Six.

"W-what did you say?" Tiffany asked in disbelief as she quickly slid herself off from Taeyeon's back. She was certain that she heard Taeyeon loud and clear; all she wants was a confirmation, a confirmation that her ears weren't playing tricks on her.

Taeyeon turned around to face Tiffany and she wonderingly cocked one of her eyebrows when she realized the way the girl was staring at her.

"What? Are you that surprise that you're now friends with the female version of superman? Super Taengoo is a cool alias, right? Right? Right?" she coyly asked, expecting a small laugh or even a simple smile from Tiffany.

But instead, Tiffany walked slowly towards her and stopped when there weren't any breathable space left between their bodies. She stared back at Tiffany's soft pair of beautiful eyes and somehow, she felt that those eyes could actually speak. She could perceive all the different emotions flashing on Tiffany's face. Disbelief... Awe... Confusion... Joy...

"You are... Super Taengoo? You're Taeyeon?" Tiffany asked as she lifted a hand and gently run her fingers through Taeyeon's blonde locks. She actually doesn't need to hear the answer at all now that she was sure that she was right. She couldn't be mistaken.

Taeyeon... Now she knows why her name and face seemed familiar. Now she knows why she felt at ease with this new friend. Why didn't she realize it earlier?

Subsconsciously, Tiffany used her palms to gingerly hold Taeyeon's face. Her eyes travelled from Taeyeon's eyes, her nose, her lips... Yeah, she's really Taeyeon. The girl who once saved her life. The girl who once gave her care. Her childhood savior. And the girl who claimed to be her wife...

A puzzled look was on Taeyeon's face as she slowly nodded her head. She couldn't understand what was going on. She doesn't know why Tiffany was suddenly staring at her as if she was searching something in her face. All she knew at that moment is that... She's feeling dizzy under Tiffany's gaze and it seemed like the time stopped itself as they stood face to face. Dugeun. Dugeun. Dugeun.

"Why? Is something..." she started asking but ended up slowly closing her eyes when Tiffany's soft hands gently rubbed her cheeks. Her heart thundered and her breathing hitched because of that gentle touch. It made her stomach frantic as butterflies fluttered inside. "...wrong?" she finally finished her question then she opened her eyes when she felt Tiffany's body moved even closer to her.

Dugeun...

Dugeun...

Dugeun...

Tiffany moved her body so close to Taeyeon's that for one second, the latter thought that Tiffany was going to kiss her--in the lips. But instead, the red-haired girl locked her body in a hug. Tiffany rested her chin over Taeyeon's shoulder with her arms tightly wrapped around the blonde girl's waist.

Taeyeon, on the other hand was naturally surprised at the sudden action. She did not know how she should react. But it's as if her body has a mind of its own that she just found herself hugging Tiffany back. And the action seemed to make Tiffany hold onto her even tighter.

"Tae... Taeyeon..." Tiffany whimpered, biting her bottom lip. Her barriers dropped. All the bottled emotions she had locked up, all the hidden pain because of her past, were unleashed now that she's on Taeyeon's arms. Now that she feels like there will be someone for her. No one knew, no one ever cared for her, other than Taeyeon.

Taeyeon's confusion worsened when she heard Tiffany sniffed. Her eyebrows drew together resulting a crease in her forehead. That's it. Something is definitely wrong and it bothered her a lot.

"Pani? Yah! Wae'yo?" she worriedly asked, trying to carefully push Tiffany away but the latter was unrelenting as she just tightened her arms around Taeyeon. She doesn't want the girl to see her watery eyes. She's strong. She's independent. Or that was what she thought she is.

"Don't... Please..." she muttered, burying her face on the crook of Taeyeon's neck. "Let's stay like this for a while, Taeyeon ah."

Though she couldn't understand a single thing at all, Taeyeon slowly nodded, palm consolingly rubbing against Tiffany's back.

The duo stayed like that for a while before Tiffany finally pulled away. She curled her lips to form a small smile before she playfully patted Taeyeon's cheek.

