Chapter 28 – Chances?


“I’m your sister.” Yuri said, full determination blazing her eyes. Right now, Yuri really didn’t care what the consequences would be if she revealed the truth this early. All that she knew at this moment was Jessica was now drunk and in a completely defenseless and vulnerable state and as her family, Yuri would do anything in her power to stop her sister doing something reckless like this. Who knew what would happen if she didn’t show up in time to stop that hideous man? Jessica just had to be home and she must be home now.

Unmoving. Stunned. Jessica’s drunken mind was really not capable of handling this shocking news right away that was why she found herself standing rooted to the ground, taking her time to absorb the news.

“I’m your sister, that’s why you have to go home with me now.” Yuri repeated once again. Upon Jessica’s lack of reaction, she just simply felt the need of repeating once again.

Jessica didn’t have to step up and question since there was already someone else who was fairly surprised as her did that, “Yuri-yah… I don’t think you really know what you’re saying.” Sooyoung said in a small voice, even though the question was meant for Yuri yet the tall girl still kept an eye on the blonde standing next to her as she knew that she was asking something that this girl surely didn’t appreciate.

“I do know what I’m saying, Sooyoung-ah. I’m her sister, her half-sister.” Again, Yuri repeated. And if they kept going to ask her to repeat, she would do it until Jessica was fully acknowledged of this fact. “My dad… Kwon Hyesung is her father.” She shifted her gaze to Jessica, “He told me that… your mom, Jung Hyein… used to be his PA. That was how they got to know each other… and gradually got closer.” Yuri explained further more even when no one asked her to. She just felt the need to explain the whole situation to Jessica, trying to persuade her that what she was saying was one hundred percent true. Sooner or later, this truth will be unveiled, why not now?

“But Yul… you were born after your parents got married for two years and… you and Jessica are around a same age.” Sooyoung pointed out the obvious. Since she was just an innocent bystander, she was totally unaware of the fact that she was adding fuel to the fire standing next to her, “Does that mean-”

“This is such a joke.” Jessica cut in followed by a snort before Sooyoung could finish what she was about to say. She turned away from the scene and more than ready to get back into the bar. Jessica just didn't want to listen to the words which she tried to claim 'completely nonsense' that kept coming nonstop from Yuri's mouth.

But somehow, deep down inside Jessica knew that what Yuri said was true. Those words would easily explain the sudden change in the Kwon's attitudes toward her, why she suddenly felt this long lost family feeling when Hyesung took care of her like a daughter. And these thoughts seriously scared her. Right now, Jessica was afraid. Truly afraid. She was afraid that if she stayed, Yuri might give some kind of evidence to prove that what she said was true and then she had no choice but to admit this hurtful truth. That her mom was involved in an affair with a Kwon. That she was a result of someone's unfaithfulness to his wife. That the blood was flowing in every vein of hers was the same as Kwon Yuri, the rightful owner of Yoona's heart, her biggest rival.

“Your mom gave you a pendant which has your father’s picture when he was little right?" Yuri shouted out loud to grab Jessica's attention when she noticed her intention of leaving.

At the mention of the only thing belonged to her father, Jessica couldn't help but having this curious feeling which caused her to halt her steps. Right after the moment she did, Jessica immediately regretted her action as she heard Yuri's words.

"I also have some of his pictures when he was young in my phone. If you're still in doubt, why don't you take a look at them right now?" Yuri confidently suggested.

Clutching the pendant around her neck tightly, there was no need to see those pictures. Somehow, Jessica already sensed the result. However, knowing was one thing, admitting was quite another.

And if there was one thing in this world Jessica Jung was the best at that was denying.

"I just can't understand..." Jessica turned around facing Yuri, "... What are you trying to do exactly, Yuri-sshi?"

"I just want to prove that we're-"

"And then what? Do you actually think that I'll have to listen to everything you said just because you're my sister?" Jessica said while walking toward Yuri, lessened the distance between them. The distance which she was trying so hard to grow as big as possible before.

