Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Consequences—were something that Im Nayeon never explicitly understood.

Not especially when there was little of anything that could possibly punish her in place of her parents, due to her family’s social status. In fact, perhaps the tragedy of what made Im Nayeon — the Im Nayeon that everyone now infamously knew about—was the fact that even her family lacked the emotional care and desire to discipline her.

They were from the chaebol old money of course. There was no need for them to do such a thing, not when all of their whims and fancies were currently and massively entertained implicitly and explicitly by both their country and their government.

And so Im Nayeon learnt from a very young age that one, her parent heck cared about her well-being, even if she was to create some kind of massive disturbance that would end up ruining their reputation. And two, that money and status could always help her cover things up.

Naturally, none of these were any good characteristics to learn, but when one’s parents were either a workaholic or a socialite and could care less about their children other than having them help elevate their already pristine status, there was little things apart from themselves that these parents cared about.

The first time that she had tested that out had been in middle school.

Like all rich girls that had a certain charisma and gravitas to them, a slight prank that she had pulled purposefully on one of the younger girls had gone a little too far.

Before she knew it, both their parents were called into the principal’s office, with her sitting stubbornly at the edge of her seat, brows furrowed into an intense frown and lips trembling in a little pout.

She had been all but ready to protest her innocence, hoping that at least that would allow for her parents to glance at her in some way other than nonchalance.

Instead, she was met with her first lesson about the cruel world that was of many more to come.

“How much to get this over with?” Her father had hiked up his sleeve as she stared at the ground, ears red with mortification as he pursed his lips, her mother sighing soundlessly next to her as though being called here was too much of a bother.

“I was taken out of my afternoon book club just for this. The girl is fine, and my daughter apologized. So what else do you want?” Her mother’s eyes narrowed sharply, clawed fingers anchored upon her shoulder neither in a show of support nor a threat—just nonchalance as she lifted her fingers off her shoulders as soon as they had touched down. Her brow—so like Nayeon’s in features furrowing deeply as she stared at her newly manicured nails with an edge of annoyance that Nayeon had gradually understood over the years as her superficial ire.

That was her mother, who could care less about her and her brother or things related to them unless she was like her older brother, who brought trophies back home and had a perfect academic score despite causing an equal amount of terrible trouble of his own. To her, things like afternoon tea with her book lovers and bingo were much more fun and relatable to her than to actually make the effort to understand her children, who were nothing more than a mere piece of furniture who could walk and talk and occasionally bring pride and prestige to their house.

Sure, she was no fool, and Nayeon knew that her mother was an intelligent woman all on her own (she did own her own businesses and there were a few rumours that she had heard during her debut in high society that she had learnt the most from her mother, since they seemed to be infamously alike in temperament).

It had almost been an insult to her mother, Nayeon remembered, the downward curl of her mother’s lips in a sneer as she studied her for once face to face.

You have my looks and my face, but not my brains.

Which was why they had left her be like that, all alone—scattered all over the place to do whatever she wanted.

Unlike most chaebol girls who were almost always raised as the cream of the crop, Nayeon was pretty much…allowed to do anything she wanted.

Which was why Yeoreumbyeol, otherwise known as the Summer Stars had been created. It had been done entirely on a stupid whim—a simple bunch of her friends and stupid girls that had banded together to found the biggest and the baddest thing that would have made their parents flipped their shits upon finding out—making a biker gang when they were supposed to be gentle, beautiful well-schooled women.

Her father’s face had twisted into a grimace when he had first seen her in her leather jacket, coupled with her multiple piercings. The dark makeup upon her face accented her eyes as she stared at him with her chin stuck out like a stupid mule as she declared herself as the newest boss of the Summer Stars, a new and upcoming biker gang that she would aim to prosper.

Her brother had tilted his head back as though he couldn’t quite believe her stupidity. Meanwhile her mother took a sip from her champagne glass with her brows raised in an almost amused surprise.

She had expected them to holler at her—at least her father. But to Nayeon’s surprise, he had simply slapped a large wad of bills into her hands and told her to make it prosper as she wished.

She had hated their stuck up attitude so much that she didn’t even bother to check how much her father had given her—not until they had gathered together on their newest bikes for a speedy run.

Then to spite them, she made sure Summer Stars prospered — that happened when they had first got their first criminal strike when they had first broken the rules of speeding on the road.

The ticket felt like a badge of honour for her, especially when they started hearing their name on the streets and rumours of them being monitored by the police force.

Sure, it was for petty crimes and stuff related to that like speeding, pickpocketing, trespassing into areas that they weren’t allowed…and money laundering, their biggest revenue that helped sustain their biker clan.

Of course, it had all started out as a favour to her dad and all. Just to prove her worth and herself to him. Then…they had gotten good at it. And then—orders and requests from her father’s side and her friend’s parents had started coming in…and before long, they were swiftly running the smoothest and quietest money laundering operations beneath the eyes of the police.

Sure, they knew what they were doing, but a little money in their pockets had made the deals sweet enough that the higher ups in the police force zipped their mouths and quiet down as they got their shares, pocketing the slash funds and went on with their job. A few million dollars richer in their retirement funds compared to the rest — who didn’t want that?

They were never going to get punished — no matter what they did. Nayeon had learnt that deep in her core by the fifth year that they ran the clan, that there would never be any consequences.

Even when the police slapped the cuffs onto her wrists for her latest speeding ticket, she had walked into the familiar holding room cells in the police station with the brightest smile, believing that like as always, everything was going to tie over smoothly in light of her parents’ intervention.

Of course, that would have been the case if not for the newest chief of police in town.

Nayeon glared furiously at the judging podium as the judge smacked the gravel down loudly onto the table, eyes narrowed down at her as they read off the list of her speeding offences within the past few months that she had breached.

She had been on probation like she was previously for all of them, but her parents had bailed her out…but this time, a bail hadn’t been put out for her.

Nayeon remembered rattling the doors of the jail cell as she yelled, eyes wide and furious upon learning that her lack of bail had been applied at the request of a certain new Chief Myoui that had recently moved into Seoul from after running as chief inspector in a more remote village in Korea after immigrating for years from Japan.

 It was a bitter pill to taste; Nayeon gritted her teeth as she heard the judge yell for order in the courtroom. All of her friends from the biker gang broke out in a loud cacophony of angry shouts and yells.

Keep them silent. She mouthed to her second in command, Jeongyeon, who stood with her arms crossed at the furthest corner of the courtroom with a grim look upon her face.

Oh they’d make that new chief pay one way or another when she finally got out of her probation, Nayeon fumed to herself. And it wasn’t as if it was going to be a bad probation. The last time they had put her on probation, it had almost seemed like she wouldn’t have a probation at all.

Yeah. It was definitely going to be like that.

“Order!” The court finally ceased its noisy cacophony at another slam of the gravel upon the table, and a single look from Jeongyeon’s sharp eyes rendered the rest of the Summer Stars silent. “Im Nayeon, as you complete your 6 month probation—”

“What?” Nayeon’s eyes narrowed as she turned towards her lawyer beside her. Jihyo simply stared back at her impassively, as though expectant of such final conclusion.

“Jihyo!” Nayeon hissed, reaching over to pinch her friend’s side and Jihyo’s left brow twitched in response to the sudden burst of pain. “They’re not putting me on probation.”

“It’s the best choice you have.”

“What the fuck do you mean best choice, they’ve never done this to me before!”

“Yeah. But see? Some newbie police commissioner isn’t that happy that you’ve evaded the law for so long and gotten off lightly. This was the only thing that I could negotiate.”

“Even with money? The fucker took the money and—”

“Without money.” Jihyo’s eyes glittered slightly as she leaned in close back to answer her. She dropped her voice down low quickly so that the others within the courthouse wouldn’t hear her. “He’s not bribable. Believe me. We’ve tried everything we possibly could to bribe him. But he’s rejected all of them. Something about wanting to uphold the law more so than others because he’s honoured to be in this position despite being an immigrant. And also something about not staining his niece’s reputation since she’s quite a famous figure and all.”

Nayeon’s teeth came together in a harsh click.

Fuck.

“So I’ve got to go through the fucking probation? And wear that anklet thing on top of having someone ensure that I actually go and do probation?”

“Just suck it up for six months.”

“Six months! That’s literally half a year, Jihyo!”

“Makes no difference for you and your girls, doesn’t it? You’ve all been just running around free for years with almost nothing to do. You’re only busy when work comes in.” Nayeon stared at her friend incredulously for a second, trying to think of a retort to sputter back at her friend.

“Don’t. You and I know that you don’t have a retort for that.”

Nayeon deflated instantly.

“Fuck. Fine. I’ll do that fucking probation.” Cold sweat beaded her palms, making them sticky. She gritted her teeth and swiped them against her expensive jeans.

“You’re lucky that you got off that easily, Nayeon. Other people aren’t that lucky.”

“Yeah, well. That’s because their asses don’t have their mommies and daddies to help them…” Nayeon trailed off and narrowed her eyes slightly. She turned her eyes back towards the judge, who had pulled himself upright to stare straight down at her impassively.

“So…they’re punishing me, because my parents have been allowing me to fuck up publicly for a long time?” It was an incredulous idea and an incredulous assumption that she was making, but Jihyo pursed her lips lightly, tilting her head, giving Nayeon a reluctant nod.

“You could say that. Yeah.”

“Shit.”

“Shit does sound about right. You’re in deep waters and I’m actually kinda glad that you know that now.” Jihyo raised her brow and stood to her feet, gathering her documents after the judge dismissed them all—the words exactly of what her probation was having clearly gone over Nayeon’s ears entirely as she tried to digest what was currently happening to her.

This wasn’t happening.

No, this couldn’t be happening.

Nayeon felt her throat dry. Staring down at the sentencing set down before her on the table, her fingers scratched against the hard wood of the mahogany table.

“…” She watched her parents rose from their seats as soon as the court was dismissed. They brushed down on their suit (and dress for her mother) before slipping out of the door, as though having completely nothing to do with her—like she wasn’t even their daughter.

Nayeon snarled to herself and banged a fist against the table. She noticed the warden beside her startle.

“..Sorry.” She dipped her head quickly as the warden frowned. Her teeth gritted once more under her breath as the warden nodded, bending down quickly to finally clip on that humiliating anklet onto her feet.

This—was humiliating.

There was literally no way that she could believe this was happening.

Sentenced to working at a rehabilitation center for the disabled? What were they trying to do?

Kill her? She had a severe lack of patience, everyone knew that. There was a reason why people were scared of her, proving the spread-out rumour about her terrible temperament amongst others were true.

Nayeon groaned lightly to herself; her hand swiping against her eyes as she flopped back onto the seat she was sitting on, hearing the metal of the cuffs click resoundingly upon her feet once more.

She couldn’t believe that she was finally paying the price for a multitude of her actions. For more than a year or two she’d gotten away scot free with her parents bribing and being protected by their prominent social status.

But now—she was nothing but a liability.

Cover-ups no longer worked with the new police commissioner in town. The one that didn’t understand that bribing was necessarily done around here to keep a balanced peace.

Nayeon wanted to burst into tears.

This was the first time that she had ever gotten a taste of consequences without the protection of her rich and mighty parents.

The scathing look from her brother and the impassive look on her father—the Vice Minister of National Defense was all it took for her to grasp at her hair the moment they walked out of the room. She fought the urge to suddenly cry.

Was she being abandoned? Over a fucking 6-month probation to being confined in a home for the disabled to learn patience and how to care for others?

She didn’t even know how to cook herself. How the fuck were they going to expect her to be able to do something as complicated as helping to take care of the disabled?

Nayeon rose to her feet with a groan, the weight of her actions finally crashing down upon her like a guillotine to her neck, making her feel lost and helpless all at the same time.

“Bye Mina! Be safe! And we finally did it! Congratulations to us on the debut of Misamo! Finally!” Sana cheered and whooped, playfully patting Momo on the butt. Mina laughed at the antics of her two close friends and group members as they descended the steps of the bus that had brought her to the front of her family home.

“Stop that. We aren’t that rookie and you know that.” Momo laughed and shook her head. Sana stuck out her tongue playfully and darted back into the care. “You two be safe and take care of yourselves too!” Shouldering her bag quickly over her shoulder, Mina watched the van drive away with almost longing eyes, before turning and unlocking the front gate of the landed property before her.

Technically, they weren’t considered rookies with all the collaborations—Misamo was an extension of the original group that they were in after all.

But they had definitely worked their asses off to getting where they currently were, even if their popularity did stem from their original group and group members that had actively tried to promote them to others on their impending subunit debut.

“Congratulations, sweetheart.” The warm, gentle voice filled her ears familiarly. Mina turned around, smiling up at the image of her mother standing by the door. Her fingers reached forth for a gentle hug, making her mother chuckled.

Quickly, a pout formed upon her lips almost seeming like a pampered and whiny child as she bent down and splayed herself in a quick hug over her mother, burying her nose into her mother’s comforting yet familiar scent.

It had been a long time since her parents came to her landed property home to stay with her, Mina pouted once more at the thought. She released her mother from her bear hug when she saw her father grinning at her.

“No! Don’t! Don’t do it!” Mina squealed out loud seeing her father casually did the point dance of Misamo’s latest song. “Dad!”

“What? Can’t I support my precious daughter’s debut? We should film that thing…what’s that tiki thing again? Tiki Toki?”

“Tiktok.” Mina corrected him and laughed softly before planting a kiss upon her father’s leathery cheek. “And we don’t have to do that. We’re all going on a vacation tomorrow and I’d really rather just rest and laze around with you all. I’ve missed you two so much after all. I can’t believe it’s been five years since we’ve last seen each other!” The familiar smell of miso and udon filled her nostrils as she wandered towards the kitchen. “Did you cook miso?”

Her mouth watered at the thought of tasting her mother’s familiar home cooked food.

“No, Mom. Tell me you didn’t!”

“I couldn’t miss up on the opportunity to prepare some of your favourites for you.” The older woman chided softly, stroking the side of Mina’s face almost affectionately as she drank in the sight of her daughter, as though trying to imprint the memory of her daughter’s face in her mind.

Wait.

Imprint?

Imprint her face in her mind? Why…why did she think that?

“Mina.” Her eyes flicked up to the familiar visage of her mother’s gentle but sad face.

“Please don’t say it. Please don’t.” Mina’s mother smiled almost bitterly. Sometimes, it was an ill-fate, being someone as smart as her own daughter was.

“It’s time for you to wake up.”

Reality hit her right in the face in a blur of beeps and machines frantically going off like multiple sirens.

And footsteps.

Lots of footsteps that she didn’t know or recognize.

Her mouth felt dry—there was something…something stuck down in it, Mina thought frantically to herself, fingers clawing down her throat as she gagged and gurgled, struggling to breath with the tube dashed down deep into her throat and mouth.

“Mina? Mina, you need to calm down.” Her eyes flicked, taking in the women and men in blue scrubs and shining unfamiliar beams of light into her face.

A soundless shriek pulls from her lips; she swatted at them, terrified by the overwhelming influx of stimuli of the skyrocketed heart rate machine next to her.

“She’s not calming down. It’s not the pain. She’s going into a panic attack. I think the intubation was a little too traumatic for her to wake up to—”

Her chest wheezed.

Why was her chest wheezing? And why…why did she not feel her legs?

Oh god.

What was happening? Where was her mother? And her father?

They had been…had been…doing something.

Her brows knit together and her fingers slowly stopped clawing on the tube in her mouth. A series of wild gagging and choking bursting from her lips the moment they removed the intubation tube from her mouth.

Air rushed into her lungs instantly; the wheeze of the tracheostomy even more horrifying in her ears as she opened her eyes wide and stared around her, trying to absorb in almost everything to the best of her ability.

What was she doing here?

Why was she—

A bolt of pain shot through her mind at the thought, as though rejecting the very notion of recollecting what had happened, even with it being a need to help her properly calm down.

“Deep breaths, Mina. Deep breaths.” Slowly, the dramatic wheezing stopped.

She sounded less like a wheezing old lady with slow, solid breaths that minutely filled her lungs, even if it sounded strange in moments to hear the air whistle down the hole in her neck and down into her lungs.

“Mina, do you recall anything?” A doctor peered over her, looking rather concernedly over her while Mina tried to prop herself up.

“You shouldn’t be doing this. You need to lie down and relax.” The doctor’s fingers glide down her wrapped ribs. “You were in a serious car accident. A serial car accident, more specifically. And…”

Her parents?

Mina’s fingers clutched against the doctor’s sleeve frantically. Where were day? Where were…

“I’m sorry. But you were the only remaining survivor.”

It’s a bad condition that she’s in, she learns, around 10 minutes later.

A really bad one.

Even if she didn’t understand specifically what kind of condition it was.

Her brain had been deprived for more than 10 minutes of oxygen—a clear indicator and sign that she should be dead due to the brain damage and her severe injuries.

And yet…here she was, somehow strangely sustaining the lightest injuries out of all the accident victims they had seen, with some life altering experiences—including that of her brain tissues being damaged.

It was pretty severe, according to the doctors. At least, that was what she was currently looking and reading from the piece of paper that her doctors had written to her.

Somehow, in the process of living and dying without oxygen and being resuscitated, part of her brain had ended up killing itself, turning her completely disabled in certain parts of her brain and body functions.

With the most detrimental of them all being that of her memory.

Apparently, according to their findings, she was…someone that lived with only 10 minutes of memory.

And this was the 160^th time…that she was realizing her own condition.

A strange pang surged through Mina’s chest, her disbelief overriding the horror and gravity of the situation that she felt would have followed as a sense of déjà vu rushed through her.

From the way she unfolded the paper to the way that these words were written…she had come across them before.

This—could be a prank.

She thought to herself, staring down at the doctor’s letter to her. Of all things, they could have chosen to play an awful awful prank on her so that she—

The paper stopped rustling between her fingers, the heavy breathing of an agitated patient within the room suddenly turning ridiculously silent.

The door swung open, and Mina’s eyes track the movement, lips parted as though in a question or yearning for a question to be answered as an unfamiliar nurse gusted into her room, grumbling lightly to herself.

“Oh. You’re…you’re awake?” The nurse stammered hesitantly, as though fearful of something. She barely inched another step closer.

…Was she that terrifying? Mina glanced down at her palms, turning them over and over as she tried to recall the strange event that had happened only moments before.

“…It’s hit her again, hasn’t it?” The nurse finally turned towards the doctor that had come in soon after her, her brows knitted together in worry. “I know that we were speculating about it and all but…” The voices trailed off slightly, leaving her in a complete befuddlement. She stared back down at her hands, then back once more at the female nurse and male doctor that had come in to discuss things about her…condition.

Whatever it was.

Mina shrugged, leaning herself forward slightly just so that she could hang comfortably out of the bed. The sound of crashing glass finally startles the two apart from each other, their faces draining even more at the sight of the crushed glass upon the floor.

They were clearly creeped out by something.

How could they not be?

Everything was almost like a déjà vu with regards to the girl they were taking care of.

From the way she signaled her questions through the way that she woke up from her nape in an almost tranced state—as though everything had been nothing but a terrible dream.

The nurse opened her mouth, the shards of glass still gathered in a towel in her hands as she paused, then hesitated, finally decisively following along the script that they already long knew by heart.

It was the 161th time that they were doing this all over again, after all.

“…Do you need anything?”

Paper and pencils. She’ll definitely signal that once again, the nurse thought to herself, already reaching towards the paper and pens out of sheer habit as Mina opened her mouth briefly in an attempt to speak.

 “Ah. Ahhhh ah ah ahhhhhh.” Mina’s brow furrowed at the scratchy sound of her voice, her fingers half clawing against her throat. She glanced at the nurse a little frantically, fingers reaching a little further this time when they started to tug upon her IV drip.

“Oh! Don’t move too much!” The nurse’s eyes widen; she rushed forward, depositing the pencil, paper and clipboard for writing right onto Mina’s hands. “Your IV!” She fussed, barely watching as Mina looked down the at the paper that the woman had given her, tracing a finger over and over the paper, as though trying to morosely figure out why she couldn’t make a single sound.

The doctor sighed audibly and came round the side of Mina’s bed, lips pursed into a tight, yet understanding smile.

“Mina, can you hear me?” Innocent, yet frightened doe like eyes stared back at him, filling slowly with tears. Her fingers clutched against her throat, as though trying to indicate that she couldn’t talk nor breathe.

“You were given a Tracheostomy in order to help you breathe.” He murmured softly, reaching forward to teach her how to stopper the tracheostomy once more. “ But I guess you no longer need it now, since you’ve recovered enough to remember how to breathe on your own.”

Even if you keep reliving just 10 minutes of your life.

Even. If you had to keep relearning that you had lost the sound of your voice.

And your ability to breathe. Once.

And the deaths of your parents.

A strange surge of sadness swept itself over the doctor; he bowed his head slightly, composing himself swiftly before turning his smiling face back up to Mina so as not to scare her with his sudden display of emotion.

A what?” Mina mouthed, tapping lightly against the tracheostomy against her throat as it wheezed, uncomfortable with the sudden stoppage of air into her lungs with each tap of her fingers against the tracheostomy.

“A Tracheostomy.” The doctor replied helpfully. “You were caught in a serious car accident. A serial car accident.”

Oh. Mina mouthed the words silently, her eyes drifting downwards. She swiped against her eyes with the back of her hand, ignoring the way that it came away wet.

And my parents? She mouthed, fingers clutching onto the handrails of her bed. She leaned forward once more. Where is this place?

“This is the rehabilitation center for disabled individuals. Like…like you.” The doctor winced instantly the moment the words left his lips. His one eye cracked open as he witnessed all colour drain from Mina’s face at his words once more. She patted her bed where her legs were, the startled relief upon her face as she felt all of her limbs (albeit weak) intact.

Whew. She patted her chest, cracking a bright smile that the doctor felt seemed like a crime to witness. He shook his head wryly with a tender little chuckle.

She was taking it way better than he had originally expected.

Most people didn’t accept the idea that they had disabilities after getting into a serious accident as easily as Mina did.

Perhaps it was the subconsciousness of her body telling her that she’d gone through the shock of it all 161 times already…but still.

 She was unbelievable optimistic each time she awoke. And resilient.

“And as for your parents…” The doctor trailed off, clutching his clipboard to his chest in an attempt to comfort himself once more. “They didn’t make it. You were the only one who ended up surviving the car crash.”

Mina’s eyes flicked up to his in a startled display of sudden emotion, the tears that built and the soundless sob that bubbles from her throat.

She’s cried like this—mourned, for 161 times in the exact same way for her parents, all with a soundless and voiceless cry.

The doctor’s eyes flick up towards the clock, hating the way that his eyes trailed after the second hand of the clock, counting under his breath the seconds left to the final minute to the 10 minutes of the short remembrance she was able to have of her life.

Ding.

The numbers flicked, the soft whir as the second hand moved towards the 4 on the bottom right sending a chill through the doctor’s chest. In many ways it paralleled Mina’s new life. He watched the nurse tenderly cleaned the girl’s hands, their eyes watching the moment the life in Mina’s eyes turn bleak…then blank, her lips frozen halfway into a sobbing cry as she mourned for her parents.

2:21. It was time for her body to reset.

A shuddering breath runs through Mina’s body, as though her entire body had been reset once more. Her eyes were confused and her fingers traversed over the foreign object of her tracheostomy once more, the confusion turning familiarly into sheer terror as a hand lashed out to clutch the doctor’s sleeve once more.

Chapter Text

It wasn’t as if Nayeon didn’t try.

Point is—she did.

From whining and crying to her parents, to yelling at her older brother, before finally dissolving into sheer desperation as her parents mention how all the bribes that they’ve sent to the new commissioner having failed in the process.

It’s only 6 months. Time flies fast, Nayeon.

Fuck that!

And fuck them!

Nayeon’s shoe scuffed angrily against the ground as she gritted her teeth. She sniffed slightly, her arms crossed, furious at the fact that no matter what she did, she could no longer change the consequences that were a result of her actions.

“If you could so restrain yourself from spitting at the hospital as you always do to other places that you don’t like, and be on your best behaviour, maybe you might actually be allowed a shorter community service time than the 6 months that you’re currently having to complete.” Nayeon’s eyes narrowed at the familiar voice that she hated so well. A sharp glare sent her best friend’s way as Jihyo slipped from the other side of the car, hurrying over to the other door to open up the door for her boss.

Park Jinyoung was perhaps one of the most atrocious human beings that Nayeon had met.

And that was saying something, considering that she and her family weren’t necessarily angels themselves.

Nayeon made a face, not bothering to even hide her distaste as Park Jinyoung emerged in his classic, supposedly “stylish” getup.

“Please don’t tell me those are plastic pants.”

Park Jinyoung’s eyes grazed hers definitively, equally unimpressed by her derision.

“It’s a fashionable article of clothing. Something that I don’t suppose you’d understand considering Mommy and Daddy dear would simply vomit money out of their pockets so that you can buy whatever Tom Dick and Harry branded fashion that you never wished nor wanted.” He pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose. “So you won’t even begin to understand the genius of such articles of clothes.”

Nayeon watched as Jihyo’s face twisted into a grimace behind Park Jinyoung’s back, her brows raising, trying hard to fight back her urge to laugh in the older man’s face.

“At least I’m not a weirdo.”

“But you are a criminal. Or else you wouldn’t be here. Serving time in the form of helping others for your penance.”

Fuck. He got her.

And he knew it too, from the self-satisfied look upon his face.

Nayeon scowled.

“Bitch.” She muttered under her breath and stared hatefully at Park Jinyoung. He gestured her forward, trudging into the hospital where she was supposed to live, take care and fawn over all the patients there with the hopes and goals of helping them eventually rehabilitate from their injuries and back into society.

Nayeon stuffed her hands into her pockets, slouching over as she tried to make herself smaller as soon as she walked through the door.

With how little people often visited the hospital (whilst most patients were simply going there for treatment, more often than not, a lot more were left behind by their families, who couldn’t cope with treating or helping them any longer), it was all the more conspicuous the moment she came in—especially with how clearly well-dressed she was, even for a delinquent child of a rich, chaebol family.

She was really starting to regret wearing branded clothes into such a place, Nayeon thought to herself with a low groan. She could feel her neck and ears burning with mortification as everyone’s eyes trained in instantaneously upon her with a knowing look, the ankle bracelet latched onto her ankle the tell-tale sign of her criminal activity that had finally landed her in this place, where she least wanted to be.

“Welcome.” The hospital director greeted them genially with a small smile, nervously looking over towards Nayeon, who simply crossed her arms and put on her most disgruntled look upon her face.

There was a nervous pause. A slight frisson of delicate, jumpy laughter from the older man as his eyes darted to and fro from Nayeon and back to Park Jinyoung.

“Don’t mind her. She’s here to serve her term as the most ungrateful person in existence.” Park Jinyoung fished an envelope out of his pocket with a friendly, amiable smile. “But of course, since I work for her parents, here’s a little token of appreciation from us. A little something, for the six months that you’ll have to bear with her.”

“Hey.” Nayeon growled under her breath, eyes narrowing even further.

“She’s definitely not the nicest person on the planet, nor the brightest bulb in any of her classes, but I’m sure you will all get along fine, since all Nayeon wants is to have a sentence reduced.”

The director paused at Park Jinyoung’s words, looking down at the envelope with an almost tight-lipped smile.

“If you wish to make a donation, you can formally make it. We don’t really accept private ones.” The softness of the man’s tone instantly got Nayeon, and the two lawyers rising a little onto their hunches at his words.

Their eyes narrowed, looking very much like a pack of wolves that the Im family had reared—all too intelligently aware.

The head director held up his hands in what almost seemed like a surrender.

“We’ve already decided on who Miss Nayeon will be helping whilst she is here, effectively.” He gestured once more, visibly swallowing as he spared a glance at the glaring Nayeon.”I’m sure Miss Nayeon would be very pleased with her. I mean, she’s not a difficult patient—”

“No physical therapy? I thought all of your patients did physical therapy.” Nayeon scoffed, a scathing look in her eyes. She balanced her weight from one foot to the other, tilting her head at an angle.

Jihyo hissed, violently tugging upon her arm, trying to gesture for Nayeon to not utter a single word more.

Nayeon flashed a small smile towards her lawyer best friend, promptly ignoring her.

“Some of our patients do physical therapy. This girl that you’re assigned to however, her case is…a little different. She was in a car accident, so she does need physical therapy, since she had multiple fractures and injuries in many different places…” He trailed off, nervously bouncing his foot. Nayeon’s eyes narrowed further.

“Sounds to me like you gave me the toughest job in the century.”

“No! No, I swear! I didn’t! She’s really easy to handle.” The head director swallowed nervously. “Because she had a pretty severe trauma to the head during the car crash, and so ever since then…she’d lose her memories of everything and anything regarding the car crash and what she’s learned of recently…within 10 minutes.”

Nayeon paused, stopping in her tracks.

“What?” A surge of horror bloomed in the pits of her stomach. There was no way that was possible. For such a severe condition, she must have been put into a coma. “So she’s in a coma?”

“No.” The head director’s voice only got smaller and smaller. “She’s awake…and conscious. But she forgets everything, including her parents deaths, the car accident and her own injuries within a 10 minutes timespan. She won’t cause any trouble for you, I swear.”

Nayeon felt her footsteps falter for a second, an almost guilty feeling surging up deep within her chest as she caught the head director’s eyes.

Sure, it was sad that the girl had her car accident and couldn’t remember anything.

But surely, it wasn’t as sad as her having to be her servant for the next…god knows…well, six months, give or take.

Nayeon scuffed her feet upon the ground once more. “So…I’m going to be living here? Together? With her?”

“Yes, technically…as her caretaker, you do have quarters right next to her because we do want to facilitate a bond—as much as possible.”

“I’m not doing that.” Nayeon crossed her arms reclining back against the wall. She narrowed her eyes pointedly at Jihyo, who simply sighed as she massaged her head next to her.

“Well, it’s still an o-option…”

“We’ll consider it.” Jihyo barged into the conversation quickly just as Nayeon opened up her mouth to retort back something. Her nails digged hard into her arm, attempting to stop Nayeon from saying anything else.

“If there’s nothing else—”

“Another thing that you’ll have to take note as a new staff in our facilities is that—in the process of fostering your relationships with the patients and building support or rapport for them to continue making progress, staff are not allowed to have any physical nor romantic relationships with their patients—”

“You fuck—” Nayeon caught herself before she could say anything more unpleasant or even worse, allowing a brief, icy smile to spread across her lips. “You actually thought that I’d have fun fucking around with one of your patients?”

“It’s just a warning and precaution, Miss Im. Because we all know that you love breaking the rules, don’t you?”

Nayeon muttered almost angrily to herself.

“It’s not as if there’s anyone minimally attractive here for me to fuck around with anyway.”

Needless to say, Nayeon regretted ever coming to that conclusion completely.

“This is you. Be nice.” Jihyo dug her nails into her arm once more with a hiss, the emphatic words uttered in a harsh warning as Nayeon raised her brows back at her in the best impression of Jihyo having an aneurysm over something she said. Her friend reached over and smashed her hand right into the back of her head. “I said, behave!”

“Ow, fuck! The hell?” Nayeon whipped back around, accidentally pushing open the door to the room slightly ajar. She howled in pain, rubbing the back of her head with a loud huff and both of them froze right in their footsteps at the sound of an unfamiliar, lilting voice filtering nervously from the room and out into the hallway.

“Uhm…is someone there? Hello?”

Nayeon blinked, a split moments of a pause before frantically gesturing at Jihyo, who had been the only person left next to her after everyone else had left them to their devices (the hospital director clearly couldn’t wait to get away, as did Park Jinyoung).

“You go in!”

“No you go in!!” Jihyo hissed back at her, yanking her tie out of Nayeon’s grip,“You’re the one that’s supposed to be the staff that’s taking good care of the patient, remember?”

Nayeon choked, her feet stuttering right where she was. She blinked rapidly, all of a sudden too nervous to face the slightly hapless and forlorn voice on the other side of the door.

She hadn’t even read the fucking manual for staff yet! How the fuck was she supposed to do this?!

“I can’t do this.” She hissed at Jihyo, suddenly realizing how underprepared she truly was for the entire situation, striding off agitatedly away from the door. “I haven’t even read the fucking manual and you’re asking me to go in and help her?”

Jihyo trotted after her frantically when she stormed away towards the canteen, the staff handbook that the hospital director had handed off to her grasped so tightly that it crinkled slightly between her fingers.

Jihyo paused, wincing slightly as Nayeon dragged out the chair before her, its legs screeching against the ground like nails against the chalkboard.

“Can we please not do this—”

“You wanted me to actually do something, right? First step in a new direction of life and all?” She mimicked Park Jinyoung’s little speech mockingly. “ All that…”character building”.”

“That’s my boss you’re mimicking. And being pissed about having to face the consequences of your actions isn’t spelling great character building for you right now.”

Nayeon scowled.

“You can always feel free not to tell him about it to keep your sweet sweet job safe.”

Jihyo narrowed her eyes at the scathing tone in Nayeon’s voice.

“Stop being such a bitch.”

“Stop being such a bitch.” Nayeon mimicked her friend instantly and watched Jihyo’s ears slowly tinted red in what she knew was probably anger. She was being a mean bitch, that Jihyo was right about that…but still, part of her hated that everyone was having such a field day treating this like some kind of possible character development for herself when she was the one suffering for the next six months.

Fuck them all, Nayeon thought to herself, muttering grumpily under her breath.

Quickly, she turned her attention back towards the staff handbook in her hands.

A Comprehensive Guide to Being A Helper in Aengcho Rehabilitation Centre.

Congratulations on passing our comprehensive background checks to be a Helper in the Aengcho Rehabilitation Centre!

As a rehabilitation center that’s focused on the wellbeing of our patients, here are a few basic things that we would like for you to note as our staff.

“No physical nor romantic relationships with the patients?” Jihyo startled from slight daydream at Nayeon’s sudden outburst, the iced coffee that she got nearly spilling all over her hand. She quickly grabbed a tissue dabbing up the light mess all over the table.

“Be quiet!” She hissed, noting the sudden narrowing of eyes from the staff around the cafeteria as Nayeon’s incredulous noises only got louder and louder.

“No, but look at this! They’re saying that no physical nor romantic relationships with patients as if I’d be interested in something like that!” Jihyo felt the corners of her mouth twitch hearing the muttering sounds spread out slowly from the cafeteria, disgruntled and slightly antagonistic at Nayeon’s resounding voice.

“You’ve got to be more careful with what you speak, Nayeon.” The lawyer hissed, almost angrily. “Everyone here is staff, and did you ever think that saying something like that could be insulting all of them all at one shot?”

Nayeon raised her brow at Jihyo’s words, waving her off as she grabbed her friend’s iced coffee and sipped on it delicately.

“ Miss Im?” Both girls jumped in their seats at the cold voice behind them, Nayeon’s fingers gripping tightly onto Jihyo’s arm while taking in a sharp inhale of breath at the same time.

“Fuck. Are you a ghost or something?”

The handler’s lips twitched at her words, somehow caught between being offended by her choice of words yet amused.

“No. Also, we don’t swear in front of our patients. In case you missed that, it’s rule number 31 in the rule book.”

Nayeon stared up at the handler, wondering for a second if the other woman was pulling her leg.

Maybe she thought that since Nayeon didn’t read the handbook that had been literally given to her an entire week before that she could do something to throw her off.

Yeah that had to be it.

“You’re taking over my place as Mina’s handler.” Nayeon’s lips curled at the handler’s response, chuffing lightly as she turned her face away, already keeping a strict adherence to what she had been insistent that she would be like throughout the six months she was going to be working here.

If they were so keen on torturing her with service work to punish her for her mistakes, she’d only be happy to make everyone suffer along with her.

With that happy thought in mind, Nayeon quickly stuffed her hands into her pockets and trotted away behind the handler merrily, completely unaware what was just about to come her way next.

Shit.

Nayeon stared down at the horribly plain outerwear she had to don for hospital work.

“Fuck it.” She could almost hear Jihyo giggling from the outside as soon as her friend saw what the other woman had handed her to wear.

Dress code. The lady had said.

Dress code my ass.

Nayeon stared at the rabbit print almost pajama like clothes that she had to wear in sheer, absolute distaste. A sigh of resignation finally passing through her lips as she pulled her top off, allowing the terribly cute pajamas to wrap around her top half grudgingly.

She didn’t look too bad. That was a comfort, at the very least.

Nayeon groused to herself and slumped out of the changing room, ignoring deliberately the stifled giggles from Jihyo’s lips as the handler handed her a matching headband to wear.

“You have to be fuck–I mean, joking with me.”

“Nope. We’ve found that the lightheartedness and friendliness of such apparel helps in our charges accepting us a little better and faster. You’ll enjoy it. Eventually. Everyone does.”

Not her.

Definitely not her.

She wasn’t the epitome of someone being cute.

She was dashing, charismatic and…and —

“Mrs Han? Did you call for me? ” Nayeon’s eyes widened as a girl drifted in through the doors.

Her voice was familiar–reminiscent of the one that she had ran away from just hours ago, soft…yet lilting.

Cutely lilting.

At least, that was the assessment that Nayeon had come to of her potential charge without seeing her face to face.

Her breath hitched in her chest and she blinked, a sudden, very unladylike hiccup bursting from her lips.

The room froze.

Hic!

Nayeon groaned to herself while Jihyo cackled behind her. It was a fact that Nayeon tended to hiccup whilst nervous in front of someone, despite her fierce and loud exterior. However, it was a closely and jealously guarded secret–only because Nayeon wished to portray herself much stronger and imposing than how she truly looked.

Her fingers clasped desperately over her mouth, feeling another hiccup bubble up her throat. And the cutest fuckinggiggle came from the other girl’s throat.

Nayeon’s eyes widened, already feeling the heat in her cheeks as she lost herself in the soft giggles from—her eyes flicked towards the patient chart in her hands that had been handed over to her by Mrs Han previously.

Mina Myoui.

Aged 26.

Cute as a button.

She barely heard the room doors close when Jihyo retreated out of the room, followed by Mrs Han, the silence within the room all too comfortable as the two girls stared at each other, with Mina’s occasional giggle at her stupefied expression filling the space between them.

“Uh…” Nayeon licked her lips, her eyes unfocused as she took in the entire sight of Mina (despite being in her hospital clothes). “Sorry. Hiccups.” Quickly, she pretended to brush it all off, the rough exhale the only thing that showcased her sudden spike of anxiety in front of this…this beautiful specimen of a woman.

Why did no one tell her that her patient could actually be so hot?

“I kinda thought that you’d be an old lady or something like that.” She gestured frantically at Mina, watching wide-eyed as the slender girl flitted across the room to settle comfortably upon the bed, watching her with soft dark eyes.

She looked like an angel that had simply descended from the heavens to simply look at her, Nayeon thought dizzily to herself. All information with regards to Mina’s ailments and needs for recuperation flung to the back of her mind.

“Uh. Coffee. Tea? Anything?” She scrambled towards the kitchen within the room, nearly knocking over the cups that had been neatly stacked in a corner. Nayeon yelped, flinging out her arms to catch them just before they hit the ground.

“It’s okay. Water will do just fine.”

God even her voice was magical, Nayeon groaned internally to herself.

How the hell was she so pretty?

She watched Mina shifted in her seat upon the bed, legs half dangling off the edge as she adjusted herself, as though trying to find the perfect spot that she had wanted to sit upon.

“Are you uncomfortable? Do I…Do I need to change the bedsheets for you?” Nayeon slid over from the kitchen counter towards Mina. She watched her carefully, almost tempted to reach over to help the other girl pull her hair away from her face. Mina paused, eyes flicking up towards her in the gentlest smile upon her pink lips.

“No, it’s alright. I’m just…being a little picky with where I want to sit.” A faint chuckle bubbled from Mina’s lips sheepishly. “Because I spend a long time in this area and place.” She paused. “I think.”

The last two words sounded almost hollow to Nayeon, and her brow knitted instantly at the thought, the uncomfortable feeling of a slight niggling ache in her chest making her clear her throat. She quickly dragged a chair over and settled down right next to the bed.

“I’m Nayeon.” After more than five minutes of trying to get over the striking beauty of the girl before her, Nayeon settled down in her seat. She pursed her lips slightly, her fingers laced together a little nervously as she watched Mina lean forward with almost no regard for her own personal space.

“Im Nayeon?”

Nayeon flushed, her eyes widening slightly and she felt the tips of her ears heat at the sound of her own name from Mina’s lips.

“Well…I mean, it could definitely be seen that way, and you’re right that my last name is Im and all…” She mumbled under her breath, eyes flicking up nervously like a schoolgirl that was starstruck with her crush.

“Oh…so it’s not Im?”

“No! I mean, it’s Im but, I kinda said I’m Nayeon–ah, fuck. Shit.” The recollection that she wasn’t supposed to swear in front of a patient comes a little too late. She squeezed her eyes shut, feeling her cheeks flush even deeper at the sight of a soft smile quirking up the corners of Mina’s lips.

Was this a dream? It felt kind of like a dream.

Here she was, supposedly punished for running a mere red light on her bike—only to find the prettiest girl that she had ever seen in her entire life, and digesting that she’d actually spend the next six months of her life practically living and serving Mina.

Or rather, attending to her present needs.

At first, that had sounded like the worst thing possible, at least until she saw her (well, what could she say except that she was kinda superficial like that? It wasn’t her fault that Mina was her ideal type…)

Nayeon’s thoughts trailed off slightly as she sucked in a deep breath, fidgeting in her seat as she leaned forward cutely, almost appealing to the other girl in an effort to rehash any prior impressions Mina had of her.

“I think we’re also the same age.” She beamed, a small laugh bubbling from her lips as she curled up in her chair, waiting for Mina to introduce herself as well.

If Jihyo had been here and not out of the door, her mouth would have dropped at the difference between the current Nayeon and the surly one that she knew was deliberately being uncooperative in the morning.

“It’s fine to curse in front of me.” Mina’s fingers scooted almost nervously across the bed spreads, seeking for her notebook like a safety blanket that she couldn’t find. “Uhm…could you help me get something to write on? Anything? And a pen?”

A flicker of confusion spread itself over Nayeon’s face.

Why did she need paper and pen for a verbal introduction?

“Uh…well, okay. Sure. Give me a second.” Nayeon squinted, untucking herself from the comfortable seated position that she was in to swiftly grab onto a pen at the nearest kitchen counter.

Thankfully, there was a piece of paper as well, Nayeon thought to herself, rather pleased at the ease of which that she could finish her first task well.

“Got it!” She pranced towards Mina with a sing-song voice, an obvious skip in her step as she waved the piece of paper before Mina happily.

Mina smiled softly at her newest caretaker, the slight niggle of worry gnawing deep in her stomach as she accepted the piece of paper from Nayeon. Her eyes flickered slightly when she read the contents written upon it.

She didn’t even know whoever this happy go lucky girl with a pirate’s mouth was–Mina chewed upon her bottom lip almost nervously, her sudden unease slightly reduced at the sight of her familiar handwriting upon the piece of paper.

New caretaker to come today!!

The words were written prettily, in cursive, circled with a pink highlighter right next to the prim and proper accent of Mrs Han’s beautiful words.

Oh.

So this was the new caretaker.

And she was supposed to be excited about it.

It was strange, having it been almost barely a week since she had slowly tried to accustomed to her new habitat and new…disability.

It wasn’t a disability per say, Mina tried to convince herself, hating the pit that opened up in her belly at the thought.

It was just that…she was forgetful of things.

Her throat bobbed nervously at the thought.

“What…uhm…what did you say your name was again?” It had been nice meeting Nayeon, Mina thought almost regretfully to herself as she watched the time tick down upon her watch slowly towards the ten-minute mark.

Despite her potty mouth, Nayeon seemed to be a thoughtful and nice girl.

Even if Mrs Han didn’t seem to like her that much.

Mina never really questioned why she could remember Mrs Han so well.

It wasn’t all fun and rainbows in the beginning–it had been a long while before she could finally get herself to actuallyrecall the names of some of her handlers. And with great effort on her part too.

A new caretaker meant committing a new bout of time to learn who this Im Nayeon was.

“Im Nayeon. Or you can just call me Nayeonnie!”

Already, Mina was feeling quite sad for the cheerful girl.

Imagine her face when she realizes that you can remember her, the devil in her head sniggered.

Poor Mina, poor new caretaker. Insignificant to the point that Mina can’t even remember her name.

Im Nayeon. She printed the girl’s name with her pencil in gentle cursive, tenderly smoothing her fingers over Nayeon’s name repeatedly as though wishing to commit it to memory.

Nayeon’s eyes flicker slightly as she watched Mina pen down her name–then stroke the letters of it tenderly.

Excitement bubbled in her belly. Did that mean that Mina had a good impression of her? Was that the reason why she was so cute and so affectionate with her name? And writing it down on a piece of paper too? Nayeon nearly swooned at the very thought.

“I’m sure you probably know by now what you have to deal with when taking care of me, right? I’m not your onlypatient that you need to take care of.”

“Nonsense! They only gave me you to handle! Believe me!” Nayeon darted over instantly, grasping Mina’s hands in her haste, making Mina surprise a little squeak.

“So…so we’re only going to be the ones to see each other?” Mina’s head tilted slightly in confused. “But…why?” There had to be some reason to why they wanted such a nice girl like Nayeon to take care of her. Was it the patience?

Maybe Nayeon had qualities she didn’t know yet that made her the best fit for her, Mina thought grandly to herself. The shock of Nayeon grasping her fingers easing smoothly into slight tenderness as she beamed up at Nayeon’s smiling face.

“Why are you so happy?” The chuckle fell from her lips, unbidden. Despite it being a short while since they had known each other (give or take five minutes or so), Mina couldn’t help but feel close to Nayeon for a strange reason.

Perhaps it was the other girl’s amiability.

Or that she wasn’t being picky and upset about her disability, despite probably having been briefed about it.

It was really…really strange.

Talking with Nayeon made her feel as though time itself had stopped, no matter how brief it was.

Mina leaned in slightly, watching with a soft smile seeing Nayeon only get more and more animated. Her fingers dropping away from hers as she tucked herself back onto her seat with the widest smile cracked upon her face.

“You’re cute.” Mina blurted out unintentionally, a sudden flush rushing to her cheeks and she quickly clasped her hands over her mouth and ducked her head, embarrassed by the sudden words that had found its way unintentionally out of her lips. “I…I was just thinking that only! I didn’t mean…didn’t mean to blurt my thoughts out aloud.” Mina stammered, watching carefully through her lashes if Nayeon reacted in any way coldly or adversely towards her sudden compliment.

Her voice quivered for a moment, clearly nervous as she watched Nayeon’s eyes widen, then turn completely round, obviously stunned by her sudden exclamation.

“You think that I’m cute?” Nayeon pointed at herself almost incredulously, wondering if she should find such a compliment offensive or wonderful, considering her desire to be seen as a tough and capable woman instead of cute to others.

It barely took her a minute to decide if being complimented as cute by Mina was an insult or not.

It wasn’t.

Because it was Mina, Nayeon thought almost belligerently to herself. And there was no way it could be an insult if it was from Mina.

Nayeon had barely registered the fact that she had only met Mina just—minutes before. Their camaraderie and chemistry was far too apparent that it made everything they did seem as though that they had…done it together or known each other for a long time.

Mina blushed visibly under Nayeon’s gaze, wringing her hands together slightly before giving the other girl a soft but nervous laugh.

“I’m not insulted that you said that I’m cute.” Nayeon pouted right at Mina, her eyes sparkling with happiness. “In fact, I’m glad that you think that I’m cute, because I think that you’re cute too.

The Nayeon that Jihyo had gone back to out of sheer worry that she would do something absolutely wrong was different from the Nayeon that Jihyo had born witness to just hours before.

