“Taengoo-ah,” she heard someone call her name but she chose to ignore for she was still sleepy.

“Taengoo, wake up.” The voice was so soft yet it gradually becomes louder. It’s as if the person speaking is only a few inches away from her.

“Taeyeon, wake up!” she bolted up when she heard it again. She got pulled by the arm by none other than Jessica.

“Sica, s&i%l#e%n$t@r*e^a#d@e&r$s!wth!hgjhgjf,” she mumbled while being dragged.

“It’s my birthday,” she said. It was indeed her birthday. It was exactly 12 am when she woke up and decided to wake Taeyeon up, as well. 

She heard a loud thump as soon as she got out of their room. When she looked back, she saw Taeyeon rubbing her forehead and hissing in pain.

“Oh my god! I’m so sorry, Taengoo.” She let go of Taeyeon’s arm and quickly tend to the red spot forming on the other girl’s forehead. “Aish!” 

Instead of pulling Taeyeon, she pushed her and they headed to the kitchen. Taeyeon sat on one of the bar stools and watched as Jessica looked for a bag of ice in their fridge.

“All I can find is a bag of peas,” she handed it over to Taeyeon and the latter put it over her forehead.

“Sica, can’t we celebrate your birthday later? When everyone’s awake and when the sun’s already up? I’m still sleepy and we have classes tomorrow.”

“No. I want to celebrate it now. Plus, I still have to guess who the mystery girl is, remember?”

“Right, so what do you want to do now?”

“Well, it’s my birthday. Bake me a cake.”

Taeyeon just sat there and stared at the demanding girl. “Bake you a cake? In the middle of the night? That’s not really a good idea, Sica.”

“Please. I’ll help and while doing that I could tell you who my guesses are,” she pleaded.

“You helping is much…MUCH WORSE.”

Jessica pouted and said, “Fine. I won’t help you then! Meanie!”

“I’m a meanie? On my birthday you had this brilliant idea of getting cake all over my face,” she scoffed. Sleepy Taeyeon is taking over again.

“Getting icing all over your face is fun.”

Taeyeon smirked hearing that. “Don’t even think about it,” she heard Jessica.

“You’re so unfair.”

Jessica ignored Taeyeon’s complaint and said, “I want a chocolate cake with chocolate chips between the layers. I want it to have three layers, by the way. Then, I want it to be smothered byCadbury Chocettes.”

“You are so demanding,” she said as she yawned.

“Deal with it,” Jessica smirked.

After about an hour of baking Jessica’s chocolate cake, Taeyeon took it out of the oven and placed it on the counter.

“That’s it? Taeyeon, that’s just…bread.”

Taeyeon stared at her. She didn’t know whether to give the girl a smack on the head or just laugh at the clueless girl. She ended up smiling, “Well, we still need to slice it and then put icing and put all those stuff that you wanted all over the…bread.”

“Oh.” Taeyeon asked her if she wanted to help her but she declined and said, “I’ll tell you who my guesses are now since it’s my birthday.”

“Alright.”

Jessica smiled and fetched her phone out of her pocket. “Okay. So I have three guesses. First one is a girl named Han Seungyeon—“

“Wrong,” Taeyeon exclaimed.

“At least give me a chance to explain my answers,” she pouted. “Let’s move on to my second guess, Sunye” she paused, “I forgot her last name. I also forgot to type it in. Anyways, she’s the girl from our Physics class. You seemed to enjoy talking to her.”

“Yeah, I’ve actually known her since we were kids. Her family’s a good friend of my family so…yeah. But that’s wrong,” she smiled at Jessica and continued on decorating Jessica’s cake.

Jessica nodded. “This would be my last chance so I have to get it right so I could have free galbi again.”

Taeyeon chuckled, “Yeah, hwaiting!” She momentarily forgot the consequences of Jessica guessing it correctly.

“Sunny and Hyo both said that she’s pretty but dense, right?” Taeyeon nodded. “She’s in our class. Her laugh makes you laugh. Her glare makes you cower and she calls you whenever she needs something, right?’

“Yup.”

“Her glare really scares you?” she asked as she stared at Taeyeon who was meticulously adding decorations to the cake.

