The night wasn’t as cold as others but Tiffany felt really cold. She was walking alone at night. She didn’t know how much she has walked but she wasn’t tired. Some people stared at her and it probably was because of her red eyes. Oh, poor crying girl they might be thinking. Did her boyfriend dump her? Did she have a fight with her lover? Tiffany chuckled, how she wished it was only that. Those things seemed so simple now.

She walked as she thought of Mrs. Kim’s words an hour ago. Her heart hurt a lot and she didn’t understand why she was this sad. She knew something similar was bound to happen when she asked Taeyeon to meet her parents but she never thought it would make her feel like this.

Tiffany kicked a bottle on the ground before seeing the bench of the bus stop near her and sat there. She run her hands through her hair and sighed, keeping her head low. Mrs. Kim words were running on her head once again. They kept repeating and repeating and Tiffany couldn’t do anything about it.

“What did I do to deserve this?” She put her hands on her face and cried again. The people around might be watching her but she couldn’t care anymore.

 She lied to herself; she knew why she felt this sad. She just wanted their approval. She needed their approval. They were family now, right? And instead Mrs. Kim just offended her and treated her like .

She lifted her head and watched the sky. Why couldn’t Jiwoong be with her in these hard times? She thought. She felt angry. It almost felt like he run away, leaving her to deal with this alone.

 

Tiffany frowned.

Alone.

 

“No, Tiffany, you know I’m different. Please let me help”

 

“No”, Tiffany mumbled, she didn’t know if she said it or just thought it.

She wasn’t dealing with this alone. Not with Taeyeon by her side.

She stood up and walked again until she reached a building. She greeted the doorman, went upstairs and walked to the door 201.

 

Taeyeon’s apartment.

 

 Home.

 

She wanted to see the time on her phone but she realized it was turned off. Of course. She turned it off so no one could call her and bother her when she just wanted to have time for herself. But she felt a little guilty. There’s a person beyond that door who is probably angry at her.

She her phone and the first thing she saw were the missed calls from Taeyeon.  It made her feel even guiltier. Then she saw the time. 12AM. Damn, it was late and she didn’t go to work. Thank god her boss was her friend.

She reached for her keys but didn’t dare to open the door. She was scared and not of an angry Taeyeon.

What if her mom convinced her?

 No, Taeyeon is different, just like she said, Tiffany thought.

Still… Tiffany couldn’t help but feel ashamed of herself. None of Taeyeon’s mother’s words were true -except for the part that Jiwoong might have been ashamed of introducing her to his family- but what if Taeyeon believed some it? She just couldn’t deal with that.

 

There was no use to keep standing outside so Tiffany decided to just open the door.

 She took a deep breath and inserted the key on the lock. She opened it and saw Taeyeon lying on the couch with her arm above her eyes. When she closed the door, Taeyeon moved her arm really fast, startled by the sound and widened her eyes when she saw Tiffany.

“Taeyeon, I-“

Taeyeon rushed to her and touched her arms with both hands. They stared at each other and Tiffany felt like crying again.

Taeyeon wasn’t mad.

“Tiffany, I was- I was so worried”, Taeyeon said and Tiffany felt the sincerity in those words. The sincerity in her eyes.

Taeyeon wasn’t mad. Taeyeon wasn’t bothered by her presence. Taeyeon was just worried.

It felt a little awkward at first but Tiffany couldn’t help but to hug Taeyeon. It was their first hug. Taeyeon didn’t move her arms for a few seconds but then she hugged her and touched her head with her right hand, patting Tiffany like she was kid.

“Taeyeon, I’m-“, she tried to say between tears.

“No” Taeyeon whispered to her ear, “I’m sorry and I promise”, Taeyeon arms tightened around Tiffany, “I promise this won’t happen again”.

Tiffany nodded her head and then rested it on Taeyeon’s shoulder. Taeyeon patted her head and run her hand through her locks.

 

Just a few minutes ago Tiffany felt really cold but now…

Now she felt warm.

