Wherever You Will Go

***

Emerging from a profound sleep, Tiffany stirred and, with a gradual turn, glanced at the digital clock. Panic set in as her eyes widened, registering the realization that it was already past seven in the evening. Moving quickly, she sprang out of bed, hastening toward the door. However, her urgency came to a sudden halt as she caught the delightful sounds of Da-On's laughter and Taeyeon's voice echoing from downstairs. It seemed they were engrossed in playful activities, prompting Tiffany to pause.

Carefully, she tiptoed while making her way outside and stopped at the stairs, so she could peek and check what was going on in the living room.

"Hell yeah! I nailed it. Victory's mine, Da-On!" Taeyeon exclaimed, reveling in his triumph in the video game. Da-On, sulking with his arms crossed, acknowledged the defeat. "Alright, alright, let's get back into it." he quickly noticed Da-On's discontent, prompting him to restart the TV game, Kart-Rider Rush, a popular title in South Korea where Taeyeon claimed expertise.

Da-On's face brightened as he switched his in-game driver character once again. Despite his intense focus, the moment his eyes caught sight of his mother upstairs, he swiftly tossed the controller aside and quickly retreated, taking cover behind the sofa.

"Omo, Da-On, what's the matter?" Taeyeon attempted to peer behind, but Da-On had already spotted Tiffany descending the stairs, her eyes squinting in confusion. "Uh, hi, Fany-ah. I mean, oh, you're walking normally now. The pain is gone," he sheepishly exclaimed, accompanied by a bashful smile.

Switching off the TV screen, Tiffany flashed a smile at Taeyeon. "Are you willing to release the little one behind you, Taeyeon-ssi?" she inquired, hands confidently placed on her hips.

Gulping nervously, Taeyeon stole a glance at Da-On, who was fervently clasping his hands as if signaling him to keep silent. "Nope. I'm his lawyer, and I firmly believe the boy is innocent. It should be me instead," Taeyeon asserted. Slowly rising from his seat, he extended his controller. "Don't scold him," he whispered urgently. However, Tiffany swiftly snatched the controller and hurled it away.

"Da-On ah, Omma isn't upset," Tiffany reassured as she settled onto the sofa. "I just want to let you know that playing video games without my knowledge is not allowed. I mean, how long have you two been at it? It's not healthy for Da-On's eyes to be glued to the screen for extended periods."

Taeyeon scratched the back of his head. "I apologize; it was my idea. I persuaded him to play with me after he had a game of football with Yuri," he explained, attempting to shield the young lad from any blame.

"You or someone who knew he received PS5 from Prince William."

"Prince William gave it to him?" He exclaimed upon learning such information.

Tiffany nodded slowly. "He grew fond of Da-On and gifted him without the knowledge of the other kids."

"Fo-for how long he stayed here?" Taeyeon felt like he needed to step up. 

"A whole month. He stayed at the orphanage for that duration and formed close bonds with some of the kids, including the little one behind me," Tiffany explained as she finally glanced at her son behind the sofa, prompting him to burst into tears. "Aigoo, aigoo, come here. I'm just going to pick you up," she declared, and with gentle reassurance, she lifted her son into her arms. Da-On instinctively buried his face in her neck, crying childishly and apologizing at the same time while she carried his back.

The scene left Taeyeon with the feeling that he was witnessing a genuine mother-and-son moment. It was a bit unusual, but he couldn't help but find it adorable to observe how Tiffany skillfully comforted and coaxed Da-On right before his eyes.

"Did he eat already?" Tiffany asked, even as Da-On continued to cry.

"Yeah, we all had dinner together with Yuri and Jessica," confirmed Taeyeon. He then casually made his way to the kitchen, adding, "I'll reheat the food for you."

Tiffany sighed. "He's starting to feel at home here," she softly remarked, her attention shifting to Da-On as she gently wiped away his tears. "It's okay, sweetheart. Just try not to do that again," she whispered, planting kisses on his cheeks and forehead.

