The Best Thing I Ever Did

Past, Present and Future

3 days before MAMA

Mina didn't have to knock twice. The door swung open, and Lisa was there, phone on her hand like she was talking with someone.

"Yeah, yeah.. " She said to the phone. "I'll call you back, Wen." And she ended the call. "Hey-"

That was all it took.

Mina stepped forward and kissed her.

It wasn't gentle. It wasn't careful. It was all the words she couldn't say crashing into one moment. Lisa gasped in surprise, stumbling back a step as Mina followed, hands gripping her hoodie like she needed to make sure Lisa was real. The door hit the frame behing them with a dull sound. Lisa's body reacted before her mind did, hands coming up, arms wrapping around Mina, kissing her back without thinking. Mina tasted like rain and panic and something sharp beneath it all. They moved together, clumsy at first, then instinctively, feet tangling as they crossed into the apartment. Mina kissed her again, but this time harder, like she was afraid if she stopped she'd fall apart. Lisa followed, letting herself be pushed back into the living room, breath shallow, heart racing but not from desire alone, but from worry.

Something was wrong.

Lisa broke the kiss. And create a space, just enough distance to breathe.

She kept her hands on Mina's waist, forehead leaning close, their nose almost touching. Mina's eyes were shiny now, unfocused, chest rising and falling too fast. Lisa lifted one hand and brushed her thumb across Mina's cheek, slow and grounding, wiping away tears she hadn't realized was there.

"Hey," Lisa whispered. Her voice was steady even if her heart wasn't. "Look at me."

Mina tried. But her lips trembled.

Lisa traced her thumb down to Mina's jaw, holding her gently, making sure she stayed. "What happened?" She asked quietly.

Mina swallowed, leaning into her touch like it was the only thing keeping her upright.

"Lisa... " Her voice cracked on the name. "Do you love me?"

Lisa didn't hesitate. She took Mina's hand and kiss the back of it.

"My heart already answered before you asked. I will choose you, everyday, even on the hard ones. You have me in your palm my love."

Mina's breath caught. She nodded once, as if steadying herself with that answer. The gaze turn into a pleading.

"Then..." Her voice wavered. "Who's Jennie?"

The name hung between them. Lisa closed her eyes. Not because she wanted to hide it, but because she didn't expect it to be like this. Not Mina finding it out first, not Mina asking her first. She wanted it to be light. She opened them again and reached for Mina, guiding her gently toward the couch.

"Sit with me," She said softly.

Mina did.

Lisa sat beside her, close enough that their knees touched. Then she finally spoke.

"How did you know?" Lisa asked. But Mina just shaked her head.

"Is that important?"

Lisa also shaked her head.

"Jennie is someone from my past," Lisa said quietly. "Someone I used to love."

Mina's jaw tightened, but she didn't interrupt.

"We were together for a long time," Lisa continued. "Long enough that we planned a future together."

Mina's breath hitched. And Lisa noticed, her voice softened. Mina needed to know everything.