No one mentioned about the argument at the dinner. They joked about the photos that Hyoyeon and Yuri posted. They joked about Sooyoung mishaps. They joked about Tiffany’s hilarious dates.

But when the desserts arrived, Tiffany started the topic.

“I’m really sorry about how I behaved that day.” Tiffany said, looking apologetic. Taeyeon knew Tiffany rarely apologized.

“Don’t be”, Taeyeon replied softly, “you waited me for an hour to have breakfast and I wasn’t exactly considerate.”

“Hmmm”, Tiffany hummed. Taeyeon noticed her pressing her lips together tightly. The latter obviously wanted to say something.

“You can ask me anything you know?” Taeyeon stated. Sunny was right.

Tiffany looked up at her in surprise.

“I know you want to ask me something. Shoot.”

“I don’t know what to say exactly…” Tiffany trailed off, her eyes focusing on her ice cream instead of Taeyeon. “ I don’t want you to misunderstand.”

“I won’t.” Taeyeon responded calmly, trying to let Tiffany’s guard down. The girl was tense.

“Why did it take you long to be comfortable with me?” 

“What?”

“I mean, you slept over at your director’s apartment even though you only knew her two weeks. You couldn’t even talk comfortably with me for a month.”,Tiffany finally dropped the bomb.

“You weren’t yourself.”

“What?”

Taeyeon looked at the passersby across the glass pane of the restaurant. Images of Tiffany she first met came to her like a flash, “When we first met, you weren’t yourself. You had this façade that you wanted people to see instead of your true self.”

“…”

Taeyeon decided to be honest. They both needed to be as honest as they can get. “I felt it. Frankly speaking, I didn’t want to hang out with people who weren’t honest with me. We only live once. I don’t want to give my time to someone who’s not genuine with me.”

 “What made you continue being friends with me?”, Tiffany’s voice held an edge. She didn’t like what she heard. She didn’t like it because it was true.So true it hurts. 

“You cried.” Taeyeon remembered her heart breaking at the sight of Tiffany breaking down after the confrontation at the toilet that particular day. Her crying was still fresh in her memory.

“…”

“You cried your heart out mourning for your loss time trying to please everybody.” Taeyeon spoke wistfully. She turned to look at Tiffany, “I realized you didn’t actually want that attention you received as much as I thought you would.”

“Don’t judge the book by its cover.”

Taeyeon smiled and raised her hands guiltily, “Yeah, I apologize. It was my mistake. I shouldn’t have.”

“I wasn’t exactly honest with you either like you said. So I can’t blame you.” Tiffany responded. That much was true.

“How about now?”

“Now you’re one of my very good friends. We hanged out practically every day last month, didn’t we? I wouldn’t have hanged out with you that much if I wasn’t comfortable with you.” Tiffany smiled, reminiscing about how they first met. She could still remember the feeling of her fascination of a girl sitting on the bench, focused on her sketchbook. Her eyes though, it was captivating. That's what got her attention. Her beautifly shining onyx eyes. 

"I feel you. I cannot even have a decent conversation with classmates, much less strangers." 

“Yet, you comfortably spent a night at a stranger’s apartment.” Tiffany pointed out as if Taeyeon forgot what happened. She’s still couldn’t get over it.

“Miyeon-unnie’s not a stranger.” Taeyeon replied.

 “Then why? Why did it only two weeks for you to be comfortable with her?” 

“I’m not that comfortable with her. It was very late and I had a few drinks. It’s not good for a female driver to drive that late. Her and my place are 45 minutes apart.”

“Hmph.” Tiffany frowned, she was still jealous. Taeyeon hadn't even slept over at her house.

“Why are you comparing yourself with her? You both are different. She’s a respectful senior I have to work with for another five weeks. That’s all.”

“I still feel you’re not that comfortable around me.”

“You’re not exactly either.” Taeyeon retorted.

Tiffany pouted. Taeyeon chuckled and reached out to pat Tiffany’s hand.

“Relax. We still have a long way ahead of us. It’s gonna be fine.”

Nope

It’s not fine

Not fine at all

_____

“I swear that Director of hers is deliberately making her stay.” Tiffany muttered as she ended the call. Taeyeon called her to inform her that she had to stay at the museum to help Sunny’s aunt with some work. Apparently, she volunteered along with Sunny.

“It’s her job, Fany.. I’m sure they have a lot to work over there. It’s Leeum. Besides, even her best friend who’s the niece is staying overtime.”

“She’s part-time, Soo!”

“Technically, she is but in reality, she’s not. She’s treating it as an internship, right? You told me about that the other day.”

“I shouldn’t have supported when she told me she wants to work full time there during the break.” Tiffany mumbled, “Now she doesn’t have time for me.”

“Do you like her?”

“Yeah, I do. She’s a good friend.” Tiffany responded calmly.

“That’s not what I’m asking, you know it.” Sooyoung rolled her eyes.

“Can you stop asking stupid questio