Da-On gradually settled, and the faint sounds of sniffles subsided. He didn't utter a word, finding solace in his mother's embrace, and as time drifted by, gentle drowsiness overcame him.

Tiffany notices it and so she begins to sing a lullaby.

"Lullaby and goodnight, With roses bedight, With lilies o'erspread, Is baby's wee bed.

Lay thee down now and rest, May thy slumber be blessed! Lay thee down now and rest, May thy slumber be blessed!

Lullaby and goodnight, Thy mother's delight, Bright angels beside My darling abide."

Taeyeon's attention was drawn from the kitchen as he caught the melody of Tiffany's enchanting voice. Settling onto a chair, he found himself captivated by the sweet notes, a warmth filling his heart and a smile gracing his face.

As the song concluded, he quickly snapped back to reality, realizing that the food on the stove had reached a boiling point. Hastily, he dashed to the stove, promptly turning it off before any mishaps could happen. 

Noticing the absence of voices in the living room, he ventured out, contemplating checking upstairs. However, mindful of privacy, he refrained and opted to stay downstairs, tuning in to some TV shows. His focus, however, shifted abruptly when a breaking news report caught his attention, urging Sunshine Village residents to remain indoors due to monkeys venturing out of the woods.

"Wait, is it happening here?" He rushed to the window, quickly scanning the outside, only to spot Yuri and Jessica hurrying back home. Without hesitation, he hurried to the door and opened it for them.

"Has Seohyun returned?" Jessica inquired promptly, still catching her breath.

"No, haven't seen her," Taeyeon replied immediately. "Wait, why is it considered dangerous for the village when the monkeys are roaming?"

"They're not ordinary monkeys, Taeyeon-ssi. These are wild jungle monkeys that venture out in search of food, and they don't recognize humans. The last time they attacked the town, there were reported injuries," Jessica explained before retrieving her phone to contact Seohyun.

Meanwhile, Yuri and Taeyeon diligently closed all the windows and securely sealed the door.

"What's happening?" Tiffany inquired with confusion as she descended the stairs. "Are the monkeys on the move again?"

"Yeah, and Seohyun hasn't returned home. I hope she hasn't left the hotel," Taeyeon expressed, a note of concern evident for their youngest friend.

"I'll call Yoona to check," Yuri said, but before she could, Jessica finally connected with Seohyun, prompting him to return his phone to his pocket.

"Oh, I'm relieved you haven't left. Just stay in the hotel until morning, okay? You're with Yoona, so it'll be safe there," Jessica advised, expressing relief as the younger one confirmed her location. "Yes, we're here right now, safe and sound. Yuri and Taeyeon. You too, Joohyun. Take care. We'll see you in the morning," she added before hanging up with a sigh.

"Yoona's with her, there's nothing to worry now." she shared the news with the rest. 

"What about your belongings outside? Will the monkeys damage them?" Taeyeon inquired with curiosity, expressing concern for the girls' stuff.

"It's fine, it was just potted plants outside and a picnic table." Tiffany confirms without concern.

"Wait, my car!" Yuri exclaimed, suddenly remembering his vehicle. He hurried toward the door, only to be halted by Tiffany's hand firmly gripping his arm.

"Would you risk your life for a car?" Tiffany boldly inquired as she gradually released her grip on him.

"It's a rented car," Taeyeon murmured, and Yuri cast him a glance, wearing a disappointed expression.

"It's okay, Yul. You'll find a way to cover the damages, either way," Jessica reassured, giving Yuri's shoulder a comforting pat. He sighed and took his seat on the couch, accepting the situation in defeat.

Just then, they heard sounds emanating from the monkeys outside. While initially not too loud, after a couple of minutes, the noise intensified as the monkeys climbed the house.

"Aish, they're going to disturb Da-On," Tiffany exclaimed as she hurried upstairs. Jessica followed suit, leaving Taeyeon and Yuri sitting on the sofa, unsure if they could even manage to fall asleep amid the noise outside.

