Mina immediately went inside her room, palms touching her flushed face. She still couldn’t hold on what just happened. Her heart throbbing abnormally fast. She felt Momo’s scent isn’t leaving her awareness then she realized that she’s still wearing the singer’s scarf in her neck. She buried her face onto the soft cloth feeling the back of her ears burning in heat. This feeling is foreign to her. Yet she’s sure who is the cause.

Rolling over her bed, she couldn’t keep the older girl off her mind. She’s used to people professing their admiration to her, but she always cold heartedly rejects them knowing that they only confess because she’s a Myoui. She doesn’t even know what made them do such things, how can they even claim they like her when they didn’t even know what kind of person she is, she thought it’s shallow. Love is overrated. That’s what she used to believe not until she experienced it herself. She felt defeated, the thought of falling in love has always been repulsed in the depths of her awareness but now, its presence is so strong and it’s coming out in the open.

With another whiff of Momo’s scent, she drifted to sleep.

++

It was another day in Mina’s class, and Sana immediately approached her with tail tucked between her legs. She gave the brunette a confused look and the girl hanged her head low as she speaks.

“I’m really really sorry Mina, I left you yesterday, I thought that you would spend the night in Chaeyoung’s house or she would drive you home. I was just informed this morning that you went home alone” Sana apologetically said feeling ashamed that she didn’t even made sure that her friend went home safely last night. Then it sinks in, Mina suddenly remembered that she was attacked by three filthy men and she was left defenseless but thanks to a certain someone that she’s unharmed. Sana is still in front of her with head hanging low, palms pressed against each other like pleading for forgiveness. She decided not to tell her that she’s almost in danger, she doesn’t want to worry her more and, she wanted to keep it to herself that she met Momo, it’s her little secret.

“It’s okay, I was able to hail a cab immediately, so I managed to go home safely” she straight faced lied.

Sana felt relieved. “I had a little heart attack when Chaeng told me you insisted to go home alone” the brunette released a heavy sigh. “But I’m glad you’re safe” she continued, and Mina just hums in response being careful not to spill her little secret.

“By the way, I invited them to come over near our school later, they don’t have schedule on the club tonight, so they said they could come” Sana cheerfully exclaimed and by the look in her eyes, it’s easy to tell that the brunette wanted her to come along.

She didn’t expect that Momo would be present this time knowing that the singer isn’t fond of joining the group. Now she’s sitting across the table, she couldn’t calm her heart down. Momo is in front of her, eating in silence. Sana shoved her arms. “Hey, you’re spacing out, the food is getting colder, you should eat” pointing to the cooked meat in front of her.

They are in a native Korean restaurant near their university and the three arrived just in time before the food is served. She tried to hide her surprise seeing Momo appear behind them.

Her eyes always find the person in front of her. Momo, she’s complicated. The words were supposed to be a warning, but Mina took it as a charismatic description. Momo is like a labyrinth and she wanted to explore every nook of her, but whenever she looked at her eyes, she’s lost in the latter’s world.

“Do I have a dirt in my face?” Momo suddenly spoke to her rubbing her own face, noticing she was staring for too long. Snapping from her thoughts, Mina shook her head and her face is burning hot in embarrassment and luckily Momo didn’t notice with the thick smoke from the grill. Pull yourself together Mina, you’re way too obvious. She scolded herself.

Sana, Jeongyeon and Chaeyoung were laughing and talking beside them and Momo is still in her own world, with earphones plugged in her ear. They are almost done eating. In a moment, Momo excused herself to go ahead first. As quick as lightning, Mina stood up, and the three’s attention focused on her, with confused look.

“I’m going ahead too, bye” Mina doesn’t have time to explain to them, Momo already went out and she had this urge to run after her, she hasn’t talked to the singer properly after that incident. 

Sana felt something is up with Mina, she had never seen her friend acting strange before, most especially towards any person. Mina is always calm, unbothered and self centered. Like a reflex, she run after Mina, she wanted to talk to her.

“Momo!” she called, Momo was waiting in the bus stop, she turned her head and saw Mina catching her breath because she ran so hard to catch up with her.

“Wha -“ Momo was about to ask when Mina cut her off.

“I-I want to thank you again for last night, and I’m sorry I forgot to return your scarf, I’ll bring it to you next time-” she said, her chest heaved as she struggled to control her breathing.

“You don’t have to trouble yourself. You can throw it away if you’re worried about that, that’s cheap anyway” Momo calmly said.

