The next morning.
I'll pick you up at 10am. Lunch together while briefing you for the main event later.
Received 8:46am
Tiffany unconsciously smiled after reading Taeyeon's text.
Sure. See you later. xo
Sent 8:47am
Seriously, Tiffany? Must you reply that fast? Geez! And with xo? Ain't I too whipped? Tiffany's scolding herself after reading her own reply to Taeyeon.
The brunette may not admit it to herself but she knows deep down, she's definitely feeling something else for Taeyeon. There's this need inside of her that wanting too see the blonde all the time.
Then maybe, it's because she feels safe everytime the blonde is around. Feeling safe in someone's presence is a different type of intimacy. That feeling of peace and protection is really underrated nowadays. People do dates to escape the loneliness inside of them even if they don't feel safe at all. They just want someone to accompany them. To keep them away from loneliness. But for Tiffany, she wanted to date that someone who makes her feel comfortable and safe like as if there's no problem and obstacles in the world at all.
And it's crazy how she found it on Taeyeon. She has been a fan of Taeyeon since the very beginning of Taeyeon's career. And she must admit that the blonde's talent and attitude are the reason why she has a crush on her before.
Five years ago, Taeyeon's fangirls are turning into gay because of her handsome features. That jawline is what Tiffany like the most. Taeyeon's deamenor is so sexy to even avoid it. And if someone really avoided it, those are the people with no jam. Because how could you not notice someone who has a strong stage presence? The stage is where Taeyeon can portray different emotions. It's so natural that the audience always love to see her standing on the stage.
Once upon a time, five years ago, Taeyeon is the crowd favorite. And being the crowd favorite doesn't just benefit her. Because of her popularity, many jealous people started to look for her weakness and bash her with it. Until the Taeyeon that once recognize by everyone just disappeared. No one knows what happened to her and where she is.
Tiffany sighed in frustration. It could be a better life if people don't bring other people down just because they're jealous and can't do the same thing. Taeyeon doesn't deserve that.
Just on cue, Tiffany's phone rang for an incoming call. It's the person that's been running in her mind. She must've felt that I'm thinking of her.
"I'm at the parking lot. I'll wait you here." Tiffany heard Taeyeon's gentle voice that she likes the most. Who would've thought that she will have this rare opportunity? I'm lucky!
"Hey! You're early. I'm just finishing my make up. Will be done there at 5." Tiffany replied while applying her final touch of make up.
"Wouldn't want my dear princess to wait. Okay, 5 mins. Don't put heavy make up, Fany-ah. You're beautiful even without wearing it. See you later." Tiffany heard Taeyeon's chuckle before the blonde hang up. She didn't even wait for the brunette to answer. Then again, if Taeyeon didn't hang up, what will Tiffany say? That she's loving the way Taeyeon compliment her because she loves Taeyeon now?
And geez! She called me Fany-ah! And fucking hell! She just addressed me as her princess! Help, please! I'm falling deeper.
Tiffany sighed. It is indeed too fast for her to feel something strange and address it as what people call, love.
Tiffany walk down at the parking lot to see Taeyeon leaning on her car with a sunglasses in her eyes. Damn! She's so fine.
"Good morning, Ms. Hwang." Taeyeon greeted with a bow.
"Yah! I told you to stop doing that." Tiffany pouted.
"You're cute." Taeyeon chuckled. "Please get in." The blonde then opened the door for Tiffany.
"Why do you always have your ways to flutter my heart?" Tiffany stated out of nowhere. She saw Taeyeon staring at her, and the way the blonde stare at her is like a slap of realization. Why did you say that, Tiffany? Oh no!
Taeyeon cleared her throat and said, "Maybe because you're already falling for my charms?" Taeyeon joked as she laughed.
"Stop it." The brunette whined.
"Didn't I told you not to fall for me on the very first meeting we had, Ms. Hwang?" Taeyeon calmly reminded. In fact, it's too calm that it sounded dangerous.
"D-did you s-say that?" Tiffany stuttered in nervousness, because damn! She had fallen!
"I did. You don't remember?" Taeyeon tilted her head cutely.
"I don't." Tiffany pouted. Maybe that's why I fallen for her? No! I fallen in love with her because I suddenly felt emotions and feelings that I had never felt before.
