Chapter 2

 

“Sweetie, are you really sure you want to do this? There’s other options for you”, Mrs.Kim is worried about her son

 

Sunny went to their house to tell her about what is happening to Tiffany and her company.

 

Yes, Sunny and Taeyeon are best friends too. They both met in Oxford and it was Sunny who helped him when one of Nickhun’s friend is beating the hell out of him.

 

But Sunny went back home after 2 years after finishing her graduate course. She’s asking Taeyeon to come with her but he insisted on getting another degree in different field.

 

Having Sunny as his friend, they talked about a lot and to his surprise, she told him about her friend named Tiffany Hwang.

 

That’s how Sunny found out about everything. All of his sacrifices and stupid decisions but one thing that he admires about her is that no once she told him to confess or run after Tiffany.

 

Sunny is not there to push him towards her but for him to heal while thinking of her, heal his body and mind knowing that she is safe and sound.

 

Because of Sunny he somehow always have an update about her. But little did he know that Sunny is actually not telling him how hurt and sad Tiffany was when he left him.

 

She thought that it wasn’t the time for him to know about it. He is not yet that stable when it comes to his emotions especially when it is about Tiffany.

 

“Mom, I’ll be fine. Sunny already told you that it will not be permanent job. I will be there to do what I have to do which is to help them retrieve those files”,

 

“But still…”,

 

“Don’t worry about me, mom. Sunny is there with me. You know that she is my second mother, right. I will be fine”, Taeyeon gave his mother a cheeky smile before stuffing his mouth with the pancake.

 

When Sunny told him about the problem that Tiffany is facing he immediately offered help. Then Sunny told him that she already tells Tiffany about it and still waiting for her approval.

 

Taeyeon knew that Tiffany wants nothing to do with him after leaving her on her birthday. It was the saddest and stupid thing that he ever did but it was done already and he’s been paying the price already.

 

“Are you going back to the states after? I remember you told me that you will only be here for a vacation?”, Mrs.Kim asks him about his plans.

 

“Mom, about that… I need to tell you something”, Taeyeon puts his fork down while seriously looking at her mom

 

Mrs.Kim suddenly had that uneasy feeling because he knew her son so well that he will only be serious to her if it is something important.

 

“I don’t like this, son. What is it?”,

 

“Remember Prof.Carlton?”, he asks and waits for his mom to remember it and when she does, he continues. “He actually offers me to join him and his group in a humanitarian expedition. They want me join them and teach in Africa. You know like build something that will be essential for their livelihood”,

 

Mrs.Kim is shocked. That wasn’t what she expected him to tell her. She thought he will asks her if he can study another field. “Taeyeon, you know that this is not those volunteer works you already had before, right?”,

 

“I know. But maybe being away again makes me happy again, mom”, Taeyeon lowered his head

 

“Sweetie, the only way that will bring back your smile is when you stop running away from all of them. You can’t run forever, son. I know it’s hard for you. The scar of the past will always be there inside you but 10 years had passed by already. Don’t you think it’s time to face them? And tell her everything?”,

 

 

Taeyeon forces a smile with his teary eyes. “I don’t know anymore, mom. Maybe I am destined to be like this. Loving can hurt, literally for me. Running away is the only way that I know that will keep me sane. I’m tired mom”,

 

As a mother, it hurts more seeing her son like that and hearing him say those words. The trauma that he receives will always stays with him even after a decade.

 

Mrs.Kim didn’t know what to do anymore. She tried everything, Taeyeon has been going through therapies but his condition seems to worsen.

 

“Taeyeon”, she got up and engulfed her son with a hug. “Sweetie, you have to let go of what you’ve been keeping inside of you. It’s eating you up, son. Let it go please. 10 years. That long. You can cry. Nobody told you not to cry. Maybe crying is the only way that could help you now”,

 

“You worry to much. I’m fine. I didn’t tell you about that to make you worry you know. Besides, I haven’t reply. I am still weighing my options but I really want to go”,

 

“How long will it will?”,

 

“2 years they say but…”, Taeyeon pause when her mom let go of her hug. “But I may not return. I searched about the place and I actually love the place. You know being all the same. No one will look down at me and people there got each other’s back”,

 

Mrs.Kim feels her knees weakened hearing those. She couldn’t comprehend what her son is trying to tell her. It’s like he is preparing her for his final run.

