't you freaking dare, ever talk to her like that again, you hear me? or do you want me to have a word with your current director, I have a feeling I'm worth a lot more than whatever scrawny amount you paid him"

Widening his eyes, the C-lister said nothing else, but held his lunch box tightly before rolling away somewhere else.

With the nuisance gone now, Jimin straightens back and tries to loosen up her shoulders before letting out a small sigh through her nose. She had already been annoyed enough seeing that fake actor be invited on the show today... but seeing that man speaking to Minjeong like that, absolutely sent her overboard.

I'm definitely going to have a word with Aeri about this.

She thought to herself for a moment before her gaze came to a halt, locking onto the blonde's eyes, who had remained rooted to her spot until now.

"Jimin," Minjeong's surprised yet pleasant expression met her gaze. Her lips curled upwards into the warmest smile Jimin had seen in a very long time. "Thank you for doing that. I don't know if I was ever going to hear the end of it if you didn't step in," she said, her eyes forming crescents, causing Jimin's heart to flutter in unfamiliar ways, simultaneously stirring both butterflies in her stomach and a hint of fear.

"No.. it's fine, didn't like his face anyway" The actress mumbles, quickly looking away... not sure if her heart could handle it any longer if she continues to glance over at Minjeong.

Sensing something was wrong however, the blonde began to approach her "Hey..." she held up her hand, about to place it on Jimin's shoulder "is everything alright?"

"Fine." Jimin backed off immediately "I need to use the bathroom, the next session should be the final one of the day, so I'll see you in the car after" And with that the actress walked off quickly... leaving Minjeong alone and with her hand still held up in the air.

Staring at the Jimin's person until she disappears from turning the corner... the blonde slowly descends her arm as she began to stare at her own feet as if they were the most interesting thing in the world...

Her smile was long gone by now.

Oh.. that's right... we're still doing this...

She brought a hand up to her forehead and let out a disappointed sigh before a notification on her phone caught her attention. Staring at her screen and reading it's content, the blonde's lips instantly tightens into a thin line before she too walked away to the opposite direction.

However, all the while well that entire event was unfolding, neither woman noticed a third party observing intently from a distance.

Aeri stood leaning against the wall, arms crossed, silently observing the interaction between the two women. As they separated, she shook her head in disappointment.

"Jimin... Jimin..." Aeri muttered with a small huff. "Looks like you still need a little push, huh?"

⋇⊶⊰❣⊱⊷⋇

"Why are you here, Aeri?" Jimin eyed her friend suspiciously, noting the wide grin on Aeri's face and the backpack slung over her shoulder.

"Can I not check up on a friend?" Aeri responded with mock of innocence.

"You? Unannounced? Early in the morning? No," Jimin replied firmly.

"Oh, come on." Aeri attempted to shove herself between the door and the frame before Jimin could close it. "I'm already here. At least offer me some tea? I rushed here and didn't even get the chance to eat breakfast."

Jimin stared at Aeri for a moment, considering, before shaking her head decisively.

"No." She moved to shut the door, only to find the other woman's foot wedged into the remaining gap, blocking it from closing completely.

"Okay, too bad. I didn't make it all this way for nothing," Aeri exclaimed, determined to push her way through the door despite Jimin's attempts to stop her.

"What are you doing!?" Jimin protested as Aeri continued to force her entry.

"Pushing you because you clearly can't push yourself," Aeri retorted, her determination evident.

With a forceful yank, the hostess managed to barge through, accidentally colliding with Jimin and sending them both crashing to the ground with a loud thud.

"And I meant that," Aeri declared, quickly getting back on her feet. "Both literally and metaphorically." She dashed off towards the kitchen before Jimin could retaliate.

"Hey—"

⋇⊶⊰❣⊱⊷⋇

"I have an audition to attend to this afternoon, Aeri. You have five minutes to explain what in the world you're doing here before I actually call security to escort you out of my building," the A-lister demanded, her arms and legs crossed as she glared at the woman sitting across from her, innocently sipping tea.

"You have a nice balcony setup Jimin" The woman begins touching the outdoor furniture, "oooo, is this table made from oak wood?"

