If You Return (6/?): Different Waters
Part 1
“So Sooyoung told you about the birthday dinner for Fany?”
Outside the cramped conference room where Sooyoung and Yuri were still closeted, Jessica sat waiting with Hyoyeon. Warily, she cast a glance at her side as Hyoyeon dandled Pororo Girl on her knee.
“Mmm.” Jessica smoothed an imaginary wrinkle in her skirt. Tiffany’s birthday was the next day, and Jessica still hadn’t found her a present. Through the glass panels, Jessica could see Sooyoung frowning a little at Yuri, her hand still in Yuri’s grasp as Yuri leaned earnestly towards her across the table.
“It’s just a barbeque at Sooyoung’s house.” Hyoyeon continued and grinned. “Try not to be too late, will you?”
In the conference room, Sooyoung and Yuri looked like they had started up an argument again, each cutting the other off repeatedly in the heat of their insistence. Jessica watched with a little more apprehension. She wasn’t sure if this was going to escalate, and she had only planned to stop by before shopping, after Sooyoung had texted her.
“Why are Sooyoung unni and Yuri unni fighting?”
Before Jessica could think of an answer (“Beats me, kid,” didn’t quite seem to work), Hyoyeon cut in smoothly.
“They’re not fighting. They’re just disagreeing. Over something important.”
“And what’s that, unni?”
Jessica waited for Hyoyeon’s answer with as much curiosity as the little girl. Hyoyeon did not disappoint.
“Ice-cream!” Hyoyeon gurgled at her own wit. “They’re arguing over how much ice-cream is suitable for seven-year-old girls every day.”
“LOTS!” Jessica looked away, hoping that Pororo Girl's waving arms wouldn't hit her in her glee.
“Yes, and if you go to Room Four now, you’ll find that your umma's done with class and she’s ready to bring you out for some. Run along, go go quick!” With a light tap to her back, Hyoyeon set the little girl down and she ran along accordingly.
Jessica watched Pororo Girl scamper away, a little envious. To be held by Hyoyeon’s strong arms and to rest on her shoulders without a care in the world seemed to be immensely attractive right now. But Jessica didn’t have an excuse. She couldn’t name a pressing concern in her horizon beyond, perhaps, the shopping for Tiffany’s present later today. Jessica sighed.
“What’s the matter, Sica?”
She had thought long and hard about Tiffany’s present, ever since the day before when she had made Tiffany promise to take time out and celebrate her own birthday. But the only present she had been able to think of was pepper spray, of all things.
Maybe I should just buy her a meal. But Jessica was reluctant to do…just that. Besides, pepper spray would come in handy, if Tiffany ever found herself in a sticky situation on the streets. Jessica still did not trust her to throw a punch.
Jessica leant in and rested her head on Hyoyeon’s shoulder. Hyoyeon was warm, literally, her body heat always a little higher than theirs. As Hyoyeon slung an arm around her, Jessica dug her chin in a little deeper, taking comfort in the solidity of Hyoyeon’s body.
“Nothing. No, I don’t know.”
*
To: Sooyoung
What the hell do you mean by “Just…please be careful with Tiffany”?
09:10 AM Fri., July 30
*
Hyoyeon hummed tunelessly while she rubbed Jessica’s shoulder in comforting circles, staying still for once.
“What are they fighting about?” Jessica’s voice was muffled as she spoke against Hyoyeon’s shoulder.
Hyoyeon shot an amused glance at Jessica. “I said, they’re not fighting.”
“Fine, why’re they arguing, then? They were fine after Lotte World!”
It was Hyoyeon’s turn to sigh, and Jessica could feel Hyoyeon start to jiggle her leg in agitation.
“It’s nothing big, I think. Well, it is and it isn’t, y’know?” Hyoyeon sighed again, and Jessica waited for her to sort out her thoughts. “It’s just that they’re friends, yeah, but Yuri wants to come back to help, as a volunteer, yeah, and oh, Justin’s coming with her which is great, right, and that’s what we need, more volunteers, right? But Sooyoung’s angry, and I know why she’s angry, and she’s right too!”
Jessica picked through the verbal debris and zeroed in. “But why is she mad?”
“Because-!” Hyoyeon sighed. “Because you can’t just leave and come back and expect everything to be the same.”
