A/N: Hello and i'm back again, hah sorry for updating late, i kinda lost my writing mojo and i don't wanna post a ty chapter or whatever so hopefully this chapter isn't a fail one? You tell me. keke.

Something inside Taeyeon felt lighter when it dawned upon her that they’re on the same age, she trashed the idea of ever calling the other girl unnie, although she’s very close to doing it moments ago.

It’s a mystery how they were able to communicate given Stephanie’s Hangeul is so horrible, it’s funny. But somehow, they made it work, with Taeyeon relentlessly tutoring her while getting English tidbits for herself along the way.

Oh this is going to be a long one, Taeyeon thought. They gradually grew closer as the days went by, maybe it’s because they’re both very far from home compared to the other girls who can travel back and forth from the company to their houses at any given time they wished.

They automatically relied on each other, tied together each other’s promises of sticking together no matter what happens, and on the process, unconsciously binding their young hearts as well. They became instant parents, instant sisters, and instant best friends. Looking out and taking care of each other. Especially Taeyeon, she had this feeling of innate responsibility when it comes to Stephanie, like she must check on her from time to time, make sure that she doesn’t get into any trouble and whatnot.

It may root from them being roommates, their young and naïve selves unaware of how they bared themselves to each other in a heartbeat and the large contrast of that to the reality of the industry that they set foot into.  

Taeyeon’s mostly the worried one, always disquieted about Stephanie’s lack of knowledge in Korean culture which often ends up with the girl accidentally offending others. She carries that constant worry every day, together with the stress and pressure of being a trainee, doing your best, schooling and homesickness. But when she comes home to the dorm and hears Stephanie’s comical attempt of greeting her in Hangeul in that usual booming voice, the load of burden lightens, and when Stephanie smiles that stupidly charming smile of hers, the corner of Taeyeon’s mouth twitches and she stops for a moment, clandestinely inhales sharply, feels her toes coil inside her sneakers.

She wonders what’s happening to her, all those unusual and unnecessary antics she does whenever the other girl is around but she pushes the thought aside and argues that Stephanie’s eye smile is just one of a kind and that all the herculean torments of living everyday in that setting is somehow bearable, when she comes home to this...

She definitely thinks it’s manageable.

She had friends in Jeonju, it’s not much, neither is it measly. But the connection they had had never felt this deep and inexplicable unlike what she has with Stephanie and to think that they just met a few months ago. She finds herself studying the other girl sometimes, most of the time, just staring at her, looking, not really jealous of her appearance or whatever, she just wants to gaze at her for no apparent reason, which she thought was weird but went with it anyway.

Stephanie’s long brown hair lined with tinges of blonde near the tips, round and slightly chunky cheeks, amazingly pointed nose and her eyes, those eyes are really something else. Those eyes are beyond doubt created by God or some divine power Taeyeon doesn’t usually believe in.

She thinks that Stephanie is pretty.

Then again, Stephanie really is pretty.

The management had announce that they’ll be debuting soon, Stephanie now included in the group. Taeyeon’s eyes widened, feeling silent firework burst and pop inside of her. Stephanie hugs her tight, their bodies pressed together so hard there’s no space for air left. Stephanie has her arms around Taeyeon’s neck.

Taeyeon’s heart dies a little and her brain starts buzzing, stops functioning. She feels stupid, immobile and unable to put her arms around Stephanie’s lithe waist, fearing the tiny sparks of voltage that would electrocute her from top to toe.

But she thinks it’s a nice way of being electrocuted, it feels nice, giddy even. She doesn’t know what to call it so leaves it like that.

The room was loud with cheering but she could only hear muffled voices and her own heartbeat pounding like a bass drum, ringing and echoing in her red, hot ears as Stephanie continues to embrace her, gives one last squeeze before peeling off of her to mingle with the others and taking Taeyeon’s breath along with her.

It was a long day with great news, though tired like most days, today, they were hopeful, somehow feeling that all their efforts are starting to pay off.

All cleansed and ready to call it a day, Taeyeon, with much delight, moans inwardly when her sore back hits the soft mattress, usually she’d assess herself before closing her eyes and slumbering, thinks of how her day went, the choices she made, dilemmas and the pros and cons of it, along with the other eight girls who managed to slowly yet stealthily creep their way into her heart, just think of them until she unconsciously falls asleep, but right now she could close her eyes and immediately drift off to dreamland.

That was the initial plan.

Until rustling of sheets were heard and she felt her bed dip, a warm body next to her, sees a blurred beautiful face from her peripheral, feels eyes on her.

She lies there motionless like a corpse, complete with the cold hands and feet.

The girl’s raspy voice croaks in the hollowness of their room.

“Taetae…”

She’ll never get tired of that little moniker Stephanie had given her, usually she hates being called such names, but this one’s hard to resist.

She mustered up all the courage she needed before stirring to face the other girl.

“Hm?”

“I’m scared…”

“You should stop watching horror movies, you’re just scaring yourself, fany-ah.”

It rang in her head in a loop. Fany-ah

Breath running low now as Stephanie inches closer. Taeyeon feels Stephanie’s breath fanning her cheeks, which are now probably flushed and flustered. Thank goodness, it’s dim in there.

“I’m scared of my dream”

“What? Why?”

“Because it’s about to come true”

“Shouldn’t you be happy?”

“I am but… I mean, what if I fail? What if I’m not good enough, most of the people don’t like me you know, they find me impolite”

Taeyeon felt her heart constrict upon hearing the words, she scooted closer, faces were mere inches away.

“You’ll do fine, just be yourself; you won’t go as far as where you are now if you aren’t something fany, don’t worry about what others will say, everyone talks so let them, as long as you know you’re doing the best you can, then you won’t fail yourself. You can do this, we…can do this.” She smiled at her.

Stephanie exhales thoroughly, her worried eyebrows now softened, her eyes, and soulful, boring into Taeyeon’s dilated orbs.

She smiles at her.

“How do you know when to say the right words Taetae?” she asks and captures Taeyeon’s hand, slowly locks their fingers in a loose entanglement, Taeyeon’s breath hitches and feels clogged, Stephanie’s hand is warm. She swallows down an invisible lump and stares at the girl yet again.

“Trust me fany, I have no idea either” she whispers but notices Stephanie’s chest heaving rhythmically, indicating that the girl had already fallen asleep.

Taeyeon looks at her for the longest time, tries to solve the puzzle but fails, shuts her eyes and forces herself to sleep but to no avail. Stephanie looks so peaceful when sleeping, she comments. She looks at their joined hands and then to the slumbering girl’s face and forgets the daily torments, upcoming events and more rigorous training, she forgets about the girl Sooyeon and Yejin.

 Forgets everything else.

and here's a lil something something, pre debut fany :)