"This isn't about you have to listen to me or anyone else, I'm just worried about your safety, Sica-yah. You're my family, I just want to take care of you. Isn't th-" Yuri tried to softened her voice but it seemed to be useless this time.

"I have no family." Jessica snapped back loudly, her eyes were somehow filled with anger and hatred that made Yuri unconsciously took a few steps back. "The word 'family' has been long forgotten in my book ever since the moment I got myself beaten up every single day just because of it. Every single day, feeling abandoned and unloved. The kind of feeling that Kwon Yuri you, a person who grows up in your parents' warm embrace would never be able to understand."

"I know how much you have suffered, Sica-yah. That's why all I want right now is to make up for all those times. I know that I can't do much for you at this moment but can you at least give me a chance to give it a try?" Yuri sincerely said.

"Make it up? How can you make it up for me when all you do is taking away everything I have? My reason for living, the only good thing that ever happened to my life." Jessica was already sobbing at this point. Just thinking about everything she overheard earlier was enough to make her heart ached so much that she couldn't hold back the tears from forming.

"What are you saying? I have never-" Yuri was more confused than ever. What had she ever done to deserve such a cruel accusation? Taking away her own sister's happiness?

"Yes, you did..." Jessica cut in, "...when you took her away from me." Those tears which were threatened to come out earlier were now running down Jessica's cheeks. However, before Yuri could catch a glimpse of the moment showing her weakness, Jessica had already turned around and quickly ran away from the scene. Kwon Yuri would never be able to see Jessica Jung's weak side, ever.

For a moment Yuri was stunned because of Jessica's reply. But before she could take her time thinking about it more, the sight of Jessica running away had successfully grabbed her attention. Almost like a reflex, Yuri immediately started to move her legs, running after her sister only to find herself being pulled back by Sooyoung.

"Don't... Jessica isn't in her right mind right now. I think it's best that you stay here, I'll run after her and make sure that she's safe."

Yuri eagerly nodded to Sooyoung's suggestion. She was kind of worried that Jessica would end up hurting herself even more if they continued this conversation. She needed someone who could be the go-between for them. And who else would be more reliable than Sooyoung, her best friend?

"Don't worry, I'll text you as soon as I can."

And just like that, Sooyoung left, looking as cool and trustful as ever.


---


"O...okay..." Panted, "...I rea...really can't... keep up anymore..." Panted and then swallowed hard, "...you can kee... keep running though..." panted again, "... Just remember to... to look back... just in case… I fainted..."

Sooyoung tried to finish her last wish with her most likely very last breath which seemed to be completely supportive of every decision made by Jessica who was running ahead of her. Looking at her like this, people might think that she had been running half a marathon while in fact, she only ran after Jessica less than three miles. Don't ask. Her beautiful long legs were just for the sole purpose of pleasing the eyes of the others, no joke.

At the possibility of someone might be dying soon judging by that tone of voice, Jessica couldn't help but stop in her track and turn around to face Sooyoung.

As she turned around, Jessica hastily wiped her tears off by the back of her hand as she said, "You don't have to run after me. Really... I'm fine."

Seeing Jessica stopped, a board smile instantly broke on Sooyoung's face as if she just won a lottery. "Finally!" She bent over, resting her hands on her knees while panting nonstop until her breath was steady. The moment Sooyoung managed to catch her breath, at the corner of her eye, she could see Jessica was leaving again.

"Yah! Wait for me..." Sooyoung quickly shouted out loud after Jessica. Normally, when a person yelled out something like this, the most natural following act should be immediately running after the one she had been chasing. However, in Sooyoung's case, it was a complete opposite. The poor tall girl was still in the process of recovering so instead of following by her feet, only her eyes did the work.

Jessica breathed out helplessly, "Look at you... Even if I do wait for you, how can you keep on following me when you can't even breathe properly?"

