Chapter 9

blue | White Sunset I

Bang

Jessica’s eyes closed, hand gripping the stair railing tightly as the sound echoed throughout the warehouse. She was stumbling down the stairs to the first floor and was caught mid-step when she heard the shot. Breathing slowly, she loosened her grip and stepped down the last few steps slowly, breath caught in .

Jessica closed her eyes and exhaled.

///

pink | White Sunset II

The clock was counting down to her death and Tiffany was ready to accept her fate. She could only hope that the others were alright. That Taeyeon had managed to get to Jessica in time and that Wooyoung could be stopped from his madness. She smiled to herself as she thought about everything she had done in life. As a young girl she was always happy and active. She remembered how everyone called her the little angel Tiffany.

Tiffany closed her eyes and prayed.

///

silver| White Sunset III

“Do you trust me?”

“Yes.”

“Do you pray?”

“Yes”

“Close your eyes. I’m going to need as much luck and prayer I can get to diffuse this.”

Yuri threaded her fingers through the wires, recalling all she ever learned. She picked up her knife, resting it on her selected wire.

Yuri closed her eyes and reassured herself.

///

pink | White Sunset IV

Blood.

There was blood everywhere. It was all that she could see as she watched in horror.

She had gotten there first, through the back entrance of the room. She skidded to a stop at the sight of Taeyeon kneeling on the ground in front of Wooyoung, a gun pointed at her head. Out of the corner of her eye, she numbly acknowledged the sight of Yuri standing next to her with a trembling arm extended with a gun in her hand.

///

silver| White Sunset V

He looked…just like him.

So very much like him.

Her arm wouldn’t stop trembling, swaying unsteadily between Wooyoung and Taeyeon.

‘Going to miss again?’

His voice mocked her. The same voice that had been mocking her for so many years.

‘You couldn’t save her. What makes you think you can save Taeyeon this time.’

‘She’s going to die’

‘It’s your fault.’

‘Jessica is alone because of you.’

‘You couldn’t save them.’

‘You couldn’t.’

‘You can’t.’

‘You won’t.’

Her hand wouldn’t stop trembling. “I- I-“

“You don’t have to.”

Yuri snapped her head to the side.

“Tiffany?”

///

pink | White Sunset VI

Tiffany moved mindlessly, hand reaching towards Yuri’s outstretched one.

She took hold of the gun.

Ready.

She held her breath, raising the weapon.

Aim.

She kept her gaze on the two figures ahead, arm steady from the years of training, finger squeezing the trigger.

Fire.

Bang.

Tiffany flinched. She didn’t want to open her eyes.

But she did.

Both Wooyoung and Taeyeon were laying on the ground, blood pooling under their bodies.

With unsteady feet, Tiffany walked over to stand next to Jessica. She wasn’t sure when the latter had gotten there but Yuri hadn’t moved.

Breathing in sharply, Tiffany could smell the metallic sharpness of the blood. She didn’t want to look down, but she did as she felt Jessica grab onto her arm.

There was a bullet hole in Wooyoung’s head.

There wasn’t one in Taeyeon’s.

///

black | White Sunset VII

///

+++++++++

blue| White Sunset VIII

She stood on the beach, looking out at the feminine figure that was steadily growing smaller and smaller as she walked away from her.

Jessica sat down on a rock embedded in the sand and looked out at the ocean, enjoying the quiet of the secluded beach. There were only a few people around and everyone mostly stuck to themselves.

Sighing, Jessica thought back to the figure now standing at the other side of the beach and frowns. Her head suddenly aches.

Burying her head in her head in her hands, Jessica sighs once more and runs a hand through her now-brown locks before standing up abruptly.

A feeling of restlessness took over and she was unsure of what to do with herself. Shuffling around, Jessica made her way back onto the sandy beach where she eventually settled on drawing random shapes and patterns in the sand.

“Unnie…?” A small voice startled Jessica out of her reverie. She turned around to find a small girl looking up at her, eyes wide and watery. The girl was on the edge of bursting out in tears.

