365 Days of You

Chapter 23

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, "Only two more weeks Mina."

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.