Who the fuck was this person and what did they do to Nayeon? Jihyo thought incredulously to herself as she watched Nayeon through the one-way window laugh loudly at something that Mina said. Her friend threw her head back gleefully and the chair tilted dangerously, the soft exclamation from Mina following quickly as the other girl reached out to steady her.

“It won’t be long now.” Jihyo startled, jumping slightly as Mrs Han’s voice murmured coldly being her. (Did she detect a twinge of sorrow right there?) “Mina has always been a good girl.” The older woman folded her hands stiffly. “She’s nice, and kind, and beautiful. Everyone always likes her in the beginning. But they’ve all left within ten minutes.”

The clock ticked behind them, as though to remind them of the trial of fire that Nayeon had yet to go through.

Jihyo paused, watching the light in her friend’s eyes glitter merrily, a sinking pit in her stomach when the clock struck twelve.

Ten minutes since they’d first met Myoui Mina.

And she already hated how she knew that the light of joy would instantly disappear from Nayeon’s eyes.

Chapter Text

The toll of the bell for lunch resounded loudly throughout the room just as Nayeon tilted her head up towards the screen in the far corner. A glimpse of surprise etched in her features the moment she watched instructions flash upon the screen.

“Oh look!” Her fingers tapped against the screen cluelessly, having completely forgotten about her staff handbook in her enjoyment from talking with Mina ceaselessly. “Is it already twelve? I thought we were talking for like…five minutes or so.”

Of course, that was the accurate amount of time that they had actually been talking–not that Mina nor Nayeon herself knew it. They had bonded together so quickly that it had seemed simply natural to assume that they had known each other well before.

They just…in the simplest of all terms, clicked.

“Wanna go for lunch?” Nayeon turned back cheerily; she flounced happily towards Mina, grasping her hands gently, trying to tug Mina off the bed.

A frightened squeak answered her instead; the sharp sting of pain from Mina’s nails gouging against the flesh of her palms unintentionally and she frantically wrenched herself away from Nayeon’s grasp.

Did she do something wrong?

That was the first thought that popped up in Nayeon’s head instantly as she froze right where she was. She blinked at Mina’s frightened gasps and gestures as the other girl curled into herself on the bed, desperately trying to shy away from her touch each time she tried to reach over with her hands.

“I…I’m not going to hurt you.” The shock from Mina’s sudden reaction turns into tentativeness—her kind nature that had been hidden away for so long re-surfacing in the wake of possibly obtaining a new friend that she so desired to have and pleasure.

Nayeon licked her lips, blinking rapidly.

“I—I won’t touch you if that’s what you want.” Nayeon eyed the other girl hopefully, a slight tremor in her voice. She swallowed nervously. “I didn’t mean to scare you. If that’s what made you jump just now. From me.”

Still, her youth made her more impulsive than she liked to think, especially when they had both gotten along so so well, just minutes before.

“W-Who…who are you?”

Confusion married Nayeon’s face at Mina’s words almost instantly. Her face turned almost crestfallen as soon as the other girl started hyperventilating in her presence.

“I…we introduced ourselves to each other moments before.” By now, Nayeon was almost horrifically confused by this sudden turn of events, eyes darting frantically to the door through the one-way window before turning back towards Mina. Her positive feelings for the other girl made her stop in her tracks in a situation where she would otherwise preferto suddenly flee. “You’re…creeping me out.”

“I’m…I’m creeping you out?” Mina’s face crumpled into a terrified yet forlorn look, and Nayeon felt a sickening pang in her stomach as she watched the other girl stare haplessly at her hands and then back at her. She reached over to try and grab that teeny piece of paper that she had been scribbling upon moments before.

“Here. Let me help you.” Nayeon murmured, bending down gently to pick the crumpled piece of paper up between her fingers, smoothening it out in the process.

New Caretaker!

The words were written in cursive, emboldened and with a cheeky little wink of a cute face drawn in that almost made the corners of Nayeon’s lips curve into a smile.

If not…if not for the fact that currently—Mina seemed to be failing to remember her. There was something about her condition that she had read before coming to the centre she couldn’t remember that much, Nayeon chewed upon her bottom lip.

Shit. A sudden regret stirred up her stomach for only giving the handbook a brief glance in favour of spending some quality time with her gang and bike, both of which were hobbies and interests that she wasn’t going to be able to play around with, especially in the six months to come.

There was just going to be no time to bike around with her gang, Nayeon knew that much. But by now, she was already regretting that decision of hers.

Oh. Why did she go biking with her friends instead of reading the instruction manuals and information about her patient?

Myoui Mina, 26 years old.

That was literally the only thing that she could remember. And the fact that she hadn’t even been able to put such a beautiful face to the name was a travesty all in itself, especially after she found out how beautiful and wonderful Mina was in that few minutes that they had interacted with each other.

Nayeon didn’t want to be forgotten.

No, she didn’t even know if Mina really had forgotten her per se—Nayeon tried to convince herself, a slight but brittle smile on the edges of her lips.

Perhaps, she hadn’t been impressionable enough to Mina.

“Is this what you were looking for?” She mumbled gently, handing the slip of paper over to Mina carefully as the other girl blinked up at her. She looked down briefly at the paper with a mix of sheer confusion, deep perplexity and tentativeness.

“Me?” It was almost as though Nayeon could understand the question right in Mina’s eyes. A faint chuckle bubbled from her throat at how cute the other girl had looked with the slightly confused pout on her lips. “Ah. I’m Im Nayeon.”

Your new caretaker.

Her mouth parted, the words stopping slightly, feeling her cheeks tinted pink.

Many would know that young men and women that were often delegated to work here in this centre as part time workers or even volunteers weren’t voluntarily doing their work.

It wasn’t really a hush-hush thing either, the news coverage behind her minor crimes and subsequent trial and sentencing having sent a buzz all throughout Korea. But part of her didn’t really want Mina to know that she had been sent here to take care of her all because of a misdemeanour.

She wanted—no, she yearned to impress Mina. Someway and somehow.

As far-fetched as the entire thing actually sounded, Nayeon managed to say, “I’m your friend.”

Mina’s brows furrowed slightly once more at her words, the look of severe contemplation taking over her pretty features as she stared intensely once more at the name on the piece of paper. Im Nayeon —your new caretaker.

Her selective mutism was activated in light of an unfamiliar person and figure that was not the Mrs Han that she had been expecting. It had taken Mina weeks to even minimally get close to Mrs Han, and then to remember her.

And then now…all of it was for nothing.

Mina’s lips turned down slightly at the thought. Her teeth nibbled lightly against her bottom lips and then she slowly nodded, finally shifting her weight upon the bed. It was an improvement from her jerking away reflexively when Nayeon had first touched her really, but still wary enough to send her halting once again in her footsteps.

“Nayeon, get out of there.” A light tsk of annoyance burst through Nayeon’s teeth as the familiar sound of Jihyo’s voice filtered through the speakers.

“I don’t—“

“Tell her that if she doesn’t come out now, I have ways to sit her ass on probation and jail, rather than sitting down here with the first love she’s fallen for at first sight in her entire life.” Nayeon flushed at Park Jinyoung’s insinuation, opening her mouth almost instantly to rebut his words once more, only to be silenced by the terrified whimper from Mina’s mouth.

“It’s okay. They’re…They’re my friends.” The bodiless sounds must have been scaring her, Nayeon thought quickly to herself. Annoyed, she shot Jihyo and Park Jinyoung a sharp glare behind the glass.

“Did she just fucking glare at me for making Mina scared?” Jihyo’s incredulous voice bubbled out in the one-way room as they all stared at how gentle Nayeon was towards Mina.

“She did.” Park Jinyoung studied his nails, admiring his new fashion statement for a hot moment before staring back at his young protégé, whose finger was rapidly stabbing against the microphone button, trying to gather her thoughts once more to yell at her best friend.

“You best not do that.” He commented, successfully drawing Jihyo’s attention. “It’s already bad enough that we’ve caused Myoui Mina enough trauma. They usually don’t speak using the speakers here.” Even his voice softened slightly as he cast his eyes upon the girl currently huddled up in bed. “She doesn’t remember anyone, and doesn’t remember much of anything from the accident. Sometimes she doesn’t even remember that she’s been in an accident on a bad day.” He paused. “Consistency is something that she should have in order to heal, which was why when they brought up using Nayeon in the first place, I immediately rejected that notion.” Park Jinyoung all but crossed his arms, his eyes narrowed sharply.

“Besides, I doubt that Police Commissioner Myoui would be very happy to learn that his only surviving niece is under the current care of someone that he had personally punished and made sure to punish.”

“You’re fucking with me–”

“Language.” Park Jinyoung sniffed, as though miffing at Jihyo’s choice of words. “Of course, he doesn’t know that our dear Nayeon is taking care of Mina, or we’d have a fucking riot on our hands.”

“You’re cursing too.”

“That’s because I’m an adult.”

“Excuse–”

“A much older adult.”

Jihyo paused, deciding not to argue with her mentor, especially when he was in one of his particular moods where everything he said was practically right, and everyone else– as sad as it was, was disastrously wrong.

“Fine. Whatever turns the plug in your ass, I guess.” She muttered under her breath, her fingers tapping against the solid wood of the table beneath her fingers. She watched Mina with a quiet surprise and contemplation. “You know…I’ve never seen her act so gently with any other people.”

“That’s because she hasn’t met the right person yet.” Park Jinyoung cleaned his pocket watch meticulously. “One of the reasons why I had arranged for Mina to be taken care of by Nayeon. Mina’s kind, and the perfect foil to Im Nayeon. Considering all the profiling that you’ve done and provided me, it truly says she’s the exact type that Nayeon likes. So, here’s to hoping that Myoui Mina can help change Im Nayeon for the better, whilst learning how to recuperate and recover.”

“Tall orders.”

“Hopeful orders. There’s a significant difference.”

“You’re an ass sometimes, you know that right?” Jihyo scowled at her mentor, her eyes narrowed watching her friend’s shoulders slump in distress as she moved towards the door. She could tell Nayeon’s quelled and suppressed instincts to flee such a terrifying and awkward situation finally kicked in, no matter how belated it was.

“And I gladly live up to that name.”

“Yeah. Now I’m the one that has to do damage control.” Jihyo muttered under her breath, squeezing her eyes shut in a tiny little prayer before catching Nayeon right at the door.

As it turns out, she was.

Nayeon had bulldozed her way nearly through the door, nearly crashing headfirst into Jihyo. One was breathless–from trying to run to catch Nayeon, and the other, breathless from the sobs that were about to wrack her frame.

“...Are you fucking crying?” The look on Jihyo’s face was almost incredulous.

Nayeon never cried.

Even when her parents refused to believe in her or pay her attention back when they were children, this best friend of hers was as strong-headed as hell. She would hold tears back rather than letting them simply flood down her face.

“I’m not!” Nayeon muttered wetly, swiping at her eyes with the back of her free hand. “I’m just…she made a good impression on me. And I wanted to be remembered.”

Jihyo blinked, suddenly remembering her mentor’s words about having chosen Mina because she was exactly Nayeon’s type.

Now that was kinda creepy. She placed a hand around the small of Nayeon’s back with a faint sigh.

“You’ve barely known her for five minutes and you’re already crying for her? That’s such a good desire of yours to want to be remembered by her.” Jihyo nudged Nayeon with an awkward laugh. She jumped slightly seeing Nayeon fiercely glared back at her.

“Listen, she’s great, okay? And she’s really nice too. In such a short amount of time that we interacted, she liked me for who I was!”

“You’re sounding…kinda fanatic at this point.”

“I just want a friend. Is that so bad?” Nayeon snapped, having fully lost her temper with her best friend at this point.

“And we’re not…friends? Or best friends?” Jihyo hated the way that the lump crept up in her throat at Nayeon’s words. They’d been friends for almost their entire lives, and she had never known that this Im Nayeon…had desired friends so much.

What kind of friend was she exactly? The lawyer’s eyes flickered down to the ground momentarily at the thought.

“No, w—we’re friends. I just…you know I’ve just been wanting a slight change of pace. A different friend from all the strong tough kids I know and have interacted around.” A half smile finally graced Nayeon’s lips, her eyes softening at the thought of her friends. “It’s just…I kinda do want someone to protect me. You’ve all been protecting me all this while after all.”

Jeongyeon had been fined once because she decided to take the blame for something she had done a few years ago. Another one of her friends had done the same when they had last got in trouble with the law, allowing her to remain as scot-free as she was until the past caught up with her in a splendid flash and bang.

“You like her, don’t you?” A wry smile twisted Jihyo’s lips. “I’m not your best friend for nothing, you know. You can’t hide shit from me.” She cackled softly at the thought. “The moment you walked in there, it was love at first sight. I could literally see it. No one else made you brighten that way, even if you’d just seen her for a few minutes.”

Nayeon blushed heavily at Jihyo’s words.“ Hmm yeah, I mean…maybe. Maybe.”

“Maybe is you trying to slow down and deceive yourself.” Jihyo snorted. “Anyway. You do know that as caretakers you can’t have a relationship with her, right?”

Nayeon was giving a dark, hard look for a minute. Then with a small hesitating groan, she nodded her head.” I guess that’s why they had that rule, huh?” It was so ironic. It was just barely a few hours ago that she had been ridiculing the idea of ever falling for a patient in the centre, only to walk through the door and find her heart pounding at the sight of one.

“Yeah. I guess so. Not that much of a ridiculous rule anymore, huh?” Jihyo patted Nayeon’s back lightly as they made their way back towards the cafeteria.

“Also, here. I know you didn’t read this properly.” Nayeon’s eyes raised in surprise when Jihyo handed a thick manila folder. “Think of it as some kind of present. From me to you. It’s Myoui Mina’s file details. Even more comprehensive than the one that I know the hospital gave you. Which you probably didn’t read once again in your rebellious little phase.”

Nayeon laughed awkwardly, scratching the back of her head, her lips breaking out into a sheepish smile.

The paper rustled through her fingers, the scent of old books indicative of how long this file had been compiled and subsequently left to rot amongst other folders instead of being well-loved, cared and protected like she thought Mina should have been.

“Her family was the one who placed her here? To rot?”Anger was the first, instinctive thing to dig into Nayeon’s gut at the thought, her brows furrowed as Jihyo tsked lightly at her.

“Girl, read the folder first before jumping to any assumptive conclusions.”

Nayeon’s eyes flicked down towards the familial relations area, where Jihyo had pointed out to her.

Father, deceased in a car accident.

Mother, deceased in a car accident.

Oh.

Oh.

Nayeon paused, feeling a pang of heartache bubble in her chest at the thought.

“So the same car accident she was found in was the one that took away her parents’ lives?” She questioned, her fingers gently caressing the bright picture of Mina smiling and laughing at the corner of the thick folder.

“Yes. And she didn’t come away undamaged from the car accident either.”

Nayeon’s eyes trailed down, almost unwilling to see the amount of hurt and pain Mina had been put through by the car accident, both physical and emotional.

Broken ribs and legs, a fractured pelvis from the impact of the crash.

Blunt trauma to stomach, was found with a pole in the side of her abdomen, facial and head injuries from the force of the crash causing her head to slam into the car window.

Severe concussion and traumatic brain injury and, as a result, was put into an induced coma for her body to recover.

Nayeon flinched, remembering the faint line of scars that she had seen upon the other girl’s leg in passing. It hadn’t been that obvious then, nor that noticeable to the point that she had thought of it as something significant. Hell, in fact, she had briefly allowed the thought of it being just a scar from a childhood injury to pass through her mind flippantly when they had first met.

“Shit.”

“Shit’s about right, considering the further brain trauma she experienced.”

Nayeon’s eyes widened; Jihyo’s statement briefly caused her to look up at her before turning her attention back towards the words in the document. She read through them voraciously at almost breakneck speed.

Traumatic brain injury resulting in medium to severe memory loss.

Nayeon paused.

She remembered the terrified eyes as soon as she had reached over to touch Mina, the instant reflex to jump and shove at a stranger that she instinctively didn’t recognize.

So was that it? The reason why she was suddenly so afraid of her despite having met her already?

Nayeon stared for a moment at the words on the paper. Her confusion grew as she tried to understand further on how the memory loss linked exactly to what she had experienced with Mina this morning.

Faintly, Jihyo sighed opposite her. She shook her head watching Nayeon try so desperately to connect the two dots of the entire situation together.

“Read further.”

Nayeon stared back at her best friend for a nervous moment. She took a quick, shallow breath before glancing back down at the papers in her hands.

Over time, we’ve observed that there’s a phenomenon that accompanies Mina’s distinct and apparent memory loss.

Unlike usual memory losses that can be seen in patients with traumatic brain injuries, Mina’s memory loss is not associated mainly with long-term memory loss. As of now, her memory loss is triggered every 10 minutes, though, through quality time spent with the patient, we have also discovered that the more the time someone spends with the patient, the more Mina remembers memories of the person that has spent time with her.

It also helps that Mina herself is determined to remember everything that has happened to her, though it took quite a while for us to manage to even establish the habit of writing things down in an event that her memory loss triggers.

There are no triggers for her current condition, the memory loss itself occurs as and when it desires, uncontrolled by even Mina herself.

But with time, our diagnosis of her memory loss and brain damage remains rather optimistic, considering the slow but consistent results of her recalling her regular caretaker, Mrs Han’s name, and the fact that she remembers the key habit of having to write down most, if not all of the recent moments or people that she’s encountered either in a journal, diary or a piece of paper.

“So. Do you kinda get a better picture of what things happened as they did just now?” Jihyo’s voice was soft, yet tentative, unsure of herself. She watched her friend’s nostrils flare slightly, as though trying to register the severity of the condition that her patient was suffering through.

“Is…is she going to forget me?” Nayeon flattened her hands upon the table, her eyes narrowed sharply, demanding clarification of the situation.

“In short, yes. That’s what happened.”

“So that’s why she was so scared?”

“That was why she was writing your name down on that piece of paper. And you—being the dummy that you are, didn’t read all the details of her file that they gave you. That’s why you made that mistake and got flustered.”

Nayeon stared at her hands for a moment.” So I made her hate me?”

“Not hate per se, but well…at the moment I’d say that she’s terrified of you. Imagine having a stranger walk into the place that you consider first hands as completely safe, and then suddenly touching you as if they knew you.”

“I’d be awfully terrified,” Nayeon mumbled almost despondently at the thought.

“That’s right. You would.”

“Then—I guess I should go back and say sorry.” With that sudden thought in mind, Nayeon all but shot out of her seat, nearly startling Jihyo. But her best friend’s hand flashed out quickly to grasp her wrist, managing to stop the impulsive girl in her footsteps before she made things any worse.

“Not now. You can definitely say sorry later though.”

“What? Why not now?”

“Because she needs to calm down.” Jihyo rolled her eyes at her friend’s momentary lapse in judgment. “I’ll take your impulsiveness as a sign that your heart is getting over your head since you like Mina so much.”

Instantly, the blush on Nayeon’s face makes a return. Jihyo paused, staring almost incredulously at Nayeon who wrung her hands together like a nervous wreck.

This–was not her friend.

She narrowed her eyes in deep suspicion. Could it be that Nayeon had just been hiding herself well enough from her all this time?

“You’re actually acting like a fucking schoolgirl. I can’t believe it.” The lawyer flattened her hands upon the table in sheer disbelief. “My goodness, I need a coffee.”

“What? Why the hell would you need a coffee? At…at like… four in the afternoon?”

“Because, Nayeon, I’ve been up literally all night trying to compile things for you, knowing that you probably didn’t even read a single one of those notes on Mina that you got weeks before.” Jihyo raised an elegantly plucked brow in her best friend’s direction, watching with some sheer satisfaction as Nayeon reddened at her words. “And plus, you’re showing me completely new sides of yourself that I’m finding hard to accept. Im Nayeon, bashful and shy in front of her ideal type?” Jihyo pretended to swoon, making Nayeon swat at her instinctively. She dodged her friend’s playful slap with a little laugh.

Her phone buzzed on the table, and their chuckles slowly died down as Jihyo spared a glance towards her phone.

“Alright. She’s ready for you now.”

“Who?”

 “Mina, you dumbass. Get your head out of the clouds and get your act together, right now.”

Mina was sorely embarrassed by the way she had reacted towards that new girl she had suddenly seen appearing in front of her eyes. Sure, parts of her did remember that she coped with a condition that exacerbated her memory loss, but it was still occasionally jarring to notice someone seemingly dropping down upon you out of the blue.

At least, that was what her memory loss moments seemed and felt like to her.

One moment she had been talking nicely with someone that she didn’t remember—and then suddenly, it felt like she was being dropped in a bucket full of ice water, with a stranger tapping wildly upon her shoulder and a bright smile upon their lips. It was as if she had blacked out momentarily, only to wake up to a completely new world, in a dissociative state to the point where she failed to recognize anything and everything all around her.

To be fair, it wasn’t as bad as it originally was when she had first realized she was suffering from a severe form of memory loss.

What had been even worse was her trying to communicate to her doctors back then that she had forgotten everything. Little writings on note papers that she would scribble of half-formed sentences and thoughts that would fade as soon as they came, stitched together in the few precious minutes that she had…only to dissolve away into nothingness once more.

It was a painful cycle that she had borne with…and triumphed.

Though it felt very much like the opposite now, as it did with all those times that she had memory loss occur.

What felt even more horrible was the disappointment that she had seen on the other girl’s face–the crestfallen look that she recognized of someone having been eager to talk to her about something, before confusion and disappointment snatched that away.

Mina felt awful.

Had they been close?

Was that why the disappointment of the girl felt so great?

Part of her wanted to reach out to the other girl, to grab her in a soft hug and comfort her, to tell her everything was just fine. She could feel her body reminding her–even if her mind wouldn’t.

But part of her was also unsure that she knew this woman.

Who the hell was she?

Mina traced her fingers over the name on the paper lightly.

Im Nayeon. Your new caretaker.

Mrs Han’s wizened face had softened slightly at the terrified look on her features, allowing herself to be pulled into a hug as Mina buried her face into the side of her old caretaker.

She’s going to be taking care of you now.

But why? She had asked. Why can’t you be the one to take care of me instead?

Me? …Because I have to return home.

A strange look had swept over Mrs Han’s face at the mention of ever returning home, as though there was some kind of hidden agenda that she didn’t know of and didn’t have the privy to know.

“All ready to say goodbye?” Mina’s eyes flicked upwards to Mrs Han’s own, the slight tremble of her bottom lip a telltale sign of her desire to say no despite the firm nod from her head.

“I don’t think I ever will be able to say goodbye, even if I tend to do so each time I forget people. And things.”

“You’ll do just fine, Mina.” Mina bowed her head slightly, enjoying the soft touch of Mrs Han’s old hands upon her head as the older lady combed through her hair. “And Nayeon will be of help to you as well. She can help you with things that I can’t. Like re-learning some of the newer things that young people like.” A faint chuckle bubbled from the older lady’s lips. “That would be fun, wouldn’t it?”

“Yeah we can have fun together—Ouch!!” Jihyo smacked a hand upon her face as soon as Nayeon blurted out those words. The surprise colouring both Mina and Mrs Han’s faces makes her own face burn from how clueless her best friend could be.

Couldn’t she see that that was some kind of private conversation?

Mrs Han’s expression turned from the soft, gentle one that she had whilst interacting with Mina to a more pinched expression.

“Well, I was telling Mina how she’d benefit from having you around.” Nayeon’s lips parted dramatically in a slight ‘o’. “Since you know much more about the world than I do as a young person.”

Mina’s eyes flicked up to Nayeon’s tentatively. “You’re…Nayeon, right?”

“You remember me?” Excitement coloured Nayeon’s cheeks with a faint red. She quickly stepped forward, the tips of her ears blushing a perfect pink as she reached out to grasp Mina’s hands. But she stopped short quickly when she felt both Mrs Han and Jihyo’s sharp glares at her.

“It’s okay. She can hold my hands. You seem…seem really excited to meet me.”

“Of course I am! I mean, I’m your caretaker. Shouldn’t I be excited?”

Mina chuckled, unable to stop herself from giggling at how cute Nayeon seemed whilst being excited.

“Being a caretaker is a tall task.” Mrs Han said, her tone flat.

“Oh, I’m sure I’ll be able to handle it.” Nayeon brushed Mrs Han off with a grin of her own.

“Mrs Han, it’s fine. I think—we’ll get along just fine.” Already, Mina could see a potential situation about to escalate. Besides, things were just fine–the new girl (or maybe not so new girl), was funny, and cute.

A small smile curved the corners of Mina’s lips at the thought as the door closed behind Mrs Han, followed closely by Jihyo who ushered the old lady out as quickly as she possibly could.

“So!” Nayeon brushed the imaginary lint off her coat, eyes softening slightly as she turned away from the closing door to Mina once more. She pursed her lips together for a short moment before extending out her hand.

“...This is…?”

“A handshake. You know, when you greet someone and all?” Mina laughed seeing Nayeon’s body shake nervously around her.

“You can sit on a proper seat you know. I’m sorry that I jumped and scared you off.” Nayeon paused, staring Mina full in the face as though trying to scrutinize and see if the other girl was joking or not about her apology.

“You’re joking.”

“No, I’m not.”

“I mean, joking as in about your apology! I should be the one that’s apologizing to you and all!” Nayeon leaned forward incredulously. “I scared you! And…and I kinda didn’t read the manual they had for me informing me about your illness.”

“It’s a condition. That…I hope will get better with time.”

“It will. It will.” Nayeon scrambled forward, pulling Mina’s hands urgently to her own. She studied the other girl’s lithe fingers tenderly, before allowing her eyes to shyly flick up to Mina’s face.

Mina paused, blushing as she felt the warmth from Nayeon’s hands pulse lightly against her own. Usually, people weren’t so…excited once they knew about her illness and condition.

Well, she would forget about them in a few minutes, either way.

Even Mrs Han had taken a while to warm up to her–disappointment, when time and effort were invested in a person would always be the debilitating factor ever since she started recuperating from her injuries in the hospital.

And yet…here was someone, treating her like a normal, functioning human, who held all the hope in the world and said it as it was, as though Nayeon herself believed truly that she would be able to overcome these hardships with time and effort.

“We’ll work on it together. You’ll have to bear with my awful handwriting though.” Nayeon grinned widely at her. “Six months. We’ll be working together.”

“Six months…” Mina murmured lightly to herself. “That’s…that’s a short while.”

“Well, I can always ask for an extension.”

“An extension?” Mina asked with a puzzled look, turning her eyes questioningly to the other girl. Nayeon’s face flushed, having realized her slip of the tongue.

“I mean…” Nayeon stammered, leg jiggling as she stared worriedly in Mina’s direction. “You won’t…you won’t judge meif I said that I was sentenced to probation for helping out here, right?”

Mina shook her head, watching with a tender smile. Nayeon’s shoulders swiftly relaxed.

“Everyone makes mistakes. And I’m sure it wasn’t that bad, since it’s only probation, and you were sentenced to taking care of patients. They wouldn’t put anyone dangerous together with patients that need help after all.”

Nayeon laughed sheepishly at Mina’s words. She tilted her head back, feeling a wave of slight shame wash over her.

“Anyway, I’m Myoui Mina. Formal introductions this time.” Nayeon’s eyes opened once again, feeling a gentle tug upon the side of her jeans–the light brush of Mina’s fingers against her own as the other girl leaned forward, her dark hair brushing the sides of her face as she offered her a cute by mysteriously shy smile. “I may forget things and forget you sometimes, but I’ll try my best not to.”

Nayeon paused, exhaling softly. She looked down at Mina’s pale fingers, the slight curve of her outstretched hand.

“And I’m Im Nayeon, on probation–” She winked cheekily, garnering a giggle from Mina’s lips. “I’m your new caretaker for the next six months or more! I’m also here to help you to remember everything and to never forget anyone or anything again.”

Chapter Text

“The more I drink you in, all my nights are getting longer. From head to toe, I’m dizzyingly paralyzed, inside me…” – Iced Coffee by Red Velvet

Nayeon’s eyes flickered with vague sleepiness as she peered up into the crisp morning skies, her lips gently pursed when the soft pelt of the cold wintery rain pelted down upon her transparent umbrella that she held quietly above her.

The silence in the early wee hours of the morning seemed even more poignant with every blink of the traffic light opposite her, the first light of the sunrise gently turning the graying skies above a dull orange behind the clouds.

If anyone had seen her on the street like this in the early morning, they would have done a double take—especially if they were friends that knew her.

Because Im Nayeon was never someone that made the effort to wake up early. Not for herself, and not for anyone else.

No matter how important they were or are to her.

Nayeon sniffled slightly; her nose frozen red from the cold as the light turned green, signaling that it was time to cross the road. Hell—she wouldn’t even be caught dead like this, taking public transport or walking across streets without being in her Harley or have a chauffeur escorting her around. Not even amongst her friends.

But yet, here she was.

She quickly crossed the road, the soft thump of her boots against the ground beneath her almost too loud in the silence as she scurried across the street, illuminated by the rare care that had slowed to a stop at the traffic light.

Quickly, she offered an amiable smile in the driver’s direction, and scurried off towards the building covered with the morning fog in the distance, her smile only getting larger by the minute as the Aengcho Rehabilitation Center loomed closer and closer.

Gently, her eyes flicked towards the window all the way to the far right, an almost dizzyingly happy sigh bubbling from her lips when she noticed the way that the light flickered brightly in the distance amongst the rest of the dimmed lights of the Rehabilitation Center.

Mina wasn’t the only patient within the Rehabilitation Center that stayed permanently, but she was the only one that would be up at—Nayeon took a brief but quick glance towards her watch—6am in the morning during winter.

A giggle bubbled from Nayeon’s lips as she burrowed her face a little more into the scarf wrapping around her neck, unable to stop the slight bounce in her step as she made her way into the building.

“Morning.” She beamed cheerfully as she made her way into the staff cafeteria, her eyes brightening at the sight of Mrs Han sipping her coffee in the distance.

After retiring her job of taking care of Mina full time and rescinding it to Nayeon more than 3 months ago, the older lady’s impressions of Nayeon had significantly changed, as seen by the slight upturn of her lips as she nodded in Nayeon’s direction. She pushed towards her a steaming cup of coffee as Nayeon bustled around, grabbing her staff tags and pulling on her staff coat in preparation for the day.

“You’re early today.” Nayeon’s eyes widened, inching herself quickly towards the steaming cup of coffee, taking it into her hands with a happy little sigh.

“Mmmm.” She sank deep into her designated seat with a groan, taking a quick sip of the hot coffee that Mrs Han had made with a grateful smile. “No way! You made me a hazelnut latte?” She took another careful sip. “That’s my favourite—”

“Your favourite kind of coffee. I don’t patronize those coffee bean things that you like.” The older lady sipped her own coffee with a hum. “So I found a recipe to make the hazelnut thing you liked.”

Nayeon smiled into her cup.

Unlike how Mrs Han seemed to be cold and icy on the outside, after months of interacting with the older woman, and her witnessing how well she actually treated Mina in the brief mornings where they were all together eventually softened her enough to give her a smile or two…and then a coffee or two…right down to actually holding decent conversations with each other.

It had been one of the few things that had brought a wider smile to Mina’s face, something Mrs Han and her were both glad for.

Even after Mrs Han had left Mina for a less intensive schedule so that she could care of her grandchildren at home, Nayeon often found them together in the mornings, with the older lady keeping Mina company until Nayeon arrived so that the early riser in Mina wouldn’t feel that lonely in the mornings.

“You’re not in the garden today?” She shifted in her thick coat, allowing her eyes to roll close at the feeling of the warmth of the coffee seep deep into her bones.

“Too cold.” Mrs Han pointed right at Nayeon’s sniffling nose. “You’re the clear evidence of that.”

Nayeon swiped at her stuffy nose with a sheepish grin.

“And you’re coming earlier and earlier.” The older woman sniffed importantly. “Taking away all my time with Mina by arriving so early so I can’t even spend some time talking to her.” She shot Nayeon a heavily disapproving side-eye. “Hmph.”

“Well…” Nayeon blushed, fidgeting in her spot. She squirmed under the older woman’s knowing gaze. “I like being early.”

“You’re not a good liar. You know that.”

Nayeon squirmed once again, covering her face in sheer embarrassment. Her ears turned a vibrant red as the older lady exposed her with a slight grin.

“It’s fine to be human and say that you like someone.”

“I don’t!” Nayeon shot up from her chair, her face and neck turning a bright red. Mrs. Han looked at her with stunned surprise.

“I meant like as in generally liking someone. Not…”

“Y-yeah, yeah I mean. I knew that…”

“Uh huh.”

Fuck. She had dug a hole for herself, didn’t she?

Nayeon groaned inwardly, resisting the urge to throw her head back with a great groan.

“You’re laughing at me.” She pouted at the older woman, sitting back to take another sip of the well-made coffee.

“I’m not.” Mrs Han raised her brows once more. “Though I must say, I’m surprised by your.. extreme reaction towards me saying that you liked Mina.”

“You didn’t say whether that was like or that I like liked her!” Nayeon protested. “There’s a difference!”

“And what makes you think that I’d be saying that you two girls like each other romantically that way?”

Nayeon paused, finally giving the older woman’s words some further thought.

…Damn. Mrs Han was right.

But…she didn’t seem that surprised by the possibility of two girls loving each other?

“You…You’re…” Nayeon felt her heart palpitate in her chest, feeling faint.” You’re not against two women loving each other?”

Mrs Han paused, watching as Nayeon’s face whitened considerably as soon as her eyes met her own. The younger girl quickly turned her face away, feeling embarrassed and uncertain at the same time.

“What’s wrong with two women loving each other?” She pursed her lips. Nayeon’s eyes flickered, lowering her coffee as she hung onto Mrs. Han words as though it were a holy grail. “Of course, I didn’t think that way first, but my daughter and her wife are perfectly fine on their own, and now have a perfect little boy of their own. So why should I be against something that brings other people happiness? If they’re genuinely good people, they should be allowed to love whoever they want.”

Nayeon watched the older woman in sheer silence, both surprised and unsure at her words.

“Don’t let anyone stop you.” Nayeon startled slightly when Mrs Han’s warm hands reach over to pat her own hands gently. “You should be free to do what you want.”

“Well…I’m not free now.” Nayeon instantly pouted at the older woman’s words, pretending to complain as she folded her arms. “I’ve been sentenced here, remember?”

“And who’s fault was that?” Mrs Han arched a brow towards Nayeon.

“You didn’t have to say that—” Nayeon whined. “I was only playing around…”

“Mhm…”

There was the sound of light shuffling footsteps near the open hallway where Nayeon had left the door open, and the two women stirred when Mina made an appearance.

“M-Mina!” Nayeon could no longer care if Mrs Han was looking. There was the person that had occupied her every night and day, every waking thought…Nayeon blushed once more at the thought. She beamed in Mina’s direction, almost swooning to herself at how stinking cute Mina looked in her woolen cardigan as she waddled herself into the door. “I’ll come out and join you soon!” She fumbled, reaching over to grab her notebook, pens and pencils.

Mrs Han stooped down, reaching down to withdraw a hot water flask near her feet. Nayeon froze on the stop, staring almost incredulously as the older women beckoned towards Mina, who toddled towards her adorably.

“Did you forget how to wrap the scarf?” Nayeon nearly cooed with how adorable the pout on Mina’s face appeared as soon as Mrs Han started fussing around with Mina’s scarf.

They had been making so much progress these past few months, Nayeon thought almost blissfully to herself.

First, it had been difficult, and Nayeon sighed to herself while waiting for Mina at the door. She smiled gently as the other girl toddled out to join her in her winter clothes, and they quickly made their way towards their usual spot where they held their sessions of memory rehabilitation.

Nayeon cleared her throat, settling herself in the cold room, upon a chair directly opposite Mina.

“So…first things first. Do you remember who I am?” That had to be the most prevalent question that Nayeon found herself asking.

Mina frowned lightly to herself, visibly uncomfortable by the question.

Nayeon hated putting her through this—asking her questions that were clearly something Mina couldn’t answer or didn’t have the answers to.

The knowledge that Mina couldn’t remember things not even a week before but a day before was demoralizing. Not just for her, but for Mina too.

There was no one that wanted to Mina to remember things more than Mina ever did. She could practically seeit in Mina’s face.

“It’s okay.” Nayeon allowed the softest smile to grace her face. She reached out a hand towards Mina, allowing the other girl to simply stare at her outstretched hand in simple confusion, unsure at whether or not she shouldtake the gentle gesture.

To Mina—she was a stranger after all.

It was fine. Nayeon told herself, allowing her smile to hold her face. Time would prevail for them, and Mina would conquer things despite the odds against her. She’d proven that by being able to remember Mrs Han, and Nayeon was hopeful that Mina would be able to do the exact same if time gave her the allowance to do her own thing.

All they needed was a little more time. It was fine. Even if they had interacted for a full month and—

“I’m kidding!” Nayeon jolted out of her thoughtful reverie at the sudden but playful slap upon her arm.

Her eyes widened, head whipping back to frantically stare at Mina, trying to understand where exactly or what exactly had made Mina urgently slap her arm like that.

For a moment, Nayeon was bewildered, her eyes trained upon Mina’s own with the stupidest and horrified stare that the other girl started to giggle at the reaction upon her face.

“W-Wha? Wha—you…you…”

“I remember you, silly!” Slowly, Nayeon straightened herself, her brows that had been knit so tightly together finally relaxing. She wasn’t really sure what exactly Mina was doing really. But…but if it made her happy…

“Nayeon? Im Nayeon!” The call of her name instantly snaps Nayeon out of her own reverie. She stared, wide eye and apprehensively at Mina, still unsure if the other was truly making a joke or not.

But it seemed…that Mina remembered her name?

Slowly, Nayeon’s eyes darted furtively, trying to glance around to see if Mina had hidden a scrap of her notebook or piece of paper in her hands just to fool her. Maybe she had simply read her name off the piece of paper.

Yeah, that had to be right…right?

“Hellooooo?” Mina waved her hand right in front of Nayeon’s eyes. Her own pretty eyes wide, mirroring Nayeon’s own with what seemed like an equal mix of surprise and nervousness.

Maybe…Maybe she shouldn’t have played such a prank on Nayeon?

Was it too soon?

She often did these types of playful games with Mrs Han when they were together. The older woman indulged her, seeing her as another playful grandchild with an unfortunate circumstance.

“S-Sorry…” Her head instantly started to drop, turning down lower and lower.

“What? Why? Uh…Why are you sorry?” Nayeon blinked at her stupidly, the relief that had overwhelmed her instantly upon understanding that it had all been nothing but just a joke on Mina’s part sending such a surge of sheer relief right through her veins that Nayeon felt as though she might cry.

“I made a joke in bad taste. It’s alright!” Mina brightened at the sight of Nayeon’s watery eyes. “Are you crying?”

“I’m not!”

“Your eyes look watery though…”

“That’s…that’s just dust in my eyes!”

“…Really?”

“Really!” Nayeon sniffled, swiping blindly at her eyes and then her nose before turning to face to Mina once more. “See?”

“…O..Okay…” Mina stammered for a moment, finally reassured once more as Nayeon smiled brightly in her direction. “If you say that you’re fine, then I guess you’re fine then. Now where were we?”

“Well, I was asking if you remembered who I was.” Asked Nayeon, her bunny smile was getting more prevalent.

“Cute.” Mina mumbled under her breath, her fingers lacing together as she avoided eye contact with Nayeon.

Why was Im Nayeon so cute?

Mina stared ahead at Nayeon with the lightest blush upon her face. She watched the other girl unfolded her circular glasses and pushed them up her nose bridge.

Mina’s heart suddenly missed a beat.

Why did glasses make her even cuter?

But the thought was quickly forgotten as soon as those dark eyes lift to meet hers, and another beaming smile was directed her way.

“Ahem.” Nayeon cleared her throat almost dramatically,” So, from where we left off…what’s my name?”

“Nayeon. Im Nayeon.”

The cutest being in the entire universe.

“And do you remember your name?”

“Mina Myoui. Or Myoui Mina.” Nayeon brightened visibly as soon as soon as those words leave her lips.

“Yeah, yeah…” Nayeon pushed her glasses up her nose nervously. “That’s good…you’re…showing progress…” Nayeon paused and fumbled, trying to find the pen that she had somehow left behind and couldn’t find.

“Here.” Mina couldn’t stop smiling at how cute she looked. She picked up the pencil right next to Nayeon, offering it to her with a smile,” You’re more forgetful than I am sometimes, you know that, don’t you?”

Nayeon blushed once again, shyly nodding her head.

“I mean…I just…you’re kinda staring at me that’s why it’s difficult for me to concentrate.” Over the course of the entire month that they had interacted with each other, it had been harder and harder for Nayeon not to realize that she was heavily smitten with Mina.

From the moment Nayeon had set her eyes upon her, whether Mina was her ideal type or not, Nayeon should have known that she would fall for her. It was only right that she did, especially with Mina being such a sweet girl to begin with.

“Me? Staring at you?” Confusion slowly slipped over Mina’s pretty features. Nayeon ducked her head guilty, quickly waving her hands as though to refute her words just moments before.

“No,no…I mean.”

“Nuh uh. That’s what you meant.” Mina leaned forward, reaching over to touch her hand on Nayeon’s forehead,“Are you having a fever that’s why me staring at you makes it difficult for you to concentrate?”

Nayeon opened her mouth to explain, pausing for a brief moment before closing it entirely with a muted sigh. But there was no point in explaining. How was she supposed to say, I met you a month ago, and now I think I’m desperately in love with you to Mina just like that?

Mina wouldn’t understand it.

Hell, even she didn’t understand herself.

Of all the things that Nayeon had heard before, never would she have ever thought that falling in love at first sight would be something that would happen to her. But it did.

And here she was. Working together with someone that she was crushing on a little too hard for her own good.

“No, it’s not a fever. I just…have a lot of worrying thoughts in my mind.” Nayeon drooped her head resignedly, trying to figure her way out of the lie that she had just spoken.

What if Mina asked her what those worrying thoughts were about? What was she going to say? Would she think that she’s weird or something like that?

“I can hear you thinking you know.”

Nayeon blinked, eyes widening almost comically as Mina swept in close, her eyes meeting Nayeon’s ones in an inquisitive stare.

“You…You can hear me thinking?” Nayeon stammered almost stupidly, trying to find the right words to form upon her lips but failing with each cute but cheeky grin Mina sent her way.

“It’s fine if you don’t have anything to tell me with regards to your worrying thoughts, you know.” Mina pulled herself back, settling back into her chair opposite Nayeon. She toyed with her hair, twirling a few strands around her index finger as she tilted her head thoughtfully. “I don’t need to know. And it’s not a must for me to know either. Besides, whether I know it or not doesn’t change my perception of you.” Mina felt herself turning redder and redder by the minute, her blush thankfully concealed by the way her hair drooped over her flushing ears.

“Yeah…it’s kinda…kinda private.”

“Oh.”

“I’m sorry!” Nayeon squeezed her eyes shut instantly at the sound of great disappointment in Mina’s voice. “I just…I’m not ready to talk about it yet.”

“Is it something that’s really important?” Mina nervously folded her hand.

With Nayeon, everything seemed to have progressed instantaneously. From the moment that they had hit off perfectly with each other to progressively becoming friends…to even realizing that with Nayeon, she tended to recall things faster, better—that memories were starting to stay within her mind for longer periods of time the more that she wanted Nayeon around and wanted her to stay.

Perhaps that was the strength of liking someone, Mina thought almost dolefully to herself, resting her cheek against her palm as she watched Nayeon quietly twitch in her chair.

“…It is.” It should be.

The thought that she had yet to come out to even her parents shot to the forefront of Nayeon’s mind, sending shivers of trepidation right through her body. Sure, she had never had a boyfriend nor any further indications that she liked boys—she fooled around with them for sure, just to put some rumours and views others had of her to rest…but to tell the whole world and a family who cared little to nothing for her was another can of worms that Nayeon wasn’t willing to deal with…yet.

Not to mention that she was just coming to terms with falling so quickly for Mina.

As whirlwind as this romantic love for Mina seemed to be, it felt different from the other times that she had simple crushes on other girls…like a few idols that she’d not thought of in years, or even that really popular girl in her class back in tenth grade.

God. Nayeon massaged her temple, momentarily regretting on bringing up such a topic. Her leg started bouncing nervously.

“Then you don’t have to say it.” Mina’s voice was soft. “I’ll wait until you’re ready, and you can do the same for me in the future, if I have anything that I want to tell you that I’m not ready to…yet.”

She bit her bottom lip nervously, peering up at Nayeon through her lashes. She reached over gently, hesitantly placing a hand upon the other girl’s knee.

“ Arggghhh!” Mina jumped abruptly as Nayeon shot right out of her seat, clutching her hands to her hair. “Why are we being so despondent? It’s like…like…we’re…” She sputtered, trying to find the right word to use. Her hands spread open wide in an attempt to physically embody the frustration that she was feeling.

Mina stretched, rising abruptly from her seat in the exact way that Nayeon had just moments before, causing Nayeon to jump right in her spot with a yelp.

“You’re right.” She grinned, allowing her arm to playfully bump into Nayeon’s side. “We’re mainly here to help me, and yet here we are, mooning about your problems.” She teased.

Nayeon squirmed in her spot, covering her face with both hands.” I mean—” She blustered, looking very much adorably flummoxed as she twisted her fingers into the smooth cloth of her staff coat. “We can always go back to talking about ways to improve your m-memory.”

“We definitely can. Personally, I liked the journaling idea that you talked about.” Mina scooted her chair a little closer. “So, tell me a little more about it.”

“Yeah…I thought about it after doing some research.” The frown and the pout upon Nayeon’s face became a tad more pronounced.

A faint ripple of uncertainty started in her gut. Sure, they had started out with simple memory flash-cards with little to no progress, but the keypoint as what she had learnt throughout the months of interacting and trying to help Mina recall more of her short-term memories was that Mina did well when:

One, the flash-cards were pretty. Mina could almost always remember things that she found she had a liking for. First it had barely been a card. Then after two weeks, she started remembering one—especially the one that she had pointed out the week and days before that she found beautiful.

Two, the cards and items that Mina often found were pretty or beautiful were often the ones that she had asked Mina to help write in her cursive lettering. Perhaps it was something to do with the fact that Mina herself wrote it—muscle memory, Nayeon thought broodingly to herself. She squinted her eyes, pulling the large bag that she had carried to work up to her chest.

Honestly, it was kinda embarrassing really to think about the flash cards though…especially when they were simply flashcards…with her name. Nayeon wanted to cover her face with her hands but knowing smile crept upon Mina’s face as soon as she fished the flashcards out from her bag.

No, she wasn’t doing this just to be able to hear her name from Mina’s lips.

Absolutely not.

That was—pfffft, absolutely impossible. Incomprehensible.

She was not a simp like that. Such a thought was simply…simply ridiculous.

“I know those flashcards. I think.” The small but knowing smile on Mina’s face was almost enough for Nayeon to dig a hole in the ground so that she could bury her head in like an ostrich to hide in.

“Your name. Isn’t it?” Mina’s grin only got wider as Nayeon made a funny, suppressed noise.

“I know that you kinda know my name already, but—it’s for you know,” Nayeon glanced up furtively, leaning in close. “Souvenir’s sake.” She whispered.

Mina shivered slightly as her warm breath puffed lightly against her ear. The flush that was upon her ears and face deepening slightly, giving her pale skin a little more of a pinkish hue.

“I get it.” She whispered back, unable to stop her giggles watching Nayeon’s face turn completely red. “You’re blushing!”

“Wha? What? I’m not! I’m just…just hot!”

Mina smiled fondly at the sight of Nayeon trying to escape from the hole that she had dug for herself, looking very much like the reddest strawberry in the field that wanted to be plucked.

She was so darn cute.

