A Hundred Years (Michaeng)

Chapter 8

As My  Wings Unfold, You'll See Me As I Am

Mina sat in a darkened booth in Pantomime, Chaeyoung had called and told her she didn't feel well so Mina sat alone and nursed a drink. She was scanning the crowd looking for a suitably inebriated target to feed when she noticed a light skinned woman walking in her direction. She stood before her,."Are you Mina Myoui, the owner of this establishment?"

Mina nodded and motioned for her to sit down, "Yes, I am ."

Jeongyeon sat down and showed her badge, "Detective Yoo Jeongyeon, FBI. I'd like to ask you a few questions."

Mina waved over a waitress and ordered Jeongyeon a drink, "I will answer as well as I am able, Ms. Yoo."

Jeongyeon began, "This is going to sound strange, but I am investigating reports of vampirism in America."

Mina laughed aloud, "Really? Does the government have nothing better to do than this?"

A drink was set before Jeongyeon, who was laughing herself, "Yeah, I had about the same reaction. This is ridiculous, but I did have a serious question for you. Did you know a woman named Im Nayeon?"

Mina pondered the question, "The name sounds familiar, does she have black hair and fair skin?"

Jeongyeon pulled out her wallet, opened it and handed it to Mina.

"She's the one on the right." The picture was of jeongyeon and another black haired woman holding hands outside of a nightclub.

"Yes, I remember her, but it's been a long time since she's been in here. How is she?"

Jeongyeon took back the wallet and folded it up, "She was murdered a few years ago, we never found who did it. I remember seeing a matchbook to this place on her counter. When was the last time you spoke to her?"

Mina, as she often did, answered with a story, "Perhaps I should start at the beginning."

--Flashback--

Mina walked into Pantomime to speak with Momo about the books when she noticed a sad black haired woman sitting at the bar alone. "Mina, did you need something?" She couldn't remember

"Who is that?"

Momo shrugged, "I don't know, I've never seen her before. Did you need to talk to me about something?"

Mina shook her head, "Not right now, maybe later."

Mina approached the strange woman, "Hi, I've never seen you here before."

She looked up at Mina with sad eyes, she would never forget that look, "This is my first time in Austin, I'm Nayeon."

Mina offered her hand to Nayeon, who shook it, "I'm Mina Myoui, it's a pleasure to meet you."

Nayeon looked at the matchbook on the counter, "So you're the owner?"

Mina nodded, "Yes, this is one of a few nightclubs I own across the country. I'm quite fond of it.

Nayeon returned to her drink, Mina asked, "Is something troubling you? You seem sad."

Nayeon shook her head, "Nothing that someone like you would care about."

Mina put a comforting hand on her shoulder, "If you want to talk, I'll gladly listen."

Nayeon started talking. Talking about her job as a cop, talking about her failing marriage, talking about her love for her daughter, Dahyun, talking about how she had fallen for her partner. She went on and Mina listened, always ready to lend a shoulder if she needed it.