Chapter Text
Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport
The murmuring of people and the sounds from the airport speakers were echoing at the largest international airport in France. Foreigners spread to every corner, different nationalities in one place. Some were hanging around with their family, some were touring with their friends, some were taking a trip for their honeymoon, and some just wanted peaceful travel.
“I’m here.” Nayeon spoke to her phone.
She was pulling her luggage with a bag strapped to her shoulder and a backpack hanging from her back. She was walking around the airport to find the exit as she exchanged words with her best friend, Momo.
“I’m fine. Don’t worry.” Nayeon sighed.
She found a bench outside the airport and decided to sit there until the phone call was over.
“Why am I not going to be worried? You left without a single word!” Momo continued to nag.
“I just wanted to be far away from everything that’s reminding me of her."
“You should’ve told me. I could take you to Japan.”
“Japan?” Nayeon snorted, “Have you forgotten that you took us to Japan on our third anniversary?”
There was silence on the other line. Nayeon chuckled because she knew Momo was arguing with herself back there.
“Right,” Momo exclaimed with an awkward chuckle, “but you should’ve taken me with you!” She ended with a small yell.
Nayeon laughed, expressing a radiant smile to every person she made eye contact with. Even though some people were not smiling back at her, she continued to become more friendly in the new city she was in. She will just enjoy being a tourist. There were a lot of people walking in and out of the airport, and taxis were on the other side.
“And you will leave your girlfriend just to go with me?” Nayeon asked, even though she already knew the answer. Her girlfriend will always be 1% higher than her.
Again, the silence was so loud that it hurt her brain. Nayeon laughed while shaking her head. She loves Momo even though she’s giving the worst ideas.
“Momo,” Nayeon whispered softly. She heard Momo breathing on the other line. “I will be fine. I can do this alone. Don’t worry about me.” She stated it clearly. Nayeon convinced herself that she could be alone and go through that trip without needing anyone.
Nayeon heard sniffles on her phone; she let out a comforting sigh. “Momo, I promise. I will go home without losing a finger.”
The cries went louder, and it was starting to get annoying because Momo was beginning to be overdramatic.
“I love you, Nayeon-ah. If she doesn’t love you anymore, I do, and I will always do.”
Nayeon melted at her spot. She might’ve lost the person who owns her heart, but at least she will never lose a piece of her soul. It was Momo. Momo, who she couldn’t live without.
“I love you, too.” Nayeon held back her tears. She shook her head lightly and looked at the bright sky above her, which hurt her eye. “Stop making me cry. Can you?”
Momo made out a laugh while sniffling, and she replied, “Enjoy your trip, okay? Don’t mope around and cry about her. I read that people around Europe give the best kisses.”
Nayeon shared a laugh with her. “Alright. Thanks for the tip. I’ll go find my hotel now, and I can’t look through my phone because of you.”
Momo protested and let out some complaints regarding Nayeon leaving without notice. Nayeon listened to every word that her best friend said. She thought she’s still lucky to have one person who cares for her and looks over her. After a long Harridan-like exchange with Momo, they ended with consoling words and Momo with her constant ‘take care’ in any other sentence that she could say.
Nayeon rose from the bench and opened the app to find the place she was about to stay.
She was glancing at her phone at every step that she took to make sure she was walking in the right direction.
Nayeon fell on her back, and a woman ended up on top of her. A couple of seconds before she can fully recover. The woman stood up swiftly and dusted off her dress.
Someone crashed their body against her.
Nayeon had to process what happened and how the hell a beautiful woman landed on top of her. It was partially Nayeon’s fault because she was walking around with her phone shoved at her face.
“I’m sorry.” The woman said with a slight Korean accent that she was bending her head to fully ask for pardon.
Nayeon lifted her eyebrows as she stared at her. Must be Asian and could be Korean. She has one of the most beautiful eyes she has ever seen, but it seemed off and full of sorrow. Then, a tear fell down her left eye, and Nayeon felt a squeeze in her throat.
“It’s okay!” Nayeon blurted it out, thinking it was her fault. “It’s fine. I’m not hurt. Are you hurt?” Nayeon extended her hand to touch her arm to see if there was any part that was scratched.
The woman giggled, and she shook her head.
“I’m good. I’m sorry again."
Nayeon watched the woman walk away to the fancy street in France. Nayeon was left staring. She saw the misery in her eyes, and she was inquisitive. Yet she was thrilled to know that she was not the only one with a wrecked heart walking around Europe.
There were texts and missed calls from her manager as soon as her phone went on. Mina sighed as she lay in the decent hotel room. Not just any hotel room, but a hotel room in France. It was simple and plain, just like what she wanted. No king-size bed and shiny furniture, just a cabinet with a small TV and a full-size bed.
