again.

You woke up to your phone buzzing. 

It was still dark out. You squinted at the screen. 

Five in the morning, three missed FaceTime calls from Minju.

You unlocked your phone, your finger hovering over her contact to call her back.

Her name lit up the screen before you could.

You answered.

“Finally.” Minju’s face filled the screen, too bright for the hour. “I’ve been calling you forever.”

“...Minju.” you said weakly. “It’s five in the morning. You’ve got to stop calling me this early when I have work.”

“I know, I know. But I couldn’t wait, okay?” She was beaming in frame. “Guess what?”

“...What?” you asked groggily.

“So,” Minju started. “I have a few weeks off starting in a couple of days.”

“...Okay?”

“Just okay?” She looked offended. “You aren’t excited to see me? After four months?” 

“Wait, what?” You shot up, sitting upright now. “See you?” 

“Yes, idiot. Me, seeing you.” She rolled her eyes, pointing at you through the screen. “I’m landing on Saturday. I’m staying for two weeks.”

“Saturday.” You smiled, the tiredness fading from your face. “This Saturday?”

“This Saturday. You better call off work soon, or they’re not going to be happy with you.”

“God, don’t mention work. Can you believe how much shit I got when I missed the flight last time?”

“That’s what you get.” She was enjoying this too much. “Maybe don’t skip out on work for a girl next time.” 

“Hey. It wasn’t just any girl.”

Minju blinked, staring at the camera without a comeback.

“...Whatever.” Her gaze flicked off-screen. “You’re so annoying.”

“Me? You’re the one who spam called me at five in the morning.”

“Hey. I had big news to share.”

“You did this two days ago to complain about League too.”

She rolled her eyes, a cheeky smile on her face. “Whatever, whatever. Go get ready for work, wage slave. Before you’re late.”

“Before I’m late? I wasn’t supposed to get up for another two hours.”

“Oh. You going back to sleep?”

“Nope. I’m awake now.” you said. “Keep me company.”

“Needy.” On her end, you heard her shift to get comfortable.

You got up and walked to your kitchen, setting your phone down against the coffee maker.

“So,” you asked, starting the coffee. “Tell me about your day.”

She did. Her schedule, practicing choreo, random moments with her members. Her voice replaced the silence that usually filled your apartment. You listened while you made coffee, through breakfast, and while getting dressed.

“Okay,” you said, grabbing your keys. “I have to go.”

“What?” Minju whined. “Already?”

“It’s been two hours, Minju.”

“Oh.” She checked the time. “Huh.”

“I’ll call you after work if you’re awake.”

“You better.” She sat up. “See you Saturday.”

“Yeah. See you then.”

Saturday came sooner than you expected.

You stood at arrivals, watching the doors. You’d woken up early, arriving at the airport half an hour earlier than she was supposed to land.

You looked up every time the doors opened. Strangers walking through with luggage, families reuniting. 

Eventually, the doors opened, and there she was.

Minju had her suitcase behind her, her eyes scanning the crowd.

You walked toward her, your smile growing until she was right in front of you.

“Hey,” you said. “Looking for someone?”

Minju looked up at you, her face breaking into a grin. “Hey, you. No big sign welcoming me?”

“Didn’t want to draw a crowd. Since you’re famous, you know?”

“We’re in America. Who’s going to recognize me here?”

You shrugged. “It’s a big city. You never know.”

She rolled her eyes. Then, she let go of her suitcase, wrapping her arms tightly around you.

You smiled, hugging her back tightly. “You’re really here.”

“Yeah. I’m here.”

You pulled back first, but she stayed for a second, her face pressed into your chest.

“You hungry? I know a couple spots.”

“God, no.” she said, pulling back. “I just spent sixteen hours on a plane. I feel gross. I need a shower, like, now.”

“Alright. Back home it is.” You took her suitcase and headed for the doors.

In the car, Minju was quiet, sixteen hours in the air catching up with her.

“I actually got approved for my time off this time.” you said. 

“Mm. Good.” Her eyes were half-closed. “Glad you learned from last time.”

