This is a KrysTae-centric chapter with a hint of TaengSic. Enjoy!


Chapter 22 – Just a crush


“Sigh…”


It was already one in the morning and she has yet to go to bed. She’s been sitting out in the porch for almost two hours already, contemplating about the predicament she has unintentionally gotten herself in to.


When she agreed to attend the reunion at their old beach house, the last thing she expected to happen was fall for someone. She did not expect to develop such feelings for anyone, especially not with her sister’s girlfriend.


Ever since their first meeting, she already developed an unusual feeling for the older girl. Though it wasn’t a pleasant feeling at first, it slowly turned into something warm and mushy after she was given the chance, rather, she has given the chance to get to know Taeyeon a little more.


She’s pretty sure it’s just a crush or puppy love, nothing serious like love. She’s hoping she could extinguished those romantic feelings she harvested for Taeyeon quickly before it turned into something more that she might regret.


Yup, that’s what she’s going to do. She’s going to stop this feeling and move on with her life.


But how is she going to do that?


Oh right! She should stay away from Taeyeon! At least as much as she can without seeming suspicious.


Right. That’s what she should do.


Krystal whispered a ‘fighting’ to herself along with a tiny fist pump in the air.


She heard a giggle behind her. Turning around, her face flushed red upon realizing who it was standing behind her.


Speak of the devil. She mentally cursed.


“What up with the fist pump?” Taeyeon asked with an amused smile. She walked over to the seat next beside her and made herself comfortable there.


“None of your business.” She replied coldly, folding her arms over her chest.


Taeyeon chortled at her familiar gesture. “Seriously, you really do remind me of your sister a lot, especially the first time I met her. She was really cold towards me and she hated my guts. And from time to time she’d throw me one of her infamous glares, which, I might say you imitate quite impressively.”


While Taeyeon laughed her head off, Krystal on the other hand frowned at this. She doesn’t like the fact that Taeyeon keeps comparing her with her sister. It’s not that she doesn’t like her sister’s qualities, believe her, she admires her sister a lot. It’s just that, she wants Taeyeon to see her for who she is and not just a semblance of her sister. Being compared to makes it seem like she’s not special in Taeyeon’s eyes.


“Yeah, I’ve heard that one before.” She retorted between gritted teeth.


Taeyeon stopped laughing and stared concernedly at Krystal.


“Krystal, I-I didn’t mean it as an insult, I just—”


“I know, I know. Don’t worry about it. I didn’t take it to heart. I’m just stressed over other things.”


Taeyeon stared at her a bit more. She wasn’t sure whether Krystal was telling the truth, but she decided to just drop it since the other girl wasn’t willing to speak about it.


“I’m sorry.” Taeyeon said meekly.


Now Krystal feels bad for accidentally snapping at Taeyeon…again.


“You don’t have to apologize. Really, it’s okay.”


Taeyeon just nodded.


Silence engulfed the two of them.


After a while, Taeyeon rose from her seat. Krystal looked at her.


“Well, if you need someone to talk to, you can talk to me.”


Krystal cheeks turned pink when Taeyeon flashed her an encouraging smile.


“O-ok.”


“Well, I’m going to head to bed now. You should head to bed soon, alright? Tiffany made a whole list of things to do tomorrow and you’ll need all of the energy you can get for tomorrow’s adventure.”


Krystal nodded.


“Good night.” Taeyeon said sweetly before disappearing back into the house.


Once she was gone, Krystal placed her hand over her chest.


Her heart was racing wildly during those last few moments. It specially skipped a beat when she smiled at her.


Calm down, Krystal, calm down. It’s just a crush. She chanted in her mind.


Shaking her head, she pushed herself off the seat.


“I should really head to bed.”


Without another thought, she retreated back to the house.


======


“Ready?” Tiffany asked as she took a last glance at the frame.


Jessica circled her arms around Taeyeon’s waist and leaned her head comfortably on the crook of her neck.


Taeyeon placed her arm around Jessica’s back, resting it securely by her hips.


“Okay, here goes.”


Tiffany pressed the button, initiating the timer. She quickly ran to her place between Yonghwa and Krystal, draping both her arms around their shoulders, and pulling the siblings towards her.


Everyone put on a wide smile as they waited for the flash.


*Flash!*


“Yay!”


Tiffany clapped her hands excitedly as she ran back to retrieve the camera. Yonghwa followed behind to retrieve the tripod.


Before Tiffany could remove the camera from the tripod, Taeyeon made a sudden request that made Tiffany gush.


“Fany-ah, you think you can take a picture of Jessica and I alone?”


