Chapter Seventy-Nine
 
“Saranghae.”
 
Taeyeon woke up to the sudden brightness which had just invaded her room. She turned to the balcony and found the sliding doors widely opened. Curtains were flying loosely due to the morning breeze.
 
I must have forgotten to close them last night.
 
Taeyeon thought to herself as she tried to get out of her bed and close the doors when an arm around her waist pulled her back.
 
She turned to the ‘object’ out of curiosity and found Tiffany sleeping soundly next to her.
 
“Saranghae Taeyeon-ah.”
 
After many rounds of making love to one another, Taeyeon and Tiffany finally ran out of energies to even lift up their arms. Nevertheless, Tiffany still wrapped an arm around Taeyeon’s waist and snuggled close to the nook of her lover’s neck, before closing her eyes to catch some sleep.
 
“Saranghae Taeyeon-ah… good night.”
 
That was the last thing Taeyeon heard before she drifted off to her dreamland due to exhaustion.
 
Taeyeon lifted off Tiffany’s arm gently and got out of the bed. She placed the blanket back on the hunter, ensuring there was no gap in between and only then she moved to the balcony and closed the doors.
 
Spinning around, Taeyeon observed her bedroom where clothes from last night were scattered all over the floor.
 
Then she remembered she was too.
 
After changing into a fresh set of clothing, Taeyeon proceeded to clear the scattered clothing. Afraid that she would wake Tiffany up, Taeyeon picked up the garments one by one quietly and left them in the laundry basket back in her bathroom.
 
When Taeyeon came out from the bathroom, her gaze immediately focused on the two items which were deliberately left sprawling on the ground.
 
Tiffany’s blades.
 
“Saranghae Taeyeon-ah.”
 
Slowly, and hesitantly, Taeyeon found herself pacing towards the weapons that were lying right at the bottom of the bed.
 
“We don’t have to do this, Taeyeon.”
 
The conversation she had with Sunny a few days ago flashed through her mind.
 
“We will find the Princess and ask if we can take her along with us back to Everlast instead.”
 
Taeyeon reached for one of the blades with a trembling hand.
 
“Don’t crap with me anymore Taeyeon! If you really want her dead, then pass her over to me right now! I will end her life for you if you can’t bear to do it with your own hands!”
 
Clenching on her teeth tightly, she pulled it out of its scabbard swiftly.
 
“I can do it myself.”
 
She threw the scabbard aside and stood up.
 
“Well then, kill her now!”
 
Taeyeon held onto the blade tightly as she made her way towards Tiffany.
 
 “Now is not the right time––”
 
“Then when is the right time? Until Everlast meets its end?!”
 
She stopped beside Tiffany and observed her.
 
“The right time…” She mumbled to herself with a quivering tone which she was unaware of. “The right time to end her life…”
 
“Saranghae Taeyeon-ah.”
 
Her knuckles had already turned white from her excessive grip.
 
With her eyebrow knitted tightly together, she continued, “The right time to end her life is when she falls in love with me.” It was her plan since the day she discovered she was still alive.
 
Chewing onto her bottom lip, Taeyeon the blade in her hand at Tiffany.
 
“We all knew what you’re thinking, Taeyeon. Don’t make up excuses to delay your mission.”
 
But the blade stopped just as its tip was about to touch Tiffany’s neck.
 
“You don’t know anything!”
 
It was unknown when and how did the tears crawled all over Taeyeon’s face. The sorceress withdrew her hand and took several steps back, distancing herself from the sleeping hunter on her bed.
 
“You knew right from the beginning that I will never bear to land my hand on her isn’t it, Lee Soonkyu?” Taeyeon cried out softly to herself as she threw the blade onto the ground and ran out of her room.
 
If only she stayed and watched Tiffany longer, she would have noticed that tears don’t only exist in her eyes.
 
*
 
The situation for breakfast was the same as last night’s dinner. Sooyoung and Yoona had decided to spend the rest of their days out of the dormitory when she invited them for breakfast.
 
It was obvious why they made that decision. Yuri understood it. She knew Sooyoung was still angry with her because of Tiffany’s departure and Yoona was disappointed with her for… for being such an irresponsible unnie.
 
Yuri was spacing out and poking on her food unconsciously when Jessica suddenly nudged her, snapping her out of her thought.
 
“Yes?”
 
“Your food is getting cold.” Jessica commented without looking at Yuri. She took Yuri’s plate over and started to cut her breakfast into small pieces without the latter’s consent. “I will feed you.” Jabbing her fork into one of the cut pieces, Jessica held it in front of Yuri’s mouth, waiting for the hunter to open it.
 
“Um…” Yuri leaned back out of reflex. She held Jessica’s wrist and tried to pull her hand away. “I can eat it myself.”
 
Jessica wasn’t going to comply with her. After witnessing Yuri’s dazed expression, she knew she had to take things into her hand and make sure everything went right for Yuri.
 
Ignoring Yuri’s embarrassed and awkward look, she instructed sternly, “Open your mouth.”
 
“But Sica––”
 
Yuri tried to fight for her right.
 
“Now! N. O. W!”
 
But failed terribly when she caught the intimidating eyes glaring at her, as if their owner wanted to burn her with blazing fire.
 
Gasping in silence, Yuri opened obediently and allowed Jessica to send the food into as she requested.
 
It was definitely not a great idea to oppose Jessica when she turned into Hell.
 
But one thing Yuri got to say, Jessica looked really sweet when she cut the food clumsily and fed into .
 
*
 
She only opened her eyes several minutes after Taeyeon left. She remained in her position on the bed with her head sank deeply into the pillow. Taeyeon’s thick blanket was covering her bare body, protecting her from the cold air.
 
