Sixteen Hours To None (2/2)
A/N; Here's part 2.<3 I apologize if it disappoints. (also around 5K words)
Tiffany tossed and turned. She sighed and opened her eyes as her hands felt around the mattress by her pillow, trying to reach for her phone. As her fingertips touched the device, she grabbed it and clicked her unlock button. The bright light from the screen was temporarily blinding and she squinted, trying to look at the time. She sighed again; it was 3am in the morning. She slid her finger across her phone screen and clicked on small yellow application box that allowed free international calling and texting. Clicking again on her contacts list, her finger hovered hesitatingly over a familiar name. ‘Should I call her?’ she pondered. ‘Or would texting be better?’ A moment of hesitation and she decided to call.
Truth be told, she dreaded the call but she had missed the other person so much that she felt like she needed to hear her voice at least. Sitting up against the headboard of her bed, she brought her knees to her chest and placed her chin on it. With the phone against her ear, she heard the ringing continue as she waited for the call to be picked up. After a few rings, a soft ‘click’ was heard and she waited for a cold or even a harsh response. Instead, she was greeted by a gentle concerned voice.
“Hello? Tiffany?” called out the voice she had been longing to hear for almost two weeks. Tiffany hesitated again, not sure if she really wanted to talk anymore if it could lead to her getting heartbroken. In her hesitation, the other person on the line spoke again, “Hello? Hey…what’s wrong? It’s late there, why aren’t you asleep?”
She sighed. “I miss you…I’m sorry,” she said, remembering their last video call about 2 weeks ago. They were fighting because Tiffany was having an extremely long bad day and Taeyeon had been busy lately with something Tiffany wasn’t even sure of what. She felt like Taeyeon wasn’t putting much effort in the relationship and couldn’t help thinking that maybe Taeyeon didn’t want them to be together anymore. It had been more or less 5 months since her visit to Seoul and after summer break, Tiffany’s been stressed over her own school work while Taeyeon just hasn’t been talking to her much. She just couldn’t help but feel insecure because she thought that maybe Taeyeon had had enough and wanted to end things. Wasn’t that always how it went? When the other party seem to withdraw themselves away slowly, but surely? It ended up with a lot of words spoken, a very upset Taeyeon and a heartbroken Tiffany. They hadn’t video called or even voice called ever since and even their texts or chatting would result in short replies from Taeyeon. Tiffany hadn’t apologized though and Taeyeon hadn’t brought it up either. It made Tiffany scared, extremely scared that maybe that was it. Maybe Taeyeon had had it with her. Tiffany swallowed the growing lump she felt in her throat at that thought and spoke again, “I’m sorry for what I said…the other day.”
A chuckle. “The other day was like…two weeks ago. But apology accepted. I’m sorry too. I’m just settling some stuff before graduation and yeah... I miss you too, you know.”
‘No, I don’t know,’ Tiffany wanted to say but she didn’t want them to get into another fight again. She felt relieved about Taeyeon putting their fight in the past but at the same time, she still felt insecure. She decided to try something. “I love you…,” she said.
“Me too,” Taeyeon replied casually and Tiffany sighed, feeling her eyes burning and her heart sinking. Taeyeon heard the sigh. “Hey, what’s wrong? That’s not the only reason why you called, is it? Tell me what’s wrong,” Taeyeon asked and Tiffany could hear her concern but instead of making her feel better, it somehow made her feel worse.
“You’ve never said it back,” she said sadly, closing her eyes as she felt them tearing up. “What?” A dry chuckle and she repeated herself. “You’ve never told me you loved me too.”
“What? Yes, I do,” Taeyeon said defensively. Tiffany took a deep breath and countered her statement, her voice shaking a little, “No, you don’t. You’d say ‘me too’ or ‘I do too’ but never ‘I love you too’ and it makes me wonder, do you really?”
Taeyeon didn’t seem to have anything to say to that and Tiffany let out another bitter chuckle. She sniffed and wiped the tears that had started to escape through her closed eyes. “You’re gonna break up with me, aren’t you?”
“What?! No!” Taeyeon exclaimed almost immediately before softening her voice, “No, no. I’m not gonna break up with you...” Her fast response made Tiffany feel slightly better. Just a tiny bit, but still, she felt better. She heard Taeyeon sigh before continuing, “I do feel the same way as you. You should know that. I just… It’s not the right time yet for me to say them like that. I don’t know how to explain it to you but… let me settle what I have on my hands right now first and… and I’ll try to make you understand where I’m coming from. Just… just let me finish what I’m doing first? Please? I’m not breaking up with you… You mean a lot to me, you have no idea how much…,” the last words were spoken shyly and it made Tiffany smile a little. Tiffany sniffed again, her tears had stopped with Taeyeon’s words. She wiped the remaining tears off her face, feeling much better. She didn’t fully understand but if Taeyeon insisted that she felt the same way then Tiffany would trust that she did. “Please don’t cry? I’m sorry. I’ll make it up to you when I’m done settling stuff here first okay? I promise,” Taeyeon said, sounding sincerely apologetic.
“Okay,” she replied softly. “I’ll take your word for that; you making it up to me. I cried because of you.” Tiffany was honestly feeling a lot better but she just felt like teasing Taeyeon a little bit.
“I know, I’m sorry,” Taeyeon said timidly and it made Tiffany feel bad for teasing. “I have a few more months before everything is completely settled but be patient with me please? I’ll try to make time for you when I can.”
Tiffany wanted to ask what it was that was keeping Taeyeon so occupied but she felt like maybe she didn’t need to know because it didn’t seem to matter anymore. All that mattered was Taeyeon feeling the same way and they weren’t breaking up. “Promise?” she asked, feeling embarrassed how weak and child-like she probably seemed like at the moment.
Taeyeon chuckled. “Yeah, I promise. Sleep please? It’s…,” a gasp before she continued, “Tiffany, it’s almost 4am, go to bed please. Now, please.”
Tiffany grinned at the fact that even when Taeyeon’s reprimanding her, she’s always so polite and cute, and adorable, and... ‘Damn, I love her so much,’ she thought. “Okay, okay. I’ll go now. I love you very much,” she said. She sensed hesitation on Taeyeon’s side and decided to reassure her, “It’s okay, you can say it like you always do.”
“Um... I do too, very very very veeeeerrrrry much,” Taeyeon replied softly, her emphasis obviously intended to convince Tiffany that she meant it but Tiffany knew that she did. Not by what she had said, but more of the sincerity in her voice that convinced her more than anything. “I miss you. Goodnight… baby,” Taeyeon continued, and Tiffany could picture her blushing slightly.
“I miss you too, cutie,” Tiffany countered, grinning widely as she heard a giggle from Taeyeon. “Bye.”
-----------------------------
“So, remember how I told you that I went home last weekend to meet my dad and my brother?” Taeyeon asked and Tiffany hummed as a response to tell her that she remembered.
Tiffany adjusted her phone wedged between her ear and shoulder as she sat on the floor by her bed and arranged her clothes neatly in the luggage. “What about it?” she asked when Taeyeon didn’t continue. “Taeyeon?”
