365 Days of You

Chapter 17

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.