At the restaurant, the bossy boss suddenly has her tail hiding behind her legs. She didn’t know but she is extremely nervous while sitting in front of Mrs.Kim, not her Auntie Kim but more of Prosecutor Kim.

 

 

 

“So, would you mind telling me the reason why you want to meet me this urgent that you even took a 3 hours drive going here? Tell me, what happened to my son, Tiffany?”, Mrs.Kim has never been that serious while talking to her. It’s was the first time that she even felt intimidated by her.

 

 

 

Being a boss of her own, meeting with different people is what she’s good at, used to. It shouldn’t be that hard for her to face anyone and it shouldn’t be a nerve-wrecking like what she is feeling at the moment while Mrs.Kim is waiting for her to answer her question.

 

 

 

“Auntie, first of all I want to apologize in advance. Being away from Taetae for a very long time, I don’t know how to help him. It felt like he is a complete different person to who I grew up with”, she said

 

 

 

“He’s not the same anymore. My son is not the same dorky, funny guy anymore. That side of him is long gone”, the sadness in Mrs.Kim’s voice evident with how her voice shakes as she’s telling her that.

 

 

 

Tiffany wants to know everything. “Yesterday… last night…”, she having a hard time composing her sentence because everything is still confusing her. “As you know, Taetae is currently helping me at the office by retrieving some important files. It was already after working hours when he suddenly came out of nowhere, running towards my office and he is breathing not normal, like he is having some panic attacks or whatnot”,

 

 

 

She then paused for a moment waiting for a reaction from Mrs.Kim but she just encourages her to continue like she already expected that. “Taeyeon was… I don’t know how to describe it but the way he runs to me, breathing heavily, shaking, his eyes… I will never forget the look in his eyes. He is scared, he is lost”,

 

 

 

“It’s been awhile since he had an episode”, Mrs.Kim is very calm but sad.

 

 

 

“What do you mean an episode? Is there something that I didn’t know or needs to be aware of?”,

 

 

 

“What else happened yesterday?”, the older replies with her own questions. It looks like she has no intention to answer what Tiffany asks her.

 

 

 

Tiffany frowned. Curiosity and the eagerness to find out the truth is her priority. Now or never, she tells herself. “I saw him having panic attack or anxiety attack, not sure if that’s what it was called. But what he said makes me clueless. The only thing that he told me is he needed to talk to me about something very important, but he never did talk after I hugged him to calm him down”,

 

 

 

“Once he calms down, I didn’t force him to talk instead I pretended that I miss your cooking just to make him go home. I literally beg him for me to go to your house”,

 

 

 

Mrs.Kim nodded, and a smile can be seen in her face. “Let me guess… you told him that you’re hungry and want to eat those dishes that I prepared for him when in reality you’re afraid that something might have happen to him if her will insist on drive himself home. You’re scared because of his current state of mind. Am I right, sweetie?’,

 

 

 

How did she know that is what runs through Tiffany’s mind? She’s biting the side of her check her mannerism whenever she is get caught. She then places both of her hand on the cup of coffee that’s been sitting in front of her.

 

 

 

“I guess my assumption is correct. You’re still the same Tiffany. I can easily read you. Now be honest with me before I tell you something that I am sure you’re dying to know”, Mrs.Kim lean back on her chair before looking straight to her eyes.

 

 

 

She’s not Auntie Kim nor Atty.Kim. She is now Taeyeon’s mother who is talking to her. Tiffany always manages to pinpoint that. “Being away from him for almost a decade…you two practically grew up together, right? Now. What do you really feel for my son?”

 

 

 

“I- uh,”, Tiffany was caught off guard with the question. She did not expect that Mrs.Kim will ask her that because she’s trying to figure out that herself and still has no answer for it. “Taeyeon is my best friend. He’s always been. When he suddenly disappears and cut ties with me, I will admit that it hurts me more than ever. I did everything to force myself to hate him for leaving me alone, but I can’t…my heart couldn’t. Taeyeon holds a special place in my heart that always makes me long for him”,

 

 

 

Tiffany with a teary eye look at the older woman. “I need answers, Auntie”, it’s time for her to find out what she’s been missing out. “Last night, I left my laptop at your house. I let myself in because Taetae is not answering his phone. And I found him sleeping already”,

 

 

 

Mrs.Kim and Tiffany lock eyes. “He is clutching to a pink book as he sleeps. I thought it was a book but…”,

 

 

 

“Did you read it?”.

 

 

 

“No, I mean, yes I did”, Tiffany can see the panic in Mrs.Kim’s eyes. “I did read it but not all of it. I only ready one page, one specific data. Auntie, every year…Taeyeon is here on my birthday, right? And, who is the man that’s been beating him, hurting him on that day? Or does it happen on different day?”, she asks, needed to know the truth, wants answers.