Tiffany squealed with delight upon hearing Taeyeon’s request.


“Of course! You didn’t even have to ask TaeTae!”


Taeyeon held Jessica’s hand and led her towards the railing. She leaned her back on the cold metal.


Jessica was about to do the same when Taeyeon grabbed her by the waist and pulled her in front of her body. Jessica let out a startled squeal as felt herself being pulled.


“You, young lady, is staying right here.” Taeyeon remarked as she slid her arms around her lover’s slim waist to keep her in place.


Jessica giggled. She pressed her back on Taeyeon’s front and held on tightly around Taeyeon’s arms that held her by the waist.


While Jessica settled her head on her shoulder, Taeyeon leaned her head forward and rested her chin on Jessica’s shoulder.


“Aw! You two look adorable!” Tiffany gushed.


The couple glanced at each other and smiled shyly at each other.


Jessica unexpectedly rubbed her cheeks against Taeyeon’s own, causing the older girl to blush at the sudden contact.


Without warning, a flash and a click resonated from the camera, taking a candid shot of the two of them in that position.


Jessica and Taeyeon broke away and snapped their heads towards Tiffany’s direction.


“Yah! We weren’t ready!” Jessica complained.


Tiffany, being Tiffany, ignored her raging friend and continued to gush at her handiwork.


“Aw! Look at this Yong! They look so cute.” Tiffany squealed some more as she revealed the candid picture to Yonghwa.


Krystal looked on as well. She felt a pang of jealousy when she saw how in love the couple looked in the photo. She wished she could be like that with someone. More so, she wished Taeyeon was affectionate to her as well.


Yonghwa immediately noticed the solemn expression on Krystal’s face. He quickly grabbed the camera from Tiffany’s hand, tearing it away from Krystal’s view.


“Yah! Yong give that back!”


Tiffany smack Yonghwa on the arm before reclaiming the camera back.


Tiffany positioned the camera back on the tripod and readied it once more for another take. Looking over the camera, she  asked for the couple’s confirmation.


“Ready!” The couple replied at the same time.


In an instant, the camera flashed capturing the couple engaged in an affectionate pose.


“Alright! Done! Who else wants a picture?”


“I do!” Yonghwa grabbed Tiffany’s hand and pulled her with him.


“Yah! Yong!”


“I’ll take the picture!” Taeyeon quickly offered before Tiffany could escape from Yonghwa’s hug.


======


After their little photo shoot by the cliff, the five of them drove to the nearest town, which was about thirty miles from the beach house. Taeyeon and Jessica rode in their rental car, while Yonghwa and Krystal rode in Tiffany’s red fiat.


After a half an hour drive, they finally arrived at the small town. The town was so crowded that they had to park in the outskirt of the town.


Though it was small, the town was bustling with tourists and various activities.


As they walked down the street,  customers can be heard haggling ferociously with the vendors at one end of the block, while live performances by street artists can be heard resonating on the other. All in all, it was good day for a walk and exploration.


Hand in hand, Jessica and Taeyeon threaded amongst the crowd.


“Wow look at that!” Taeyeon pointed at a fire eater not too far from them.


Her gaze quickly shifted to another group of people, then to another and another. Jessica just quietly smiled and followed along to wherever Taeyeon pulled her next.


The trio on the other hand did their own thing, hopping from shop to shop, and visiting random booths and tents.


Despite her depressed mood earlier, Krystal found herself having smiling and fun hanging around with her older brother and her unnie.


Yonghwa slowed his paced and walked beside his sister.


“How are you feeling?”


“Better. I’m trying to keep my feelings at bay. Hopefully it’ll go away soon.”


“Don’t worry, it will.” Yonghwa reassured.


The two continued to chat while Tiffany led the way.


As they walked deeper into the plaza, the crowd became thicker. The crowd became so thick to the point that they were bumping shoulders with random strangers. It was becoming to walk around.


“Krystal, hold on to me.” Yonghwa instructed.


She was confused at first but she didn’t question it. She held on to her older brother’s arm.


“Omo! Look at that store!” Tiffany squealed. Before Yonghwa could stop her, she ran off by herself towards the store’s direction.


“Noona!” Yonghwa yelled over the crowd. He stood on his toes and glanced over the heads that were blocking his view. He could see Tiffany trudging away from them, slowly getting swallowed by the wave of people.


Afraid of losing Tiffany, he pushed his way through the crowd with Krystal in tow.


Unknown to him, Krystal was having difficulty catching up because of the people pushing in the opposite direction of her. She still tried though, afraid of getting left behind.


Soon enough, she could feel her grip loosening.


