Winrina Drabbles

(11) Night Changes (Love is an Open Window)

"...Minjeong would certainly like that."

It was the last words she heard before she ascends to her bedroom. It was a Friday night, and instead of going to a party like the other kids her age, Kim Minjeong had to sit down to diner with her parents and the chosen boy for tonight. It was a weekly occurrence that Minjeong dreaded, and it always had her up in her room thirty minutes into the whole thing. Her parents never chased after her, and they didn't want to embarrass themselves in front of the guest.

Finally, in the comfort of her bedroom, Minjeong strips off the dress and slips into some pajamas and a grey hoodie. Minjeong glances out the window, and the evening looked so peaceful, the moonlight blanketing down on the empty streets. She does what she usually does when dinner was too much and slides her window open.

She steps out and takes in the serenity of the night, carefully skidding down her roof and lunging a step forward to the greenhouse that was way too close to her house. Her parents didn't want it moved anymore as that would cause more money and time, so they just left it as it is, and even installed solar panels on it and a ladder on the side so repairs would be made easy; impossible for your daughter to escape, right?

Once her feet touched the ground, Minjeong carefully makes her way to their back fence, shivering slightly at the cold are and being wary of the wet grass around their pool, she flips open the latch to swing the fence door open. Why her parents had that, Minjeong wanted to know, too, but hey, it's useful on nights like this. She makes her way down the street, not having any fear since their neighborhood was the prissy type, and takes a deep breath. Seeing the two-story houses similar to hers under the moonlight gave her a sense of calm, and she liked that.

When she turns the corner of her residence, she sees a figure under the shadow of a tree. It was that oak tree that her parents could never get rid of, no matter how much money they poured in, so they had to deal with it. There was smoke puffing into the air, and when Minjeong was close enough to see, she was surprised to find that it was an outline of a girl.

The said girl seems to see her from the corner of her eye, lowers her cigarette, and motions her to come forward. Whatever spell she had cast in the motion of two fingers worked, and Minjeong finds herself only three steps away from her.

"Want one?" The slender fingers offer her the white roll.

She shakes her head; a sense of fear started to build up in her chest. At their proximities, Minjeong could be effortlessly snatched up.

"Why not? It's organic." A deep voice insists, and Minjeong shakes her head again.

"I don't smoke," Minjeong mumbles out. "You shouldn't be smoking in public."

"So you're playing police with me now?" the girl chuckles and steps out into the moonlight.

For a moment, Minjeong was star struck, or maybe it was just the moon's effect. The girl was taller than her, by an inch or so, and her face was...uniquely beautiful. She had a small face that housed those big and dark eyes, a cute nose, and her heart lips. Minjeong was frozen on the spot, and her eyes were seemingly attracted to the freckle on her small jaw.

"What's your name?"

Minjeong jumps back, realizing how close their faces have become. She quickly turns to the side, trying to ignore how fast her heart was beating.

"Not gonna talk, huh?" There was disappointment dripping from her tone, followed by a sigh. "Alright then, I'm Jimin."

She looks back to see a small smile dancing on Jimin's lips, her fingers flicking away the cigarette. She then noticed the long dark hair that flowed down that flannel shirt she had on. Jimin was also only in shorts, and Minjeong wonders how she could do so on such a chilly night like this.