Let's Try.
“I’ll see you later m’kay?”
Tiffany resumed her prone position on the bed and cringed at the blonde’s nonchalance. Tiffany didn't bother responding as the blonde escorted herself out. The door closed with a click in the distance and the eerie silence engulfed her abandon soul again. She knew where the former was going, but it wasn't necessarily her place to pry. The same nagging feeling tugged at her heart again.
“Bye.”
She replied to no one in particular and felt the word painfully bounce off the walls. Tiffany decided to get up for a shower. She unraveled herself from the sheets with a sigh and grabbed her favorite shirt off the shelf.
*
“Junsu is such a moron.” Yuri whispered to Jessica conspiratorially from behind her menu.
"Please don't say that when he is just right in front us." Jessica inspected the menu in front of her, replying without interrupting her scrutiny.
"Why did you agree to this?" Yuri raked her fingers through her hair.
"Obviously because I wanted to go on a dinner date with you.” Jessica deadpanned, flipping through the menu with no interest.
"You're such a masochist, seriously." Yuri sighed and placed her menu down beside Jessica’s, before smiling at Taeyeon and Junsu sitting across from them.
Taeyeon returned their smile with a tight-lipped one, a sight that both Jessica and Yuri found amusing.
There was an uncharacteristic tension that casted on them and Jessica could not help but noticed how nervous Taeyeon looked. A waitress finally appeared to take their orders, breaking the unnerving silence that was intensifying every second. Junsu ordered for himself and Taeyeon before motioning the other pair to order theirs.
“So Junsu, I heard you’ll be listed as the new singer right?” Jessica maintained her smile, eyeing him.
“Yeah.” Junsu looked at them indifferently. Jessica sipped her water, making a note of Taeyeon's unnerved expression as she looked from Yuri back to the table.
Yuri looked at him excitedly, “Junsu, that’s cool! Can you sing something for us?”
Junsu glanced at Taeyeon before looking back at the couple across from him, "I’m sorry, Taeyeon hates it when I sings at the dinner table." he smiled apologetically and Yuri was crestfallen, "Aw man, I understand. Women, right?" Yuri laughed and Junsu chuckled with her.
Jessica could tell Taeyeon was avoiding something, or at least uncomfortable in the situation right now.
“What about you, Taeyeon?” Yuri’s husky voice suddenly seems very appealing to Jessica as she didn't bother using honorifics. She glanced at Yuri then back to Junsu, a little surprised at the sudden initiative from the brunette.
“I’m listed in the same company as Junsu.” Taeyeon revealed disinterestedly. Yuri and Jessica nodded in approval; perfect boy for the perfect girl.
The waiter finally returned with their dishes on a tray. He set them one by one in front of the customers before pouring their wine and returning it to an ice bucket, "Bon appétit.”
Junsu forked his spaghetti with a flourished twirl before turning to Jessica.
“What about you guys?” Jessica and Yuri suddenly grinned, if it was one thing they could take pride in, it was their studies.
“Great. We’ll be graduating soon and we’ve already offered a place at the University in California.”
Junsu was flabbergasted, along with Taeyeon this time as she finally spoke up. "Wow! How come you never told me? We could have celebrated!" Her eyes hinted to Jessica and she laughed, looking away.
How was Taeyeon going to act like such a good friend now? Jessica chuckled, "I’ve been really busy so I thought I'd tell you here." She smiled at Taeyeon.
Taeyeon reached across with outstretched hand and Jessica took her hands, gently shaking it.
"Good job! You worked so hard." Taeyeon squeezed her hands before releasing them.
Jessica sat back down with a satisfied smile; sometimes acting like friends was good too.
Junsu smiled contently at Taeyeon, adoring her friendship with Jessica.
The two couples were practically at opposite ends of the spectrum; Jessica and Yuri were thriving colleague students while Taeyeon and Junsu were artists in the competitive music field.
Adding on to the fact; both Yuri and Jessica are homosexual.
Taeyeon decided to speak up, pointing at Jessica and Yuri, "How long have you guys been together?"
Yuri raised a brow as she realized the question was actually directed towards Jessica.
Jessica looked up at her, slightly amused, "We've been friends for a while, nothing official."