Mina let out the first deep breath of her day. She went up and ignored her phone ringing. She walked to the balcony and stared at the buildings in front of her. In that city, she looked so small, like she was invisible. She glanced down, and there were people walking down the streets. In that city, she felt like an ordinary human being.
After the long flight from Korea, Mina went straight to the hotel to get a full eight hours of sleep, which she partially got. Five hours of sleep could help her walk around France; the three hours were taken away by her tummy grumbling for food.
Mina went out with a coat hanging on her shoulder; she walked out without a cap or sunglasses on. Just her, bare Mina, with a smile hanging on her lips. She never felt that peaceful before—no cameras flashing, no people screaming and yelling her name, no media questioning her, just her. Freedom for her soul
Mina is an actress from Japan. A company recruited her to make a few series and movies in Korea, and within a blink, her popularity went high. Mina became one of the most famous actresses in Korea; she won different kinds of awards and got the title ‘best actresses’ of her generation. It was entertaining, and it was Mina’s dream.
The phone started vibrating for the fourteenth time after she turned on her signal. It was Jeongyeon, her manager.
“Mina,” Jeongyeon said softly. “Where are you? Are you okay?”
People were walking past her. Mina blew out an air and halted in the middle of the sidewalk.
“If I tell you I’m not, will you stop calling me?” Mina responded.
“Minari, I’m your friend too."
“Exactly! Why can’t you just leave me alone?” Mina’s voice raised more than she expected. Some people were looking at her strangely. She lowered her head and went to the side of the street.
“She’s finding you; she wants to talk to you, but we couldn’t find you."
With just a thought of her, Mina’s chest was feeling heavy, and it was suffocating her that she couldn’t move. It was all hatred.
“Tell her to go suck that newbie’s face. I don’t want to fucking see her.” Mina’s lips started trembling with the memories flashing inside her head. “I don’t want to hear anything from her again, Jeongyeon. I want to be away and by myself, and maybe—maybe I don’t know. Just everywhere and anywhere without her.” Mina rambled through her anger. It was disgusting to recall those freaky lips smiling at her in their home, but it was kissing someone’s lips behind her back.
“But Mina— “
Mina rolled her eyes and cut her off immediately. “I swear to God, Yoo Jeongyeon. If you’re going to talk to me, drop being a manager and be a goddamn best friend.”
She heard a sigh from the other line and murmuring from the back. It must’ve been her fiancé—ex-fiancé rather.
“If you’re going to call again, I don’t want to hear anything about her.” Mina gritted through her teeth. “We talked about this, Jeong. I’m in pain, and I don’t know where, but it hurts. It still hurts, and when I am reminded of something about her, it’s salting my wounds.”
Mina curled her fist, letting her nail push against the skin of her palm to prevent her from crying in public. Tears were already forming around her eyes, and she bit her trembling lips. “Please, Jeongyeon. Stop calling me. I will send you an update every day that I’m still whole but stop calling me every damn hour.”
“I’m sorry.” Jeongyeon whispered; there was now silence at the back of the call. “I’m just doing my job, and you know I hate it when you’re like this.”
“I know.” Mina’s lips slowly turned to a smile. She reached into her eyes to wipe away the nasty tears.
“I’m your best friend too, and I should be there with you. I’m sorry.”
Mina pressed her back against the brick wall behind her and gazed at the busy streets. No one recognized her. She could cry, and she would break down in the place she was standing, but she wouldn’t. She's strong, and she can fight back what she was feeling.
“I’m here for you, okay? Don’t mind that, motherfucker. I’ll be forever by your side, even if you’re the one who cheated.” Jeongyeon almost whispered the last sentence.
Mina laughed; her shoulders were shaking to hide her loud laugh.
“But it’s not me, and you know I can’t do that.” Her smile began to fall.
“Stop!” Jeongyeon shouted, “Stop right there. You shouldn’t be thinking about it.”
Mina sighed and went to walk steadily.
“I think I should be... to numb the pain.”
A tear fell from her eye. Mina was proving to herself that she’s strong, but in the end, she’s still hurting. At least she’s trying.
“Mina, where are you? I’ll go there with you.” Jeongyeon stated it softly.
Mina smiled and wiped her tears. She can go through it by herself. Every happiness has consequences, and every sorrow has good karma.
“I’m okay. I want to be alone and take care of my thoughts.” Mina answered shortly, and she walked across the street until she saw the airport.
Jeongyeon was pushing and asking questions about where Mina was. Mina didn’t tell anyone. She left the country without telling a single person, and Jeongyeon thought she was just around Korea. Jeongyeon stated some comforting words that Mina wanted to hear before ending the call.
There was this restaurant that she saw along the way from her hotel. It looks interesting that she had to go back and find it. She wanted to try something new, something that would cover all of her memories in Europe with her ex. It was her plan anyway. To erase the pain and cover the memories.