"Thank you." she casually said, but for her, those simple words mean a lot. She's thankful for everything Taeyeon had done for her, even in the past.

Taeyeon was about to asked something, but her eyes grew gigantic when Tiffany leaned in once again. Dugeun. Dugeun. Dugeun.

Tiffany's eyes switched from Taeyeon's eyes, to her lips, and her eyes lasted longer on her neck, searching for something. And she couldn't stop herself from smiling even wider when she saw the key pendant on Taeyeon's necklace. Taeyeon still remembers her, right? Maybe she doesn't know that she's Miyoung for she's now using her English name, but the fact that Taeyeon was still wearing the key pendant made Tiffany believe that her 'savior' hadn't forgotten her yet.

Satisfied, she tilted Taeyeon's face by placing a finger under her chin then she leaned and kissed her cheek-- a chaste, friendly kiss.

"Close the door when you leave. Goodnight." she smiled and walked passed by Taeyeon. She stopped when she was sure that she wasn't on Taeyeon's sight anymore. "Thank you once again... Super Taengoo."

Taeyeon was left flustered; eyes were wide like saucers as her palm unconsciosly touched the spot where Tiffany had kissed her. Dugeun. Dugeun. Dugeun.

--x--

Taeyeon's movements were quiet and careful as she closed the door and locked it before she walked towards the wooden stairs with tip-toed steps. And finally, a sigh of relief escaped from her lips upon reaching the door of her room. Extending a hand to twist the knob, she was about to push the door open when she heard someone coughed wryly at her back.

She bit her bottom lip, crossing her fingers as she hoped that the person behind wasn't her Uncle. Heck, she just arrived in that house yet she's already a nuisance for leaving without asking for his permission. What if her Uncle gets mad at her? She was rest assured that her parents will absolutely scold her if they find out that she left in the middle of the night. She'll be in deep trouble.

Slowly, she turned around and felt relieved when she saw her cousin standing there akimbo.

"Yah! You scared me, Soo." she complained with a controlled volume of voice. Then a smile lit her face when she realized something. "You hadn't slept yet? Don't tell me you waited for me? Oh, that's so sweet of you, Sooyoungie." she taunted, playfully pinching Sooyoung's cheek.

"Yah!" Sooyoung irately jerked Taeyeon's hand away. Her lips writhed as she folded her arms over her chest. "What happened to you? What the hell are you doing with Tiffany?" she loudly asked. "Mmf--" her words were muffled by Taeyeon's hand that was quick enough to cover .

Afraid that her cousin's loud voice would wake her Uncle, Taeyeon quickly pushed the tall girl inside her room before she finally released her.

"Yah! What the hell is your problem?" Sooyoung snapped.

"Sshh-- why do you keep on shouting!?" frustrated Taeyeon snapped back as she sat on the edge of her bed. "Does Uncle know I went out? Did you tell him?" she expectantly looked at her cousin.

"No."

A relief smile appeared on Taeyeon's face. "Thanks--"

"But I'm planning on telling him if you won't tell me what you were doing with Tiffany! Gosh Taeyeon, if you need release, you could have just told me and I'll gladly introduce you to my nice friends! That girl won't do any good to you."

"What?" Taeyeon's eyes widened, scandalized at her cousin's sudden outrage. "What on earth are you talking about, Soo?"

"Don't lie to me, Tae! I saw you arrived with that girl! You even went inside her house!"

"With Tiffany?" Taeyeon frowned.

"Yeah! For heaven's sake Tae, there's lot of girls out there." Sooyoung exhaled sharply as she sat beside her cousin. "She won't do any good to you Taeyeon. So you will listen to me, alright? You should keep distance from that girl. She's dangerous."

Taeyeon chuckled. "Why so serious? Are you sure we’re talking about Tiffany here? The girl next door?"

"Who else?!" Sooyoung rolled her eyes. "I know she looks beautiful and innocent but don't even think of trying to get with her, okay? A girl like her doesn't and will never deserve someone like you."

"What? I don't intend to! We're friends. I--I'm just being friendly." she quickly answered without thinking, cheeks instantly flamed, blushing an intense hue of red.

