Enchanted (Bbangsaz)

16

Saturday morning came with the soft sounds of waves hitting the shore. Minji woke up to the sight of Hanni curled up beside her, her features softened in peaceful sleep. Her chest rose and fell in a steady rhythm, and Minji couldn't help but smile, brushing a strand of hair out of Hanni's face before quietly slipping out of bed.

The beach house was silent except for the distant crashing of waves, and Minji took a deep breath, feeling a calm she hadn't felt in weeks. She made coffee, the familiar smell filling the kitchen, and then wandered out to the balcony, cradling the warm cup between her hands as she watched the sunrise over the ocean. The world was painted in shades of orange and pink, and for a moment, everything felt utterly perfect.

Moments later, Hanni padded out, wrapped in a blanket with her hair sticking up in adorable disarray. Her eyes were still half-closed, and she looked sleepily at Minji, mumbling a quiet, "Good morning," before leaning into her side.

Minji kissed the top of her head, a soft smile tugging at her lips. "Morning."

They stood in comfortable silence, sipping coffee and watching the sun climb higher into the sky. The ocean stretched out endlessly before them, and with Hanni by her side, Minji felt like she could take on the world.

Eventually, Minji broke the quiet, her voice soft but serious. "I've been thinking... about us."

Hanni looked up, raising an eyebrow as she pulled the blanket tighter around her shoulders. "Yeah?"

Minji nodded, her eyes still on the horizon. "It's going to get complicated when people find out. You know how it is—our careers, the media. They're going to have a lot to say when they do."

Hanni sighed, leaning her head against Minji's shoulder, her voice low. "Yeah, I've thought about it too. But you know what? I don't care anymore. Let them talk. I don't want to hide what we have, but I also don't want to feel like we have to explain ourselves to anyone."

Minji turned to face her, their eyes meeting. "Exactly. We don't owe anyone anything. As long as we're good, that's all that matters."

Hanni's lips curved into a soft smile, her hand slipping into Minji's. "I like that. It's us against the world, right?"

Minji grinned, her heart swelling as she squeezed Hanni's hand. "Yeah. Us against the world."

After breakfast, they headed out to the beach. The air was cool and fresh, the morning sun glittering on the waves as they strolled barefoot along the shore. Hanni's hand was warm in Minji's, and every step they took felt like a small escape from reality, a world that was just the two of them.

As the day wore on, they grew more playful. Minji chased Hanni into the water, splashing at her as Hanni squealed in surprise. They laughed and tumbled into the shallow waves, water lapping at their ankles, their giggles carrying across the beach.

Hanni playfully shoved Minji's shoulder. "You're so slow! You'll never catch me."

"Oh, we'll see about that," Minji grinned, and before Hanni could react, she scooped her up, lifting her off the ground. Hanni's surprised laughter filled the air as Minji spun them around, both of them nearly losing their balance and falling into the sand.

They collapsed onto the beach, laughing breathlessly, their bodies tangled together as the waves rolled up to their feet. Minji propped herself up on her elbows, looking down at Hanni, whose face was flushed from laughter, her lips curled in a wide smile.

"You're such a dork," Hanni teased, reaching up to brush a few wet strands of hair from Minji's face.

Minji leaned down and kissed her, slow and sweet, her lips still tasting like the salty sea breeze. Hanni sighed softly into the kiss, her fingers sliding into Minji's hair. They stayed like that for a long moment, the world quiet except for the sound of the waves and their soft breaths between kisses.