Second Best(2yeon/Najeong version)

Red Dress

Nayeon

" Nay?" Jihyo calls out from the back deck its Emma's birthday party and she came early to help set up.

" In the kitchen!" I call out and wipe my forehead the house is a mess there's flour all over the floor eggs on the floor thanks to my clumsy hands and Emma laughs at me from her highchair.

She opens the swinging doors and stops" Wow... I mean.... wow."

" Yeah can you help me?"

" Where's your devoted husband? Visiting his girlfriend?" she asks with hostility.

" Jihyo!"

" Too soon? Yeah probably too soon Sorry" she bends down and starts to clean up the eggs" So where is he?"

" Mark picked him up and took him out for a few hours since the tension was enough to suck the air from the house" I point over to the newspaper that featured his rescue" Read the last paragraph."

Considering I used to work for the local press you'd think they would have given me a heads up nope they did a huge piece on him and how he's a hero but the worst was how Jinyoung told them how determined he was to make his family whole again how he loves his wife and child more than his own life and we are what kept him alive.

" He really laid it on thick" Jihyo puts the paper on the table" Tzuyu seriously feels bad but she couldn't say anything- not even to me."

I put the mixer down and huff" I know I am not mad anymore it could have risked Jeongyeon and the other guys lives."

Still sucks but I get it.

" What time will your mom be here?" Jihyo asks tiptoeing around the mess" Did you get anything in the damn bowl?"

" Shut up I am not a great baker but I wanted to make her a cake."

Jihyo laughs" Maybe I should head to the store and get her an edible one Jesus you are like Betty Crapper- this doesn't even look like cake mix."

I dop the mixer and start to laugh hysterically tears drop from my fit and I slide against the counter to the floor" Oh God Betty Crapper..." I continue giggling unable to stop I laugh on the flour covered floor as Jihyo stares at me as if I am losing my mind hell I am " I can't..." the laughter rages on.

" What the hell is wrong with you?" Her voice is full of concern.

" I mean.... its funny" I say trying to calm myself.

" I am not sure I follow you are scaring me Nay" Jihyo hunches down and puts her hands on my knees" I am really worried about you the last few days you haven't been yourself."

Her fear is valid since I left Jeongyeon's house and she basically told me we need to take a break I have been a mess the only thing that kept me going was knowing I had her Jinyoung hasn't said a word about our last fight he's here trying to help and be a part of our lives.

We have met with doctors, psychologists and he met with some liaison from the government but I am robotic I drive him there and listen to everyone tell me how blessed I am to have him home they tell me its a miracle and how happy they are for us but I feel no joy I have placed myself back in my bubble of void its easier than feeling and I am emotionally drained the only thing that gives me any light is Emma I try to keep her around me at all times.

" I am broken."

I haven't told her about what Jeongyeon said but I am sure she notices.

She grabs my face" Oh honey you are not broken no one is you have Emma, me, Tzuyu and so many other people who love you this isn't easy this is real life and it fucking sucks."