In small panic, Jessica glanced around, finding no one else in sight. Where had this girl come from?

Squatting down to stay at eye level, Jessica tried to smile reassuringly at the small girl. “What’s your name? How can unnie help you?”

“J-Juhyun.” The girl frowned as her eyes grew even larger. “Where is Yoona unnie and Hyoyeon unnie and Sooyoung unnie?”

Jessica was at a loss. She did not know what to do. “I don’t know…”

The small girl started sniffling, tears beginning to roll down her cheeks.

“Shhh, don’t cry. Unnie will help you look for them.” Jessica took a hold of the girl’s hand and gently tugged her towards the direction of the nearest building: the seaside café.

///

silver| White Sunset IX

She could see them from afar as she stood in the balcony of the café. Jessica was holding the hand of a small girl. Yuri couldn’t help but smile softly at the sight.

Jessica was usually afraid of children.

Yuri briefly wonder what it would be like to be a mother. Would she make a good one? Would she be like her own mother? Wise and kind?

Yuri watched as the pair below look up at her and wave. She waved back.

“I’ll come down.” Yuri said, loud enough for Jessica to hear and nod.

///

“Who’s that.” Yuri asked, looking down at the little girl holding tightly onto Jessica’s sleeve. She had just walked out of the café restroom when she spotted Jessica walking in, a small girl in tow. She arched an eyebrow the pair approached her.

“This is Seohyun.” Jessica said gently nudging the girl. “She’s lost and asked me to help her. Say hi Seohyun, come on. She’s my friend, Yuri.”

Seohyun stared wide-eyed at Yuri and gave a hesitant bow before returning to grasp tightly at the now rumpled fabric of Jessica’s sleeve.

“Hi Seohyun.” Yuri said gently, bending down to extend her hand towards the little girl. “I’m Yuri. Nice to meet you!”

Seohyun bit her lip for a moment and looked up at Jessica before turning back to Yuri. She extended her own small hand and Yuri shook it gently.

“Don’t be scared, Jessica unnie and Yuri unnie will help you find whoever you are looking for okay?”

Seohyun whispered, her voice sounding even smaller than she looked. “Okay unnie.”

Yuri smiled. “Are you looking for your mommy?”

Seohyun shook her head, expression unchanging.

“I don’t have a mommy or daddy.”

Yuri looked up at Jessica, surprise and sadness matched in their eyes.

///

blue| White Sunset X

The trio walked along the shoreline, heading towards the nearest area that was more populated than the café.

“Unnie?” Seohyun asked timidly. “What do you do?”

Jessica glanced at Yuri who returned her gaze, tilting her head to the side. Jessica would answer first.

“I own buildings Seohyun.”

“Buildings?” Seohyun asked. “Like homes?”

Jessica shook her head. “No, not houses. I own stores and restaurants.”

“Oh…” Seohyun sounded dejected.

Jessica turned to face the little girl. “What’s wrong?”

She hesitated. “Umm…I wondered because…I wish Yoona unnie and Sooyoung unnie and Hyoyeon unnie and Sunny unnie and Hyomin unnie and Nana and Dongwoon and Luna and I could live in one big, pretty home…”

“You don’t live in a house?” Yuri asked, confused. Jessica furrowed her brow.

“We do live in a house.” Seohyun said with a strangely mature tone. “But we don’t have a home.”

///

Seohyun skipped happily along in the shallow water, splashing as the water washed in and out in a hypnotic pattern. She had finally gotten comfortable enough with her and Yuri to not be afraid of them.

“Yuri…” Jessica started, watching the small girl squat down and poke at a shell.

“I know.” Yuri said, turning to look at her. “You want to help.”

Jessica turned to return Yuri’s gaze.

“I won’t stop you. It’s your money and decision.”

“I just-“

“SEOHYUN!” A loud voice called out, catching the women’s attention.

“Yoona unnie!” Seohyun leapt up from the water and ran towards another similarly sized girl who was fast approaching.

///

“Hi! I’m Yoona! Seohyun’s friend!” The girl said brightly, a large grin on her face framed with sandy hair.

