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Mina hisses as she takes a step inside the dark room. Each movement increases the excruciating pain radiating near her left abdomen. She squints in the shadows, leaning against the wall as she fumbles for the light switch. Instead, she ends up swiping something else off the shelf next to it, a clatter of some personal items hitting the tiled floor. Mina curses under her breath as she makes an attempt to pick up the mess. Just as she crouches, the lights switch on in the room and Mina holds her breath as she hears the familiar footsteps nearing her.
“Mina, what the hell?”
“Hi darling.” Mina smiles forcefully.
Dark spots are starting to blur her sight, but she takes note of her girlfriend’s furrowed eyebrows and concerned gaze. Her voice is muffled, like she’s underwater. Mina can barely make out what Nayeon is saying. There’s more pressure placed against her wound, a litany of unheard curses tumbling from Nayeon’s lips as she hurriedly brings Mina to her dining room. A lot of things are crashing to the floor. Where is Nayeon going? Is the room tilting? Everything seems to be spinning in front of her and she can’t keep up with her mind. The coolness of the table is the last thing she senses before she loses consciousness completely.
When Mina awakens, light is streaming through the sheer curtains in the room. She groans as she sits up, the strain of her muscles protesting against the movement. She’s not in the living room, rather, on Nayeon’s bed. How had she moved Mina here? She’s not in the clothes from earlier either. Her tattered black suit is in a pile on the floor. She looks down at her outfit. Nayeon had put her into her own t-shirt, the silly red Hawaii couple ones they’d gotten late last year. Mina smiles as she remembers Nayeon’s attempts at convincing her to get them.
Thinking of Nayeon, Mina has no clue where her girlfriend is. Swinging her legs off the bed, she tries to stand up, but a wave of dizziness has her sitting right back down. She takes in a few deep breaths before making another attempt. However, she’s barely standing for a minute when the door is opened again and Nayeon walks in, fury plastered across her face.
“I thought we talked about the risky attacks?” Nayeon crosses her arms as she stares at Mina. “Why am I getting a call from Jihyo about your burnt down factory at the wharf? Not only that, but the presence of many bullets, including those that seems awfully similar to the one I had to pull out of you hours ago.”
Mina tries to form a response, any sort of truthful reasoning that would justify why she’d been there when she had. But she can’t do that without risking Nayeon’s safety. Not when her job would be potentially a threat if she told her everything – the corruption that’s embedded in the ranks of the police force. Mina shudders, shaking her head.
“I had to protect them; you know that. They’re my family. You’d do the same for Chief Kim, wouldn’t you? Or even Chief Park?” Mina attempts to explain. “Tzuyu called me out of desperation. I made a promise to you when we met, and I’ll always put your sister first.”
Nayeon sighs heavily. “I swear, that girl causes me more grief than happiness. Ever since she’s become entangled with Professor Momo, my life has been thrown upside down.”
“I’m the happiness, right?” Mina asks as she walks to Nayeon. She wraps her arms around her, knowing it’s what she needs to unwind after her stressful conversation.
“This morning was very scary. I’m sorry for being angry.” Nayeon mumbles against Mina’s shoulder. “I’m not a doctor and I hate that I see you like this. I hate that you’re hurt. I hate that I can’t protect you from all of this.”
“I put myself on the line for a reason. If this is the price I have to pay for my mission, it’s worth it.” Mina reassures. “Did you get through to Tzuyu?”
“Ugh, yes. I have no idea where her brattiness comes from. She said she was busy with Momo and to leave her alone until she called me instead.” Nayeon sulks as she rehashes her conversation with her sister.
Mina chuckles, knowing very well why Tzuyu would say that. Nayeon probably disturbed their quality cuddling time.
“Have you eaten breakfast? I can make something for us to eat.” Mina tries to go around Nayeon to the kitchen.
“The only thing you’re going to do, is rest. I won’t risk those stitches opening. Can you please stay put for today, baby?” Nayeon intertwines her hands behind Mina’s neck. If it isn’t the pleading eyes, the endearment is enough to seal Mina’s fate. “We can watch a movie later or go for a walk if you’re up for it. Just, for now, I want to be assured that you’re here with me.”
Tilting Nayeon’s chin up, Mina closes the distance between them, slanting her lips over Nayeon’s. She tugs her close, slipping her hands under Nayeon’s shirt and scratching her blunt nails against her back. Mina swallows the whimper that escapes her lips, Nayeon gripping the collar of her shirt as she swipes her tongue against her bottom lip. Slowing the pace, Mina pulls back, cupping Nayeon’s cheek.
Her stomach rumbles before she can speak. Mina’s ears turn red, and she burrows herself against Nayeon who laughs at her reaction.
“Let me feed you before you change your mind about breakfast.” Nayeon guides Mina to sit on a stool.
Sometimes, it’s jarring being able to sit in the kitchen of her girlfriend of two years during the daytime while spending her nights leading a gang to cause chaos in the city. That her right hand is this amazing woman’s sister. The fact that she’s dating a cop, of all people. That Nayeon accepts her for who she is. That with a life like hers, she’s able to find happiness.
And for that, Mina will always count her blessings.