“Well, um… how do I say this…,” Tiffany heard her mumble before hearing a sigh. While waiting for Taeyeon to get on with whatever she wanted to say, Tiffany frowned as she studied the contents of her luggage. She took out a few things and rearranged the others, trying to make some space. As she was rearranging her things, she heard another sigh from Taeyeon before the latter continued, “I’ll just come out and say it then… I told them about us.”
“I see,” Tiffany answered casually, still engaged in moving her things around before the message really sunk in. She gasped, dropping the blouse she was holding carelessly into the luggage. Tiffany held the phone with her hand instead. “You what?! What? How? Why?”
A sigh. “I just thought it’s time. I mean, your family already knows about us and all… and it’s only fair that I tell mine... about…us,” Taeyeon mumbled. Tiffany frowned, leaning against the foot of her bed. “I mean… I’ve wanted to tell them for a while… and since my brother was there, I thought… I don’t know… but it’s done...”
Tiffany could hear the hurt in her voice and knew. “They didn’t take it too well, did they?” Honestly, she felt touched that Taeyeon told her family about them. It showed that Taeyeon was as serious about them as she was. Tiffany knew, though, the consequences that came along with it and couldn’t help but feel sorry about it, and guilty; like it was her fault.
“Well, my brother took it pretty well… I guess. At least he’s still talking to me and all. He told me that it’s okay and that I’m still his baby sister but Dad… well, let’s just say we got into an argument and he’s not talking to me nor do I want to talk to him at the moment,” Taeyeon replied, sounding so vulnerable that Tiffany wished she could be there with her and hold her. Something felt off though, like there was something more to what Taeyeon was letting on but Tiffany decided against asking more about it.
“I’m sorry,” Tiffany mumbled. “You really didn’t have to tell him, you know. We could’ve done it together some other day, if you wanted, at least. You didn’t have to tell him alone… I’m sorry.”
“What? Don’t be sorry, it’s not your fault and nah, it’s fine. He’ll get over it… It’s time he knew anyway and I wouldn’t want you to be there when all the yelling was going on,” Taeyeon replied, chuckling dryly. “Plus like I said, it’s only fair, since your family knows about me too.”
“That’s different and you know it. I told you my family already knew I went both ways since I was 17… it was just a matter of who,” Tiffany said, sighing. “Thank you, though… it means a lot to me.”
“You mean a lot to me, that’s why I did it.” Tiffany could imagine Taeyeon smiling on the other end and it made her smile too. “Enough talk about that… are you done packing yet? When are you moving again? Tomorrow or the day after tomorrow?”
“Tomorrow,” she replied, picking up the blouse she had thrown into the luggage and folding it neatly after wedging the phone back between her ear and shoulder again. “I can’t believe they let me move out before graduation... well, it’s a month before graduation but still. I wish you could see the apartment I’m moving into though, it’s perfect. Not too big, not too small. Just my own little space.”
Taeyeon chuckled. “Maybe soon. Hey, remember to tell me your new address once you’ve gotten everything settled in. Oh and by the way, I’m almost done settling everything I have on my hands now. I’ll have more time for you.”
“Really?” Tiffany grinned, zipping up her luggage and placing it next to the small pile of boxes and 2 other luggage by her closet.
“Really,” Taeyeon replied, laughing. “And I have a surprise for you too but it might take some time. Maybe in a month or two. I’m just telling you for fun, so you’d anticipate it.” Tiffany could hear the playfulness in her voice.
“Jerk,” Tiffany countered just as playfully. ‘Damn, now I’m curious...’ she thought. “Would I love the surprise?”
“I’d like to think so,” Taeyeon mused, sounding a little nervous about it. “If you don’t… well, that would
really suck, to be quite honest.”
“I’m sure I’ll love it, though,” Tiffany stated confidently, hoping to reassure Taeyeon. She’d like anything Taeyeon would do for her, though. Even if it was as little as replying her text no matter how busy she was to telling her family about them. ‘I wish I could see you again…,’ she thought longingly as she heard Taeyeon reply and continued their conversation for another half an hour before she was forced to sleep.
-----------------------------
“Package for Miss Tiffany…Hwang?” questioned the post man standing in front of her, holding a clipboard and a small rectangular package in his hands. Tiffany nodded and stared at the package handed to her curiously before she was handed the clipboard along with a pen. “Please sign your name at the bottom, Miss.”
After signing and thanking the man, she closed the door and plopped herself down on the couch of her month-old new apartment. An envelope fluttered to her lap as she tore the wrapping of the package open, revealing a rectangular black box. Crumpling the wrapping first, she picked up the envelope and opened it first as she placed the package on her lap instead. She saw the familiar handwriting in the letter inside the envelope and immediately smiled.
Hey baby,
847264, remember these digits okay?
Okay, wait, I think I’m confusing you right now. Let’s backtrack a little. Firstly, I don’t know if you’ve opened the package but I hope you like them. I told you I’d make it up to you so consider this… part 1? :) Secondly, if you’ve opened it, you might be wondering about the numbers I told you to memorize but I’m kinda lazy to explain all these right now so just call me once you've received this? No matter what time it is, just call me okay?
Hope you liked the gifts.
I miss you.
Tiffany grinned and rolled her eyes at the part where Taeyeon was too lazy to explain things to her by writing. Exchanging the letter with the black box on her lap, she opened the lid. Inside, were two things, all individually wrapped with bubble wrap for extra protection; a small framed collage of pictures of both of them, taken from her trip to Seoul around a year ago along with a couple screenshots of their webcam sessions and - the one that surprised her most - a silver ring. Having studied the framed collage, she finally picked up the ring. It was plain, to be honest; just a plain silver ring with some engravings on both the inner and outer side of the sing. She brought the ring closer. On the outer side of the ring, engraved beautifully was; Taeyeon , while on the inner side, it read; for as long as you’d have me. It was a plain silver ring but Tiffany wouldn't have wanted it any other way. She loved it, it was simple and it was really the first time she had ever gotten a ring as a gift. She unconsciously blushed; no one had ever treated her so specially. She tried it on her right middle finger and found it to be too tight but it fitted snugly on her right ring finger instead. She smiled, loving how it looked on her hand.
====
“Hello?” croaked a drowsy voice of the person she absolutely adored.
“Hey cutie,” Tiffany greeted. “Are you…sleeping? Isn’t it supposed to be 4pm there?” she asked, wondering why Taeyeon sounded like she had just woken up.
A soft chuckle and Tiffany smiled; she missed her. “No, it’s midnight and the jetlag hasn't left me yet… how did you get through this?” Taeyeon replied, groaning, and Tiffany could picture her stretching.
Tiffany grinned at the sound. “I see. Well, I-,” her words stopped abruptly and she frowned. “Wait. What jetlag?” she asked, her eyes staring at the digital clock on her bedside table. ‘It’s midnight here… she’s… where is she?’
Another chuckle but instead of answering, Taeyeon asked her another question. “Did you just get the package?”
“No, got it this morning. I just thought I’d call you when it’s supposed to be day time where you are….,” she trailed off, her thoughts whirling but she didn't know if it was safe to assume what she thought was happening. “Where… are you?”
“…Where you are,” Taeyeon replied simply and Tiffany could imagine her smiling. “Well, kind of. The letter I gave you, did you flip it over?”
Tiffany scrambled off her bed, almost stumbling, and Taeyeon must've heard her because she heard her giggling. She hastily switched the room light back on and grabbed the letter from her dressing table. Turning it over, she read the writing she failed to notice earlier and gasped loudly.
