Happy belated birthday, fellow bunnies!
Hoping for a brighter future for NewJeans and all of us. Good luck with all your upcoming activities. May this issue pass quickly, and may we be able to have fun together again soon.
And here is a little tip to enjoy this chapter more.
Recommended playlist:
> Minji's cover of Laufey - Falling Behind
> V - Sweet Night / Enhypen - Moonstruck
Or maybe you can give me recommendations of songs that you might find them suitable for this chapter :D
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Y/n and the girls walked through the cobbled streets, their excitement growing as they passed colorful stalls setting up for the night festival. The air smelled delicious, the scent of roasted meats, fresh bread, and the sweet scent of pastries filled their senses.
"We're here early!" Danielle exclaimed, she didn't forget to show her leap of happiness, "We've got time to try all the food before it gets too crowded."
Hearing that, Haerin immediately scanned her surrounding, her eyes already scanning the nearby stalls, "I'm ready to eat everything," she said.
Minji just chuckled. "Let's enjoy our time. We have all evening."
"Ooh, look at that one! Dumplings sound like a perfect start." Y/n said in excitement to Hanni, who's standing beside her all the time.
Without hesitation, Hanni grabbed Y/n's arm. "We are sooooo getting those. Let's go!" she said, dragging Y/n toward the stall.
While they waited for their food, Hyein was already munching on a candied apple from a nearby stall, a big smile plastered on her face. "This is the best apple I've ever had," she said, the red glaze glistening under the fading sunlight.
Danielle snuck a bite from Hyein's apple. "Oh my... we need more of those. Like, five more! Can they make the carrot version of this?"
After devouring the dumplings they ordered, the group moved further into the town square. Lanterns hung overhead, swaying gently in the evening breeze as the festival preparations reached their final stages. The streets were beginning to fill with people, the atmosphere buzzing with excitement.
"And we have arrived at our next stop: sweet treats," Minji announced, pointing at a stand with a mountain of colorful desserts on display.
"Minji, we just ate!" Y/n laughed, clutching her stomach. She's not ready for any type of food anymore.
A sly smile on Minji's face. "There's always room for dessert, right?"
"You're not getting out of this one. If we're eating, you're eating too!" Hanni held Y/n's arm, just in case running away was one of Y/n's plan.
They ended up buying ice cream for each. While enjoying cream that melted in their mouths, they found a bench under a tree to relax for a while.
"This town really knows how to throw a festival," Y/n said, feeling a comfortable warmth settle over her as she watched the lanterns flicker to life around them.
Hyein said almost immediately, excitement was visible from her tone, "I know, right? We always visit this town whenever they have festivals."
-
Once they're done with their ice cream, they started strolling leisurely around the festival, but this time around the vibrant booths filled with handmade crafts and accessories. Each stall offered something unique, like jewelry, bracelets, sparkling hairpins, and carved wooden trinkets. It was as if every booth had its own story to tell.
As they passed by a booth with glittering necklaces hanging from wooden displays, Danielle's eyes lit up. "Oh, Y/n! This one would suit you perfectly!" she exclaimed, pulling Y/n toward the stall.
Y/n blinked, slightly startled. "Me?"
The other members nodded eagerly. "Yes, definitely! Try it on!" Minji said.
The necklace Danielle picked was an intricately shaped pendant with a swirling design, like a spiral galaxy captured in silver.
Minji leaned closer, inspecting the design. "It's beautiful," she said, her voice soft. "It's like it was made for you."
An old lady who sells the necklace suddenly said the meaning of its design, capturing the attention of all members, "Spirals are often symbols of growth, change, or the journey. While the galaxy represents infinite possibilities. Though the future is full of uncertainty, winding like a spiral, it's going to bring you to a journey full of potential, beauty, and light."
"You hear that, Y/n? A good necklace for a good person" Hyein said.
Y/n took the necklace, feeling the cool metal between her fingers. "You guys don't have toâ"
"Nonsense!" Hyein interrupted, smiling brightly. "Consider it a gift from all of us."
"Yeah, let's make it official," Haerin added, already pulling out some coins to pay the vendor.
Y/n hesitated for a moment, her heart was warming at the thought. "You're all too sweet," she said, feeling a genuine smile stretch across her face. She put the necklace on, the pendant resting perfectly against her collarbone. "Thank you, really. I love it."
