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No matter how well you think you know someone, they’ll still find a way to surprise you. And not in a good way.
Which is what Mina experienced the hard way. There was so much to process all at once and she didn’t know what to do.
Shock. Betrayal. Pain. Anger.
It was all present and swirling inside of Mina as she sobbed into her pillow, alone in her apartment. She wished she had someone there with her so she wouldn’t be so alone. Kirishima first came to mind but he wasn’t in the position to come over, but maybe talking to him over the phone would help calm her down enough to stop crying. That’s what she needed the most right now.
Mina reached for her bag laying on the floor by her bed and dug her phone out of it. With blurry, tear-filled eyes she brought up her contacts and pressed “call.”
“Hey, Ashido, this is a surprise,” came a voice over the line that was definitely not Kirishima.
Mina pulled the phone away and looked at the screen with wide eyes. Uraraka’s name was displayed on the screen.
“Ashido, are you there?”
Well, Mina couldn’t hang up now. She cleared her throat and put the phone back up to her ear. “Hey, Uraraka. I’m sorry to bother you. I actually didn’t mean to call.” She hoped the other couldn’t tell she’d been crying.
“Oh, that’s okay. It happens.” Mina was too wrapped up in her feelings to notice Uraraka’s disappointed tone. “Are you okay, though?”
Dammit, Mina cursed herself.
“Yeah, I’m fine,” she lied, knowing instantly she wasn’t convincing.
“If you need someone to talk to about whatever is going on, I’m a good listener. I don’t mind.”
Of course, Uraraka would offer and she’s kind of relieved she did because Mina couldn’t bring herself to ask her. They’d only known each other for a few months now and Mina didn’t know if it appropriate to ask her, or that she was even comfortable sharing this with her.
Mina felt her throat seize up as she suppressed another sob. She couldn’t hold this in any longer. “Okay,” she forced out.
“Would you like me to come over?” Uraraka offered.
Mina wiped away fresh tears that began falling. She didn’t like people seeing her cry but she’d make an exception today. “If you want to,” she said.
“Okay, I can do that. Just give me your address and I’ll be there as soon as possible.”
Mina rattled off her address and they said their goodbyes.
She dropped her phone beside her and fell back onto her pillow as she gave into crying once more.
In the twentyish minutes it took Uraraka to get there, Mina had managed to pull herself together. She told herself she’d had enough and wasn’t going to cry anymore. But as soon as Uraraka entered her apartment and asked what was wrong, Mina couldn’t help it when the tears fell.
Uraraka was quick to wrap her arms around Mina, pulling her into a tight embrace as she ran a hand up and down Mina’s back.
“It’s okay. You don’t have to explain if you can’t do that right now. We can just sit down on the couch and talk about it when you’re ready. How’s that?”
Mina nodded against her shoulder, unable to speak.
She let Uraraka guide her over to the couch and sat down. Uraraka pulled the blanket Mina kept on the back of the couch off and draped it around Mina’s shoulders before sitting beside her. She wrapped her arm around Mina’s shoulders and Mina leaned her head against Uraraka’s shoulder.
Even though nothing had been said yet, Mina was already starting to feel better now that someone there with her.
Eventually, Mina ended up laying down with her head in Uraraka’s lap. Her crying had eased up and she finally felt like she couldn’t cry anymore. Which was great because she was already feeling the soreness in her eyes and head were from it all.
Uraraka offered the box of tissues off the end table and Mina pulled a few from the box, blowing her nose. She tossed them to the floor without a care. She’d clean them up later.
“Feeling any better?” Uraraka asked as she gently brushed her fingers through Mina’s hair.
If Mina wasn’t still so upset, she’d enjoy the fact her crush was running her fingers through her hair. “A little,” she replied. “I don’t think I have any tears left in me.”
She didn’t make a move to sit up and Uraraka continued to run her fingers through Mina’s hair. It was soothing. Mina wanted to enjoy this peacefulness but she now was the time to finally talk.
“You’re probably tired of waiting to hear what caused all this,” she began.
“I’m fine waiting until you’re ready. No need to rush.”
Mina could hear the sincerity in her voice without needing to see Uraraka’s expression. She appreciated her words but she couldn’t wait any longer.
She opened her mouth to continue but closed it. To explain what happened today meant having to out herself. This didn’t occur to her earlier when Uraraka offered to come over. Even though they’ve known each other for a few months now, Mina hadn’t explicitly told Uraraka she wasn’t straight. She made some passing comments around her that should have indicated she was gay but Mine wasn’t sure if it was enough for Uraraka to pick up on.
However, there was no way to avoid that detail if she was going to honest with Uraraka about what happened. Well, screw it. There’s no way Uraraka could react any worse than how her supposed friend acted earlier. Despite the slight hesitation, Mina felt like it’d all be okay anyway if her hunch was anything to go by.
“I guess this all centers around the fact that I’m gay.” She paused to gauge Uraraka’s reaction, holding her breath.
Uraraka’s hand stilled momentarily in her hair before continuing. “I had my suspicions but I didn’t want to ask in case you weren’t comfortable with me knowing. Thank you for telling me though. I know it’s not easy.”
“No, it’s not. I’ve been fortunate with the people I’ve come out to accept this part of me. But what I didn’t expect was for one of them to change their mind. So, today I met up with a longtime friend of mine to catch up and hear more about this guy she’s been dating. We’ve been friends since junior high but between ballet and school, it’s been hard for us to see each other in person regularly.
“I came out to her years ago and it’s never been an issue. So, I was completely blindsided today when she told me that she was no longer okay homosexuality.”