“Yup. The whole two weeks off. I’m free for the whole time you’re here.”

“Mm.”

“There’s a breakfast place I think you’d like. And there’s a bunch of stuff we can do. We can go to a museum, visit the park, whatever you want.”

“...Mm.”

You looked over. She’d fallen asleep, limp against the seat, her breathing deep and even.

You shook your head and smiled, continuing to drive.

By the time you pulled into the garage, she was still asleep.

“Minju. We’re here.”

She stirred, squinting at you in the morning light. “...Where?”

“My place. Come on.”

She groaned, but got out as you grabbed her suitcase from your car.

She was quiet in the elevator, her eyes closed as she leaned against the wall.

Inside your apartment, she stopped a few steps in and looked around.

“...Huh.”

“Shower’s down the hall, Minju. I’ll grab some towels for you.”

“Okay.” She was already headed toward your bathroom.

You left some towels outside the bathroom door.

When she came out, she looked at you, eyes half-closed.

“I’m too tired. I need to sleep for a bit.”

“Yeah, sure. Take my bed. I’ll wake you up before it gets too late.”

“Mkay.” She plopped down on your bed and knocked out before you even left the room.

For a few hours, you sat down on your couch and relaxed, reading a book as Minju slept down the hall.

A few hours into the afternoon, you went into your room and sat on the edge of your bed.

“Minju.” You tapped her shoulder gently. “Up. Or you won’t be able to sleep tonight.”

She groaned into the pillow. “...Five minutes.”

“Nope. Get up.”

“Ugh, fine.” She dragged herself up off the bed.

“Are you hungry? Let’s get food.” you asked.

“Yeah. I could eat.”

She climbed off the bed, trailing after you, glancing around your apartment as she went.

“...Isn’t your apartment too nice? How are you affording this?”

“I told you. My job pays me well.”

“...Yeah, but,” She walked toward your window, looking out at the skyline. “This is crazy.”

Minju turned back, her eyes scanning your room and landing on your shelves— books, records, a couple of decorations and plants around.

“Huh. I thought it would be emptier here.”

“I decorated a bit recently. After I got back from Korea.”

She wandered over to the shelf and tilted her head at the records.

“Are these from the store I told you to check out?”

“Some of them, yeah.”

She pulled one out. Her own group’s album. She flipped it over in her hands and looked at you.

“You kept these?”

“Yeah, why wouldn’t I?” You smiled. “You still have to sign them.”

“Oh my god.” She put the album back. “You’re so embarrassing.”

“Just supporting my favorite group.”

“Fine, fine.” She sighed. “I’ll sign them later. Feed me first.”

“Sure.” You grabbed your keys and headed for the door. Minju followed, pulling out her phone.

“So. I looked up some stuff before I came.” she said, scrolling through what seemed to be a very long list.

“I thought you wanted me to show you around.”

“Yeah, but I got curious, and one thing led to another, so I’ve been adding to it for like two months.”

“Two months, huh?”

“Shut up.” She put her phone in her pocket. “Come on. I’m hungry.”

You smiled and followed her out.

The two weeks together were just like the week you spent with her in Seoul. For a few days, your plans of showing her around was derailed by her dragging you to places she’d looked up and researched on her own.

Some were good. A rooftop bar she’d found randomly scrolling through her social media ended up having great drinks and an incredible view. A Korean spot she’d seen because she was missing food from home lived up to the hype.

Others were horrid. A vintage store she’d seen online turned out to have a nonexistent selection of overpriced trinkets. After she made you wait in line at this “hidden gem” brunch spot for overpriced eggs and watery matcha, you put your foot down.

“Minju. You have to stop falling for these tourist traps you see online.”

She pouted. “It looked good though.” 

You sighed. “Come on. I live here. Let me show you around for real.”

You showed her the city the way you came to know it. The brunch spot near your apartment that was actually good, the park you ran through in the mornings, the cafe you frequented with the best pastries.

“Okay,” she said. “Maybe I should’ve let you pick the places first.”

You tilted your head and smiled at her. “Told you so.”

