a/n: Merry Christmas! :)

 

 

—–

 
 
Tiffany was breathless.

 

Her lungs were tearing themselves inside her chest, her bones were trembling and her knees had turned weak. The pink lightstick she had on her grip was the only thing keeping her grounded, and while it was a bit dark in the small hall that held hundreds of people holding the same penlight, the woman on the stage looked like a beacon, brighter than any light she had seen on the set tonight.

 

Her friend Yuri tugged at the sleeve of her sweater and Tiffany finally breathed, blinking as she desperately tried to bring herself back to the venue.

 

“Oh my God,” she let out in awe, “that was a really good show.”

 

Yuri pulled her up from her chair, dragging her down the stairs towards the stage. They bowed to a few fans who recognized them, smiling politely at the cameras being pointed to them.

 

“Right?!” The taller woman gushed. “I thought watching for the second time wouldn’t feel as good as the first but wow, just… Wow.”

 

Yuri’s excitement was becoming even more palpable as the security led them towards the backstage, into a busy hall and finally to a private dressing room.

 

Tae Yeon, the sign on the door indicated, and Tiffany tried to say the name in her head a couple of times, wringing her hands at her unusual nervousness as the hulking security guy opened the door.
 
 
—–
 
 
“Taeyeon-ssi, this is my friend, Tiffany.”

 

As soon as their eyes met, Tiffany was swept by a feeling she couldn’t quite place. It was foreign, but it felt nice, like warm sheets on a cold winter morning. The woman’s eyes were dark and bright at the same time, and it reminded her of hot chocolate swirling in her favorite pink mug.

 

Yuri pulled on her and she could only follow blindly, stopping a mere two feet away from a shy crooked grin and an outstretched hand that she took almost immediately.

 

The woman’s hands were as warm as her eyes.

 

“Hi, Taeyeon-ssi.”

 

The small smile Tiffany gave was rewarded by a polite one.

 

“Hello. I hope you enjoyed the show, Tiffany-ssi.”

 

“I did! It was great!”

 

“Ah, I’m glad.” The woman sighed comically, obviously in relief. “I get nervous whenever people visit me back here. Because it’s either they’re here to tell me I did good or I so bad they just had to come and inform me about it.”

 

The laugh that came out of Tiffany was so rich that she even surprised herself, because it was the kind of laugh that was so unguarded, it only came out in the presence of her family or close friends. She didn’t expect such humor from the woman who just owned the world a few minutes ago with the sole power of her voice, but it was such a nice surprise in an industry where everyone was too serious almost every time.

 

Her friend Yuri wasn’t doing any better, grinning too widely beside her in her obvious girl crush.

 

“You were wonderful, Taeyeon-ssi,” Tiffany finally said as the laughter died down, squeezing the hand she realized that she was still holding.
 
 

———
———

 
 
News of Taeyeon’s successful concerts were all over the news—TV, radio, newspapers—practically every media outlet available. There wasn’t a day where Tiffany wouldn’t hear the singer’s latest title track playing in public. Just this morning, chart topper I was playing in the cafe she usually gets her latte from.

 

And now that she’s in her office, she could faintly hear one of her editors listening to Taeyeon’s song in his headphones in full volume.

 

Tiffany chuckled to herself as she met with her assistant who was waiting by her office door carrying a vase of flowers. The woman followed her inside before dumping the huge arrangement on her desk.

 

“Moncler Ginza sent these flowers as thanks for being at their Tokyo boutique opening even in short notice,” the woman said with a grunt. Tiffany turned to the arrangement and smiled at the abundance of pink flowers.

 

“Aw, they’re pretty,” she said as she took a whiff. “Send back a Thank You card later. Anything else?”

 

The woman pulled something from her arm and carefully gave it to her.

 

“These came for you from SM Entertainment.”

 

Tiffany’s eyebrows shot up in interest, taking the packet cautiously from her equally curious assistant as she sat on her chair. She held the weighted package in her hands, thinking of what the entertainment giant would even send her.

 

“Do we have a project with SM, or…?”

 

“No, nothing at all. The package just came by itself. No note, no request for anything.”

 

Tiffany only hummed in response.

 

After much deliberation, she tore the plastic packaging carefully, tipping it over until what she thought were two thick books slid out onto her desk. A small card fell off when she shook the packet. ‘As thanks for coming to my show,’ it read.

 

Tiffany smiled as she picked up the pastel pink object from her desk. It was a signed copy of Taeyeon’s album.
 
 
—–
 
 
Tiffany and Yuri ignored all the cameras pointed at their direction, half-used to the circumstance, half-tired of giving a damn. They were good friends, met in the same industry years ago in a beneficial project that spearheaded their rise to fame and success. Tiffany’s fashion magazine had just started then, gaining recognition and popularity steadily in the fashion community, while Yuri had just been discovered as a modeling prodigy.

 

Their work relationship had always been coveted in the industry, their close friendship even more. Lately people have been speculating about the true nature of their relationship, but that always happened with attractive, notable people who were always seen together.

 

Tiffany almost rolled her eyes when she heard someone squeal when Yuri playfully opened the restaurant doors for her, jabbing her friend on the ribs with her elbow when she finally walked beside her. She elbowed her again when the taller girl threw her arm around her shoulder.

 

Tiffany sighed, defeated. “I’m blaming you if we end up on Dispatch’s front page again,” she scolded.

 

She heard Yuri chuckle as she guided them towards their table.

 

“We’re old news, Fany. They won’t waste their time on us again.”

 

“Well in case we do, you’re doing your next photo shoot for me for free.”

 

They plopped on their chairs and Tiffany almost laughed at Yuri’s constipated face.

 

“Fine. But you’re paying tonight.”

 

“My pleasure, Miss Kwon.”
 
 
—–
 
 
“Okay, I’m done eating. Please give it to me.”

 

Tiffany had to laugh at how Yuri’s almost vibrating in her seat, at how hard she was trying to stay calm the whole time they were eating. Earlier that day, she had called her friend about the signed albums Taeyeon had sent to her office, telling the girl that she had a copy too. Yuri screamed like she was giving birth to twins.

 

Just the memory of it had Tiffany chuckling while having dessert.

 

“Come on, Fany. Don’t be mean.”