"I didn't know this was a thing in this place," Yuri muttered while covering his ears. The discomfort was palpable, and he just wanted it to end. "It doesn't feel safe all of a sudden."

"Same here, but I think it's what makes this place unique. At least it's not happening all the time," Taeyeon shared his thoughts while enjoying music through his earphones.

Yuri scoffed as he observed his friend skillfully tuning out the noise outside with his earphones. Regret set in as he wished he had brought his own pair. However, his attention swiftly shifted when his eyes were drawn to the picture frames on the wall, particularly the one featuring Da-On. Intrigued, he got up and approached the photo. The young boy appeared to be just a few months old. "Why does it feel like I've seen Da-On's face like this before?" A sudden sense of familiarity washed over him.

"What's going on?" Taeyeon asked, getting up and approaching Yuri as he removed one of the earphones from his ear.

"This," Yuri pointed at Da-On. "I feel like I've seen his face somewhere before," he shared, starting to ponder the familiarity.

"Huh? Are you sure about that?" Taeyeon questioned, unable to recall having seen a similar face before.

"Ah! Your childhood photo!" Yuri exclaimed, quickly taking out his phone and browsing through his photo gallery.

"Yah, you have my childhood photo? Since when?" Taeyeon was astonished, finding it amusing.

"I have Yoona's too." A big grin plastered Yuri's face before he found the photo of his friend and showed it to him. "See? You two looked the same."

                       baby taeyeon                                                      baby da-on 

Taeyeon took a glance at it and then shifted his gaze to Da-On's photo. He kept looking back and forth, eventually holding Yuri's phone next to Da-On's picture. His heart skipped a beat, and he suddenly felt goosebumps. "There's... there's no way we look the same," he stammered, finding the idea utterly ridiculous.

"Whoa, bro, are you the father?" Yuri chuckled in disbelief. "This is insane! The resemblance is uncanny!"

"What are you guys up to?" Tiffany's voice prompted them to immediately turn and face her.

"N-nothing. We're just checking the photos," Taeyeon said, smiling awkwardly. "Da-On didn't wake up, right?"

"Yes, he was exhausted. Anyway, here, you guys stay in the living room. Please be patient with the noise; they'll eventually leave," Tiffany said, handing them extra bed sheets, pillows, and blankets.

Yuri and Taeyeon quickly accepted it.

"No worries, good night, Fany," Taeyeon replied with a sweet smile.

"Tell Jessica I said good night too," Yuri added, seizing the opportunity to smile briefly at Tiffany before she returned upstairs. However, she descended again to head straight to the kitchen. Both boys settled down on the living room floor, paying no mind to the young lady who was only having her late dinner.

"Why do you have our photos?" Taeyeon asked Yuri in a hushed tone.

"Do you know that Dinner Dash game? I can change the faces of each character," Yuri replied, scooting closer to his friend and sharing the game on his phone. "Look, we are so adorable, selling burgers and pizzas," he said, giggling childishly.

Taeyeon maintained a serious expression upon seeing his face on one of the baby characters. Before his friend could , he immediately playfully grabbed Yuri's neck and shook him. "Delete that right now, Kwon Yuri!" he demanded.

"Ugh, let go," Yuri chuckled, attempting to push his friend off, but Taeyeon straddled him and grabbed his hair, pulling and pushing it. "Ah, that hurts. That hurts, Taeyeon!" he exclaimed, struggling to break free from the grip.

Tiffany hurried to see what was happening in the living room, only to be flustered. Taeyeon quickly rolled back to his side and waved his hand at her. "You guys are so silly," she commented with a soft chuckle before returning to the kitchen.

Taeyeon playfully hit Yuri's arm, prompting Yuri to retaliate with a hit of his own. The friendly exchange continued as they took turns hitting each other until, eventually, they both their backs and sulked.

As Tiffany passed by the living room and ascended the stairs, Taeyeon couldn't help but sigh, contemplating if the young woman was truthful about Da-On. Once she vanished upstairs, his gaze shifted back to Da-On's baby photo. He found himself briefly imagining himself as the young boy's actual father, which brought a giddy smile to his face.

