I was shocked reading the recent news ._.
But no matter what decisions NewJeans make, I'll always be a Tokki. I hope you can support NewJeans' decisions too. Let's hope for the best for them.
=
As they neared the edge of the forest, Y/n pulled ahead. She wasn't just running for victory, she had a special spot in mind, a place she'd heard stories about, a place that, if you were sincere, could make your wishes come true.
Minji, riding with equal enthusiasm, passed Y/n at the last bend, "I've got you now!"
But, just as she passed, she slowed, looking around, confused. "Wait, where are we going?" She pulled her horse up, glancing back with wide eyes, realizing she'd missed the hidden path Y/n had taken.
Y/n called out with a grin, "You might've been faster, but you didn't know the destination!" With a satisfied chuckle, she trotted down the small trail, coming to a stop in front of a quaint, peaceful shrine nestled beneath a canopy of trees. She swung off her horse, brushing off her hands, victorious.
Minji arrived moments later, dismounting with a smile and a light shake of her head. "Alright, you win. You're eager to pay for dinner, aren't you?"
Y/n laughed, shrugging. "Yes," she admitted. "But I thought you'd like it here. I heard that if you make a wish here, it might actually come true."
Minji's eyes softened as she looked around, taking in the beauty of the shrine. The air felt still, filled with an ancient calm.
"So, what are we supposed to wish for?" Minji asked, a small smile tugging at her lips.
"Anything you want," Y/n replied, her gaze lingering on the shrine as she considered her own wishes. "They say it has to be something important. Something you really want in your heart."
The two stood side by side, closing their eyes and whispering their wishes silently, their unspoken hopes drifting into the air. Y/n felt her heart race, thinking of Minji, of the relationship they were growing, of the mission that lay ahead. She wished for strength, and maybe, just maybe, a future where they could keep making memories like this.
When she opened her eyes, she glanced over at Minji, whose face was still soft with thought. There Y/n felt it, a kind of peace that she knew she'd treasure.
"Alright," Minji said finally, her voice light. "Now that our wishes are out there, let's hope they come true.
Y/n tilted her head, giving Minji a curious, playful look. "So... what did you wish for?"
Minji's lips curled into a soft smile, her eyes twinkling with that familiar, mischievous light, as always. "Now, you know I can't tell you," she replied, leaning casually against the wooden pillar of the shrine. "If I tell you, it might not come true."
"Oh, come on," Y/n prodded, pretending to pout. "Not even a hint?"
Minji paused, glancing out at the gentle sway of trees around them, as if gathering her words carefully. "Alright, a hint," looking back at Y/n with a meaningful gaze that seemed to soften and deepen with every word. "Let's just say... it's something that would keep us spending time together."
"Spending time together?" Y/n blinked, she couldn't help the small smile that crept up as she mulled over Minji's words.
"That's all you're getting." Minji chuckled, clearly enjoying Y/n's flustered state.
Y/n looked back at the shrine, thinking about her own wish and how, maybe without even realizing it, their wishes might be closer than she thought. "Fine, keep your secret," she teased, grinning as she nudged Minji playfully. "But just so you know, if it's a really good wish, mine might come true along with it."
-
The evening sky was beginning to dim as Minji and Y/n settled into a cozy booth by the corner. The place was charming, with low lights, polished wood tables, and a quiet hum of laughter and conversation surrounding them.
They placed their orders, and for a moment, they were just two people lost in the calm of a countryside evening. But as their food arrived, Minji cleared her throat, the serious expression on her face quickly turning Y/n's attention from her meal to Minji's gaze.
"I've been thinking," Minji began, her voice soft but steady, "about... us." She took a deep breath, a hint of uncertainty flickering across her face. "I mean, what we want to be to each other, and how we're going to let the others know."
Y/n's hand paused, her fork hovering in the air. She had wondered about this herself, but hearing Minji actually bring it up made it feel real. She lowered her fork, giving Minji her full attention. "Yeah, I've been thinking about that too," she admitted, her voice a bit more quiet than usual. "I'm not even sure where to start."
Minji nodded, as if she'd expected that answer. "I know. It's just...they're like our family. They're important to us. I don't want them to feel left out or to think we've kept this from them on purpose. But..." She trailed off, looking down at her plate with a nervous smile. "I also can't help imagining their reactions, and it makes me... well, anxious."
"I know what you mean," Y/n chuckled softly, and Minji glanced up, her own lips curling into a small smile. "Like, can you imagine Haerin? She'll probably just stare at us with those big eyes and say, 'You two?' like it's the most surprising thing in the world."