“Oppa—”


Her hand slipped from his arm down to his hand.


“Krys hold on!” Yonghwa yelled over his shoulder.


Her fingers were becoming sweaty, even so, she tried to hold on.


From her peripheral vision, she spotted a group of bulky young men forcing their way through the crowd. They were heading towards her direction. She began to panic. She knew if she doesn’t get through by the time they get to her, she knew she’ll get swallowed by the crowd.


But it was too late. The men pushed through her hand that was holding on to her older brother’s. Soon, her sweaty palms gave way, slipping away from between her older brother’s fingers.


“Oppa!” She cried out.


“Krys!” He tried to go back for her, but the crowd wouldn’t let him.


And despite her attempts, she got pushed farther and farther away from him.


Before long, she was swallowed by the crowd. She was pushed and nudged to all sorts of direction. Everything around her was spinning. It was making her dizzy.


She tripped on her own foot and she found herself falling to the ground.


She winced in pain as her palms and knees hit the concrete ground.


The people around her disregarded her, not daring to stop and help her for they knew that if they did, they would be eaten alive by the merciless crowd as well.


People trampled all over her. Feet, legs and knees nudged her everywhere, preventing her from getting up no matter how much she tried.


She was trapped.


“Oppa!” She cried once more, but to no avail. Her cries fell on deaf ears.


She pulled her legs close to her chest and buried her face in her arms. She cried.


In her mind, she was screaming out Taeyeon’s name hoping it’ll somewhat reach her. She knew it was impossible, but she still did it anyway. She was frightened. She was scared that she’ll be trapped there forever and the no one will ever find her. It was her only comfort.


Taeyeon!


She cried and cried until suddenly, she felt hands grab her arms, pulling her up to her feet in one swift motion.


Once she was up on her feet, she came eye to eye with her savior.


“T-Taeyeon unnie…?” She asked surprised. She couldn’t believe it.


Instead of replying, Taeyeon pressed Krystal’s body towards her and wrapped an arm around her waist.


This startled Krystal. Her face was way too close to Taeyeon’s face for comfort. She couldn’t help but eye Taeyeon’s lips that were a mere inch or two away from her own.


Taeyeon didn’t notice though. She pulled Krystal in because she was about to get hit by someone’s arm. Once she was sure that Krystal was out of harm’s way, she pulled her head back and took a good look at Krystal’s face.


Krystal snapped out of her trance then and looked back at Taeyeon.


“Hold on to me, okay?” Taeyeon instructed as she gave her a reassuring smile.


Krystal nodded and held on to Taeyeon’s body with her dear life.


With that confirmation, Taeyeon pushed the two of them through the crowd.


Before long, they escaped the sea of people.


The pair stood in the middle of the sidewalk with Krystal’s arms still wrapped tightly around Taeyeon’s waist and her face still buried in Taeyeon’s neck.


The people walking pass them were giving them weird stares.


Taeyeon felt uncomfortable under their scrutinizing gaze.


She gently patted the girl’s back with her palm.


“Um, Krystal, you can let go now. We’re already sa—” She stopped when she felt something wet on her shoulder.


She glanced down at the head buried in her neck and noticed Krystal’s shoulder moving up and down.


That’s when she realized what was going on. Krystal was crying.


Taeyeon immediately softened.


She disregarded the crowd’s gaze and instead rubbed her palm affectionately on the younger girl’s back.


“Sshh, everything’s okay now. You’re safe now.” She said in a hush tone.


This only caused Krystal to cry harder. She buried her face deeper in the crook of her neck.


Taeyeon continued her soothing ministrations until Krystal’s cries subsided.


After she has calmed down, Krystal slowly detached herself from Taeyeon.


“Feeling better?” Taeyeon asked worriedly.


Krystal nodded as she wiped away the lingering tears on her face.


“Thank you.” She said meekly.


Her eyes darted to the huge wet spot on Taeyeon’s shirt where she had been crying. She frowned. “I’m sorry about your shirt.”


Taeyeon looked down at where Krystal was pointing at. She couldn’t help but laugh. “It’s just a shirt, silly. Don’t feel bad.”


“But  still…”


“It’s fine really. You, however, aren’t.”


Taeyeon pointed to the scrapes on her knees and legs.


Krystal was about to wave it off, but was interrupted by her phone. She reached for her phone in her jean pocket and answered it.


“Oppa?”


Krystal nodded.


“I’m fine, oppa. I’m with Taeyeon unnie.”


Once she mentioned Taeyeon’s name, she heard her sister’s voice in the background rambling about how she was glad the both of them we’re fine.