 

 

 

 

***

 

 

 

 

Tiffany woke up the next day with a heavy headache. She went straight to the bathroom and saw her puffy eyes. Damn she looked so bad she pitied herself.

She walked to the kitchen after washing her face and brushing her teeth. She saw a note stuck on the fridge.

I made you breakfast, it’s in the microwave. Btw, I might come home late today. Feel free to use whatever you want for lunch and dinner. See ya!

Tiffany smiled at the note. She could imagine Taeyeon saying that with a smile, trying to make her feel better even if her eyes betrayed her and showed some signs of sadness. Her effort was a thing that Tiffany appreciated and she was going to try doing the same for Taeyeon. Less tears, more smiles. She can try.

Her phone rang and she rushed to it to answer the call. It was Jessica, her boss. And her best friend.

“Hi boss”, Tiffany said trying to sound cheerful.

 “Tiffany, you should have called…” said the girl on the phone. She was talking about Tiffany not coming to work.

“Sorry, I had some problems…” she said as she lowered her voice.

“I know what you’re going through and I told you to take some time, your health comes first and I don’t want you here if you feel bad”, said the other girl worriedly.

“Jessi, I can’t. I need the money”

“You act like I’m just your boss. You know I can help you with that”, Jessica said a little annoyed.

Tiffany walked to the couch and laid on it, she sighed.

 “I can’t, you know I don’t want that”

“Ugh, Fany. Sometimes I really hate your pride”, Tiffany imagined her pouting and it made her smile.

“I’ll be there today don’t worry”, she said as she sat straight and looked at the microwave where her breakfast was.

 

 

“Do you want me to fire you, Fany?”

When Tiffany heard that she stood up and raised her voice.

 “WHAT?!”

“Oh, geez Tiffany, it was just a joke. Even if I did it I would give you your pay every month but I’m sure you will hate that and that will lead to you hating me too and that’s not something I want”

Tiffany released a relieved breath and said, “Don’t joke like that!”

“Yah! Do you even think I would do something like that?” Jessica said.

Tiffany laughed and Jessica followed along. Talking to Jessi always made her feel better.

Jessica has been her friend since they were kids. They went to the same school but they didn’t have classes together. One afternoon, little Fany was playing hide and seek there with her friends and it was her turn to find them. Since her school was big, there were many places to hide so she had to look everywhere. She heard noises inside of a classroom and grinned, thinking she already found someone.

And she did, but it wasn’t any of her friends.

 Inside of the classroom were 3 kids standing in front of one girl crying on the floor.  Little Fany knew what they were doing and she hated it. She run to them and pushed them hard. She told them to leave the girl alone or she would kick their asses and then call their parents. The little cowards run away before she turned to girl on the floor. She extended her hand to her and asked her if she wanted to play hide and seek with her and her friends.

Since then they were inseparable, Jessica was usually the target of bullies since she was quiet and shy, but Tiffany always stood up for her. Eventually they grew up and Jessica became less timid and more determined, even if she still was a little quiet sometimes.

When Tiffany’s dad lost his job due to the bankruptcy of the company he worked at, her family- and that means her dad and her- had to come to Korea since her father believed he was going to find a better job there. Tiffany told Jessica about it and that gave her best friend the idea of going with her whole family to Korea to reach their dreams there, since they always had problems with money too. Jessica worked hard and started her own business, aka Red Lips, but Tiffany only had problems after problems since her dad fell ill. Thank God Jessica was there to give her a job.

Tiffany was indeed a proud person. Jessica offered her more. To be a partner. To be an investor (with no money), to pay her triple for her job as a waitress. But Tiffany didn’t want that, she didn’t want to feel useless. That was something she hated and loved about herself. She wanted to gain things from her own effort.

“Tiffany?”

Tiffany blinked. Eh?

“Tiffany?” the girl on the phone asked again.

Oh, she was on the phone.

“Uh, sorry Jessi… I think I was spacing out”, she said as she closed her eyes.