There was a squeeze inside her chest. Mina didn’t know why, but somewhere there, something hurt. She was getting dizzy, and her steps were getting weaker.
Mina fell on top of someone. She must’ve been so hungry to feel dizzy and wobbly.
She brushed her clothes and murmured, “I’m sorry.”
Mina couldn’t look into her eyes, but it will be disrespectful if she doesn’t. She was embarrassed that, over the large street, she accidentally bumped into someone.
Their eyes met for a second, and Mina felt a wet strain of water fall on her eyes. It was because of her previous thoughts.
“It’s okay!” The stranger shouted, and Mina almost flinched; her accent sounded familiar. “It’s fine. I’m not hurt. Are you hurt?”
Mina giggled at the back of her throat at the panic in her voice. She shook her head and smiled at her in assurance. “I’m good. I’m sorry again.”
With a small wave, Mina walked out. Feeling the deep holes of the stranger’s stare at her back.
It was a short encounter, but her eyes were remarkable, round and shimmering under the calm sky.
Cold air brushed at Nayeon’s feet. She stirred from her position and opened her eyes. The room had no light, and the brightness from outside was beginning to fade. Nayeon stood up and stretched her arms wide, smiling at the view from the window.
After a shower, she dressed up to have some dinner outside.
Nayeon was starting to get used to it. The feeling of her frigid hands swaying, without a warm skin pressing against her side and no fingers slipping between hers, made her walk to the crowd. Nayeon was internalizing that her ex would never go back to her side.
Dinner while drinking a certain amount of wine. Nayeon was silent in the corner of the restaurant while she was enjoying her food. The taste of the dish was different on her tongue; it was too good to realize her solitude. After dinner, Nayeon left a tip for the waiter. The food was great, and the ambiance made it even better to eat. France is beautiful after all, and she was alone, but at least she was surrounded by beautiful people and places.
Throat itching, Nayeon lit a cigarette in the designated area. The stick calmed her soul, and her mind was at ease. Smoke filled her lungs like butterflies in the stomach; it was satisfying to have after a long day.
“Can I have one?” Nayeon heard from her side. She pulled her box of cigarettes from the pocket of her jacket and handed it to her.
Her. The beautiful crying lady.
Her eyes sparkled under the shining moon. She took a stick, placed it between her lips, and mumbled, “Light me up?”
Nayeon smirked. She shoved the box into her pocket and pulled the lighter up for her. She inhaled a huge amount of air; it made her choke, and she coughed while blowing out the smoke.
"Are you sure you really smoke?” Nayeon asked, eyeing the woman worriedly.
She spat at the ground and wiped her mouth. “I don’t. It’s been a long time since I tried this.”
Nayeon snapped her head and attempted to reach for the stick, but the woman backed up, giggling.
Nayeon furrowed her eyebrows. “Are you drunk?”
The light touched the woman’s face, and it was pinkish; her eyes have dark circles, and her smile looks fake. Nayeon felt the misery again.
“I’m not drunk. I’m Mina.”
“Huh?” Nayeon flicked the ashes on the trash as she blew out the smoke from her lungs. But she was convinced the woman was drunk. But then it grazed against her mind; her name is Mina. “Are you with someone?”
“I’m all by myself.” Mina let out a hiccup, and she covered her mouth with her hand, her eyes widening.
“You’re drunk.” Nayeon muttered, taking a good look at her. From head to toe, a supermodel She was wearing a dress and shining shoe that covered her toes.
“I said, I’m not drunk.” Mina pointed a finger at her, a cigarette falling from her grip. “I’m Mina. How can you not know me?”
Nayeon giggled. She let the last hit drop to her throat to enter her lungs before she threw the butt of her cigarette in the trash.
“You looked familiar.”
Nayeon kept her mouth shut. Mina leaned with her hand gripping the nearby rail; she felt her eyes examining her features. She stepped closer, and Nayeon stood still. The wind was blowing so lightly that it sent goosebumps down Mina’s skin.
“Cold?” Nayeon asked.
“Kinda.”
Nayeon didn’t hesitate to take her coat off, and she wrapped it around her shoulder. Nayeon’s skin brushed against hers, and it made her feel warm.
Mina put her head on Nayeon’s shoulder before she could retract her arms. She asked, “What’s your name?”
Nayeon’s feet became stiff, and Mina was putting her weight against her. However, her stomach felt flooded with her presence. It seems like she’s serene, and her senses are stable.
“Nayeon.”
Nayeon felt Mina chuckling over her shirt. She felt Mina circle her arms around her waist. Yet Nayeon didn’t lay a finger on her.
"Well, Nayeon, I hope you’re not a bad person.” Mina whispered, “Because I feel safe with you.”
Nayeon found a dumbfounded smile on her lips, and she wrapped her arms around her back.
“In that case, Mina, I’m calm when you’re near.”