Fate

Chapter 168

Mina's P.O.V.
Let me just mix this.. Add some pigments. Stir and let it sit for a minute. Hey, it wasn't too bad. Demolding what I did two weeks ago and assembling them took me a while, but I was pretty comfortable sitting down in my sweatshirt just glueing studs away.
The mixing and pouring into the empty molds was something else. I didn't realize how heavy my containers of base products were. "Damn, that's wearing me down. At this rate, it'll take me all day."
I kept going, but I quickly realized that, even if I took breaks to sit, I underestimated how laborious this was for me right now. I finished pouring the mix I prepared before I took my gloves off and sat on the couch.
"Dear God. I barely did anything. Don't tell me my blood pressure dropped for that? I'm useless."
My phone rang. "Oh, what now? A video call? Not now.."
If I don't answer, I'll be in trouble.
"Hello?"

Namjoon's P.O.V.
"Hey, Min-"
Her face. "You l-"

She stopped me. "If you're about to tell me I look as white as a sheet, I know.. I don't want to hear it."
I usually would love to say I told her so, but I hadn't said a thing about it.
"I think I'll keep a low stock for another week at least.. It's not like I don't have a lot ready to ship."

She had hundreds of pieces, big and small. At least, she came to the conclusion that she was being unreasonable. "Did you stay on your feet too long?"

Her glare was my answer. "The nurse said that I could do little tasks around the house. I just walked to the second apartment, fixed pieces that weren't done and started new ones. I think lifting my gallons of product was the nail in the coffin."

Don't make analogies like that right now. "Those things are HEAVY, Foxy. Tell me you're laying down."

She did so right away. "Happy?" If it brings colors back to your face, very. "Might be from the fact that she removed my stitches this morning."

I hadn't read the report yet! "You could've led with that! Did you look when she was doing it?"

She blinked so hard. "Why did I do that, huh?.. Makes me sick to even think about it."

Was it just the stitches on her stomach or all of them? "Looks that bad?"
I could hear her breathing. She was a quiet breather. Can I say that? When I stood next to her, I couldn't hear her inhale or exhale. If I didn't see her chest move, I'd think she's a vampire or something. "Min, do you want me to call anyone?"

"No! No.. I'm fine.. I'll just take a nap before going back. For your information, it looks great for what wounds look like.. It's just.. Recalling it makes me remember the sensation. It's icky.."

I would agree. I looked at my watch. We had time. "You can let the camera roll while you sleep or we can chat. How does that sound?"

She smiled. "What can we talk about?"

So many things. "Are you reading anything good? Did you see how much of a wave your experiment did?"

"I've been reading Flowers of Fire. It's quite interesting." For the other thing?
"I did get a glimpse, but I have to say that I'm focused on reading and watching dramas so.. I didn't hear much about it."
She corrected herself. "I didn't look, ask or have been told about it. I suppose that's what YOU want to talk about."

"It's obvious, isn't it?" I laughed.
"If you're up for it." Your face gained back some colors.

Hesitant much? Her gaze met mine and she sighed. "By the look on your face, I really did go out with a bang, huh?"

In all sorts of ways. "Damn right you did. Your News show even released an article and video about it on their website. Don't get me started with the reaction videos."

Min seemed so confused. "They have? People did reactions to the conclusion? It's been positive?"

On average, yes! "There's people who have no taste and don't understand your brain, but I've heard interesting opinions... About you and your art."

"Oh, really? Remember a few?"

Now, she seemed intrigued. "That you say what needs to be said, when it's somewhat controversial or not seen as proper to bring up. That you're very well spoken and that they could see your train of thought in your paintings... That it's great to keep the art and the artists separated from their relationships. That you had the right to point out the hypocrisy of them asking for division while your Q&A's are filled with questions about your friendships in Seoul and about us. You skip over those except when you specify it on your dance page. Lots of things like that."

She nodded, satisfied. "Yep. I'm glad about that. Just so you know.. I didn't actually plan on suing anyone for defamation. These people were reported and their accounts were suspended. It's a good warning."

"Fair enough, most of them are teenagers and young adults."

"Did you like it?"

Really? "You're asking? It was clever. Very risky, but smart nonetheless. You laid your cards out. It shows you're not scared of opposition from the public. I love it. I wish your video was longer."

The camera moved as she sat up. "I planned a live and a follow up video, but.. life happened?"

Damn right, life happened. "Nothing stops you from doing it next week."

"I'll do it when I'm not 30 minutes away from turning into Snow White! Good?"

"Good."

Mina's P.O.V.
"You want to come over?"

"If that's okay, noona sunbaenim. If you'd rather not, it's fine! It must get lonely at times, no?"

He had great timing! "I'm bored! I'm so bored. I'm always running around. Almost 3 weeks on my ass most of the time is a pain. Please, come over Jake. I'll text you my address."

I'd get company! My bandages were thin enough I could wear a hoodie without issues. That was VERY convenient, incredibly useful.
.
.
.
"Woah, I didn't know his place was that big.."

I scratched my nape. "Right? I just stick to our bedrooms, the library, the kitchen and the living room. I've never stepped in his other room, you know? Never had the need to, that means I don't go."

"You're not curious?" HE was.

"I've had a verbal description. That's enough for me, and please take your coat off. You're bringing the rain inside!"

"Oh sh*t- Sorry! Sorry. I'll clean it! Oh- and.."
Jake looked into his bag. "A little bird told me you could finally have some of these."
Jake handed me a small bag. "I've heard you love spicy food, but I got the mild ones. I hope you don't mind? I can't handle the heat for the life of me!"

I took a look into the bag and laughed. Ramyeon. I knew the little bird. "We're so eating that right now! I don't tolerate spices either, for now at least."

He seemed so happy. "It's settled then! I guess dance battles are out of the question?"

"Jake, stop messing with me! We can play games or do karaoke as long as you don't mind me being shitty at ballads." I had been trying to practice some songs Joon had never heard me sing before, but the songs I liked weren't necessarily the ones I could do decently.

"Fine with me. I might ask you a few questions about the book you lent me too."

Really? "Be my guest!"