“Mhm, and the current temperature in the room is like 18 degrees Celsius.” Mina teased, reaching out to poke Nayeon’s puffy cheeks.” But I’ll keep it. I had a hand in making these cards anyway.” The look in her eyes softened considerably. “And plus, it’s the first time someone’s used such a special, creative way to help me remember their name.”

The flashcards hadn’t just been important in helping Mina remember Nayeon’s name. They also served almost like the physical reminder like the scraps of information she used to record haphazardly down onto pieces of paper. But strangely enough, whatever this—was, working together with Nayeon to remember her name felt unbelievably good.

Rarely did she have anyone who placed their trust in her so strongly and persistently, with such never-ending patience just to see her make a minuscule amount of progress. It had even taken much time for Mrs Han to get used to it.

And yet…here Nayeon was, endlessly optimistic, even if it literally took her an entire month and almost a half to just remember her name. Mina wanted to cry at the thought, both touched and utterly ashamed of herself.

Why couldn’t she do better?

Nayeon would probably have been frustrated with her multiple times…it was just that she was far too nice to say anything to her about it.

As though sensing the instant shift in Mina’s mood, Nayeon’s head whipped up from rummaging in her bag, pulling herself closer to the other girl. “Hey. Hey. What’s wrong?”

“I…” Mina paused, her eyes turning up to Nayeon’s own in an almost forlorn look.

“Mina,” Nayeon leaned forward urgently, as though quietly urging the other girl on to speak up a little more. “Is there something wrong?”

Mina paused. Her lips parted slightly, the look in her eyes blanking for a split second as they fixed themselves upon Nayeon’s pretty face.

“…N-Nayeon?”

Nayeon reached over, taking Mina’s hands in hers just as the other girl reached forth, confusion written all over her face.

The room filled with an uncomfortable silence after Mina's sudden memory lapse.

Nayeon cupped Mina’s face gently in her palms, the dark depths of her irises tenderly reflecting concern as she watched Mina with a mix of disappointment and compassion. The flashcards lay scattered on the table, forgotten in the midst of Mina's panic.

“Mina?” Nayeon's voice was gentle, like a soothing melody trying to calm the storm within Mina's mind. Mina’s eyes drifted, then snapped back into focus once more, panicking. She clutched tighter onto Nayeon’s hands that had been holding onto her face.

“W-What were we doing just now? I-I just forgot something. I was saying something and I-I forgot it! I forg—”

“Shhhh, it’s okay,” Nayeon interrupted her quickly, reaching across the table to place a reassuring hand on Mina's trembling one. She fought the sudden ache in her chest watching Mina’s chest heave with an unseen sob. “We can figure it out together. You know we can. We’ve done it before. Deep breaths. Count to ten.”

Nayeon took a deep but subtle breath, suppressing the wave of frustration that had threatened to engulf her the moment she had realized that Mina’s memory loss had been triggered.

It wasn't Mina's fault, Nayeon knew that all too well. Short-term memory loss was an uninvited guest that lingered in Mina’s lives—a challenge they faced almost daily, with no fair warnings to begin with…just abrupt declarations of its arrival, with Mina’s eyes turning blank…and the sudden, fierce onset of panic.

Pulling out a new set of carefully crafted flashcards, Nayeon began flipping through them, lifting each card up to Mina and allowing the other girl to take a long proper look at each one of them.

Clearly, this was a new set of cards—different from the ones that Mina had helped make with her pretty cursive writing of Nayeon’s name. Mina’s eyes blinked, a slow frown knitting her brows for a split second, before they relaxed into both understanding and nostalgia as she stared at the flashcard with a beautiful picture that was being held up in front of her, the tingle of forgotten memories starting to rise to the surface.

Nayeon smiled softly, almost hopeful.

“What’s this?” Mina pointed to the beautiful picture of cherry blossoms. The polaroid that she had taken of Mina blowing cherry blossoms into the camera was one of her proudest pieces that they had managed to produce during their little park and café sessions last week.

She had come up with using photos to help trigger Mina’s memories. Photos and flashcards. And so she had taken the effort to snap as many pictures as possible,and had them all perfectly printed in the highest quality upon those flashcards just for her. Each card held a snapshot of their shared memories, a tool filled with possibility to help bridge the gaps that Mina's mind struggled to traverse.

“Look, this is when we went to the park last week. You loved the cherry blossoms, remember?” Nayeon tried to spark a glimmer of recognition in Mina's eyes.

Mina stared at the image, brows furrowed in concentration. After a moment, a faint smile appeared on her face. “Cherry blossoms... they were pretty.”

“That’s right,” Nayeon affirmed, relief washing over her. It was a small victory, but victories had to be celebrated, no matter how minor.

As Nayeon continued flipping through the flashcards, the weight of the situation pressed on her shoulders. She had seen Mina make progress, seen her remember things that were once lost in the labyrinth of her mind. But today felt different. It wasn’t like one of those times where she had briefly lost her memories or lost a little bit of her memories. Today, despite how well things had started off, it felt as though they were backpedaling.

A lump formed in Nayeon's throat as she watched Mina struggle with the memories. Over the course of 3 months, she had become Mina's anchor, the one who held her steady in the turbulent sea of forgotten moments. Once, it had been Mrs Han. And then…the duty had fallen onto her shoulders. Even if she had been unwilling to do so at first.

And every time Mina faltered, a piece of Nayeon's heart chipped away.

“Nayeon,” Mina's voice quivered, and Nayeon's attention snapped back to the present. “Maybe... maybe there's no hope for me.”

Nayeon's heart sank, and for a moment, she felt the sting of tears threatening to escape. She had to be strong. For Mina.

“Don't say that, Mina,” Nayeon pleaded softly, her eyes locking onto Mina's. “You've been getting better. We just need more time.”

“You... you don't have to stay. I won't blame you.” Mina looked uncertain, her eyes searching Nayeon's for a confirmation that seemed elusive.

The offer hung in the air like a heavy cloud. Nayeon's eyes glistened with unshed tears, but she shook her head resolutely.

“I'm not going anywhere, Mina. I promised to be with you, remember?” Mina's gaze wavered, and a hint of sadness colored her eyes.

“But what if I never get better? What if I'm just a burden to you?”

Nayeon's heart ached, and she leaned across the table, capturing Mina's hands in her own. “You are not a burden, Mina.”

Her throat tightened as she squeezed Mina’s hands together, tight.

I love you, and I will stay by your side no matter what. We'll face this together. Just please. Please, don’t ask me to leave. Don’t make me leave.

“Nayeon? Im Nayeon? Please come to the staff room. Immediately.”

The silent words hung, unshed from her lips as Nayeon tried to reel in her emotions. The sudden sound of the intercom coming to life a shameful relief as she turned to leave. With those thoughts and words, Nayeon excused herself from the room, leaving Mina alone with her thoughts as she took off the moment she escaped from Mina’s room, running at full tilt towards the staff room and bursting in, hoping that her eyes weren’t red from trying her best to stifle her tears.

Mrs Han looked up from her paperwork.

“Someone…someone called?” She barely steadied herself, breathless and still reeling from Mina’s words.

“No one called in particular.” Mrs Han dropped her eyes back down towards her own work. “But I did call you out of there because you looked like you were about to cry.” The older lady pointed at one of the staff breakrooms in the corner. “Go and take some time to calm yourself in there before you return back to her.” She paused. “Please.”

Nayeon sucked in another trembling breath, quickly nodding. She staggered into the staff’s breakroom; each step she took feel heavy—with all the emotional burden she carried. The breakroom, usually a place for respite, felt smaller and more suffocating than ever. Closing the door behind her quickly, she leaned against it, breath shaky.

The dim light in the breakroom cast a soft glow, creating a muted atmosphere that matched the heaviness in Nayeon's heart. The only frequent sound the shuffle of the buzz of an intercom was from Mina’s room, and the sound of shuffling feet as Mina’s footsteps came right through the surveillance feed.

She stood still, right at the door for a moment, hands gripping the doorknob as if it was her sole and only lifeline. The silence pressed down upon her, like a camera shoved right into her face when she least wanted it from one of the journalists and reporters she had come across back during her days of the trial, amplifying the weight of the emotions in her chest.

With a deep, trembling breath, Nayeon let go of the doorknob and moved further into the room.

She couldn't hold back the tears any longer.

Not when she could see on the surveillance footage the sight of Mina sitting forlornly, chin tucked to her arms and head buried as she rocked back and forth in her chair.

Her hands covered her face as she sank onto one of the worn-out chairs, the creaking sound of it breaking the stillness. Her breath shuddered from her lips, the tears finally breaking free from being held within her, like a tidal wave of a silent cascade of emotions unleashed.

Nayeon's shoulders shook with each suppressed sob, the breakroom being the only sole witness to the raw vulnerability she hid from Mina and everyone else, echoing with the quiet symphony of her despair.

Everything felt suffocating.

From the way that the breakroom walls seemed to close in, echoing the confined space of her heart to the replay of countless moments of Mina's forgetfulness, the struggles, and the unpredictable journey they were on to the clothing cinched around her chest.

Like a deadweight, the heavy weight of responsibility, the fear of what the future held, and the frustration of being unable to change the situation clawed at her, tearing into her chest like a wild beast that knew no bounds and restrictions. She clutched at her chest, the crinkle of her staff uniform under her fingers as she choked on a sob for a second, as if trying to physically hold herself together.

A lone sob escaped, breaking the silence in the room as her sight blurred with tears. The emotional dam had burst, and Nayeon found herself drowning in a sea of conflicting emotions.

Memories of the vibrant, carefree Mina haunted her, a stark contrast to the reality she now faced. The sound of Mina's laughter, the warmth of her smile—all seemed like distant echoes in the corridors of time.

Over a brief span of the months that they had shared, Nayeon's heart ached for the girl she now knew she had fallen so deeply for. Each pang slicing through her chest like a sharp knife to her chest, making her sink down to the floor.

What if one day…she couldn’t do it anymore?

The breakroom's clock ticked away, marking the passing moments of Nayeon's silent breakdown with each resonant tick of the clock through the silence in the room.

How long had she been crying here? Nayeon wondered briefly to herself, trying to regain composure, but the tears continued—like an endless stream of a river sweeping down her face. Her hands trembled as she reached for a tissue from the box on the table, hastily swiping at her eyes and cheeks to wipe away the evidence of her emotional turmoil.

What was she even thinking?

Not being able to continue on like this after nearly a few months of interacting with Mina?

How could she be as defeatist as this?

It was just a mere thought, and a mere moment. But Nayeon felt the weight of her love for Mina— one that held so much adoration, joy and pain weigh down upon her all at once like the biggest boulder that had suddenly came down upon her from the skies.

Even as she questioned her own strength, wondering how much more she could endure, yet, in the midst of her tears, a strange but strong resolve had emerged—a determination to face whatever challenges lay ahead, no matter how daunting, and a reaffirmation of how much she desired to simply be by Mina’s side.

There was nothing that was going to be able to separate them.

She had been thinking about it for a while—applying for that extension of possibly working for more than 6 months here in the rehabilitation center. Perhaps until the point that Mina recovered just enough to be able to remember more than just little parts and pieces of herself.

As for her friends and family, she’d find a way to throw them off the scent—just to keep this little haven between her and Mina safe.

After a while, Nayeon took a deep breath, as if finally gathering the last bits of strength to piece together the shattered pieces of herself. She straightened in her chair, wiping away the last traces of tears before standing up. The weight on her shoulders persisted, but she refused to let it crush her completely.

There was a soft knock on the door.

“Yes?” She croaked, clearing her throat quickly so as to not sound so hoarse to the person that had been knocking outside.

“You’re alright in there?” A faint relief washes right through Nayeon as the sound of Mrs Han’s voice breaks through the silence, almost as though understanding the situation she was currently in.

And to be fair, why wouldn’t she understand it?  Nayeon thought to herself. Mrs Han was Mina’s sole caretaker during the worst months of when that memory loss syndrome had ravaged Mina day in and day out, making her lose all of her memories—from the car accident to her parents’ deaths…and reliving them all over again and again as the news is broken to her once again.

“I’m fine.” She swiped at her running nose slightly and straightened herself in front of the door. “Is everything alright?”

“Everything’s fine…but Mina’s asking for you.”

Oh.

Nayeon grimaced slightly to herself. With how sensitive Mina often was to her own feelings ( to the point that Nayeon sometimes felt as though Mina was uniquely her empath to her feelings), she would have definitely felt that sudden and abrupt change with the way that she had exited the room just like that.

Even if it had been the intercom that had called her away, Nayeon knew that she didn’t truly do a good job of masking her desire to run away in the moment.

Well…it was time to do some genuine damage control then, Nayeon thought to herself. She left the breakroom and barely looked at Mrs Han as she exited the staff room, speeding towards Mina’s room as quickly as she could. She spotted Mina looking up at the sound of the door opening, her eyes uncertain, and Nayeon offered a brave smile.

She couldn't let Mina see her weakness. No way she ever would. Mina had suffered enough.

“Nayeon?” Mina's voice trembled.

“I'm right here, Mina,” Nayeon reassured, taking her seat across from Mina once again.

Mina's dark eyes studied her for a moment, glittering under the bright lights as she studied Nayeon’s face with a mixture of sadness and longing.

“Maybe... maybe you should leave. I can't bear to see you hurt because of me.”

Nayeon's heart clenched, her jaw visibly tightening at Mina’s words, but she shook her head. “I'm not leaving, Mina. I’m not going to abandon you.”

“But—”

“No 'buts,'” Nayeon interrupted, her voice firm. “We're in this together, and we'll find a way through. I believe in you, Mina.”

The room fell into a heavy silence, emotions lingering between them like an unspoken language. Nayeon could sense the pain in Mina's eyes, a pain she couldn't fully comprehend. Yet, she refused to let despair take hold.

“Please, don't ask me to leave,” Nayeon pleaded softly, a reiteration of her plea before she had all but run away from the room, seeking for a semblance of an escape.

Quickly, her eyes locked onto Mina's.

“I need you as much as you need me. We'll face this, one day at a time.” A faint blush colored her cheeks as she belatedly released how she had very nearly confessed. “You know, as friends. As someone who has seenyou take so many brave steps of progress.

Mina was silent.

“Yeah.” Her response was almost muted, quiet even. Too quiet for Nayeon’s taste.

“Yeah?” Nayeon peered up hopefully at her.

“Yeah.” The small curve of a smile upon Mina’s lips was enough to reassure Nayeon.

Chapter Text

It was barely a few days after the incident that Nayeon entered the rehabilitation center with a renewed sense of determination—a perfect yet crisply written three-month-old plan neatly tucked in her pocket.

Clearly bouncing and brimming full of energy, she practically pranced her way to the staff room, narrowing avoiding another staff holding coffee as she greeted the familiar faces with a warm smile.

But today, something was different. In fact, Nayeon’s mind was focused on the mission at hand – to extend Mina's rehabilitation beyond the confines of the center. Clearly, things were getting a little mundane. Perhaps the reason behind why Mina’s lapses in memory were because of the setting and the environment being a little too sterile.

Nayeon’s mind whirled quickly at the thought.

Quickly, she bustled around, finger flying over the keyboard as she went about completing her usual tasks, and with a discernable air of pride and eagerness, Nayeon sought out Mrs. Han in her office next door.

With a deep breath, she knocked on the door and entered. Mrs. Han looked up from her paperwork, surprise stark in her face at the interruption but acknowledging Nayeon with a nod.

“What’s wrong?”

"Nothings wrong!” Nayeon blurts out almost instantly. “It’s just that…nevermind. You know, I've been working on a plan to enhance Mina's rehabilitation experience," Eagerness mixed in with sheer nerves made Nayeon nearly bounce right in her spot. She even stumbled over her words, clutching the plan to her chest like a safety blanket.

"I've outlined a detailed proposal that involves taking Mina out for longer durations, introducing her to various environments like cafes, parks, and even places like dog and cat cafes. I believe it'll contribute positively to her cognitive development and emotional well-being. Things like that. I think that one of the main reasons why Mina’s been having some frequent relapses in her memory is because—because she’s been in a sterile environment for so long, there’s nothing truly stimulating for her to activate those repressed parts of her mind.”

Mrs Han paused at Nayeon’s words, signaling for her to go on.

Nayeon exhaled nervously. If this had been a few months before, there was absolutely no way that Mrs Han would ever ever allow her to do something like this. But considering now that she had the older woman’s approval, things were going smoothly.

Or at least it seemed to be, thus far.

Mrs. Han listened attentively when Nayeon presented her well-thought-out plan, highlighting the potential benefits for Mina's recovery.

The proposal emphasized the importance of exposing Mina to different stimuli, encouraging social interactions, and creating a supportive environment for her to gradually reclaim the memories she had lost. Clearly, a lot of effort had gone into the proposal, and the older woman could even see evidence of such effort in the black circles around Nayeon’s pretty eyes.

After a thoughtful pause, Mrs. Han looked at Nayeon and nodded approvingly. "As long as you keep her safe and as long as you two come back before curfew time. Let's give it a try."

And so, a week after she had first submitted her proposal, the first official day of their extended outings finally arrive, and Nayeon found herself standing outside Mina's room. Anticipation bubbled within her as she stuffed her hands into her pockets, unable to stop her jittering nerves as she peered as much as she could through the tiny window in the hallway.

“Are you ready?” She called, hearing Mrs Han fuss inside the room over Mina’s clothes. “Time waits for no man!”

“But it waits for Mrs Han, Nayeonnie.” Mina finally toddled her way out of the room, and Nayeon nearly meltedin the instant at the cute outfit she had on.

Mrs Han had dressed Mina in the cutest and fluffiest bear jacket with tiny ears on the top; a white scarf wrapped around her face and pretty boots to match the rest of her fit upon her feet. Some of it had been Mina’s own ideas, Nayeon was almost sure of that. There was no way that Mrs Han would be able to come up with this all on her own.

Nayeon’s fingers fluttered in her pocket. She swallowed, offering her left hand to Mina and the other girl took it quickly with a soft smile of her own.

Unbeknownst to Mina, Nayeon had prepared a huge surprise for her. The place that they were going to was definitely going to be a hit with Mina, Nayeon thought confidently to herself. She eyed her pocket, patting the form in her pocket gently.

She’d kept it a secret, but Nayeon had submitted her form together with her request to extend her stay in the rehab center to help with Mina’s rehabilitation a few weeks ago, intending to stay beyond the initial 6 months that she was given as a part of her punishment.

And Mina had yet to know about that. Nayeon beamed to herself at the thought.

The cold, wintry day in Korea unfolded with an air of anticipation as they stepped out of the rehabilitation center, with Mrs Han following along closely, but still far enough behind.

The first snow had finally arrived—and Nayeon made a soft sound of chilled glee as a snowflake landed upon her nose delicately. She could hear Mina’s soft exclamation of wonder as snowflakes danced delicately from the sky, heralding the arrival of winter in a picturesque display.

Quickly, Nayeon turned around slightly to signal to Mrs Han with a nod. The older woman was standing with her eyes slightly narrowed into a frown, clearly stoic but with an air of deep nervousness as she kept her eyes trained upon the well bundled Mina that was holding her hand.

The weight of taking Mina out, especially in the unpredictable winter weather, was not lost on Nayeon, but this was a rare opportunity in itself to finally make something of a progress with Mina. Especially with the place that she had chosen to take Mina to.

Nayeon swung their clasped hands, finally catching Mina’s attention as the other girl glanced at her in a shy but surprised look upon her face. It quickly dissolves into that of a genuine smile, a soft swing of both their hands in reciprocation from her a small return of the gesture that held a world of trust and connection.

The snowy path crunched beneath their boots, and the silence was only broken by the occasional laughter and chatter of other residents that streamed past them in the early mornings, soft but tender.

“Do you want to know where we’re going?” Nayeon grinned, shooting Mina a half smirk. She watched Mina’s curiosity finally grow, the air of anticipation hanging around her like a heavy cloak, mirroring the excitement that burned like a spark in her eyes.

“No.” The puff of dragon’s breath was cute as she watched Mina puff her cheeks in response. She clutched their intertwined hands tighter while shuffling their way towards the puppy café that she had planned for them to go to.

“Now, close your eyes and enter the door. I’ll help you open it.” The bell above the door jingled as they entered, and the warmth from within enveloped them, a welcome contrast to the winter chill.

“What is it? What is it?!”

“Open your eyes and take a look.”

Mina pulled her hands away from her eyes instantly, a wild squeal burst from her lips when she watched the sight of puppies of various breeds frolicking around cutely in the background.

Her eyes widened with surprise, and Nayeon couldn’t help but beam as a gasp of joy escaped her lips.

The surprise was perfect. Everything was perfect.

No—Myoui Mina was perfect. Nayeon thought to herself. Her eyes softened at the sight of the smile upon Mina’s face.

The radiant smile that adorned her face had truly reflected the magic of the moment.

And Nayeon felt as though that she couldn't have chosen a better surprise for Mina.

“What? How? Why?” Mina gasped.

“Well…” Nayeon trailed off, huffing a laugh. “You were talking so much about puppies the other day that I couldn’t help but notice.” She snorted. She had been quickly made aware of Mina's love for puppies from their regular conversations, thus, their first outing destination was chosen quickly and strategically—just so that she could create a moment that would resonate with her. The playful energy of the puppies and the cozy ambiance of the cafe provided the perfect setting for a lighthearted and memorable day.

And plus, she knew from Mina’s file that Mina had a puppy once herself.

Perhaps this would help her recall something from her memories.

As Mina interacted with the puppies, her initial apprehension from walking blind through the door had fully transformed into pure joy. The tactile experience of petting the furry companions and the infectious energy of the playful animals had clearly brought a new dimension to their therapeutic journey.

The breakdown and memory lapse from months before still lingered in the background, but in the warm embrace of the puppy cafe, it had seemed like a distant memory for the both of them.

Nayeon sighed happily. She grabbed the polaroid camera from her bag and turned around, snapping a photo of Mina holding a puppy to her face in a cute little squish.

She had wanted to capture precious moments like these for the sake of Mina’s growing and waning memories. The clicks of the camera echoed the laughter and excitement, freezing snippets of their time at the cafe.

Each photograph held the promise of finding a place in the scrapbook that she had planned but not told to Mina—a tangible memory to revisit and cherish that she truly hoped would help sustain and remind Mina of moments that were precious to her that they shared.

“Oh my goshh!” Nayeon chuckled seeing Mina squealed at the sight of a Maltese puppy making its way to her. The young pup wagged its tail gleefully, burrowing deep into Mina’s arms. Nayeon couldn't help but smile at the pure delight on Mina’s face as she played with the playful little puppy in her arms.

The warmth in her chest grew when Mina settled down next to her, cradling the tiny maltese puppy in her lap.

“Do you like it?” She grinned, finding a friend for herself as a friendly husky loped its way over to her, asking for pets and scratches as it found its place on the floor right next to their feet. The warmth of its body providing an extra layer of warmth to their shared space.

As they basked in the puppy-filled ambiance, Nayeon couldn't resist indulging in a bit of teasing banter with Mina. With a mischievous twinkle in her eyes, she turned to Mina and asked, "Hey, so…what’s my name?"

Mina raised an eyebrow, her lips curving into a playful smile that quickly turned into an adorable little pout.

"Im Nayeon," she replied, nudging Nayeon with a huff. It was a familiar game between them by now after three months, their knowledge that she would not forget Nayeon’s name just a simple, yet subtle way of affirming the closeness of the bond that they had built from scratch and now shared.

"Just checking if you've been paying attention." Nayeon chuckled.

The room soon filled with the soft sounds of puppy paws and their laughter, creating a perfect backdrop for their lighthearted exchange.

“So. I’ve got something for you.” Nayeon turned around briefly, fishing out a polaroid camera from her bag. “Here.”

“A…camera?” Mina’s brows raised in confusion, accepting the camera. She immediately let go the puppy in her lap, allowing it to frolic and explore on its own.

“Oh, it’s a part of a set.” Nayeon turned slightly, still rummaging through her large bag, finally pulling a carefully handcrafted book from her bag.

“What’s that?!” Mina nearly screeched; eyes wide at the sheer size of the book in Nayeon’s hands.

“A scrapbook.” Nayeon handed the handmade scrapbook to Mina proudly. She watched Mina glance over the beautiful scrapbook that she had made from scratch with a sense of reverent awe.

“You…You made this for me?”

“Technically, yes. And technically no.” Mina whipped her head up, squinting to determine if Nayeon was pulling her leg.

“It’s honestly for you, but I made it both for it being able to assist in your therapy for your memories and for you to use…in the future.”When I’m not around. She added silently to herself. “It’s not perfect and all—” Nayeon couldn’t barely looking at the wonky writing on the front of the scrapbook, embarrassed at how spectacularly she had failed with making the handwriting upon the scrapbook nice due to hours of trying to practice and get the right exact print that she had wanted to see her handwritten on the scrapbook.

At least a part of her would make it with Mina in the future, even after all their rehabilitation sessions and stuff had ended.

A bittersweet smile tugged at her lips at the thought.

“It’s perfect. Thank you!” Nayeon paused, blinking in sheer surprise at Mina’s words. She found herself blushing at the praise.

“You…You really mean that?”

“What do you mean do I really mean that? Of course I do! I mean everything that I say when it comes to you!” Mina huffed, unable to tear her eyes away from the beautiful scrapbook in her hands. “And look! Look! You even got my birthday jewel right and you placed it in the middle of the scrapbook!” Nayeon laughed sheepishly, almost embarrassed.

“You said that you liked crystals and stuff like that so…so I thought…”

“You pressed and dried flowers for alternate pages?” Mina gasped, finally opening up the scrapbook like a child that had finally experienced for the first time the meaning of Christmas.

“Mhm.” Nayeon felt like shrinking into herself out of pleased embarrassment as Mina oohed and aahed over the scrapbook publicly, her glee almost visible for anyone to see.

“Oh Nayeon—” Mina couldn’t help the overwhelming surge of emotional feelings that welled in her chest. She turned towards the other girl, half of her felt like crying, and the other half…was simply immersed in sheer excitement. “I love you so much for this!” She grabbed Nayeon in a tight hug, not noticing how Nayeon froze instantly at the touch of the hug around her middle frame.

Oh. My. God.

Mina was hugging her.

Nayeon felt dizzy at the thought, lightheaded as she grasped onto Mina, trying to steady herself. They sat entwined in a hug like that, her nose buried deep into Mina’s beautiful scent. But quickly the shock fades away—and Nayeon all but melts into Mina’s arms, burrowing her nose deep into Mina’s shoulder blade as she basked in the other girl’s hug.

“O-oh…” Mina flushed, finally realizing what she had done. “You…”

Nayeon licked her lips, both of them pulling back and away from each other, blushing fiercely. Their ears burning in both embarrassment and excitement and Nayeon’s eyes glittered with emotion—like a reflection of Mina’s own pair of eyes as they started into each other’s eyes deeply.

Why…did this not feel strange?

How was Mina this beautiful and this amazing? Nayeon thought dazedly to herself while her eyes flicking over Mina’s face. From the slight flush of her ears to her bashful little smile, the long lashes that fluttered unsurely as she tried to maintain eye contact with her in this awkwardly strange but long hug that they both shared.

No. Correction. It wasn’t awkward.

It was just…strange.

Like there was something stirring between them that they couldn’t stop. Nayeon’s heart raced quickly in her chest.

This was it, wasn’t it?

Her eyes fluttered the moment Mina drew in closer, their breaths feathering over each other’s lips. Nayeon’s eyes were pulled to the way Mina’s tongue nervously darted out to wet her drying lips.

This was going to be it.

They were going to cross the line of no return. She’ll confess, Mina will confess, and they’d…they’d live happily ever after just like that, wouldn’t they?

If that was how the story of her life would go, she was sure that she would die a fucking happy woman, Nayeon thought to herself as her eyes trained in on Mina’s lightly parted lips.

Slowly, both gravitated towards each other, clearly going in for a tender kiss. Faintly, Nayeon felt Mina’s lips graze her own in a nervous, delicate touch. Just the barest hint of a press upon her lips before…a wild, wet lick smacks up with a pant right between their lips.

They both froze instantly, trying to comprehend the wet but rough sensation of a puppy tongue upon their lips.

“Ah! No!” Nayeon screeched, pulling away from Mina. The tender moment dissolved into nothingness as she pawed at her mouth forlornly, wiping away the puppy drool. She watched the maltese pant almost vindictively at her, as though it had been planning the greatest plan to disrupt them right at that moment.

Nayeon mourned to herself about the possibility, throwing her head back slightly. She sighed, finally noticing that Mina had chosen to disregard their almost kiss in favor of lavishing her attention on the puppy.

Instantly, she pouted, harrumphing at Mina, making the other girl raised her brows in light surprise. 

“Are you jealous of a puppy?” Mina asked, deeply amused.

“Pay attention to meee!” Nayeon whined and Mina laughed at her. With her face still flushing red, she shook her head, throwing the almost kiss to the back of her mind. “Anyway, did you bring the stuff that I told you to bring?”

“Mmm.” Mina nodded, putting the puppy aside to fish out the photos that she had brought upon Nayeon’s request. In one of their earlier sessions just a few days before, Nayeon had requested her to bring some important photos of hers. Though as for what they were specifically for…Nayeon had failed to mention.

Mina’s eyes flickered.

She could make a well-educated guess about it though, considering…she raised her brows once more at the sight of the markers and colourful pens that Nayeon had fished right out of her bag.

“Ah. Scrapbooking?”

“Memory making!” Nayeon corrected her cheerfully. “See, the purpose of this scrapbook is kinda simple in a way. I had thought of a way that could possibly help you remember more things. Like memories. Visual memories. Think of it as like a physical, tangible record of something important to you.” She flipped upon the front page of the scrapbook to the first page, where two columns for the two pictures lay.

Family. One read.

Friends. The other read.

Nayeon smiled, turning her eyes towards Mina with a soft but gentle laugh.

“It’s your turn now like you promised a few days before. Tell me more about yourself with each picture that you’ve brought, and I’ll tell you mine the next time we meet.” Mina stared down at the two columns, the two words sending a pang right through her heart.

“You can do it without the family photo, if you want.” Nayeon’s voice softened gently as she watched Mina come to a complete stop, her eyes zeroed in on the word family. “I know it’s still hard for you to talk about the accident. Yet alone your family.” Her hand gently rested upon Mina’s shoulder, finally attracting the other girl’s attention. “You don’t have to tell me more about your family if you’re not ready.” Mina swiped at her eyes, the ache in her chest building into a strange pressure in her eyes as she fought off the urge to cry.

“I’m…I’m okay. I don’t want to talk about my family now. Eventually..maybe.” She winced at the thought, patting Nayeon’s hand comfortingly. The other girl held onto her gently, a look of sheer regret upon her face at the sight of the pain in Mina’s eyes. “Don’t feel bad about asking me about it. I’ll have to tackle it sooner or later.”

“That doesn’t make me feel any better.” Nayeon mumbled under her breath with a sigh. “Tell me something different then. Whatever you remember.”

“Then…I’ll tell you about them.” Mina reached forward, pulling a particular eye-catching picture to the front of pile. “See this?”

Nayeon nodded, her eyes drinking in the sight of a glamourous looking Mina, unable to move her eyes from it as her mouth dropped open at the bold red lip and well accented eyes.

“This looks like a celeb picture.” She blurted out, much to Mina’s amusement. “You look like a fucking celeb!” Nayeon exclaimed, running a hand through her hair. “Why the hell do you look so good?!” Confusion and suspicion niggled in the back of Nayeon’s mind.

Surely, Mina wasn’t an idol. She wasn’t a celeb.

She couldn’t be.

Hell no.

No way!

“Well, before you go on to notice further things about me, let me draw your attention to these two beautifulladies right here.”

“Not as beautiful as you.” Nayeon muttered, yelping as Mina smacked her right in the side. She doubled over instantly with a slight cough, gasping for a little breath before she finally turns her attention towards the two other girls that Mina had been pointing to.

“See them?”

“Yeah, I do. What about them?” The other two girls that Mina had pointed out were ridiculously beautiful too, Nayeon thought to herself in almost sheer disbelief.

“Are you sure you really aren’t some kind of celebrity? I’ve only ever seen celebs having this level of pretty looking friends.”

“Shut up.” Mina pouted at Nayeon.” Are you going to let me tell you the story or not?!”

“Yes, yes! I’m listening…I’m listening.” Nayeon mumbled, squinting slightly. She somehow felt a vague sense of familiarity well up in her veins.

The two girls looked familiar. Even more so now that her attention had been completely drawn to them and Mina. In fact, the three of them together in a singular portrait looked ridiculously familiar.

Nayeon squinted, scowling slightly as she stared at the photograph with a strange intensity that nearly made Mina laugh.

“You’re going to burn a hole into the photo if you keep on staring like that.”

“No…but like I think I’m hallucinating. This whole ass picture is way too familiar to me and I can’t put my finger on it.” Mina stifled a giggle at Nayeon’s words. “It’s like I have an itch and I can’t scratch it. That kind of thing, you know?”

Mina stifled her laughter once more at Nayeon’s ridiculous description.

“Maybe you do know them. It’s just that it’s not in the forefront of your mind right now.” Mina reasoned softly, brushing the fringe that had fallen over Nayeon’s eyes briefly in her attempt to peer a little closer at the picture. “This is a picture of me and my friends. It took me a lot of months to actually recall both their names.” Nayeon paused, finally stopping her joking attitude. She turned her full attention back towards Mina, noticing the way that the other girl’s eyes had turned slightly downcast at the very thought.

“A lot of months? Including the ones that we were working on stuff together?”

“Mmm.” Mina nodded slightly. “I woke back up not just with my parents' pictures in the locket, you know.” A wry smile graced her face. “There was this picture of these girl too in there. Like there was something important that I should have known and should have remembered but couldn’t.” A flash of pain rips across her face as she recalled the darker days of trying her best and being frustrated at not recalling a single thing. “It came back to me as time passed, but by then it had been months since I managed to recall their names. These girls are my best friends. Sana and Momo.”

“Sana and Momo.” Nayeon mumbled, reiterating the names under her breath. Her brows knitted together again, once more. “That…that sounds even more familiar.”

“Maybe because you might have…might have heard of a group called Misamo?”

Nayeon’s head whipped up in sheer surprise at Mina’s words. Her mouth gaped, finger raised and pointed as she stared at Mina with new eyes. Mina looked on at her, enjoying mildly the surprise that had been deeply etched into Mina’s face.

She chuckled.

“No way.”

“Uh huh. Yes way.”

“No fucking way!” Nayeon screeched. “And you said that you weren’t famous! That’s a bold-faced fucking lie!” Mina burst out laughing at Nayeon’s unholy screech in response, allowing the other girl to reach out and grab the photo in her hands, peering at it in sheer disbelief.

“To be fair, I’m even more surprised that you didn’t know who I was when we first met.”

Nayeon mumbled something unintelligible, gaping and shaking her head slightly, as though trying to register the fact that this person—this woman that she had helped out reluctantly at first and now was slowly falling in love with, was an idol.

Mina, was an idol.

The surprise turns into shock, then sheer disbelief, before the reality of the situation hits Nayeon like a wrecking ball that had been set completely free.

She had fallen for an idol. An idol that would not be allowed to date, would not—

“Nayeon.” She starts slightly, called back to the present at the sound of Mina’s soft voice. “Was this too much of a surprise for you?” She murmured. “We’re…we’re not that famous and popular I promise.”

Nayeon shook her head slightly.

“Don’t put yourself down like that. I think you’re pretty famous, because even I, someone who doesn’t really consume the idols and kpop in general, actually knows who you are.”

“Sure about that?”

“Vaguely. Vaguely!” Mina chuckled instantly at how frazzled Nayeon had sounded as soon as she leaned in to tease her.

“Who did you hear our names from though.”

“Well…my best friend.” Nayeon was almost sheepish when she finally remembered Jeongyeon, the guilty pang in her heart as she spared a look at her phone, wincing at the 1000+ messages and missed calls that had gone completely unanswered in favor of her concentration and dedication to helping Mina recover her memories over the past few months.

Fuck, she had even neglected and forgot about the fact that she had a gang to take care of. Nayeon clutched her head briefly in a sheer moment of deep regret.

What would Mina think of her if she found out about this? Nayeon groaned lowly to herself.

“Stop thinking so much. I can literally hear you thinking from sitting right next to you here.” Mina joked, nudging Nayeon with her elbow playfully. “Like I said, I’m…I mean we aren’t that popular.”

“Well…my best friend knows you. Oh, she’s going to fucking kill me for ignoring her for the past few months.” Nayeon winced once again at the thought. “And she’s your greatest fan too. I mean, Misamo’s greatest fan. She literally bought all your albums and talked my ear off completely back then.” Nayeon huffed, recalling how excited Jeongyeon had been as soon as Misamo made a comeback.

The other girl had grabbed her literally by the hair and forced her to join her in standing in line to buy the latest albums—all versions just so that she could get a proper photocard of all the girls.

It was insane.

Nayeon sighed at the thought.

“I’m dead.” She bemoaned. “I’m sooooo fucking dead in Jeongyeon’s book! You’re going to bury me if I ever pick up her calls again!”

“I’m sure she’ll forgive you. If it helps, you can use me as a shield.” Nayeon stared at Mina for a moment, as though she hadn’t realized that as a possible opportunity.

“…I couldn’t do that to you. Jeongyeon is…” She squinted her eyes at the thought of her best friend. “Quitesomething.”

“Call her then. You don’t have to meet her face to face. Plus. I do want to see what kind of friend she is.”

Nayeon forced a grin onto her face.

Please Jeongyeon, just keep your mouth tightly shut if you pick up the phone.

Squeezing her eyes shut, she whipped out the phone, feeling Mina snuggle right up next to her as she flushed and tapped Jeongyeon’s number in a fast dial upon her phone.

“Hello?”

“BITCH YOU FINALLY PICKED UP MY—”

“I WAS BUSY!!” Nayeon all but hollered back at the phone as soon as Jeongyeon’s loud ass voice sliced through the quiet of the room, sending puppies barking in every direction.

“What’s what? You were? Why are there dogs around you? That’s a lot of dogs around you. Like I can hear it! Are you mobbed by dog or something? Did they make you clean up dog poo and shit and stuff like that that’s why you’ve been far too busy to—”

“Shhh, just sh-shut up for a second, will you!” Nayeon felt her face flame the moment she felt Mina silently giggle next to her. “I..Well…I have a patient to take care of. And I’ve been doing that for the past few months. That’s why I neglected all the messages and calls. I’m sorry.”

Silence ensued.

“I can’t fucking believe it. Im Nayeon actually said sorry for not picking up calls and replying to messages.” Nayeon felt a shiver run down her back as Mina gave a soft, hasty little huff of a laugh at Jeongyeon’s words.

God. Please. Jeongyeon. Please. Be nice.

“Well? So what is it?”

“Well…I wanted to introduce you to someone in particular that I’ve spending a lot of time with.” Now that had instantly caught Jeongyeon’s interest. Everyone knew how rare it was that Nayeon liked someone enough to have a sustained amount of interest in the other, and Mina could instantly tell that this was a topic that was both hardly breached and yet something that intrigued Jeongyeon intensely.

“Okay, tell me more.” Nayeon squeezed her eyes shut for a brief moment, sending a light prayer to whichever gods possible that could hear her. While it was true that Jeongyeon was her best friend, Jeongyeon was also…one of the people with the loosest mouths possible amongst her friends. She would never be able to keep a secret.

Nayeon facepalmed herself while handing the phone over to Mina resignedly.

“Hello.”

“Uh…hellooo?” The sound of the unfamiliar voice of Mina ringing through the phone nearly made Jeongyeon does a double take.

But strangely enough, that same voice was quite familiar to her ears. She just couldn’t put a finger upon it. Jeongyeon frowned on the other side of the phone, sighing to herself.

“Nayeon, who the fuck is this?”

“Don’t swear!” By now, Nayoen was fully regretting having called Jeongyeon upon her phone. “I mean…tone down the swearing. You’re on speaker phone and we’re in public.”

“That voice is familiar, Nayeon. I feel like I’m hallucinating.”

Mina burst into giggles right beside her, her face flushed instantly.

“You two said the same thing just minutes apart. I guess that’s the privilege of best friends, huh?” Mina poked Nayeon playfully on her side and Nayeon gave an awkward but sad little laugh. “Hello Jeongyeon, it’s nice to meet you officially over the phone. I’m Nayeon’s patient for the past few months. Actually, next sixth months starting from the first day that she came.” Mina offered Nayeon a beautiful smile. “My name is Myoui Mina.”

“J-Jeongyeon?” Unsettled by the sudden silence on the other end of the phone, Nayeon felt a sense of deep responsibility as she brought the phone up to her ear, finally putting her friend off loudspeaker. “Are you still okay?”

The sound of heavy dramatic breathing resounded through the phone, making Nayeon shuddered.

“Hey…”

“So you were enjoying yourself while I slogged away here?”

“Huh?” What do you mean? What enjoying myself? What slogging away? What the hell are you talking about?”

“MINA MYOUI? YOU SPENT THE LAST FEW MONTHS WITH MINA MYOUI AND YOU DIDN’T TELL ME? I’M DISOWNING YOU AS MY BEST FRIEND!” The loud holler from Jeongyeon’s end of the phone made Nayeon screech. She quickly pulled the phone away from her ear, rubbing her left ear as it rang slightly from how loud Jeongyeon had been.

“Oh, damn. She’s loud. I heard her through the phone even though she’s not on loudspeaker.” Mina’s eyes widened slightly as she patted Nayeon on the back. “You’re doing fine though.” She stuck her tongue out teasingly.

“This is your fault.” Nayeon wanted to sob. A Jeongyeon that was fine and perfectly normal was easy to handle. Maybe a little difficult to handle at times. But a Jeongyeon that was going insane over her favourite idol? Now that was something almost impossible to handle.

“DON’T YOU DARE BLAME MINA—” Nayeon growled to herself while staring at her phone with a renewed and freshened hatred.

“Shut up!” She yelled back with a huff. “I’m trying to talk here!”

“SHhhhhhh!”  Nayeon stiffened when one of the café employees hissed in her direction, clearly disturbed by the loud noise.

“Sorry.” She mouthed towards the staff sheepishly as Mina sniggered lightly behind her.

“Why are you enjoying my pain so much?” She whispered at Mina, watching the other girl grinned down at her.

“I’m not enjoying it. It’s just fun. You know? To see you and your friend interact with each other.” There was a little gleam of loneliness in Mina’s eyes.

“Your friends. They didn’t visit you?” Having completely forgotten all about the phone-call and Jeongyeon still being on the line, Nayeon tucked her legs in and took Mina’s hands gently. She looked down at the photo of the three-girl beaming at the camera together, decked out in the latest and most fashionable jewelry and clothes.

“Not that they didn’t. They just weren’t…allowed. They also wanted to give me some time to heal. In fact, they’re the ones that have been actually helping to fund my medicinal fees.” Mina’s head dropped slightly. She stared down at her hands, a wave of guilt surging through her veins at the thought.

Nayeon’s mouth parted slightly at Mina’s words.

“They weren’t allowed?Why? Did your company disallow them to do that?”

“Mmmm.. well, something like that. But the doctors didn’t allow them to come either. They were worried of exacerbating my condition back then. Because I couldn’t remember anyone. Everything was so terrifying to me that it was just overwhelming to be even alive at that point.” Nayeon’s hands tightened around Mina’s as though telling her that she would never let go.

A life without Mina? Nayeon thought to herself, almost horrified. There was a point where Mina was so upset about her situation that she felt that death was better than being alive?

She swallowed visibly.

“I’d be willing to meet those friends of yours one day. You know, just…friend to friend, and friends to friends.”

“Then you’ll have to bring Jeongyeon along.”

“No! She’ll ruin her first impressions of me!”

Mina covered her mouth slightly, unable to stop the chuckling snort that had bubbled from her nose at Nayeon’s words.

“But you’ll let her and help her meet her idols one day, right?” She wiggled her brows playfully as Nayeon shot her sour look.

“You just want me to be in pain.” Nayeon retorted back dramatically.

“I just want to see all of your friends.” Mina murmured softly. “People that make your day, people that make you cry, made you laugh, made you who you are as a person today.” Her eyes fell towards the photo of Misamo and her family members. “In a way I guess I want to live vicariously through you, since you have both friends and family.” There was a poignant pause. Nayeon’s brows knitted together, her lips pursing tightly at the mention of family.

“Maybe.” She muttered under her breath. “If they aren’t such dicks.”

“Hm? What did you say?” Mina barely caught onto the muttered words. She leaned in close, trying to understand what Nayeon had muttered under her breath.

“Nothing. Nothing. I was just thinking about… things. Like maybe visiting your friends and organizing things so that you can all have a reunion. Things like that.” She lied right through her teeth, quickly filing that idea away in her head promptly. She glanced back at her phone, the constant vibration from Jeongyeon’s messages finally annoying her enough as she growled under her breath, readying herself to give her best friend a good piece of her mind.

“Oh.”

Please bring Mina back now. Thank you. It’s nearly an hour to curfew. You promised .

Shit.

“How the hell is it almost 6pm?” Nayeon stared incredulously at the clock. “It just felt like things happened only…only five minutes ago.” Having a simple, pure but fun outing like this had made time fly by way too fast, she thought to herself grumpily, pouting once more in Mina’s direction as the other girl shook her head gently and gave a sweet little laugh.

“We just weren’t looking at the time. Did Mrs Han message you?”

“Uh huh.” Nayeon mumbled, quickly shooting a message back to Mrs Han. “Let’s just pack up quickly and get back. Don’t forget the scrapbook! And the camera!”

“I won’t.” Mina promised, wanting to laugh slightly at the sight of Nayeon looking so harassed. “Don’t worry so much. Take a deep breath and calm down.”

“There’s only one hour left to curfew!”

“And this café is only about a 10-minute walk from the here to the center.”

“Oh. You’re right.” Nayeon blinked. “I didn’t think of that.”

“Well, to be fair to you, you were mildly panicking about Jeongyeon.”

Nayeon pulled a slight face at the mention of her best friend, shivering slightly as she blocked the first gust of wind in front of Mina as soon as the door opened, taking the cold wintery air with a smack right to her face.The air was crisp as Nayeon made her way back to the center with Mina, the setting sun casting a warm golden glow over the streets.

By now, the streets were alive with the hustle and bustle of daily life. People hurried by, lost in their own worlds, and the distant hum of traffic provided a comforting backdrop to Nayeon's thoughts when Mina fell into step right next to her, right by her side.

Strangely, after the conversation they had held, Nayeon’s mind was simply buzzing with a lot of thoughts and mix of emotions. The revelation of Mina’s friends had only kickstarted the imaginary journey that Nayeon imagined was necessary to uncover for the sake of Mina’s own personal recovery. Perhaps going to seek the help of Sana and Momo was something that she should be planning, as insurmountable as the task was all on its own. But for the good of Mina’s mental and personal health, including that of regaining back her memories, Nayeon couldn’t shake the feeling that it was the exact path she needed to take.

As they approached the rehabilitation center, the pang of reluctance surged in Nayeon’s gut with the familiar sight of the building came into view. Already, Mrs Han was waiting for them at the door, ready to take Mina back into the center for some well-deserved rest.

Nayeon stood at the gate of the center, watching as Mrs. Han led Mina inside.

She couldn't shake off the feeling of reluctance that had finally burst into a full blossom of painful reluctance and longing, as though a part of her wanted to stay with Mina, just to make sure she would always be okay.

“Hey Mina!” She watched Mina stop at the sound of her voice.“I’ll see you tomorrow?” She yelled into the cold wintery air, watching Mina paused on the steps, the smile upon her face almost discernable as she nodded and waved back.

“Yeah!” The wind carried the soft sound of her exclaiming reply back towards her, and Nayeon couldn't help but beam at the response.

