Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Stability.That's what her life has always been about. Every little thing meticulously planned. Carefully followed through.

Consistency and constancy. Her life has never once ventured out of this.

She is like a boat at the sea, a girl who finds beauty in the ordinary. She's not supposed to be hit by the gales of a storm. A lone boat and a reckless storm are never meant to be, never meant to meet.

But it happens.

Mina closes her eyes, takes a bout of breath and reflects on how she got here.

48 hours ago

Mina wakes up annoyed that Momo is loudly butchering some song again. Seriously, when is that girl ever going to get some respect for musicians?

"Mina, Are you up?" The older girl bounces on her bed like a kid on Christmas morning. If she isn't awake before, she's definitely now.

"I am." The yawning blonde untangles herself from the sheets. "Get off my bed Momo. I need to make it."

"Alright alright. Calm your tits. Geez." Momo jumps off the bed making a loud thud as her feet meets the tiled floor.

Mina carefully folds her sheets and puts them away in the laundry basket.

"You do know it's gonna get all crumbled again when you throw it in the washing machine." Jeongyeon grins at her.

She gives the taller girl a disapproving glance. "That doesn't mean I want my laundry basket looking like a warzone. Or like Momo's room."

Momo cackles.

She has had this conversation a million times with Mina and gets the same answer everytime. She doesn't even know why Jeongyeon keeps trying.

"Okay, okay, sexy arse." Sana sits crossed legs on the made bed after smacking Mina's bum. "What are the plans for today?"

"Job hunting?"

"Something fun."

"Let's job hunt online."

Momo makes a face. "We've known you all our life. Your definition of fun never ceases to amaze us."

Mina chuckles softly as she sits beside Sana and reaches for the bottle of water on her nightstand.

She hasn't given her friends much of her time lately. Even though they would never admit it openly, she knows the loudmouth gang misses her just as much as she misses them.

"Okay, what do you suggest we do?"

She holds her breath, waits for their response. With her friends one could never guess what's going to come. They're spontaneous, reckless, borderline crazy even.

"Let's go to Vegas." Momo declares.

She spits out the water she's been drinking.

"Momo-chan." She glares as she puts the bottle back in its place, "Stop joking."

"I'm not. You know I can afford it." Momo says.

"You know I can't. I already feel guilty for not paying the bills."

"But Mina. It's my birthday tomorrow." Sana pouts knowing the younger girl weakens against it.

"No." Mina says with finality after a shameful moment of wavering.

"Fine." Sana sulks and begins to sigh rather dramatically.

It's after the tenth sigh, Mina softens a little and tells reluctantly, "Even if I did say yes, I'm sure we can't get tickets last minute. We sure won't reach there before your birthday."

"Yes, we will!" Sana smiles cheekily as she inches away from the blonde.

"Sana." Mina cries, hands on her hips, "What did you all do now?"

She tries to catch the older girl before she runs out of her grasp and fails.

"Our flight leaves in five hours. We've already packed your bags." Jeongyeon laughs.

"What?!!" Mina watches as her friends scurry away from the room cackling even louder.

"I so hate you all right now." Mina whispers to the three girls who are busy watching films on the screen before them.

"No, you don't." Jeongyeon replies distractedly.

"How long is this flight going to be?" Mina sighs.

"Eleven hours. If you don't stop whining, about a lifetime." Momo quips.

Mina smacks the back of Momo's head earning an ouch and a pout from her companion.

'This is the most random thing you all have ever done. I swear to god you're all getting crazier by the day."

Sana laughs as she holds Mina's hand.

"Just close your eyes. The flight is about to take off. I can't have you puking on my favourite pair of shoes."

Mina goes for another smack which Sana expertly dodges.

Mina knows deep down what this trip was about. Min. She has got dumped by her fiancé Min only the day before.

It is solely her fault. Her frustration at being made redundant, her inability to find another job, the rising bills and inadequacies has turned every day into a nightmare.

Min became her vent. He has taken the silent treatments, mood swings and quiet nights patiently, until he couldn't.

She understands his decision, but it doesn't mean it doesn't hurt.

She rubs her temples and holds back the tears as happier times and memories mercilessly assault her mind.

"You're going to be fine." Momo squeezes her hand and Mina smiles back gratefully at her.

She knows the words aren't meant only for the take off.

"I love you all. Eventhough you all are certified nutcases."

Joengyeon peels her eyes away from the screen and reaches across Momo to pat Mina's head. "We love you too Barbie. Now close your eyes because the plane is about to take off."

Boram throws the newspapers at the desk. The girls before her all wear the same expression kids in principal's office would wear, one that of innocence mixed with guilt.

"Don't look at me with those faces. Like you don't know what I'm talking about."

"Unnie." Tzuyu begins but quickly shrinks back to her seat when she sees the glare thrown her way.

"It's our fault, really." Dahyun is silenced with another glare.

"Have you got anything to say Nayeon-ssi?"

The girl lifts her face to look at the group for the first time. Her eyes are bloodshot, traces of a wild night showing clearly on her face.

"Look unnie. That fucking man got in my face and threatened to get me thrown out. Who did he think he was talking to? He should have watched his mouth, it wasn't my fault. How was I supposed to know he was gay?"

Boram sighs. If this girl isn't almost like her own daughter she would have thrown her out of the group long ago.

"Nayeon-ssi. Every news channel is telecasting the video of your brawl. Every headline today starts with your name and let me tell you, none of it has been positive. The trending topic on twitter is Im Nayeon is a homophobe. Do you understand what this means for you? For the group?"

The girl in question chews her lips irritatedly. She knows she has made a mistake. Alcohol has always managed to turn her into an entirely different person. In spite of knowing that, she likes getting drunk. It helps her forget all the worries and makes her feel. Something. Anything. It's much better than living like she is dead.

The transition from a child star in a television channel to a celebrated member of an international girl group in a short while hasn't been easy.

She has been kept in a bubble, a safe, protected bubble, carefully constructed and guarded by her father. Seok burst through the bubble, has taken her to a world where the constant camera flashes and questions didn't exist. He has made her feel like a person and not like a stranger to herself.

The happiness hasn't lasted long.

He has cheated on her with some blonde bimbo. Cut the last bit of hope she has been hanging on to, desperately clinging to.

"Nayeon-ssi. You can't keep doing this. I'm going to book you in for rehab."

"Make me." She kicks the chair she is perched on away from her and storms out the room.

She can't understand why they can't see that she's completely fine. Why they can't see that she just needed to be away from the never ending questions. That she needs to be left alone. Because that's the only thing she's familiar with. Being left alone.

'I'll talk to her unnie. Please. It won't happen again." Chaeyoung tries to calm down the flustered manager.

"Another meltdown and I'm booking her in." Boram says determinedly.

"It won't go that far." Jihyo promises.

"Oooh!! Check this out. Im Nayeon's homophobic slurs."

After a twelve hour long journey the first stop her friend make is to buy a gossip magazine. Mina rolls her eyes at Momo as she drags the suitcase into their hotel room.

She gasps a little when she opens the door. It is clearly a VIP suite. She holds her tongue as her anger flares.

"Girls."

"Don't Mina. Let's enjoy our holiday." Sana pleads.

That silences her. She isn't going to be the one that ruins her bestfriend's birthday.

"Next time just ask me before you three throw your money around." She can't let them go without telling them off gently.

"Yes ma'am." Joengyeon bows as she picks up a pillow. "Whoa. This is so soft."

Mina leans in to feel it as well only to be smacked in the face with the same pillow.

"Oh, you're are so dead."

An epic pillow fight between the four girls and using the hotel bed like a trampoline soon ensues.

They all collapse on the feather soft bed completely exhausted after a while.

Jeongyeon grabs Momo's magazine and begins to read the article about Nayeon aloud. "The singer lashed out on the unsuspecting man hurling homophobic abuses at him. Our inside sources say the popstar was in a drug induced state and-"

Mina sighs as she rolls over to cuddle with Sana.

"I don't understand people like her. She has got the money, the looks, loving friends and yet chooses to destroy her own life." Sana mutters, settling to wrap a hand over Mina's middle.

"I don't understand it either, but it's interesting to read about." Momo throws a wide smile at her friends. "Do you think she really slept with Chan-yeol just to get back at her ex?"

"I don't know and I don't care. You know I can't stand homophobic people." Mina gets out of the bed and begins unpacking their bags.

"Man, I feel sorry for her. She is going down the same route like Lindsay Lohan and Amanda Bynes. Child stars are bad news, let me tell you." Jeongyeon begins a lengthy rant about stars who started their career at a very young age while Mina folds away all their clothes into the shelves.

"How do I look?"

"If you weren't almost like my sister, I'd take you to bed right now." Sana winks, admiring the way the little red dress hangs to her friend's curvaceous figure.

"What makes you think I will let you, even if you were gay?" Mina giggles playfully.

"Duh, because no one can say no to Sana the Sexosarous."

Mina laughs heartily as she shoves her friend away.

"You're so full of yourself." She tousles her hair own hair gently looking at the mirror. "Where are we going sexosarous?"

"It's a surprise."

"It's your birthday. Not mine."

Sana laughs, choosing not to answer her question.

"Nayeonnie. I think that's enough."

Nayeon ignores the Taiwanese girl as she throws her head back for another shot of tequila. The burning liquid seems to cease the burning in her heart. At least for the moment.

"You need to loosen up a bit more my little Tzuyu."

The younger girl sighs and takes a shot of the tequila herself. "Happy?"

"No." Nayeon smiles at her as she takes her hand and taps the other three girls drawing their attention. ''Let's dance."

Jihyo tries and fails at hiding her smile. A happy drunk Nayeon is manageable, but unfortunately for her and the girls, it is mostly the angry drunk Nayeon that makes permanent cast and the happy drunk is a guest appearance.

"Okay. Why the hell not." Dahyun answers as she takes another shot.

"Let's go conquer that dance floor." Chaeyoung throws her hands up in the air, and does an excited swirl.

"Happy birthday Sana." Mina leans in to kiss her cheeks as she shoves a gift in the older girl's palms.

"Yah," Sana groans, "told you not to get me any gifts."

"Shut up and open it."

Tears begins to well in Sana's eyes as she opens the gift. Her voice cracks a little. "Where did you find it?'

"At a yard sales."

Sana strokes the fragile glass sculpture of a little girl and her mother, made based on a picture of herself and her mother. For a long time she has thought she lost it in the house fire that killed her mother. Yet, here it is.

"I love you Minayah." She hugs the younger girl tightly, blinking back the tears.

"I love you too." Mina exhales slowly, glad that the gift hasn't triggered a negative response.

They pull away after a while. Sana slips the box carefully into her handbag and smiles softly at Mina.

"Now enough of all this sappiness. Lets go have some fun." Jeongyeon pulls their arms.

Mina is hesitant at first. Her alcohol tolerance is very low, so she usually watches what she drinks. But an hour into dancing, she learns to relax a little. To let go a little.

So here she is, free as a bird. With that flying feeling.

"Mina, what are you doing?" Jeongyeon chuckles.

'"I'm a bird. I'm flying." She replies excitedly.

"How much did you let her drink?" Sana questions the two Momos she's seeing at the moment.

"Just a glass of wine." Both the Momo reply, swaying on their feet.

"Put your leg down. You look like a dog taking a piss." Jeongyeon cackles.

Mina pouts as she sits down.

"Three martini's and a glass of water please." Jeongyeon orders at the bar.

"Mina! Mina! Wake up." Sana shakes the sleeping girl.

'I'm up. I'm up." Mina's holds the wooden table as she stands up unsteadily on her legs.

"Let's dance." Momo stumbles.

"Yeah, let's dance bitches." Jeongyeon hollers.

"Okay." Mina says, eyes half opened.

"I promise, I'm going to swear off men." Nayeon announces, throwing back another shot of tequila.

"True that sister. All men are fucking pricks." Jihyo agrees.

"Let's all get married together and live together." Nayeon tells them her brilliant plan.

"Eww. That's gross. You're like my sister!" Tzuyu proclaims loudly.

"Fine then, let's find some other girl for me." Nayeon flashes a toothy smile.

"Here?" Chayeoung looks around the dance floor.

"Yep." Nayeon nods in her drunken stupor.

"Okay. Lets do it." The four girls march across the dance floor, dragging Nayeon with them to find her a suitable candidate.

Five minutes later they stop in the middle of the club, where Nayeon abruptly halts her drunken walk, seemingly mesmerized by something or someone.

She doesn't have to tug at Jihyo's top because she already has her attention, she still does it anyway. "Jihyo. Jihyo."

"What?" The leader yells over the music, as her eyes follow Nayeon's line of view.

"Can we go and talk to her?" Nayeon says in awe.

"Who is she?" Dahyun asks as she looks at the pretty blonde in a red dress on whom Nayeon's eyes are glued on.

"I don't know, but I want to marry her."

And that's how the storm meets the boat.

Chapter Text

Mina stares wide eyed at the wedding ring.

Oh my god. Oh my god. Oh my god. Her mind goes on a loop. What has she done? Has she married some random guy? But she has been with her friends. Has she gotten married to one of them?

As if to bring her the thoughts rattling around in her head to a screeching halt, she hears someone yawn right beside her and a chill runs down her spine.

This yawn, the scent of this person, it is not familiar.

She has had sex with a stranger? God this can't be true. She doesn't want this be true.

"Mmh."

It is a woman's voice. If she has to be precise, a girl's voice.

She can't bring herself to turn and look at the figure lying next to her. She looks down at her own body. Fully clothed, no love bites. She breathes a sigh of relief. So she hasn't slept with a stranger. Atleast there is one relief.

She is looking for a way to slip out of the door unnoticed when the door opens with a loud bang and four girls walk in unannounced.

"Nayeon!! Oh my god." One of the girls gasps.

Nayeon? Who the hell is Nayeon? Why does the name sound familiar and why do these girls look familiar too?

That's when the girl sleeping next to her rolls over to face her.

Mina nearly stops breathing.

She is laying in bed with Nayeon. The Im Nayeon.

This can't be true. It's got to be a nightmare. She tells herself. Or some sort of twisted game someone is playing. There is surely someone hiding in the room who is going to suddenly jump up and announce cheerfully that she has been pranked.

"What the fuck! Who are you?" The popstar spits out in shock.

"I'm your wife. Hello to you too." Mina answers sarcastically as the singer looks at her finger in complete horror.

"Oh no. This isn't happening." Nayeon whispers to herself as she stares at the rings on her finger and Mina's, back and forth.

"Nayeonnie, you're in deep shit." The girl, who Mina knows from following pop news from time to time as Chaeyoung, announces from the door.

Nayeon gapes at her, eyes wide.

"Sana." Mina half sobs her best mate's name as she finds her lying on the floor in the living room of the suite.

"Mina." Joengyeon wakes up, hearing the panic in her voice. "What happened? You okay?"

"What happened?' She pokes a finger in her knee. "I got married." Another poke.

"Mmh. Congrats?' Jeongyeon scratches her head, not able to make sense of anything she is hearing.

Sana stirs too. "Is Min oppa here?"

"No." She buries her face in her hand.

"Thank god." Jeongyeon relaxes a little. "I mean Mina and Min? Did you ever really think about how embarrassing it would be for your kids?"

Mina resists the urge to grab the glass of water on the coffee table and dump it on the taller girl's head.

"How did you get married? By the way, where are we? This doesn't look like our suite." Momo stretches from the kitchen counter.

"Yeah, because it's mine and I want you all to get the fuck out of here." Nayeon answers from the door.

Momo's face is priceless when her eyes lands on Nayeon. Even through all the emotional turmoil she is going through, Mina can't help but chuckle a little as Momo rolls over and falls off the counter.

"We've got a fly catcher Nayeonnie." Dahyun chuckles.

"Girls, let's go." Mina begs.

"You got married to her?" Understanding dawns on Jeongyeon's face after looking to and fro the identical rings on their fingers.

"Yes."

'You got married to Im Nayeon?"

"Yes Sana."

"THE Im Nayeon. The alcoholic singer that you can't stand?" Sana repeats.

"I'm right here." Nayeon snarls. "Besides I'm sure your friend is loving it. I mean who wouldn't wanna marry me?"

Mina glares at the older girl. "Don't flatter yourself. Trust me when I tell you I want to get out of this as much as you want to."

"Right, because that's my first instinct." Nayeon scoffs. "To trust a stranger." Her voice drips with sarcasm.

"Oh no, your first instinct is to marry a stranger." Mina retorts, as she helps Momo up.

Nayeon clenches her fingers tightly and tries to restrain the anger that is fast rising.

"Come on." Jihyo interferes before Nayeon can make things worse for all of them. "Let's all be adults about this situation. You both don't want to be married. It was a drunken mistake. We need to find a way to file for divorce before the press finds out and has a field day with it." She tries to to inject some sense into the situation.

"You married The Im Nayeon?" Momo finally finds her voice.

Mina looks at Momo and lets out another sigh.

"I'm really sorry Unnie. Book me in a rehab."

Her manager just continues to look at her silently, creeping her out in the process.

"Unn-" She begins weakly again, only to be cut off by a wave of her hand.

"I'm not going to book you in Nayeon-ssi. This is probably the only wise move of yours in the past three years."

The girls stare at Boram like she has lost her mind.

"The press already got pictures of the wedding. So we can't deny that. Think of it this way. You've been attacked for being a homophobe. Getting married to a girl might actually improve your image."

"It will destroy my career. How is coming out as gay gonna help me unnie? Don't be absurd."

"Right now you or the girls have no career Nayeon-ssi. Do you remember when your last number one was? Let me remind you. Three years ago. You haven't even made to top 10 in the past three years. Do you know how many times I had to practically beg the record label not to pull the plug on you girls?"

They wince in unison.

"This might be seen as a groundbreaking moment in k-pop history. It might take you closer to the LGBT community all over the world. You have to accept that they make more than half of the group's fanbase anyway."

Nayeon nods agreeing with her.

"Besides keeping you as the responsible married woman in the public eye will help vanish your image as an alcoholic."

"Ouch, thanks unnie." Nayeon flinches hearing the brutal truth. She knows she is one, but it hurts to hear that from the older woman who is the closest thing she has to family. Which is why she has flipped everytime she mentioned rehab.

"So you want me to be in a marriage with this girl I don't even know?"

"It's good for your image and the group's image Nayeon-ssi. What is the public going to think if you apply for divorce now? Everyone would know you were drunk out of your mind while getting married. You'll become the laughing stock Nayeon-ssi."

Nayeon releases a puff of breath. It's not like she can disagree with Boram. She has a point. She has already been arrested twice for drunken driving. This would only further confirm her as a raging alcoholic. Besides, she has to think about the girls. She can't drag them down with her. They shouldn't be crucified for her mistakes.

"Okay unnie. I'll do it." She agrees quietly.

"You married Im fucking Nayeon?"

Mina wants to slap Momo. Like seriously. God help her, if one more time she is asked the same question she is either going to slap her or jump off a bridge. Or do both.

A knock on the door stops her from taking a disastrous decision.

She opens the suite door to find a middle aged woman dressed in an expensive business attire looking at her.

"Are you Miss. Myoui?"

"Yes I am."

"Good."

"You want me to stay in this marriage with her? With all due respect, are you out of your mind?"

Boram's face remains blank and expressionless.

"You'd be surprised to know how many celebrities are out there with this kind of arrangement, we call it a marriage of convenience."

"How many?" Momo asks and is silenced by Boram's stoic face looking at her.

"Convenient for who? For Im -I'm so drunk I got arrested twice plus I'm a raging homophobe- Nayeon?" Mina scoffs.

Boram winces. Sana would have missed it if she hasn't been looking. It's pretty clear to her that the manager cares about the singer to some extent.

"For her, yes and for you too."

"How is that?" Mina asks sarcastically.

"Don't think I've come in here extending a proposal without completely researching about you. I know you have just lost your job. I know your biggest dream is to buy the house your family used to live. The house that your father lost when his business went bankrupt. The house in which you grew up. The house you left behind in Japan. The house that holds all your happy memories."

"Home." Mina whispers as she bites her trembling lips.

"I know you were saving money from your last job to buy that house. Trust me, it would take you another twenty years just to save for the deposit and by then the price would have increased three fold."

"Why are you doing this?" Mina whimpers.

"Like I said it'll be a marriage of convenience for you both. She gets her popularity back, you get your happy memories back. The house will be bought by our management once you sign the contract and will be held in store for you. We will also pay double the price of your house if you fully satisfy your contract. If you back out of it anytime, we will sell it to someone else."

"I-I need to think about this."

"I'll take my leave then. This is my card." She says dropping it on the table, "If you don't call me by five in the evening tomorrow I'll take it you've declined the offer and we can file for divorce straight away."

Mina nods.

Boram walks out with a relief in her chest. She knows the girl would call back. She is positive that she couldn't have bought this girl for money. She hopes her hunch is right, that things would go according to plan.

She needs this to work. The girls need this work.

Sighing, she shoves her briefcase into the limo and instructs her driver to drive back to the hotel.

Seoul. KST 07:00

Mina walks closer to Nayeon as the crowd gathers around them. Numerous flashes blinds her eyes and she grips the older girl's hand tightly, her body shaking with tremors.

Nayeon smiles politely at everyone, throwing Mina a concerned and loving look once in a while for the camera's benefit.

"Nayeon-ssi, here. Nayeon-ssi here."

Mina is squeezed, pushed and shoved but she tries not to lose Nayeon in the crowd.

"Is that your wife Nayeon-ssi? She's beautiful." A young man asks.

Mina sees Nayeon glare at the photographer. The older girl takes a stance near her possessively.

Mina thinks that Nayeon is proving to be an excellent actress. She fakes a smile at the singer when she wraps an arm around her waist and leads her through the crowd.

"She is beautiful. Isn't she oppa? That's why I married her." She grins as she almost shoves Mina into the waiting limo.

"Get your fucking dyke fingers off me."

These are the first words she has exchanged with Mina since they signed the contract.

"I'm not gay. And even if I am, you can't use slurs." Mina replies a bit hurt by the rudeness that is uncalled for.

'"Yeah right. That's why you decided to play house with me." Nayeon mocks her in a baby voice.

Growing increasingly annoyed by her behaviour, Mina retaliates, "Like you said no to playing house."

"I don't appreciate you speaking like that to me." Nayeon meets her eyes, a scowl present on her face. "You work for me. So you better act like that." She spews out venom.

Mina doesn't let the hurt show. It's the truth anyway. "I work for Boram, not you."

"Whatever." Nayeon settles back against the soft leather seat, a good distance away from her. "You are in it for the money. I don't see much difference between you and a prostitute."

Mina flinches like those words literally burned her. Her tears brim to her eyes but she turns away to look out the window as she replies coldly, "Why of course I'm in it for the money. Do you think I'm in it for your charming personality?"

Nayeon frowns at her. She knows the girl is taking a dig at her image. She also knows she has brought it upon herself by being extremely rude to the younger one. She can't help it. This girl, Tina, Rina, whatever her name is, is here for the money.

For a piece of her fame.

Just like everyone else. Her father, her ex and now this girl.

Everyone needs her money or fame.

Nobody needs her.

Nobody even knows the real her.

She shakes her head, trying not to go down the path her thoughts are taking. Despite that, she can't help feel angry at how out of control her life has become, and the bottomless pit of self sympathy and sorrow she was getting sucked into.

The limo arrives at her private villa.

"You stay out of my way. I stay out of yours." These are her parting words the moment they step into the house.

Chapter Text

One text from Min.

We need to talk.

What is she going to tell him? Only her parents have been allowed to know, otherwise she is sworn to silence in her contract, so there is no way she can tell him the truth.

She puts the phone away, distracting herself with cleaning her room.

It's been a month since she has come here to live with Nayeon. She has probably seen her once or twice in passing. And when she has, the older girl has been drunk, increasingly annoyed at her and asking her to stay out of her sight.

Mina is quite happy when Nayeon isn't around. The house- she mentally corrects herself- the mansion is huge, built in Victorian style and she spends most of her time exploring the paintings and the rooms. There is a lovely garden to take a walk when she feels suffocated. She has spent many her evenings there with her friends who usually leaves before Nayeon comes home.

In spite of her best efforts to keep her friends away from Nayeon, they have met once and Nayeon's been polite and pleasant to them.

It hurts Mina that Nayeon can be nice to her friends but not her, the legal wife. She quickly reminds herself that she doesn't want to be liked by her. She just wants to get out of her hair, wants this one year to be over.

"Hey. Did you get the text from Boram-unnie?" Jihyo barges into her room with as much as rights her friends take. She has grown to like the girl a lot, so she isn't exactly complaining.

Mina sighs as she lets Jihyo dig through her wardrobe. "Yeah, but I don't know what to wear."

"Hasn't Nayeon taken you out for clothes shopping? Nobody would believe you both are a couple if you wore these clothes."

Mina shrugs. 'These are all I have."

"Well. It's time to go shopping then."

"I don't have enough money."

"It's my treat, for my best friend's wife." Jihyo winks.

Mina's cheeks dust a pretty pink at being referred to as someone's wife, even though that someone is who she despises. "Don't let her hear you say that."

"You think I would?" Jihyo smiles with a cheeky glint in her eyes and offers her arm. "Let's go Madam?"

Mina gladly loops her arms around hers. Every time she ventures out of the house she is glad to have someone with her. She is positive she's never going to get used to the multiple photographers and flashes that constantly follows her.

Being married to a celebrity itself still feels surreal. She has to often remind herself that she isn't living in some horribly twisted fantasy of hers.

"And cut!"

Nayeon scowls at the ad director. He hasn't even thanked her for her time. What an arse. She has gotten more offers for individual work after her wedding, yet they aren't consistent because she is barely sober in most of the shoots.

She glances at her watch. It is ten to five. She has to attend the after party of some movie premiere in a while. Obligations. Obligations. That's all she's been put on earth to satisfy.

She flicks open the bottle of vodka as soon as she enters her car. "Take me home Ho-jin oppa." She gently orders her loyal driver who tips his hat to her and shuts the door behind her.

She lays her head back as she let her thoughts travel back to the blonde. Her wife. She feels like laughing when she hears herself address her as wife. More like a whore she never used.

She doesn't even know her name and she is going to attend a party with her, as her wife.

If the blonde thinks that sulking around the house with her pretty doe eyes and damsel trapped in a fort face is going to make her treat her better, she has another thing coming.

Nayeon isn't a fool to believe in pretty faces.

She's barely met her a couple of times in the last month. It has never been pleasant. She can't help but be disgusted by her. She is whoring herself for money. Isn't she?

Yet, she doesn't say that loud. She hates the tears that easily springs to the Japanese girl's brown eyes. It makes her look like a scared little girl and almost likeable. She isn't going to be fooled by this act.

The same act everyone around her spins.

She takes another sip of her vodka as she remembers how pleasantly surprised she was to meet Mina's friends, especially the loud one who couldn't utter a word during their first meeting. Turns out she's funny and hysterical.

She closes her eyes and the last image that flashes to her mind is that of the younger girl in tears. She curses her mind for being useless and retaining unimportant memories and goes back to her drinking.

"Oh my god." Jihyo gasps, twirling the girl around. "You look stunning."

Nayeon throws the bottle of vodka she has been sipping on when she hears laughter and squeals from the girl's bedroom.

She walks in a zigzag line to the room and opens the door.

"Hey, you're back." Jihyo hugs her and pulls back, wincing at the stench of alcohol coming off the older girl. She looks at her sadly. "Already? You aren't even at the party yet Nayeon."

"You are right. She looks stunning." Nayeon says, sidestepping Jihyo to give Mina a slow once over. 

Mina doesn't react. She can't. She knows this is not the end. She is certain it is not going to end nice. It never has. She waits for the blow and it comes just like she expects.

"She used to look like a low class prostitute. Now she looks like a high class escort." Nayeon drawls.

Even though Mina has expected cruelty, the tears are beyond her control. She tries to restrain them, but she is only human. She is bound to get hurt. Why would this girl keep treating like her heart is made of iron? How can one person be this horrible?

"Nayeon." Jihyo chides.

"Don't Jihyo-chan. Leave it."

"Yeah Jihyo-chan. Leave it." Nayeon mocks her tone as she walks away from the bedroom.

"I'm sorry. I swear she hasn't always been like this. She can be quite nice." Jihyo brushes the tears away with the pad of her thumbs before it can ruin Mina's makeup.

"If she can, I'm yet to see it." Mina throws a watery smile at Jihyo.

"No more tears, please. Beautiful girls shouldn't cry. Come on, lets get you ready before the beast comes back knocking on your door."

Mina chuckles as she lets Jihyo fix her makeup.

This is it. She doesn't care about the contract. She doesn't want the house. This is more than she can bear.

Nayeon has been rude to her, treated her like shit and she's put up with all that. But letting someone else insult her and-

Her tears won't stop. She can't wipe the mental image of the man's filthy hands on her body. She remembers crying desperately for help. She remembers how Nayeon has ignored her sitting right next to her.

She has tried to push him away. He has been too strong. She's mustered as much as strength as she can and run to the toilet. Unfortunately for her, it's been empty and the monster has followed her there.

He has ripped her blouse making her cry due to pain and shame.

She has been sure she is going to be violated by a rich pervert with nobody to stop it. This is how her story is going to end.

As a contract wife.

A whore.

By some miracle, the door has opened and someone has asked, "Geun, what the fuck are you doing?'

A hand has forcefully pushed him off her. He has grunted like an animal and yelled, "Stay out of this."

"No. You get away from her or I'm going to call cops on your arse and let's see how you'd like a rape case on your portfolio."

"Fuck you." He's spat, but moved away from her. An angry slam of the door has told them he's gone.

"Are you okay?" She hasn't looked up. She's covered herself in shame. Her ripped blouse and bra reminding of what took place.

Nayeon has always been right. She does look like a prostitute. Why else would someone want to violate her, like this?

"Shssh. Come here." The stranger has held her tightly as she called someone on the phone.

"You're not serious. Passed out? Her wife is. Never mind. Tell her to call me when she's sober."

"Hey come on. Let's go to the doctors ok?"

Mina has shivered again.

"My friend is a doctor. Nothing will be leaked to the press, don't worry. We're going to go to his private clinic alright?'

She has nodded silently, tears falling faster.

Nayeon wakes up with a pounding headache. She has no idea of the events of the last night or how she even got home. All she prays is she hasn't went and gotten married again.

Her phone rings by her bedside. The screen tells her she's missed about ten calls from Chayeoung. Chayeoung from a rival band. They're friends, but not the ten missed calls at ten o'clock kind of friends.

"Hello Chaeyoung."

"Nayeonnie, do you want to come over to mine?'

"Why?" Is everyone going gay suddenly? The girl on the other end of the line is undeniably beautiful, but she is not the kind to date her friends. Or women.

"You're asking me why? I'm sorry to say this but you need to get your shit together. Do you even realise that your wife is gone?"

Gone? What does she mean? Oh shit. The party. She has been at the party with her. Has she lost the little actress there? With her tears and constant hurt face she should be nominated for an Oscar.

"No." She replies nonchalantly.

"She is at mine."

Nayeon scoffs. Her wife is a liar too, she's definitely into women, or at least the one woman she's gone home with.

"Before you jump into conclusions just listen to what happened last night."

So Nayeon does. If she isn't sober she wouldn't have. If she isn't sober she wouldn't have felt an ounce of guilt. She does feel, for once.

"Is she okay?" Her voice trembles a little, for the first time with concern.

"What do you think? Your wife almost got raped Nayeonnie. Do you think she is going to be okay? She needs you here. Right now!"

"I'll be there in ten minutes."

Nayeon rushes to her car wearing the first clothes she finds. She doesn't care it's an old slacks and a high school jumper.

It takes her less than ten to reach Rosé's place. She knows she'll be getting plenty of speeding tickets later but for now she can't bring herself to care.

She runs to her front porch as Chaeyoung opens the door. "She is upstairs in the first bedroom."

Nayeon takes two steps at a time as she rushes towards the room. She finds a small crying mess on the bed, looking smaller than all the times she has received verbal abuse from her.

A pang of guilt chokes her.

Just how much has she broken this girl?

"Mina."

She is surprised to know that she actually knows the girls name. The girl looks up at her, her gaze blank and her eyes puffy from crying.

"Why are you here?"

"I'm sorry."

She reaches out to touch her hand.

"Sorry?" The girl pulls back immediately. "Where were you when I needed your help? I was begging for your help. You ignored me. Hating me is one thing. But letting me almost get raped? That's a whole new level of low even for you."

"I didn't know. I didn't realise."

"He was molesting me when you were sitting right next to me. He knew I was with my wife there, yet he did it. You know why? Because you were drunk, so drunk you wouldn't even give a shit about your wife."

Nayeon winces.

"I'm just glad that he didn't know I'm only a wife for pay. I'm sure whores and escorts gets worse treatment."

Nayeon flinches again like she has just been slapped.

"I'm sorry."

"I don't need your sorry." The younger girl sobs, burying her face between her bent knees. "Leave me alone. Just like you did last night."

God, that hurt.

Knowing that you are responsible for something that horrible hurt.

Chapter Text

Mina washes the dishes on autopilot. She has barely begun to recover. Jihyo has convinced her to stay by pointing out how the private counselling she is receiving can only be done if she lives at Nayeon's.

And God knows, she needs that. Therapy has been slowly helping her get back on her feet.

Nayeon, however cruel and despicable, has wonderful members who are nothing like her. Who drop by between their busy schedules, willingly lending their shoulders for her to cry on.

Her friends visit every day after their day jobs to make sure she has company. Heck, Momo practically lives in the mansion considering the hours she spends with her there.

Nayeon doesn't object to any of it which bothers Mina a little. She has expected her to put up a fight. But when the older girl has seen her, Sana, Jeongyeon and Momo huddled on a couch together she hasn't said more than a hi in their general direction.

There are little changes in her she begins to notice. She hangs about the house more and more and when she does she is mostly sober. The one or two times she has seen her with alcohol, it's just a glass of wine. Never more. Mina doesn't know what to make of it.

It doesn't change her feeling towards the older girl. She still ignores Nayeon just as much she ignores her. She hasn't forgotten. She is in it for the money and Nayeon is in this to keep her popularity safe.

This is no more than just a business deal. They can never be friends. Not even acquaintances.

The loud doorbell breaks her train of thoughts.

Nayeon's at the door with a puppy in her hands. They're both soaked through in the rain.

Mina smiles at the cute little creature. He shivers a little, and shakes himself off the water droplets clinging to his fur.

"Where did you find him?"

"He was in the ditch by our garden. Don't know how this little fellow ended up there, but I didn't feel like leaving him out there in this thunderstorm."

It is the first words they have spoken in ages and the first ones that is remotely close to normal conversation.

Mina pokes the little guy's nose. She can't believe that Nayeon is capable of caring about anyone, let alone an abandoned pup.

The singer walks in with the puppy and sits on one of the chairs around the kitchen island.

"Let me get a towel."

Nayeon is pleasantly surprised when Mina brings two towels, one for the puppy and one for her.

After everything she's done, she's not sure she deserves even a little act of kindness like this. She wonders if she is wrong to put the younger girl in the same box she puts everyone around her in.

But she is still working for money and Nayeon knows better than to let her guard down.

Despite repeating the nobody can be trusted mantra over and over in her head, Nayeon can't help the smile that tugs at her lips when she sees the blonde playing with the now warm puppy.

She can't decide who looks cuter at the moment. The pup or the girl talking to the pup.

Don't let your guard down Nayeon. Just don't.She tells herself.

In the industry it is always the angelic looking ones that breaks hearts left, right and center. She has seen, heard and experienced so much, that she will never trust a pretty face again.

She definitely feels responsible for what happened to the girl, which is why she tries to stay sober, but that doesn't mean she wants to be friends with her either.

"Want some milk?"

Nayeon's snapped out of her thoughts to see that the question isn't addressed to her. She feels slightly disappointed. Which is odd. Maybe it's the weather, and hot milk sounds really good at the moment.

"How about you Nayeon-ssi?"

And she smiles. For the very first time she smiles at the girl she has married spontaneously.

Mina breath catches a little when she receives the toothy smile.

"Please."

"Okay." She stutters and doesn't understand why she is so flustered. It feels strange to spend some time with the popstar without exchanging arguments or insults.

Nayeon feels another faint smile coming to her lips. She hasn't felt happy since forever and now a puppy and a simple offer to get her milk has changed all that.

"Weird no, little guy?" The pup yawns and sits by her feet curling into a ball after drinking the milk Mina has got him.

Nayeon accepts her glass of milk with a thanks which again surprises Mina. Because why thank a whore right? She feels the anger coming back up, so she turns her attention to the pup and lets the tension in her muscles dissipate.

The puppy snores cutely as he sleeps by Nayeon's feet.

"Are you going to keep him?"

"Yeah, we'll keep him." Nayeon says gulping down the rest of her drink. She gathers the pup in her arms and takes the stairs.

Without so much as a goodnight, the older girl disappears behind the doors.

Mina sighs and retreats back to the safety of her bedroom.

"Nayeon-ssi. Good morning." Boram sounds extremely happy.

"Yes unnie?" Nayeon frowns, rolling over to see a little ball of fur curled into her side. A smile lights up her face and her mood soars immediately.

"We've just been given two more album deals by the label. And you are going to go on a U.S tour."

"You've got to be kidding me unnie. That's awesome. How did you pull this?"

"I didn't pull any. The press has been observing your good behaviour in the past month. There are tons loads of articles floating on about how getting married has tamed you. How your wife has changed you. It's the new fairy tale romance Nayeon-ssi. Poor girl marries rich girl and fixes her. You are this century's gay icon, the new lesbian super couple."

She chuckles at her manager's enthusiasm."All I did was stay off the booze and they made up the rest."

"You know how the press loves to romanticise everything." Boram chuckles along with her and then adds in a serious tone."Thank you Nayeon-ssi."

"For what?"Nayeon asks taken aback.

"For bringing hope back to the group."

"Unnie, I did nothing. It was all you. Don't be so modest." Despite her protest, it feels good to be at the receiving end of compliments for a change. All she has ever heard was how much she has ruined things for everyone. It feels good to be the good guy for once.

"Well, we'll just thank your wife."

"Unnie." Nayeon groans.

"I'm going to go Nayeon-ssi. I'll you see in the office at eleven. We need to go over papers for the tour."

As she hangs the phone back on its hook, she realises she is smiling. Smiling after a long time. For a long time. This good mood has been a new thing to her. And yet, it's been a constant occurunce lately.

She knows she doesn't feel this good when she is drunk, she still chooses to drink because she can't feel anything when isn't drunk either.

That is changing. She is beginning to feel. And it has all begun with that feeling of responsibility and guilt she felt a month ago.

The pup begins to wail. He is probably hungry.

"Mina." She begins but quickly shuts herself up. What the fuck is she thinking? She is about to call on her like she would call on a friend.

It's too late. The girl appears at her door.

"Did you call me?"

"No. Were you dreaming?"

She makes a face. "About you? Hope not."

Nayeon actually laughs. Mina looks shell shocked at the sight of her laughing. She can't blame her. Even she's forgotten she knows how to laugh.

She isn't really a bad person, but this temporary worker doesn't have to know that. "I think he is hungry." She says as she scratches his belly.

"Let me take him to the vet. Probably needs to get his injection and registration done. I can buy his food there."

Nayeon nods and a thought comes to her just as the younger girl turns to leave.

"Just how are you going to go?"

"Walk?"

"There are paps outside."

"So?"

Exactly so? Why does it bother her? Why can't she erase the picture of the girl gripping her hands tightly in a wave of paps? With the recent surge in the Japanese girl's popularity as the one who tamed the wild singer, she is going to be surrounded by a sea of paps.

Nayeon knows that but Mina doesn't.

"I'll go with you."

"Don't you have to be at the studio?"

"Only at 11. The studio is barely ten minutes away from the vet."

Mina gives her a puzzled look. "Okay." She agrees half heartedly.

Mina isn't looking to spend time with the singer. Every second they spend together is pure agony and she can't wait for it to end.

Because she never knows when another abuse is going to be hurled at her. Granted it hasn't happened since that incident, she can't be sure just how long Nayeon's guilty conscience is going to keep her safe from her true character.

Nayeon surprises herself by taking Mina's hand in hers tenderly, a touch she hasn't used with the blonde before.

Mina looks equally surprised at the gentle touch and assumes it's the guilt still playing up.

"You okay baby?" Nayeon asks as she dives through the hoard of paps to the vet, shielding her eyes from the blinding flashes.

