365 Days of You

Chapter 10

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."