Momo flinched. She opened her eyes and found herself on her bed. Ah, right. After she balled her eyes out last night, she felt asleep in her room. It’s weird how she even managed to reach her room in that kind of state. She didn’t even change into a comfortable clothes. Momo sat up and massaged her throbbing head. She should remind to take aspirin later.

However, Momo managed to walk under the shower and freshen up her body under the cold water. Her head felt slightly lighter than before. She glanced at the clock beside her bed and it showed 12.25 pm.

“Did I sleep that long?” She said to herself. Momo shrugged it off and walked to the kitchen to drink some water and swallow some pills. She heard the door clicked and soon saw Mina fully dress like she want to go somewhere. Momo just stared at the girl.

Mina was walking and noticed that Momo was starting at her but she just pretended that she didn’t see that. Last night event flashed in her mind and it made Mina felt burdened all of sudden. She really wanted to forget the fact that they were argued yesterday for an unclear reason. At least, for her.

She wore her black stillettos, and left the apartment without sparing a glance at Momo. She wanted to ease her mind and also, grab a lunch. To be honest, she still felt unfamiliar with Seoul’s street so she just walked at random street and entered any café she saw.

Just as she sat at one of the table, she took a smell of the freshly brewed coffee she just ordered, and aromatic chicken bagel that felt warm. This made her stomach grumbled.

“Wow, you are sure hungry.”

Mina looked up towards the owner of the voice. She widen her eyes. “Nayeon unnie!”

“Hi, Mina. Alone?” Mina nodded. “Can I sit here?”

“Sure.” Mina smiled. “What are you doing here by the way?”

Nayeon took a sip of her Iced Latte. “I was about to ask Jeongyeon for a lunch date but unfortunately she has an urgent matter.” And so, both of them ate together. Mina had her chicken bagel while Nayeon cleaned off her pasta plate. They were now left with coffee.

Since earlier, Nayeon had noticed that Mina seems a bit off. She sometimes sighing while looking outside the glass window, and then she would stared at her coffee mug. Her finger tracing the shape of the clean white mug and another sigh escaped .

“Are you okay?” Nayeon asked. “You seems troubled. May I know what happened?”

Mina released another sigh. She didn’t know whether to tell Nayeon about it or not. Part of herself wanted to tell everything, so that her chest would feel lighter but another part of herself also hesitated to do so. Hearing no response from the latter, Nayeon spoke up.

“You know that I used to date Momo?”

Mina ears perked up at the mention of Momo. “N-Ne?”

“We used to date during university year.” Nayeon said. “But it last long for a month only.”

“Wow, that’s new.” Mina replied. Actually, she didn’t know how to react. She suddenly felt awkward as Nayeon kept talking about it. They used to date each other? For real?

“It’s no biggie thing. I was her senior during orientation. She looked lost.” Nayeon chuckled when she remembered that time when she first met Momo. True, Momo was just flew from Japan to Korea. That’s why she was not familiar with the whole university thing.

“We clicked somehow. Two months after that first encounter, we dated. But like I said, only for a month. We were still young and didn’t know what is true love. And to say, it was sisterly love. We broke up and remain as close friends until now.” Nayeon smiled. “A total of six years.”

“That’s a long time. You must be close.” Mina said as she sipped on her coffee.

“Yeah. I have seen Momo through her ups and down. We’re more like sisters. I can tell what is playing in her mind just by looking into her eyes. That’s how close we are.”

“Ohh…” Mina replied.

“Are you free after lunch?” Nayeon suddenly asked.

“Yes, why?”

“Let’s go to this place with me.”

#

“Where is this place, Nayeon unnie?” Mina asked right away as she got out from Nayeon’s car. In front of them was a two-storey building, painted with various colour. It’s look fancy and casual at the same time.

“Too early to ask. Let’s go inside first. Then you will know.” Nayeon smiled and dragged the confused Mina beside her into the building.

“Gallery?” Mina asked. Nayeon nodded smilingly. “Come. I want you to meet someone.” Nayeon pulled Mina hand into one room, and then they saw a girl was sitting on a stool, backfacing them. She looked so focused that she didn’t even notice them entered.

“Chaeyoung-ah,”

The said girl turned and now they face to face. “Oh, Nayeon unnie!” The girl put the pallette and brush on a small table beside her and took of her apron. “Wait a minute,” She went to wash her hand and returned to them.

“It has been a long time since you came here, unnie.” The shorter girl hugged Nayeon. Later, she saw Mina beside Nayeon and looked confused. “And… who is this?”

“Oh, I’m Myoui Mina. Nice to meet you.” Mina smiled as she offered a hand towards Chaeyoung. “She is Momo’s wife.” Nayeon added.

“Oh! I’m sorry, I don’t know that!” The girl took Mina’s hand. “I’m Son Chaeyoung by the way.”