"Yes." Mina's cheeks flush. She isn't used to these terms of endearments. Not from her. Even though they are fake, it's much better than the name calling. She holds the pup closer to her as she lets the older girl lead them to the vet.

"Nayeon-ssi. Your wife is still beautiful as hell."

"And he is still a creep." Nayeon mutters under her breath throwing the fakest smile possible at him.

Mina giggles.

Nayeon stops and turns around to look at Mina. She isn't imagining it. Is she? This girl has laughed. In her presence. It's bright, it's all gummy and pearly white teeth and the bright flashes around them suddenly seems to dim.

"You should laugh more. Looks good on you." It's out before she can stop.

"Thank you." Mina blushes and the cameras flash on her face as they continue their short walk from the parking lot to the vet.

"Finally." Mina says holding her heart to slow down the pace and looks around at the clinic. "Whoa. This is bigger than the flat I used to live in."

Nayeon chuckles at the innocence that is being displayed. This girl can't be a trickster. Will it be so bad if she gives her a chance to be her friend?

Her phone rings breaking her thoughts.

"Yes unnie?"

"Nayeon-ssi you need to hurry up here. The American organisers are in a bit of rush to start the tour. You'd probably be leaving sooner than we expected "

"Just how soon are we talking about?" Nayeon asks as she looks at Mina who is speaking to the vet and asking about the various diet plans excitedly.

"Three days is how much we can stall."

"Am I going to take her?"

"Who?"

She lowers her voice. "My wife."

"You mean your contract wife. No."

Of course she means contract wife. Why is Boram correcting her?

"Okay. How long am I going to be away?"

"A month and a half Nayeon-ssi. You can visit her in between if you want to."

"No, I don't." She immediately says in defence.

"I'm just saying. See you in a bit. Please hurry."

She hangs up the phone and sees Mina playing with another pup.

"How long is it going to take doctor?"

The good doctor takes a second away from poking the poor guy's teeth and smiles at her. "Fifteen mins Nayeon-ssi. Paperwork is being done. You need to bring him back another day to get the tracking chip installed. I'm going to give him his first injection today." She lifts the pup's ears to check behind it. "Have you named him yet?"

"Nope."

"I need the name to complete the papers."

"What do we name him?" She asks the unprepared blonde who looks like her eyes are about to bulge.

"You are asking me?"

"I'm definitely not asking the puppy."

Mina smiles shyly, head dipping with a faint blush. "Romeo?"

Nayeon bites back her laughter and she is glad she did because the words that comes next from the younger girl moves her.

"When I was younger I had a dog named Ray. My dad promised we'd get another dog and call him Romeo to rhyme with Ray." Mina explains, the colour in her cheeks deepening. "You don't have to keep the name though. I know you're trying not to laugh."

"Doctor." Nayeon takes her eyes away from the Japanese girl to the woman in the lab coat. "Put the name on the papers as Romeo."

Mina looks at Nayeon stunned into silence yet again. Just who is this girl? She seems to be different from the rude, obnoxious, self centered person she has first met.

She notices the older girl keeps glancing at her watch and knows she is in a rush to get to the studio.

"You can go. I know how to take care of a pup."

Nayeon shakes her head and smiles. "I'll wait."

This Nayeon is mysterious and intriguing. Her perfectly wavy hair, the shining lip gloss, the high heels and the expensive dresses she wears hasn't changed. But somehow she has changed inside.

Mina is glad Nayeon has stayed back when they leave the vet. The paps haven't left yet.

"I'll drop you both and then go."

"I'll take a cab Nayeon-ssi. I know you're getting late."

"But then who is going to play hero for you?"

Mina feels her face heat up. Is Im Nayeon being playful with her? She must have walked right into the twilight zone.

"It's not necessary." She says stubbornly this time.

"I'm not going to throw you both to this sea of sharks."

The blonde chuckles a little. "You're being over dramatic."

"Sorry either you let me drop you or."

"Or?" Mina looks at her. Or what? Is she going to retort to abusive words and insults?

"Or else you go the studio with me and hang about until I finish the meeting. Shouldn't take long."

Well that is certainly new. She has never been invited by Nayeon anywhere. It is always her manager or the members who do that.

"I'm not going to let you drop me."

"Too bad for you then. You are going get bored out of your mind for the next hour or two."

"Nayeon-ssi, no."

She only gets a crossing of arms and a quirk of an eyebrow in return. She sighs softly, "Fine."

Who knows this stubborn considerate side of this girl? Mina is fascinated by this new side and reluctantly allows herself to be pulled by her into the sea of sharks.

Nayeon is wrong. Mina is not bored out of her mind. She is having fun at the studio. She and the pup has conversed and shaken hands with every technician, assistants, photographers and even cleaners in the studio.

The younger girl seems to have a natural charm that draws people to her.

"She is such a catch. I'm glad you married her." Boram says proudly watching Mina through the one way mirror in the conference room.

Nayeon wonders if she has forgotten that the marriage is a drunken mistake.

"She literally has everyone eating out of her hands." Nayeon notes with slight disdain.

"So?"

"We need to be careful with people like that unnie. They can be dangerous. Manipulative."

"Nayeon-ssi. Has she done anything in the past two months to break your trust?"

Nayeon reflects for a moment. She can't come up with anything. "No." She admits.

"Have you done anything in the past two months to break her trust?"

She feels like she is slapped across her face.

Because she has done everything to break her trust.

Right from calling her a whore to other names, being emotionally abusive and letting an arsehole almost rape her, she hasn't done one good thing that could have earned the girl's trust.

"Yes." She answers as she looks down in shame.

"Then who is the more trustworthy one among you two?"

"Her."

Nayeon looks up and sees Mina through new eyes. Why is she so reluctant to let this girl in? She has typecasted her from past experiences. Her past experiences are her fault, how is it right to treat the girl like how she has because her own past has been horrible?

Mina lifts her eyes up and looks at the tinted glass infront of her like she senses someone is watching.

Nayeon looks away quickly hoping not to get caught.

"It's a one way mirror. Much like how your heart has been the past three years. You only see people but always block them from seeing the real you."

"Unnie." Nayeon's voice breaks. "I'm sorry."

"I'm not the one you should make amends to Nayeon-ssi."

Chapter Text

Not one call. Not even a text. It isn't like Mina cares. She is glad to be left alone. That's all she wanted ever since she came to live here, but when the wish is finally granted the loneliness feels weird.

She knows from Boram that Nayeon is going to be back only in a month and a half. Her eyes caresses the wedding ring on her finger.

Theirs isn't a pretend marriage. Theirs is a drunk marriage. How much ever drunk Nayeon has been she still chose to ask Mina to marry her and for some god knows what reason she has said yes.

Atleast for that one moment they have found something in each other that the other liked which led to this disaster. As the legal wife doesn't she deserve to know about her wife's whereabouts? The rational part of her brain supplies helpfully that they are only married in the papers.

Mina likes Nayeon. Not the bitchy monstrous one. The gentle soft spoken one she has begun to see just before her departure. She has even hoped that they might become friends and then Nayeon pulls this douche move. Disappears without a word.

She is trapped in a marriage from hell, so why can't they both do something to make it better? Ten months won't seem like an eternity to finish if they become friends.

The landline phone rings. Romeo barks loudly standing by the phone.

"Coming mister. Why are you so impatient?"

She picks him up and looks at the screen. It says unknown number.

She picks up the phone as she tickles Romeo and says hello.

"Hi."

It is her.

"Hi."

"Alright?"

Is she asking her?

She doesn't know what to say.

"Mina?"

"Y-yeah why did you call?" She asks bluntly.

"I just wanted to remind you of Romeo's second vaccination. It's due this Thursday."

Of course. Why else will she call? She's been gone for two weeks and Mina thinks she is calling to see how she is doing when she's never done that before?

"Yeah. I'll take him."

"No, what I'm-"

The dial tone rings in her ears. She waits for another call for a few minutes and gives up soon. She wants to take Romeo for a walk in the garden. She loves to take him to the park but the paps lurking in every corner terrify her.

Ever since the picture of her, Nayeon and the puppy published in the magazines, paps have been stalking her relentlessly for pictures. She doesn't understand how she became this popular overnight. And she isn't happy about it.

"Let's go little guy. Time for you to go for that walk."

She lets him go off the leash as the garden is secured all sides and sits on the bench by the artificial stream. How is she going to get out on Thursday? Momo is gone on a business trip, Jeongyeon and Sana are busy with their startup business and she doesn't want to drag her parents into this media circus.

She takes a deep breath. She has to go alone.

She looks at her hands. It is shivering slightly from nervous anxiety.

Romeo barks at her and dives straight into the stream. She doesn't panic like the first time it happens. The little guy is a good swimmer.

Thursday.

It somehow seems so far and yet so close.

She steps out of the house and sees the zoom lenses aimed at her. Her hands begin to shake and her body begins to involuntarily shiver.

She holds Romeo tightly in her arms as Ho-jin opens the door for her. Once they are in, he begins to drive through the paps. They relentlessly knock on her window, blocking the limo, hoping to get a picture.

"They behave like animals sometimes. Forget that you guys are humans too."

Is this why Nayeon forgets she is human too? Is this how she has felt everyday since her childhood?

A pap taps loudly on her side of the window which startles her.

"Scoundrels." The driver cusses as he watches the frightened girl through the rearview mirror with concern.

As the car approaches the vet, Mina's body begins to quake with tremors. Walking through a crowd of men who are pushing and pulling at you isn't an easy thing to do, especially after what she has suffered at the hands of a single man.

"Are you okay to go Mina-ssi?"

"I will be. Thank you Ho-jin Oppa." She says as she hesitates by the door. Another face plants itself on the windows and she jumps back in shock. Her hands begin to shiver even more as her eyes wells with tears in fear.

Just as suddenly as the mad crowd of paparazzi has surrounded her car, they move away when a limo pulls behind her car. Her car door gets opened from outside. And outside stands the girl she has married, smiling at her and hiding the concern in her voice as she asks if she is okay.

"Nayeon-san."

Mina lets out a sob and jumps into the older girl's arms without thinking about it. She has never felt so relieved to see another person before.

"Hey. It's okay. I'm here."

To the paps, it is a couple in love uniting, but to the two involved it is the first time they let their guards down around the other person, even if it is for just a minute.

Nayeon soothes the blonde in her arms as she feels hot tears soaking her blouse. As they pull back, Mina smiles at her, flushed cheeks and watery eyes.

"Thank you."

She can't believe Nayeon has travelled all the way here just to accompany her to the vet. She wants to confirm.

"Why are you here?"

"To see you and Romeo to the vet. I know the your friends aren't in. I tried telling you I was going come and ask you to wait for me, but the line got disconnected and I didn't find time to call after that."

"Thank you." She whispers.

"You said that already." Nayeon points out with a smile.

Mina turns the older girl's cheek to a side and plants a kiss there. "For the camera's benefit."

"For the camera's benefit." Nayeon agrees with a chuckle.

Just as she has expected the hug and the kiss are front page news. That isn't surprising. What's surprising is it is the front page of many magazines even in the States. Most of the headlines scream Juliet and Juliet with Romeo, lovers re-united, love is in the air and other bullshit.

Nayeon cuts out just one magazine picture that has a thick gloss cover. It is a picture of her in the center with Mina smacking a kiss on one cheek and Romeo licking the other.

Nayeon finds it funny. "Going straight in my wallet." She says loudly as she cuts the picture.

"Missing your wife?" Her assistant Jessy asks.

Nayeon frowns. She wants to yell that she isn't her wife but she can't.

Because, Mina is.

She nibbles on her bottom lip as she looks at the magazine cut out. Coming out as bisexual has done her image a lot of good but it has also put guys off her. Most of them are cautious to approach a married woman.

"I'm going to die single because of this marriage." She knows she is being dramatic. The marriage is only going to be valid for 8 more months. And then men will flock to her, because she'll be the newly single heartbroken girl and knowing men, they won't want to miss hitting that cliche.

She can't believe they are three months into their pretend marriage already. She must have seen Mina all together three days in this time. She wonders what happened to her fiancé. She has learnt from Momo that the day of their drunk wedding is the day after their break up.

She wonders if they still see each other and feels a pang of jealousy rise in her. She assumes it is because Mina can fly under the radar and date anyone she wants to freely, while she has to remain faithful to their marriage.

"Not fair. I want to date too."

"I want a grape too. Sweet or sour?" Jessy asks her.

"Are all you blondes this dumb or what?"

She runs away before she hears an earful from her assistant.

It's more than a month and a half they have anticipated. The tour finishes on time but Nayeon gets offers for individual projects for which she has to stay behind while the other members travel back to Seoul.

Nayeon has no reason to visit Seoul because Mina has her own friends, and members to help with Romeo and the paps.

Without a reason, she feels awkward to go visit her. She does miss her in some weird twisted way. She misses sharing her roof with someone.

Knowing there is someone with her has helped her sleep peacefully. These two months away from her have been filled with many restless nights. And on these nights she calls Mina.

When the call gets picked up she doesn't speak a word. In the background she hears Romeo barking. Nayeon wishes she can say something, but she doesn't know what to say. They're strangers after all. She hopes Mina would hang up. But she doesn't.

Words don't get exchanged. But there's something oddly comforting about the silence she shares with Mina. She often drifts off to sleep while she's still on the call only to see it never gets disconnected until next morning.

Mina knows it's Nayeon who's calling the landline. She wonders why she calls and never speaks. The first two times it happens she repeatedly says hello hoping to hear a response. The third time she gives up, and just listens to the soft sounds of breath coming from the other side. When her friends are around, the mansion is not intimidating, but when she's alone, it's terrifying. Which is why she welcomes the company, even if it's just heavy silence.

It's the twelfth call in two months when Romeo runs away from the phone. She doesn't want to disconnect but can't help the niggling worry when the puppy doesn't return for a long time.

"Romeo." She calls.

The puppy comes running from under the couch.

"You're here." She giggles. "You sneaky little bastard."

Nayeon smiles when she hears Mina cursing.

"I didn't know you swore." She clicks her tongue at the last second to hold the words back, but it's too late. They're out.

Mina smiles hearing Nayeon's voice through the speaker. "There are lots of things you don't know about me."

Nayeon laughs at the playful tone the Japanese girl's voice has taken.

"It's time to find out then."

"Eh?"

"I'm coming home."

Home. Nayeon's coming home and Mina doesn't understand why she feels happy hearing these words.

Is she actually looking forward to it? Has she forgotten how badly she has been treated by this woman before? Her forgiving heart also hasn't forgotten how kind she has been to her lately.

She has travelled a thousand miles just to escort her through paps. She could have arranged security, but she came herself. Almost like the older girl somehow knows that she doesn't trust a lot of people. That means she trusts Nayeon. Doesn't it?

Does she? Does she actually trust the girl?

Her answer is a resounding yes. When drunk Nayeon becomes this person she isn't otherwise. And of late she has seen glimpses of her real side because she has been sober. Is she sober because of her? Because of what she told her that day?

Whatever Nayeon's reasons are, Mina knows she has already forgiven the girl.

She feels her heart lighten when she finally admits this to herself.

"Guess who is coming home Romeo?"

"Whooff whooff." He wags his tail excitedly.

"Yes that's right."

She gives him an Eskimo kiss as he licks her face happily.

"Nayeon-ssi here. Is it true Twice is collaborating with Ariana for a secret project?"

"If it's a secret I wouldn't be telling you, would I oppa?"

Mina laughs hearing all the sassy responses. Nayeon has a way to be sarcastic and yet make it look friendly and not offensive by throwing in a toothy smile.

Romeo barks loudly and runs to the front door just as Nayeon gets there.

"Hey, little guy."

Nayeon picks him up and scratches behind his ears. She walks into the home she shares with Mina looking around for her.

"Where is your momma?" She tickles him again making the pup bark. "Oh, you've grown so much. What has she been feeding you?"

"Just the regular puppy food."

Nayeon turns around and sees Chaeyoung and Tzuyu in her living room.

"Chaeyoungah." She hugs her first and then hugs Tzuyu.

"Whoa. You don't stink of alcohol." Tzuyu observes happily.

"Yeah."

"Don't you usually get piss drunk during long flights?" Jihyo comes down the stairs, arms looped around Dahyun.

"Yeah." She shrugs, patting Romeo who's sleeping on her lap. "But the girl I share the house with looks at me like I'm a lowlife if I do. I don't want to see her making that face on my first day back here. Do I?'

Jihyo chuckles and shares a meaningful look with Dahyun.

"What?"

"Being married suits you."

"Whatever." She looks around the house, eyes scanning for the owner of the voice who has brought her comfort in the last two months.

"Looking for Mina? She's in her room. Didn't want to get in your way apparently."

Nayeon breathes a sigh of relief. Thank God. She doesn't have to make any small talk either then. Making conversations while sober is unknown territory to her.

"Nayeonnie, you're turning twenty-five in two weeks." Chaeyoung claps loudly as a notification goes off on her phone.

'Yeah. Big news." She laughs and drags her bags closer to the coffee table.

"So what did you buy for yourself when we weren't there?" Tzuyu asks as they gather around her.

Nayeon spreads out the handbags, shoes and sunglasses she's bought. For them. She hasn't even been arsed to call them during the last trip away from each other. This trip has been different. She has called them whenever she has had time in these two weeks and made a mental note to buy them the things they've wanted during her last trip.

"Oh whoa. They are all awesome." Chaeyoung squeals.

"Yeah, that yellow dress is so cute." Jihyo's eyes shines brightly.

"I'm glad you like them, because they are all yours."

What Nayeon doesn't next expect is to be tackled in a hug by the four. She fights for breath when they release her. It feels good to see them smile because of her. They've always stood by her side and never let her down, no matter how drunk or sober she is.

After hearing a hundred thank yous from them, she shoos them away so she can take a nap. Laughing, they make their way to Mina's room to show her what they've got.

Mina admires the clothes and shoes and smiles at the girls.

"She bought you what you'd asked during the last trip?" Her voice is laced with surprise.

"Yeah, but all we got was an empty bottle of vodka." Tzuyu pouts.

Mina's heart warms at the realisation that Nayeon does in fact have a heart and alcohol is the only thing that hides it. She remembers all the times the older girl has been unusually rude to her and it's always when she's been drunk.

"She seems different now." She observes more to herself than to the members.

"Isn't she Mina? She is almost back to her old self. I mean she is still very cautious about people, but she has changed so much and we owe it to you." Jihyo states.

"To me? That's rubbish." Mina declines.

"Rubbish? Why? She changed only after you came. She even told us that she didn't drink in the flight because it will put you off."

"Dahyun-chan, don't."

"Everyone was there. I swear I'm not lying."

"Minayah. She did say that." Chaeyoung confirms, still admiring her shoes.

Mina smiles to herself. So not only does Nayeon have a heart, she also has a thoughtful heart. Who would have thought? She still hasn't stopped to say hi to her after being gone for two months. Probably to remind her she is only a worker, a temporary worker or hooker.

She feels a bile rising to her throat. She will never forget her position in this house. The position Nayeon has given her. She isn't a wife, she isn't a friend, she is only a hired worker.

"Mina. Alright?"

They don't get an answer because she is only going to be alright when she leaves this caged life.

A week has passed and Nayeon still hasn't seen Mina around. It's as if the blonde goes out of her way to avoid her. It bothers her more than it should.

She has a day off and takes a walk in her garden. The late evening air is pleasantly brazing her face and the moonlight shimmers in the waters below.

A shadowy figure stands by a tree watching the reflection of moon in the water.

"Mina?" She asks as she approaches her.

"Nayeon-san?" Mina looks startled.

"How have you been?"

Mina gives her a look that she can't decipher. Her face is illuminated by the moonlight beautifully, yet her expressions are that of despondent.

"What do you care about a prostitute's well being?"

Nayeon steps back from her like she is burnt. Does she really think of Mina that way? No. In her drunken stupor she has came up with those words but she has never really thought of the blonde that way.

She realises with shock that she actually respects the younger girl for never giving away her dignity, holding her head high with pride, something she has never expected from someone who came from a simple background.

"I was wrong."

Mina searches Nayeon's gaze to see if she is being honest. Is an apology all she wants? What good are words when wounds are flesh deep?

"Don't apologise." She stops Nayeon with a wave of her hand, just when she opens her mouth to say something. "Just don't. It won't make a difference. You've hurt me a lot. One apology isn't going to change that."

Nayeon hangs her head low too ashamed to look at the girl. Her throat feels parched and it feels like a mountainous burden has settled on her heart.

"I know."

"I forgave you a long time ago. I don't know why but I did. But I don't think I can forget those words. I don't know how to."

And with that the younger girl is gone. Nayeon lays back on the tree that Mina has been resting on and sighs deeply.

She feels ashamed and embarrassed at what a horrible human being she has been. Does alcohol really change her into an animal? She swears she won't touch another drop of it, if only for the sake of Mina.

"Mina." She whispers the girl's name to herself. "What a lovely name."

She says as if she has just realised it.

Chapter Text

"Thank you for your time Nayeon-ssi. It was nice chatting with you."

"As always Hyun oppa, good talking to you."

"Ladies and gentlemen, give a round of applause for Im Nayeon, the brand new global ambassador for Louis Vuitton."

Nayeon throws her signature bunny smile at the audience and waves at them as a round of applause splits her ear drums.

She hasn't expected the interview to be this tough. Hyun is an arrogant piece of shite, like always. He just won't stop poking his nose into her personal business.

All those questions about Mina and what she likes, what books she likes to read, what her hobbies are, it's as if the creep has a thing for her.

Nayeon makes a mental note to never take Mina to a party he attends.

"Is she my wife or his wife? Why is he so curious?"

"You know Hyun. He is just checking that yours is a genuine marriage." Her assistant Jessy answers matter of factly.

"Do you think that's what he was doing?" Nayeon asks as she plays with the stitches in her blouse, "I thought he was like infatuated with my wife or something."

"Aww you bloody nutter, you were jealous."

"I wasn't." She looks crossed at the accusation.

"Right. That's why you looked like you were two seconds away from punching him everytime he asked about Mina."

Nayeon rolls her eyes. Bless Jessy. Only the head of the label, Boram, their lawyer and the members are aware of the contract. Nobody else in the staff knows it.

She can't blame Jessy for mistaking protectiveness for jealousy. After what happened with Geun, she has a reason to be worried when men showed an extra interest in Mina.

"I wasn't going to hit him. You really should try your hand at being a journalist, you make shite up just like them." She answers cheekily to her assistant, who just glares at her silently.

Mina reads the letter.

"I don't believe this."

"Eighteen." Momo counts.

"Is this true? I just don't believe it."

"Nineteen." Sana adds.

Mina stares at the offer letter and pinches her own arm. "After all these days? I just don't believe it."

"Twenty." Jeongyeon grins.

She turns to her side and frowns at her friends.

"What are you all counting? Aren't you paying attention to what I'm saying?"

"Trust me we are. You've said I don't believe it about twenty times so far. Anything new?" Sana chuckles as she plucks the letter from her friend's hand and reads it herself. "Believe it for god's sake. What's so hard to believe that you've got a job offer?"

"I don't believe how unlucky I am." Mina sits on the bed as she rubs her temples gently. "One year of redundancy and I couldn't find a job. Now I get a job I like but I can't take it. God is evil."

"Why can't you take up the job?" Momo asks as she chews gum carelessly. She finds no reason why the blonde can't take up on the offer.

It is after all two things she likes. She is going to be the head cook at a charity home. The pay is decent.

"Why?" Mina deadpans. "Don't you know why Momo-chan? I'm already working here. I don't think I'll be allowed to work anywhere else when I'm working as Nayeon's paid escort."

Momo grimaces and gives a sad smile at her sullen friend.

"Can't you talk to her?" Jeongyeon asks, giving the blonde a sympathetic gaze.

"Do you want me to tell you the number of times she has made it clear who I am in this household?" Mina looks pained, as her eyes look downcast at the floor.

"No." Jeongyeon swallows thickly. She isn't a fan of those words uttered by Nayeon. Her eyes travel to her friend who looks helpless and agonized.

She doesn't understand Nayeon. Sometimes she is extremely pleasant to be around and sometimes she is purely hostile.

Luckily for her, she has only been the recipient of Nayeon's pleasant behaviour.

"That's what I thought." Mina strokes Romeo gently and tries to hide how crestfallen she looks from her friends.

With constant nagging from her friends and the girls, Mina decides to speak to Nayeon, atleast to get the gang of seven out of her hair.

She approaches the singer who has turned herself early in the evening surprisingly.

The older girl is watching television when Mina hesitates by the door. She takes a deep breath and lays a gentle knock on the door.

Nayeon turns her attention from the television to the wary looking girl at her door and casts a quizzical look.

Mina notices the glass of drink in her hand and takes a step back, mentally slapping herself. "I'm sorry. I should probably come back later. I didn't know you were drinking."

Nayeon throws a funny glance at the glass in her hand. "This isn't wine. It's a non-alcoholic grape drink."

Mina looks embarrassed and Nayeon wonders why she is here willingly in her proximity when she usually stays away from her.

"Is there anything you want?" She asks politely, somehow her voice ending up coming an octave higher than she intends to.

"N-no." Mina replies dejectedly at the raised voice. "I just- nothing."

Nayeon pretends she doesn't see the younger girl sneakily roll a sheet of paper in her hand and throw it away in the bin on her way out. She patiently waits for her to leave. Walking to the bin, she carefully picks up the crumbled sheet and opens it.

It is a job offer letter for one Miss.Myoui Mina.

Jihyo and Tzuyu are sitting at the kitchen counter enjoying the pancakes Mina has made for them. They've arrived early to pick up Nayeon for a recording and Mina has treated them to a special breakfast.

Nayeon rushes downstairs to find her friends leisurely enjoying home made breakfast.

To her own surprise she doesn't feel irritated or annoyed, instead she feels a smile coming to her lips. She quickly masks it with her usual blank face.

"Am I late?" She asks as she slips on a pair of high heels to go along with the little black number she is wearing.

Mina takes a moment to look at the older girl. She looks beyond beautiful. What good is that beauty when her heart is mostly ugly? She turns her attention back to cleaning the mess Jihyo and Tzuyu has made.

"Nope." Jihyo replies, licking the syrup off the spoon.

"You should try Mina's breakfast. So delicious. I would never eat take aways if I have someone like her living with me." Tzuyu compliments Mina who smiles shyly at her.

"I'm good. We're getting late. I'll pick up something on the way." Nayeon remarks carelessly, missing the uneasy smile her friends share with the blonde.

Mina smiles back at the girls to show she is okay. She is used to being ignored. The girls are still getting used to seeing Nayeon treat her like this.

Like she is invisible.

"I'm done. Let's go."

Nayeon glances in the direction of Mina who has her back turned to her. The Japanese girl is washing the dishes like a robot, her expressions gloomy.

"Mina."

Three shocked faces turn to look at Nayeon at the same time.

Nayeon did not just address Mina. That too in the presence of other people. And she isn't pretending for the cameras either.

Nayeon ignores her friends who sits there shocked and slips her handbag on her shoulders. "I saw the offer letter. Why don't you take it up? Don't you get bored staying home all the time?"

A deadly silence fills the room.

"But," Mina's voice comes out strangled, 'I already w-work for Boram and-"

Nayeon bends down to pick up her shades she has carelessly thrown on the coffee table. "You're my wife technically. It's not work. I don't see why you shouldn't take up the job when you're currently doing none."

Jihyo pinches herself. She has heard it right. Nayeon has not only called Mina the legal wife, but she has also openly admitted that Mina isn't a worker.

"Close your mouths. You're going to catch some flies." Nayeon tells her friends.

"If you're done eating the spoon, can we go?" She snaps at a slack jawed Jihyo and drag the girls out to the porch with her.

Mina leans back against the sink and closes her eyes.

What just happened? Did Nayeon just tell her that she isn't a worker here? Has she just casually amended all the mistakes she has done in the past with those few words without realising? How did every hurtful word she has ever uttered and every wound she has inflicted on her, magically seem to disappear?

She picks up her phone with shaking hands and dials a familiar number.

"Sana?"

"Yes, my love."

"I'm taking the job."

The squeal of joy she hears on the other end, isn't anywhere near the silent squeal of joy her heart is making from Nayeon's words.

Seoul Angel House

Mina looks up at the banner that looks warm and welcoming. The driver stops the car just a few hundred metres away from the closed gates. Mina gets off the car, glad Ho-jin has dodged the paps cleverly again.

It is her eighth day at the home for children. She always stops the car at a safe distance from the home and prefers to walk the rest of the distance.

She wants to be known as an ordinary individual, not as the wife of a famous singer. She has always liked her normalcy and the home offers her that.

Every morning she takes a small path from back gate in the garden to a nearby park and walks a short distance to a coffee shop where Ho-jin picks her up to drive her to work in a different car than he normally uses for Nayeon.

It's complicated, but she prefers that over being chased by the paparazzi. It's also what Nayeon has ordered.

In the beginning Mina has insisted she uses public transport and Nayeon has brushed away the suggestion with a simple Just how fast can you get away from the paps if you are waiting for a bus?

It has irked her that she can't make her own decisions, but she doesn't dare argue with Nayeon. The lesser they speak, the lesser are the chances for a disaster.

She walks with a spring in her steps to the home. Some of the kids playing in the secured playground wave at her. It makes her happy to see them smile. She waves back enthusiastically as she enters the lobby.

"Good morning Mina-ssi. You look happy." Her boss Cho notes as she sees the younger girl walk in with a big smile on her face.

"Just in a good mood unnie."

She hasn't bumped into Nayeon for three days. It always leaves her in a good mood. The anxiety and unpredictability only comes with Nayeon.

"Good. Menu for the day is in the kitchen. Beom called in sick. I couldn't find a cover for him."

"Don't worry. I can make do without him." Mina replies, as she takes her jacket off and hangs it in the cloak stand.

"Grab a drink and then start working. No need to tire yourself out so early in the morning." She says with genuine concern.

This new girl has been a blessing to the home. She not only efficiently manages her crew, but is also extremely good with the kids.

"Yes ma'am." Mina gives her a two finger salute.

Cho chuckles softly at the playful reply.

It is almost at the end of her shift when Mina gets a call from Tzuyu.

"Do you know where Nayeonnie is? I want to wish her for her birthday."

"You're asking me?" Mina asks derisively. "I didn't even know it's her birthday today."

"Sorry. It's just every birthday she pulls this disappearing act and we don't know where she vanishes."

"Oh. I wish I can help you but I really have no idea."

"No worries. I'll see you later unnie."

Mina bites her lips as she looks through the window at the expanse of trees in her view. Every birthday? Mysterious. She has to admit she's intrigued.

The clock chimes five times.

She retrieves her coat from the stand and checks her appearance in the mirror again. As she walks past the play room for kids, she is stopped by a familiar voice.

"Oh that's right. I'm a Princess. Just like all of you. Where is my crown?"

She hears the sound of kids laughter, shuffling of papers and crayons around.

She peeps inside unable to hold her curiousity.

She isn't dreaming.

It is Nayeon.

Laughing like a child, looking carefree and happy. A Nayeon she's never seen before. A Nayeon she's never imagined seeing before.

"Such a good lass, that wife of yours."

She jumps, startled. Cho stands by her side, a smile glazed over her face as she watches the kids interact with Nayeon.

"How do you know her?"

Cho raises an eyebrow at her questioningly.

"You don't know?"

Mina shakes her head to show she is ignorant about this part of her wife's life.

"Her younger brother Nam-ji was a special child. He was in this home. She wanted him to be with her, but her dad wouldn't let her. Said it won't be good for her image." Cho sighs and pauses as she looks at Nayeon with a pained look on her face.

She clears her throat and continues, "When she turned twenty-one, she wanted to take over his guardianship, so she can take him home but sadly Nam-ji passed away that year after years of constant struggle to live."

Mina feels her stomach twist in knots.

She turns back to look at the older girl who is now helping a child make a tierra.

"She has been celebrating her birthday here ever since she turned eighteen. Nobody except the staff knows and I incline to keep it that way."

She says silently asking Mina not to share what she's just told with anyone. Mina nods her head in understanding.

Nayeon is now reading the kids the story of The Beauty and the Beast with a dazzling smile on her face.

"Unnie, can I ask you a question? Did she get me this job?"

Mina holds her breath. She hopes Nayeon isn't hoping to amend her mistakes by flashing her money and power.

"No." Cho replies honestly. "The only thing she requested was not to reveal about her visits to the home to you." She shrugs.

Mina nods. Nayeon must have not expected her to be in the home until five. Her shift usually finished at four.

She chews her lips as she contemplates what she's just heard. Why does Nayeon hide her good side and only picks her bad side to be displayed to her and the world?

Nayeon laughs brightly as a little girl jumps into her lap, tackling her for a hug.

Mina touches the glass as if to get closer to the older girl.

"And that is how kids, the beauty started liking the beast." Nayeon turns the page over to a new chapter, unaware of how a new chapter has just begun in her life.

Chapter Text

Mina smiles wistfully at the balance. It is her pay for the week. She counts the cash in her hand and walks across to the store.

She has only one thing in mind and she isn't going home without it.

Nayeon walks into the unusually quiet house. It is dark inside.

Where is Mina? She is usually back home by now. Is something wrong? Why hasn't she taken her phone number down? But Ho-jin has told her he dropped her home. So why isn't she here?

Her panic driven thoughts are cut off by the lights suddenly coming on and nearly blinding her.

"Surprise. Happy birthday."

Has she been the usual Nayeon, few expensive things in the house would have been broken, she would have uttered a string of abuse to all her guests and ensured there is no party or celebrations.

"Thank you." She exclaims with a smile, surprising her friends. Her smile only widens with relief when she spots Mina in a corner chatting to Chaeyoung.

Few hours into the party, she finds the younger girl cautiously approaching her.

She excuses herself from her guests and meets her halfway.

"Yes?"

"I got you something." Mina thrusts a gift box into her hands gently. Nayeon opens the box and inside it is a beautiful silver necklace. The design is delicate and beguiling. Just like the girl before her.

She eyes the blonde who is watching her apprehensively.

"How much was this?" She asks irritatedly.

Mina tenses at the annoyed voice. "Wasn't much. I thought you'd like it."

"How much?" She repeats, blanking the rest of her answer.

Mina stutters out the price.

"Do you know how much we spend on Romeo, weekly?" She enquires the embarrassed girl who remains silent, "More than this. You expect me to wear this? Do me a favour. Never buy me anything again. Please return this."

Shoving the gift back into Mina's hand, she turns around and goes back to her guests, leaving a broken girl behind her.

Mina throws the necklace into the bin in the kitchen, wiping at her eyes.

She has forgotten just for a second her place in the house and knows that she deserves what she got.

Sure, Nayeon has made it clear she doesn't think of her as an escort, but she is still far from being a friend. She often forgets the status difference between the both of them.

She walks down the hallway to get to her room, not bothering to turn the lights on. The darkness suits her mood.

"You were way out of line Nayeon. You've told the poor girl a lot of stuff, but she didn't deserve this." Jihyo's angry voice speaks in a hushed tone.

Mina walks faster. She doesn't want to accidentally eavesdrop on their conversation.

"What else could I do? Do you know how much her weekly pay is? I read her offer letter, I know. She spent all that money on me. What is she going to do for her expenses? She doesn't even have good handbag to take to work and she is too fucking proud to ask me or let me pay. So tell me, what choice did I have?"

She stops now. She surely isn't dreaming this. Is she?

"Couldn't you have been honest with the girl?" It is Jihyo snapping at her again.

"To make her think I'm pitying her? I don't think she would like that."

"So making yourself look like the bad guy is okay?"

"She already thinks I am. Plus you keep forgetting I am the bad guy."

"Right. What bad guy does this?"

There is no answer for that.

Mina realises her tears haven't stopped, but they aren't because she is upset anymore.

Mina sits at the kitchen counter with a small smile playing on her lips.

"Yo, barbie is smiling y'all." Momo yells in an American accent making Mina giggle.

Nayeon who has just entered the kitchen observes how full of life the younger girl seems. A rush of relief clouds her chest.

"Shut up Momo-chan." Mina scolds playfully, smacking her arms.

Nayeon doesn't make any remark at the playful exchange as she takes seat opposite Mina. She knows the blonde loves it when her mouth remains shut.

"Got work today Nayeon-chan?"

She glances away from the carton of apple juice her eyes are now fixed on to look at Sana. Instead her eyes meet that of Mina's brown eyes and they both look away quickly, uncomfortably.

"Nayeon-chan?" Sana waits for her reply.

"Yeah." Nayeon answers distractedly as her mind supplies her with a random information about how liquid chocolate is brown in colour. "I've got four invites for an A lister's party. Do you want to go?"

"With you and Mina?" Sana questions excitedly.

"I'm not going." Nayeon bends down to tie her shoelace, still distracted. "I'll be tired after the shoot. You guys can go with Mina."

"That's fucking cool." Jeongyeon claps as she turns her attention to Mina. "You'll come right?"

Mina's eyes hovers on something else. It isn't what she thinks it is, is it? It can''t be right. Her mind must be playing tricks on her. Yet, the unmistakable pattern on the pendant and the glimmer tells her she is right.

'I-I..'

Nayeon who is in her own world is pulled out of her trance when she hears the Japanese girl stutter. She looks up at her and barely misses the girl looking away from her.

"Yes, I-I'll come." She stumbles on her words again earning an amused glance from Jeongyeon.

Nayeon notices how rosy the poor girl's cheeks has become. She is probably coming down with something.

"I can't believe we're going to a party to meet real celebrities." Momo squeals excitedly, hurting everyone's eardrums in the process.

"I'm right here and I'm very real. And I'm not at all offended by your comment." Nayeon jokes as she places her glass in the dishwasher. "See you later guys."

"Later." The three girls echo.

Nayeon kisses Romeo loudly on his nose and runs out the kitchen.

Mina's head is still spinning from the realisation that Nayeon is wearing the necklace she's thrown angrily in the bin last night.

"Did you forget something?" Sana asks as Nayeon walks back to the kitchen.

"Yeah. Just my sunglasses." She walks around looking aimlessly at the kitchen counter.

"Don't you usually leave it on the coffee table?" Joengyeon asks helpfully, "Besides it's dark outside. Why do you need your sunglasses?"

Mina notices a tinge of red covering the singer's cheeks.

"Thanks for your help Jeongyeon." Nayeon replies dryly as she strides away from the kitchen.

She hesitates by the door and looks at Mina who finds the courage to meet her gaze.

"See you later, Mina." And with those words, the older girl is off.

If Mina's head wasn't spinning before, it definitely is now.

"Are you alright Mina? Why do you look so red?"

Mina bites her lips as she blanks Momo's concerned question. Some questions didn't lead to answers, just to more questions.

And they are better left unanswered.

Mina checks her appearance in the mirror. Once she is satisfied she looks presentable, she brushes her hair with thin fingers and sashays out of the toilet.

Her eyes quickly scan the crowd and finds the group she is looking for.

Grabbing two glasses of water from the bar for herself and Chaeyoung, she glides across the dance floor, turning wandering eyes towards her.

"Chaeyoung, here. Your drink." Her voice sounds tired and exhausted, but there is a bounce to her steps that she can't control as the music pumps through her veins.

"Nayeon's meeting is over. She is coming in a bit." Dahyun giggles drunkenly as she locks her screen and slips the phone in her handbag.

Mina bites her lower lip, thinking about what Dahyun has told them.

"Oh, there she is."

She glances towards where Jihyo is pointing and waving.

Nayeon walks in gracefully, drawing the attention of everyone on the dance floor, wearing a snug plain white t-shirt tucked into formal trousers. A black blazer hangs a little loosely on her petite frame. Her dark eyes sparkle, reflecting the various colours emitted by the little bulbs on the ceiling. Her polished black leather boots make gentle click clack noise against the floor which gets drowned by the loudly playing music.

Nayeon greets and exchanges pleasantries with important people, her eyes travelling to the blonde on the floor once in a while.

When she gets closer to them, she hugs the members and pulls Mina into her side placing a kiss on her cheek.

Mina feels her skin burn where soft lips land. She's not a very touchy person in general, and intimate actions like this still manages to leave her flustered eventhough they've done it about hundred times already.

They sit at the table as the jazz group begins to play. Being the wife, Mina has to sit next to Nayeon. It is another obligation her contract expects her to fulfil.

"Nayeon. Long time, no see."