"Aeri!"

"Alright, I get it. No small talk for the Yu Jimin" She places down her teacup and pushes it to the side. "I really did come to check on you. How have you been?"

The actress just stared at the woman with a raised eyebrows, honestly a little bit dumbfounded by the answer. "You came all this way to check up on me?"

"Is that so weird?"

"Considering you and my schedule? Yes."

"Well, consider yourself appreciated then Jimin, now answer the question"

The actress leans back, still gazing towards her friend with a raised eyebrow.. but eventually turned away to the side to stare at the open outdoors. "Fine"

"Just fine?"

"Just fine,"

"Mhm, mhm..." Aeri nodded and remained silent for a few seconds before adding, "And what about Minjeong?"

"Oh, here we go," the actress said, dropping her hands and turning abruptly toward her friend. "Is this really what this is about, Aeri?"

"She left my assistant a note asking for my signature, saying it's this or 300. I'm not sure what it means, should I just sign it?" The hostess takes out an envelope from her bag and slides to the woman directly in front of her.

"..." Jimin's eyes followed the trail of the letter... this day truly becoming more and more spastically confusing for her "I don't know? Yes?"

"Also, did you guys fight?"

"Okay," Jimin responded curtly, standing up and moving behind Aeri. She grasped her friend's upper arm, intent on pulling her up to force her to stand. "That's it. Leave."

"Jimin-" Aeri resisted. "wait-"

"Leave!"

"At least listen to what I have to say!"

"I don't want to!"

"Well, someone's has to give you a reality check sooner or later!" Aeri exclaimed, relenting and standing up. Before doing so, she pushed Jimin off firmly. "Jimin, I'm your friend, correct?"

"Sometimes I really wonder that-"

"I care deeply about you as a friend, and because I'm your friend I want to see you happy. And you" Aeri gestures at the A-lister "You're currently doing yourself a complete disservice a major disservice"

"I have no idea what you're talk-"

"What you're talking about," The woman imitated the remainder of Jimin's sentence in her tone but more mockingly to showcase her annoyance of the woman's constant need to avoid the topic. "I'm talking about you and her. Jimin, you're distancing yourself from her, I can tell, and I didn't even have to watch you two that long to get the cold shoulder myself."

Do you seriously have nothing better to do than to people watch us like that?" The actress scoffs, but Aeri doesn't miss the way Jimin's fingers fidget at her elbow.

"Don't bring this on me, when you're the one with the problem Jimin. I know you have feelings for her, it's very obvious, you can hide it from the public, you can hide it from her, but you can't hide it from me. We come from similar circumstances and I know exactly what you're thinking."

"And what exactly am I thinking?" Jimin retorts, her tone defensive.

"You're thinking that she's too good to be true. That her kindness cannot be everlasting. Because no one's kindness has ever been everlasting. So you do what you do best, you push her away, because to you that's your safe place. That's the only way you can protect yourself from getting hurt. Now am I right or am I right?"

"..."

"And now, as a result, no matter what she does, no matter how much reassurance she gives you, no matter how much she tries to progress to a deeper level with you, you'll never take that step forward with her. You're too busy taking two steps back, fearing that if this goes wrong, it's going to prove you right once again. And if it proves you right, it's going to crush you... but even worse, considering you haven't had this much hope in someone for a long time. Your behaviour has also put her in a difficult position. Now she's unsure of how to approach you, and because you're not willing to take any initiatives, both of you are just stuck in this loop of a limbo, unable to move forward, despite there definitely being something there."

"What's your point Aeri" Jimin felt places a hand over her eyes... feeling quite defeated hearing those words coming from her friend... hitting a bit too close to home than she would have liked.

"My point is, everyone's patience has a limit. Blondie looks like she has a lot of it. I don't even know her that well, but from what I've seen recently, I know that's a fact. But if you keep this up, eventually, one day, whenever that'll be, even for someone like her, she's going to recognize the need to give up and move on, instead of constantly staying in that same cycle with you."

Jimin felt an eye twitch to that statement, her fidgeting stopped, transforming into a hard squeeze on her arm instead.