“Yes. They’re very icy. It sends chills to my bones. But when she smiles…” she paused and started to think of the right words to describe it, “Her smile makes my heart beat as fast as a shrew’s. Being around her makes me happy even though she thinks I’m annoying most of the time.”

“Why not tell her that up front?” Jessica said. There was a long pause before she said, “Why not tell Jessica Jung that you like her?”

Taeyeon shifted her gaze from the cake to Jessica. Taeyeon gulped from the realization that Jessica has already figured it out.

“I heard you talking to Sunny and Hyo a few nights ago. You were talking about the girl you’re ‘stalking’ and how you used your cousin to be in the same room with her. You’re roommates are Yoona and I. I doubt that it’s Yoona. Care to explain.”

Taeyeon couldn’t read Jessica’s expression and it made her all the more nervous. “Well, I saw your profile when I was at the dean’s office and I asked my cousin to be assigned in the same house and in the same room. I know it’s creepy and impulsive but I…when I saw your picture, I immediately…liked you.”

“I guess I was right when I said that something about you was fishy.”

Both of them didn’t know what to say after that. Taeyeon put the cake in the fridge and told Jessica that the cake would taste better if it’s chilled.

They went to the living room and sat on the couch. They still weren’t talking. It was getting really awkward and Jessica couldn’t take it anymore. She started humming a song just to get rid of the awkwardness. She ended up singing the song.

” Onjenganeun uri sarang-eul gashineun seulpeun-i Ondahaedo
Geubodo deo Keun nae sarang-euro barabolgeyo geudael

Miss U, Need U, Want U Said I love U
Jamdeul nae mam-eul Kkaewojuneun geudae
Ije naega-i sarang modu gobaekhaeyo geudaege(Yeongwonhan sarang-irago)

Nae haengbok-eul da il-neundagohaedo i-sarang byeonhaji anayo
Naui nun-eul garyeodo gwireul magado iroke

Kiss me, Breathe me, Touch me say Love me
Onjena nal bogo Useojuneun geudae
Nun gamado geu mam da boineyo mal anhaedo(Geujeo na baramanbwado)

Geudae nae sonjab-eun-i soongan-e for you
Geudaeran haneulro nalayo
Paran Guseum sok-euro geudae geu mam sok-euro iroke...”

Credits to Naver + oxDonghaewifeyxo@YT
(yeah I copied and pasted it haha)

Taeyeon who was staring at her the whole time gave her a standing ovation which made Jessica blush. She sat back down again and exclaimed, “I didn’t know you could sing. That was amazing! You were also your own second voice.”

“Lower your voice and yes, I could sing. I sing when I’m bored. I’m surprised you don’t know that considering the fact that you’ve stalked me and read my profile.”

“The only hobby that was stated there was ‘sleeping’. Even in the ‘interest’ field it wasn’t indicated that you like singing.”

“I didn’t want to reveal everything about myself. It turns out that it was the right thing to do. Stalkers are everywhere nowadays.”

“No one has ever stalked me before so I don’t know if I should be flattered or if I should ask our lawyer to make one of those restraining orders or something. Actually, I don’t remember anyone telling me that they like me,” she added.

“Really?”

“Yeah, I think. I don’t really know. Maybe some people tried telling me that they like me but they were too scared because of my icy glare or maybe I was just too dense to notice that they like me.”

Taeyeon immediately caught on what Jessica was insinuating. “I’m sorry if I called you dense. Well, technically, Sunny and Hyo did but I kind of agreed so I’m sorry about that. You do have icy glares but that’s what made you different from the other girls. You don’t try too hard to be cute and you act violently sometimes but that only made me like you more.”

“I can’t say I like you, too,” she said without much thinking. 

Taeyeon nodded and stood up, “I’ll just—“

“Wait,” Jessica pulled her back and said, “That was wrong. I didn’t mean it like that. I like you but not as much as you probably like me, you know what I mean? I’m…I like you. I…like you…but not like that. I don’t like you like that yet.” She was stammering to the point that what she was saying is already incoherent.

Taeyeon couldn’t help but smile, “You are so cute right now. I’ve never heard you stutter before. If you were a pokemon, I’d capture you with my poke ball and carry you around with me wherever I go.”

Jessica laughed. “I’m as cute as a pokemon?” Taeyeon nodded.

“Wait a minute. Is that why Sunny and Hyoyeon gave you that ugly pokemon, Slowpoke? Those two are gonna get it from me.”