Once they disappeared from view, Nayeon took a deep breath and turned away, stuffing her hands back into her pockets as she made her way back home. Now, with a new goal of getting Mina’s friends involved in mind, she had quite a few things to plan.

Chapter Text

Planning to actually meet Sana and Momo wasn’t quite as easy as Nayeon had originally planned. Sure, there weren’t many people in South Korea that were named Sana and Momo, nor were there many people who were named Sana and Momo that were basically Japanese—so logically speaking, it should have been more than easy for her to even locate them.

See…well, the problem was, they were only too easy for her to locate.

And by that, she meant that they were only too easy for her to locate because they were superstars.

“Fuck. Mina didn’t tell me that she was a superstar.” Nayeon scratched her bottom lip with a worrying sigh, staring wide-eyed at the computer screen right in front of her. She chewed nervously upon her stinging lip.

“Didn’t tell you what?” She startled slightly at the sound of Jeongyeon’s voice, a wry smile twisting the corners of her lips up ever so slightly as she shook her head and shut her laptop down instantly, as though not wanting her best friend to see a fraction of what she was even up to.

Part of the reason why she did so was because of her fear of how Mina would possibly react to eventually knowing that she was associated to one of those biker gangs—biker gangs and gangs in general were never any sort of good news in any asians’ book, especially if they were brought up in a pretty conservative society, something which South Korea and Japan still were, to an extensive degree.

“Uh huh.”

“Mhm.”

“Right.” Jeongyeon took a long drink out of her sports water bottle. Her eyes narrowed sharply in a deep yet undoubtedly display of mistrust as she gave a long yet drawn out hurrumph through her nose. “Uh huh my ass.” Jeongyeon muttered deeply to herself, grumbling. She purposefully kicked Nayeon’s chair, watching rather pleasely as Nayeon jumped instantly in her seat. “Keeps saying that she’s busy—” another kick, “Avoids us constantly! We don’t even do ride together anymore. It’s always, another day Jeongyeon—” She whined, mimicking the tone of Nayeon’s voice as Nayeon blushed. “I have something to dooooo.”

“It’s true though! I do have something to do.” Nayeon protested weakly, swatting at Jeongyeon’s hands while her best friend reached over the grab her in faux protest.

“Uh huh. And what exactly are you busy with?” Jeongyeon’s brow raised up all the way to her hairline.

“N-Nothing?”

“Nothing?!” Jeongyeon shrieked.

“Nothing! It’s private business!”

“You never have private business!”

“That was before!” Nayeon squealed, waving her arms desperately as Jeongyeon’s fingers zoomed to tickle her sides in an attempt to force her to tell the truth. “Stop it!” She shoved Jeongyeon back, watching as her friend hurrumphed once more at her before dropping her offensive stance.

“Fine. But you’ll tell me all about it one day, won’t you?” There was almost a pleading tone to Jeongyeon’s voice.

“Yes, I will.”

“So now—what exactly were you searching for?”

“You said you wouldn’t ask about it!”

“Is that the private information that you’re working on? I thought it was just some pervy shit that you were trying to read!”

“I don’t read pervy shit!” Nayeon bellowed, clutching her laptop to her chest protectively as she blushed right down to the tips of her ears.

“Okay, okay! Loosen up man! I was just joking!” Nayeon spluttered at Jeongyeon’s words.

“Yeah? Don’t joke about that!”

“Says the person that has girls-love comics under her bed.” Jeongyeon droned with a splendid roll of her eyes. “No, but frankly, I was asking because I thought you might need some help here and there. Maybe I could help you with something without having to know the details…you know?”

Nayeon pondered Jeongyeon’s words for a long moment.

There was some element of truth to Jeongyeon’s words, she mused to herself. She had been having difficulties in getting or even thinking of a plan on how to get close to Sana and Momo, Mina’s friends without seeming much like a creepy stalker, and Jeongyeon was…a daughter of an entertainment conglomerate.

She winced instantly at the thought.

As much as most of her friends from the biker gang did come from families that were rich and pretty much chaebol standard families, they were also pretty much the odd ones out amongst their family members—the rare few gems that hated flaunting around their wealth or utilizing their family’s skills and powers to obtain things that they preferred getting or regular individuals weren’t able to obtain through regular means.

If she was going to go that route…

Nayeon grimaced.

“Then…promise me one thing first before I let you help.”

“Sure.”

“That we’ll still be friends even after I ask you to help. And you should remember that you’re the one that said that you wanted to help me.”

Jeongyeon gaped at her for a hot moment.

“…Whoa. That serious?”

“Mhm.”

“No fucking way that I’m not going to be your friend, so you should have known that I was going to say yes to us still being friends after you asked for what you wanted anyway. It could be Tom ,Dick and Harry, or even going to the dumb concert that I don’t like—”

“Can you ask your parents to let me meet with Sana and Momo from Misamo?”

“….” Jeongyeon halted in her tracks abruptly, turning round wide eyed to stare at Nayeon, all traces of making fun of the other girl vanishing instantly as she crossed her arms and stared at Nayeon with an intensity that seemed like a thousand burning and accusing suns.

“Oh. So that’s why you said that.”

“Mhm.” Nayeon grimaced. “I know you don’t like it, and I don’t like asking our parents for help and favours either—”

“Then I guess you’ll owe me big time then.”

“Huh?!”

“I agreed, dumbass.”

“You…you did?”

“Yeah! Of course I did. What did you think I’d do? Unfriend you because you wanted to meet some idols and couldn’t meet them regularly? You probably didn’t want to seem like a creep, right?” Jeongyeon flopped onto the nearest couch lazily, wiping the remaining sweat from her brief but intense exercise routine off her brow.

“Yeah…sure, you could put it that way.” Nayeon mumbled, her eyes dropping almost guiltily to the ground. “I just wanted to meet them.”

“That bad, huh?”

“Mmm.”

“Well? Like I said. If I do this for you, you’ll owe me a big favour. That’s fine with you, right?”

“…I feel like I should say depends—but!” Nayeon dodged a punch sent her way by Jeongyeon as she yelped, then chuckled. “I’ll do whatever it is you want.”

“Then fine. All I want is for you to spend some time with your gang. Us.” She stabbed a finger towards her chest. “We’ve been feeling a little left out from whatever it is that you’ve been doing. I know you’re under probation and all that, but probation doesn’t equate to cutting off basically almost all your friends.”

“I didn’t—” Nayeon protested weakly once again, deflating the moment Jeongyeon gave her a sharp glare. “Okay, fine. Maybe…maybe…maybe a little. I’ll promise to spend some more time with you all maybe next week.”

“That’s better.” Jeongyeon hopped off her seat casually with a hum. “I’ll ask around a bit for you to see what kind of favours I can pull to get you a private meeting with them.”

Nayeon shuffled about in her seat, watching her best friend retreated away from her with a callous wave of her hands.

She could only hope that she had made the right choice by asking Jeongyeon for help here…a faint sigh bubbled from her lips as she finally heard the door close, turning her attention back once more towards her laptop with yet another heavy sigh.

“So!” Nayeon grabbed a loaf of bread and chowed down on it quickly. Her phone plastered to her ear as she hummed in acknowledgement of Jeongyeon’s words to show her best friend that she was indeed, listening to her. “I actually managed to get you a special meeting with Misamo.”

“What? You did?” Nayeon spluttered through a thick mouthful of her bread, nearly choking upon her coffee with surprise.

It had been more than a week that she had first asked and allowed Jeongyeon to help her out with regards to being able to find way—a proper way to meet Sana and Momo, the friends from Misamo that Mina had briefly mentioned her to.

It was for Mina’s own good, Nayeon thought to herself, protesting heavily against her own thoughts as she battled her own guilt and inner demons at doing something like this with the private information that Mina had shared with her. Even if it was to help Mina regain a fraction of her memories back, or to be able to remember more things as time passed.

Nayeon chewed on her bottom lip thoughtfully, almost forgetting that Jeongyeon was on the phone for a split moment.

“I can hear your fucking thoughts drifting, Nayeon.” She jolts back to the present in sheer surprise at the sound of Jeongyeon’s wry voice. “But anyway, as I was saying, you owe me big time. Because my mom and dad are making me go for this huge social event in exchange, where I’ll have to dress prettily like the daughter they wanted me to be, cover up my tattoos and make a good impression on Tom Dick and Harry number three thousand and twenty-four from another chaebol family.”

If it had been any other time that Nayeon had heard this wry joke from Jeongyeon, she would have laughed.

But considering the fact that her best friend was currently “risking” herself in a certain way for her own benefit, Nayeon could only feel the twinge of guilt. She swallowed the bread she had been chewing in her mouth to hum a halfhearted answer back at Jeongyeon.

“Sorry.”

“Booo, is that a sorry I hear? Since when does Im Nayeon say sorry? Did probation at that center thing change you?”

“M-Maybe…? That’s not a bad thing, right?”

“Of course not! I’ve been dying to hear apologies from you.” Jeongyeon teased with a magnificent eye roll on the other end of the phone. Nayeon swung her legs and instantly pouted at the deep sarcasm she could practically sense in her best friend’s voice.

“You’re making it sound like a bad thing.” She whined, clutching the phone a little closer to her ear and shoulder. “Anyway, you were saying about the meeting you managed to get for me with Misamo?”

“Yeah, about that. You owe me big time—”

Nayeon made an impatient noise through her nose and waved Jeongyeon off her current topic impatiently.

“You already said that!”

“Okay, okay! I’ll get to the point then! Jeez!” Jeongyeon grumbled. Nayeon beamed widely, a soft cackle bubbling from her lips as she dropped onto her sofa, swinging her legs up comfortably as she adjusted her phone to her ear properly once more, this time holding it up securely with her hand.

“Anyway, the point is, you’ll have a special badge to go in. They’ve been told that they’re going to be having a fanmeeting, so we got you a VIP pass for you to be able to visit them backstage. There will be other fans, but you’ll be the last of their fans to see them so that you’ll be able to have some private one on one talks with them.”

Nayeon squealed instantly, popping up from her seat with an exaggerated gasp.

“Thank you! Muah! I love you so much, Jeongyeon!”

“Yeah, yeah. You only love me when I help you with things like this! Spend more time with all of us, you dummie!” Nayeon could almost hear the smile that was curving upon Jeongyeon’s lips. They both gave a pause, then a giggle.

“I’ll see you next week, Jeongyeonie.” Nayeon murmured softly into the phone. “Sorry for being a bit absent recently. I’ve just been pre-occupied with work things. The center’s been much busier than I originally thought it would be.”

And there’s a girl that I’ve started falling in love with. Crazily.

A soft sigh of happiness and relief broke free from Nayeon’s lips as Jeongyeon hung up on her quickly.

At least—she was finally getting something done that was going to help Mina—as she had always wanted to have done.

…

The day of the supposed fanmeeting couldn’t have come any sooner. In fact, Jeongyeon had made it a point to inform her about the fanmeeting just two days before the whole fanmeeting had started, just giving her barely enough time to actually prepare something of proper worth to pitch towards Sana and Momo.

After all, she had to convince them that she was there for Mina’s benefit. A Mina—that couldn’t exactly remember them in particular, yet alone allow them to visit for the past few months that she was attempting to recuperate out of the kindness of her own heart.

It would have been extremely difficult for either of her friends to have witnessed Mina struggling to recall not just them, but her own past memories. To have them literally witness her constantly being told repeatedly that her family had died to a car crash…?

That had to be awful for anyone to witness, Nayeon thought to herself, cringing at the thought almost painfully. She tugged down the mask to conceal her face even better.

The bowler hat that she had bought specifically to help conceal identity sat comfortably on top her head, and Nayeon quickly stuffed her hands in her pockets as she flashed her VIP pass at the security guards and passed through into the fanmeeting without much of an issue.

Whew.

Well, the first bridge to meeting the two halves that made up Misamo was going as smooth as she had wanted it to be.

Nayeon quickly settled in her seat, wringing her hands almost fervently as she looked on at all the various fans in the venue, all holding lightsticks and placards as the fanmeeting begun with an explosive bang of music, and Nayeon settled back into her seat at the furthest corner, hoping secretly to herself that none of their fervent fans would notice that she hadn’t had any lightsticks or placards to cheer them on in hand.

It was a proper hour and a half later that the fanmeeting ended, and Nayeon finally got her chance to actually meet Sana and Momo properly after the last fan had actually finished their session with them.

Nayeon bounced nervously upon the balls of her feet. She stuffed her hands into her pockets for what seemed to be the umpteenth time, the sound of her squeaking shoes scuffing against the pristine marbled floor almost grating in her ears as she watched the staff standing guard to the door almost warily.

“Alright. It’s your turn now. You may go in.”

Nayeon startled at the gruff sound of the bodyguard’s voice. She cleared her throat nervously and straightened herself quickly before walking towards the tiny room.

What would Sana and Momo be like?

Would they like her? Take well to her? Accept her words and trust that she was approaching them and doing all of this for Mina’s own good? Hell, would they even accept her explanation of Mina’s condition that caused her to lose memory of things every now and then?

Nervously, she chewed her bottom lip, peeking up through her hat towards a pair of long long legs…before the unmistakably cold beauty of Momo’s features swam into view.

Momo was everything that Mina had told her.

Momo? She’s kind of a cold beauty. Like she radiates coldness but can be beautifully cute too, especially if she’s familiar or doesn’t have her guard up against you. The soft murmur of Mina’s voice flashed in her memory almost bashfully as she recalled the memory of a shy Mina first introducing her to Misamo through her treasured pictures that she had of the girls.

She’ll always look at people with some kind of a mistrust that causes people to not really like her, but that’s just her being a little bit more careful. She cares the most for Sana and I, and both Sana and I aren’t exactly…the best in gauging when people are nice and kind to us or not. That’s why Momo kinda took it upon herself to be the slightly nastily and paranoid one, just so that we won’t end up being too gullible. A faint chuckle bubbled from Mina’s lips at the thought. If all three of us were that gullible, we wouldn’t survive in the entertainment industry at all. It’s a pretty hardcore and cruel place after all.

Nayeon exhaled roughly the moment her eyes caught onto Momo’s wary but curious ones. Then Sana came round soon after, prancing forward with a skip in her step as the two girls both settled down into their seats.

Momo crossed her arms.

She didn’t like whoever this was that claimed to be their fan.

Management had told them about this fan after all—it had been a unique request that they had been asked to fulfill from one of their company’s sponsors—the thought set a deep scowl right upon her face. Momo didn’t like the thought of having to settle for entertaining a fan that had used their connections unlike their other loyal fans to get a unique meeting with them. While Sana didn’t really get the essence of why that was bad, Momo hated the fact that it was becoming a precedent, especially within the entertainment industry.

She had heard stories of it from others, after all. Part of her was slightly glad that Mina wasn’t here to witness all this tomfoolery, to pander to this fan that probably just wanted to boast to their friends that they had the chance to see some superstars despite not being a fan just because of their family.

A slight scoff bubbled from Momo’s lips, and Nayeon shrunk even more into her seat.

Fuck. She knew this wasn’t a good idea.

“Hello!” Drawn out of her frightened reverie from meeting Momo, Nayeon turned her eyes almost desperately, eyes wide and hopeful as Sana’a blindingly cute smile swam into view.

Ah. Right. Sana.

Instantly, Nayeon shrank even more into her seat, almost as if unsure how to react to Sana’s overly warm welcome and brightness that seemed to radiate with such a glow that Nayeon felt almost incompetent to witness.

It was almost exactly as what Mina had jokingly warned her about.

Sana—well, Sana’s like the brightest force of a sun. A wry smile twisted lightly against Mina’s lip, almost fond as she shook her head in remembrance of her friend. Some people take to her well, some don’t. She’s sweet, kind, but can be a little much to handle. But she’s nice. She’ll also probably be the only one out of the two of them to take to you well. If I ever introduce you to them. Mina chuckled.

Well. Fuck it. Now they were meeting, whether or not Mina wanted to introduce them to her in the future.

Nayeon wanted to groan, ears flaming. She fidgeted in her seat, unsure of how to react exactly to Sana’s beaming smile.

“Are you okay? You look kinda pale.” Sana reached forward slightly, only to be restrained by Momo’s light hiss and the stay of the other’s hand.

“Don’t touch her. We need to have boundaries with our fans, remember?” Momo wanted to hiss, groaning internally to herself as she watched Sana’s lips screw into a cute little pout. She narrowed her eyes and crossed her arms. “Sana.”

“Okay, okay! I won’t touch her. I mean…I was just trying to be caring about her.” Sana mumbled to herself, the slight rattle of the chair as she collapsed back on it, compromising with Momo’s half glare, making Nayeon shrank a little more into her seat. “She just seems so…so nervous.”

“Well..I mean…I am nervous.” Nayeon wanted to dig a hole in the ground the moment her voice cracked at her confession. She buried her face in her hands as she briefly saw Momo’s brows raise in surprise at the sudden crack in her voice.

“Was that a voice cr—”

“No! I mean, yes! But that’s…that’s not the point! I’m…I’m not your fan!” Nayeon blurted out instantly, thrusting her hands out and waving them fervently. She quickly whipped her hat off her head, pulling the mask off to fully reveal her face—wide-eyed and almost crazy eyed as she stared at a confused Sana and even more suspicious Momo.

Fuck. She’d fucked that up grandly hadn’t she?

“If you’re not our fan, then why are you even here? Why get that favour and demand a meeting with us?”

“Uh well, I…I have my reasons?”

“Are you going to go back home and boast to your friends about meeting a bunch of stars and what not?” Momo crossed her arms once more, staring down Nayeon unimpressively.

Whoever this person was—she was doing a shit job at making a good impression, Momo snorted to herself.

Reasons. Hah! As if they could even believe a fraction of that!

“Well…I actually came here because I’m…I’m a friend of Mina’s.”

“WHAT?!” The loud slam from Momo’s hands against the table made both Sana and Nayeon jump—the clatter of the chair falling backwards loud in everyone’s ears. Nayeon tipped backwards with a wild little squeak, crashing to the ground splendidly in the most awkward of all positions, and absolutely terrified expression etched into her face.

“Sorry. She didn’t mean to scream.” Sana quickly pressed a hand against Momo’s arm, trying to drag the other girl down back into her seat properly. She offered to Nayeon what she hoped was at least a nicer and more amiable smile. “She’s just jumpy because you’re talking about one of our other members who went through quite a bit of…an accident…”

“I know.” Nayeon picked herself up quickly, dusting her hands against her pants while trying to fight off the momentary embarrassment that had welled up in her deeply at her sudden mishap and fall from the chair. “I mean, I’ve basically been taking c-care…” She stammered, watching as Momo’s face got angrier and angrier by the minute.

“What does she mean been taking care of her! Huh? You told us that she was resting and recuperating in the hospital!” She lunged right at their manager, just barely stopped by Sana who gave her a hefty tug and managed to pull Momo back.

“Calm down! She is resting!” Nayeon felt like a criminal as she watched the manager hold up his hands guiltily, staring at her intermittently as though blaming her for telling and talking about Mina to both of the girls. Sana and Momo both stared at their manager expectantly, as though awaiting some kind of answer from them.

“Well..I think I can tell you more than your manager.” Nayeon licked her lips nervously, wringing her hands slightly as she watched carefully for both of the girl’s reactions. “It’s something related to why she hasn’t been allowing or wanting you two come and visit her.”

To say that both Sana and Momo both looked devastated after she divulged the news of Mina’s new and developing memory loss was almost an understatement.

“So…so she’s forgotten all about us?”

“Not necessarily. She remembers quite a lot of things about you.” A faint chuckle bubbled from Nayeon’s lips. Now that they were obviously talking about Mina, things were much easier for her to handle. A sigh of mild relief parted her lips. “Both of you, to be a little more specific about things. She says that you two are great friends, and that she wants to spare you both from the…the pain of seeing her go through all that.” The lump in her throat only rose even more at the thought, the bitter thought of having to be one of the few that witnessed and faced Mina’s impending memory disability eating away at her insides the more that she learned and fell for the other girl.

“You like her.” Sana beamed, almost pleased at such a development happening. Nayeon straightened herself, half out of embarrassment and half out of denial.

“I—No, I’m not. I like her, but I don’t like like her. You know? We can’t be in a relationship. It’s a stipulated protocol thing that the hospital and the center have.”

“Mmm.” Sana hummed knowingly, staring at Nayeon with a pleased twinkle in her eyes. “I’m glad that you like and care for her though. She needs it, especially since we can’t be by her side.”

“So…why have you come looking for us?” Momo leaned forward, as though trying to deduce the intent behind why Nayeon had specifically come requesting for an audience with them.

“See—it’s near Christmas and the New Year, and Mina has only improved by leaps and bounds with her memory. I personally think that having you two come around often to be around her would be…sweet, and wonderful for Mina’s progression in her regaining of her memories.” She posited the thought quietly, almost as if seeking for their approval—no, nearly begging for their approval.

“Will…she want us there?” There’s almost a tentative note to Momo’s voice, the lean of her body forward and intense, as though trying to garner a deeper understanding of whether or not Mina had approved of Nayeon’s prior visit.

Nayeon swallowed visibly.

“Well, I’m not sure. But it’s great for a surprise, isn’t it? Especially since it’s the New Year and near Christmas.”

“So she doesn’t know.”

“Yeah.” Nayeon whispered back the affirmation, feeling the pit in her stomach growing a little more hollow at the look in Momo’s eyes.

“Then I’m not going.”

“W-What?” Nayeon couldn’t help but splutter, eyes widening almost comically at Momo’s refusal. “But—”

“You’re disrespecting Mina’s wishes. How do you even know that she wants us there or not? Mina will call us herself when she wants to see us.”

Nayeon nearly groaned at Momo’s stubbornness. As paranoid as the other girl seemed to be, was she really going to—

“We’ll consider it.” It’s Sana that ends up with a compromise, a softened smile at the edges of her lips as she mouthed lightly in her direction “I’ll try and convince her to do it” That made Nayeon smile almost apologetically back in her direction. “Thank you for suggesting things to us though. Just…” Sana fumbled in her pocket for her moment. “Okay, promise me you won’t go around sharing these.” The clatter of her phone resounded loudly against the table. “Something at least to help us contact each other if need be.” She held out her hand for Nayeon’s phone expectantly. “Your phone?”

“Oh!” Nayeon’s eyes widened, scrambling almost to fish her phone out from her pocket. “I…H-Here.” She stammered slightly. Sana’s brow raised at the cute background of her unlocked phone that was clearly Mina dressed cutely in her winter wear, catching snowflakes in her hands.

“Cute.” The idol merely shrugged, quickly entering her phone number into Nayeon’s contacts with flying fingers. “I’ll call you and everything to set up a time to meet Mina if you at least tell her that you’ve come to us. Or if I can actually convince you know who—” She shot a half glare at Momo quickly, “To be okay with visiting.”

“Thank you.” The phone number felt almost like a lifesaving line that had been thrown in Nayeon’s direction, even as she flubbed and floundered with no direct plan on how to rope Momo and Sana into her plan to help Mina. Thankfully, they were open to it. Or at least, Sana seemed to be so…more so than that of Momo.

“I’ll take my leave now.” She mumbled, flinching slightly the moment she caught onto the end of the sharper glare that Momo had deliberately sent her way. “I’ll think about telling Mina about what happened here today.” She winced at the thought once more. “W-When I’m kinda ready for the consequences of it.”

Consequences be damned—she wasn’t even going to think minimally about it. Nayeon groaned lightly to herself, brushing a hand right through her hair. Thankfully ,the meeting with Momo and Sana had finished just in time for her next step of her plan, which was to continue exposing and broadening Mina’s various experiences to help her memories.

The more she experienced something good, the more Nayeon believed that Mina’s memories would return back to her—it was kind of a key point by now, at least from what she could really see.

Nayeon smiled as Mina’s silhouette became visible in the doorway. She waved brightly towards her with a laugh as Mina stuck out her tongue and pranced down the steps happily towards her, nearly tripping over her feet from how much she had bundled up to keep warm for their outing today.

Except that—it wasn’t an official outing per say. Sure, Mrs Han knew what they were doing and turned a blind eye towards it as long as she knew that Nayeon could ensure Mina’s safety. But they had been doing these secret sneaky outings each and every time Nayeon found the time to do so in-between shifts. From cafe-hopping to even managing to go to painting class for a few good hours before being found out by Mrs Han, it was just…an overall bliss to continually experience.

Mina’s cheeks instantly coloured a fresh pinkish red. She blushed, hands grasping affectionately onto Nayeon’s as Nayeon caught onto her with a soft laugh, reciprocating Mina’s distinct excitement with clear excitement of her own.

“Where are we going today?!” Mina’s voice pitched happily high above the winds, nearly yelling as a gust of wind shuddered down the walkway that they were on, sending both their teeth chattering in the cold.

“We’re—uh, sightseeing. Somewhat!” Nayeon yelled back, not wanting to divulge further contents of what she had been planning for today’s outing. It was meant to be a surprise after all—the stargazing, even if it was in the cold.

Mina had talked to her about her love for the constellations, and Nayeon couldn’t help but love the way that Mina’s face lit up upon telling her about all the various different constellations that she had learnt over the months that she had tried different ways to regain her short-term memory.

It was one of the first proofs that told of Mina’s gradual improvement in her memory—the Pole Star or rather the Polaris, with the meaning of the Polaris making things even more significant—especially when they both realized that Polaris was used in the olden days for lost explorers to find their way home.

Nayeon’s lip curved upwards in gentle irony at the thought.

They had ended up using that a symbol of potential hope and healing—of “finding Mina’s way home”, something that she wanted to remind the other girl of with Christmas and New Years looming right round the corner.

It was going to be a start of a New Year, so why not remind her of the fact that Nayeon believed that she would always, if not eventually find her memories and her way home?

“So…you haven’t told me what exactly it is that we’re doing.”

Nayeon popped a rice cake into her mouth, a little stupefied by the sight of the setting sun casting its wares upon the edges of Mina’s face, turning the gentle curve of her features sweet as it basked in a warm golden glow.

“Hrm?” Nayeon shook her head slightly, blinking rapidly. She turned her attention back towards Mina, a gradually softening smile progressively lighting up as her face affectionately as soon as Mina turned to look at her. “Well…I thought we might want some star gazing.”

“In the wintery cold?”

“I brought ramen, and hot packs! Hot drinks too!” Nayeon protested with a pout. Mina chuckled, raising her brows as Nayeon shoved the steaming hot ramen that they had gotten at the nearby convenience store at the Han River.

“Bet you never saw how Ramen was cooked like that before.” Nayeon added with a huff, recalling with a slight grin how Mina’s eyes had widened dramatically at the sight of the all you can eat side dishes that the convenience store provided.

Was she being cliched by bringing Mina to stargaze right at the Han River?

Sure, she was.

But hey, it was romantic enough for them.

At least—this allowed her to dream of something between them, when clearly they were simply friends.

Nayeon’s smile dissipates slightly at the thought, only brought back once more to the present by the touch of Mina’s hand wrapped firmly around hers.

“M-Mina?” She paused and blinked rapidly, watching Mina lean in for a hot second, eyes widening at the sight of the other girl leaning in close—almost too close to her, eyes wide and fixated upon her lips almost…longingly.

Mina swallowed slightly.

She had seen the light distraction that Nayeon had been in and had instantly taken advantage of the opportunity to get just a little closer than normal.

Her breath misted slightly, thoughtful as she glanced up at Nayeon, drinking of her features lost in thought as she stared away thoughtfully at the sky.

“You look pretty.” Mina felt her ears flame at the compliment she gave—as basic as the compliment itself was, it was still…still something new for her. Acting upon her liking for Nayeon, at least.

She had always refrained from doing something like that despite recognizing the fact that Nayeon liked her.

Or at least, she believed that Nayeon liked her.

Mina nervously chewed upon her bottom lip at the thought, squeezing her eyes shut for a moment as she willed herself to be a little more daring than she usually was.

What harm could there be to give her a little peck on the lips?

It wouldn’t kill them, that was something she knew for sure.

Before she could stop herself or convince herself to not do whatever it was that she was thinking of—Nayeon glanced down abruptly, and in that split instant, their lips grazed each other.

Lightly.

Delicately.

Like a feather light touch upon each other’s lips, gently swishing like the tenderest touch upon her soul.

Mina straightened slightly, eyes wide, watching the reality of what happened slowly registers itself on Nayeon.

She swallowed abruptly, almost hesitant, yet desperate for yet another touch of those soft lips she had briefly felt against her own.

Kiss me again. Mina wanted to beg, her fingers ghosting up the sides of Nayeon’s arms. The cold, wintery air fanning over them as though trying to hinder them.

“Cold?” Nayeon’s voice was soft, almost as though she was afraid of scaring Mina away.

Mina sniffed, fingers slightly frozen from the cold. She cleared her throat, wriggling herself a little closer as she blushed, slightly embarrassed that she had actually been the one to initiate their first kiss.

Was it too much? Was she a little too straightforward? Panic rose slightly in her chest at the thought.

Maybe it was better that she didn’t…act upon her likes and desires.

She liked Nayeon, Mina knew that much.

She was…affectionate for her.

She adored her.

Fuck.

She was in love with her, wasn’t she?

Mina felt her cheeks redden at the thought.

Slowly, her fingers curled around the front of Nayeon’s scarf, eyes almost pleading as she stared up at Nayeon, feeling the other girl’s mood shift from desire to that of concern at the look upon her face.

“Mina?” She heard Nayeon murmur softly, fingers gently grazing over her head as though to feel for a temperature—to check if she was uncomfortable, and Mina’s heart swelled with affection at the care and concern in Nayeon’s voice.

It was something only privy to her—Mina thought almost selfishly to herself, half gloating and half adoring of how much Nayeon cared.

“Mm?”

“Are you okay? What do you need me to do? Do you need me to do anything? I’ll do—”

“You’ll do anything for me, won’t you?” Mina’s fingers shuffled a little closer to the edge of her jawline—a tender caress that was light and sweet, almost, as if she could imagine it to be…loving.

“I…yes.” Nayeon whispered the affirmation with the gentlest part of her lips.

“Then…kiss me.” Please.

Slowly but carefully, she leaned upwards, tongue gently darting out to taste her bottom lip, prodding ever so slightly as though asking for permission to continue as Mina closed her eyes tentatively.

There was a silence.

The soft feel of Nayeon’s warm lips against hers, closed as her heart weakened and turned colder by the minute in her chest.

Had she mistaken everything? Was Nayeon not receptive to her? Did she not want this as much as she did?

“Mina…” Nayeon’s words were soft, but whispered almost reverently against Mina’s lips. “I…I love you.” Her sweet lips parted slightly, the first taste of Nayeon’s strawberry chapstick rubbing off like a hint of spring against her lips. Mina automatically gasped, then smiled into the kiss.

It was everything that she had ever hoped for—the feeling of Nayeon’s fingers warm against her face as everything around her blurred and drowned into sheer nothingness. The soft meld of her tenderness in the kiss and the way that her lips pressed even more fervently than she did against Mina’s own. It was soft at first. Tender, almost tentative, until Nayeon could take it no more, the slide of her lips against her own swift in the gradation of its intensity as Mina clung onto the front of Nayeon’s shirt, fingers twined tightly in her scarf to pull the other girl down towards her lips.

The wind rustled gently through their air, frigid against their cheeks. Mina huffed a laugh against Nayeon’s lips, feeling the other girl shudder from the cold…before a pair of icy hands wormed itself into her warm jacket, drawing a squeal that Nayeon swallowed with another insistent kiss.

Mina murmured softly. Her nerves trembled, finding herself pressed herself close into Nayeon’s embrace, before the need of air washed over them both like a tidal wave. A mild sound of regret bursting from Mina’s lips as they parted reluctantly from the kiss.

Nayeon couldn’t help but buzz with nervousness.

This was their first kiss. A reciprocation that she had finally waited for and was unsure to act upon because of various…matters and issues.

“Mina…?” She murmured softly, feeling the other girl sag against her front, breath panting from her lips as though she hadn’t taken another gasp of breath in quite a while. “Uhm. Are you alright? You need to breathe through your nose to kiss someone, you know that, right?”

It…was strange.

Mina’s brows furrowed together slightly.

Why…why was she kissing this stranger?

Why were they—here out here at a river in the cold?

Why was she clutching to this human that she didn’t recognize as though everything that she was depended on her?

Who was she? What was she? Why was—Panic settled in instantly, the blankness in her eyes vanishing into that of sheer and utter panic as she released her hold abruptly on Nayeon and scooted away, terrified.

Nayeon paused, eyes wide. She held her hands up, her eyes frantically searching Mina’s face.

She hadn’t meant to make a joke that made Mina panic.

“I’m sorry! It was just a joke! About that breathing through your nose and all that!”Nayeon paused, the realization that something else was wrong finally settling into her head as she watched Mina clench her fists and slowly bring her trembling fingers right up to her lips.

Why had she not…stopped this stranger from kissing her? Mina’s eyes watered at the thought, almost in despair. She felt an ache build in the pit of her stomach, like a raging wave that couldn’t be stopped as a hiccough sob burst from her lips.

“M-Mina…” Nayeon’s eyes widened. She hadn’t expected for Mina to react so adversely like this. Not after asking her to…kiss her.

Why was she acting like this?

“W-Who are you?”

The realization finally sets in.

Nayeon swallowed violently, the thud of her heart trembling in her chest as she pulled away from Mina reflexively. The truth of what she didn’t want to acknowledge bare right in front of her eyes as Mina flinched at the sound of the shuddering breath that had burst from her lips.

“No. No no nononono…” A lump welled deep in Nayeon’s throat. Her eyes swelled with tears, aching as her nose viciously soured.

Everything had been going on so well. So why now? Why when they had both given in to their affection for each other?

She had confessed to her too!

Only for Mina’s memory loss to kick in like a fucking punch to the gut.

Reality was always cruel to them, a sob tears itself from Nayeon’s throat. She tried to reach out towards Mina, fighting the urge to cry as Mina shied away from her almost desperately. Her fingers grazed against Mina’s cheeks, trying her best to smile up at her, the weight her knowledge finally weighing down upon her shoulders.

“Oh Mina, we were just fooling around. I—I’m no one.”

Chapter Text

Something had clearly happened between the two girls the last time that they had gone out together—that was the thought in the forefront of Mrs Han’s mind as she watched Nayeon and Mina trudge back, her back reclining back against the doorway as a slight frown etched itself upon her wizened features.

Something was wrong.

Even if she didn’t want to see it, it was pretty clear from the onset that something wasn’t quite right between the two girls, especially with how they were avoiding physical contact with each other.

“Is everything alright?” Naturally, the first person that she asks is Mina, her eyes catching onto Mina’s forlorn ones, half lost and half terrified—the first telltale signs of her panic that she recognized as soon as Mina jumped at the touch on her arm.

Ah.

Clearly everything wasn’t alright.

Her eyes trailed off in the direction of Nayeon, who trudged ahead of them both, leaving Mina completely in her care, a sudden change from her usual attitude towards Mina, whom Mrs Han knew from personal experience that she would never allow.

They were two lovebirds after all, wanting every possible opportunity to be close to each other.

“Did you lose your memory?” Mina’s fingers clenched onto Mrs Han’s arm as the older woman leaned over with a gentle but tender murmur. She didn’t know who exactly this woman was—no, she did remember her—her brain reminded her just barely a few minutes later, the familiar scent of pine and rosemary that she had always associated with Mrs Han floating right into her nostrils as she snuck in a sneaky little sniff just a little closer to the older woman’s neck.

“You’re Mrs Han.” It was with a strange amount of certainty that Mina uttered those words, watching as a sly but proud smile crept up the corners of the older woman’s lips. The corners of her eyes crinkling prettily as she tilted her head in Nayeon’s direction.

“What about her?”

“I don’t…I don’t remember…” Frustration etched itself on Mina’s face as she shrank back slightly, clearly unsettled with the sudden change in topic in the direction of Nayeon.

“Are you comfortable with her?”

“Y-Yes, I mean…I let her kiss me—”

“You WHAT?” Clearly, that hadn’t been the answer that Mrs Han was expecting, the sudden blurt of exclamation from her lips loud enough to startle not just her and Mina, but one of the staff that had been tending to their carts not far away.

“You what?” Mrs Han hissed, lowering her voice purposefully as she frowned in the staff’s direction, watching them scurry away with their eyes wide before turning back to Mina almost apologetically. “My apologies. Were you startled?”

Mina laughed nervously, her teeth pressed tightly against her bottom lip as she inched herself a little closer to her ex-caretaker for another measured ounce of feeling some sort of safety.

“N-No, not really. Maybe…maybe just a little?” Her words taper off into a light question, almost as if she was nervous at offending Mrs Han.

“Mmm.” The older lady raised her brows slightly, nodding deeply once before moving forward, resuming their leisurely walk back to her room with light pats against her hand in gentle comfort. “Seems that you’ve forgotten quite a bit, huh?”

Thankfully, their scenting method still worked—the older lady had noticed the way that Mina leaned in out of habit to sniff her, even if the younger girl hadn’t intended for it to be as obvious as it was to her.

“I…” Mina’s mouth parted slightly in dismay, clamping shut lightly as she cast her eyes down on the floor, lashes fluttering lightly as she spared a glance hesitantly in Nayeon’s direction.

“Now’s not the time, sweetheart. I know you want to talk to her, but she’s just experienced something equally as jarring as you have.” Mrs Han reasoned softly as they watched Nayeon hold open the door with just the barest wobbly smile that she could possibly see upon her face.

“I need to talk to you later.” Mrs Han reached out with her right hand quickly, stopping Nayeon in her tracks just before she slinked off somewhere else. “In the office, if you will?”

Nayeon’s shoulders drooped for a quick moment, the slight nod of acknowledgement that she gave Mrs Han making a pit hollow out in Mina’s stomach despite her confusion and deep belief that she had simply done nothing wrong…save for forgetting something important.

“She’s mad at me, isn’t she?”

“Just upset, love. But not at you, I’m sure about that.”

“Really?” There was something almost akin to hope in Mina’s eyes, the brief sadness fading away into what seemed like momentary hope in Mrs Han’s very own eyes.

“Yes. Really.” The older woman smiled softly as she settled Mina down on her bed, gently patting the seat next to her in an invitation for Mina to take a seat next to her. “Come. Tell me all about what you remember and let’s see what I can do to help.”

“Do you have a minute to spare?” Nayeon stirred slightly at the familiar sound of Mrs Han’s voice, eyes tiredly drifting upwards as she stared at the older woman for a silent moment before gesturing towards the seat opposite hers. “Bad day, huh?”

Nayeon stared at the older woman for a moment, wondering if she was actually trying to lighten her mood or simply—attempt to get on her nerves. Quickly, she throws all thoughts of the latter away at the sight of Mrs Han’s gentle but also resigned smile.

“I…”

“She forgot you completely, didn’t she? While you kissed her. She told me that.”

The reminder of what happened was almost more than enough to make Nayeon wish that she could simply take back everything that had happened.

Would it have been better if she hadn’t kissed Mina in the first place?

Was that what had triggered the memory loss?

Too much of an excitement?

“You know that whatever you’re thinking, that’s not true.” The sound of Mrs Han’s slight tsk of annoyance becomes thething that brings her out of her worse and unsavory thoughts, the depth of what she was left alone to think a little too much for her to handle, especially with such a terrible setback.

“I mean…” Nayeon’s eyes shifted slightly, almost guilty as she stared up at Mrs Han, as though hungry for the answer and knowledge to the question that threatened to slip from behind her lips. “C-Could I ask you something? Why doesn’t Mina not forget who you are? It’s been…been more than a solid few month already. I thought—”

“That that would be enough time for Mina to remember who you are each time she loses her memory, just like how I’ve managed to etch myself in her mind?” There was almost something indulgent as the older woman glanced down at her, as though trying to say—oh you poor child, but in the nicest way possible.

Nayeon paused, mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water as she struggled to find balance between agreeing with what the older woman had said, and her own personal embarrassment.

“…Yes.” Eventually, the thirst to know the secret on how to remain in Mina’s mind wins compared to that of her own shame, and her throat dries as she gives the older woman a slightly sharpened nod.

“It’s actually quite simple. I was going to share it with you sooner or later. But who knew that you moved on that quickly?” Mrs Han grumbled to herself, eyes narrowed slightly as she bustled about the drawers at her table, as though trying to look for something in particular. “But you two, sneaking out constantly thinking that I wouldn’t notice, kissing each other behind my back…” She reached out to thwack Nayeon lightly against the back of her head. “I told you to take things slow. Here.”

Nayeon glanced at the little vial that she held out towards her, the strangest look sweeping over her face as she narrowed her eyes, trying to figure out for the life of her what exactly it was that the other caretaker had handed her with such precious gentility.

“It’s a special scent. My own scent. Natural scent.”

At the description, Nayeon yelped, shoving the vial away from her nose where it had been just previously, sniffing at the soft pinewood and rosemary scent that had been pleasantly emanating from the little bottle.

“Natural…Natural scent?!” Nayeon’s eyes roved for a minute, trying not to let her thoughts fray in a wayward nature as she stared back at Mrs Han incredulously.

“Yes. Natural scent.” Clearly, the older woman hadn’t caught onto what it was that was in Nayeon’s head. It was either that or they were—they were thinking of two entirely different things, Nayeon thought to herself, feeling her ears heat in sheer embarrassment at the thought.

“Sooooo…you didn’t have to touch or do anything to get that natural scent of yours…right?” Nayeon prompted hesitantly, almost dreading the answer that she knew be in response to her question.

The older caretaker paused for a moment, arms akimbo as she stared at her younger charge a strange look in her eyes, almost trying to ascertain if what Nayeon was truly said what she thought she said.

“Of course I didn’t have to touch anything to get my natural scent. I simply picked it out of the many provided.”

“Uh…Uh huh…” The look on Nayeon’s face only got stranger and strange, just as her ears simply got redder and redder.

“So you mean I’ll have to give her my natural scent and everything for her to be able to remember me?”

“It’s works best if its natural, that’s what we found out.” Mrs Han continued almost cheerfully, completely oblivious to the fact that Nayeon’s face seemed to get paler and paler the more that she mentioned natural scent.

“Uhm…” Nayeon raised her hand weakly. “Do I have to do it in the toilet—”

“What? No! That’s unhygienic. I’ll bring you to a specific place with Mina—”

“WITH MINA?!” Nayeon wanted to die of embarrassment at the thought. Was she going to have to…touch herself to get her natural scent for Mina to remember who she was?

Clearly that would make an impression. But she wasn’t sure if she had the guts to do something as private as that in front of the girl she liked.

“Yeah. Of course we’d be bringing Mina. She’s the one that needs to pick out the scents together with you.”

Oh.

Somehow, finally getting the hint that natural scent wasn’t exactly what she thought it to be didn’t make Nayeon feel any better.

It was simply an indication to her of how truly rotten her mind and thoughts could be if she let it.

Nayeon cleared her throat nervously, keeping her fingers crossed that Mrs Han hadn’t caught onto what she had originally thought that supposed natural scent was supposed to be.

“Oh no. Please tell me that wasn’t what you were thinking!”

Yep, there it was.

Nayeon cringed hard to herself, almost desperate in trying to will away the fault she had by asking such leading questions.

“We…We can forget that I ever said stuff like that. Please.” She begged. “Don’t mention it to Mina either! She might just…might just…change her opinion of me.”

“Oh I doubt that would happen, but you’re definitely one naughty girl for thinking that I’d ask you to do something indecent to get that natural scent that helped Mina remember who I was. I’m not dating her like you are. So…”

“We…We aren’t dating!” Nayeon practically sputtered at the older woman’s words, half pleased and mostly mortified that they had been found out. Clearly, they weren’t as sneaky as she originally thought them to be.

“Oh yeah?” The older lady challenged. “Say that to all those countless times I caught you both sneaking out and didn’t stop them because you were having progress. How many unsupervised visits to places you’ve brought Mina to already?” Nayeon bowed her head sheepishly in response.

“I mean…we both wanted things to be good for Mina.”

“And that’s why I didn’t stop you to begin with.”The older caretaker pulled the chair that she was sitting upon a little closer to Nayeon, a strange fervor almost lighting in the depths of her dark eyes. “It’s a fact that whatever you’re doing with her, it’s working.”

With one last final warning about being a little more careful since there were measures preventing employees from the center having relationships with their patients, Nayeon set off once more, feeling considerably better from the tiny ted talk that Mrs Han had pretty much treated her to.

It wasn’t that bad, having to sit down and listen to what others had to say but she was definitely bored to tears by the time the older caretaker had ended her tale number 50 and ongoing for the umpteenth time since she had first stepped foot into the rehabilitation center.

Either way, it had helped to uplift her spirits, surprisingly, and momentarily.

To the point where she felt a little more comfortable with facing Mina once again.

She had instantly been tasked to take the other girl’s afternoon tea to her bedroom the moment she had expressed that she was a little more comfortable with facing Mina after what had happened to them today—the older caretaker had instantly sent her packing out of the staff room with a plate of milk and cookies in hand, booted right out of the door before she could even protest.

“I—”

“Once you’re back, I’ll tell you more.” Mrs Han promised. “Now go to her, because she needs you more than you think that she possibly does. You’re not the only one that’s lost and floundering here, remember that. It goes both ways.”

And that was exactly how she found herself right outside Mina’s door, raising a fist tentatively as she hesitated on knocking upon the door.

Tap.

She flinched at the slight tap of her nails against the door, half panicked as the sound of Mina’s voice echoed out instantly from the room.

“Mrs Han? Is that you?”

What was she supposed to do? Say, oh no, it’s the nobody that you kissed from before that you can’t remember? Nayeon felt as though she had swallowed a too large pickle right down her throat without even chewing.

“…Fuck it.” She muttered to herself finally plucking up enough courage to simply barge past and into the door as she pressed her lips together, hoping quietly to herself that her sudden entrance didn’t jar Mina too abruptly.

“Mina, I—” The sight before her eyes was almost made her halt instantly in her footsteps.

What. The. Fuck?

Nayeon’s face scrunched into an absolutely befuddled expression as she glanced at the stranger standing happily in the room right next to Mina.

“Who the fuck are you?” The stranger in question was none other than a male that she didn’t recognize, and from the look upon Mina’s face, one that she hadn’t recognized either.

The instant that she laid her eyes upon him, Nayeon knew—whether it was her sixth sense or something that there was just something wrong about him.

It wasn’t just because of that sleazy yet pandering kind of smile that was clear on his handsome face, or the fact that he looked extraordinarily handsome (like who came to a rehabilitation center with their teeth clearly done and their hair perfectly swept in place?!)

Nayeon growled under her breath, shoving forward instantly to bump into the man as she set down the platter of milk and cookies in front of Mina with a smile towards the other girl (and half a glare at the man just to make sure he took a step back and away from Mina)

“Sorry…y-you are…?”

Clearly everything was a little too much for Mina, her eyes whipping to and fro between the new male and this strange female that she had kissed and seemed to care for subconsciously more than anything else (the guilt from before had still remained, even if she didn’t understand quite entirely why she had felt so upset and guilty when the girl had turned away from her, allowing Mrs Han to take her by the hand.)

“I’m Nayeon.” Nayeon introduced herself swiftly, with just the slightest tenderness that would have hinted to anyone of her burgeoning feelings for the other girl. “Your caretaker.”

“I feel like…”

Not here. Quickly, Nayeon signaled to the other girl, hoping that they still had enough chemistry despite Mina having forgotten who she was completely to tell that it wasn’t exactly the right time to talk about certain things that she…or rather they were feeling particularly unsure about.

Right. Mina’s eyes glided over the stranger warily. In contrast to that of Nayeon, there was almost nothing that she had in either her memories nor her feelings (or rather, sixth sense), to tell her if he was perfectly fine for her to interact with.