An address of an apartment was scribbled.
It was in Los Angeles, California, and approximately 15 minutes away from her own apartment by foot.
“Surprise?” Taeyeon said, chuckling, and Tiffany couldn’t stop the grin from appearing on her face.
====
Tiffany hastily punched the numbers in and heard a click. She opened the door open and stumbled in, feeling slightly woozy from the lack of sleep. Actually, ‘lack of sleep’ would be an understatement. She didn't sleep a wink, counting every millisecond to sunrise since Taeyeon had forbidden her from dashing out her door at midnight to meet her. It was currently 7am in the morning and she hurriedly, and noisily, closed the door behind her. She heard noise from within the house and rushed into the apartment.
Surprisingly, in the kitchen, cracking a few eggs in a bowl and looking very much awake, stood the petite little girl that had caused her a sleepless night. Without hesitation, she launched herself onto the distracted girl, startling the latter.
“Dear good eggs, you scared me,” she heard Taeyeon exclaim before her hug was reciprocated warmly.
Tiffany chuckled happily. She pulled back and held Taeyeon by her arms, studying every feature intently with a grin on her face. Taeyeon looked healthy, which was good, and very much amused with how she was acting. She brushed Taeyeon’s fringe away, letting her hand linger on her face before cupping the latter’s cheeks. Tiffany sighed contently, a small smile still on her face. “So tell me.”
Taeyeon grinned, leaning against her touch. “There was something I've never told you,” she started to explain, as she promised she would. “The reason why I was set on speaking on English all the time, wasn't only due to your horrendous Korean,” she continued, ignoring Tiffany’s look of disbelief, “It was so that I could practice English and be fluent enough to move to Vancouver, Canada because after my mom left, I saw no reason to stay in Korea. Everything there reminded me of how she didn't want us so I wanted to move. I didn't even tell my brother or my dad about this… I wanted to see if I could actually do it.”
Taeyeon grabbed the hand cupping her face and pulled her towards the couch. “Vancouver?” Tiffany asked, she still wasn't getting why Taeyeon was in California. If anything, she was even more confused.
“Yeah. I don’t know,” Taeyeon chuckled. “I just wanted to move somewhere and the television was showing a documentary on Canada, and yeah. I just chose it randomly as a starting point…,” she paused again, letting Tiffany sit as close as possible to her, playing with her hand. “Then I met you though, and one thing led to another… so I thought, ‘hey maybe California could work too’. I didn't decide yet, because I didn't know how we’d work out… but you came to Seoul that day, and I started planning everything that was to be set in motion the moment you left. Blah blah blah, here I am,” Taeyeon said happily, but something flickered briefly in her eyes and Tiffany had caught it, somehow.
“Your dad…,” Tiffany started carefully; unsure if what she thought was happening was right. Taeyeon’s smile faltered and she knew she was. Tiffany sighed, feeling guilty. “He thinks I'm the reason you want to leave Korea completely, doesn't he?”
Taeyeon looked down dejectedly at their intertwined hands. “It doesn't matter,” she replied. “He’s just finding blame in random things to avoid the fact that I'm basically a disappointment because I'm not dating a man.”
Tiffany sighed. “ I'm sorry,” she said. Taeyeon shook her head but said nothing more. “Do you want me to talk to him?” Tiffany asked, watching Taeyeon carefully. It obviously affected the girl more than she lets on.
Taeyeon shook her head again. She looked up and Tiffany saw a huge smile on her face, in attempt to hide the pain inside. “Well, he just needs to get over it because…,” Taeyeon paused, her cheeks turning pink and her voice softened, “I love you.”
Tiffany blushed, probably one of the rarest times that she would, and she could see Taeyeon was feeling victorious about it. “Um, I-I love you too,” she said, mentally berating herself as she saw Taeyeon’s grin widen and that little chin dimple deepen.
“Sounds better in real life, doesn't it?” Taeyeon asked the pinkness in her cheeks still present.
Tiffany grinned and leaned towards her, gazing into the shy girl’s gentle brown eyes. “Say it again please.”
“I love you,” Taeyeon repeated. She would've sounded confident if it wasn't for the fact that she was blushing furiously at the sudden action from Tiffany.
Tiffany felt her words on her lips, sending pleasant tingles all the way down her spine and she could hear her heart race. “Yeah…” Tiffany replied softly, closing the gap between them. “Yeah, it sounds amazing.”
-----------------------------
Tiffany had barely managed to stop the door from slamming in her face as she followed a fuming Taeyeon into the latter’s humble apartment. Tiffany closed the door quietly and entered the living room, leaving her bag on the kitchen counter. She watched Taeyeon pace - or rather stomp - angrily around the room. She had never seen Taeyeon that angry or upset before and it was pretty unsettling. It felt like watching a volcano ready to erupt while standing at the edge of the crater. In the few months Taeyeon had moved to California, Tiffany had managed to learn more about the girl that she had failed to notice during her month stay in Seoul. Things like how Taeyeon takes less than half an hour to get ready, or how she’s also very particular on cleanliness, or even to how her jaw slackens and her mouth hangs open slightly when she’s engrossed in watching something. They've had a few small arguments before and Tiffany knew there were exactly 3 usual stages that Taeyeon goes through. Tiffany suspects a 4th stage but she hadn't seen it before and she was glad for it, but right now, she had a bad feeling she was about to and she wasn't sure if she was prepared for it.
Currently, stage 1 was on-going where Taeyeon would pace around, trying to calm herself. If she successfully does so, she would slow down, look away and take slow deep breaths before letting out a heavy sigh. If not, she’d turn and face Tiffany, frowning. Tiffany found upset Taeyeon kind of sexy with furrowed eyebrows, focused eyes and flexed jaw but she doubted Taeyeon would find humor in that, especially if she were to bring it up when Taeyeon was fuming. This time, though, the pacing didn't go for long before Taeyeon turned and faced Tiffany. Stage 2 was commenced; the confrontation. Tiffany gulped and approached her slowly; she knew she was wrong despite her good intentions.
“Why did you do that?” Taeyeon asked and Tiffany could hear the strain in her voice to keep herself calm. “You know you really shouldn't have done that, so why?”
Tiffany sighed when she stopped an arm’s length away from Taeyeon. Distance helped a little because Taeyeon did not like being touched or having her personal bubble invaded when she’s angry; another thing Tiffany had learned, the hard way, unfortunately. “I just wanted to help,” she tried to reason, her voice clear and steady despite feeling afraid of the consequences of what she did. Tiffany wasn't going to back down yet. Taeyeon needed to know that she meant well and it hurt to feel like she wasn't important enough to help in this situation.
“I don’t need your help,” Taeyeon replied coldly through her clenched teeth. She folded her arms; Tiffany noted, and knew they had stepped into Stage 3, the part when Taeyeon starts to be defensive. Folding her arms created an unconscious barrier between them and served as a defence shield to what she had to say. Regrettably, Taeyeon’s going through her stages quicker than usual. “There’s nothing to fix, Tiffany,” she continued, scowling. Her voice was raised slightly, “There’s nothing to fix at all. Nothing’s broken!”
