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

Ch. 20 - Perfect Lighting

The morning light painted our bedroom in that soft glow Minji loved most. I stood in front of the mirror, fighting with my graduation tie while trying not to wrinkle my gown.

Click.

"Seriously?" I grinned at her reflection. "I'm literally just standing here."

"You're literally about to graduate with your master's degree," she corrected, lowering her camera. "And you still can't tie a tie properly."

"Maybe I'm doing it wrong on purpose. You know, for the aesthetic."

She laughed, setting her camera down to help with the tie. Her touch was gentle, familiar in a way that still made my heart skip. Two years since that first nervous coffee order, and somehow she still had that effect on me.

My phone buzzed with what had to be the twentieth message this morning:

Hyein: YO where do you want us to hide the SURPRISE stuff because Hanni's car isn't big enough for everything and Haerin says the studio roof isn't structurally sound enough for what I planned-

Haerin: Hyein, it's supposed to be a surprise.

Hyein: OH SHIT wrong chat

I laughed, showing Minji the messages. "Think they realize we know about the party?"

"Let them have their fun," she smiled, finishing with my tie. "Besides, Danielle worked really hard planning her 'surprise' return from Singapore around your graduation."

"Wait, Danielle's-"

"Pretend you didn't hear that."

Another buzz:

Hanni: Everyone remember your positions for Operation Graduate Glory! And yes, Hyein, that's what we're calling it. No, we're not using your suggestion of "ULTIMATE ACADEMIC VICTORY SPECTACULAR"

The past year had been a whirlwind of growth and change. Our studio had become a second home not just for us, but for countless students finding their way in Seoul. Minji's book about building belonging across cultures was already in its second printing. My research on language acquisition through community support had been picked up by universities across Asia.

But more than that, we'd all grown into versions of ourselves we'd never expected. Hyein's chaotic teaching style had somehow made her language school the most sought-after in Seoul. Haerin's quiet art had found its voice in international galleries. Hanni's documentary series about finding home in foreign places (starring us, of course) had gone viral. And Danielle's architectural vision was reshaping how cities thought about cultural spaces.

"Ready?" Minji asked softly, straightening my gown one last time.

"Almost." I pulled her close, not caring about wrinkling the fabric anymore. "Just need one thing first."

She tasted like morning coffee and mints, her hands automatically finding their way into my hair despite having just fixed it. Some habits were worth keeping.

Click.

"Really?" I mumbled against her lips.

"Sorry," she smiled, not sorry at all. "But you look kind of perfect right now." She pulled me in for another kiss, this time not wanting to let go.

The ceremony itself passed in a blur of formal speeches and camera flashes. Somewhere in the audience, I could hear Hyein's not-so-subtle cheering ("THAT'S MY STUDENT! I TAUGHT HIM EVERYTHING HE KNOWS! WELL, EXCEPT THE STUFF HE ACTUALLY NEEDED FOR HIS DEGREE BUT STILL-"). Haerin was probably trying to keep her quiet, while Hanni filmed everything for what she swore would be the final episode of her documentary.