Chapter Text
Jihyo observed the Myoi's being casual with the Im's and questioned, "Why are the Myoi's here? I thought your family is not on good terms with them."
"There's an upcoming Asian Olympic Games. My mom wants support from Japan in hosting the event, so she invited the Myoi family to build a better relationship with them," explained Nayeon while sipping her wine. She looked back from her seat and saw the Myoi's, with their elegant gowns and neat suits, entering the venue. "It's a strategic move to ensure a successful ceremony for hosting the games," added Nayeon with a smirk.
The majority of the expected attendees arrived at the location wearing elegant gowns and well-fitting suits as the Olympic toast party got ready to begin. Nayeon's eyes scanned the room, taking note of the high-profile guests mingling and exchanging pleasantries with her parents. The venue was filled with smiles and greetings as everyone supported the event for the upcoming Asian Olympic Games.
"I see," Jihyo husked out, her eyes narrowing slightly. "How did it go?"
"Apparently, they had previous meetings, and last night, we had a family dinner," Nayeon answered.
"Family dinner?" Jihyo snorted some laughs. "What for? Isn't it a bit excessive to have a family dinner just to host an event?"
Nayeon chuckled and replied, "I don't know. I think they already made up or something."
Jihyo arched an eyebrow and asked, "After all that backlash?"
Nayeon shrugged, her smile fading slightly. "Seems like they're trying to save face," she said, her tone stained with skepticism. "But who knows? Maybe they're just putting on a show for the public."
With a sly look of uncertainty, Jihyo nodded. Her voice was playful as she asked, "How did it go last night?"
"Well," Nayeon started, smirking at Jihyo's tone. "Quiet. But we formally met the Myoi's, and they seemed nice enough. I guess time will tell if they're genuine or not."
Jihyo cocked an eyebrow, causing her interest to grow. With a curious tone, she questioned, "Did you get any hints about their true intentions?"
Nayeon shrugged again, her expression careful. "Not really," she admitted. "They seemed friendly and polite, but it's hard to say for sure."
"So, you met her?" Jihyo's voice came out of a gasp.
"Who?" Nayeon paused, glancing at Jihyo.
Meanwhile, Jihyo was eyeing someone. Nayeon followed Jihyo's gaze and saw her, the youngest member of the Myoi family, stepping inside the event. In all honesty, Nayeon's breath seemed to run out as she stared at her.
"Yeah." An audible whisper came out of Nayeon.
"Who is she?" Jihyo immediately asked.
"Mina," Nayeon said, reaching out for her wine and taking a sip, trying to steady her nerves. "Myoi Mina."
Mina walked into the party like she was sucking every ounce of oxygen out of the room, including Nayeon. Her presence was captivating, as if she were meant to have everyone's attention. She has an aura that demands attention. Mina was wearing a tight black dress that hugged the curves of her body; her feet were lifted by four-inch heels; and her hair was tied to a tight bun. Nayeon wasn't surprised when she saw Jihyo have her mouth slightly agape. Mina was truly a vision of elegance and confidence. Her face was angelic; hence, her stare felt so fierce that it gashed Nayeon's nerves. Their eyes met, and Mina gave Nayeon a subtle smile, causing her heart to skip a beat. It was as if Mina knew the effect she had on others and enjoyed every moment of it.
"She's very gorgeous," Jihyo admitted, her lips curling to a smirk.
"Really?" Nayeon arched an eyebrow.
Even though she was clearly attracted the first time she saw her. There was just something suspicious about her, and Nayeon didn't want to fall under a spell, or maybe she was just intimidated.
"You don't like her?"
Nayeon lifted her gaze to Mina for a moment and saw her laughing with her friends. It was the first time she had seen her smile, and it immediately shot bullets through her heart. Nayeon knew she was drawn by Mina's charm.
"No," Nayeon whispered, but it hurt her throat every time she denied it.
Jihyo shook her head and chuckled. "Really? It seems like she's got you wrapped around her finger, Nayeon. It's written all over your face," Jihyo teased, nudging her playfully.