"Then I'll be completely honest here..." Sooyoung hastily stood straight up, ready to make a one hundred and eighty degrees turn in the supportive attitude toward Jessica, "I really can't run after you anymore so please, please, just stop running okay?" She pleaded. Her hair was all slicked while sweat was still dripping from her forehead. Really... How could she pass all the PE classes back in high school? Bribe the teacher, perhaps?

Obviously, Sooyoung's sight at the moment was pitiful enough for Jessica to give in despite her bad mood. The blonde heaved yet another sigh while walking toward Sooyoung then she bent down to her level.

"Fine, you win, Sooyoung-ah. You always do." Jessica gave up. Of course.

Yet, another triumphant smile lit up her face. As usual, Sooyoung took a hold of Jessica's hand in hers before doing anything else. "Before you say anything else or change your mind, let's take a seat on that bench over there first." She jerked her head in the direction of the park nearby.

"I don't see any bench over there, though." Jessica questioned. She was only able to see trees, plants or bushes in that direction.

"There is, believe me..." Sooyoung assured.

As they took a few more steps closer, Jessica could see that there really was a bench hidden behind the bushes. It can't be discovered easily if one didn't look closely.

"How can you discover this bench from afar?" Jessica asked amazed.

"My favorite childhood playground..." Sooyoung grinned, "There's only this one bench around here. There's a specific reason why I stopped here to recover my breath, you know?" She continued, revealing a bit too much information.

A few seconds for Jessica's bright mind to process before she shook her head helplessly. She was tricked by Choi Sooyoung... again. And she knew that there was more to come in the future if she still hung around this witty girl.

"So... Are you not coming home tonight?" Sooyoung started as they both settled on the bench.

"Don't know yet..." Jessica responded in a neutral tone of voice.

"Quite a shock knowing Yuri is your sister?" Jumping straight to the main point, Sooyoung was never the go-around type anyway.

Jessica stayed silent after that question. Was she really shocked? No... She had been feeling this all along, it was just that she didn't want to bring herself to the one and only conclusion. Her family just couldn't be Kwon Yuri, anyone but her.

"Actually... Not that much..." Still, that disinterested attitude.

A sad smile suddenly appeared on Sooyoung's gorgeous face as she focused her gaze on the empty street . "So... You acted this way just because she's Kwon Yuri, right? The person who Im Yoona was once married to..."

Jessica snapped her head to Sooyoung and looked at her with her eyes widen just for a moment before she let out an amused snort. "Really... what is this? You just seem to know everything about me, Sooyoung-ah. And we don't even know each other that long."

Sooyoung let out a heavy breath as she continued, "At this moment, I just wish that I don't understand you that much, that I can hear your denial of my assumption." She turned to Jessica with somewhat looked like a smile on her face, "You like her that much, eh?"

Jessica presses her lips into a thin line before slightly nodded.

"Jessica Jung, you're being really cruel to me right now, you know that right?" Sooyoung said in a soft but sad tone of voice along with a small chuckle at the beginning while her gaze was still glued to the ground. There wasn't one tiny hint of anger or desperation in it, not one.

"Sooyoung-ah, I-"

"Have you ever tried to let her know what you're feeling?" Sooyoung cut short what Jessica was about to say while looking straight into the pair of eyes that was full of apologetic words. The question was completely off topic as if she didn't say what she just said only seconds ago.

Even though she was taken back by the question, Jessica was quick to recover and give an answer, "I... Not that I haven't... Just... Things happen."

"That's such a lame excuse for being in an unrequited love with someone for so long. Lame, I'm telling you." Sooyoung commented a little too straightly. Then again, it was just who she always was.

"But I'm planning to tell her, soon..." Jessica quickly fixed.

"Tomorrow it is then." The tall girl suggested.

"Tomorrow? Why so soon?" And the not-so-strange reaction from Jessica.