“Yes, oppa. We’ll meet you there. Bye.” She hung up and placed her phone back in her pocket.


“Was that Yonghwa?”


Krystal nodded. “Jessica unnie and Tiffany unnie is with him. They want us to meet them back at the car.”


“That’s a relief. I thought Jessica was still waiting for me.”


They started off towards their car.


It was silent for a few minutes until Krystal spoke up.


“Um, Taeyeon?”


“Hm?”


“Back there…h-how did you manage to find me? I mean, I was buried underneath. There was no way you could have seen me.”
Taeyeon tapped her finger on her chin as she recalled what happened.


“Hm, I’m not really sure either myself. I left to go buy Jessica some snacks, but I got caught up in the crowd. During that time, I somehow got pushed to where you were. That’s when I heard your voice. You screamed out ‘oppa.’ It was faint, but I still caught it. I followed your voice and just pushed my way through. And by some miracle, I spotted you.”



“Oh…I see. That’s a relief then.”


Taeyeon nodded in agreement. “It really is. If I didn’t spot you on time, you could have been terribly injured. In any case, are you sure you’re alright? You didn’t get seriously injured did you?”


Krystal shook her head ‘no.’


“We should really tend to your scrapes when we get home. It’s not good to leave them. They’ll get infected.”


“I’ll clean it up when we get back.”


“I’ll help.”


Krystal’s heart began thumping again. “Uh, i-it’s okay. I can do it myself. I don’t want to bother you any further.”


Taeyeon laughed. “You’re really silly you know that? First you worry about my shirt, now you worry about being a bother? Trust me, you are not a bother at all. I’ll help you clean it alright?”


Krystal was about to make a rebuttal, but Taeyeon shushed her.


“And I will not take no for an answer. That’s final.”


Krystal sigh inwardly. She decided to just keep mum since she knew Taeyeon would never let her have her way.


The two continued on in silence.


Soon enough, they reached the car.


“Krys! Taengoo!”


Jessica ran towards them and engulfed them both in a hug.


Jessica pulled away and turned towards her sister. She cupped her sister’s face. “Krys, are you alright? Yong told me what happened earlier. You’re not hurt are you?”


Krystal gave a small smile. “I’m fine unnie. Just scrapes on my knees.”


Jessica looked down and gasped. “Omo. What happened? How did you get those?”


“I sort fell—”


“What!? Are you hurt anywhere else?” Jessica began eyeing Krystal everywhere.


“Unnie, I’m fine. No other injuries okay? Taeyeon unnie saved me on time.”


Jessica turned her attention to Taeyeon. She released Krystal’s face and held Taeyeon’s own. “Taengoo, are you alright?”


Taeyeon placed her palm on top of Jessica’s that was gently caressing her face. “I’m fine, Sica.”


Jessica breathe out a sigh of relief and embraced Taeyeon. Taeyeon hugged her back with the same affection.


"Thank you. Thank you for saving my sister."


Taeyeon smiled tenderly. She kissed the crown of Jessica's forehead affectionately. "Anything for you, princess."


Krystal's heart ached at the sight. She forced herself to look away.


It’s just a crush. She told herself once more.


“Krys, are you sure you’re fine?”


She snapped out of her daze and turned to her older brother.


“I’m fine oppa.”


Yonghwa wasn’t convinced.


“I’m really sorry Krys. I should have been more careful. I should have protected you.”


Krystal softened. “Don’t blame yourself oppa. I’m really fine.”


Yonghwa's frown deepened.


Krystal took Yonghwa's hand in hers and gave it a gentle squeeze. "Oppa, please don't beat yourself up for it. It wasn't your fault alright? I'm really fine." She gave him another reassuring smile.


After a while, Yonghwa finally let out a small smile, although he still felt a tinge of guilt inside. “If you say so.”


======


The five of them headed back to the beach house.


And true to her words, Taeyeon tended to Krystal’s injuries.


“All done.” Taeyeon  smiled at her handiwork.


“Thanks again, Taeyeon.” Krystal said shyly.


“No problemo!”


Krystal giggled at her dorkiness.


“Now that that’s done, I’m going to head to bed.” Taeyeon announced. She rose from the couch and stretched her arms over head and yawned.


“Today has been such a stressful day. Get some rest, alright kiddo?” Taeyeon patted her head affectionately.


Krystal’s heart began thumping again. She blushed.


“I-I will.” She stuttered.


Taeyeon smiled. With that, she left the room.


Once Taeyeon was gone, she started smiling like a dork herself. She really wished Taeyeon would act like that more around her. She really like it.