Nayeon scoffed and glared at her. "Shut up."
Jihyo burst out laughing, drinking her wine. The next minute, someone was shouting and waving their hands. Jihyo turned, and it seemed like a photographer was calling for a photo.
"Nayeon, they're calling you for a family photo." Jihyo tapped Nayeon's shoulder as she pointed at the stage.
Im Nayeon, the daughter of the president of South Korea, Im Se-ah, wouldn't like Myoi Mina. Perhaps she shouldn't. Myoi Mina is the royal Japanese princess, the daughter of emperor Akira and empress Sachiko. Why shouldn't she? Im Se-ah has been the president of South Korea for several years now, and tensions between South Korea and Japan have always been high. There is a long-standing rivalry between the two nations that even extends to their families as a result of their political and historical disputes. Nayeon did not trust the Myoi family after all of the rumors that they were discrediting Im Se-ah's leadership, which had been an issue for the public.
Nonetheless, after all those clashes inside her mind, Nayeon was still mesmerized by Mina's beauty every time she laid eyes on her. Nayeon was always left with a drool at the corner of her mouth and a scratch against her heart.
Unaware of it, Nayeon spent the whole evening staring at Mina. Even when she wasn't looking, she could always see Mina out of the corner of her eye with every turn of her head. Maybe because her dress was distracting or because her beauty was just an eye-catcher. Either way, Nayeon couldn't help but feel attracted by Mina's presence, causing her to lose focus on everything else happening around her. Even when her mother was giving her speech, there was a time that she was memorizing the side of Mina's face. Even when they were taking a photo for the press release of their family union, Nayeon found herself next to Mina, hoping to capture a closer look of her face. No, she was just curious if her face was plastic surgery or natural. Nayeon tried to reason it out for herself.
The night was beginning to go wild, and some of the guests started leaving, and some were getting more intoxicated. Along with Nayeon, who was following Mina at the bartender's booth.
"How's Korea treating the royal princess of Japan?" Nayeon spoke as soon as she reached Mina's side.
Mina didn't need to turn to know the owner of that voice. She plainly replied, "Great. Very welcoming, unlike other people."
Nayeon raised an eyebrow, sensing a hint of bitterness in Mina's response. She smirked, "I greeted you last night."
Mina rolled her eyes, realizing that Nayeon was referring to a brief encounter that she had already forgotten. "Well, I must have missed it then," she retorted sarcastically.
Mina can still remember the faded interaction she had with Nayeon. It was a little handshake with Nayeon mumbling, 'Welcome to South Korea' or something like that, but after that, it was all nothing but a quiet smile and glance from her. What a welcoming daughter of the president of South Korea, she said to herself. Mina thought Nayeon was okay after that first meeting. She doesn't know why she dislikes her, but she felt like she needed to dislike her.
Nayeon chuckled, clearly enjoying the banter between them. "You must have been too busy being the center of attention," she teased.
Mina scoffed, stealing a glass of wine from the counter. "Why are you even here?"
Nayeon slid in front of Mina with a grin. She responded, "What do you mean? This is my party."
"Your party?" Mina repeated incredulously, her eyebrows raised. "This is the Olympic toast party, and it wouldn't be possible without the support from my parents."
"Exactly," Nayeon smirked. "This is not possible if my parents are not hosting it."
Nayeon is a piece of shit. Mina mumbled inside her head. After a few words with her, she already had Mina in a blaze. The way Nayeon was responding was enough to maintain Mina's dislike for her, and Mina was already starting to go beyond dislike. She was beginning to hate her.
Mina groaned, stepping away from Nayeon. "Why does it have to do with your parents?"
"You're the one who brought your parents up, not me. I just pointed out the party," Nayeon retorted, taking a sip of the stolen wine. "Besides, my parents are the ones who secured the venue and organized everything. They practically planned this entire party."
An obviously irritated Mina rolled her eyes. "Well, just because your parents are involved doesn't mean it's your party. It's supposed to be a celebration for the union, the athletes, and the countries involved."
