Enchanted (Bbangsaz)

BONUS CHAPTER

Note: The dog is a golden retriever, I like that vibe, lol!

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It was late. The kind of late that blurred the lines between one day and the next.

Minji turned the key slowly in the front door, careful not to let the lock click too loudly. The hallway light was off, but a soft glow from the living room spilled into the entryway — a lamp, dimmed to its warmest setting, cast long shadows across the hardwood floor. She exhaled quietly. She had told Hanni not to wait up. Repeated it three times when they last talked. Begged her, even.

But she knew better.

Minji stepped inside, shutting the door with that gentle quiet only people deeply in love ever learn to perfect. Her boots came off with a tired shuffle, and she hung her coat on the hook beside Hanni's lighter one. Even their jackets looked like they were dating — hers long and dark, Hanni's soft beige and puffy, hanging just slightly crooked.

She hadn't even taken a full step into the living room when she heard it — the soft jingle of a collar, followed by the unmistakable scratch of paws against the floor.

"Max," she whispered.

Too late.

A golden blur of fluff came skidding into the hallway, tail wagging at lightspeed, tongue hanging out, and ears bouncing with each joyful step. Max, still technically a puppy but already growing into his golden retriever body, launched himself forward.

Minji dropped to her knees with a tired laugh as Max bounded straight into her arms.

"Hey, buddy, hey—shhh, okay? Okay—calm down," she whispered, her voice somewhere between a laugh and a plea. She ruffled his fur, scratching under his collar, Max panting excitedly against her cheek.

"You're gonna wake her up," she warned him gently, eyes flicking toward the couch. "We talked about this. Remember? Mommy's sleeping. That's literally the one rule."

Max let out a tiny whine and licked her jaw. Then, unable to contain his glee, he let out a happy bark.

Minji froze. Her eyes snapped toward the couch.

There, in a bundle of blankets with her head resting against a pillow, Hanni stirred. Her eyes blinked open slowly, lashes fluttering as she turned her head toward the sound.

Her voice came out hoarse and half-asleep: "Min, baby?"

Minji winced. "Hi," she whispered guiltily. "I'm sorry. Max got too excited—"

She stood up slowly, still petting the dog to try and keep him from barking again. Her bag dropped to the floor by the door, forgotten.

"I didn't mean to wake you. Filming ran super late and then the director asked me to stay behind for one more run-through of the big fight sequence. It got kind of intense. Then I stayed to—" she paused, catching her breath, "—run lines with Soojin, and then we ended up reblocking the whole stairwell scene because the lighting was trash and—"

Hanni, still curled up in the blanket, reached out a hand and patted the couch beside her, her mouth forming just one word.

"Sit."

Minji stared at her. Hanni's hair was a little messy, her face bare, her hoodie slightly bunched from sleeping awkwardly — and she had never looked more like home.

Minji toed off the last of her shoes and padded across the room, sinking into the couch without protest. Max plopped down at their feet with a huff, apparently satisfied now that everyone was where they should be.