Chapter 8: Confide In Me

Through the Eyes of Mina

"Mina? I'm going to go hang with Hwoarang for a bit okay?" I heard Jaime say. As he spoke, I played with the straps of my black tank top before straightening out the creases in my dark blue jeans. After I finished combing my shoulder length black/red hair, I answered my boyfriend.

"Okay Jaime. Be back in time for dinner, I wanted to get together with Julia and Christie tonight." I replied.

"Sure thing!" he called out as he stepped out of the bathroom. After tying his blonde hair into a low ponytail, he walked over to me and gave me a soft kiss on the lips.

"I love you." He told me as he embraced me in a hug. I smiled and hugged him back, replying, "I love you too Jaime."

After running out of the room and catching up with Hwoarang, I turned back to the mirror and glanced at myself. I had a feeling rush over my body, a sense of displeasure and almost disgust. I could tell that I wasn't happy with what I was seeing in that mirror. But then again, what girl actually DOES like what she sees?

'Oh calm down Mina…' I thought to myself as I sat down on the bed.

"Who am I?" I said aloud as I laid back on the sheets. Lately, I'd been feeling as if I was just a shadow of Jaime. I felt like I devoted my time to him and that I didn't lead my own life. I needed something, anything at all to do. Why couldn't I have a Mina adventure?

"Oh well…" I said. I mean sure, I'd helped Jamie defeat monsters and creatures that go bump in the night, but I wanted to do something normal for a change; something where my life wasn't in danger or something like that. I wish I could do something for someone for once, instead of doing whatever Jaime wanted me to. Not that I'm complaining, Jaime is a wonderful guy and I love him very much. It's just that sometimes I felt that I was the only one who wanted to live a normal life.

Maybe that's just my feminine instincts kicking in. Suddenly, there a slight knock at the door. It was extremely light, and if I wasn't sitting still in the room, I probably would not have heard it.

Getting up, I walked over to the door. I saw someone's shadow underneath the door. Before I reached the door, I saw the shadow begin to walk away. I broke into a quick jump, reaching the door and opening it to reveal no one. I looked down the hall to the left and spotted someone walking away.

"Wait!" I cried out.

Turning around, I saw that it was Peter. What would he be doing at my door?

"Oh Peter," I said as I laughed, walking over to him. "If you're looking for the boys, they left a few minutes ago."

"Actually…I was looking for you…" he said. Just then, I realized that his face was tearstained.

"What's wrong Peter?" I asked, guiding him back to my door. He remained silent, not wanting to say anything at all.

"I…I…" he managed to say through whimpers. Suddenly, he collapsed to the floor, busting out in a fit of tears.

"Peter…"

I sat down next to him next to my door and hugged him, holding him close. He continued to cry and I didn't pressure him to talk. It looks like now I will have that chance to help somebody, just like I always wanted.

"I'm sorry Mina…" he said in a whisper as he calmed down a bit.

"What's the matter? You're not usually this upset about anything…" My words must have comforted him to some degree for he began to speak again.

"It's King…"

"What is it? Is he hurt?" I asked, afraid of what his answer would be.

"He's…fine…Mina, I'm so TIRED of holding in all these secrets…" he exclaimed in a gentle voice.

"Well you don't have to hold anymore secrets. You can tell me…if you want. Isn't that…why you came to me?"

"…yes…"

I stood up and helped him to stand as well. I knew that talking about secrets in public was never a good thing, even if nobody was around. The hallway was the perfect place for somebody to overhear unwanted business.

"Come one Pete, let's talk about this in private." Just then, I motioned to the door. He walked inside slowly, and as soon as he was inside the room, I thought I heard a noise. I turned to see what it was, but I saw nothing.

'Strange…' I thought to myself as I closed the door.

Turning back around to face Peter, I motioned for him to sit down. As if he was unsure of himself, he warily sat down of Jaime's bed. I came over and sat next to him, ready to hear what he had to say.

"Before you say anything, I want you to know that you can tell me anything. I promise, I will never tell anyone anything without your permission, not even Jaime." I reassured him.

"…Thanks Mina. Jaime's lucky to have a girl like you…"

I blushed slightly, because it sounded as if he was jealous of our relationship. I never liked it when I found out that someone envied me, it made me feel uncomfortable. It's like this: people sometimes put me on a pedestal, but I don't see what's so special that they have to do this. I'm normal just like any other crime fighting teenager. Wait, that didn't come out right…

"So Peter, what is it about King that has you so upset?"

"Okay…don't laugh when I tell you this…" he said in a hoarse voice.

"I promise, I won't laugh at you." I said in a comforting tone of voice.

"Thanks…well…lately, I've been noticing that I felt different somehow about King. It's hard to say this but I think I…" he stopped speaking, as if he didn't know what else to say. But I knew what he was thinking.

"…you like him…" I said as I came to the realization on my own.

Peter nodded slowly, not saying anything at all but rather letting his body language do all the talking for him. At first, I didn't know what to say. All throughout high school, I used to have many gay friends. They always said that I was great to talk to, for I didn't make fun of them for their secret. Surprisingly, Peter continued to speak.

"But I'm not gay…I don't like guys, it's just…I feel that way about him, and him alone…"

I had to admit, what he said was a little strange. Then I began to piece things together for him.

"Peter, I think I know what caused this. King was there for you when nobody else was, he took you in as his own, he helped you get past all your pain…and I think that's why you like him. You seem to be attached to people who care about you the way he did. That's why you're with Julia. She brought you back to life and you felt attached to her."

Peter smiled slightly, chuckling to himself. "Mina, you should be a therapist."

I laughed along with him at his comment. "Well, I do take psychology at my college. Guess all that studying paid off!" I managed to get him to smile wider and this made me feel happier. I felt like I was helping him, and I was flattered that he came to ME out of all his friends to talk to about this.

"I just wish I understood myself…" Peter said. I put a hand on his shoulder and he shuddered a bit. I smiled at him and told him something that my father always used to tell me.

"Life is a journey. It's all about discovering who you are and what you are comfortable with."

Peter seemed satisfied with my answer and to my surprise, he hugged me. I blushed as he did so, but I did not let him see this.

"Thank you Mina…you're a good friend." He told me.

"No problem Peter. My friend Maureen always told me that I should be a therapist." I said with a giggle.

Suddenly, the door flew open and in came Jaime. He had a look of anger and shock on his face as he stood in the doorway…