Meanwhile, Yuri, who received Jessica's message on his phone from upstairs, can't help but wear a constant smile. Throughout the night, they engage in a delightful exchange of messages, creating a joyous connection between them.

Good night, Yul.

Yuri: Good night, Jess. But I'm not sleeping yet. ;p

Go to sleep! You're going to have eyebags in the morning.

Yuri: The noise outside is preventing me but you are more likely giving me sleepless nights.

Silly! We're still going to build the dog house tomorrow.

Yuri: Wake me up when September comes.

HAHAHAHAHA! Shut up and sleep.

Yuri: NO. I'm sleeping when you can't reply anymore.

I won't reply now then. Bye.

Yuri: You will because you will miss me. 

I think the old Yuri has disappeared and a new kid Yul suddenly replaced him.

Yuri: This is still me. Just more carefree. And less stress compared to the last few years.

Oh, how so?

Yuri: Secret. I'll tell you once you admit you still like me.

Wth, Kwon Yuri!

Amused by her response, he chuckled. Before he could craft a reply, he leisurely turned his head to the side, only to discover Taeyeon shooting him those familiar glares once more. "No worries, I'll put an end to it," he assured her, turning back to his phone to resume his conversation with Jessica.

***

An hour ago...

Tenderly grasping Seohyun's hand, Yoona led her out of the room and into the elevator. The descent to the first floor transpired in silence, both maintaining a calm demeanor and holding their emotions in check.

Upon reaching the first floor, they disembarked from the lift, and Yoona guided them directly to the expansive aquarium. The space was sparsely populated, with only a handful of people leisurely observing the diverse array of fish. They lingered there, speechless for nearly 20 minutes, until Yoona finally broke the silence.

"I apologize sincerely. What happened earlier was wrong, and I realize it was inappropriate for me to act that way. I understand that it caught you off guard, and I genuinely regret causing any discomfort." He conveyed his remorse for the impulsive kiss that had sparked their disagreement.

Seohyun took a sharp breath, uncertain of how to respond. All she desired at that moment was to lend an ear and hear whatever he needed to express.

"As for what Yihyun mentioned, she's indeed telling the truth," he began to explain. "Do you recall the day you and the others left Seoul? That was when we discovered your past, your actions in New York. Sooyoung was the one who informed us about it."

Upon hearing the mention of the detective, Seohyun's interest was immediately piqued, prompting her to gaze attentively at him.

"Yeah, you were correct. I was furious, upset, and shattered when I found out. It took me weeks to come to terms with it... thanks to the support of my Hyungs, I managed to overcome it. One day, Sooyoung reached out to Taeyeon Hyung, suggesting a collaboration in searching for you girls. While we considered accepting, Yuri Hyung had a different idea. And you know what it was? To find you girls to shield you from those pursuing the fugitives."

Seohyun nodded, finally grasping the situation. "But why?" Nevertheless, she sought an explanation, finding it perplexing that they would be willing to help despite evidently keeping secrets from them.

"We believe you girls were not just accomplices but victims and witnesses of the group your boss created. We think you're striving to forge a new life, distancing yourselves from your past." Yoona explained genuinely.

"You know about the group?"

"We stumbled upon it when Taeyeon Hyung received a binder from Tiffany Noona. It has all the information about the roberry group. That's when we began to reconsider our stance on this situation."

"Fany Unnie did what?" She had no idea and that's one thing she's also surprised.

"She didn't inform you guys, did she?" Yoona had been correct from the beginning but she's glad one of them had the thought of doing it. "This sheds light on whatever you girls carry from the past. It served as an opening for us to comprehend what you've been through, and I regret the impact it had on your lives in New York."

Seohyun sighed heavily. "Honestly, there's nothing I want to share about my past," she expressed, relieved that she didn't have to delve into her story.

"Yeah, so I understand that you're trying to protect yourself and your sisters. I'm sorry if I didn't tell you right away." 

"If you... Aish, never mind.