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As the curtains were drawn to a close, Mina took her leave of the stage. While the other dancers talked amongst themselves, she made a beeline for her dressing room. It’s not that she was trying to avoid anyone but she didn’t want to get held up by anyone and make Ochako wait longer for her.
The back hallways of the performance hall were much quieter since only a handful of other dancers followed Mina’s actions. She entered her room and flipped on the lights as she closed the door behind her.
Mina sat down on a chair and removed her ballet shoes, tossing them into her bag once she did. She changed out of her costume and hung it on the hanger. She slipped on her sweatpants and tank top before sitting down at the vanity. She wanted to remove as much of the makeup as she could before she met up with Ochako; not wanting to take public transit with a full face of stage makeup. Mina was all about bold looks but that not one of them.
Soon Mina began to hear the commotion of the other dancers passing by on their way to their own rooms. There was a knock at the door and she already knew who it was.
“Come in,” she called out.
Hagakure entered and closed the door behind her. “Great job out there tonight,” she said as she sat down next to Mina to remove her shoes.
“Thanks, you too,” Mina replied.
“You sure are in a hurry to get out of her tonight,” Hagakure said, glancing over her shoulder to see Mina was nearly done.
“Ochako is waiting for me out in the lobby since I’m going back to her place tonight. I don’t want her to wait too long.”
“Oooh, taking things to the next level?” Hagakure asked, winking at Mina in the mirror.
Mina laughed as she shook her head. It was rare for them, well mostly Mina, to have time to spend the night with each other like this but there was nothing really too it besides that.
“I’m just spending the night. I’m way too tired to do anything more at this point.” Which was the truth but even if they were going to do more, Mina wasn’t going to blab about it.
Hagakure didn’t look convinced but she didn’t comment on it. “I hope you have a good night then.”
“Thanks.”
Mina finished up just as Hagakure began to undress. She stood up and slipped on her lightweight jacket, zipping it up halfway, and grabbed her overnight bag.
She said her goodbyes as she exited the room. Mina was lucky not to get stopped by anyone as she made her way out, giving passing goodbyes to anyone she passed.
The lobby had cleared out by the time Mina got there, making it easy to spot Ochako waiting for her with a small bouquet of flowers. Mina smiled when their eyes met and she quickened her pace.
“I’m so glad you were able to come tonight,” she said as she reached Ochako. She wrapped her arms around her for a quick hug.
“Me too. It was a beautiful performance. I’m glad it was my first live performance,” Ochako said. When she pulled away, she held the flowers out to Mina. “And these are for you.”
Mina took the flowers from her. “You didn’t have to.”
“I don’t know the whole etiquette for giving flowers here but I wanted to.”
Mina gazed down at the flowers. It was the first time someone besides her family brought her flowers after a performance. She felt warm and fuzzy inside thinking about it.
“Thank you, Ochako. I love them,” she said as she glanced back up at her girlfriend. Just as much as I love you, she thought to herself, unable to voice those words out loud.
Ochako smiled at her. “Are you ready to?”
“I am.”
Mina held out her hand and Ochako slipped her hand into hers, intertwining their fingers as they headed for the door.
Mina flopped down on the couch next to Ochako. She felt much better after the shower but sleepy as well. The exhaustion and sore muscles were setting in now. Performing every night on stage for a week on top of daily classes and rehearsals would do that do a dancer, but she was glad to spend the night relaxing with her girlfriend. The simple act of sleeping in the same bed was a rare opportunity for them.
Mina laid down and rested her head in Ochako’s lap, closing her eyes. If she wasn’t careful, she would fall asleep right there. So much for trying to enjoy some of their time together before bed.
She soon felt Ochako run her fingers through her hair. Mina loved it when Ochako did this because it felt so good. It became a habit of hers to play with Mina’s hair that started long before they began dating and it was Mina’s favorite. It was simple but she could lay there all night with Ochako doing that.
As Mina laid there, her mind began to drift off to something that’d been thinking about a lot recently. She couldn’t believe they’d now been dating for six months. It all passed by so quickly and it was little moments like that this that she wanted to savor. These quiet nights of them alone together. Before Ochako, Mina thought she wanted to go on lots of dates around the city or have a partner surprise her with gifts.
But after meeting Ochako a year ago, Mina realized she didn’t need all of that. Dates were nice when they had time for them, and she enjoyed the few they went on early in their relationship, but they weren’t necessary now to have fun. And Mina found herself wanting to shower Ochako in gifts whenever she could. She’d do anything to make her happy.
Now that they’d hit the six-month mark, Mina couldn’t help but wonder where their relationship would go from here. It may seem a little early to think it but Mina could see Ochako being a part of her life going forward. She just wasn’t sure if it was going to work out that way as much as she would like for it too. There were different variables at play that could make it difficult. Ochako graduated a few months ago and was working on finding a new job. There was the possibility she’d find one out of the city requiring her to move.
If that were to happen, Mina was willing to make the relationship work despite the distance. It may just be a little harder to see each other than it was now. Mina liked to think it didn’t matter but one couldn’t know for sure how a long distance relationship would work until they tried it. If it came down to that, she cared about Ochako too much to let distance get in the way of them. How could she when she –
“You still awake, Mina?” Ochako asked.
“Yeah, just thinking about stuff,” she replied as she stifled a yawn.
Ochako brushed back Mina’s hair from her face. “Oh, what about?”
A smiled spread across Mina’s lips as her previous thoughts came back to her. “Just about how much I love you.”
Ochako’s hand stilled and it took Mina’s exhausted mind to catch up with what just came out of her mouth. Her eyes shot open when she realized that she said those words out loud.
“You…love me?” Ochako asked slowly, taking in the words.
Mina sat up and looked at her girlfriend, trying to figure out how she was taking this. She didn’t intend for this to be how she first said those words to Ochako, but she wasn’t going to take them back. Hopefully, it wouldn’t weird Ochako out though.
“I do, but it’s might be kinda early for that so I understand if you don’t feel the same.”
Without a word, Ochako leaned forward, grabbing the sides of Mina’s face, and kissed her. Their noses bumped together as Mina wasn’t prepared for it. This wasn’t the most graceful kiss they shared but Mina didn’t care as she kissed back, her hands clinging onto Ochako’s shirt to pull them closer.
Ochako broke away and with a shaky voice said, “I love you, too.”
Mina thought her heart was going to beat out of her chest as she heard those words repeated back to her.
Ochako leaned back in and captured her lips again. The pace slowed down, giving in to deeper kisses. Mina’s arms found their way around Ochako, hands splayed across her back, while Ochako’s arms went around her neck. Ochako ran a hand into Mina’s hair, giving a light tug that caused Mina to moan.
Eventually, the kissing came to a stop and Mina rested her forehead against Ochako’s.
“This was unexpected but I’m glad it went the way it did,” Mina said.
“You did catch me off guard with it.”
Mina leaned back and opened her eyes. “I caught myself off guard.”
Ochako laughed “I didn’t know you got like this when you’re tired.”
“Neither did I.”
Ochako closed the gap between them to give Mina a peck on the lips. “We should get you to bed before you fall asleep right here.” She picked up the remote and turned off the TV and then stood up. She extended her hand out to Mina. “Come on.”
Mina took her hand and rose from the couch. As they made their way to the bedroom, she couldn’t wipe the smile off her face and neither could Ochako.
While there were still uncertainties ahead for them, Mina knew no matter what the future threw at them, they’d face it together.