Minji snorted, covering her mouth with her hand to keep from laughing too loud. "Exactly! And Dani, she'll probably get all excited and try to tell us how she knew this would happen, even though I doubt she saw it coming."
"I can already see it." Y/n laughed, her nerves easing as she pictured it, "But Hanni... she'd be so blunt about it, wouldn't she? Like, 'Took you long enough.' And then she'd tease us forever about it."
Minji shook her head, smiling but with a hint of worry beneath it. "Hanni will definitely tease us, but I think she'd be supportive. I'm more worried about the way they all see us differently afterward, you know?" She took a slow breath, her gaze softening as she continued. "I don't want anything to change between us as a family. It feels... delicate, in a way."
Y/n looked at her, nodding in agreement. "I get it. We've all been through so much together, and I don't want this to make things feel weird." She thought for a moment, then added with a slight frown, "And I know Hyein might not say anything, but I can already see her standing there looking like she's caught in the middle of something awkward."
They both laughed at the image, but then fell into a thoughtful silence. Y/n poked at her food, not quite meeting Minji's eyes. "And I mean...we're not even sure if everyone would be okay with it. Not everyone sees things the way we do, right?"
"We'll figure it out," Minji said, a reassuring note in her voice. "One step at a time. I think if we're honest and don't try to force anything, they'll come around. They care about us."
Y/n squeezed Minji's hand, feeling a little more confident. "I hope so."
Minji looked at her, her eyes full of warmth and understanding. "Same here," she murmured. "Maybe we don't need to do anything all at once. We could just be ourselves, take it slow, and let them see how natural this is. Then maybe... maybe they'll understand."
They shared a quiet smile, comforted by each other's presence. After a pause, Minji's lips curved into a playful smirk. "But we can probably count on them making a huge deal out of it, right? Like... extravagant teasing for weeks on end."
Y/n groaned, "Oh, absolutely. Hanni's going to have a field day with this. I think we should start mentally preparing ourselves for endless 'I told you so's."
They shared a laugh, letting go of some of the tension that had been building up, it felt like everything might be okay.
-
As soon as Y/n and Minji walked into the house, they were met with a sight that felt more like a welcoming committee than their usual, laid-back housemates. Hanni, Haerin, Danielle, and Hyein were scattered around the living room, casually chatting and snacking, but each of them perked up when they spotted Y/n and Minji entering together.
"Good evening, lovebirds," Danielle smirked, glancing between the two of them as if catching onto something unsaid.
Minji coughed, slightly taken aback, while Y/n just shrugged, barely skipping a beat. "We were just out for some fresh air," she said, trying to downplay the day-long outing they'd had.
"Out for some fresh air all day?" Haerin teased, raising an eyebrow. "That must've been some serious air quality check."
As Minji began to explain where they'd been, Y/n "casually" rested her arm on Minji's shoulder, trying to act just as they'd discussed. The others watched with curious expressions as Y/n tapped Minji's shoulder at random intervals, then left her hand there, looking incredibly pleased with herself. Minji couldn't help but hide a smile, though she whispered under her breath, "That's not exactly what I meant by 'being natural.'"
Danielle leaned forward, eyes sparkling with interest. "Did you two go somewhere special?" she asked innocently.
Y/n tapped her arm over Minji's shoulders once again, a move that felt completely comfortable, to her, at least.
But Minji stiffened slightly again, casting a quick glance at Y/n. "I meant 'natural' as in... subtle," Minji mumbled under her breath, trying to maintain her composure, which only made the others even more curious.
Y/n, still blissfully unaware of Minji's silent plea for subtlety, gently patted Minji's shoulder. "Just had some food, did a little sightseeing," she said, tilting her head as if reminiscing. "Nothing too fancy."
Hyein's eyebrow arched as she exchanged glances with the others. "Right, totally regular, casual outing."
The rest looked at each other, mildly puzzled, but Y/n didn't catch on, grinning all the while. She even leaned a little closer, proudly telling them about how much fun they'd had. Haerin raised an eyebrow, trying to hold back a smirk, while Hanni and Hyein exchanged looks of amusement. Y/n's "natural" approach was certainly a spectacle, and though Minji felt the urge to sigh, Minji's cheeks tinted pink, and she gave an awkward laugh. It seemed that Y/n's enthusiasm was enough for everyone to get the picture, even if her version of being "natural" was, well, a little over the top.