*
To: Sica
Ah...Don’t get angry, Sica. It’s good that you and Tiffany are getting closer, but…just be careful, won’t you? It’s easy to get too close, and I don’t want Tiffany to get sad.
09: 14 AM Fri., July 30
To: Sica
Look, we shouldn’t talk about stuff like this over text, because it’s hard. We’ll miscommunicate~. Come down to the center later? We can talk there. Don’t be mad, Sica-ya~♥
09:15 AM Fri., July 30
*
Jessica hmm-ed noncommittally. “Did Yuri’s leaving really screw things up?”
“It was extra work. We don’t have enough people, and everything’s so carefully scheduled. That’s why we’re looking for someone to take Fany’s place when she leaves, even if it’s only for a while. Sooyoung was supposed to be interviewing someone on Skype, but guess who came barging in, saying she was sorry and that she was gonna work twice as hard?” Hyoyeon laughed, a little puff of wry laughter. “Yuri means it. That’s the thing. Yuri means it, and yes, it’ll be great having her back, plus one--! It's a good thing! But Sooyoung’s just pissed about the--the principle of the thing, and I would be, too. God knows, I love Yuri, but-”
“But what?” demanded a new voice. Jessica's head jerked up from Hyoyeon’s shoulder as the conference room’s door opened to reveal Yuri, who was smiling sheepishly. Behind her came Sooyoung, smiling faintly herself despite her visible exhaustion.
“I'm sorry. I know I can’t just jump back in here. I didn’t think that I could. I just came to say-I’m sorry, ok? I really am.” Yuri leaned back against Sooyoung and smiled at her. “Fortunately, Sooyoung-nim is as magnanimous as she is beautiful-” Hyoyeon groaned in a show of disagreement and Sooyoung shook her head. But in the blink of an eye, Sooyoung relaxed and smiled as she wrapped her arms around Yuri, leaning her head against her shoulder.
Jessica smiled in agreement, but she suddenly felt a little out of place among them, even though Hyoyeon was draped around her own shoulders too. She had never known all this was going on, and she had been in Seoul for nearly the whole summer.
“You’re on probation, delinquent, and you know it.” Sooyoung protested. “In fact, Kwon Yuri, you deserve to be punished, just for interrupting my video interview!”
“New staff?” Jessica looked up. This part of the conversation was more familiar territory for her. She even had a recommendation or two for Sooyoung herself, if Stella would only get back to her about her study abroad plans.
“Maybe. New volunteer staff.” Sooyoung’s laptop lit up into life as an incoming call sounded, and she hurried into the conference room. “In fact, it’s someone you know, Sica!”
Jessica ambled in after Sooyoung and peered curiously at the laptop screen.
“Sica!”
“STELLA!”
“Heyy Stella!”
“--Stella?!”
Stella’s beautiful laughing face filled the screen.
“Yo girl! Told you you were slow!”
*
To: Tiffany
Free for tea today? Early celebration. My treat~
1.00 PM Fri., July 30
***
The streets of Insadong were busy, but Jessica did not see much of interest as she stared out of the café window.
“What are you thinking about?” Tiffany asked, as she examined the cake platter laid out before them. It was hard to know where to start, but Jessica had a sneaking suspicion that Tiffany would plump for the red velvet cupcake with the knock-your-eye-out icing.
“Fany-” Jessica sighed.
“Sica-” Tiffany parroted. “What is it, Sica?”
“Fany, do you think I’m just slow?”
Tiffany’s head shot up and she laughed, even as Jessica scowled and kicked at her under the table.
“I’m asking a serious question here, Tiffany Hwang Miyoung!”
“We wouldn’t have you any other way, Sica.” An amused smile lingered on Tiffany's face.
“-so you do think I’m slow?”
“Well, you are kinda dazed, sometimes, you know. Like...you’re in your own little world.” Tiffany stared at the platter again and finally reached for the red velvet cupcake. Despite her best efforts to section the cupcake surgically with her fork, icing gradually transferred itself everywhere, including Tiffany’s fingers, but she didn’t seem to mind.
“…That’s not really what I meant.” Jessica hesitated, as she tried to explain herself. “Oh, I don’t know. I mean, it’s like, I’m…kinda behind on things that are happening, always?”
“Hmm?” Tiffany raised her head and waited patiently for an explanation.