"I know you, Jimin," Aeri continues, undeterred. "You're the most stubborn woman I've ever met, and boy have I met many stubborn pricks in this industry. You honestly deserve a medal. But because you're so stubborn, you've probably somehow convinced yourself that those feelings aren't real, that blondie's actions don't constitute anything deeper. Heck, I bet if she had said she was willing to take a bullet for you, you're going to somehow convince yourself it means nothing."

"Aeri, seriously," the actress slammed her hands on the table, leaning over it. "Are you done!?" Her words were getting to Jimin, and Aeri could just tell by that angry expression. But no matter how much fire surrounded that very look, those eyes couldn't tell a lie.

They were laced with fear. A fear of stepping outside of her comfort zone... A fear of rejection... and most importantly... a fear of being left alone...

Aeri knew those eyes too well... because they were once the exact same pair she saw, staring back at her whenever she had looked into a mirror....

But that was exactly why she was here today.

"No, Jimin. It's clear you're unable to see reality, so I've decided I'll be that final push you need to see just how stupidly you're handling your situation with Minjeong," she declared, her tone firm. With a determined expression, she reached for her backpack, which had been placed underneath the table the entire time, and pulled out her laptop. She then plopped it onto the table and turned it on.

"Aeri what in the devil's are you doing!?"

"Stop talking, now come watch" The hostess pulls Jimin towards herself so she'll be forced to stare at the screen in front of her...

But little to say the moment the actress' eyes landed on the video that was playing in front of her, it felt like her whole body just went into a meltdown as she instinctively began to back away desperately. Not wishing to watch any further.

The video had obviously been a tape from a security surveillance footage where the cameras had been placed all over Aeri's backstage. But that wasn't the issue here... the issue was of the content within that tape. There very clearly in the video, stood a girl with bleach blonde hair talking to a man that had no doubt been Jae... they look like they were just outside the facility discussing something....

And Jimin... she had no idea... during that time.. the blonde had met up with him at all.... looking at the time log on the corner of the video as well... it must've been during lunchtime as well.. whenever the actress had walked away from her...

"Jimin.. hey" Aeri, noticing the sudden shift in behaviour and how the taller had turned around, tried to gently grab her by the shoulder.. only for her hand to be slapped away loudly

"Just what the hell are you trying to do here Aeri!?" Jimin's tone was full of outrage... but her whole body had began to shake... as if she couldn't even comprehend the mere idea of seeing her manager with that guy... and seeing it now on tape... there were no other words to describe it... Jimin was completely triggered. "Why are you showing me this!? Do you just enjoy making fun of me? Torturing me!?

"Of course not! Don't speak such nonsense-"

"Then answer me!" Jimin was hardly able to grit her teeth any longer as her eyes begin to well up with tears "What the fuck are you trying to do here!?"

"Can you just calm down for a second!? I'm obviously not bringing this up for no reason, can you just settle down and trust me, I think you'll find something very interesting in here that might help you"

"I don't trust anyone, Aeri. And if there's one thing I learnt today, it's that I especially shouldn't trust you" Her words were like flying knives, used as a weapon to inflict injury on others... but Aeri knew better than to let those small blades stab her.

"Jimin... seriously" The woman sighs in defeat "Just watch the footage ok?"

...

...

"Leave." Jimin's words were final, there wasn't even an ounce of understanding for her friend... she had made up her mind clear as day.

And for Aeri... well... let's just say the girl's stubbornness never ceases to amaze her every time,

"No," Aeri matched Jimin's tone, her voice firm. She knew full well that what she was doing was for no other reason but for the taller woman's benefit. For that reason alone, even if she had to glue her laptop to the table, she was determined to make Jimin finish watching the tape.

"Fine. Then I will."

"Jimin-"

Turning on her heel with a tightly clenched fist, Jimin began pacing towards the door, determined not to look back at what Aeri had presented to her. It felt like a complete betrayal of their friendship. Aeri knew about Jimin's feelings for Minjeong and Jae, yet she had the audacity to show private footage of their interactions to her.

Like did that girl seriously think that was okay?

Jimin was done. She no longer wanted to be a part of this. Even if it meant leaving her own home for a while.

