Michelle Park | Waking Up | Awkward Encounters 4

8:30 AM | April 23, 2025 | Joan and Mimi's Apartment, The Plaza Luxury Apartments, L.A.

Morning sunlight streamed through Mimi's half-open blinds, slightly illuminating her bedroom. The scent of expensive fabric softener mingled with the lingering traces of last night's partying and sexual activities. Outside her room, the sizzle of bacon and Joan's off-key humming made a comforting duet to the otherwise quiet space.

Mimi stirred beneath her silk duvet, her body still tender and sore in a really fucking good way. Her galaxy-themed nails glittered as the rays of sun hit them. The memories of passionate kisses, rough yet satisfying touches, Sam's skilled mouth and hands echoed through her mind. Without opening her eyes, she smiled, savoring the afterglow of finally getting laid with her crush.

"Mmm, that was... 여기에 있을 수 있어서 행복해요..." Her sleepy voice trailed off as she rolled over, eyes still heavy with sleep and pressed her body against Sam's.

She blinked lazily, focusing on the sleeping face inches from hers. Her lips parted in a drowsy smile that slowly, ever so slowly, began to fade into a face of disbelief. The jawline was slightly different. The eyebrows weren't quite right. The tiny mole Sam had near their left ear was... missing.

Mimi's brain struggled to process what her eyes were seeing. Her hand froze mid-air, hovering above the stranger's shoulder. She felt her blood run cold and she wanted to bolt out the room.

"What the..." She whispered, her heart beating wildly in her chest now, as her pupils dilated. "You're not—"

The realization that it was not Sam beside her hit like a bucket of ice water. She jerked upright, clutching the sheet to her naked chest, eyes widening in horror.

"Oh my GOD!" Mimi screamed, scrambling backward by kicking her feet on the mattress until she hit the headboard with a thud.

The sound of running footsteps echoed through the apartment as Joan came in hurriedly, pushing the door, spatula in hand and, blonde ponytail swinging wildly. Butter stained her oversized UCLA shirt, and her expression shifted from concern to surprise to barely contained amusement in the span of seconds.

"Holy shit, you're finally awa—" Joan froze, taking in the scene before her with glee in her eyes. "Oh. My. God. You actually did it!"

Joan began clapping slowly but, slowly stilled her hands when she took a closer look at the person on the bed beside Mimi.

"Wait... that's not Sam." Joan said in a hushed tone.

Mimi's face and neck reddened as she pulled the duvet closer to her chest, switching frantically between English and Korean.

"This isn't— I thought— This isn't Sam! Joan, what the actual fuck happened last night?!"

Joan leaned against the doorframe, trying and failing to suppress her grin.

"You don't remember? Girl, we were absolutely wasted. You kept saying how you're gonna take home Sam and actually went for it. You were like, on a mission."

Mimi buried her face in her hands, peeking between her fingers at the naked body of the person beside her.

"But... they do look like Sam. Like, a lot. What the fuck?" Her voice dropped to a mortified whisper. "Did we... like... did we do everything?"

Joan wiggled her eyebrows teasingly with a playful giggle.

"From what I could hear through these walls? Yeah, you definitely did. Multiple times."

Mimi groaned loudly while pressing her hands on her cheeks.

"I can't believe this. I've been crushing on Sam for months, and I finally get the courage to make a move, and I sleep with the wrong person!"

"What am I supposed to do now?" She whispered to herself as she let her gaze drop back down to the person.

Mimi yelped a bit as she felt the person beside her stir awake slowly.