Consciously, she slid herself over a little closer towards Nayeon, a soft sigh of relief murmuring from her lips as the other girl reached out her own hand, patting it gently as they smiled at each other.

“Uhm, hello?” Needless to say—Nayeon thought irritably to herself as she glared at the man that had interrupted their clearly intimate moment, quickly sliding her hand away from Nayeon’s as discreetly as possible as she watched the man point to himself. “Mina, don’t you remember me?”

Confusion sparked in the deep but dark irises of Mina’s eyes that Nayeon was oh so familiar with.

“She doesn’t know you.” She snapped instantly, stepping in front of Mina as though to shield her properly from the prying eyes of the handsome but strapping young man before her. “And who the hell are you? How the fuck did you get here?”

The man folded his arms arrogantly.

“You know, I could totally get you fired for speaking to me in such a way? Complete unprofessionalism on your part. And besides, Mina and I? We go way back.”

Way back? What did that mean? Did they date or something? Why the hell was he speaking as though they were great friends?

All of Mina’s friends that were important to her were already introduced to her, from what Nayeon remembered distinctly, the frown and annoyance etched upon her face only getting stronger and deeper as Mina cowered on behind her, clearly unsettled by the sudden over friendliness that they were both experiencing from the man.

“Come on, I know that you don’t have much of your memories now, but is this guy someone that you know?” She hissed out of the corners of her mouth, hoping that Mina would finally take notice. “Perhaps there’s something that he’s wearing that can help us ascertain who he is and what is his identity?”

She stiffened slightly as Mina’s fingers curled in the back of her shirt, the familiar touch of her fingers nearly grazing her naked back sending shivers right down her spine.

“…I don’t know who he is.” Mina slid herself as close as she could possibly could to Nayeon as she flinched back from the brilliant smile the male directed her way. “I don’t---I don’t remember anything about knowing a guy or being so familiar with guys from anywhere, even my company. I do remember those slightly older memories like the time I was training with my company and all, it’s just—just the recent ones that…” She trailed off, her eyes darting rather nervously as she glanced up at Nayeon for any traces of discomfort in the other girl’s face.

She hadn’t really intended on mentioning that it was merely recent memories that she had lost her grip on, not especially when she had an inkling that saying such words would very much hurt the other girl emotionally to some extent.

“…Sorry…” She mumbled, nearly plastering her face into Nayeon’s back out of guilt and hope that her words wouldn’t have made Nayeon want or wish to leave. “Don’t leave me, okay?” Nayeon’s lips parted slightly in surprise at Mina’s request.

“I’m not going to be going anywhere, silly.” The corners of her lips curled into grim look as she narrowed her eyes at the stranger in the room. “Not especially when there’s a stranger right in this room that you say you don’t know.”

Oh.

The hope that had lifted Mina’s shoulders at her reassurance that she wouldn’t be going anywhere sagged instantly at the next part of Nayeon’s words.

Maybe this girl—whoever and whatever her name was…Mina’s thoughts trailed off abruptly.

But why was she feeling so upset that this girl was simply just staying for the sake of staying due to the stranger?

It was—something that caretakers would do, based on her memory of how Mrs Han often operated back when she was taking care of her.

Her fingers tightened on the back of Nayeon’s shirt as she curled her lips, still completely confused and unsure.

“Mina, I’m not leaving, whether you know this man or not.” Nayeon could almost feel the uncertainty ricocheting off Mina in waves. “I’m staying, regardless of whether he likes it or not.” Or if you like it or not. She added silently to herself, allowing her hand to slip back and pat Mina’s hand comfortingly. “Anyway, who the fuck are you and how did they let you into a secured facility like this?”

“Oh me? You don’t know me? I’m the person sent by the company to help out with Mina’s recuperation.” Nayeon’s eyes narrowed further at the man’s words. “I’m Jackson, by the way. Mina remembers me, doesn’t she?” There was almost an annoying tone of a plea in his voice as he tried to peer around Nayeon to take a peek at Mina. “Mina, hiiiii.”

Fuck. Could she punch whoever this tool of a man was?

Nayeon’s fingers curled into a fist.

“Well, Mina clearly doesn’t know you, or she wouldn’t be shying away right now, wouldn’t she?” She answered back curtly, moving forward almost threateningly despite Jackson’s tall stature. “And I’ve never heard of any newbies coming to help me out with taking care of Mina, which I’ve been doing perfectly fine all on my own, just so you know.”

“Well well, is that a tinge of fear and jealousy that I hear?” Jackson’s smile only got more indulgent as it grew wider, the cock of his head almost arrogant as he stared down at Nayeon fearlessly. “Ms…criminal that ended up getting delegated here as a punishment as penance for your misdeeds.” His brows quirked as Nayeon’s teeth clenched, t he surprise in that tiny gasp of shock from Mina behind her making yet another pit in her stomach hollow.

“I’m not a criminal.” She lied through her teeth. “It was just a mistake, and humans make mistakes, Mr Gigachad.”

“Oh, so you think that I’m a Gigacha? Why thank you. Though I’d have preferred it if Mina had been the one to say that. I’ll still take it as a compliment anyway. It’s from a girl with two functional legs after all.” Nayeon grunted in disgust at his disrespectful words.

What was Mina’s company thinking, sending someone as disrespectful as this?

She scowled, finally folding her arms as the door to Mina’s room slammed open, the barest signs of relief almost instant as Mrs Han stalked her way in through the door.

“With everything that has happened these past few days, and with Mina losing her memories again, I thought you might need a reminder.” The older caretaker uttered drily and glanced pointedly at Nayeon. “In case you forgot, which I think it’s pretty safe to assume from the way you’re standing and reacting that well, you have. Mina’s company intended to send someone that knows her well and she has known well during her trainee days to help out a little with the memory re-awakening, so that she can get back to work quickly as soon as she’s healed.”

Typical companies, Nayeon rolled her eyes, scowling. She eyed both Mrs Han and Jackson with intense displeasure.

“Funny, you gave the exact same reaction when you first heard the news. But either way—" Mrs Han held up a warning finger just as Nayeon opened her mouth to interrupt. “He’s here to help. So be nice.” And be careful.

A small smile curved at the corners of Nayeon’s lips in acknowledgement of the older woman’s silently uttered words. Clearly, Mrs Han trusted Jackson as far as she could throw him (which—wasn’t that far really, considering both their sizes and statures). Nayeon puffed her chest up a little more confidently at the thought.

“I’m always nice.” She reasoned, a small quirk of a smile turning the corners of her lips upwards as Mina gave a slight giggle in response to her bold words.

“Sure, sure. Be good and share your little tips that you’ve found out. It’s always good to have two heads rather than one to think on what you two can do to help Mina. And as for you—” Mrs Han folded her arms and straightened herself, “All I have to say is that while we didn’t really need your company’s extension of help, thank you for coming round. Behaveyourself as well.”

With that, the door closed behind her, and Nayeon couldn’t help but chortle at the stunned look upon Jackson’s face.

“Wow, she’s such an old bitch, isn’t she?”

“You best keep your mouth shut when talking about Mrs Han. Unless you’d like to be disliked by Mina.” Already, the first impression that Jackson had left on Mina wasn’t quite a good one, especially with that comment about Mrs Han that he had made.

Mina’s eyes were narrowed in a suspicious little frown, and Nayeon tilted her head in Jackson’s direction with disgusted faced shrug.

What a dick he is, isn’t he? She mouthed at Mina, grinning slightly to herself and Mina stifled her giggle with a hand.

“Sorry. Didn’t know that you two cared that much about her.”

“And so what if we did? If we didn’t, would that make any difference?” Mina’s voice was quiet yet impactful as she gazed at Jackson with her dark but soulful eyes.

“N-No… I mean…”

“You didn’t mean it, sure. But be careful next time. We’re all ladies here, and we don’t take very kindly to other people talking ill about other ladies either.”

Nayeon watched gleefully as Jackson’s shoulders sagged clearly disparaged over Mina’s lukewarm reaction towards him.

“I’ll…come back another day then. Maybe bring some photos and what not to help with the memories.”

“You do that.” Nayeon replied almost vehemently, a scoff bubbling from her lips as she watched him slink out like a rat through the doorway.

God, she hoped that she would never see him again.

But despite all her desires to never see Jackson or to have him help out with Mina’s memory work, he was still—there, even as more of the days passed and it seemed more apparent (at least to her), that they needed none of his help whatsoever to help Mina retain her memories.

In fact, what he was doing was merely reminiscing of their past—or rather his past memories of Mina.

Nayeon kicked her shoes against the ground as she huffed into her scarf, her foul mood growing at the thought of Jackson as jealousy bubbled in veins. Her chest stifled at the thought of Mina and Jackson growing closer and closer.

There was also the fact that Jackson’s accommodation was right inside the rehabilitation center itself—her fingers twinged agitatedly at the thought.

No one but her knew how dangerous this Jackson was! And so what if it was just a mere feeling that he was dangerous? Already, she had seen signs of him being almost like a creep when Mina and Mrs Han weren’t paying attention. From staring at her ass and then at Mina’s ass as though to make a comparison right down to slowly sliding over to Mina to be physically close with her despite knowing that Mina often startled at being abruptly touched…

She had seen the grin upon his face whenever Mina jumped with surprise, as though he enjoyed making her startle like that.

Nayeon growled under her breath, stomping the snow off her feet as she made her way into the staff room.

“Bad morning?” Mrs Han’s languid voice makes its way round to her table before she even sees the older caretaker, the usual cup of coffee that she had always made an effort to make her Nayeon each morning in her hand.

“I’m always in the bad mood for the past month or so, ever since that Jackson came around.”

“Mmhm.” Nayeon flushed instantly at the look that Mrs Han shot her way.

“I—I have legitimate reasons to why I don’t like him!”

“Uh huh.” The older caretaker gave her a noncommittal little hum.

“Fuck. You don’t believe me, don’t you?”

“Nope. And language, young lady. You’re just mad that you can’t sneak around with Mina as you do usually. He’s been hogging quite a lot of time with her.”

“And it’s been interfering with us being able to do work with each other on her memory issues!”

“That’s why you should go now and see Mina, darling. Go bring her out for an outing or something, far away from him. God knows that he’s been hovering a little too closely around her for my comfort as well.”

Nayeon shot up from her seat instantly, nearly knocking her coffee cup over as she beamed at Mrs Han with all the exuberance she could muster.

“Right away!”

Nayeon practically skidded down the hallway and grinned to herself, making a quick beeline for Mina’s room as fast as she could, and grabbing a couple of snacks here and there as little presents for Mina along the way.

She always liked sticking her hands in her pockets to fish for the little treats that Nayeon had left behind anyway—Nayeon hummed happily to herself, rapping her knuckles once quickly against the door and slipping in through the door, only to hear a startled clatter of noise down the tiny hallway leading into Mina’s room.

“…Mina?” A strange, nervous energy overtook her, as did worry and concern.

Did Mina break something accidentally? Was that the reason for that sound?

“N-Nayeon?” Mina’s tiny voice, squeaky and surprised bubbled out from the corner of the room, and Nayeon’s eyes widened as Mina scrambled quickly to her feet. Her face flushed as she ran in tiny steps towards her, the scattered photo albums and the pink flush on both hers and Jackson’s features more than enough to send bile rising in the back of her throat.

“…Did I interrupt something?” Jealousy raged in her chest as she watched Mina carefully grasp her hand. Her eyes pleading and tentative, as though caught in action of something that she shouldn’t have been doing.

It had only been a few weeks since Jackson came round, Nayeon thought bitterly to herself.

A few weeks was all it took for Mina to warm up to him to the point that they were doing something…whatever it was that they were doing that made both of them blush like fucking tweens in caught in a romance.

A part of her felt bitter towards Mina, even if guilt rose to grapple her every sense of such bitterness down.

She didn’t deserve to feel such a way about Mina, not when they weren’t even exclusively dating or dating in the first place.

Nayeon’s eyes dropped down towards the hand that Mina grasped painfully, a brittle smile curving her lips. She retracted her hand with a slight intake of breath.

“I guess I was interrupting something.”

“You…You weren’t!” Mina clutched onto her arm as though it was a life-saving buoy, clinging to her with her eyes wide and panicked. “Uhm…I heard…I heard that we were going for an outing today?”

“An outing?” Nayeon clenched her fists, restraining the desperate urge to punch Jackson right in the face as he slid off Mina’s bed, brushing down his inappropriately ruffled shirt. He smirked right at her, brows cocked in a challenge. “I suppose we’ll have to shift our catch-up session to wherever this outing is then, huh?”

“Uhm, you’d have to ask Nayeon…”

“Do whatever you want.” Mina swallowed desperately as Nayeon pulled her arm out of her grasp, stuffing her hands into her pockets. She turned away from her, moving silently and sulkily towards the door.

Nayeon wasn’t always like that—that was what her sixth sense told her, even if she failed to remember how Nayeon waslike previously.

They were close, that was all that she could get from asking Mrs Han on how Nayeon was like with her. And Nayeon clearly treated her very well, at least in Mrs Han’s eyes.

Mina bit her bottom lip nervously at the thought. She didn’t like the feeling that she was missing out on something, or even losing out on something. It felt like there was an important gap of something that she was missing, and having her time blocked off by Jackson—who seemed to want nothing to do with Nayeon except to hog her time and approach her a little too uncomfortably almost made her feel as though that he was trying his very best to block both of them from interacting with each other despite all the things he said he was trying to do to help her.

“Nayeon, please don’t leave.”

The lump in Mina’s throat swelled, watching Nayeon slow her footsteps.

“I’m not leaving.” The answer was curt, almost cutting. Mina flinched at the cold tone.

“We didn’t do anything, I swear.”

“This is nothing to do with that. And besides, we aren’t anything. I’m nobody, remember?” Mina flinched at the words, the recollection of the sweet kiss that she didn’t stop and the devastated look on Nayeon’s face still fresh in her memories.

“What is this? Are you trying to bully Mina?” Jackson stalked forward, eyes narrowed as he stared at Nayeon for a long moment, before allowing his eyes to drift sharply towards Mina’s. It was clear that whatever he had just heard was something that should have been for private ears.

Were they dating despite them being somewhat of a nurse and patient? A sly smile curved Jackson’s lips as he stifled the excitement in his veins, quickly holding onto the pretense of mild interest as he leaned forward, a huff of suppressed laughter almost bursting from his lips as he watched Nayeon bristle for a second, as though wanting to snark back at him.

Her face reddened, then twisted, before settling back into the ugliest look of barely concealed disdain.

How immatured, Jackson wanted to snort, turning to smirk at Mina as she gave him a nervous little smile in return.

Of course, it had to be someone who was equally interested in Mina romantically to catch onto whatever he was intent on doing.

First was Nayeon, who had all but caught on instantly, then that old bitch of a caretaker that kept too close an eye on them. Even Mina’s closest friends, Sana and Momo hadn’t detected anything amiss when he had mentioned that he wanted to help Mina, perhaps owing to the fact that he had worked with Misamo as an assistant manager for the longesttime after being their trainee friend.

Jackson hummed, crossing his arms as he tilted his head in Nayeon’s direction.

“Don’t look so grumpy. You don’t want me around, don’t you?” He wanted to laugh as Nayeon blanched at his words, trying to desperately hide her intentions with her sudden avoidance of eye contact. “It’s fine. Just say it aloud. I’ll just wait here for Mina. We have all day together either way. Unlike you.”

It was amazing to push Nayeon’s buttons, especially after knowing that Nayeon liked Mina.

It had originally been just an inkling that he had gotten upon knowing that Nayeon had kicked up a huge fuss upon his sudden appearance…but then the subsequent amount of hostility that she had shown towards him only cemented his thoughts about it even further.

Either way, he was enjoying himself, sowing discord amongst Mina and her newly made “friend” whilst getting closer and closer to his target with each passing day. It felt strangely amazing to “conquer” Mina this way, especially since all of her memories had been rewritten into an empty slate. His gentlemanly actions and politeness would always be remembered by Misamo and Mina’s friends, but for Mina—her memory loss meant that he could try something new with her.

Perhaps even a relationship, now that he was no longer an assistant manager and she was not an idol at the moment.

To make one of the top idols feel attached to him and believe that he was the polite gentleman he often presented himself to would be one of the greatest accomplishments a regular commoner like him would have done in his life.

“I’ll be seeing you later, Mina.” He offered her a lopsided smile, gloating to himself as Mina smiled back brilliantly at him and brightened.

“Pity, isn’t it?” He leaned in whisper to Nayeon as he brushed past her almost viciously. “What took you a few months to get in her good books, it only took me less than a few weeks. Maybe you two aren’t that close after all.”

Nayeon stiffened at his words, biting words at the ready as she swiveled around, only to be shoved right into the wall as Jackson brushed past.

Mina gasped, stunned as she instantly flitted towards Nayeon’s side.

“Are you…are you okay?” Her voice rose anxiously, fingers brushing lightly against the side of Nayeon’s face with concern as she hovered close, a sharp yelp bursting from her lips as Nayeon shoved her aside instantly.

“Ah!” A gasp tore itself from Nayeon’s lips as soon as she realized what she had done in a blind moment of anxiousness, anger and jealousy.

“I…”

“Nayeon…”

“Sorry. I was…I was mad at Jackson, not at you. I…I hurt you, didn’t I?” The apology ground itself out from her teeth, turning into a swell of deep remorse as she stubbornly turned her head to the side and stooped down, as though unwilling to directly face Mina and look at her in the eyes.

“It’s okay. I know…I know you didn’t mean it.” Mina felt the lump in her throat worsen, the urge to suddenly cry making her nose sour. She reached forward and grasped onto Nayeon’s hands, gripping it tightly as she drew the other girl closer towards her, their noses barely brushing each other’s tentatively.

“He can be an ass to you sometimes, I know. But he’s pretty nice. You don’t really treat him that well either, that’s why he’s not nice to you either.”

Sometimes? Nayeon wanted to laugh, the soft smile upon her lips slipping off slightly as she exhaled in a gentle sigh. More like all the time.

“It’s fine, Mina. It’s just…it makes me uncomfortable that he touches you a little inappropriately around the waist sometimes. I’m here to make you safe, to make you feel safe. And I feel that he’s undermining all of that just by being here.” Nayeon ran a hand through her hair with a troubled little sigh. “And…And I don’t like how you two are getting closer to each other. Feels like I’m missing out on our little me time together, you know? We don’t go on our outings anymore.” She mumbled, the words falling out of her mouth like an unstoppable torrent of admission.

“I don’t want to lose you as a friend.” She lied through her teeth, feeling sick to her stomach as she watched Mina huff a small laugh and pull her close, nuzzling her almost gently as they twined their fingers together.

“You won’t lose me as a friend.” Mina murmured.

“…I know. It’s just me being…insecured…something like that.” Nayeon mumbled back, their foreheads pressed close as she basked in the warmth of Mina’s tender embrace.

It just feels like I’ll be losing you as a lover instead.

Chapter Text

It wasn’t as easy as Nayeon had originally thought to actually arrange for a meeting between Mina and the rest of Misamo.

Not that she was trying to prevent them from meeting, of course (there was no absolute way that she would or could possibly do that, since all she wanted was for Mina to regain her friends back and be happy)…it was just that timing in reality, was always a fucking bitch.

Nope. Sana and Momo have a variety show meeting that they have to go to after this. They won’t be available to meet.

Nayeon glared at the message from Misamo’s manager with every ounce of hatred that she could possibly muster, fighting her instinctive urge to simply hurl her phone against the wall.

Her phone did nothing to make her angry. She consoled herself, clutching the device to her chest as she sucked in a deep breath to calm herself. It was people that were being a bitch, not devices.

Calm down, Nayeon. There’s nothing impossible—at least not when you put your mind, heart and will into all of it.

Clearly, the management was trying their best to prevent Mina from meeting her two friends, especially those managers and individuals from the company. Whether they found it non-lucrative for Mina to be included in Misamo once again as an idol, Nayeon could care less.

All she cared about was fulfilling her promise to helping Mina find back her memories as much as she possibly could, and having her miss out on her friends being able to jog her memories for her was not something that she had planned on her list.

She was going to get this to work no matter what—Nayeon thought to herself. The grind of her teeth just barely heard as she narrowed her eyes at the sight of both Mina and Jackson cheerfully entering the room.

“You’re late.” The barest tinge of jealousy and sourness edge like a knife’s blade in her tone.

Nayeon shifted, clearing her throat belatedly as soon as she realized how snarky she had made herself seem. A flicker of confusion slips through Mina’s face for a moment, and Nayeon winces.

If anything, what made these moments of hers where she would lapse into a jealous and sour fit even worse was the fact that Mina could often detect how unpleasant she was being. Nayeon’s eyes flickered, slipping away from the questioning look that Mina directed at her confusedly.

It was all that Jackson’s fault, she growled to herself under her breath. Nayeon hated the way that she could feel his smirk as he stood pleasantly behind Mina, hands folded demurely as though he had been perfectly blameless in her entire ordeal. (He was, but again, Nayeon was not willing to even admit a fraction of that).

“Are you alright, Nayeon?”

Nayeon flinched at the sound of concern in Mina’s voice. Her fingers curled into tight fists as Jackson’s mocking voice lifted in a casual lilt of faux concern from behind Mina, echoing her sentiment and words. “Yeah, are you alright, Nayeon?”

Fuck off.

She wanted to say, swiftly turning around to simper as wonderfully as she possibly could in Jackson’s direction, only reserving her genuine smile for Mina’s eyes alone.“Yeah, just. Got up on the wrong side of the bed. Sorry for taking it out on you, Mina.”

“Oh…” Mina’s lips lifted gently into an awkward curve as Nayeon reached out, grazing her fingers against Mina’s delicately in a gentle display of comfort.

“I’m apologizing only to you anyway.” Nayeon’s chin lifted stubbornly as she continued on, a slight grin playing upon her lips. Mina huffed a soft puff of exasperated laughter at her childish words and actions. “He can fuck off.”

“Hey!” Jackson’s eyes narrowed almost menacingly, even as the cool smile curved sweetly upon his lips. The darkening and hidden danger promised within his irises as he narrowed his eyes subtly, careful to do so out of Mina’s line of sight.

“What?” Nayeon shrugged boldly, taking advantage of the fact that he didn’t want Mina finding out about his rather…unsavory characteristics as she edged herself forward. “I’m being childish. Are you going to be petty about me being childish?” She grinned triumphantly to herself when she heard the sharp grind of Jackson’s teeth.

They stood next to each other, with Mina having already lost interest in their conversation and flitting towards her bed in favor of a more relaxing retreat. Nayeon watched the other girl flopped with the cutest little umph onto her bed, Mina’s hands fluttering downwards to brush down the hem of her dress from where it raised slightly just right above her thighs.

Creep. Nayeon thought to herself, eyes narrowed as she watched the way that Jackson’s eyes followed Mina’s every move. Better not let him have the chance to be alone with Mina at any time at all.

Maybe she should warn Mrs Han about Jackson after all.

Nayeon sniffed importantly, finally jolting both Jackson and Mina out of their reveries. She folded her arms one last time, peering up at Jackson with the most disdainful face that she could possibly muster.

“We’re going for an outing.” Jackson opened his mouth gleefully, about to suggest yet another optional place where he supposedly said and knew that Mina liked going for before she lost her memories.

“Ah, ah. Hold it right there. You’ve already had enough of your time with Mina. It’s my turn now.”

“Do we have to split it up so evenly?” Jackson’s eyes narrowed as soon as the words left Nayeon’s lips, his own arms crossing as annoyance slowly started to creep up onto his face.

Truth be told, Jackson often prided himself with his patience—after all hunting his prime targets like Mina and the rest of the girls was something that required patience. Damn patience—for others to finally confide in him, trust in him, or even rely on him. And yet here he was, stuck with a fucking stuck-up girl that seemed to catch onto his every move and was intent at foiling him in every step.

Though considering that Nayeon wanted to split their times so specifically to be alone with Mina…that only meant beneficial alone time that he could have eventually with her. A smile crept up Jackson’s lips at the thought.

“What fucking creepy shit are you thinking of again?” Nayeon hissed right in his ear and jabbed at his side the moment Mina stopped paying attention to their childish antics.

“Ow.” Jackson stared as forlornly as he could at Nayeon just as Mina turned around. A gleeful glint in his eyes watching Nayeon fumble, then pale at how it seemed like she was the one picking on him in Mina’s eyes.

“It’s not—”

“Oh you two. Stop quibbling already, won’t you?” Mina sighed exasperatedly. “I’m getting tired of hearing you two quarreling.” She pouted at both of them, the force of her pout equivalent to that of Jackson’s forlorn one as the gleeful look in his eyes quickly vanished into that of placated gentility once more.

“I wasn’t quarrelling.” He said as modestly as he could. “I was just expressing pain from being stabbed by a sharp fingernail in my side.” He gripped his side exaggeratedly, and Nayeon growled under her breath at his dramatic antic, earning him a peal of laughter from Mina’s lips.

“Don’t be so dramatic! Nayeon’s fingernails aren’t that sharp.”

“It feels like she sharpened it.” Jackson enthused, flitting forward to pout once more at Mina. She chuckled at him, gloating to himself, sensing Nayeon brewing with jealousy right behind him. “Look, look. I’ve got crescent moon marks on my side. I bet if I lift my shirt you’d see them.”

“Ew!”

Ew was just about right. Nayeon thought to herself as she gave another splendid roll of her eyes.

“Does it pain you to not be a creep for even one second?” Nayeon scowled and Jackson turned round slowly but menacingly, mirth clear in his eyes as he cocked his head and shrugged.

“Don’t know what you’re talking about. I was just joking. And Mina knows that. God knows I wouldn’t show her what’s under my shirt. That would be inappropriate. But at least I’m not thinking inappropriate thoughts about my patient, unlike a certain someone else, right?”

“I do not—”

“Didn’t say you were the one. Or are you confessing something that everyone should know?”

“I’m confessing nothing! I like Mina, yes. But as…as a friend!” Nayeon cursed herself silently, watching Mina’s slightly crestfallen look through the corners of her eyes.

“Mmm.”

“I mean, she’s kind, really beautiful and just a wonderful person as a whole. Who wouldn’t like her?”

Jackson’s browed raised, growing closer and closer towards his hairline as he hummed in acknowledgement. “Sure. If that’s what you say it is, so be it then.”

Fuck. Why was she always on the losing end when she had verbal battles with him?

It couldn’t be that she wasn’t as verbally proficient as him. Hell, she was even in the debate club during her schooling days at one point. It just wasn’t possible—

“Aren’t you two going out for an outing or something? Or at least that’s what Nayeon was saying that you two were going to do.” Nayeon watched incredulously at Jackson. He gave her a smirk and lifted his cup of coffee to his lips to take a peaceful little sip.

Oh, that fucker.

“Oh yeah! You did say that! Nayeon, where are we going?” Nayeon’s teeth ground against each other and she squeezed shut her eyes, pretending as though she never saw the smirk upon Jackson’s face before she turned fully to face Mina tenderly.

“Somewhere. A secret.”

“Maybe she didn’t plan stuff. You know impromptu and what not.”

“Does it kill you to not talk for a second?”

“…I like impromptu stuff. Kinda.” Mina’s brows furrowed together nervously. She gave a tentative little laugh, her eyes darting frantically between Nayeon and Jackson as she watched Nayeon narrow her eyes even further at Jackson. Whatever tension that was stuck between them increasing by the minute as Jackson riled Nayeon up further as time passed.

“Listen, listen. Whatever it is that you decide to do, I’m sure that I’m going to like it.” Mina swept between the two before things could get even more tense, gently placing her hands on Jackson’s chest. She gave him a chiding glare, pushing him away slightly away from Nayeon and gave another nervous little giggle. “And you should stop trying to antagonize Nayeon, Jackson.”

“I’m not antagonizing her.” Jackson sniffed importantly. “She just has some kind of issue with me.”

“…Right.” Mina sighed visibly, turning round to face Nayeon with a grimace on her face. “Don’t—Don’t reply to that please. He’s just trying to pick a fight. You know that.” She leaned in carefully, whispering the last bit into Nayeon’s left ear with a soothing hand upon her shoulder. “Please. Do it for me. I want a nice, proper good day where I don’t have to deal with both of you trying your best to rile each other up.”

“Once again, not me.”

“You’re not helping!” This time, Jackson is the one that Mina loses her temper momentarily with, the frown upon her face tight and her lips pursed together in a tight line. “And don’t think I don’t know that you’ve been trying your very best to make things difficult for Nayeon. I’m observant too, you know!”

Observant, but not observant enough. Jackson quietly clamped his mouth, inclining his head gently. He appeased Mina with a contrite look to his face, head bobbing slightly in apology. “Or else, you would have realized what Im Nayeon’s realized by now.”

Boldly, Jackson allowed his eyes to trail downwards to her shapely legs, slowly tracking his line of sight up to that pretty face of hers and indulging himself in an ample look at her bosom. His eyes lingered at her chest blatantly enough for Nayeon to lunge forward with a hiss.

“Nayeon!”

Nayeon opened her mouth to argue, only clamping her mouth shut at the visible lines of anger etched clearly upon Mina’s face.

“Sorry.” She muttered under her breath, just loud enough for Mina to hear. “I’ll behave.”

“Good. You better. Both of you.” Mina enthused tightly, smoothing her hands round her midsection as she nervously patted herself down. “Peace is good. For all of us. You’ve barely managed to work together for a few weeks and you’re already stressing me out completely with how much bickering you two have with each other.

“Sorry.” Both Jackson and Nayeon glared at each other the instant their apologies coincided with each other’s.

“Stop.”

“But—”

“I—”

“Nope, I said stop. Or else I’ll deliberately ignore the two of you.” Mina threatened, pointing a finger at Nayeon and Nayeon cowered back slightly at the threat with a pout. “There there. We’re both going out today, aren’t we?” Mina leapt forward slightly to grasp a pouting Nayeon’s arm. “I’ll make it up to you then.”

Nayeon blinked, fighting the urge to both coo and completely melt at how ridiculously adorable Mina was being with the innocent look upon her face as she stared up at her, wide-eyed. “Okay.” She huffed, trying her best not to seem as though she was softening just because Mina’s aegyo was being extremely effective on her (She could almost hear Jackson sniggering in the background). “Let’s go now.”

“Okay.” Mina smiled, grabbing onto her arm once more and Nayeon slid towards the door, a pep in her step as she discreet stuck her tongue out at Jackson. She gloated to herself hearing his chagrined growl just as the doors to Mina’s suite slammed shut behind them.

The snarl upon Jackson’s face vanished into impassiveness as soon as the door slammed chut behind Mina and Nayeon, his cold eyes fixed upon the door for a lingering moment and his lips pursed as he stuffed his hands in his pockets, body leaning slightly towards the left. He tilted his head and waited with patience to see if either girl would make a return to the room.

For all he knew, they could simply have forgotten something, and thus made their return. There would be no warning bells, no signal saves for Im Nayeon bashing her way through the door just like the rough and untamed girl that she was. Jackson’s lips curled into a mirthful smile at the thought.

Stupid bitches. He thought to himself vehemently. Well, at the very least one of them was making his conquest a little harder than usual. It wouldn’t be quite as fun without having to outwit someone like Nayeon, who was stupid in regular situations but uncannily sharp in others that she didn’t need to be.

Jackson strolled languidly towards the front of the wall where he knew after weeks of observation that the specific camera that had been installed for both nurses and patient safety wouldn’t be able to see him.

A flaw in the system—that was what men like him liked to exploit.

But then again, most men weren’t like him. Jackson sniggered softly to himself and popped a sweet candy into his mouth. He closed his eyes and savored it, allowing his head to fall back against the wall with a soft thunk.

Now—he should make good use of this alone time that Nayeon and Mina had given him to further some of his plans. The lighter in his hand clicked as he flipped open its cap, dark eyes watching the burning flame right at its tip with a glow of a ghostly smile curving his lips.

They definitely wouldn’t see it coming, he was sure of that.

Not even Nayeon, who had every intention and wish to absolutely foil his plans. Even as perceptive as she was, she would be blindsided by how well thought out his plan was. And there would be nothing left but pain for her and utter perfection.

The first notes of Baby It’s Cold Outside murmurs from his lips, haunting yet delicate, a hint of what was possibly next in his plans to come as he made his way in full view of the camera to the window, watching as the snow fell delicately from the skies, and the silhouettes of two pretty girls huddled in their coats, the soft strains of their happy laughter barely drifting towards his ears through the glass.

“Come on~ Tell me where we’re going!”

Let it be known, that one of the hardest things that Nayeon had to do in her entire life was to simply say no to the girl she liked. Nayeon chewed on her bottom lip nervously and stared at Mina, who was currently putting on her best rendition of her favourite aegyo as she clung to her arm—with an adorable little pout, puppy-eyed and as sweet the brightest summer day.

“You’ll know when we get there.” There was no way that she was ever going to tell Mina that they were going to secretly spring a surprise on both of the people that were her Misamo friends whilst they were working. Sure, that company of theirs could try and avoid allowing Sana, Mina and Momo to meet up and all, but they had severely underestimated the stubborn mettle of the one and only Im Nayeon.

Nayeon smiled softly at Mina and held her hand in a tender grasp. They laced their fingers together shyly and paused for a moment in front of the traffic lights, awkwardly trying to avoid each other’s eyes.

Their fingers tangled together, ticklish against Nayeon’s very palms, and Nayeon couldn’t help but smile as Mina giggled. “Why are you laughing?!” She tugged on Mina’s hand, watching the pretty blush on Mina’s cheeks deepen as the other girl’s eyes sparkled happily at her playfulness.

“I’m not laughing at you, I swear!” Mina all but protested when the traffic light turned green, nearly tripping over her own feet as Nayeon dragged her forward with a huff and a pout, both girls giggling as they quickly made their way across the street.

Children could be annoying, Nayeon learned quickly, but a Mina that didn’t know where she was going could be even more patient-testing.

She sighed almost for what seemed like the umpteenth time as Mina clung to her side and huffed, trying not to shiver at the feeling of the other girl’s breath lightly feathering against her ear as they shifted their sandwiched bodies a little more to the left as the bus jostled over a speed bump.

“This was a fucked-up choice.” Nayeon groaned. She should have just disregarded all the rules and regulations and simply taken Mina upon her motorbike instead. But sadly her precious bike was not just nowhere to be found, it had been kept under lock and key in her older brother’s hands.

Nayeon made a face at the thought. Which was why they were stuck trying to take public transport instead.

And of all things, it had to be at the lunch hour.

Mina tried her very best not to laugh at the look on Nayeon’s face when a much taller man stuck next to them raised his hand, clearly overwhelmed by the itch under his armpits as he gave them a splendid display of someone scratching their sweaty armpits.

“Fuck.” Nayeon cursed under her breath, nearly going green and turned her face away much to Mina’s deep amusement. “We should have just taken a taxi.”

“You were trying to save money. That’s a good thing, remember?”Nayeon squinted at Mina, trying to ponder if the other girl was purposely teasing her or if she meant any of it.

“You know, sometimes I have no idea if you’re trying to tease me or be sarcastic.”

Mina grinned.

“Of course, I’m trying to tease you, darling.” She batted her eyelashes as sweetly as she could. “I could never be sarcastic to you.”

“Oh wow. Now that’s obvious.”

“Better?” Mina chuckled as a sigh of relief escaped Nayeon’s lips as the crowd finally dissipates.

“Fine, I am feeling better…oh wait! This is our stop too! Excuse me!” Nayeon bellowed at the people blocking their way, pushing and shoving her way through like a bulldozer before they finally popped out from the bus with a unanimous sigh of sheer relief.

“Let’s never take a bus again.” Nayeon announced, her properly combed hair now completely frazzled. She quickly turned around to adjust the mask on Mina’s face. They had done every possible precaution that they could to prevent anyone from recognizing Mina, considering how popular Misamo truly was.

With every push, shove and squeeze on the bus, Nayeon had a mini panic attack each time someone’s eyes swept over Mina’s own, squeezing her eyes shut and hoping that no one would recognize the otherwise rather popular idol. If anyone were to find out Mina was out and about, that would spell disaster—not just for her, but for Mina as well.

Her company had announced that Mina was currently on hiatus and resting from her car crash after all, making it out to be that her injuries were serious enough to warrant a long period of rest. Many of her fans had speculated that she was physically injured in some way—Nayeon had learned upon visiting sites like instiz and naver, the only plausible explanation as to why Mina couldn’t return quickly back to work.

If anyone found out that Mina was completely uninjured from her car accident save for her memory loss… Nayeon winced at the thought, unable to bear the thought of how they would massacre Mina’s reputation and occupation as an idol if that were to happen.

“Mask up, nice and tight around the ears. And let’s go.” Nayeon could almost feel Mina’s huffy pout when the other girl leaned back, shying away from her hands as she tried to tuck the stray strands of hair away to frame Mina’s pretty face.

Mina huffed, her dark eyes sparkling cutely in the evening light as they rounded the corner and made their way towards the café that Nayeon knew was the place where Momo and Sana were. It had taken more than just a few days' worth of digging around and trying to get connections related to them to even minimally find out where exactly and what exactly were their schedules.

Fuck, she’d almost become their sasaeng, hadn’t she?

Nayeon recalled the strange look that her acquaintances had given her—half worried and half stressed out as they handed her the Misamo schedule that they had helped her get.

“Almost there, almost there.” She soothed Mina gently when the other girl panted next to her.

Of all the places, why did variety shows see it fit to choose cafes that were so remote for their gatherings?

Nayeon huffed and puffed, gasping wildly for breath before they both finally reached the top, the tiny twinkle of that specific café she knew Misamo would be in.

“And we—”

“Finally reached?” They both collapsed on the side of the road, and Nayeon quickly rummaged through her back, pulling out a packet of unused tissues to hand to Mina, gesturing almost embarrassedly to the sweat lining the other girl’s face.

“Are you sure we’re in the right place?”

Nayeon squinted, peering into the distance. She hummed in response, brightening visibly as soon as she spied a bunch of other girls toting huge cameras in their hands and snapping away.

“Yep.” Nayeon popped the word merrily from her lips, grinning widely as she fussed over Mina quickly. She grabbed another tissue from the packet she had given her and dabbled it gently over the other girl’s forehead. “Missed a spot.”

A blush instantly tinted her face as Mina stared back at Nayeon intently as though her dark eyes could see right through her. She flushed, mumbling to herself embarrassedly and retracted her hand.

“Oh no. Thank you, really.” Mina grabbed her hand, quickly taking the tissue from Nayeon’s hand into hers. “I’m just really bad with masks. Makes me sweat. A lot.”

It was a lie of course, because all Mina had wanted was simply a little more time to be able to hold Nayeon’s pretty hand.

Mina lapsed into silence, her eyes grazing the pretty hand that she held in her hand—pale and soft to touch, with just the barest making of a callous on her fingers. Clearly, this was a pair of hands that had barely gone through much physical hardship throughout their lives. How amazing would it be for a promise ring to be on that pair of hands? Mina mused lightly to herself, lost in her thoughts as she traced the palm lines upon Nayeon’s had with all the care she could possibly muster.

“You have pretty hands.” Mina mumbled absentmindedly, completely oblivious to the way how beet red Nayeon had instantly turned as soon as she started clasping their hands together.

“You… you have p-prettier hands.” Nayeon’s ears turned even redder as the end of her sentence cracked like a pubescent boy still in puberty. Her nervousness biologically betraying her own voice as she stood there in the peak of winter, her hands grasped gently in the hands of the girl that she liked—no, loved.

“ I don’t—“

“Okay, okay! But! I think that you have absolutely beautiful hands. You know? Different ideas, different perceptions, but we’re both equally beautiful and all that.” Her mind was starting to short circuit the more Mina held her hands, Nayeon thought very embarrassedly to herself.

She was starting to make even zero sense to herself. “I—”

“You’re cute when you don’t know what to say.” Mina poked her cheek lightly with a teasing finger, a soft giggle bubbling from her lips as she patted Nayeon’s back as comfortingly as she could.

“I…I…we’re here to do something important! Not—not see me being teased by you!”

“But I like seeing you getting teased by me.” Mina bit her lip and took the brave chance to venture a little further than usual. She was by no means no brave person—in fact, more often than not, Mina found herself suffering from the debilitating worry that she wasn’t exactly good enough for a certain Im Nayeon.

There was also the matter of whether or not their relationship was particularly appropriate as patient and caretaker, but Mina was deliberately choosing not to think about that. That could come later, at least after she allowed herself to indulge in the luxury of having Nayeon all to herself. A fleeting passionate affair, Mina thought rather dreamily to herself.

An idealistic thought, but on that was sadly, never realistic.

Mina paused, humming lightly to herself. She blinked up at the blushing Nayeon, enjoying the way that she had been the one to cause the other girl’s face to color prettily like this.

“Uhm…M-Mina…”

“Yes, Nayeon?” She responded, murmuring softly.

“L-Let’s go to that café, shall we? I think I’ll faint if you touch my hands like that any longer.”

“Why?”

“Uh…Uhm…” Nayeon’s eyes widened at the slightly confrontational question from the other girl. Sure, it wasn’t confrontational as in Mina was angry with her or anything. It just felt confrontational due to the nature of the question.

Nayeon had the reason as to why she felt that she would faint if Mina was to touch her hands like that any longer—but that didn’t mean that she felt comfortable with telling Mina right here and right now that the reason why she was so embarrassed was because she was very much in love with her.

“I-It’s a private…private thing!”

“Mmhm. Lewd thoughts?”

“No! I’m not Jackson!” Mina frowned visibly at her words.

“You know that Jackson doesn’t do that, Nayeon.”

“Yeah, well. I mean he feels like someone who would do exactly that.” Nayeon confessed, unwilling to let go on her theory that Jackson wasn’t exactly a great person. This was one thing that she refused to budge on, no matter how much it seemed that Mina liked Jackson.

She never felt right around Jackson—it was always his eyes trailing after Mina that made her deeply uncomfortable, especially with how intent he had seemed in trying to get into Mina’s good books.

No well-meaning person would ever look at Mina like the way that Jackson did whenever he thought no one was looking. There was something almost predatory to the look in his eyes sometimes, Nayeon thought to herself, wishing ardently that Mina would somehow one day, see it for her very self.

“Anyway, I was talking about that café. Come on. Let’s get out of the cold. It’s better to continue our conversation somewhere warm.” She tugged on Mina’s hand, choosing to concede their argument to Mina for the moment.

Mina paused, taking a moment to stare at Nayeon quietly as she searched the other girl’s eyes for any hint of unhappiness.

“…Okay.”

“Yeah.”

Naturally, it had been so fucking difficult just to get into the café.

They couldn’t go in through legal means—not with the amount of cameras in the front, and the sasaengs that would have probably known Mina’s silhouette even if she were a mere blur or a shadow in the distance.

Carefully, Nayeon shielded Mina with her own body and slipped in through the backdoor of the café. They wriggled their way through the crowd to the ending ment of the variety show being filmed. Mina’s eyes widened at the familiar sight of her two friends sitting and laughing in the corner of the café, and Nayeon quickly held up a finger to her lips.

Surprise. She mouthed to the other girl, grinning lightly to herself as she shook her head at the mischievous glint in Mina’s eyes.

No one liked pranks and light mischief more than Mina, that was what Nayeon had learnt quickly in the early months that she had grown closer and closer with her. No matter the memory loss that Mina had, that was one simple thing that failed to change even as time passed.

She was always that lovely goofball that Nayeon had found herself easily falling for from the moment she had laid her eyes upon her.

Cute, Sweet and—

“Nayeon!” Nayeon jerked slightly, nearly jumping out of her skin as Mina quickly shook her to wake her from her daydreaming.

“W-What?”

“What now?” Mina quickly pointed at the dissipating staff, and faint alarm bludgeoned right through Nayeon’s chest at the sight of Misamo’s manager quickly leaving the café.

Were they leaving now? She needed to time things right.

Muttering a faint curse under her breath, Nayeon gestured for Mina to wait for her right where she was, before watching out for the rest of the staff, swiftly nudging her cap down to hide her face. She mingled amongst the variety team staff, making a beeline for Sana and Momo, who were checking their phones with light frowns on their faces.

Nayeon: Are you guys free for a short meeting?

Momo: Now?

Nayeon could almost feel Momo’s brows raise from the tone that she used in the message.

Nayeon: Uh…kinda?

Momo: Kinda? What do you mean kinda?

Nayeon: Okay, promise me that you won’t freak out, but I brought Mina here with me. Just trying to find a way for you all to meet without fucking things up.

Carefully, Nayeon loped over towards Momo, tapping her lightly on the shoulder. The idol startled slightly in her chair, but just barely, years of being attuned to being tapped upon so carelessly on her shoulder by the staff that sought her quick attention.

“Shhhh. Don’t move. It’s me.”

“You fucking suck at being discreet.” Momo hissed back, realization flitting across her face as soon as she caught sight of Nayeon under the hat.

“Well, I couldn’t do anything else when your goddamn managers refused to let me arrange a meeting for you two with Mina.” Nayeon hissed back, brows raising in mild surprise at the shocked look upon both girls’ faces. “You didn’t know?”

“I never heard of such a—” Momo trailed off as their manager rounded the corner, making a beeline towards them as he quickly informed them of their next schedule in a few hours.

“Could we stay for a while longer?” By now the rest of the entertainment staff had left the venue, leaving behind just the Misamo girls and those that were looking after them.

Not a lot of staff, as a matter of fact, Nayeon thought to herself, crossing her arms. Maybe they weren’t as important to their company as people believed that they were. Korea was still a pretty misogynistic place, no matter how wonderful it was sometimes to their citizens.

“Did you stop Mina from seeing us?” Momo was always the louder and more confrontational of the two. Nayeon shrank back slightly when Momo raised her voice, pointing an accusing finger right at Misamo’s manager, half a threat upon her lips.

Nayeon quickly tried to make herself discreet, falling back right next to Mina and gripping her arm. She shook her head as Mina opened her mouth as though to call to both her friends and her manager, who seemed more agitated than usual in her eyes.

Don’t.

“Mina?” Nayeon crossed her arms as a look of sheer confusion flitted across the manager’s face, his eyes darting nervously as he smoothed his hands against his pants with a tentative smile. “Not really. I don’t think that I’ve been contacted about anything related to Mina wanting to meet both of you. She’s still recovering from her accident, you know that.”

Nayeon gripped onto Mina’s hands quickly as she watched the other girl’s eyes widen, the knowledge that no one from her company wanted her to meet with her friends finally registering. Momo rose from her seat almost menacingly, only to be calmed down by a gentle touch of Sana’s hands against her thigh.

“We were just concerned.” Sana enthused lightly, giving their manager a soft little smile. “We were wondering when she would actually make a return to Misamo after all. Nothing’s the same without her.”

Their manager gave a nervous little laugh.

“It can’t be that the company doesn’t want Mina back, right?” Sana continued sweetly. “She’s their biggest moneymaker out of all of us in Misamo after all.”

“…Right.” Their manager looked sick in his stomach as he answered Sana’s sickly-sweet questions. “I’ll…go and get the car.”

“Oh, we still have a few hours before our next schedule. Couldn’t you let us rest up here instead? Besides, it’s a pretty remote place. Apart from some of our fans snapping photos outside, I think it would be a great change of pace for us to simply…relax here in place. Momo’s not feeling particularly well either.” Nayeon huffed a laugh of admiration at the subtle threat and pacification that Sana had used against their manager. It was a terrific method and strategy—almost akin to one of the stick and carrot method. Just enough threat to let them know that they suspected something to cajole them into giving what they wanted.

Perhaps Sana was even more of a frightening figure as compared to the openly expressive Momo, who Nayeon was sure everyone could read like a book.

Their manager purses their lips, brows knitted together as he nodded lightly. “I’ll go—”

“Yes, do go and busy yourself with something else.” The smile upon Sana’s face was indulgent and disparaging.