“Yeah, I think I’ve been asking you the same things for 10 minutes and you only breathed on the phone” It seemed like Jessica was trying to sound angry but she couldn’t.

Tiffany smiled.

“Sooooooooooorrry”, Tiffany said cutely and Jessica told her to cut it out while laughing.

 

 

 

Jessica stopped and her tone changed to a more serious one.

She asked her “So, Tiff… have you told you dad about the baby?”

Tiffany sighed when she hear that question. How can she do that? It was probably going to kill him.

 Her dad is ill. He always had heart problems but with the pressure and the stress of finding a job to maintain the both of them he got sicker. He tried several times to go out and look for a place that wouldn’t mind hiring a man in his 50’s but in his state and his age no one wanted him. Not even with his experience. Now, he just gave up and lives at his brother’s house, the place where she used to live too but left when she got tired of the pity stares from her uncle and his family.

How can she do this to her dad when he probably feels miserable enough?

“I can’t…” Tiffany answered.

 

“You need to since you’re planning to keep it”

 

 

“I know”

 

 

 

 

***

 

 

 

 

Taeyeon sat on a bar stool and turned to her right and chucked at the girl that looked quite uncomfortable.

“You didn’t need to come, Seohyun”, she said while looking for Sunny with her eyes.

Seohyun looked at her, “Well, I don’t want to leave you alone, unnie, so just deal with it”

Taeyeon was a little amused at her friend.

“I’ll buy you a tequila shot then” she said with a smile and laughed when she saw Seohyun’s expression. It screamed ‘unnieeeeeeeee!’ to her. The younger girl (who was taller though) can be really uptight to some but Taeyeon just loved her like that. It was so much fun when she tried new dangerous and unhealthy things.

She felt her phone vibrate, it was a message from Tiffany.

I stayed at home, my boss gave me a free day and she said she didn’t want no for answer -.- I just thought I should let you know (:

Taeyeon grinned at the message and quickly typed a reply.

Don’t be grumpy, most people would want to take a day off. Thanks for letting me know (: see you later.

Seconds later she received a reply.

-.- haha ok fine

“Tiffany?” Taeyeon heard Seohyun ask.

“Yes, how do you know?” she asked as she put her phone back on her purse.

Seohyun just shrugged.

 

“Taeyeon!”

Taeyeon turned to the source of the voice and found Sunny smiling at her.

“I’m glad to see you around, but I really hope you aren’t here to get drunk” the girl across the bar said half joking half serious.

Taeyeon shook her head, “Don’t worry, I just want to drink a little since you know, I’m depressed”.

Taeyeon smiled and made it sound like it was a joke but both Sunny and Seohyun were staring at her in a weird way.

“What?” she said a little bothered.

“Ok, its fine” Seohyun patted her shoulder, “it’s good to say what you feel, unnie” she said sweetly.

She felt like she was going to tear up. She has been so emotional nowadays but she controlled herself.

Sunny stared at her friend and asked, “So who is the lady here?”

Oh, Taeyeon forgot to introduce Seohyun to Sunny.

“Sunny, this is Seohyun, my friend and coworker” she said gesturing to the girl beside her, “and Seohyun this is Sunny, my friend the bartender” she finished.

Sunny looked pensive and after a few seconds she said, “I don’t know why but ‘Sunny, the bartender’ sounds kind of hot”

Taeyeon rolled her eyes jokingly and Sunny hit her arm. Seohyun laughed and Sunny greeted her. They are talking now.

It was nice to spend her free time here. It made her think of her brother but she was entertained with both of her friends.

The truth was that she wanted to stay out of home for a while. It wasn’t because of Tiffany… ok maybe it was, but not because she didn’t want to see her.

Her heart broke when she saw Tiffany after the problem at her parents’ house. She was thinking of a way to make it up to her. And maybe to help herself too. She tried to look better in front of others but she has been having problems with sleeping. She didn’t cry that much anymore but now she couldn’t sleep. She just rolled on her bed trying to conciliate sleep. She wanted to do something that could help them both at the same time, but especially the girl at home.

