Because It's Love

Taecyeon sat in his car, completely at a loss. There wasn’t even time for him to return home in time, neither was there time for him to call Jessica and successfully wake her and Taeyeon up so that they could leave their house. His heart pounded hard while he tried his best to think of a solution.

“Alright we’re parked. Do you need me to clean up your room al—”

“Mom uh,” Taecyeon interrupted as an idea struck. “My back started to hurt again a few days back and I think I’ve run out of medication so…since you’re gonna bring things to my place do you mind getting some for me?”

“Hmm? The medication from Dr Oh?”

“Yeah, that one.”

“That’s a ten-minute drive from your place right?”

“Yeah, but I don’t have the time to get it and the pain’s starting to get really bad.”

“Is it that bad?” Mrs Ok asked, worried.

“A little. Wouldn’t you do me a small favour mom?”

“Oh just what do I do with my little boy?” Taecyeon could hear a small sigh from his mother. “I’ll go get it for you.”

Taecyeon let out an almost inaudible breath and then he spoke into the phone again. “Thanks a lot mom. I’ll visit you soon when I have the time.”

“That’s what you always say.”

The man could finally smile a little. “I’ll visit you soon mom. Promise.”

“Alright. Don’t overwork yourself.”

“Okay.”

“Bye sweety.”

“Yup bye mom.”

Taecyeon gently rubbed his palm across his chest to unnerve himself before he quickly picked up the phone again, this time dialing Jessica. He wasn’t sure if the girl would answer the call because it was too early a time for Jessica to be awake and waking her up was never an easy feat.

True enough, Jessica didn’t pick up even until the call got disconnected. Taecyeon only had thirty minutes or so before he would face the exact same pressing situation again. Having no time to waste, he dialed Krystal and luckily, the little sister picked up within seconds.

“Yes big bird?” came the familiar chirpy voice.

“Hey lil bird we’ve got a situation here. You have Taeyeon’s number right?”

“Uh-huh.”

“Okay great. I need you to call her and make sure she wakes up and get out of the house with Jess. My mom’s visiting soon but your sister’s sleeping like a log.”

A short silence followed before Krystal spoke up. “What has your mom visiting got anything to do with Taeyeon? And what do you mean ‘get out of the house with Jess’? Taeyeon’s at your place?”

Taecyeon closed his eyes and his lips that had suddenly turned dry. He let out a sigh before he opened his eyes again. “Taeyeon stayed over.”

“What? Why in the—”

“I was the one who suggested it. It’s got nothing to do with your sister or Taeyeon. I’d really explain everything to you if I’ve the time but my mom’s really entering our place any time and I need you to make the call to Taeyeon now Krystal.”

“Wait, one last question. What’s wrong with a friend staying over?”

“She—” Another sigh escaped Taecyeon’s lips. “They’re sleeping on the same bed and…she’s in her arms in…a way that no one would think that they’re just friends.”

“Are you even serious Taec?”

“Krystal please. We’ll have this talk another time. Can you please call Taeyeon right now?”

“I—” Taecyeon didn’t have to see Krystal to know that the girl was rolling her eyes. “Okay fine.”

“Thanks.”

***

Taeyeon always loved sleeping with Jessica. Literally or not, it never mattered. She loved a morning like this, inhaling the scent of shampoo from Jessica’s hair as the warmth from Jessica’s body chased away every bit of coldness from the surrounding as well as the harsh reality of life. It was Taeyeon and her against the world, nothing else. She could stay like this forever. She wouldn’t mind. Hell, no one would mind. She wrapped her arms a little tighter around the girl and tried to scoot even closer.

A contented sigh had barely escaped her lips when her ringtone sounded beside her on the bedside table and her eyes jerked open. Her heart raced for a bit as she stayed where she was until realization struck and she quickly turned to fetch her phone, not wanting to wake her girlfriend up.

“Hello…?” Taeyeon didn’t even think as she answered the call groggily in a soft voice.

“Taeyeon unnie sorry for calling you this early.”

Taeyeon took a few seconds longer than usual to register Krystal’s voice before she replied, “Krystal? What’s up?”

“Uh, it’s like this… Taecyeon oppa called me and he said that his mother would be arriving at the apartment any time so he wanted me to tell you and my sister to get out of the house quickly. So…I think you guys have to hurry.”

“What?!” Taeyeon was jolted awake from the information and her heart started to pump quickly again. “O-okay I’ll wake her up now. Thanks Soojung!” Without waiting for Krystal’s reply, Taeyeon hung up and turned to shake Jessica roughly.

“Sica! Jessica!” Taeyeon called with an unusually loud voice, but Jessica only stirred in her sleep. “Jung Jessica! Your mother-in-law’s gonna be here any moment! Get up now!”