“Like, like the fact that Yuri and Sooyoung were fighting. Like, were, and were. Like, today-were.” Jessica continued staring out of the window. Two…and three--that made three girls she had seen today who had appropriated summer’s high-waisted trend without regard for their actual body shape whatsoever. Three girls too many. “I mean, I thought we were friends.”
“That’s just ‘cos they didn’t want you to get involved, Sica. You’re in Seoul for your holidays.” Tiffany’s reminder was gentle, but Jessica remained glued to the window.
“Yeah? Well, apparently, I had to be in Seoul for the whole summer before I find out that Stella’s coming next year as a volunteer. Pfft.”
“Jessica Jung!” Tiffany laughed. “Aren’t you glad she’s coming? Do you begrudge us a willing, able volunteer? Especially after you turned us down so cruelly?”
“No.” Jessica nearly wailed, in her petulant frustration, before she caught herself. “…Okay.” Jessica took a deep breath. “Okay. So I thought Stella would be a good match for the center if she wanted to do study abroad here, but it turns out that Sooyoung was in touch with her all this while? And they’d been talking about it? I shouldn’t have bothered with all that messaging!”
Tiffany laughed, not unkindly. “Well, now you know! I thought you and Stella were in touch too!”
Jessica flopped back and crossed her arms. She wasn’t cross with Stella, but she had spent the night thinking about Tiffany’s present, and she was now tired and inclined to sulk. The only thing holding her back was Tiffany’s presence across from her, and the fact that this was supposed to be an early celebratory tea for Tiffany’s birthday. It wouldn’t do to sulk too hard.
“I thought so too.”
The childish pique in her own voice made Jessica feel a little guilty, and to make up for it, she sat up a little straighter. Her fork felt heavy as she moved the remains of her dessert around her plate, but hey, at least she was trying, right? Maybe the cake had been too rich for her, anyway. Jessica felt faintly sick, but she wasn’t sure whom she was angry at anymore. It wasn’t anybody’s fault but her own that she was sulking over something that everyone wanted, and on Tiffany’s nearly-birthday too.
Perhaps Tiffany had heard the childish pique in her voice and had understood, though not fully. And perhaps that was why when Jessica crossed her legs again, Tiffany did not move away, though Jessica’s knee came to rest lazily against Tiffany’s under the table.
That was good enough for Jessica.
*
“So are you just going to go for dinner tomorrow?”
The evening streets of Insadong were still busy, but that was to be expected. They weaved around pedestrians, sometimes walking in single file, but it was hard to keep a conversation going for long.
“Well-” Tiffany said slowly, after they caught up with each other again through the tide of pedestrians, “I nearly wanted to go to Kyung Bok Palace for my birthday.”
“Eh?” Jessica shot a look at Tiffany. “Why?” Remembering that it was Tiffany’s prerogative to go wherever she pleased, at least on her birthday, Jessica quickly changed tack. “I mean, why not then?”
Tiffany bobbed her head. “I don’t know. I’ve never been there before,” she said quietly. After a few more steps, she went on, still looking down. “A friend of mine-the one who liked children’s songs-” Tiffany smiled, “She’s Korean, Korean-American but she has this funny thing about Korean history. She asked me to go for her, one day. Take pictures and all that sort of stuff.” Tiffany cast a glance at the streets around her. “She’s never been to Korea before.”
Jessica nodded along impatiently, half-understanding but waiting for Tiffany to finish. The evening was warm and it was getting to her, as was the trek to the subway station. “So-” The question was on her lips, but Tiffany beat her to it.
“It’s just not the sort of place I thought you’d like,” Tiffany shrugged jerkily, and picked up her pace a little.
Tiffany was right, Jessica thought, as she hurried to keep up. Tiffany was right and Jessica was pleased, oddly triumphant that Tiffany had thought of her even when it came to her birthday.
*
“Watch out.” It had been a moment of instinct, reaching out to grab Tiffany away from veering into a couple passing them, but Jessica knew exactly that she had reached for Tiffany’s hand instead of her arm, as she usually did.
Tiffany’s expression did not change at all. As they walked on, slowed down a little by each other, Tiffany did not remove her hand, though she didn’t clasp it any tighter either. It could have been dead weight, for all Jessica knew, as dead as the expression of unreadable nonchalance on Tiffany’s face. Even as Jessica pulled forward a little, leading them through the crowd now, the weight of Tiffany’s hand in hers was a solid anchor, and it thrilled Jessica. They were walking through down the busy street without anyone noticing that something had changed. It meant absolutely nothing to these people that she had held-and was holding-Tiffany’s hand as naturally as anything in the world, but it felt like there had been a shift. Something had dropped, and everything was different.