Sooyoung couldn't help but let out a laugh. Jessica was the first person to say the word 'soon', wasn't she? "How can you still call tomorrow is soon? In my opinion, you're already late, for years. If I were you, I'd run home, wake her up and tell her right now. But since you're not the awesome Choi Sooyoung me so it's understandable for delaying another twenty four hours."

Jessica managed to have her first happy chuckle all night long. Alright, Choi Sooyoung was awesome... that she couldn't deny though.

"You're right. I'm already late but not too late, right?"

"Yup... But if you don't have anything planned for tomorrow then I'm not so sure anymore and be brave, just like me, everything's gonna be alright." Sooyoung grinned cheekily.

Smiling again, Jessica couldn't believe that she had just been crying and running away, probably in her worst state just minutes ago and now after a talk with Sooyoung she had brightened up, a lot. Like she had mentioned countless times before, it was Choi Sooyoung's magic bringing happiness to all around her.

"Can I ask you a question?" Jessica suddenly said after staying silent for a while.

"Ask away."

"Uhm... I've always wondered... What is it that you like so much about me? I mean... Technically, we only met for the first time a few weeks ago." Jessica finally questioned about what she had always wanted to know. What was it about her that attracted Sooyoung so much.

Sooyoung raised a eyebrow at Jessica before a witty smirk appeared on her face. "If I answer well, will you agree to be my girlfriend?"

"Wh-what... I-I only..."

Feeling satisfied with Jessica's reaction, Sooyoung cut in with a laugh, "Alright, I know... Im Yoona sure has all the luck in the world in her hand. Uhm... Do you still want to hear the answer?"

Undoubtedly, Jessica eagerly nodded.

Inching closer to her target, Sooyoung looked into those brown orbs of Jessica as she spoke, "You're beautiful, Jessica. The most gorgeous, breath-taking, beautiful girl I've ever met."

"Is it why..." Jessica cut in softly as disappointment could be faintly heard in her question.

"But... That isn't the main reason why I keep falling for you like I am right now. I don't know how to put it but… the more I saw you loving Yoona without asking for anything in return, the more I want to make you mine." Sooyoung then took her eyes off of Jessica and stared blankly into space, "Love is just strange. At the beginning, I can totally feel that it's just simply an attraction toward you when I met you across the street. And then as I noticed the look on your face for the first time when you look at Yoona lovingly... suddenly I became selfish. I just want to own that look, I want that look to be mine, to be directed at me, only me. I want to make you mine."

Sooyoung took a deep breath in as she continued, "As I keep watching, your sad eyes had me mesmerized. The next thing I knew, I started to feel this urge to protect you. I want to make you smile so that I don't have to see those sad eyes anymore. I want to be by your side when you need someone to confide in. I want to be the one holding you, wiping away your tears whenever you're crying. And when we’re close enough and if you allow me, I want to be the one returning the love that you give out unconditionally. Before I knew it... I've fallen in love with you. So..." She whipped her head to Jessica with a bright smile on her face, "To cut it short, I love you because you are in love with someone else." Sooyoung immediately squinted one of her eye after stating her conclusion, "Uh... That sounds just... weird but I hope it still makes sense though?"

Jessica also returned with a smile, "Totally..." She still remembered Sooyoung's first lecture to her about how big the word 'love' was. Jessica was really feeling it now. No matter how many times Sooyoung said she liked her, the sensation was still not as strong as this time, when she heard Sooyoung saying that she had fallen in love with her without realizing that she did. Chuckling silently to herself, Jessica didn't expect Sooyoung to say the 'big word' of hers in this kind of situation. Judging from the tall girl's personality, a romantic dinner under the candle lights would do. She could imagine the scene when Sooyoung whining all day long just because of a slip of the tongue. However, a romantic dinner or not, every word Sooyoung was saying right now was as meaningful and faithful as ever.