She wanted to ask both Sunny and Seohyun what to do for Tiffany but that means she would need to tell Sunny the whole story. She remembered how emotionally drained she felt after telling Seohyun the whole thing.

“So, what do you want to drink?” Sunny asked to the both of them.

“A little of whiskey for me and tequila shot for the young girl” Taeyeon said smiling playfully at the girl beside her. Seohyun shoot her a playful glare and Taeyeon laughed.

“Ok, my ladies”, Sunny said with a smirk.

After drinking and laughing with Sunny at Seohyun’s grimace when she drank the shot and how she the salt like her life depended of it, Taeyeon remembered her real motive for coming to the bar.

“Umm… I actually need an advice, I want to do something but I don’t know exactly what” she said.

Sunny looked at her confused, “Uh, what is it?”

“You know, Tiffany the girl who dated Jiwoong and whom I asked to live with me…”

Taeyeon told Sunny what she didn’t know and when she felt tired Seohyun continued it from where she left off. After a while, they reached to the part of what happened with her mother and Taeyeon explained them she wanted to make Tiffany feel better. But just thinking about making Tiffany feel happier felt wrong since she was far from being happy herself. What could she do to?

Sunny and Seohyun stared at her and then they looked at each other. Taeyeon just watched them curiously. It seemed like they were thinking the same.

“I think I know, unnie” Seohyun said smiling at her.

“And I think I know what cute Seohyun knows” Sunny said while giving a beer to one man behind them.

After the man left, Taeyeon asked them, “Eh, what?”

Sunny put her hands on the table and said as she smiled, “It really isn’t hard”.

 

 

 

 

***

 

 

 

 

Taeyeon went inside her apartment and found Tiffany eating while watching TV. Wasn’t it a little late, though?

She closed the door and took off her heels.

Oh god, this is such a relief. Taeyeon thought while moving her feet.

 She noticed Tiffany staring at her and she smiled.

“Hi, I’m home. Why are you eating this late?” Taeyeon said as she went to sit on the couch.

“This is my second plate. I think I’m a little hungry” Tiffany chucked, “Have you eaten already?” she asked her from the dining room.

Taeyeon thought about it and realized she was a quite hungry too. She only had cookies from Seohyun before going to the bar.

“I ate something, don’t worry about it” She lied.

“Oh, really?” Tiffany looked disappointed, “Is just that I made you dinner, spaghetti” she lifted her plate and smiled awkwardly, “but don’t wo-“

Taeyeon widened her eyes, “Wait! I’m hungry actually”.

Tiffany looked confused.

Taeyeon smiled and apologized.

“Sorry, I lied. I didn’t want to worry you but I’m actually pretty hungry” Taeyeon said a little embarrassed and stood up from the couch.

She walked to Tiffany and looked to her eyes.

“Thank you” she said gently.

Tiffany blinked before talking, “Ah- I- its ok”, she smiled.

Taeyeon asked her where her plate was and Tiffany pointed to the kitchen. In the microwave, she said. Taeyeon warmed up her food, walked to the table and sat in front of Tiffany. She started eating and the food felt like the best she had in a while. She closed her eyes wondering if it’s was because she was hungry or maybe Tiffany was really good at cooking.

“Tiffany, this is really good” She said sincerely.

Tiffany smiled big, “I’m glad you liked it. I learnt how to cook it because my dad likes it a lot”. She stared at her food as she said, “It’s his favorite food”

Taeyeon stared at her a little surprised.

This was the first time Tiffany talked about her family in the weeks they have known each other. She didn’t dare to annoy the other girl with private questions and just waited for Tiffany to mention something about it. Maybe she was feeling more comfortable with her. It made Taeyeon feel glad.

“I can guess why this one stayed at his favorite food” Taeyeon said with a smile, “Umm. Yummy!” she said as she ate more and more.

