Taeyeon roused to the smell of chlorine and magnolia white walls. Disorientated, Taeyeon hastily jolted upright and a wave of nausea greeted her. 

"What have you gotten yourself into?" She distinctly heard the worry in Juhyun's voice above the buzzing in her ears. A pair of hands pushed her shoulders back onto the bed. Taeyeon conceded to the persistence of her best friend and relaxed into the soft white sheets, exhaling at the comfort. The doctor arrived shortly- warm hands pressing on her as they conducted checks and the drone of the machine lull her into a passing sleep again. 

Taeyeon next woke up to the voices of her colleagues. With a basket of fruits placed on her table, Taeyeon eyed their retreating figures as Juhyun ushered them out of the room. A smile in her direction and Taeyeon returned the gesture weakly.

"You're awake. How are you feeling?"

"I'm fine," Taeyeon grimaced, "I'm just aching all over."

Taeyeon flung her arm over her head; the effect of the medicine wearing out and the ache in her body was returning with a fervor. Juhyun explained that she had rushed to Taeyeon's place upon receiving the call. The medics found Taeyeon unconscious and a blonde heavily sedated from the blow on her head. The police arrived shortly- promptly sending Taeyeon to the hospital and the latter to the mental institution. Taeyeon will not be charged- her attack is solely for self-defense but she will have to be interrogated at a later date. 

"Mental institution?"

"How did you even get into this mess?"

"No wait, tell me about Sunny."

"So that's her name?"

"Hyun, what happened to her?" Taeyeon pushed herself upright with a groan, wincing at the sharp pain in her abdomen.

"I heard from the police that she has been receiving psychological treatments after the death of her sister. I'm not sure about the exact reason for that," Juhyun clasped Taeyeon's hands around a cup of water, "but the apartment you're staying in is where her sister died."

"Did she say anything?"

"She was yelling gibberish when the police ushered her away. Fortunately, nobody will believe a person with mental illness, especially when she said you could see ghosts." Juhyun said, glancing at Taeyeon at the corner of her eye. Taeyeon coughed in alarm. 

"Where is she now?"

"Probably sent to the mental institution."

"Mental institution?"

"They'd better find her a permanent spot there now. She is insane. How did you even know someone like that?"

"Like you said, that's her sister apartment and she came knocking on my door."

"And?"

"She attacked me." Juhyun left it as that, tucking Taeyeon in the sheets when she cradled her throbbing head with a huff.

Yoona dropped by later that evening, a bouquet of flowers in her hand and a box of pastries. Taeyeon was disorientated and distracted, her thoughts drifting to Tiffany at the apartment and the scent of vanilla latte. 

Was it Tiffany? How was she able to knock Sunny out and touch her? What is she doing now? How is she feeling?

"Unnie! Taeyeon unnie?" Taeyeon blinked at Yoona's genuine smile.

"What about the person are the apartment? The one you were talking about?"

"What? There is nobody," Taeyeon averted Juhyun's questioning eyes and munched on a chocolate croissant. It was tasteless against her tongue. She was in a daze as the duo continued their conversation, her ears pricking up at Yoona's question. 

"How long will unnie be here?"

"A week."

"A week?" Taeyeon echoed in surprise, "I'm fine already."

"You need to stay for further observation."

"I'm okay."

"Why are you so stubborn?"

"Why are you so stubborn?"

"Because you're making me worry!" Juhyun exclaimed.

You're staying and I'm going to look after you," Juhyun said with finality. Yoona glanced at the two with a look of surprise, offering to bring Juhyun out for dinner to lessen the tension.

Taeyeon waited in silence, listening to their conversation as she lifelessly planned her escape. When the duo finally left the ward, Taeyeon slipped on her shoes, wobbled out of the ward, flagged a taxi and headed straight back to the apartment.