Jessica suddenly hated herself. Taeyeon knew very well Jessica only had feelings for her, but she never ceased to promote Jessica to go out with someone else. Maybe it was Taeyeon's sick fantasy to torture them on dates with whom they knew they'd never be in love with, but Jessica knew it was only Taeyeon wishing for them both to move on.
Jessica held back a sigh and Yuri noticed her distress before swinging an arm around her and whispering something into her ear.
“Lighten up; I thought you wanted to go on a dinner date with me.” She smirked. Jessica looked at Yuri surprised, inspecting her face for any sign of a joke, but Yuri was serious. She smiled a little at the irony of the situation.
Jessica sat up straight in her chair, looking at her food before casually beginning to eat again.
She sneaked a quick glance at Taeyeon and noticed her avoiding Yuri's piercing stare.
*
“Thank you for the dinner.” Jessica smiled as they exit the restaurant.
“Don’t worry about it, Jessica. We hardly have any meet-up like this. It’s good to see you.” Taeyeon chuckled and stretched her hand out which Jessica took hesitantly.
It seems to become a habit that Taeyeon had took on; this politeness. She didn’t like the way how Taeyeon address her; it’s like the years of friendship they had thrown far away. There was an air of awkwardness around them. It was new to Jessica and she couldn’t help but feel like they had become strangers. It was useless to be nostalgic, or at least emotional. Maintaining her smile, she shook the hand before hers.
“Once again, thank you.” She bowed and Taeyeon did the same.
“Ready to go?” Jessica heard Taeyeon let out a sigh; probably out of relief she thought, as Taeyeon walked to Junsu and he slipped his hand into hers.
“I’ll see you again?” Jessica asked a little hopeful. Taeyeon looked at her and smiled without giving her a definite answer and got into Junsu’s black Mercedes.
“Bye.” She whispered as she watched the car get out of her sight. A hand slipped into hers and she turn to see Yuri smiling apologetically at her.
“Let’s go.”
It's not like she was emotionally damaged or anything. Or at least, that's what she'd continue to feign.
*
The sound of keys jingling in the lock caught Tiffany's attention. Like an eager puppy, a wave of relief washes over her.
“Fany, are you still awake?” The blonde’s voice sliced through the silence and Tiffany smiled. Throwing her fashion magazine on the bed, she bolted out of the door. Taeyeon grinned and held up a box.
“Macaroons?” Tiffany’s squealed and grabbed the box from the blonde’s hands. “Pink!”
She exclaimed excitedly and noticed Taeyeon rummaged through the drawers.
“Are you going out again?” Tiffany watched as Taeyeon muttered something under her breath.
“Huh? Oh, Junsu is waiting for me. Boa sunbaenim called for a meeting.” Tiffany nodded in understanding, her eyes following every move of the blonde’s.
“Ah there!” A triumph smile donned her features as she held the file up to examine it. With a relief sigh, she grabbed her bag from the couch and headed for the door.
Flustered, Tiffany wrapped her arms around the blonde’s waist, eliciting a giggle from the lather.
“Taeyeon, stay with me.” She felt the petite girl stiffened in her hold.
“What’s wrong Fany-ah? It’s so unlike you.” Taeyeon chuckled and pulled away. She cupped the brunette’s cheeks, giving her one of her own charming smile. Tiffany stared at her blankly.
“It’s cute though.” Taeyeon grinned and brushed Tiffany’s hair aside.
Taeyeon was right. She was never like this. She was understanding and she was always cool when Taeyeon had to leave in times like this. And now, she’s practically begging the blonde to stay.
Tiffany pushed the blonde away and Taeyeon looked at her in shock. She folded her arms and turn away from Taeyeon. “Just go.” She said coldly.
“Bipolar much?” Taeyeon scoffed and slid into her heels. Noticing the change of mood, she sighed and hurried back to the former’s side; planting a chaste kiss on her cheek, “I’ll be back soon.”
And with that, she hurried out of the front door, abandoning Tiffany in the cold silence again.
Burying her face in her hands, she felt her heart quicken from the intimacy. It was nothing uncommon; they were friends, roommates and skinship was something mutual. It just isn’t right to feel the way she’s feeling right now. They are just friends right?
“Taeyeon…” She whispered; raking her hair in frustration and eyed the box of macaroons before her.
“I don’t want to need you.”