The blonde suddenly wondered, if the person who was first to knock on the door to her heart wasn't Yoona, if Yoona and her didn't meet at the orphanage, if they didn't spend their entire childhood together, if it was Sooyoung who came into her life first, then what would happen???

&&&&&&

YulTi's House - Tiffany's bedroom

"Fany-ah..."

"..."

"Fany-ah..."

"Hmm..."

"Fany-ahhhhh..."

Tiffany tiredly turned to the direction of the endless noise kept pouring in her left ear. She tried to force her eyes opened while obviously her mind was still somewhere in her dreamland. And when she finally did, Tiffany immediately regretted that effort.

"Jesus!!!" The eye-smile girl screamed in shock and almost jumped off the bed when she realized how close her best friend's face to her. Plus, that face was somehow lit up by the weak light from somewhere that Tiffany's sleepy brain wasn't working well enough at the moment to figure out what it was exactly. Still, that sight was creepy enough to scare the hell of her.

"Oh my God! Yuri-yah..." Tiffany blurted out breathlessly in English and quickly stretched out to turn on the nightstand next to her. The poor girl hadn't been able to completely recover from the midnight shock yet.

"I'm sorry... I guess I scared you, didn't I?" Yuri mumbled apologetically in a low tone.

Looking at the cellphone in Yuri's hand, Tiffany now knew where that scary light was coming from. She swore if she didn't know Yuri well enough to acknowledge the fact that this girl would never pull off such an immature joke, Tiffany would assume that Yuri did scared her on purpose and yelled at her right now.

Taking a deep breath to calm her nerves, Tiffany sat back down on her bed and softly said, "It's okay... I'm just a bit... shocked." She glanced at the clock on her table before turned to Yuri again, "So, what brings you here, my best friend... at 2:35... in the middle of the night... when I'm in a peaceful sleep?"

Yuri found herself quietly chuckled at those unnecessary details about her bad timing in Tiffany's question, "I know it's already late, Fany-ah. But I just can't sleep when there's something bothering me like this."

"Alright... I'm all ears now. How can I go back to sleep when I know that my best friend can't sleep well?" Tiffany patted Yuri's shoulder to reassure her that she was fine, "Only one thing... Next time, just simply turn on the light to wake me up, okay?"

"Roger that, ma'am."

"So?"

Letting out yet another sigh, Yuri started in a small voice, "Fany-ah..."

"Okay... I seriously can't go back to sleep if you keep calling my name in the middle of the night like that. It's sor-"

"Do you think... Jessica has feelings for Yoona? Special feelings."

Tiffany grew silent at the question coming from nowhere. Kwon Yuri would always be Kwon Yuri, the things kept her from sleeping would always involve that one and only person.

"Why do you ask? Kwon Yuri, don't tell me you-"

"It's not about Yoona this time..."

"Then...?"

"It's Jessica, my sister."

"Your sister?" Tiffany raised her voice in disbelief, "How come suddenly an only-child like you has a sister? In case you're saying this just because you want to test if I'm awake or not then I can tell you that I completely am so stop messing around already."

"I'm not messing with you, Fany-ah. I only knew of this fact when I was on the LA business trip. Believe me, my first guess about Jessica and my father's relationship was much worse than this one."

"So... Jessica is your sister... for real?" Tiffany asked again. It seemed like no one could easily accept this fact right away.

"Yeah, for real."

"So... There's no such thing as emergency files. You go around, looking for her all night long just because you're worried for her? Because she's your sister?"

Yuri slightly nodded as her reply.

"Wow... This bedtime story’s definitely worth a sleepless night of mine." Tiffany said in a humorous tone.

"You haven't answered my question yet."

"Which one?" Tiffany raised her eyebrow.

Yuri rolled her eyes. If she knew it was this hard to get a sleepy Tiffany to understand the whole situation, she would've waited until tomorrow for this deep talk. "It's about Jessica's feeling for Yoona more than just a friend."

