“I told you to stop going after her if you would just continue getting hurt.”

Minjeong looked at her best friend before quietly sipping on her banana milk while trying to ignore the worried looks Yizhuo is throwing at her. She hates worrying her best friend but she couldn’t do anything to stop her especially when latter is just concerned for her wellbeing.

She put her drink down on the table in front of her when she heard the younger one sighing, “Minjeong, you know why I’m saying this, right? It’s been 4 painful years of her rejecting you. You gotta stop now.” Yizhuo looks as if she’s begging. No, she’s really begging for her best friend to stop.

“I love her, Ning. She’s the only girl I loved this long and now I don’t know how to stop.” She smiled, though it didn’t reach her eyes, “I don’t even know if I can stop.”

She immediately averted her gaze when she felt herself tearing up. She can’t cry in front of her best friend especially when they are out in the cafeteria and a lot of students from different department could see them.

Forcing herself to stop herself from letting a drop of tear fall, she looked around the cafeteria watching how the other students engage themselves with one another. Some are laughing with their friends while some are busy finishing their lunch. But as she scans the place her eyes unknowingly landed on the girl she’s been chasing all these years.

The university student council president.

The top student in the university with the highest GPA in the past 3 years.

The epitome of perfection.

The girl of her dreams.

The love of her life.

Yoo Jimin.

Her little crush for the girl started when they were in their senior year of high school. She saw the girl with a long wavy hair making their school hallway looks like a run way with the way she’s walking and little Minjeong’s heart immediately made a flip. She wasn’t familiar with those feelings that time but when she realizes her feelings, she didn’t let any chance slipped and instantly approached the taller girl. Without any second thoughts.

And that’s how she found herself chasing the same girl for the last 4 years of her boring life.

“There you go, staring at her again as if she put the stars in the sky.” Yizhuo’s voice snapped her at her trance, “Why don’t you take a rest for like a couple days? You know, make her miss you.”

Minjeong snorted, “You wanted me to stop just like a few minutes ago, and now you want me to make her miss me?”

The younger rolled her eyes, “I’ve been trying to stop you for the past years, Kim Minjeong.” Yizhuo retorted, an annoyed frown on display on her face, “But you just don’t know how to listen, so we’re gonna compromise. You stop for a few days or weeks just to make her miss you while you make your poor heart rest from all the heartaches.”

“You think she would miss me?” She raised an eyebrow, “She hates my existence to hell, Ning. She would probably be happy once I stopped appearing in front of her.”

“Then, if she doesn’t miss you, you can finally stop.”

Minjeong sighed deeply letting her mind wander for a few seconds before stopping at the thought of a certain woman. God, Jimin would always end up inside her mind one way or another. And Minjeong couldn’t really do anything about it even if she wanted to. Her mind just always ends up with Jimin.

“One week.”

Yizhuo looked at her friend confused, “What?”

The older looked at her best friend straight in the eyes, “Give me one last week, then I’ll stop bothering her like you want me to.”

“Do you want to stop though?”

Minjeong pouted at her best friend, shoulder slumping, “No…” She timidly mumbled, lower lip jutting out, “But I’m gonna need some time to think too.”

Yizhuo nodded at the older girl, “Want me to introduce you to new people?” She asked, eyebrows wiggling, “I met these girls a few months ago at some seminar and I’m telling you they are really fun to be with!”

“How dare you make friends without me?”

“What? You’re too busy following Yoo Jimin around!”

At the mention of older girl’s name, Minjeong couldn’t help but slumped down on the table hitting her forehead on the process. It does hurt but she’s doesn’t have the will to think about the stinging pain on her forehead.

“You think I can do it?”

“I don’t know? I mean, that’s you.” Yizhuo shrugged, earning a complaining whine from the other lass, “What? You’ve been going after her for the past 4 years, so I don’t really know, Minjeongie.”

Minjeong looked up from her position and her eyes immediately landed on the woman of her dreams who is sitting a few tables away from them with her well known best friend, Aeri Uchinaga, or what she calls Yizhuo’s big fat crush.

The two are seriously engaged with something they only knew and Minjeong couldn’t help but cooed at how effortless beautiful the council president is especially when Jimin is currently sporting a high ponytail hairstyle which exposes her long, pretty neck.

She stared and stared.

And stared.

And stared.

Until a smack on her forehead snapped her back to earth.

“God, you’re helpless.” Yizhuo sighed before standing up, grabbing her bag, “Let’s go, we have a class in 5 minutes.”

“Damn it. I still want to stare at her.”

“You’re a helpless case, Kim Minjeong.”

First day.

Minjeong woke up a bit earlier than usual today with one thing in mind. She would give something to Jimin that she never gave her ever since. She decided cook lunch for her and that’s the main reason why she woke up earlier. She knows the president would usually forget to eat lunch with all the responsibilities the girl has, so as thoughtful as she is, she decided to prepare a simple meal for her.

