Fate

Chapter 198

Mina's P.O.V.
"You know, I really dig the pink hair." I added a touch of hairspray brushing it in place. "Your impulsive dye changes are always on point for some reason."

Joonie laughed. "Don't look too close or you'll see how patchy it is!"

Oh, I saw. "Call it a watercolour effect and you're forgiven."

"That's a good one! Thanks for styling my hair, beautiful. Could've let them do it on set."

"We could've, but we'd have to already be there and I don't think you'd like that very much." I put my hand on his shoulder. "Though, you might be sitting a lot more still there!" I sighed looking at my work in the mirror. "I think it's the best I can do. Doesn't look too formal, but not overly casual. You even got the side part you like."

"It's perfect." My boyfriend lifted his head up, giving me a peck on the lips. "Want me to help you straighten yours?"

That would save me quite some time! He got pretty decent with it. "It'd be great! I'll fix my makeup in the meantime."

He frowned. "You're putting foundation?"

Now, now, mister.. I lifted the product up. "Skin tint. You'll get to see my few freckles, don't worry~"

His wide smile shown in the mirror. "They're so cute." Joon dragged the flat iron across the lenght of my hair. "I'm doing okay?" He showed the strands he did.

I nodded quite satisfied. "More than okay! Just leave my bangs to me."

His eyebrows dropped, confused. "What bangs?"

Oh my gosh. I took my front pieces out of the mix. "You're 33 years old and around female idols. I can't believe you don't know what curtain bangs are."

A lightbulb above his head. "Oh! To me, bangs are just the short straight ones." His hand went to his forehead. "Like this, you know?"

His little gestures were indearing. "I'm never getting those! The ones I have frame my face pretty nice." I cupped my face. "Don't you agree?"

A soft chuckle escaped as he continued working on my hair. "I do, very cute. Are you nervous?"

Meh.. "Not really? I mean, we didn't do anything controversial, in my opinion. We've been apart for a while and the only thing controversial I think I did was having a surgery considered only to be esthetic, even if it isn't quite true in my case." Maybe befriending more male idols? Remembering what Taemin said: To me, guys and girls can't be friends. They can be close colleagues, but not friends. We were great work partners! We enjoyed spending time outside of work while we were connected on a project together, but outside of that? We wouldn't be texting each other. Seeing the list of my friends in my mind, I definitely had a bit more men in my circle. If that was problematic, sue me! I laughed at the thought.
"It's Jessi, we don't have much to worry about." She had been the one to give me a platform to introduce myself. It helped ease the negative reactions to Namjoon being taken, and with the girl he supposedly was just friends with nonetheless. Looking back, I understand the frustration of feeling lied to, but speaking on the situation made some understand that we hadn't.

All of that to say, I appreciated Jessi very much, so our first interview as a couple had to be with her. "You're very right about that!"

Namjoon's P.O.V.
"Awwww, you brought the dog!" Jessi pat Mushu's head. "I wasn't sure you read my text." She gave him a treat. "You're the bestest boy, aren't you?"

What I didn't know was that she was.. Joon, don't be so tactless. "We promise he'll behave." I greeted my ex with a side hug. "You look great."

Her glare was piercing as always. "Don't mess with me." When I started sweating, she laughed. "Just kidding, I'm glowing right?"

After my sigh of relief, her dongsaeng bowed to her lightly. "How are you and your little boy?"

Jessi sighed, hand on her stomach. "Good, but I'm counting the days I'm tellin' ya!" She motioned us in. "Don't just stand there, come in!"

That exchange felt off. "You two don't hug?"

Mim answered my whisper. "She's in a cami and shorts with the A/C rolling in late October. I think she's feeling warm enough. I don't need to share my bodyheat with her, trust me."

Fair point, the staff all had hoodies on. "I get why she's counting the days then!"

Of course, before filming anything, we'd have to catch up a little.
"How are you and Dawn now?"
Dawn? Did I miss that much gossip?

"Ask him yourself."
Jessi raised her voice.
"Babe? Can you come here?"
A head rose up from behind the production team.
"Wanna chat?"

It was him. Most people knew him as Hyuna's ex. Weren't they just a fling? He leaned on the back of her seat.
"Sure, Jess."
He did casually greet us.
"Nice to meet you two. She's been talking my ears out about you."

And I've heard nothing about you!
"Weren't you two.. not an item?"
My girlfriend pressed her foot on mine.
"I'm out of the loop! What can I say?"

My ex laughed.
"Long story short. Instead of breaking off our arrangement, we leaned into it."
But her boy..?
"Before you ask, the kid is his."
What?!

Mina didn't seem shocked.
"They were friends. It makes sense, Joonie."

Dawn lived for my reaction.
"I proposed it. It was done clinically. Don't get the wrong idea! When it worked and she was in the safe zone, she talked about ending our fling because she was getting too attached and.. I already adored her. We could be together instead."

"Jeez, you should've seen me after he said that! I was SO HAPPY he felt that way."
Talk about a book worthy dramatic love story.

Min just smiled fondly at them.
"You two thought of a name?"
The couple looked at each other.
"Ouh~ It's a surprise! I'm excited. That kid will be SO cute. Babies are adorable little things!"

Thrilled much? Her eonni made her day.
"Maybe you could come visit after a few weeks! It's been so nice having lunch with you a few times a month."

That's where she went almost every Tuesday!
"Really? That'd be lovely! I'll make sure to bring you some food and to be helpful."

Dawn gave his girlfriend a peck before saying his goodbyes and Jessi went back to chatting.
"How is it, living together again? How does your place feel, now that she's been living in it longer than you this year?"

I remember when I took a moment to look around it.
"It's different, honestly."
Mina couldn't tell where I was going with this. Maybe it was because she didn't understand the question? She was the farthest from her, Jessi sitting to the right of her guests, as always.
"You know how my place is. My decor is very minimal. My studio is more decorated than my whole place!"
We couldn't deny that.
"I didn't keep it very tidy either. You'd find my laptop one place, a few hoodies and sweatpants around, books left astray. Now, I have art pieces on my walls. The second room is lively. I WANT to keep my place clean. My kitchen actually has decent food in it. I cook more often."
Jessi wide-eyed me.
"I'm pretty decent! She eats my food."

"Mina, blink twice if you're getting poisoned."
She's still mean.

Moonie didn't answer right away. She was almost over me.
"You're exaggerating. It's not that bad! He's a decent sous-chef."

Then her friend's eyes went wide.
"Sh*t, I'm not speaking loudly enough, right?"
She motioned at herself.
"I'm easily winded, I'm sorry. I can't be as loud as I usually am."

That.. could be a problem.
"Sit in the middle, Min. Switch places with me."

I got up and she slid to the right end of the couch, meter away from our interviewer.
"Thanks, that should fix it."

Jessi took a deep breath.
"Sometimes I forget I'm pretty mellow at the moment. I'm still sassy! Just.. not yelling."

Min shook her head.
"It's alright! Don't sweat it. If that's the loudest you can go being comfortable, it's great. We're just happy to be here with you."

"You truly are sweet like candy!"

Min smiled.
"Back to the cooking thing, he doesn't burn stuff! I'm just scared for his fingers when he's chopping stuff."

Not true! It only happened once a..week. Fine, she had a point.