Third person's POV
The 4th day of the cold treatment, to Mina's surprise, Chaeyoung shows up at lunch with everyone. Eventhough Chaeyoung doesn't sit next to her, doesn't talk or look at her, but Chaeyoung being there gives Mina some hope. The whole table is in silence because everyone is glancing at everyone, not sure how to help their two friends to reconcile.
'Mina and I will go order some foods. Do you guys want anything?' Sana breaks the ice,
Take the chance, Mina gathers all her courage to ask Chaeyoung 'Chaeyoung...gie, do you want something to e...'
'Sana unnie, could you get me a chicken teriyaki bento box please?' Chaeyoung quickly tells Sana what she wants before Mina finishes her sentence, so she can avoid answering Mina's question.
Mina looks down, feeling dejected.
Coming back to the table, Mina puts a strawberry milk bottle in front of Chaeyoung cause she knows Chaeyoung likes it a lot, but Chaeyoung only glances at it then ignores it as well,
'I'm going back to class now. See you all around!' Chaeyoung leaves after eating just a few bites of her food and left the strawberry milk untouched.
Mina's eyes follow Chaeyoung until she's out of sight. She sighs deeply, eyes get teary, not eating any of her food,
'Mina, at least eat something, you look like you're going to faint anytime soon.' Nayeon tells her,
'I don't feel like eating, Nayeon. I'm going home now, I can't concentrate today.' Mina stands up and leaves.
At this point, Mina has completely lost her appetite. She barely eating, barely sleeps at night. In only 4 days but her body has turned so thin.
'Isn't Chaeyoung a bit too much?' Momo frustratedly says,
'Seems like she got hurt badly.' Jungyeon says,
'But the cold treatment she's giving Mina has been going on for 4 days already.' Sana joins in,
'It's because Chae cares for Mina unnie too much, that's why she gets extra disappointed when she thinks that Mina unnie doesn't trust her' Tzuyu totally understands her friend,
'If this keeps going, I'm worried Mina can't take it anymore. We gotta do something.' Nayeon worriedly says,
They all nod at her, but still not sure what to do.
End of the day at the university, Chaeyoung and Dahyun are the only ones left in their art class, still working hard on their paintings.
The door suddenly swung open, Nayeon, Momo and Sana walk in with their sleeves all rolled up, ready to throw hands,
'Unnies, what are you three doing here?' Dahyun asks, not sure what is going on,
'You stay out of this, Dahyun. We need to have some serious talk with Chaeyoung.' Momo tells her,
First time ever to hear a serious tone from Momo, Dahyun gulps, quietly sits back down, a little nervous.
The three then walk to Chaeyoung, trying to look as intimidating as they can,
Chaeyoung chuckles a little at her three unnies who normally act like children, trying so hard to make themselves look scary right now, 'Yes, unnies, what do you want to talk about?' Chaeyoung asks,
'You, Son Chaeyoung, how long are you planning to ignore our Mina?' Sana goes straight to the point,
'Don't you care about her anymore, Chaeyoung? Momo asks,
'I do care, unnies, i have never stopped caring about her.' Chaeyoung speaks her heart,
'Then stop punishing her. You should have seen her, Chaeyoung, she's only skin and bone now.' Nayeon tells her,
'Chae sees Mina unnie from afar, she guards outside Mina unnie's practice room every day.' Dahyun reveals the truth,
'Hyun, shush...' Chaeyoung stops Dahyun from exposing more details,
The three unnies look at Chaeyoung, their eyes soften, didn't expect Chaeyoung would still be that caring towards Mina despite being angry at her,
'Chaeyoung ah, then just forgive her, she is very sorry already' Sana says,
'You don't understand how much I've missed her, unnies. Everytime I see her, I just want to run to her and hug her, but...my pride is not allowing me.' Chaeyoung honestly tells them,
'I guess you just need a little more time.' Nayeon says,
Chaeyoung nods her head,
'But don't take too long though.' Sana and Momo speak at the same time.
'Alright, we will leave you two now.' They tells Chaeyoung and Dahyun,
'Unnies, wait! Could you please... look after Mina while I'm not next to her? Tell her to eat her food and...don't let her be lonely.' Chaeyoung pleads,
'Of course, Chaeyoung. We try everyday but you know how stubborn that girl can be.' Sana says,
'She only listens to you, Chaeyoung, you know that.' Momo tells her,
The three then leave the room.
Dahyun turns to Chaeyoung 'Let me just ask you one question, Chae, your pride and Mina unnie, which one is more important to you?'
Chaeyoung stays quiet for a while, then answers 'It's...Mina. It has always been Mina.'
The next day is a Saturday. In the early evening, Nayeon, Momo and Sana are at Mina's apartment,
'Put this on, Mina. You are going with us whether you like it or not.' Nayeon commands,
'No, I don't want to go. I'm not in the mood.' Mina covers herself under the blanket, refusing to go.