Nayeon stifled a snort of laughter at the look upon the manager’s face.

“Well.” She nudged Mina forward slightly, a slight look of concern at the downward set of Mina’s pretty lips. She frowned, watching the male manager took his leave quickly, as though trying to flee from a crime scene.

“Do you want to meet them? Or do you want to postpone it to another day? I’m sure they’ll understand if you feel uncomfortable enough. No one can fault you for feeling uncomfortable about all that.” Nayeon gestured towards the fleeing manager with her chin, a shiver suddenly running down her spine as she felt a pair of eyes bore holes right into her back.

Fuck. That was Momo, wasn’t it?

“It’s okay.” Mina shook her head, her lashes quivering slightly. She turned her eyes down, lacing their fingers together as Nayeon’s heart took off in her chest. “I want to meet them.” The words were quiet but resolute, with an almost gentle quality to them. “They’re my friends, so I miss them too, no matter whether or not our company was aiming to separate us and stuff like that.”

“…Okay.” Nayeon mumbled. “If you say it’s okay, then it’s okay.” Bravely, she pulled a smile up upon her lips, finally turning around to lead a masked-up Mina towards her two friends.

“So you were the one that brought her here.” Nayeon had been peacefully minding her own personal business when the sound of their manager’s voice made its appearance, the sour note distinctly clear in his tone as he reclined his seat back against the wall. They both watched the three girls merrily chat with each other in the distance.

“Oh, you think?” Nayeon gave a snort and retorted back. “My priority has always been Mina first, and the betterment of her recovery. Did all of you think that keeping her friends away from her and isolating her was the way to go and help her heal?” She crossed her arms, clearly affronted by both the situation and the possible thought that the company was very deliberately trying to sabotage Mina’s recovery. “And what’s with that Jackson that you sent to Mina as a nurse? He’s a fucking creep, did you know anything about that?”

“Jackson? He was sent to help out?” Confusion mixed with a lack of understanding was distinct in the manager’s face. “No, I didn’t know about that.”

Nayeon stared incredulously.

“Your company sent him and you know nothing about that?”

The manager’s eyes darted nervously. “He’s pretty well known in our company even back when he was a trainee. Always unreachable because you know,” He winced slightly, “His parents and everything.”

Oh. So he was another rich bastard like herself. Now that made so much more sense.

“Hmph.” Nayeon grunted in response, turning her eyes back to Mina as a peal of laughter burst from the girls in the distance.

“So…is there any progress?” There was almost a desperate look to his face.

“Why do you want to know?”

“Because well…” The manager licked his drying lips nervously. He leaned in close. “Don’t tell anyone, but there’s been talks about Misamo going on as two instead of three.”

“What?!” Nayeon hissed back immediately as the manager cringed at her reaction. He knew that information would never sit well with Nayeon, not with how attached she seemed to be with Mina.

“Well…it’s a business. Misamo, is a business. And people aren’t really happy with the fact that Mina’s condition is something that may never be healed.”

“She can get her memories back! And it’s not as if that forgetting memories means that she’s forgotten how to dance, or sing. She’s a great singer, mind you.” She added. “I’ve heard it myself. Karaoke and stuff like that.”

There was almost a wry smile upon the manager’s face.

“You like her, don’t you?” He asked, almost amused with how vehemently Nayeon was defending Mina.

“W-What? No! I mean as a fan!”

“Ah. I see.” The manager’s brows raised, clearly not believing a single word that she was saying. “You do know that once she becomes an idol again, you can’t see her ever again, right?” The man’s voice was soft, as though unwilling to break the terrible news to Nayeon.

“I…” Nayeon opened her mouth slightly, her eyes unfocusing. She turned them away from the girls and back down to the ground. “I know.”

“And you still want her to be an idol?”

“She seems happy being an idol.” Nayeon all but mumbled weakly, her eyes pleading for him to no longer continue this topic. Truth be told, Nayeon hadn’t put much thought into what could possibly happen after Mina went back to being an idol after regaining all her memories. Their time together was always fated to be short term, she knew that much at the very least.

And honestly? She didn’t want to think about it.

It opened up a can of worms that she didn’t want to deal with, especially with how attached she was becoming to Mina quickly.

“Alright. I’ll stop talking.” Perhaps it was the look upon her face that made the manager unable to bear talking more about the topic, and Nayeon heaved a silent sigh of relief. Thank heaven. She really didn’t want to talk more about it with him.

Mina sat before the two people she called her friends nervously. There was a sudden urge to bite her fingernails, especially when Momo leaned forward and eyed her suspiciously. There was something intimidating about the taller girl—her beauty made it difficult for Mina to really relax, eyes flitting towards the other girl next to Momo—that must have been Sana, according to her memories.

Mina gave a nervous little giggle.”Momo, and Sana, right?”

“Right.” Sana murmured softly, glancing periodically at her as though trying to ascertain if something had changed with her friend. “Are you alright? No…have you been alright? We heard that you were in a car accident and needed to recuperate. That it would take months for you to heal because of how serious your condition was.” Slight confusion marred her face. Clearly, Mina was nothing short of severely injured. In fact, she looked as right as rain.

Healthy.

Perhaps even a little too healthy for someone who was said to be as severely injured as she was.

Sana bit her lip thoughtfully.

“Well…technically yes, I was in a car accident.” Mina started off haltingly, feeling her cheeks redden as she detected what Sana had thought with that single look that she had given her from head to toe. “I wasn’t badly injured though. Don’t know who told you all that. I was injured in a different way. Up here.” She reached up, tapping her head carefully, before giving both of her friends’ tentative smiles.

“You…had something wrong with your head?”

Mina and Sana both started at Momo, who had blurted the question out without even thinking. They looked at each other, and a huff of sheer laughter bursts from Mina’s lips.

“Well, technically you could say that that’s exactly what happened.” An amused smile curved the corners of her lips. “But if I were to go into more detail, I suffered some brain damage from the car crash, and I basically lost all my memories of it.”

She directed a shaky smile towards both of them.

“I didn’t remember anyone, yet alone that I had been in a car accident with both my parents.” The pain of remembering such memories was obvious. Mina felt a sick roiling in her stomach as she sucked in a deep breath, trying to toughen up to tell her side of the story to two of her most precious friends so that they could understand.

She swallowed tightly as Sana gave a horrified little gasp. Momo’s lips were pursed. Even she understood what Mina had indirectly said.

“It’s okay, Mina. We don’t blame you for what the company did.” Sana was the one that reached over first, grasping Mina’s hands in her own as tightly as she possibly could. “They’re huge fuckers, and we already know that.” Momo grimaced in agreement with Sana’s words.

“It’s not your fault, so why are you blaming yourself?” Momo snarled, folding her arms angrily.

“I-I’m not blaming myself?” Slightly taken aback by Momo’s aggressiveness, Mina shifted uncomfortably in her seat.

“You sound like you’re blaming yourself.” Momo sniffed. “I don’t like it. Come, say it with me—fuck Jay Why Pee.”

“Fuck…Fuck Jay Why Pee..?”

“With more feeling!”

“F-Fuck Jay Why Pee!” Mina sucked in her gut, finally shouting the words out as emphatically as she could, before clapping her hands to her mouth. “Shit. That was too loud, wasn’t that?”

“No, no. I think it’s just right.” Sana sighed and Momo grinned triumphantly. “They’re fuckers and they should know it.”

“Also, I’ve been working on getting my memories back.”

“ We know. And we already know that you lost your memories.” Sana’s smile was tender, yet kind. “Nayeon told us about it when she came to meet us. But still, it was better hearing it all from you.”

“Nayeon told you what happened?”

“Just about the memory loss. And that it might take a little longer than usual for you to come back to us.”

“…Oh.” Mina frowned.

Nayeon hadn’t told her anything about that. Why hadn’t she told her anything about that?

“I think she wanted to make sure everything was perfect for you. Nayeon seems to…you know, care a lot for you.” Sana murmured, gently patting the back of Mina’s hand. “I’m sure you get what I kinda mean.” The smile upon her face was almost wry. “Nayeon thinks that she handles it well enough for people not to see, but it’s quite obvious, even though we’re strangers to her.”

“That’s why I don’t really like her.” Momo slid down in her seat with a whine. “She’s going to take Mina away from us, isn’t she? Love conquers all and all that.” She flapped her hands childishly.

“Momo!”

Mina was blushing a deep red by now. “S-She doesn’t feel like that for me!” She protested. “No way. I mean, we’ve kissed and all and what not—”

“You what?!” Sana and Momo screeched and jumped out of their seats, nearly making Mina jump back as well in slight terror.

“I-I mean…”

“You kissed?” Momo got up from her seat, eyes wide as she leaned in as close as she could to Mina, as though trying to interrogate and extract information from her. “…How was it like?”

“Momo!”

“What do you mean how was it like?” Mina giggled nervously, half embarrassed and doubly self-conscious. She shuffled a little back further into her seat. “It was fine...” A slightly dreamy look washed over her eyes. “It was perfect.”

“Oh god. She’s in love too.”

“I-I’m not!”

Quickly, she turned her attention back towards Misamo, watching Mina brightened visibly as her eyes swept over her. She waved eagerly as all three of them made their way towards her with wide (but grumpy for Momo, really) smiles on their faces.

“Was it a good session?”

“Yep!” Nayeon couldn’t help but beam at how bubbly Mina was. Clearly, catching up with her friends and divulging everything that had happened to her in the past few months was clearly the right therapy that she needed, on top of aiming to regain back her memories.

“Regained any…important memories?” She nudged her playfully, smiling quietly to herself. Mina giggled shyly, then shook her head sadly.

“Don’t worry too much about it. It’ll come back to you. Sooner or later.” Nayeon comforted quickly, not wanting to see the sad look upon her face.

“Nayeon’s right, Mina. Things like that, they take time.” Sana slipped right behind Mina, wrapping her in a backhug. She rested her chin upon the other girl’s shoulder. “Maybe we should meet up more. That way we can help you remember. I’m sure we can make the time.” She directed a pointed look at their manager, who had just opened his mouth to say something.

“Yeah.” Their manager grumbled. “I’m sure we will.”

“Then I’ll wait for the timetable of your schedules then? To help arrange the meetings and stuff like that?” Nayeon tilted her head, directing her question towards their manager. The man stammered, then sighed with deep resignation.

“I’ll email it to you.”

“Kakaotalk me. You already have my number from when I tried contacting you to set up a meeting but you said no.” The man flushed with mortification at her words, before nodding morosely in compliance.

“Good. He better.” Momo threatened lightly, eyes narrowed sharply while pointing a finger at him. “We get to check our schedules anyway, so if he doesn’t add it in, we’ll know.”

“Thank you.” Mina mumbled gratefully, squeaking as Momo manhandled her into a big hug, dragging Sana into the team hug as well. She glared at Nayeon for a second, before reluctantly yanking her in.

“Go team!”

“Momo…”

“You’re super embarrassing sometimes, you know that, don’t you?”

“Fuck you!” A burst of spontaneous laughter bubbled from the tiny group huddled together.

“Are you happy?” It had been a while since they had left the café, with both Mina promising to both video call Sana and Momo tonight as proof that she had arrived back home safely (“Not that you aren’t trustworthy, Nayeon. I’m sure you are!” Nayeon had rolled her eyes splendidly as Momo huffed back in response.)

“Happy?”

“Mhm.” Nayeon nodded slowly. “You met your two best friends that you told me about. Talked to them. Told them what happened exactly with you.” She murmured, giving Mina’s hand a gentle squeeze.

“Oh yep! That’s a definite yes. I’m happy.” Mina swung herself a little closer towards Nayeon, laughing softly. She poked Nayeon’s cheek tenderly. “I’m even happier because you’re the one that brought me here to meet them. All secretly!” She grinned widely. “It was impressive, considering that you didn’t tell any of them and me.”

“Are you mad that I didn’t say anything?”

“Of course not! I liked the surprise.” Mina smiled secretively. “But doesn’t mean that I won’t get my revenge for all your secret keeping in the future.”

Nayeon smiled, just happy that Mina wasn’t angry with her for keeping secrets.“Tell you what. You know how Mrs Han told me about that scent thing that you use to identify people?” She turned round on a whim, grasping Mina’s hands as the other girl’s eyes widened.

“So we’re going to test out your scent today?” Excitement was distinct in Mina’s voice—clearly, this was something that she had wanted done—she just didn’t know if Nayeon knew enough to understand what getting her scent would mean.

Put in the wrong context, it could have been interpretated in an entirely different manner, and not one that Mina was very keen on either.

Mina smiled sweetly as Nayeon tapped away on her phone, clearly having learnt from their earlier lesson on the packed bus to at least, not go for public transport.

She’s in love with you. Sana’s words echoed in her head like a ghost that refused to go away.

She’s not. Mina wanted to convince herself, feeling the deep ache within her that wished for it to be true.

They were simply friends. Friends that occasionally crossed boundaries. And maybe confessed their love for each other. Did Nayeon confess her love to her or something? The memory itself felt dim, as if it hadn’t happened.

Mina quietened down silently, quietly enjoying the serenity between them as they waited for their ride. There were things—things that she felt she understood more of herself now. It didn’t matter if the memory of the love confession didn’t happen, she was just going to enjoy whatever they could have, right here and right now.

Scent shopping was different from what Nayeon had originally thought it would be.

Honestly, when Mrs Han had first told her that Mina identified people by their natural scents, she had thought perfume, and by perfume she had also believed that they would simply be going round, shopping for the right scent that fit her.

Not something like this.

Nayeon felt her face flush even deeper as Mina leaned in close, and took a long, gentle sniff.

Would someone explain to her why getting their natural scent equated to having Mina sniff the hell out of her?

Because…why?

Why really…why?

Nayeon felt herself shy away from Mina when the other girl leaned closer. Their lips nearly grazing each other as Mina hummed thoughtfully to herself.

“Hmm…Lemon and Vanilla, Cedarwood and Cinnamon.” Mina announced.

“…You really know your scents, don’t you?” Nayeon watched, wide-eyed. The store manager nodded, slipping off to mix a perfect concoction that Mina had stated was her natural scent. “Never thought that I would be a mix of Lemon, Vanilla, Cedarwood and Cinnamon.”

Mina smiled.

“Well…technically, it’s what’s the closest representative of you to me.” Her voice was soft and delicate. Their fingers tangled together longingly as they caught each other’s eyes for a moment, a momentary pause of an awkward beat—before they turned their eyes away from each other.

“You’ve always smelt…homey. And from what I remember, that’s what my room and my home smelt the most like. It’s a mix of the scents that I love the most.” The store manager returned quickly, handing over a nicely packaged bottle of perfume that had been made based on what Mina had asked for.

“Oooh. Smell this. Doesn’t it smell like you?” Mina offered the perfume bottle to Nayeon for a sniff, ignoring the way the other girl glanced at her skeptically before taking a delicate sniff.

“Oh.” Nayeon’s eyes widened in surprise.

“See? I was right, wasn’t I? It smells just like you!” Nayeon’s ears tinted instantly at Mina’s words, embarrassed but deeply flattered.

“I didn’t know that I smelt so nice.” She mumbled awkwardly when the rest of the staff within the perfume chuckled at how delighted both girls were.

“You do.” Mina complimented her instantly. “You just didn’t know it then. Now you know it! Thanks to the scented perfume.” She grinned, enjoying the way that Nayeon’s face reddened more and more.“Awww, look at you blushing—” She cooed, every intention on teasing Nayeon clear.

Nayeon huffed, then pouted.

“Are you going to keep on complimenting me like this for no reason?”

“Reason? Why would I need a reason to not compliment you?” Mina giggled, heaping on the cheesiness. Nayeon groaned deliberately, the quirk of a smile upon her lips barely hidden as she nudged Mina with a playful glare.

“What? I’m saying everything that’s true! You’re sweet, just like cinnamon, flavorful, just like vanilla, and not to mention that you have such a nice smell—” Mina continued, eyeing Nayeon purposely as the corresponding grin upon her face widened by the minute.

“Oh hush.”

It was something that she ended up doing entirely by impulse.

Entirely. By impulse.

Nayeon didn’t know what had taken over her exactly—because one minute she was listening to Mina praise and tease her endlessly about being the most wonderful person in the world (that she felt she was truly unworthy for), and the next minute—her lips were against Mina’s in a deep kiss.

It was just to silence those compliments, Nayeon told herself, feeling Mina melt into her arms as their lips met in a fireworks of a kiss.

A tiny gasp parted Mina’s lips as they stumbled back against the wall, and she kissed Nayeon with all the fervor that she could muster, yanking Nayeon back onto her lips fiercely. She wanted this with all her heart, Mina thought boldly to herself. Even if Nayeon had initiated it to begin with, she had been the one to tug her back when she had pulled away.

Slowly, Mina smiled against the kiss, allowing herself to indulge even further into the deepening kiss as minutes passed, her fingers drawing lightly against the side of Nayeon’s face in a tender gesture.

Her lips felt soft—Nayeon thought to herself in a daze. Somehow, even though they had kissed before, this was…this was different than all the other times.

Mina whimpered against Nayeon’s lips, fingers sliding over her waist. She sighed happily into the kiss, allowing her lips to part. A shiver ran down her spine as she felt Nayeon’s tongue swipe against the bottom of her lips—a tentative but silent ask for permission that she willingly granted, the slide of Nayeon’s tongue against her own lips were firmer and stronger as Nayeon deepened the kiss.

She huffed a laugh, pressing forward and Nayeon mumbled something unintelligible against her lips, tasting like the sweet that she had just eaten only minutes before when they had just arrived at the perfume store.

“Ahem. As much as we love seeing young people in love and all…necking isn’t appropriate in our store.” A tap on Nayeon’s shoulder releases from the stupor that Mina had over her, and they withdrew back from the kiss with a mournful sigh.

“S-Sorry…” Nayeon mumbled, feeling her face flame. She fidgeted in front of the store manager, hiding Mina behind her back as the other girl couldn’t help but giggle. Her cheeks as red as her own as the store manager grinned and shook his head at them.

“It’s okay. I’ve been young and in love before. So I get it.” The manager laughed, patting both of them on their shoulders as he made a beeline for the exit. “Just, don’t do it in public places, please.”

Nayeon wanted to dig a hole into the ground and hide at the laughter in the man’s voice, slinking behind Mina as the other girl pulled her forward with a wide grin, sticking out her tongue playfully.

Mina’s eyes sparkled and she let out another cackle, finally drifting towards the counter. Nayeon continued hiding behind her as they paid for her perfume.

“I didn’t expect that you would suddenly pounce me like that.” Nayeon’s eyes drifted upwards, finally noticing Mina’s kiss-swollen lips, and a pang of both desire and pride surged through her as she caught the other girl’s eye. She straightened her back.

“Well. To be fair, I didn’t think that I’d have the guts to do that either.” Mina choked slightly at her words, eyes widening.

“What do you mean unintentional?”

“I mean, I was trying my best to stop you from over complimenting me! What was I supposed to do?”

“By kissing me?In public?”

“But you enjoyed it.”

Mina stared at Nayeon for a second, watching as the other girl rolled her shoulders. She pulled herself up almost defensively as she clamped her mouth shut and stared at her, almost terrified yet half expectantly.

“Yeah, I did enjoy it.” Mina admitted boldly. “But that’s because I like you.” She confessed, feeling rather emboldened by the sudden kiss. Mina fidgeted, taking in a light but shaky breath. “You know. Like like you. And I keep having this weird feeling when we’re together. Like—you’ve confessed that you liked me before or something.”

Mina pulled her lips back slightly into a grimace. “I know how all this sounds, but believe me—”

“I believe you.” Nayeon’s eyes concentrated themselves down upon the steady hand where Mina had loosely grabbed her hand.

“Y-You do?”

“Yeah, of course I do.” The ache in her chest grew bigger and bigger—a sweet kind of pain, blooming with warmth and understanding as she watched Mina’s eyes flicker from confusion to that of quiet acceptance.

Mina didn’t remember her confessions—how could she have when the last time she had confessed, something had taken her memories away?

But the body remembered even if the mind felt like it was an impression of a dream. Perhaps it was because of how strong they liked each other—Nayeon thought to herself a little too dreamily.

“I did confess.” Nayeon paused, pulling Mina back slightly the moment they emerged from the store. She found a small corner to tug the girl towards for a little more of a private talk.

“Y-You confessed?” Mina’s eyes were almost akin to saucers now, her mouth slightly agape in both astonishment and shock. “I-I  thought you wouldn’t really be interested in someone like me.”

Who forgets things. Has to be reminded of each person only if they have their own unique scent.

Who needed taking care of—always.

Guilt rose in Mina’s throat, trapping her in place as she swung Nayeon’s hands in hers slightly, almost tempted to voice her wordless insecurities.

“Why would I not be interested in someone like you?” Nayeon tilted her head slightly, a hand rising to gently cup Mina’s cheek. “You’re perfect just the way you are. With or without your memories intact. It’s what’s in here that attracted me to you in the first place.” She poked Mina right in the middle of her chest, gesturing to the beating heart that lay within her chest. “You’re a hella pretty woman, Myoui Mina, but you’ve sure got an even more beautiful soul.”

The trip back to the center had been a little less eventful. Honestly, everything after the kiss would be uneventful, Mina thought to herself with a slight ounce of glee.

It was just that meaningful—Mina smiled happily to herself and gave a tiny internal squeal. It didn’t even matter what they were now exactly. She had confessed to Nayeon, and Nayeon had accepted it, as well as reaffirmed that they had felt something akin to love for each other.

Nayeon chuckled softly as Mina skipped a random stone, hopping over it as if it brought her a great amount of joy—how childish it was, but how cute it was too.

“You’re finally back!” The unfamiliar sound of Mrs Han greeting them at the doors of the center was all it took for them to jerk out of their happy reverie.

Suddenly, holding hands didn’t seem like a good choice anymore, even though they knew that Mrs Han understood the nature of their relationship and hadn’t prevented them from doing anything together.

“Mrs…”

Shhh.

The older woman frantically gestured, her eyes falling down urgently their held hands.

“You can’t do that. The director is here.” She hissed quickly, the panicked look in her eyes telling both of them all that they needed to know. “I don’t know how he caught whiff of both of you doing things that you shouldn’t be together, but apparently, they’re here to do an investigation. Nayeon, your probation officer is here too.”

Mina glanced back at Nayeon, noticing for the first time how the other girl was deliberately avoiding eye contact and paling.

“Nayeon? Are you okay? We weren’t doing anything wrong—”

“Weren’t doing anything wrong?” The director disdainful voice floats through, the grimacing look upon Mrs Han’s face telling them all that they needed to know that everything was just too late.

But why? Mina wanted to cry at the thought. Why now, when everything was going just that smoothly? Tears marred her eyes as she dropped her stare to the ground, feeling Nayeon tighten her grip over her hand as she stepped forward defensively, putting herself between Mina and the approaching director.

“It’s all my fault.” Nayeon said loudly, already planning to take the fall for whatever it was that they had deemed wrong. (They didn’t know about their non-existent relationship. Couldn’t have. Both her and Mina had only found out about their mutual feelings recently, without the sabotage of her goddamn memory condition after all.)

She gritted her teeth as the cold eyes of the hospital director stared down at her impassively.

“It’s come to my attention that you may be harboring intentions…or feelings that are inappropriate for Miss Mina, whom you’re in-charge of.”

God, she really really hated that arrogance in the man’s tone. It stirred up her urge for defiance deep in her bones. “And who or where did you get that information from? Mina and I have just been friendly patients and—”

“A friendly patient and caretaker? Are you sure?” She knew before he had even appeared that Jackson had to have had something to do with this. “I was merely expressing to the director my slight concerns about how jealous you always seemed to be whenever I tried working with Mina. And the fact that you were very openly hostile towards me.”

“That’s because you were a creep!”

“A biased opinion, I’m sure. I’ve done literally nothing to cause you to accuse me of that.” Nayeon glared hatefully at the man before, grinding her teeth in anger.“Oh and look. She hissed at me. Are we really going to allow someone like that stay around a patient that needs care like Mina?”

“No, absolutely—absolutely not.” The head director instantly bowed slightly towards Jackson, and Nayeon watched with slow dawning comprehension that this had all been his ploy all along.

“You—”She lunged, ignoring the cries from Mrs Han and Mina as they both grabbed her by her arms and pulled her back, preventing her from assaulting Jackson’s smug face as he stalked in front of the head director, who pursed his lips tightly at her reaction.

“Clearly, she’s not fit.”

“I never would have accepted a criminal like her in the institution anyway. It’s all that reform idea that the government has.” The head director groused. “Miss Im Nayeon, I am here to inform you that you are—effectively disallowed from ever seeing or meeting Miss Mina. Ever again. We’ve filed a petition for a restraining order that will be going through the courts today.” The portly man raised his brows with a sneer. “Pack your bags. Say your goodbyes. Then get lost from our center, you imbecile liar.”

No no. She wouldn’t be able to see Mina again.

They had just kissed.

And she had just been confessed to by Mina.

A sob rose in Nayeon’s chest, feeling the tears slowly well in her eyes. The glare directed at Jackson’s smug face as he folded his arms tearful and desperate as Mina clung tight to her, dissolving into complete sobs as the orderlies that the head director told to separate them grabbed onto her roughly and pulled her away from her grasp.

Mina screamed as they tore her away from her arms, and Nayeon’s entire world simply shattered.

Chapter Text

Moving on after being so roughly dragged away from Mina was not an easy thing. 

In fact, for the most of the week that she was suspended, Mina had occupied the forefront of Nayeon's mind. 

Incessantly. 

It wasn't as if that was an unpleasant thing really–any other ordinary day she would have absolutely loved the fact that the dark-haired beauty stayed stuck on her mind day in and day out, regardless of whatever it was that she did. 

But now…each time her mind drifted off back to Mina…she was reminded of the screams that had torn itself from the other girl's mouth as the other caretakers dragged them apart, with her violently biting and scratching ( which, didn't help her case really) and Mina had an absolutely terrified look upon her face. 

It had been an extremely traumatizing event. For both of them. Nayeon was sure of that. 

As soon as Mina had disappeared behind the cold doors of the centre, Jackson had closed in upon her, his imposing figure not striking any ounce of fear in Nayeon. She glared back at him viciously. 

“Told you so.” The smooth but composed tone of the man's voice concealed the fact that he was gloating smugly at her in front of everyone else's faces, hidden by the fact that he was standing all the way in front, right in Nayeon's face, with the director and other caretakers hidden behind him. 

Jackson leaned in, the smile upon his lips viciously sharp. 

“Hope you enjoyed your brief stay. I'll be taking good care of Mina in your stead for now.” His breath brushed across her left ear and leaned in close, sending a disgusting shudder right down Nayeon's back. She swallowed back the bile that threatened to make an appearance in the back of her throat. 

Still, she wanted to get the last word in. 

It didn't sit right with her that he got the last laugh like this. 

Nayeon paused for a moment, staring balefully in Jackson's direction. She grimaced–then just as everyone was least expecting it, she lunged forward, bringing her teeth clamped right close around his left ear.

Her ivory teeth closed with a chilling snap—like jaws of a snarling dog that had found a way to sink into flesh—and Jackson ripped away from her with a shriek and a howl.

Blood splattered, filling Nayeon’s mouth with the scent of disgusting, metal as she spat a chunk of Jackson’s now bleeding ear out onto the ground. She stomped down upon it in a vicious measure just as the director and the other caretakers rushed forward, yelling as they tried to pull them apart.

“He started it first!”

“I started it first?” Jackson nearly laughed at the incredulousness of Nayeon’s accusation, his eyes narrowing slightly before relaxing with a chuckle, blood still trickling down from his fingers where he held them tightly clasped to his injured ear. “You’re the one that’s trying to bite off my ear.” He mocked. “What are you, some kind of ravenous cannibal?”

“Jackson!” The director nudged him roughly in the side, eyeing him abruptly as he gestured with a wild shake of his head. “Miss Im, I hope you know that your actions just now can possibly end up with an assault indiction. On top of the crimes that you have already committed.” The older man folded his hands together in front of him demurely. “In case that you forgot that you were still on suspension and parole for your previous crime of disobeying the traffic rules.”

Nayeon’s face flushed at the director’s words.“You don’t know anything about me!”

“I know as much as the law has told me, which—might I add, there haven’t been much nice things that have been written in that report of yours when was first given to me with the request to allow you to help rehabilitate injured individuals back into society. I had my suspicions that you wouldn’t be able to do it—”

“What do you mean by that?” Nayeon raised her voice agitatedly, jostling forward. She tried lunging towards the director.

“—That you wouldn’t be able to do it with how much aggression you have leaking into your veins.” A look of sheer, absolute disdain makes an appearance upon the director’s old face as he took a measured step back away from Nayeon. He stared impassively at her for a moment, shaking his head lightly in disappointment. “And to think that the judge that had presided over your trial had high hopes for you.” The older man pursed his lips, allowing them to curl upwards lightly as he scoffed. “I wonder what Judge Myoui would think upon knowing that you tried to flirt and engage in a sexual relationship with his niece.”

Nayeon froze at his words. Judge Myoui?

Was that why Mina’s name had sounded so familiar?

She really should have paid attention a little more than she should.

After all, how many people were named Myoui and lived in Seoul instead of Japan?

Nayeon’s shoulders sagged slightly at the thought, worry slowly creeping up in her gut as she spared a slight glance in Jackson’s direction. “Does Judge Myoui know that you’ve place such a creep to be in charge of Mina’s care?”

“Jackson does not concern you, Miss Im. As far as we are concerned, you’re the one that poses more of a danger to Mina than Jackson does. He does—come from her company after all. They would have vetted him through thoroughly before suggesting him as a potential candidate.”

Not if the man knew how to mask himself and act. Like how she knew Jackson knew how to.

“And what if he’s just pretending—”

“Now, Miss Im. You’re just speculating.”

“I saw him being creepy!”

“Enough! This discussion is now over! On top of actively trying to have a romantic relationship with your own patient, you’ve attacked another colleague of your own. That alone, Miss Im, is more than enough reason for me to grant you more than a month’s worth of suspension. It’s only because of our consideration on how attached Mina is to you that we’re not doing anything more.” The director’s chest heaved emotionally and he stabbed a finger in Nayeon’s direction. “I hope you do reflect on yourself.”

Nayeon flinched at the disappointment in the director’s voice.

“Hah! Never knew you cared that much to begin with.” Nayeon’s voice was almost sour, her eyes almost seeming to glitter with unshed tears. “Uncle.”

The word felt almost bitter in her mouth, lingering like a curse as she watched Jackson’s eyes widen in realization, then amused understanding at her predicament.

“Woes of the wealthy, huh.” Jackson muttered to himself under his breath. He shook his head, a sharp hiss of pain bubbling from his lips as his ear throbbed under his fingers.

This was why he always felt rich people like Nayeon and her family were such hateful people. It wasn’t because of money—he and his family were well-off enough themselves to be considered kind of rich in other people’s eyes after all.

No—he just didn’t like Nayeon because of how she attracted Mina’s attention so easily to begin with. Something that had taken him years to achieve was so easily achieved by Nayeon—just hearing about it from all the company staff that had kept tabs on Mina’s progress made him sour with jealousy.

That was why he had volunteered.

To help.

As immoral as Nayeon’s intentions were with regards to Mina, it wasn’t as though Jackson himself was that innocent after all.

A slow but deliberate smile crept across Jackson’s face; his fingers lightly grazed against the gauzed wound of his ear, a delicate hiss of pain bubbling from his lips as it stings.

A reminder of how vicious some stupid humans could be. Especially stupid humans like Im Nayeon.

Jackson snorted a laugh to himself and gently pushed open the door to Mina’s room, the sobs from the other girl registering to him only belatedly due to his own indulgence at the success he had over causing such an upset with Nayeon and Mina’s relationship being exposed to the public.

“Get out!” The pillow smacks Jackson right in the face just as he came into the room, the plate of food that he had been holding (with all of Mina’s favourite snacks that he knew she loved) clattered down to the floor.

Breathe in.  

Breathe out.

Smile.

Jackson closed his eyes quickly, sucking in a deep breath to temper the anger that had slowly reared its head in light of Mina suddenly throwing a pillow right to his face.

She would be angry, he knew that much.

But naturally, he hadn’t expected her to throw a pillow right at his face. They were close after all. Close friends—even if that title made his teeth clench in disgruntledness at times. (They were so suited to be so much more than that. He’d eventually make her see that.)

“I definitely wasn’t expecting a pillow to the face.” He tried to lighten the mood quickly, opening his eyes once more once he was sure that the monster deep in his veins settled back down into the calm serenity he was familiar with.

“It was you wasn’t it? The one that tattled on us.” Mina hissed wetly, still crying as she swiped a hand roughly over her face. “We weren’t even dating! It was just a kiss!”

“Oh. So you two did kiss.” Jackson raised his brows scathingly. “That’s even worse than what I told them. I simply stated that I highly suspected that you two were in a budding romance.” He had to tread carefully now—what he wanted was not for Mina to hate him, but to adore him in the end.

Even if she seemed as mad as she was now.

She would eventually understand, he was sure of that.

Everyone always understood the reasons behind his actions, even if they didn’t get it instantaneously.

And in the end, they were always grateful to whatever it was that he did.

“I hate you.” Mina hissed back at him. She stalked up right to his face, fingers clawing into his arm, gripping him by the hand. “If I could, I’d smack this plate on your head and make you regret whatever it was that you did do to both Nayeon and us. I knew that you both didn’t like each other. But to do this to her? To me?!” Her voice rose shrilly. “Nayeon made me happy, Jackson! She made me so happy! I was finally feeling alive all this time, and suddenly you decide that you have the right to take that from me? After I’ve lost so much?” The lump in Mina’s throat only grew at the thought of Nayeon, her memories a little too painful to dwell upon in lieu of the fresh memories that she had of being torn away from her lover. “You had no right to do that.”

“I was merely looking out for you.” Displeasure had started to slip into Jackson’s voice, his lips curling once more in disdain at how emotional Mina was being. “And she didn’t deserve your love.” He added quickly, the instinct to put Nayeon down a little more in Mina’s eyes overtaking his otherwise usually strong restraint. “She doesn’t—”

“You of all people don’t get to say who deserves my love or not!” Mina cried, her chest heaving as a hiccupping sob threatened to burst out from her lungs at Jackson’s words. “You’re not anything to me, Jackson! Not like what Nayeon is to me!”

There was an awkward silence.

Almost eerie, Mina would say upon looking back at her memory of it with all but a shudder.

Something that she should have known and detected, if not for her grief over Nayeon.

The silence in the room felt a little too loud, almost like a painful thought that was too difficult for either of them to bear.There was nothing left in the room save for Mina’s soft sobs, almost guttural as she tried to choke back the grief that was all too much to bear.

“…I’ll come back later.” Jackson straightened himself stiffly, dusting off the remaining crumbs of shame that scattered onto Mina’s room floor. He stared for a moment at the plate of carefully chosen treats that had been destroyed completely with that first strike of a pillow throw from the very moment he had walked in through the door.

He scoffed a laugh at the broken treats upon the floor.

Everything felt like a mockery to his dedication now, no matter how he looked at it.

A…culmination of an ungrateful pair that failed to understand his efforts, and were hellbent on depriving him of the joy that he wished for both him and Mina.

Ungrateful…bitches.

Jackson gnashed his teeth together and then stormed out of Mina’s room, hurling a vicious kick at the wall as he cursed under his breath, his every move scrutinized quietly by Mrs Han’s soulful eyes as she watched quietly from the far end of a hidden corner.

She had noticed Mina’s sudden change in mood.

At first it had been the constant crying. That was something natural, for someone as attached as Mina—even Jackson who said he knew her best said that she would stop crying after a few hours.

But Mrs Han wasn’t that sure.

She had seen how Nayeon and Mina’s relationship had budded, them blossomed after all.

Out of everyone in the facility, there was none who knew better than what happened and potentially happened between the two girls.

Please help me take care of Mina.

Her eyes dropped towards the text message that she had received from Nayeon on the screen. There was something almost desperate that she could hear within the message itself, even if it was simply mere words on a screen.

Please.

Mrs Han.

Keep an eye out for Mina.

And so she had. She had liked Nayeon after all—that girl had grown from the self-serving girl who knew almost nothing about helping others that needed help to someone who cared so deeply for the patient that she was in charge of that she purposely went out of her way to help Mina regain her memories on the days that she wasn’t working.

Of course, it could have been something that Nayeon had done purposefully in order to get more time with Mina, as per what Jackson had said. To be fair, such a thought had crossed Mrs Han’s mind more than once throughout the course of the last few months.

But after seeing each and every interaction between the two girls, she just couldn’t believe that Nayeon would have done anything with an ulterior motive. Everything that Nayeon had done for Mina…felt genuine.

Which was why she had camped in a hidden corner that only she was familiar with, watching over Mina’s door and listening to the younger girl’s cries with a sickening pit in her stomach and a worried heart.

Had she expected to see Jackson emerge from Mina’s door in a fury?

Not really.

But it wasn’t anything alarming. Everyone had their own frustrations and own frustrating moments, Mrs Han thought to herself as she watched Jackson vanish round the corner, the mussed hair and crumpled uniform from his rageful kicking against the wall smoothened out almost unsettlingly by his own two hands after the rage filled episode as he made his way out of the facility calmly once more.

This was just nothing more than an expression of Jackson’s frustration, nothing less and nothing more.

Quickly, she slipped past the next few doors and into Mina’s room, the sound of the younger girl crying still loud in her ears. She paused for a moment, gently closing the door with a click behind her.

“Go away.” Mina sniffled wetly. “I don’t want to talk to anyone at the moment.

“Surely, you can talk to me.”

Mina jumped, startled.

“O-ohh. It’s you.” Mrs Han smiled softly at the wide-eyed look upon Mina’s face. The younger girl’s ears had tinted completely red in embarrassment from being so emotional in front of her, a cute habit that she still had whenever she was embarrassed about someone or something.

Adorable.

The older caretaker shook her head lightly, reaching over to cup Mina’s cheek gently, her thumb swiping away at the tear stains upon Mina’s face, giving her a thoughtful little hum.

“Now, who made you cry so much?” She teased, pinching the younger girl’s mochi cheeks lightly with a chuckle of her own. “Your eyes are swelling like tiny little melons from all that crying. Oh!”

Mina sniffled, whining slightly and she turned around to bury her head right in Mrs Han’s stomach. Her shoulder shuddering slightly for a moment, before the tears welled in her eyes once again at the thought of Nayeon, and her desperate calls that went unheeded by the caretakers as they dragged her away from Nayeon.

How could they have done something like this to her? Mina thought to herself, sniffling and pulled back to take a look at Mrs Hans’ face. She was grateful that the older lady hadn’t been a part of the team that had tried to wrestle her away from Nayeon.

“Did you hear about the news?” She hiccuped, trying to blink away her ears as she braved a smile at the older woman. “They barred Nayeon from ever seeing me.” Just saying the words almost brought tears to Mina’s eyes once again, and Mrs Han swallowed back the words at the tip of her tongue, gently stroking Mina’s hair. She comforted her as much as she could with a delicate little hum.

“Mmm.” She skirted over the topic as agilely as she could. She patted Mina’s cheeks in an attempt to distract her from thinking about Nayeon. “They did? I’m sure they had their good reasons.” It wasn’t a good answer, Mrs Han knew, especially from the dismayed and betrayed look upon Mina’s face at her words.

I’m sorry. She wanted to say. I can’t talk about things I can’t talk about while we’re all under surveillance.

The cameras that they had initially installed to keep a good eye on Mina now came into use for such…nefarious purposes. Spying on their patients, all because of a little love. Mrs Han wanted to snort at the thought. It was truly as ridiculous as it sounded.

Her fingers slowly inch over Mina’s shoulders, finding the familiar knot of tight muscles that she knew the younger girl always had and pressing her thumb deep into the aching spot, leaning in close to Mina as she watched the younger girl struggle to formulate the right words that she wished to say in response.

“I can’t talk about her, darling.” She murmured softly, just low enough for Mina to hear her words but for the cameras to not pick up on anything that she was saying. To whoever was watching on that camera, it would look as if she had simply leaned over to massage Mina’s shoulders, not leaned forward to talk to her. A trick that she had mastered over the years of sneaking little rewards to her patients in order to establish a better rapport and understanding with them.

“I’ll let her know whatever I can and keep an eye out for both of you. I can promise you that.” The words of whispered assurances were more than enough for Mina to calm down. Her heaving shoulders slowed…then stopped, She spared a look at Mrs Han’s face for a moment, lips clamped tightly as she turned her eyes back down and acknowledging the older woman’s words with the barest nod of her head.

Thank god Mina was always reasonable to deal with, Mrs Han thought to herself with a sigh, moving on from the light massage on Mina’s shoulders to untangling the knotted mess of hair that Mina had managed to submit her hair to in her grief and despair.

All she had to do was to contact Nayeon as discreetly as she possibly could. That was all that she needed to do.

It was weirder than Nayeon had originally thought it would be, being contacted for coffee like this out of the blue by Mrs Han.

Sure, it wasn’t as out of pocket as she was making it out to be, considering that they had made this arrangement prior to actually meeting up with each other, but still considering how much she did respect Mrs Han…everything was quite awkward.

Nayeon brushed the snow off her coat and stomped her way into the café shop, turning round the corner where Mrs Han had previously mentioned that she was waiting.

“Nayeon.” Nayeon jumped at the sudden tap upon her shoulder, clamping her hands round her mouth as she gave a very unladylike shriek.

“Oh my god!”

“You and Mina are truly the same.” The older caretaker chuckled. “You’re both awful when it comes to responding to someone you don’t expect from behind.”

Nayeon blushed, swatting her hand in the older woman’s direction out of sheer embarrassment.

“Oh no, I’m usually more prepared than that. It’s just—” Nayeon trailed off and blinked at the unimpressed look upon Mrs Han’s face, her shoulder finally sagging down in resignation as she gave a low, disgruntled sigh.“Fine. I’m equally as bad as Mina is at it.”

“That’s better. Now sit down.” Nayeon exhaled violently, quickly plopping her ass right down upon the seat and rubbing her hands nervously against her warm leggings.

“So…” She shifted awkwardly, unsure of how to really start the conversation off without directly diving into the topic that she wanted answered the most in the end. “Uh…anything about Mina?”

Mrs Han raised her brows, deliberately taking the time to raise the cup to her lips and sipped upon her coffee with all the delicacy that she could muster. “Right to the point, aren’t we?”

Nayeon sighed once again. “I mean…I can’t help it.” She mumbled. “You’re not the one that’s being restricted from seeing the person that you love.” Her head bowed slightly.

“That’s why when I first found out, I told both of you to be careful.” The older caretaker hissed back in response almost immediately, her eyes narrowed. “But you two just didn’t take heed of what I said at all.”

Nayeon’s head ducked even lower as she winced. “…Sorry.”

“Too late now, isn’t it?”

“But…you’re still looking after her?”

“Of course I am. Can’t just leave Jackson all alone to look after her, right?”

“Absolutely! You’re right!” Nayeon nearly slammed her hands into the table frantically at Mrs Han’s words. “Oh my god. Are you finally believing me? That he’s got some kind of problem or something—”

“Hold it right there.” Nayeon froze at the deep sound of disapproval in Mrs Han’s voice, shrinking back slightly in apprehension as she watched the older woman for another hesitant second.

“Uhm…”

“I’m not going to say that you’re wrong about Jackson. Personally, I think he has some anger issues that he needs to deal with.” Her brows knitted together tightly at the thought of Jackson kicking the wall viciously in the afternoon. “As much as I’d love to delegate and say that he was kicking the wall of Mina’s room viciously to seek some catharsis for his frustrations…I highly doubt that’s the case.”

“He was kicking Mina’s room wall?” Nayeon hissed, eyes squinted and she leaned forward abruptly, visibly agitated by the older woman’s words.

“I’m sure he meant no harm.”

“No harm? He was kicking her wall, Mrs Han!” Nayeon felt like she could almost cry with how little seriousness everyone else in the center was currently treating what they saw of Jackson. “Do you not think that it’s weird how he’s doing things to the point that even you’d describe him as kicking the wall viciously?”

Mrs Han paused, momentarily stopped by the logic of Nayeon’s words. “I…”

“I know people keep saying that I’m jealous of him and what not, and yes, maybe to some agree, I admit to that. I don’t like the fact that he was close and how close he tried to be with Mina…but I didn’t do anything to him for him to report about Mina and I being close like this either!”

The older caretaker’s lips pursed for a second time, an almost aged look flickering across her features as she sighed.

“…I suppose that you’re right. It’s just that…we’re currently barred from talking about you anywhere and everywhere. Even to Mina.”

A harsh bark of angry laughter bursts from Nayeon’s lips. “I bet it was his doing, wasn’t it?”

“Your uncle?” Mrs Han raised her brows and Nayeon clamped her lips shut in disdain and turned her head aside.

“I’d rather not have a relative like him. Siding with someone he’s not close with over me, who he has seen improving over multiple months.” She watched a wry grin flickering across the older caretaker’s lips.

“Well, he isn’t exactly a stellar boss.” Nayeon gasped, before a cackle of laughter bursting loudly from Mrs.Han’s lips resounding in the café. She clasped her hands to her mouth once again. “Don’t tell him I said that.”

A sweet smile curved Nayeon’s lips as she shook her head, deeply amused. “I won’t.”

“Oh I know you won’t.” Mrs Han sipped on her coffee delicately once more. “You’re in another centre that’s unaffiliated to us after all.” The corners of Nayeon’s lips pressed down into an unimpressed frown at her words. “Why? Not enjoying it?”

“No…I…” Nayeon struggled for a moment to find the right words to say. She hesitated. “In part, yes, I would say that. But… you know, even though part of that is because I can’t be with Mina, that centre is just downright awful.” Her nose scrunched as she recalled going for her first day to the new centre. “Everyone there is just sad and upset. Even the staff are grumpy. The patients aren’t being treated that well either.” She widened her eyes and looked at Mrs Han. “When I tried to treat one of the patients well, I got scolded for it! Scolded!”

Nayeon sucked in a deep breath, visibly offended right to her very core.

“…Some centres are like that.” Mrs Han muttered under her breath, her eyes down casting to her coffee. She watched the brown liquid swirl within her cup. “It’s inevitable, with how much the rich preside over these centres. No offense to you.”

“None taken.” Nayeon’s lips curled. “I know my family is a bunch of shitbags.” She paused, leaning forward worriedly. She gnawed upon her lower lip hesitantly. “Just…I know that you may like Jackson and everything, but just help me keep an eye on him.” She begged. “He was acting creepy towards Mina. I swear.” She sighed. “I tried not to be bothered by it, but I kept noticing really odd and creepy stuff whenever people weren’t looking at him and Mina. It just…just unsettles the hell out of me. I’m not saying that you have to—”

“I’ll do it.”

“Y-You’ll what?” Nayeon’s mouth practically fell open at Mrs Hans’ words. “Are you serious?”

“I was planning on observing and reporting everything to you anyway from the very beginning.” Nayeon jumped at the older woman’s words, reaching over abruptly to clasp Mrs Hans’ hands into hers with a thankful sob.

“Now, tell me more about that new centre of yours that you don’t like.”

The meeting with Mrs Han that she had was…almost rejuvenating. It felt great to expel all her cares, concerns and worries to someone who understood her, even if at times, she wished that it had been Mina sitting in Mrs Han’s seat instead.

But there was one thing that had predominantly sat in the front of her mind ever since Mrs Han had mentioned it in passing. And that was Jackson’s violent outburst against Mina’s apartment wall that she had witnessed in the distance.

Sure, it was nothing much, but something gnawed at the pit of her stomach, like a worrying piece of a puzzle that she felt had been missing and ought to be slotted back into place.

Perhaps sneaking in for a little look around wouldn’t hurt.