 

After Tiffany’s last bite, she finally relented. “Fine. Here, you fangirl.”

 

Yuri’s eyes glazed over as she held the album reverently, rubbing her face on the cover while Tiffany tried her best not to laugh out loud. She kicked Yuri on the shin to get her to stop, but the girl was shameless.

 

If any of their photos appear on gossip sites tomorrow, she hoped one of them was of Yuri rubbing her face against Taeyeon’s signature.
 
 

———
———

 
 
Apparently, Tiffany was a bit psychic, because the photo of Yuri’s admiration towards Taeyeon’s album was all over gossip and entertainment sites the next day. She had cackled her way throughout the day because of it, until she had to go to the opening of this year’s Fashion Week in the evening, which Yuri had decided to skip because of embarrassment.

 

She was conversing with a few designers just passed the red carpet when she noticed the photographers clamoring towards the entrance. She craned her head to see who arrived and was pleasantly surprised to see the singer Taeyeon walking towards the photo wall, looking so adorably awkward with her shy smile. The woman was dressed in an all black ensemble, with a bright blue blazer covering her torso.

 

Taeyeon looked really good, Tiffany thought fleetingly.
 
 
—–
 
 
“Hi!”

 

Taeyeon leapt from her seat and Tiffany was instantly apologetic, giving the woman the smile that she used whenever she wanted to get out of something.

 

In a split second, the singer had managed to show a plethora of facial expressions—from shock to confusion to a look of recognition, and it was all so adorable that Tiffany had to remind herself a couple of times that it was rude to stare.

 

“T-Tiffany-ssi?” The woman finally said after a handful of seconds, her face starting to regain a healthy color much to Tiffany’s relief. She immediately sat down beside her and apologized profusely.

 

“Sorry, I was just surprised to see you here, Taeyeon-ssi,” she said. She couldn’t help but laugh at the grimace that instantly appeared on Taeyeon’s face.

 

“My company thought it was a good idea for me to attend public events after my concerts. I’m the most fashion-crippled person in the country, I don’t even know why I agreed to go to a fashion show,” the singer groaned.

 

Tiffany laughed. “I don’t think I can believe that. You look absolutely stunning tonight.”

 

The singer blushed. “Ah, it’s my stylist,” she said, voice suddenly turning soft. “She makes sure I look good before I go out in public.”

“Well she did a fantastic job.”

 

“I’ll be sure to tell her that. Thank you.”
 
 
—–
 
 
She ended up accompanying Taeyeon the whole night until the short after party, worried that the singer would die of boredom for just being there. She invited her to the bar for a couple of drinks, where they were now engaged in an amusing conversation.

 

“Fashion shows are created just so a few people can dress a bunch of other people in mismatching clothes and call them art,” Tiffany said smugly, cradling her fourth martini while Taeyeon was trying her best not to spit her beer.

 

“I don’t think you’re supposed to say that,” the singer snorted, eyeing the people around them in case one of them had heard what the fashion icon had just said.

 

“What? It’s true.”

 

“I’m not doubting that, but people will hear you.”

 

“So?”

 

She watched as Taeyeon’s eyes widened comically.

 

“You’re quite the rebel, aren’t you?” The singer said in awe. Tiffany giggled at how adorable she looked.

 

“You haven’t seen anything yet,” she teased, downing her martini in one gulp.
 
 
—–
 
 
The next day, Tiffany was greeted by a huge arrangement of pink and white flowers in her office, with a small card that made her smile from ear to ear.

 

Thank you for accompanying me, and for not making me look like a lost kid last night. :)

– Taeyeon

 

 

———
———

 
 
Fashion Week had been brutal for everyone, especially for Tiffany who painstakingly attended each and every runway show she could while sending some of her staff to others she couldn’t. By the end of the week, her desk had become a home to piles and piles of photos and editorial mock ups waiting for her feedback and approval, along with a bunch more flower arrangements from designers and brands that were too happy to have her appearance in their shows.

 

It took days before everything was checked and proofread, and by the time they were completely done with the next month’s issue of Estilo, everyone was burned out. Every year, the fashion week edition never failed to render everyone exhausted.

 

Tiffany chuckled lightly as she watched her staff dragging themselves out of the office one by one, relieved and thankful for the three-day break she gave them for a job well done. They all waved at her as they exited, sleepy smiles plastered on their faces. Her assistant stood beside her, holding a pair of heels.

 

“I’m gonna go to the parking lot on my bare feet, and anyone who stops me will get a stiletto heel buried in their foreheads,” the woman said, groaning as she leaned down to massage her calves.

 

True enough, her assistant didn’t have anything covering her feet, not even stockings. Tiffany laughed.

 

“I told you to wear sneakers. You know you’ll be running around today,” she scolded, dragging the woman towards the exit after waving goodbye to the security guard. They stopped in front of the elevator where her assistant continuously jabbed at the button using the heels of her shoes. “You practically did this to yourself,” Tiffany continued, teasing the woman while they waited for the lift.

 

Her assistant groaned but smiled instantly, as if remembering something. “It’s all worth it though,” she said dreamily, looking back at her with glazed eyes and a lazy smile. Tiffany’s eyebrow raised in question the same time the elevator doors opened.

 

As soon as they were inside, her assistant suddenly turned into a barefoot, mushy pile of squealing bones and flesh.

 

“She finally asked me out!” The woman yelled excitedly, flailing her heels around the cramped space, almost hitting her on the face.

“What?!”

 

“The girl I’ve been telling you about! The—”

 

“Yes, the one at the reception!”

 

“Yes! I was on my way back from getting your coffee and she called me just when I was about to go in the elevator! She complimented my shoes then asked me out for dinner! Tomorrow!”

 

Tiffany couldn’t believe it. Her assistant has been pining over the pretty receptionist for months, admiring her from afar while stealing glances whenever they passed her by the lobby. Her assistant never did anything to approach her, except for the rare instances that she had to say something to the concierge in behalf of her boss or company. And when it happened, her assistant always transformed into an adorable stuttering mess. She actually saw it with her own eyes once.

 

The woman’s excitement was so infectious, Tiffany started to squeal along with her, until the elevator doors opened at the basement parking lot where their voices echoed loudly. She dragged the girl towards their cars and gripped her hands tightly.