As she got up from the couch and began cleaning up, she still had on a wide smile plastered on her face.


After she was done, she trudged up the staircase.


As she was passing by Jessica and Taeyeon’s room, she heard noises emitting from the inside. She tiptoed her way towards their room. The door was left ajar. Curious, she peeked inside.


That’s probably the worst mistake she had ever made in her young life.


Inside was her sister and her ‘crush’ making out fervently on their bed. Taeyeon was on top, her sister beneath her stifling muffled moans as Taeyeon and kissed her neck.


Krystal’s heart dropped immensely at the sight. She thought that just watching the two act like a couple in front of her hurt, but seeing them actually kissing and doing very intimate things with each other hurts ten times more. She felt like her heart had just been torn into pieces mercilessly.


Tears welled up in her eyes.


Not wanting to watch any further, she silently ran towards her room and locked the door behind her.


She quickly slipped into her bed and buried herself underneath the covers. She buried her face into the pillows, and cried her heart’s desire.


After about half an hour, her cries subsided for she no longer have tears left to cry.


She now sat on her bed staring blankly at the wall. She sat there and contemplated.


After thinking for a while, she finally came to a conclusion.


She needs to stop.


She can’t go on like this anymore.


If she keeps this up, she’ll only end up hurting even more.


No matter what it takes, she had to put a stop to this nonsense once and for all.


But how?


That’s the thing. She doesn’t know how to stop having feelings for someone.


She let out a tired sigh.


She feels like crap. She needs to wash up.


Getting up from the bed and made her way towards the bathroom. After washing her face she headed back to her room.


She was halfway through the hallway when she stopped right in front of Jessica and Taeyeon’s room.


The door was left ajar again.


She peeked inside and found Taeyeon asleep on the bed by herself.


She pushed the door open a bit more and stuck her head inside. She looked around the room for her sister.


Jessica was nowhere in sight.


She wonder where she went.


She was about to go back out when a crazy thought entered her mind.


She opened the door once more, but this time she entered the room. She silently walked towards the bed and sat by the edge.


She stared at Taeyeon’s sleeping figure.


She looks so peaceful. She noted.


A satisfied smile adorned her face as she watched Taeyeon’s chest rise and fall in a steady manner.


She reached for Taeyeon's fringe and brushed it away from her face. Her smile grew even more.


Oh how she wished she could stare at her forever. But she knew she couldn't do that.


I need to end this. She told herself.


I need to end this now.


Her eyes landed on Taeyeon’s lips.


She gulped.


This is it.


“Just one kiss. One kiss and I swear I’ll severe all of the feelings I harbor for you.” Krystal whispered silently to the sleeping figure. "I know this might be a selfish thing to do, but just once. Just once, I want to feel the bliss my sister feels when she kisses the once she loves. Taeyeon, please forgive me for what I am about to do."


She took a deep breath.


Without another thought, she lowered her face.


She held on to her long black hair with one hand, while the other was pressed on the side of the bed to support her weight. She shut her eyes on instinct, her pulse quickening as she inched her face closer and closer to Taeyeon’s face.


Before long, her lips made contact with Taeyeon’s lips.


A warm feeling swept throughout her entire body as she kissed Taeyeon. She didn't dare move her lips though for she didn't want to wake the latter up. But even so, she felt an incredible feeling of elation just having Taeyeon's lips touch hers.



Is this what my sister feels when she kisses Taeyeon?


It feels heavenly.


No wonder she kisses her all the time.


She kept her lips there for a while longer, unmoving, just savoring the warmth of Taeyeon’s lips and breath on her own.


After a while, she pulled slightly away, her face still hovering over Taeyeon’s.


With her eyes still close, she whispered the words that has been drowning her mind since she kissed her.


“I love you.”


A satisfied smile graced her face.


Very slowly, her eyes fluttered open.


Her eyes widened in shock to see two dark orbs staring back at her with the same shocked look she displayed.


The two stared at each other unmoving, neither one knowing what to do or say to the other.


Their silence was quickly disrupted by a familiar voice.


“What the hell is going on?”


Startled, Krystal and Taeyeon both snapped their gazes towards the source of the voice.


“Sica…”


“Unnie…”


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A/N: Omg, I'm so sorry for the super delayed update! *Bows profusely* I've been so busy with school I haven't had time to write at all! I'm not even sure when I'll be updating Secret Lover either. >.< Most probably after my finals. Anyway, I can't really say much, nor can I stay long. I stayed up all night writing this for you guys, so I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Tell me what you think!


As usual, comments are very much appreciated! Thank you for reading and commenting! And welcome to all of the new readers! =]