Jessica hated to be awakened by loud noises, and she was about to yell back at Taeyeon when the word mother-in-law suddenly rang in her ears. Her eyes sprang open as she sat up in shock. Turning to stare fearfully at Taeyeon, she merely managed to ask, “W-what? My mother-in-law’s coming? Now?”

“Yes now!” Taeyeon replied anxiously as she jumped out of bed to change back into her clothes. “Go wash up quickly and let’s get out of here before she arrives!”

Jessica snapped out of her trance and rushed to the washroom to wash up and brush her teeth in lightning speed.

When she was done, she rushed back into her room to change into proper clothes while Taeyeon went to wash up. In a short five minutes, both girls were done and they quickly made their way out of the apartment, with Taeyeon almost tripping over her own shoes at the door.

They stopped outside the elevator and then they looked at each other. Taking the elevator was dangerous. Mrs Ok could be on her way up or they could meet her at the lobby.

“Should we take the stairs?” Taeyeon asked.

Jessica hesitated for a moment, and then she replied, “No. You take the elevator. I’ll take the stairs.”

“What?” Taeyeon’s eyes slightly widened. “It’s more than a dozen flight of stairs and you’re gonna take it alone?”

“It’s better than getting caught. And…I don’t want you to walk those stairs,” Jessica answered in a subtle confession.

It was times like this that Taeyeon understood why she could never let Jessica go. Jessica loved her with her everything, and sometimes, no, make it every time, Taeyeon didn’t know if she deserved any of it at all. What she didn’t know was, Jessica felt the exact same way too. She never knew if she deserved Taeyeon, after all the things that she had done to the girl.

A small smile crept up on Taeyeon’s face, and then she reached out to hold Jessica’s hand. “You know what? Let’s just take the elevator together. We can always come up with excuses, as long as we aren’t, you know, caught in…bed.”

Jessica couldn’t help but to chuckle in response. She let her free hand brush itself across Taeyeon’s cheek. “What has Kitty done to my innocent Taeyeon?”

Taeyeon gazed at Jessica for a few seconds longer, and then she softly said, “She loved me.”

Her words only kept the smile on Jessica’s face. “She loved you,” she repeated her girlfriend’s words. Then, she added lovingly, “She loves you, and she will always love you.”

***

The two girls sat by the Han River in silence with their caffè americanos that windy morning. The serenity was unexpectedly healing for Jessica. She needed the peace, the silence, and most importantly, the girl who was sitting beside her.

Taeyeon reached out for her coffee and gently brought it to her lips before she carefully took sips of the hot beverage.

“Hey Taeyeon.”

Her eyebrow raised, Taeyeon turned to face Jessica. “Hmm?” she hummed a response with the cup still glued to her lips.

Jessica didn’t look back at Taeyeon. Instead, she stared far, far away at the sea. She lightly took in a breath and then she exhaled. Then, she muttered, “I’m sorry.”

Taeyeon lowered her coffee before she set it down beside her again, her eyes not leaving Jessica for a second. She interlocked her own fingers and bit her lower lip as she contemplated on whether to ask Jessica about the reason of her apology. She decided not to, and instead, she kept her eyes fixed on Jessica. She could see a weird expression on Jessica’s face, the way she her lips, the way she pressed her lips together, the way she bit her lip, the way she was…suppressing her tears. Taeyeon knew that Jessica had things to say, so she waited. She could wait. She could do anything Jessica wanted her to.

Jessica stayed silent longer than Taeyeon expected her to, so Taeyeon finally tore her eyes off her girlfriend as she let the blue waters bring to her some peace too. “Actually,” Taeyeon suddenly spoke. “Between us, there’s no…” She stopped abruptly when she felt a familiar choked feeling. She swallowed her saliva and closed her eyes, letting those tears settle down quietly. She took another minute before she opened her eyes again. Taking in a deep breath, she continued where she left off, “Between us, there’s no need for words like ‘sorry’ and ‘thank you’. Well… Because it’s love. Hearing you say sorry like this…” Taeyeon’s words trailed off as she bit hard on her teeth. However, those tears broke free when she could no longer keep them in. “Seeing you say sorry like this,” she muttered shakily. “Something doesn’t feel so good…here.” She slowly raised her hand and gently clutched her heart, her tears now flowing seamlessly.

When Jessica turned to see a crying Taeyeon clutching her heart like it hurt her a lot, her lips trembled as she turned away, her own tears falling. She refused to look at Taeyeon again, because she couldn’t do it. She might break apart. She might shatter. She might just die. “I…” Jessica weakly began. “I hate myself for…making you live like I can never be seen with you. It’s not like that at all.” She wiped her tears off her face with her palm and the back of her hand. “My life is a mess. I said that I love you but I have a husb—”

“Sica,” Taeyeon interrupted. Keeping her eyes fixed on the waters with a small sad smile on her face, she continued, “It doesn’t matter. It doesn’t matter to me,” Taeyeon paused for a short moment. “And I’m fine as long as you’re here with me.”

