Unwritten Chords Of Love

Notes of Change

The weeks following the bubble tea night felt like the calm after a storm—a quiet, steady rhythm that Hanni was learning to appreciate. Things with Minji had shifted into a comfortable space, and while the unspoken tension still lingered between them at times, it wasn't the kind of tension that made Hanni uncomfortable anymore. Instead, it was the kind of quiet energy that told her both of them had grown.

Minji had continued to lead the band with her usual confidence, but there was something new in the way she interacted with Hanni—something more open, more relaxed. It wasn't that the playful glances had disappeared, or that the chemistry between them was gone. It was just different. More balanced.

And Hanni? She'd found a way to settle into herself. She wasn't trying to force her feelings to fit into a mold anymore, and that gave her a sense of peace she hadn't expected to find.

But even in this quiet space, something was beginning to stir.

It started with the little things—the way Minji had taken the time to check in on Hanni more, sending her random messages about songs they should listen to, or sharing new ideas for the band. And then there were the subtle moments during practice—those moments when Minji's eyes would catch Hanni's and linger just a bit longer than usual, or when her laughter seemed to hold a little more meaning.

And Hanni? She had started to notice it more and more—how her heart would flutter when Minji looked at her, how the little gestures Minji made felt almost like secret signals, as if there was something they hadn't quite said to each other yet.

One afternoon after school, Hanni found herself walking with Minji again, as they made their way to the music room for practice. The early winter chill had settled in, and their breaths misted in the air as they chatted about school, about life.

"So, you think you're ready for the next show?" Minji asked, her voice light but expectant.

Hanni glanced up at her, her smile easy. "I think I'm more ready for the after-party," she teased, nudging Minji's shoulder.

Minji laughed, the sound warm and familiar, but then there was a pause. "You know, you've been... different lately," Minji said, her tone turning softer.

Hanni felt a knot form in her stomach, unsure whether that was a good or bad thing. "Different? How?"

"I don't know," Minji continued, her eyes focused ahead. "More... confident, I guess? Not that you weren't before, but I don't know. I just feel like I'm seeing you in a new way."

Hanni's breath hitched, and her heart skipped. She didn't know how to respond. Minji had always seen her—she'd always been *there*, as a friend, as a part of the band, as someone who added lightness to their rehearsals. But now... now Minji was seeing something else. Something more.

"I... I think I've been figuring some stuff out," Hanni said after a beat, her voice softer than she intended. "You've helped me with that."

Minji glanced over, her expression unreadable for a moment. "Oh? How?"

Hanni stopped walking, her fingers nervously twisting around the strap of her bag. "You made me realize that I don't need to define everything. I can just... *be*. And I think that's made things a lot easier."

Minji stopped too, turning to face her, a small, knowing smile tugging at her lips. "You're always so hard on yourself, Hanni. It's nice to see you being a little easier on you."

Hanni felt a flush creep up her neck at the way Minji was looking at her. That smile—it wasn't like the playful ones they usually exchanged. There was something softer in it now, something that made Hanni's chest tighten.

Before she could say anything else, they heard footsteps approaching, and the band members emerged from the music room, ready for practice. Hanni swallowed her thoughts and followed Minji inside, feeling a familiar mix of excitement and unease stir within her.

As practice went on, Hanni tried to focus on the music, but her thoughts kept drifting back to their conversation. Minji had seen her differently. Hanni didn't know what that meant, but she wasn't sure she was ready to ask. The last thing she wanted was to ruin the easy dynamic they had now.

But then, as the final song of the practice session faded, and the room fell into silence, Minji turned to her.

"Hey," Minji said quietly, almost hesitantly. "Can we talk for a sec?"

Hanni's heart did a little flip. "Sure. What's up?"

Minji motioned for her to follow her out of the room, and Hanni's stomach fluttered in anticipation as they stepped into the hallway. The noise from the band filtered away, leaving just the two of them in the quiet.

Minji leaned against the wall, her gaze fixed on the floor, almost as if she was gathering her thoughts. "I've been thinking a lot about... about us. About this whole situation."

Hanni's pulse quickened. She had no idea what to expect. Was this the moment? The moment where Minji would tell her she had been imagining things? That it was just friendship, and nothing more?

"I think I know what you mean," Hanni said cautiously, trying to sound calm. "I've been thinking too. And I know it's okay if—"

"No," Minji interrupted, her voice firm but soft. She met Hanni's eyes then, her expression serious. "I mean, I think I've been feeling something I didn't expect. And I don't know if you feel the same way, but I can't keep pretending like I don't."

Hanni's breath caught in her throat. Her heart seemed to stop for a second before it began to race. "Minji... what are you saying?"

Minji took a slow breath, her eyes never leaving Hanni's. "I think I might be falling for you, Hanni."

Hanni's mind whirled. She hadn't expected those words—not in this moment, not like this. She opened her mouth to say something, but no words came out.

"I don't want to make things weird between us," Minji continued, her voice quiet now, "but I couldn't keep pretending like I didn't feel this pull. I don't expect anything. I just needed to be honest with you."

For a long moment, the world seemed to slow. Hanni's heart was pounding, and she was sure Minji could hear it. She had imagined this, yes, but never thought it would actually happen. *Falling for you*. The words echoed in her mind.

"I..." Hanni started, unsure how to voice what she was feeling. She took a step closer, searching Minji's face, looking for something that made sense. "I think... I might be falling for you too, Minji."

The smile that appeared on Minji's face was gentle, relieved. "Yeah?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Hanni nodded, a smile spreading across her face. "Yeah."

And just like that, everything clicked into place. It wasn't about defining what they were or rushing into something. It was just about being present, being with each other. Their feelings had always been there, maybe in the background, waiting for the right moment to surface. And now, finally, they were both ready to hear it.

Minji reached out, gently taking Hanni's hand in hers. The touch was warm and real, and for the first time, Hanni felt like everything—everything—was exactly where it needed to be.

The music would continue. And this time, Hanni knew she was ready to let herself be part of the song.