Let's Not Falling In Love (1st Book) (FIXED)

Dangerous Words [M]

She checked her phone: Friday, 11:10 PM. Sleep refused to come, haunted as she was by a dream of Momo crying. A heavy knot of worry tightened in her chest.
Behind her calm exterior, she harbored endless insecurities. She cared deeply for those around her, weighing every word and action with gentle caution. Fearing the sting of pain, she took great care never to hurt anyone. Yet, despite her best intentions, people often misunderstood her. Exhausted by overthinking, she had chosen to surrender her fate to the heavens—though the worry remained, stubborn and cold.
She tossed and turned, dragging her pillow from one side of the bed to the other.
"Oh God, please... just let me sleep and take this worry away," she whispered, closing her eyes tightly. It was useless.
"Damn it! I need to pee." She dragged herself toward the washroom with half-lidded, sleepy eyes. Finding the door unlocked, she stepped inside, assuming it was empty.
She pulled down her sweatpants, letting her unexpected male anatomy spring free. "Ah..." She closed her eyes, letting out a quiet sigh as relief washed over her.
Suddenly, the shower cubicle door clicked open.
Her eyes snapped open, and her head jerked toward the sound. There stood Mina, her mouth agape in utter shock, staring wide-eyed at Jeongyeon's exposed lower body.
In her astonishment, the red-haired girl forgot to hold her towel. It slipped, pooling at her feet and leaving her completely bare. Jeongyeon stood transfixed. Mina was breathtaking—wet red hair clinging to her shoulders, translucent drops of water glistening on her skin like scattered stars. A deep flush crept across both their faces.
"Beautiful," Jeongyeon murmured softly, almost without realizing it.
The compliment sent a surge of scarlet across Mina’s cheeks, and she instantly buried her face in her hands.
A second later, reality struck Jeongyeon.
"Oh! Sorry, I’m... uh..." She stuttered, hastily pulling up her sweatpants. Looking around frantically, her eyes landed on the fallen towel. "I'm so sorry, I had no idea you were in here."
She stepped closer to Mina, who was still hiding her blushing face. Gently sliding her hands down Mina’s waist, she made the smaller girl jump slightly, but it was only to wrap the towel securely back around her body.
"Don't hide your face," Jeongyeon murmured in a low, velvet voice. "Cover your body instead."
Gently placing a finger under Mina’s chin, she tilted her head up. The cover was lifted, revealing Mina’s delicate face and the faint, charming moles scattered across her skin.
Their eyes locked, lost in an silent spell.
Nervous yet resolute, Mina leaned in, resting one hand on the nape of Jeongyeon’s neck while the other clutched the towel tightly against her chest. She had never found the courage to approach the magnetic girl crush before—she had always quietly envied Nayeon, Momo, and Sana for their bold confidence.
Rising slightly onto her tiptoes, like a ballerina striking a poise, Mina reached upward to close the distance between them.
As Mina closed her eyes, Jeongyeon closed hers too, ready to feel those soft lips. Their lips met, and Jeongyeon pulled her closer by the waist, returning the kiss with a sudden, deep passion that made Mina lose her footing. Smirking faintly against the kiss, Jeongyeon tightened her grip on her waist, lifting her slightly off the ground.
When Mina finally pulled back, she was breathless, gasping for air.
Jeongyeon leaned down, setting her feet back onto the cold floor. Mina rested her forehead in the crook of Jeongyeon’s neck, while Jeongyeon wrapped her arms around her waist, resting her chin softly atop Mina’s head.
"From now on, lock the door—even if you're showering in the middle of the night," Jeongyeon murmured gently.
Mina nodded, letting out a shy, soft chuckle as she snuggled deeper into the warmth of Jeongyeon’s chest.
Jeongyeon tightened her embrace. "Are you cold?"
"Mm... let's just stay like this for a little while," Mina whispered, closing her eyes and soaking in the comfort of Jeongyeon’s arms.
"Jeongyeon?"
"Yeah?" Jeongyeon offered a gentle smile.
"I love you," Mina whispered under her breath, so softly it was almost a secret.
Yet, Jeongyeon heard every word. Her posture stiffened, and her arms slowly unclasped from Mina’s waist.
"I'm sorry..." Jeongyeon muttered, averting her eyes from Mina’s puzzled gaze. She quickly slipped off her hoodie and draped it over Mina’s shoulders.
"I should go..." She gestured toward the door, and Mina gave a subtle, confused nod.
"You'll catch a cold. Hurry up and head back to your room," Jeongyeon said softly, turning her feet to leave.
"Why... why do you have a penis? Aren't you a girl?" Mina’s voice trembled with hesitant curiosity.
Jeongyeon turned back, her expression unreadable, her eyes cool. "It's a long story. I'll tell you someday." She brought a slender finger to her lips, offering a faint, playful smirk. "Shh... it's our little secret."
She closed the bathroom door quietly behind her.