 

 

 

Taeyeon’s mom look down all of a sudden like she wanted to avoid answering that question because it is something that only her and Taeyeon knew about it. Tiffany immediately notices the hesitation on her. “Nickhun. It’s him, right? Is he the one hurting him? Auntie, please. I need to know. Tell me the truth so that I could help him. It’s hard looking at him and you can’t do anything for him”,

 

 

 

“Sweetie, I guess this is the right time for you to know everything. It all started when that man came into your life. He and his friends has been bullying my son for many years since then… you’re right it’s Nickhun”,

 

 

 

Finally, the confirmation she needed, and a shocking truth finally unveils.

 

 

 

Never did it cross her mind that the man who she trusted her life and been forcing herself love back is actually the reason who took her best friend away from her for all those years. Worst is that he’s been hurting Taeyeon physically and emotionally. “B-but- why?”,

 

 

 

“Why? Simple. He is a jealous of my son. Your boyfriend is jealous of your best friend. He is threatened of him being around you, knowing your history together. He doesn’t want to share you with others especially to my son. I don’t know about him, but that man is scared for nothing!”,

 

 

 

“W-wait. Hold on, Auntie”, Tiffany is trying to digest everything and she’s having a hard time processing all of it. It is unbelievable. “Why would he be jealous? And what does this made Taeyeon to change and leave?”,

 

 

 

Mrs.Kim sadly smile at her. “Nickhun found out that Taeyeon is in love with you. He’s been having that feeling for you for a very long time and he doesn’t have the courage to confess. Then that man enters, he is so obsessed with you that he kept everyone away from you because he wants you all to himself only. You might didn’t notice that all your close friends also left, and it wasn’t because of you. That is all because of that man”,

 

 

 

“This is- I don’t know what to say. Taeyeon loves me? This is not a joke, right? We’re best friends. Of course, he loves me”,

 

 

 

“I wish this is all a joke, sweetie. But no, this is our reality, his reality. Taeyeon loves you more than just a friend. He loves you so much that he is willing to do everything just to keep you safe and happy. He made a deal with your boyfriend. It’s either he stays, and you’ll get hurt or, he’ll leave, and he will not do any harm to you”,

 

 

 

Tiffany is beyond shocked. It was like those in the movies. “Taeyeon choose to leave in order to protect me from that man who I thought was protecting me all this time, but it was him who will hurt me if my best friend wouldn’t leave? Auntie, why didn’t you tell me about this? Why did you let this happened? You’re a lawyer, a prosecutor”,

 

 

 

“That was my biggest mistake. You see, my son is the kindest, selfless person you’ll ever meet, and he kept on begging me not to get involve because is afraid that something bad might happen to you or me. He’s keeping the pain inside of him”,

 

 

 

Mrs.Kim finally let go of her tears that she’s been fighting with. She can no longer hide it. Her heart breaks for her son while remembering all the hardships and sufferings that Taeyeon went through because of it. “Tiffany, I need your help. You’re the only one who could end all of this. I am begging you to save my son. Bring my son back to how he used to before. Everyday scares me thinking that I might not be able to see him again because every ticking of the clock means I could lose him”,

 

 

 

“Auntie, did Taeyeon told you about this?”,

 

 

 

“Not everything”, the mother said before reaching for Tiffany’s hand. “Don’t let him know that you already know about his situation. Let’s wait for him to be ready. I only found out some of the details through that journal. Taeyeon has been undergoing therapy. His psychologist who’s been treating him for 9 years already is really concern about his condition. No improvement on his condition until now. That pink journal, pretend that you didn’t know that exists unless he shares it with you”,

 

 

 

Mrs.Kim continues. “I have been reading his journal secretly because I wanna know what’s inside his mind because he wouldn’t tell me. Taeyeon completely shuts himself to the world. Everyday, my heart breaks for him. He’s been smiling but you know behind those is an aching heart”.

 

 

 

“It’s hard, I know that but still I manages to get used to seeing him like that. Forcing myself to act normal as if I don’t know that my son is suffering and as a mother, I couldn’t help him”, the mother squeezes Tiffany’s hand. “You’re my only hope. Me and his doctor believe that you hold the key that will open Taeyeon’s heart again. Think about this and listen to what your heart is telling you. Because I know and I can feel that you’re denying yourself to believe to what it was telling you. Look into your heart and you will find the answers to your questions”,

 

 

 

 

 

After talking to Mrs.Kim, Tiffany sits inside her car while parked at the Han River. It’s been a long time since she’s been there. She purposely avoided going to that place. Han river holds a lot of special memories that she and Taeyeon’s shared together.

 

 

 

Bittersweet feeling.

 

 

 

Flashback…

 

 

 

“Yah! Taetae! I am so hurt by what you did?”,

 

“Why? Who hurt you? Tell me and I will beat whoever dared to hurt you”,

 

“It’s you, idiot. You hurt my feelings!”, the young Tiffany tells him

 

“EH? What did I do? You know I will never hurt you because I am your protector, Fany-ah”,

 

“We promise not to keep any secrets from each other. But you! You did! You have a crush and yet you didn’t tell me anything about it”,

 

“Ah. About that. There is this girl whom I’ve been liking for a long time already, but she doesn’t know that I like her. She’s a lovely person, kind, generous, her smile always makes my heart jumps, butterflies in my heart always go crazy when I’m with her”, young Taeyeon tells her best friend.