An American lad in his late twenties stops by at the table, leaning in to hug Nayeon. Mina grimaces at the smell of cigarettes coming off him.

"Baby, I'll be right back." Nayeon leans in closer and whispers in her ears to be heard over the music.

Mina flushes brightly. She is getting used to terms of endearments in public. They are getting very good at putting this show. What she'll never get used to is her personal space being invaded.

It doesn't happen often. At home, Nayeon always keeps her distance. They barely see each other, let alone talk.

In public, is an entirely different ballgame. They have to act smitten with each other. So they're in each others personal space all the time, and Mina is certain Nayeon hates it just as much as she does.

"So you're tapping that?" The American dancer asks Nayeon as his gaze travels to the blonde who is leaning over the table, her hair falling around her face in cascades.

Nayeon glowers at him. For some odd reason she doesn't like anyone talking about Mina like she is just a piece of meat.

"Relax. I know you put a ring on it." He grins angering her even further, "I mean look at that face and that body. No wonder she turned you gay."

She wants to slap him. And then punch him. Or do both at the same time. Just how dare he speak about her like that? Mina is a human being with feelings. He is talking about her as if she is something she bought at the store.

She grits her teeth at him as her eyes travel to the Japanese girl who giggles at something Jihyo is saying. She feels the tension in her muscles leave, and her jaw relax.

He isn't wrong though. Is he?

She is beautiful.

How has she not noticed this before? They have spent five months under the same roof and other than a quick observation of the colour of her eyes, she hasn't paid much attention to her.

"She is beautiful." She agrees quietly once the realisation kicks in.

"Yeah, and you're one lucky bitch."

She shoves him away playfully.

"I can't believe I slept. There is only an hour left. Ill never be able to get them done." Mina wails in frustration.

"I'm sure you and I can finish them in an hour." Momo reassures her.

"No. We can't. It takes five minutes just to make one gift box. There are still about a hundred to be done." She plops down on the bed, rubbing her forehead gently trying to quell a setting migraine.

"How many have you done?"

"Only 50. I was in the living room making them. I came back to the bedroom to pick up some more boxes and somehow fell asleep." She expresses, stressed out beyond limits.

She is the one who volunteered to sort the gift boxes for the kids and she has screwed it up. She hasn't planned on falling asleep, her alarm hasn't gone off and if Momo hasn't come to visit, she might not even have woken up on time to work.

"Okay. Let's go grab them. Call Ho-jin oppa. We'll make more in the car. And when we reach we can make some more. We'll manage."

She lets herself be dragged off the bed unwillingly. She sulks all the way to the living room.

"You won't believe this." Momo gasps, frozen in her tracks.

"What?"

She pushes Momo out of her view gently and looks at the floor of the living room.

Little gift boxes that are made and packed neatly with shiny ribbons lays stacked in a big carton. Romeo is sleeping peacefully next to the box.

A note left under the flower vase flutters on the coffee table.

Mina walks towards it and picks it up in stunned disbelief.

Her eyes begin to pool as she holds the letter in trembling hands.

Mina,

You were sleeping. I made the rest.

Have a good day.

The note isn't signed. It doesn't matter. She knows who has done this.

"Do you think this house is haunted?" Momo's question falls on deaf ears.

Mina brings the note to her chest and closes her eyes.

A simple note.

Simple words.

A simple act.

And yet her heart feels like a boat hit by a hurricane.

Nayeon drops to the studio floor, completely exhausted. She has been up all night making gift boxes.

Beth, their dance coach, hasn't been forgiving with the rehearsals.

Nayeon has lost count of how many cups of coffee she drank. If it isn't for the caffeine rushing through her blood, she is positive she would be purring and sleeping like a cat somewhere in the corner of the dance studio by now.

"Fifteen minutes break. I want you back sharp at five." Beth tells them sternly.

She groans as she wipes a sheen of sweat that drips from her eyebrow.

'"I'm famished. Want to get some ramen?" Chaeyoung asks the girls.

Nayeon doesn't respond.

The others say yes.

"Nayeonnie, are you coming?" Tzuyu asks.

She signals no. She isn't willing to spend her energy talking. She only has little remaining after all.

Laying her head back on the mirrored wall, she stretches her legs out, wondering if she should go for another cup of coffee. She is sure she would crash if she allows herself to take a nap.

Her eyes slowly close despite her mind's heavy protests.

Her thoughts begin to arrange themselves in a jumbled mess, as sleep begins to overtake her.

Brown eyes. Blonde hair. Romeo. Pillows. Warm bed. There they are again. Brown eyes. Blonde hair. Beautiful.

Everything makes sense and doesn't make sense at the same time as she falls into the land between sleep and awake.

"Nayeon."

A warm touch on her cheeks. A familiar voice.

Gift boxes. Ribbons. And whose brown eyes are those again?

Another soft touch. A soft hand cups her cheeks. "Nayeon-san."

The voice is barley a whisper. It still has the strength to pull her back from her sleep.

Her eyes flutter open.

Brown eyes. Blonde hair.

"Mina?" Her question is whispered.

The girl in question gives her a watery smile. "Thank you."

Nayeon's eyes close on their own as a gentle kiss lands on her forehead.

"Sleepy." She yawns, still trapped in the world between reality and dream.

"Come here."

The blonde pulls the older one into her and rocks her gently.

Nayeon drifts off to sleep, safe in the warmth of the chest she is sleeping on.

And that's how the girls find them.

Embraced in one another's arms, deep in sleep.

"Look. A Kodak moment." Chaeyoung remarks happily.

"Shush. You're going to wake them up." Jihyo silences her as she smiles adoringly at the pair on the floor. "Let's go. I'll ask Beth to finish the rehearsals for today."

Chapter Text

Nayeon sits back up only to be restrained by a soft pair of hands. Even through all the haziness induced by her uncomfortable sleep on the hard floor, she remains wise enough not to startle Mina and subject her to the awkwardness that is sure to follow.

The one she is already feeling by their current position.

She gently removes the blonde's arms that are holding her and puts a respectable distance between them.

She watches the girl stir from her sleep and a panic sets within her. She tries to remember her day and her thoughts arranges themselves into a loop of words that only says brown eyes.

She shakes her head lightly as if to make sense of her thoughts. The last thing she remembers is crashing on the dance floor, trying to catch up with her sleep.

She observes Mina with rising panic, her instincts demanding her to run, run from the girl who is destroying the walls she has so carefully erected around her.

She almost springs to her feet, giving in to her instinct, only to be regarded gently by sleepy eyes that stops her in her tracks.

The singer looks away from the girl who is carefully observing her.

"Nayeon-san?"

"Yes?"

Run, run. She ignores all the pleas from her mind and gazes back at the girl. The girl she has married, insulted and destroyed.

Yet, here she is, taking care of her, looking at her with soft eyes and warm smile.

For once, she decides to listen to her heart and sits back on the floor and looks at the mirror on the opposite wall to escape the stunning brown that seems to trap her.

"Thank you."

She almost scoffs.

Why is this girl thanking her, for calling her names? For making her life a living hell? For all the hurtful words she has so easily thrown at her?

"Mina." She sighs chancing a glance at the younger girl, who looks almost afraid of her response.

She feels a bile rising up her throat at the realization that Mina is afraid of her. Isn't that what she wanted? Has she not hurt her with the sole purpose of keeping her at arms length? So why does she suddenly no longer like being a monster? '

"You shouldn't be thanking me."

Mina smiles in relief at her response. She has almost expected more insults and abuses thrown her way. Almost.

Yet deep down she knows that it is only a facade, a mask the dark hair girl wears to protect herself, to keep everyone away from the real person beneath all the harsh words. A girl just as scared and vulnerable as her.

Mina knows she still has a long way to go before she forgets all the hurtful words that has so carelessly broken her, but she also knows she has already begun treading down that path.

"I should. I couldn't have made a hundred boxes in an hour." She chuckles nervously to lessen the tension that appears to envelope them.

"No. You couldn't have."

Nayeon agrees throwing a genuine smile at the blonde, silently thanking her for easing the awkwardness.

"So modest."

Nayeon smiles again as she becomes conscious of how easy and natural it feels to hold a conversation with Mina. A conversation with no hidden agenda, no personal gain and it is something she realises she has missed in her life.

She leans back against the wall and locks eyes with the younger girl in the mirror before them.

"Mina, I have not been the best person to be around and most of the times I am not. But," She pauses, pinching the bridge of her nose as if to make herself believe it is really her who is uttering these words, "I'll try to be."

Nayeon speaks quietly and Mina feels the unsaid and implied 'for you' tugging at the strings of her heart.

She nods her head as it dawns on her they are coming to a truce. She feels lighter and happier for the first time since Nayeon has unexpectedly entered her life.

"I couldn't ask for more."

Mina replies softly, breaking eye contact in the mirror and turning to look at Nayeon.

It is a small step the older girl has taken to reach out to her, yet she somehow feels like they've leaped an ocean.

She hums along to the radio, cooking breakfast for the rowdy bunch that has become her friends in the six months she has come to know them. To make everything even more chaotic her own friends are present this morning.

"You seem happy." Chaeyoung expresses, sipping orange juice straight from the carton.

Mina scowls at her momentarily, only to be met with a shrug of shoulders and an apologetic smile from the pink haired girl.

"I'll be happier when you learn not to do that." Mina chides her like she would do to a child.

"Oooh, Mina is on mommy mode." Momo cackles loudly and it turns to a squeal when a dirty washcloth hits her in the face.

"You did not do that." She says menacingly as she approaches the blonde near the stove and starts tickling her, making the girl jump and squeal like a little girl.

"Tickle time." Sana hollers happily and joins Momo in making the girl squeam.

"Jihyo-chan, help." Mina begs trying to escape the ditzy pair's firm grip on her.

Ever the saviour of her favourite girl, Jihyo pulls Sana and Momo away from the Japanese girl and begins to tickle them instead.

Tzuyu comes to Sana's rescue and drags Jihyo away from her only to be lifted by Jeongyeon who spins her around.

Dahyun and Chaeyoung watch the crazy mental ward that's the living room with a smile on their faces.

It is all fun and laughter until Nayeon walks into the kitchen.

"Can I get some food please, once you all are done tickling each other? I'm hungry." She declares sleepily.

They all stop stunned.

A pin drop silence follows.

"What?" The singer asks self consciously as eight pair of eyes regard her strangely.

"Mina cooked." Tzuyu offers, like it's explanation enough to their bizzare reaction for a simple breakfast request.

"So?" Nayeon's sure the girl has been warming up to her. Will Mina really refuse her some breakfast that smells so good?

"And you said please." Dahyun utters making no sense to the sleepy girl.

"Okay." She pauses and lifts an eyebrow when they still don't move. "Can I get some food once you guys are done staring at me?"

Mina seems to be the only one who has a reaction to that.

Nayeon sees the blonde throw a nervous smile at her, and even though she will never admit it loudly, even to herself, it warms her heart to be at its receiving end.

"Of course Nayeon-san."

Mina nudges Sana and Momo away from her gently who are still doing the imitation of a fly catcher. She turns her back to them, her attention now solely on the breakfast.

Nayeon rolls her eyes at her friends who won't stop staring at her and perches herself on the seats around the kitchen island, picking a magazine to read.

It is a few blissfully quiet moments later, she lifts her eyes from the magazine.

Jihyo and Dahyun are setting the table and Chaeyoung is attempting to steal some bacon from the pan only to be shoved away playfully by Mina.

A smile comes upon her face watching them interact with each other and it becomes only wider when she sees Romeo play with a tennis ball in the backyard.

She glances at the clock and realises that she barely has three hours to eat, shower and pack for her flight.

"Thank you." She mutters quietly when Mina hands her a tray of English breakfast, and gets the annoying feeling that she is being stared at again.

Resisting her impulse to snap her at the odd behaviour of her friends, she begins to eat her breakfast.

An hour later, she is showered, dressed and packed.

She walks to the backyard, picking Romeo up who comes running to her with all his adorable puppiness and begins to lick her cheeks once he is in her arms. She notes with sadness that she misses the little guy whenever she is away.

"Nayeon-chan, Ho-jin oppa is here." Sana sing songs earning an amused eye roll from the Korean girl.

"Bye bye Romeo. Don't trouble Mina too much." She plants a kiss behind his ears and turns around to see Jihyo standing next to Sana, both of them smiling widely at her for some odd reason.

"Let's go." She drags Jihyo to the living room.

Picking up her bags, Nayeon hugs Sana, Momo and Jeongyeon one by one.

She pauses as she lets go off Jeongyeon, hesitating a moment before Mina.

Mina almost moves towards the older girl as if to hug her, and stops herself last minute crossing her arms.

"Bye Mina. I'll be back next week."

Nayeon nods awkwardly.

A smile threatens to form on Mina's face and she chews on her bottom lip trying to hold it back. Nayeon has never acknowledged her even as a person to tell her about when she's returning.

Mina silently acknowledges all the baby steps the older girl has been taking.

"Bye, Nayeon-san." She nods back, desperately trying resist a smile.

Nayeon nods again and walks to the limo with the members leaving Mina with her friends.

"You know you can smile now." Sana laughs at her friend's flustered state earning a glare.

"Yeah, Minayah." Momo chuckles," Go on. Give us that beautiful smile."

"Weird. Who knew she was capable of making me smile?"

Mina shrugs trying to shake off the odd feeling encompassing her as she watches the limo drive away.

"She is, atleast when she is being awkward and adorable." Jeongyeon grins.

Mina considers it for a moment.

"I guess so."

Even though she tries to remain nonchalant about it, for reasons beyond her comprehension, a smile stays on her lips the rest of the day.

Unpredictable.

If her life can't be tucked into that box before, it certainly can be now. She avoids the eyes that bore into hers, the gaze too intense and familiar for her to be comfortable with. To even pretend she is comfortable.

Can we meet?

It starts out with a simple text. Three words, yet her heart feels like someone has pulled it out of her while it is still beating and only becomes worse seeing him in flesh.

"Mina." His voice is a quiet whisper as he tries to meet her eyes.

She stares at the ground. Why him? Why now?

"Mina, please look at me." He sounds defeated, as destroyed as her.

Soothing down the tense muscles in her neck, she tries to contain the sob that threatens to break out from her chest.

He tries to meet her eyes again, but it is firmly locked onto the ground.

The silence is getting too uncomfortable, they aren't used to dwelling into one around each other; always having the ability to hold a conversation with ease.

"Why oppa?" She holds his gaze, her heart fluttering like it always did during the initial stages of their relationship.

"You." He begins, his words seems choked, "You were my fiancée."

She nods her head, she doesn't need a reminder of what she's lost because she hasn't forgotten it.

"I am aware." More so than she can admit.

"And now you're a lesbian? Married to a despicable woman you'd have never associated with in real life?" He scoffs almost spitefully.

She doesn't expect the immediate surge of anger that quickly rises in her heart.

"She is my wife oppa. Don't talk about her that way." Her defensive tone startles both of them.

"You expect me to believe it?"

She avoids his eyes that looks into hers, trying to search for a speck of honesty.

"Mina, I spoke to Jeongyeon. Please don't be mad at her, I swear she hasn't told anyone, just me."

He knows.

There is a loud rush of blood in her ears, too loud for her to even think. It clouds her thought process.

"I haven't told anyone either Mina. You can trust me."

She trusts him. How can she not? You don't date someone for years and want to marry them without trusting them.

"T-Thank you."

She leans back on the couch, the remnant of tears in her cheeks, hands clasped in front of her nervously fidgeting trying to wrap her head around what she is feeling.

"I'm not here to cause you any trouble." He scratches his chin, a gesture she is all too acquainted with; her lips almost quirks into a tiny smile knowing he is as nervous as her.

"Why are you here oppa?" She surprises herself with the honest question.

"I miss you." She does too, but she doesn't voice it out. "Can we be friends?"

Here, she dares to release that smile that has been trying to break free for quite some time.

"Okay."

"Okay?" His voice is laced with a vulnerable tint she hasn't heard from him before and it only makes her resolve stronger.

"Okay."

Nayeon suppresses the urge to yell at the assistant only because she knows how she can destroy someone with words. She's seen it first hand with Mina.

She counts to ten, fisting her hand by her sides, the scowl on her face slowly dissipating and feels her anger fade away.

"One more day?"

The set assistant nods her head quickly and earnestly, largely expecting a string of abuses to be thrown at her any minute now.

"Fine. Just another day and then I'm gone."

"T-Thank you Nayeon-ssi."

Amy, the set assistant, smiles widely not even bothering to hide the suprise etched on her face, pleased with the singer's change of mind.

She has heard from others about her notorious mood swings and temper and she is pushed to face it because her boss is too much of a coward to deal with the wrath of the brunette.

Amy counts it as one of her lucky days.

Nayeon almost smiles, a warmth settling in her heart knowing she hasn't broken someone, she has probably made their day even.

She puts on a passive emotionless face and barks "Now out", and grins as the blonde assistant scurries away.

"I'm going soft." She mutters to herself once the assistant is out of her earshot.

She hears the front door open and loud voices filling the hall. She resists the urge to skip down the stairs to meet the bunch she has missed the past week.

"Mina." Dahyun's voice echoes across the large mansion, cheerful and happy as always.

"I'm in my room." She answers hesitantly, not wanting to impose on the singer on her first day back. She prays the girls would either drop it or just come up to her room, but it doesn't look like it's her lucky day today.

"Get your sexy arse down here. Right now." Chaeyoung hollers.

She rolls her eyes, an amused grin on her lips. The girls are borderline obsessed with her bum.

She drags herself down to the living room, reluctantly, but her smile turns to a frown when she notices Nayeon reclined on the couch, playing with Romeo.

She's hoped she wouldn't be there.

She wouldn't have gotten two feet in to the room, when she gets almost tackled to the ground by an overzealous hug from the members.

"You'd think they're back from a war." Nayeon notes sarcastically, but her tone is soft and gentle, playful even.

Mina almost smiles. Is Nayeon joking around her? That definitely is new.

"Hey." Dahyun says indignantly, releasing her hold on the blonde. "We missed her. Not all of us are uncapabale of emotions like you."

Mina waits for the yelling to come.

She counts patiently to ten.

It doesn't.

Hasn't Dahyun just called her out on her inability to love or emote?

A surprised gasp comes out of her when she catches the older girl flipping Dahyun off with a smile on her face instead of the scowl she is expecting.

She doesn't let the surprise show, unwilling to draw attention to the small steps the once alcoholic singer is taking. Instead she masks it with another smile as Jihyo shoves a huge bag in her hands.

"What's this?"

"I got that handbag for you. And Tzuyu purchased that dress for you. Chayeoung got you a perfume. That chocolate box is from Dahyun." Jihyo remarks off handedly, her attention now solely on the remote, trying to turn the telly on and misses the tears forming in the blonde's eyes.

Nayeon observes carefully as Mina opens the bag, looking beyond touched at the simple gesture. She smiles, more to herself, at how sappy the younger girl is.

Who'd have known a simple gift can make her happy? It almost makes her regret not buying anything for girl herself.

Almost.

"How long were you going to hide this from me Mina? I thought we were friends."

She almost snaps her neck turning to look at Dahyun, wondering what she has done to cause the hurt in her voice.

"We are friends Dahyun-chan. I don't understand what I've done." She says gently.

"Your birthday is tomorrow. You didn't think of telling us?" Another voice asks behind her and her eyes find Jihyo's whose looks equally hurt.

"I- I didn't think it was a big deal. I'm turning 23, not dying or something." She jokes trying to get them to understand.

"A birthday is always a big deal." Tzuyu announces as she plonks down on the couch.

"I tried telling her that and she ignored me." Momo joins in, pleased to have four more girls taking her side.

"I'm sorry." Mina reluctantly admits, "For not telling you, but I honestly didn't mean to hide it. Min and I, we weren't big on birthdays you know."

"We don't care how you did it with your ex." Mina blushes at the innuendo, "We're taking you out for dinner." Jihyo finishes, throwing her a glare daring her to disagree with her.

"Okay, but I'd be at work until four." She quickly gives in, it seems pointless to try and argue when five girls are ganging up on her.

"We'll pick you up at four?" Chaeyoung asks so eagerly that Mina wishes she can say yes, but she gives an apologetic smile instead.

"I-I agreed to meet Min at four."

Jihyo's eyebrows rises quickly, but she doesn't say anything.

"He's my friend Jihyo-chan." She wonders why she is getting so defensive.

She has been making progress with Min, meeting him regularly after work. She feels like her old self when she's around him away from the spot light, back in the quiet and ordinary. He makes her forget the circus that is her life now.

Jihyo nods but remains silent.

"How about at eight then?" Tzuyu asks, cutting through the tension in the air.

"Eight is fine." Mina agrees quickly, wanting to change the topic. She feels like she is being judged for something she shouldn't be.

"Awesome." Dahyun claps happily but Mina's attention is solely devoted to Jihyo's unusally quiet behaviour.

"Jihyo-chan, may I have a word with you in private?" She approaches the sullen looking girl.

The leader sighs and follows the blonde reluctantly into her bedroom.

"Do you have anything to say to me?" She asks as soon as they are in her bedroom.

"Does Nayeon know Mina?"

Out of all the things she's expected to come from the girl's mouth, this is the most random one.

"No." She and Nayeon aren't friends. "I don't think she would care enough to want to know."

"Mina, I know it doesn't look like it most of the times, but she is slowly learning to trust you. You need to give her a chance. She might surprise you."

And surprised, she is, when she unsurely approaches Nayeon in the kitchen the next day and explains how she has confided in Min about their contract marriage, assures her he wouldn't leak it to the press, tells her about her friendship with him and all she gets in return is an amused smile and a gentle voice which says,

"I trust your decisions."

She stands rooted to her spot, contemplating quite seriously if she is in the twilight zone and earns another amused smile from the singer.

"Is there anything else?"

She shakes her head no, too stunned to give a verbal response and feels her cheeks redden when Nayeon replies with,

"Good now that's sorted, how about giving me some space to walk past you or do I have to carry you to make you move?"

She moves immediately, trying to get her heart to stop beating so fast.

But it pounds in her chest even faster when Nayeon stops before her by the door frame and mutters, "By the way, Happy birthday."

Mina thinks she's going into a cardiac arrest with the fluttering her heart is doing.

Chapter Text

Mina isn't sure if it is okay to feel this good, it seems almost unnatural and foreign to her.

Seven months with Nayeon, seven months of hurt, constant struggle to find herself amidst all the chaos and turbulence, the bizarre twists and turns her life has been exposed to, and here she is, feeling almost as good as before, almost like her old self.

"Happy birthday darling." Cho greets her cheerfully, shoving a gift in her hands.

"Unnie, I told you not to-" She begins with a frown, only to be cut off with a wave of the older woman's hand.

"You're my favourite lass around here, damn me if I didn't get you anything."

She doesn't have the heart to argue after that and opens her gift to find a teddy bear which is holding a heart. On the heart are bold imprinted letters which says Minayeon Forever.

She laughs at how corny it is. She has come to learn that Nayeon's fans have given their couple a name, and she can't help but laugh at the ridiculousness of the gift.

"Really, unnie?"

"Hey, my other favourite lass is Nayeon you know, so stop laughing at me."

Mina laughs, all bright and gummy, at how haughtily Cho defends herself.

"Thank you." She offers calling truce.

She earns a hug and "Shoo, now go feed the little kids," from her boss.

She carefully places the teddy bear on her desk and wonders how Nayeon will react if she ever sees it. It brings a slight tremor to her body and makes her hope it never happens.

Her good mood doubles when Min shows up, dressed to impress. He has never made an effort to look good before. She feels a little giddy when he confirms he dressed up for her.

He takes her to see a musical and kisses her cheeks at the end of the day, making her flush brightly.

Her smile widens when she spots the girls in the limo.

"Bye." She lays a peck on his cheek before she can think about it. She can't help it, it is such a familiar thing to do with him.

If she thinks her smile can't widen anymore, it certainly does when he touches his pinkened cheeks in awe. It warms her heart to know that she still has an effect on him.

She approaches the limo with a happy skip to her steps and is greeted with a shit eating grin by Tzuyu and Chaeyoung.

Dahyun offers a small smile.

Jihyo is busy checking her phone.

"You seem awfully cheerful." Chaeyoung notes with a wink.

She swats at the pink haired girl's arm and takes a seat next to Jihyo.

"I am awfully cheerful." She agrees and surprises Jihyo with a hug. "Jihyo-chan," She says gently when the older girl gives her a confused glance, "Don't you think I know you well by now to know when something's bothering you? So stop pretending to check your phone and talk to me."

"I-Nothing Mina. I'm just stressed out with all the recording we've been doing." Jihyo relaxes into the hug.

Mina sees right through her lies. Jihyo is a workaholic and no work is too much work for her. She decides not to push the issue, she trusts the older girl to open up to her when she is ready.

"So where am I being taken to?" She asks the more cheerful ones and is shushed with, "It's a surprise."

Four hours later, after two glasses of wine and a long night of dancing and fun with her friends and members, walking unsteadily on her feet into the house only to bump unexpectedly into the girl she barely speaks to, she doesn't expect her night to end on a good note.

Good things and good mood has never lasted too long for her, especially when Nayeon is thrown into the mix.

But when a strong arm sneaks around her waist and steadies her from falling and the voice she is usually wary of bubbles with slight humour as she says,

"Oh my god, are you drunk? You know I can't stand the smell of alcohol."

And is met with a dazzling smile and bunny teeth, Mina lets herself believe that maybe, just maybe, this time good things are going to last.

One step forward and two steps back, that is what she is doing with Min.

She has gone to lunch with him and her friends to her parent's house.

They are talking about various things and she doesn't know Nayeon will be one of them. In hindsight she should have known it won't be long before her family begins their questioning, not because they are nosy but because they care.

What she also doesn't know is how much she truly cares about Nayeon until the topic begins.

"Is it true she cheated on her ex?" Min asks, shoving sushi down his throat.

"Can you please chew with your mouth closed dear?" Her mother beats her to it.

Min obeys with a huff.

"I don't know." Mina answers reluctantly.

"She seems like the type to hurt people. Of course she'd have cheated." Min continues.

Mina tries to even her breath. She isn't sure why she feels this angry or why she feels the overwhelming need to defend the older girl.

Momo glares at Min hoping he'd take the hint, but he seems oblivious to Mina's feelings.

"Oppa, we should talk about something else." Sana says, her eyes flickering between Mina and Min.

He doesn't seem to get the message.

"What? I'm right. She is a drunkard and-"

"I really think it's enough." Her father cuts him off this time, noticing how annoyed Mina looks.

"She is Oto-san. She seems like a total bitc-"

"Oppa." Mina interrupts his rant, "You don't know the first thing about her." Her tone barely contains her anger.

"Like you know." He snorts.

And to her suprise she does.

She knows the girl who reads stories to kids in a charity home, the girl who has loved her brother unconditionally and chooses to celebrate her birthday with kids rather than at a flashy party; she knows the girl who hasn't touched a drop of alcohol for her; a girl who flies halfway across the world to be with her for a vet appointment, rescues abandoned puppies and is kind enough to let someone else name them; she knows the girl who thoughtfully wishes her for her birthday, says thank yous and please, trusts her decisions, and spends a whole night making gift boxes for a stranger she only shares her roof with.

And that girl, Mina knows, would have never cheated on someone, because, she knows for sure now, that Nayeon has a heart of gold.

Her eyes blurs with tears.

She wonders how she has missed it before, how she has ignored all the glaring signs.

She likes Nayeon as a person, even more so than Min or anyone in her life.

"Excuse me."

She stands abruptly not bothering to hide her tears or explain her behaviour.

Because, she needs to see Nayeon.

Right now.

Mina doesn't bother acknowledging the girls, there will be plenty of time for that later she reckons.

Her eyes quickly scans the room. She feels a tinge of disappointment when she notes the absence of the familiar face, the face she longs to see.

"Mina, are you crying?" Dahyun asks with concern laced in her voice.

She is. Her tears haven't stopped.

"Do you know where Nayeon is?" She inquires in a shaky voice.

"What did she do now?" Tzuyu asks disapprovingly and it hurts Mina to know that even Nayeon's friends don't have faith in her.

Has she purposely failed everyone, because they don't expect too much of her anyway? Has she shown them the person who they thought she was, instead of the real her?

She remembers Nayeon's words to Jihyo. You keep forgetting I am the bad guy.

She isn't.

And it has taken her so bloody long to realise it.

"S-She hasn't done anything. Where is she?"

Chaeyoung points behind her.

Mina turns around to see where she is pointing and feels another fresh set of tears springing to her eyes when she finds the older girl playing fetch with Romeo.

She walks to the backyard, her glistening eyes never leaving Nayeon.

Nayeon turns around hearing light footsteps behind her, assuming it is one of the girls, instead her eyes find that of Mina's.

"Are you okay?" She tries to mask her concern, but lets it slip because the younger girl is in tears.

Mina doesn't answer.

She just looks at Nayeon, really looks at her for the first time.

The silence stretches so long, making Nayeon uncomfortable. She shifts slightly on her feet, not sure what to say.

"Mina?" She tries again and the girl seems to snap out of whatever trance she is in.

She walks towards Nayeon and whispers in gentle voice, "I'm going to hug you."

Mina doesn't wait for a response, her arms locking with a soft grip around the older girl's neck, elbows behind her shoulder.

Nayeon remains stiff for a few moment blinking away the shock, before her arms closes around Mina's back.

She feels the younger girl's tears soaking her chest and realises that this isn't the first time she's seen the girl cry, but it is the first time it affects her so much.

She rubs Mina's back soothingly and whispers, "It's okay and don't cry," to the sobbing mess in her arms.

"You are not the bad guy." The blonde mutters.

Nayeon stiffens in surprise. When has she ever not been the bad guy?

She feels the younger girl's spine shudder, wrecking with even more sobs and feels tears blurring her own eyes.

"You are not the bad guy, Nayeon-chan." Mina mutters again and again, until Nayeon lets herself believe in it.

Mina holds the older girl tightly until she feels her own tears retract.

"I am not the bad guy." Nayeon whispers it out loud, like a trial, a test run even.

"You're not."

Mina plants a kiss on Nayeon's chest which is beating loudly in her ears.

"I am not the bad guy."

And this time Nayeon almost believes it.

Boram rubs her temples and tries to quell an onsetting headache. She hasn't been subjected to this stubborn side of Nayeon in a long time.

"No, unnie. I am not attending this event. That's final."

"It's an important party Nayeon-ssi. The record label committee is going to be there. You can't just avoid it."

"I understand unnie." Nayeon offers sympathetically, "But I cant. I'm sorry."

"Why?" Dahyun asks, casting a curious glance at Nayeon. "Is it because you have to bring Mina along? I thought you were getting along with her."

Nayeon frowns, her scowl deepening. "It's not that."

'Then what is the problem Nayeonnie?" Tzuyu expresses, annoyed at the fuss over a party.

Nayeon has been out with Mina at parties before, granted she hasn't always been sober, but she still can't see why the older girl is suddenly making a big deal out of it.

"Hyun. He will be there." Nayeon states meekly.

"So?" Dahyun smirks.

Exactly so? Nayeon can't put a finger on what she is feeling. She doesn't understand why she feels this protective over the blonde. It hasn't happened to her since her younger brother.

"He seems kind of obsessed with Mina, the last time he interviewed me."

Jihyo's lip twitches into a smile at the quiet way the words are whispered.

"And?" Chaeyoung asks impatiently.

"And? Have you forgotten how she was after Geun? I don't want her moping around the house looking right depressed and shit." Even as Nayeon utters the words, she knows it is a lie.

Jihyo's smile turns into a knowing grin.

"Hyun is not Geun, Nayeon. Besides I'm sure you would keep Mina safe. Wouldn't you?'

She will because she cares. Slightly. Maybe. But she isn't going to admit it and make Jihyo's annoying grin even wider.

"I'm not her bloody bodyguard. She can look after herself."

"Right." Dahyun nods, sharing a secretive smile with Jihyo.

"Bloody right."

Nayeon agrees.

"Nayeon-chan? Why don't you go and talk to Adam?" Mina asks, her eyes flickering back and forth between her silent companion and the American dancer.

She can tell she wants to talk to him, but Nayeon is acting stranger than usual, glaring at everyone who dares to approach their table.

"No."

Mina knows she isn't going to get an explanation and decides to drop the questioning with a sigh. She sees Hyun waving at her and calling them over to meet someone.

"Hyun wants us to go over to him."

The older girl looks so fast up Mina wonders how she hasn't broken her neck yet.

"I don't care." Nayeon growls.

"It's rude. You can't just ignore him." She exhales a soft breath, deliberating what has gotten into the older girl, only to get even more silence in reply. "Fine, I'll go and talk to him then."

"No." Nayeon almost yells and regrets it as soon as she sees the blonde flinch at the harshness of her tone.

"No?"

"No." She repeats, this time a little less louder.

Mina feels anger bubble up her throat. "Are you ordering me?" She asks evenly.

Nayeon twitches uncomfortably in her seat.

"You're my wife. I have the rights?"

It comes out like a question instead of an answer and Nayeon almost smiles at herself. She hasn't done that since she was a teenager. She quickly hides her smile not wanting to upset the younger girl even further.

"Wrong answer. I'm only your contract wife and there is no need to pretend, as there is nobody within five feet of us because you've been oh so helpfully glaring at everyone who comes our way. So try again."

Mina speaks slowly and clearly, as she tries to control the irritation at being bossed around.

"Because you're wearing high heels and might trip?"

Mina sees a ghost of smile playing on Nayeon's lips.

"Nayeon-chan." She begins exasperatedly.

"Wrong answer? Try again?"

Nayeon has the audacity to not even bother hiding her smile anymore. She's having fun teasing the blonde who looks almost adorable as she huffs at her response.

"Fine. Speak to me again when you've dropped your childish attitude."

Mina isn't even mad at her anymore, how can she be when Nayeon is being so playful? However, she isn't ready to drop her act and speak to the singer.

Nayeon shrugs. See if I care, she tells herself. She isn't big on having conversations anyway.

Two minutes of painful silence later, Nayeon decides Mina is being very immature about this, three minutes later she wishes the girls would come back to the table instead of socialising, four minutes later she convinces herself she is enjoying the silence, five minutes later she's had enough of the silent treatment.

"He has a thing for you ok? Go right ahead and talk to him if you want to, but don't expect me to come play hero if he tries something. I'm tired of this bodyguard duty anyway." She scoffs, twisting the table napkin in her hand.

Despite herself, Mina smiles as it sinks in why the older girl has remained faithfully by her side throughout the evening.

Nayeon is protecting her.

The same Nayeon who hurt her once, is now trying to keep her from getting hurt.

It is such a thoughtful gesture, sweet even; something she would have never associated with Nayeon before and she is glad she is beginning to see this side of the older girl more often.

"I won't go."

"Whatever."

Nayeon says dismissively, like she can't care less about what the blonde does.

Two seconds later, Mina swears she sees a goofy grin splitting Nayeon's face and her heart swells at the sight.

Out of body experience.

She is sure she is having one of them, because Nayeon has marched right into her room and asked, more like demanded, that they go out for lunch together.

She surely isn't expecting them to wear hoodies and huge sunglasses, and have lunch at McDonald's out of all places.

It's bizarre, carefree and normal all at the same time. The singer still has trouble making conversations, but Mina's smiles are big and bright and encouraging whenever she tries and engage in small awkward talk.

She has also learnt few things about the older girl, like how she double dips all her nuggets, her sweet tooth- she stirs six packet of sugars into her coffee, raises an eyebrow when Mina gasps and cheekily adds another, her love hate relationship with tictacs- she declares she loves them as she pops one into her mouth only to spit them out a minute later in complete disgust; these quirks only making Nayeon more human in Mina's eyes, an extremely likeable one at that.

Six hours later, they walk into their home, tired and exhausted, and Nayeon says with a smug grin, "Now go make me a sandwich, wife," Mina doesn't resist the urge to throw a pillow on her face.

When Nayeon responds with a rich laughter that resonates around the room, Mina convinces herself she is definitely having an out of body experience.

Chapter Text

She has forgotten this side of Nayeon exists for quite some time. She should have been used to it by now, but it still takes her by surprise.

Mina has nobody but herself to blame for momentarily forgetting how insensitive Nayeon can be when she wants to.

"I said no." Nayeon says stubbornly.

"It's just a Christmas tree, what's the big deal Nayeon-chan?" She tries again hoping to talk some sense into the older girl.

"I said no." Nayeon repeats, reclining on the couch and not even sparing a glance at the blonde.

"My family-" She is rudely interrupted before she can finish.

"I don't want to know anything about your family or whatever."

Nayeon isn't ready to hear about the blonde's family because she knows she would soften and give in.

"Its my house, my rules." Nayeon finally looks at Mina but her gaze is hard.

"Oh."

Mina swallows thickly, looking away.

They're just on a truce. Have agreed to coexist peacefully alongside each other. But they are not friends. This isn't her house.

She mentally slaps herself for forgetting her place in Nayeon's life.

"I'm sorry. You're right."

She leaves the kitchen and walks to her bedroom. She doesn't want to show how affected she is before Nayeon. She doesn't let Nayeon see the tears that are gathering in her eyes.

This will never be her home.

When she walks into the living room later because the members have arrived, her eyes connects with Nayeon for a moment.

She sees the older girl frown and hopes her eyes aren't red from all the crying she has done.

"Hello girls." She breaks the eye contact to address the people who have become her best friends.

Jihyo has this ability to read her like a book and she tries to avoid her questioning glance.

It is a few hours later when Jihyo pulls her into a quiet room. She doesn't ask her anything and pulls her into a tight hug.

That simple act is enough to break Mina and a fresh onslaught of tears assault her eyes.

"Christmas is the only time of the year I forget all my problems and be genuinely happy."

Jihyo caresses the blonde's cheek, letting her speak.

"Nayeon just made it clear that my thoughts on this matter don't count."

"I know she can be difficult Mina." She strokes her chin and looks into the Japanese girl's teary eyes. "It's really not my place to tell you this. But she hates Christmas."

"She hates everything."

Despite herself, Jihyo lets out a chuckle.

"Not you." She tugs her sweater, pulling her into another bone crushing hug. "She definitely doesn't hate you. "

Mina refuses to believe that but lets herself be held.

Nayeon is exhausted. She has been shooting an individual project continuously for the past few weeks.

As she lays back against the plush seats of the limo, watching tender snow drops hit the windows, she is reminded of something else as tender and fragile as these beautiful drops.

She wonders what Mina is doing. She hasn't liked the hurt look in the blonde's eyes when she refused to have a Christmas tree in their house.

In her house.

She corrects herself.

It is Christmas eve. Everyone in the studio has looked happy and excited. She just wants to go home and get some sleep.

She exhales a soft breath and lets her eyes close for a few seconds.

When she opens them again they are in a quieter part of Seoul. Her eyes glances to the modest looking row of houses to her left.

Her shrewd gaze spots a familiar car parked in front of a battered house.

"Ho-jin oppa, can you pull over for a second?"

She calls Dahyun's phone as she gets out of the limo.

"Nayeonnie." A cheery voice answers. She can hear a lot of people on the other end.

"Hey, where are you?"

She just wants to know what Dahyun is doing in this suburb. This isn't the kind of place they visited.

Dahyun is quiet for sometime.

"I'm with my family." She whispers the reply.

That is a lie. She knows where Dahyun's family live and it definitely isn't here, in this shady neighborhood.

Why is Dahyun lying to her?? Her brows creases with confusion.

As if to answer her question, she sees members and Mina's friends walk out of the house with Mina in tow just when she is about to end the call.

They stop when they find her across the road and look at each other guiltily.

Dahyun's frozen in spot, her phone still attached to her ears.

"Did your family move here Dahyun?" She asks when they approach her hesitantly.

They don't respond.

Her friends have lied to her.

And Nayeon doesn't know what to make of it.

"They were having dinner with my family." Mina is the first one to gather herself.

"You didn't tell me about it because?" She ignores the younger girl and directs the question to the sheepish looking members.

"Because you didn't want to know anything about my family. They wanted to. That's why they're here."

Nayeon meets the blonde's eyes, putting on an impassive face.

The younger girl's eyes are back to their warm, soft, brown. They're not red anymore. They've begun to heal from the damage she has done earlier.

Jihyo sees something similar to hurt flash in Nayeon's dark eyes at Mina's words only to be quickly replaced by the aloof mask she wears.