 

“I’m so happy for you!” Tiffany gushed, hugging the girl before squealing even more.

 

They stayed there beside their cars squealing like a bunch of teenagers until a security guard came and made them leave.
 
 
—–
 
 
Tiffany drove with a tired smile on her face, finally feeling the exhaustion of working almost non-stop for a week. Now that everything was done, she could finally fetch her puppy from the groomer and finally get her well deserved rest.

 

She turned towards the quiet street and parked her car near the pet grooming studio, excited to see Prince whom she left there a few days ago when they started working on the Fashion Week issue. Just from standing outside, she could already hear her dog’s ear-piercing barks.

 

It was even louder when she got inside, greeted by a lot more noise from the other dogs who were alerted of a new presence. She grinned instantly when she saw Prince squirming in the arms of a staff, vying for her attention.

 

The dog continued to squirm and bark even when he’s already in her hold. “Calm down, baby,” she cooed, swaying him gently until he stopped making noise. Tiffany grinned sheepishly when the staff chuckled at them.

 

At some point while she was paying for the grooming and housing services, Prince had managed to squirm out of her hold, jumping down from her arms before running towards the door that just opened. Everything happened so fast that nobody even had the chance to move to catch the running dog except for the person who just came in.

 

A collective sigh of relief came out of everyone when the person wearing a face mask and a hood on top of a snapback had trapped Prince in between their legs before the dog could run outside.

 

The person bent down and lifted the dog in their arms. “Hey little guy, where do you think you’re going?” The female voice cooed.

 

To Tiffany’s surprise, Prince only the face mask in reply. Her shock came back tenfold when the person took the hood off from their head and lowered the mask. She realized then who the person was.

 

“Taeyeon-ssi?”

 

She watched as Taeyeon turned her head to look around, confused and puzzled until her eyes landed on hers. “Oh, Tiffany-ssi!” She exclaimed, breaking out into a grin as she walked towards her. “What are you doing here?”

 

Tiffany waited until the woman was in front of her with the dog. “I came to pick him up,” she pointed at Prince.

 

“Oh, he’s yours?”

 

She nodded.

 

There was a brief awkward pause before Taeyeon realized what she had just said.

 

“Oh, here!” The woman said as she passed the dog to her, embarrassed for holding onto the white ball of fluff longer than necessary. “You have a really cute dog,” she added as if trying to salvage her dignity.

 

“Thanks! What are you doing here, though?”

 

The question seemed to have sparked a sudden excitement from the singer, making her grin widely all of a sudden until her chin dimple appeared. Tiffany couldn’t help but chuckle at the woman who looked so much like a kid standing in the middle of the pet shop.

 

“I’m here to pick up Ginger!”

 

“Ginger?”

 

Just as the question came out of Tiffany’s mouth, a black poodle walked past her leg and sat beside Taeyeon’s feet.

 

“This little guy here,” Taeyeon said as he picked the dog up, “Is Ginger. Say hi, Ginger.” The woman waved the dog’s paw at her.

 

Tiffany laughed when Prince suddenly squirmed in her hold, trying to reach the black poodle with his nose.

 

“It seems like my little guy wants to be friends.”

 

Taeyeon grinned then, letting the white puppy sniff the equally curious poodle.
 
 
—–
 
 
There was an unusual glow surrounding her, Tiffany suddenly noticed, the moment she stood in front of the mirror after her shower. She tilted her head, puzzled, and looked at herself carefully—inspecting every inch of her tired bare face, her visible eye bags, and the smile lines that were starting to become prominent the more she aged. She pursed her lips and furrowed her eyebrows, frowning.

 

Exhaustion caught up immediately the moment she stepped foot inside her apartment with Prince, and by the time she reached the living room, she was all but ready to crawl and sleep on the floor. She looked like someone who just clawed herself out of a grave, so where was this glow coming from, she wanted to ask herself. A second later she felt her dog pawing at her leg, as if sensing her inner turmoil.

 

Tiffany looked down and saw Prince looking at her, looking extremely adorable with his head tilted to the side. She instantly grabbed her phone and started filming.

 

“Hi baby,” she greeted, giggled when Prince tilted his head towards the other side. “Ready to sleep?”

 

Prince let out a low bark in reply and stood on his hind legs as he hopped a couple of times trying to reach for her. Tiffany chuckled some more before stopping and posting the video, a bit overwhelmed when likes and comments poured in almost immediately. She was about to place her phone down to continue her nightly skin care routines when a particular username popped up in her notifications.

 

‘Hello Ginger’s new friend! Have a good night! ^^’ The new comment read. It was from Taeyeon whom she started following earlier at the pet shop when she had learned about her account.

 

Tiffany smiled as she replied a quick ‘thanks’ and a ‘you too’, browsing back in her album to post another one.

 

It was picture she took of herself holding Prince outside the shop, with a grinning Taeyeon beside her holding her dog Ginger.
 
 
—–
 
 
She woke up the next day with a thousand more followers and a bunch more likes and comments, all of which coming from Taeyeon’s fans.
 
 

———
———

 

 
It was some time around the middle of a very slow day when Tiffany saw the signed album Taeyeon sent her laying haphazardly on her desk, buried under a pile of magazines and a few rejected mock ups. She realized that she has never taken the time to really look at it since it was delivered to her office.

 

It was only when she opened it that she realized that the thickest part was actually a photobook. And she was instantly left in awe.

 

With every page she turned, Tiffany’s face got closer and closer to the paper until her back was slumped and her forehead was almost touching her desk. Taeyeon looked beautiful at every single one of the photos, too beautiful even, that she couldn’t help but call her assistant in her office.

 

Tiffany waited until the woman was standing behind her before pointing at one of the photos.

 

“Have you seen these photos?”

 

“No. But wow, they’re really pretty.”

 

“I know.”

 

She went back to some of the pages and showed them to the woman.

 

“Look at these, every shot is just… How come we’ve never worked with Taeyeon on a photo shoot before?”

 

Her assistant shrugged. “Beats me.”

 

Tiffany closed the photobook and picked up the photocard that she set aside earlier. She turned the card and stared at Taeyeon’s butterfly signature.

