Chapter Text
“She’s so pretty.” Nayeon sighed as she closed her eyes and leaned her forehead against the table. “Too pretty.”
Chaeyoung rubbed her back as an attempt to comfort her.
“Go tell her that, don’t be scared.” Jihyo spoke up. “She doesn’t bite. As far as I know, at least.”
Nayeon lifted her head, her chin now touching the table. “Haha. Very funny, Park Jihyo.” She looked back to the girl sitting at a table across the room from them. A smile appeared on her face. Jihyo shook her head. “It’s fine, guys.” Nayeon looked away. “It’s just a little crush, right?” She questioned. “Everyone has a little crush on Mina. It’ll go away soon.”
“If you say so.” Dahyun shrugged her shoulders and took a bite of her sandwich.
“Yeah, sure.” Chaeyoung laughed. “It’s not like you have been crushing on her for months now.”
Nayeon furrowed her eyebrows. “Orientation wasn’t months ago.” She grabbed her phone to check the date. “Oh, shit. It was.” She shrugged and put her phone back in her pocket “Well, it should go away any time now.”
“Whatever you say.” Jihyo smiled.
Nayeon watched as Chaeyoung's eyes followed someone. “Maybe you’re right about everyone having a crush on her.” She pointed at a random student holding a bouquet, going towards where Nayeon was previously looking.
“Someone confessing to her again? It’s the third time this week.” Jihyo sighed and got up. “Let me go help her handle this. We all know how they act after Mina turns them down.”
“Have fun.” Nayeon laughed at Jihyo.
“Don’t try me, Nayeon. I will tell her you have a thing for her.” Jihyo pointed at Nayeon as she walked away from their table, moving towards Mina.
“Don’t even joke with something like that!” Nayeon yelled at Jihyo, some people now looking at her. Nayeon smiled at them for a second before looking at Mina again.
She felt Dahyun hit her. “Stop staring at her.” Nayeon scrunched her nose, rubbing her arm. “What? Everyone is staring at her.” She shrugged.
Chaeyoung laughed at them. “I don’t know why they’re staring, it’s not like this doesn’t happen often.”
Nayeon shook her head. “I don’t know why either. She always turns them down anyways, it just looks like they like to be publicly humiliated.”
Dahyun nodded. “I would turn them down too if I was that pretty. She can pick and choose whoever she wants, why would she settle for those crusty men?”
“And you guys wonder why I don’t confess.” Nayeon half jokes. Chaeyoung hugs her. “You’re way better than a crusty man, Unnie!”
Nayeon laughs loudly, not caring if people are staring at her again. “Thanks, Chaeyoungie.” She moves to get up. “I have to go now. Work awaits me.” She bowed to them, making the two girls laugh.
__
Nayeon sighs, unlocking the door to her apartment and checking her phone once again, making sure she’s reading the texts from Chaeyoung correctly.
chae: unnie, i think u forgot to ask the teacher for an extension on the paper that was due today
chae: he told me to tell you, and i quote “Out the kindness of my heart i’ll extend the deadline to tomorrow, but tell Nayeon this is the last time”
chae: he’s so annoying, he always say the same thing
chae: but if you need help I’m free tonight, just text me
chae: i know this subject is not easy + you get distracted too easily
Nayeon leaned against her door, closing it.
nayeon: hi, just got home
nayeon: don’t worry about it it’s late
chae: you just got home now?
nayeon: yeah, i covered for my coworker
chae: again unnie?
nayeon: she had a thing, it’s fine
chae:i can still help you with the paper
nayeon: it’s alright
nayeon: i’ll just drink a red bull and finish it in no time
chae: sure?
nayeon: i think so, yeah
chae: okay unnie, goodnight
nayeon: goodnight chaeyoungie see u tomorrow
Nayeon wished this didn’t happen as often as it does. She wished it was the first time she was about to pull an all-nighter to finish her college work, wished it was the first time she was getting home this late, wished that it was the first time she pushed her things aside to help a coworker. But the truth is, she’d do it again. She will do it again. It’s just how she is.
She barely made it inside her apartment when her phone rang.
“Hi mom.” Nayeon kicked off her shoes. “Your timing is amazing, I just got home.” She smiled.