Nayeon shrugged nonchalantly. "Maybe so, but without my parents' hosting, none of us would be here right now."
The last sting of patience was already wearing thin as she listened to Nayeon's reply. She seriously doesn't know why she engaged in a conversation with her. Mina felt like it was a waste of words and energy to be with her. Mina grumbled, done with Nayeon already. "Why am I even talking to you? You're clearly not a good talker." She started to walk away.
Nayeon grabbed Mina by her arm and pulled her back gently. "Okay, I'll stop shitting around."
Mina stared at Nayeon's hand against her arm. She drew her arm back and scowled at her. "Stop touching me," she said with a hiss.
Nayeon immediately released her grip and took a step back, realizing she had crossed a boundary. "I apologize. I didn't mean to invade your personal space," she said sincerely.
Mina's scowl softened slightly, but she maintained her distance. "Yeah, right."
"Why are you so mad at me?" Nayeon asked, genuinely perplexed.
Mina replied bluntly, "Cause you're an Im."
Mina hissed quietly, eyeing Nayeon. There was an irk running through her veins just saying that name. She doesn't know, but based on what she knew and what she heard around the palace badmouthing them, that last name caused a lot of damage to their family. Not to be dramatic, but it felt like lava was pouring on her feet the longer she was with Nayeon.
"What does it have to do with my surname?" Nayeon repeated, her confusion deepening.
"Your parents call my parents traitors," Mina spat out bitterly. "They blame my family for something that happened years ago, and they've never let it go."
Nayeon frowned and countered, "Says the parents that called my mom weak to lead the country."
"Your mom called my parents drug enablers," Mina retorted, her voice dripping with resentment.
"Isn't your country full of mafia with drugs?" Nayeon asked, lifting an eyebrow.
"Isn't your country known for corruption and bribery?" Mina shot back.
Nayeon is certified arrogant. That conversation was enough to prove that. Mina expected that from Nayeon, but she was still shocked to witness it over their first real talk. Mina anticipated a little more kindness than talking badly to her parents, or maybe something like asking about her days in Korea, rather than being cocky.
"Oh, God," Nayeon sighed, cutting the tension with a laugh. She began with a calm tone, "Can we just stop this? This will take us nowhere."
"So, you're admitting that your country is known for corruption?" Mina cocked her head. She felt like she won over a little petty fight. She wanted to win that.
Nayeon shook her head. "No. Besides, haven't you seen it? They already made up. There's no need to hold grudges, Mina," Nayeon replied.
Mina grumbled, "I know your parents are just using my parents. They're only pretending to make up because they want something from us."
"What? That's bullshit. Our parents are just being professional. For sure, they already moved on and sent each other apologies. It's time for us to do the same and let go of this unnecessary feud." Nayeon defended her family. "It's time for you to do the same."
Mina blew out some air. She shrugged, "Whatever."
A pause occurred before Nayeon spoke once more.
"You look beautiful, by the way."
Mina went quiet. She didn't expect that after that squabble. Mina's expression softened slightly at the sudden compliment. "Thanks, I guess," she muttered, a hint of a smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "You don't look bad yourself."
Nayeon's words had temporarily relieved the tension between them, signaling Mina that they don't have anything to do with their parents' disagreements. Nayeon doesn't know what's up with Mina's irritation, but she was loving the attention, or maybe the tension.
Mina bit the inside of her cheek. To be frank, Nayeon was far from bad. Her face looked like it belonged on a magazine cover, with flawless skin and remarkable features. She wouldn't deny that she found Nayeon's smile cute, and she was looking forward to seeing them often; however, she couldn't stand Nayeon's arrogance. To avoid staring at Nayeon, Mina glanced around the place and found a pair of eyes looking at them.
"Your girlfriend is looking at us," Mina whispered as her eyes shifted behind Nayeon. She noticed her earlier at the event, lingering beside Nayeon.
