Enchanted (Bbangsaz)

24

Minji stepped through her front door, ready to collapse after a long day on set. The comforting aroma of home-cooked food immediately hit her senses, pulling her out of her fatigue.

Furrowing her brow, she cautiously walked into the kitchen—and there, laughing and cooking side by side, were her mom and Jennie. Both were wearing aprons, Jennie holding a wooden spoon and stirring something delicious-smelling in a pot.

"Mom? Jennie?" Minji blinked, taken aback. "Did I forget to lock the door or something?"

Jennie looked up with a smug grin. "Nice try, but using your birthday as your passcode is practically an open invitation."

Minji groaned, crossing her arms. "Oh, come on. It's easy to remember."

Her mom turned from the stove, fixing her with a mock-stern look. "Easy to remember for everyone, including nosy sisters and moms who would've appreciated a heads-up before finding out their daughter's dating news from the internet!"

Minji's face turned crimson. "Uh... right. About that..."

"Minji," Jennie chimed in, feigning shock as she leaned on the counter. "Your own mother had to hear about you and Hanni from the tabloids. I thought you would tell her! Do you know how many calls I got next days?"

Minji rolled her eyes, looking for a way to avoid Jennie's face. "Mom, it's... complicated. You know how the media is."

Mama Kim raised an eyebrow, folding her arms. "Oh, I know exactly how it is. What I don't understand is why my daughter didn't think to call me first."

"Mom, I was going to tell you, I swear—"

"But you didn't," Jennie interrupted with a playful smirk. "Poor Mom here was all over the internet trying to make sense of the headlines. Imagine her shock reading, 'Rising Star Minji Kim's Secret Relationship Revealed!'"

"Jennie, shut up," Minji muttered, her face burning. "I was going to tell her. Just... after I figured it out myself."

Her mom shook her head with a sigh, but Minji caught the faintest hint of a smile. "Next time, Minji, at least give me a courtesy call before I find out from gossip sites. I had half a mind to call Hanni myself!"

Minji's jaw dropped. "Mom! You wouldn't."

"Oh, I would," her mom replied with a mischievous glint. "And Jennie was the one who convinced me not to. She said it would embarrass you."

Jennie shrugged, looking all too pleased with herself. "What can I say? I thought you should at least have the chance to explain yourself. Maybe I should get an award, you know?"

"Jennie Kim, keep your mouth closed and don't make this about you." Minji was just about to shoot a victorious smirk at Jennie when her mom cut her off with a firm, "And don't think for a second you're off the hook."

The doorbell rang, and Minji sighed, grateful for the distraction. She headed to the door and swung it open, only to find Hyein and Haerin grinning back at her.

"You've got to be kidding me," Minji muttered, eyebrows shooting up in surprise.

"Surprise!" Hyein sang, stepping inside. "Did you think we'd miss Mama Kim's cooking?"

"We were invited," Haerin added with a wink, sauntering in as well.

Minji turned back to the kitchen, where her mom was already setting extra plates on the table. "Mom, you invited them too?"

Her mom shrugged. "The more, the merrier. Plus, I wanted to ask them about Hanni."

Minji groaned, sensing the ambush. She slumped down at the table as everyone settled in, wondering how much worse this could get.