Chapter 33

The sun is down, the time hits seven and three girls waited. They decided to meet up on a private room restaurant. It was agreed by both parties and Jihyo and the rest came first. Just then, the door opened revealing two girls.

"Sorry we're late." Chaeyeon offered an apologetic smile. Jihyo brushed it off with a polite smile.

"It's okay, five minutes isn't that long." She eased. The two girl sat in front of them.

"Akira won't be joining us. She said she has to do something." -Sakura.

"Oh did she knew?" -Dahyun.

"She did, I even told her to come and apologize to you but she said it wasn't her fault." Chaeyeon let out a sigh.

"It's fine. Should we eat first before we discuss the plan?" Dahyun pressed the small button on the side to call the waiter.

"Sure." They both smiled.

...

"I could feel your frustration from that last kill." Tzuyu chuckled while walking side by side with Mina. The girl did not reply and just continued to walk.

"Well she clearly said she hates Akira." Nayeon answered for her.

"Who wouldn't? After what she did to us." It was Sana this time.

"Just like us, she was just told of what to do." Tzuyu commented.

"Tzuyu why are you defending her?" Mina asked her with her still stoic demeanor.

"I am not defending her. I am just looking at things in farther perception. That woman you hate could have someone she protects too. What if she's just following orders just to protect her own people? Would you still blame her?" She said in calm. All three of them stayed silent. Indeed, the younger woman has a point.

"But that wouldn't take away the fact that I almost lost the most important person in my life because of her." Sana snorts.

"Hmm yeah but if Dahyun forgave her already. Who are we to stop her?"

"Aish Chewie" Sana stared at her in annoyance. Tzuyu chuckled at her reaction.

"Hai~ I'm just saying no need to get angry." She patted Sana's shoulder to calm her.

"Tsk."

"Since we're done here. How about we have a break?" Tzuyu suggested.

"I'll take that. I badly miss my girlfriend." Nayeon sigh remembering Jeongyeon. It's been two days since she sleep with her lover and talk with her properly. She's been busy with the organization that she's starting to neglect the fact that she has a partner.

"Okay unnie, how about you Mina unnie?" Tzuyu turns to the silent girl.

"Drop me on Chaeyoung's" She answered. Tzuyu silently smiled on that.

"Okay I'll drive you two on your places and you Sana unnie will accompany me to get the new guns." Tzuyu pointed at the girl with a light haired color.

"Me? wae???" She whined.

"Because you are the only one free?" She teased. Dahyun is busy so she can't be going to meet the girl. Sana opened and closed her mouth as if searching for something to talk back. Tzuyu smirked and started walking to the driver seat.

"Aish."

...

Mina arrived on the condo just in time for dinner. Looking at the door, she fished out her key and insert it. She slowly opened the door and she saw a pair of shoe perfectly placed on the side and the other slipper is missing. She's home.

Walking inside, she could smell the delicious smell of food. She made her way to the kitchen and there she saw the girl cooking while humming a song. The girls is so absorbed into cooking and singing that she didn't hear someone had entered her house.

"That looks delicious."

Chaeyoung who did not know her presence flinched in surprise. She turned around to see an amazed looking Mina. She squinted her eyes and frown. Using the spatula in her hand, she pointed at the girl.

"I told you to call if you're coming home." She huffs in annoyance.

"Hmm but seeing you surprised made it more entertaining." She chuckled.

"Tch. So what am I? a clown?" She crossed her arms and raised her brow.

"My clown." She answered with a small smile. Her reply made the girl paused for a moment. Her face started to redden. Oh God why is she like this?!

"Boya" She turned around and continued cooking her food. Chaeyoung bit her lower lips to suppress the smile that's creeping to show.

"What are you cooking?" Mina didn't notice the blush and acted like nothing happened. Somehow she felt reassured being back on the woman's side.

"Pasta. Have a seat, I'll be serving it." She turned off the stove and took two plates. Mina watched as she poured the pasta evenly on each plate. She dressed it beautifully too.

"So your work is done?" Chaeng asked as she place the plate in front of her.

"Not yet we still have many things to do." She let out a sigh remembering the meeting hours ago.

"I could see. Your eyes is still glowing blue." Chaeyoung chuckled. Mina didn't realize her eyes has been in the shade of the sky.

"Yeah how's your day?" She changed the topic. Chaeyoung's eyes flicker some excitement on it.

"Oh! You remembered the girl that I told you before? We hang out today too. She can actually eat a full course meal with just herself. I mean she look so skinny it doesn't show on her body. She also recommended song and surprisingly it's on my taste." She told her what happened. Every little detail about her day which includes the certain short haired girl.

"You and her seems close." Mina's mood wasn't as good as after she entered.

"Hmm we'll I am comfortable enough to tell her my first love too so maybe we are?" Chaeyoung wasn't sure herself too. They just met for days but the girl managed to let her tell her very dramatic first love story. The song that Akira made her listen seems to made an impact to her. The lyrics and everything actually describe her situation with Mina. It's like it was made for her.

"I see." She shortly replied. Chaeyoung noticed the change of atmosphere around the girl.

"But you are still my favorite Minari so you don't need to feel jealous." She smiled.

"Who says I am jealous?" She denied.

"Tch you might be cold faced all the time but I have my way to know." Chae smirked and smuggly looked at the girl. Mina stared at her for a moment. I know something is bugging me every time I hear her talk about someone else. So is it jealousy?

