365 Days of You

Chapter 13

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.