 

“Think about it. Don’t rush your decision, son. That is some big responsibility that you want to do. How long did they gave you to response?”,

 

“3 weeks. They will be leaving on the 1^st of August”, Taeyeon had a hard time saying the date and he can see how her mom’s eyes widen

 

“Not again, son. You can’t just leave her again on her birthday. Taeyeon, I want you to think this over and over again. 3 weeks is a long time. But remember, I will always be here for you if you need me”,

 

Taeyeon only nodded. He is really lucky to have a mother like her who is the most understanding and loving person. “I love you, mom”,

 

Back to the Lock and Key design company, Tiffany is having a really bad morning. First, they can’t find an expert that could help them retrieve those files that her client is asking her.

 

Second, the designs are already 2 days late and she can’t take another day without an output. She can’t even start with the design because all the files and references of the project is with Donghae who deleted everything from his computer.

 

Without a choice left, Tiffany storms out of her office. “You win! Call him now, Sunny!”, she said before walking back to her office.

 

It took a few seconds before it registers to Sunny what her boss asks her to do and when it does she can’t help but to jumps out of her chair, startling her colleagues.

 

“I knew it! Now this is going to be exciting”, she tells herself while dialing Taeyeon’s number.

 

Sunny informs him about Tiffany agreeing to hire him as a computer engineer. But while talking to him on the phone, Sunny can feel something is off with him.

 

He didn’t sounds like he is excited compared to when she informs him about it at first. She wanted to asks him if he is okay but didn’t bother asking knowing that she will only hear him say ‘I’m fine’

 

“Hey, boss hwang. Taengo… I mean, Kim Taeyeon is on his way. Just want to inform you”, Sunny informs her with a teasing voice

 

“Whatever. Get the heck out of my office and remind your team to submit the draft of the apartment complex design. I need it in 30 minutes!”,

 

Sunny is shocked to hear that. “What the-Yah! You just gave that project 2 hours ago and do you expect us to produce a draft now?”,

 

“Then get your out of here and start talking with your team…30 minutes”, Tiffany repeats before giving her bossy attitude to her best friend.

 

“Like you will remember that when you finally see the man that you’ve been missing for a decade”,

 

“Don’t test my patience today, Ms.Lee. 30 minutes or you will all render overtime until I am satisfied with whatever you will come up with. Try me”,

 

Sunny angrily went out of her office. Even though they are friends, Tiffany treated her just like how she treats her employees when it comes to work.

 

When left alone in her quiet office, Tiffany cannot understand what she is feeling when finally after 10 long years of not knowing what happened to him they will finally see each other.

 

Despite hating him for leaving her without notice, the love that she has for him is still lingering in her heart.

 

She loves him. But what kind of love that is? Tiffany don’t know. All that she knows is she loves him.

 

Tiffany kept on checking the time on her laptop. She is now distracted with her work and couldn’t continue all thanks to Sunny.

 

The clock ticking and her heart beating so fast is all that she can hear. She’s been waiting for that day to come where she will be reunited with him.

 

She misses him so much. She needs him back in her life. That is her top secret and no one knows that even Sunny or Auntie Kim.

 

A knock on her door wakes her up from daydreaming.

 

There he is.

She wanted to run to him.

She wanted to jump on him.

She wanted to tell him ‘I miss you’

 

 

“Come in…”,

 

“Thank you, boss hwang…”, Taeyeon vows to her.

 

Boss Hwang. It echoes in her ears. That was not what Tiffany is expecting to hear from him. She is taken aback. “Uh-um. Yeah, sit down”,

 

Taeyeon slid his some papers towards her which confuse Tiffany. She took it and she couldn’t help but to be proud of what he had achieved.

 

“Resume… Well, your education background is impressive but I can see that you’ve been changing work quite often. The longest is what… 2 or 3 years. Why is that, Taeyeon?”,

 

“Just unfortunate enough that I don’t fit with them… that’s why”,

 

Tiffany wants to ask more. Her gut feeling tells her that there is more than he is not willing to share with her. “How have you been?”,

 

“Sunny already informed me about what I should accomplish. If it is okay with you boss hwang, I would like to take a look and see what I should prepare”, Taeyeon quickly diverted the topic.