"My girlfriend?" Nayeon chuckled, furrowing her eyebrows as she looked behind her to see Jihyo smirking at them. "You mean her?"
"Yeah," Mina shrugged, avoiding Jihyo's gaze. "She's been looking at us for a while now."
Nayeon laughed. "That's my best friend, Jihyo. Park Jihyo, the daughter of the minister of education."
Mina gave an impressive nod. "That's why she looked so intelligent from the way she stood."
Nayeon raised an eyebrow, amused by Mina's observation. "And me?"
"What about you?" Mina looked at her, clueless.
"What do I look like from the way I stand?" Nayeon asked, straightening her body and dress.
"Stupid," Mina bashfully said without a pause. "You look stupid."
Nayeon immediately sent her glowers toward Mina. "You're an asshole."
"Yeah, well, you look like an idiot," Mina retorted.
Nayeon rolled her eyes and said, "Well, at least I'm not a hypocrite."
Mina rolled her eyes as well and said, "Whatever."
The music got louder in the venue, and the beat was inviting. Nayeon gave Mina a quick glance. Despite their teasing and foul language, she was perplexed as to why she remained by her side. She reasoned that Mina might be enjoying her company by staying.
On the other side, Mina was thinking about how Nayeon's sharp tongue and quick comebacks always managed to both infuriate and entertain her. She couldn't deny that there was a strange feeling between them, even if it was filled with constant banter and insults. Even if it was a bad feeling, she found Nayeon very amusing.
"Do you want to dance?" Nayeon pointed at the dance floor.
"With you?" Mina scoffed with a condemning glance. "Of course, not."
Nayeon questioned inquisitively, "Why?" She couldn't figure out why Mina was still there and, at the same time, didn't want to dance with her.
"I don't like the idea of people seeing me with you," Mina replied without missing a beat. It was true, though she was already with her, and she was aware of the eyes looking in their direction. She doesn't want the attention of people because she is with Nayeon. Mina doesn't know if that makes sense, but she just doesn't want to dance with Nayeon, knowing her arrogance will just irritate her.
Nayeon chuckled, frowning at what she heard. "Then why are you still here?"
Mina turned to look at Nayeon. "Am I not allowed to roam around, Im?"
"I'm trying to like you, Mina," Nayeon murmured, sipping her wine to dumpen her throat. "But you're making it difficult."
Mina laughed. Her teeth were showing as she cupped her mouth to hide her loud laughter. She smirked and grumbled, "I'm not trying to impress you or anyone. I'm just being myself. You're allowed to hate me if you want; I don't care." She stole another glass of alcohol and walked away.
Mina felt like she was victorious. She knew she enraged a soul out of Nayeon.
Nayeon just stared at her flawless back while walking away. She couldn't understand where those attitudes were coming from. Just because she's an Im? Or maybe Myoi Mina is insecure about her for some unknown reason. Or maybe Mina has a secret crush on her. It might be possible.
Nayeon muttered, "You're annoying as hell, Myoi Mina," as she took a bottle of wine and left the bartender's booth.
Nayeon returned to their table and took a seat. She was unable to read Mina's character. Though Mina was displaying her darker side, she knew there was kindness hidden in her gaze. She was curious about Mina, but she was also annoyed with the way she was being treated.
"What was that?" Jihyo elbowed Nayeon's side with a teasing grin. "You finally asked her for a dance?"
Nayeon winced as she drank the wine in one gulp, feeling the burn as it slid down her throat. The fire flowed inside her eyes when she found Mina from afar. She rolled her eyes and responded, "She said she doesn't want to be around an Im."
"Huh?" Jihyo raised an eyebrow, confused. "You both were standing there talking for like an hour. I'm sure people noticed both of you."
Nayeon ridiculed. "I don't know. She's an asshole who's full of hatred towards me and my last name."
Jihyo giggled with wide eyes. "Such a harsh word for an angelic face."
"Looks can be deceiving." Nayeon sniggered.
