Control, Minho TMR

10. ugly feet

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For someone who was about to face the person who wanted her dead, Nova looked awfully calm. Of course, that was just what her face showed. Inside, nerves clawed at her stomach, the small amount of food Nick had forced her to eat after the surgery threatening to come back up.

"Stop staring at me, Minho." Nova said, leaning against the wall with her eyes fixed on the maps on the table. There were so many, each stacked up in organised piles. The lines had been drawn carefully and straight, only a few messily scribbled on.

"How can you even tell? You're not looking at me."

"I can sense it, you idiot."

Minho smirked up at her from his seat beside the table. "Sense it?"

Nova finally faced him. "Shut up." She crossed her arms, figuring this was as good time as any to ask him the question burning up inside of her. "Why did you come after me after I TOLD YOU not to?" She said, raising her voice slightly.

Maybe he deserved her anger, maybe he didn't, but he did ruin her plan.

Minho's expression changed to a serious one. "Why did I come back? Because, Nova, you were about to risk you ass finding this shuck murderer and I couldn't let you get hurt, or maybe even die. I know you can protect yourself, but I couldn't let you go knowing that if you never returned I could've done something about it."

Nova was quiet for a second, letting the words sink in. His face showed so much sincerity that she had to believe him. He was here wasn't he? What reason did he have to lie about coming?

So much for trusting no one.

"You barely know me." Her voice cracked, and she hated herself for it. Appearing so weak.

But he didn't judge her. He didn't say anything about it at all. Instead, Minho got up from his seat and started walking across the room to the girl. "I didn't have to. It's not your fault, Nova. None of this is. Charlie's death, Toby's shin. Maybe you're not supposed to be here, so what? You don't deserve to die for it."

She couldn't help it. A tear trickled down her cheek. Nova looked away from Minho as he approached her, face flushing in embarrassment. No one was supposed to see her cry.

To her surprise, he reached across to her face and wiped away the tear.

The gesture somehow made everything worse. So much worse. It was like a switch had been activated; tears were flooding down now.

Before Nova could register what was happening, she was in his arms and he was whispering into her hair, telling her it was okay when it was anything but.

Still, for a moment, she dared to believe it.

And then there was a noise outside, feet padding along the ground, twigs snapping.