 

He is not yet ready to answer that question. If she is other people, he has no problem answering then that he’s doing well. But this is Tiffany asking him who is great a finding weather he is lying or not.

 

“Taeyeon”, she sigh. “Okay. I have this senior principal designer that suddenly quit his job. Doing so, I found out that he cleared his pc. Now, all the documents and files for our ongoing project is gone. We need those in order to finish the biggest project we ever received. Can you do it”,

 

“It depends. I need to check how big are those few that were deleted. One thing is for sure, this will take weeks”,

 

Tiffany’s heart is really beating so fast. She’s never seen him that serious and it makes her feel some kind of attraction.

 

“It’s fine. This year’s files is your priority. We can wait until 3 weeks. That’s the maximum I could give you. Our client is already pressuring us”,

 

Taeyeon nodded. “2 weeks. I’ll try retrieving it in 2 weeks. The faster the better…”, he bitterly tells her when he noticed a picture of her and Nickhun sitting on top of her table.

 

“Are you going back to the states?”,

 

“Are you going to walk me to where the computer is or Sunny will?”, again he quickly change the topic.

 

Tiffany is running out of patience with him continuing ignoring her questions except for about the job. “So, this how you want us to be, huh? Fine then. You said 2 weeks, fine! You will receive your paycheck by then”,

 

“I don’t need you to pay me”, he argues

 

“We are talking about business here, Mr.Kim. I am hiring for a job which means I will pay you weather you want it or not. I am the boss here”,

 

“I understand, boss hwang”,

 

 

Tiffany is so pissed with how he is acting in front of her. Like he didn’t left her decade ago. The way he is talking to her, the way he reacts when he saw her is far from her expectations.

 

“Follow me!”, she raises her voice. The table is right in front of her office only. “Everyone listen! This Kim Taeyeon. He will be helping us to retrieve Donghae’s files! And you”, she pointed at Taeyeon.

 

“This is his table and your table now. Do what you have to do and I need your assessment in 30 minutes!”,

 

The other employees shock their head as they mouthed ‘bossy hwang activated’. They feel bad for Taeyeon who immediately receives her wrath.

 

Sunny is surprised.

Sunny is shocked.

 

“What the heck is happening?”, she asks no one.

 

And then she lock eyes with bossy hwang that sends chills throughout her body. “Sunny! It’s 30 minutes already! Send the drafts now. Sooyoung, you and your team. I need your progress report EOB (end of business)”,

 

Tiffany then slams her office door close. Everyone jumps hearing that loud thud.

 

“Yah! What did you do to her?!”, Sunny slaps him on the head. “I thought you will change her mood but you made it even worse!”,

 

Taeyeon scratches his head feeling sorry for them. “I didn’t do anything… Is she always like that?”

 

“You did something! We will talk later, Kim Taeyeon. I swear I will dye your hair black again! Gosh, what are we going to do now”,

 

“What is it? Maybe I can help you?”, Taeyeon ask wanting to somehow help them after pissing their boss.

 

Just like that, Sunny’s eyes shines like a light bulb has been lighted. “Oh my God! I forgot that you’re a license civil engineer too! Heize! Explain it to him now. I will try to asks for an extension”,

 

The whole team explains the concept to him. The expectation and demands from the client. What they want to see in the design.

 

Even the calculations that they can’t solve to match the initial design. Their options if they can’t match it is to re-design the draft that will take them hours to finish.

 

Taeyeon analyze it and checks their computations. He went to Sunny’s table and starts doing some computation while changing some of the structure of the draft that they have done.

 

“The two inner post is unnecessary and that’s where you can’t match the computation. If you take those, it is only 1mm short of the target… but if you will move this and this slightly backwards, you will have now the perfect angle”, he explains

 

They all look at each other and stunned with how fast he noticed the mistakes in their design. “Wow”,

 

“You’re a life saver, Taengo! Guys, let’s go face bossy hwang…” Sunny confidently calls her whole team. “Before I forgot. You only have 20 minutes left. If I were you, I will start doing what she asks you. She is very strict when it comes to time especially when she gave a deadline, she really means it. Good luck”

 

Taeyeon just shrugged. He is already used to her shouting at him, nagging at him. There’s nothing new about that.