Mina, on the other side of the place, was unbothered. She took a quick peek and noticed the grimace behind Nayeon's eyes. She could see the scowl forming on her lips. Mina laughed under her breath, even though nothing was funny about her friend's story.
The royal Japanese princess, Myoi Mina, the only daughter of emperor Akira and empress Sachiko. Actually, she really doesn't care about her status or her family name. She is actually the kindest, despite her reputation, as long as you don't disrespect her family. Once she heard about the talk of the Im's and their disrespectful comments about her family, she started to dislike that last name. At first, she really didn't care at all, but the moment the fight between their families got louder and more frequent, she couldn't help but feel a growing anger towards the Im's. After all, she learned to hate them even though she hadn't met them at all. Mina didn't plan on hating them for a long time, and that hatred has shifted to dislike since the rumors died over the years. But after meeting Im Nayeon, that dislike might turn to hatred again.
An hour came by, and the fun got even more lively. For Mina, the party became tiring. Her feet got tired from dancing with her friends, her stomach was aching from drinking too much alcohol, and her lips were chapped from talking and laughing all night. After swaying with her friends, Mina told her friends that she would just sit for a while. Mina sat down at their table and found scrolling on her phone more entertaining than the party.
Mina viewed some pictures and read a few random tweets. Suddenly, a hand came into her view.
"Can I take you on a dance?"
It was a masculine voice. Her gaze slowly turned to the person beside her. He was wearing a dark suit; his arms were toned; and finally, his face was obscured by a soft smile.
"Im Jaebum?"
Nayeon's older brother, Im Jaebum, asked Mina for a dance. Mina was speechless. She felt like her throat was drying up just by looking at him for ten seconds. Jaebum was different from Nayeon, Mina noticed. They were both friendly on their own, and if she would differentiate the first seconds of meeting them, Mina can tell that Nayeon was outgoing and loud, and Jaebum seemed more mysterious and reserved.
"Come on, please?" Jaebum gave Mina a gentle, encouraging smile.
Mina couldn't resist his charm and nodded shyly, accepting his invitation to dance. She enclosed her hand above Jaebum's palm and let him pull her towards the dance floor. Mina recognized the song, which turned slow as she followed his steps with a tug in her hand.
"Can I?" Jaebum kindly asked for Mina's hand.
Mina grinned sheepishly and lent her hand. "Sure."
He put his hand on Mina's waist gently, and they began to move to the rhythm of the music. Mina felt a wave of warmth and comfort as they moved together, their bodies in sync with each other. As they swayed to the music, Mina couldn't help but feel a sense of intrigue and curiosity about Jaebum.
Their dance was peacefully soothing. Mina found their dance less tiring. It was slow, and fewer movements were needed. Mina was just smiling while shuffling her feet.
Nayeon was far from Jaebum. He was a different Im and compared to Nayeon, Jaebum emits a different vibe. Jaebum came out as kind and soft-spoken. For their first meeting, Jaebum was nothing like Nayeon. Nayeon was filled with arrogance and irritating confidence, while Jaebum exuded humility and gentleness. It was a refreshing change from Nayeon's unpleasant energy. Mina couldn't help but be smitten by Jaebum's calming presence, and it got Mina blinded by Im's reputation.
"Why did you ask me for a dance?" Mina inquired while looking up to him.
Jaebum let out a soft chuckle and replied, "You looked like you were not amused by the party."
Mina blushed and shyly looked away, feeling a flutter in her chest at Jaebum's response. That was a smooth move. It got Mina warmed through her feet and chest; the irritation from Nayeon was absorbed with Jaebum's warmth. As they danced, Mina found herself becoming more and more captivated by Jaebum's gentle touch and soothing voice. She was grinning sincerely as they had some random conversation.
While Mina was having fun with Jaebum, Nayeon was watching from the corner of the venue. Nayeon's mood abruptly changed as she briefly looked away from her friends, who were laughing over a nonsense story. One moment, Nayeon found Mina alone at their table, and when Nayeon turned around again, she noticed that Mina was dancing with someone—worse, her older brother Jaebum—and that Mina appeared to be enjoying herself and blushing. The longer she looked at the dance floor, the tighter her jaw felt.