"Friends? Oh shut up Tae. I saw the way you stared at her and it’s definitely a bad thing. I know it’s not your fault so I won't blame you. I'm sure she seduced you to come with her, right?"

For some reason, Taeyeon felt defensive after hearing such comment. "Stop judging her, Sooyoung." she looked straight on Sooyoung's eyes. "I can't understand what you're talking about. Sure I don't know much about her, but I felt comfortable when I was with her. That's all that matters. After all, we're just friends and I don't intend us to be more than that because you know that I'm already committed with someone else." she said as she turned her gaze on her pendant. "I promised Miyoung that I will marry her someday. I know this might sound childish to you, but that's what I intend to do."

--x--

Standing in front of the window of her room, Tiffany stuck her head on the huge gap and looked on the gloomy sky. She breathed out, feeling the cool air brushing against her skin. The night was chilly. But instead of feeling cold, she felt nice and warm inside unlike how she usually feels so empty. Maybe it's because she met Taeyeon... again.

Taeyeon. Kim Taeyeon. Though she hoped and prayed to meet her again, she definitely didn't expect that this day will come. That the day that she'll be able to see her dear savior again will come.

FLASHBACK:

"Wait--" Miyoung pulled her hand away from Taeyeon's grip as she stopped running and instead placed her palms on her bent knees. She was panting hard and she felt like her lungs will soon explode if she wouldn't stop running.

Finally regaining oxygen, she looked up at the little girl with blonde hair at her front. "Do you think they are still following us?" she worriedly asked, eyes roaming around for any trace of her pursuers.

Taeyeon looked around as well before she shrugged. "I can't see them anymore. Maybe they grew tired. Let's go." she said then reached out for Miyoung's hand but much to her surprise, the girl with short, dark brown hair jerked her hand away. "What? We better get going now or they'll catch up on us."

Miyoung glared at Taeyeon. "Where were you planning to take me?" she suspiciously asked as she began stepping backwards. "Y-you're one of them?"

Instead of feeling offended at the random accusation, little Kim Taeyeon bursted into fit of laughters, her hand was holding onto her stomach.

"Aish jinjja?" she bit her lip to stifle her laughters. "Do I look like one of those thugs? They are the villains and I'm... Dun Dun Dun Dun..." she imitated a drum roll before she playfully raised her arm up in the air while she placed her other hand on her hip and posed animatedly. "Super Taengoo!!"

Miyoung frowned, amused and curious at the same time. "Are you crazy? What do you think are you doing?"

"Aish jinjja?" Taeyeon put her hand down and scratched her head. "Don't you watch cartoons? Don't you have TV in your house? Tsk. You better ask your parents to buy a telly." she joked.

Miyoung became quiet upon the mention of the word 'parents'. She suddenly remembered the reason why she's out in the hillside, alone and being chased by some monsters or rather...rapists. Her bottom lip unconsciously jutted out as her eyes became watery.

"Yah!" Taeyeon became alarmed when she saw a drop of tear made its way out from the girl's eye. She quickly advanced onto Miyoung and worriedly rubbed her arm. "Why? Are you hurt? Err... Are you affected with what I said? Don't you really have a TV in your house? Err... I-I was just kidding. TV isn't really that important. But if you want, I'll ask my dad to lend you our TV--" she said seriously though she actually meant it as a joke in hope to lighten up the atmosphere.

Miyoung on the other hand, wasn't actually listening to Taeyeon for her mind was flooded with the memories of the other day. How her stepfather tried her. How her mother almost allowed him. How her mother choose her step father over her, her own flesh and blood. How her mother literally threw her away...

The painful memories made her petite body trembled in fear and the tears she tried to stopped came rushing out of her eyes.

The sight of the crying girl made Taeyeon frantic. "What? Why? Err... You don't want a 2nd hand telly? Then I'll ask dad to just buy a new one for you--Err..."