The stab of triumph in Jessica’s heart was even fiercer this time round.
Surprising Tiffany at midnight was going to be a piece of cake.
Tiffany started to speak, but Jessica couldn’t hear her through the crowd. From her expression, it didn’t seem like anything was up, but more like Tiffany making conversation, so Jessica merely shook her head and mouthed, “Can’t hear you. Later,” before surging forth again.
Where had she been? Ah, yes. Midnight plans. The midnight event, an actual “i-ben-teu”; alone in the shop, Jessica had tried out the Korean syllables on her lips and laughed. There was literally going to be cake, though not just a slice. That was too miserly.
Jessica had come up with the plan while shopping. It had been simple, really. She would call Tiffany at midnight and surprise her with her gifts. It would work. Jessica could almost see the shock on Tiffany’s face before it would dissolve into a smile, the kind that showed all her teeth and turned her eyes into smiling nothingness. As they drew up to the subway, Jessica smiled to herself just thinking about it.
Sooyoung was wrong. Tiffany wouldn't be sad; she would be overjoyed. Jessica brushed away Sooyoung's warning again, though she had heard echoes of it from Minyoung unni a long time before, even way before she and Yoona had started Be careful, Sica baby. You're a girl and sometimes, you can get too close, thinking that it's safe. And if you don't intend to, then don't hurt anyone, baby. As they pushed in to the entrance of the station, the Friday crowd grew too much, and Tiffany removed her hand gently, breaking them apart. Jessica, too, released her hand and walked on, even as her mind replayed that moment before Tiffany had allowed her hand to linger in hers.
As Jessica made her way through the turnstile, the unfamiliar shape of Tiffany’s presents nestled against her, carefully wrapped up in her bag. Jessica nodded to herself, quietly confident in anticipation again.
***
Part Two
It was past eleven that night when Jessica finally arrived at Tiffany’s apartment complex. The securit ajussi was now used to Jessica’s nocturnal visits and merely nodded her in before turning back to his evening tabloid. It was only when she stopped at the lift lobby that it suddenly occurred to Jessica-- Tiffany might not be in.
Damn. Real smart, Jung. With startling if belated clarity, the fact that Tiffany might just have gone out to celebrate her birthday dawned on Jessica. Why hadn’t she thought of this before?
Only one way to find out. Jessica fished her mobile out of her bag and scrolled expertly to Tiffany’s number, sighing at herself and Tiffany all the while.
“…Hello?” Tiffany sounded hesitant, and Jessica hesitated too, suddenly unsure of what to say.
“Hey! Umm.” Jessica paused as a new thought occurred to her. “Is this a good time?” She frowned to herself as background noise filtered in over the phone. Was Tiffany…talking to someone? Suddenly, Jessica felt the weight of her bag on her shoulders keenly. It had been a day of too many surprises and too many things she didn’t know about. Being here didn’t seem like such a smart idea after all.
“Yes! Well, kinda.” Tiffany laughed. “I was Skype-ing with my family.”
“Oh. Oh. Okay.” Jessica laughed nervously before she caught herself. “Well, umm-” She floundered, unsure how to continue. Wouldn’t it be awkward for her to wait around in Tiffany’s apartment while she talked to her family?
“I mean, but I’m done now.” Tiffany sounded like she was walking around with her phone. “So, yeah, it’s a good time. What’s up?”
Jessica let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. “So you can open the door for me?”
“What?” Tiffany laughed, but there was a pause before she spoke again. “Should I?”
“Yes.” Jessica’s tone was firm; quick as a whip, she jabbed at the lift button. “I’ll be right up, birthday girl.”
*
“You’ve got to stop using Victoria Secrets perfume, now that you’re over twenty.” Jessica deadpanned.
Tiffany shot her an incredulous look as she paused over her first unwrapped gift, a shiny daisy-shaped container of solid perfume. “Are you-are you doubting my taste?” Tiffany spluttered.
“No, I’m just improving it.” Jessica grinned unapologetically.