Tiffany sighed, running her fingers through her hair. “You know that’s not true. He’s your dad, Taeyeon. He’s trying to reconcile so why won’t you just talk to him?” she asked, honestly not understanding why Taeyeon was being so prideful and stubborn about fixing her relationship with her father, who was trying to reach back out to her. Taeyeon refused to talk about it with her and Tiffany just couldn't understand why. “He’s been calling you, I know he has. Since you wouldn't talk to him, then I thought I would -.”
“Why won’t you just back off?! It’s none of your business, okay?!” Taeyeon yelled, causing Tiffany to flinch and unconsciously take a step back. “This is not your problem, Tiffany, so just leave it!”
That was it. Breaking point; Stage 4, and it scared Tiffany to finally see it. It hurt, a lot. She didn't know whether if it was because of Taeyeon’s words or the way she had said it - more like, yelling it -, or it could be the combination of both, but she felt her heart breaking in a way it had never did before and suddenly, she wasn't feeling too good about herself, at all. It was like she wasn't enough; not important enough. She didn't know what to say so she just looked sadly at Taeyeon as she felt her heart sink all the way to her feet while the latter irritably looked away, glaring at the wall. A heavy silence engulfed them before Taeyeon let out a frustrated groan and stomped into her room, muttering incoherent things in Korean and slamming the door shut.
Tiffany sighed. She walked to the couch and sat down, leaning back. ‘Maybe it wasn't a good idea to answer the call without her permission, Tiffany,’ she thought bitterly to herself, feeling the dread weigh down her whole body. ‘She’s so upset now… Good job, Tiff.’
Her rambling thoughts were adding to her guilt and it broke her heart a little more with every second that passed as she sat alone in the living room. She felt worse every time her eyes darted to the closed door to Taeyeon’s bedroom. She wondered if it was better for her to leave. She was supposed to stay the night before she did the brilliant thing of answering Taeyeon’s dad’s call while Taeyeon was in the restroom, and got caught doing so. She had been sitting alone in the living room for over half an hour, with only her babbling thoughts for company, and it was almost midnight but doubting that she should stay with Taeyeon being that upset with her, she stood up from the couch and grabbed her bag from the kitchen counter. Before she could walk to the door, the bedroom door opened and Taeyeon came out with her hair slightly damp, a huge oversized pajama top that came half-way down her thighs and her green shorts peeking out from under it. Furrowed eyebrows and a small pout; Taeyeon was obviously sulking and probably still upset but considerably calmer. Tiffany watched in amusement and held back a smile as her adorable girlfriend approached her, grabbed her wrist gently and pulled her into the bedroom, causing her to leave her bag back on the kitchen counter. All while avoiding eye contact.
Once in the bedroom, her wrist was released by Taeyeon as the girl waved her away to the direction of the bathroom. Tiffany complied, turning her back to Taeyeon and hiding her smile. She closed the bathroom door and noticed that Taeyeon had left her a pair of white shorts and an oversized shirt along with a towel for her. Her heart swelled gratefully and she did nothing to stop the grin from appearing on her face.
====
She came out of the bathroom almost 20 minutes later, hair damp and clad in the clothes Taeyeon had provided, only to find that the room light had been switched off. The only source of light was the bedside lamp and Tiffany could see her girlfriend curled up under the blanket, facing her currently empty side of the bed. She smiled, thinking about how she just absolutely, hopelessly, would do anything for Taeyeon. Her smile turned sad when she remembered Taeyeon’s outburst. If the latter wished Tiffany not to meddle into her business, then Tiffany wouldn’t. She would respect that, even if it made her feel insignificant. She would respect that because all of Taeyeon’s wishes, Tiffany wanted to grant them.
Tiffany switched off the bedside lamp and lied on the bed, facing Taeyeon. Her eyes adjusted to the dark room just as she felt Taeyeon scooting closer; the latter’s arm snaking around her waist, hand clutching the back of her shirt and snuggling her head under Tiffany’s chin.
“What took you so long?” Taeyeon grumbled, borderline whining, as Tiffany shifted to adjust their position; letting her arm act as a pillow for Taeyeon and her free arm hugging the latter close.
“You took just as long too,” she countered. She chuckled when she heard Taeyeon grumble a little under her breath in what sounded like Korean again. She always wondered what Taeyeon says when she grumbles incoherently in Korean like that but she never asked, mostly coming to the conclusion that she probably wouldn't find it that cute anymore if she knew. “Sorry,” she said shortly, not really wanting to go in depth on what she was apologizing for. “I won’t do it again.”
Taeyeon didn't reply and merely snuggled more against her. She took that as a ‘You’re forgiven.’ She stared into the darkness, her thoughts swimming in her head. She didn't know how long she was lost in her own thoughts, probably a few minutes because Taeyeon’s breathing had slowed and she had assumed her to be asleep.
That was until Taeyeon spoke up again. “I’ll call him tomorrow,” she said softly, almost as if she was talking more to herself more than to Tiffany.
Tiffany stayed silent, not knowing if she was even supposed to say anything back. Instead, she rubbed Taeyeon’s back slowly, hoping to lull the girl to sleep as her own eyelids started to droop. They could talk about it after a good night’s sleep.
Just when she thought Taeyeon had fallen asleep, the girl spoke up yet again. This time, Tiffany was sure Taeyeon was barely awake. “Tiffany?” her girlfriend mumbled.
“Hmm?” she hummed lazily, her hands still rubbing Taeyeon’s back gently. Sometimes, Tiffany honestly felt like she’s taking care of a big baby but oddly, she found every child-like feature of Taeyeon extremely endearing. She had never found a need to complain, knowing just how much she means to Taeyeon too. Well, it’s hard not to acknowledge it when the girl’s practically the sweetest person she had ever met.
“I didn't mean what I said,” Taeyeon said; her words slurring a little, coated with sleep. “You can mind my business all day… poke your butt in my life all you want….I don’t mind…butt my life….”
Tiffany chuckled drowsily. With that, Tiffany was sure Taeyeon was barely conscious and was starting to say things in a weird manner. She hummed a reply again, giving the girl in her hold a kiss on the head. A moment of silence and Tiffany started to drift in and out of consciousness. Her hand had stopped its lulling movements to Taeyeon’s back.
Taeyeon spoke again, her voice barely a whisper and her pronounciation just hopeless. “I... yuve yew….”
“I love you too,” Tiffany managed to reply, a goofy smile making its way on her face briefly before she felt herself slip back out of consciousness.
Three years,
5956 miles,
16 hours,
To none.
I’d do anything for you.
******************************
A/N: Hope you liked it. Took me a couple of months to finish this. Heol. But there it is. xD
Have a nice day/evening, everyone. To those at the other side of the world, good night to you. :)
Fun fact: Taeyeon's apartment code '847264' are numbers used to type 'Tipani' on your phone. ^^
OH, before I go. This would be posted a little before midnight in Netherlands on purpose.