'And stay home crying all night? No, we are not letting you do that.' Sana tells her,
Momo pulls the blanket away, grabs both of Mina's wrists pulling her up, 'Come on, Mina, you don't have to drink, we are just gonna dance, it helps relieve stress, I guarantee you.'
Mina heaves a sigh 'Alright, I will go.'
The four of them enter a night club just two blocks away from Mina's place. As soon as they swing the entrance door open, they are welcomed by the deafening loud music with multiple colour lights flashing everywhere. They step in a little further, all four of them suddenly stop,
'Are you seeing what I'm seeing right now? Nayeon asks her friends,
'There we go, the evidence that we have been looking for.' Sana says,
'Chaeyoung was right! They planned the whole thing together.' Momo joins in,
Through the flashing colour lights, in a far corner of the club, there they see Jackson, Jb and Bambam are sitting together, drinking and laughing just like any group of close friends does.
Mina is shaking in anger, her fists are clenched, ready to kill those three.
'Mina, wait! Let's do this in style.' Nayeon says and walks over to the bar, followed by Mina, Sana and Momo.
'What can I get for you four beautiful ladies?' The bartender asks them,
'Three big jug of wastewater please.' Nayeon tells him,
The bartender widen his eyes in surprise 'I'm sorry?'
Sana puts a cheque of 500000 won down infront of him, 'Yes, you heard it right, three big jug of wastewater, and if you can add some food waste in there, it would be great!'
The bartender is still confused, but follows the order anyway.
Momo, Sana and Nayeon carry the three jugs of wastewater, follow right behind Mina, who is heading straight to Jackson and his friends's table,
'Jackson' Mina calls him.
Jackson, Jb and Bambam all turn to look at Mina, eyes widen in shock, and right at that moment, Nayeon, Momo and Sana splash those wastewater straight to their faces, drench them all over in this dark, stinky liquid.
'Mi...Mina?' Jackson is stuttering,
'What is this smell? What the heck was that water?' Jb and Bambam are getting angry because of their embarrassing state right now.
The commotion has caught attention of quite a number of people who are nearby, everyone is wishpering things to each other, some are even laughing at Jackson, Jb and Bambam's condition.
'I can't believe that I let you deceived me. You assholes...Jackson, you are going to pay for what you did.' Mina angrily glares at him,
Jackson is standing frozen, still in shock that he just got busted, while Jb and Bambam are feeling so embarrassed. They get so angry, stepping forward wanting to attack the girls,
'What is going on here?' Two big and tall club bouncers walk over after noticing the commotion,
The four girls instantly turn on their cute charms,
'Mr bouncer, these three men here are harassing us.' Nayeon tells them, pointing at Jackson, Jb and Bambam,
'We just want to have fun but they keep bothering us' Momo continues,
'Yes, they grabbed our hands, our arms, they touch our shoulders too, they won't let us go' Sana says while wiping some fake tears,
'We will really appreciate it if you remove them from this club, we don't feel safe with them around.' Mina finishes it off,
Who could resist four gorgeous ladies talking in their aegyo voices, the two bouncers found themselves nodding along with every words the girls said,
'Of course, beautiful ladies, we will remove them from here immediately.' The two bouncers say,
'Wait, what?! Don't listen to them. They throw stinky water at us...they...' Bambam tries to explain,
'Shut up! We've seen it too many times, boys like you trying to get pretty girls. Now, get out!' The two bouncers drag them out. They try to resist but the bouncers are too big and strong for them, resulting them to be beaten badly in the process.
The four girls highfive each other, impress with their own teamwork.
Mina suddenly takes a deep breath 'Chaeyoung was right from the beginning, she told me not to trust Jackson, but I...I didn't listen.'
'We told you Chaeyoung just needs a little time to think, Mina. Don't be too upset!' Sana is patting Mina's back.
'I'm more upset at myself. I want to...drink now!' Mina says,
Mina doesn't drink because her tolerance for alcohol is very low, a few sips normally would just knock her out. But tonight, she is still holding herself up at her second glass of Martini. However, she has completely lost control of her actions and speeches, she has no idea what she is saying, or who she is talking to.
Out of nowhere, Mina points her finger right at Momo's forehead, who just happens to sit next to her. Mina is looking straight at Momo but speaking to herself 'You, Myoui Mina, how can you be so stupid? Huh?...Chaeyoung told you not to trust strangers, but you.don't.listen...' She pokes Momo's forehead with every words she said, making Momo's head bouncing back and forth,
Momo bites her lips, closes her eyes, takes deep breaths to calm herself down 'Why do I feel so offended?' She says to Nayeon and Sana, who are holding in their laughters this whole time.
