EP 2
EP 2
The toast sat untouched on the counter. Hanni didn't move from Minji's shoulder, and Minji didn't tell her to. They stood there in the dim kitchen, lit only by the faint fridge light and the soft orange glow of the toaster coils cooling down. Everything was quiet except the low hum of the refrigerator.
Minji spoke first. "You didn't eat again."
Hanni sighed softly, still resting her head. "I was loud about chicken earlier... but it was just to sound normal."
"I know," Minji said simply. Not accusing. Not asking for more.
There was a long pause. The kind of silence only close people can share. No pressure to fill it. Just breathing in the same space.
Then Hanni pulled back slightly. "I hate it sometimes, you know? Being the 'sunshine.' What if one day I'm not shiny enough?"
Minji raised an eyebrow. "You mean, like the balloon floating away without its sun?"
Hanni gave a tiny snort, half amused, half exhausted. "More like... the sun exploding. Or turning off. Like click." She mimicked pushing down the toaster button again.
Minji didn't laugh. She just reached out, gently flicking Hanni's forehead. "Pham. Even if your sunshine exploded, I'd still be here. Probably sweeping up your messy stardust."
That made Hanni smile. A real one this time. Small but warm. Something soft passed between them. Not loud. Not dramatic. Just real.
They stood like that a little longer. Then Minji turned, opened the fridge, and took out leftover fried chicken in a plastic container.
"What're you doing?" Hanni asked, watching her.
"You said chicken," Minji replied like it was obvious. "Let's microwave it and eat it here. Quietly. No stage, no cameras. Just us."
Hanni blinked. "You don't even like fried food that much."
Minji shrugged. "You do."
That simple answer made Hanni's chest tighten a little. Not in a bad way. The kind of ache that felt like someone actually saw her. She didn't say anything. Just helped put the chicken on a plate.
They sat on the floor, backs against the fridge, knees bumped, sharing the cold chicken out of one plate like two tired kids after school. Minji handed Hanni the drumstick without asking. Hanni gave her a gummy smile and took it.
In the silence, their shoulders touched again.
"I wish we could stay like this sometimes," Hanni said, voice soft, a little sleepy. "Just... you and me. No noise. No schedules."
Minji turned her head toward her. "But then you'd miss your fans, and your Hanni balloon, and yelling about chicken."
"Maybe," Hanni mumbled. "But sometimes... it's too much. I don't want to shine all the time."
Minji didn't say anything for a moment. Then: "Next week, we'll have two days off. I'll steal you for one."
Hanni turned to her, surprised. "Steal me?"
"Yup," Minji said calmly, chewing. "We'll go somewhere. Just us. You can wear sunglasses and pretend to be a normal girl who doesn't have to shine all the time."
That idea made Hanni's smile reach her eyes. She leaned her head back on Minji's shoulder again, mouth full of chicken. "You're kinda cool, Kim Minji."
"I know."
They ate quietly after that. No deep talk. Just chewing and soft bumps of shoulders and the occasional crunch.
When they finished, Hanni stood and stretched. "Okay, bedtime or I'll collapse on this floor."
Minji stood too, grabbing the plate. "Go. I'll clean up."
Hanni watched her for a second. "You sure?"
Minji gave her a look. "You're tired. I'm fine."
Hanni walked to the hallway, then stopped. She turned back, voice lighter. "Thanks for being here, Minji-ya. For real."
Minji just nodded, her back already turned to rinse the plate. But a small smile crept across her face.
As Hanni walked away, Minji quietly said under her breath, "Always."
And from the hallway, Hanni heard it.
She smiled all the way to her room.