"There! I saw them there! Quick!" the dreadful voice of Miyoung's pursuers made the poor girl's puffy eyes widened. Her cheeks were filled with the trail of her tears as she looked around and she saw the 'monsters' nearing them. The sound of their huge steps roared in the quiet dawn and it made Miyoung's heart thundered in fear.

Taeyeon who was alerted, quickly grabbed Miyoung's hand and tried pulling her but the girl was literally frozen in fear.

"Yah!" Taeyeon shook Miyoung's shoulders, her eyes switching from the girl to the nearing men. "We have to run now--"

"I-I'm scared-- they're coming-- I can't run anymore... " Miyoung said in between her rather quiet sobs. Its as if the fate was being mean to her that she suddenly felt the pain in her bruised legs.

No choice at all, Taeyeon quickly turned her back.

"Don't leave me... Please!" Miyoung begged, thinking that Taeyeon will leave her but she was surprised when Taeyeon's hands reached from her back and pulled her hands.

"I won't leave you. I will protect you so stop crying, okay?" Taeyeon who has her knees slightly bent turned her head to gave Miyoung a assuring smile. "Come on, ride on my back." she said as she helped Miyoung up.

Miyoung wrapped her arms around Taeyeon's neck with her hand holding her Totoro plush. The older girl began running away. She tried her best to quicken her pace but having an extra baggage on her back made it very hard for her that she was sweating profusely. Honestly, Taeyeon was afraid as well. But she doesn't want Miyoung to know it. Somehow, she felt like she has a task to protect this girl and she'll definitely do it with all her might.

Even if she's just a little kid or rather a childish girl in her teenage years, she already believe in fate. In destiny. And she believed that meeting Miyoung was her destiny. Their destiny. If not then why did she suddenly felt stuffy in the middle of the night? Why did she decided to sneaked out of their house to get some fresh air? Why did she end up going to the hillside? Why did she end up falling at first sight with this stranger? Thus, everything that had happened were fated. To meet Miyoung right when the girl needed her the most is fated.

Though she was biting her bottom lip hard--something she does whenever she's anxious--she still couldn't help but to laughed at herself upon realizing what she was thinking. Seriously? Here they are, being chased by some strangers, with their lives in danger, and still, she had the guts to think about love. And you know what the funny thing is? Taeyeon doesn't even know her name yet.

"These es! Stopped running! !" the angry voice of one of their pursuers snapped Taeyeon out of her thoughts. She worriedly turned her head to look at the face beside hers.

"Are you alright?"

Miyoung nodded, her tears kept pouring out of her eyes.

"Sshh-- stop crying now. Don't worry, it's dawning already and people here would usually wake up early. We will ask for help, okay?" she said while running.

Miyoung nodded, biting her bottom lip.

Taeyeon couldn't help but to be mesmerized by Miyoung's beauty. Sure, the mushroom haired girl looked like a mess with her swollen eyes, pinkish nose and dry lips... She looks pathetic and defenseless; but still, the natural beauty beneath were enough to made Taeyeon lose her focus and tripped over a small rock.

Taeyeon fell right on the cold ground, forehead first, with Miyoung safe and unhurt on her back.

"Ouch...." Taeyeon groaned, lifting her head.

Miyoung quickly removed herself from Taeyeon's back and kneeled on her side. She cried harder when she saw the small, bleeding cut on Taeyeon's forehead.

"Taengoo ah--" she cried, worriedly and ever so gently running her index finger around the cut, making sure that it won't hurt the girl.

"Don't cry-- what's your name again?" Taeyeon still had the courage to ask Miyoung's name even when she knows that she's wounded and their pursuers were already nearing them. She even had the time to gawk at Miyoung's face. Oh heck, she just couldn't stopped herself from admiring her beauty.

"Yah! Why are you suddenly asking my name? You're bleeding!" Miyoung was crying even harder.

"Tsk... I told you, stop crying. Don't worry so much cause I know we will be safe. We're safe now, believe me. I won't let them hurt you, alright?"

"I'm not crying because of that! I'm crying now because you're hurt! You're hurt because of me..." Miyoung sniffed.

