Tiffany came home one night to find the kitchen empty. She was about to panic when she heard sounds coming from the bathroom — laughing, yipping, splashing. Walking quickly down the dark hallway, Tiffany knocked on the bathroom door before pushing it open.

“Sit! Sit, yes, good boy!"

Taeyeon evidently hadn’t heard her come in. Tiffany watched as the puppy was wrestled back into a little plastic tub in the middle of the shower stall, his black fur slicked down with water and soap. 

“Stop moving, it’ll be over soon, okay? Si—oh, you’re back.” 

Tiffany nodded hastily as Taeyeon turned to her. “Sorry, I should’ve knocked louder."

“Can you take the hair dryer out?"

“Yeah,” said Tiffany, stepping into the small, damp space. “Do you want me to towel him dry?"

“No, you’ll get wet. You can blow dry him after I’m done."

Tiffany didn’t quite know what to do, so she stood carefully to one side with the dryer in her hand. Taeyeon kept talking quietly to the puppy as she poured water slowly over his back and rinsed the suds out of his fur; to his credit, the puppy calmed down and gazed up at Taeyeon with adoring eyes. 

“Towel, please."

“Oh!” Tiffany handed Taeyeon the cloth that was sitting on the sink. “Here."

“Thank you,” said Taeyeon, wrapping the puppy up and setting him on her lap before rubbing him down vigorously. “Almost done now, baby. See? You’re so clean now!"

Tiffany grinned when the puppy barked once, almost like he was agreeing.

“I can take him,” she said to Taeyeon, stepping closer. “You should get changed before you catch a cold."

Maybe it was the adrenaline, or maybe it was something in the water, but to Tiffany’s surprise, Taeyeon smiled at her — a full, genuine smile. “I feel like celebrating, somehow. Are you in the mood for pizza?"

“Pizza?” Tiffany stood to one side as Taeyeon got up and padded to the door.

“I’m going to order pizza,” said Taeyeon, still smiling. “Want to share?"

“Oh. Yes, please!"

Tiffany swore she heard Taeyeon humming to herself as she disappeared into her room.