 

“I think it’s time to have that meeting with SM,” she said, smiling.

 
 
—–
 
 
Tiffany had her assistant print the few spreads the woman did over the course of her career, and it was less than the fingers in both of her hands combined. Apparently, Taeyeon rarely accepted photo shoot invitations according to her company’s reps, and Tiffany was having a hard time trying to understand why. Everything was just so pretty, it was such a waste hiding all this beauty.

 

She studied the list of clothing brands they were supposed to include in their magazine for the next few months while looking back at the spreads.

 

“This brand is perfect for her,” she said as she pointed at the paper, turning towards her lead photographer. “Do you think she’ll say yes?”

 

“I don’t know, but if she does, I’m totally doing it. This is like a once in a lifetime opportunity.”

 

Tiffany chuckled, “I know. I really hope she accepts.”

 

“Send me a heads up as soon as she does, I’ll drop everything I’m doing,” the photographer said as he grinned.

 

She rolled her eyes playfully at the man and dismissed him, telling him to go back to bullying his interns.

 

Tiffany gathered her things as soon as he was out, deciding to head out early for the day.

 
 
—–
 
 
Lazy days were Tiffany’s favorite days. Being in the industry she was in always had her running around attending meetings after meetings, but in the rare occasion that the fashion industry decided to just chill out and relax, she made sure she took advantage of every single second of it.

 

It’s been months since she had an early out like today, and probably a few more than that since she had the chance to enjoy a cup of coffee outside her office. The change in scenery was already doing wonders to her overly crowded mind, giving her the break she still so badly deserved.

 

Tiffany laid the neat stack of Taeyeon’s photos on the table beside her coffee, taking out her phone as she sat so she could look at the woman’s Intagram photos. The contrast between her dorky posts and magazine spreads were making her laugh on the inside.

 

She was on a liking roll until she felt a light tap on her shoulder.

 

Tiffany’s mouth hung open when she found herself face to face with a makeup-less Taeyeon.

 

“I figured it was you. Hi,” the woman bowed, grinning like a kid. She was wearing a loose sweater and some worn out jeans, but Tiffany thought the whole outfit looked unusually fresh. It didn’t help that the singer looked like a high school student either.

 

She was about to greet her back when she saw Taeyeon’s eyes darting to the stack of photos on her table.

 

“Hey, isn’t that…”

 

She could only smile sheepishly in reply. “Ah yeah, you caught me,” Tiffany said, crinkling her nose in embarrassment.

 

“Should I even ask why you have those or…?”

 

“No, I was just—” And then it hit her. “Wait, this is perfect!” Tiffany suddenly exclaimed, apologizing instantly when the cafe people whipped their heads towards her. Her hand shot out and held the singer by her wrist, startling the other. “Sorry, sorry, I’m just—I have a proposition for you! Are you busy? Can we talk now? Do you have somewhere you need to be?”

 

She almost missed the blush on Taeyeon’s cheeks but the woman was so naturally pale, any color on her intensifies to at least a double.

 

Tiffany finally let go when the woman started to fidget.

 

“I’m not busy,” Taeyeon finally answered, “I don’t have anywhere to be either. I’m just out because my manager forced me to. I haven’t left my apartment in days.” She chuckled. “Do you mind if I get a drink first?”

 

“No, no, go ahead! I’ll wait for you.”

 

“Okay!”

 

Tiffany watched as Taeyeon walked away, only to go back after two steps.

 

“Sorry, it was rude of me not to ask. Can I get you something?” The singer asked. Her brain hadn’t even thought of a reply before Taeyeon cut her off. “Wait, say no more. I’ll get you something. The new chocolate crepe cake is really good!”

 

The woman’s weird enthusiasm only made her chuckle. “Okay, Taeyeon-ssi.”

 

“Please,” the singer smiled widely, “just call me Taeyeon.”
 
 

———
———

 

 
It seemed like the industry had caught up to what was brewing, because Tiffany suddenly found herself the topic of a number of celebrity news sites along with Taeyeon a few days after their chance encounter in her favorite cafe, speculating about a future collaboration between her magazine and Taeyeon’s company. There were pictures of them looking over some of the singer’s photos and old Estilo issues in Tiffany’s tablet, talking over several cups of coffee and slices of cakes. There was even one with Taeyeon laughing hysterically, head thrown back and hand clutching on her shoulder. That particular one unknowingly made her smile.

 

The chance meeting had been successful though, much to Tiffany’s delight, because by some miracle she had managed to convince Taeyeon to do a photo shoot with them soon, given that the concept wouldn’t be too over the top. She learned that afternoon that Taeyeon was shy and awkward towards the camera, hence the rare amount of spreads even though she’s been in the industry for a considerable amount of time. She didn’t really believe it because the singer looked so pretty on everything, but there was no reason for Taeyeon to lie about something so trivial.

 

Nevertheless, the phones in her office never stopped ringing since the news came out, and just like that, it was as if everyone had suddenly become so interested in the elusive Kim Taeyeon.
 
 
—–
 
 
It seemed like the prospect of Taeyeon being in her magazine was getting more and more attention each day that passed. The last time Tiffany had such publicity was when Yuri did her first photo shoot as a model with her, but back then it didn’t escalate up to this magnitude. Surely, Taeyeon had a bigger, more stable fan base but having her fans send her comments in all of her Instagram posts asking when the photo shoot will be was a bit ridiculous.

 

Tiffany admitted that she wasn’t particularly knowledgeable when it came to singers and idols, and really she preferred working with real models, but she couldn’t help but feel the excitement of doing a new project, something she hadn’t felt in a long time. In a way, it was refreshing.

 

And surprisingly, Taeyeon seemed to be excited too. For someone who was allergic to photo shoots, she kept sending Tiffany a number of concepts she came across on the internet, most of which resembled a Halloween theme. She couldn’t help but laugh at the last message the singer had sent her, accompanied by a few photos of skulls.

 

Now that they have each other’s personal numbers, they’ve been messaging each other at least once a day.

 

And just now, Tiffany’s phone has alerted her of a message.

 

It was a celebrating emoticon from Taeyeon, and a whole chunk of text telling her that her company has already finalized the contract with her magazine and has included the photo shoot in her schedule.