The new girl had tackled Seohyun into the ground with a hug. By the time Yuri and Jessica were able to separate and put them back on their feet they had already a body full of sand.

“Hi Yoona.” Jessica smiled, kneeling down to the little girls’ level. “Do you know where your unnies are?”

Yoona’s grin immediately faded. “Uh oh.”

///

The four of them continued wandering along the coastline. The two young girls skipping around the sand as Jessica and Yuri walked side by side, watching them.

 “Unnie, why is that lady standing in the water like that? Her dress is getting wet.” Yoona asked, tugging on Jessica’s sleeve.

Jessica glanced at Yuri before looking out at the water to where Tiffany was standing. “She misses someone Yoona.”

“But she’s talking to that other lady in the wheelchair.” Yoona said brightly, not understanding.

Jessica squatted down to look the two girls in the eye. “You don’t have to be alone to feel lonely Yoona. When you grow up, you will understand.”

“Oh.” Was all that Yoona said before she looked at Seohyun and shrugged.

///

silver| White Sunset XI

“Yoona! Seohyunnie!” Two female voices called out, catching their attention. The two girls began running gleefully over to the two approaching figures.

“Sunny unnie! Sooyoung unnie!”

“Where have you two been?! We were worried about you!” The taller woman scolded.

“Thank you for finding them.” The shorter woman said, approaching Jessica and Yuri. “We’re sorry for the trouble.”

“It was nothing, really.” Jessica said, smiling as she looked at the two little girls.

“It wasn’t her fault Sooyoung unnie! Hyomin made Seohyun cry and she ran away! It was Hyomin who was being mean!”

“Well really, thanks.” She said, offering a hand. “My name is Sunny, me and Sooyoung here run an orphanage nearby and we are just taking the kids out.”

“Oh?” Jessica said, sharing a look with Yuri before turning back, “we’d love to visit sometime. Yoona and Seohyun have been excellent company.”

Sunny smiled, “we’d love to see you guys.” She reached into her purse and pulled out a small stack of cards, most bent at the corners. “It’s not much but here’s our card.” She handed over a somewhat faded card. Yuri could tell that they’ve had the same stack of cards for a very long time. “I can’t say it’s really neat place but I think the kids would enjoy seeing you.”

Sunny bent down to hold Yoona’s and Seohyun’s small hands. “Say bye guys. We have to get going now. I really hope you guys can come visit.”

“Bye!” Yoona and Seohyun waved energetically with bright smiles before turning around to run towards a small group of other kids gathering around Sooyoung.

“Bye. It was nice meeting you.” Yuri said, waving back.

“Bye!” Jessica said.

The couple watched as the children were loaded into an old, somewhat rusted van and the two caretakers get into the front seats. The vehicle pulled out of the lot and the children inside once again waved at them.

They watched until the car was out of sight.

Yuri looked down at the card and then looked back up at Jessica.

Brighter Day Home for Children

902 Gi-dae St. Seoul

02N-XXXX-XXXX

Yuri smiled and reached out for Jessica’s hand, holding it tightly as she held the card up.

“Let’s go see some new property before we pay them a visit okay?”

///

pink| White Sunset XII

“Hey Taeyeon, How have you been doing?” Tiffany said softly, a small smile on her face. “It’s been a pretty crazy week. Yuri announced the closing of her company. She’ll be taking over her parents’ philanthropic company now.”

Tiffany looked down at the water moving against her knees.

“That means…instead of making things that hurt people she can save them now isn’t that great?” She could feel her eyes begin to water.

“That’s awesome Fany.” Taeyeon said, smiling up at her.

Wheel-chair bound, Taeyeon had just gotten out of the hospital two weeks prior. After extensive surgery and physical therapy, they finally let her out into Tiffany, Jessica, and Yuri’s care after five months.

“Yeah, I’m pretty sure her investors are angry though.” Tiffany forced out a chuckle. “The government too. It isn’t every day that your biggest weapons supplier closes down…”

A silence draped the air as the two women stared out at the ocean.