"Didn't know you have a poor memory, Ms. Hwang. Can you at least get in the car now?" Taeyeon offered the passenger seat again but this time, she bowed slightly while offering it.
"Yah! Stop doing that." Tiffany complained before sitting at the passenger seat. Stop doing that. You're just making me fall deeper for you.
---
After a long silence of drive, they arrived at Taeyeon's unit. Tiffany stared at Taeyeon in confusion. The blonde had felt the confuse stare so she tilted her head to Tiffany and smiled.
"We will do the briefings here." Taeyeon said.
"Why here?" Tiffany pouted. Memories come rushing in her mind. Taeyeon kissed her inside that unit. I repeat, Taeyeon kissed her here!
"We were supposed to brief you at the restaurant. I already booked our reservation as well. But Minho suggested to just brief you in my unit because it's a lot more safe. I would still insist to do it on the restaurant that I booked but Seohyun agreed to the rascal. If Seohyun agreed then it should be the best." Taeyeon explained as she shrugged her shoulders coolly.
"Why? Is there any problem? Sorry if I forgot to ask your opinion about it. I apologise for this rush decision." Taeyeon apologize in a formal manner.
"No, it's okay. It's just that..." Seeing your unit reminds me the taste of your lips! And everytime I am reminded how heavenly that is, I want nothing but to press mine to yours.
Seeing Tiffany's ridiculous expression, she thought that the brunette is still thinking about Yuri's nasty escapade in her living room so she tried to ease her somehow.
"Are you still worried about Yuri's escapades in our unit?" Taeyeon pouted.
"I'm sorry. That thing wouldn't happen again. At least not when you're in our unit." Taeyeon tried to assure the brunette.
"It's uh... okay?" Tiffany replied in amusement.
"You sure? Can we get inside now?" Taeyeon offered.
"Sure."
"Taeyeon noona is taking too much of time." Minho commented with a pout.
"You still have a lot of time. Besides, every minute we spend is getting paid." Seohyun replied as a matter of fact.
"Yah! I know, okay? I'm just kinda hungry now." Minho pouted again.
"Stop pouting." Seohyun complained.
"Bored?" Taeyeon suddenly showed up with Tiffany in front of them.
"Yah! Taeyeon-ah! You startled me." Yuri complained from the kitchen.
"How did I even startle you? You're too far away." The blonde rolled her eyes.
"I'm cooking your lunch, okay? So be kind to me if you don't want me to spit on your food." Yuri warned.
"I dare you to try and die." Taeyeon smirked at her before offering a sit to Tiffany beside her.
"You're really evil." Tiffany shook her head.
"So? You like it." The blonde whined like a kid.
"You're cute, unnie." Seohyun chuckled softly.
Taeyeon cleared her throat after hearing that then she sat up straight. Everyone laughed at the sudden change of behavior. They are all aware that Taeyeon doesn't like to act cute. She doesn't even like to hear it.
"Shall we start?" Taeyeon spoke her usual calm voice to avert their attention.
"Of course, noona. So let's begin with the taking over of the positions." Minho started while he's spreading the documents to the ladies.
Tiffany is reading the documents in her hands and she still can't believe that she's the CEO until she saw her name written below. She thought she's just dreaming when she saw Hwang Publishing Corps at the very top of the first page.
This is indeed a dream come true for her. Her parents are probably proud of her, if only they're still alive. She sighed. Appa, Eomma, we did it. Please guide me and Taeyeon.
"That's a flawless plan we got there, Secretary Choi. Great job! And you too, Seohyun-ah. You did great, baby Seo." Taeyeon shook Minho's hand whilst she patted Seohyun's head like a kid who just got a star in her hand and showed it to her mom.
"What do you think, Ms. Hwang?" Minho asked for Tiffany's opinion.
"It's great! Like what Taeyeon said, it's flawless. I would love to do this. Thank you." Tiffany shook Minho's hand to thank him. She then hugged Seohyun as she whispered her thanks to the lady.
"Noona, shall we eat first before heading to the venue?" Minho requested. He's been hungry since he stepped at Taeyeon's unit.
"Of course, Minho-ah. Yuri-ah! How's the food doing?" Taeyeon asked the tan who is busy cooking for their lunch.
