Fate

Chapter 199

Mina's P.O.V.
We got to the actual filming of our interview. "So, since you two are back in Seoul for a while, what do you plan to do?"

I let him answer first. "I'm gonna be working on a few new songs. The guys and I are mostly doing solo things until the award season passes at least. We do have an album in the works. She's more busy than me."

What? Don't say it like that! "Well, I guess I am! I'm performing at the award shows for a few groups and individuals. I'm keeping my business rolling and I'm working on a book."

Jessi blinked. "You guess you're busy?" That made us laugh. "Will you even have time to eachother? Will you get on the red carpet more often this year? Any plans to work together again?"

Those were gonna need more than a yes or no answer. "Don't worry about us, we've made plenty of time."

My boyfriend would talk about the rest because I wasn't aware of it, at all. "I'm sure we'll get to go together again a few more times than last year. As for work.. I'd need to have songs ready and I'm not quite there yet." Little liar. He had at least 7 songs ready.

Our interviewer seemed disappointed. "But it looked so good last time! Do it again. Please?"

Joonie nudged me. "We'll think about it."
.
.
.
"Time for a game, shall we? Point to which the statement applies most."
Eonni read her cue card.
"The person who takes the longest to get ready."

Depends? I pointed to us both and he pointed himself.
"For anything formal, his hair takes the longest. It takes ages for him to choose his watch and shoes."

He agreed.
"You just take forever to dry your hair, or pick a dress. You have a lot of them!"

"But never enough!"
I very much was a dress girl outside of work. It was convenient. Except during winter because... How practical was that?
"Wanna talk about having a lot of something? Two dozen pairs of socks. That's how many I've had to wash in one load of laundry. It doesn't count the ones still in your drawers."

Laundry. Our point of friction and petty arguments. He laughed
"You didn't even take them out of the dryer. What about the 10 pairs of leggings and shorts I had to fold?"

Come on!
"I always put the clothes in, switch them to the dryer or hang them to dry. The least you can do is fold them."

Jessi was having the time of her life.
"Wow. Is it really that much of an"
Stupid tinnitus. What was the question?

My partner rested his hand on my thigh. I focused on what he was saying.
"It's not an issue per say! She hates to fold clothes. I often forget the laundry in the washer.. It's a great arrangement. I can't complain something got in the wash that shouldn't and she can't be upset at the way I fold things."

Great! I have context.
"Most of the tasks around the house are split like that. If I cook, he does the dishes."

He nodded.
"I clean them a lot."

"Why am I not surprised?"
No one is, Jessi.

Namjoon's P.O.V.
"Talking about clothes, getting ready, etc. Who asks to match the other's outfit?"

That would be linked to the networking event pictures, right?
We both pointed the same person, Min.
She smiled.
"I ask, he gets changed without asking."

Rude?
"I rarely have stuff that matches your clothes. You wear so much pastel and colourful pieces."

Our interviewer showed a picture of her tablet.
"So, who matched who? I don't feel like you'd show that much chest, so you have to have copied her. No?"

My eyes met Min's and we shared a giggle before I let her answer.
"He should wear things like that more often, huh? He was supposed to wear a turtleneck under it, but I said that if he didn't wear one, I'd replicate his outfit. The choice wasn't difficult."

My ex looked at the picture, then my girlfriend.
"Everyone at home say thank you!"
After a laugh, she had another question.
"Do you enjoy going to events together? You've been to a few. Or would you rather perform together?"

The hand on her thigh was now in both of hers.
"They're totally different. Both are work, but performances are short. All the work behind the scenes was fun when we did dance together. It was also A LOT. We put a lot of pressure on our shoulders for different things and it can get carried home. Home can be brought to work and it's not any better."

Jessi dug deeper.
"But it always looked flawless! What pressure do you put on yourselves?"

I answered that one.
"Personally, I want things to run smoothly, being on time, etc. We have expectations to meet. I keep the guys in check when we have dancers around. Especially on a tight schedule. The more I have to correct their attitude, the more the annoyance builds up. Before my bandmates kill me, I don't resent them when they do! It's just that some things are fine when we are alone and  aren't with other people."
I knew I'd speak for my partner when she glanced at me with a few fingers massaging the side of her head, giving the hand she held a squeeze.
Even if I caught the hint, no one else would. Her expression was still sweet and kind.
"I think that Mina had a lot on her shoulders last year. She had to show the guys that she wouldn't be distracting us from work. It was the first time she worked with Bangtan as a group. Also... She was the eldest dancer there, so I think that she pressured herself to be the one they can count on and it means that she needed to know the choreography well before them. She managed them backstage too. There's something we share as well..Min anticipates a lot, like me, so she prepares for every scenario that's pretty likely to happen. It's draining. We forget to check on our well-being."

She picked up on what I said.
"Then, when we check on each other, we're irritated. I'm looking after everyone. Do I seem out of control? That's when we get snappy.
We've been together all day, so we blurted out all the stuff that showed it wasn't fine. When I worked with you, for example.."
She motioned at the host.
"I wanted to do my best and be someone the team could rely on, but I didn't feel like it was my job. I'd talk to you at the studio and it would end there. Though... The stages are SO rewarding. Those three minutes are pure gold."

I agreed.
"Events are stressful, but they're not as high stakes, I think."

"I never saw it that way! That's a fair point, guys."
You haven't had the opportunity to dance inches from your partner wanting to kiss them so bad?
Lucky, it's torture!
"Will you perform the chorus of the song for us?"

It was planned, obviously. Min even wore a skirt that flared like the bottom of the modern short hanboks she had in the clip.
"Now?"

"Please! Please? Get up in front of the camera, just watch your mics."
Jessi asked us to get up.

I checked on my duet partner as she secured it.
"We're good?"
She nodded.
"Whenever you're ready!"

We only marked it once before we started the interview. Even so, when the music started, it was effortless. The muscle memory was insane. The drop with a hand on her hip, the other in her hair...I was brought back to our first stage together and to that performance in Montreal. The chorus ended and I got pulled out of my mind by the clapping of the crew and my ex.
"That was so good! Namjoon, I didn't know you could dance like that on command."
Jessi paused and snapped her fingers.
"I know what you could dance to.. Troublemaker!"

Min covered her mouth and frantically shook her head.
"Nope! Keep that for the fantasy world between your two ears eonni."

"Aww come on!"

You heard the woman, Jessica. Not happening. Not on camera, at least. Do I know the dance? Wouldn't you like to know?