So it'd be by now. HAH. Okay so, to Aivy, also known as the famous theninthtrack (and hotstuff):
Happy Birthday. We've got some miles between us too, and a 6-hour difference, but no, rofl ew, I don't Taeny-love you. xD
But.. yeah.. /awkward/ ... OKAY SLEEP, NOW. Goodnight, you. /gives you a birthday hug/ <3
AD FOR A FRIEND (LOL): http://sammyong23.livejournal.com/
Tiffany tossed and turned. She sighed and opened her eyes as her hands felt around the mattress by her pillow, trying to reach for her phone. As her fingertips touched the device, she grabbed it and clicked her unlock button. The bright light from the screen was temporarily blinding and she squinted, trying to look at the time. She sighed again; it was 3am in the morning. She slid her finger across her phone screen and clicked on small yellow application box that allowed free international calling and texting. Clicking again on her contacts list, her finger hovered hesitatingly over a familiar name. ‘Should I call her?’ she pondered. ‘Or would texting be better?’ A moment of hesitation and she decided to call.
Truth be told, she dreaded the call but she had missed the other person so much that she felt like she needed to hear her voice at least. Sitting up against the headboard of her bed, she brought her knees to her chest and placed her chin on it. With the phone against her ear, she heard the ringing continue as she waited for the call to be picked up. After a few rings, a soft ‘click’ was heard and she waited for a cold or even a harsh response. Instead, she was greeted by a gentle concerned voice.
“Hello? Tiffany?” called out the voice she had been longing to hear for almost two weeks. Tiffany hesitated again, not sure if she really wanted to talk anymore if it could lead to her getting heartbroken. In her hesitation, the other person on the line spoke again, “Hello? Hey…what’s wrong? It’s late there, why aren’t you asleep?”
She sighed. “I miss you…I’m sorry,” she said, remembering their last video call about 2 weeks ago. They were fighting because Tiffany was having an extremely long bad day and Taeyeon had been busy lately with something Tiffany wasn’t even sure of what. She felt like Taeyeon wasn’t putting much effort in the relationship and couldn’t help thinking that maybe Taeyeon didn’t want them to be together anymore. It had been more or less 5 months since her visit to Seoul and after summer break, Tiffany’s been stressed over her own school work while Taeyeon just hasn’t been talking to her much. She just couldn’t help but feel insecure because she thought that maybe Taeyeon had had enough and wanted to end things. Wasn’t that always how it went? When the other party seem to withdraw themselves away slowly, but surely? It ended up with a lot of words spoken, a very upset Taeyeon and a heartbroken Tiffany. They hadn’t video called or even voice called ever since and even their texts or chatting would result in short replies from Taeyeon. Tiffany hadn’t apologized though and Taeyeon hadn’t brought it up either. It made Tiffany scared, extremely scared that maybe that was it. Maybe Taeyeon had had it with her. Tiffany swallowed the growing lump she felt in her throat at that thought and spoke again, “I’m sorry for what I said…the other day.”
A chuckle. “The other day was like…two weeks ago. But apology accepted. I’m sorry too. I’m just settling some stuff before graduation and yeah... I miss you too, you know.”
‘No, I don’t know,’ Tiffany wanted to say but she didn’t want them to get into another fight again. She felt relieved about Taeyeon putting their fight in the past but at the same time, she still felt insecure. She decided to try something. “I love you…,” she said.
“Me too,” Taeyeon replied casually and Tiffany sighed, feeling her eyes burning and her heart sinking. Taeyeon heard the sigh. “Hey, what’s wrong? That’s not the only reason why you called, is it? Tell me what’s wrong,” Taeyeon asked and Tiffany could hear her concern but instead of making her feel better, it somehow made her feel worse.
“You’ve never said it back,” she said sadly, closing her eyes as she felt them tearing up. “What?” A dry chuckle and she repeated herself. “You’ve never told me you loved me too.”
“What? Yes, I do,” Taeyeon said defensively. Tiffany took a deep breath and countered her statement, her voice shaking a little, “No, you don’t. You’d say ‘me too’ or ‘I do too’ but never ‘I love you too’ and it makes me wonder, do you really?”
Taeyeon didn’t seem to have anything to say to that and Tiffany let out another bitter chuckle. She sniffed and wiped the tears that had started to escape through her closed eyes. “You’re gonna break up with me, aren’t you?”
“What?! No!” Taeyeon exclaimed almost immediately before softening her voice, “No, no. I’m not gonna break up with you...” Her fast response made Tiffany feel slightly better. Just a tiny bit, but still, she felt better. She heard Taeyeon sigh before continuing, “I do feel the same way as you. You should know that. I just… It’s not the right time yet for me to say them like that. I don’t know how to explain it to you but… let me settle what I have on my hands right now first and… and I’ll try to make you understand where I’m coming from. Just… just let me finish what I’m doing first? Please? I’m not breaking up with you… You mean a lot to me, you have no idea how much…,” the last words were spoken shyly and it made Tiffany smile a little. Tiffany sniffed again, her tears had stopped with Taeyeon’s words. She wiped the remaining tears off her face, feeling much better. She didn’t fully understand but if Taeyeon insisted that she felt the same way then Tiffany would trust that she did. “Please don’t cry? I’m sorry. I’ll make it up to you when I’m done settling stuff here first okay? I promise,” Taeyeon said, sounding sincerely apologetic.
“Okay,” she replied softly. “I’ll take your word for that; you making it up to me. I cried because of you.” Tiffany was honestly feeling a lot better but she just felt like teasing Taeyeon a little bit.
“I know, I’m sorry,” Taeyeon said timidly and it made Tiffany feel bad for teasing. “I have a few more months before everything is completely settled but be patient with me please? I’ll try to make time for you when I can.”
Tiffany wanted to ask what it was that was keeping Taeyeon so occupied but she felt like maybe she didn’t need to know because it didn’t seem to matter anymore. All that mattered was Taeyeon feeling the same way and they weren’t breaking up. “Promise?” she asked, feeling embarrassed how weak and child-like she probably seemed like at the moment.
Taeyeon chuckled. “Yeah, I promise. Sleep please? It’s…,” a gasp before she continued, “Tiffany, it’s almost 4am, go to bed please. Now, please.”
Tiffany grinned at the fact that even when Taeyeon’s reprimanding her, she’s always so polite and cute, and adorable, and... ‘Damn, I love her so much,’ she thought. “Okay, okay. I’ll go now. I love you very much,” she said. She sensed hesitation on Taeyeon’s side and decided to reassure her, “It’s okay, you can say it like you always do.”
“Um... I do too, very very very veeeeerrrrry much,” Taeyeon replied softly, her emphasis obviously intended to convince Tiffany that she meant it but Tiffany knew that she did. Not by what she had said, but more of the sincerity in her voice that convinced her more than anything. “I miss you. Goodnight… baby,” Taeyeon continued, and Tiffany could picture her blushing slightly.
“I miss you too, cutie,” Tiffany countered, grinning widely as she heard a giggle from Taeyeon. “Bye.”
-----------------------------
“So, remember how I told you that I went home last weekend to meet my dad and my brother?” Taeyeon asked and Tiffany hummed as a response to tell her that she remembered.
Tiffany adjusted her phone wedged between her ear and shoulder as she sat on the floor by her bed and arranged her clothes neatly in the luggage. “What about it?” she asked when Taeyeon didn’t continue. “Taeyeon?”
“Well, um… how do I say this…,” Tiffany heard her mumble before hearing a sigh. While waiting for Taeyeon to get on with whatever she wanted to say, Tiffany frowned as she studied the contents of her luggage. She took out a few things and rearranged the others, trying to make some space. As she was rearranging her things, she heard another sigh from Taeyeon before the latter continued, “I’ll just come out and say it then… I told them about us.”