Her fingers tightened around the door handle. However, just as she was about to pull it open, the audio from the surveillance tape brought her to a complete red stop.

"Seriously Jae, I'm really not interested okay? I'm still on shift so please, leave me alone now alright?"

It was Minjeong speaking

Jimin would recognise that voice anywhere... she hadn't expect the facilities security footage to carry audio, but what really caught her in a halt was the blonde's rejective tone... causing her ears to perk up as she slowly turned around towards the direction of the audio as the conversation continues.

"Minjeong.. come on..." That was undoubtedly Jae's voice... and unfortunately... Jimin would also be able to recognise that voice anywhere too "You completely stood me up last time too, I should be mad... I should be upset.. but I honestly, I really just can't get you out of my mind Minjeong... just one dinner... I seriously just want to take you out to one dinner.. and if you seriously hate it then we can do it your way... but at the very least give me that chance?"

"Jae... " Minjeong's voice had settled into that of a calmer one.. "Look, I'm a straightforward person, so I'm just going to be honest with you. I was going to go to that dinner with you to reject you. Like I said, I have a lot on my plate right now, and I'm really not interested in pursuing a relationship with you any further than this"

"I don't understand..." Even from the footage audio, Jimin could hear the way the man was kicking the ground with his foot "Is there something wrong with me? Minjeong, I mean it, I really really like you, I just- I just really want one chance- "

"Jae." Minjeong sounded firm and final "I'm sorry but no means no"

"Then can you at least tell me why?"

...

...

"Because I don't have space in my heart for anyone else, it's already filled up with someone else" Jimin's eyes widens hearing that... her feet seemingly finding a mind of it's own as it began slowly walking back towards Aeri... right to where her laptop was playing...

Watching her friend approach slowly, Aeri steps away... giving the actress more access to watch the content that continued to play.

"So, have I been mistaken to have assumed you're single"

"Well- no.. not exactly" The blonde looked away.. and began staring at the ground..

"Well why is that.. if that person is so important to you?"

"I guess... we just haven't exactly come around to it yet... they're dealing with a lot of personal issues right now too... so I understand... I'm content with where I am right now... and I'll be right here waiting for them whenever they decide they're finally ready to take it a step further.

"Step further? Minjeong, if I was them, I would be an idiot to make someone like you wait. Even if he is dealing with something, he can't possibly just ignore a catch. He don't sound worth it. Why wait for someone like that!"

"Why...?" Minjeong looks up.. and through the camera pixels, it almost looked as if the girl was put into a place of deep thought.

"Why wait for someone who clearly refuses to step up and take charge Minjeong! Forget about them.. I can tell even now.. his actions are bothering you"

...

"Maybe you're right..." Jimin had to hold her breath, hearing that. She closed her eyes... scared of what's to come next "It does bother me.. but... this isn't about me. I can't force someone to be ready when they're not.. but I know my heart. And my heart is willing to wait for them and I'm going to listen to it."

"Minjeong" It was obvious Jae was getting more and more frustrated by Minjeong's firm rejection of him "You're obviously hurting because of him, if he was a man, he would step up, but he clearly isn't. I know you like him, but is that really worth it? I just don't understand why you're willing to put up with someone like that and can't even give me a single chance, when I've tried to show you time after time, how much I like you"

...

...

...

"Well.. I guess my feelings are just deeper than like then... " Jimin eyes snapped open... a fluttering feeling begins feeling up her chest as she watched the way Minjeong just gazed back at Jae with a determined stance... "so now that you know that, it won't matter even if you're willing to lift up a mountain for me, because my feelings won't change, And I don't believe it will change, I'm in too deep. And yes, I know things are difficult right now... but I have hope... and I'm going to hold on to that hope as long as I can because I feel too deeply for them now to stop. If anything, talking to you now, is making me realise just how much I won't leave them. I don't have the power to... because my feelings are just that beyond that of 'like'.... so now if you'll excuse me, I made a promise to them a while back that I'll always be their designated driver, so let's not keep this conversation going any longer" She began to walk away.. but not before stopping to add in one more detail "Oh and just as a side note. HE is a SHE"

And with that she walked away, leaving the man glued to the ground.. completely stupefied...

That was when the video ended...

With a heavy silence hanging in the air, Aeri took the initiative to close her laptop before speaking. "So... do you see my point now?" she asked, her voice softer than before. "You don't need to keep pushing Minjeong away. She truly does care about you. So please, let go of your fears a little and try to live life a bit more carefree, alright?"

As she packed away her laptop, Aeri cast a curious glance at Jimin, waiting to hear her thoughts after watching the tape.

...

...

...

"Jimin?" Aeri called out, after waiting long enough for the silence to feel awkward.

Jimin had her hand closely clutched to her heart.... the thumping in her chest was uncontrollable now... as the girl just stood there utterly stunned... as if the gears in her brain was turning overtime, trying to grasp what she had just witnessed in front of her. Her breath was beginning to turn uneven... as Minjeong was the only thing that filled up her mind.

"Jimin? Hey Yoohoo" Aeri tried to catch her friend's attention again, waving her hand in front Jimin's face to try to garner some type of response. But the girl was giving her nothing. Not even so much as a blink.

"Aeri..." Jimin finally turned her head after a couple more seconds... her voice wavering... "She.. she likes me... she really really likes me" Those words flowed out of her as if she was still trying to grasp the reality of what she was saying.... "She... actually likes me and she wants to wait for me..."

"Like you? Pshhhhh" Aeri rolled her eyes and slammed both her hands on either side of Jimin's shoulders so the actress was forced to stare into her eyes "Did you not listen to the tape, the blondie doesn't just like you, I swear the girlie is in love with you!"

"I- " Jimin stared towards the side as a new wave of self-doubt washed over her "... but she didn't say that though"

"JIMIN" Aeri was shaking the actress by the shoulder now "Read the room! Read the room in the tape! Read the room when she's with you! She doesn't need to say it. She doesn't need to spell it out for you in writing. It's clear in her actions. Kim Minjeong loves you. And before you say any more shit to me. No it's not in a friendship type of way. Minjeong is in love with you. She loves you. Stop trying to deny reality already! I would kill to have what you have right now I swear to god"

Jimin couldn't even describe the way she was feeling right now...

with Aeri making this realisation set in... it was like her world was suddenly bursting with colours as her heart beat was bouncing around erratically... she felt happy... and relieved.. but also somewhere along the way.. this euphoric feeling was also accompanied by a lingering sense of fluttering nerves...

"What- what should I do..."

"Jimin.. no matter what you do.. don't keep her waiting any longer ok... let her in."

The actress was at a standstill.... unsure of how to balance out her elation and apprehension... in many ways she was absolutely exhilarated.. but at the same time daunted by the reality of her situation...

She wasn't sure how she was meant to proceed further now...

Not a single clue...

What is she even meant to say to Minjeong... she had already been avoiding the girl for days...

She was clueless... absolutely clueless...

But if there's one thing she's certain of... it was the clear path to their mutual affection... and right now Jimin wanted nothing else but to strive towards that path as quickly as she can... However her initial fears were still gnawing at her... bringing her into a cycle of wanting to let Minjeong in... but being too afraid to proceed due to her beliefs in her own curse.

"Aeri..." Jimin just needed some guidance right now from someone... anyone.. even if it had to be Uchinaga Aeri "I-"

She was never able to start off her sentence properly though, when her phone rang abruptly... seeing the screen light up.. Jimin's eyebrows furrowed at the sight of the CEO's name written all over it.

"sorry.. it's Jun-Woo... I should take this..."

Aeri stepped aside.. allowing her friend some space as she picked up the phone....

But after the few usual exchanges one might expect between a boss and their employee.... Jimin's body soon turns completely frozen as her phone slips out of her hand and lands directly onto the ground with a loud thud.

"Jimin? Hey! What's wrong?" Aeri quickly picked up the dropped phone and went to tend to her friend who's breathing suddenly became worryingly erratic "What did he say!?"

"Minjeong- It's- It's Minjeong" Jimin began shaking uncontrollably... "She's- she's in trouble..."