Jessica’s face scrunched up at Taeyeon’s words and her body shook as crying soon turned to sobbing. “I’m such a… I’m—”

Jessica didn’t get to finish her words because Taeyeon threw her arms around the girl next and patted her back in a slow rhythm. “It’s okay, it’s okay. Cry it all out. It isn’t easy for you too… Just cry it out.” Just like this, Jessica kept sobbing while Taeyeon held her. Taeyeon hated herself too, for not being able to protect Jessica, but she would hold her and never let her go if it could make Jessica feel just a little bit better. She could never let go. She would never, ever let go.

When Jessica’s crying finally stopped, Taeyeon lightly scratched Jessica’s back while her arms were still wrapped around the girl. “Hey Kitty,” she called out in a whisper.

“Hmm?” Jessica could finally smile as she hummed in response.

“Do you want a genie shot?”

“Here’s your genie shot.”

“My…what? Genie shot?”

Jessica’s eyes slightly widened in surprise as the memory came back to her. She gently pulled away from the hug and stared into Taeyeon’s smiling eyes. “What…?”

“I asked you if you wanted a genie shot.”

Jessica chuckled, and Taeyeon couldn’t felt gladder to see that silly smile again. “Wasn’t the genie shot thing my idea?”

Taeyeon nodded with a smug expression. “Mm-hmm. So what?”

“Well… We only have two americanos here. How are you going to give me a genie shot?”

The girl only shrugged. “Make a wish first.”

“Don’t be stupid.”

“I’m serious. Make a wish.”

Knowing that Taeyeon could be insistent when she wanted to, Jessica complied as she closed her eyes. When she was done making a silent wish, she opened her eyes and stared deep into Taeyeon’s eyes. “Okay. Now wh—”

Without warning, Taeyeon crashed her lips into Jessica’s. She let her tongue gently brush across Jessica’s lips and the girl granted access as her lips parted. When Jessica’s tongue slightly slid out, Taeyeon closed her lips over it and , eliciting a soft moan from Jessica who then tightened her hands around Taeyeon’s arms.

With a toothy grin, Taeyeon pulled away and backed out from the kiss, much to Jessica’s surprise. “We’re not having here my dear.” She then grabbed her americano and stood up abruptly to make her way to the car as Jessica stared blankly.

“This— You— If you’re gonna kiss me you should do it properly! Hey Kim Taeyeon!” Jessica shouted and Taeyeon broke into a run when Jessica stood up to chase her.

Jessica managed to catch up with Taeyeon near her car, and she was about to pounce on her, not knowing that Taeyeon slowed down on purpose. Just before her arms could reach the girl, Taeyeon turned and grabbed Jessica’s shoulder before she swung her around and pinned her down on the hood of the car. She let herself hover dangerously above Jessica with only a few centimeters between their faces. Jessica panted from the chase earlier on, and Taeyeon let her catch her breath, before she lowered her head and captured Jessica’s lips again for the second time that day.

Taeyeon pulled away for a short while, letting herself gaze into Jessica’s eyes. “So what did you wish for?” she asked with a small smile.

Jessica returned the smile, but she shook her head. “I’m not telling you, idiot,” she teased before she lifted her head to kiss the girl.

***

Mrs Ok let out a gentle laugh before she lifted the teacup to take a sip of her afternoon tea.

“The kids are all grown up now isn’t it? Time really flies.”

Mrs Jung too took a sip out of her cup, and then she nodded while she lowered the cup back onto the table.

“I’m only glad that this daughter of mine has finally settled down,” Mrs Jung commented with a slight shake of her head.

“I was so worried before. Taecyeon didn’t look like he was going to settle down at all. I guess there’s always that playful stage, and I’m glad too that he’s past that stage.”

“Being playful is one thing. I told you before haven’t I? Jessica dated a few girls before and I was so scared that she would really go down that path.”

“Kids are like this. They think that it’s cool and whatnot, but they’ll snap out of it.”

“That period of time was really bad. It was so worrying that I don’t think I can even forget the names of those girls. Ah was it Yuri? And there was one more, but luckily, I managed to stop everything. What was her name again… Was it Taeyeon? Something like that. But now that—”

“What?” Mrs Ok's eyes widened as she blurted out before she could hold herself back

“Mother, this is… She’s Taeyeon, my best friend.”

Tae...yeon?

[A/N] 11/6/2015

It's been such a long time hasn't it? I'm finally back from vacation and so here's a really long chapter for you guys. Spread the Love Assumed love. :) This story is getting nearer and nearer to its end. I'm getting sad... :(

So, quickly write me something now. :)