“Taeyeon…” She whispered to no one in particular.
 
Tears began to brim in her eyes once again and rolled down her cheeks eventually as the droplet got too heavy.
 
She was the reason why she came here. She was here only to release Taeyeon from her pain. But when Taeyeon chose to give up the weapon and ran away, Tiffany did not know whether she should feel relief about it or––
 
Tiffany flipped the blanket away suddenly and hopped out of the bed.
 
If Taeyeon couldn’t bring herself to do it, she will force her to make a decision herself.
 
When Tiffany finally dressed herself and came out of the house, she found Taeyeon standing by the port, staring mindlessly at the waterfall opposite her.
 
The ex-hunter gripped onto her blade tighter unconsciously.
 
It wasn’t easy for her to make this decision. But comparing her life to Taeyeon’s pain, she rather stop the latter’s pain than to continue live while watching her hurting herself in silence.
 
She has to, and will, put an end to it.
 
“Why…”
 
Her voice came out soft unexpectedly. So soft that she started to doubt whether Taeyeon had heard her, seeing how she wasn’t receiving a reply from her.
 
Swallowing hard, Tiffany breathed in deeply and asked again. But with a louder voice this time.
 
“Why Taeyeon? Answer me.”
 
She heard a chuckle coming from Taeyeon, a bitter chuckle, but she couldn’t see her face since she refused to turn around.
 
“Why…” was dry and her nose seemed to be blocked, causing her voice to be unusually hoarse and thick. “I wanted to know why too.”
 
She hates her. She thought it should have been an easy task to slide that blade across . But in reality, she withdrew out of fear and ran away like a coward who dares not face a certain truth.
 
Taeyeon clutched her fists tightly together.
 
No… she hates her, she should hate her and not the other way round!
 
“Taeyeon.”
 
She felt a hand on her shoulder, but she remained still and continued to stare at the falling water.
 
“I came here for a reason.”
 
“What reason?”
 
Taeyeon had already somewhat figured that Tiffany wasn’t here because of coincidence or just to have a simple dinner with her, but when Tiffany came clean with her intention, she couldn’t help but felt disappointed and hurtful at it.
 
“To end my life in your hands.”
 
It was an answer which she least expected.
 
The statement contained too much of a surprise that it finally made Taeyeon averted her gaze to Tiffany with shock written clearly in the eyes. However on the other hand, Tiffany was flashing her infamous eye-smile at her as though what she just mentioned had got nothing to do with herself.
 
“I mean what I said yesterday.” Tiffany took Taeyeon’s hand and pushed the blade into her hand. “You can take my life away if you want to.”
 
Wordless. Taeyeon couldn’t find a word to express herself now. Her hand refused to curl up and accept the weapon given by Tiffany.
 
“But Taeyeon…” Tiffany cupped her hand around Taeyeon’s fingers, forcing the sorceress to hold the blade by herself. “I’m only giving you one more chance to do it. I will leave this place when the sun rises tomorrow. If you haven’t taken my life by then…” Tiffany bit on her lower lip unconsciously. “You will never have the chance to take it again.”
 
“Wh–What do you mean by that?” Taeyeon questioned with fear that had unknowingly grew within her. Taeyeon knew there was a deeper meaning to Tiffany’s statement and it must be something which she didn’t wish to know.
 
“I will be going to a place where no one lives.” Tiffany looked at Taeyeon with gentle eyes. She cupped her face with one hand and continued, “So Taeyeon, it’s either you take my life now or never, because you won’t be seeing me anymore.”
 
Taeyeon shook her head in disbelief. She had never seen this coming. Never had she ever thought she would lose Tiffany permanently even though she kept telling herself she wanted to end her life.
 
“Well, you don’t have to make your decision now.” Tiffany drew a wide smile across her face. “You have time until tomorrow’s daybreak, remember? Why don’t we make use of this only chance and enjoy the whole day by ourselves instead?”
 
Silence was the only reply Taeyeon could come out with.
 
She doesn’t want to accept Tiffany’s suggestion. She doesn’t want her to leave when the sun rises tomorrow.
 
But she… doesn’t know what she wants either.
 
“Are the fishes in there dangerous?”
 
Her question came out of nowhere. Too sudden and random that Taeyeon failed to comprehend with it.
 
She looked at the ex-hunter in confusion, “Wh–What?”
 
“Do they bite?” Tiffany pointed at the lake before them. Many small fishes could be seen under the clear water. “Will it be safe if we swim in there?”
 
“Ye… Yeah?”
 
“Let’s go for a swim then.” Tiffany winked and grinned at Taeyeon, who was about to process Tiffany’s suggestion and expression, when Tiffany pushed her off the port after taking the blade away from her hand.
 
Tiffany threw the blade on the ground and hopped into water right after her. She dived deep into the water and swam towards Taeyeon before surprising the girl by throwing her arms around her neck.
 
Coming out of the water, Tiffany spit out the small amount of water which had unknowingly entered when she dived into the water and laughed cheerily, “The water is cooling!”
 
Influenced by Tiffany’s cheerfulness, Taeyeon couldn’t help but smiled along with her, forgetting the pain which she had been enduring for long.
 
Wrapping an arm around Tiffany’s waist, Taeyeon began to kick her own legs and glided further into the lake, pulling Tiffany along with her.
 
“Come, let me show you a place.”
 
“Where to?” Tiffany kicked her legs as well, increasing their speed.
 
Taeyeon turned to Tiffany and winked at her with a mischievous look.
 
“You will know when we get there.”