Lost in your lens - NewJeans' Minji x M!Reader

Ch. 5 - Festival

The campus had been buzzing about the SNU Arts Festival for weeks. Posters appeared on every wall, student groups practiced performances in every available space, and Hyein's excitement level grew more dangerous by the day.

"THREE MORE DAYS!" she announced at lunch, waving a festival program like a victory flag. "I have our ENTIRE schedule planned! First, we're watching Hanni's dance showcase-"

"Obviously," Hanni interjected.

"-then the traditional music performances, then ALL the food stalls, then-"

"Inside voice," Haerin reminded her, but she was smiling. These past weeks, I'd learned that Hyein's enthusiasm was as much a part of our group's rhythm as Haerin's quietness or Danielle's stress-baking.

"What about you?" I asked Minji, who was reviewing photos on her camera. "Any special festival plans?"

"Just enjoying it with everyone," she smiled that smile – the one that still made my heart skip. "Taking photos for fun."

Two days before the festival, everything changed.

"The Cultural Affairs Office's photographer dropped out," Minji announced, dropping into her usual seat at our café table. Her voice was a mix of excitement and panic. "They asked me to be the official festival photographer. They saw my exhibition work and-"

"THAT'S AMAZING!" Hyein's screech made several other customers jump.

"Inside-" Haerin started.

"VOICE, I KNOW, BUT THIS IS HUGE!"

It was huge. We all knew it – this kind of opportunity could launch a real photography career. The only problem was the timing.

"So you won't be able to hang out with us during the festival?" I tried to keep my voice neutral, but something must have shown because Minji's eyes flickered to mine with an unspoken apology.

"I'll try to find moments," she promised. "But I need to document everything. All the performances, the exhibitions, the ceremonies..."

"We understand," Danielle said, but the way she glanced between Minji and me suggested she understood more than just the schedule conflict.

The morning of the festival arrived with perfect autumn weather and a knot in my stomach. The campus had transformed overnight – strings of lanterns crisscrossed the courtyards, temporary stages dotted the grounds, and the air hummed with anticipation.

We gathered at our usual spot, but everything felt different. Minji's camera, usually just a part of her presence, now hung heavily around her neck like a symbol of duty.

"Okay, slight change of plans!" Hyein declared. "I have to help with the language department's presentation, Hanni has dance preparations-"

"I need to check on my art installation," Haerin added quietly.

"And I'm running a baking workshop," Danielle finished. "But we'll all meet for lunch, right?"

Everyone turned to Minji, who was already scanning the growing crowds with a photographer's eye. "I'll try," she said, but we all heard the uncertainty.

Just like that, our carefully planned day scattered like autumn leaves in the wind. I watched them disperse – Hanni to the dance building, Haerin toward the art gallery, Danielle to the workshop spaces, Hyein bouncing toward the language department's booth. Minji hesitated longest, adjusting her camera strap in that nervous way she had.

"Hey," I touched her arm lightly. "Go be amazing."

She smiled, but it was distracted, her mind already on the task ahead. Then she was gone too, weaving through the crowd with her camera raised, leaving me alone in the middle of a festival that had suddenly lost its shine.