 

Tiffany’s grin instantly reached her ears.
 
 
—–
 
 
Finally, the most awaited day came and Taeyeon was a complete ball of anxiety. It was as if the excitement she had shown in the middle of planning didn’t even happen.

 

Tiffany wasn’t sure whether she should laugh or feel bad for the woman currently fidgeting on the makeup chair who was getting her freshly dyed hair done.

 

“Are you okay?” She asked, giggled when the singer shook her head and pouted.

 

“Everything’s already set. You can’t back out now, Taeyeon.”

 

The woman sighed, shoulders dropping. “I know, and I’m not backing out. I’m just…” She paused before looking up at her with round puppy eyes. “Really nervous.”

 

“Just think of it as a CD jacket photo shoot, it’s no biggie.”

 

Taeyeon frowned. “That doesn’t help at all,” she said.

 

Tiffany could only laugh. “Come on, you big baby,” she said as she held the woman’s wrist before helping her off the chair. “Time to get you out of those pajamas.”
 
 
—–
 
 
Tiffany had to tell herself several times over the course of Taeyeon’s photo shoot that it was unattractive for a woman to stare at the photographer’s monitor with opened. Although she was sure that no one in her staff would have the guts to tell her that she looked unappealing with her jaw slacked like that (except for her brutally honest assistant), she was a full grown adult in an industry that expects her to be pretty and presentable at all times.

 

But really, when Taeyeon laid on the faux soil and looked at the camera wearing that ruffled, lace dress she chose for her, Tiffany just let her jaw fall on its own. Now she wasn’t sure whether she liked the woman in blonde hair more, or with the darker shade she had now, that basically made her baby-faced features pop out like nobody’s business.

 

Taeyeon was so effortlessly attractive and photogenic, Tiffany still couldn’t believe that the woman hated the camera. Women would kill to have her face, and even if she won’t admit it, she might even be one of them. She took a quick snapshot of the monitor before she could stop herself.

After what seemed to be the fastest decision making she has ever done in her life, she posted the sneak peek on her Instagram with a purple heart emoji as caption and a coming soon hashtag. She made sure that Taeyeon’s face wasn’t shown, but it seemed like everyone’s already anticipating for it.

 

Her phone went crazy in seconds.
 
 
—–
 
 
Taeyeon’s eyes had looked like they were going to fall off from their sockets when Tiffany finally took her to the set, mainly because her team had managed to make the room look like something that came out of a book. The concrete floor was covered with soil and fake compost, while a flower tree with long, thin branches stood at the corner, almost recreating the set the singer had for her album jacket photo shoot in New Zealand. Tiffany had only wanted Taeyeon to feel comfortable and familiar, because in her books, a comfortable model meant pretty pictures.

 

And indeed, by the time the photo shoot had ended, the team had more than enough photos to fill two issues of Estilo. Tiffany could already see her art directors having a hard time choosing which photos should make the cut, herself included, so now she had to make sure that only the best ones would be printed. But it was easier said than done because most, if not all, were all looking perfect. She had to conduct an initial viewing of the photos with everyone on the set, asking Taeyeon and her team which ones they like and taking note of them.

 

Now hours after the photo shoot, Tiffany found herself at a nearby restaurant along with her team, celebrating the successful project with Taeyeon, her manager and her stylists. She had been chatting with the singer at the corner, away from her staff that were starting to become noisy because of the steady flow of soju and beer and meat, courtesy of Taeyeon.

 

“So how was your first photo shoot with Estilo?” She asked, smiling as the singer’s eyes brightened as she was chugging her beer.

 

“It was great! Thanks for making it comfortable!” Taeyeon exclaimed in reply, cheeks tinted and lips stretched in a tipsy grin.

 

When the singer had told her that she couldn’t handle her liquor well when they attended that after party, she didn’t expect it to be this pathetic. It was adorable, especially because Taeyeon got red on the face and neck pretty quickly, but still it was a bit unfortunate to have her half-slurring after one measly bottle.

 

Tiffany could only shake her head in amusement, clinking her glass of soju against Taeyeon’s beer.
 
 

———
———

 
 
Life wasn’t always exciting for Tiffany. There were times when she would just find herself in bed on a weekend, still in a state of disarray even if it was already half passed lunch. Other times she’d be glued to her office chair on a weekday, totally unproductive even if it was already three hours after noon.

 

One of the biggest misconceptions about the fashion industry was that it didn’t always move. Innovations didn’t happen everyday, because if they did, people would be changing and updating their wardrobes at least thrice a month. Which was really impractical, Tiffany thought. Even she doesn’t update her wardrobe that often.

 

And usually, when work and life plateaued like this, Tiffany would—

 

“Hey boss, someone’s here to see you.”

 

Tiffany blinked, shook her head as she tried to pull herself out of her head. She saw her assistant by the doorway grinning too widely for her liking. When the woman moved, she saw Taeyeon standing behind her, wearing a sheepish grin.

 

“Hello,” the singer greeted awkwardly. She was carrying a huge takeaway paper bag from the cafe they met at before. “Sorry for dropping by unannounced. I hope you’re not busy or anything.”

 

Tiffany’s lips pulled into an instant smile.

 

“Ah no, not at all! Thank you for visiting, I was actually dying of boredom.”

 

She led Taeyeon inside as she shooed her secretary away, taking the petite woman to the couch while Taeyeon kept on chuckling to herself.

“I thought you were a busy woman,” she chided, still giggling.

 

“Well women gotta rest too, you know? All work and no play makes Fany a dull girl.” Tiffany said as she plopped down beside her and wow, Taeyeon looked really pretty up close especially when she was relaxed and happy, she thought. She realized they haven’t seen each other since the singer’s photo shoot ended, and that was already a good three weeks ago. She didn’t think it was possible for her to look any more attractive.

 

She found herself smiling when Taeyeon’s chin dimple appeared when she grinned.

 

“I’m glad I’m not being a bother then.”

 

Tiffany’s eyes curved.

 

“Never.”
 
 
—–
 
 
“I really appreciate the snacks, Taeyeon, but I know you’re here for a reason. Now spill.”