“Mina!” Sana caught up and Mina turned her head, surprised at her friend’s appearance whose running towards her. “Let’s go home together, your driver went ahead and I’m worried you might go home alone again” she continued. When Mina looked back again to Momo, she’s gone, the singer already rode the bus and she couldn’t even bid goodbye to her properly. Sana noticed the disappointment in the younger girl’s face.

++

“Mina, I’ve been your friend for almost three years… and this is the first time I saw you fixated to a person” Sana swallowed when Mina turned to face her, they are now inside their favorite coffee shop grabbing some iced coffee before going home. “I mean, it’s not that I’m against the idea of you trying to mingle but it’s just that, why Momo?”

Mina released a heavy sigh. Being around Sana for a long time has its disadvantages, and one of those is that, she knew her very well, sometimes way more than she knows herself. She felt that she couldn’t keep this growing interest to Momo a secret any longer.

“I don’t know how to answer that question Sana” Mina countered trying to deflect the topic. Sipping at her coffee, she browsed her mobile phone to look for the best guitar shop.

Sana didn’t drop the topic. “Tell me honestly, do you like her?” with eyes intently staring at her, Mina stopped what she’s doing to meet her friend’s questioning eyes.

“Maybe yes” she briefly answered, she made it sound uncertain even though she’s absolutely sure she’s overly infatuated with the singer.

“Why her? There’s Chaeyoung- she’s interested in you, but why Momo?” the brunette wanted to know what’s going on Mina’s head.

“And why not?!” the younger retorted, she’s done with all these prying with her private affairs. “Like I told you, she’s complicated. As far as I know she’s been in a bad break up, no one knows much about her even her bandmates, she just doesn’t open up” Sana answered trying to prove a point.

Mina fell silent. Again, hearing those words left an opposite impact to her, opposite to what Sana wanted her to realize. It’s too late to unlike Momo, and those words just fueled her curiosity towards the singer. “I know you’re just worried about me, but you don’t have to, I know she’s a nice person” with their few encounters, she knew Momo is a warm person, more than what she’s showing in front of her friends. Most importantly if that same person just saved your life, it’s hard to ignore those things.

“Okay” Sana dejectedly said. She’s still a bit worried since her friend hardly ever liked someone before and she’s afraid that she might be taken advantage of, or she might get hurt in the process of knowing the singer more.

++

All by herself, Momo walked inside the Central Mall straight to the cinemas. The movie After Moon has been in theatres for almost a week and people have been giving positive feedbacks, especially to the main leads. Looking intently at the huge poster displayed outside the counter, Momo couldn’t help but to feel disappointed at herself. Nayeon got what she wanted. The fame, the recognitions, being praised here and there for her superb acting skills, everything. And it hurts her more to know that she’s able to do that without her, more like with the help of other man. Momo didn’t watch the film, she couldn’t. She turned her back towards the exit feeling defeated.

++

It was a Sunday afternoon, Mina was riding a cab again, bringing with her few shopping bags and an electric guitar. She thought about this, buying things for the singer so that she could repay her with her kindness and also for letting her keep the scarf, which was not really the case since Momo told her to throw it away. Good thing Sana helped her to get information to where Momo lives, of course it comes with lots of nagging from her friend.

The way to the older girl’s apartment were a bit dangerous, the streets were narrow and the houses were very close to each other, the environment is filthy, to sum it up, the place is unsafe.

Momo was writing her next song in her couch when someone knocked at her apartment’s door. She felt her heart jumped out of her chest when a specific person slipped through her mind thinking of the possible visitor. Nayeon? Without wasting any more second, she walked up to the door and was surprised to see Mina standing in front of her. The girl gave her a timid smile and Momo couldn’t process why is such a person visiting her on a fine weekend.

“I-I’m sorry for coming without your permission, but I really wanted to repay you for saving me the other night” and Mina took the shopping bags beside her and gave them to Momo. Maybe the cat got Momo’s tongue but she’s really speechless at the gesture. She noticed that Mina also bought a guitar based on the shape of the bag clinging on the younger girl’s back.

Clearing , Momo spoke, “Ah, please come in”. Knowing that the surrounding isn’t safe for someone like Mina, she let the girl enter her house. Mina scans the place where Momo lives and she felt a familiar warmth inside. The house is neat though small but it’s complete with basic things.

Mina settled in the couch and saw piles of papers and some finished score. She couldn’t help but to be impressed on how hardworking Momo is in creating music.