'She is drunk, Momo. She has no idea what she is doing. Calm down!' Sana says to her,
'I know she's drunk, otherwise she would get her ass whooped by now.' Momo huffs,
But Mina still hasn't done, she continues to poke Momo's forehead 'It's all your fault! No wonder why...Chaeyoung is angry at you...she doesn't...care about you anymore. Mina...Myoui Mina..what are you...gonna do now, huh?'
'That's it! I can't take it anymore. Call Chaeyoung now!' Momo demands,
Nayeon quickly dials Chaeyoung's number,
'Hello, Nayeon unnie?' Chaeyoung answers the call,
'Chaeyoung, come to Bright Alley club right now. Mina is drunk, you need to take her home.' Nayeon says,
'What? Mina can't drink. Why is she drunk? But...uhm...I don't think I should come, I...' Chaeyoung is still hesitating,
Sana takes the phone from Nayeon 'Chaeyoung, yes she is drunk and there are these guys, they keep circling around her, they want her number, they want...'
'I'm coming right now!' Chaeyoung says then immediately rushes out of the door,
Nayeon and Momo look at Sana admirably, feeling very impressed. Sana just shrugs her shoulders 'Sometimes, all they need is a little push.'
Chaeyoung arrives at the club in no time, she rushes inside to see Mina passed out on the table. She runs over, checks on Mina then looks at the three unnies 'Unnies, I asked you to tell her to eat her food, but you tell her to drink alcohol?'
'We didn't tell her to drink, she wanted to drink and we couldn't stop her.' They defend themselves,
'We saw Jackson, Jb and Bambam here tonight. Everything is confirmed for Mina now, that's why she's upset with herself.' Nayeon tells Chaeyoung,
Chaeyoung looks at Mina, all she wants to do now is to hug her until the girl doesn't feel upset anymore.
'Now that you are here, take care of Mina, alright?! We will get going. Bye!' They quickly leave.
Mina is still sound asleep leaning on the table, Chaeyoung collects all her belongings, then carries Mina on her back out of the club. She waved a taxi, as she can't take a sleeping Mina on her motorbike. A taxi stops infront of them, when Chaeyoung was about to open the back door, Mina wakes up from her sleep, but still very drunk,
'Who are you? Why are you trying to take me? Mina drunkenly asks,
Chaeyoung chuckles 'It has been only 5 days and you forget about me already?'
'No, I'm not going inside that thing with you, I don't trust strangers anymore.' Mina starts to kick the taxi,
Chaeyoung quickly stops her 'Mina, you're drunk, I gotta take you home and...don't kick the taxi!'
'Are you two getting in or not?' The taxi driver is getting impatient.
'No, I'm not getting in, never...' Mina shouts,
Chaeyoung is trying to help her in, but Mina is strongly resisting. Seeing that it won't work, Chaeyoung gives up and apologies to the taxi driver.
'You're a handful when you are drunk, do you know that?' She taps her finger on Mina's forehead gently as if she is scolding her,
'I will have to piggyback you all the way home, luckily it's not too far.' Chaeyoung proceeds to carry Mina on her back, heading to Mina's apartment,
About 5 minutes into the piggyback ride, Mina stirs awake again, 'Am I riding a horse right now?' Her common sense is still nowhere to be found,
Chaeyoung laughs 'So I'm a horse now? What else can I be, Mina?'
'Horsie...can you...take me to your...horsie world? Then maybe...maybe I can see some...unicorns there' Mina continues her drunken talk,
Chaeyoung chuckles 'You are such a cutie, Mina! Do you know that?'
Suddenly, sniffles can be heard, Mina has been crying,
'Please horsie! Take me...because I'm...so sad here...because she's so mean...to me. This person...Son Chaeyoung, she...she ignores me...for days now...she doesn't talk to me...she doesn't even...look at me...I know...I know I was wrong...but does she...have to be so cold? It...hurts my heart badly. She doesn't...care about me anymore, horsie ah...she...she used to care, but...not anymore...and...it's all my fault. My body...isn't functioning properly...I can't eat...I can't sleep...Why does she have...so much effect on me? Why? Horsie ah, I hate her, but...but I miss her...I miss her so much!'
Chaeyoung stops walking, she can feel her heart cracks at the sound of Mina's crying. Her own tears are falling too, without her knowing it. She didn't think she would be that big of a matter to Mina. If she knew that Mina had to go through such hardship the last few days, she would never ever ignore her.
'Son Chaeyoung, you made the girl you love suffered. What for? For your pride? Screw your pride!' Chaeyoung is scolding herself,
Chaeyoung realised that, the most important person in her life is the girl who is on her back right now, the girl who can easily make her laugh or cry, the girl who has full control of her heart and soul. For Chaeyoung, nothing can compare to Mina, even her pride.