 

Taeyeon choked on her iced coffee and Tiffany laughed, apologetic, standing up to take some napkins from her desk before offering them to the singer. The woman took the whole wad with a weak thanks, wiping immediately as she chuckled at her own messy state.

 

“Sorry about that,” she said, coughing a few more times to clear . Taeyeon looked at her sheepishly as she got back to her seat.

 

“Well?”

 

“Okay,” the woman paused, “I had a meeting with OnStyle this morning…”

 

“And…?”

 

“They offered me a multi-episode reality show,” Taeyeon said in one breath.

 

“Oh my god, that’s great! When will you start filming?”

 

“That’s why I’m here… I don’t know whether to accept it or not. I don’t think I can do it.”

 

Tiffany’s mouth hung open. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. OnStyle was one of the few television networks she loved working with, and she suddenly wanted to smack Taeyeon on the head for not accepting immediately. The projects she has had with the network were all fun-filled and progressive, and if she could, she’d gladly take the singer’s place if she were to officially reject it.

 

Before she knew it, her hand had already flown towards Taeyeon’s face, finger making contact on the woman’s forehead in a flick.

 

“Ow! What was that for?!”

 

“For almost letting go of a wonderful opportunity!” Tiffany said, huffing. She stood up and started clearing the disposable utensils from her coffee table, throwing them in the bin with a bit more force to show her displeasure. Taeyeon stayed seated on the sofa, pouting.

 

Tiffany saw her face and rolled her eyes. “Stop pouting and help me,” she said in mock anger, gesturing for the empty containers on the table. She almost laughed when the woman scrambled off the couch to gather everything in her short arms.

 

Taeyeon plopped back on the sofa like a ragdoll as soon as they finished tidying up. Tiffany snickered.

 

“Don’t judge me, I get tired easily.”

 

“Whatever. Now scoot.”

 

She squeezed in near Taeyeon’s head.

 

“So, what are you gonna do now?”

 

“I don’t know… I don’t know, Tiffany. You need to help me!”

 

Taeyeon got off the couch and held both of her hands, squeezing them desperately. She was kneeling in front of her on the floor and Tiffany couldn’t help but blush at their position.

 

“Taeyeon, what are you doing, get up from there!” She said, pulling the petite woman from the floor before pushing her towards the couch. She gestured for the woman to stay seated while she took a firm stance on the floor in front of her.

 

“Okay, listen you crazy girl. This is a great opportunity for you,” she started. “What I know from OnStyle is that they won’t let you do anything you’re not comfortable with, and that they’re very open to suggestions. What you can do is talk to them again, tell them about your worries so you can work on a script that is enjoyable for you.”

 

“B-But, my fans—”

 

“Yes, exactly! Your fans already know that you’re a boring stay-at-home ahjumma, and they still love you for it! So why don’t you let them see what you usually do at home in a fun and interactive way!”

 

It seemed like her words had struck something inside the singer, judging from the way her eyebrows were furrowed in deep thought. Tiffany bit her lip and held back a smile when Taeyeon’s eyes suddenly lit with excitement, forehead no longer creased and lips no longer pouted.

 

“Okay, I’ll do it!” Taeyeon finally exclaimed, posture no longer defeated.
 
 
—–
 
 
Taeyeon didn’t contact her for days after the surprise visit, and when she finally did, it was a long message telling her that she was sorry for being radio silent recently because she had been too busy, but was thankful for the advice she gave her and that she owed her a dinner or two, which Tiffany gladly accepted.

 

When she arrived at the office the next day, there was a vase of pink lilies on her assistant’s arms, and a box of assorted macarons and sweets on her desk.
 
 

———
———

 
 
Taeyeon’s OnStyle reality show turned out to be more successful than expected. Her daily short random vlogs posted on the network’s channel had been steadily gaining views and likes, and her weekly half hour episodes were well received by the public as well.

 

Tiffany had just finished watching the second full episode on her tablet when she received Taeyeon’s message, telling her that she’s on her way to the cafe where they’re supposed to meet for lunch.

 

Soon enough the singer came barging in, plopping on the chair across from her after bowing to the other customers who recognized her.

 

“Sorry I’m late, I just finished filming.”

 

The words died in Tiffany’s tongue when she lifted her head to look at the woman, because Taeyeon was wearing eye glasses and she didn’t know what to feel about it. She looked way more attractive than usual and Tiffany had to bite her lip from saying something really embarrassing.

 

Lately she had been catching herself looking at the woman’s photos longer and more often than she should (she had a copy of the woman’s magazine on her desk that she never removed), and though she refused to name what she was feeling every time the woman sent her a message or gave her a call, she wasn’t ignorant of what it was.

 

And it didn’t help that Taeyeon was too sweet for her own good either, sending her flowers and sweets every chance she gets. In fact, they had already met thrice this week for meals, all of which the singer had paid for. ‘This is me thanking you for everything, and wanting to feed you because you’re too skinny, so please let me pay,’ the girl had always said. And each time, she relented.

 

This time though, Tiffany wanted to return the favor.

 

“No worries, I wasn’t waiting that long,” she said, smiling softly.
 
 
—–
 
 
There was something different about Taeyeon.

 

And it wasn’t the glasses, Tiffany realized after their meal, it was something else—something intangible yet couldn’t be missed.

 

It might have been the way she smiled—so open and so unguarded, that Tiffany couldn’t help but let out a smile of her own as well. The woman had been so enthusiastic about her reality show and it made Tiffany laugh in good nature, because Taeyeon had almost rejected the whole idea of it, and had almost lost the chance because of her own reluctance. Yet the woman was radiating with so much happiness now, and it had put Tiffany’s eyes in permanent crescents even after their lunch. It had extended until they were in Taeyeon’s coupe while they talked about everything and anything, until she was in the elevator going up to her apartment floor. And now that she was alone in her living room couch with a very sleepy puppy on her lap, she was starting to realize a whole lot more.

 

Tiffany looked out her floor to ceiling windows and smiled to herself, asking quietly for a sign.
 
