Y/n and Minji stood a few paces apart in the clearing near their house. The air between them buzzed with an energy that was far more than just the anticipation of their sparring match. Y/n's heart thudded in her chest, both from the lingering warmth of their earlier confession and the thrill of facing Minji in a real match.
"I won't hold back just because I like you, you know," Minji teased, tying her hair back with a smirk.
It wasn't the first time Y/n saw Minji tying her hair back, but she seemed very attractive just now.
"Wouldn't have it any other way," Y/n replied, her voice steady but her hands slightly trembling as she adjusted her stance. She wasn't sure if the adrenaline came from the upcoming fight or the fact that Minji was looking at her.
Minji moved first, a subtle flick of her wrist sending a pulse of magic through the air. It wasn't destructive, more like a gentle wind, but enough to test Y/n's reflexes. Y/n dodged with ease, immediately countering with a sweep of her leg, aiming for Minji's ankles.
Minji hopped back lightly, dodging the attack with a grin. "Not bad," she said, "but you'll have to do better than that."
Y/n narrowed her eyes, trying to focus on the fight rather than the way Minji's movements seemed so graceful. Taking the initiative once again, Y/n took a quick step forward, closing the distance between them, feinting with a jab before swinging low again, aiming to unbalance Minji.
This time, Minji reacted swiftly, her hand catching Y/n's wrist mid-swing. The contact sent a jolt through Y/n, not from magic but from the sudden closeness. Their faces were inches apart, and for a second, Y/n forgot what they were even doing.
"You're distracted," Minji said softly, and Y/n could feel Minji's warm breath against her skin.
Y/n swallowed hard, feeling her pulse race. "No, I'mâ" Before she could finish, Minji twisted her wrist gently, spinning Y/n off balance but not letting her fall.
Using the momentum, Y/n rolled away, creating space between them again, her face flushed. "I wasn't distracted," she simply muttered.
Minji smirked, raising an eyebrow. "Sure, you weren't."
Y/n gritted her teeth, determined not to let her emotions get the best of her this time. She darted forward again, faster, launching a series of quick punches aimed at Minji's midsection. Minji blocked each one with ease, her movements fluid and confident, but there was a tension between them now. An invisible thread connecting each of Y/n's strikes to Minji's parries.
They moved together like a perfectly synchronized dance, the rhythm of their fight punctuated by the soft hum of magic in the air.
As the sparring continued, there was a brief moment where Y/n lunged forward too quickly, trying to catch Minji off guard. But Minji, always quick on her feet, sidestepped at just the right moment. Y/n lost her balance, and before she knew it, she tripped over her own feet and fell backward. Minji who's been trying to catch her all the time, ended up falling with her, and they both tumbled to the ground.
When Y/n opened her eyes, she realized Minji was lying right on top of her, their faces only inches apart. Both girls froze for a second, their breath mingling in the small space between them. Y/n's heart pounded in her chest as she stared up at Minji, her brain stopped working for seconds.
Minji, her cheeks a little flushed, blinked before laughing softly. "Looks like I won this round."
Y/n tried to respond, but her voice caught in her throat. She cleared it awkwardly. "That's...uh, not fair. You didn't win."
Minji smiled, not moving from her position. "So, tell me," she said, her tone suddenly more serious but still playful. "When did you realize?"
Y/n's eyes widened. "What?"
"When did you realize you had feelings for me?"
Y/n's face flushed deeply, and she looked anywhere but at Minji. "I-I don't know... it just sort of... happened."
Clearly not satisfied with the vague answer, Minji asked again, "Come on, you've got to give me something better than that. Was it the way I fought? My amazing cooking? The way I laugh at your terrible jokes?"
Y/n groaned, covering her face with her hands. "It wasn't anything like that!" She paused, trying to gather her thoughts. "I guess... maybe it was when we were dancing at the festival. I looked at you, and everything just... clicked. Like, 'Oh no, I think I'm in love with her.'"
"The festival, huh?" Her eyes twinkled as she teased, "So you've been moonstruck since yesterday."
Y/n laughed nervously, "Yeah... something like that."
Minji stayed quiet for a moment, "You know," she said softly, "I've liked you for a while too."
"Really?"
Minji nodded. "I think it hit me during one of our late-night talks. You were rambling about something, and I remember just watching you, thinking how much I enjoyed being around you. And it only grew from there."
Y/n felt a warmth spread through her chest, her heart swelling at Minji's words. She opened her mouth to respond, but before she could say anything, Minji's expression changed. The soft smile turned mischievous, and before Y/n could react, Minji leaned in closer, her breath warm against Y/n's skin.
"Alright, enough talking," Minji said, "I think it's time I win this spar."
Without warning, Minji suddenly pushed herself off Y/n and sprang to her feet, quickly moving back into her fighting stance. Y/n was confused by the abrupt change. "Wait, what just happened?"
"You didn't think I'd let you off that easily, did you?"
Before Y/n could fully process, Minji lunged forward with surprising speed. Her attacks weren't as gentle as before, nothing too harsh, but there was definitely more intent behind them. Y/n dodged and blocked as best she could, but it was clear that Minji had shifted gears, aiming to outmaneuvre her.
Y/n tried to counter, but Minji was relentless, her moves fast and precise. Suddenly, Minji made a swift feint, throwing Y/n off balance. In a blink, Minji closed the distance between them, catching Y/n completely off guard. Before Y/n could react, Minji reached out, lightly tapping her forehead with a quick peck, a kiss that Y/n almost didn't register it.
Y/n blinked as Minji stepped back with a triumphant grin. "And that's game."
Being stunned, Y/n touched her forehead, her heart racing for an entirely different reason now. "Did you just-"
Minji chuckled, brushing a strand of hair out of her face. "I told you I'd win." She winked, clearly pleased with herself.
Y/n stood there, utterly speechless. For a moment, she wasn't sure whether to be flustered or impressed. But one thing was certain, she had definitely lost this round.
Before Y/n could gather her thoughts, Minji was walking back toward the house with a casual wave over her shoulder. "I'll be heading back now," she said, "Come back when you're ready."
Y/n blinked, "R-ready?"
Minji just chuckled. "Whenever you're done processing whatever just happened," she teased, "I'll be waiting." With that, she walked away, her steps light and confident, leaving Y/n standing alone in the garden.
As Y/n watched her go, her heart raced once again, the weight of her feelings for Minji sinking in even deeper. She touched her forehead, still feeling the warmth from the peck. "How am I supposed to be 'ready' after that?"