Tiffany laughed, “You’re like a kid now”

Taeyeon stared at her with a grin.

Ah, Tiffany was laughing again.

Taeyeon felt warm inside, it was a nice sight. A girl she wanted to see smile big was doing it and she was the cause of it. She watched her eat with the smile still plastered on her face and congratulated herself for her good achievement.

 

Taeyeon smiled to herself. Oh god, she felt so silly now.

 

But it was time to get back to serious mode.

 

Taeyeon took the courage to ask Tiffany more about her father.

“Tiffany… where is your dad now?”

She ate more and so did Tiffany. They both ate in silence and when they finished their food, Tiffany finally answered Taeyeon’s question.

“Here in Korea. He lives with my uncle”, Tiffany sighed and continued “He is sick… that’s why I didn’t feel like talking about him”

Taeyeon lowered her gaze, she felt kind of guilty. Maybe she shouldn’t have asked that. Did she it up?

It seemed like Tiffany realized what was Taeyeon thinking because she said, “Hey, its fine” with a smile, relieving Taeyeon.

“He has heart problems and it got worse with the stress, but he is better now” Tiffany assured.

Taeyeon wanted to change the topic but Tiffany continued. She told her a brief summary of what happened to her dad and why exactly they had to come to Korea. She told her about Jessica, her blonde best friend and about the reasons of her job.

Taeyeon clenched her fists at hearing all that.

And she thought her life was hard? She probably wouldn’t be able to handle a life like Tiffany’s.

“You might be wondering about my mother, she died when I was really young, when I was 5 years old. I can barely remember her”

 “I’m- I’m deeply sorry” Taeyeon said with pain in her heart.

Tiffany smiled and said “Thank you, but its fine, really. It was a long time ago”

“I just thought I should tell you this since we are now living together. I think you should know more about the person you’re living with”

Damn this girl. Damn, this girl in front of her.

She was something.

 She was... great.

Taeyeon reached for her hand and held it.

“You’re… you’re a really strong woman, Tiffany” she said while looking her straight to her eyes.

 

Tiffany stared at her a little surprised by the sudden action but Taeyeon continued.

 

“You’re… you’re the strongest woman I have ever met” Taeyeon said genuinely.

Tiffany watched their hands and when Taeyeon was about to let go, she tightened their hold.

She lifted her gaze and locked her eyes with Taeyeon.

They stared at each other for some seconds.

 

“Thank you”

 

 

 

 

***

 

 

 

 

The next morning, Tiffany woke up in her room –Taeyeon’s guest room. She did what she does every morning
-go straight to the bathroom, wash her face, brush her teeth, go to the kitchen and have breakfast before getting a shower.

The only difference is that now she walked to the fridge like she did the day before just to look for what she wanted to see.

Another note.

And it was there.

Breakfast in the microwave! Tiffany smiled at that and kept reading.

Tiffany… I wanted to ask you something yesterday but I couldn’t since it was really late. Tiffany frowned and continued.

The thing is…  Would you like to hang out together on Saturday? The entire day... just message me your reply

Ps. It’s ok if you can’t I think you might be busy with your job (:

Tiffany didn’t need to think long about her reply. She just grabbed her phone, searched Taeyeon in her contacts and typed her message.

 

I’m free for the whole day (:

 

She wasn’t exactly free but for the first time in a while she was about to ask Jessica for a day off.

----

 

A/N: Soooorry, I promised a weekly updated and I failed. Tbh I wrote this chapter even before posting chapter 3, but t've been busy and I didn't have time to write chapter 5. I wanted to post chapter 4 after writing it, so I can continue posting weekly but I still haven't finished writing it so I just decided to post this chapter. Sorry again. I hope you guys are still interested in the story. The next chapter is going to have lots of Taeny.. I hope haha and things are going to happen faster since the next chapter, I've been feeling this fic is going to slow. Well I hope you enjoyed the chapter. Comments are really appreciated.c: