As they reached their apartment hallway, Hana exhaled with relief. Ziran's chatter about her trip, the chaos at the airport, and the weird guy who tried to smuggle dumplings in his socks was almost enough to distract her.
Almost.
They stood at Ziran's door, pulling her suitcases close, when Hana's phone buzzed again. She glanced down and immediately turned the screen over.
Ziran narrowed her eyes. "Okay, that's the third time that number's called. What's up? Secret admirer?"
"It's nothing," Hana replied too quickly, slipping the phone into her pocket.
Ziran gave her a look. "That 'nothing' made your face go pale."
Before Hana could respond, her phone buzzed again.
Ziran reached out playfully. "Let me pick it! Mystery solved!"
"No!" Hana blocked her, a little too defensive.
Ziran froze. "Whoa… okay, now I'm worried. Are you in trouble?"
Hana sighed. "No. I just… I need to take this. Give me a minute."
Ziran stepped back and gestured like, Sure, fine, I'll just stand here and not eavesdrop.
With a tight breath, Hana answered.
"Hello?" she said softly.
Minji's voice poured through the line, raw and fast. "Hana. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have dropped the news like that. I should've talked to you first, yes I was stupid, Reckless. But please, don't shut me out. I'll take anything, Hana, just don't go silent on me like this."
Hana's jaw clenched. Her heart ached at the desperation in his voice. She turned slightly, her back to Ziran, voice low and conflicted.
"I'll see you at part three," she whispered after a long pause.
"Today?" Minji's voice caught.
"Yes. Your apartment."
"I'll be waiting."
She ended the call quietly and turned around slowly.
Ziran was staring, arms folded, eyebrows lifted high. "Sooo… mystery man sounds like he's about to cry. Wanna talk about it?"
Hana bit her lip, debating. Then finally, she exhaled. "Okay… but you have to promise to be chill."
Ziran raised both brows. "Me? I am chill. Like frozen yogurt chill."
Hana hesitated one last time. "That was Minji."
Silence.
Who's this minji? Ziran asked confused.
How many people that goes by the name minji do you know? Hana retorted.
A blink.
Then Ziran's jaw dropped as her voice came out in a stunned whisper: "Minji?! Like… Minji-Minji?!"
Hana gave the tiniest nod.
Ziran blinked again. Then—
"AaaaAAAHHHH!"
"Shhh!" Hana lunged forward, clapping a hand over her mouth. "Ziran! You're going to wake up the whole building!"
Ziran was practically vibrating. "You're dating Minji?! THE Minji?! Like… world-class-idol, silver-hair, concert-confessing Minji?!"
"Yes!" Hana hissed. "Now can you lower your volume?!"
Ziran pressed her hands over her mouth, eyes wide as saucers. Then, muffled: "I need popcorn. I need wine. I need details."
"Tomorrow night," Hana said firmly, dragging her toward her door. "Girls night, remember?"
Ziran looked at her like she'd just told her she'd been secretly royalty. "You are so not sleeping tonight."
Hana cracked a reluctant smile.
"Welcome back, Ziran."
After the storm of excitement, Ziran finally settled, sitting cross-legged on her couch, still processing Hana's revelation. Her eyes had softened now, no longer wide in shock, but focused, thoughtful.
"So…" she said gently, "you're in love with him."
Hana looked down at her hands. "Yes."
"And you're scared."
"Yes."
Ziran leaned forward, resting her chin on her palm. "Look, I know this is wild. And complicated. And scary as hell. But, Hana… you've always been the one who holds everything in. Who avoids chaos. And I get that. But if his the one... like he makes you feel alive, seen, loved… then maybe it's worth the mess."
Hana blinked, throat tight.
Ziran smiled softly. "I'm your best friend, remember? I'm Team Hana all the way. So do what your heart wants. Not what fear tells you."
A long silence stretched between them warm and grounding.
Hana nodded slowly, her voice quiet but steady. "Thank you, Ziran."
Ziran nudged her with a smirk. "Just promise to name your first child after me."
Hana rolled her eyes, laughing despite herself.
That night, Hana sat by her window, her phone in her hand. She stared at the dark sky, heart beating with decision. Then, she texted:
"See you later."
_______________
Minji's apartment was quiet when Hana arrived. The air was heavy with unsaid things, the kind that pressed on your shoulders and made your breath catch.
He opened the door, hair slightly tousled, eyes searching hers the moment she stepped in.
"Hana…"
She stepped inside slowly. "Let's talk."
And they did. They sat on the floor beside his low table, words tumbling out of hurts, regrets, fears, and apologies. Minji admitted how selfish he'd been, how he thought love would be enough to shield her from the storm, forgetting that she wasn't built for the spotlight like he was. Hana admitted how deeply she'd fallen, how afraid she was of the world knowing, and of what it could take away from them.
They paused.
Silence.
Looking into each other eyes, seeing the raw emotions of love and want brewing .
Then Minji reached out gently, fingers brushing hers.
"Can I…?" he asked, voice quiet.
She didn't answer with words, only leaned in.
Their lips met soft, hesitant, then deeper, more certain. Like exhaling everything they couldn't say in words. The kiss melted into another, and then another, as they clung to each other like lifelines, hearts beating fast.
Clothes loosened, breaths grew shallow.
They didn't rush.
They explored slowly, as if memorizing each other each curve, each scar, each whisper in the dark. The world outside, with its flashing cameras and chaos, faded into silence.
It was just them.
Two people holding on.
And for tonight, that was enough.