She bit her lip hesitantly just as the familiar building swam into her view. It wasn’t as if that she was a terrible sneaker. In fact, she used to pride herself massively in sneaking in and out of her house.

Discreetly.

Nayeon licked her drying lips nervously.

Just one look.

One look at Mina.

Besides, the light to her room was still on.

Nayeon’s eyes flickered with a strange emotion as she stared at the familiar light that glowed slightly up above in the distance.

Just one look over the love of her life, and she’d be done.

She’d leave forever and simply listen to Mrs Han’s various reports about the health and beauty of the love of her life.

Mina shuffled the pieces of paper that she had been given around in her file, a moody little sigh bubbling from her lips. She prepared herself for bed just as a knock on the door startled her, tearing a tiny little gasp of surprise from her lips as Jackson slips in through the doorway with a wide smile upon his face.

“J-Jackson?” The grin upon Jackson’s face was almost disturbing to see, and the male smiled deviously as he held up a cup of hot chocolate enticingly.

“Want some hot chocolate? I made it just for you. To… you know, calm your nerves.” His eyes softened and she straightened up, letting her guard down for a hot second as her lips parted, her tongue darting out to moisten her lips.

Jackson’s eyes traced the way her tongue flicked over her lips almost hungrily.

He was so close. Everything was going just as he had originally planned for it to be.

With Nayeon out of the way, things had got so much easier for him to deal with, especially since there was almost no one else hovering around Mina.

That was the main reason why he hated Nayeon so much.

She had been the one that had hovered so much around Mina as if the other couldn’t do anything by herself that it was almost impossible for him to get as close as he wanted to to Mina.

And it showed.

Mina wasn’t even as close as he had wanted her to be as detailed in his original plan at all.

She needed to be attached to him—that was his original plan. After all, when a woman became attached to someone, there was a high chance that she could develop something called the Stockholm Syndrome towards their captor. Or their sexual partner.

Sexual partner in the loosest term, of course.

Mina shook her head and smiled at Jackson’s affectionate care.” I’m sorry for blowing up at you in the afternoon.” Her fingers closed in around the handle of the spiked hot chocolate. “I mean…I know that it probably wasn’t your fault.” Jackson’s mouth worked as he tried to stop himself from laughing at the hope in her eyes and her sheer stupidity.

“Of course.” The urge to laugh quells as he eyed her predatorily, allowing a charming smile to curve his lips instead. “Absolutely.”

As it turned out, rather than being as proficient as she had thought herself to be, Nayeon had ended up being fucking rusty when sneaking in.

She cursed breathlessly as the security screamed at her from behind, their flashlights flickering wildly against her silhouette as she scrambled up the fence disgracefully. It teetered on its barbed edge for a second before falling over with a wild shriek and a thump to the ground.

“Hey! Stop right there!”

Nayeon shot up to her feet and cleared her throat wildly, brushing off the remaining snow that had stuck itself onto her fluffy jacket. She flailed for a moment as the lights closed in, the rattle of the metal bars loud in her ears. The security guard tried to unlock the gates as quickly as he possibly could.

There was no way that she was ever stopping.

In what kind of world and situation would she ever stop just because someone told her to?

Nayeon stuck her tongue out at the security guard, mocking slightly when she heard the man growl under his breath. He tried to stomp out the snow in his shoes as he gave up upon the lock quickly, his hands gripping the gates and he eventually started the same, slowly climbing the fence she had just done only moments before.

“Oh shit.” Nayeon muttered to herself, quickly taking off in the direction of the front of the halls just as the security guard dropped down over the other end of the gate with a muffled thump.

“Oi!” Swinging open the door quickly, Nayeon waved cackling to herself lightly as she zipped down the familiar corridors, making a beeline towards Mina’s room. “Alright. Deep breaths, Nayeon. It’s just a small peek. And then you’ll never see her again because of all the security cameras and that security guard that’s hot on your heels. One last time for all of this and that’s it.”

She hesitated, fingers grasped over the handle of Mina’s door.

Would Mina be glad to see her? Or angry? It was partially her fault as to why people had found out about them after all.

Even though…they never really labelled the thing that they had with each other and all.

The niggling pit in her belly deepened, throat bobbing nervously as she pressed her ear close in to the door, trying her best to detect any sound behind the doors just to see if she could hear any of the sounds that came from behind the door.

Hang on.

Her brows knitted together at the faint sound of rustling behind the doors.

Was Mina tossing and turning upon her bed? It sounded as if the other girl was.

She pressed herself a little closer, cursing lightly to herself just as her shoe thumped against the door. The faintest sound of a terrified whimper made its way into her ears.

Her eyes widened.

She would know the sound of that voice anywhere.

Hard not to know when the owner of that voice occupied the front part of her mind predominantly for the past few months, after all.

It was Mina. And it sounded as though she was struggling for something.

Nayeon panicked, unsure if she should just barge into the apartment to check on the other girl.

What if Mina was simply having a nightmare? What would she explain to Mina?

Oh, I came around to take a last look at you and you were whimpering, so my shitty little mind actually thought that you were in danger instead of sleeping.

“Hey!” Nayeon jumped, startled by the sudden sound of the security guard crashing through the hallway.

The poor man had finally managed to catch up with her, clearly gasping and wheezing for breath as he pointed at her, squatting down to rest and catch his breath for a moment just as another sound burst from Mina’s room.

Crash.

Ah!

Shut up!

Nayeon felt her stomach drop at the sound of Jackson’s voice coming from inside Mina’s room. First came the insane fear in her stomach, followed by the blinding anger.

What was he doing in Mina’s room?

Mrs Han had reassured that he didn’t have access after office hours to Mina’s room.

So why was she hearing such terrifying sounds like this coming from Mina’s room?

Clearly, she wasn’t the only one who had heard it, the sound of crashing glass and garbled yelling bursting in a torrent from Mina’s room as her eyes met the security guard’s own.

There was only one option left to do.

She watched as the security guard gaped at her for a moment, almost as if shocked by the sudden turn of events. How had chasing an intruder change into hunting for someone that was clearly trespassing a patient’s quarters after hours?

Nayeon gritted her teeth at the thought, making her mind up as impulsively as soon as her eyes landed upon the fire extinguisher just nearby.

She bursted through the door, stumbling and swaying from the weight of the fire extinguisher to a scene that she wished she never would have witnessed.

It was a sickening sight of Mina screaming and crying beneath Jackson, his fingers latched in her hair and lips buried against her neck, one hand jostling his crotch as he tried to unbutton his pants. His legs had pinned Mina down between his thighs, a knee roughly shoved between her legs and her pants almost half torn off her legs. And somewhere on the ground, the tattered remains of her bra and shirt remained.

Nayeon’s breath trembled against her lips, the vicious grip of her fingers tightening around the fire extinguisher just as the security guard reached the door and gasped at the horrifying sight within.

That motherfucking bastard.

All Nayeon could see was a blinding red as she lunged forward towards Jackson and Mina, the sound of a choking Mina drilling like nails through a chalkboard against her ears that she barely heard the security guard behind cry out a warning.

Jackson lifted his head, pants half down and a look of utter surprise etched upon his face as the fire extinguisher met his face with a sickening crunch, battering flesh and bone as Nayeon screamed in rage.

She had no idea where she had gotten all that strength from—it was merely just moments ago that she had barely been able to lift the fire extinguisher with her skinny arms after all.

“YOU FUCKER!!!” The sound of a familiar voice screaming bloody murder barely registers in Mina’s head and she gasped for breath upon the terrifying yet familiar surface of her bed.

Everything hurt.

From her heck to the sickening roil in her stomach that urged her to vomit, right down to the stars in her eyes. Vertigo swept over her in a sudden wave, the scent of stinking blood filling her nostrils as she gagged, then swallowed.

Where was she? Was she just waking up from a nightmare?

A sob hitched itself like a dying note in her throat, her fingers curling against her chest and she trembled right where she was, eyes blearily blinking back tears. Some part of her registered the sound of other horrified voices, then the sensation of a warm blanket being hurled over her—a comforting darkness and she rocked back and forth, curling herself into a tight little ball, the sensation of a thousand ants crawling all over her body.

She was filthy.

She needed a bath.

Jackson—no that man, had touched her. Mina hyperventilated at the thought. His fingers had wormed its way into her panties, nearly violating the most precious part of her body.

How did she think that he was her friend to begin with?

No friend would do something as terrible as that to someone they claimed to feel was precious to them.

Slowly, she felt the blanket drawn away from her head, and the familiar sight of Mrs Han’s stunned but furious face drifting worriedly over her, tears still leaking from her eyes as she lay right where she was.

“Sweetheart.” Mina wanted to cry at the suppressed anger and genuine warmth in her voice. “Are you okay?”

Mina whimpered quietly to herself, drawing the blanket over her half naked body as she curled into herself. I’m fine. She wanted to say, the words stuck deep in her throat like a proclamation she couldn’t even say.

“Mina!” Mina blinked at the outburst of Nayeon’s familiar voice.

Nayeon was here?

Panic assaulted her instantly, her eyes wide and terrified as soon as Nayeon’s face swam into view.

Light flecks of blood were splattered upon Nayeon’s face, her fingers trembling as she reached forward to comfort her, hovering as though terrified to touch her.

Her throat bobbed, and Mina’s head swirled at the sight of blood upon Nayeon’s face.

Was Nayeon hurt? Did Jackson…Jackson manage to lay his hands on her too?

Mina felt almost sick at the thought.

“D-Did…” Her voice came out rough and hoarse, cracked from all the choking by Jackson’s hands, the bruises against her neck mottling her skin like a testament to the torture she had gone through at his hands.

“No, no. This isn’t my blood.” She had always known that Nayeon had the propensity of being a little rougher than others, considering her criminal past. But saving her like this?

Mina’s nose soured.

“It’s all my fault.” She croaked, feeling Nayeon’s displeasure and hesitance as the other girl inched her way closer bit by bit, almost ready to argue with her just as she laid the blame upon herself.

“It’s not.” Nayeon snarled under her breath, shooting the bloodied Jackson in the distance the dirtiest look that she could muster. Part of her wanted to leave, not wishing to show all the blood speckled across her clothes—not wanting Mina to be a part of the violence that she knew she had been capable of in her life. Yet…a part of her couldn’t stay away. Not at least until she could confirm that Mina was all okay.

“Are you…are you okay?” The words were hesitant, but tenderly soft.

Mina’s eyes glazed slightly at her question, and Nayeon bit down upon her bottom lips, restraining herself from reaching over to cup Mina’s cheek. With the trauma that Jackson had given her, it would be a wonder that Mina would be alright with any touching at all, she thought nervously to herself. Her eyes wandered rather obviously between her hand and Mina’s cheek.

Mina took in a shuddering breath, a sob wrenching itself from her throat as she reached forward, touching her trembling fingers right to the soft curve of Nayeon’s cheek.

“I-I’ll be going soon. They have to, you know. Record the details and everything.” Nayeon winced at how awkward she sounded, the guilt tearing at her heart as she noted the tears slowly filling Mina’s eyes.

“Please. Don’t leave.” Mina whimpered, her fingers latching onto Nayeon’s arm. “Please please please please— Stay with me.

Nayeon fell silent, watching Mina quietly as she brought her fingers up gently and grazed the back of Mina’s trembling hand as the other girl dissolved into quiet tears.

“Always.”

Mina stared at Nayeon quietly, the silence that ensued after Nayeon's quiet promise sweet but comforting. She felt her heart miss a beat in her chest as she glanced at Nayeon once again. Her eyes glanced towards the ground for a moment, breath still shuddering upon her lips and she inched as discreetly as she could towards Nayeon.

"Touch me, please." She whispered, a soft, trembling voice bubbling from her lips and Nayeon's ears tinted red at her words.

"I don’t think that...I should be doing that—“

"Hug me to sleep. Please." Mina's fingers tightened against Nayeon's own tenderly. "I...I need it."

Nayeon stared at Mina quietly, absorbing the fragility in her voice and the request in her words. “Okay." She mumbled quietly. "If that makes you feel better."

Nayeon slipped under the covers, wriggling slightly as she adjusted herself, fitting right next to Mina perfectly. She wrapped her arms around the other girl who was still trembling.

Slowly, Mina's quickened breathing slowed, the small puffs of her breath against her shoulder tickling Nayeon. She turned her eyes towards the younger girl, her arms holding her fragile body tight as she quietly watched Mina drift off to sleep.

Chapter Text

As much as Nayeon hated it, as soon as the director made his appearance at Mina’s quarters, sweat beading his brow and face paling at the sight of a completely indisposed and unconscious Jackson—she knew she was pretty much dead.

And actually, even saying that she was dead for whatever it was that she had done was probably the lightest shit that she could possibly think of, especially when thinking back on rwhat Jackson had done to Mina.

The offence that he had done.

“What the hell did you do to Jackson?!” The shrill voice of the director pierced through her eardrums, instantly riling all of her anger to the surface as she stood abruptly, leaving a sobbing Mina behind her.

“What do you mean what the hell did I do to Jackson?” She snarled, all but growling with her teeth bared at the director as she narrowed her eyes. “You’re insane to suggest that I even did something bad to him!”

“Well, you’re all fine and dandy, and meanwhile, Jackson’s the one lying all bleeding on the floor!” The director’s fingers quivered as he pointed right at the inane Jackson on the floor.

“Did they not tell you what that shithead did to Mina?” Nayeon bellowed back, barely restrained by a couple of helpers as they struggled to pull her back from raking her nails across the director’s face with a wild howl.

“Shut up!” The director howled back right at Nayeon, hurling himself towards Nayeon as another few of his helpers desperately held him back too. “I have people to hold accountable for and people to be responsible for!”

“You’re supposed to be responsible for your patients!” Nayeon screamed back wildly, eyes wide and wild as she violently wrenched herself free from the helpers.

The director yelped, eyes widening as she advanced towards him, his bottom lip quivering. He screeched and scurried quickly behind one of the aides in desperation as he peered out from behind the male nurse, who sighed exasperatedly. “I’ll sue you for assault!”

“Oh yeah?!” Nayeon bellowed back, fists tightly clenched. She turned to take a glance back at Mina, who drifted slightly as she swayed, clutching her knees to her chest as she sniffled lightly, eyes still welling with tears. She looked at no one, not even Mrs Han. She rocked back and forth quietly to herself, clearly more than traumatised than ever as soon as Nayeon had left her side.

Nayeon paused, almost torn between wanting to return back to Mina’s side and berating the director.

“Look at Mina!” The director paused, nursing his cheek from where Nayeon’s nails had found their purchase in the lunge attack she did before, turning grouchily towards where Nayeon had pointed out Mina was.

And then his eyes widened, the seriousness of the situation finally settling into him as Nayeon watched his lips thin, turning into a pursed line of absolute distaste as he looked back at Jackson. The older man paused for a moment, as though struggling to come to terms with having to actually apologise for jumping to conclusions a little too quickly, his eyes flickering between Mina, Nayeon and Jackson.

“Okay, my apologies.” Nayeon’s brows raised in surprise at the gruff, insincere apology from the older man’s lips, having not expected one in the first place. “I didn’t know that Jackson did…something like this. When I was informed that something had happened, I was merely told that Jackson was injured, and so was Mina, and that you were around.” He glared halfheartedly in Nayeon’s direction. “So. Naturally, I jumped to conclusions.”

Nayeon crossed her arms and huffed.

“Well, you weren’t supposed to be here.” The director reminded her sagely.

Nayeon deliberately chose not to entertain his words. He wouldn’t get to her. Not right here, not right now.

She pursed her lips, levelling an unimpressed look right back at the director with an angry look upon her face. “Listen—"

“No, no. From now on, you listen.” The director narrowed his eyes sharply, his eyes finally fixed upon Mina. “First things first, is she alright?” He directed the question towards Mrs Han, who stooped over Mina protectively and concernedly, her hand soothing against Mina’s back as she turned back to answer the director’s question.

“Not really.” Mina continued rocking herself abruptly, a hiccupping sob tearing from her throat as soon as Mrs Han started talking, flinching each time the older lady rubbed her back gently. “This—is traumatic.”

She slowly rose to her feet with a sigh.

Mina glanced upwards, her eyes watery and blank, with a faint tremble in her bottom lip as she glanced around at the strange people around her furtively.

Fuck .

Nayeon felt her stomach drop almost immediately at the watery but blank look in Mina’s eyes.

It was almost too familiar.

Almost.

Even without Mrs Han confirming it, she knew what it was.

Mina—had forgotten her memories again.

Nayeon felt as if she could almost cry at that thought.

What exactly did Mina forget—that was something that she didn’t know. Did she remember who she was? What they had together? Or was that all gone completely?

The lump in her throat tightened at that thought, her breath almost tremulous and she stared ahead unblinkingly, looking at Mina as the other girl lifted her teary eyes towards her, then shunned her once again.

Nayeon felt as though her heart had twisted right in her chest. Was it a sign that Mina no longer remembered who she was?

Tears swelled in her eyes, the lump in her throat almost choking her. She turned away swiftly, swiping beneath her eyes just in case any of those tears made their way down her cheeks.

She couldn’t afford to cry—not like this, and surely, not in front of the director and Mina.

Mina was already suffering enough, first going through what Jackson did to her, and now—having to suffer through re-learning all her memories once again.

…Maybe it was better off for her not to be in Mina’s life anymore.

The tears that had welled up in her eyes threatened to fall, and Nayeon quickly tipped her head backwards, desperate to keep them still as she blinked back her tears with all the valiance that she could possibly manage.

“You’re not being serious, right? Tell me that you aren’t.” The sound of sheer disbelief in Mrs Han’s voice was the only thing returning Nayeon to reality.

She turned, sucking in a deep breath to calm herself once more.

There was a pause, and Nayeon curled her lips back onto her teeth as she deliberated if she should say something. There was nothing much that they could do for Mina except to accompany her—that was all.

Especially when her condition ended up being like this.

Both Mrs Han and her knew that from past experiences all too well.

“What’s wrong? Is there something wrong?” She dodged a couple of helpers, weaving in between as she approached Mrs Han, trying to push back the sting in her heart as she watched the director’s eyes narrow once again in her direction.

“You can’t be barring Nayeon from ever seeing Mina! She’s been the only one that has made actual proper progress with Mina when it comes to regaining back her memories. You have all seen it for yourselves!” Mrs Han lunged herself at the director, her fingers gripping the collar of his shirt. The older man shrieked, mumbling something about not standing for him being attacked by two women today.

“Do you not want Mina to recover?!” Mrs Han screamed, her eyes wild. “We promised—we promised that we would help her regain back her old self, do you remember that?”

Mina hated the cacophony of voices that surrounded her.

Some—she knew were advocating for her benefit, that much she could sense…especially that girl that was trying her best to swallow back almost all her tears.

She could see them as they swirled in those dark brown eyes of hers, the slight tilt back of her head apparently as she peered through her fingers, arms still safely clasping over her ears as she rocked back and forth, her curiosity finally conquering the terror that had remained deep within her as she lifted her head to get a closer look at the girl that had caught her interest.

The girl looked pretty, Mina thought a little wondrously to herself, feeling a strange sentiment rise in her chest. Even if she didn’t know who the girl was exactly, there was a sense of déjà vu…as though they had done this…many times before.

Maybe not with that many tears, but…Mina turned her face back down onto her knees, the sudden surge of screaming from another lady causing another rising surge of panic to slice through her chest.

She didn’t like this.

Didn’t like this place—or them, all the people that tried to touch her to make her feel better—all she wanted was for that old lady that had patted her back to come back…and maybe, to some extent (and not because that she was curious and had good feelings for the pretty lady—the girl with those tears in her eyes to stay).

She didn’t even know why she didn’t want to be touched.

Or why she had a sudden urge to bathe and vomit—coupled together with an intense revulsion for the man that had been carried out a few moments ago on a stretcher.

“You can’t do this to Mina, or Nayeon! They have done so much together and…and…” There was almost a desperate tinge to Mrs Han’s voice. “Please. You can’t do this to them.”

“In case you forgot, Mrs Han, as a caretaker of our facilities and a member of our hospital, Im Nayeon is trespassing on our property in order to get to our patient.” The words from the director were harsh, almost bitter as he stabbed a finger in the older caretaker’s chest emphatically, raising his hand once more to brush the sweat from his brow. Then he exhaled roughly, turning to jerk his head towards the security guards who had finally come flooding in through the door.

“Take her away.” He jerked his head towards Nayeon. “She defied her suspension here.”

Mina swallowed, burying her face further into her knees as the sound of the security’s boots clattered against the marbled ground, the barest, muffled sounds of the girl named Nayeon that she had felt so familiar with trailing as they led her away.

Her breath shuddered in her chest, a faint sob tearing itself from her lips just as Mrs Han turned, finally turning her attention back once more to her. She quickly stooped down to gather her into her arms.

“Oh Mina.”

Mina clenched her teeth solidly, unwilling to let the ugly sobs escape past her lips as the warm embrace of Mrs Han enveloped her deeply.

Quickly, the door closed behind the security guards and Nayeon, with the director having followed them closely, the sound of them chattering fading away quickly as Mina sucked in a deep breath of her own, failing to keep the wrenching sob from twisting itself from her lips.

“I should have said something, shouldn’t I?!” Mina exclaimed, hands clasped over her face. Her shoulder shuddered, feeling the pit of disappointment and terror collapsing down upon her with every agonising twist of her gut—it was almost as if something deep within her was telling her—that she had all but betrayed the girl with those starry tears in her eyes.

“I…I know her. Or something. And I should have spoken up! Said that I wanted her around!” Mrs Han watched as Mina took another shaky breath, before shattering completely into pieces with a loud bawl.

“Oh darling,” She murmured, reaching for Mina. The other girl quickly took refuge in the older caretaker’s arms.

“I don’t know you either, but—but you feel like my mom.” Mina wept. “I miss my mom. I-I…” She trailed off suddenly, as though the act of saying that she had missed her mother had triggered something deep within her that she didn’t wish to remember.

Perhaps, an instinctive growing sense of dread that she had never wanted to recognize once again. Mrs Han paused, gently stroking the side of Mina’s face as she watched the younger girl’s face contort into what seemed like a grimace of pain.

“My mother…” Mina’s throat bobbed as she swallowed, as though trying to come to terms with the words that she was about to say. “No, my parents. They’re dead, aren’t they?”

“So you’re telling me that you’re now spending time doing your probation in a different center from before? And that happened months before?” Nayeon winced at the shrill tone in Jeongyeon’s voice. “Here I am, thinking that you’re oh-so-busy so I shouldn’t disturb you out of the kindness of my heart, and my best friend, you, decides not to share with me important details of your life!”

Nayeon tilted her head back, spinning the pen between her fingers and smiled apologetically towards the other staff in the office.

It had been a couple of months since she was barred from ever working and being in the same hospital as Mina…or even interacting with her.

Not that the other girl was never on her mind—in fact, Mina never once left her mind. She had little voice messages from when they were goofing off together during happier times recorded, that she would listen to on her phone on nights that were particularly difficult for her sleep, just to sell the pretence to her aching heart that at least…some fraction of Mina remained with her.

Even if others didn’t want them to be. Star-crossed lovers. That sort of thing. Nayeon snorted at the thought. Look at me, waxing all poetic.

“Did you just snort at me?”

“Oh no, no. I was listening.”

Nayeon cleared her throat nervously, almost envisioning how Jeongyeon’s eyes narrowed instantly over the phone at her words, her best friend’s intuition when it came to detecting lies that Nayeon liked to tell almost completely out of this world.

At times.

…Actually, most of the time.

She sighed, running her hand through her hair as she nibbled on the other end of her pencil, fingers tapping languidly against her staff table as she allowed herself to relax a little more than what was usually allowed.

It was her last day of her probation after all.

And that meant—it was also her last day to take care of her patients.

It was almost amazing how her attitude had changed after mere months of experience of what it was like to be a caretaker.

And to fall in love with a patient.

She had never thought that she’d become so attached, Nayeon hummed absentmindedly to herself. She flipped through the files on her desk.

Even, if the patients were elderly ladies and men and not a devastatingly beautiful girl like Mina.

She pursed her lips lightly in thought.

 “Fuck, you’re not paying attention to me again, aren’t you?” Jeongyeon all but complained.

“Language,” Nayeon grumbled absentmindedly, reading through the latest reports of Mrs Kim’s condition. Her last and final patient—and a surprisingly sweet old lady who was suffering from dementia.

Thankfully, her past experience with Mina’s memory loss had helped with extending the patience and understanding that she had towards those with memory loss, and Nayeon couldn’t help but find it very endearing and adorable whenever the old lady tried her hardest to remember the smallest things with the biggest efforts.

Not because she was disdainful of Mrs Kim having to remember the smallest things, but because she loved seeing every effort that they (both Mrs Kim and by extension, Mina, whom she was so missing terribly) made each time. It made things feel that much more worth it when they ended up remembering more and more things as time progressed.

“Oh my god. Did you get brainwashed by them? You’re telling me language just because I said fuck?” Nayeon mumbled something unintelligible, and Jeongyeon huffed at her over the phone. “And please tell me that you’ve remembered, we’re having lunch as a whole group together. It’s been months since we met. You owe it to us.”

“Oh shit!” Nayeon gasped dramatically, pretending to flip open her calendar just to scare Jeongyeon a little more than usual.

It was always a great way to distract Jeongyeon from whatever it was that she was fixated upon—and currently, as it were, she was quite done with having to hear Jeongyeon harp one and one about her having not informed them about her personal life.

Nayeon picked her nails moodily at the thought.

“IM NAYEON!”

“I was only joking!” She protested instantly, hearing the tiniest sliver of anger behind her best friend’s bellow. “ It’s a joke, Jeongyeon! A joke! Of course I’ll be there for lunch!”

“Fine. You better.”

“Yes, Mam!” Nayeon gave her best friend a mock salute just as the call ended, shaking her head.

“Taking it easy since it’s your last day?” She turned just as one of her colleagues called round the corner. “Mrs Kim is asking for you after we told her that today is your last day.”

“No way you guys told her that!” Nayeon gasped.

“Go check it for yourself to see if it’s true.” Her colleague laughed aloud at the  stunned look on her face, nudging her quickly towards the door.

As it turned out, they had really leaked that it was her last day around to Mrs Kim. The poor sweet old lady was a complete mess, sobbing as she grasped onto her hands almost desperately, as though not wanting to let go. Nayeon had felt extremely sorry for not being able to stay a little longer…though part of her was always glad that her probation stint was over.

That alone meant a lot of things that were important to her—most of all which was freedom. She was now free to do whatever she wanted.

Except for see, touch or hear Mina.

Instantly, her mood sunk at the thought, and another sigh bubbled from her lips, finally catching the attention of the old lady who had been holding onto her ever since she stepped into the room.

“Is something wrong?” Mrs Kim’s concern was almost clear as Nayeon instantly rose to her feet, busying herself around the room as she tried to not think about it, desperate to ignore the growing knot in her gut that tightened sickeningly at the old lady’s question.

She paused, mustering up a brave smile.

“It’s nothing, Mrs Kim. Please don’t worry. It’s just…” She trailed off, the overwhelming urge to suddenly at least share some of her burdens and worries making her tense. She clenched her teeth, hands balling into fist, shaking her head. “It’s nothing.”

“Well, it’s clearly something.” The familiar fragrance of soap and a lavender scent wrapped around her as Mrs Kim toddled around to grasp her in a tight little hug. “Or else you wouldn’t be so moody on your last day. And it’s suddenly too.”

Nayeon’s brows raised.

There were moments when Nayeon felt that despite her dementia, Mrs Kim was a bit too intuitive for her own good. A huff of resignation puffed from Nayeon’s lips and she stared at the older woman for a moment, debating internally if she should truly talk to the older woman about Mina and whatever had happened between them.

“It’s just…I’m not allowed to go and see someone that I love.” She paused awkwardly, hovering slightly as she shifted her weight from one foot to the other. “They say I’m a bad influence for her. And…that I’m dangerous for her.”

At least, that was what the director had implied. Nayeon winced at the thought. They had tried to appeal for at least visitation rights, on the account that she was able to help Mina regain back her lost memories quicker with her being by her side.

They—as in both Mrs Han, and her, by extension.

The older caretaker had all but convinced her to at least try for the love of her life, a result that ended as per how she had initially expected for it to be.

Only that…Mrs Han had ended up being embroiled in the matter as well. And armed with the knowledge that they were close, and Mrs Han would ceaselessly advocate for Nayeon to eventually be reunited with Mina, the director and his team instantly threatened her job to make her comply.

Nayeon’s face twisted at the thought in sheer guilt.

“Everyone around me has been getting the short end of the stick due to my past mistakes.” She mumbled, playing with the hem of her shirt, finally sitting down next to the older woman.

She swallowed thickly. “I defended the love of my life through an intense act of sexual assault.” She skirted the topic skittishly, refusing to even glance at Mrs Kim in the eye as she wrung her wrists together. “And so now for my lover’s safety, they are keeping me away from her. But—But…” Her face twisted in pain at the thought. “But I’m so scared.” A sob finally tears itself from her throat, and she felt Mrs Kim gently pat her on the back. “She—well, my girlfr…I mean my lover has issues with her memory too, and because of that incident where I defended her, she ended up losing her memories too due to it triggering her trauma.” She glanced back up at the older lady, eyes red-rimmed as she tried to stifle back her tears. “We worked so hard to help her get her memories back, and now they’re all gone. But the first thing that I could ever think of was being absolutely terrified that she would never remember me at all.”

A self-deprecating smile floated to her lips. “I’m such a trash really, to think all of that despite—”

“I think you’re wrong.”

Nayeon’s eyes widened.

“I think you’re wrong, young lady.” The older woman reached up to crack her knuckle fondly against Nayeon’s forehead. “Because whoever made you suffer all of this was as blind as hell.” She hacked a coughing laugh for a moment. “And they’re even worse than a forgetful old lady like me in terms of judging character! Ha! That’s funny!”

Her fingers patted Nayeon’s head gently.

“I’ve seen you taking care of me all these months. From when I lose my memories to when I just need someone to talk to…you’ve been very kind, and very patient with me, something that others I have interacted with have failed to show time and time again.” Her rheumy eyes glittered slightly in the light. “You’re a wonderful person, Nayeon. And I’m sure that this girl that you defended would never forget you. Some way, some how. She will make her way back to you—only because you have affected each other so much. If you managed to change yourself for her to be a kinder, more patient person who eventually loved taking care for others…what more about her?”

The lump in Nayeon’s throat deepened. “Really?” She answered faintly, rushing to swipe at her eyes. Mrs. Kim let out a small chuckle right next to her.

“Oh yeah. Definitely.”

Lunchtime—was difficult.

Nayeon had to physically and mentally brace herself as she turned round the corner on her motorbike, the sound of the other girls chattering in the warehouse flooding into her ears almost like a terrifying comfort.

It was nostalgic and familiar—and some part of her missed it.

But it was also utterly terrifying. Only she knew and Jeongyeon knew by extension how much she had changed.

It wasn’t as if she was that tough to begin with…in all fairness, she had simply hidden away her gentler side, at least until Mina brought every good part of it out.

Nayeon sucked in a deep breath, readying herself as she pushed open the door to the warehouse, immediately stuffing her hands into her pockets and slinking her way towards Jeongyeon.

A stark difference from how she would usually act back in the day.

Back then, she would have barged in without a care, tackling one of the girls and cuffing them lightly, and then slung her arm around their shoulders.

Definitely not the quiet thing she was trying her very best to make herself be. After months of not seeing the girls, they felt almost akin to like strangers who were also family. Something familiar and yet unfamiliar, and the sentiment was terrifying.

“Hey.” She tapped Jeongyeon lightly upon her shoulder, biting her bottom lip slightly as she peered from behind at her best friend. “What’cha doing?”

“Nayeon!” The instant squeal from Jeongyeon nearly blows out her eardrums, and Nayeon all but groans as Jeongyeon throwed herself right at her, nearly sending both of them toppling right to the ground.

The chattering of the girls slowly ceased.

“Nayeon’s back?” Someone piped up from behind, just as Jeongyeon pulled Nayeon to her feet, beaming wildly as she presented Nayeon with a wild flourish to the rest of the waiting gang.

“Uh. Hi? Nice to meet all of you again.”After months of going AWOL. Nayeon winced visibly at the thought.

“I’m finally free from my probation.”

“No way that’s Nayeon. You’re fucking with us, Jeongyeon.” Jihyo crossed her arms and stared at Nayeon, trying to register that their loud and once boisterous friend had turned into this quiet person they couldn’t quite recognise.

“I’m not!”

“So you’re telling me that Nayeon, our Nayeon is a quiet kid?!”

Jeongyeon spluttered as Nayeon awkwardly slinked back behind Jeongyeon, unsure of how to face her other friends or even minimally offer an explanation of why she had changed without having to touch upon the topic of Mina.

“Well..uhm…I changed?” She blinked, trying to register and understand why each of her friend’s reactions towards her remark had been so…strange.

What was wrong with changing? Why did they all seem so against it?

“…I don’t know.” Jihyo leaned in closely, peering up sharply at Nayeon and shrank back. “Have you been indoctrinated by those policy and everything?”

“…Uh…no?”

Nayeon wanted to laugh, noticing how Jihyo tried to suppress the twitch of a smile at the corner of her mouth. She snorted. Of course Jihyo knew the sole reason why she changed.

“…Seriously Jihyo, this is what you come up with to welcome me back home?” A laugh finally bubbled to the surface, just as Jihyo’s smile widened, before she reached over to clap her back on the shoulder.

“I mean, you looked down as fuck, so I thought I might try and cheer you up like this.” Jihyo flipped her hair with a light huff through her nose.

“Do I really?” Nayeon raised her brows slightly, stuffing her hands once more into her pockets.

“Yep.”

Well. Fuck.

And to think that she had thought that she covered all traces of her unhappiness up just well enough.

She paused, finally mustering up an almost empty smile and tried to divert their attention once more, feeling Jeongyeon’s eyes starting to drill its way through her head as her best friend continued staring at her a little too intensely for her personal liking.

“Ah..Uhm…so! How’s everyone else been?”

The party itself with the girls was fun.

Very fun.

Nayeon thought morosely to herself and sank into the sofa in the warehouse, nursing her beer with the moodiest look on her face as Jeongyeon joined her with a groan and flop of her body.

“Get off me. You’re heavy.” Nayeon snorted, taking another sip of her beer as she lifted her leg to kick Jeongyeon off her lap, making the other girl whine at her antics.

“Oh, shut the fuck up! If you can let your Mina pillow herself on your lap for a while, then surely I can too!” Nayeon’s lips trembled slightly at the mention of Mina, the grip on her beer bottle tightening visibly as she mustered up a strained smile.

“Yeah, but she doesn’t anymore. So.”

“Oh fuck. Shit. Really? I’m sorry.” Jeongyeon sat up immediately upon her words, blinking at her. Her ears tinted slightly in embarrassment. “When did that happen?”

“Not too long ago? But it’s not really of her will…per say.”

“Yeah?” Jeongyeon looked at her best friend for a moment, almost seeing her with new eyes. She stared at Nayeon, finally realising that despite everything—some part of Nayeon had definitely changed.

For the better.

And then for the worse.

“Tell me about it then. That’s what best friends are for, aren’t they?” She nudged Nayeon with her foot lightly, holding out her beer bottle for the other girl to toast,“And maybe, just maybe, we can help to think of something. Especially if they did whatever they did unreasonably.”

Life—was good.

Or at least…it was supposed to be, Mina thought to herself as she picked on her nail, still nursing a broken rib from how hard Jackson had hit her in his attempt to rape her.

Mina shivered, fingers trembling. She gripped the edge of the bed, hating the way that her body had reacted instinctively to the very thought of Jackson—whoever he was to her, really.

She didn’t remember anything.

Not even that of her assault or anything.

All she had was simply the other witnesses' words and the gut feeling of her very own body. They had told her what had happened to her. Specifically.

From her parents’ death that she had a strange Deja Vu and inkling about… the assault; nothing was left out to her knowledge.

Or was it…really?

The aching hole in her chest only seemed to grow bigger and bigger the more she thought about it, Mina thought sadly to herself, not in the mood to even entertain her favourite television shows that they had put on her TV.

She clamped her lips shut as soon as the doors opened, fading into a corner once more as the unfamiliar sound of footsteps drew closer and closer, only relaxing when the gentle scent of Mrs Han’s perfume wafted over her like a comforting little blanket.

But even as happy as she was supposed to be, she was not.

It was as though there was something wrenching a hole deep down inside her, eating away at her heart as time passed, egging her on to explore and understand what the missing hole in her heart was beyond merely being afraid of the truth behind it.

Like a missing piece of her heart.

It was as if she had fallen for someone and lost them at the same time.

But when and where would she have had the chance to love someone like that? Till they were an irreplaceable part of herself?

Mina’s eyes flickered, strained and weary from the endless crying and she peered up from her arms, watching with wary silence the crumpled look of devastation on Mrs Han’s face.

“You have to stop rejecting your food.” The old caretaker’s voice was rough with tears. She sat down next to Mina, a hand gently placed upon her back. The cutlery on the plate clattered slightly as she placed Mina’s favourite cake into the younger girl’s hands. “At least a bite. For me? You can’t keep starving yourself like this.”

“I’m not starving myself,” Mina muttered lowly.

She reluctantly pushed the plate back towards Mrs Han, trying to ignore the twitch of her nose as the tantalising scent of the cheesecake wafted up to her nose. She paused, valiantly swallowing her saliva, trying to desperately stave off her desire to eat.

Mrs Han looked helplessly at the girl before her, sighing. She took the plate off from Mina’s hands.

“Ah…” Mina hesitated for a second, blinking rapidly. She quickly turned away, ears burning in embarrassment just as her stomach growling filled the air.

“Come on, Mina. I know you’re hungry.”

“I am hungry.” Mina’s lip pursed stubbornly. “But I don’t want to eat.” She shuffled herself away from Mrs Han. “You can tell them it’s me being stubborn and going on a hunger strike or something.” She buried her face a little deeper into her arms for some semblance of comfort. “I don’t want—I just…it’s complicated to explain.”

Of course it was complicated to explain. There was no doubt about that. Mrs Han thought almost morosely to herself.

You’re missing a part of yourself, after all. She remembered the way that Mina had gravitated instantly towards Nayeon soon after the incident had occurred, even though the trauma itself had resulted in Mina suddenly forgetting most, if not all of her traumatic memories. There was just something natural about two soulmates finding each other. And to keep them apart like this…was cruelty beyond measure.

The older lady sighed, turning her eyes towards the camera monitoring them from above.

She wasn’t allowed to tell Mina about Nayeon—the only ones who knew about Mina weren’t just her two friends and the company that had instructed them to continue as they were in keeping them apart. In fact, the company and the hospital had dedicated themselves so much to erasing Nayeon’s presence from Mina’s life that they had changed all of the nurses and caretakers.

The only one that they couldn’t rid themselves of was…Mrs Han, much to their chagrin. It was difficult for Mina to re-associate herself with someone completely new, as they had learned the hard way.

From completely ignoring the new nurse that they had assigned to her to the hunger strikes that she carried out soon after they had moved Mrs Han away, the Director had no choice but to permit the older caretaker to return—with a cheesecake peace offering in hand.

“Are you sure that you aren’t eating? They hoped that sending me back here with a cheesecake would mean you would eat something. And you know, maybe prove that I’m worthy to keep around.”

Mina’s bottom lip trembled, but she accepted the plate back, taking a small bite of the cheesecake as her stomach growled.

“But something still feels missing.” She whispered, unable to stop the tears welling up deep in her eyes. “Like…they took something away from me, and I can’t get it back.” She reached over to grip Mrs Han’s hands. “But if I managed to get you back, maybe I can get back whatever they took away from me too, right?”

 Mrs Han stared down at Mina, feeling her gut wrench at the plea in Mina’s eyes. “I can tell you this, sweetheart.” She uttered loudly, before nudging Mina quickly, lowering her voice. “ They aren’t allowing us to say anything, but for you, I’ll try.” She murmured, leaning in just close enough not to seem suspicious. “We can have a little heart to heart and I’ll tell you stories, how about that?” She smiled, offering another amiable smile towards Mina abruptly, increasing her volume. Her eyes drifted up towards the camera, which had now focused upon her and Mina with an intense scrutiny that told of someone watching behind the scenes.

Mina’s eyes glinted slightly, careful not to make it too obvious that she too—had noticed the sudden blinking of the camera out of the corner of her eyes, quickly, bowing her head down to conceal the expression on her face as Mrs Han turned gently fishing out something from her bag as soon as they turned around and into the camera’s blind spot.

No one would suspect that they were doing something other than colouring and what not after all, Mrs Han thought a little gloatingly to herself, having made sure to give ample chance for the camera to take a look at the colouring book in her hands, the real book that she had wanted to give to Mina hidden behind its hardcovers as she handed Mina a colouring pencil. “Sweetheart, take a look at what’s behind the book.” She murmured softly, gesturing with a tiny tilt of her chin.

Mina’s brows furrowed lightly in confusion, quietly playing her part. She flipped open the colouring book, the colouring pencil held tightly between her fingers as Mrs Han reached over, touching both their shoulders together as she unveiled an all too familiar scrapbook.

It was strangely…nostalgic, Mina thought dazedly to herself, tracing her fingers over the pressed wildflowers with a certain fondness.

She loved this scrap book—the thought itself was intuitive, almost as if there was no other possible option except to love it. It was crystal clear to her in the way her handwriting was all over the pages, printed neatly and carefully with the most playful and loving words ever…all to a single person named Nayeon.

“Na…yeon?” The name came, almost breathlessly from her very lips, lilting gently in a form of a question. She turned her teary eyes towards Mrs Han, feeling her anxious heart finally settle as soon as the name left her mouth.

“Yes. Nayeon.” Mrs Han’s smile was almost automatic, leaning forward slightly to brush the tears that had started spilling down the corners of Mina’s eyes. She gripped the scrapbook tightly, suppressing every hiccupping sob that threatened to fall from her lips. “Your girlfriend.”

Mina gave a laughing sob.

“I…I have a girlfriend?”

“Oh yeah. You do.”

“I really do?”

Mrs Han almost wanted to laugh, patting Mina on her back as the younger girl finally bawled, quickly reaching over to shut the scrapbook and slip it back behind the colouring book. The smile on the older woman’s face was almost tender. “That book is yours to keep. To look at whenever you need to, when people aren’t around.” She murmured gently. “And here.”

She presented a locket to Mina gently.

“So that you’ll never forget what’s important to you.” Mina glanced down tearfully at the locket, opening it gently with a click as her eyes flicked up in surprise to glance at Mrs Han in sheer shock.

“Is that…”

“Mhm…”

Mina swallowed the lump in her throat, a thumb gently brushing over the photo in the locket of two smiling girls, happily smashed against each other as they laughed openly at the camera. Mina’s eyes welled with tears and she caught another sob in her throat. The memory of them at the photobooth swelled back, like a recovered lost memory she had been longing for.

It was a stupid thing that she had wanted to try out with Nayeon, both of them grinning stupidly. Nayeon quickly slotted the coins into the booth, rushing back in with a yell as she grabbed the nearest goofy glasses off the shelf.

“Come on! Come on!” Nayeon shoved the top hat onto her head and beamed widely at the camera, cackling to herself as Mina tried to stifle her own giggles, balancing the stupid nose glasses on her philtrum. It was far too large for her nose and ears, so that had to be the compromise.

“Ready?”

“One, Two, Three—Cheese!”

She had ended up being the only one who had stared straight at the camera with a beaming smile, Mina thought to herself, fondly smoothing her thumb over the picture of Nayeon glancing at her through the corner of her eyes.

“You didn’t look at the camera!”

“In my defence, you looked really cute! You know that, don’t you?”

Mina’s ears burned with embarrassment as she recalled the memory. She gently placed down the locket, her eyes glittering gratefully in Mrs Han’s direction.

“Shhh. Don’t say a word.” The older caretaker gently placed a finger against her lips, shushing her sweetly. “You deserve it. You both do.”

To say that Jeongyeon was surprised to receive a call from an unknown caller was almost an understatement.

Almost.

She rarely got calls from anyone really—not even that from her own family, so the girl had almost every intention of simply just…picking up the phone and hanging up.

Much like a prank call.

But something about the voice on the other end made her pause.

“You know Im Nayeon, don’t you?” The woman who spoke on the other end of the phone was clearly an old lady. Or rather, older lady. There was almost an air of confidence in her speech, and Jeongyeon couldn’t help but stutter for a moment.

“Nayeon told me a lot about you.” The woman’s voice was low but hushed. “I’m Mrs Han, the caretaker in the hospital that Nayeon worked with back when she was taking care of Mina.”

Jeongyeon’s jaw dropped at the name of Mina.

“Wait wait wait.” She spluttered. “So Mina’s real?”

There was a strange pause on the other end of the phone.

“Of course Mina was real. Did you think that Nayeon made up stories about having a girlfriend or something?”

Jeongyeon sputtered once more at the derision in Mrs Han’s voice, her shoulders nearly drooping.

“Well. They’re currently separated, but they don’t want to be. And I’ll be fired if anyone finds out that I’m contacting someone who’s Nayeon’s acquaintance. It’s just that…I don’t want them to regret things. Ever.” There was a faint but sad pause, temporarily ruined by the sound of the older woman clearing her throat in discomfort.

“What do you think of helping me correct that mistake?”

Jeongyeon was an awful secret keeper, Nayeon thought judgmentally to herself. She rolled her eyes, trying not to be amused at the terrible way that Jeongyeon was putting on an act as she attempted to drag her to a café.

Or rather, dupe her into joining her at a café.

“You know that you could have just told me that you wanted to go to the café instead of saying stuff like: There’s a beautiful girl in that café that you wanted to look at, right?” Nayeon said drily, crossing her arms.

Jeongyeon blushed furiously in front of her, aiming a sharp but vengeful kick at her shin.

“Ow!”

“Serves you right. I hope you bawl your eyes out in the end.”

“What? Why the fuck would I?”

“You’ll know when you get there.” Jeongyeon sniffed importantly.

“I—you know that just makes you all the more sus to me, right?”

Fuck. Jeongyeon paused, taking a moment to consider if she should give the smug Nayeon a black eye right before she went to be the love of her life.

Better not. They had suffered enough, she thought sagely to herself.

“Well, rather than proclaiming how sus I am, why don’t you take a look at who’s at the café now?”

“What is this, another surprise party or something? You know that that doesn’t work on me right—” Nayeon’s lips parted in surprise, finally at a complete loss of words at the familiar sight of a beautiful, very beautiful lady with a white scarf wrapped snugly round her neck, toddling slightly as she made her way towards the front of the store.

There was no mistaking it.

She would recognize that gait anywhere. Or that figure.

Nayeon swallowed, suddenly realizing how woefully underprepared she was to meet the love of her life.

She hadn’t even changed out of her work clothes yet!

“Shit. Shit shit!” The thought of meeting Mina here sends another wave of panic surging right through her veins. “Did you kidnap her?” She reached over fiercely, grabbing Jeongyeon’s collar wildly. Her eyes bugged. “The police will be involved if you kidnapped her from the—”

“Tch. Love really blinded your eyes, huh? Look over there.”

Relief swept over Nayeon instantly at the sight of Mrs Han followed by an awkward wave as the older woman finally caught sight of her and waved.

“She brought Mina here.” Jeongyeon grinned. “Couldn’t get it over her conscience that she was separating the two of you and called me.”

Nayeon swallowed nervously, taking a cautious little step forward as she approached Mina.

Did she even remember her?

The last time that they had seen each other had been…so long ago.

Her nose soured at the thought.

“Hey, you.” She mumbled, finally reaching Mina as the other girl looked on at her nervously, as though trying to anticipate what she was about to do. “Do you still remember me?”