 

He briefly look at the close door in front of him before whispering “I miss you, Fany-ah” to himself.

 

While Tiffany is having a meeting with Sunny and her team, Taeyeon started checking the computer. Once he had a picture of what to do he just sadly smile.

 

He was quiet while staring at the computer. It wasn’t because he is thinking of ways in how to retrieve it but because his mind is wandering around the time when they are still happily together as best friends.

 

Taeyeon regret not saying goodbye to her but no regret on sacrificing knowing that Nickhun kept his promise not to hurt the woman that he loved.

 

“Hey, Taeyeon”, Sooyoung calls him. “Are you friends with boss hwang?”,

 

“Used to be… I guess”,

 

“What do you mean by that?”,

 

“It’s better you not to talked about it or else your boss will explode to all of you. One thing is for sure, she hates me”, Taeyeon has to swallow that last part.

 

No kidding when he tells her that Tiffany hates him. Who wouldn’t when you left on her birthday with saying anything.

 

Thankfully Sooyoung didn’t ask for more and minded her own unfinished work.

 

It is around lunch time when Sunny and her team went out of the meeting room. He and Tiffany locked eyes again but he is the first one to look away. If they are the same as before, he wouldn’t mind having a staring contest with her.

 

“Thank you for saving our ”, Sunny tells him and her other team members thank him too. “It is lunch time now. Come join us. Tiffany will pay for all of us”,

 

Just then Tiffany is now standing in front of them holding her phone and purse ready to go. Taeyeon wants to join them but being around with girls especially Tiffany scares him, what if Nickhun will see them, what if Nickhun will do something to her, or what if Nickhun will beat him again though he doesn’t mind it.

 

“No, thank you. Enjoy your lunch, guys”, he politely decline the offer. Not because he is not yet hungry but because for him it is the right thing to do.

 

Being friends with him, Sunny knew that once he said no he really mean it and there’s now way that he will change his mind that’s what she learned about him and still a mystery for her why he is being aloof.

 

They all go on their way after he decline while Tiffany didn’t move a muscle, still looking at him. “That place has the best patbingsoo, you really don’t want to join us?”,

 

Tempting. That is his favorite in the world. “I’m good, thank you. Go now. They are waiting for you”, he answers without looking at her.

 

Tiffany really wants to know what is happening to him. What made him like that?

 

After waiting for a couple of minutes, Taeyeon is craving so hard for that patbingsoo. He is going crazy if he won’t be able to taste that.

 

He went out of the building and asked the guard at the lobby where he can buy that but there is only one place selling that nearby and he is 100% sure that that’s where Tiffany and her company went to.

 

Standing outside the convenient store across the restaurant, Taeyeon is contemplating about his options. He can’t just go in there and buy it because he will surely makes the whole team uncomfortable and will only make Tiffany to question him more.

 

“Gosh! I really want to eat patbingsoo”, he blurted.

 

“Me too, uncle”,

 

Taeyeon got startled when a kid suddenly speaks to him. He did not notice that there were a bunch of kids looking at him on the sidewalk.

 

And then an idea popped up. “Uncle will treat you patbingsoo if you will buy me one. Call?”,

 

The kids look at each other thinking that he might be joking. “But we’re 6. Is that okay? But we can share”, says the other kid

 

“Here is my card. Go buy whatever you want. It’s my treat. Just don’t forget my patbingsoo”, he tells them

 

Just then the kids suddenly hug him as they are jumping around chanting ‘patbingsoo’. In that moment Taeyeon realizes that maybe being friends with kids will be a great start for him in opening himself back.

 

Inside the restaurant, Tiffany actually saw him. It makes her angry and sad knowing that he just lied to her again.

 

But her anger quickly subside when she saw a group of kids that she recognized. Those kids are from a shelter that she’s been helping after taking over the company.

 

She quietly watch the kids went inside where they are having lunch. Because of their tiny sweet little voice, she can hear them ordering patbingsoo.

 

They are so happy while waiting for it. One of the boys even said. “Uncle, seems to be lonely”,

 

“I know. He is smiling but his eyes is sad”,

 

“We can be his friend. He doesn’t look like he have one”,

 

And that made Tiffany to look at Taeyeon again from the outside. She saw him looking down while waiting for the kids. The urge of talking to him is becoming so strong.