 

 

 

 

 

Tiffany laugh with her face soak on her own tears that she can no longer hold and let it freely escapes from her eyes. She felt so stupid for not realizing there and then that it was her all along that Taeyeon’s been telling her, but she never pays attention to it.

 

 

 

 

 

Flashback…

 

 

 

“Taetae, I have something to tell you!”,

 

“What is it?”,

 

“Nickhun and I are officially dating now”,

 

“Oh…congratulations. I am happy for you, Fany-ah”,

 

“Thanks, Taetae. By the way, what is it that you want to tell me?”,

 

“Remember that girl that I like? I planning to ask her out to confess. But it turns out she’s dating someone already today”,

 

 

 

Tiffany sob even harder after remembering that day. She can still clearly remember the way his eyes look. It now makes sense why he sounded so hurt that day and he started distancing himself to her. “I’m so sorry, TaeTae. I’m sorry. I didn’t know”,

 

 

 

 

 

The next day. August.5. Tiffany’s birthday and Taeyeon’s last day working at the company.

 

 

 

A knock on the door is not enough to get Tiffany’s attention as she is in deep thought. Her friend Sunny is growing concern about her well-being because she seems not in her usual self after not reporting to work yesterday.

 

 

 

“Fany, are you okay? You haven’t sleep, don’t you?”, she asks

 

“Just busy doing some stuffs”, she lied before looking outside and sigh when the one she’s looking for is still not reporting. “I need the report for our mall project. We need to impress our client so that they will award their next project to us”,

 

 

 

Sunny just shake her head. She can easily tell that something is bothering her friend. “You know you can tell me anything, right? Just don’t keep it to yourself, it’s not healthy. Let’s go. Join us for lunch. It’s you birthday, they want to treat you today”,

 

 

 

“Okay”,

 

 

 

The whole team manages to drag their boss out her office because they can all see the gloomy mood that the bossy boss has now. They can somewhat see that she’s feeling down and sad. They brought her to her favorite restaurant, their go-to place.

 

 

 

Unlike before, Tiffany is really quiet. She will only speak with them if asks or greeted with a birthday wishes. Thank all of them for the lunch and cake and afterwards, she didn’t speak again.

 

 

 

Awkward. That’s how you put the atmosphere throughout their lunch. That’s the best way to describe it. Even though they are all sitting together, all of them are whispering to one another. Before, they couldn’t do it because their boss has a sharp ear but now, it’s seems like she couldn’t hear anything at all.

 

 

 

“Boss are you okay?”, Sooyoung bravely asks their boss as they notice that she’s staring outside.

 

 

 

They all look at where she’s staring at, but they didn’t see anything in particular that could catch her attention aside from the empty chairs and table from across the street.

 

 

 

A single lone tear escapes from her eyes that she quickly wipes it out before looking back at her employees like nothing happens. “Are you all done? Let’s go back. Thank you again for the birthday lunch”,

 

 

 

Tiffany exited the restaurant first. Everyone is watching her walk away with her head low. “Is it only me but this is the first time I ever saw her like this?”,

 

 

 

“I’d rather want to see bossy hwang being activated rather than this version of her”,

 

 

 

“Whatever that is bothering her, I hope it won’t affect her. It’s sad seeing our boss like that let alone during her birthday. She should be going out to have fun”,

 

 

 

6pm.

 

 

 

Tiffany is still at her office, staring at the photo in her table. It was the last photo they took together, last photo of her and Taeyeon.

 

 

 

She cherishes that photo and everyday she wishes to have another chance to relieve those moments again with him. “Where are you, Taetae? Are you really going to disappear again? Will you still choose to stay away from rather than to fight this together?”,

 

 

 

“I really want to punch you in the face right now. Oh gosh! Why am I crying again?”, Tiffany chuckles as she continues to wipe her tears only to stop when she gave up when it doesn’t stop.

 

 

 

Her heart almost skips a beat when her office telephone rings. “Hello?”,

 

 

 

“Sorry to disturb you at this hour, boss”, he greeted her, and Tiffany recognizes the voice of the caller. It’s the head of the night security. “

 

 

 

Thinking that her car met another accident on the parking lot is nothing new to her. It always happens to her car due to some reckless drives. “Why? Did something happen to my car again?”,

 

 

 

“No, boss. It’s about Mr. Kim Taeyeon… and your boyfriend Nickhun”,

 

 

 

A sudden flashback of what was written on Taeyeon’s journal flashes right in front of her upon hearing the name of Nickhun.

 

 

 

The telephone hits the floor as it was still hanging from its cord when Tiffany drops it and run outside of her office. Being at the 15^th floor didn’t help at all as it onl^y makes her more anxious thinking that Taeyeon is down there getting hurt again by that lunatic.

 

 

 

She’s furiously hitting the elevator button to go up to her floor while praying so hard. “Please…God please… Taeyeon”,