365 Days of You

Chapter 26

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 interupped 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.