"I'm heading home. Goodnight everyone."

She shrugs and leaves the place, as coolly and as nonchalantly only Nayeon can be.

The girls look at each other bewildered at what has just happened.

Nayeon tries to figure out what she is feeling. She has promised Mina she'd be nice to her, but that doesn't mean she has to open herself up in a way that would leave her bare and vulnerable. Destructible.

Besides, she has only refused to hear about her family because she doesn't want to get attached.

She has regretted those words immediately and wished she can take them back when she sees the flicker of hurt in the blonde's eyes.

Her regret becomes deeper when her own friends had to lie to her to spend time with Mina's family.

She doesn't want them to choose between her and Mina. She actually appreciates how they care for the younger girl's feelings when she can't.

Sure she doesn't know how to care for someone but that doesn't mean she likes seeing them hurt.

They have been making some progress in whatever fragile relationship they have and she feels like she has just dragged them back ten steps.

"Do you want to go with me somewhere?"

Mina stops playing with Romeo. She looks tired. Tired of her.

Nayeon can't blame her for it. It is Christmas morning and she has barely spoken to the younger girl since she got home.

"Okay."

That's all? She isn't even going to ask where? However, a part of her is secretly relieved that she hasn't.

"Nam-ji loved Christmas."

She says as she looks at the headstone affectionately.

They stand in the cemetery in comfortable silence.

"This is why you don't like to celebrate them anymore."

Mina's voice is low and understanding and Nayeon doesn't know if she deserves it.

The younger girl takes a step closer to her. Nayeon knows tears in her own eyes are pooling up. She looks away so that the girl next to her can't see them.

"Merry Christmas Nam-ji."

She hears Mina whisper. Nayeon swears she can feel her heart grow bigger in size.

When they get home, she sees Mina gasp at the gigantic Christmas tree in the corner of the living room.

All the effort of calling her assistants secretly and getting them to arrange this while they are away seems worth it when Mina falls  into her in a tight hug.

As Nayeon leans against the wall, holding Mina in her arms, and an excited puppy runs around them, she supposes Christmases aren't all that bad if she got moments like these.

"She put up a Christmas tree?" Jihyo asks in astonishment.

"This has to be a joke." Chaeyoung refuses to believe the giant tree in front of her eyes is real. She thinks it's probably a product of her imagination.

"She never let us." Dahyun shakes her head as she turns to look at Mina. "Thank you."

Mina doesn't know why the girl is thanking her. She only knows she is just as astounded as them.

"Let's open our gifts."

Mina laughs at Tzuyu. She always knows how to make any situation less sentimental.

The girls opens their gifts Nayeon has got them and feels guilty for not getting her anything.

Romeo is busy shredding the gift wrappers they leave by their sides making them laugh.

"We should have got her something too." Dahyun says regretfully.

"It doesn't matter." Nayeon comes down having changed into a pair of beige slacks and a red sweatshirt. "I just wanted to get you guys something."

"What did you get Mina?" Tzuyu turns to Nayeon when she realises there are only seven gift boxes.

Everyone's names except Mina's is on them.

Nayeon feels four pairs of eyes looking at her questioningly. A pair of eyes look at her fondly.

"I didn't." She meets the blonde's eyes across the room. She bends down to pick Romeo in her arms. "I got her Christmas. That's the only thing I could do in this short notice, besides I don't know what she really likes."

Nayeon feels the room go quiet as she rambles and wonders if she has said anything wrong.

She probably should have gotten Mina something.

Hours later, she finds herself alone with Mina. The members have just left after a dinner they all prepared together.

Nayeon isn't a wizard in the kitchen like Mina but she manages to make some pie without burning it.

They are cleaning the kitchen and sorting out the dishes side by side in companionable silence. When they are done, Mina picks Romeo up and disappears down the hallway.

Nayeon feels strangely disappointed that she hasn't even gotten a goodnight.

Just when she is about to retire to bed too, she sees the blonde approaching her.

"Merry Christmas, Nayeon-chan."

The younger girl shoves a box in her hands.

"You got me a gift?"

The girls haven't. She wouldn't blame them, she is a right bitch during Christmas. Mina has. Even though she is a bitch to her all the time.

"I hope you like it." The blonde removes her hands gently out of the singer's hands.

Nayeon feels her eyes prickle when she sees the box of legos. She remembers how she has mentioned to the members once that she has loved them as a child.

And only Mina has noticed enough to give her a part of her life that holds happy memories back to her.

"I love it." She tries to stop her voice from breaking.

"Really?"

"Really."

She tucks a strayed hair behind Mina's ears. She feels her heart swell at the teary smile that is thrown her way.

She is surprised when she realises she would do a lot to receive one of these smiles.

"I'm sorry I didn't get you anything." Her hand cups the blonde's cheek. "I'm just really awful at giving gifts."

She is stunned when Mina throws her head back and laughs.

"You gave me Christmas. Nothing could beat that."

They stare at each other fondly.

Nayeon hopes she can stop smiling like a fool. She hopes that Mina can't hear how loud her heart is beating.

"Goodnight."

When a kiss lands on her cheek gently, Nayeon knows she doesn't mind being a fool in front of Mina.

She sighs as she sees the blonde walk into her bedroom.

"Merry Christmas Mina."

She whispers it like a prayer to the empty room.

Chapter Text

Mina feels conflicted. This isn't how she has expected her New year to go.

Min has planned a weekend for them, away from the stalking eyes of the paparazzi and she doesn't know what to tell him now.

"My dad is going to be here."

Nayeon is careful and gentle with her words, she has crushed the younger girl enough already. Besides, she already hates being the one thwarting the plans the blonde has with her friend, ex fiancé, whoever.

"And you want me to pretend as your doting wife?"

Nayeon sighs.

It isn't what she wants. It's what is needed.

She knows how cruel her father can be. It runs in the family, she supposes.

She doesn't want Mina to suffer anymore than what she has already put her through.

If her father knows she is only her contract wife he will treat her worse than she has.

"We don't have to kiss in front of him or anything, if you're worried about that." Nayeon pauses, scratching her chin nervously, "Just a little PDA. It shouldn't be that difficult."

It shouldn't be. Mina knows. Anyone in her place would jump at the chance to get close to Nayeon. Except her.

"How long is he going to be around?"

"Three weeks. Can you pretend to like me until then?"

Mina doesn't have to pretend. Because she already likes Nayeon. She doesn't tell her that.

"Sure."

When Nayeon's dad arrives, he casts Mina a suspicious glance.

"She's good looking darling. At least you have standards."

Nayeon glares at him but controls her anger.

"Dad, she's my wife and she's right here. I would like it if you didn't speak of her like she's an object."

Mina's cheek warms a little, touched at how Nayeon comes to defend her honour. She knows it means nothing, they aren't real, but she can't help the gentle fluttering her heart does.

"Right, don't get your knickers in a twist darling. I was only complimenting your wife."

They have dinner and Mina tries not to blush whenever Nayeon leans over to whisper something in her ears, sitting too close for comfort.

They are used to pretending for the paps and cameras outside. One can call them an expert even. But this is their personal space. A place Nayeon calls her home. And it feels weird to be physically affectionate here.

If Nayeon feels it too, she doesn't let it show.

"Goodnight dad."

"Goodnight darling."

He looks at them long enough to make them shift uncomfortably on their feet.

Mina follows Nayeon into her bedroom.

She has been here couple of times before, never staying for more than a few seconds.

She has never imagined in her wildest dreams that she would be sharing a bed with the singer. She sits on the edge of the bed gingerly while Nayeon disappears into the bathroom to change into her night clothes.

"Do you think he saw right through my lies?"

Is Nayeon asking her? Do her thoughts suddenly count somehow?

"I don't know."

She says to the bathroom door.

Nayeon comes out wearing an old sweatshirt and shorts. Her face is wiped free of makeup, and Mina can't help but think that Nayeon looks much younger and much more beautiful when she is barefaced like this.

She changes into a long shirt of Nayeon's in the bathroom.

They can fool others easily. But this is Nayeon's dad and they have to go the extra mile to convince him.

Nayeon's sweet earthly scent gently assaults her senses as she slips the shirt over her head. She feels slightly odd and uncomfortable letting the material caress her skin, it feels too intimate.

When she walks out, she sees Nayeon looking at her with an unreadable expression. She swallows thickly as some kind of tension creep into the room.

She tugs at the end of her shirt, hoping it gives her some modesty. She suddenly feels too exposed. Or it is the way Nayeon is looking at her that makes her feel that.

Mina breaks their eye contact and clears her throat a little.

When she sees the older girl making herself comfortable under the covers on one end of the bed, she hesitantly lifts the sheets and spreads herself across the other end of the bed.

They don't talk and she is thankful for that.

Because this is already weird. Wearing Nayeon's shirt, sleeping on her bed with her so close by.

She stares at the clock in the wall across her and slowly feels herself drifting to sleep.

"Goodnight Mina."

She lays awake for what seems like an eternity after that.

She notices that Nayeon's breath has evened out and the older girl has even scooted slightly closer to her in her sleep.

"Goodnight Nayeon-chan."

She whispers it into the night.

Nayeon wakes up feeling relaxed. She hasn't slept this comfortably in a long time.

She slowly pries away the blonde's arm that is around her waist, careful not to wake her.

They have somehow drifted close to each other during the cold night and Nayeon doesn't want Mina to feel awkward if they wake up like that.

She takes a moment to observe the sleeping girl.

Her bee stung lips slightly parted as she takes soft breaths, her blonde hair falling around her face in cascades creating a beautiful glow,

Mina , Mina looks ethereal bathed in the soft morning light.

And Nayeon feels something in her heart mellow a little.

"You've never been in love."

She almost chokes on her toothpaste.

"You've never been in love." Her dad continues ignoring her perplexed state. "But"

"But?" She asks intrigued.

"But you're different around her." He adds after a moment.

"Different how?"

"Like you trust her."

He says looking at the Japanese girl who's sleeping peacefully on the bed.

Nayeon doesn't know what to say to that. She trusts Mina, she knows that. She hasn't thought it's a big deal until her father utters the next few words.

"You didn't trust your ex."

Nayeon feels her heart stop.

"You shouldn't trust this girl either."

For some reason, she feels an irritation gnawing at her insides.

"I can and I will."

So she does.

She tells Mina later that day, she only likes legos because Nam-ji loved playing them.

"We spent hours making these legos." She says sullenly, "Sometimes I would be too tired from dance practice and vocal lessons and wouldn't play with him."

Mina pulls the older girl into her side on the couch and even though Nayeon knows Mina is being physically affectionate because her father is watching them from the kitchen, she returns the hug, wrapping an arm around the blonde and feels herself relax.

"Are you okay?" Mina asks, melting into the hug, burying her face in the crook of the older girl's neck.

Nayeon chuckles softly.

"Will I ever be?"

That's a loaded question and Mina doesn't know what the appropriate answer to that would be.

"I wish," She releases Nayeon reluctantly. Her eyes lock on to the intense, alluring ones of Nayeon's as she whispers, "I wish you'd realise you were a wonderful sister."

And Nayeon believes.

Because there are a lot of things the girl next to her can make her believe. If she says the sky is green, Nayeon knows she'll believe it without a second thought.

She chokes back her tears as she feels a weight lift off her heart. She doesn't know how to thank the younger girl with words. She is never good at words.

Nayeon surprises herself by reaching for Mina's hand and bringing it to her lips.

She lays a gentle kiss there convincing herself that she is doing it because her dad is still watching them.

She pretends that she doesn't see a pretty colour rising to Mina's cheek.

She pretends she doesn't feel her heart swell at that sight.

One step forward two steps back.

This dance they are doing around each other is consistent. Mina knows it is only a matter of time before Nayeon relapses to her old self, after all old habits die hard, but she doesn't expect that to happen in front of Nayeon's dad.

Why would she give him ammunition like that? It is hard enough having one Im hurting her constantly.

"I'm going for a walk."

She schools her features into a fake smile. Nayeon almost moves like she wants to stop her.

But she doesn't. Normally, Nayeon won't let her go alone because the paps are always circling their house like vultures.

Despite that, she knows it's best to let Mina go now. She will definitely need space after what she's just told her.

It has started with something as simple as a breakfast request. Nayeon has wanted orange juice and Mina wanted apple.

When she returns from the store, she's completely forgotten the apple juice.

"It's just the one thing I asked." Nayeon knows Mina is saying it lightly. Her tone is amused. "And you forgot that."

What Nayeon doesn't know is what triggers her to say the next few words.

It is almost as if she goes out of her way to hurt Mina because she hates how comfortable she has gotten around her.

"It's my money and I'll buy what I want."

She gives Mina a slow once over.

She has bought her too. The words don't have to be said. Mina isn't stupid. She gets the message loud and clear.

She is only a purchase. A purchase doesn't have the right to demand anything. Even something as simple as apple juice.

Nayeon's father throws a smug grin Nayeon's way. Like he is proud of her daughter when she is like this.

"I'm going for a walk."

Mina manages a smile at Nayeon.

Her pride won't let her break in front of the person who's done it.

She hears the constant clicks of camera around her.

"Mina-ssi say hi."

"Mina-ssi how are you keeping Nayeon-ssi under your thumb?"

"Did you marry her because she's rich?"

She laughs mirthelessly.

She doesn't realise a car stopping by her side. She doesn't realise Dahyun pulling her into the limo until she feels dainty arms wrapping themselves around her, comforting her, holding her.

"Sshhh. It's okay love. I'm here. "

She doesn't know when she has started crying. Dahyun rocks her gently until she calms down.

When Mina apologizes to her for ruining her shirt, Dahyun jokes about how she is going to ruin Nayeon for doing this to her.

"She didn't do anything Dahyun-chan."

The last thing she wants is to drive a wedge between two friends.

"Please don't talk to her about this."

Dahyun looks at her like she can call her bluff. But she respects Mina too much to go against her wish.

Nayeon has this beautiful human around her, why does it seem like all she's capable of doing is destroying her?

Mina isn't any other girl. She cares. She gives love freely to anyone who wants. Why does Nayeon have to break her, hurt her like this? Like she is some toy. Like she's not made of flesh and blood.

Maybe Nayeon isn't human after all.

Dahyun immediately feels guilty for thinking that. She's seen glimpses of humanity in her, but the tears in the broken girl's eyes tells her otherwise.

"I won't. But you're staying the night at mine."

Mina is too weak to argue.

She hears Dahyun call Nayeon before she goes to the room to that's been given to her.

She lets Dahyun hold her in a hug and lull her to sleep like she is a child.

When she walks back to Nayeon's house from Dahyun's car the next day, she almost feels afraid.

She is glad to find her friends and all the members in the house. They don't have to protect her, they can't always be around, but bless them for trying.

"Let's have some breakfast."

She wants to refuse Jihyo.

But she feels Nayeon's eyes on her.

She can't let the older girl know how much power her words has over her.

She joins everyone at the table. When Momo goes to fetch some juice for them from the fridge, a dozen of bottles of apple juice falls on the floor.

"Nayeon-chan, did you stack them for an army?" Momo asks.

Mina's eyes flicker from the bottles that lay on the floor to Nayeon.

Dark eyes look at her apologetically.

"Do you want some?"

Mina politely refuses Momo's offer, turning her gaze away from Nayeon.

She isn't going to let Nayeon think that she can undo everything by buying her things.

"You better be grateful for the stuff my girl buys you."

Mina hears a gasp which isn't her own.

"Dad."

"You're living off her money. This kind of attitude won't do."

"Dad, that's enough."

A strong fist bangs loudly on the table creating a deafening silence.

"Don't you dare speak to me like that." Nayeon's father stands, staring at her furiously.

"Then don't you dare speak to my wife like that."

If Mina isn't still recovering from the damage Nayeon has done the previous day, she would have found the intense staring competition the two Ims amusing.

She sees Nayeon's father falter slightly at how the youngest Im stands her ground.

That is probably new to him.

"Whatever, sit your disrespectful arse down."

He grumbles in a low voice.

She sees Nayeon perching herself on her seat, face still flushed from anger.

Is this an act? Mina doesn't know what is real or pretend anymore.

"Enjoy your breakfast."

Momo shoves dumpling into her mouth, breaking the tension in the room, making everyone dissolve into fits of laughter.

Chapter Text

Mina isn't sure what Nayeon is doing.

It starts with something so small that if you blink you'll miss it.

But Mina is smart. She doesn't let anything pass her by unnoticed.

Three days before New Year's she finds breakfast ready in the kitchen.

In all the eight months she has lived with Nayeon, not once she has woken up to this.

She assumes Nayeon has done it for her father. As a peace offering for yelling at him the day before.

She makes some ramen for herself and kisses Nayeon on the cheek on her way out. She doesn't dare make eye contact as she plants one.

Mina feels physically sick having to do this when she is still reeling from the hurt Nayeon has caused.

She is getting paid and has a part to play. She doesn't want to be a lousy worker. So she does what's expected of her no matter how much it repulses her.

As if Nayeon realises how disgusted she feels, she smiles sadly and says, "He'll only be here two more weeks."

When Mina goes home late that night, having slaved away in the kitchen all by herself, she finds Romeo waiting for her excitedly at the door.

She picks him up with a smile. She walks towards their shared bedroom reluctantly and sighed in relief when she sees Nayeon fast asleep on the couch in the room.

She's not sure she can share a bed with the singer. Not after what happened.

Two days before New Year's she finds Cho in the home's kitchen.

"Hi boss."

Cho smiles and goes on and on about how Mina is working too hard.

"So, I hired someone new."

Mina lifts an eyebrow at her boss questioningly. Sure, holiday season brings them more fund than normal but it still isn't enough to hire another person.

"I thought we were short of cash."

"Someone made a very generous donation to the home."

Cho doesn't say more and scurries away avoiding eye contact like Mina can read her mind if she stayed.

Mina has a hunch on who must have donated the money.

One day before New Year's, Nayeon disappears somewhere and comes back in the evening looking tired and disheveled only to tell her dad that she isn't going to be home for New Year's. That she wants to spend it with her wife. And he should make plans for himself. 

Mina is baffled why Nayeon would want to spend time with her.

She is even more perplexed when Nayeon drops her off at a private villa and drives away without a word. 

She finds rose petals leading to a balcony with dinner set for two.

At the end of the path, she finds Min waiting for her with a bright smile on his face. At the stroke of midnight when he leans in to kiss her cheek, she gladly accepts it.

She always thought grand romantic gestures were a thing of the past, but he has proved her wrong.

"I can't believe you went through all this effort for me."

He smiles uneasily.

She finds Nayeon fast asleep on the couch again when she goes back home.

Mina feels bad for her. Her neck must hurt sleeping in a cramped space like that. She wants to sleep in the guest room but they still have a role to play in front of Nayeon's father.

"Hello, little guy."

She peels her eyes off the singer when Romeo runs to her excitedly.

She walks to the closet to hang her coat when she finds something.

It is so small, it's easy to miss.

But Mina doesn't miss.

A tiny rose petal is trapped in the fur on Nayeon's coat.

It flutters gently and lands on the floor.

Mina picks it up and feels her own heart flutter as well.

The tiny petal tells her who has arranged the night, why Nayeon came back home tired and why Min has looked uneasy when she complimented him for the romantic gesture.

Mina is finally sure what Nayeon is doing.

Nayeon is grovelling.

In Nayeon's own way. 

Enigmatic and in the background.

The realisation sends a rush of emotions shoot through her heart and a smile finds a way to her lips.

When Nayeon wakes up the next morning, she is immediately in a bad mood because of how sore her body is.

But it all changes when she sees Mina sleeping peacefully with a smile residual on her lips.

She assumes it is because she has had a good night with Min.

She feels lighter at the realisation that someone has undone the damage she has done.

She fails to realise that it is her.

It is always her who can make or break Mina.

Nayeon's exhausted.

Beth is making them rehearse to perfection. Nonstop. For the past ten hours.

"Does it hurt?"

Jihyo eyes her, like her words mean more than what she is asking. Like she is asking if Nayeon's body hurts as much as she hurt Mina.

"Don't you think I deserve it?"

Jihyo shrugs as she takes a sip of her water. "Only you'd know the answer to that Nayeon."

Chayeoung looks at the pair puzzled. Their tone is heavy even though they are only talking about rehearsals. But she doesn't question them.

When Nayeon walks into the house feeling completely burnt out, she sees Momo laughing with Mina.

They are playing around while they cook. Momo's arms are around Mina's waist trying to distract her from cooking.

Mina tries to shove her away with a bright gummy smile on her face.

Nayeon feels her mood instantly brighten.

It turns a little sour when she sees her father staring at the pair sceptically.

"Nayeon-chan, you're home. "

Momo cackles.

That girl definitely doesn't need a reason to laugh. It lightens Nayeon's mood even more.

Nayeon's eyes meet warm brown for a moment and she bites her lips nervously.

The younger girl, for some unfathomable reason, is looking at her fondly.

She walks towards Mina and pulls her into a hug. She doesn't know if she's still repulsed by her touch but her father is watching and he can't know the truth about the contract.

She will never give him the power to hurt Mina.

Like she hasn't already done enough of that.

It's odd, Nayeon thinks, as she feels Mina relax into the hug. She feels her own eyes shut for a moment or two.

When they pull apart, Nayeon watches transfixed as Mina's hands reaches for her arms.

The younger girl's slender fingers gently trail upwards to find purchase on her shoulders.

Nayeon hopes to god Mina won't see the goosebumps her touch causes.

Hazel eyes locks on to hers and Nayeon can't seem to look away. She doesn't know how long they stand there, looking at each other.

It could have been seconds or minutes.

"Nayeon-chan." She hears Mina whisper her name. "Hi."

Nayeon drops the gaze, flushing slightly when she hears her father clear his throat.

She doesn't know if this is an act to the younger girl or if it is real. But the heart beating loudly in her chest feels very real.

When Mina leaves a scorching kiss on her cheek in the corner of her mouth and turns around to pay attention to the dinner, Nayeon feels a little dizzy and thinks she's probably really exhausted, more so than she has thought.

She lets out a soft breath and decides to take a seat in the living room to quell the dizziness.

She finds her father sitting on the couch, looking grumpy and miserable.

"Don't you think they're a bit too close?"

He points at Momo who is pinching Mina's cheek dotingly.

Nayeon feels her lips curving into a smile at the sight.

"Sure she isn't fucking your wife behind your back darling?"

Nayeon eyes him incredulously. She doesn't want him dumping his spite and hate onto her.

"They're best friends dad. If you want to keep whining about my wife to me, I think it'd be best to cut your visit short."

Her tone is calm and collected.

Her father's eyes are cold and vindictive.

She shrugs like she hasn't just told him to get out of her house.

"She's going to break your heart someday."

He laughs wickedly, playing on the insecurities he knows she holds on to.

"Mark my words darling."

Nayeon feels her resolve weaken, if only for a moment. But she won't let him win. She won't let him get to her. Because, when she does, she becomes a despicable version of herself. She becomes her father.

"If anyone is capable of breaking another person's heart around here cruelly, selfishly, it's you and me dad. Don't you think it runs in the family?"

She kicks off her shoes, and sits on the sofa, watching him with unwavering attention.

"Are you blaming me for your flaws?"

He grinds his teeth.

She shakes her head.

She is going to make sure he gets the message through for once and for all.

"I'm just saying my wife is incapable of hurting anyone. She's the kindest, most trusting and gentlest soul I've ever met. She works in a home dad, you know why? Because she cares for people around her."

She gives him a pointed look and continues.

"That's so different from you and me, isn't it dad? With her cooking talent she can get a job anywhere. Heck, she can use my name to get any job she wants. But she's also the proudest woman I've ever met. A woman who's kind, beautiful, loving, caring, respects herself, where do you get off dissing someone like that dad?"

"I am-" He starts with a bark.

"If you're going to finish that sentence with sorry, apology accepted. I don't want to hear another word about my wife. Are we clear? "

Crystal clear apparently.

Because he stomps off to his room furiously.

Nayeon hears someone behind her after a while.

"Momo, done cooking?"

She wonders how much of the conversation the giggly one heard.

Momo shrugs as she looks around on the armchair for something. "Almost, are you hungry?"

"Yes. Starving to be honest."

Nayeon sighs in relief because Momo looks like she has no idea what just took place between her dad and her.

"Ah, here you are."

Momo retrieves her phone from under the cushions and gives it a loud smack.

Nayeon laughs at her cute antics. She sure is a strange one.

If one thing Nayeon's sure about is that she doesn't deserve kindness from anyone.

Especially from the girl on whom she has inflicted so much pain.

So many times.

But the vacant spot where the couch normally lays tells her Mina doesn't think the same.

"I kept tripping over it. Jeongyeon and Momo helped me move it to the guest room."

Mina offers as an explanation.

They both know it's a lie. Mina isn't a clumsy person, she is.

"I hope you don't mind."

Nayeon shrugs dismissively, not wanting to draw attention to the goofy grin growing on her lips.

"Goodnight fuckers".

Momo, who's staying the night with them, announces from the door.

Mina looks at Nayeon worriedly for a fleeting second.

Momo never watches her words around Mina. Apparently, she's grown comfortable enough around Nayeon to not hold back either.

"Goodnight you crazy idiot."

When Nayeon flashes her bestfriend a toothy smile, Mina gasps slightly.

Momo plants a loud kiss on Mina's cheek and proceeds to plant a wetter one on Nayeon who wipes her cheek calling her gross.

Mina shakes her head throwing an affectionate glance at the pair. She feels her heart swell at how sweet Nayeon is being.

Momo shuffles the hair on Nayeon's head and retires to the guest room with another loud goodnight.

Nayeon is the first one to wake up again. They've drifted towards each other during the night again.

Only this time, she is spooning Mina from behind and the blonde's back is curled into the front of her body and she has an adorable pout on her lips.

Nayeon doesn't know what makes her do it, but she strokes the errand hairs on Mina's head.

Mina looks peaceful and serene, like nothing in the world can hurt her.

Except her.

Nayeon pulls away at the realisation. Her eyes becomes glassy as she glances at the younger girl.

No apology in the world can heal the pain she has caused her.

So she lays a gentle kiss on the sleeping girl's forehead putting all her emotion into that one kiss and walks out of the room, wiping the tears away from her eyes.

"Momo-chan, go away."

Mina swats at her only for Momo to get more excited like a child would when you tell them to calm down.

"Sleepy Mina. Wakey Mina."

Momo hollers as she tickles the blonde, rousing her from her sleep.

They laze around the garden with Romeo, avoiding Mr. Im.

He seems to be in a foul mood today, not that he is in any other mood on any other day, but he is especially grumpy this morning.

Mina doesn't have to be at work because it is a Sunday. She has woken up feeling cold, to find Nayeon gone.

Breakfast is made again.

"Nice. Charcoal for breakfast."

Momo laughs throwing a burnt toast at Mina.

"Can you please tell her to stop making breakfast?"

Mina wants to. But she doesn't want to hurt the older girl's sentiment behind it.

Besides, she finds it really endearing.

"I'm bored."

"Help me arrange the closet. I'm sharing Nayeon's and I have a feeling I'm hogging a lot of space."

"Yikes, that's even more boring."

"Come on you nutter."

Mina drags her to the room.

Momo turns on the song she has been trying to record on her phone the previous day.

Mina laughs hearing herself and Momo bicker in the recording. She laughs even more when she hears Momo hit a bumnote.

She moves her coats to a side making more space for Nayeon's coats.

Momo moves it back to make more space for Mina.

"You're supposed to help me Momo-chan."

Mina whines as the recording keeps playing in the background, both of of them not paying much attention to it.

"Don't you think they're a bit too close?"

They stop when they hear Mr. Im's voice.

"Sure she isn't fucking your wife behind your back?"

"They're bestfriends dad."

Nayeon's controlled voice says.

Momo must have left the recording on her phone on by mistake.

"Momo-chan, turn it off."

"No, this is interesting."

Momo picks up the phone before Mina can snatch it away and delete the audio.

Mina tries to reach for the phone but Momo is wearing high heels and it is getting really difficult to concentrate because she's distracted by what she's hearing.

Mina stops trying when she hears Nayeon defending her.

She hears every word.

Every word Nayeon would never tell her directly.

She isn't pretending for anyone. She is just a daughter talking to her father. She is just being Nayeon.

And that's what moves Mina the most. Because it means Nayeon has meant every word she said.

She falls into the soft mattress as she tries to gather her thoughts.

"Are you okay?"

She nods, finding herself incapable of forming sentences.

There is a strange feeling in her stomach and her heart is beating quite loudly.

It only becomes stronger when Nayeon comes home that night with Momo's favourite pizza.

It becomes almost too much to handle, too intense to give a name, when Nayeon cups Mina's cheek and gives a tender kiss on her forehead.

It doesn't help Momo is giving her a knowing smile.

Chapter Text

It starts as a niggling thought at the back of her mind. She tries to distract herself with work. The quiet house she comes back to only serves to increase the worry.

Nayeon has been gone for two weeks on a tour. It will take another two weeks before she comes back.

Mina has lived under this roof with her for nine months. And not once she has missed the older girl to this extent.

"Hey Romeo."

He is getting bigger and Nayeon isn't around to see it.

In two months, this charade of theirs will come to an end. Mina doesn't know whether she should be upset or happy about it.

She wonders who'll get to keep Romeo when all this is over.

The land-line phone rings breaking her thoughts.

Jihyo is on the phone.

"I've booked a private jet. You're coming to see us."

"But I've got to work Jihyo-chan."

Mina protests weakly even though her heart is jumping at the chance of seeing Nayeon.

"I've spoken to Cho unnie. It's all sorted. You're flying out tomorrow and you'll get back to work in two days on Tuesday."

"But-"

"No buts. This is our biggest concert in the tour and Nayeon-"

She hears Jihyo yelp on the other end of the line.

"And we'd love it if you came."

Jihyo finishes after muttering a low curse at someone.

Mina agrees half heartedly. She doesn't like missing work but she does want to see the impenetrable dark eyes she's missed seeing around.

"My next song is dedicated to my beautiful wife in the crowd."

Mina blushes when everyone turns to look at her. She has never liked being the center of attention.

Nayeon has her show face on and although Mina knows this is only pretend she can't but blush when the older girl sings her own rendition of Just the way you are for her.

Nayeon's intense eyes only look at her as she sings every word.

Her lips, her lips, I could kiss them all day if she'd let me

Her laugh, her laugh she hates but I think it's so sexy

Mina tries to look away but she can't. Her eyes never leave Nayeon's until the end of the song.

Mina hates being the centre of attention.

But that day, she realises that she doesn't mind being the centre of attention of one particular singer.

"I love you baby."

Nayeon blows her a kiss when she finishes.

And Mina can't help but blush some more.

Jihyo is giving her a funny look and Nayeon doesn't like it one bit.

"You didn't tell us you were going to sing a song for your wife."

Nayeon rolls her eyes. They are in their dressing room and doesn't have to pretend Mina is really her wife.

"The tabloids would write shit if I didn't."

Nayeon is right. Jihyo knows that much. But she also knows the emotions Nayeon put into the song is too intense for pretend.

"All this will be over in two months anyway. You wouldn't have to pretend anymore."

Nayeon shrugs like she couldn't care.

But Jihyo can see beyond the mask she wears. She sees a flicker of sadness in the otherwise unconcerned eyes.

"Hi."

Mina looks unsure of herself, like she has interuppted something when she walks in.

"Hi Mina. How did you like the show?"

Tzuyu asks as she pulls her into a hug.

Mina looks at Nayeon who won't look at her. Two weeks away and Nayeon apparently hasn't missed her as much as she has.

"You lot were amazing."

Nayeon's face remains impassive.

"Told you so." Chaeyoung grins and kisses her cheek. "And what did you think of the song Nayeonnie sang to you?"

Nayeon is still not looking at her, finding the stitches in her dress more interesting to look at.

"I guess it would be good enough for the tabloids."

Mina states matter of factly.

She sees the older girl finally looking at her for a fleeting second. She can't read the emotion behind those mysterious eyes.

If she doesn't know any better she would say they look wounded.

But she does know better.

The singer breaks the eye contact.

"Exactly why I sang it." Nayeon says.

Jihyo thinks she hasn't come across two experts liars than the ones standing before her looking everywhere but at each other.

Nayeon comes back from the tour on the eleventh month.

It is a cold February night when she walks into the house, her heart beating loudly in her chest, expecting to see the beautiful face and soft smile that brings her comfort.

She is instead welcomed with the sight of a breathless Min on top of a flustered Mina.

They move away quickly apologising to her.

Nayeon apologises for interrupting their moment and walks away dropping her luggage in the living room.

"Isn't your room that way?"

Min asks perplexed.

"Yeah."

Nayeon looks at Mina who isn't looking at her.

The younger girl's face is still rosy from whatever they have been doing.

"I guess I'm just a bit disoriented because of the jetlag."

She takes the stairs slowly wondering why she isn't suddenly all that excited to be home anymore.

The feeling in the pit of her stomach grows exponentially when she sees the excitement in Nayeon's face disappear and gets replaced by something else she can't read.

"I'm sorry I can't do this anymore oppa."

Min kicks the curb and mutters a string of abuse under his breath when his foot meets the hard platform.

"Not again Mina. Don't you see, you're living a prisoned life here? I'm your only ticket to sanity when this is over."

Something twists painfully in her chest when he says the word over.

"I can't. I'm sorry. This feels wrong."

He assumes she is talking about their relationship.

Her eyes flutters shut as she tries to erase the image of Nayeon's expression when she's walked in on them.

If only she has the courage to talk to the older girl, she will tell her she only let Min get that far because she has been missing her terribly.

She only got the far with Min because she has wanted to crush the rapidly growing strange feeling in her gut ever since she heard the recording of Nayeon talk to her father.

She has needed a distraction. And Min has provided it.

If only she has the courage, she will tell Nayeon she was not thinking about Min when his hands were on her skin.

She has been thinking about Nayeon.

About how she is dreading the next month when their contract will eventually come to an end and how she'll have to adjust to a life without the eyes that reminded her of universe.

Her chest hurt. Her eyes moistens.

Nobody in the world can distract her from this pain. Not even Min.

When that realisation hits her, she has put her hands on his chest to stop him.

And Nayeon has walked in.

And the pain has intensified more than she could have imagined when she sees the light go out quietly in those eyes.

"Will it ever feel right Mina?"

It feels right. With Nayeon.

She feels blood rushing to her skin. Heat rises to her face as tears prickles her eyes.

God she is a sadist. Why else will she feel this way about a girl who has crushed her so many times?

What even is she feeling?

"She will destroy you Mina. Nayeon doesn't know how to feel."

He walks away, his words setting a storm in her already chaotic world.

Nayeon knows the younger girl is avoiding her. It infuriates her. She isn't the one who was shagging some guy in their house.

She is being irrational. She knows that.

Mina wasn't having sex, it definitely hasn't been some random guy, it's her ex fiancé for god's sake. And Mina's allowed to kiss him, have feelings for him, whatever. It shouldn't even bother her.

And this isn't their house. They will only be sharing the same roof for another seven weeks. And then they both are going to part ways.

She can't wait to finally have the house to herself. Because she is tired of pretending.

Sure, the house will be quieter without Mina and the little guy. She isn't going to take Romeo away from the blonde. Even she isn't that heartless.

Sure, she'll miss making breakfast which only the blonde seems to enjoy.

Sure, she'll miss the dinners and lunches Mina makes, sometimes packs for her. She'll have to resort to takeaways.

Sure, she'll miss seeing neatly organised labelled containers on her kitchen shelves.

Sure, she'll miss playing count the moles on her pretty face whenever she's bored and needs a distraction.

Sure, there are a lot of things that will change.

But she still can't wait to finally have the house to herself.

Romeo barks loudly when he hears a car arrive in the porch. Mina peeps to see what has gotten him so excited.

Nayeon is hitting golf balls in the backyard quite furiously.

An elderly lady gets off the car, walks towards Mina with a huge smile and takes her in a surprise hug.

"You really are beautiful love."

That accent and voice tells her that she is a relative of the angry girl in the backyard.

"Grandma?"

The said angry girl comes up behind them.

"Here's my favourite Im."

Mina's eyes soften when she sees Nayeon's face soften, her expression relaxing as she walks closer to her grandmother. Nayeon looks younger than her years. She looks like a child even.

And Mina's heart stutters a little when a dazzling smile splits Nayeon's gorgeous face.

"Grandma, you're here."

Nayeon runs to her, picking her up and spinning her around.

"Put me down love. You'll kill me."

They hug each other tightly and Mina thinks she hasn't seen Nayeon so carefree before.

It's adorable.

"How long will you be staying?"

"Only a week. Your dad would be upset if I stayed more."

Mina has never seen the older girl pout. She bites her lips to stop herself from smiling.

"Who cares about him? Please stay longer."

"Enough with the whining." The older woman chides playfully. "Let's go inside. I'm freezing."

She turns around taking Mina's hands in hers.

"Come on in love. Wouldn't want you freezing either. Although I'm sure Nayeon would be glad to warm her wife up."

"Grandma."

Nayeon whines.

Mina feels a colour rising to her cheeks. Are all Im's this intense? She wonders.

And she learns later that night that no Im dead or alive can hold a candle to a pissed off Nayeon.

Mina should have expected it.

She has carefully avoided the singer the whole week after she came.

Every passing day takes her a little closer to the end of the contract. It's better like this. She doesn't want to get any closer to Nayeon than she already has.

She should have known that it is hard to avoid someone you're married to.

She can't avoid her forever, she reasons. They have a photoshoot scheduled together for next week. She might as well face the older girl now than having to do it before watchful eyes of the cameras.

Strengthening her resolve, she pushes the door open to Nayeon's bedroom.

She is glad Nayeon's in the bathroom when she enters. She is thankful for the time she gets to silence her thumping heart.

She quickly strips off the dress she is wearing and slips into another one of Nayeon's nightshirts. This one barely covers her thighs.

"Hello stranger."

Nayeon says in a mocking tone.

Mina jumps a little and puts a hand to her chest.

"You gave me a fright."

"That's unfortunate. I'm sure your oppa is willing to give you a few other things."

So Nayeon's actually going there.

Mina isn't ready for a fight. She can sense one coming.

She refuses to entertain the infuriated singer and wordlessly picks up her dress off the floor.

She walks to the bathroom, very aware of Nayeon's eyes on her.

"You're awfully quiet tonight." Nayeon continues. "Makes a difference from the night I walked in on you getting fucked."

Mina sighs.

She bends slightly to drop her clothes in the laundry bin. Her shirt rides up and she uses her hands to cover her arse to stop her flimsy underwear from showing.

She closes her eyes shut as she tries not to stoop to Nayeon's level.

When she opens them again and her eyes lands on Nayeon, the older girl isn't looking at her and her cheeks are slightly red.

"Min and I are over."

She doesn't know why she says that.

Nayeon scoffs.

"Really? From where I saw it definitely didn't look like that."

"Then look properly. And maybe you'll finally see."

Mina has never raised her voice at Nayeon before. But the clock is ticking, their days are numbered and her patience is wearing thin.

The blonde walks to the bed brushing past Nayeon. She feels fingers wrapping around her wrist. A hand grabs her waist softly, tugging her closer.

"See what?"

A slender finger lifts Mina's chin.

Dark eyes regards her carefully.

"See me. You've never seen me. Not as a person, let alone a wife."

Nayeon hears the whispered words.

She lets Mina release herself from her grasp.

But she doesn't have the courage to tell Mina she is wrong.

She is so so wrong.

Mina's eyes flutters open. It is still dark outside. The clock says it isn't even four yet.

Nayeon is breathing evenly, letting out a gentle sigh once in a while.

She lifts a hand to gently caress the singer's cheek. If she can capture this moment and keep it with her for the rest of her life, she is sure she will.

But six weeks.

That's all she has.

Mina turns around and moves away slightly from Nayeon needing to clear her mind.

Pretty soon she drifts off to sleep.

Nayeon wakes up feeling slightly cold. She scoots closer to the blonde in her sleep, her freezing hands finding shelter on the expanse of warm skin beneath the younger girl's nightshirt.

She feels Mina roll to her side and Nayeon pulls her into her front subconsciously. She feels soft hair tickling her chin and warm breath on her neck before she falls into another deep slumber.

Mina rises from her sleep feeling warm and flustered. Something tickles her skin, just under her ribs. Nayeon's fingers are stroking the skin above her stomach in her sleep.

Mina's shirt has slightly ridden up during the night and one of the older girl's leg is in between her bare thighs.

