Chapter 13

Taeyeon’s eyes widened in shock as her own breathing felt restricted in her own lungs. After recovering the initial shock, Taeyeon looked at the un-wanted guest with an intense glare. She no longer mind if she’s acting rude by displaying her blatant hate towards this person, even in the presence of Tiffany.

“What are you doing here?” Taeyeon asked in clear annoyance.

“Hi Taeyeon.”

“I said what are you doing here?”

“A greeting would be nice you know.”

“Just cut the crap and answer me.” Taeyeon’s losing her temper in every passing seconds and the little smirk on the guest’s lips is not really helping her at all.

“Wow Taeyeon when did you become such an impatient person? That is so not you.” That little smirk was now turned into a full blown smirk that ticks Taeyeon’s patience.

Tiffany looked back and forth from Taeyeon and the unknown woman who came towards their table. She thought that whoever this girl is, she brings no good news. Because reading from Taeyeon’s face, she is so much ready to end the girl right here right now if the latter would make one wrong move. And she’s scared, not for the girl but for Taeyeon’s well being. They might have just met recently and has just started to get to know each other but she could tell that Taeyeon was never the impulsive type of person.

She reached for Taeyeon’s hand across the table that is now balled in a tight fist and tried to appease the rage that is the latter was currently dealing with.

“Taeyeon.” Tiffany said in a voice just above a whisper.

Taeyeon heard her name being called and looked back to where it came from and saw a worried looking face of Tiffany. Her anger subsided a little when she saw her and felt sorry that she must have showed something not pleasant to her.

Taeyeon returned her eyes back to the other person and started to speak again.

“If you’re here to just say your hi, you can now leave since you’ve already said it.” She told her coldly.

“Fine I’ll go. For now. Since you seem busy with your pretty date. Enjoy Taeyeon.” The person left after with her smirk still plastered on her face. Taeyeon and Tiffany watched the retreating back of that person with such relief.

Taeyeon returned her attention back at Tiffany and looked at her apologetically.

“Sorry for that Tiffany. But can we go now?”Taeyeon apologetically looked over Tiffany. She was still feeling restless even though that person already left the restaurant.

Tiffany just nodded and silently took her things with her and get up from her chair. She got startled when she suddenly felt Taeyeon’s hand upon hers pulling her along with her out into the parking area.

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Taeyeon rushed out of the car to open the door for Tiffany much to the other girl’s surprised.

“Thanks Taeyeon.”

“It’s nothing!” She smiled a little.

“Thanks for having lunch with me too and sorry if we need to go soon.”

“It’s was still great no need to apologize.” Tiffany sincerely said to the other girl.

“Uhm so will you go back to the studio after this?”

“No, I think I’ll head home first to check on Taeji and her nanny. Your patients are probably waiting for you.” Tiffany could sense the urgency at Taeyeon’s voice so even though she wanted to ask her about something but decided to just dismiss her plan.

“Yeah I better get in, thanks for the lunch again Taeyeon!”

“You’re welcome Tiffany. Bye!” Taeyeon wave her goodbye and dash back to her car. Tiffany just followed her with her eyes.

‘There must be some emergency. She started to look restless since that woman appeared earlier. I hope everything’s fine.’

Taeyeon again rushes out of her car and ran as fast as she can to their gate. When she finally gets herself in she looked around to see anyone of her family.

“Umma!? Ajumma?! Taeji? Where are you?” She shouts as she makes her way to the kitchen but found no one there, so she rushes out and run upstairs to check.

Taeyeon’s breathing hard and her hands are trembling due to extreme nervousness. She slowly turns the door knob and peeked inside. In there she saw Taeji sleeping peacefully in her bed. Taeyeon slowly walked to the side of the bed to check the child’s sleeping figure. Once she felt the soft, warm cheeks of Taeji under her palm she instantly relaxed and felt home.

“Oh Taeyeon?! You’re home early? I didn’t heard you come in I was doing some of the laundry.”

“No I dropped by since I missed this baby.” The old lady smiled as she saw Taeyeon gently caressed the little girl’s face before tucking her again under the covers.

“Ajumma, does someone drop by here earlier?”

“No one came. Why are you expecting anyone?”

“No, just if ever someone came and you don’t know them don’t open the gate and let them in. even if they’ll say they know me or oppa. Just don’t let anyone you’re not familiar with near our Taeji please!”

“Taeyeon, is something wrong?”

“Ajumma.”

