The sound of birds chirping awoke Minji as she yawned and stretched her arms above her head. The concrete ground she fell asleep on was now gravel. She picked a piece up and rolled it around in her hands. Her eyebrows were knitted tightly as her headache worsened, how much had she drank? Surely she was just severely hungover. Her memory was foggy  as she re- traces her steps. First stop the bar.

 

She must’ve walked quite far since most her walk filled with gravel paths and there wasn’t sign of many cars. It was odd, Tsumago seemed to be quite. On her research of the area she remembered how it used to be a small village up until 1985 when her school was built. 

 

She arrived at the bar to find it busy as they were setting up for a show. Minji went to the bar and sat down,

“Ex-Excuse me?”

 

The bartender was different from the one last night and she sighed,

“What can I get you?”

 

Minji started to protest until a woman besides her that she didn’t notice was there spoke for her,

“Get her a soju and our it on my bill.”

 

Minji began to protest to the woman before turning and almost jumping out of her own skin. 

 

“What’s wrong?”

 

Minji was in shock,

“You-You are- wait what’s today’s date?”

 

She laughed,

“August 16th 1980”

 

Minji’s eyes were open wide as she stared into Yoohyeon’s eyes. She pinched herself and felt the pain quickly wincing. Yoohyeon cooed,

“Aww are you my fan?”

 

“Well yes-I- I guess I-“

 

Yoohyeon took a marker and signed her hand,

“A korean fan at that.”

 

Yoohyeon winked and Minji’s heart almost burst. She had to be dreaming because in less than 15 days Yoohyeon will be dead. Yoohyeon smiles cutely and took a sip from her alcohol. She gestured to Minji’s class,

“Its on me, come on drink up...?”

 

Minji stuttered and blushed,

“I-I um I’m Minji, Kim Minji.”

 

Yoohyeon smirked,

“Well I’m Yoohyeon, Kim Yoohyeon.”

 

“I know.”

 

She took another sip and stared at her with wild looks,

“Want to get out of here-“

 

“KIM YOOHYEON I SWEAR WHERE ARE YOU?!”

 

She rolled her eyes,

“Duty calls, Yah Lee Siyeon I’m busy!”

 

Minji froze at the name and words escaped her lips before she could stop them,

“Is it true?”

 

Yoohyeon and Siyeon look at her,

“Is what true?”

 

Minji was looking at her feet now as her face was red hot with embarrassment. Siyeon stormed off as Yoohyeon lead her into the bathroom.

 

-

 

The moment Yoohyeon closed the door she pressed Minji against it,

“How do you know that?”

 

Yoohyeon’s breathe was feathered across Minji’s face as her knees buckled,

“I-I heard from uh-“

 

Yoohyeon slammed her hand above her head,

“Look it was a one time thing with her and I was drunk. Okay?”

 

Minji caught Yoohyeon’s gaze and gulped,

“O-Okay, but I-“

 

Yoohyeon grew closer,

“But I what, nothing Minji. Who else knows?”

 

Minji was shaking know as Yoohyeon’s hand fell to her waist,

“I-I don’t know.”

 

She smirked as she lifted her shirt slightly and rubbed small circles in her side,

“Then how do you know, huh?”

 

Minji glanced around trying to come up with a reasonable answer as Yoohyeon only grew closer,

“You won’t believe me if I tell you Yoohyeon, I swear. I’m confused as well.”

 

Yoohyeon was inches from her face as Minji was being held up by Yoohyeon’s hand on her waist,

“Look, if you tell me I won’t be mad,” she leaned into her neck and kissed it making Minji let out a low groan. She grew redder and Yoohyeon smirked,

“Cute.”

 

Minji wrapped her arms around Yoohyeon and hugged her suddenly,

“I don’t want you to die.”

 

She sobbed out and Yoohyeon was taken aback,

“Wait what?”

 

Minji closed her eyes and took a deep breathe,

“Look just let me stay by you for the next days please. I won’t tell anyone else what I know if you let me stay by your side.”

 

Yoohyeon scoffed,

“And I can trust you because...?”

 

Minji quickly pecked Yoohyeon’s lips,

“There now you have something on me too.”

 

Yoohyeon was shocked as Minji exited the bathroom.

 

-

 

Siyeon sat stiffly next to Minji as they watched sound check,

“Look I-“

 

Minji smiled,

“You don’t need to explain yourself Yoohyeon’s quite the catch, I mean look at her,” Minji pointed out Yoohyeon running through her performance. Siyeon nodded,

“Let me say one thing for myself, she was helping me. There’s this girl in the agency, a young dancer. I really thought I hated her but it turned out she scared me.”

 

“Why?”