Nayeon is half on top of her, her face hidden in the crook of the her neck.

Mina wants to move her but Nayeon's deep breaths tell her she's fast asleep. She doesn't have the heart to wake her.

She catches Nayeon's hand which are tracing patterns under her shirt, and stills them. She isn't going to get any sleep if she is getting goosebumps every second.

When Nayeon's grandmother comes to set a breakfast tray on their bed, she finds Nayeon sleeping on her back, a protective arm around Mina's waist holding her securely to her side.

Mina's face is nestled on the youngest Im's chest and they sleep blissfully unaware of the older woman's presence.

Nayeon's grandmother lets them sleep because the moment looks too serene, perfect and domestic to intrude.

Chapter Text

Mina first notices it on a Sunday. 

There isn't any burnt breakfast on the table.

It's as if Nayeon is telling her she shouldn't get used to this life. That they'll be moving in different worlds in merely five weeks. They shouldn't be falling into any habits that will be hard to break.

Her friends come round for dinner in the evening and dinner turns to a booze party thanks to Momo.

Nayeon's grandmother who has extended her stay because the older girl won't have it any other way, is drinking and dancing with Sana.

Joengyeon is playing a video game and Nayeon is just staring at her empty glass of water.

"Your grandmother is a legend Nayeon-chan," Sana shouts across the room to Nayeon.

The older girl smiles absent mindedly at them and scans the room, her eyes searching for something.

Mina puts on a neutral expression as Nayeon's eyes lands on her. Grabbing the tray of pizza she walks to where the singer is sitting on a loveseat.

"Hi. Your pizza."

"Thanks baby."

Nayeon keeps the tray on the coffee table and pulls her down onto her lap.

Mina lets out a soft sigh when a hand pushes her hair to a side and a kiss is laid upon her shoulder ever so gently.

This feeling in her heart she is trying to squash is growing and multiplying, beating around inside her chest trying to make it burst.

Nayeon's grandmother gives them a wide smile.

Mina feels her stomach drop.

Nayeon is acting. Because, her grandmother is watching.

Of course. Why else will she be this affectionate with her?

See me. You've never seen me.

"I see her. Why doesn't she see that?"

"Sometimes I could walk into a room. The girls could be there. Her friends could be there. You could be there. But my eyes always seek her out first. It's almost instinct now."

"Do you think I like her as a friend? Do you think I should get it off my chest and tell her that I want to be her friend?"

"Well thanks for the tedtalk anyway little guy."

Romeo wags his tail ever loyally at Nayeon. He isn't sure about what just happened but he is glad to help in any way he can.

Nayeon walks into Boram's office a week later, looking hesitant and unsure of herself.

The blonde she has taken a lot of liking to, sits hunched over some papers, a frown creasing her forehead and Nayeon wants to wipe it off so badly.

Jihyo and Dahyun who are standing by Mina's side, greet her with a nod of their head.

"Are you coming directly from the Channel 5 interview?"

Boram's voice is full of concern.

Nayeon has taken to signing more projects than she should. She is being cruel to herself, working late nights and returning to record with members without a wink of sleep.

Nayeon wonders how she can possibly explain to anyone that she misses sharing the bed with her contract wife.

She only tires herself out, physically exhausts herself, so that she won't have time to miss anyone when she finally sleeps, if only for a few hours.

The younger girl glances across the room and smiles when she finds her. It isn't a happy smile. Nayeon might not be an expert when it comes to emotions, but even she can tell the difference between a happy and a sorrowful smile.

Her heart aches knowing that there is still some pain in the blonde's heart. It mustn't be easy to forget everything she has done.

This charade is coming to an end. And Nayeon hopes to God that Mina can finally escape all the pain she has given her.

"Your papers are ready. Mina is almost done reading hers. Once you read yours, we'll get couple of signatures here and there and send it to your lawyers. We'll file for divorce at the end of this month."

Nayeon nods, taking the papers in trembling hands.

She has known for a while this will be over soon. The papers in her hand makes it all the more real.

She doesn't even understand why she is this affected. She can always keep in touch with Mina. Of course, things will be a little different, they won't spend a lot of time together, but she'll still have her in her life and that should be enough.

She knows she shouldn't be affected, but has the heart ever really listened to the mind?

"All good?"

"Perfect."

Mina hands the signed papers to Boram.

It irks Nayeon that Mina chooses that word to use for this situation. Like the Japanese girl isn't the slightest bit affected by this.

"Never been better."

Nayeon adds quietly.

Jihyo and Dahyun exchange glances as they solidify their belief that they haven't met better actors than the two people before them.

Mina is beyond exasperated. She is at her wit's ends with Nayeon.

They are at Momo's house for her birthday party.

Things are volatile and fragile between Nayeon and her. And Momo has made it worse by inviting Min to the party.

"Hello oppa. How are you?" Mina asks to make polite conversation.

"He must be perfect baby.

Nayeon drawls, sarcasm dripping in her voice. Mina decides to ignore her.

That's not the first time it happens.

"Mina. How's this drink? I made it myself."

Jeongyeon enquires expectantly.

"I'm sure she thinks it's purrrfect."

Nayeon slurs. Mina knows she isn't drunk. Momo eyes Nayeon curiously- Nayeon is coming across as strange even by her standards.

Mina doesn't miss how Nayeon uses the word repeatedly in a mocking tone and she's had enough when Nayeon insults Min, calling his hair the most perfect manbraids she has ever seen.

She drags Nayeon into an empty closet.

"What's wrong with you?"

"Why? Am I not perfect today?"

This is getting childish.

Mina twists Nayeon's shirt in her fists and pulls her to her.

"Do you really want to ruin Momo's birthday with this attitude?"

Nayeon looks pensive for a moment. She blinks as if to clear her thoughts.

"No."

Mina loosens her grip on the older girl's shirt with a breath of relief.

"I want it to be perfect."

Nayeon finishes.

Despite herself, Mina chuckles, all gummy and bright. Because this is ridiculous.

And Nayeon can't help but join because Mina's laugh is infectious.

They look at each other for a moment for no reason, laughter dissipating into soft smiles on their faces.

Mina can feel blood rushing to her ears, a heat slowly spreading across her body.

Nayeon feels herself taking a step closer to the younger girl, hands closing around the fists on her shirt.

A knock on the closet door shakes them out of their reverie.

"Come out of the closet now fuckers."

They laugh again, pink faces and bashful smiles, and obey the birthday girl without further argument.

21 days

Mina has stopped counting in weeks because it makes their time together look lesser.

Pretty soon, she knows she'll be counting in hours. The day is inevitable and fast approaching.

They have a public argument on that day, letting paps take a few pictures because they have to make the divorce look real.

Mina is asked to take off her ring and be spotted in a store on the 18th day. She does as she is told.

Trouble in heaven? Is this the end for the greatest love story of this decade?

The newspaper headlines reads on the 17th day. She throws it to her side.

Nayeon still works long hours. Mina hardly gets to see her. When she does, she doesn't miss the dark circles forming around the older girl's eyes.

They act loved up in a restaurant on the 15th day. Mina wears her ring again.

Mina and Nayeon are trying at their marriage?

Is Nayeon unlucky in love?

Is Mina's affair with Geun the reason for their falling out?

Nayeon crumples the newspaper and tosses it into the bin. She is used to the shite these tabloids write about her, but Mina doesn't deserve any of this. How dare they write her with Geun, that fucking scum of a human being.

"What are you looking for?"

She hears Sana ask Mina.

"Today's newspaper."

"It didn't come today. The delivery man is sick."

Nayeon answers, looking guilty and walking away to her room.

Sana and Mina glance at Nayeon's retreating form suspiciously. Mina is sure just one person delivered their milk and newspaper.

The bottle of milk is in the fridge. So how is the newspaper missing?

She doesn't take long to find the papers in the bin. Something pulls at her heart strings when she realises why Nayeon has lied.

That feeling she can't name, comes out in full force, momentarily assaulting her, leaving her in a daze.

On the 13th day, Mina has to be spotted without her wedding ring again.

When she comes back home that day, the house is quiet save for the sound of Romeo barking in the backyard.

Nayeon's bedroom door is open but she isn't sleeping.

"You're home." She pauses in the doorway.

The older girl's eyes look tired and heavy.

"I," Nayeon palms her forehead, "I can't sleep."

Nayeon sees the blond walk past her bedroom to the guest room without saying anything.

She is certain she doesn't deserve the younger girl's attention or time but that doesn't mean it doesn't hurt.

Nayeon rubs her temples as she tries to get some sleep.

She feels the bed dip by her side.

"Come here."

She hears a soft voice say.

Nayeon lets herself be pulled into the warmth of Mina's chest. She finally falls asleep after many sleepless nights as a dainty hand threads through her short hair, tracing soothing circles on her scalp.

Mina only stops massaging her head, after she is sure she hears Nayeon's breath even out.

She kisses the top of the older girl's head and falls asleep with her as midday sun shines brightly outside their window.

Jihyo and Dahyun feel the thick tension in the air as soon as they walk into the restaurant.

Something is definitely off.

Mina and Nayeon are sitting across an oblivious Tzuyu and Chaeyoung. To anyone looking everything may seem fine at first glance.

But Jihyo and Dahyun can always read these two like the back of their hand.

"Hi, we're sorry, our shoot ran late."

Jihyo takes a seat between Chaeyoung and Tzuyu and Dahyun sits next to Mina.

"Would you like a drink ladies? It's on the house."

The waiter, quite a handsome man in his early twenties asks the group. More at Nayeon specifically.

"That's really sweet. But no thank you."

Jihyo sees Nayeon giving him her award winning smile. Mina tenses by her side.

That tells Dahyun and Jihyo what is happening.

The tension becomes thicker when they bump into Min on their way out.

He is on a date with some hot blonde.

Nayeon looks at Mina who looks dejected. It is normal to not get over someone you have been in a relationship for such a long time, she empathises.

Only Dahyun and Jihyo know Mina has looked like that even before she bumped into Min.

It finally happens on the tenth day before the end of their contract marriage.

They're bickering about something insignificant really. They both know they should stop. It's like they want to divert this tension, frustration they're feeling into an argument.

"I don't have to like girl groups just because you're in them." Mina stands with her hands on her hips.

"You can ask braid boy to start a boy group so you can fan girl all you want." Nayeon sneers.

They are standing really close to each other, faces slightly flushed with anger.

"Just have sex already." Momo mutters under her breath.

She quietly leaves the balcony and walks to her car wondering what on earth made her ask them what their favourite music group is.

It isn't really her fault, she could have asked them about toilet papers and they'd have still found a way to be at each other's throat.

"His name is not braid boy, for the last time."

They stare at each other, unwilling to be the first one to step back.

"I don't care. Look at me. Do I look like I give a fuck?"

Nayeon takes another step closer to Mina trying to be intimidating.

"Obviously you do. Considering you can't stop speaking about him." Mina smirks slowly, which only agitates the older girl even more. "One could even say you're obsessed."

That does it.

"I'm obsessed? That's rich coming from someone writhing under him, moaning his name not so long ago."

Mina is stunned speechless. She can't believe Nayeon is bringing this up again. How immature.

"I'm done talking to you."

She stomps her feet and turns around and Nayeon chuckles a little when the soft stomp doesn't have the dramatic effect Mina has been aiming for.

The younger girl huffs and struts away towards the mansion.

Nayeon can't seem to look away from her retreating back.

It is late in the evening when Nayeon changes into a white bugs bunny sweatshirt and black jogging.

She lazes around the house and waits for Mina to show up so she can apologize.

After a while she decides she has nothing to apologise for.

Mina knows she is in a girl group and yet chose to offend her by naming some boy group as her favourite.

"It's time to eat."

She tries to catch Romeo who is running away from her like he is on a bloody mission.

Nayeon doesn't watch where she is going as she runs behind him or she'd have had the sense to knock.

She rushes into a room after Romeo and stops only when she hears a soft gasp.

When she lifts her eyes, she finds Mina trying to hide her modesty behind a face towel that leaves little to imagination.

Romeo runs off into another room.

Nayeon knows she should apologise and leave.

But she can't look away.

She finds the water droplets falling from the blonde's wet hair trailing along the length of her body fascinating.

She should really just go. But her feet is carrying her forward. Like she's bewitched.

Mina watches her with those big eyes, her lips slightly parted. But she isn't saying anything.

Nayeon's eyes never leave the younger girl's as she gets closer.

She stops a couple of inches away from Mina, feeling an overwhelming urge to touch her.

She reaches for her hand and runs her fingers up along the wet skin on her arm.

"Nayeon."

Mina whimpers when the older girl's fingers stop at her bottom lip, tracing them.

Nayeon is certain she isn't imagining the desire in the blonde's eyes.

"Mina."

She whispers, moving closer to her and when the younger girl doesn't move away, she places a hand around her waist and uses the other one to cup her cheeks.

Mina's heart beats faster and faster until Nayeon is capturing her lips with her own.

And then it forgets to beat.

And everything goes quiet.

Except the sound of their lips mashing.

It's delicate at first, hesitant and seeking permission, until its not. It's soft and sweet, hot and breathy and Mina swears she's never been thoroughly kissed like this.

She pushes back, her mouth open, inviting and wanton and Nayeon slips a tongue inside her mouth.

Mina feels her toes curl.

A sweltering heat rises to her cheeks, traveling towards her abdomen, starting a low hum of fire deep in the core of her being, as their tongues duel. Her arms goes around Nayeon's neck as she tilts her head, pulling the older girl deeper into the kiss.

The towel drops to the floor.

Their kiss grows in intensity.

Nayeon peels her lips away to lay kisses on the column of her throat.

Mina lets out a low moan.

They pull apart slightly, their eyes dark and breath shallow.

They both want this.

There is no mistaking the desire.

This, is the point of no return.

Chapter Text

Nayeon is not a stranger to physical relationships.

She knows how her body reacts to certain touches, what takes her over the edge, what her weak spots are.

She knows every single thing about herself.

Nothing could have prepared her for her body's reaction to the sight of a naked Mina.

The blonde's slightly wet hair flows down to the front of her chest, barely covering the swell of her breasts.

Her brown eyes smolder in its intensity as Nayeon's eyes wander across her body.

Nayeon licks her dry lips as her travelling gaze sweeps across a hardened nipple.

"Oh god."

She whispers forcing herself to look up, to meet the eyes that swallows her whole. Her own pupil dilates from want. From pure desire.

And she wants nothing more than to quench that desire.

Mina whimpers slightly when she sees the unadulterated lust and want in the darkened eyes. She has never felt so exposed, so revealed to someone.

Despite how exposed she feels she can't deny the thrill she gets out of those haunting eyes wandering across her body.

She feels a little vulnerable, standing there in all her immaculate form. But Nayeon's reaction to her body gives her a strange confidence.

"God, you're beautiful".

A deep blush coats her cheeks at Nayeon's hoarse voice, and she bites her bottom lip.

In that moment, seeing her naked and blushing, Nayeon is certain she's never wanted anything more as much as she wants Mina in this moment.

This time she leans, Nayeon's kiss is not hesitant and soft. It is fiery, hot and demanding. It is throbbing with hunger and craving.

And Mina feels every single one of those emotions too as Nayeon pushes her gently on to the bed.

Her hands fists the sheets when soft lips licks her ears. She enjoys the feeling of a hot mouth on her wet skin, nibbling and sucking her neck, descending down to lay scorching kisses in its trail.

She has always prided herself on her  eloquence but her eyes close shut, thoughts become incoherent and her mind goes blank when a warm mouth captures a nipple.

"Nayeon."

She whimpers and bites her lip as she cradles the older girl's head closer to her body.

She tries to tug at Nayeon's sweatshirt but all her attempts fail when she descends further down her body, burying her face between her legs.

They both groan when Nayeon takes a swipe of her tongue.

Nayeon has never been with women, but she takes experimental swipes, amazed at how Mina's body react to each swipe, each lick, each hot breath and how the blonde spreads her legs wider to accommodate more of her.

And when Mina comes bucking into hers face, holding her head around her quivering legs, her name on her lips, her body glistening with water and sweat, Nayeon swears she's never seen a more beautiful sight in her life.

Nayeon holds younger girl who's sleeping peacefully close to her body. She doesn't want to read a lot into what took place between them.

But the questions keep popping in her head. Is this just sex? Does Mina feel more towards her? What are her own feelings?

She knows she is attracted to Mina but soon they are going to part ways and this is not a time to get physically attached.

But the pull she has felt towards the younger girl has been undeniable, unstoppable. She is only human and there is no way she could have resisted Mina, not when she's bare and naked.

She promises herself this is going to be a one time thing.

A goodbye.

A parting gift.

Nayeon traces a finger on the moles dotting Mina's unblemished skin and wonders how it's possible for someone to look this beautiful while doing something as simple as sleeping.

The Japanese girl pouts in her sleep. Her blonde hair gently sticks to her skin which is still slightly flushed from arousal.

She traces her finger further down and watches in wonder at how the nipple instantly hardens under her touch. She sees the rise and fall of the younger girl's chest as she stirs gently from her sleep.

Her hand travels further south and cups the blonde between her legs.

When brown eyes open and look at her with undiluted lust, Nayeon knows she has already broken her promise to herself.

This, isn't going to be a one time thing.

Nayeon pulls the younger girl on top of her. Her face is covered in sweat and her legs wobbles as delicate hands stops cupping her breasts and slender fingers enter her. Her hips meet each thrust of Mina's hand fervently.

She collapses to the bed when she finally comes with a shudder.

Mina lays down beside her, her face pressed to Nayeon's chest. She listens to the older girl's thumping heart with a sated smile on her lips.

Nayeon pulls Mina into her and tries to steady her racing heart. Their naked bodies intertwine and her eyes close contently.

She has had sex before, but she's never felt this bubble of warmth in her chest.

Sex has just been sex.

But this feels more more than just pure physical want. And she doesn't know what to do with that.

She has never felt the euphoria associated with love making.

Until Mina.

She shouldn't get used to this. The younger girl is going to leave her life as quickly as she came. Just like everyone else.

Nayeon should be pulling away. Something about ripping the band aid quickly. But she only gets closer to Mina, who is drawing a lazy pattern on her stomach.

Soon she finds herself falling asleep not realising this is what two people who loves each other should feel after sharing intimacy. This is what writers tries to capture when they mean post coital bliss.

When Nayeon wakes up in the morning of the eighth day, Mina is gone. She feels disappointed.

She almost doubts if the sex hasn't been good. But she is Im Nayeon and she highly suspects her sexual prowess is any lesser than spectacular.

"You're so full of yourself."

She hears Mina's happy voice say to someone. It instantly puts a massive smile on her face.

It also gives an explanation why the blonde has disappeared.

"Good morning, sleepy head."

Sana is the first one to notice her.

She walks to the kitchen, not really looking at anyone and sits on one of the chairs at the counter as she watches Mina making pancakes.

"We were going to come and wake you up. But Mina said you had a late night." Momo tells with a small pout.

It is a good thing they haven't gone in search of her. What explanation can she give for being naked in Mina's room?

"Yeah?"

She smirks.

Although Mina has her attention on the stove, she can hear the tone in Nayeon's voice.

Nayeon is amused when sees a pretty pink colouring the younger girl's cheeks. She wants to make sure it's for her.

"I mean yeah." She tells Momo. "I worked really hard." She rasps.

The colour deepens and Nayeon feels a fresh surge of arousal rush through her.

She watches the blonde from the corner of her eyes often as she chats with the girls.

"You don't have orange juice in your fridge anymore."

Nayeon wishes Jeongyeon hasn't drawn attention to that fact. Only she knows why she keeps stacking apple juice in her fridge.

And she isn't ready for Mina to know it too.

Mina drops hot pancakes onto the girls' plates one by one.

Nayeon doesn't miss how Mina takes a moment, collects a deep breath when it is her turn.

She is amused.

"Good morning, Nayeon-chan."

The younger girl's eyes are shy, her expression bashful.

"A very good morning indeed."

She stares at her for a fleeting second, takes the pancake and notices Mina shiver when her hands touches hers accidentally.

Her toothy grin is constant throughout the breakfast because Mina would blush and drop her gaze whenever their eyes meet.

"Nayeon-chan stop grinning like that. You're creeping me out."

Nayeon shrugs non chalantly at Momo.

"What are you even grinning about?" Sana asks curiously.

"Stuff."

Nayeon shoves a pancake in her mouth.

"Should be really important if it makes you smile like that."

Jeongyeon gives her a funny look.

"Or really beautiful."

Nayeon mutters in a low voice under her breath. She could have sworn nobody heard her, but the pretty pink dusting Mina's cheeks tells her otherwise.

Boram can sense something is off between the pair.

They are strangely comfortable around each other, which is odd because they are getting a divorce. Contract or real, a divorce can be stressful.

"Mina-ssi, the house would be yours in a week's time."

She nods her head, like that is the last thing she wants.

Boram thinks it's strange because this house is the only reason why Mina has agreed to the contract.

"I need you both to sign these papers. We'll file them in the court on Tuesday morning first thing."

Nayeon isn't even paying attention to her. Her eyes shift to Mina every once in a while when the younger girl isn't like looking.

Boram thinks Nayeon is little too uninterested in the procedure for someone who was screaming for divorce on the first day of her marriage.

"And it'd be best to pack your bags on Sunday. We can pretend you had a massive fight and moved out on Sunday."

That gets their attention.

Nayeon has thought they still have seven more days. It feels unfair to cut it short.

Their eyes meet each other, pained and miserable.

"That reminds me we would have to stage that argument tomorrow. Shouldn't be somewhere fancy, somewhere as simple as a park would do. Mina-ssi, you are sure you don't mind being the one dumping her?"

Mina looks at Boram, swallowing a lump in her throat.

Does she mind pretending to leave someone she wants to be with? Does she mind it pains to even think of staying away for a moment?

"I don't mind."

"We can't have the public hating Nayeon-ssi again."

Mina nods.

"I mind."

Nayeon objects.

What she really wants to say is she can't have the public or anyone hating Mina, she can't bear to think of anyone hurting Mina, she's done enough of that-

"It's not good for my image or ego. Let's just say it is mutual consent."

-is what Nayeon says instead.

Boram agrees because it makes sense.

"And Romeo? Who's getting the custody?"

Mina supposes Nayeon will because really it is her who found the little puppy.

"Mina would."

The blonde's eyes snap up in surprise.

"I am always on tour and shit. I wouldn't have the time to care for him."

Nayeon shrugs her shoulders dismissively.

Boram can see that it is a blatant lie.

Nayeon misses Romeo whenever she's away and Boram's certain she'll go to any lengths to care for him. So why is she pretending she can't? She decides it isn't her place to ask that. She already has her hands full with lot of work.

"Today's Wednesday. My assistant will be on the phone in the evening to give you more information on tomorrow's photo op. You'll have to come on Friday to sign the final papers. Mina-ssi, the members will help you move out on Sunday. You both will have to come again on Monday for a meeting with your lawyers and transfer some documents to Mina-ssi. And we can rehearse what you both are going to say at the court. Everything clear?"

A thick silence is her only reply.

It is like they haven't heard a word of what she said.

But in truth, every word she says only drives an already sunken knife a little deeper into their heart.

Five days.

120 hours.

Time is running out, fast.

"Why do you keep staring at the clock?"

Mina turns to answer Sana and realises that her question is directed at Nayeon.

"No reason."

The odd feeling in her heart comes back stronger. Only this time it's heavy and makes her chest hurt.

They are really running on borrowed time.

She meets Nayeon's eyes across the table and wonders if the pain in her heart reflects in those eyes too.

When Nayeon walks into her bedroom that night and takes her again and again like she can't get enough, like she is aware their time is running out too, the dull ache in her chest becomes unbearable.

Mina sobs as she comes because she can finally put a name to this feeling.

It is love.

Mina is completely, utterly and irrevocably in love with Nayeon.

"Did I hurt you? Was it too much?"

Nayeon's eyes regard her with concern.

Mina bites her lips and shakes her head as she tries to reign in a fresh set of tears.

She will always feel too much for Nayeon. But is Nayeon ready to hear that?

She gives an answer Nayeon is prepared to hear.

"I want you inside me again."

She doesn't miss the darkening of Nayeon's eyes and the unadulterated  lust in them.

And she lets Nayeon distract her from the pain, atleast for the night.

They are supposed to have a massive public fight in a few hours. But all Nayeon wants to do is snuggle into the blonde next to her.

Mina stirs when she feels warm breath tickle her neck.

"Good morning." Nayeon's eyes are soft. Softer than the morning light filtering through the blinds.

"Good morning." Mina pulls the covers, trying to hide her modesty.

It's funny really because Nayeon is sure she has every inch of Mina's body memorised. But she doesn't comment on how shy the younger girl is and instead scoops down to give her slow, languid kiss.

Mina's eyes flutter shut because all she feels is Nayeon. The taste on her tongue from last night, the scent still lingering on her fingers, the way she carefully and thoroughly kisses her, it is overwhelming.

When Nayeon's handsome hands sneak between her legs, stroking an insatiable fire, she pulls away breathlessly.

Mina's eyes points at the bedside clock telling Nayeon they can't start something they can't finish.

Nayeon sighs and reluctantly rolls on to her back.

It is time to put on a show. She wishes she can stay in this little bubble with Mina instead.

She doesn't know what this thing with Mina is, but she isn't ready to let her go.

This is more than physical attraction, more than a crush, that much she is certain and if only Mina shows any indication that she reciprocates even a percentage of these feelings wrecking havoc inside her chest, she swears she won't let her walk out of her sight.

Mina pull the covers to the top of her breast and bends and picks up the nightshirt off the floor. She gets off the bed using the nightshirt to hide her modesty and clears her throat shyly when she sees Nayeon watching her.

Nayeon is amused at how bashful the younger girl is being. She turns around giving her some privacy.

"You can look now."

She likes how snug her shirt looks on Mina, how it doesn't really hide her wonderful arse, how she can still see the peak of her breasts under the transparent material.

It stirs something in her abdomen.

She shakes her head to clear the cloud of arousal.

Who knew she had such a high sexual drive.

It is surprising even to her. That she can't stop wanting the blonde every minute she is in her proximity.

Every thing Mina does make her want her.

Even an act as simple as tucking a hair behind the ears turned her on.

And she is positive, this unadulterated desire and the constant need to touch her, feel her, is going to drive her mad.

And it reflects on her face.

Which makes Jihyo roll her eyes in amusement.

"We don't fit Mina."

Nayeon should be yelling. She is yelling. Atleast her tone is that. But her expression is whole another thing.

She looks at Mina like she's devouring her with her eyes.

Like Jihyo, Mina doesn't miss the look on Nayeon's face either. Her cheeks flush brightly and Jihyo hopes the tabloids will assume it's because she is angry, not because she is blushing.

"This is not working out, is it?" Mina asks softly.

How will it if Nayeon won't stop eye fucking Mina and Mina won't stop making moon eyes at Nayeon. Jihyo really hasn't come across two people without a fucking clue like them.

"Definitely not working out."

Nayeon steps in closer to the younger girl enjoying the deepening blush on her face.

"Please don't fight in public."

Jihyo steps between them. Truth be told she feels like she has just stopped Nayeon from tearing away Mina's clothes.

She pokes Nayeon in the ribs.

That seems to work for a while, snap her back to attention.

"We're so done."

Nayeon utters, staring at Mina's lips.

"We are." Mina swoons.

The newspapers that came out on Friday thankfully don't catch onto their body language.

Is it over between Mina and Nayeon for good?"

Patrons hear the love birds calling it off.

Will Nayeon fight for this love?

Mina laughs dryly at the news.

Nayeon is recording with the girls. Sana is helping her pack her bags. They are retrieving some coat from Nayeon's closet.

Mina's eyes prickle with tears when they land on a particular fur coat that once held a tiny rose petal.

She longs to see Nayeon as she suddenly finds herself unable to breathe. She excuses herself to the garden.

As if the universe is listening to her, she collides softly into Nayeon who has just arrived through the front door.

She falls into her for a bone crushing hug. She lets her body sag, her muscles become loose.

Nayeon doesn't question her. She holds her in her strong arms, rocking her gently.

And despite the heaviness in her chest, Mina's heart flutters at the feeling of Nayeon's body pressing against the length of her own.

She sinks into the warmth the older girl offers, appreciating the silence.

Because she can never tell Nayeon what she feels.

Not when Nayeon doesn't feel that way.

"Nayeon-chan." Mina lays soft kisses on each and every one of her fingertips.

"Mmh." Nayeon hums.

What are you thinking about?"

You.

But Nayeon can't tell her that.

That she is the one always on her mind.

They've been married for a year and for better or for worse, Mina has always occupied her every waking thought.

"This and that."

Mina pulls Nayeon's arm around her stomach.

Nayeon sighs into her shoulder.

Can she tell Mina that she wishes she can stop the time? That she wishes they can relive this day over and over again in a loop and never see Sunday.

That she wishes Mina would tell her she doesn't want to leave.

She lets her palm cup Mina's breast. Wanting to feel her. Wanting, needing, to be closer.

When Mina gently arches back to her, she moves her hair to a side and lays a heated kiss there.

"What are you thinking about?"

Mina is thinking about how much she is going to miss the older girl. How even the thought of missing her is hurting her. That she is dreading tomorrow.

That she wishes Nayeon would just ask her to stay.

She shudders when expert fingers roll her nipple and pinch them slightly. She reaches behind her and wraps her hands around Nayeon's head pulling her closer.

She wants to tell her how much she loves her. How much she needs her.

Instead she says,

"Nothing much."

as she shamelessly grinds her center into the singer's insistent hand.

Nayeon kisses along the length of her neck, one hand cupping the the blonde's chest and the other curling deep inside her, wanting to get to the core, to the core of her being.

Never wanting to let go.

"Nayeon."

Mina comes with a whimper.

When her rapidly beating heart steadies a little, she turns around, pulling the older girl for a bruising kiss.

When Nayeon makes a move to descend down her body, she stops her with a gentle kiss to her forehead.

The older girl wonders how Mina can turn a moment so sexually charged, into something so tender and affectionate in an instant.

"My turn."

Mina pins Nayeon's wandering hands over her head and kisses her.

This isn't tender anymore.

It is primal and needy and has Nayeon thrusting her hips upwards, has her world spinning on its axis as Mina disappears between her legs, under the covers.

"You need to tell her you are in love with her."

Mina turns her neck so fast she is surprised it hasn't snapped.

"What are you talking about?"

Jeongyeon points at Nayeon with her eyes.

Mina is packing the last of her things and Nayeon often watches her with eyes that's full of sorrow.

"We're your friends Mina. There's no need to pretend."

Mina isn't ready to cry.

This isn't how her last day with Nayeon is supposed to go.

"Tell her and what? She doesn't love me. I don't want to be a burden to her anymore."

Nayeon frowns as Mina leans forward and rests her forehead on the wooden door of the closet.

Sana looks at Nayeon who is looking at the blonde hesitantly, unsure what to do.

The older girl can't hear them, but she looks sad just seeing Mina upset. And that gives Sana hope.

"You wouldn't know until you try."

She has a feeling that Nayeon is just as much as in love with her best friend.

The members come around for dinner. They aim to keep the conversation light but the air is heavy with something so forlorn and depressing.

Chaeyoung tries to change it.

"Isn't it funny that it's actually your one year anniversary on Monday but you'd be signing your divorce papers?"

She is only joking but one look at Nayeon and Mina's face tells her she has said the wrong thing.

Jihyo shakes her head at Chaeyoung silently asking her to avoid that particular line of conversation.

Everyone leaves around midnight.

Mina shuts the door and turns around only to come face to face with Nayeon.

Their eyes lock on to each other for what seems like eternity.

Nayeon wraps her arms around her when the ache in Mina's chest threatens to devour her. She has never been more sure that someone can die from a broken heart.

"Do you want to go for a walk with me?"

The younger girl nods, resting her head on Nayeon's shoulder.

They walk side by side in the garden, their joined hands dangling between them.

It is a chilly night in March and Mina shivers slightly from the cold.

"Come here."

Nayeon pulls her closer, finding the distance between them unbearable.

"You'll be ok right?" Her hand threads through silky blonde hair, cupping the younger girl's head.

Mina feels her throat tighten and lips trembling as she tries to hold in a sob.

Tears form swiftly in her pained eyes but she doesn't let them fall.

She nods her head, afraid that she won't be able to hold back her tears if she opens her mouth to answer.

She pulls back a little from Nayeon's chest and smiles reassuringly at her when she sees the older girl's brows crease with concern.

"We'll be ok."

Nayeon mutters as her full lips plant a tender kiss on Mina's forehead, like she needs to say those words out loud just to see if she can believe them herself.

Chapter Text

"I can't. Anymore."

Mina sobs as she tries to clamp her legs. She has lost count of how many times she has come in Nayeon's hand and tongue.

The older girl's needs are animalistic and carnal, kisses fervent and scorching. And Mina thinks she might burn.

Burn and turn to nothing, nothing but dust, when the sun rises the next morning. And brings their marriage to an end.

She pulls Nayeon up from between her legs and kisses her senseless, her lips and mouth, hot and hungry on the singer.

She rolls them around as she thrusts a hand between them.

Tonight is different. There is no loving or tenderness that is usually there between them.

This is all about taking. 

Taking everything and as much as she can before she's left with nothing.

They sometimes drift off to sleep, only to wake up needing to touch the other person.

Mina wakes up during the night, gasping for breath, with Nayeon's tongue buried in her center.

Nayeon stirs with Mina's fingers rolling her nipple, hips bucking into the younger girl's hand.

They fuck like they want to make the most of their last night together.

Like they want to forget atleast for the night that their heart will be broken in the morning.

"Hi."

Nayeon's eyes on her are tender.

Mina feels sore and worn out from making love all night.

"Hi."

She replies, her eyes gazing at Nayeon's face for a long moment as if to memorise every part of it.

"The girls will be here soon." Nayeon says.

And then Mina has to go.

She'll be out of her life.

With that realisation, Nayeon bends down and lays a soft kiss on her forehead.

She has waited patiently for quite some time to hear from the blonde she doesn't want to leave.

Maybe she should ask her to stay?

She pulls back, searching the warm brown eyes before hers, trying to find something behind them that'll give her the courage to ask her not to go.

Mina doesn't look away, taking in every moment for a memory. Memories that can destroy her once she walks out of Nayeon's life.

Please, she thinks, Just tell me not to go.

Nayeon moves closer with those dark eyes that looks so deeply into her soul, pensive look melting into a soft smile.

Mina knows the older girl is about to ask her something.

Her heart flutters expectantly.

They both jump apart when a loud noise comes from the living room.

Nayeon gets quickly dressed and asks Mina to lock the door behind her just in case it is an intruder.

Mina protests- she's not going to let Nayeon walk out alone into a potentially dangerous situation- only to be shut up by a kiss that leaves her speechless.

Nayeon puts all her emotions into the kiss trying to tell Mina what her words can't.

It is a kiss that takes Mina's breath away.

It is a kiss that speaks of love, passion and undying devotion and Mina wonders if her lovesick mind is playing tricks on her.

Nayeon rests her forehead against Mina. She smiles as their eyes lock and gives another quick peck on Mina's lips.

Then she goes in search of the source of the noise, throwing one last fond look at the younger girl, grabbing a golf stick on the way.

"Dad?"

She drops the golf stick when she comes across the grouchy man making himself breakfast.

"What are you doing here?"

"Heard you're dumping that charity case of yours darling." He chews loudly with his mouth open. "Came to congratulate you."

Nayeon clenches her jaws.

She balls her fists trying to resist the urge to grab the golfstick and smash his teeth in.

"I knew you're just like me darling. What did you say? Aye, it runs in the family."

He grins at her wickedly.

It doesn't run in the family. He is wrong. She refuses to listen to him. She isn't him. She isn't a monster. Mina has told her that.

"Love doesn't get you anywhere darling. Fame does. Money does. I'm glad you've finally come to your sense. We Im's are a nasty, hurtful and selfish bunch. We don't care about anyone except ourselves."

She opens her mouth to answer but no words come out. He is right after all. Isn't he? How many times has she hurt Mina so cruelly, heartlessly, like she isn't human.

"Your wife may the kindest woman darling but we are the cruelest lot. That doesn't fit."

That strikes a chord. Every hurtful thing she has said to the blonde resonates in her ears.

You're in it for the money. I don't see much difference between you and a prostitute.

Tears fill her eyes as she remembers the hurt she saw in brown eyes.

The hurt she caused.

"We thrive on power, we like to destroy others. That's what destroyed your marriage as well, right darling?"

Right.

How has she not seen that she only knows how to destroy when she's seen firsthand how she destroyed the girl.

She used to look like a low class prostitute, now she looks like a high class escort.

Her cruel voice echoes in her mind as her balled fists trembles slightly.

"Did you really think you are made for relationships darling ?"

He cackles loudly.

Nayeon closes her eyes shut.

This thing with Mina, whatever it is, has to be crushed in the bud. She will never forgive herself if she hurt the younger girl. She needs to protect Mina from her. Because her father is right, she doesn't know how to care or love.

Her own words playing in her head confirms it.

Do you know how much I spend on Romeo? You expect me to wear this?

She is self destructive. And she'll only end up taking Mina down with her.

I don't want to know anything about your family or whatever.

She can never give Mina a happy ending. Because she's not the hero, she's the villain.

She hangs her head in shame as she remembers the last cruel thing she told the younger girl.

It's my money and I'll buy what I want. Including you.

She collapses to the floor, dragging her knees to her face, crying for all the things she will never have in her life.

She lets sob wreck her body as she realises that for once she has to the right thing.

And give Mina her life back.

Romeo's big puppy eyes look at her sadly. He refuses to have his breakfast like he knows about the impending situation.

"You need to stop looking at me like that. You're not making this any easier for me."

Mina sighs as she folds the nightshirt and leaves it on Nayeon's bed.

The bed they've made love on. So many times.

She looks around wistfully.

It isn't the place she is going to miss, it is the memories that came along with it.

This door which Nayeon leaned against telling her she trusts her decisions, the living room table she left the gift boxes on, the kitchen counter where she usually leaves burnt breakfast, all the sweet and thoughtful gestures, hiding behind a tough exterior.

All of them has happened here.

She hears a car honk.

The members have arrived.

And it is time to stop pretending as Nayeon's wife.

Mina hears footsteps behind her.

Nayeon is watching her, leaning on the doorframe.

"I've got the papers you need to bring on Monday."

She hands them, careful not to touch the blonde.

Mina feels how detached and distant she sounds. Has she imagined that Nayeon feels something for her?

Nayeon shuts the windows in the room and closes the curtains, making the room dark and gloomy.

Perfectly matching how Mina is feeling.

She turns to look at the blonde in the eye.

"You've been incredible."

Mina wonders where Nayeon is going with this.

"You've completely satisfied your contract."

Nayeon feels sick saying these words. Like Mina means nothing more than a piece of paper to her.

But she still does it, she needs to drive the younger girl away from her.

Mina deserves someone better. Someone who is not a monster. She can never let Mina know that she harbours feelings for her. For all she knows Mina might not even reciprocate them.

"The contract?"

Mina shakes her head.

Has she imagined all the affectionate glances, lingering touches and forehead kisses? Is she nothing more than a signed sheet to Nayeon?

"Yes. You've done more than what's required of the job."

The only thing she has done other than what the contract required, is to fall in love. She has given her body and soul to the girl who apparently sees her as nothing but a contract.

"Went beyond the call of duty. Haven't I?" Mina scoffs.

"Yes", Nayeon adds hesitantly, "I will have a word with my manager and makes sure she pays keeping that in mind."

Mina laughs.

She laughs so much that Nayeon wonders if she has actually driven the younger girl crazy.

Mina wipes the tears off her eyes as she lets the laugh subside.

Nayeon, Nayeon is actually suggesting that she will pay extra for having sex with her.

You're in this for the money. I don't see much difference between you and a prostitute.

The older girl's words echo through her mind.

"You will have a word about what? That you want to pay your contract worker more because she let you fuck her?"

Nayeon flinches like she's been hit. She feels like she is going to be sick.

She hasn't meant it like that. But she has still implied them. She can convince herself it was said without an ulterior motive, it was a slip of tongue, but the truth is right there to see.

She is a monster.

She is the bad guy.

There are no two ways about it.

Even angels fall. Even Mina can be wrong. She'll always be the bad guy.

With the understanding and acceptance of the fact, she slips on her unfeeling and uncaring mask.