"Ah... That. Well, there’s no need for second thought, I'm sure that 'your sister' loves that girl." Tiffany confidently stated, as she put an air quote for the phrase ‘your sister’. 

"Why do you say so?" Yuri widened her eyes at Tiffany's comment. How come Tiffany could notice Jessica's feelings while she couldn't?

"Uhm... first, her reactions are kind of obvious. The look she gave Yoona is something that can only be seen when one looking at the one she loves and how there's alway a big smile on her cold face when Yoona's around. Plus, I think being in a relationship with someone who is a best friend to both of them kind of gives me some extra inside information." Tiffany finished her convincing speech with a proud expression on her face.

"No wonder..." Yuri mumbled.

"I really don't understand you guys, what's so good about that cheater to make you guys head over heels with her like this?" Tiffany wondered. In her mind, the name Im Yoona only brought tears and sadness to people around her. In short, Im Yoona was just simply a 'bad influence'.

"Jessica isn't like me at all. She has known Yoona since they were just little kids. They have spent so much time together that Jessica can easily understand Yoona just by the look the latter gave her... something that I would never be able to do..." Yuri mumbled the last part to herself. She still remembered what Jessica told her about their first meeting at the orphanage, how they grew up and attended the same school together ever since high school. And to be honest, Yuri sort of felt envious of this special bond that they shared, the kind of thing that she, a person who only knew Yoona less than 30 days could never have.

"Wait... I guess we've gone a little bit too far from the main point here. The reason kept me wide awake at this late hour just because I want to know why you can't sleep. And I believe the fact that Jessica loving someone has nothing to do with it."

Heaving a sigh, Yuri continued, "Earlier when I found her, I kind of slipped the truth about our relationship to her and then she threw a fit to me saying that... I took someone away from her, which was the only good thing that happened in her life. I wonder if she's talking about Yoona..."

"Im Yoona is the only good thing in her life?" Tiffany raised one of her eyebrow, "Woah... That girl must have had such a hard life." She absentmindedly commented which was completely off topic.

"Fany-ah, let's just put whatever happened between me and Yoona aside, okay? We're talking about my sister, Jessica Jung, here."

"Sorry Yul, I just can't help it..." Tiffany apologized cutely with her shoulder slightly raising, "Okay... Let me sum it up one more time. You can't sleep because you think that you might take away your sister's 'only good thing' which you assumed to be Im Yoona. Why are you so sure about that though?"

"Well, you said it yourself that Sica totally see Yoona more than a friend. Besides, as far as I know there aren't that many people who are close to her except Yoona and Taeyeon. And Taeyeon is definitely not the one since I didn't even talk to her more than 20 words. So the only one left..."

Tiffany nodded in agreement, "Right, you got a point."

"I just simply want her to be happy, I want her to know what the feeling of having a family and being taken care of will be like. Yet, I messed it all up by exclaiming I'm her sister without thinking like this. And what even worse is that now I know I'm the one who took away her happiness..." Yuri said sadly.

"Hmm... maybe you'd think I'm insane as I said this but... Don't you think that everything is falling into its place now?" Tiffany suddenly asked out of the mess that her best friend had been bringing up ever since she stepped her foot into the room.

Yuri turned to look at her best friend oddly, "O...kay, maybe you're not insane but I start to doubt whether you're awake the whole time we've been talking, Fany-ah. You must have misheard something. Fine, one more time, I-"

Tiffany was quick to cut short Yuri's attempt to retell her story once again, "No, Yul... I heard it very clearly. Your sister is in love with Yoona and now she blames you for taking her love away. I get it." Tiffany stated firmly, "But what I meant is... Yuri-yah, don't you realize that everything happens recently just to prove the only one fact that you and Yoona were never meant to be."

Yuri raised her eyebrow at her best friend. She swore, Tiffany really had this seriously strong bias against Yoona, everything they talked about Tiffany could relate them to Im Yoona and obviously, they were never good. Just like this time.