There was a bellow of disbelief from Tiffany, and Jessica darted forward to sweep the perfume to safety. She had chosen solid perfume for Tiffany because she was convinced that it was more practical, easier to carry around, and harder to shatter than any vial of liquid perfume. She wasn’t going to have herself proved wrong so soon. Even though they were both cross-legged on the floor, Jessica wasn't sure how sturdy a limited Marc Jacobs anything ould prove to be, and she wasn't going to test it. In her hand, the bottle clattered safely to her side.
“Hey, I worked hard choosing this perfume!” That was somewhat true. Testing perfumes had soon turned Jessica dizzy, and in the end, she had gone with a light summery scent, a failsafe choice. It didn’t hurt that Jessica herself was fond of the perfume too.
“Well, I happen to like my old one just fine,” Tiffany sniffed, even as she carefully reached to roll her gift over again. “Not to mention, who insults someone on their birthday, anyway?”
Jessica laughed; she knew that Tiffany wasn’t really angry. “But I got you cake!” she pointed out. True, there wasn’t much evidence left to back her up. Nonetheless, there had been cake, and candles (lit with the help of Tiffany’s lighter), and even a birthday song that Jessica had rushed out at lightning speed, slightly embarrassed to be singing it by herself, until Tiffany had laughed and hummed along at the end.
“That’s true,” Tiffany hmm-ed, and fell silent as she spun her gift gently around on the floor.
“Thank you.”
Jessica looked up. There, there was the smile she had been waiting for, the one that had stayed at the corners of Tiffany’s lips all the while before, and that now bloomed all the way to her eyes.
“No prob--My pleasure.”
Tiffany continued toying with her perfume, and Jessica folded her hands around her legs, content to watch her for a while.
*
“Hey,” Jessica said, finally breaking the easy silence. “Don’t you wanna see your other gift?”
Tiffany’s head bobbed up, startled. “Another gift? Who’s it from?”
“Me.” Jessica rolled her eyes and retrieved the other wrapped box from her bag behind her. “Here. I mean, happy birthday again?” Jessica laughed. “I don’t know.”
Tiffany's hands were slow as she unwrapped the gift carefully, and she shot Jessica a doubtful look. Once it was open, Tiffany only looked more doubtfully at the sleek little canister in the box. “Uhh--?”
“Pepper spray,” Jessica said briskly, leaning back on her hands. “Because I can’t trust you to throw a punch.”
“Hey!” Tiffany was at risk of exploding again, and Jessica quickly changed the subject. The pepper spray had reminded her of the police station, the pimp stupid enough to get in Tiffany’s way, and--and the Han river. Jessica reached for Tiffany's free hand, her thumb running over the wrist. “How’s your wrist?”
Tiffany looked at her, and Jessica felt it. Tiffany glanced at her, and Jessica knew it. A quick look up at Tiffany--and Tiffany's glance was caught, a soft blink of indecision, as soft as the underside of her wrist. Lips slightly parted, not knowing where to draw the line--or if a line needed to be drawn. That made Jessica pause too. Her own lips parted, herself now unsure. They were caught in the moment, teetering towards a decision, and revelation.
The sudden realization that her heart was beating hard and fast surprised even Jessica herself. Why had she reached for Tiffany's hand without thinking?
You know, a treacherous voice whispered inside her head. You do know why. But there was a faint curl of indictment to the whisper, of moral judgement that came in black and white, and Jessica pushed the voice down with equal violence.
There they stayed as if turned into statues, afraid to move. Jessica was afraid to even breathe too deeply. Tiffany had looked down, her eyes now partially hidden by her bangs, and she seemed enraptured by the pepper spray can in her hands. Between them it sat, neglected, while Tiffany blinked once, and then again. Jessica paused, unsure where to put her own hands and her eyes now. Even her legs curled up like this on Tiffany's floor seemed like an intrusion.
And why should she not move? A flame of rebellion licked into life. The thought had come from nowhere, but Jessica didn't push it away this time. Tiffany had been more acquiescent to her touch lately, but Tiffany never asked for any herself. She had never shown a sign that--that Jessica's touch was to be anything more than endured, perhaps accepted. Jessica felt her cheeks grow heated, her heartbeat thudding insistently. She wanted something, anything, an affirmation of some sort.
She wanted Tiffany to respond. To turn to her, instead of staying still.
"Tiff--" Swift as a snake, Jessica turned Tiffany's wrist over again, this time deliberately, with gentle pressure from her thumb. "Tiff." Jessica's fingers grazed over Tiffany's wrist, playing with her. Would she be able to feel her pulse?