They continued to walk, Y/n occasionally glancing down at the new necklace around her neck. As they approached the town hall, where the night festival was about to kick off, the streets were alive with excitement.
"I can't wait to see what they've prepared for tonight," Minji said, her eyes scanning the decorations as they reached the festival grounds.
The town hall square was decorated with strings of colorful lights, and a large stage had been set up at the center. Musicians were tuning their instruments, and dancers in colorful costumes were stretching on the sidelines, preparing for their performances.
"We're right on time!" Danielle said, clapping her hands together.
"Let's find a good spot to watch." Hanni invited the others.
The girls found a perfect spot near the front, close enough to the performers but still giving them a comfortable view. Y/n stood with her friends, spending her time mindfully.
-
The festival had been in full swing for three hours, yet the energy around her didn't show any signs of slowing down. Y/n found herself pulling away from all vibrant colors of the booths, the lively chatter, or even the melodies of street musicians filled the air. She slipped away quietly, seeking a place where the noise faded and the crowd thinned.
Finding a secluded spot, Y/n sat down on a stone bench, the cool surface grounding her as she rested her head back against a nearby tree. She took a deep breath, trying to shake off the weariness that seemed to cling to her. Maybe she hadn't slept well the night before, her body felt heavy, and her mind, though sharp until evening, now felt sluggish under the moonlight.
"Am I really that tired?" she wondered aloud, rubbing her eyes and gazing at the sky. Despite the excitement of the festival, exhaustion tugged at her, as if her energy had been drained bit by bit throughout the evening. Downsides of being an introvert?
But just as she started to lose herself in the peaceful moment, the moonlight caught her attention. She looked up, her eyes tracing the waning gibbous moon above, and wondered how much time would pass before it changed again. Would it still be full or already shifting into a new phase by the time of their next mission?
Y/n sighed softly, she let her mind wander.
Suddenly, her view of the moon was completely blocked, by Minji's face.
"Hey," Minji said softly, almost like a whisper, her eyes still twinkling with curiosity and a playful smirk on her lips. "What're you staring at?"
Y/n was surprised for a moment, blinking a few times before chuckling. "The moon... until you decided to block it," she replied, not that she minded Minji replacing the moon. She looked at her surroundings and found nothing. The other girls weren't with Minji.
Minji raised an eyebrow, "Well, you've been staring at it for so long, I figured it was time you took a break."
Y/n gave a half-hearted shrug, "I was just thinking about the mission... and maybe I'm a little tired. Lack of sleep catching up to me."
Minji sat down next to Y/n, she made sure that her shoulder brushing against Y/n's in that quiet space. Because of the silence, the noise of the festival was still in the background, not too loud, but here, away from the crowd, it felt like their own little world. "You should've said something. We could've gone home earlier if you were tired," Minji said. Y/n knew that Minji's tone was warm, but slightly had the intention to tease her. "You don't have to stay up just to impress us."
Y/n shaking her head. "I'm not trying to impress anyone. I just... I didn't want to miss out."
Just a few weeks working at the kingdom, and she's already experiencing quarter-life crisis. What kind of mentality Y/n has...
Minji's expression softening as she glanced at Y/n. "You never miss out, Y/n. Besides, we all know how hard you've been working. You deserve to rest once in a while."
Y/n let her head rest against the bench, looking at Minji from the corner of her eye. "You always know what to say, don't you?"
"It's one of my many talents."
Just few days ago they had an argument, they fixed it, and now they already acted like it's never happened. Maybe like Yujin said, there will be stages where you argue for no apparent reason. Y/n smiled a little bit, liking this family a bit more.
Y/n's eyes drifted back up to where the moon should be, but instead, what Y/n could think of was Minji's face illuminated by the soft glow of the moonlight just now.
"Why is it not the moon I'm looking at?" Y/n admitted quietly after a moment, her voice barely called a whisper, not loud enough for Minji to hear.
~The world slows down, the noise fades out,
Look at the stars above, they flicker bright,
But I'm not watching them tonight,
Cause you're all I see, and I'm lost somehow~
Minji glanced at Y/n, a playful smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "This song... it's nice, isn't it?" she murmured.
Y/n nodded absentmindedly, still lost in her thoughts, until Minji suddenly stood up and extended her hand. "Come on, dance with me."
"What? No, no, I can't dance," Y/n stammered badly, shaking her head. "I'll just trip over my own feet or step on yours."