Tiffany heaved a sigh as she noticed Yuri's reaction. The one she always seemed to get whenever she talked bad about Im Yoona. “Listen, I know how you feel about that seven-day memory, like a fairytale. But Yuri-yah, can you see that the fairytale you believe in had such a very sad ending? Now, you two just can’t go back together because of what happened so why don’t you let those memories rest? Stay as they are, in the past. Yoona has Jessica who is always there for her and you also have someone who seems to like you very much. Then why not letting go? Jessica can be with Yoona and you can give Gyuri a chance. Everyone’s happy.”

Everyone was happy. Everyone… was happy. It sounded like it was good thing, a really good thing if Yuri followed what Tiffany advised her to do.

All her life, Yuri did nothing but “good thing” for everyone around her. However, only this one time, she didn’t feel like doing any good thing at all…

&&&&&&

STS – Cruise Sales And Reservations Department

The first thing Yoona saw when she walked in the office the next morning was everyone’s favorite romantic scene in a movie. A girl with a bouquet of flowers in her hand plus a brightly hopeful smile on her face, was surrounded by people’s cheering around her asking the other girl to accept her proposal.

It would definitely be a perfect picture if the other girl has another expression rather than a confused one like she had on her face right now.

“Come on, Yuri-yah. Just go on a date with her already, thinking about all of the chocolate boxes she sent every morning. This girl deserved more than a chance.” Onew chimed in.

“It’s just I-” Yuri stopped herself as her eyes met the familiar pair of doe eyes also staring at the two main characters of the scene. She had to admit, there was a wave of emotions coming through her veins getting stronger by seconds.

Yuri had been thinking about what Tiffany said all night. But no matter how hard she tried to reason, her thought of letting go was gone with the wind every time the scene where Yoona confessed to her popped up randomly in her mind.

At that exact moment Yuri realized, Yoona still meant a lot to her.

Like right now, as she was torn between letting go or holding on, all she could think about or hope would happen was Yoona would run to her, take her hand and claim that Kwon Yuri only belong to Im Yoona.

Just one more time… she wanted to hear it, one more time, in front of everyone, even it was just a lie. It was enough. There would be no Tiffany’s advice, no thinking, no reasoning… Just simply want to be with the one she loved. Even if all she got in the end was pain, she would gladly take it. Call her a fool but she wanted to believe it.

Say something…

“Let’s go Sica-yah, you told me there’s an upcoming meeting with an important partner right?” Yoona told Jessica over her shoulder.

Jessica quickly replied with a nod and then followed Yoona into her office.

And the last thing Yoona heard before she closed the door were lots and lots of cheers and applauses. Yuri had given her answer.

---

“When is the next meeting Icy-ah?” Yoona asked Jessica without looking up from the contract she just signed with an important partner while they were on their way to the parking lot.

“Are you talking about the one with Mr. Kim?” Jessica confirmed.

“Yes, what else?”

“Didn’t you tell me to cancel it? You said it yourself that we couldn’t make it if there’re two important meeting on a same day. Even if we do, there would be no time to rest.” Jessica tried to reason. Yoona had been acting really weird since this morning, since that confessing scene to be exact.

Yoona shrugged, “Well… I change my mind. We won’t have anything to do at home anyway.”

Jessica halted her steps, “Im Yoona… Are you trying to tire yourself out now?”

Yoona exhaled heavily and also stopped walking, having her best friend as her assistant was brilliant most of the times but at times like this she just wished that she had a clueless assistant who just did whatever she was told.

“If what happened this morning bothers you this much, why don’t you do something about it instead of walking away?” Jessica asked out of frustration. Where was the Yoona she had known for her whole life, the one who was always brave enough to fight for what she believed in?

“Well… I have no right to…” Yoona said with a forced smile on her face.

“Yah…”

“Tiffany was right… Wounds heal… not scars.”

“Tiffany? Why is she…? You talked to her?”