"Almost ready. Wait for 5 minutes more." Yuri shouted from the kitchen.
"Tiffany unnie, I would like to apologize for suggesting Taeyeon unnie's unit to brief you. This is the safest place to discuss this important thing so far. And to be more cautious with Taeyeon unnie's identity. We wouldn't want anyone to know about her." Seohyun explained to Tiffany on why did they chose Taeyeon's unit instead of any places outside.
"It's fine, Seohyun-ah. I'm totally fine with it. If it's the safest then it's better. I honestly wanted to thank you and Minho for considering my safety and Taeyeon's. It means a lot to me. And thank you so much for your hard work." Tiffany thanked them sincerely.
"No need to thank us, noona. We're just doing our job." Minho replied to Tiffany.
"Still, thank you. Without you, we can't do this." Tiffany insisted. After hearing it, they smiled widely, accepting her thanks to them. It's heartwarming how Tiffany thanked them even if she doesn't have to. This girls know to appreciate little things. She's precious.
"Everyone, the food is ready. Let's dig in." Yuri shouted from the kitchen. And all four pair of feets came to her.
They ate their lunch peacefully. And believe it or not, Minho and Yuri didn't talked at all. They're just eating eagerly.
---
"How are you feeling?" Taeyeon asked as she sat beside Tiffany. The blonde just finished helping Yuri to wash the dishes they used.
"I'm nervous. Taeyeon-ah, can you give me a piece of advice please?" Tiffany requested to the blonde.
Taeyeon smiled and said, "Tiffany, like I told you before, it's fine to feel nervous. It's normal. We're humans and all of us can feel that. But don't you ever let it eat you up and turn you into a coward you're not. Me personally, whenever I feel nervous ragging in my system, I always think of it as an adrenaline rush instead. With the mindset of adrenaline rush, it makes me thirsty for taking a risk and winning it." Taeyeon explained calmly but for Tiffany's point of view, it sounded so brilliant and inspiring.
"Doesn't adrenaline rush makes you rush things too?" Tiffany asked.
"It depends on you, Tiffany. Your mind, and your body will tell you when to be fast and when to be slow." Taeyeon mysteriously stated.
"What do you mean? Isn't it winning fast is better? The faster the better you get?" Tiffany curiously asked.
"Tiffany, this is your story. Your life. It doesn't matter if you're fast or slow. As long as you're enjoying and learning, then you're winning. This is not a race, Tiffany. Go your own pace. You'll get there eventually." Taeyeon adviced to the brunette who is tilting her head cutely, watching Taeyeon carefully.
"Watching yourself improve and grow is such a beautiful sight you never want to miss." Taeyeon stated proudly.
"You seem so proud, Taengoo-ah. I want that too. I wanna be proud and brag about myself confidently." Tiffany pouted.
"Are you proud, Taeyeon?" Yuri spoke who just joined them with some desserts in her hands. On her back is Seohyun and Minho, carrying some desserts too.
"I am, Yuri-ah. You know it. You've seen it. I'm proud of the woman I am now. My mindset and priorities had changed. My tolerance had changed. My goals had changed. I'm evolving and I'm so proud of it. I can handle my emotions better than before." Taeyeon passionately explained. And all of them in that room are very proud of her as well. They love seeing this. Especially that Taeyeon rarely speak about it.
"But you're still alone, noona. Aren't you planning to look for someone to keep you company for the rest of your life?" Minho suggested.
"If settling down is only for wanting someone to company me, then I wouldn't take it. I can be happy and enjoy my own company alone. I don't need anyone to keep me company." Taeyeon replied.
"Yah! Why would you say that to Taeyeon? You know that she preferred being alone, you rascal." Yuri shook her head teasingly to Minho.
"Unnie, I am loving the feeling of being alone too nowadays. It's more peaceful for me." Seohyun commented. Because like what she said, she indeed loves it whenever she's alone nowadays. Her mind is peaceful, everything is peaceful.
"That's right, Seohyun-ah. You're indeed my Seo baby." Taeyeon winked cutely at her donsaeng.
"How can you enjoy being alone?" Yuri asked the question she's been wanting to ask her best friend for long now. She just can't ask before because she thought that Taeyeon doesn't want to talk about it. But seeing the blonde openly explaining to Seohyun and Tiffany, she took her chance to ask.