 

———
———

 
 
When Tiffany asked for a sign, she didn’t expect it to come from a gossip website—with bold and tacky letters nonetheless. She wasn’t sure if she was more offended by the poor layout of the headline or the ‘scandal’ itself, but either way it was bad—bad not because she was on Dispatch again, but bad because unlike that issue with Yuri from years ago, she didn’t know how Taeyeon would react this time. The woman seemed like the type of person who didn’t like confrontations, or any conflict for that matter, and frankly Tiffany could only hope for the best. This was by far the most complicated thing to have ever happened to their blossoming friendship, and this time there was more on the line.

 

For one, the singer’s huge fanbase could literally tear her into pieces and feed her to the sharks, gone and never to be heard from again. She’s not ignorant about how aggressive some fans could be, and again she could only hope that Taeyeon’s are mild, but just in case, she thought about making her assistant stay over at her place tonight. She could vaguely remember that time when the singer was involved in a dating scandal, and it wasn’t pretty. Tiffany certainly didn’t want that to happen.

 

Forget about her and her reputation, no one ever pays attention to fashion people anyway. Her biggest concern right now was Taeyeon. The woman had just completed a bunch of successful concerts and her reality show was doing quite well, and she honestly didn’t know what a scandal like this would do to her current standing.

 

Tiffany could only sigh.

 

By the time the elevator had reached her floor, she could already hear multiple phones ringing and the voice of her assistant screaming at someone. She held her purse firmly against her chest and power walked inside the office, looking at her staff with a confident smile before hauling herself inside her room. She waited for her assistant to come barging in with her coffee before plopping down on her chair.

 

“Soooo…” The woman started, placing the steaming cup on her desk with a smirk. Tiffany just rolled her eyes.

 

“I know, okay?” She said as she took cautious sips. She reached for the nearest magazine and flipped to a random page, only to land on Taeyeon’s spread. Tiffany almost choked and her assistant laughed.

 

“The pictures were really cute though,” the woman commented finally, leaning on her desk. She looked up at her and Tiffany was surprised to see the usually haughty woman giving her a soft smile.

 

Her assistant wordlessly passed the tablet then, urging her to take a look.

 

What Tiffany saw was a picture of her looking down at her phone with her back facing the camera, and Taeyeon, who could be seen clearly from the front, was gazing at her like she was the most precious thing in the world.
 
 
—–
 
 
Some time in the afternoon, Taeyeon’s company had released a statement about the scandal, denying their alleged romantic relationship while clarifying the true nature of their frequent meetings. ‘Mere coincidences and friendly outings,’ it said, and somehow it helped in easing away a bit of Tiffany’s anxiety, especially when Taeyeon hasn’t contacted her even once today. Unfortunately, there was nothing to do at the office since the next issue of Estilo was finished ahead of time, so Tiffany was left to nurse her growing anxiety by the hour.

 

When evening came and she was sure that none of Taeyeon’s fans are going to mob her as soon as she left the building (her SNS accounts were surprisingly quiet), she finally let her assistant go home, only to have her knocking on her door again five minutes later.

 

“I thought I told you to go home?”

 

“You did, but I ran into a visitor of yours so I decided to be a good assistant for a change and accompany her inside our dark office. I expect a bonus. Enjoy.”

 

The sight of a very apologetic Taeyeon made Tiffany swallow whatever comeback she had on her tongue.
 
 
—–
 
 
Taeyeon had a very determined look on her face and Tiffany was honestly a little attracted by it (even more than she would admit), because having the singer looking all serious off stage was something she hasn’t seen before. Most of the time it was a nervous or a shy Taeyeon that greets her, sometimes a goofy one, but never with a serious, eyebrow-furrowed look.

 

She said nothing as the woman led them inside a pretty cozy cafe somewhere near her office building, ignoring the looks of the customers buzzing with excitement on their seats. Tiffany had never been weary of people pointing their phone cameras at her, but only hours after being in a dating scandal with one of the country’s most favored singers, she was allowed to at least feel nervous. She gulped audibly when she saw a girl by the corner looking at her with daggers in her eyes.

 

“I don’t think this is a good idea,” she whispered, a little weary. Taeyeon glanced back at her before leading her to a table beside the window, visible to everyone inside and outside the cafe.

 

“We’re not doing anything wrong,” the singer said as she plopped down the chair with the grace of a rock. “My company has already cleared everything. And frankly I don’t care anymore.”

 

Taeyeon’s eyes looked even more intense now that her newly dyed silver hair was tied, with nothing obscuring her face. She gave the people taking pictures of them a brief glance. “I’m not scared to show everyone that I like spending time with you,” she said.

 

Tiffany’s heart stuttered at her words.
 
 

———
———

 
 
Taeyeon’s apologies had carried on until the next morning, with a bouquet of fresh lilies waiting for her on her desk, and truckloads of coffee and pastries for the whole office.

 

‘For all the trouble everyone had to go through yesterday,’ the note that came with the flowers said.

 

Taeyeon had already apologized profusely the whole time they were together last night, for not contacting her sooner and for the whatever inconvenience the scandal had brought. Apparently her company had summoned her as soon as the news came out, and she had to stay and clear everything up before they let her go.

 

Tiffany didn’t mind, really. Knowing that the singer wasn’t mad at her was enough.

 

And it seemed like no harm was done either, because instead of hate, the people were actually intrigued by the possibility of them dating.

That small bit made her undeniably giddy for the rest of the day.
 
 
—–
 
 
Just as her day was about to end, her assistant had alerted her of an unlikely visitor.

 

With his jolly smile and stocky self, Tiffany was surprised to see the PD of OnStyle just outside her office doorway, along with a bunch of his crew giving her friendly grins.

 

She couldn’t help but let out a grin of her own.

 

“What can I do for you, fine gentlemen?” She asked, letting them in with a good natured chuckle as everyone tried to pile up on her office couch.
 
 

———
———

 
 
Taeyeon was… struck.

 

She was hit so hard, she actually felt it physically—right on her chest where her heart was.

 

Because Tiffany was… something.

 

She was so strikingly beautiful, but more than anything she was the kindest person Taeyeon has ever met. Her easy smile was always so genuine, and her eyes—don’t even get her started on her eyes—were always so bright and so full of life.

 

Meeting her for the first time that night had been pretty normal, but feeling her palm press against her own in a warm handshake was a different story entirely.

 

And right then and there, Taeyeon knew.