"Aren't you going to try the perfume...Tiff?"
"--Sica." Jessica saw, from beneath her lashes, that Tiffany swallowed before she could speak.
"Sica--"
Jessica did not take her eyes away from Tiffany, flicking them from her lips to her throat, then to her wrist, where her fingers still lingered.
"Hmm?"
"Sica--stop."
Jessica froze, her gaze flying back to Tiffany's eyes warily. There was nothing to be learnt there that Jessica wanted. Now, it was Tiffany who was trying to keep her gaze steady, even as her voice had been a whisper.
"Sica. Please." Jessica felt trapped, caught like an animal in headlights where she was. Had she heard wrongly? Should she drop Tiffany's hand? Tiffany's hand shifted away from hers, and Jessica felt like she was slipping away from her.
"Why?"
Jessica's whisper was fierce, harsher in the silence than she had intended.
Why, indeed. Why should she stop, when Tiffany's presence meant that she didn't not want Jessica around her? Jessica's thoughts were jumbled, but she didn't need them when instinct took over. She wanted to close the distance between herself and Tiffany. She wanted to mean something to Tiffany.
"Really, Tiff?" Jessica's murmur was low as she paused, and then she shifted and leaned in on her hands closer to Tiffany, dipping her head nearer to hers. "Really?" In Jessica's mind, a feverish jumble of voices yelled at her in big bold letters to step back, but she swept them aside.
"Really…Tiffany?" Jessica whispered.
"…Jessica."
Tiffany's jaw clenched in a familiar way, and Jessica saw the tremble of her lips. Jessica's own lips ghosted into a smile, breathy in anticipation and triumph. "Tiffany." Slowly, she bowed her head and leaned in, intending to come to rest somewhere in between her cheek and the corner of her lips.
"Hap--"
"No. Fuck, stop it, Sica."
Tiffany jerked away so fast that Jessica would have fallen, had Tiffany's hand not shot out to steady her in a painful grip. The pepper spray hit the floor with a loud clang.
"What's wrong with you?" Tiffany's cry was an explosion of rage, and it jarred on Jessica's pride. “What--what d’you mean, what’s wrong with me?” Jessica bit out, now equally angry and ashamed.
Tiffany stared, and her voice was a snarl of anger. “You-you have Yoona. Remember?" Jessica flinched, but Tiffany continued, her grip still tight around Jessica's arm. "You're with her, so--" Tiffany closed her eyes. Her grip on Jessica's arm gradually relaxed. "--So God help me. You have Yoona." Her anger took on an edge of helplessness. "Don't do this, Jess. I--I can't."
It was like being betrayed, Jessica thought. For Tiffany to remember Yoona. For Tiffany to remind her--and to show her what she was doing. Jessica didn't want to think about how Tiffany must view her. She wouldn't. Jessica bit her lower lip, and remained silent.
"I can't--always be the good one, Sica," Tiffany finally whispered, soft and bitter. "So don't make me--"
"--Not on my birthday. It's not fair."
***
[End Chapter 6]
Author's note:: After more than a year of a love-hate "Please cooperate so I can finish my story and move on" relationship with JeTi…at least we know whom Jessica was messaging in the previous chapter! And did you spot another Soshi member to be mentioned in this fic? ;)
To my betas: Thank you, as always. For listening, for telling me when I'm over-thinking, for giving me things to think about, and for combing through this again and again. ♥ One day, Pororo girl will get ice-cream from Hyo. :')
To readers who're still with us, I only have my apologies for the long wait. (You probably had to re-read the previous chapters, huh?) To new readers, hello~ And to all readers--stay tuned for Jessica's midnight plans. Will JeTi get together? Will YoonSic prevail? And will dancesands finish this darned thing before next Christmas? (I hope so. I really do.)
(ETA) Author's Note No. 2: What a way to end the year (or to start it, depending on when you read this) with a bang! It was only as I was writing this that I realized how much of an inversion of ERT, ELT this follow-up story was, and yet for such different characterization reasons. But how else would Jessica "Go with the flow, and I'll decide my goals as I go along" Jung and Tiffany "Do the right thing!" Hwang have ended up, anyway? One more chapter to go, and we can finally put their story to rest. Happy New Year, readers!