 

After what it seems to be 10 minutes, the kids went out and run back to where Taeyeon is waiting for them. His eyes literally glows seeing his favorite food.

 

“What do you think, boss?”, Sooyoung asks her

 

“Huh? Sorry, what is it again?”,

 

Sunny look at her and she notice where and who she’s looking outside. She wanted to do something for the, to rekindle their friendship. We need a friend in our life after all.

 

“She said if they can ask Taeyeon about the project. You know that he is the top notcher in his class”, Sunny explains. This time she will let it pass and will find a way to get the two together.

 

In reflex when his name was mentioned, Tiffany look outside and sigh when Taeyeon is no longer there. “If it’s okay with him not being a hindrance with his work, then you may. But! Ask for his opinion not let him do the exact work. Remember you have to learn not to let others do it for you”,

 

Back in the office.

 

Taeyeon is already back in his table typing some codes to program and be able to start the partial decoding of the deleted files.

 

Everyone started introducing themselves to him and vice versa. Being aloof and shy, Sunny had to do the talking for him.

 

It was a great start being able to interact with other people especially with girls. It’s only day 1 but so far so good for him. He only has 9 days left.

 

“Alright, enough of the chit-chatting. Time to work if you all want to go home in time”, Sunny reminds her colleagues before tapping her friend on the shoulder. “Tiffany wants to talk to you in 3 minutes. I hope you have some good news for her. She’s really stressed out about those deleted files”,

 

“No worries, Sunny. I got this. I wouldn’t be here if I am not confident. You finding deleted stuffs is my expertise”,

 

Sunny scoffs. “Yeah. You’re expert on that and yet you can’t retrieve your lost friendship with her”,

 

Taeyeon groan and push her away. “Don’t start, mother”, he said before standing up. “I’m going in. Talking really makes me feel so drained”,

 

“You bet. Go now and impress your girl”,

 

Inhale.

Exhale.

He is about to knock on the door when Tiffany beats him as she suddenly opens the door. “Oh my God”,

 

“I’m sorry Fa- Boss hwang”,

 

“Get inside. I just need to get some water”, she reasoned as she walks pass him holding her tumbler.

 

Taeyeon find himself looking around Tiffany’s office. It makes him wonder why is there no touch of pink inside. It’s black and white or gray.

 

Hanging on the wall is her achievements. The what it looks like their finished projects designs and some of her mother’s portraits.

 

Her table is so neat that only a three picture frames are in there. When he was about to walk through her table to see the other photos because the small frame, he is sure that it was Tiffany and Nickhun.

 

“So, any updates if we can have some files back?”, Tiffany has return not really sure if Taeyeon has seen the photos already. “Is there any hope or should we just give up?”,

 

Taeyeon sits on the couch but still keeping his distance from her. “In my initial assessment, I am confident that we will get some files. It is only 327gb so my time frame of 2 weeks, working days is enough”,

 

“Thank you, Tae. You don’t know much we needed those files. If only I saw the signs, I would have kept all those files with me. But I failed, I trusted him but in the end he still managed to betray me”, Tiffany tells him.

 

He don’t know if it was the guy you quitted his job she is referring or half of her message is for him. He betrayed her. They promised to always have each others back but he choose to runaway.

 

“Taeyeon, when did you arrive?”, with the softest voice she asks him.

 

“Last week”,

 

“You’ve been here for a week and yet I didn’t know about it? Tell me. If this problem didn’t happen, do you have any intention on telling me or meeting up with me? “

 

He kept mum and lowered his head. He doesn’t know the answer to that.

 

Am I ready to see her? No.

Am I ready to explain? No.

 

 

“I’m sorry”,

 

Tiffany scoot over and held his chin up. “Look at me. Are we even still friends?”, she waited for him to reply only to have him abruptly to stand up.

 

When he is about to leave, Tiffany finally drop what she’s been meaning to tell him all those years. “I miss you, Tae. I don’t know why you’re being like this to me. I don’t know why you’re avoiding me but I want you to know that I really do miss you even though I hate you for leaving me”,

 

“I’m sorry. It’s better if you will continue hating me”,