One Month

Breaking The Ice

Minjeong and Jimin strolled down the quiet streets, hand in hand, heading toward a small café that Minjeong had picked out for their first date. The café was cozy, with soft lighting and an inviting atmosphere. They found a table near the window, where the sunlight streamed in, casting a warm glow over them.

After ordering their food, they settled into conversation, Minjeong making Jimin laugh with her light-hearted jokes. But as the conversation shifted to more personal topics, Jimin’s curiosity got the better of her. She leaned forward, her eyes fixed on Minjeong.

"I’m curious, why do you like me, Minjeong?" Jimin asked, her tone direct but tinged with genuine curiosity.

Minjeong took a moment to think, her gaze softening as she looked at Jimin. "There’s just something about you," she began. "When I first saw you, it felt like my heart wanted to jump out of my chest. It’s hard to explain, but you had this presence that I couldn’t ignore."

"So what? You’re telling me it was love at first sight?" Jimin asked, raising an eyebrow, skepticism evident in her voice.

Minjeong chuckled, shrugging slightly. "Maybe?" she said, her voice teasing but sincere.

Jimin looked down at her coffee, stirring it absentmindedly before speaking again. "I rejected you so many times, but you still kept on liking me. Why?" There was a vulnerability in her voice that Minjeong hadn’t heard before.

Minjeong’s expression turned serious as she answered. "Because I think you’re worth it. Actually, I know you’re worth it," she said, her voice firm with conviction. "I want to get to know you more, to see a side of you that no one else gets to see. You’re good at scaring people away, Jimin, but it’s not going to work on me."

Jimin smirked, her icy exterior slipping just a little. "Technically, I can’t scare you away yet because I decided to give you a chance," she said, her tone playful. "Which is a first for me."

Minjeong smiled warmly, her eyes meeting Jimin’s with a steady gaze. "I’m grateful for that, Jimin. More than you know."

Jimin leaned back in her chair, a small smile playing on her lips. "Also, what’s with everyone calling me an Ice Queen?" she asked, a hint of annoyance in her voice.

Minjeong laughed softly. "Because you’re beautiful but cold," she said, a teasing glint in her eyes.

Jimin rolled her eyes but couldn’t suppress a smile. "I guess it works," she admitted reluctantly.

They continued talking, the conversation flowing naturally as they shared stories and little details about their lives. Jimin found herself opening up more than she expected, revealing bits of her past that she rarely talked about. And as Minjeong listened intently, Jimin realized that she was actually enjoying herself.

There was something about the way Minjeong focused on her, giving her undivided attention, that made Jimin feel special. It was a feeling she wasn’t used to, but she couldn’t deny that she liked it.

As the evening wore on, Jimin found herself relaxing more, the walls she usually kept up slowly crumbling down. Minjeong wasn’t just persistent; she was kind, patient, and genuinely interested in getting to know Jimin for who she really was.

For the first time in a long while, Jimin felt like someone truly saw her, not just the Ice Queen persona she showed the world. And as they continued to talk, laugh, and share, Jimin realized that maybe, just maybe, giving Minjeong a chance wasn’t such a bad idea after all.