“I appreciate your intention but, really, that’s not necessary, I saved you of my own volition” Momo said while cleaning the table in front of them neatly organizing the sheets and drafts of her creation.

“It’s the only thing I could think of to thank you, please accept them” the younger girl gave her a determined look that Momo couldn’t say no. She isn’t used to receiving gifts, but maybe it won’t hurt to accept this one. Scratching the back of her neck, she whispered “okay, thanks” and Mina felt relieved that Momo accepted them, she chose the gifts thoroughly, making sure that they are of high quality.

Breaking the awkward silence, Mina suddenly spoke “Your songs, they are good”. It wasn’t a comment; it was a praise. Momo jerked her head up to look at Mina, suddenly interested with the topic. “How can you say so?” The attentive look in Momo’s eyes made Mina’s heart beats fast. She swallowed, and diverted her gaze to keep the words come out of . “The one that you sang before, that’s very poetic and finely calibrated, also I saw the score you are making, and I can sense it would be a great composition.” Mina surprisingly didn’t stutter, maybe praising Hirai Momo is the most natural thing to do that she finds herself spontaneous at making sound judgments.

“You can read scores?” Momo was a bit surprised at Mina’s knowledge in music and she couldn’t help but to acknowledge the younger girl’s opinion.

“Y-yes, I used to attend music classes before with my free time” Mina felt suddenly shy at how Momo nods her head at her answer.

“Thank you for appreciating the song, that means a lot” Momo’s voice sounded weak but the words were sincere. Mina isn’t sure why, but she’s certain that the song has an emotional attachment to Momo.

After a few more exchanges of ideas relating to music, Momo noticed that it’s getting late and stood up “Ah, I’ll cook for us, it’s almost time for dinner”. She went straight to the small kitchen which Mina finds endearing realizing how Momo is attentive to her guests. She feasted her eyes looking at how cool Momo was while cooking, from tying her hair up and putting on her apron to chopping the ingredients. Well, everything Momo does is fascinating for Mina, even just breathing.

She was snapped out of her thoughts when Momo called her to eat while setting the plates on the small table. “I’m sorry, it’s nothing similar to the ones you had at home, but I assure you that’s edible” Mina chuckled at the remark but she couldn’t ignore the unsettling thumping of her heart at every words the singer is saying, but she tried to compose herself at every instance, not wanting to ruin the cozy mood.

They ate in silence, Mina found the food tasty, even though it doesn’t look so appealing like the one they serve in her house, it’s really good. “It’s delicious, do you always cook by yourself?” the younger girl asked after drinking water. Momo hums in response, followed by a quick swallow to the chewed food inside . “I do, when I’m not lazy”

In a moment, the rain began pouring hard, Momo peered through the window and noticed that it’s already dark and dangerous outside. She looked over to Mina who is now sitting worriedly in her couch. She heaved a sigh as she sat across the younger.

“Are your driver going to pick you up?” Momo queried, and Mina shook her head in response, “No, I didn’t tell them I was going here” Mina felt embarrassed at the situation, she doesn’t want to burden the older but she felt she is inevitably troubling her. There was a heavy silence.

With few taps of her fingers against her leg, rationalizing the situation, Momo started to speak. “The heavy rain doesn’t look like it’s going to stop anytime soon, it’s dangerous to travel so, if it’s okay with you, you can stay here for the night”

Mina was surprised by the offer, if it wasn’t Momo, she would insistently go home alone or rather checked in a hotel nearby, she hasn’t slept over at anyone’s house except Sana’s. “Thank you, I’m sorry for the trouble” she said hanging her head low.

“No worries, but just remember, you’re not a princess in my territory, so just bear with the tiny space of my bed” Momo said and Mina felt her face flushed with the thought of sleeping in Momo’s bed. The older girl went inside the room and Mina was sitting frozen in the couch. She couldn’t react as soon as it was voiced. She caught a hold on to reality when Momo called her from inside the room. She immediately went inside and saw Momo put a set of sleeping clothes at the top of the bed.

“You can use this after you take your shower” Momo said pointing to the folded clothes and Mina just nods in response taking the singer’s clothes with her before going into the bathroom.

It was all a brand new experience for her, the Mina before meeting Momo wouldn’t allow herself to even step inside a tiny old apartment most especially with the person she just met. But now she finds herself delighted while taking a shower inside the small bathroom, contented at how things turned out. Wearing Momo’s clothes made her ecstatic, with a slight inhale of the cloth, she couldn’t help but to grin unconsciously.