Nayeon couldn't believe it. Mina was shaming her and her last name a moment ago, and at that moment, she was enraged to find Mina dancing with her brother, just like she didn't badmouth the whole Im clan. Nayeon had her fist curled up as Mina's words echoed inside her head.
"'Don't like being seen with an Im' my ass," Nayeon mumbled as she rolled her eyes and turned her attention on her friends.
However, a friend was built like a psychic.
"Jealous?" Jihyo teased, raising an eyebrow.
Nayeon scoffed, trying to brush off the comment. Deep down, though, she couldn't deny the twinge of envy. "She's a motherfucking two-faced bitch."
Jihyo blew a loud sigh and grinned. "Just because she's dancing with your brother?"
"Because she's probably tricking my brother; she said cruel things about my family, and now she's trying to act all innocent," Nayeon replied, her voice filled with disgust.
Jihyo gazed towards the dance floor. She saw how Mina looked down to hide her blush and how genuine Mina's smiles were. Jihyo pushed Nayeon's buttons and said, "Really? Isn't that because she chose to dance with your brother instead of you?"
Jihyo pushed the exact buttons because Nayeon turned infurated. She was clenching her jaw and glaring fiercely at them. Nayeon didn't utter a word; instead, she gulped a huge amount of wine and dropped the glass on the table.
"Where are you going?" Jihyo flinched as she saw Nayeon storm towards the dance floor. "Nayeon! Don't make a scene!"
Anger flushing her face, Nayeon disregarded Jihyo's plea and marched on towards the two dancers. Nayeon growled, her voice rising with anger. "I thought you didn't like to be seen with an Im beside you."
Both Jaebum and Mina looked at Nayeon strangely. They disconnected from each other and faced Nayeon.
Nayeon was out of mind. All of the words that would come out of her mouth at that moment didn't go through her head; it was all impertinence. She knew she was intoxicated with anger and alcohol going inside of her for the past minute. She was lucky she didn't stumble on the spot.
"I know this bitch is faking that she is enjoying this dance with you, big brother. Sorry to intervene," Nayeon burst out.
Jaebum looked at Nayeon oddly. He took a quick peek at Mina, who was found bewildered at her spot.
Jaebum's expression turned serious as he realized the atmosphere of the situation. "Nayeon, calm down," he said firmly, trying to diffuse the tension.
"What did you just call me?" Mina questioned, her voice laced with shock and disbelief.
"Big brother, didn't you know that this bitch called our family corrupt?" Nayeon's voice was rising.
"What the fuck, Nayeon?" Mina was losing her patience bit by bit. "Stop it already."
"Stop what? You're the one who should stop playing innocent here." Nayeon smirked. "You were insulting my last name, and now you're here acting like a princess with my brother. What a fake motherfucker."
"Shut up, Nayeon." Mina gritted through her teeth. She didn't want this to happen. She was just having fun with Jaebum because she found his presence calm, not because she wanted to cause a problem.
Nayeon stepped closer, her eyes fiercely focused on Mina. Jaebum went between them, putting up a wall.
"Go back to your mafia drug business, Mina. Stop flirting with my brother."
Mina's face flushed with anger as she retorted, "You have no idea what you're talking about, Nayeon. I'm not involved in any drug business, and I certainly wasn't flirting with Jaebum." She glanced at Jaebum and glowered at Nayeon.
"I know you are," Nayeon whispered with a persuading smirk. "You're just fake!"
Mina pushed past Jaebum. "You know what, Nayeon? Fuck you!" She was already out of her senses. "Go back to your schmearing mom's stomach!"
"No! Go back to your perfect 'full of perverts' country!" Nayeon shouted back, full of frustration.
The tension in the room escalated as their argument continued to spiral out of control. Neither of them noticed, but they were now the center of attention. People stopped dancing and drinking around; they were now watching the two daughters of two beloved countries badmouthing each other.