 

She got addicted to her presence, and when the coincidental meetings felt like they weren’t enough anymore, she sought her out as much as she could. Lunches, snacks, dinners—and by the second that scandal about them came out, Taeyeon was sure what she wanted then.

 

She wanted them to be real.
 
 
—–
 
 
Taeyeon’s apartment was feeling cozier than usual. Tiny flakes of snow continued to fall outside but she was warm and comfortable, perched on her couch with a fuzzy blanket around her shoulders and an affectionate Ginger curled up beside her thigh.

 

The finale episode of her reality show was going to air in a few minutes, and it was such a relief to know that it was finally ending. She admitted that the filming had all been awkward but she couldn’t deny the wonderful experience either, it was something she wouldn’t forget for the rest of her life.

And really, just knowing that her fans had loved every single episode including the daily vlogs had particularly made her heart swell, because it was all for them after all. It was a success, and just like what Tiffany told her, another one to add in her memories.

 

Taeyeon cringed when her huge TV finally showed a video of herself being cute holding a plate of cupcakes, smiling that crooked grin she always had. It juxtaposed to shots of her from the first day of filming to the last—with everything in between, including the handful of people that guested on her show. They showed footage of her concert, some behind-the-scenes videos of her photo shoot with Tiffany’s magazine, and a bunch of her self-shot videos.

 

It made her smile, seeing as how was everything was getting wrapped up really nicely. But nothing could ever prepare her from hearing Tiffany’s distinct voice playing along with the footage. It made her sit up from her couch.

 

‘Taeyeon, she… She’s really amazing, you know?’

 

fell open as she watched shots of herself laughing like there’s no tomorrow air on the the TV, of her being silly with her juniors while she made cupcakes with them and bought them ice cream.

 

‘I met her not too long ago but she’s been pretty much a constant in my life right now.’

 

It cut to a video of her laying on faux soil and moss as she posed for the camera, suddenly bursting into chortles when Tiffany who was behind the photographer pointed at her awkwardly placed arms with a chuckle.

 

‘She’s a wonderful singer, but more than that, she’s a pretty great friend to have. If you ask all her friends, I’m sure they’ll say the same.’

 

Tiffany’s face suddenly came on and she was smiling with her eyes.

 

‘I really treasure her and I intend to have her with me for a very long time,’ she said finally.

 

Her voice came out really soft and it left Taeyeon’s ears tingling.

 

The finale episode continued to run its few remaining minutes and by the time it was done, Taeyeon was already on her feet, scrambling towards her bedroom to change her clothes.
 
 
—–
 
 
Nothing could really beat seeing Tiffany in person, because no amount of high definition television could make Taeyeon feel warm all over just by the sight of her sitting just a few feet away.

 

She held the flowers she hid behind her back tighter as she neared Tiffany’s desk, feeling her knees growing weaker and weaker with every step. This felt so much harder than having someone deliver it for her.

 

By the time the woman had noticed her, Taeyeon was on the brink of passing out from nervousness.

 

“Taeyeon? What are you doing here?”

 

Tiffany’s hair was in a messy bun and she was wearing glasses. Taeyeon internally swooned.

 

“Hi. B-Busy?” She stuttered, looking at all the papers and photos littering the woman’s desk. She suddenly felt like an idiot for asking an obvious question.

 

Of course Tiffany was busy—she’s always been a busy woman. And now Taeyeon couldn’t, for the life of her, understand why she didn’t call first to ask if she was free.

 

Her shoulders slumped automatically because of her stupidity and her hold on the flowers loosened a bit. She gave the stuff on Tiffany’s desk a final glance before scratching the back of her neck.

 

“Nevermind, I think I came at a bad time. Uhm, I’ll just leave you to it…”

 

She turned to leave but Tiffany was faster. A hand was already clasped around her arm even before she could take a step.

 

“Wait Taeyeon, did you need something?”

 

‘You,’ she wanted to say but Tiffany’s perfect eyebrows were furrowed in genuine worry and it wasn’t really the right time to joke around.

Taeyeon squeezed the flowers in her hand one last time before showing them to the woman.

 

“F-For you,” she half-whispered, flustered. Tiffany’s surprised face was so adorable to look at if only she wasn’t dying of anxiety.

 

“Thank you, but what for?

 

“Well you see, I, uhm, the last episode of my show aired today and, err, you were there and…”

 

The woman’s eyes widened behind her glasses and there was an obvious blush creeping on her cheeks. “Oh,” she said, taking the flowers before raising them to her face to take a sniff while looking at everything except her.

 

Taeyeon took a deep breath as she wringed her hands behind her back. Now or never, she thought.

 

“And I was hoping I could take you out,” she finally let out, feeling the the tips of her ears getting warm. “On a date…” She whispered the last part.

She half-hoped that Tiffany didn’t hear it.

 

But the woman did. Her widened eyes said it all.

 

“W-What did you say?”

 

“I—Uhm, a d-date? With m-me?”

 

Tiffany glanced at her desk briefly before turning back to her. “N-Now?” She asked, reluctant. Taeyeon was hoping it was only because she seemed like she had a deadline to meet and not because she didn’t want to go out with her.

 

“Ah, no… W-When you’re free,” she answered weakly.

 

The woman kept looking back at her desk and at Taeyeon, and the singer was starting to feel horrible. A few minutes out and Tiffany still hasn’t answered.

 

Taeyeon sighed and took a small step back. “I guess I s-should probably just—”

 

“Taeyeon, wait.”

 

She watched as Tiffany hastily threw the flowers on her desk before pulling at her arm with both hands.

 

“Why don’t you stay and,” she paused and Taeyeon felt her hands sliding down her arm to meet her own. “And then we go on that date later after my work and get dinner?” She squeezed softly.

 

Tiffany was standing too close and really, Taeyeon wouldn’t even think of saying no even if she was miles away. The relief that washed over her was no joke.

 

“Okay,” the singer answered then, nodding as she let a grin overtake her face.

 

She let the woman drag her towards the couch before she went back to her work, throwing her shy glances and soft smiles every now and then.

 

A few minutes before they left, Taeyeon found herself chuckling internally, expecting to see herself and Tiffany on the front page of another gossip website soon.

 

She smiled.

 

Because it’s going to be real this time.
 
 
The End.