“Ow!”

She hissed in pain when the knife grazed her finger leaving her wounded. She shakes her head before heading to the sink to wash the blood off.

Things she does for love.

After spending an awful amount of curses and hisses, she finally finished preparing the meal she’s going to give to the president. Her lips curved into a smile when she looked at the bento box in front of her. She never imagines herself to cook something for someone, let alone Yoo Jimin.

“Kim Minjeong! Get the hell out of there or we’ll be late!”

Upon hearing the boisterous voice of her best friend outside her apartment, she immediately grabbed her bag from the couch and of course, the bento box.

She saw Yizhuo on her bike urging her to move faster. She nodded before grabbing her own bike just beside her door.

“What’s that?” The younger asked, eyeing the brown paper bag slinging on the hand grip of Minjeong’s bike.

Minjeong throw a grin at her best friend, “I prepared lunch for Jimin!” She answered as they pedalled their way to their university.

“You were serious about that one week?”

She nodded, “Yeah, I even signed up for the kendo training!”

“Kendo?!” Yizhuo asked almost stumbling on her bike, “Yah! Remember when your head bleeds because you got hit on the head?! Oh my god, you’re really an idiot, Kim Minjeong!”

“Ningi, I was a kid that time!” She retorted, “And it wasn’t my fault my stick divided in half! And besides, that boy who hit me isn’t here. You don’t have to worry.”

“Girl, you got stupid temporary amnesia because of how hard you got hit.”

“Can you please stop reminding me that?” Minjeong groaned as she pedalled faster, ignoring the teasing laugh of her best friend behind her.

Once they reached their university, Minjeong immediately locked her bike to one of the available slots in the provided parking space for bicycles. She didn’t even bother waiting for her best friend as she rushes through the sea of students in the hallway.

And when she saw her target, her eyes immediately lit up.  She grins before skipping her way to the oblivious girl.

“Jimin!”

The said girl immediately turned around upon hearing her name being called out. Minjeong saw how the girl’s flawless forehead creased as soon as she met eyes with her. She ignored the burning sting on her chest.

Jimin crossed her arms against her chest, eyes staring at the shorter girl in front of her, “What is it this time, Kim Minjeong?”

Minjeong can swear her heart swoon when she heard the president’s voice. It doesn’t matter whether the girl looks at her like she’s ready to snap her neck and kick her aside.

This is the girl she’s in love with for the last four years of her poor life.

“I made you lunch.” Minjeong slightly waved the bag of the packed meal she prepared to the other girl, “You can share it with Aeri.” She added as she nods the girl behind the council president. She didn’t wait for the girl to respond and just gently push the paper bag on the latter’s chest before jogging her away.

Minjeong can still hear Jimin calling her but she didn’t bother turning around knowing too well what would happen once she did. And she only got last six days before she starts living her life without bothering Yoo Jimin and she wouldn’t want to waste the remaining days.

“Kim Minjeong!”

She slows down when she saw Yizhuo waving at her at the end of the hallway. Minjeong couldn’t help but creased her forehead in confusion because why the hell is Yizhuo still outside when they have their class in like a minute?

With a furrowed eyebrow she approached her best friend, “Why are you still out here?” She asked and turned to look at their classroom, “Where’s everyone?”

Yizhuo grinned, “The professor cancelled the meeting today.”

“What?”

“Yep, so let’s go because I’m gonna introduce you to new people.” Yizhuo started dragging her away from their empty classroom to God knows where, “I promise you they are really fun to be with!”

“Hearing that from you makes me nervous honestly.”

The Chinese raised an eyebrow, “What? Why?”

“You have a really weird definition for fun, Ning.”

When Yizhuo smirked at her Minjeong immediately prayed to all the gods out there for her life. She’s not really sure what to expect and just hope that her best friend wouldn’t drag her into doing something reckless again.

“Guys!”  Minjeong’s eyes trained to where Yizhuo is waving at and saw five girls waving back at them, “That’s them! Let’s go!”

The moment they stopped in front of the girls’ table, all eyes of the occupants went on her, “Hi, I’m Yeojin!” The smallest of the bunch greeted her with a huge grin and eyes turning crescent, “What’s your name?”

She shyly returns a smile before introducing herself, “Minjeong. Kim Minjeong.”

“Nice to meet you, Minjeong.” The same girl says before urging the others to introduce themselves.

After the short introduction, she finally got to know her best friend’s new friends and she’s glad everyone’s in the same year as them. They are really funny especially Yeojin and Hyejoo who would banter at every single thing. And spending time with them kind of makes her forget about the impending heartache she for sure will get later.

“What do you think, Minjeong?” Yerim, who she can say is the human form of the sun, asked her, “We’re planning on going to the arcade after class. Wanna join?”

She thought for a moment, thinking of the things she has to do and then at some point her mind drifted off to a certain woman.