They talk everyday.
Nayeon still remembers when she moved to the city. How scared she was. How her mom promised she would call every single day.
Nayeon loves it, how close they are. It makes her happy. So even after her mom told her it was fine if her daughter didn’t want her calling all the time, Nayeon still asked her to. Sometimes it’s between classes, before work, after work, Nayeon finds time to talk to her mom. Her day wouldn’t be the same without it.
____
She looked like a zombie, she was aware. But did people really have to stare?
“Chaeyoung!” Nayeon yelled, running towards her friend.
“Hi, Nayeonie” Chaeyoung pouted, “Did you really have to yell my name in front of everyone?”
Nayeon laughed, putting one arm around Chaeyoung’s shoulders. “Yes, yes I did.” She felt her phone buzzing inside her pocket. “Who else will embarrass you if not me?”
landlord: Hello Nayeon. I tried solving this with your mother but I really can’t wait any longer. If you don’t pay the last 3 months rent on thursday I’m afraid I will have to kick you out of the apartment.
Nayeon frowned.
“What’s wrong?” Dahyun approached them. “Why do you look more confused than usual?”
Nayeon turned her phone towards the younger girl. “I think my landlord is trying to prank me?”
Chaeyoung moved to also look at her phone. “Um, unnie… I don’t think this is a prank.”
Nayeon read the text again, shaking her head side to side. “It has to be.” She immediately dialed a number on her phone. “I’m gonna call my mom.”
“Hi dear, is everything okay?” Nayeon walked away from her friends. “Hi, mom. I just got the weirdest text… From my landlord?”
“Oh, dear…”
Nayeon felt like crying.
“So it’s true?”
__
Nayeon never felt this powerless. When she moved away from home she knew things wouldn’t be easy. Getting used to the city itself was a challenge, but she had been managing. Between her classes and her work, she really thought she had everything together.
And now she’s getting kicked out from her apartment.
“It’s going to be okay, Nayeonie.” Jihyo rubbed her back. Nayeon whined. “Did your mom tell you what happened?”
“She explained to me that her own rent was raised and so was my apartment’s. Mostly mine because the city is more expensive.” Nayeon explained. “That, plus the dogs getting sick and food prices rising, she hasn’t been able to afford my rent for months now.” Nayeon leaned her forehead on Chaeyoung’s shoulder.
“I’m sorry about that, unnie.” Dahyun squeezed her hand.
“So you’re actually getting kicked out?” Chaeyoung asked. Nayeon nodded. “What are you going to do then?”
“I’m going to pick up extra shifts.” Nayeon mumbled against the younger girl’s shoulder.
Dahyun’s lips formed a line. “I don’t think you can, unnie. You don’t really have the time.” Nayeon whinned again, lifting her head. “Maybe I can sell my stuff?” She questioned.
“No offense but, you don’t own a lot of stuff in the first place.” Jihyo patted her in the head. Nayeon pouted.
“Maybe we can help out? Jihyo got money.” Chaeyoung pointed at the woman. Dahyun nodded.
“It’s true, I do.” Jihyo also nodded. “I can definitely help out if you want to. Maybe not the rent fully but with your salary plus my money we can make it work.”
“Absolutely not.” Nayeon shook her head. “I’m not letting you give me money.” She sighed. “I’ll figure it out.”
__
‘Figuring out’ was definitely easier said than done.
Turns out Nayeon really could not pick up more shifts, or sell her stuff. She even tried applying to new jobs but her hours really didn’t help. That and the fact that she needed a faster solution.
Commuting to school from her parents house wasn’t an option. And Nayeon was definitely not ready to give up her dream. Her mother probably wouldn’t let her drop everything and come home either.
She thought of unorthodox solutions too. But thinking didn’t mean she could actually go through with them.
She watched as Mina walk past the bench she was sitting on. Her face neutral, but still engaging in a conversation with her friends. She looked so elegant. Looking at her made Nayeon almost forget her problems, she came really close to doing so. Except her phone chimed in on her pocket.
landlord: I’m sorry miss Nayeon, but I will be changing the apartment lock this friday. You should get your things out before then.
She looked back at Mina, wishing she had the same amount of money as the girl.
Or at least a place for her to sleep.