Mina didn’t remember everything exactly—there were still some parts that still weren’t clear to her. But that wasn’t even important to Nayeon. What was the most important was that even with a faulty memory, Mina still did remember her.

Even if the memories weren’t complete, there was still something of worth that they could hold onto. And besides, memories could always be rebuilt into better ones too.

Her eyes dipped slightly, falling to glance down at their intertwined fingers with a proud but gentle smile. Slowly, Mina’s fingers found their their way towards her cheek, brushing against the stray tendril of her hair that had fallen messily over Nayeon’s face.

They paused, staring at each other as a slow smile spread across Nayeon’s lips.

Cute. Mina thought rather dazedly to herself, overwhelmed by the amount of affection that had risen instantly in her chest from that single action that she did. Just a simple brush of hair away from Nayeon’s face and catching her smile had made her heart skip a beat, thudding its way like the crash of waves in her chest.

“Nayeon…” She murmured, fingers tracing over the side of the other girl’s face tenderly. “I—I  think I’m in love with you.”

It wasn’t even a question, but a statement, one that held on with such conviction that Mina couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride in her chest at her declaration.

“You think?” Nayeon couldn’t help but smile, leaning affectionately into her touch, giving her a soft hum.

Mina blushed.

“I mean…I mean I don’t have all of my memories so I don’t really… I…” She stammered, trailing off just as Nayeon leaned forward, stealing a kiss of her lips, much to her surprise.

Mina’s eyes widened, startling back in complete surprise at the warm touch of Nayeon’s lips against her own.

“I…I…” She sputtered as Nayeon’s grin widened, eyes widening once more and Nayeon leaned forward quickly and kissed her, once again upon her lips.

“Nayeon!”

“What?” Nayeon winked back at her, poking her cheek and Mina’s blush widened. “You’re so cute.” She commented, satisfied at the red flush upon Mina’s face.

“You…You…You’re cute too.” Mina mumbled, wishing a hole would open up to bury her deep as she fidgeted, her lips tingling at the pecks that Nayeon had pressed against her lips.

It wasn’t enough, she thought almost hungrily to herself, eyeing Nayeon’s lips and pursing her lips before leaning in, her lips touching Nayeon’s in a reciprocated kiss.

A slight hint of strawberry burst like a fruity taste against her tongue as she nibbled slightly on Nayeon’s lips, arms sliding around each other’s waists as she inched a little closer, their lips finally meeting in a tender but passionate kiss.

It was perfect that they had ended up moving from the café to Nayeon’s place, and finally, Nayeon’s room, Mina thought dazedly to herself.

It was as though the kiss itself had ignited a fire deep within her, the scent of Lemon, Vanilla, Cedarwood and Cinnamon motes light against the air she inhaled in Nayeon’s scent, eyes widening as an age-old recognition settled deep into her bones.

She recognised this scent, Mina thought to herself, feeling tears well up in her eyes, lips tangled in a mash of fierce longing and intense desire that left her breathless for more.

She recognised it and knew it because it was something that she had given to Nayeon from before.

Her scent. What made Nayeon Nayeon to her.

A half sob burst from her lips as she kissed Nayeon, taking her in completely, pushing in. She released her hold on Nayeon’s waist to hold her face, her feelings welling like a raging river in her chest as Nayeon pulled her deep into herself, soft, breathless pants against each other’s lips. Nayeon gave more of her kiss, her mouth greedily delved into hers, a gently sucking accompanied with every sweep of her tongue, every nip of her teeth, making Mina dizzy with want. They parted from each other slowly, tearful and filled with sheer adoration.

“I know you.” Mina’s voice cracked tenderly. “I know this scent. I know you.”

Nayeon smiled softly, the brush of her thumb gentle against the rise of Mina’s cheek. “Of course you do.” She whispered against Mina’s lips. “It was a matter of time before it came back to you. I always believed that.”

Mina sobbed softly, blubbering slightly, and she cupped Nayeon’s face, sniffling as she brought Nayeon’s lips crashing into her own once more—this time, fiercer than before.

The burning pit of desire deep in her belly only seemed to escalate as Nayeon moaned softly against her lips, their fingers tangled in each other’s hair. Tongues tangling, teeth biting, and their kisses grew with so much urgency as if their intention was pouring into each other’s mouths. Mina felt Nayeon’s lips slowly descend her jawline to her neck, sending shivers of anticipation and fear down her spine as she shook in Nayeon’s arms.

“Are you…are you okay?” The soft exhalation of disappointment murmured from Mina’s lips. She fidgeted upon Nayeon’s lap, where Nayeon had pulled her to straddle her waist, her fingers toying hesitantly with the band of Mina’s jeans.

“I…” Mina sucked in a shuddering breath, her eyes glazed from the intensity of their kisses. “I’m fine.” Her fingers shook against Nayeon’s shirt, clutching the front of it tightly, as though trying to will away the unconscious fear that was imprinted deep into her bones.

“Nayeon, I swear I’m fine.” She leaned in, tilting Nayeon’s face up towards hers, trying to urge the other girl. Her hips jerked almost reflexively as Nayeon’s hands slid down to her waist, stilling her. She looked up at Mina with a gentle smile.

“Mina, we don’t have to do this now.” Mina’s eyes watered slightly, the breath of fear that she had been holding finally leaving her chest in a sigh as Nayeon intertwined their fingers together, both of them watching as her fingers shook against Nayeon’s own, a telltale sign of her anxiety and panic from what happened to her previously coming back to haunt her in the worst possible timing.

She wanted this, Mina knew that much. God, she yearned for it. To feel Nayeon touch her like she wanted her, to feel Nayeon’s lips against her own skin.

And now…

She bowed her head, tears threatening to fall. She swiped roughly at her eyes, belligerent and unhappy at how she had failed to control herself. To suppress that instinctive fear, the sensation of insects crawling up her arms at another’s touch.

“It’s far too soon for you, isn’t it?” Nayeon’s words were soft, murmured out of understanding. She shook her head lightly, placing Mina’s hands against her heart, which thudded softly but steadily against her palms. “I’m not in a rush, and neither are you.”

“But I—”

“I know you want this.” Nayeon interrupted her quickly. “And God—God, I want it so badly, too. But I will not. I will not do this to you when you’re still trying to cope with the trauma that fucker did to you.” She brushed her lips up against Mina’s in a tender promise. “Soon. We’ll definitely be able to do it soon. Let’s just focus on helping you get better first, alright?”

Mina blinked back the tears in her eyes. “Are you sure? You said that you wanted this too, and if we don’t do it—”

“I’m not sex-crazed.” Nayeon snorted out a laugh. “I don’t need to fuck you to know that I love you.” She smiled up tenderly at Mina. “Mina, I’m different from everyone else that you’ve probably met. Maybe in the past, some people wanted to date you just to sleep with you. Or date you just because you’re famous. But me—me, I want you as who you are. That’s all. Whether it’s with your memories intact or your memories not intact, whether you manage to heal from your condition or not, or even whether we sleep with each other in the future or not—that doesn’t matter to me. All I want is for you to be healthy. And safe. And if that means holding off on touching you until you feel better, I will do that. That won’t change the way how I feel for you.” Nayeon whispered, leaning in to gently nuzzle against Mina’s cheek.

Mina could only sniffle, burying her face in her hand and finally bursting into tears. The fear and trepidation from her traumatic experience finally burst into full view as she cowered into Nayeon’s embrace, bawling into her shirt as Nayeon pressed a kiss to her forehead gently.

“Stay with me.” Hours later, Mina murmured those words against Nayeon’s ear, feeling Nayeon shift against her in surprise.

“Stay with you? Of course. I’m staying with you as long as you want me to.”

“Not that kind of staying.” Mina paused, pursing her lips. “I mean, stay with me.” She insisted. “Move in with me. I…I have an apartment. And stuff like that.” She fidgeted awkwardly after her slight proposal, dipping her head in embarrassment as Nayeon’s eyes pierced into hers, those dark brown irises deep in contemplation as she gave a soft little hum, then a disappointing shake of her head.

Mina’s stomach dropped at Nayeon’s reaction.

Was she really not going to agree to her request? To not even move in with her? Maybe Nayeon didn’t love her as much as she professed or thought she did. Insecurity swarmed like a coiling bug in the pit of her stomach, and Mina startled in surprise as Nayeon shook her out of her thoughtful reverie.

“Whatever it is that you’re thinking, it’s not true.” Nayeon grinned back at her good-naturedly. “I’m only saying no to us moving in together for now.” She bit those last two words carefully. “You know how this incident was publicised on the internet.” She murmured softly against her ear.

It had been the act of one of Mina’s outraged fans, disdainful of Jackson and deeply grateful to Nayeon for having saved her idol. The sasaeng had all but revealed everything she had seen, having heard some rumours about Mina staying in a hospital and sneaking in in an attempt to find out more about the entire ordeal.

She had been lauded as Mina’s guardian angel, Nayeon wanted to laugh at the thought, half embarrassed and half proud of her accomplishment. She bopped Mina’s nose playfully, watching as the other girl beside her scrunched her nose cutely at her touch. She didn’t even want to be called Mina’s guardian angel (only because lover would have been so much better. But still.), even though the thought of it still sent a pang of pride and a sense of accomplishment through her veins.

Sana and Momo had been beside themselves in both tears, worry and gratefulness—Nayeon huffed a laugh, remembering the way that Momo had elbowed her tearfully. Sana also pulled her into a rough hug, sobbing into her shoulder as soon as they learned of her predicament and how she had saved Mina from Jackson, with Momo naturally cussing out the male nurse in the most colourful kinds of language that she could possibly muster.

“Your fans published it, and both the hospital and the public are now scrutinising me. Too many eyes upon both of us now.” She chuckled. “I heard Jeongyeon and Mrs Han say that it was even more of a hassle than usual to bring both of us here, and escort us back to my place.” She glanced briefly at the door, where Mrs Han and Jeongyeon had made their way into the living room early to give them their privacy and space.

“I know, but I…”

“After.” Mina’s eyes widened slightly as Nayeon pressed a silencing finger to her lips. “How about that? I move in after all this dies down.”

She squirmed slightly in Nayeon’s embrace. “Are you really serious?”

“Of course! I…” Nayeon paused for a moment, her ears turning red. “I’m surprised, pleased, thankful and…and absolutely love that you want me to stay with you. It’s you know—” She stammered for a second, trying to gather her wits that had dissipated at the adorable, wide-eyed look upon Mina’s cute face. “Soon. As soon as everything dies down, we’ll be able to date secretly all that we want, avoiding your fans, avoiding your company. Getting drunk with Sana and Momo…”

Both of them chuckled a little at that thought.

“Please tell me that you’re a good drinker. Because Momo is, and Sana and I are not. It always ends up with Momo winning all our contests.”

“Well, you’re in luck then. I have quite a good appetite for alcohol.” Nayeon stuck her tongue out playfully in Mina’s direction. “Either way, as I was saying, we’ll just wait for things to die down a little before I move into your place.”

“And how about meeting again?”

“Soon?” Nayeon’s brows raised slightly in surprise, almost guilty at the begging look on Mina’s face.

“I…don’t really know if we’ll be able to meet again soon though, Mina.” She hated disappointing Mina, and hated the crestfallen look upon the other’s face as she gently turned her down. “It’s not that I don’t want to.”

“Okay.” Mina said in a tremulous voice.” Okay. I understand.”

“…External circumstances. I’m currently being watched by both the police and the hospital. As well as your fans.” She nudged Mina playfully, trying to bring the mood back up. “I don’t know which I should be more scared of. By right it should be the police, and then the hospital, before your fans. But somehow, I’m more scared of your fans than either the hospital or the police.”

Mina couldn’t help but smile at her words, pushing Nayeon slightly in protest. “Hey! They’re nice fans.”

“I know.” Nayeon agreed, laughing. She took the playful push from Mina in her stride. “But soon, baby.”

Mina’s smile wobbled slightly at her words, and Nayeon reached up gently to wipe away the tears that had silently spilt down her cheeks. “Don’t cry.” She whispered. “Please don’t cry.”

“I know,” Mina answered sorrowfully. “I know, but I—I can’t help but feel like I should cry.”

“It will only be a short while, I promise. And then, we can be together once again. Forever and ever and ever.”

Just like how they had always imagined themselves to be.

Forever and always.

“Promise?” Mina asked, wiping her eyes silently with the back of her hand as she sniffled.

“Promise.” Nayeon murmured, tilting her face up to Mina’s to seal their promise with just one more kiss.

Chapter Text

Time passed by all too quickly.

For everyone else but Mina and Nayeon, really.

And honestly, that’s not even because they were together—rather, it was because they were apart that time passed by so slowly.

Every fibre in Mina’s body ached to be with Nayeon, to see her, touch her, feel just a little bit of her breath against her cheek.

Hell, if she was given a choice, she would have even gone to the extent where she would have accepted Nayeon’s touch back then when things were getting a little frisky in Nayeon’s room. Anything to feel even just a pinprick of familiarity, to sense that Nayeon was here with her.

It was so unfair.

To not even be allowed to hear her voice either—they had to sell the pretense that they weren’t in contact for months on end, all because of a particular article that had managed to make its way across the internet.

Not that she begrudged it, however.

It was equally important to her that it had gone completely viral.

It was just that…it still felt unfair that despite what the public sentiment was about Nayeon not being a danger to Mina and had instead helped her by saving her from a potentially dangerous situation…both the hospital and the company had still disallowed them from interacting with each other.

Not even a supervised meeting. Or even phone calls. And so Mrs Han had to be their intermediary.

Mina swallowed the bitterness in the back of her throat as she knocked back her medicine, the pills rattling against the plastic cup as Mrs Han handed them to her with a tiny, affectionate little smile.

“Feeling better today? Your numbers are ticking upwards, according to the medical reports.”

Mina gave her a non-committal hum.

“Mmm. Maybe the medicine is working.” The raise of her shoulder was slight, just bare enough as she allowed the words to roll around her tongue, scraping the last bits of the pills that had gotten stuck in her mouth and swallowing it with a tight grimace.

“You know that I know when you’re trying to be a smart ass with me, right?” Mrs Han levelled a pointed look at her, unimpressed but smile still wry.

“I know, I know.” Mina grumbled.

“I know it’s hard to be apart from each other. But for now, this is the best that we can do.”

Mina sighed.

“Sometimes I admire your patience, Mrs Han.” Her eyes flicked upward towards the older woman with grudging admiration. “To tell me these positive things constantly even when I don’t believe it myself.”

If there was one good thing about all of this, and the article exposing what happened to Mina being on the internet, Nayeon thought to herself, it was the fact that she was able to attend the meetings discussing about Mina’s health, mental health and progress in general as a concerned third party who still wished to be kept in the loop about a charge that she had defended.

The argument had been pitched forward by Mrs Han, and under the skepticism and suspicious eyes of the hospital, had been agreed to, especially after Momo and Sana had added their two cents and insisted that for she be informed.

Out of gratitude towards what she did for Mina, of course.

Anything related to the fact that they had fallen in love and what not had been kept safely out of the records. Not that Nayeon had thought that anyone but either of them would have cared.

But still, she understood.

Mina’s job came with a couple of stipulations, and one was that as an idol, what came first was her fans, regardless of her own self. That also meant that histrionically, idols always seemed to have anything related to dating being taken badly by their own fans themselves, which was why Nayeon understood why it had been inherent that her company had wished to leave their relationship out of this.

Again, not that she thought many would have cared either way, considering how the community for same sex marriages and relationships in South Korea wasn’t the most developed to begin with.

It might bring Mina unwarranted hate, Sana had said, fidgeting uncomfortably in her seat as they sat at that annual coffee meetup.

Oh, right.

Another change to her life from being apart from Mina was the fact that both of Mina’s friends were now consistent factors in her life.

Honestly, if someone were to ask Nayeon a few years back where she would see herself in a few years time, never would she have thought that she would’ve ended up being a close friend to three different celebrities, and by extension introduce those celebrity friends of hers to her own ragtag group of friends.

Jeongyeon, Jihyo and the others had been instantly awestruck, and needless to say, had started cleaning up after themselves much more than usual, a stark stroke of maturity that likewise Nayeon had found for herself in the past few months of heartbreak and love with Mina.

Either way, it was for the best, and Nayeon cleared her throat lightly as she prepared herself quickly for the zoom meeting.

“Is everyone here?”

“Yep.” Nayeon took a sip of her water, careful to close the door behind her quietly as she sat herself back down in the seat, lips pressed tightly together as she gave all of them each a brief nod of acknowledgement.

“It’s good to see you looking better, Miss Im.”

Nayeon snorted into her water as she took another sip, raising her eyebrows at the very man that had sealed the decision to keep both her and Mina apart from each other—the head director of the hospital.

“And here I thought that you’d prefer that I’d not be well.” She snarked, grinning slightly as the director gave an awkward cough, followed by a sharp glare at her words.

“Nonsense.” Over time, her relationship with the hospital had eased quite a bit. It seemed as though that the idea of her really wanting to help Mina had finally gotten through to them solidly, and they no longer failed to believe in her words that she was…would…want everything to be the best for Mina.

“We’ve started Mina on a new drug recently, to control the headaches that come along with the momentary memory lapses. Though recent CAT scans have also shown that Mina’s been making good progress, with her brain healing some of the previous injuries that it had obtained.” Mrs Han begun the briefly with a slight tap of her pen against the table. “The memory lapses that we’ve recorded with her within a month have lessened considerably after we’ve placed her on the new drug trial, and it seems that to compensate for her lack of memory, her body has also developed other significant ways of actually recalling things to help jog her memory. For example—” She spared a look in Nayeon’s direction on the zoom call ever so briefly. “She remembered who Miss Im Nayeon was upon smelling certain scents that she had previously associated with her. Lemon. Vanilla. That sort of thing.”

Nayeon felt her heart swell with pride at Mrs Han’s words.

Even till this very day, she still wore the perfume that Mina had made…no, picked out specifically for her. It was one of the fonder reminders that they still had a part of each other, even if most of their correspondence were either taken to each other by Mrs Han’s word of mouth or the occasional sneaky letter that the older caretaker had managed to sneak inbetween snack breaks.

“Yes, yes. We all know that she can remember her lover comfortably right now.” Nayeon allowed a tsk to pass right through her teeth as the director of Misamo’s company waved Mrs Han off.

Be polite. She wanted to threaten.

But with them being so close to success and Mina being discharged, it was better for her not to cause…any mishaps.

That could always come later, when they no longer had any proper reason to keep Mina away from her, Nayeon thought rather blissfully to herself.

“She’s able to recognize me, and both of her friends, Sana and Momo.” Mrs Han folded her hands calmly as she responded to the question. “All it takes is for her to be familiar with their scent and we’re finding that her memory gets jogged more often because of that.”

“So we’re going to have to give everyone designated perfumes?” The director leaned forward incredulously.

Mrs Han shrugged.

“If you still wish to have that superstar team that you had originally, yes. Only the important ones, though. Not everyone. People that are a part of Misamo’s team. I doubt anyone would reject the notion of actually getting free bottles of perfume every now and then as a part of the job scope.” Mrs Han leveled another pointed look in the director’s direction drily.

Nayeon choked back a cackle as the director’s face turned into that of the colour of a dried plum…until he managed to regain back his composure and clear his throat in Mrs Han’s direction.

“Well…” The slightly balding man dabbed his handkerchief against his sweating forehead. “If you say so.”

“Of course I say so. I’m the one that’s been taking care of Mina for the past few months while all of you simply set up beefy men to guard her round the clock without caring about anything else.”

The director’s eyes darted to and fro for a second, reddening as another failed to be hidden snort bubbled from Nayeon’s lips. He opened his mouth, then closed it, looking very much like a fish out of water that was floundering for some essence of pride that he could no longer retain.

“E-Either way, all in all, our assessment for the end of the past 6 months of evaluation is that Mina has been coping very well with the new drug and the various techniques that both Mrs Han and her have come up with to help juggle her memory losses. If you have a fixed company of people for her to interact with, over time, the effect of the memory loss should lessen, one, because of the familiarity between Mina and them, and two, because we’re seeing signs of her brain actually finally managing to repair itself smoothly. We’ll only need bi-monthly checkups to take a look at the repair progress of her brain, and to replenish the experimental medicine that we’ve given her.”

“So…you’re saying that she’s viable for work as soon as she’s discharged?”The badly concealed excitement in Nayeon’s voice made the hospital director’s brows furrow.

“Not necessarily.” He answered back as politely as he could, feeling rather peckish at how little regard the other man had for Mina’s health. “Give it a good two three weeks before you slowly introduce her back to her vocal lessons, and light pilates or yoga. She should not be dancing vigorously until at least 3 to 4 months later after she’s built back up considerable strength and familiarity with her body once again.”

“Done with the meeting?” The door opens to reveal a bespectacled Jeongyeon sipping on her iced coffee as Nayeon nodded, holding out her hand expectantly towards her best friend. “…What?”

“Coffee. I know you have another one.”

“What?! No!” Jeongyeon sputtered for a moment, her ears tinting. “Look, you can get one on your own, I got the other one for Sana and Momo.”

“Awww, did you forget all about your bestie because you’ve got two hot girls that you wanted to chase?” Nayeon swooned melodramatically, peeking with a slight cackle as she watched Jeongyeon’s jaw work at her insinuation, the root of her best friend’s ears only getting redder and redder by the minute.

“Fine.” Jeongyeon thrust the coffee in her direction with a petty scowl upon her face. “Only because you asked so nicely!” She stuck her tongue out at Nayeon as she raised both her middle fingers, pulling out of the doorway and allowing it to slam shut behind her.

Jeongyeon had honestly been the only other person that Sana and Momo had somewhat gotten close with, and Nayeon was sure that somewhere…in the midst of all the friendship canoodling and Jeongyeon being starstruck that she was with superstars, was a crush that was kinda burgeoning.

With her own past experience of her crush on Mina, she could now see the various signs. From the coffee buying to the reddening of Jeongyeon’s ears. She just didn’t know which of the two girls Jeongyeon had a crush on—Jeongyeon was always good at hiding stuff like that.

“Oh. Right. Momo told me to tell you to come quickly.” Jeongyeon raised her brows as she opened the door a crack, peeking round the corner before she took another sip from her coffee. “Or you might miss the thing that you three have been planning secretly without me.”

Nayeon narrowed her eyes, taking a slow, deliberate sip of her iced coffee as she stared at Jeongyeon for a hot second. “…Jeongyeon.”

“Yeah?”

“Are you pouting because you aren’t part of the team?” Jeongyeon’s entire face coloured once more.

“Fuck off and stop trying to tease me, you bitch!”

“You ready?” Mina’s eyes crinkled round the corners, laughing as she watched Momo’s head bob round the corner in what was—the past five minutes impatiently.

“You’ve asked me that three times within five minutes, Mo.” She bopped the taller girl’s nose affectionately. “What are you guys being so secretive about?” She leaned forward, purposely dropping the volume of her voice so that no one else could hear. “Are you bringing me to Nayeon? Because that’s a pretty good surprise, even if I guessed that it would happen.”

Momo made a sound that sounded like a dying cat in her throat. “Is all you can think of Im Nayeon and Im Nayeon only?” She hissed, knocking Mina lightly on her forehead. “We’re bringing you to a party to celebrate your discharge from hospital. A party! Nothing related to your Nayeon or anything!”

Mina flushed, rubbing the spot where Momo had knocked lightly upon her forehead with a pout. “But…it’s been so long.” Her shoulders drooped. “Do you think that she’s forgotten me?”

Somewhere behind her, Momo groaned once more. “God, I swear, you two are the exact same!”

“Momo!” Sana admonished, swirling round the corner to relieve Mina of the boxes that she had in her hands. “They’re being cute, and I like it.”

“Thanks for picking me up, anyway.” Honestly, Mina had thought that Nayeon would be the one picking her up. But after thirty minutes of delaying and dwaddling…it didn’t seem like Nayeon was thinking of doing so in the first place.

Disappointment writhed in her belly, quickly shoved away once again as Mrs Han appeared in the distance.

“Mrs Han!”

“Mina.” The elderly woman smiled warmly as she opened up her arms, accepting the hug that Mina threw her way and grasping her back as tightly.

“Thank you for helping me all this while.” Tears glistened in Mina’s eyes as she looked up at the older lady’s face, feeling the warmth of her palms against her cheeks for the last time.

“Was my pleasure.” The elderly caretaker smile gently. “Now go and live your life to the fullest.”

“…Momo, are you sure that you drove us to the right place?” Mina grasped Sana’s arm nervously as they moved through the darkness of what seemed like a stage. “You seem to be—” She laughed a little nervously, “Leading me towards a stage or something.”

“You’re an idol, and I told you that it was a surprise party.”

“It’s not going to be something like…the fans sitting on the opposite side when the curtain rises or something, right?” Sana stole a look at Momo, shaking her head lightly.

“Nope.” Momo popped the word as brightly as she could. “Keep that imaginative little brain of yours to yourself and just enjoy the party.”

Mina swallowed nervously as the soft fabric of a blindfold was gently put over her eyes. She could feel Sana’s nervous breaths beside her, and hear the tapping of Momo’s feet, nervous against the ground.

They were hiding something, she was sure of that. She just wasn’t sure what exactly this surprise they had said they had prepared would be.

Sana’s fingers lead her to towards what seemed like the center of the stage, and suddenly—the grip of her friend’s fingers vanishes.

Instantly, panic surged like a tidal wave in Mina’s gut, rapid breaths of nervous energy rolling off her as she wrung her wrists together for a hot minute, before opening her mouth to call for Sana and Momo tentatively.

“Sana? Momo? Are you there? Stop playing around with me.” An edge of slight hysteria tinged her voice as she whirled around dizzingly. “I don’t like this surprise anymore!”

“Lying’s not good for the soul, Mina.” Momo chimed in a sing-song voice, and instantly, Mina exhaled a breath of relief.

“Where did you go—”

“Everyone, let’s cheer as loud as we can for Mina, who’s come back from her accident!” The blindfold rips off her eyes, and Mina gasped softly, fingers shooting out to grasp the hand that had taken off her blindfold quickly.

“Stop staring at me.” Momo grinned. “Look. See.” She turned Mina’s face gently towards the audience, where a sea of inky darkness lay. Mina squinted desperately, peering through the bright lights above her to see—something magically appear before her very eyes.

It was a slow flicker of light really.

Pink and Purple lights that were originally dotting the audience in sparkled dots of colour, slowly turning into a warm, beautiful sea of mint green before her very eyes.

Mina’s eyes pricked with tears.

The auditorium was silent, the barest rustle of clothes being heard as the fans slowly unfurled the banners that they had made in their hands, raising it above their heads in unison.

Welcome back home, Myoui Mina.

Thank you for being healthy and safe.

Mina twisted around, gripping Sana’s hands tightly as she stared at her two friends, blinking rapidly.

“…Surprise?” Momo huffed a laugh hesitantly, reaching up affectionately to swipe away the tears that had gathered at the corner of Mina’s eyes. “Don’t cry.” There was a faint sniffle from the other girl. “Fuck, don’t do it, or I’ll start crying too.”

A bubble of laughter burst from the audience as Mina blubbered, flapping her hands.

“Tissue?” Sana grinned, sniffling wetly herself as she watched her friend dissolve into tears, dabbing rapidly at her teary eyes as she turned back towards the fans and blew them a kiss.

And then.

The sound of a camera flickering on crackled in the speakers lightly.

“Is this thing recording?”

“…Why the fuck are you asking me?”

“Language!”

“Oh yeah, it’s recording.”

“Okay, okay. Now get the fuck out of here. I want to—”

“HIIII MINA, I HEARD A LOT OF SHIT-I MEAN STUFF ABOUT YOU.” Laughter perforated through the audience and Mina’s eyes widened, watching as Jeongyeon and Nayeon’s face flood the screen behind them (with Jeongyeon’s face obviously taking up majority of the screen).

“Shut up! Go away!”

“Also, I just wanted to say that I LOVE Misamo’s songs! And—hey! Hey! Fuck! Watch the goods! Stop shoving me in the closet so that you can be all mushy with Mina!” The fans in the audience laughed when Nayeon shoved Jeongyeon into the closet, then turned around to pick up the discarded camera once more, a bit of a wild smile upon her face.

Nayeon.

“Hi.” The greeting was almost breathless, and Mina covered a hand over her mouth as the sobs heaved from her chest. “Uh…fuck…this is awkward.” She laughed softly at the muttered expletive from Nayeon’s lips. “Uh…Hi Everyone, as you might know, I’m...Nayeon.” She raised a hand to awkwardly scratch the back of her ear nervously. “I was Mina’s caretaker for good while and for these past few months, you may or may not have heard good and bad shit about me.”

Mostly good shit! Someone shouted from the audience.

Nayeon’s cheeks tinted slightly, as though she could very well heard the audience’s response to her words.

Mina knew better though.

Nayeon always blushed cutely whenever she sought to talk about their relationship.

“I was Mina’s caretaker or one of Mina’s caretakers for the past few months until my resignation from the hospital because they felt we were growing a little too close.” She paused, a dark look flickering across her face. “But! That’s kinda something that’s great because…haha…after that, Mina and I…started falling in love and dating.”

A hushed murmur rippled through the audience.

“I know that it’s probably not what a lot of you want to hear because Mina is your idol, and honestly? I get it! Mina’s amazing—like literally I would not blame you for stanning her.” More laughter bubbled from the audience as Nayeon continued to babble, her ears and cheeks only getting redder and redder until—she buried her face completely in her hands.“Aw fuck. I fucked it up.”

“Oh yeah. You did.”Jeongyeon peeked over from the closet, leaning upon the door and sipping on her tea, looking very much like a tea-sipping Kermit from one of the memes.

“Shut up!” Nayeon glared. “A-Anyway. I just wanted to show you this. This is for you, Mina. I hope you like it.”

The soft but familiar hum of Nayeon’s shy singing voice filled the auditorium as pictures of their past little dates filled the screen.

It was supposed to be their dates—but needless to say, one could tell that Nayeon had spent more time taking photos of Mina that that of both of them together themselves.

There was one where she had first been taken out by Nayeon into the snow, and had stuck her tongue out playfully to catch the first fall of snow…

Another one where she sat on a swing, spooning ice-cream into her mouth…

And yet another one of her asleep on the picnic blanket, on the grass, the orange hues of the sun dusting her lashes and cheeks as she slumbered on peacefully.

“Wow.” Momo muttered drily. “Your girlfriend is reaaaally obsessed with you, isn’t she?” Sana elbowed Momo violently, and Mina giggled at her friend’s playful antics, before focusing back on the video just as it came to an end.

The camera whirred on once again, this time with a fresh-faced and awkward Nayeon sitting quietly in front of the camera.

“I just wanted to say something before I go.” Mina’s eyes glittered as she stared at the image of Nayeon upon the screen, fingers clasped as she fought back a tender smile. “I love you, Mina. And I always will. I’ll see you later with a little present. But for now, enjoy your time with your fans.” She paused, blowing Mina’s signature kiss towards the screen. “Please take good care of her, everyone.”

Nayeon bounced her foot nervously at the back of the stage, clasping the bouquet of flowers in her hands as her ears pricked nervously, detecting the sound of clicking heels descending down the steps. She tensed, readying herself for everything when the door burst open and Mina all but threw herself into her arms.

“…I see you got the message in the video.” Nayeon mumbled bashfully, watching as Mina pulled back with a teary look upon her face, instantly propping herself up on her tippy toes to plant a full kiss upon Nayeon’s lips.

A very unladylike squeak burst from Nayeon’s lips, her eyes widening as she staggered backwards slightly, hands slipping down to cup and steady Mina’s waist as she allowed the kiss to deepen, sliding her tongue lightly against Mina’s bottom lip in a silent promise for more before pulling away reluctantly.

“I did.” Mina sniffled. “And that’s on you for making me cry like a baby in front of everyone!” She wailed, smacking her palm against Nayeon’s chest.

Nayeon chuckled, grinning at Sana and Momo, who watched quietly from the doorway. “Well then, my lady. Now that you know that I’m very much deeply, and derpily head over heels in love with you, would you kindly allow me to escort you to somewhere nicer for a little date?” She pecked Mina’s pouting lips lightly, soothing her gently.

“Okay.” Mina mumbled, burying her face into Nayeon’s shoulder once more. “But if you make me cry once again, I’ll leave!”

Nayeon genuinely forgets how they manage to get back to her house.

It’s a blur of affection, make-out sessions and flighty little kisses upon each other’s lips amidst dinner that she’s almost surprised that they actually managed to make it home in one piece.

With—all their clothes intact.

Nayeon sucked in a heavy breath as she closed the door behind her, propping Mina up in her arms as they paused, staring into each other’s eyes in sheer realization at how genuinely close they actually were with their bodies pressed against each other and to the door.

“….Your door can hold the weight of two people, right?” Nayeon bursted out laughing at Mina’s question, tucking a stray strand of the other girl’s hair behind her ear as she thumbed Mina’s kiss-swollen lips, noting the hooded look of desire in Mina’s eyes.

“Yeah. It can. It’s a door, Mina.” She kisses the pout on Mina’s lips, holding back a slight moan when Mina pressed her chest towards her, their fingers sliding beneath each other’s thin shirt.

“H-Hold on.”

“What? Why?” There was almost a whine in Mina’s voice, her fingers already naughtily slipping behind the band of her jeans and down towards her panties.

Nayeon shivered, feeling a thrill of anticipation slide down her spine as Mina’s fingers ghosted along the surface of her damp panties.

Mina licked her lips, pressing herself a little closer as she nibbled against Nayeon’s neck. “I want this.”

The words stop Nayeon short completely, her breath panting softly in gasps as they finally collapse onto the sofa, her legs nearly giving way as Mina’s lithe fingers dip into her panties, brushing against her pussy tentatively.

“Mina.” She groaned, tilting her head back, tugging the other girl forward. “You—” She struggled to formulate the words. “I don’t want to force—”

“You aren’t forcing me.” Mina’s eyes glittered like onyx gemstones in the dark. “This—is not like Jackson.” Nayeon’s eyes caught the dim light and she paused, their breaths softly panting between them as her fingers ghosted against the soft belly of Mina’s stomach thoughtfully. “I want this. So so badly.” The words tapered off into a guilty whisper. “I’ve thought about it for months, really.”

There was a beat of silence, as Nayeon studied the look on Mina’s face silently.

“…I have a guilty confession to make.” She mumbled, tracing her fingers against the side of Mina’s face tenderly.

“Mmhm?”

“…I’ve been thinking about it too. For months, genuinely.” The smile upon Mina’s face was almost blinding.

“Really?” Mina inched a little closer, their breaths mingling together as she nipped playfully against Nayeon’s lips, eliciting a blush on the other girl’s cheeks.

“Really.” Nayeon said breathlessly. “There’s no way I wouldn’t have, really. You are just so beautiful to me.”

She tugged Mina forward, the crash of their lips against each other like fireworks beneath their skin, sliding for lip against lips and teeth against teeth, tender…yet bruising, as though aching to etched themselves into each other, Nayeon thought blearily to herself. She pulled her top off, the slight metallic ping of the button falling on deaf ears as she flicked open Mina’s jeans.

The sofa creaked beneath their weight, the most unromantic sound in face of their heated mischief.

A moan feathered itself off Mina’s lips, her head dropping back in a tender gasp as Nayeon’s fingers skated around her thighs tantalizingly, each brush of her finger against her clit making Mina squirm against Nayeon in a mix of want and sheer desperation.

Nayeon grinned into Mina’s shoulder at the sound from Mina’s lips, pulling back slightly to take in the glazed look upon Mina’s face in the silvery moonlight, the reddened cheeks and slight rise of her hips—desperately seeking some gratification that her fingers had teased but not followed through with.

She looked utterly devastating, just like this, Nayeon thought to herself, pressing an open-mouthed kiss to Mina’s breast as she felt Mina’s thighs clamp around her wrist.

Mina’s breath hitched, a low keen rising from her lips as she blinked, trying her very best to focus on the sensations coming from the way Nayeon’s fingers were slipping deep into her that were sparking up her spine. A faint sob bubbled from her lips, torn gasped as she gripped Nayeon’s hand. Her breath tremulous as she cupped Nayeon’s face, reveling in the sensations of Nayeon’s lips descending down against hers, the jerk of her hips against Nayeon’s hand almost yearning.

Strangely enough, it made her feel rather emotional, just being like this.

A soundless gasp escaped past her lips, and Nayeon leaned forward, kissing away the tears that had descended down her cheeks, her heart swelling with an unnamed emotion that filled her to the brim with sheer love and longing.

Maybe—whatever this emotion was, this was love.

Or the idea of love.

I love you. Mina gasped, murmuring between a light sob, eyes hooded and voice shrouded in a siren like whisper.

I love you, I love you—I love you.

Nayeon felt her nose sour when Mina’s murmured those words, like a mantra that she wished to imprint, brushed like a feather with her kisses, landing all over her face and nose.

A lone tear dripped from her nose, splashing upon Mina’s face to mingle with the tears that had found its way down her face.

Mina’s eyes found hers and she pulled her close, and Nayeon shuddered at the sensation of Mina’s lips slowly peppering their way down the curve of her breast.

I love you too.

She felt the curve of Mina’s mouth as her lover whispered those words back into her skin, and they drown together, basking in the warmth of each other’s kiss.

Nayeon was wrong—this wasn’t an idea of love.

This was love in its purest form.

Chapter Text

It had been a few weeks since they had somewhat—semi announced their relationship, Nayeon thought to herself a little bashfully.

And now—much to the chagrin of Mina’s very own company, Mina had ended up moving out of the dorms and with Nayeon.

Their relationship had blossomed ever since that first little confession video that she had made (which, according to both Sana and Momo, had made the company furious with them, since they had not mentioned previously about doing something…yet alone anything like that when they had first brought up the idea of fan-meetings once again.)

She had ended up treating both Momo and Sana to coffee once again out of guilt, but they had simply laughed it off, and ever since Mina started picking up on more of her idol work, she had gradually made more and more appearances on the sidelines—from carrying Mina’s bags to sitting right next to the stage or backstage to accompany her, much to the glee of many fans.

Unlike what Mina’s company had originally thought, the only reason why both Nayeon and Mina’s relationship had hit off well with fans was because of how genuinely well they could see Nayeon treat Mina.

Besides, Mina was rather overprotective of Nayeon, regardless of who when or where.

It was also a pretty good deal for them to have someone who was familiar with Mina’s memory loss symptoms with them too, Momo had cackled about how grudgingly the company once admitted that it was a blessing in disguise that both Mina and Nayeon were dating, much to both of their amusement.

“Mina. Babe.” Nayeon quickly prepped the morning coffee and a fresh set of bacon and eggs (western breakfast was on the menu this time), and nudged the door to their bedroom open with her foot.

“Minaaaaaa.”

“Mmmm. Five more minutes.” Clearly, her girlfriend was already awake, but had chosen violence by acting cute this morning, Nayeon thought wryly to herself as she set down the coffee cup next to the bed, and unfolded the bed table before them.

“Bacon and Eggs today. Your favourite. Unless you want me to eat them—” She made a whole show of picking up the cutlery and cutting the bacon before…Mina grabs her hand, biting the piece of bacon off with a grumpy huff.

“Mine.”

“Yes, yes. All yours.” Nayeon chuckled softly. “Come on, time to get up. We’re going out for a little date around the park, remember?”

Thankfully, with it being the start of fall, it wasn’t as hot as it should have been…especially with how late they had ended up making it out of their apartment.

It was all Mina’s fault.

Though, also…not really, considering that they both had simply taken their time to laze about, cuddling on the couch like it was their honeymoon period before making it out of the door.

“Remember to feed Ray and Kookeu before you do anything else, okay?” Nayeon yelled as Jeongyeon trudged through the doorway, the designated sitter for the dogs Ray and Kookeu that both Mina and Nayeon had both gotten respectively for themselves in memory of their lives together.

It had been chaotic to move with two dogs, but the therapeutic effect it had on Mina made it all the more worth it.

“Fuck you!” Jeongyeon thrust her middle finger up, just as she bent down to coo as Ray and Kookeu started making their rounds around her naked feet. “Awww, aren’t you two just the cutest? The bestest? Even better than that Im Nayeon over there—” Jeongyeon purposely raised her voice so that Nayeon could hear her just as they closed the door.

Mina cackled softly.

“She’s still holding a grudge against you for what you did last week.”

“Listen, I just forgot to pick her up from her work. That’s all!” Nayeon whined, unhitching the bike from its rack as she turned around and fixed Mina’s helmet tenderly for her.

“Thank you.” The goofy smile upon Mina’s face spread even wider upon her actions, and Nayeon grinned, before patting the seat down behind her.

“Where are we going today?” She called, tightening her arms around Nayeon’s waist as they quickly set off with a slight wobble, the bicycle careening slightly as Nayeon quickly adjusted to their shared weight.

Mina buried her face in Nayeon’s back, inhaling deeply the fresh scent of the perfume that she had chosen for Nayeon, the sound of Nayeon’s heart thumping away gently as she pumped her legs, the wind whooshing in their ears as they turned round and round different corners.

“Remember that one place that we went to previously?” Nayeon called back, hoping that Mina heard her through the buffeting of the wind.

A light but thoughtful hum told her quickly that Mina had heard her, the solid warmth of Mina’s body around her middle settling like a band around her chest, constricting tightly in affection as she smiled back at the other girl.

“Eyes on the road, you.” Mina turned her face back with a huff of laughter. “ But yes. Which place specifically?”

Surely, she wasn’t testing her memory like they used to, right? She’d gotten better already.

“I’m not testing you.” Mina reddened at Nayeon’s words, burying her face into Nayeon’s hair this time in embarrassment as the other chuckled knowingly. “I was just wondering if you remembered that cat café we went to previously.”

The sudden squeal of excitement nearly made Nayeon screech to a stop on the bicycle, blinking rapidly as Mina tugged on her and fidgeted on the back of her seat.

“That’s why I didn’t want to bring Kookeu and Ray along today. Cats are sensitive to doggy smells.” She grinned back at Mina. “We’re going to get some fluffball love just like that day once again.”

The café had barely changed from when they had last seen it.

The only difference was that—back then, they had come here as two souls torn apart and slowly stitched back together, whilst now…they were one parts of each whole, with Mina’s hand safely curled around Nayeon’s own.

Nayeon had her own plan.

And because of this plan, she had specifically brought Mina to this cat café, hoping to achieve a lasting romantic impression on Mina.

The last time that they had been here…it had ended up with Mina panicking, and another memory lost. Somehow.

At least, from what she could remember.

Nayeon fingered the promise ring in her pocket, smiling slightly as she ushered Mina to find a seat and play with some of the kittens first, whilst she went around to settle a few things.

It had only been what—a maximum of five minutes when she finally returned to Mina sitting stiffly in the middle of the room, the cat mewing away on her lap in slight distress as her fingers tightened upon its fur.

“Mina?” Nayeon instantly recognized the signs, stomach dropping slightly as she quickly rushed over to her girlfriend, taking Mina’s face gently into her hands as she peered at her unfocused eyes.

“…H-Huh?” The blank stare confirmed all that she needed to know, and Nayeon sighed internally.

“Mina.”

“Y-Yeah…” There was a slight tentative note of uncertainty in Mina’s voice. “W-Where am I? W-Who are you?”

Well.

That answers a lot of questions.

Nayeon sucked in yet another deep breath, sliding down to Mina’s eyelevel as she quickly freed the kitten from Mina’s grasp, watching as it turned around and sprinted away…before returning to nuzzle comfortingly against Mina’s leg, as though knowing that the other girl was in quite a state of distress.

“I’m Nayeon.” She smiled bravely, trying to keep herself calm. “Remember?” She glided her thumb lightly over Mina’s bottom lip, an intimate reminder that they had designed for each other as a code that would try and help instigate Mina’s memory or jog it.

She shifted, leaning her body lightly towards Mina and allowing the delicate perfume scent drift off her naturally towards Mina’s nostrils.

Mina twitched, startling as though something had been jump-started abruptly in her brain.

Nayeon…

The blurred face in front of Mina swirled for a moment, the scent of vanilla, cinnamon and lemon swirling comfortingly over her as she felt the lightest touch of a reminder upon her lips.

A reminder…of…of…

The fog around her eyes cleared, eyes widening in recognition as Nayeon’s face swam back into view, crystal clear and no longer shrouded by shadows.

“Nayeon!”

A muted sigh of relief fell from Nayeon’s lips as Mina threw herself forward and into Nayeon’s arms.

“Yeah. Yeah. It’s me.” She swallowed visibly, trying to soothe Mina with pats to the back.

“I…I’m sorry…” Tears had started to slowly collect in Mina’s eyes, the guilt eating her from inside out at how she had once again—despite all the improvement, failed miserably to identify her girlfriend, even for a split moment.

Mina paused, shoulders shuddering for a moment as she finally burst into tears.

“Hey, hey! It’s okay! It’s okay. I’m okay. We’re okay.”

“It’s not okay! I forgot about you once again! H-How could I ever—”

“You know that it’s not your fault.” Nayeon pulled her back, raising her hands to cup her face.

“But I—”

“You remembered. In the end.” The comforting scent of Nayeon’s perfume wrapped around Mina as she buried her face once more into Nayeon’s shoulder, unable to shake the uncertain feeling of guilt that had assaulted her very conscience at forgetting who Nayeon was. “Your brain is still healing, and the fact that you remember me from muscle memory and scent is incredible.”

“R-really?” Mina’s voice sounded incredibly small, like a tiny child curled up in a corner, seeking both for approval and yet fearing the consequences of what would come if someone grew angry at it.

“Of course. Have I ever lied to you?”

“…Yeah, well…you lied to me yesterday about having bacon for dinner.”

Nayeon wanted to laugh.

“See, you remember what happened yesterday.”

“That’s because it happened yesterday. And it’s been a while since I’ve forgotten things that happened yesterday.”

Nayeon tilted her head slightly.

“True.” She paused. “What do you think would help then?”

“Help?” Mina echoed, pausing to think for a moment. “I don’t know…maybe something visual that I can envision or something that would be related to you…”

She trailed off as Nayeon pulled out a ring from her pocket, suddenly at a loss for words.

“I actually planned for this to be grander. And a little more perfect.” Nayeon laughed sheepishly as Mina’s eyes darted up towards hers disbelievingly. “It’s a promise ring.” Her voice softened gently. “I know you can’t get married now, and we’re not rushing at all. But it’s a promise ring from me, to you.”

She tilted her head.

“Think of it as something like a fealty.” She brushed back a stray strand of Mina’s hair affectionately.

“It’s both a promise ring that we’ll get engaged in the future, and another promise that I’ll never ever leave you.” Mina felt a slight stab in her heart at Nayeon’s words, a soft tremulous breath escaping her as Nayeon gently put the ring onto her fourth finger.

How did she know that she was feeling guilty? That she was terrified that Nayeon would one day give up on her memory loss and leave her? That they didn’t love each other enough (which was not true) to not leave?

“That’s because you’ve got it written all over your face.” Nayeon chided softly, knocking her knuckle upon Mina’s forehead gently. “And besides, it was a prevalent topic we talked about. Previously. I wanted to assure you somehow so…” She flashed the other promise ring that was no sitting upon her left fourth finger. “I thought a promise ring would be the best.”

“…Promise me you’ll stay with me till the end?” Mina felt her eyes well with tears, spilling past her cheeks as she pulled Nayeon towards her in a mess of sobs, pressing a hard but deep kiss to her very lips, their fingers laced together, stroking the sides of each other’s face as Nayeon reciprocated the kiss with one of her own, kissing away the salty tears from Mina’s face.

“A promise of a lifetime.” She grinned, unable to resist leaning forward and giving Mina another peck on the lips. “I’m here to stay. Forever and ever, till we grow old and waste away.”