Flashes blinded their eyes. Some people were now taking pictures and videos of the situation. It was all quiet except for the sound of their roaring voices echoing through the room and the awkward beat of the music. The air was thick and blazing.
Nayeon just came back from soberiaty in a snap. It felt like rain poured inside the venue and showered her with lightning, tingling in her spine. It was humiliating.
Mina; she wanted to kill Nayeon for pushing her off her limit. Mina was sure she hated Nayeon more after what happened.
And Jaebum. He just wanted to enjoy the party and wanted to take Mina on a harmless dance, nothing more. He didn't expect to be in that position; mostly, he didn't expect to be involved in a heated argument between her little sister, Nayeon, and the royal Japanese princess Mina.
The next morning, the notifications on their phones were booming. News outlets had caught footage of the altercation and were spreading the story like wildfire. The incident had become a hot topic of conversation, with people taking sides and debating who was at fault. Most definitely, people are assuming that the leaders of South Korea and Japan are not on good terms.
Nayeon didn't care about the news after all. She knew the news would eventually fade away in time. She ignores the texts and questions from her friends, but what made her anxious was the missed call from her mother. It was one missed call and one message.
Mom:
Family dinner at 8 p.m. Don't be late.
Mina received several messages from her friends asking if she had heard about the raging incident. She couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt after watching the video. Nayeon just pushed her to her limit, and she couldn't contain herself. Mina knew it wasn't her fault. Nayeon was the one to blame. She tried to explain that to her parents, but they were not convinced. They believed that Mina should have handled the situation better so that the current news didn't happen. Somehow, they believed that it was partially Mina's fault. After that talk, Mina knew she had to find a way to prove her innocence. She agreed to go to a family dinner at the Im's later that night.
The dinner came. Nayeon was shocked to see the Myoi family settle in their dining area, and it seemed like everyone was there except for her and Jaebum. A second came, and Jaebum walked past her. He greeted the Myoi’s with a warm smile and took a seat.
Nayeon was the only one missing at the table, and all eyes were on her, waiting to sit in her spot. She showed a less awkward smile and gave the Myoi's a respectful greeting before leaving an involuntary glare towards Mina.
Mina released a soundless scoff and turned her focus on the food that was beginning to be served by the servants.
The first few minutes were quiet. The sound of the utensils clicking on the plate was the only sound that was bouncing over the walls.
Seah cleared her throat to gain everyone's attention, especially the Myoi's. She began to speak. "Thank you for coming tonight. It is an honor to have you all here. As you may know, tonight's dinner is not just a simple gathering."
Nayeon sipped on her wine as she listened to her mother carefully. She doesn't have any idea where it was going, but sure enough, she's indefinite trouble.
"As you noticed, our names have been the topic of the news lately regarding the incident that happened last night," Se-ah continued, gazing at Nayeon with disappointment. "The Myoi's and Im's had a talk, and both of you, Mina and Nayeon, will clean our name."
What? How? Nayeon asked inside her head. She could not think of any possible way, not when Mina was mad at her. She could feel it by the way that Mina was glaring at her, like Mina wanted that fork on Nayeon's neck.
"My son, Jaebum, does not have to do with any of this. He explained everything to me and the Myois. I know Jaebum will not do anything scandalous as well. He has always been a responsible and well-behaved son over the years."
The Myoi's nodded their heads, except for Mina. Mina was puzzled. She didn't expect that she would be involved with it. All of it was Nayeon's fault, and she couldn't understand why she had to clean their name too. Mina felt her blood boil.
"Now, Nayeon, please apologize to the Myoi's, particularly Mina," Se-ah demanded, her voice stern.
Nayeon froze in her seat. She was not sure if she had heard the right words. Is that an apology and Mina in one sentence? Because no. That was the last thing that she imagined doing at that dinner. Nayeon was aware that she was hard-headed and always fooling around. Nonetheless, she knew when it was her fault, and clearly, she was not the only one to blame for the incident prior to that night.