Taeyeon tried to change the subject, “I suppose we could eat the cake now. I’ll get it.”


---


“Is that Taeyeon-unnie?” Seohyun asked Yoona.

“Yeah, why is she sleeping on the couch and why didn’t she lie down?” The two took a closer look and saw two plates and two glasses on the coffee table. 

Yoona gasped when she saw who was sleeping next to Taeyeon. “Jessica-unnie is using Taeyeon-unnie’s lap as her pillow and they’re holding hands while sleeping!”

Seohyun looked at her weirdly, “Why are you reacting like that? It’s not like they’re doing something wrong.”

“Good morning,” greeted Sunny with Hyoyeon in tow.

“OH MY GOD!” Hyoyeon shouted.

Sunny covered , preventing her from waking up the two with her loud voice. “Let them stay like that. I bet Taeyeon’s in cloud nine right now.”

When the other three woke up, only Tiffany spazzed about it. “My sister’s grown up. I’m so proud of Taengoo.”

The girls ate their breakfast and decided not to wake the two up. Yuri, Yoona and Sooyoung who didn’t know about Taeyeon’s feelings for Jessica were also filled in.


---


Taeyeon woke up and felt something stuck on her forehead. It was a sticky note that says, Congrats, Taengoo! You actually told her that you like her and you were even holding hands while sleeping. That is so~ sweet and you two look so good together!

The handwriting for each sentence was different so she could only guess that Sunny, Hyo and Tiffany wrote it. What the heck are they talking about? Why are they congratulating me?

She couldn’t feel her legs so she looked down and saw the most beautiful sleeping face she has ever seen. Jessica’s head was on her lap. As much as she would like to savour the moment, she can’t. They were going to be late for class. They are actually already late but she still decided to wake her up.

“Jessica, wake up. We have to go to our class.”

“Let’s skip, it’s my birthday,” Jessica mumbled.

“You’re not in kindergarten to make that as an excuse to skip classes.”

Jessica sat up and said, “I don’t want to attend class.” She even pouted to convince Taeyeon.

How could Taeyeon say no to that? 

“What do you want to do for your birthday then? You cannot just sleep all day. If we’re going to skip class, we should at least do something productive.”

Jessica shrugged.

Taeyeon thought about it for a while. “Take a bath and get dressed.”

Jessica didn’t bother to ask where they were going. The last time Taeyeon said that, she had a free lunch at Byeokje Galbi.


---


“We’re here,” Taeyeon said after a half an hour drive.

They were at Taeyeon’s house. 

“Wow, your house is huge!” Jessica said as she looked around. They entered the foyer and was greeted by one of the Kim’s servant. 

They went to the dining area and saw Taeyeon’s parents eating their breakfast with Shinyoung and a guy who Jessica wasn’t familiar with.

“Taengoo-ah, I see you brought Jessica here. Where are the others?”

“Taeng, aren’t you supposed to be in school?” her father asked.

Taeyeon couldn’t lie to her father. She tried but her father’s stern voice always makes her waver.

“My friend, Jessica, it’s her birthday today,” she answered.

“Jessica?” her parents asked in unison.

“Good morning, Mr. and Mrs. Kim. I’m Jessica Jung.”

Taeyeon’s mom smiled knowingly. “She’s very pretty.”

Taeyeon scratched the back of her head and said, “I’ll…uh…give Sica a tour of our house.”

She quickly but gently push Jessica back to the living room. “Who was that guy sitting beside Shinyoung-unnie?”

“Gil-oppa, Shinyoung-unnie’s friend. He usually brings meat when he comes over so—“

“Taengoo, when did you cut your hair this short and is that a moustache?” she asked.

“Yes but that’s not me. That’s my brother.”

Jessica laughed, “You better not show that to Tiffany.”

They walked around the Kim’s backyard and talked about anything they could think of. Taeyeon accidentally revealed her and it resulted to Jessica insisting that Taeyeon should walk beside her or lead the way.

“Is that a motorbike?” she asked when she saw a blue motorcycle parked near Taeyeon’s car, which she rarely uses.

“Yeah, it’s a pocket bike given to me by Shinyoung-unnie on my graduation day. It served as an inside joke. I once told her that I wanted to ride a motorbike so she bought me one. A small one that is, according to her, suited to my size.”