Left alone, Mina crumbled into a mess of confusion and embarrassment. She bit her lip nervously, replaying her own confession over and over. I shouldn't have said those three words. I shouldn't have... The memory of Jeongyeon's cold dismissal stung, pressing tears to the corners of her eyes.
Meanwhile, Jeongyeon felt her face burning as those dangerous words—I love you—tangled her thoughts into a knot. She practically ran to the kitchen sink, splashing cold water over her face to clear her mind.
She groaned in frustration, rubbing her creased forehead.
Love ruins everything, she thought bitterly. Whether I treat them well or treat them badly, I always end up causing pain. I don't believe in love anymore—it's just a fleeting illusion that makes me act like a stranger to myself.
She took a deep breath, running her fingers through her short gray hair to sweep her bangs aside.
She sat on the living room couch, staring blankly into the dark, entirely stripped of sleep. Moments later, the door to the bedroom Mina shared with Nayeon clicked open, revealing the red-haired girl. Jeongyeon quickly looked away, bewildered. When did she even leave the bathroom?
Before she could process it, the main dorm door clicked shut. Mina had slipped out into the midnight air, alone.
"Where on earth is she going at this hour?" Jeongyeon muttered, annoyed at herself for caring so deeply.
Rising from the couch, she followed her into the night. She watched from a safe distance as Mina walked into a nearby convenience store, grabbed two cans of beer, and stepped back outside.
Mina sat at one of the plastic outdoor tables, popping open a can. She was just about to take a sip when a hand reached out and snatched the beer right from her grasp. Mina glared up, furiously opening the second can she had bought.
"Hey! Give that back!" Mina snapped, surprising herself with her own outburst.
Jeongyeon grinned playfully. "Wow, look who's feisty."
Mina rolled her eyes, rendered entirely speechless.
"Don't be sad. Here, I got you your favorites," Jeongyeon said softly. She set three cans of soda and five small packets of gummy bears on the table, tossing the snatched beer cans into a nearby recycling bin.
She offered a gentle smile as Mina stared sternly back at her.
"What are you doing here?" Mina asked, her tone clipped.
"Looking at you," Jeongyeon replied, pointing two fingers at her own eyes and then at Mina.
Mina let out a defeated sigh. Unable to find the right words under Jeongyeon’s steady gaze, she looked away with a small, fake cough and reached for a soda can.
"Let me get that for you," Jeongyeon said, opening the tab smoothly before handing it back.
"Can I have one?" Jeongyeon asked quietly, breaking the stillness.
"You don't need to ask. You bought them with your own money," Mina muttered, trying to sound indifferent.
"Right. Good point," Jeongyeon chuckled, rubbing the back of her neck.
An awkward silence fell between them—quiet at first, but slowly melting into something comfortable and soft.
"Just... forget what I said earlier," Mina said softly, staring straight ahead.
"What did you say?" Jeongyeon smiled gently, trying to lighten the mood. "Ah, it's fine. I mean... yeah, I'm just a girl with a penis."
Mina’s heart sank. She's pretending she never even heard me say 'I love you,' she thought sadly.
Mina stood up, brushing off her skirt. "Where are you going?" Jeongyeon asked.
"Back to the dorm."
"Wait!" Jeongyeon tossed her trash into the bin and hurried after her.
She took a few light, playful hops as she walked beside the red-haired girl.
"You act like a naughty kid sometimes," Mina noted, a small crack appearing in her defensive exterior.
Jeongyeon stopped hopping, her face instantly turning overly serious. "Okay, Mom. I'll be a good kid."
Mina couldn't help but chuckle. "Good."
Seeing Mina smile brought a genuine warmth back into Jeongyeon’s chest. They walked side-by-side, the distance to their apartment shrinking with every step. They didn't speak much—Jeongyeon tried to start a conversation a few times, but they inevitably lapsed back into quietness. Yet, it was no longer awkward; it was a peaceful, shared silence.
Suddenly, Jeongyeon halted in her tracks.
A shadow moved in the narrow alley beside their building. It looked like a girl and a guy, but the atmosphere was tense. The man had the girl pinned against the wall, clutching her wrist tightly while she struggled to break free.
"What's wrong, Jeongyeon?" Mina asked, doubling back when she noticed Jeongyeon staring intently into the alley with furrowed brows.
"Stay here. Or go inside first," Jeongyeon instructed quietly.
As Jeongyeon crept closer to the alleyway, hiding behind a pile of broken wooden crates, the girl’s voice struck a chord of familiarity.
"Go away, Chaeng!" the girl warned, her voice trembling with anger as he held her hand in a harsh grip.
"I miss you," the guy countered, his tone pleading. The girl rolled her eyes, remembering how heartlessly he had thrown her away before.
"I told you, we can't be together anymore!"
"I've missed you so much! Look, I made a mistake, okay? I regret it, and I already left her for you! Why can't we just try again?"
"Because you're a crazy jerk!" she spat back bitterly. "You cheated on me with my close friend!"