When she went inside the room, Momo was already sleeping in the floor with a thin mattress. There was a pang of guilt, Momo lend the entire bed for her and she almost teared up at the gesture. Now you’re making me like you more. She thought. She quietly lay on bed and turned the lights off, trying not to wake the singer up. But the heavy downpour made her a bit uncomfortable as she could clearly hear the rain tipping down the roof. She tried to close her eyes but when a thunder roars outside, she couldn’t help but to shriek with terror. She cried but she manages to shut by covering them with her palm. She’s always been scared of thunders. When another lightning strikes again, she felt a warm body pressed against her back, tucking her into an embrace with arms softly wrapped around her. Momo shushed her gently to sleep, her warm breath tickles the back of her neck and she could no longer find the fear that seeps through her consciousness before and was replaced by comforting warmth coming from the singer. Her mind finds peace but her heart is erratically beating against her chest as she slowly drifted to sleep.

Mina woke up, surprisingly she slept well despite the relentless storm, and the pleasant memory of last night that she will cherish. With a satisfied sigh, she gets up from the bed and she heard a soft voice singing, it was Momo, sitting in the couch with the guitar she bought. The voice is as soft as the one lulling her to sleep last night and it tickled her memory, making her smile. She took a seat beside the older girl which caught Momo’s attention, giving space to her in the couch. She wanted to thank the singer for comforting her last night but she couldn’t let the words come out feeling her heart began beating so fast. “Uhm, thank you for letting me stay” is the least she could say and Momo just gave her a glance.

“No problem, I’ll send you home in a while when you’re ready”

++

Riding at the back of Momo’s motorcycle, she felt the safest. Her hands roamed around the singer’s waist and Momo pulled them together making her hug the latter. The back of her ears becoming hot at their proximity but thanks to the helmet that it covers how red her face was. “Hold on to my waist so you won’t fall” Momo said and Mina complied clasping her fingers in front of Momo’s stomach feeling the perfectly toned abs.

This is the second time but she still couldn’t calm her nerves down. She’s always the calm and composed type of person but meeting Momo made her come into contact with a different side of herself. With the wind breeze touching her face, she closed her eyes, unconsciously tightening the hug, relishing the moment. Mina’s excited to see how her growing affection will unfold.

Momo stopped, trailing her off from her thoughts. They just arrived at her place and Mina got off from the vehicle.

“I’ll be going now” Momo uttered and Mina waved goodbye to the singer. Momo might act cold but she’s sure the singer is a softhearted and selfless person.

She heads inside her house, feeling euphoric. Then she was cut off from her mood when her phone suddenly vibrates displaying a name she’s not really fond to see. Pressing the green button, she lifted the phone against her ear. “Your father wants us to have a dinner next week, I already booked a place, I’ll send you the details, don’t be late” the man from the other line said and Mina sighed dejectedly upon hearing the news. “Alright, Jin-young” she immediately ended the call as she slumped at the sofa.

++

Nayeon took a sip of her wine, she still couldn’t get over the last time she met Momo at the press con and how she felt disgusted with herself. Another shot, and she remembered with sudden guilt, the last conversation she had with the singer. Thinking of the best way to appease the feeling, she took her phone and contacted her. With few rings, Momo took the call.

“Hello, who’s this?”

Nayeon felt a lump in hearing the voice she missed so much. She held back her tears as she forced her voice to come out.

“I-It’s me, Nayeon” her voice cracked, she failed to gather her strength after trying so hard to find her resolve. There was a heavy silence. In a moment, she heard a sigh and Momo spoke.

“What do you want?”

“I want to talk with you, let’s meet at the Seoul café tomorrow”

“Okay”

Then Momo hangs up. Nayeon closed her eyes, collapsing in her bed while staring at the ceiling. Am I doing things right?

++

Momo ended the call but she felt her chest tightens after hearing Nayeon’s voice. She isn’t expecting the older to get in touch with her again, but she couldn’t ignore the thumping of her heart with just a quick call. She couldn’t help but to be hopeful that maybe, Nayeon will get back to her. That she will apologize and everything will be back to what it was before. Stupid Momo. She thought, laughing weakly at her pitiful self.

++

They are now sitting across each other inside the coffee shop, with Nayeon wearing a hoodie and a face mask to avoid unnecessary attention. Momo didn’t move a muscle and just stared at her, she hasn’t seen her in close distance after the actress left her.