“What caused her to change her mind like that?” Uraraka asked.
Mina sighed. “I think it has a lot to do with her new boyfriend. I asked her what his thoughts on the subject were, just so I would know, she said he was against same-sex couples. It was a shock to hear that and know she was still dating him when she didn’t agree with that. Or so I thought.
“She went on to explain she’d had some conflicting thoughts over what she believed and that he ‘challenged’ her thinking on the matter. Which to me sounds like she just wanted to believe whatever her boyfriend thinks.”
“Do you really think she’s changed her beliefs so drastically?” Uraraka asked.
“I didn’t think she was the kind of person to change her believes to match someone else’s but apparently I was wrong. She said this is what she truly believes on the matter now and I don’t think there’s any way for me to reason with her.”
“I’m so sorry, Ashido.”
“I feel…betrayed by her. I trusted her so much. But then at the end, she had the audacity to tell me she knew that ‘while our views don’t align, we can discuss this and still be friends.’ I’m sorry but what the hell?! It hurt me to tell her off but I can’t continue to be friends with someone like this. It’s not ‘our views’ that don’t line up anymore. It’s the simple fact that she doesn’t accept me for who I am anymore. I’m not changing who I am to fit her way of thinking nor would I want to. This is me and I’m happy to be who I am. If she can’t accept that anymore, there’s nothing to discuss.”
That part hurt Mina the most.
“It’s understandable to still be upset about losing a friend this way. You were strong to stand up for yourself against someone who was so close to you.”
Mina closed her eyes. “It still hurts and right after I left her, I wondered if it was the right decision to cut her out so quickly. Like maybe I should have tried to talk to her about it.”
Uraraka pulled her hand away and rested it on Mina’s shoulder. “Ashido, can you look at me?” she asked gently.
Mina turned so that she was on her back and met Uraraka’s gaze.
“You don’t need someone in your life who can’t accept you for who you are. It would not do you well to have someone who thought that way, especially someone close to you, to be in your life. You did the right thing. It’s going to hurt and you need to take time to heal from all this, but it’s going to eventually be okay. You’re still surrounded by many friends who care for you and love you for who you are.”
A couple of tears rolled down Mina’s cheeks as she stared at Uraraka. It was exactly what she needed to hear at that moment. She knew she still had people she could depend on but having someone else reminded her of that helped. She couldn’t keep someone in her life that couldn’t accept her.
“Thank you, Uraraka.”
Uraraka smiled at her. “That’s why I’m here. Do you mind sitting up for me?”
Mina nodded and sat up, readjusting the blanket around her shoulders.
“Where’s your bathroom?” Uraraka asked.
“First door on the right.”
Uraraka stood and walked away. She returned shortly with a damp washcloth and sat back down, tucking a leg underneath her as she faced Mina. “May I?” she asked, holding the washcloth up to Mina’s face.
Mina nodded and closed her eyes.
Uraraka’s touch was light and gentle as she wiped away Mina’s tears and smudged makeup. Mina didn’t even want to think about how bad she looked in front of her at this point but she appreciated Uraraka doing this. The coolness felt good against her swollen eyes and flushed cheeks.
“Feel better?” Uraraka asked when she finished.
“Yes, thank you for that. And for everything else.”
“I’m happy I was able to be here for you. Is there anything else you need? Have you eaten lately?”
That was the cue for Mina’s stomach to growl, reminding her she hadn’t eaten since breakfast.
“I’ll take that as a yes. I’ll order something for us then,” Uraraka said.
Mina shook her head. “You don’t have to do that.”
“I insist.”
By the look that Uraraka gave her, Mina knew there was no point in trying to argue, not that she had the strength for it.
After dinner, Mina dug some ice cream out of the back of the freezer with just enough for the two of them as Uraraka threw away the takeout containers.
“Tonight is a treat yourself kind of night, so I feel no shame in eating this,” Mina said as she sat the tub down on the counter.
“You have to have ice cream after a long cry,” Uraraka said as she leaned against the counter.
“Exactly,” Mina said pointing a finger at her.
She grabbed two bowls from the cabinet and scooped out a large portion into each. She tossed the empty container in the trash and they each took a bowl and spoon before heading back to the couch.
Mina crossed her legs as she sat down. She turned her attention back to the movie that was playing on TV they started while they ate.
After a couple of bites, Uraraka glanced over at her. “I know you probably would have preferred it to happen under better circumstances, but thank you for feeling comfortable enough to come out to me,” she said.
Mina definitely wanted it have gone differently but what was done, was done. At least it was out in the open now and Uraraka was fine with it.
“I’m glad you took it well.” She didn’t really know how else to reply to it.
“Well, it would have been hypocritical of me if I hadn’t.”
Mina’s eyes widened as she stared at her. Did that mean –
“I’m not straight either,” Uraraka added with a smile. “Bi to be exact.”
Mina felt emotional whiplash as she gazed at Uraraka. After wondering for months if Uraraka was possibly gay in some way, it turned out she was. And despite being emotionally drained from everything else, she felt a small burst of happiness about this news.
“I knew there was a reason we got along so well,” she said as she nudged Uraraka with her elbow.
“I know right?” Uraraka said with a laugh. “It feels good to share it with you.”
Mina smiled at her for the first time that night. “I’m glad I called you by accident.”
Uraraka smiled back at her. “Me too.”
Now wasn’t the time to think about all the possibilities this opened up for Mina’s feelings or wondering if Uraraka liked her back. But it sure made for a better ending to this day.