Taeyeon chuckled then ruffled Miyoung's short hair. "You're worried of me?" she was grinning ear to ear. "Tell me your name and the bleeding will stop." she childishly said.

"Yah!--"

"I'll knock this rock in my forehead if you won't give me your name--" she playfully warned, raising the small rock she picked up beside her.

"Yah!--"

"I'll count up to three..." she continued warning, moving the rock infront of her wounded forehead.

"Are you crazy? Throw that rock away!"

"One..."

"I'm not playing with you, Taengoo! I said throw that rock away!!"

"Two..." Taeyeon wasn't affected of the girl's outburst as she even moved the rock closer to her forehead. "I'm not playing with you as well. Believe me, I will really knock this to my forehead if you won't give me your name."

"Why would I? You didn't give me your name as well!"

"I did. I told you, I'm Super Taengoo. Taengoo for short--"

"But that's not your real name!"

Taeyeon smirked. "Fine. Annyeong haseyo. I'm Taeyeon. And you are?"

Miyoung who had unconsciously stopped crying jutted out her bottom lip. "Miyoung. I'm Miyoung or Tiff--"

Then suddenly, they heard some sly laughters. The duo whipped their heads at the same time and saw their pursuers standing right in front of them. They were so into their little 'tell-me-your-name' game that they totally forgot that their life was in danger. They didn't even noticed their presence until they laughed loudly.

"We will earn big time with this two." one of the men said, grinning. His face was as red as tomato and his eyes were half-lidded, making it clear that he was under the influence of alcohol, same as his company.

Miyoung trembled and she hid her body behind Taeyeon's back with the latter even willingly using her own body to hide and protect the younger girl.

"Don't you dare come forward." Taeyeon warned, smirking.

Their pursuers laughed mockingly, amused of the little teenager.

"Do you think we're scared of you?"

Two of the men began walking to them with the others serving like a back-up.

"Come here little girls. Oppa will send you to heaven..." a man said maliciously, causing the whole 'gang' to laughed ertedly.

"Daddy!!!" Taeyeon suddenly shouted as she turned her head to look at the two-storey house just a few meters away from them. It didn't even take a minute before a man came rushing out of the house.

"What's happening here?!" Mr. Kim asked, a hand rubbing his still sleepy eyes with his other hand holding a rifle. But his sleepy eyes suddenly widened when he saw his daughter's state. He rushed to her side and gently touched her forehead. "What happened to you, Taeyeon ah?"

Taeyeon jutted her bottom lip, making sure to look pathetic as possible before she raised a finger and point at their pursuers.

Their eyes widened and they slowly stepped backwards, their intoxication lessened when they saw the rifle on Mr. Kim's gripped.

"You--" Mr. Kim point his gun towards the 'enemy's' direction and he fired, unfortunately, no one was hurt as they quickly run away, afraid and worried for their dear life.

The sound of the gun made Mrs. Kim walked out of their house and she worriedly attend to her daughter.

"What happened to you, Taeyeon? Aigoo, you sneaked out again? How many times to I have to tell you not to go to the hillside. It's dangerous for a girl like you." Mrs. Kim scolded.

But Taeyeon wasn't even listening as her eyes were fixated at Miyoung.

While Miyoung on the other hand was just sitting there, staring back at Taeyeon.

Now she knows why Taeyeon was so confident that they're now safe--it's because they're now on the Kim's territory.

END OF FLASHBACK

A weak, amused smile slowly graced on Tiffany's face after she recalled the day she first met Taeyeon and her family. Now that she remembered it that she realized that it was so funny and hilarious. Taeyeon and her family. They are the best example of a happy family. And somehow, she was grateful that she experienced being a part of their family before. They let her stay in their house, gave her the love and care that she never once received from her own family. She completely thought that everything will be fine that time. She thought that she'll be able to forget her real family after she became a part of the Kim's family--that's what she thought until her mother came and get her from the Kim's.

--

I know this chapter is hilarious. Lol.

Btw, please check out my other story:

TEMPTATiON

Thanks.

-MsPisces