“I see,” Tiffany answered casually, still engaged in moving her things around before the message really sunk in. She gasped, dropping the blouse she was holding carelessly into the luggage. Tiffany held the phone with her hand instead. “You what?! What? How? Why?”
A sigh. “I just thought it’s time. I mean, your family already knows about us and all… and it’s only fair that I tell mine... about…us,” Taeyeon mumbled. Tiffany frowned, leaning against the foot of her bed. “I mean… I’ve wanted to tell them for a while… and since my brother was there, I thought… I don’t know… but it’s done...”
Tiffany could hear the hurt in her voice and knew. “They didn’t take it too well, did they?” Honestly, she felt touched that Taeyeon told her family about them. It showed that Taeyeon was as serious about them as she was. Tiffany knew, though, the consequences that came along with it and couldn’t help but feel sorry about it, and guilty; like it was her fault.
“Well, my brother took it pretty well… I guess. At least he’s still talking to me and all. He told me that it’s okay and that I’m still his baby sister but Dad… well, let’s just say we got into an argument and he’s not talking to me nor do I want to talk to him at the moment,” Taeyeon replied, sounding so vulnerable that Tiffany wished she could be there with her and hold her. Something felt off though, like there was something more to what Taeyeon was letting on but Tiffany decided against asking more about it.
“I’m sorry,” Tiffany mumbled. “You really didn’t have to tell him, you know. We could’ve done it together some other day, if you wanted, at least. You didn’t have to tell him alone… I’m sorry.”
“What? Don’t be sorry, it’s not your fault and nah, it’s fine. He’ll get over it… It’s time he knew anyway and I wouldn’t want you to be there when all the yelling was going on,” Taeyeon replied, chuckling dryly. “Plus like I said, it’s only fair, since your family knows about me too.”
“That’s different and you know it. I told you my family already knew I went both ways since I was 17… it was just a matter of who,” Tiffany said, sighing. “Thank you, though… it means a lot to me.”
“You mean a lot to me, that’s why I did it.” Tiffany could imagine Taeyeon smiling on the other end and it made her smile too. “Enough talk about that… are you done packing yet? When are you moving again? Tomorrow or the day after tomorrow?”
“Tomorrow,” she replied, picking up the blouse she had thrown into the luggage and folding it neatly after wedging the phone back between her ear and shoulder again. “I can’t believe they let me move out before graduation... well, it’s a month before graduation but still. I wish you could see the apartment I’m moving into though, it’s perfect. Not too big, not too small. Just my own little space.”
Taeyeon chuckled. “Maybe soon. Hey, remember to tell me your new address once you’ve gotten everything settled in. Oh and by the way, I’m almost done settling everything I have on my hands now. I’ll have more time for you.”
“Really?” Tiffany grinned, zipping up her luggage and placing it next to the small pile of boxes and 2 other luggage by her closet.
“Really,” Taeyeon replied, laughing. “And I have a surprise for you too but it might take some time. Maybe in a month or two. I’m just telling you for fun, so you’d anticipate it.” Tiffany could hear the playfulness in her voice.
“Jerk,” Tiffany countered just as playfully. ‘Damn, now I’m curious...’ she thought. “Would I love the surprise?”
“I’d like to think so,” Taeyeon mused, sounding a little nervous about it. “If you don’t… well, that would
really suck, to be quite honest.”
“I’m sure I’ll love it, though,” Tiffany stated confidently, hoping to reassure Taeyeon. She’d like anything Taeyeon would do for her, though. Even if it was as little as replying her text no matter how busy she was to telling her family about them. ‘I wish I could see you again…,’ she thought longingly as she heard Taeyeon reply and continued their conversation for another half an hour before she was forced to sleep.
-----------------------------
“Package for Miss Tiffany…Hwang?” questioned the post man standing in front of her, holding a clipboard and a small rectangular package in his hands. Tiffany nodded and stared at the package handed to her curiously before she was handed the clipboard along with a pen. “Please sign your name at the bottom, Miss.”
After signing and thanking the man, she closed the door and plopped herself down on the couch of her month-old new apartment. An envelope fluttered to her lap as she tore the wrapping of the package open, revealing a rectangular black box. Crumpling the wrapping first, she picked up the envelope and opened it first as she placed the package on her lap instead. She saw the familiar handwriting in the letter inside the envelope and immediately smiled.
Hey baby,
847264, remember these digits okay?
Okay, wait, I think I’m confusing you right now. Let’s backtrack a little. Firstly, I don’t know if you’ve opened the package but I hope you like them. I told you I’d make it up to you so consider this… part 1? :) Secondly, if you’ve opened it, you might be wondering about the numbers I told you to memorize but I’m kinda lazy to explain all these right now so just call me once you've received this? No matter what time it is, just call me okay?
Hope you liked the gifts.
I miss you.
Tiffany grinned and rolled her eyes at the part where Taeyeon was too lazy to explain things to her by writing. Exchanging the letter with the black box on her lap, she opened the lid. Inside, were two things, all individually wrapped with bubble wrap for extra protection; a small framed collage of pictures of both of them, taken from her trip to Seoul around a year ago along with a couple screenshots of their webcam sessions and - the one that surprised her most - a silver ring. Having studied the framed collage, she finally picked up the ring. It was plain, to be honest; just a plain silver ring with some engravings on both the inner and outer side of the sing. She brought the ring closer. On the outer side of the ring, engraved beautifully was; Taeyeon , while on the inner side, it read; for as long as you’d have me. It was a plain silver ring but Tiffany wouldn't have wanted it any other way. She loved it, it was simple and it was really the first time she had ever gotten a ring as a gift. She unconsciously blushed; no one had ever treated her so specially. She tried it on her right middle finger and found it to be too tight but it fitted snugly on her right ring finger instead. She smiled, loving how it looked on her hand.
====
“Hello?” croaked a drowsy voice of the person she absolutely adored.
“Hey cutie,” Tiffany greeted. “Are you…sleeping? Isn’t it supposed to be 4pm there?” she asked, wondering why Taeyeon sounded like she had just woken up.
A soft chuckle and Tiffany smiled; she missed her. “No, it’s midnight and the jetlag hasn't left me yet… how did you get through this?” Taeyeon replied, groaning, and Tiffany could picture her stretching.
Tiffany grinned at the sound. “I see. Well, I-,” her words stopped abruptly and she frowned. “Wait. What jetlag?” she asked, her eyes staring at the digital clock on her bedside table. ‘It’s midnight here… she’s… where is she?’
Another chuckle but instead of answering, Taeyeon asked her another question. “Did you just get the package?”
“No, got it this morning. I just thought I’d call you when it’s supposed to be day time where you are….,” she trailed off, her thoughts whirling but she didn't know if it was safe to assume what she thought was happening. “Where… are you?”
“…Where you are,” Taeyeon replied simply and Tiffany could imagine her smiling. “Well, kind of. The letter I gave you, did you flip it over?”
Tiffany scrambled off her bed, almost stumbling, and Taeyeon must've heard her because she heard her giggling. She hastily switched the room light back on and grabbed the letter from her dressing table. Turning it over, she read the writing she failed to notice earlier and gasped loudly.