“How is your job Fany? Is the bakery going well?”

“Yeah, it’s going great. We just opened another store because business has been so great.”

Three months ago there was no bakery. Now there is a whole chain of them around Seoul.

“Do you think after I get better I can work there?” Taeyeon asked with a big smile.

“Of course, though Yuri would probably want you to help her cure cancer or something instead.”

Taeyeon laughed. “She probably would…hey, when are the movers coming again?”

“What?” Tiffany asked, confused.

“You said I’d be moving in with you right? I had to have some stuff from before right? I’ll need to move my stuff from storage to your apartment.”

“Oh, Yuri and Jessica have taken care of that already.” Tiffany said. “They have your stuff ready to move so it isn’t a problem.”

The waves splashed against the chrome of Taeyeon’s wheelchair, soaking her long pajama pants. They’ve come here every day since she got of the hospital.

The first thing she asked Tiffany to do after she got out was to come here.

Tiffany couldn’t help but oblige.

“Fany-ah?” Taeyeon said, breaking the silence again.

“Yes Taeyeon?”

“Where’s Krystal?” The older girl asked, turning to face at Tiffany. “I haven’t heard about her in a while and she hasn’t visited me.”

“Well…” Tiffany closed her eyes. They had rehearsed the story many times and she knew it by heart. But it was still hard for her to think about lying to Taeyeon, even after she, Jessica, and Yuri had discussed it so many times.

“She was taken. She was taken and killed by very bad people... I’m sorry Taeyeon.” Tiffany held her tears back as Taeyeon’s eyes widened in shock, a look of sorrow clouding her face.

“D-did I know-“

“Yes. It happened before your accident.”

“What happened to the people who took her?” Tiffany could see Taeyeon’s knuckles turn white as she gripped the armrests of her wheelchair.

“They’re dead.” Tiffany said firmly. “They’re dead so they can’t hurt anyone anymore.” She placed her hand gently on Taeyeon’s, feeling  the tense grip on the armrests loosen.

It was somehow soothing to Tiffany, feeling Taeyeon relax.

 “Do you…do you think I can go see her?” Taeyeon asked hesitantly after another moment of silence.

“Of course.” Tiffany replied, moving over to stand behind the older girl. “We can all go together.”

“Okay.” Taeyeon said softly, the two looking back out at the steadily dimming horizon. It was overcast but the sun set the distant clouds ablaze with color as it steadily descended.

Tiffany leaned in with a soft kiss on Taeyeon’s forehead, closing her eyes as she took in the sound of the ocean and the soft feeling of Taeyeon’s skin on her lips.

“I miss you Taeyeon…” Tiffany whispered, Taeyeon looking at her curiously.

“What?” Taeyeon tilted her head to the side.

“Nothing.” Tiffany smiled sadly, shaking her head. With some difficulty, Tiffany pushed the wheelchair out of the water and onto shore, where they spotted Yuri and Jessica headed towards them.

“Let’s go home now.” Tiffany said as she waved at the approaching couple.

///

white | White Sunset XIII

Taeyeon looked up at Tiffany who was teary eyed but still smiling as she waved at Yuri and Jessica from a distance.

She couldn’t help but smile in awe as the setting sun seemed to light up the sky behind her, making it look as if Tiffany was glowing like a radiant star.

Like an angel.

One that looked after her through thick and thin.

She made her feel safe.

She made her feel warm.

She made her feel whole.

Taeyeon closed her eyes, basking in the feel of the sea breeze on her face. She remembered so little, but felt so much.

She wasn’t sure why or how, but she just knew. She felt it in her bones.

Tiffany had saved her. Reached out for her when she was lost in the dark and held on until the end.

She turned and looked at Tiffany, who was looking out to sea. She reached out for the younger girl’s hand, holding it gently in her own.

Tiffany looked down and smiled curiously as Taeyeon’s sudden action.

“Thank you, Fany.”

Tiffany tilted her head to the side, “what for?”

“…” Taeyeon paused, not quite sure why herself. “For…just… being here.”

“For just…saving me.”

+++++++++