"It's fine, I'll teach you. Besides, it's not about being perfect, it's just about enjoying the moment. Trust me." She gave Y/n's hand a gentle tug.
Y/n sighed, unable to resist the sincerity in Minji's gaze. "Alright, but don't say I didn't warn you."
Minji led Y/n to a small open space under the moonlight, close enough that the music reached them. She positioned herself in front of Y/n, holding her hands gently. "Just follow my lead, okay? Step here... and then here..."
Y/n moved awkwardly, but Minji's calm steps gradually put her at ease. The world around them seemed to fade away, leaving only the two of them under the starry sky.
~Your eyes meet mine, and I can feel it clear,
Every doubt of mine just disappears,~
Soon, with the help from Minji, Y/n found herself smiling, falling into rhythm with her. The awkwardness melted away.
"See? You're doing great," Minji whispered, her face close enough for Y/n to feel the warmth of her breath.
Y/n didn't complain about that, she just let out a small laugh. "Only because you're leading. I'd be lost without you."
Minji chuckled softly, "That's what I'm here for."
~There's nowhere else I'd rather be,
Than here forever more, with you.~
As Y/n's feet followed Minji's gentle guidance, her thoughts began to drift. Her eyes only gazed on Minji. In that moment, the world around them faded.
All of them became a blur. The moon that Y/n forgot about its appearance, casting a silvery light on Minji's face. It was almost as if the moon itself was trying to show Y/n something she hadn't seen before. And thanks to them, Minji's face, usually so familiar, suddenly seemed new.
~So take my hand, let the music play,
We don't need words,~
Y/n's breath caught in her throat. Her heart started to beat faster, she felt hotter as time passed by, and she wasn't sure why. She'd danced these friends before, she'd spent countless hours with Minji and the others.
So why, why did it feel so different now? Why did her pulse quicken when Minji smiled softly at her? Why did everything around them seem to disappear, leaving only Minji's gaze, locked with hers?
Her eyes tried tracing the Minji's jawline, Minji's lashes, Minji's lips, all of them, in fact, couldn't make Y/n focus on only a specific area. Y/n's gaze travelled to Minji's hands, becoming conscious of the way Minji held hers. It was warm, there was a warmth in Minji's touch that Y/n hadn't noticed before. Something... that made her feel secure, as if she could lose herself in this moment and it would be okay.
~Heart can wander, minds can roam
But tonight, we find our home~
Time felt like it slowed, the seconds stretching into what felt like minutes. Y/n couldn't stop looking at Minji, she couldn't take her eyes off Minji. It was a supernatural reaction. It was REAL. It was Minji herself that caused a click in Y/n's heart. She didn't know how or when it happened, but in this moment, it bloomed.
~Of your heart close to mine,
In this moment, I've been waiting all along,~
Y/n's chest tightened as she realized what she was feeling.
She was falling for Minji.
It was a sudden, but the undeniable truth that hit her all at once, like a rush of wind that left her breathless. She hadn't meant for this to happen, hadn't even considered it before. Minji had always been her friend, her family, someone she trusted and relied on. But now, as she stood here, swaying gently to the rhythm of the music with her, Y/n could no longer deny it.
Her heart kept racing, and it's getting faster, she felt a flush of warmth spread across her face. She felt exposed, as if the realization had somehow been written across her features, for Minji to see. But when she glanced up, Minji wasn't looking at her any differently. She was just smiling, so calmly, so gently, as if nothing had changed.
And yet for Y/n, everything had.
Y/n was moonstruck, and she'd never thought it would happen to her.
And yet here she was, standing under the moon and the stars with Minji, feeling like the ground had just shifted beneath her feet. Her legs suddenly got weak, she felt like collapsing, but that made her grips on Minji became tighter.
The realization settled over her like a heavy weight.
Minji's voice went straight into Y/n's mind, "You okay?" she asked, her tone filled with gentle concern. Y/n blinked, realizing she had been staring for longer than she intended. Her cheeks flushed as she tried to pull herself back to the present.
"Yeah," Y/n whispered, her voice soft and a little shaky. "I'm... I'm okay."
The dance ended, but Y/n's mind raced, her heart pounding. She was in love, and the moon that wasn't even in its full form became her witness.
~To see what's been so true,
I'm moonstruck by you.~