“Last night, she came to our house and we have a small talk.” Twice, Tiffany only started her conversation with Yoona twice in more than two months they worked in the same department and it had always been related to one person: Kwon Yuri.

“I think you need to see this…” Yoona slowly dug in her pocket to pull out her phone then showed it to Jessica.

There was a picture of Yuri and Yoona, both in their casual clothes smiling brightly at the camera with Disneyland as a background. She bet that this was taken three years ago, Yoona still kept it for all those years.

Looking at the picture in her phone, Yoona continued, “This is the first picture I took with her. That smile on her face, Sica-yah… have you ever seen it before?”

Taking a closer look at the picture, this smile… really… Jessica was sure that she had never seen it before. She couldn’t even imagine that Yuri could smile this brightly, this happily. Ever since they met in person, the Kwon Yuri she knew never actually smiled, her lips just curled up at the end enough to make it look like she was smiling and that was it. The smile showing all of her teeth like this was just… strange.

“You can’t see it because I’ve taken it away since the night I cheated on her… on purpose, just to revenge.” Yoona chuckled silently, a chuckle full of irony. “Using me or not, either way she was last one getting hurt because of my childish act. And now… she can’t even smile properly. Now tell me Sica-yah, how can I dare to stop her from getting what she rightfully deserves from the start when all I do is causing her pain and heartbreaks?”

No one knew if Yoona loved Yuri more than Gyuri did or the other way round but there was one thing everyone knew for sure, Gyuri hadn’t done anything to hurt Yuri like Yoona had. Gyuri had one thing that Yoona didn’t.

Chance.

“Move on… that’s what we should do, that’s what I should give her a chance to do.” Yoona concluded with her sad eyes gluing to the ground. She had been thinking about it all night long and this time she believed she made the right decision.

“Are you sure you can do that, moving on?” Jessica asked.

Helplessly, Yoona shook her head, “Not at all, but from this moment on, I’ll try.”

Jessica heaved a hopeless sigh. She couldn’t even remember how many times Yoona said that she would get over Yuri. And then what? It had been three years, nothing changed, she was still madly in love with Kwon Yuri. It was impossible for Yoona to forget and it was hopeless for Jessica to help her best friend. There was absolutely nothing she could do.

Wait…

Didn’t they always say that the best way to forget someone is to be with someone else? If that was the case then this was the best chance for Jessica to confess now. But… wasn’t that called ‘taking advantage’? She should wait a bit mo-… No, all her life Jessica had been doing nothing but waiting. Who knows what is going to happen tomorrow? Will she ever be able to confess?

Never before in her life, Jessica felt this huge urge to confess right at this moment. She needed do this and she had to do this right now.

Jessica halted her steps, “Yoong… I have something to tell you…”

Yoona turned around as a response, “Hmm?”

Taking a deep breath in, this was it… this was really it.

“I… I love you.”

If this was a scene in a movie, probably there were fireworks setting off behind Jessica right now. After years and years of waiting and hoping, she had spoken her heart. Finally. On the other hand, Yoona stayed silent while blinking her eyes a few times as she was left dumbfounded because of the completely unexpected confession.

Seeing no response from the latter, Jessica decided to take another step forward, “I’m in love with you, Yoong, for years. Ever since the first day I met you at the orphanage, you’ve become one of my most special bonds. I know that Yuri still holds a very special place in your heart but if you and her aren’t meant to be then can you… at least give me a chance? Give… give us a chance?” Jessica tried to gather her breathing while her hands clenching tightly. The only thing she needed right now was an answer, Yoona’s answer.

Jessica watched her best friend in silence as the taller girl lowered her head looking at the ground – the gesture she would always do when she had to make a big decision – and then making eye contact with her again. This nerve-wracking silence only lasted a few minutes but it felt like an eternity to Jessica.


“No…” Yoona said while slightly shaking her head.

No? For real?

“No, this is not how it’s supposed to be.”

TBC