Fate

Chapter 161

Mina's P.O.V.
"A deer in headlights? Can't you be nicer to yourself, noona?"

"Jake, come on. Don't act like you didn't notice my stunned Pikachu face when I'm caught off guard in the wild corridors of Hybe."
I pulled a book out of my bag. "Here's what you asked for. And... This."
I handed him a bookmark with his name on it, little science themed charms set in its resin. "No chance of losing where you were at."

"Thanks a lot!" He took a second look.
"You're sure it's fine with you? I can take your criminalistics university manual?"

Why would it not be? "Sure! There's more where that came from. I'm just happy to share."

"It's great, I'll take good care of it. Thanks a lot for the Hangul break too. I can't recall the last time I had a long conversation in English." Me neither.. It had to be before I left at TSA in Montreal. Also.. fun fact. We weren't huggers with one another, Jake and I. We both liked hugging specific people and receiving different types of hugs from specific people as well. He did back hugs a lot to Jungwon and Heesung, but side hugs with Niki. We were close enough to interact with more than a bow, but I think we both were too polite to ask.

I'll sound insane. "Jaeyun-ah."
That caught his attention pretty quick. "Please tell me if I'm out of line and I'm sorry if it sounds silly or methodically cold, but I would like to greet you with more than a bow, but I know you're peculiar with hugs. You don't hate them, but-"

He glanced down and laughed a bit. "I'm peculiar with hugs? Look who's talking."
Looking back at me, his grin hadn't left. "Number one, my legal name is for when people are mad at me."
I laughed and apologized. He went on. "Number two, did you want a hug or want to give me one?"

That, I wasn't sure. "I don't know! We've danced so up close and personal, we've been chatting a lot outside of work too."

A frown. "That's.. not an answer noona. I'm not entitled to anything. For me, I don't know, it means no." He put what I gave him in his bag and left it at his feet. "How about we  try a special handshake?"

Now, I was the one with a crease between my eyebrows. "Like we did as kids?"

A soft smile. "Why not? It can be simple. Let's see.."
He paused a second. "Try this. We grab each other's hand like this. Traditional start to a bro handshake. We drop it in a little bounce and do a little bow after. How's that?"

Jake showed it to me. It was pretty simple. "We can try?"
We did and I don't know why, but it made sense. "I like it."
I smiled. "It's great!"

He seemed amused. "Good! If you change your mind about a hug, just tell me."

Wait. "Did you want a hug?"

"Doesn't matter." He shrugged. "You don't want one and we have a cool handshake now."

"Thank you."

"Don't mention it, noona sunbaenim." Why did that work in English too? That nickname was stuck to me, wasn't it? Ah.. fine. It was pretty endearing.
.
.
.
"Mimina, girl. What the actual hell is going on?" Oh sh*t. I forgot to warn Meg.
"This has been going on for almost two weeks and you haven't released any statements yet! It's defamation."

"Meg, it's okay-"

"Does Joon know? Does Kookie know? Why did you not tell Stef or I? I don't know anything about all that stuff, but I can be mean back or report them!"

I love you, girly. I really do. "They know, Meg. First thing Moonie did was telling me how great of a job I did before asking me if I was alright even if I knew the vitriol I'd get. Besides, it's only been ten days."

She didn't seem to understand. "Only? Min. Even Yoongi's scooter, flipper or whatever it was, accident wasn't controversial for that long."

The PERFECT parallel. "You do realize I'm using a similar method than he did. Right?"
I explained. "I presented, on my public platform, what my paintings were and why I painted them. Especially, why I released them during pride month. I stayed silent after it. I got the okay to do it on Bangtan's anniversary too. It was the point. Compared to them, I'm small and insignificant."
I paused to stop her from speaking. "As an artist. In a popularity contest, I lose. That's perfect with me. I don't want that burden. Supporting him is all I want to do for him. Anyway.. what I mean to say is.. why did I go trend on social media while it was the loudest day for BTS content? It was full of it and yet, people found time to get on my Instagram, create content off my post about my art. Misreading the meaning of them, spreading hate and lies over critique. Why?"

My best friend didn't know how to answer. "People like scandals, I guess? They weren't even indecent."
It was also the point. "Wipe that cocky grin off, girl! Why is it like Suga's DUI?"

"I'm taking accountability for what I did. People have the right to be angry at my take on religious imagery. They could say it's blasphemy and they'd probably be right. They could attack my technique, my colour choices, my interpretation, my depictions, and yet they go for the easiest bone."

A light clicked. "It's about the patriarchy too, isn't it?"

"They're committing the sins I painted, and are attaching my value to a man that, granted, furnished where I'm working right now, but has no other strings attached to my art. That's what I was happily discussing at the art exhibit three days ago." There were so many questions. One of them being if I was alright being there that day, while the artist we were there for didn't even ask. He only smiled and spoke about my technique.

She seemed worried. "Min.. was it worth it? When's the reveal?-  Are you okay?"

Ouh.. that doesn't feel good. I'd get the impression I'm getting stabbed from time to time, but this.. this was a warning. Don't show it. Don't make her worry. She can't abandon everything for you and you can't have her freaking out. Smile. "I'm fine! I'm fine. Just a pinch. Of course it's worth it. I have to go out with a bang before I disappear for a few weeks! I'll do the reveal tomorrow, actually. It'll be the 24th here and the 23rd for you. It'll be a nice birthday gift for my mom. Don't you think?"

"I can't tell if that's smart or dumb. Take care, cutie~"

"You too, Boo." I.. Think I need a medic.