"Your choice." She shrugs.

Mina's eyes look into the impenetrable dark ones, searching for any semblance of the person she has fallen in love with.

She only sees the singer, the popstar, Im Nayeon.

Her chin trembles, bottom lip quivers as she tries to contain a sob.

Min's words ring through her ears.

She will destroy you Mina. Nayeon doesn't know how to feel.

"I never want to see you in my life again. Goodbye Nayeon."

She takes off her wedding ring, drops it on the night stand and turns around bending to pick up her luggage.

Her vision blurs with tears.

She doesn't care about holding them back anymore, they course down her cheeks like hot torrents of grief.

Nayeon watches her go, rooted to her spot.

I never want to see you in my life again.

The words play in a loop, knocking her down, mocking at her.

The room suddenly feels small. She feels like she can't breathe. She collapses to the floor. She doesn't know how long she sits there, staring at the wall.

She hears the members come into the her bedroom, shaking her, telling her they are going to drive Mina and asking her if she has anything to tell the blonde.

She's already said enough.

She doesn't cry even though her chest hurts like a hundred nails are being hammered into them. She doesn't cry because she knows that for once in her life she's done the right thing.

She hears the car leave the house, taking the girl who brought light into her life away from her, leaving her to be surrounded by the darkness and emptiness of her house.

She wants to run after Mina and beg her not to leave. She wants to kiss her and hold her. There are so many things she wants.

But bad guys don't get what they want.

Shouldn't get what they want.

They don't get happy endings.

They don't deserve happy endings.

Chapter Text

Nayeon's eyes flutter, expecting to see a flock of blonde hair under her chin. Her hands search for the warm body that usually gives her comfort.

Her eyes fly open when reality descends on her.

Mina is gone.

Like all other people in her life.

Nam-ji, Seok and now Mina.

The house is eerily quiet as she walks into the kitchen.

There is no excited puppy running around and no beautiful blonde laughing and playing with the said puppy.

She makes a toast and brings it to her lips. It's burnt as usual.

Her face twists as she tries to eat it. She recalls how Mina ate them, never making a face, always pretending she enjoyed those burnt toasts, for her benefit.

She puts the toast down. She isn't hungry anymore.

Boram calls her to confirm the appointment with their lawyers.

Today, it's going to be officially over.

She takes a shower and puts on a grey coat, black shirt and jeans.

It is almost time.

She looks around searching for something.

Where are the damn keys?

"Mina."

She calls, out of habit.

And then freezes when reality strikes.

Mina isn't coming back. She never wants to see her in her life again.

Her throat constricts painfully.

This feeling of emptiness, which she thought has disappeared when Mina entered her life, slowly creeps back up.

She drops to the couch letting the void consume her.

Every single person in her life has only increased the darkness. All but one has offered light, brief and short lived, before she too went out leaving her in an all encompassing darkness.

This is why she hated letting people in. She has been happily living her own miserable, pathetic life.

Why did Mina have to come in, show her what real happiness looked like, only to cruelly snatch it away in the end?

She feels an irrational anger bubble up in her chest.

Why is she letting some contract marriage, some contract wife get to her?

She is Im Nayeon. She is strong, independent and doesn't need anyone. She will never let anyone bring down the walls she has carefully built.

They had good sex. That's all this is about. It is normal to miss physical intimacy. She just needs to get laid to get over this.

I never want to see you in my life again.

Mina's voice ring in her ears.

Like she gives a fuck. Their contract is up and she doesn't want to see the younger girl again either.

Nayeon can hear her heart beat, every single pound in her chest.

This great pressure on her ribs, the hammering, she can feel every single one of them.

Is Mina feeling as miserable as she is? Or is she happy that she is finally free from this hell?

Her heartbeat echoes in her chest, the hairs on her arms stands to attention as she opens the door.

She walks into the room and finds Boram  and her lawyers around.

Mina isn't there.

As if on cue, the beating in her chest stops, dies even.

"We have a situation."

"Fuck." She curses as her hand gets trapped in the door of a kitchen cabinet.

She withdraws her arm carelessly ignoring the bruised skin and continues rampaging through the shelves for alcohol.

Why the hell has she not stocked them?

Mina, that's why.

She has given up drinking for the Japanese girl.

She kicks the cabinet as Boram's voice plays in her head.

"Mina already sent in her signed papers. We'll file for divorce tomorrow. You can appear in person or we can send a lawyer on your behalf. In twelve to sixteen weeks, you'd be called for a hearing at the court. "

"Will she be there tomorrow?"

"No. She'll come directly for the hearing. She prefers that I deal with the legal process until then."

That's the situation.

She kicks the cabinet again. Mina has really meant when she said that she doesn't want to see her again.

She starts her car and drives to the store.

She desperately needs a drink.

The clicks of camera are more so than usual as she steps out of the store, bags full of alcohol.

Nayeon-ssi is Mina is asking for a divorce?

Nayeon-ssi, Nayeon-ssi can you wave at the camera.

Why are you calling it quits?

She ignores all of them.

Nayeon-ssi, is it true that your wife cheated on you?

She stops and growls at the reporter.

"Are you talking about your wife oppa? I'm sure my wife doesn't do that."

Ex wife. She bites her tongue.

But she has faith in the tabloids to write her in the worst possible way and only publish the first part of her rant.

She pushes her way through the crowd and opens the car door.

She kicks off her shoes when she gets to the empty house, and drinks straight from the bottle.

She lets the whiskey burn her throat, the sour and vile taste distracting her, stealing her away at least for the moment from the harsh reality.

She looks around the house.

Mina's shoes where it normally lay on the rack is not there.

She takes another drink off the bottle.

The whiskey quietens her thoughts, steadying her heart, giving it the strength to to on.

She has been walking on eggshells all day. Her daughter's friends who she considers family, are speaking in hushed tones, like if they spoke even a little louder than normal the girl sleeping upstairs will break.

Sana gives Momo a worried glance.

"She hasn't said a word since the members dropped her off yesterday."

Mina's mother sighs.

Romeo sits quietly in a corner.

She knows that it is unusual for a puppy that small to lay still. It's almost as if he's hurting because Mina is hurting.

"We need to give her time."

Her husband says in a sombre voice.

She nods. Her motherly instinct tells her that this divorce is real, that her daughter has feelings for Nayeon.

She hopes to god she's wrong. She hasn't heard one good thing about the idol so far.

Mina has always defended her, said she's really sweet when you got to know her, but she's seen the hurt far more than she'd like in her daughter's eyes to believe that.

Turns out she is right in the end.

When Mina emerges from her room after two days of silence, Jeongyeon says softly,

"Babe, you must be starving. Have some toast."

She notices her daughter's eyes change from vacant to confused to shocked.

Like she's just realised where she is.

She sees tears streaming down the face she so dearly loves.

"Darling." She takes her hand tenderly.

"Mama?"

She hears her voice tremble and sees her body shake. Her heart clenches painfully.

Mina looks so vulnerable, so little, sitting there, looking around like she is trying to get a grasp of reality.

Her aimlessly wandering eyes finally settle on the piece of toast Jeongyeon offered.

And she finally sees the dam break.

"Shsssh."

She holds her daughter in her arms as tears wrecks her body.

"It's over mama." She sobs.

Tears stains her shirt as she shudders in the her embrace.

"I was in love with her. And it's all over."

She feels her own eyes moisten. She kisses the top of Mina's head several times, holding her that bit tighter whenever fresh set of tears ravaged her.

Sana and Momo gather around their friend, hoping they can somehow pass their strength to her.

Joengyeon seethes with anger. Angry that someone has hurt her best friend, broken her and left her in pieces.

"It's not a dream. Is it?"

Mina asks as she looks up at her, tears gushing down her ashen cheeks.

The older woman doesn't how to answer to that. She wishes she can say it's only a dream, if only to take her child's pain away for a moment or two.

"It's really over."

She hears gut wrenching sobs that tears right through her chest.

She strokes Mina's hair, wiping her cheeks every few seconds. The youngest Myoui isn't crying so much anymore, but she can still feel slight tremors quaking her fragile body.

"You know what's horrible?"

Mina chokes out a wet laugh.

"She saw me as a contract worker. As a whore even."

Everyone flinches like those words burnt them.

"But she never saw me as a girl who was completely, madly love in with her."

Mina speaks to nobody in particular. Like she just needs to say these words to get them off her chest.

"I still miss her. Isn't that horrible?"

A solemn tear falls down the blonde's cheek.

The older woman doesn't know how long she holds her, how long everyone huddles around them, until she falls asleep in her arms.

"I'll carry her upstairs." Jeongyeon offers.

She nods.

Her chest feels like someone is trying to rip it out, because her child is hurting and there is absolutely nothing she can do about it.

She watches Jeongyeon carry Mina upstairs.

She watches Romeo and the other girls follow them, faithfully by Mina's side.

She hates Nayeon for doing this to her daughter. She hates that she doesn't have the power to change any of this.

"I'm going to have a word with Nayeon."

Jeongyeon says when she comes back. She looks beyond pissed.

"I'll go with you."

Sana looks equally mad.

She understands where they are coming from. They love their friend dearly. It is hard not to love Mina.

She has lived close to half a century in this world, and swears nobody she's ever met in her life is as special as Mina is. Mina is a sweet and gentle soul. She loves and cares for people without expecting anything in return.

And Nayeon has taken all of that, all of which makes Mina the pure angel she is, and given back a destroyed girl.

Chapter Text

Two weeks.

Two whole weeks of emptiness.

Nayeon laughs bitterly.

Two weeks of hiding from the members and the world.

She kicks the empty bottle of vodka to a side as she reads through the confirmation paper from the court.

She crumples it into a ball and throws it against the wall as she takes a long swig from a new bottle of vodka.

She has barely eaten anything in two weeks and her gaunt eyes and ribs are beginning to show.

She can't bring herself to care.

She grabs the nightshirt Mina left on the bed. She doesn't know why she's been holding it every single night for two weeks while she tried to sleep.

This thing with Mina is supposed to be just physical attraction. A little more maybe. So why does it have to hurt like this?

"Why do I feel so much for you?"

She asks aloud, like the blonde can somehow hear her from here.

She wonders if the girl is having fun while she is drowning in this misery.

Her eyes close as the effects of alcohol begins to take over her body, lulling her to sleep where no thoughts can hurt her.

Jihyo finds Nayeon in the same spot she has last seen her.

Nayeon is clinging onto a nighshirt, her head bent over her knees, bottles of alcohol scattered all around her.

She has called many times in two weeks but the older girl hasn't been ready to speak to anyone. She's finally had enough and used the spare key Nayeon gave her for emergencies.

She wishes she came sooner.

From the look of things, Nayeon has resorted to alcohol to escape from reality.

"Nayeon. Wake up."

The girl looks up at her with confused eyes.

"Jihyo?"

She scrambles to her feet, swaying slightly from the alcohol.

"I'm going to help you to a shower and then get you some food. Okay?"

Nayeon shakes her head.

"I'm not hungry."

Jihyo refuses to hear any of it.

She sets up a bath, shows Nayeon to it and cleans the room.

She watches Nayeon grab little bites, not really eating, her eyes looking distant and faraway.

"Are you mad at me?"

Jihyo can't give a honest answer to that.

She is mad at Nayeon for many reasons. For ruining the only good thing in her life. For not realising what she let slip right through her fingers. But most of all, she is mad at Nayeon for hurting the girl she has come to love so much.

"No. I'm not mad at you."

"Do you think she's mad at me?"

Why do you care? She wants to ask. But Nayeon is drunk and she doesn't want to agitate her.

She shrugs like she doesn't have an answer to that.

"I'm mad at me." Nayeon whispers.

"Why is that?" She asks carefully.

"It hurts here." The older girl taps a finger to her temple. "Here." She points to her chest. "And I don't know why."

Nayeon you oblivious fool, Jihyo sighs.

It isn't her place to tell Nayeon what she is feeling. She can't push her to come to terms with something only for her to run away.

Nayeon needs to figure this out herself.

And she almost does when she bumps into Geun at a party two weeks later.

"Oppa." She clenches her jaw.

"Heard your ex wife is available on the market now." He winks.

"You think you have a chance after doing what you did?"

She takes a step closer to him, staring him down. "You so much as look her way again, I will destroy you."

Geun swallows thickly.

Nayeon can be quite intimidating when she wants.

"What's it to you? She's your ex wife."

Nayeon feels annoyed with herself when she feels certain sadness at the word ex. Like she hates being reminded that Mina is a thing of the past.

Truth is, she is very much present in her memories, haunting every single one of her thoughts.

"Ex or not, I still care for her. And I'll ruin you if you even uttered her name. Is that clear?"

She steps back making sure he got her message.

He nods once, twice, and leaves quickly.

Nayeon replays her own words in her mind.

She has told Geun she cares for Mina. She realises to her own surprise that she actually meant those words.

Her father has told her Ims don't know how to care.

But she cares.

For Mina.

She leans against the wall, trying to steady herself.

What else has he been wrong about? Has she let her father mess up the one good thing she had in her life?

Six weeks later she finds what else her father has been wrong about.

She is drinking again when she hears the doorbell ring.

And she sees a handsomely dressed older man at the door who strangely reminds her of a girl who occupies every one of her dreams and waking thoughts.

"I'm Mina's father."

Whatever he has expected to see is far removed from what he is seeing.

He has expected to come across a cold, calculative person who doesn't care for anyone except herself.

-someone who is celebrating their freedom. Someone who is joyful about finally being out of a fake relationship.

-someone who is detached, distant and unaffected.

But what he sees is someone as broken, as miserable as his daughter.

He feels a a little self conscious as Nayeon stares at him for long.

"You have her eyes."

The younger girl says in awe.

He notices how it's said affectionately.

"How's she?"

Inconsolable. Heartbroken.

"She's holding up okay." He sees the girl exhale a soft puff of breath. "How are you?"

He's stormed in here wanting to give her a piece of her mind. But the girl before him looks like she hasn't eaten in days and stinks of alcohol and he can't help his fatherly instinct to care from showing.

Nayeon laughs dryly.

"You care. Just like her."

Those words surprise him. Only people who love deeply will notice the little traits they adore in the family.

"I came to collect some documents Boram said is with you."

It is a lie.

He has come here to collect the documents and tear her down.

But what can he do when she already looks this broken?

Nayeon nods, retrieving the files from the shelf and handing it over to him.

"Can you tell her I'm sorry?"

He sighs.

"That's something you have to tell her yourself."

Nayeon watches as the older man walk away.

Ims are selfish.

Her father has said.

He is so wrong.

The only thing that has been on her mind when he walked through that door was her worry for Mina.

When she heard she was holding up okay she has felt a huge relief seep through her heart, like someone has taken the weight of the world off her shoulders.

It hasn't mattered to her that's she's miserable. She has only wanted to hear Mina is happy.

She has cared for Mina more than she cared for herself.

That isn't the textbook definition of selfish, is it?

Seven weeks later, she walks into the home Mina used to work.

She knows the blonde won't be around because she quit, but she just wants to feel closer to her and Nam-ji for a while.

"She was a wonderful cook."

Cho says, showing Nayeon the kitchen.

"A lot of people can cook. But only few can bring love to your food. You can eat at so many restaurants but you know that feeling when you have something that reminds you of your mother's food, that's the feeling Mina brought to these kids."

Nayeon nods.

She has never known home food. Her childhood has entirely been about frozen or container foods.

Whenever her grandmother wanted her to spend summer holidays with her so she can care and cook for her, her father wouldn't let her because then he had to look after Nam-ji by himself.

She has never had anyone cook for her.

She has never known what it is like to have home food.

Until Mina.

At first, she has been a little hesitant to have what she made because she didn't want to get used to it but there is only so much she can resist when the members wouldn't stop gushing about what she made.

Clearing her thoughts, she walks past the kitchen to the office.

She sees a box of Mina's things in the corner.

"Her friends are coming round tomorrow to get them."

Cho tells her.

A teddybear catches her eye.

It says Minayeon forever.

She smiles at fans' name for the couple. Her heart flutters gently as she picks up the soft toy in her nimble fingers.

"I gave it to her for her birthday. She would smile exactly like you whenever she saw it."

Nayeon blinks through the tears that are rapidly forming.

Her chest swells with something so fast, so hard, she thinks it's going to explode.

She moves to a window and rests her forehead against it to get some air.

When she looks up she sees an old couple across the street sitting on a bench, holding hands.

The old lady says something, making the man laugh and he lays a kiss on her forehead.

Nayeon notes sadly that whatever they have, she used to have it with Mina.

She recalls all the tender glances, loving touches and shy smiles she has shared with the blonde.

"That's love, isn't it?"

Cho asks, looking in the direction of her gaze. The old man is cupping the lady's cheek and looking at her adoringly.

Nayeon's eyes snaps to Cho's.

Love?

Is that what she has with Mina? This thing inside her chest threatening to break her, consume her and knock her down, this intense feeling she so long couldn't put a name to, is this love?

"Definitely love."

Cho says looking at the couple who are laughing at something.

Nayeon steadies herself against the window, trying to gather herself.

Everything suddenly seems to make sense.

Why she went out of her way to make Mina's New Year perfect, why she let her take Romeo, why she felt irritated when Min was around, why she flew halfway across the world for a vet appointment, why she made those breakfasts she so obviously sucked at, why she lost sleep making gift boxes, why her fridge is stacked with apple juice, why she brought back Christmas when nobody could convince her for seven years.

She is in love with Mina.

And taken so damn long to realise it.

Chapter Text

Jihyo regards her with gentle eyes.

You can see bits and pieces of Nayeon and hate her, but if you care to look beyond the tough exterior, she is a wonderful person with a lot of love to give.

Sadly the one person who has to believe that firmly refuses to. Nayeon has convinced herself she's a monster.

Nayeon feels the leader's eyes on her.

The couple of drinks she has had helps ignore the concern she sees flashing in Jihyo's big brown eyes and numbs her enough to sit through the meeting.

"Nayeon-ssi, it's been four months since we filed for divorce. We still haven't heard from the court."

Now all eyes in the room are on her, looking at her sympathetically. She's going to need more alcohol if they are going to keep looking at her like that.

"I just want to make sure you're okay with waiting a little longer."

She shrugs as she fondles the wedding ring on her finger absent mindedly. Honestly, she doesn't even want a divorce.

Jihyo's watchful eyes don't miss the action.

She knows it is time to have the talk.

"No."

Nayeon says as she takes another swig of alcohol.

"What do you mean no?"

Jihyo's patience is wearing thin.

"No, I don't want to talk about me. No, there's nothing wrong with me."

Jihyo lets out an exasperated breath.

They are in Nayeon's house which, despite the immaculately arranged furniture and expensive curtains, looks deserted and abandoned.

Nayeon is half way through the first bottle when Jihyo says,

"You can't love her if you don't love yourself."

The older girl's hands clench around the bottle.

Anger is the first emotion Nayeon feels. Followed by the awareness of the truth in Jihyo's words.

"She doesn't love me."

Jihyo doesn't miss how she hasn't denied being in love with Mina.

"You don't know for sure."

They both sit in silence for some time.

"Nayeon, you can't find refuge in alcohol every time things go wrong."

Nayeon laughs bitterly as she chugs the content of the bottle down her throat.

"You know the consequences of alcohol. One would think you wouldn't go back to it, after what happened to Mina."

It is a low blow.

Jihyo knows that. But only Mina's name seems to get a reaction out of her.

Nayeon freezes hearing those words.

She remembers how she nearly let Geun-

No, she can't even think about, it makes her feel sick, physically. She feels an overwhelming urge to throw up. She closes her eyes as hot tears prickles them.

"Jihyo. That's unfair."

Jihyo nods. She shouldn't have used that particular incident to get through to Nayeon, yes. But is there anything fair in love or war?

"Yes, it is unfair. But don't you think you're being unfair to yourself too? If you could get your act together, you can still have the greatest love of your life."

Nayeon shakes her head.

Jihyo is wrong.

It's too late now, Mina must have moved on from whatever little feeling she had for her. She won't blame her, who'd want to be with someone as despicable as her.

Nayeon sags against the couch, her clouded eyes flickering across the things in the living room.

She has missed Mina so much in these past four months. Every nook and corner in the house, everything she sees, touches, hears, reminds her of the younger girl. Love songs, poems, beautiful things, all brings the blonde to the surface of her mind effortlessly.

It is pathetic really. She knows she can't go on like this. She knows she can't use alcohol to run away from reality. She'll end up in a hospital bed one of these days. Maybe never to wake up again.

"I don't know what to do."

She admits, not bothering to wipe the tears falling down her face.

Jihyo hugs her, rocking her gently in her arms.

She has faith in love. She has faith in Nayeon. She wishes Nayeon has that faith in herself.

Nayeon takes that giant leap of faith when she has a visitor at her doorstep two days later.

"Momo." She looks at her hesitantly.

"Shut up and pass me that bottle."

The younger girl pushes her to a side, snatches the bottle of vodka from her hand and downs half of it in one go as she walks into the room.

Nayeon stares at her like she has grown a third head.

They sit on the living room floor, not speaking much, finishing the bottle between them.

"I should hate you."

Nayeon nods in understanding.

She hates herself too.

"But I can't. I can't hate anything Mina loves."

Nayeon nods again absentmindedly.

Momo waits for the meaning behind the words to hit the older girl.

It does, in a few seconds.

Nayeon's eyes widen as she fully grasps what she's been told.

"What did you say?"

She pulls Momo to her, grabbing her by the collar and shaking her.

"What did you just say?"

Momo looks at her for a long moment.

"I said I can't hate anything Mina loves."

Nayeon stares at her, her mouth wide open.

Momo shakes her head, laughing sadly.

Nayeon really doesn't have a fucking clue.

"She was in love with you idiot."

She blinks her eyes, unable to believe what she just heard.

She doesn't move, doesn't breathe, her heart pounds loudly in her chest.

Mina was in love with her? Is this some kind of cosmic joke?

Momo studies Nayeon with unwavering attention. She hopes she hasn't sent her into shock.

"Are you having me on?" Nayeon finally talks.

"Yeah, because that's the first thing on my mind."

Momo releases herself from Nayeon's hold.

Nayeon feels her throat tighten.

"How did you not see? You hurt her so many times."

The older girl winces at her words.

"But she forgave you every single time."

"Why do you think she walked out of the family dinner when Min was badmouthing you? Why do you think she came home a sobbing mess only to tell you aren't the bad guy? Why do you think she broke things off with Min when you walked in on her? Why couldn't you see how much she loved you?"

Momo jabs a finger to her chest with each question.

Nayeon's chin quivers.

"Have you not seen the way she looked at you? God, it was pathetic how smitten she was."

Then look properly. And maybe you'll finally see.

Nayeon closes her eyes. She covers her face with her trembling hands.

"How did you not see her love for you Nayeon-chan?"

Momo almost yells.

An involuntary whimper escapes Nayeon's lips.

Mina was in love with her.

She has given herself completely, both emotionally and physically to her, and she has offered to pay for it.

The girl she is madly in love with, has loved her back and she has been too blinded by her own darkness to see it.

See me. You've never seen me. Not even as a person, let alone a wife.

Momo watches as Nayeon bends forward, pressing her palms to her face, choking on her sobs.

A tiny part of her wants her to suffer as much as Mina did, does.

"I am in love with her too."

Nayeon says, her voice breaking.

"I know."

Momo sees the pain in her teary eyes, she sees how inconsolable she is.

Just like Mina.

And the rational part of her knows that the older girl is suffering just as much as her.

She pats her back gently until her sobs die down.

Nayeon takes a deep breath.

Mina loved her. Maybe, still loves her.

That's enough.

She knows what she has to do next.

She needs to fix herself before she can fix things with Mina.

Mina deserves the best things in the world. And she is going to be the best version of herself for the girl who loved her.

For the girl she is in love with.

For her wife.

The first smile in four months forms on her lips when she whispers the words to herself.

My wife.

Momo pretends she doesn't hear that, she pretends that her heart doesn't melt a little at the sight of the toothy grin on the singer.

Nayeon walks into Boram's office with a mission the next day.

"I need you to send me to therapy for however long it takes. I've spoken to the members and they don't mind a hiatus. I need you to fix me unnie."

Boram smiles at the girl she has watched grow from a scared kid to a damaged adult.

"I will."

Nayeon drops to the chair in the office, like she has exhausted herself emotionally. "I'm not even sure if this will work."

"You're doing the right thing Nayeon-ssi."

Boram reassures.

"You might want to back out of this, want to change your mind. Whenever you feel that way remember the next thing I'm going to tell you."

She has all of the younger girl's attention now.

"Remember that Mina refused to take the house. She refused to take a single penny from the contract."

She sees Nayeon looking stunned.

"You weren't a contract to her. You were more than that."

She sees tears threatening to spill from the younger girl's eyes.

"Anytime you think this therapy isn't working, it's overwhelming, just remember she loved you for you. She only took your memories away with her, not your money, not your fame, not a house that is her happy place."

Boram pats her hand warmly.

"You are her happy place now Nayeon-ssi and I think you know that too. "

Mina wipes the table with a cloth. It is close to three and the rush hour has just gotten over.

"You can take a break love. You work too hard."

She smiles warmly at the old man behind the counter.

"I'll just finish this area and go for a break."

He sighs, walking away shaking his head to himself.

She clears the next table carefully avoiding looking at the newspaper a customer has left behind.

It's been six months she has checked any newspapers or gone online. Six months of trying to forget that one face she can't seem to erase from her mind.

"I got these documents from her. She looked-"

"Papa, I don't want to know."

She cuts him off.

She is slowly getting back on her feet and last thing she wants is to hear how well the older girl is doing without her.

Mina takes a deep intake of breath as she looks at the finger where her wedding ring used to lay, a thin line reminding her of her past.

Sometimes she thinks she's dreamt it all, but the tan line on the ring finger reminds her of the harsh reality.

"I saw her."

"Who?"

"Your Nayeon."

Her heart twists painfully. She isn't hers anymore.

"Momo." She pleads, "I don't want to hear another word."

So many nights she has cried herself to sleep. So many mornings she has waken up expecting to see dark eyes looking at her.

There have been times she felt like she was going to die from the sheer pain in her heart.

She is finally over all that.

She is finally over one Im Nayeon.

"How's my favourite girl?"

She hears the door open and smiles at her housemate. She has moved back with her friends after a month of living at her parents.

"My love."

She sighs exaggeratedly as she hugs Sana making her giggle.

She wouldn't have made it this far without her friends by her side.

Momo sings songs out of tune making her laugh through her tears. Jeongyeon brings ice creams and musicals whenever she has dark days.

And Sana, she has held her, picked up her pieces whenever she broke down.

"I can't Sana."

She sobs, her grief shaking her body.

Sana hugs her tighter.

"I can't forget the moments we shared. I can't forget her smile, her eyes, her voice. I can't forget the way she looked at me, touched me. Why can't I?"

"Right now you can't. But someday you will."

Sana promises and she lets herself believe her best friend's words.

Her divorce is still pending. The lawyer's union is on a strike and she'll have to wait another few weeks before they set a new hearing date.

She can't wait to finally everything behind her and start fresh.

"Hello, you look nice."

She smiles back at him.

"Thank you."

She replies, her traitorous mind reminding her how incredibly furious Nayeon was when she walked in on them.

"Do you want to go out sometimes?"

Every moment with him will bring back memories of Nayeon, how she sorted their New Year date, how mad she got when she said she doesn't like girl groups and what it lead to.

"I'm sorry. I can't."

"Jeongyeon and I won't be home tonight. We have a business conference meeting until two."

She pouts. Momo works night shifts, that means she'll be alone.

"This is the last late night conference call I'm going to agree on, I promise."

Sana kisses her cheek and leaves, shutting the door behind her loudly. Typical Sana. Mina shakes her head affectionately.

She gets through another rush hour between five and seven in the evening in one piece. As she sits down on an empty chair, her legs hurting and body sore, her mind travels back to an incident two months ago.

"She looks nice. Really hotter than before."

"That short hair suits her so well."

She smiles at the two girls pointing to their phones and discussing about someone.

"She's single now. Maybe we should chat her up on twitter."

She is kind of curious to know who they are talking about.

"Please. Have you seen her ex? She's got standards."

One girl teases the other.

When she goes to serve their cake and coffee, they gape at her with their mouth open.

"You're Nayeon's ex wife right?"

Her heart painfully twists when she hears that name. The name she's tried to carefully avoid for months.

"No."

She says and leaves.

She is in a better place now. She has completely moved on from her past and is looking forward to much more exciting things in her life.

When she was younger, she took part in a lot of musicals. Her friends have suggested she dabbles in it again and with her family encouraging her, she applied for the auditions a month ago and got through the first round even.

She is anxiously waiting to hear from them.

She is ready to close up the shop when she hears a familiar ding.

A new customer has arrived.

All her thoughts about moving on comes to a complete standstill when she turns around and comes face to face with Nayeon.

And despite everything she has told herself over the past six months, her treacherous heart flutters when their eyes meet and a smooth voice says,

"Hello, wife."

Chapter Text

Mina stares at Nayeon, her mouth dry, her face white like she's seen a ghost, her eyes wide and not blinking as if making sure this person in front of her isn't a fragment of her twisted imagination.

She feels a course of emotions run through her, surprise, shock, a rush of undeniable warmth, but the one that comes up on top is anger.

Nayeon is looking at her with a soft smile and there is something about that gaze that seems to momentarily disarm her.

She feels her neck muscle tighten and her jaw clench.

How dare she.

How dare she come in here, and turn her world upside down with a mere eye contact.

She takes a sharp intake of breath as the anger seeps through her skin, consuming all she is, demanding a release in form of hurtful words.

She is better than that.

She can't let Nayeon get to her, she can't let her destroy her again, she most definitely can't let her see how affected she is just by her presence.

Nayeon watches with her devoted eyes every single one of the emotions that runs through Mina's beautiful face.

She sees the younger girl's eyes widen in surprise, then narrow with anger, her forehead crease with a frown, finally hardening into a blank expression on her captivating face.

She wonders as she looks at Mina how it is possible for someone to become even more beautiful than they already are.

Mina's blonde hair is now dyed the darkest black, her luscious wavy locks flowing to her chest. It's soft, exquisite and makes Nayeon want to run her hand through them.

-Her alluring bee stung lips are pursed in an everlasting pout, stirring an unquenchable desire within her to kiss it. A thin gold chain caresses the delicate line of her collarbone.

-Her smooth inviting skin she is so familiar with is hidden behind a white t-shirt that sits loosely over her elegant shoulders. The rise and fall of her chest is visible through the material, rendering her mouth dry with want.

-Tight blue jeans cover a slender waist and a plump bottom her hands ache to touch. A delicious expanse of skin peeks through the gap between the t-shirt and jeans that her fingers itch to stroke.

She hears a throat clear and her eyes travel back to Mina's dazzling face which is now coated a slight pink.

"What can I get for you?"

Mina asks, words a rush of breath, crossing her arms across her chest self consciously.

Wrong move, Mina tells herself.

Because Nayeon has once again begun to undress her with her eyes. She uncrosses her arms taking attention away from her chest.

Nayeon licks her lips before she lets a brilliant smile take over the corner of her mouth.

Her wife is standing across her.

She has longed to see her so many times in the past two months when she was in therapy but resisted it with all of her being.

Sometimes her heart has ached to get a glimpse of her, and she would almost give in. But one look at the ring Mina left on their nightstand would remind her of her last words to the younger girl and give her the strength to fix herself before she got anywhere near her.

For six months, she has held Mina's nightshirt in her sleep, her heart twisting into a knot when her scent faded away with each day.

Six months of longing, aching to see her wife.

And she is right in front of her.

Flustered, angry, annoyed and painfully beautiful.

"What can I get for you?"

Mina's perfectly shaped brow lifts up in a question.

A kiss. A hug. A sign that you still feel something for me. Nayeon thinks.

"Iced coffee and a slice of strawberry cake." She answers.

"Take away?"

Nayeon nods, her bunny teeth still showing in a radiant smile that infuriates Mina.

She gets behind the counter, trying to look unaffected by Nayeon as she quickly makes iced coffee and pours it into a takeaway mug.

She almost succeeds in pretending to be unaffected, until a smoky voice behind her says,

"These are my wife's favourites."

Mina stills, her eyes screwing shut as the older girl's words create havoc in her heart. The anger she has tried to suppress so far bubbles so quickly up her chest that she takes a deep breath to collect herself.

"I thought you are getting a divorce."

She turns around, placing the mug and cake box on the counter and looks at Nayeon squarely in the eyes.

Another charming smile. Mina almost wants to slap it off her face.

"She wants it. I don't."

"Why is that I wonder."

Her voice is bitter, her tone mocking as she takes the money from Nayeon, careful not to touch her.

She counts the return change and turns to her side, only to meet smouldering dark eyes. She feels them penetrate right into her soul, leaving her a little breathless.

"Because, I love her."

A wide smile splits Nayeon's gorgeous face.

And she walks out, quietly.

-leaving Mina's heart pounding loudly in her chest.

"That insufferable, pigheaded, imbecile, idiot."

Momo raises an eyebrow at the younger girl but doesn't interrupt the rant because with Mina everything is sophisticated, even the string of curses and it is entertaining to hear them.

Besides she kind of  knows who fits the vivid description Mina is giving.

"Really. What does she think she's doing, coming in there with her little declaration of love."

Mina is absolutely livid and it is fascinating to watch the normally calm girl so unhinged.

Momo resists a smile tugging at the corner of her lips, afraid that she would infuriate her more.

She definitely knows who Mina is talking about.

"God, I could have slapped that stupid grin off her face. How does she even know where I work?"

Momo avoids looking at Mina.

"Are you not going to say anything?"

Mina narrows her eyes at her best friend who looks guilty for some odd reason.

"I don't even know what you're going on about."

Mina sighs. Of course.

"Nayeon walked in today." She says quietly.

She drops to the couch by her bestfriend's side.

"I don't know what she's playing at ordering my favourite things, calling me her wife and telling me," She pauses, chewing on her bottom lip.

"Telling you what?" Momo prods.

The younger girl frowns, a pout sitting on her lips.

"She loves me."

Oh, Momo thinks, so the tool has finally initiated Plan A.

"What the hell is Plan A Momo?"

Nayeon is boxing, and Momo is slightly scared of her.

"It's really very simple ."

The singer takes off her boxing gloves and takes a seat across the girls. Her therapist has suggested she takes up a sport so that she can divert any negative feelings to it without having to resort to alcohol.

"Just tell me what it is."

"You court her."

Nayeon is baffled why Momo is using words like this. Are they in some Shakespeare play and nobody gave her the memo?

"That's your plan? How do you suggest I court her?"

"There are things you must know about her Nayeon-chan. Small, but important things that others don't know."

Nayeon looks away to a far spot as a pensive look comes on her face.

Little things others don't know? There is a beauty mark right below her breast. And another on her bum. Those juicy plumpy-

"Things that will show her you care." Tzuyu cuts her thoughts because she doesn't like the roguish grin on Nayeon's face.

Nayeon nods. She needs to show that she has changed, that she can care and love without any hesitation or insecurities holding her back.

"It's not going to be easy, this wooing." Jihyo warns, "you might get hurt too."

Nayeon shrugs. She doesn't care. She is due some hurt after what she's done to her wife.

"Plan A is so on." Her voice is determined, her smile broad. "Miss Myoui Mina, I'm going to sweep you off your feet and you won't know what to do."

One look at the state her bestfriend is in tells Momo she hasn't moved on like she keeps insisting.

She obviously still feels strongly for the singer but she also knows how stubborn she can be once she makes up her mind.

She knows how equally stubborn Nayeon is. The older girl won't go down without a fight and this is going to get really interesting to watch.

When Mina goes back to work the next day, she hates herself a little when she feels a little disappointment at every ding.

She is almost convinced Nayeon has done a spur of the moment thing, had her fun and found someone else to annoy for the day.

-until she sees a familiar car pull up outside the cake shop. Her heart beat quickens and she subconsciously smoothes out her work shirt and skirt.

Nayeon is wearing a simple white button down shirt which is tucked inside a wide beige jeans. Her short silky hair is tousled to perfection. Her smile is bright and dazzling. She looks immaculate and Mina feels a slight colour coating her cheeks when she realises she is checking Nayeon out.

She turns around quickly before she can get caught staring.

"Hello."

What, no wife today? Mina mentally scoffs as she moves to the counter.

"What can I get for you today?"

Her tone is professional, curt, her gaze never staying too long on the older girl.

"Coffee and a slice of chocolate cake, please."

She makes coffee and stirs six packet of sugar in it absentmindedly, wondering what little act Nayeon is going to pull today.

But Nayeon is completely business like, thanks her, collects her belongings and Mina can't help but feel a little disgruntled.

She turns to the side, sorting the cash register before she can close up for the night.

"This shirt," She hears a voice at the door.

Nayeon hasn't left.

She is looking at her with an unreadable expression on her face, "is the one I was wearing when I first saw you. I don't remember anything from that night but I remember telling my friends that I've just seen the most beautiful girl in the world."

Mina doesn't move. She feels dizzy, her heart hammers in her chest. She steadies herself at the counter as Nayeon looks at her for a long moment with a soft smile on her face.

"Goodnight Mina."

Mina presses a hand to her chest as if to calm it, noting with disdain how Nayeon has once again managed to topple her world upside down with few words.

Chapter Text

He narrows his eyes at the happy girl before him who's smiling with a dreamy look in her eyes.

They are having lunch in his office and all his colleagues have taken an immense liking to the singer who visits him from time to time.

He would have never believed in a million years that they will get here, considering their history, considering she hurt the one thing he loved most in this world, his precious daughter.

And it has all started with flowers.

"You need to stop."

He walks into the mansion, annoyed Nayeon has done it again.

"Stop what Oto-san?"

Nayeon looks at him innocently.

He knows he should find this behaviour irritating, but the young Korean is smiling up at him with those puppy dog eyes of hers and he can't help but think it's endearing.

"You need to stop sending me flowers. You need to stop writing apology notes. You need to stop bombarding my phone with meaningful quotes about in law relationships."

Nayeon smiles at him with a cheeky glint in her eye.

He notes that it is impossible to be mad at someone so adorable.

"Seriously my colleagues are starting to think I'm having an affair behind my wife's back."

He drops to Nayeon's couch and looks sternly at the girl.

She stares right back at him.

It only takes two seconds for them to dissolve into giggles.

"She put six packets Oto-chan. Six into my coffee."

He still doesn't understand the importance behind some sugar packets.

"Oh my god." He gasps when a thought suddenly dawns on him. "Are you diabetic or something? Are you telling me Mina tried to kill you?"

Nayeon throws her head back and laughs because the expression on the oldest Myoui's face is priceless.

"No," She says through hiccups as her laughter dies down. "I always take my coffee that way and she remembered."

He finally understands the dreamy look behind those dark eyes.

She's almost there. Over.

Nayeon rolls her eyes. Why is Momo acting like they are in a spy thriller?

You're sending me texts. There's no need to say over.

Shut up Im. Almost reached destination. Over.

She looks around, scouring the area for paps. No one is around, she sighs in relief.

All clear. Over.

She slaps a palm to her forehead when she realises she's said over too. She is going to kill Momo. Someone that contagious should not be allowed to roam free.

Her heart beats in her throat as she waits in Angel home. She wants to see Mina because it is her birthday.

She glances at the silver necklace the younger girl gifted her for her last birthday. She clutches it gently in her hands, feeling slightly better, as if it gives her some mental strength.

Mina watches Momo who looks oddly nervous. She is texting someone, is fidgety when she demands who has her attention.

"My boss." Momo squeaks.

Mina frowns at her, because nobody looks that anxious texting their boss, especially not Momo who never takes anything seriously.

She decides not to question her further because it is normal for Momo to have her strange days.

"Unnie."

Mina hugs her former boss affectionately when they get to the home.

"Hello darling. How have you been?"

They walk into the home, chatting and catching up with each other and Mina doesn't notice a hand pulling Momo into the cleaning closet.

"What the fuck Nayeon-chan, you scared me."

Nayeon throws her a cheeky smile.

"You deserve it for going all spyshit on me."

Momo rolls her eyes.

If Mina doesn't love this prick this much she would have been looking for places to hide a murder weapon by now.

"How do I look?"

Magnificent. Like always. But Momo can't tell her that and watch the already huge ego inflate.

"Okay, I guess."

She shrugs.

