Once is a Coincidence

Part 2

"What did you do this time?"

Momo bit her lip, "Sorry, I just wanted to get r-revenge on the guy who keeps hitting on you.." 

Mina rolled her eyes and shook her head, "Momo, I can take care of myself. You might be older than me, but that doesn't mean you have to feel the need to protect me."

Momo nodded sullenly, "You're right, I'm sorry. I'm just a burden who always ends up being protected instead of protecting." She slowly removed Mina's arm from her shoulder and left, feeling useless.

The younger girl ran after her and quickly pulled her in for another hug, "No, no... you're not a burden to me. Believe me when I say this; I appreciate your concern to protect me. I just don't want to be a burden to you."

Momo tried to stop her tears from falling, but she ended up crying on Mina's shoulder. If you only knew... She thought to herself.

End of Flashback:

"Why?" was all that came out of Momo's dry mouth. Mina let out a scoff, as she realized how indecisive Momo was being.

"Did it ever cross your mind of why I'd suddenly be here?"

Momo feels as if she had just been slapped with reality. Everything made sense to her now. It was just now that she had thought about it. Momo wanted to laugh at herself. Did she think that Mina just came here to be with her? Of course not, Momo bitterly thought. She felt ashamed and ignorant. Once again, she was becoming submissive to her. 

"G-go ahead, please tell me."

So she did; she told Momo everything that happened in the States. She told the story of how her mother cheated on her father and they got a divorce, how her father wanted to start anew so they went back to here to Korea, his hometown. 

"...and that's why I don't want to be a rebellious daughter anymore. My dad's been through enough already. I don't want to cause pain to him anymore after what my mother did." Mina finished off. Momowas stuck in a dilemma. Her whole life had been gangs, fighting and having no idea of what her future would consist of. But all of a sudden Mina wants to leave this kind of life?

"I... I understand. But can't you at least be part of our group? Just spend lunch with us," Momo suddenly placed her hand on Mina's, "...be my friend again."

Mina sadly looked at Momo and shook her head, "I'm sorry Momo, I can't. You know how much I can't resist you. If something happens to you... you know what I could do for you."

Momo was on the verge of tears, "So you're telling me you won't be my friend?"

Mina was at a loss of words. She didn't know what to tell her. She didn't want to say yes, but she knew that any other word would be a lie.

"It's not that I won't... I can't."

"Then what makes Nayeon different from me? Have you made her an exception? What does that make me then? Did I mean nothing to you in all the years that we've been together? Was our whole friendship just a burden to you?" Momo was crying now. Her eyes were filled with hurt; she felt betrayed by the one person she trusted the most.

Mina heaved a sigh and cupped Momo's face, "If our whole friendship was just a burden to me... I would've let go a long time ago."

"... and even now, I'm not letting go- at least not permanently." Mina continued her sentence, without taking her eyes off of Momo's. 

"If only you could leave this life... maybe I wouldn't have to avoid you," Mina spoke suddenly, her sadness becoming visible with her one sentence. The blonde bit her lip and caressed Mina's left hand, which remained on her right cheek. She closed her eyes and leaned her head into her touch.

"I would, but I can't. We're both not ready to sacrifice the most important things to us. But what's worse is that I have to sacrifice the most important person in my life." Momo whispered, her tears threatening to fall again.

"When you're ready, just know... I'll be here." Mina spoke one last time before leaving Momo feeling broken and lost.

The day ended and Mina felt exhausted. She can't even count the number of times when she had to introduce herself over and over again to her fellow students, AND tell them that yes, she is Japanese but NO that doesn't mean she can't speak Korean.

As she left the campus, someone suddenly tickled her side, causing her to let out a squeal and laugh uncontrollably. 

"Majide, Momo?!" Mina laughed, subconsciously assuming that it was Momo tickling her as for the fact that she was always the one who tickled her unexpectedly. As she turned her head, her smile slowly disappeared and was replaced with a look of embarrassment after realizing who it was. 

"Ah, it was you..." 

"You're really close with her, huh?" Nayeon blurted out with a hint of jealousy in her voice. Mina just crossed her arms in disappointment, "Why did you even do that? We aren't even close..." She muttered before walking down the stairs.

Nayeon looked at her weirdly and followed her anyway, "Wait, so you're Japanese? That makes sense since Momo's Japanese too..." She continued to speak even though Mina was obviously trying to shake her off.

"Yes, I am," Mina answered shortly after wondering why this girl kept bothering her.

"So where are you going?" Nayeon asked, trying to keep up with her. Mina rolled her eyes and stopped in her tracks, realizing that this girl can't be stopped.

"Where are you going?" Mina counterattacked. Nayeon turned red as she was caught off guard, "I... I'm going wherever you're going." She honestly replied.

For some reason, Mina felt a smile forming on her lips. 

"Are you sure? As far as I know, delinquents don't go to libraries." She teased the older girl. Nayeon pretended to be offended by scoffing at her sudden remark, "Ever heard of stereotypes?"

Mina sighed, "Of course. Now if you'll excuse me, I still have to do my homework."

"Wait, why are you going to do it there?"

"My chemistry book still hasn't arrived." Mina spoke, now walking quickly to shake off Nayeon again. Nayeon suddenly grinned as she thought of a brilliant idea.

"H-hey! You're in my class, right?"

"I don't know. I didn't see you earlier."

"I'm in Chemistry 3A, you?" Nayeon replied in a rush. Mina's face suddenly froze in recognition that she was indeed in the same class as her. Crap. 

"S-so? Why does it matter to you?" Mina asked, trying to keep a straight face. Nayeon smiled shyly, "Can you help me with our homework? I skipped class today." She admitted in embarrassment.

"Well, you should've gone to class." Mina coldly replied, finally arriving at the library. Nayeon suddenly hesitated at the door, realizing what she was about to do. She had never entered the library once and suddenly this new girl was going to be her one reason for doing so.

Mina turned around and gave Nayeon a weird look, "Well aren't you coming in?" 

Nayeon took in a deep breath and took the first step into the library. Everything was as she expected; it quiet despite being filled with people. The smell of books filled the air and all Nayeon could see were bookshelves that were almost reaching the ceiling.

Nayeon and Mina took a seat in the quiet corner of the library. Nayeon felt awkward, "Is it usually this quiet in here?"

Mina chuckled in disbelief, "I don't know... I mean, it is my first day here. Shouldn't I be asking you that?"

Nayeon bit back a shy smile, "Sorry, I forgot. So, does this mean that we're friends now?"

"No," Mina replied, her expression changing 180 degrees into a poker face. Nayeon pouted and rested her head on the table, her eyes meeting Mina's.

"Why not? Come on, I'll do anything. I'm not as bad as you think." Nayeon pleaded in a whisper. 

Mina was about to reject her again, but then she suddenly thought of something that made her consider the older girl's request once more.

"You'll do... anything?"