"For me, I'm enjoying it because there's no one around to disturb me or alter any of my emotions. Everything is just up to me. No one is there to misunderstand and judge me. It's peaceful, like what Seohyun said. A peace I don't feel often with other human beings." Taeyeon explained with a cute expression on her face.
"But you're slightly opening up again, noona. Like now. Does that mean you enjoy our company too?" Minho made a toothy grin.
"Who says I never enjoyed your company?" Taeyeon laughed at him.
The blonde may not admit, but they all know that Taeyeon is surely healing. And she's becoming more comfortable with people around her. Yuri is so thankful for Tiffany's appearance, because Taeyeon may not tell her, but the tan knew that her best friend is coming back. The Taeyeon she once knew before is coming back. But this time, she is stronger. Indestructible.
---
"Tiffany unnie, are you ready?" Seohyun asked the brunette. They are now at the room in front of the lobby in Tiffany's Hwang Publishing Company.
Tiffany could hear lots of footsteps outside. She can hear the loud chattering of the reports and some businessmen outside too.
"Where's Taeyeon?" Tiffany asked instead. The only thing she needs right now is Taeyeon's presence to cheer her up. She just wanted to see Taeyeon's face to tell herself to do her best because this blonde believes in her. And she would never want to see disappointment in those precious eyes of Taeyeon. The same eyes that saw potential in her.
"She's outside, unnie. She can't stand on the stage with you tonight. We can't let the reporters capture her and find out her secret." Seohyun explained.
"But... I need to see her." Tiffany pouted.
"I'm sorry, unnie. We can't let her get inside of this room. It will only attract the attention of the people outside." Seohyun gently explained to Tiffany. The young lady knew what Tiffany meant by wanting to see Taeyeon. Because she felt that before on her first trial in court.
"You said she's outside. How can they not see her?" Tiffany asked again. Seohyun almost chuckled. Taeyeon's right. Tiffany has a lot of questions to ask.
"Unnie, Taeyeon unnie can handle that. Besides, she wouldn't sit beside the other businessmen and businesswomen. She will stand up on the far end, blending with the employees to be less suspicious. She's wearing a normal clothes too." Seohyun explained once again. But she can't handle seeing Tiffany moving at her seat anxiously. It's making her anxious as well.
"Okay, let me call her for you." The young lady dialled her blonde unnie's number. After just three rings, Taeyeon immediately answered.
"Unnie, Tiffany unnie wanted to see you first but I already explained her why she couldn't for now. So I just called you. At least she could hear your voice. Is it okay?" Seohyun explained to the person on the other line.
Meanwhile, while Seohyun is explaining, Taeyeon is walking away from the crowd, she walk outside just to talk to Tiffany.
"Thank you, Seohyun-ah. Give her the phone." Taeyeon requested.
"Hey!" Tiffany greeted.
"Hey, how are you feeling?"
"I'm nervous."
"That's normal, Fany-ah. I'm watching down there huh? Don't worry, Seohyun and Minho are there beside you to help if you needed. I'll support you there with the crowd." Taeyeon soothed the nervous lady.
"I know, Taeyeon-ah. I'll do my best. I will make you proud." Tiffany said determined.
"I'm proud of you, Fany. I know you'll do your best. I'll be watching, okay? Fighting!" Taeyeon cheered her.
"Fighting!" Tiffany also cheered before hanging up.
After the heartfelt warming phone call with Taeyeon, Tiffany felt relief. She took a deep breath, readying herself.
"Are you ready, noona? Shall we start?" Minho gently asked, trying not to add on her nervousness.
"Let's go." Tiffany confidently said.
Seohyun and Minho watch her in surprise. Just a while ago, they both swear that they saw her fidgeting in nervousness. She kept on moving on her seat anxiously, and couldn't calm her self down. So this is what Taeyeon does huh?
Seohyun and Minho are now wondering what did Taeyeon told her to be this confident after just a phone call. But unknown to them, Tiffany's just looking for Taeyeon's presence. And with the phone call, she felt completely confident. She's determined to make Taeyeon proud.
***
Thank you for reading! 🇵🇭❣️