Fate part 2

Chapter 226

Mina's P.O.V.
We sat all around the table. Meg couldn't stop fanning herself next to me. "Did they turn the heating on? It's suffocating."

Oh, my sweet friend.
"Are those nerves I see?"
I nudged her shoulder.
"The worst part of the night is behind you. The rest is like last year, enjoying the show and clap when people win. Get excited when your friends and your boyfriend wins."

"Yeah, right." The flash of a smile.
"Even if it's planned, it gets me anxious, wow."

I put my hand over the one she rested on her thigh. "Take a deep breath, smile, and get ready to see performances we only dreamt of seeing. How's that?"

She laughed. "Talk about a way to change my perspective."
She finally took that deep breath. "Who's the opening performance?"

"You'll see in a second."

It was absolutely beautiful, soft, and touching. Perfect to open a gala, because we were all ready to listen.

Our conversations were the usual chatter. "Busan? With you guys? Yeah! That'd be great. I could present Meg to my parents in person instead of just talking over the phone. She's got less shy about speaking now."

Did she? "How dare you hide your Hangul from me?"

And she revealed it, pausing through it. "I'm not used to it! I'm shy.. Because.. I'm not great. I understand. Talking is hard."

"You're. So. Cute. I love it! I promise I won't force you. Jungkookie oppa's lucky to hear it~"
Now that I thought about it.
"When are you starting at work?"

"On January 3rd! Thanks for putting in a good word with your editor."
I refused to take credit!

"No, no, no. I told you they were looking for a new secretary for their foreign authors. You applied and you fit the bill."
She understood and wrote in Korean. She knew English and French. She did customer service all of her work life. Meg ACED the interview.
"I just informed you about a job opening."

"Well, that information got me here for two years. Thank you."
She side-hugged me, and I pat her head, trying not to mess up her hair.

"My pleasure, girl."

Namjoon's P.O.V.
Min left to get ready for her performance, and I did something I haven't done in a while.. I spoke with Taehyung.
"Irene's the host, she's doing great, huh?"

A nod. "Yeah. It's not the first time. I'm happy she wore the dress I picked."

His eyes were glued to her on stage, announcing the winner for best rookie girl group of the year.
"It is a very nice dress."

"What did you want to say, hyung?"

Was it that obvious? Yet, I didn't know what to ask. "I'm sorry I got you worried and upset."

"You got Mimi worried.. So much that she called me. Apologize to her."
He looked away, then back at me.
I don't think I have.. He's right.
"I yelled at our group, I'm not better. I was really mean to Suga hyung."

I never would've wanted him to see me like that, but my partner and I had our ego in the same place: not appearing weak, looking in control, not asking for help in difficult situations. Our Achilles heel.
"Consider yourself lucky to even have gotten a call at all, Tae."
Thinking about the situation, that day, what she said. It must've been desperation. I get why the guys fought now, why my hyung was upset, why him and Min argued.
"But I'm glad you came over."

His eyes widened in surprise. "Really?"

I've had to swallow my pride, A LOT, but yes. "You were there for your friends. How can I be upset? Isn't that what we've been telling people? To be kind and support one another?"

"Yeah.." He looked at the stage filling up with dancers.
"Hyung? Think Mimi and you can help with my comeback?"

As if she'd say no to him. "Of course, I even have a song for you if you'd like?"

"You took time to write one? Really? For me?"

Even better. "You can sing it with Irene noona. It's meant to be a duet, if you're still interested."

"Yes!" Tae's face just lit up.
"I can't wait to hear it!"

Hopefully, he'd love it. For now.. the next performance was one I was sure would be unanimously liked.
SHINee.

They even ended with their comeback title track. It was a stunning show! What I wondered was if she had given them what she bought them on the way here. I'd get to ask her in a handful of minutes.
.
.
.
My Moon walked in, all smiles. "Hey, sorry I took a while. My hair wouldn't cooperate and I almost broke my tights with my nails."

"Almost? You managed to save them?" I pulled up her chair and shared her amusement.
"Call me impressed."

"Right? I got lucky." I loved those sheer tights. They didn't hide her tattoos. I don't know why, but the fiery red of her dress went so well with the black and gray of her ink. That gown had the one shoulder sleeve on her right arm, leaving her left arm completely exposed.

"Very lucky, Beautiful."
It made it easy to lay a kiss on her shoulder, letting my eyes trail down to her forearm, to her rose tattoo.
"Did you give them to my sunbaes?"

Her gaze followed mine. "I have."
Then, met it. "The roses made them happy."

"The five of them?" She picked out every single one.

A nod. "The five roses. Hopefully, he leaves a sign for them. I know Taemin-ssi has been waiting for one." Jonghyun, it's been 10 years already.. No one has forgotten.

"I'm sure there'll be one."
And on this night, in 15°C weather, on the 18th of December 2027.. It snowed in Hong Kong, leaving the thinnest white carpet..