"Mom, are you serious?" Nayeon exclaimed, her disbelief noticeable in her voice. "I can't apologize for something that wasn't entirely my fault."
Se-ah turned on Nayeon, her eyes bulging, and she gritted through her teeth, "Don't humiliate our name once more, Nayeon. You've already done enough."
Nayeon sighed and ran her fingers through her hair. She heard the firmness in her mom's voice, and it was a sign that her mom was about to lose it. Despite feeling frustrated, Nayeon knew that arguing further would only make her mom upset. She took a deep breath and decided to approach the Myoi's on the other side of the room.
Nayeon lowered her head for a bow and mustered up the courage to apologize, even if she saw Mina smirking at her from across the room.
"I sincerely apologize, Mr. and Mrs. Myoi, for my behavior last night. It was disrespectful and uncalled for. I didn't mean any of it. I was just drunk. I understand that my actions were out of line, and I promise to do better in the future." Nayeon's voice trembled slightly as she spoke.
Akira and Sachico Myoi nodded their heads and acknowledged Nayeon's apology with a gracious smile. "Thank you, Nayeon. We appreciate your apology."
Nayeon turned to the other side, lowering her head for Mina. "I'm sorry, Mina, for my disrespectful behavior last night. I hope you can forgive me."
Mina's eyes were full of success. Her smirk was lingering on her lips as she responded, "I appreciate your heartfelt apology, Nayeon. Thank you for acknowledging your mistake and apologizing."
Nayeon didn't look back at the Myoi's. She went back to her seat and sighed deeply.
"Thank you for that, Nayeon. I hope you will be courteous enough to not make this happen again in the future," Se-ah said, her eyes softening at the bravery that her daughter showed.
Nayeon nodded and replied, "Yes. I will make sure of it."
The table went pleasant after that confrontation. It felt like a prison wall had just been torn up.
Sachico, Mina's mom, cut the silence on top of the table and said, "I think it's time for Mina to say her apologies as well. I know my daughter didn't speak the nicest words last night."
Mina gasped and she interfered. "What? Mommy, I don't think—"
"Mina, please show the Im's that you are truly sorry for what you said," Sachico interrupted firmly. "We both know you said vicious words, sweetheart."
Mina had to hold on to her seat. It was only a truce, but she assumed she had already won. Mina had to take a deep breath before rising from her chair to the Im's side.
Mina lowered her head respectfully in front of the Im's, and she genuinely said, "I'm sorry for the vicious words that I've said about you and your family, Mr. and Mrs. Im. I was wrong for that. And Nayeon, I'm sorry. I know I've been unkind to you."
Mr. and Mrs. Im gave their softest smiles and nodded in acceptance of Mina's apology. "It's alright, Mina. Thank you for apologizing."
Nayeon only spoke up after half a minute. She scoffed and gave Mina a stern look before saying, "Thanks. It's good that you're aware of your actions and have apologized."
Even after both sides apologized, there was still a strong and loud tension between Mina and Nayeon. There were still irritating smirks and sarcastic comments exchanged between them. It was clear that their relationship was far from mended and would require more than just a simple apology to fix.
Se-ah began to speak again; this time it was lively.
"Now that we're all good, I think it's time for both of you to know the process of cleaning our names. As you can see, the Myoi's and Im's are already made up." Nayeon's and Mina's eyes met with a curious gleam as Se-ah continued, "Since the news was already spreading, we can't stop them with just a statement. We must prove that there are no truths to those rumors. We have to prove to them that the Myoi's and Im's are fine."
"How?" Nayeon forced a word out of her mouth.
"We'll make you and Mina roommates so that you two will be closer to each other," Se-ah said with much confidence. The Myoi's agreed as well with their murmuring replies. "We'll make you best friends in front of the public, and the incident last night was just your little misunderstanding."
"Oh, my God. You must've been kidding me," Mina groaned as she gripped her hair in frustration.
"No. That's not going to happen," Nayeon said, shaking her head. “You can’t keep me in a same room with her.”