Nayeon is wearing blue mom jeans, oversized black tee and white converse shoes. On anyone else this would look ordinary, but she is Nayeon and nothing looks less than spectacular on her.

"Good, let's go."

Mina is helping Cho serve lunch to the kids when all of them suddenly break into a birthday song.

Mina doesn't have to turn around to know who has just walked in to the lunch hall.

She has agreed to come to the home for lunch service only because she knows Nayeon visited in the evening on her birthdays. She hasn't forgotten that little detail.

Truth be told, she can't seem to forget anything that has to do with the singer.

The song finishes and kids break into a cheerful round of applause. The hairs on her neck stand to attention when she feels someone approach her.

"Mina."

She doesn't look at her. She looks at Cho disappointedly and then turns to Momo who is slowly backing away from the room.

"Nayeon."

She turns around and addresses, her eyes taking in the older girl.

She notices how the six months have changed her physically. She has a glow about her, she looks healthier like she is eating properly and she is finally starting to look her age, younger even.

The Nayeon she knew used to be slightly bony, ate poorly and always looked burdened and older beyond her years. Like she has lived and died a hundred times.

"Hi."

Her gaze is warm, tender and Mina isn't sure how to react to it. It reminds her of their mornings together in bed.

She shakes her head, clearing her thoughts. She can't go there.

"Are you not going to wish me?"

Her smile is both endearing and infuriating.

Mina wants to both pull her into her and push her away.

"Happy birthday."

She sidesteps Nayeon to walk towards the exit only to be stopped by a familiar touch on her wrist.

She feels her skin burn where those long fingers touches her and twists her wrist away from Nayeon's hands.

"What?" She asks impatiently, her eyes focused on an empty space between them.

"My wife got me this for my last birthday."

The older girl says pointing to the necklace around her neck.

Mina's throat tightens, chest clenches as she sees Nayeon's lips tilt upwards in a smile, eyes twinkling, teeth perfectly aligned. Something as simple as a smile shouldn't have this effect on her.

And she wants to wipe that smile off her face.

"How does it look?"

Mina's eyes finally meet the sparkling dark ones. She gives Nayeon a sweet smile as their eyes lock on like magnets, making the older girl smile even wider.

"Cheap."

She sees the smile die.

She sees a flicker of hurt in the otherwise nonchalant eyes.

"Like you can't feed a dog for a week with that money."

Chapter Text

Nayeon hits the sack until her hand hurts as much as her heart does.

Joengyeon gives her a worried glance. This is a girl she once hated with all her heart, now she can't bear to think she's hurting.

The older girl punches the sack again, groaning when an intense pain shoots through her hand.

Jeongyeon immediately rushes to her, takes off the gloves and nurses her swollen hand with an ice pack.

She thinks back to a moment like this a month ago when the older girl won her heart.

"It's time to initiate phase 2." Jihyo declares.

"So soon?" The panic in Nayeon's eyes are palpable.

"It's now or never Nayeonnie." Tzuyu states.

"Wish me luck."

Nayeon takes a deep breath and feels better when Chaeyoung gives her a peck on the cheek and says, "You've got this."

"Yes Nayeonnie, fighting." Dahyun cheers.

Nayeon's therapist has asked her to pick a sport but she has picked boxing at this particular club because Jeongyeon is a member.

I don't want to know about your family or whatever.

She recalls her own words.

She is righting the wrongs.

For Mina.

That thought alone gives her enough strength to walk into the boxing club.

At first, Jeongyeon is rude to her, insults her, but Nayeon's patient and persistent.

It's four weeks later when she is packing her bags that she hears someone yelp. She finds Jeongyeon lying in the ring groaning in pain.

"What happened?" Nayeon runs to her side immediately.

When she refuses to answer, choosing to glare at her instead, she ignores the rudeness, fetches ice, calls an ambulance, stays with her at the hospital, never leaving her side, whispering words of comfort throughout.

She doesn't leave to get lunch or dinner. And Jeongyeon feels a little bad eventhough she doesn't want to care.

When Nayeon finally drives Jeongyeon home, requesting not to tell anyone that it is her who has done this, Jeongyeon stops her with,

"Done what? You mean taken care of me?"

She nods.

"Are you always like this? Refuse to show the good things you do?"

Nayeon meets the short haired girl's eyes and there is a hint of affection in them.

And she knows that she has just won over another member of the Mina pack.

"She can't take you back if you're dead you know."

Nayeon hisses as Jeongyeon presses the ice on her bruised skin.

"Sometimes I feel like I'm dead to her."

Her voice is laced with a tinge of sadness.

Jeongyeon shakes her head affectionately.

"My friend is a tough one to break. But tell me, is there anyone tougher than an Im?"

Nayeon beams at her, her confidence returning.

"You're going to win your wife back Nayeonnie. There's no other end to this story."

Jeongyeon lets herself be pulled into a hug in the arms of a girl she loves as much her best friend.

The confidence slightly falters when Nayeon finds herself standing in front of the audition hall, wondering if she is doing the right thing.

Nayeon-ssi, Nayeon-ssi are you getting back with your wife?

Nayeon-ssi, is it true that you bribed the judge to postpone the hearing date?

Nayeon-ssi are you seeing Seok again?

She doesn't know how the paps found her. They must have followed her car from the mansion.

"Seok, who? Oppa, you better clean your arse before you pull things out of them."

She hears some of the paps laugh at the one who asked her the last question.

When she finally goes through the double door and takes a seat in the audience section, she sees Mina getting on stage.

The younger girl's eyes scan the crowd for a brief moment and settles on her friends sitting in the second row.

Nayeon is thankful she chose a dark corner at the back to sit. She doesn't want to upset Mina right before her performance.

She is not religious, despite that she says a small prayer in her head when the audition starts. Her heart hammers, pulse pounds, feeling nervous and anxious for Mina.

Nayeon's eyes fill to the brim with tears, her soft lips stretch to a smile when she hears a beautiful voice echo through the auditorium.

How has she not known Mina could sing this well?

There are so many things you don't know about me.

What a blind fool she has been.

She tries to make a quiet exit after the audition when a low voice from behind her stops her.

"Fancy seeing you here."

The paps who are crowded outside, frenzily try to get a picture of them.

"I see you brought your whole army as well."

She flinches hearing the ridicule in Mina's voice. A voice that used to be affectionate and doting.

She lets out a barely audible sigh and turns to face Mina.

"You did brilliantly. I'm really proud of you."

The expression on the Japanese girl's face tells Nayeon that she hasn't expected to hear that. Her disbelief is evident in the crease of her lovely brow and the downcurve of her full lips.

"Thank you."

Nayeon feels her mouth twitch, threatening to break into a smile.

Mina, Mina is being civil to her.

"This," The younger girl points to the stage with her finger with a wistful smile, "is a nice upgrade from prostitution right?"

She turns to Nayeon, giving her a pointed look.

You will have a word about what? That you want to pay your contract worker more money because she let you fuck her?

Nayeon blinks rapidly, her eyes burning and chest aching as the past plays on her mind.

She fights back the tears even as her lips trembles and shoulders heave with emotion.

She can't break down in front of Mina. She can't make her feel guilty, not when she knows for certain she deserves this and worse.

"Good luck Mina, I hope you get the part."

She forces a small smile to her lips, despite her glistening eyes and quivering chin and leaves, her shoulders sagging with grief, gait burdened and heavy.

Mina watches her go, sadness welling up in her chest, throat constricting with emotions.

She wonders if this wound will ever heal, why she can't feel happy when the older girl is miserable.

Mina can't help but compare the night sky to her own state of mind. Just like these clouds, her mind is in a chaos.

Something is eating at her, worrying her, aching inside of her.

She tries to pinpoint the cause of this feeling.

Those eyes. The hurt behind them.

She thought this is another game to her, that Nayeon is going to get bored and give up on this charade sooner or later.

If it is only a game, then why did she see the hurt lingering in those arresting dark eyes? It couldn't have been her imagination.

And she definitely hasn't imagined her own heart aching at the sight of it either.

She tries to recall their last encounter, she needs that moment to ground herself to reality whenever her resolve slips.

Nayeon offered to pay for sex. She offered to pay her off with money for falling in love with her.

Mina has to bite her lip to keep from crying out.

She is over this.

She isn't going to waste her tears over someone who has no place in her life anymore, someone who treated her like she is nothing.

You felt nothing for me Nayeon, why do you pretend to care now? She asks herself.

She leans her head back on the couch.

Somedays she feels everything at once.

Every single moment with Nayeon, every single touch, every single glance and in those days she wants to laugh at people who says pain lulls over time.

Somedays she feels nothing at all.

This emptiness, this void, a heavy feeling constricting her heart in its walls, making it suffocate, rot inside with a wound that never heals and in those days she wonders just how much longer it would go on beating.

Nayeon has said she loves her.

Why now? Does she suddenly miss her sex worker after six months?

She scoffs mentally. Surely Nayeon has a million people queuing up her door if she wants a shag.

That thought alone makes her slightly annoyed and she doesn't know why.

Or perhaps, she knows why but isn't ready to acknowledge it, face the demons she's trying to keep at bay.

She has to face the demons she's running away from when she sees Nayeon after two weeks with a man in her arms.

Two weeks of expecting to see her with every ding of the bell, and a feeling of relief at the thought that Nayeon has finally dropped this game.

Two weeks of letting Nayeon escape her mind, only for her to spin her world on its axis just at the sight of her like it is nothing at all.

She sees the singer's eyes widen in surprise when her gaze lands on her. She sees a mixture of emotions on the face she once loved so much.

She sees hurt, surprise and confusion.

And something else that's tender she can't put a name to.

Mina clears her throat and drops her gaze after a moment.

She browses through the store, carefully avoiding bumping into Nayeon.

Out of the corner of her eye, she sees the man the older girl is with whispering sweet nothings into her ear. She hears her laugh.

The muscles in Mina's jaw twitches and her mouth feels dry. She has this urge to break something.

She walks into the trial room, wanting a break from the loved up couple.

She finally understands why the older girl isn't trying anymore, not like she wants her to try. Good for her for moving on and leaving her alone.

When she walks out of the cabin, she bumps straight into the man Nayeon is with.

"Oppa, what's taking you so long?"

As if on cue, the singer walks to the trial room, fixing the man with an impatient glance.

Mina hates herself a little when her heart flutters at the sound of her voice.

The irritation in Nayeon's eyes disappears as her eyes travel behind the man and find Mina looking flustered and embarrassed.

"I was just getting out and bumped into this beautiful young woman." He looks at Mina with concern. "Are you okay love?"

"I was going to ask you that. But I'll leave your date to look after you." Mina replies coolly.

The man looks at her with an odd smile on his face.

Mina doesn't want to question it. She steadies her breath before walking past Nayeon who is giving her a funny look.

"Oppa, I told you that you don't look gay at all. Work on it."

Nayeon chuckles.

Mina pauses, midstep.

Her cheeks heat up, and she bites her bottom lip to resist the urge to bury her face in her hands.

She feels Nayeon's eyes on her back as she hurries out of the trial room.

Mina looks around quickly, trying to find the right dress for her meeting with the directors of the play.

She feels someone by her side. She knows who it is before this someone even talks. It's pathetic how well her heart has memorized even the sound of her footsteps.

"What do you think of this dress unnie?"

She hears Nayeon ask the woman before her.

Mina stiffens slightly and pays attention to the dress in her own hands.

From the corner of her eyes, she can see Nayeon holding up a green dress.

"Someone once told me, I'd look good in this colour."

The singer smiles charmingly at the store assistant.

Mina feels that familiar twisting of her heart.

Apparently Nayeon's hasn't called quits on this little charade.

"How about this, Nayeon-chan?" Mina says holding up a green dress she has picked from the closet.

The President of the country has invited them for a formal dinner and Nayeon is trying to decide what to wear.

"Green? I'd look like an elf. What's wrong with your taste?"

Nayeon is fumbling through the clothes in her cupboard, she misses the disappointed look in Mina's face.

"I think you'd look nice in green."

Nayeon dismisses her with a wave of her hand.

"If you like it so much, you can wear it."

The singer chooses a silver dress, grinning triumphantly at it.

"What do you think?" The store assistant snaps Mina out of her musings.

"Eh?"

"What do you think about this dress?" She is holding a green dress in her hand, asking for a second opinion.

Nayeon looks at her expectantly.

Mina scrunches her nose. "I think she'll look like an elf. There's something wrong with her taste."

The store assistant stares at her with her mouth wide open in disbelief.

After all who dares to disagree with the mighty Im Nayeon, right? Mina thinks bitterly.

She expects a similar reaction from Nayeon.

When she turns to her side, she sees the older girl's face lit up in a toothy smile, eyes fond and affectionate.

"Actually," Nayeon takes a step forward, stopping at a distance that's short enough to make Mina's breath hitch and far away to make her want to tug the older girl by the collar of her shirt towards her.

Nayeon cocks her head to a side looking at Mina like she is the only person in the room, "I have really good taste, you should see my wife."

Mina shouldn't be this weak really, but she can't help the deep blush coating her cheeks when Nayeon finishes the sentence with a cheeky smile, giving her body a slow once over, conveying what she exactly means.

Chapter Text

Mina is someone who observes everything in detail, so she is quite surprised how she missed this.

She has been so consumed by her anger and hurt that she hasn't noticed it at first.

And she is taken aback by the nausea she feels swirling unrestrained in her stomach at the sight of the older girl's hand in a cast.

Nayeon sees Mina's eyes linger on her hand. She quickly shoves it in the pocket of her trousers.

Mina wishes she has just walked out of the store without a second glance because she doesn't like how every inch of her being just wants to get closer to Nayeon and take her hand in hers.

Swallowing the pain in her chest, she sweeps her glance up Nayeon's sculpted arms and meets her eye.

She wants to ask if her hand hurts, she wants to ask how it happened, she wants to ask if she is okay, but instead she asks,

"What did you do? Get into a drunken brawl?"

She masks the concern in her voice, taking a a dig at the older girl's past.

Nayeon flinches. "I don't drink anymore." 

Mina's brow lift quizzically like she doesn't believe a word, making the singer sigh.

"Takes the fun out of drinking when you don't have someone around to constantly put down right?"

Mina smiles sweetly at Nayeon.

The idol looks away, trying not to let the hurt on her face show at Mina's words.

Mina doesn't have to remind her what a horrible person she'd been to her when she was drunk.

She is all too well aware of that and hates herself every minute for it.

"Mina, you won't believe me. I don't expect you to."

Nayeon looks at Mina, her usually twinkling eyes dull and pained, her tone full of sadness.

"But I hate myself for what I did to you more than you hate me."

Mina feels a stabbing pain shoot through her. She wants to tell Nayeon she doesn't hate her.

She could never.

But she stays rooted to her spot watching Nayeon leave the store with her friend.

Sana has had enough.

She lives far away from the city because she hates the buzz and the noise it brings.

And the two idiots by her window are hell bent on ruining the peace and quiet she loves so much.

"Jihyo, what the fuck are you doing?" Nayeon yells.

Jihyo sways slightly on her feet, grinning up at Nayeon who is perched on the hood of her car with a guitar in her hand.

"I'm plugging the wires into the speaker Im."

Nayeon wants to strangle Jihyo with the same wire she's holding quite proudly. She knows she shouldn't have let the younger girl drink.

"No you knobhead, you're plugging the air pump into the speaker."

Jihyo stares at the thick cable in her hand and shrugs, it isn't her her fault all these cables look the same.

Sana looks at the pair wondering when they are finally going to get on with the serenade they are obviously planning.

A month ago, Nayeon has dropped by unannounced at her office, giving a heartfelt speech about how she's realised the error of her ways only for Sana to shake her head and leave the spot.

It's taken Nayeon five minutes to realise she's been talking to a wall.

The second day Sana's told her she'll call the security, Nayeon has given her a cheeky grin and said she has already made friends with every single security in the building.

Nayeon has been relentless and incessant with her efforts.

She has bought her coffee every morning and Sana has chucked each one of them in the bin without fail.

She has managed to talk to all of her employees eventhough Sana strictly told them to keep away from the singer. She's mildly impressed when all of them manage to fall a little bit in love with the Korean despite the orders from their boss.

When one of her employees tells Nayeon that their boss likes grand gestures of apology,  Sana has seen a light bulb go off in the older girl's head.

And that's how she has known this moment is coming.

"Nayeon you idiot, you can't do any serenading if you kill me before I set this up."

Sana sees them rolling around on the ground, fighting like children.

"You plugged the air pump into my ears, how do you think I'm going to do any serenading if I end up deaf?"

Jihyo rolls them around and sits on top of Nayeon. "You should have chosen a better spot to chill, not by the speaker wearing a black jacket. I couldn't tell the difference, its dark here."

"I wasn't chilling, I was adjusting the volume."

The pissed off singer yells rolling them over again.

"Oi you two tossers, I don't have all night. Just get on with it."

They still when they hear Sana who is standing at the door, with her arms crossed, looking at them with an amused smirk on her face.

They quickly scramble to their feet.

And when Nayeon begins to awkwardly sing Justin Bieber's sorry, Sana has to bite her lips to keep herself from laughing.

I know you know that I made those mistakes maybe once or twice
By once or twice I mean maybe a couple of hundred times

Nayeon strums the guitar, the speaker laying forgotten by her side.

Jihyo puts her hands up swaying to the music because in her head she is setting the mood and ambience.

She doesn't notice Nayeon glaring at her often.

So let me, oh let me redeem, oh redeem, oh myself tonight
Cause I just need one more shot at second chances
Yeah, is it too late now to say sorry?

Sorry Jihyo butts in with the chorus and Nayeon tries to shove her away with her guitar unsuccessfully.

Sana is positive she would draw blood if she bites her lip anymore. She covers her mouth with her hand so that they can't see how desperately she is holding in a laugh.

Cause I'm missing more than just her body
Oh, is it too late now to say sorry?
Yeah, I know that I let her down
Is it too late to say I'm sorry now?

Ooh, ooh Jihyo joins in receiving another poke from Nayeon's guitar.

I'm sorry, yeah Nayeon sings

Ooh, ooh Jihyo choruses.

Sorry, yeah Nayeon stomps on Jihyo's foot.

Ooh, ooh Jihyo groans holding her leg.

Sorry
Yeah, I know that I let you down too
Is it too late to say I'm sorry now?

Nayeon continues.

She is just about to end the song with a heartfelt apologetic expression on her face when-

-Ooh, ooh Jihyo finishes the song instead, dropping to her knees, looking expectantly at Sana, forgetting Nayeon is the one serenading, apologising.

Sana finds it impossible to stop the laughter that is bubbling up her throat when she sees the crestfallen look on Nayeon's face.

The older girl looks like she wants to smash the guitar on Jihyo's head for ruining her moment.

"Apology accepted."

Sana says, stepping between the two, taking Nayeon's hand in hers, receiving a brilliant smile in return that makes the forgiving a little easier.

"Thank you."

Jihyo squeals, lifting Sana up and spinning her around.

Nayeon wonders if there are quick ways to make a new best friend and get rid of the old one.

"She was on a tour past two weeks, she'll be gone for two weeks again today."

Momo says, frustratedly smashing the remote again and again on the table to make the television work.

Mina nods absent mindedly.

This explains why Nayeon hasn't visited her at the cake shop for two weeks, not that she cares or anything.

"Her hand was in a cast."

Mina takes a swig of water from the glass on the kitchen top.

"It has been in a cast for three weeks now. Apparently broke her finger or something." Momo replies offhandedly, turning the remote upside down to smash it again.

So, Mina thinks, the singer's hand has been in a cast since her birthday. Could she have been somehow responsible for it?

She feels guilt knot in her stomach, but quickly brushes that thought away. She's certain she's not all that important to the older girl to affect her like that.

She reflects back to the audition day when Nayeon was wearing a long jacket and her hands never let her pocket.

She knows how Nayeon hates being weak in front of others, avoids being vulnerable, always wanting to look indestructible.

But destroys others without a second thought.

Mina turns to her side, fixing Momo with a curious look because something strikes her odd.

"How do you know all this?"

Momo stops abusing the remote and throws a sheepish smile at her.

"The magazines." Her tone is peculiar, and Mina has a feeling Momo has been talking to Nayeon.

Nayeon visiting her at the audition, crashing the lunch service at the home, these were all way too perfectly timed to be brushed off as mere coincidences.

"I get all my information from magazines." Momo repeats unnecessarily.

Mina is positive she is lying, Momo always fidgets when she lies. And right now she is playing with the stitches on the cushion, looking at everywhere but her.

Mina drops the subject because she is just grateful for the two weeks of peace that's going to come with Nayeon's absence.

Liar. Her traitorous mind chimes in.

Nayeon walks into the house, looking apprehensive and unsure of herself.

Her nerves are frayed, her heartbeat is loud and palpable in her chest, and she is shaking slightly.

She has just returned from the tour and Mina's mother has finally agreed to meet her for lunch.

For two months, she's bombarded her with emails, something Nayeon usually doesn't do, but quickly got a hang of for the older woman's sake.

Nayeon has sent her emails after emails, only to not hear back from her.

Dear Ms Myoui,

I hope you're reading this.

I've sent so many mails which you never replied to. I have a feeling I'm bothering you and I apologize for that. This would be the last one I'm writing to you.

I know I've hurt your daughter beyond imagination and I will never forgive myself for it, so I don't expect you to either.

I only want a chance to prove to you that I love her with all my heart. I want a chance to make everything right, to give Mina the love she deserves.

This will probably go straight to your bin just like all my other mails, so I don't even know why I'm writing this but I need to get this off my chest.

I've never told this anyone, not even to the girl I love so much. This is not an excuse for my behaviour, but I hope it explains why I am the way I am, a despicable monster.

I haven't always been this way,  I used to be a shy and happy child. Then one day my mother was gone. It was my eighth birthday that day. They said she was crossing the road to get me a birthday cake when she got hit by a car. She loved me, loved me so much she was willing to get a cake even when we couldn't afford a decent meal on most days. Maybe if she didn't love me so much, maybe if she'd never crossed the road, she'd have still been around.

I remember stopping being a child that day so that I can be Nam-ji's mother. My father, he only saw me as a money making machine. When everyone went to school, I went to dance classes, schooled at home and ran a family at the same time. When my friends were colouring in books, playing on the merry go round, buying school uniforms with their parents, I was waving at cameras and posing in sexualised attires. I was made to grow into an adult faster than most children.

Maybe if my mother was around to show me the right from wrong, I wouldn't have turned out this cruel.

I would have turned out to be kind, compassionate and lovely like Mina.

I have never known what it means to have a normal life. I have never known what it means to have a home.

Until your daughter.

She's my home.

And it took me really long to realise that.

I wish I had never let her walk out of my sight. I wish I could go back in time to undo everything I did. But I can't.

I want to find my way back home.

I want just one chance to apologise.

Please?

With love,
Nayeon.

"I'll never forgive you." Her mother says as she studies the trembling girl in front of her. She sees her chin quiver at her words. "I'll never forgive you if you hurt my daughter again."

She sees the younger girl look at her as she absorbs what she said.

She sees her blink away the shock and a teary smile threatening to break free on her stunning face.

"Is that clear?"

Nayeon nods, unable to form words.

"I hope you're hungry. I've made quite a lot of food."

Nayeon follows her into the dining room, silently wiping away the tears from her cheeks.

Mina has been smiling all day.

The good mood is infectious because her boss and the customers who walk in to the shop are smiling too.

She hasn't felt this happy and cheerful in a long time. The directors of the play decided to be brave and trust a fresh face and she's going to play the lead in a major musical. It still feels surreal to her.

She cleans the table, thinking about how she'll miss the cosiness of this place. Her rehearsals are going to start in a week's time and she'll have to quit the job soon.

She is so absorbed in her thoughts, she doesn't hear the familiar ding of the bell.

She doesn't realise someone watching her work with doting eyes.

Nayeon's sweeps her gaze across the girl she has missed terribly the past month. Other than their little encounter at the store, she hasn't seen her at all.

She watches Mina quietly, not willing to disturb this moment.

-A moment where Mina isn't mad at her and Nayeon can pretend they are okay.

There is a smile on the younger girl's gorgeous lips, causing a faint buzz in Nayeon's heart.

Her dark hair which is tucked behind her ears is slightly shorter than she'd last seen her and falls around her face adding a soft shine to her smooth skin.

A brown dress hugs her exquisite body, delicate shoulders peeks out from behind thin straps and a hint of cleavage teases her from under the curved neckline.

A pair of gold earrings moves in sync with the movement of her curvaceous body creating a lovely music that resonates gently in her ears.

A lace up beige sandals caresses the skin on her dainty feet and travels a bit up her smooth legs.

I married a goddess. Nayeon thinks to herself.

She suddenly feels conscious and underdressed looking at herself.

She has thrown a blue and white striped shirt that is too big on her petite frame and carelessly tucked it into dark blue jeans that comes up to her ankle and rushed to see Mina's mother for lunch.

She should have made more effort, but she has pulled the first things out of her closet, got dressed in a hurry and ran to her car as soon she got home, afraid if she waited any longer, Mina's mother might change her mind.

When Mina jolts out of her thoughts, she feels someone behind her.

The Japanese girl leans away from the table and takes a step backwards. She turns around to face the visitor just as Nayeon takes a step closer to make Mina aware of her presence.

And they end up impossibly close, eyes blinking in surprise, staring into each other.

Mina should move.

She knows.

But her body isn't really taking  orders from her mind.

"Hi." Nayeon's voice is hoarse, smoky and Mina can feel that familiar stirring in her abdomen.

She sees the singer's sparkling eyes darken with something akin to desire and wonders how she can go from wanting to stay away from Nayeon to wanting her badly.

She can feel her own eyes clouding with desire when Nayeon's gaze flicker to her lips.

Mina should take a step back really, but all she wants to do is take a step forward. Close the gap. Crush her mouth against hers.

Her eyes are locked on to Nayeon's and she feels a rush of heat spreading across her face to the tip of her ears.

She wants, no she needs to step back.

Because her heart is beating at an increased pace, her chest is heaving slightly and she feels dizzy.

Thank fully, Nayeon is the first one to break out of the daze.

She takes a step back noticing how uncomfortable Mina has become. Or it could have been desire. She isn't sure which.

She shakes her head to clear the cloud of lust and want.

"I heard you got the part."

Nayeon knows her voice is still thick with arousal and hopes Mina doesn't notice it.

"Congrats."

Mina doesn't look at her.

Nayeon notices she looks quite flushed.

Is Mina mad at her? Has she overstepped a line?

She probably should go because she doesn't want to undo whatever little progress they have made this day.

Sure, Mina is unusually quiet, but it is refreshing compared to the insults she normally gets.

Mina finally looks up at her with those captivating brown eyes.

"Thank you."

Nayeon's eyes widen comically.

Mina almost wants to laugh.

Nayeon can't believe her ears.

Mina has just thanked her.

She waits for a moment or two but no insults come. She feels dizzy and lightheaded.

Nayeon's smile is unsure and hesitant like that of a child who's just been told they wouldn't be punished for stealing a cookie and Mina's heart does a little flutter at the action.

"Goodnight."

Nayeon says to the younger girl, not wanting to push her luck any further.

Once she gets outside, she puts a calming hand to her chest, as she leans against her car. She hasn't even realised it has been beating this fast.

Mina who's watching Nayeon through the blinds feels something pull at her heart, a loud buzz sound in her ears.

She sees the singer smile to herself after a moment or two and her own lips curve into a smile of their own like reflex.

"Goodnight Nayeon." She whispers to herself.

Chapter Text

Nayeon covers her head with a pillow and punches her fist on the surface of the couch. Nothing seems to work. Not the two cold showers she has had. Not the ten glasses of water she has drunk.

Chaeyoung gives her a funny look.

"What's wrong with her?" She points at the older girl who's trying to stifle a groan. "She's been this way since she came back. Did Mina fight with her again?"

Tzuyu shakes her head amused. "She's got the female equivalent of blue balls."

Chaeyoung balks and wishes she's never asked.

Mina is having fun, for once she isn't thinking about Nayeon and it is calming.

She feels in her element as she rehearses the lines with other actors who are warm and welcoming of a debutant like her.

Except Laura.

She doesn't know what she has done to piss the older girl off.

Right now, she is facing the said girl with hands on her hips, throwing daggers at her.

"You're making it so hard for me to work with you."

Laura grins at her with an air of superiority. "Then don't work here. Go back to your little cake shop."

The Japanese girl's lips turn down in a frown. She is trying to have a civil conversation, but the older girl is hell bent on insulting her. She smoothes down a lock of her hair as her frown deepens.

"Laura," She sees the Korean's eyes twinkling with amusement hearing the anger surfacing to her voice. "I'm quite passionate about theatre. I want this to be a nice experience for all of us."

"Passionate?" Laura approaches the younger girl with a mocking smile on her face. "Don't pretend you're here for more than a fat paycheck."

Mina gasps and takes a step back inadvertently.

You're in this for the money.

Nayeon's voice rings in her head.

Her heart feels like someone has their hands wrapped around it, squeezing it, suffocating it.

"You don't know anything about me."

She walks around her costar, hiding the tears in her eyes and tiptoes out into the empty corridor without a backwards glance.

Mina wipes furiously at her eyes.

Dark clouds rumbles in the distance and drops of rain fall on her script paper, ruining them a little.

Can this day get any worse? She thinks to herself as she runs to her car.

Leaning back against her car, looking as beautiful and put together as ever is Nayeon.

Apparently it can get worse.

She takes a deep breath willing herself to calm down.

She can't let Nayeon see her like this. She can't show how she's let someone get under her skin like the singer had.

Nayeon who is staring a hole into the ground, because her heart is hammering in her chest and her stomach is churning with anticipation, turns to the side when she hears faint footsteps approaching the car.

Her eyebrows draw together and slants in confusion when her eyes meet Mina's.

Something is wrong.

She can feel it in her gut.

Mina holds her gaze for a few more painstaking seconds.

They continue to look at each other, a multitude of emotions flashing over Mina's face at Nayeon's sympathetic eyes.

Her lips twists in anger and disgust.

People with money are all the same. They only care about themselves.

A part of her screams it isn't true but she successfully squashes that voice and takes determined steps towards the waiting singer.

"What are you doing here?" She asks evenly as she gets nearer.

Nayeon feels a painful twist in her heart hearing the crack in the younger girl's voice.

Something is definitely wrong.

Nayeon blinks once and Mina is near the car, inches away from her.

She wants to hold her tight, erase the pain behind those beautiful eyes.

Rain drops fall all around them. Nayeon wipes the few over her brows and smiles hesitantly,

"It's your first show tomorrow. I wanted to wish you good luck." She brings the flowers she is holding behind her back to the front and offers it to Mina.

The rain has now gathered strength and pelts mercilessly across their faces.

Mina accepts the flowers, biting her lips pensively as she gazes at the red roses. Nayeon swallows anxiously waiting for Mina to say something. When Mina's eyes snap back up to the older girl, she sees her watching her intently.

"I suppose you're trying to prove you aren't the bad guy anymore."

Nayeon stills hearing the disgust in her tone.

"I-"

The younger girl takes a threatening step closer to the idol.

You're in this for the money. Mina hasn't forgotten.

Nayeon stays frozen in place. All the colour drains from her face as she sees the hate and spite in those normally affectionate eyes.

"News flash Nayeon." Her voice is low and tinged with fury as she takes another step closer to the older girl and pokes her chest with a finger. "This isn't a freaking movie. And if it is, you'll always be the villain in this story. You'll always be the bad guy." Her voice rings out loudly as she throws the flowers onto the muddy ground.

Nayeon closes her eyes shut for a moment. Her chest feels heavy like someone is sitting on it, plunging nails hard and deep with a hammer.

When she opens her eyes again, thankful for the rain hiding the tears in her eyes, she finds Mina looking at her with an unreadable expression, lips pursed in either thought or anger.

She sees the younger girl taking a couple of steps back.

The rain beats down on them unforgivingly as they hold each others gaze.

A thunder sounds loudly shaking Mina out of her reverie.

She gets into her car, cursing herself for almost feeling bad for Nayeon.

Nayeon angles her body away from the car as it drives past her, letting the rain wash her sorrow away.

The flowers lay which are crushed under the wheels lay by her side.

- Crushed and unwanted just like her heart.

All Mina sees is red.

Nayeon is talking to Laura, smiling and grinning like they are old friends.

Many questions run through her head as her heart clenches with a feeling of betrayal.

Is this some grand scheme of Nayeon to ruin her big day? Have they both been plotting behind her back to humiliate her all this while?

She bites back the bile rising in her throat.

This is low.

Even for Nayeon.

Her chest twists painfully as the singer shoves Laura playfully away from her. She steadies her breath, ignoring the dull pain in her heart and saunters down the hallway, her gaze zeroing in on them. Her eyes lower when they turn to the side and look at her. She clutches the script close to her chest and walks past them to backstage.

"Mina-"

Nayeon begins tentatively only for the younger girl to turn around and fix her with a cold stare making Nayeon falter on her feet.

She spins back around on her heel after a while, walking away from the singer. She is sure she sees a flicker of pain in Nayeon's eyes, but everything feels so raw and intense between them she doesn't want to spend a moment longer around the older girl.

"She said what to Mina?" Nayeon punches the bag.

Momo isn't sure if it is a good idea to continue when the singer is this mad.

"That she could go back the cake shop because she is doing the musical for money."

Another punch.

Nayeon understands why that must have hit a nerve with Mina.

"You're not planning to kill Laura, are you?"

Another punch.

"I'm not helping you get rid off the body."

Another punch.

When Nayeon drops to a chair completely exhausted, she sees Momo snap shut the laptop, acting strangely.

"Momo" She yells at the scrambling younger girl when she snatches the laptop and a text on the brightly lit screen stares back at her,

101 ways and 100 places to hide a body : A guide for dummies

It's easy to single out Laura before Mina arrives.

"Are you here to defend your poor little wife's honour?"

Laura's voice drips with sarcasm which Nayeon certainly doesn't appreciate.

This is Mina's big day and she doesn't want anyone ruining it.

She takes a menacing step towards the actor.

"You think I don't know why you're doing this?"

"Go on. Humour me." Laura narrows her eyes dangerously at the idol. "Give me the long winded speech about how talented she is and how jealous I am."

Nayeon's dark eyes twinkles with mirth.

"Oh no, you aren't jealous of her talent at all."

Another step closer.

Laura doesn't flinch.

"I think you have a little crush on my wife."

That does the trick.

Nayeon sees the steely eyes falter for a second. It's there barely a moment but she is confident she has hit a nerve.

"I know all about trying to push away someone I want to get close to." She says in a self loathing voice. "Trust me when I say you won't want to take that route."

Laura pauses at the words, letting it linger in the air, twirl around in her head.

"I-" She pauses, looking at a spot on the tiled floor, "She reminds me of someone who I had feelings for."

Nayeon growls, almost possessively.

"Go get that someone. And lay off my wife. She's worked really hard to get here. I won't let you or anyone ruin that for her."

She glares pointedly at the actor who glares back at her.

Apparently they are having a staring competition.

"I don't know how to get that someone back."

Laura is the first one to break away from the glance, sighing in defeat.

"I'll help you." Nayeon offers.

She doesn't like the actor all that much.

But she loves Mina and if helping Laura is going to help the girl who holds her heart captive, then she will do whatever it takes in a heartbeat.

"I'm literally an expert in courting girls by now."

A loud laughter echoes around the hallway.

"Courting? What are you like, from some Shakespeare play?"

Nayeon mentally slaps herself for using that word. She almost considers using the information from the website to get rid off one loud cackling contagious Japanese.

And that's the moment when Mina has found Nayeon, chatting and laughing with Laura.

If only the younger girl has let Nayeon explain, she could have saved them both the pain and misery that seems to define their existence now.

Nayeon doesn't remember the last time she has felt this overwhelming love for someone.

She has thought it was gone with Nam-ji.

A lot of things she believes didn't exist, Mina makes her believe in.

Her eyes tear up, heart swells with love, admiration and pride, making it impossible to breath as she joins the audience for a standing ovation.

The show has just finished and Mina has been beyond spectacular.

The Japanese girl bows, her eyes landing on the spot she knows Nayeon is seated in for a fleeting second.

When Nayeon tries to leave using the VIP exit, she suddenly finds herself among a sea of cameras and the flashing lights nearly blind her.

Fucking paps.

She doesn't want the spotlight to be taken away from Mina. She doesn't want them making the younger girl uncomfortable. Mina has always been wary of their attention.

She goes back inside to find the younger girl and warn her. She spins on her heels only to come face to face with her.

"Always have to be the center of attention, right Nayeon?" Mina snaps.

Nayeon winces at the bite in her tone.

She sighs, like she is too exhausted to defend herself and her gaze lands somewhere around the younger girl's feet.

"Guys, there's a second exit I know. Come on. Let's go."

They hear Laura behind them.

When Mina doesn't move, preferring to stare a hole into Nayeon and Nayeon doesn't lift her eyes up, Laura rolls her eyes and pulls them along tugging them by their arms.

"Tell your drivers to remain in the VIP car park so the paps would wait there for you. We're taking my car."

Nayeon follows her order wordlessly.

Mina notices how quiet she has become.

A sadistic part of her wants to comfort the older girl, but the rational part tells her to stay away.

"What's your angle? Why are you helping me?" Mina asks carefully, occupying the passenger seat in the front.

"Because you're hot." Laura winks. She senses Nayeon stiffen behind them. "And also because Nayeon-ssi is helping me win my ex so I decided it's only fair that I'm nice to her ex."

Ex.

Nayeon's stomach drops at the word.

She is trying her hardest to make things right but everything seems to be going wrong for her.

The hearing date for the divorce is looming over her like a knife in the air, ready to plunge into her any moment.

She leans back against the plush seat of the Mercedes and meets Mina's eyes for a brief moment through the rear view mirror.

She wonders if the younger girl can see how miserable she is. Without her.

"I'll see you tomorrow Mina." Laura says, dropping them both off at Mina's house.

Nayeon calls her driver. Slips her phone in the back pocket of her jeans. Runs a hand through her hair as she waits for her ride.

Mina should go.

She shouldn't be standing there watching the singer fidget, looking lost and vulnerable under the low moonlight.

She shouldn't want to take a step closer to her, take her in a hug.

"I didn't bring the paps there."

Nayeon mumbles in a low voice.

Mina knows that. She doesn't even know why she uttered those words. Nayeon has only ever protected her from the paps.

"I don't care. They wouldn't find me if you stopped following me around with your litt-"

She sees the singer's eyes snap upto hers.

Gone is the hurt. It is replaced by simmering anger.

"Little what Mina? Little charade?"

Nayeon completes for the younger girl as she walks closer to her in the deserted street.

Mina feels her breath catch in her throat as exquisite dark eyes look into hers with an intensity she's never seen in them before.

"What else is this?"

She tenses where she stands as Nayeon stops in front of her, mere inches away from her face.

She swallows when those eyes dip from her own, down to her lips then back.

Nayeon reaches for Mina's hand and brings it to her chest.

Mina is aware of the erratic pace the older girl's heart is beating.

Mirroring her own.

Nayeon's eyes flutter shut. "Do you think this, is a charade?"

It doesn't feel like it.

But Mina refuses to believe it.

For her own sanity.

"Why are you doing this to me?" She sobs, as she snatches her hand away from Nayeon and takes a few steps back, wanting to breathe.

"Because," Nayeon opens her eyes, a sad smile adorning her alluring face. "I love you."

She hears Mina gasp. She sees her shaking her head and retreating further away from her. She has never said these words to Mina directly before.

Nayeon's eyes glisten with more tears as Mina clenches her eyes shut.

"No."

Her heart throbs with pain.

"No?"

"No." Mina looks at her, her arresting eyes filling to the brim with tears. "You don't get to do this. You don't get to insult me, fuck me, throw me out with an offer to pay me. You don't get to come into my life again after six months and destroy me with three words you don't mean."

Mina is livid now.

Nayeon watches as the younger girl wipes at her eyes, lips quivering with emotions as she tries to get a hold of herself.

"I am in love with you."

She isn't backing down.

Mina needs to hear this.

After that, the ball is in her court.

She isn't going to hurt the girl anymore than she has already done. She is going to let her make the choice, because choice is something Nayeon never really gave her.

"Don't say that." Mina pleads, voice cracking. "Do you really think I'd believe you after everything you've done? I was only a contract, a sex worker to you." She jabs an angry finger at the older girl's chest with each sentence.

