365 Days of You

Chapter 17

Nayeon doesn't remember the last time she has felt this overwhelming love for someone.

She has thought it was gone with Nam-ji.

A lot of things she believes didn't exist, Mina makes her believe in.

Her eyes tear up, heart swells with love, admiration and pride, making it impossible to breath as she joins the audience for a standing ovation.

The show has just finished and Mina has been beyond spectacular.

The Japanese girl bows, her eyes landing on the spot she knows Nayeon is seated in for a fleeting second.

When Nayeon tries to leave using the VIP exit, she suddenly finds herself among a sea of cameras and the flashing lights nearly blind her.

Fucking paps.

She doesn't want the spotlight to be taken away from Mina. She doesn't want them making the younger girl uncomfortable. Mina has always been wary of their attention.

She goes back inside to find the younger girl and warn her. She spins on her heels only to come face to face with her.

"Always have to be the center of attention, right Nayeon?" Mina snaps.

Nayeon winces at the bite in her tone.

She sighs, like she is too exhausted to defend herself and her gaze lands somewhere around the younger girl's feet.

"Guys, there's a second exit I know. Come on. Let's go."

They hear Laura behind them.

When Mina doesn't move, preferring to stare a hole into Nayeon and Nayeon doesn't lift her eyes up, Laura rolls her eyes and pulls them along tugging them by their arms.

"Tell your drivers to remain in the VIP car park so the paps would wait there for you. We're taking my car."

Nayeon follows her order wordlessly.

Mina notices how quiet she has become.

A sadistic part of her wants to comfort the older girl, but the rational part tells her to stay away.

"What's your angle? Why are you helping me?" Mina asks carefully, occupying the passenger seat in the front.

"Because you're hot." Laura winks. She senses Nayeon stiffen behind them. "And also because Nayeon-ssi is helping me win my ex so I decided it's only fair that I'm nice to her ex."

Ex.

Nayeon's stomach drops at the word.

She is trying her hardest to make things right but everything seems to be going wrong for her.

The hearing date for the divorce is looming over her like a knife in the air, ready to plunge into her any moment.

She leans back against the plush seat of the Mercedes and meets Mina's eyes for a brief moment through the rear view mirror.

She wonders if the younger girl can see how miserable she is. Without her.

"I'll see you tomorrow Mina." Laura says, dropping them both off at Mina's house.

Nayeon calls her driver. Slips her phone in the back pocket of her jeans. Runs a hand through her hair as she waits for her ride.

Mina should go.

She shouldn't be standing there watching the singer fidget, looking lost and vulnerable under the low moonlight.

She shouldn't want to take a step closer to her, take her in a hug.