From Mina: Come out, now!

Do you really want me to, Mina?

Do you really want me to tell the world how gay I am for you?

Is that what you want?

Lmao.

“I’m leaving!” I shout at whatever family member that’s still inside.

“Bye!” My dad― I guess ―shouts.

I take my leave to see my beautiful, waiting Japanese best friend by our front gate.

“My best friend,” I exclaim.

I want to call you my girlfriend.

“You made me wait,” she says with a frown.

 And you’re making me wait for you to be gay.

“Sorry. You know me, I oversleep.”

She holds me by the waist and, oh god, it feels like heaven.

“Forgiven.”

Her hand stays by my waist until we reach the school.

It’s the best torture of my life, being held by you.

“Have you done all your homework?” she asks.

“I guess? But if I haven’t, can I copy yours?”

She face-palms lightly, then laughs.

“Sometimes I wonder why I befriended you.”

“Wow, Mina,” I say with a grimace.

“Then your funny faces pop in my head then I’m like, ‘oh yeah, now I remember,’” she says, chuckling.

I make a stupid duck face. “This face is gold, Mina. Don’t let it go.”

She holds on my waist tight and whispers: “Never letting it go.”

&&&

Never letting it go.

Mina, you make me so high.

It’s a good day.

“Get out of my way.”

It’s the most badass of them all, Jennie Kim.

With her minions trailing behind― Lisa, Rosé, and Jisoo.

Jisoo isn’t that badass. We’re friends, so I’m sure she isn’t.

Jisoo waves at me and I wave back.

I’m not that much of a loser, I have famous friends.

Jennie bumps at me because I didn’t get out of her way in time.

I almost fall, but Mina is there to catch me.

Would you catch me if I tell you I’m falling for you, Mina?

Jennie squints at me with her ‘I’m going to kill you but not really’ look.

Jisoo stops to ask me if I’m okay then whispers: “Let’s eat lunch at the rooftop later,” before dashing to catch up with her delinquent looking friends.

The first subject is just about to start and she’s already thinking about lunch?

Lmao, Jisoo.

“Jennie noticed me,” I blurt out mindlessly.

“Yeah, she notices you every morning, Rae,” Mina says.

“Are you jealous?” I tease.

“No. I’m annoyed with your stupidity, your brainlessness,” she answers.

“I’m moved, Mina. Really moved that you deeply care, that you’re strong enough to tell me the truth instead of sugar-coating things. You are a true friend.” I look deep into her eyes, my hands over my chest. Feeling my heartbeat.

She face-palms for the 2^nd time today.

“Just don’t be so stupid every time, okay?” Mina requests.

“Can’t promise, but will definitely try.”

Her gummy smile flashes before me.

I’m just a simple girl.

&&&

I slowly walk up the stairs.

Why is the rooftop so high?

Because it’s the rooftop.

Why would Jisoo want to eat with me?

Wait…

What if they’re going to ambush me? Maybe steal my food? But I don’t even have any!

Oh god, I forgot to buy lunch.

Maybe, they’re going to steal my money!

I scan my pockets to check my money.

It’s not with me, my phone too.

Oh right, stupid! I gave my purse and phone to Mina, because I suddenly remembered I had to go where I am right no!

The rooftop!

I could be a detective, I can connect things.

“Hey!” Jisoo waves at me from the far end.

Her other three friends are leaning at the railings, looking at me like they’re going to kill me.

So they’re going to kill me because I have nothing?

Jisoo walks slowly towards me. I’m not moving.

The moment that we’re face to face, I kneel.

“Please, spare me a few more years! I have dreams! I have a family that I still need to provide! I want to give back to my hardworking parents!” I plead.

Jisoo looks at me in shock, confusion and amusement.

“What the ?” Jennie says while laughing hard.

The three scary looking, but still very cute girls, are laughing at me.

“What are you saying?” Jisoo asks, smiling in the state of confusion.

“Aren’t you going to kill me?” I ask.

“What? That’s gross!”

“How about them?” I ask her, pointing at the three intimidating creatures.

“Why would they? That’s gross!”

Convinced that I’m not going to die and be their lunch, I stand up, fix myself, and wave at Jisoo with a hearty smile.

“She’s ing insane!” Rosé says while laughing hard and holding her toned abs underneath that shirt.

“She really is your friend, Jisoo unnie,” Lisa adds and they laugh harder.

Jisoo and I stare at each other.

“What’s so funny?” I ask her while walking towards the three.

“Don’t ask me.”

I sit there awkwardly. While they eat their lunch comfortably.

Mina, rescue me.

“Jisoo told us stories about you but never told us how you guys met,” Jennie says.

I swallow hard before replying. It’s Jennie Kim I’m talking to.

“We met at the store behind the school. I skipped classes because I was so hungry.”

“Wow, I thought A students don’t skip class,” Lisa says.

“And I thought A students aren’t sporty too,” Rosé adds. “You have to climb the school’s back wall to get to the store.”

“I used to climb the wall but found an alternate route. I climb the tree near the wall, walk along a branch, land just above the wall, then walk to the conveniently placed ladder, it’s easier that way,” I tell them while doing crazy hand gestures.

“Where’s your food by the way?” Jisoo asks.

“I forgot to buy. I rushed here because I suddenly remembered I had to be here.”

They all laugh again, except Jisoo.

Jisoo understands.

“Happens to me too, often,” Jisoo says.

“You guys can’t be best friends,” Jennie says.

“Speaking of, I left my best friend in the canteen,” I tell them.

“I’m pretty sure she’ll be fine. She’s Mina Myoui after all,” Jennie says.

“Yeah, famous for being effortlessly elegant, beautiful, smart― basically perfect,” I say.

They’re staring at me, mouth open.

“Do you like her?” Jennie asks.

“Is that a trick question?” I ask back.

“It’s the one million dollar question, Rae,” Jennie answers.

Do I drop the bomb or run? Or jump off the rooftop?

“I want to be like her…?” I answer.

“It isn’t really a problem to us if you like girls, Rae,” Rosé tells me, placing a comforting hand on my shoulder. “You know, you’re pretty cool, hangout with us anytime you want to, you’re always welcome.”

“I agree, I need help with my studies too so…” Lisa says, following it with her killer smile.

Man, is this the feeling of home?

“I’d love to―”

My sentence is cut off by the harsh opening of the door and a panting Mina.

“Rae,” she calls in between heavy breathing.

“You’re excused, see you around,” Jennie says, followed by a wink.

I stand up and bow before them.

I run towards Mina.

“Hey.”

She hugs me and I can feel her heartbeat racing.

“I thought you’re dead,” she says softly.

“Unfortunately, not yet,” I tell her.

She backs off from the hug to stare at me.

“You will be soon if you don’t eat properly,” she tells me. “Here.”

She hands me a sandwich.

“You’re so ing sweet Myoui Mina, I thank the heavens for your existence in my life,” I tell her as I put the sandwich near my chest and wipe away non-existing tears.

“I bought that with your money,” she says and pulls up my purse, waving it in front of my face. “I bought mine with your money too.”

“That’s fine,” I tell her.

I’d steal a purple Lamborghini for you, Mina.

“Because it’s just money?”

Nope, because it’s you.

“No, because you’re going to pay me back right, Myoui Mina?” I say with a sinister smile.