Swipe Right for Love | WinRina

Chapter 5

The diner was buzzing with its usual Friday evening crowd, and Jimin was on autopilot, taking orders, clearing tables, and throwing in her usual charm to keep the tips coming. She had barely slept the night before, her mind occupied with thoughts of Minjeong. They were supposed to meet again in two weeks, but Jimin couldn't shake the feeling that something was off between them. Minjeong had been distant, their texts shorter, their calls less frequent.

As she cleared a table near the window, something in her peripheral vision made her freeze. Standing by the entrance, looking a little lost and incredibly out of place in her tailored business attire, was Minjeong. Jimin blinked, convinced she was imagining things, but Minjeong didn't disappear. She just stood there, looking tired and slightly disheveled.

Jimin quickly handed her tray to a coworker and rushed over, weaving through the tables. "Minjeong?" she asked, breathless with surprise. "What are you doing here? I thought we weren't meeting until next week?"

Minjeong looked up, her expression unreadable, but Jimin noticed the dark circles under her eyes and the slight slump in her posture. "I... I just needed to get away for a bit," she said quietly. Her voice, usually so steady, wavered just enough for Jimin to catch it.

Jimin frowned, her heart tightening. This wasn't the composed, confident woman she had grown used to. This was someone unraveling at the seams, and that worried her. "Come on," she said softly, taking Minjeong's arm and leading her to an empty booth at the back, away from the noise.

Once Minjeong sat down, she seemed to collapse into herself. Her shoulders sagged as she let out a long sigh, and she rubbed her temples with her fingers, as if trying to ward off a headache.

"Rough day?" Jimin asked gently, sliding into the seat across from her.

Minjeong gave a small, humorless laugh. "You could say that." She leaned back against the seat, her eyes closing for a moment. "Work has been... insane. I haven't slept properly in days, and today was just... too much."

Jimin watched her carefully, her chest tightening with concern. She had never seen Minjeong like this, so vulnerable, so visibly exhausted. It tugged at something deep within her, making her want to reach across the table and take Minjeong's hand, but she hesitated.

"You didn't have to come all the way here," Jimin said softly. "You could've called."

Minjeong opened her eyes and looked at her, something unreadable flickering in their depths. "I didn't want to be alone," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

Jimin's heart clenched at the vulnerability in Minjeong's words. She had always thought of Minjeong as someone who thrived in solitude, someone who didn't need anyone. But seeing her like this, so raw, so open, Jimin realized how little she actually knew about the woman sitting across from her.

"You... aren't busy, are you?" Minjeong asked suddenly, her brow furrowing with worry. "I don't want to disturb your work."

Jimin shook her head quickly, brushing off the concern. "It's just my shift. I can take a break. Besides, I'd rather be here with you right now." She smiled reassuringly, but Minjeong still looked unsure.

"But..." Minjeong bit her lip, looking at the busy diner. "I don't want to be a distraction. You have responsibilities."

Jimin chuckled softly, leaning forward. "You're not a distraction, Minjeong. Trust me, you could never be. And right now, you're clearly more important than anything else going on here."

Minjeong blinked at that, seeming momentarily stunned. The weight of Jimin's words sank in slowly, and the tension in Minjeong's shoulders eased just a little. She didn't protest further, but a small part of her still seemed uncomfortable with the idea of being an inconvenience.