 

Siyeon sighed,

“Well to simply put it, I love her. So...Yoohyeon helped me figure out my curiosity. Turns out I just really was on denial because I-“

 

Minji nodded,

“I get it Siyeon, I had my heart broken on the way here. I expected it though, Korea is too far to keep a relationship.”

 

Siyeon nodded,

“What was his name?”

 

Minji smiled,

“Handong, she was actually from China and came to Korea last year. We clicked, but she was still closeted...”

 

Siyeon was taken aback,

“You too?”

 

Minji laughed,

“It’s more common than you’d think, people are just afraid. Yoohyeon has been following me somehow and I feel like I have to save her.”

 

Siyeon was confused,

“Don’t ask. It’s complicated, even I don’t know where to go from here on.”

 

Siyeon nodded and Minji relaxed while Yoohyeon’s voice rang through the small area.

 

A small part of Minji was on edge, her stomach was getting upset as she excused herself. 

 

The hallway to the bathroom was darker than she remembered as she thought see saw a figure in the dark.

 

-

 

Siyeon was going through a large book when Minji returned,

“What’s that?”

 

“Just Yoohyeon’s schedule for the next couple of weeks.”

 

She quickly looked over Siyeon’s shoulder. Today was a performance and so was tomorrow with a fan meeting afterwards,

“Can I get a copy of this?”

 

Siyeon laughed,

“Um no way.”

 

Minji sighed,

“Look I’m not going to tell anyone anything I’m here to protect her I swear! I lo-“

 

Minji cut her self off as Yoohyeon came up giddily,

“Did you see that kick I did! Pretty awesome right Unnie?”

 

Yoohyeon cutely pouted and Minji melted at the sight,

“Very cool Puppy.”

 

Siyeon complements.

 

Minji slightly grows jealous and sulks with Yoohyeon giggling at her response. 

 

-

 

It’s show time, the bar is filled to the brim with male supporters. All strangers with one familiar face, it’s was Yuta. She saw him at the front with wonder in his eyes and wanted to thank him. He was the reason she knew of Yoohyeon-

“Pssst Hey Minji”

 

Yoohyeon’s sweet voice broke Minji out of her spell,

“Yeah what’s up?”

 

Yoohyeon fiddled with her hands,

“I’m nervous, it’s my first Japanese show....”

 

Minji gave her a kiss on her cheek and a thumbs up,

“You’ll kill it!”

 

Yoohyeon smiles and hugged Minji,

“Thanks Unnie!”

 

-

 

Yoohyeon sweat stuck to Minji as she hugged her after coming off stage. The crowd screaming for an encore,

“Go out there! Listen to them!”

 

Yoohyeon blushed,

“I don’t have any other song to sing.”

 

Minji smiled as she gave her some water,

“You did amazing.”

 

“Thanks.”

 

Yoohyeon smiled.

 

-

 

Minji helped clean up as she noticed Yuta still around,

“Hey you!”

 

He looked alarmed and pointed to himself,

“Me?”

 

She nodded and waved him over,

“I’m Minji!”

 

He was confused as he introduced himself,

“I just wanted to thank you.”

 

“For...?”

 

Minji’s smile fell as she thought,

“For....for uh for being such a good fan! Definitely the loudest.”

 

She laughed awkwardly as he slowly fled the awkward situation. Minji face palmed herself.

 

She picked up some more garbage before heading Yoohyeon’s screams outside alerted her. She ran out the back door tripping over a few chairs and watched as Siyeon and her fought,

“How else would they know?! My career is on the line!”

 

“Hey calm down Yoohyeon! It takes two to do what we did okay I’m not the only one at fault!”

 

“I’m so scared and you want to blame me?! Really? If it wasn’t for you it wouldn’t have happened!”

 

Siyeon scoffed,

“Yeah sure Yoo, totally MY fault. You kissed me first!”

 

Yoohyeon covered with her hand and hushed her. With the sudden silence the sound of a trash can falling caused then to jump,

“Screw you man!”

 

“You need me!”

 

“I don’t need !”

 

Yoohyeon slammed open the door on Minji as she clutched her nose,

“Ow!”

 

Yoohyeon yelped in suprise 

“Jesus Minji!”

 

Minji was bleeding,

“I think you broke my nose!”

 

“ I’m sorry!”

 

Yoohyeon dragged her to the bathroom for the second time that evening and helped clean the blood dripping from her nose.

 

Yoohyeon gently applied pressure to Minji’s nose while apologizing nonstop,

“It’s ok Yoohyeon calm down.”

 

Minji held her wrist and held the toilet paper to her nose until the blood stopped. Minji sighed,

“Look Yoohyeon, In less than 15 days you’ll be found dead. I don’t want that to happen.”

 

Yoohyeon laughed,

“I think you lost too much blood silly.”

 

Minji looked into Yoohyeon’s eyes with sorrow, the vibrant girl in front of her destined for tragedy.