The Mighty Battle Between Reality and Dreams

Jimin was starting to feel something. It wasn’t something new. Maybe it was unfamiliar because she hadn’t felt it in a long time.

But it was there. She was feeling it.

And she had to admit, it felt good. Despite being aware that anything could happen to ruin such a feeling, she was still hopeful. She didn’t want to doubt it, nor be discouraged.

She could be feeling this way because of the words coming from her sisters and her friends were starting to sink in.

“It’s nice to see you smile like that again.”

“You seem happier these days.”

“Minjeong really has that effect on you, huh?”

Jimin couldn’t help but smile. Maybe Minjeong did have that effect on her. Of course she did, Jimin was in love with her. There were a lot of things Minjeong did that made Jimin act and feel differently.

She was definitely smiling more, even to other people. She didn’t feel as sluggish, or lazy, the kind that always was present when her head was too deep within her thoughts.

Her nightmares were still there. But Jimin realized that Chaeyoung didn’t visit her often whenever it occurred. A part of her wondered if this was the effect of being in love with the right person.

Or that Jimin finally cracked the code and decided to pick herself up and be better.

Minjeong had been very patient with her as well. When Jimin had moments where her depression took the best of her, when she wanted to be alone or when she just wanted to not talk at all. Minjeong never forced her to say anything or to spend time together like always. She always told her that she was going to be there when Jimin was ready and that she wouldn’t get upset about it.

And even if she wanted to feel bad about it, she also greatly appreciated it.

Jimin knew Minjeong just wanted to show she cared, and she saw it, felt it even. And it was a big reason why she wanted to do better.

But at the same time, she didn’t want to be dependent on Minjeong. Because the girl already had so much on her plate, why would she stop most of her studying just to take care of Jimin? Who was an adult and was capable of taking care of herself.

Minjeong had mentioned that things at school were getting hectic, with the amount of cases she had been handling with more recitations to prepare for and the research she needed to do.

So Jimin knew that it wasn't Minjeong’s sole purpose to heal her or take away the pain that she had. But she had to admit that her neighbor had played a significant role in the healing process. Maybe because Jimin finally felt motivated to help herself. Minjeong, in a way, made her see that there are things she could do for herself if she tried hard enough.

If she wanted to try at all.

And after Minjeong met her family, the only ones that truly mattered to her, Jimin saw things in a whole new perspective. The love she had for Minjeong grew significantly, and the way she saw the girl was just different because Minjeong took everything so well. She opened herself to her sisters like they were her friends already.

Of course, that made Jimin’s heart soft. She was always protective of her sisters and her cousin. So anyone who showed genuine kindness and respect was already acceptable in Jimin’s life. Much more that it was the girl that she was secretly in love with? The feeling just grew ten times bigger and Jimin had no idea what to do if these feelings started to overflow.

“Hey,” Minjeong’s voice brought her back to earth and Jimin absentmindedly turned to look at her. “You okay?”

Jimin blinked, subtly shaking away her thoughts and then let out a small exhale. “Yeah, I’m fine. Just thinking about what to do with my sisters tomorrow.”

Right, it was Friday. Which meant she was going to see her sisters again the next day.

Minjeong pondered for a bit and looked back up at Jimin. “What did you want to do?”

She shrugged. “I have nothing in mind. I just want to see them.”

“Will Jeongyeon unnie be there too?”

“She said she’ll catch up. The bakery is usually busy on the weekends,” Jimin said, as the two continued their walk along the park. “But she said she’ll catch up if we’re having dinner out.”

“I have to be there too, right? Or else Jisoo unnie will torture you again,” Minjeong said in a giggle, smiling at the thought.

Jimin blushed but turned away, hoping the brunette didn’t notice. “Yeah but I already told them you had classes from 4:30-8:30. So they can’t complain if you have to leave for class.”

“I can always catch up with you guys after?” Minjeong offered, sounding as eager as her sisters when they insisted she join their planned get together.

Jimin felt like she was going to lose the argument if she resisted. So she sighed and then nodded her head. “Okay.” But then she pointed a finger towards Minjeong’s direction. “Only when you’re not feeling tired after class.”

Minjeong did a silly little salute. “Yes, Officer!”

They both laughed at that and continued walking. This was starting to become a therapeutic ritual for the both of them. After dinner, or if they had dinner together, they would walk to the nearby park and keep strolling around or sit on their favorite bench while eating ice cream.

But the ice cream had already been consumed and they both knew they didn’t want to go home yet, so they both decided to have one round of walking and then they could go home.

A part of Jimin wanted to grab Minjeong’s hand, interlace their fingers and feel the warmth of her hand. But she resisted. Sure they have flirted here and there, yet there was no clarity. Because Jimin could go ahead and say right then and there that she had feelings for Minjeong. But there were several things that were holding her back.

Biggest reason was because, of course, she didn’t know if Minjeong felt the same. It could just be friendly banter, or that Minjeong was a natural flirt and she played along with Jimin’s advances because it was the polite thing to do. But Jimin didn’t want to indulge herself with wishful thinking and delusions. She probably wasn’t strong enough to handle a rejection either.

Which was why she still remained quiet.

Another reason was because she wanted to confess to Minjeong when the time was right. Call her a sap, but she loved the idea of having a big moment before the big confession. Minjeong deserved that kind of treatment. She needed to know that she was special and anyone in this universe would be lucky to be with someone like her.

But Jimin gauged the mood and their surroundings and for some reason, she hesitated. And that usually meant that she wasn’t ready to say anything.

And that alone was frustrating. She wanted to say something already. Maybe give another hint, or just show an obvious sign to the brunette that she was attracted to her and that she wanted to start something. Something that was beyond platonic.

Jimin felt a small tug on the sleeve of her coat, making her stop on her tracks to look back at Minjeong.

“Yeah?”

Minjeong pursed her lips, like she was trying to find the right words to say. “You mentioned you had a sister that liked to bake. Which sister was it?”

“Oh, it’s Joohyun unnie,” Jimin replied happily, the memories of their childhood started to play in her head. “Our parents loved to bake. My mom and Jeongyeon’s dad loved to bake together. So, that usually happened at home when they would visit.”

“Does your mom still bake?” Minjeong suddenly sounded very curious.

Jimin nodded. “She does. But my dad always told her that she didn’t have to anymore because he hired people to do that for her now.” That was when Jimin realized she hadn't told Minjeong everything.

And Minjeong had the most confused look on her face, like she was trying to connect the dots or turn the gears in her head.

She couldn’t help but chuckle at the expression. It was very kissable and Jimin really needed to keep her emotions at bay because of the many times she caught herself wanting to kiss Minjeong. Maybe not on the palm like last time.

“My dad used to sell cars, then he met my mom, they got married and when he realized how passionate she was at baking, he quit his job just so he could open a bakery for her. And mom does all types of pastries and desserts. The business was doing so well, they started to branch out and eventually Jeongyeon and her family managed a branch somewhere in Incheon.” Jimin tried to say as much in one go. But then she forgot the important bit. “Joohyun unnie took over our main branch here. Since she’s the one that bakes.”

“And you’re the official taste tester?” Minjeong couldn’t help but tease and that made Jimin laugh.