“Can I ride it?” she asked Taeyeon cutely.

“Promise me you won’t fall off and injure yourself.”

Jessica raised her pinky and said, “I swear. Pinky promise.” She wiggled her pinky finger and Taeyeon linked hers with Jessica’s.

She burst out laughing as soon as she sat on it. “This is so cute!”

“It would be nicer if I could put it on a capsule and carry it around with me. You know, like the ones they use in ‘Dragon Ball’.”

Jessica’s eyes lit up, “You watch ‘Dragon Ball’? I watch ‘Dragon Ball’. I love ‘Dragon Ball’!”

Taeyeon need not to question the other girl’s love for that anime. She just said it three times for crying out loud. 

“I cannot believe you watched that, too. I thought I was weird because I didn’t know other people who watch that show when I was a kid. I wanted to become Bulma, too so I asked my dad if I could dye my hair blue but he bought me a blue wig instead.”

Taeyeon chuckled, “Really? You wanted to be Bulma Brief?”

“Bulma Brief?” Jessica asked in confusion.

“Yeah, that’s her full name. It was said that her name was an allusion to bloomers. Underwear.” 

“You’re bluffing.”

“I’m not. You could google it if you want,” she said confidently.

“Then her son’s name would be Trunks Brief…whatever Vegeta’s surname is. That’s weird. You and your . You’re making it up, aren’t you?”

“I’m not. I’m telling the truth. So if you wanted to be Bulma and I wanted to be Vegeta, that means we’d be a perfect couple,” she smiled like a dork.

“You wanted to be Vegeta? I really don’t believe you now. You’re just saying that because I said I wanted to be Bulma.”

“Bulma Brief,” she corrected with a giggle, “Seriously , though, I wanted to be Vegeta. Don’t think so highly of yourself. When I was a kid, I used to go to my parent’s room to borrow my mom’s hair spray. My hair was shoulder length at that time so it was easy for me to style it like Vegeta’s. I have a proof.”

“Do you also draw arcs on your forehead to emphasize the look and have that very prominent widow’s peak? Do you shout ‘Super Saiyan’ when you’re angry or when you just want to pretend you’re stronger than usual?”

Taeyeon stared at her in disbelief, “How did you know? Were you stalking me, too?”

Jessica laughed, “You are such a dork!”

“By the way, thanks for creating a hole in the earth’s atmosphere. You could’ve just used wax or something,” she added looking serious. 

“I…uh…sorry,” Taeyeon said not really sure of what to say.

Jessica laughed and said, “That was a joke.”

“You have a wicked sense of humor.” 

“So I’ve been told. Let’s race. Ready. Set. Go!” Jessica sped off while Taeyeon ran after her.


---


It was true what they said, time indeed flies when you’re having fun. For Jessica, it felt like minutes ago she was only having lunch with Taeyeon’s parents, Shinyoung and Shinyoung’s friend, Gil and now it’s already night time. She hasn’t even called her dad yet. 

She had a short nap in Taeyeon’s bedroom and when she woke up, she saw Taeyeon entered the room.

“Good thing you’re awake. I’m still afraid of waking you up. I got traumatized by your punch,” she said jokingly. “Dinner’s ready, shikshin.”

“Yah!” It was Taeyeon’s parents’ nickname for her. She defended herself by saying that there were two other girls living with them that eat more than she does. Although Shinyoung backed her up, it didn’t stop Taeyeon’s parents to call her ‘shikshin’ the whole time.

When they got downstairs, the first person Jessica saw was her dad. She ran to him and hugged him like they haven’t seen each other for years. 

“Daddy!”

Her stepmom, Tiffany’s mom, was also there along with her housemates. When Jessica saw them, she couldn’t help but cry. She let go of her dad and ran back to Taeyeon to hug her. The latter was too shocked to even move and hug her back.

“Thank you,” Jessica muttered. She might be slow at catching up on things but she knows very well that Taeyeon did this for her.

“Stop crying. Who the heck cries on her birthday?” she chuckled when her brain functioned normally again.

Jessica wiped her tears and returned to her father’s arms. “I’m guessing she’s the Kim Taeyeon who called me this afternoon?” Jessica nodded.

She’s the best stalker ever.