An address of an apartment was scribbled.
It was in Los Angeles, California, and approximately 15 minutes away from her own apartment by foot.
“Surprise?” Taeyeon said, chuckling, and Tiffany couldn’t stop the grin from appearing on her face.
====
Tiffany hastily punched the numbers in and heard a click. She opened the door open and stumbled in, feeling slightly woozy from the lack of sleep. Actually, ‘lack of sleep’ would be an understatement. She didn't sleep a wink, counting every millisecond to sunrise since Taeyeon had forbidden her from dashing out her door at midnight to meet her. It was currently 7am in the morning and she hurriedly, and noisily, closed the door behind her. She heard noise from within the house and rushed into the apartment.
Surprisingly, in the kitchen, cracking a few eggs in a bowl and looking very much awake, stood the petite little girl that had caused her a sleepless night. Without hesitation, she launched herself onto the distracted girl, startling the latter.
“Dear good eggs, you scared me,” she heard Taeyeon exclaim before her hug was reciprocated warmly.
Tiffany chuckled happily. She pulled back and held Taeyeon by her arms, studying every feature intently with a grin on her face. Taeyeon looked healthy, which was good, and very much amused with how she was acting. She brushed Taeyeon’s fringe away, letting her hand linger on her face before cupping the latter’s cheeks. Tiffany sighed contently, a small smile still on her face. “So tell me.”
Taeyeon grinned, leaning against her touch. “There was something I've never told you,” she started to explain, as she promised she would. “The reason why I was set on speaking on English all the time, wasn't only due to your horrendous Korean,” she continued, ignoring Tiffany’s look of disbelief, “It was so that I could practice English and be fluent enough to move to Vancouver, Canada because after my mom left, I saw no reason to stay in Korea. Everything there reminded me of how she didn't want us so I wanted to move. I didn't even tell my brother or my dad about this… I wanted to see if I could actually do it.”
Taeyeon grabbed the hand cupping her face and pulled her towards the couch. “Vancouver?” Tiffany asked, she still wasn't getting why Taeyeon was in California. If anything, she was even more confused.
“Yeah. I don’t know,” Taeyeon chuckled. “I just wanted to move somewhere and the television was showing a documentary on Canada, and yeah. I just chose it randomly as a starting point…,” she paused again, letting Tiffany sit as close as possible to her, playing with her hand. “Then I met you though, and one thing led to another… so I thought, ‘hey maybe California could work too’. I didn't decide yet, because I didn't know how we’d work out… but you came to Seoul that day, and I started planning everything that was to be set in motion the moment you left. Blah blah blah, here I am,” Taeyeon said happily, but something flickered briefly in her eyes and Tiffany had caught it, somehow.
“Your dad…,” Tiffany started carefully; unsure if what she thought was happening was right. Taeyeon’s smile faltered and she knew she was. Tiffany sighed, feeling guilty. “He thinks I'm the reason you want to leave Korea completely, doesn't he?”
Taeyeon looked down dejectedly at their intertwined hands. “It doesn't matter,” she replied. “He’s just finding blame in random things to avoid the fact that I'm basically a disappointment because I'm not dating a man.”
Tiffany sighed. “ I'm sorry,” she said. Taeyeon shook her head but said nothing more. “Do you want me to talk to him?” Tiffany asked, watching Taeyeon carefully. It obviously affected the girl more than she lets on.
Taeyeon shook her head again. She looked up and Tiffany saw a huge smile on her face, in attempt to hide the pain inside. “Well, he just needs to get over it because…,” Taeyeon paused, her cheeks turning pink and her voice softened, “I love you.”
Tiffany blushed, probably one of the rarest times that she would, and she could see Taeyeon was feeling victorious about it. “Um, I-I love you too,” she said, mentally berating herself as she saw Taeyeon’s grin widen and that little chin dimple deepen.
“Sounds better in real life, doesn't it?” Taeyeon asked the pinkness in her cheeks still present.
Tiffany grinned and leaned towards her, gazing into the shy girl’s gentle brown eyes. “Say it again please.”
“I love you,” Taeyeon repeated. She would've sounded confident if it wasn't for the fact that she was blushing furiously at the sudden action from Tiffany.
Tiffany felt her words on her lips, sending pleasant tingles all the way down her spine and she could hear her heart race. “Yeah…” Tiffany replied softly, closing the gap between them. “Yeah, it sounds amazing.”
-----------------------------
Tiffany had barely managed to stop the door from slamming in her face as she followed a fuming Taeyeon into the latter’s humble apartment. Tiffany closed the door quietly and entered the living room, leaving her bag on the kitchen counter. She watched Taeyeon pace - or rather stomp - angrily around the room. She had never seen Taeyeon that angry or upset before and it was pretty unsettling. It felt like watching a volcano ready to erupt while standing at the edge of the crater. In the few months Taeyeon had moved to California, Tiffany had managed to learn more about the girl that she had failed to notice during her month stay in Seoul. Things like how Taeyeon takes less than half an hour to get ready, or how she’s also very particular on cleanliness, or even to how her jaw slackens and her mouth hangs open slightly when she’s engrossed in watching something. They've had a few small arguments before and Tiffany knew there were exactly 3 usual stages that Taeyeon goes through. Tiffany suspects a 4th stage but she hadn't seen it before and she was glad for it, but right now, she had a bad feeling she was about to and she wasn't sure if she was prepared for it.
Currently, stage 1 was on-going where Taeyeon would pace around, trying to calm herself. If she successfully does so, she would slow down, look away and take slow deep breaths before letting out a heavy sigh. If not, she’d turn and face Tiffany, frowning. Tiffany found upset Taeyeon kind of sexy with furrowed eyebrows, focused eyes and flexed jaw but she doubted Taeyeon would find humor in that, especially if she were to bring it up when Taeyeon was fuming. This time, though, the pacing didn't go for long before Taeyeon turned and faced Tiffany. Stage 2 was commenced; the confrontation. Tiffany gulped and approached her slowly; she knew she was wrong despite her good intentions.
“Why did you do that?” Taeyeon asked and Tiffany could hear the strain in her voice to keep herself calm. “You know you really shouldn't have done that, so why?”
Tiffany sighed when she stopped an arm’s length away from Taeyeon. Distance helped a little because Taeyeon did not like being touched or having her personal bubble invaded when she’s angry; another thing Tiffany had learned, the hard way, unfortunately. “I just wanted to help,” she tried to reason, her voice clear and steady despite feeling afraid of the consequences of what she did. Tiffany wasn't going to back down yet. Taeyeon needed to know that she meant well and it hurt to feel like she wasn't important enough to help in this situation.
“I don’t need your help,” Taeyeon replied coldly through her clenched teeth. She folded her arms; Tiffany noted, and knew they had stepped into Stage 3, the part when Taeyeon starts to be defensive. Folding her arms created an unconscious barrier between them and served as a defence shield to what she had to say. Regrettably, Taeyeon’s going through her stages quicker than usual. “There’s nothing to fix, Tiffany,” she continued, scowling. Her voice was raised slightly, “There’s nothing to fix at all. Nothing’s broken!”