She sighs before shaking her head, “I’m sorry, I can’t.” She politely declined and immediately noticed the disappointment on the girl’s face, “I can go with you guys next week though. Is that okay?”

Hearing that, Yerim beamed at her, “Of course!”

She smiles at the girl before letting their conversation stray to another topic which is what to name Yeojin’s pet snail.

“Just call it ‘red’.” Hyejoo says, eyes narrowed on her phone as she continue playing whatever video game it is, “He wouldn’t understand you anyway.”

“Ahh that’s too plain!” Yeojin whined, her small feet stomping, “I want something cool! And not red just because he’s colour red.”

Minjeong chuckled at the sight of a complaining Yeojin especially when the latter continue forcing the person beside her suggest something cool for her pet snail, which is fortunately Yerim.

“Marimo. Just call him Marimo, Yeojin-ah.” Chaeryeong, the calmest of the bunch, finally says. Maybe because she’s done hearing the continuous complain of Yeojin.

Minjeong couldn’t help but laugh when she saw Yeojin’s eyes widening after hearing the suggestion of her friend and then everyone followed suit when Yeojin basically jumped into Chaeryeong thanking her repeatedly for suggesting the coolest name ever, according to Yeojin.

“Okay, bean. Stop harassing my girlfriend.” Ryujin, the one with the short hair, pulled the smallest away from Chaeryeong, “You don’t get to kiss anyone’s girlfriend just like that!”

“But Chaeryeong like my kisses!” Yeojin continue pouting her lips in attempt to land another kiss on Chaeryeong’s cheeks but Ryujin is definitely stronger when she effortlessly carried the pouting girl away and dropping her off onto Yerim’s lap.

“Stop teasing Ryujin, Jin.” Yerim muttered to the small girl, “You don’t want to see her getting all pouty the whole day, right?” Yerim wrapped her arms around Yeojin’s waist, not letting the girl get off of her lap.

Seeing the interactions between her new friends, Minjeong couldn’t help but ask, “Are you guys a couple?”

“Well, yeah.”

Sensing a bit of fear from Yeojin’s voice, Minjeong immediately smiled, “Oh, that’s great! You guys looks cute.” Then her eyes shifted to the girl who’s still busy playing on her phone and as if Hyejoo felt someone staring at her she raised her head.

“Oh, my girlfriend’s at another school.” Hyejoo answers.

She nodded with a small gentle smile and just like what always happens her mind would always end up with a thought of a certain woman.

“How about you? Do you have a girlfriend?”

She looked at Hyejoo before shaking her head, “I don’t but I have this one girl I really really like.”

“Who is it?” Yeojin’s eyes beamed at her with curiosity, “Maybe we can help you.”

Upon hearing the statement of the small girl she heard her best friend laughing beside her, “I don’t think you can help her with that though, Yeojin-ah.”

“What? Why?”

Yizhuo smirked draping her arm around Minjeong’s shoulder, “It’s the Yoo Jimin, guys.” She answered for her best friend, “And my best friend here has been courting the girl for 4 damn years already.”

The rest of the girls on the table immediately looked at her with wide, confused eyes, “Are you for real?” Ryujin asked before she could even stop herself.

Minjeong nodded as she smiles but not quite reaching her eyes, “I am…” She says shifting her gaze away from the others, “But I think I’m gonna stop soon though.”

“Wait, you’re completely stopping?” Yizhuo turns to her best friend shocked, “I thought you were just gonna take some time off.”

“Ning, who takes time off in courting someone, huh?” She chuckled, “I’ve been annoying her for the past years and I think it’s time to give the peace she’s been wanting since forever.”

“Are you sure?”

I’m not.

“I’m doing this for the both of us.”

“Do you have something to do after class?” Minjeong found herself asking the president the next day. It’s the second day of the week she asked from Yizhuo for their deal.

Jimin looked at her briefly before letting out a sigh, “Why?”

Minjeong grinned, “I’m gonna take you out on a date.”

She watches as the president check her phone then looking back at her, “I have a meeting until 4.”

“I’m gonna wait for you then.”

“Suit yourself.”

Minjeong stares as the taller girl walks away. Away from her. She should get used to it though, after all she has been experiencing it for the whole 4 years of her courting the other girl. She should be used to it already.

Maybe she is.

But it doesn’t make it hurt any less.

“Kim Minjeong!”

She heard someone calling her from behind so she turned around but before she could even react she felt someone jumping up on her. Her instincts kick in and her arms were immediately wrapped to the person.

After a few seconds of recovery, she slightly pulled away and saw a grinning bean, “Yeojin? What are you doing here?”

“Ning asked me to look for you. Everyone’s already waiting in the caf.” The small girl answered, "C’mon, I’m so hungry and I badly wanna see my baby now.”

Minjeong scoffed, “You should’ve just let Hyejoo fetch me then.”

“Girl, as if she would. Girlie won’t even let go of her phone.”

She got really close with the girls instantly even when they literally just met yesterday. They are great people an