“This is the girl we talked the other day. The same age as Tzuyu.” Nayeon explained. “Oh, Chaeyoung-ah. Can we take a look around? I wanna bring her around.”

“Sure, unnie. Let’s have some tea after that.”

#

Mina was amazed by all the painting hung on the wall. The gallery may be small, but the painting itself made the gallery felt big. It made Mina calm. Nayeon said that all the painting was painted by Chaeyoung herself. Mina really can’t believe that a small girl like Chaeyoung has a big talent.

Nayeon then took her standing in front of a painting. “What do you think of Momo?”

“Eh?” Mina was taken aback. “Well… she is… scary.”

Nayeon turned to look at Mina. “Scary? Why?”

Mina shook her head. “I’m not sure. It’s difficult to understand her. Sometime she looks soft, but then she looks solemn. Also…”

“Also?”

“The look in her eyes. I felt like she’s trying to tell something but want to hide it at the same time.” Mina said, looking down.

“That girl. I know what you are trying to say, Mina. Momo is a pabo sometime. She always shows her bright side but I know she’s hiding her pain. She’s keeping the burden in her chest.” Nayeon said. “There’s something happened between you and Momo, am I right?”

Mina looked up to Nayeon. “I’m not at a place to tell you about her.” Nayeon smiled. “Momo will tell you anyway. Sooner or later.” Mina was speechless. Will Momo tell her like what Nayeon said? She didn’t know.

“Let’s go. Chaeyoung’s tea is waiting. Trust me, she’s good at making tea.”

#

The three of them were chatting while drinking Chaeyoung’s aromatic tea. Mina had to admit that Chaeyoung really know how to make delicious tea. It suits with Mina’s throat. Well, Chaeyoung surprisingly clicked very well with her. Not to mention, Chaeyoung seems to adore Mina very much. She kept telling that Mina is pretty. Momo was lucky to have her as her wife. Mina didn’t think so.

Somehow, they ended up ate dinner together at Chaeyoung’s favourite restaurant. Mina didn’t regret that she came out from the house today. She enjoyed her day so much. It’s good that she bumped into Nayeon and the older girl seems not trouble to bring Mina around. She glad that she met Chaeyoung too. Only around 9 pm, Nayeon sent Mina’s home.

“Bye, Mina. Take care. Call me after you safely reach home, okay?” Nayeon said. She was dropping off Mina at the lobby. Mina smiled. “Okay, unnie. Thanks for today.”

And so, Mina entered the lift and punched the 20^th floor button. Walking towards the apartment unit, her phone screen lit up, signalling someone called her. Mina smiled upon seeing the caller ID.

#

Momo couldn’t help but to keep glancing at the wall clock every 5 minutes. She was unknowingly anxious. It’s already late but Mina still didn’t come home yet. The thought of Mina still unfamiliar with Seoul’s street made her worried.

She was walking back and forth at the balcony, looking at the scenery and hoping to see Mina. She afraid if something happen to her. Although they had a pretty serious fight yesterday, actually Momo felt guilty. Mina didn’t even know a thing about her. Somehow, Momo caught a glimpse of the person she worried for coming out from a car. She seems happy. Momo quickly jumped to the couch and pretended to watch the TV.

CLICK!

The door opened and Mina entered the house while talking to the phone. Momo kept her eyes on the TV screen. But she couldn’t help but to eavesdrop Mina’s conversation.

“Ne, oppa. Kay, bye.”

Oppa?

Momo perked her eyebrows up. Mina have a boyfriend? Nah, it could be her brother. Wait, Mina is the only daughter! Suddenly, there was this feeling that tugged the string in her heart. Her heart tightened in her chest. She felt suffocated. Meanwhile, Mina was already entered her room. She’s not even sparing a glance or say hello at least to Momo.

“She’s ignoring me now?”

#

The next day, Momo drove to work like always. As soon as she arrived her office room, she was occupied with all the paperworks. She also had a various meeting with her staff all day. The company had an upcoming project. A new group will debut soon and Momo knew she would be busy in this upcoming weeks.

But though so, Momo couldn’t coup well in the meeting. It’s like something was bothering in her mind. Her secretary even asked her if she had problems but Momo denied it very well. Momo then excused herself earlier and drove back home as she said she had a headache.

So, as soon as she entered her apartment, the first thing she saw was Mina who was sitting on the couch, but not watching TV. Her eyes was glued to her phone screen and she seems not to notice Momo’s presence in the house. She was busy with her phone, maybe sending text messages to her boyfriend, that’s what Momo thought. Momo felt annoyed and walked straight to the kitchen to swallowed the aspirin and entered her room, not forgetting to slam the door.

DUNG!

Mina almost throw her phone when she heard the loud noise. She looked around and realised that Momo had returned. She glanced at the wall clock and noticed that Momo was a little bit early today. But she didn't care much. She continue replying messages like she did before.