Tiffany sighed, running her fingers through her hair. “You know that’s not true. He’s your dad, Taeyeon. He’s trying to reconcile so why won’t you just talk to him?” she asked, honestly not understanding why Taeyeon was being so prideful and stubborn about fixing her relationship with her father, who was trying to reach back out to her. Taeyeon refused to talk about it with her and Tiffany just couldn't understand why. “He’s been calling you, I know he has. Since you wouldn't talk to him, then I thought I would -.”
“Why won’t you just back off?! It’s none of your business, okay?!” Taeyeon yelled, causing Tiffany to flinch and unconsciously take a step back. “This is not your problem, Tiffany, so just leave it!”
That was it. Breaking point; Stage 4, and it scared Tiffany to finally see it. It hurt, a lot. She didn't know whether if it was because of Taeyeon’s words or the way she had said it - more like, yelling it -, or it could be the combination of both, but she felt her heart breaking in a way it had never did before and suddenly, she wasn't feeling too good about herself, at all. It was like she wasn't enough; not important enough. She didn't know what to say so she just looked sadly at Taeyeon as she felt her heart sink all the way to her feet while the latter irritably looked away, glaring at the wall. A heavy silence engulfed them before Taeyeon let out a frustrated groan and stomped into her room, muttering incoherent things in Korean and slamming the door shut.
Tiffany sighed. She walked to the couch and sat down, leaning back. ‘Maybe it wasn't a good idea to answer the call without her permission, Tiffany,’ she thought bitterly to herself, feeling the dread weigh down her whole body. ‘She’s so upset now… Good job, Tiff.’
Her rambling thoughts were adding to her guilt and it broke her heart a little more with every second that passed as she sat alone in the living room. She felt worse every time her eyes darted to the closed door to Taeyeon’s bedroom. She wondered if it was better for her to leave. She was supposed to stay the night before she did the brilliant thing of answering Taeyeon’s dad’s call while Taeyeon was in the restroom, and got caught doing so. She had been sitting alone in the living room for over half an hour, with only her babbling thoughts for company, and it was almost midnight but doubting that she should stay with Taeyeon being that upset with her, she stood up from the couch and grabbed her bag from the kitchen counter. Before she could walk to the door, the bedroom door opened and Taeyeon came out with her hair slightly damp, a huge oversized pajama top that came half-way down her thighs and her green shorts peeking out from under it. Furrowed eyebrows and a small pout; Taeyeon was obviously sulking and probably still upset but considerably calmer. Tiffany watched in amusement and held back a smile as her adorable girlfriend approached her, grabbed her wrist gently and pulled her into the bedroom, causing her to leave her bag back on the kitchen counter. All while avoiding eye contact.
Once in the bedroom, her wrist was released by Taeyeon as the girl waved her away to the direction of the bathroom. Tiffany complied, turning her back to Taeyeon and hiding her smile. She closed the bathroom door and noticed that Taeyeon had left her a pair of white shorts and an oversized shirt along with a towel for her. Her heart swelled gratefully and she did nothing to stop the grin from appearing on her face.
====
She came out of the bathroom almost 20 minutes later, hair damp and clad in the clothes Taeyeon had provided, only to find that the room light had been switched off. The only source of light was the bedside lamp and Tiffany could see her girlfriend curled up under the blanket, facing her currently empty side of the bed. She smiled, thinking about how she just absolutely, hopelessly, would do anything for Taeyeon. Her smile turned sad when she remembered Taeyeon’s outburst. If the latter wished Tiffany not to meddle into her business, then Tiffany wouldn’t. She would respect that, even if it made her feel insignificant. She would respect that because all of Taeyeon’s wishes, Tiffany wanted to grant them.
Tiffany switched off the bedside lamp and lied on the bed, facing Taeyeon. Her eyes adjusted to the dark room just as she felt Taeyeon scooting closer; the latter’s arm snaking around her waist, hand clutching the back of her shirt and snuggling her head under Tiffany’s chin.
“What took you so long?” Taeyeon grumbled, borderline whining, as Tiffany shifted to adjust their position; letting her arm act as a pillow for Taeyeon and her free arm hugging the latter close.
“You took just as long too,” she countered. She chuckled when she heard Taeyeon grumble a little under her breath in what sounded like Korean again. She always wondered what Taeyeon says when she grumbles incoherently in Korean like that but she never asked, mostly coming to the conclusion that she probably wouldn't find it that cute anymore if she knew. “Sorry,” she said shortly, not really wanting to go in depth on what she was apologizing for. “I won’t do it again.”
Taeyeon didn't reply and merely snuggled more against her. She took that as a ‘You’re forgiven.’ She stared into the darkness, her thoughts swimming in her head. She didn't know how long she was lost in her own thoughts, probably a few minutes because Taeyeon’s breathing had slowed and she had assumed her to be asleep.
That was until Taeyeon spoke up again. “I’ll call him tomorrow,” she said softly, almost as if she was talking more to herself more than to Tiffany.
Tiffany stayed silent, not knowing if she was even supposed to say anything back. Instead, she rubbed Taeyeon’s back slowly, hoping to lull the girl to sleep as her own eyelids started to droop. They could talk about it after a good night’s sleep.
Just when she thought Taeyeon had fallen asleep, the girl spoke up yet again. This time, Tiffany was sure Taeyeon was barely awake. “Tiffany?” her girlfriend mumbled.
“Hmm?” she hummed lazily, her hands still rubbing Taeyeon’s back gently. Sometimes, Tiffany honestly felt like she’s taking care of a big baby but oddly, she found every child-like feature of Taeyeon extremely endearing. She had never found a need to complain, knowing just how much she means to Taeyeon too. Well, it’s hard not to acknowledge it when the girl’s practically the sweetest person she had ever met.
“I didn't mean what I said,” Taeyeon said; her words slurring a little, coated with sleep. “You can mind my business all day… poke your butt in my life all you want….I don’t mind…butt my life….”
Tiffany chuckled drowsily. With that, Tiffany was sure Taeyeon was barely conscious and was starting to say things in a weird manner. She hummed a reply again, giving the girl in her hold a kiss on the head. A moment of silence and Tiffany started to drift in and out of consciousness. Her hand had stopped its lulling movements to Taeyeon’s back.
Taeyeon spoke again, her voice barely a whisper and her pronounciation just hopeless. “I... yuve yew….”
“I love you too,” Tiffany managed to reply, a goofy smile making its way on her face briefly before she felt herself slip back out of consciousness.
Three years,
5956 miles,
16 hours,
To none.
I’d do anything for you.
******************************
A/N: Hope you liked it. Took me a couple of months to finish this. Heol. But there it is. xD
Have a nice day/evening, everyone. To those at the other side of the world, good night to you. :)
Fun fact: Taeyeon's apartment code '847264' are numbers used to type 'Tipani' on your phone. ^^
OH, before I go. This would be posted a little before midnight in Netherlands on purpose.
So it'd be by now. HAH. Okay so, to Aivy, also known as the famous theninthtrack (and hotstuff):
Happy Birthday. We've got some miles between us too, and a 6-hour difference, but no, rofl ew, I don't Taeny-love you. xD
But.. yeah.. /awkward/ ... OKAY SLEEP, NOW. Goodnight, you. /gives you a birthday hug/ <3
AD FOR A FRIEND (LOL): http://sammyong23.livejournal.com/