Nayeon catches Mina's hand in hers and tugs her close to her.

"I've done a lot of shitty things Mina. I could apologize to you my whole life and I know that still won't be enough."

They continue to stare at each other.

"Every time I look at you. It hurts." She brings Mina's hand to her chest. "It hurts here because I can't forget all the cruel words I said. It hurts because you didn't deserve any of it."

Mina tries to wiggle out of her grip.

"But can you really look me in the eye and say you were perfect in all of this?"

The younger girl scoffs.

"I signed a contract, yes. I didn't know I was going to fall in love with you back then."

Nayeon pushes a delicate chin up to meet her eyes when Mina lowers her gaze.

"But you signed a contract too. How are you shifting the blame solely on me when we both got into this together? Look at me and say that you saw me as more than a signed paper at first? You didn't like me at all in the beginning, you were there to simply satisfy a contract."

Mina stills when she hears those words.

"I offered to pay you, yes, but I was scared, terrified of my feelings, terrified of bringing you down with me. You make it sound like I treated you like a sex worker. Have I ever touched you without you wanting it?"

Mina tries to push her away, face flushing in anger.

"You're so mad at me for telling you that I love you. Do you realise what a big leap of faith I'm taking for a girl who's never said that to me, but somehow expected me to understand? So look at me Mina, look at me and tell me, are you really that perfect?"

Nayeon hisses, restraining the younger girl in her arms.

"I love you." The singer's voice cracks.

"You don't have to believe it, but that's the truth. I love you Mina, and I think I won't be able to live without you."

Her eyes soften with a sadness around it, as she looks at the younger girl who's stopped trying to get away from her.

And Nayeon finally lets her go.

She takes a step back, taking a long look at the girl before her, the painful lump in her throat returning.

The moonlight illuminates Mina's mussed hair, her cheeks which are dusted pink, chest rising and falling from exertion, and nobody has ever looked more heartbreakingly beautiful in Nayeon's eyes.

And nobody has broken her heart like Mina has.

Chapter Text

The pain that has been threatening to rip her heart has faded to a dull throb.

A feeling of emptiness descends upon her when she realises that maybe she is never going to get another chance at love.

She stands in the kitchen with a distant look on her face, her hands often stirring the sauce in the pan on auto pilot.

Mina's mother watches her with concern. The relationship between them is not fully repaired yet, but they're getting there, one day at a time.

She is slowly warming up to the girl who makes a lot of effort between her crazy schedule to help her with trivial things like putting the shopping away, doing their lawn, sorting out her book collection, helping her cook like she offered today.

Sana's empathetic eyes glances at the singer often. She is ready to rush to her when Nayeon hisses under her breath.

"What happened?" Mina's mother beats her to have the older girl's hand under cold water.

"Touched the hot pan." Nayeon replies absentmindedly.

"Where's your head at?" Sana inquires, biting her bottom lip between her teeth.

Nayeon's lips turn into a curve, the smile quite not reaching her eyes.

"Things with Mina not going well?" The older Myoui asks.

Nayeon shrugs, like she is too tired to give a verbal response.

Her phone vibrates, snatching her attention to the name on the screen.

Sana sees the singer disappear down the hall, taking the call from her assistant.

When she comes back, she looks pale, all the colour has drained from her face.

"The divorce hearing is set next week."

Sana feels a painful twist in her heart seeing how miserable and broken the girl before her looks.

"You're not giving up, are you?"

She walks to the middle of the kitchen, taking the Korean's hand in hers and laces their fingers together.

"Mina has given up."

"Have faith Nayeon-chan."

Nayeon blinks rapidly at her.

"That's all I seem to have left to keep me going these days Sana."

She slants her head rubbing the side of her temple with her free hand.

"Soon, I'll have nothing."

The older Myoui hears the despair in the tone. She sees Nayeon's shoulders slump like she is admitting defeat.

Like she has resigned herself to a fate of loneliness.

And it is that look of complete hopelessness on the singer's face that tugs at her heartstrings, she is a mother after all.

Two days later when Nayeon gets a call from her grandmother's carer, she feels the final strand of hope she is hanging on to get mercilessly shredded to pieces.

"I'm sorry your grandmother passed away this morning Nayeon-ssi."

Nayeon stands in the dimly lit room, gazing tenderly at the woman who looks like she is peacefully sleeping.

There are only a handful of people around, mostly neighbours and friends.

Nayeon is the only surviving family.

If you love someone, and really want them, the universe will do everything in its power to bring them to you.

Her grandmother has said on the phone last night.

The universe decided to snatch the only family she had away from her instead.

She follows the morgue van in her car.

Her grandmother gets laid to rest next to her mother.

"Take care of gran, mum." She whispers as the coffin is lowered gently into the pit.

Nayeon's breath comes out sharp and ragged.

One day, I'll be gone love. But Mina will be there to take care of you. You'll never be alone, because she loves you as much as I love you. I've seen it in her eyes.

Her grandmother has sounded so confident, so confident of herself that she decided to take her final breath not knowing how far off from the truth she is.

Nayeon feels a throbbing pain consume her as the workers begin to shovel sand into the pit.

The reality hits her.

Her grandmother is gone.

Leaving her alone in this huge wide world.

Her eyes sting with tears, she cries as she wraps her arms around her trembling body.

"Gran, please don't go."

Her voice cracks as she drops to her knees and let the sobs wreck her body.

She buries her face in her hands as she lets the tears and the emptiness consume her.

"Please come back."

She sobs between the tears staining her beautiful face.

"Please just come back."

It takes three days of Sana's persistent phone calls, Momo knocking at her door threatening to knock it down, Jeongyeon leaving food on her doorsteps for Nayeon to finally cave in and accept the invitation to dinner with Mina's family.

Three days without her grandmother.

Three days of feeling like she wants someone to just hold her tight to make this pain go away.

A certain someone who probably hates her with every ounce of her being at this very instant.

"I'll come."

She reluctantly agrees at least for them to stop feeling guilty like they've done something wrong.

This situation is all her own fault really. She had everything and lost it all. She has nobody but herself to blame for it.

She takes Mina's wedding ring and rolls it around gently in her palm.

"Come Monday. You'll be gone too."

Her heart doesn't ache like she thought it would when she finally admits the reality to herself out loud.

Maybe she has gotten used to feeling so much pain, her heart has now become numb to any new onslaught of aching emotions.

Her eyes feels dry like there are no more tears left in them.

Mina has a tendency to break every single one of Nayeon's expectations, and a few hours later she manages to break her heart, stomp on it, send a shooting pain through what she she thought of as a numbed heart.

The tears she thought has dried up stings at her eyes as she listens to the spiteful words thrown at her.

She hasn't expected her heart to break another time at the hands of the younger girl.

Apparently there are a lot of things only Mina is capable of making her feel.

Nayeon is picking at her food, her eyes blank as she stares at the plate.

Mina's family and friends buzz around her, trying to get her to eat something.

She tries to swallow a morsel of food but the lump in her throat makes things difficult.

She takes a good look at the food. A plate of hot and spicy Tteokbokki stares back at her.

Only two people know how much she loves it. One of them is gone and another one wants her to be gone from her life.

"Is this some kind of a joke?"

Nayeon hears a collective gasp from the people in the room when a low voice full of disbelief comes from the door.

She doesn't look up.

Her heart which she has assumed was dead, kicks back to life and races slightly in her chest like it always does whenever she hears that voice.

"The one place, the one place I thought that understood me." Mina continues in a retired voice. "You have to destroy that too Nayeon?"

Nayeon clenches the chopsticks tightly in her fist.

"Darling." Mina's mother begins tentatively, trying to approach the girl at the door.

"Don't Mama."

Mina steps back, dropping the leash that holds an excited dog.

Romeo runs to Nayeon who's at the table and begins to excitedly lap at her feet.

"Figures, even my dog has turned his back on me." Mina laughs bitterly, shaking her head.

Nayeon doesn't move.

She wants to bend down and pick up the little guy, but she stands up quietly, dropping the cutleries onto the tray.

"Darling, please come inside." The oldest Myoui's voice is gentle, as he stops Nayeon from leaving with a hand to her shoulder. The gesture is not missed by Mina, hurting her even more. "Let's talk about this like adults."

"No." Mina yells loudly, uncharacteristically, making everyone jump.

"No papa. I'm not coming inside. It looks like you all have comfortably forgotten how I spent three days doing nothing but crying under this very roof. Because of her."

She points an angry finger at Nayeon who is still looking at the floor beneath her feet.

"What did you do Nayeon? Flashed fancy gifts in their face?"

They wince hearing the irrational words coming from her.

"Does it feel nice to have my own family choose you over me?"

Nayeon doesn't answer which only infuriates Mina more.

"What happened to I don't want to get know anything about your or your family Nayeon?"

She mocks and notices the singer flinch slightly.

"You took everything from me, my body, my heart and now you have to take the only thing I have left for me. Fantastic. Well played."

Mina claps slowly, the sound masking the sound of Nayeon's breaking heart.

The singer shifts slightly on her feet as a thick silence descends upon everyone in the room.

Nobody knows what to say to dissipate the tension in the air.

"You know what. Have fun Nayeon. I'm leaving."

"No."

Mina turns slowly on her heels when she hears a determined voice come from behind her.

"You don't have to go. I'll go."

"You haven't even eaten." Mina's mother begins, only to be cut off with a hug that is heavy with agony.

"Thanks for everything." Nayeon smiles, blinking back the tears in her eyes.

Mina looks at Nayeon as she walks defeatedly to the door, her gait slow and pained.

The older girl stops by her side.

Their eyes, stained by tears, meet across the short distance.

"I will never stop loving you Mina. I don't know how to."

With that she is gone.

Mina leans back on the doorframe, her chin quivering with tears that threatens to completely wreck her.

Chapter Text

Nayeon sits with the members on one side, waiting for the judge to call upon their number. Couple of months ago, she had no idea of agreeing to the divorce. Things are different now.

You're the villain in our story. You'll always be the bad guy.

The younger girl's words rattle around in her head, tearing at her guts. She has to finally set the one thing she loves the most in the world free.

"Are you sure you want to do this?"

Jihyo's hand is comforting on her shoulder.

Nayeon nods, brows furrowed in thought. If she just turns her head to the side a bit, she knows she can see Mina. She longs to look at her but doesn't.

Because she is not sure her heart can handle anymore suffering.

Despite herself, she looks over the crowd and meet the eyes of her soon to be ex wife. Mina looks tired, exhausted. Her eyes look pained, miserable. They continue to hold the glance, neither one willing to break it.

Their number being called break them out of their reverie.

The judge narrows his eyes slightly as he looks between the two young people in front of him. He frowns as an odd feeling settles in his chest.

"Reason for divorce?" He asks carefully, gently even, because the girls look like they would break if he spoke any louder.

"We don't get along well." Mina replies in a shaky voice. Her throat feels parched and her heart screams at her to shut up.

"I'm quite difficult to live with." Nayeon affirms with no hesitation.

He is surprised how they don't place the blame on each other, how they never say there is no love in the marriage as he asks a few more questions and scribbles everything down.

"Case adjourned to two in the afternoon. The decision will be announced after lunch."

Nayeon nods as she mulls over his words.

In two hours they're getting a decision.

-A decision that is going to rip Mina away from her. A decision that is finally going to make the younger girl happy and free.

This marriage is really over.

The crowd around Nayeon disperses. Only the members, Mina's family and friends still linger around.

Nayeon passes a sweeping glance to her left.

Mina feels someone watching her.

Whatever she is saying to Jeongyeon dies at the back of her throat when she turns to her side and a pair of dark eyes lock with hers.

She sees Nayeon approaching her and like specks of metal drawn to a magnet, she finds herself taking a few steps toward the singer to meet her halfway.

Everyone watches them with rapt attention.

Nayeon stops at a respectable distance from Mina. If she got any closer, she knows she won't be able to walk away.

"I wanted to give you this."

She opens her wallet and takes a picture out. Her eyes are soft and tender as she gazes at the picture in her palm.

"It doesn't feel right to keep this with me anymore."

Mina takes the picture gently from the singer. Her throat tightens, hot tears prickles her eyes and emotions swirl unchecked in her heart as she glances at it- Nayeon has given her a magazine cut out of a paparazzi picture of Romeo and her kissing her cheek.

Nayeon stares at the younger girl for a while, trying to etch the image of her in her memory. A sob tries to break free from her chest. She stifles it but when Mina's soft brown eyes meet hers, she's overcome by emotions that threatens to break her entirely.

"I think that's a goodbye then Mina."

The muffled sobs wrecks havoc against Nayeon's chest. Her eyes begin to glisten. She blinks them rapidly, looking away, trying to compose herself. She takes a deep breath, takes one long glance at Mina like she's looking at her for the last time and walks away without turning back.

Mina watches Nayeon as she walks away from her. Her world turns to nothing but a blur as tears cloud her vision.

Nayeon is gone from her life.

Her sound, her smell, the way she so reverently says her name.

It is all gone.

"You are making a huge mistake." Sana tells her. "Just hear me out this once please."

Mina does because she doesn't have any fight left in her.

So she listens, listens to how Nayeon won over her father with text forwards and flowers, smiles through her tears when Sana describes how the older girl serenaded her with a guitar and a drunk sidekick, tears up some more when Jeongyeon tells how the singer fussed over her when she was in hospital, how she wrote letters to her mother and spent all the time between her crazy schedule charming everyone not with fancy gifts as she had suggested, but with her beautiful personality.

A single tear slides down her warm eyes as she listens to every word that strikes her heart and sends searing pain through it.

The single tear is followed by another one and another one, until a steady stream of tears flow down her cheeks.

"She did at all, because she loves you." Her mother says softly as she watches the tears fall from her child's eyes. "She lost her gran five days ago. The dinner we had, where you felt your family and friends betrayed you, we invited her over so we can force her to eat."

And Nayeon had walked away without having a single bite, because she has been so absorbed in her own pain, she has failed to notice it on someone she loves.

She lets out a heart wrenching sob as the words she threw at Nayeon replays in her mind.

How does it feel to have my family choose you over me Nayeon?

She has asked someone, someone she loves with all her heart, someone who had just lost all their family.

"Mama," She heaves, sobbing into the older woman's arms as she holds her.

"It's not too late to make things right darling. Go get her."

Mina stands on shaky legs, wiping at her eyes furiously.

Everyone watches her rush in the direction Nayeon had disappeared to, finally feeling a weight lift off their shoulders.

Nayeon-ssi, Nayeon-ssi, are you feeling okay?

Can you smile for us?

Nayeon laughs bitterly, holding the tears back in her eyes.

She pushes through the crowd, trying to get to her car.

She needs to get out of here before she breaks down completely.

She sticks her fingers in her pocket, fumbling for the car keys.

"Shit."

She bangs a fist down on the bonnet of the car when she can't find them, loud enough to make some of the paps around her jump.

She knows she is going to lose it.

- Right in the middle of this frenzied mob.

She feels a torrent of tears bust forth. There's no stopping them anymore. Her world blurs and the colour around her fades to gray and nothingness as she surrenders to her grief.

Then she feels it.

She feels a pair of arms around her waist.

"I'm sorry."

She slowly turns around in the embrace wondering if she is imagining this.

"I'm so sorry."

Mina's voice breaks with a gut wrenching sob and Nayeon feels herself tremble in the dainty arms holding her tightly.

The Japanese girl doesn't care they are in the middle of the paps. She doesn't care flash lights are going off on their faces. She pulls Nayeon to her as close as possible and holds her until she feels a sob break through the singer.

The older girl's tears stain the top of her head and the quiet sobs punches through her gut. When Mina feels both their tears subside, she pulls back a little to look at Nayeon. She gasps when she sees the pain in her beautiful eyes.

Pain she has inflicted.

She loops her arms around her neck and crushes the length of her body against the older girl, crying into her chest.

"I love you." She repeats again and again until she feels the singer sag in her embrace. "I love you so much."

Nayeon hugs Mina tighter to her heart, the one that had been in pieces without her and feels it become calm as if it's finally found peace.

"Come home?" She asks, resting her forehead against the younger girl, letting their tears mingle.

Mina cups her cheeks, chin quivering with more tears. She draws her bottom lip between her teeth and gives Nayeon a watery smile.

"I am home." She half sobs, planting a tender kiss on Nayeon's chest.

And as Mina whispers I'm sorry and I love you over and over again to her, Nayeon finally believes that maybe even she is allowed her happy ending.

Nayeon is terrified that she is going to wake up and this is all going to be a dream.

- because Mina is standing across her, smiling at her, with a pretty blush on her cheeks.

"Ouch."

She glares at Dahyun and rubs the spot in her arm where she has just been pinched.

"Just letting you know it's definitely not a dream."

The judge looks between the two young women with an amused look in his eye.

Something has shifted in their body language. One of them looks shy, bashful and the other one is staring at her with disbelief etched across her face. He clears his throat as he begins, knowing fully well he is going to be stopped.

"The decision on file -"

"I don't want a divorce."

The younger one says, throwing an affectionate glance at the stunned singer, who is slowly breaking into a toothy smile.

"I don't want the divorce either."

The older one seems to have regained her ability to speak.

A reprimand is on the tip of his tongue, because he has so many pending cases, but for someone who sits day after day, separating people who have grown far apart, this is a refreshing change that certainly warms his heart.

"Case dismissed. Get out of here before I change my mind and fine you for wasting court time."

He has never seen a crowd disperse so quickly before.

Nayeon has never been so glad about noise.

- the noise of a dog barking in the backyard, the noise of dishes being clattered and food being cooked, the noise of people talking and joking with each other.

- the happy noise that fills the empty rooms of her house.

- the happy noise her heart is making.

She has just driven back from the court with the members. Mina's family and friends have arrived soon after and they are all making dinner together after quite a stressful but eventful day.

"Looking for your wife?"

She jumps hearing Momo's voice close to her ear.

"Jihyo is getting Mina's things from our place. They should be back soon."

A slow smile spreads across her face, making her look evenmore beautiful than she already is when the reality of the situation fully dawns on her.

She finally has her girl.

She finally has her happy ending.

The smile widens further when she sees a car approach the mansion.

Mina gets out of it, talking and laughing with Jihyo. She stops the conversation abruptly, turns to her left to look directly at Nayeon like she senses her eyes on her.

They stare at each other fondly.

A pretty pink dusts Mina's spellbinding face and a rush of warmth floods Nayeon's chest at the sight of it.

Nayeon isn't sure if she is allowed to feel this good.

Mina feels a tap on her shoulders and breaks away from their glance. She helps Jihyo carry the bags into the house.

They walk towards Nayeon together, Mina's eyes never leaving the dark ones.

When they come to a stop by her side, Jihyo playfully shoves Mina into Nayeon and rolls her eyes when they both blush and apologize like a pair of teenagers.

Nayeon feels heart gently flutter in her chest when Mina says a small hi and leaves a shy kiss on her cheek.

- And thinks maybe it is okay to feel this good.

Nayeon types in a text to the group that Momo for some reason has named The Secret Seven.

She's standing in my kitchen.

Crazy idiot: Quick, grab a weapon. Hit her on the head or something.

Nayeon frowns at her screen.

Why would I want to attack my wife Momo?

Sana: In her defense, you did speak like some intruder had broken into your house.

Nayeon texts back.

I don't know what to do.

Jihyo: Go speak to her like a normal person.

Tzuyu: Or like an Im.

She lets out an exasperated sigh.

Guys, please be serious.

Dahyun: Talk about your feelings.

Jeongyeon: Yeah, talk it right into her mouth. ;)

Chaeyoung: Like CPR?

You know what guys, I'll deal with this myself.

The singer growls. The Secret Seven has been of little help.

She watches Mina put away the dishes in the sink. A tiny sliver of skin peeks under her sweater as she reaches for something in a cabinet at the top.

Nayeon feels her face heat up. She isn't sure about the boundaries for married couple who were in a contract marriage, had mind blowing sex, fell in love, separated for eight months and just got back together. What if Mina wants some space in the beginning?

She is going to respect it. She isn't going to act like some hormonal teenager around her wife. She's confident about that.

Until-

Mina bends over checking something in the oven.

Nayeon licks her lips.

Those shorts the younger girl is wearing is sinfully short and her perfect arse is just begging to be touched.

Mina bites her bottom lip, wondering just how long Nayeon is going to stand behind her and gape at her.

She understands the older girl is nervous, she is nervous too, but they need to sit down and have a talk like mature adults.

- although she isn't sure how much talking they are going to get done going by the way Nayeon is sweeping her gaze across the length of her body and her cheeks redden at the thought.

Nayeon backs away from the kitchen trying to calm her mind and body. She takes a walk in the garden, gives herself a good prep talk and gathers some self control. She shuts the garden door and turns around the corner in the corridor, only to come face to face with Mina.

Blushing, the younger girl takes several steps back with a muttered apology.

When her gaze snaps back up, Mina finds Nayeon watching her intently.

"Hi." The Japanese girl says, her eyes full of tenderness, smile curving the corner of her lips, tone laced with affection.

"Hi." Nayeon leans to her side, against the wall, looking adoringly at the bashful expression on Mina's gorgeous face.

"Hi." Mina repeats.

They laugh and look away for a moment.

"This is awkward."

Nayeon chuckles, scratching the side of her cheek.

"It doesn't have to be."

Mina's brown eyes sparkle with fondness.

"I love you."

Nayeon meets the younger girl's gaze.

"I love you too."

Mina bites her lips and tucks a strand of hair behind her ears as a pretty blush darkens her cheeks.

"We need to talk." Nayeon says, inching closer to the younger girl.

"Yeah," Mina says shyly, "but I rather you kiss me first."

Nayeon's heart flutters so fast in her chest, she isn't sure if she has ever felt more alive before.

"Okay, wife."

The singer's eyes twinkle in a cheeky grin.

"You're milking this."

Mina's laugh is musical and makes the older girl's heart swell.

"Of course wife. Just a week back you were throwing away the flowers I was buying you wife. You wouldn't even talk to me wife. So I'm going to remind you every chance I get-"

Nayeon is cut off with a kiss.

Her heart decides to skip a beat as Mina's smell hypnotises her and she feels her whole body tingle when arms wrap around her neck and the younger girl pulls her closer, mouth hungry and intense, kisses desperate, demanding, thorough and sweet.

When they come up for air, resting their foreheads together, and Mina whispers I love you so much against her lips, Nayeon's heart thumps against her ribs like it has just remembered to beat again.

Chapter Text

"Are you not bored of me yet?"

Mina asks as Nayeon pins her to the wall fluttering kisses across the length of her neck.

Her eyes close shut, every single nerve ending pulses blood to where a heart shaped mouth is  nipping gently at her flushed skin.

"I could never."

The older girl brings back her mouth to suck an earlobe between her lips, making Mina gasp and tug Nayeon closer by threading her fingers through the loop of her jeans.

Mina isn't complaining. Not at all.

They have spent a whole week wrapped in each other, a whole week talking about their insecurities, learning to trust each other and communicate like adults.

And the sex.

God it leaves her breathless.

Sometimes it's soft and gentle, sometimes it is rough and demanding.

But it is never enough.

Every touch makes her want more.

Every kiss leaves her desiring for another.

"They would be here anytime now baby."

Mina's protest dies weakly in her throat because those wonderfully talented lips are kissing that particular spot under the side of her breast that has her out of breath.

"Nayeon-chan, we need to stop."

She groans when a hot mouth latches onto a puckered nipple.

The doorbell rings just as deft fingers enters her.

They need to stop.

- she needs to stop raking her hands through Nayeon's silky hair drawing her attention to the abandoned nipple.

- she needs to stop arching her chest out, holding the singer's head to her breast.

- she definitely needs to stop bucking her hips into eager hands.

"I'm coming."

She means to say it to whoever is behind the door pressing the door bell impatiently.

She yells it out instead as Nayeon's long fingers expertly finds that spot deep inside her and curls, making her eyes roll back in her head as colours explode vividly behind them.

"Took you both long enough."

Jeongyeon throws them both a knowing smile.

Momo looks between the pair.

Mina's hair is tousled, her skin looks quite flushed, her lips which are swollen are pursed in a pout, her shirt is buttoned wrong, and Nayeon has a I-just-hit-the-jackpot smile on her face.

It doesn't take a genius to figure out what they have been doing.

"Oh my god. Move away before I douse you both in water."

Nayeon unashamedly pulls Mina into her side, who blushes but lets herself be held.

Nayeon looks happy and carefree.

Mina rests her chin on her hand and looks at the older girl who's climbing a stool to perch the Christmas star on top of the tree.

Romeo runs around her excitedly.

Sensing someone's eyes on her, Nayeon turns back throwing a bright smile at Mina who is supposed to be wrapping the gifts for her friends and the members but is watching her decorate the tree instead.

"Nayeon-tan, careful or you might fall."

Mina's mother walk into the living room of her modest house where they are setting up things for the Christmas party.

"I've already fallen hard. Impossible to fall anymore."

Nayeon winks at Mina.

Mina swoons.

"You wouldn't want to go in there."

Dahyun warns Momo who is trying to get into the supply closet of Nayeon's house to get more drinks for everyone.

"Why?"

A moan comes from the other side of the door.

Dahyun shrugs and walks away plugging her earphones back on.

"Momo, you fucker."

A fully drenched Nayeon chases after the scurrying girl, fully intending to kill her.

Mina pushes herself off the counter Nayeon has lifted her on to and smoothes down her skirt, thankful Momo used a hosepipe on Nayeon while they were still decent.

The wetness is still evident between her legs where Nayeon had cupped her.

You'd think after a year together, the older girl's need to be constantly touching would have waned.

It hasn't and she can't be anything but more than grateful for that.

Nayeon is acting strange.

To anyone looking she is still the same singer madly in love with her wife.

But you don't live with someone for three years without noticing every single one of their actions and understanding what it means.

"She's been distant from me."

"Don't be daft."

Jihyo pulls her into a hug.

"Remember how upset she was when you had to leave for the States for a musical for just a week?"

Mina nods, blinking back the tears.

She can't bear to stay away from Nayeon either.

She misses her every time she walks out the door, for a recording, an interview or a tour.

She misses her until she is back in her arms, holding her, setting her world right.

"She loves you Mina."

She knows that, but an irrational part of her still worries.

All that worry disappears, only to be replaced by butterflies in her tummy when an adorably rambling Nayeon approaches her after a show in her dressing room, holding a box in her hand and asking her to marry her.

"You might think this is silly because we are already married, you might want to say no-"

They are already married, but Nayeon wants to give Mina a proper wedding she has always envisioned.

"Yes."

Mina says through her tears cutting off the singer's ramble and pulling her in for a scorching kiss.

Nayeon pouts and sulks until everyone around her starts to get annoyed.

A Nayeon who is constantly whining is unbearable to be around.

Only Mina knows how to handle that particular mood of Nayeon, the same Mina who is currently responsible for her sour mood.

"It's just for a night, can you shut up unnie?"

Tzuyu groans, her head throbbing with a dull ache. She wishes Mina's mother would give in just a little, if only to shut Nayeon up.

"Who the hell made these stupid traditions?"

Nayeon grumbles.

"Are you sure she's twenty eight? She's acting like she's two."

Jeongyeon whispers to Jihyo.

Jihyo shrugs, she has gotten used to Nayeon sulking every time they are away on tour.

"It's nice to have that kind of love I suppose." Dahyun remarks.

Chaeyoung gives her a smile agreeing with her.

"Nayeon-chan, just sleep. It'll be morning before you know it." Sana plants a loud kiss on the older girl's cheek.

"Promise?" Nayeon asks, eyes wide and expectant.

"Promise." Sana smiles, thinking that Nayeon is the most adorable person on the planet.

Five minutes later Nayeon wakes up Sana and mutters under her breath. "It's not morning yet."

Momo grins at Sana who's blinking the sleep from her eyes.

"I know." Sana sighs.

Ten minutes later, Nayeon wakes her up again. "Is it morning yet?"

"No." Sana mumbles, taking back her sentiment about Nayeon being adorable.

Fifteen minutes later, when Nayeon tugs at Sana's shirt and asks, "When will it be morning?"

"When you shut up."

Everyone in the room answer together.

Nayeon waits until everyone sleeps, jumps over the railing of the adjacent balcony into the next suite, walks quietly to the bed where the bride to be is sleeping and climbs under the covers half scaring Mina to death.

"Baby," Mina immediately softens when sees who is by her side. "How did you get here? If mama sees-"

Her words die a quiet death as the singer pushes her back on the bed, kissing her long and hard.

"You need to be quiet." Nayeon husks, pulling back from a breathless girl under her.

Mina nods, her eyes darkening mirroring the ones above her.

She would later find out how hard it is to be quiet, when a certain bunny with a purpose finds a number of creative ways to test her ability to be so.

Nayeon has hardly gotten any sleep, but she still wakes up feeling energised because she is getting married.

A wedding that she can finally remember.

"Stop grinning like that." Momo laughs. "I think you're scaring the priest."

Like she cares. She feels like she is on top of the world. Like nothing can touch her.

Jeongyeon smacks the back of her head.

"Stop grinning, seriously"

"I am marrying Mina. How is someone not supposed to smile when that happens?"

Jihyo and Dahyun nod in agreement.

Nayeon's smile freezes on her face and her breath catches in her throat as the music comes on and Mina walks down the aisle in her father's arm.

Her dark hair is tucked in a loose bun, a split at the end of an immaculate white dress reveals a shapely thigh and her enchanting face is lit up radiantly.

She takes a plump bottom lip between her teeth as she meets Nayeon's eyes and gives her a dazzling smile.

Mina has a hard time taking her eyes off Nayeon who is wearing a dark beige dress, short hair slicked behind her ears, shoulders bare and delicate.

A slow smile forms on Nayeon's heart shaped mouth making her bunny teeth more prominent, her enigmatic eyes sparkles with happiness and love and Mina feels her heart swell and eyes sting.

Mina's family and the girls wipe their eyes, even Tzuyu is crying when they exchange  rings and renew their vows.

"You may now kiss the bride."

And Nayeon scoops down on Mina, their lips meeting passionately under the hot Las Vegas sun where their love story began.

"I think Nayeonnie got the wrong idea when he said she may kiss the bride." Dahyun chuckles.

"How long do you think she's gonna be there checking Mina for tonsils?" Sana wonders.

"It's been two minutes. I give it another two minutes before this turns into a full blown make out session and Momo arrives with a hosepipe." Chaeyoung answers confidently.

"I bet a tenner Mina will push her away in like two minutes." Jeongyeon says, confident her friend is the sensible one.

Jihyo scoffs.

Mina is just as bad as Nayeon. If Nayeon can't keep her hands off Mina, Mina can never push them away.

Five minutes later Jeongyeon loses the bet when she sees Momo running around with a hosepipe.

Nayeon is hot on her heels, her hair slightly matted and dripping with water as she threatens to murder Momo when she gets her hands on her.

Chapter Text

Momo scratches her neck, brows furrowing together in confusion.

She is getting a stash of alcohol she's kept hidden away in the attic when she trips over an old suitcase and something hard smacks her knee.

She carefully opens the back zipper of an old suitcase and finds a mobile phone which she thought she has lost in a Las Vegas night about five years ago staring back at her.

She quickly takes it, rushes downstairs to find Jihyo and Sana on the floor in front of the couch, sharing a bottle of wine between them.

Dahyun and Tzuyu are playing Scrabble next to them.

Jeongyeon and Chaeyoung are cuddling together on a love seat watching some video on an iPad.

But the two people who were occupying the couch are nowhere to be seen.

"Where's Mina and Nayeon?"

They snigger.

"Nayeon is probably pinning Mina to some surface of your house as we speak." Jihyo quips casually.

Momo rolls her eyes.

She should be used to this by now, but the bunny's sex drive never ceases to amaze her.

She fumbles through her cabinets for an appropriate charger and plugs the phone in.

To her absolute glee it comes on alive after ten painful minutes. She browses through old pictures and videos until something odd catches her eye.

Her heart almost skips a beat.

There is a video named Minayeon weddey.

- Apparently she has been too drunk to spell wedding.

It can't be, it couldn't be possible, she thinks.

She connects the phone to the television through a hdmi cable and is just about to press play when Nayeon stumbles into the living room wiping her mouth with the back of her hand, smoothing down her hair, pulling a flustered Mina along with her.

The girls pretend they don't see the hickeys on Mina's neck travelling south to her breast.

"I was helping Nayeon-chan make some bubble tea." Mina explains unnecessarily.

"I bet Nayeon-chan enjoyed drinking bubble tea off your titties."

Momo cackles making a blush sear through Mina's already rosy cheeks and earns a pillow to her face from Nayeon.

"What are we watching?" Nayeon asks as she sits on the couch that's behind everyone and pulls an embarrassed girl into her arms, laying a gentle kiss on her forehead.

"You have no idea."

Momo says exaggeratedly, piquing the interest of everyone in the room.

A shaky camera records Mina from five years ago in a red dress dancing in the middle of the dance floor of a posh club in Las Vegas.

"Go Minayah!" Sana cheers from behind her.

A couple of seconds later, Nayeon dressed in a white button down shirt and wide beige jeans comes into view, followed by Jihyo and other members.

Nayeon stops abruptly in the dance floor, her eyes fixed on Mina as she yells something to Jihyo.

Through the loud music, the phone fails to capture what she says.

A few seconds later, Nayeon nears the blonde.

"I don't know, but I want to marry her."

This time her voice is audible.

Momo looks at the stunned faces of the girls in her living room.

"Is that our?" Mina gasps.

"Yeah." Momo nods as her eyes go back to the video playing on the telly.

"Why?"  Jihyo yells back.

"Because I've just met the most beautiful girl in the whole world and damn me if I don't marry her."

Nayeon flashes a bright smile as her eyes rake over Mina.

"Awww baby, you're the sweetest."

Mina gushes and pulls Nayeon towards her.

"Can you both stop sucking faces at every cute moment? We'd never get through this video if you keep this up."

Momo says loudly, pressing pause on the remote.

Nayeon pouts as Mina pulls away reluctantly with an apologetic smile.

"Hi." Nayeon taps the shoulder of the dancing girl.

Mina twirls around, their eyes meeting each other in a transfixed stare.

"I thought Nayeonnie was bad. Look at Mina unnie, she's making googly eyes at Nayeon just for a tap on her shoulder." Dahyun laughs.

"Love at first sight, it was meant to be." Sana sighs dramatically.

"More like they wanted to get it on at first sight." Momo snorts.

This time seven pillows smack her on the head.

"Owww."

She rubs the side of her head, glad that atleast Mina never resorted to violence.

"Hi." The blonde tucks a stray hair behind her ears nervously as she looks into the dark eyes that for some reason gives her butterflies.

"Will you marry me?" Nayeon asks stepping closer to her and taking her hand in hers.

Mina thinks about it for a second and then nods shyly.

"Yes, okay."

"What the hell Mina, you're so easy." Momo laughs, clapping her hands like a seal.

Two seconds later, she sits there thinking she's been very wrong about Mina never resorting to violence as she nurses the side of her head again.

"You can't marry my best friend without my seal of approval." Momo's voice is heard in the background.

Nayeon smiles her winning smile at the girl behind the camera.

"What do I need to do get your approval?"

Momo's voice is quiet for sometime.

"Buy me a tequila sunrise."

"And you called my wife easy."

Nayeon chuckles making Momo glower at her.

Momo can't believe she gave away her bestmate seal of approval for a glass of tequila sunrise.

"We don't have rings." Tzuyu tells Dahyun.

Behind them, Nayeon and Mina are walking down the street holding hands, making heart eyes each other.

The camera stops near a vending machine.

"We could make do with the rings inside this machine." Chaeyoung suggests.

"For fuck's sake dumb blondie that's a condom machine."

"Chaeyoungah, you can't smack me for something I said five years ago."

Momo pouts as another pillow aimed at her lays by her side.

The camera shakes even more after they stop at a corner store to buy more drinks.

"We're buying the rings here."

Nayeon pulls Mina into a jewellery store that is opened late night.

"I like this one." Nayeon points at a sparkly ring.

"I like this one better." Mina's alluring lips turn down in a pout as she points to a simpler but classic version.

"Then we take the one my future wife wants." Nayeon rasps, her eyes flickering to the blonde's lips.

"I swear to god I'm going to bring the hosepipe out if you don't stop snogging each other."

Momo growls seriously.

"And Nayeon-chan what the fuck, is that your hand under her t-shirt?"

She whips her head back to the telly.

Mina adjusts her clothes, her ears tinged red.

The other girls remain unaffected by the fuss behind them.

"Go to the marriage bureau and submit this form. We can't get you married without a marriage license. "

The man at the chapel tells hem.

Nayeon reluctantly drags her feet out of the building.

"It shouldn't be that hard to get married." She frowns.

Mina pouts at her.

The singer gives Mina a sweeping glance, her face brightening like she's figured something out.

"Maybe it's difficult getting married to angels."

Nayeon nods to herself like her logic makes total sense.

Mina melts.

Momo ignores the smacking noises that comes from behind her.

She has been expecting it the moment since she heard Mina's voice adoringly say, "You're so cute, Nayeon-chan."

Momo isn't ready to turn around and mentally scar herself for the rest of her life if she finds Nayeon's hand in an inappropriate place another time.

"We got the papers."

Nayeon grins happily at the man.

Tzuyu and Chaeyoung are snoring in a couch on the corner.

Jeongyeon is dancing to a song in her head.

Jihyo, Dahyun and Sana are throwing imaginary flowers at Nayeon and Mina.

Mina is swaying on her feet.

The man knows he is going straight to hell for letting these kids get married, but he can't bring himself to say no to more dollars.

"Fine. Let's get you two married."

Two seconds later the man disappears behind the camera.

"Miss, I can't marry your friends off if you think piggybacking on me will give you a better camera angle." He tells Momo.

A huff and loud thud follows soon after.

The man comes back into view looking distressed and exhausted.

"Do you take Myoui Mina as your lawful wife  to have and to hold.."

He reads the lines to the girl before him.

"Yes." Nayeon says eagerly.

"Do you take Im Nayeon-"

"Yes." Mina rushes before he can even complete.

He has a feeling that maybe he won't go to hell at all if the way they are looking at each other is any indication.

"You may now kiss the bride."

Nayeon leans into kiss the blonde on her cheek.

Mina's eyes are on her alone as she accepts the kiss with a beaming smile on her face.

"He said that I may kiss the bride."

Nayeon says in her defense when Momo smacks her shoulder and peels her away from Mina.

"I can't believe you married this horndog twice." Momo says to a blushing girl underneath Nayeon. "And Nayeon-chan please keep it in your pants until I get more drinks."

"I have nothing to keep in my pants." Nayeon grins.

"Good, or Mina would be popping one out every year." Sana laughs.

The singer smirks when Mina's blush deepens.

She cups the younger girl's cheek as she lays her head on her chest.

"I wouldn't mind, I am actually a little broody you know." Mina cuddles into the older girl.

Nayeon's mouth drops open.

"What do you mean?"

Mina bites her lips as she pulls back a little, looking up and connecting her gaze with intense dark ones. "I am saying I would love to carry your babies someday."

Nayeon's eyes darken.

"I wouldn't mind little Nayeons running around the house."

Nayeon swallows thickly as she holds the younger girl's glance. Her voice drops an octave, "And I wouldn't mind carrying little Minas either."

Mina gives her a sweet smile and leans into lay a peck on waiting lips.

"I'm going to gag from all this cheesiness." Momo makes a face despite being happy for them."Ill go get us some more drinks to celebrate this."

"Define someday." Nayeon's searches Mina's enthralling brown eyes for an answer.

"Not right now. When our careers get a little less crazier, maybe in like five years you know, when the dust settles down."

Mina breaks their gaze only to snuggle closer to the singer who drops a kiss to the top of her head.

"Okay baby."

"Okay Nayeon-chan?"

"Okay."

Nayeon nods and Mina wraps her hands tighter around the older girl's back, letting out a sigh of content and smiles into the hug as another kiss is laid to the top of her head.

Momo comes back to the living room and finds Mina and Nayeon gone again.

"Where are they?"

"If Nayeon's eyes were any indication when Mina said she would love to carry her babies, then I'd say they're making bubble tea again." Sana chuckles.

Momo drops the tray of drinks on the table loudly.

"Where are you going?" Jeongyeon asks holding in a laugh.

Tzuyu presses play again on the wedding video unbothered by the drama around her.

"To find the damn hosepipe."