"Do you know the reason why would I feel jealous?" she asked.

"Well you told me you like me. It is natural for you to feel jealous when I talk about someone else affectionately other than you." She explained.

"I see so I am jealous all this time?" She asked again.

My God she look so innocent with this things! I want to keep this cute lady~

"Yeah can I ask you a favor?"

"What?"

"I badly want to hug you can I?" Chaeyoung gave her wide grin and let out a small squeal.

"No." Mina declined shortly.

"Tch." She snorted and continued eating.

"I'll be gone for more days after this will you be okay here?" Mina asked her changing the topic again.

"Yeah who would harm me anyway?" Chaeyoung asked, oblivious of a potential harm to her life just by knowing the girl beside her.

Mina stared at her for a moment. Thinking of a possibility, if the organization would make a move there's a chance that they will attack who's close to them first. Chaeyoung wasn't exempted on that. Now she's having a thought if she were to keep the girl on the hq. There, it would be a lot safer than here.

"No one. What will you be doing after this?"

"Watch some movies and then sleep."

"hmm."

"So want to join me? Only if you're not tired, of course you can rest too." Chaeyoung has been observing her and something seems to bother the girl.

"Then I'll take up your offer." She simply answered. Chaeyoung smiled knowing the girl is just being frank with what she wants. How I wish I can be like that too.

"Good. After we eat go change first I'll wash the dishes."

...

Now the two of them are sitting side by side on the big couch of Chaeyoung while the tv is on playing some random movie.

"Don't you want to talk about something?" Chaeyoung started.

"About what?" Mina asked back.

"It's clear that something is bothering you. Others might not notice but I can." She let out a sigh.

"How?"

"Some kind of instinct? I don't know I just felt it. So what is it? something about work?" She turned to the girl beside her and properly faced her.

"Ani it's a gut feeling. I felt like something big will happen and It's frustrating not knowing anything." The matter about the alliance, the declaration of war, the matter about Akira, and about what the captain told her. It's not always a win. I don't know why, I don't have anything to lose but I somehow felt scared? Not for myself but for someone else. Mina stared at her, it's the same stare since earlier.

"Does it concern someone's safety?" Chae asked.

"Yeah kind of."

"Hmm is it mine?"

Mina raised a brow. How can she know that? Am I that easy to read now?

"You kept staring at me as if you want to tell me something." She chuckled which made Mina wonder if it's really that obvious.

"Well I don't know how to put it into words. It's a baseless thing because it's just a gut feeling without a concrete  reason behind." She lowered her look and let out a sigh. Hearing her reason makes Chaeyoung felt more confident about the girl's feelings towards her. She's still oblivious to it.

"You're just worried for me. It's not like you need a reason to care for someone." she smiled. Mina looked up at her again. Her eyes already back to it's dark color. Seeing it makes Chaeyoung remember the kid Mina.

"But I don't know what to do." She honestly said. It was Chaeyoung this time who let out a sigh. Taking up her courage, she pulled the girl gently on her embrace. Simply tucking the girl's head on the crook of her neck and since she's facing the girl, she can side hug her. Her one hand laid softly on Mina head, softly running her finger on her hair. The other hand smoothly hold's Mina's hand.

Mina didn't stop her, instead she just let the girl do her thing. It doesn't feel bad or near annoying. Instead, it makes her feel warm. It makes her wanting for more. The foreign tug in her heart. The like that she learned. Is this really all of it?

"You don't have to. I'll be okay." Chaeyoung comforted her. Mina closed her eyes, completely letting herself to the warmth.

The safe place I craved became a person itself. It's scary... very scary to have because there's a possibility of losing it.

...

"So that was it. Will you be okay? The organization might notice." Jihyo asked the girl with worry in her eyes.

"I think they're suspecting us already and planning to exterminate us." Chaeyeon answered.

"It's a risk to go back to you place then." -Momo.

"Yeah but we can't just go in your place." Chaeyeon showed a shy smile.

"What are you saying? of course you're always welcome Chae, you too Sakura." Jihyo insisted. She can clearly see that the two is kind and doesn't have any ill intentions to them.

"But what about Akira? I know some of your members don't like her. I can't let her alone she's my responsibility now." Chaeyeon sees the girl as her little sister. Even if they always banter and fight on some things the girl became dependent to her. She can't fail her just like how she fail her real sister.

In the end Jihyo agreed to let them be and didn't push further. Instead, she made them promised to call when something bad happens.

"Uhm about my sister is she okay?" Chaeyeon lowered her stare. She thought her sister hates her for leaving her alone.

"Chaeryeong is fine and if you ask your sister, she never hated you Chae." Jihyo answered for her.

"But will it be okay to come to her life again after being away for so long? I mean I..."

"You did that to protect her. She understands, Chaeyeon. Your sister is not a kid anymore." After Jihyo said those words, Chaeyeon felt emotional. The sudden urge to see her sister came to her.

"Can I see her?"

"Of course she will be very happy. She have always been waiting for you."

"I'm sorry."

"For what?"

"I gave you the responsibility of taking care of her." Chaeyeon offered a small smile. Jihyo just laughed it off.

"Nah your sister is good. You shouldn't say sorry to me, a thank you is enough." She smiled and everyone in the room reflected it too.

"Thank you unnie."

...