After that, the two of you met in the middle. She’d still pull you around to places she’d seen online, but you learned to check where she was taking you and steer her away from the tourist traps. 

What Minju enjoyed most wasn’t any particular place, but the fact no one here knew who she was. No need to hide her face, no manager hovering around her, just walking around wherever and whenever she wanted.

“I can’t get over this.” she said one afternoon, her mouth full while eating tacos on a park bench. “I can just… be here. Outside, and nobody cares.”

“Must be rough back in Korea, huh?”

“Yeah. Sometimes.” Her gaze turned down. “I could get used to this.”

You looked at her. “Come visit more then.”

“I would if I could.” She smiled at that and gave you a gentle punch on the arm. “I’m a busy, successful woman, you know?”

“I know, I know. It’d just be nice to see you more often.” You smiled faintly. “Maybe I’ll visit you.”

“You better.” She leaned into you. 

The rest of the trip went by too quickly. Her camera roll filled up with photos of food, random places she thought were ‘picturesque’, and pictures of you she'd taken when you weren't paying attention. Each night ended differently. Some nights you’d stay out late, trying late-night food spots, and on others, you barely left the apartment.

One night, she was in your kitchen attempting to make instant noodles. You sat nearby, watching to make sure she didn’t burn your apartment down.

“You’re overcooking it.”

“I’m not.”

“It’s going to be mush if you keep cooking it, Minju.”

“Shush.” She stirred the pot aggressively. “I know how to make instant noodles, okay? I make them all the time when I don’t have you making real food.”

“You’re welcome for that, by the way.”

“Yeah, yeah.” She turned the heat down. Without looking at you, she spoke. “So, I’ve been thinking about what you said.”

You let her continue.

“I wasn’t ready then. I told you that.” She spoke firmly. “I’m still not completely over what you did, but I’m getting there. And I can see you’re really trying this time.”

She took a deep breath.

“So, I was thinking.” Minju turned her head to glance at you. “Maybe it wouldn’t be too bad to try again.”

You stood up, walking over to her. You rested your chin on her shoulder.

“So,” you said with a light smile. “You’ll be with me?”

Minju laughed. “Yes, idiot. That’s exactly what I’m saying.”

On the couch, the two of you sat watching the TV, each with a bowl of instant noodles in your lap.

“That was real romantic, huh? Telling me all that while you made noodles instead of over the nice dinner we had yesterday?”

“Oh, please. If I tried to do that at that restaurant last night, I would’ve thrown up. Or burst out laughing. No way that was happening.”

Minju laid her head on your shoulder.

“Hey.” she said. “After I fly back, I’ll still be free for another week.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah, so,” She paused. “Do you want to go back and visit home? Together?”

“Back home, like with our parents?” 

“Yeah. What about it? We can just do whatever. It’ll be like old times.”

“You don’t think it’ll be a little weird? Showing up together randomly after all this time?”

“Weird?” Minju looked at you like you were stupid. “You know your mom loves me, right? She asks about me every time she talks to my mom. And, every time I go back, I bring her gifts.”

“For real?”

“Yup. My mom always asks about you too. She always asks when you’re going to come back and visit.” She took a bite of her noodles. “They’ve been trying to get us back together for who knows how long.”

You raised an eyebrow at that.

“Seriously?” You sat up straight. “I haven’t been back for a while. I just call them sometimes. I really should go see them, huh?”

“Yeah, you should.” Minju smirked at you. “Be a good son and visit home.”

“Okay, okay.” You leaned back into the couch. “Let’s go back.”

“Good.” She put her bowl on the table. “My mom will probably cry when she sees us, by the way.”

“Huh? What for?”

“She gets all emotional. She cries whenever she sees any of my performances.” She shrugged. “Just imagine how she’ll react when she sees us two together again.”

“Great. That won’t be awkward at all.”

“It’ll be sweet. Don’t ruin the moment.” She rested her head back onto your shoulder. “It’ll be nice. Going back with my boyfriend this time.”

Your face warmed.

“Say that again.”

“Nope. You heard me.”

You laughed, and leaned your head against hers.