“How are you?” the older girl started to speak to break this awkward silence around them. But the question doesn’t sit well with Momo as she furrowed her brows in response.

“What do you think?” Nayeon didn’t expect that Momo would ask her back the same question. She should have known better, and she cursed at herself on the first thing that comes out of . She heaved a sigh, she felt that this isn’t going any better with the flow of their conversation. So she moved on with her real intention of meeting the singer.

Nayeon took something from her sling bag, a brown envelope, and pushed it forward to Momo. “Please take this”

Momo glanced at the envelope and took the papers inside. She felt sick and her heart dropped at the sight of the contents. She saw a check with a huge sum of money that was under her name, car keys, and some papers containing contact numbers of music directors. She knew what it meant, she couldn’t believe that Nayeon would become the person she would hate the most.

“Momo, live yourself well, I can’t live at peace knowing that you’re still living in that dreadful situation” Nayeon said but it only just fueled Momo’s growing anger at the actress. The words echoed in her ears and it’s deafening. Trying to suppress her tears, Momo ripped the envelope and the papers into pieces in front of Nayeon and the latter was stupefied in her seat seeing Momo acted this way.

“Meeting you again is a mistake” Momo said with tears threatening to fall until she couldn’t hold them back and began to flow. “I-I regret sharing my life with you, I regret loving you…” she paused trying to gather her remaining strength.

“Please don’t appear in my life again” with her last words, she walked away in the café and Nayeon was left sitting alone. She couldn’t respond to Momo’s words, more like, she couldn’t defend herself. Hearing those words coming from the most important person in her life is like a drawing her own sword to stab her chest. The look in Momo’s eyes are painful. It was all her fault, she’s too self-centered that she ignored Momo’s feelings. She harshly wiped her tears that unconsciously fell from her eyes as she took her things and stood up.

++

Momo is now walking lifelessly at the streets of Seoul, her mind’s clouded with unpleasant thoughts. What have I done to deserve this?

“Momo-ya, let’s realize our dreams together”

“Momo-ya, I love you, I’m happy just being with you here”

“Momo, Live yourself well”

Why does she have to remember those empty words? She wanted to feel numb, she wanted to forget Nayeon, her heart’s desire. When she passed by a pub, she didn’t hesitate to enter and to get wasted. Maybe, getting intoxicated will help me through this.  

++

Mina decided to visit again the club with Sana, and the brunette didn’t ask why since she already knew the reason why the younger girl is tagging along with her since the beginning. Entering the club isn’t as bad as Mina thought the first time she went there, as it became one of her favorite places to go. But not this time, when they are welcomed with only the two members again.

“Where is Momo? She’s busy again?” Sana asked aware of the signals Mina is sending her to ask that specific question.

“No, she called in sick for today” Jeongyeon answered as she guides them towards the table but Mina didn’t follow, suddenly feeling worried at the statement. She clutched at Sana’s shirt as she whispered something to her friend.

“Sana, I’ll be going ahead” and she said without explaining why or where but the brunette knew her well and just sighed in defeat. “Okay” and Mina went out running towards the exit.

++

Mina is now getting used to riding a taxi, and she doesn’t’ mind the dangerous path towards the singer’s apartment as she was anxious about Momo. After getting off the cab, she runs toward the apartment and knocked at the door. There was no answer, when she tried turning the knob, she was surprised that it was unlocked, then she felt more worried as it was so dangerous to leave it unattended. She entered the apartment and locked the door from the inside, it was dark. She looked for the light’s switch and when the lights were , she quickly fell on her knees and attended on the lifeless Momo lying on the floor. She was frantic, her hands were shaking at the sight, and she immediately checked on the older girl’s pulse and was relieved that she’s just sleeping. But why on the floor? She noticed the smell of liquor on Momo’s clothes. She never saw the girl this wasted before and she never thought that she would drink this much that would lead her to passing out on the floor. Now she’s more worried about the cause of the singer’s behavior.

She tried to lift the older girl, wrapping one arm around her neck, pulling her heavy body towards the room. When she successfully put her to bed, Momo pulled her to an embrace, still in her unconscious state. She didn’t budge, and Momo uttered inaudible words, but she clearly heard the last statement and it hits her hard.

”Please don’t leave… Nayeon”   

++

A/N: A new character was introduced, and it was Jin-young from Got7. 

Thank you for dropping your feedbacks, it really uplifts my mood to write more. Till next update! <3 Love you all!