Just for the Holidays

NYC - The Shore

Nayeon was feeling good the next morning. After the events of last night, she felt like perhaps there was a chance she could save this. She tried to get up early to make Mina breakfast, but found herself waking up later than expected to an empty bed. It was their last day in town and while she had originally wanted to spend time with her family, her tolerance for them was dwindling. Luckily Mina had a friend from college she wanted to visit at the shore, so it was an easy way for them to leave for a little.

When she walked downstairs, she was greeted by Jihyo and Mr. Im eating pancakes at the island counter with Mina talking to Mrs. Im while cooking. She smiled to herself, thinking about how all they were missing was Jeongyeon. She made eye contact with Mina, who blushed slightly and started making a plate for Nayeon.

"So, I heard you two are going to the shore today?" Mr. Im said, grabbing some bacon off the tray. Mina nodded quietly, frying an over easy egg for Nayeon. Once it was ready she handed the plate to Nayeon, pausing when their fingers touched briefly. Mina's fingers were smooth, and warm from the cooking she was doing. Nayeon blushed a little and took the plate.

"Make sure you leave before five because traffic is hell, you wouldn't believe," Mrs. Im started saying.

"We are doing dinner, there's no way we will be home before five," Nayeon said with food in her mouth. Mina's food was delicious. 

"Hey can I come with you?" Jihyo asked while putting her plate in the sink.

"Uh actually sure! This way Tzuyu and Mina can talk and we can go play games and win prizes," Nayeon said with flames of ambition in her eyes.

"Hyo, I'm going to need you to cut her off," Mina said sternly, feigning firmness. Jihyo simply saluted the Japanese girl and ran upstairs to get dressed for the occasion. The Im parental unit had plans to go to Costco to start getting items for their vacation to the Bahamas, so they said quick goodbyes to the girls and left.

"So, last night..." Nayeon started, a smug grin on her face. Mina had started packing away the leftovers when she paused.

"Was really good..."

"But?"

"But we probably shouldn't do it again," Mina whispered, as if in speaking it out loud, she had sealed her fate. Nayeon frowned, suddenly losing her appetite. Mina continued.

"I still love you, but I think this is confusing and I still stand by what I said last night."

"And I do, too. Who are you to decide what's best for me?"

"I don't know, Nayeon. This is really hard for me too and I want to make the right decision, but things are a little more confusing now," Mina sighed.

"I guess I'm really good in bed," Nayeon chuckled, hoping to make the situation lighter.

"Yeah, you really are, and that makes it hard," Mina said, no sarcasm found in her voice. Nayeon was taken aback at the response, since usually there would be more banter in this situation. She made mental notes of things she had done to do again in the future. Jihyo came downstairs, looking like a white woman who had taken the wrong turn on her way to the country club.

"Jihyo when did you start dressing like that?" Nayeon asked hesitantly, Mina holding back a laugh.

"It looks like Vineyard Vines threw up on you," Mina laughed, causing Nayeon to also laugh.

"What? This looks good??" Jihyo asked, genuinely confused. She stormed upstairs to change, leaving the two girls to laugh among themselves. Moments like this made her feel like things were normal, and although it was a false sense of normalcy, she still appreciated it.
-----------------------
They were meeting for an early dinner so they could watch the sunset and enjoy the boardwalk at night time. Tzuyu, Mina's friend from her undergraduate program, had picked a nice Mexican place for dinner. It was situated on the boardwalk, giving easy access to all the things they had planned to do. Tzuyu and Mina were anxiously catching up while Jihyo and Nayeon were picking apart the menu.