“Come on tell me so I can help.”

“She’s back.”

“You mean. I don’t know her face Taeyeon. Do you have a picture of her in case she suddenly pops out somewhere from outside home. If I know her face I could easily get away from her.”

Taeyeon sadly shook her head “I don’t. We destroyed every pictures of her when she left.”

“Then how does she look like?” The old lady glance at the sleeping child.

“Nothing like Taeji that’s for sure but her appearance changed a lot. I bet Umma would even have a hard time recognizing her. By the way where’s my mother?”

“She just went to the grocery to buy some things. She’ll be back by now.”

“Did you call your brother?”

“Not yet but I’m about to, I’ll call Jiwoong oppa then I’ll let Umma tell the news to Appa.”

“Okay you go and inform them. I promise to be more observant whenever Taeji and I went out alone.”

“Thank you Ajumma! I wouldn’t know what to do without you!”

“I’ve been with you and your family since Taeji was born, it might be that long time but I love this little girl like my own grandchild too.” Taeyeon went up and hug the old lady and smiled.

“Thanks Ajumma!” She felt a little bit relieved knowing she have another pair of eyes watching her Taeji when she’s not around.

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“Taengooo!!!” Yuri’s loud voice greeted Taeyeon the moment she entered the café. All her friends where sitting in of the table there while leisurely drinking their coffees.

“Sit here Kim Taeyeon quickly!” Sunny pointed at her next. She just walked calmly towards them although she already knows what it is they want from her.

“So, Kim Taeyeon how does your date with the lovely dentist?” Sunny asked her again the moment her hit the chair.

“Yeah Unnie come tell us quickly!” Yoona excitedly leaned in propping both her hands under her chin and looks at her dreamily.

Taeyeon sighs which didn’t go unnoticed by her friends.

“What’s wrong Taeng? Didn’t turn out well?” Hyoyeon carefully asked her while placing her hand on her shoulder.

“First of all guys, it wasn’t a date it’s just a friendly lunch. Second, it turns out nice. We kinda get along well together and manage to talk a lot of things together. It was really nice.” Taeyeon told her friends without looking at them in the eyes.

“It seems like it turns out pretty well despite you insisting it’s just a friendly lunch. So why do look like you had a very bad time? And why do I feel that you hesitated in adding the but. What really happened Taeyeon?” Sunny asked her in a very serious tone, she knows that Taeyeon wouldn’t easily speak up about what really happened unless you insist on her.

“Taeyeon, come on! Tell us what happened what it is that’s troubling you.” Sunny insisted one last time.

Taeyeon tilted her head and finally had the courage to look straight into her friend’s faces and met Sunny’s worried eyes.

“She’s back.”

Taeyeon didn’t have to emphasis who is it that she saw. Her friends immediately know who it is she’s talking about. Their looks were all changed from shock to worried faces. They couldn’t believe it that that girl still have the guts to return and show her face to Taeyeon.

“What happened Taeng?” Yuri asked first.

“Did she do anything to you? Did she say anything?” Hyoyeon asked next.

“Did that tried to touch you Unnie?” Yoona asked last. Her blood started to boil just thinking that woman came to her unnie.

“Yoong, even though we hate her it is still not nice to call her that. Since you know she’s still…” Taeyeon.

“No! She’s not Unnie!” Yoona cut off Taeyeon before she could even finished her words.

“Yoong relax.” Yuri pats their dongsaeng’s back to somehow calm her down. Taeyeon’s couldn’t help but smile despite the growing anxiety she’s feeling because of the sudden appearance of that woman. Seeing the concern faces of her family she knew that she has them beside her all the way.

“Actually, she also met with my brother a couple of weeks ago. She went to Oppa’s work place to meet him. They talked twice, the first one was just a brief talk they didn’t get to talk much then they met again for the second time for a lunch.”

“Then what happen to their talk?” Hyoyeon asked.

“Well Oppa said she just asked how Taeji was doing.”

“What? That’s absurd! After all these years she finally remembers to ask about Taeji’s condition! Does she think that she left Taeji in a daycare center for a day and ask how did she do the whole day? Is she crazy? Oh wait let me rephrase that. She’s crazy!” Yoona burst again.

“If I saw her approach Taeji, I swear I’ll punch her face Unnie! And all of you can’t stop me!”

“Yoong, please calm down!” Yuri rubs their dongsaeng’s back in hope to calm her rage.

“It’s Taeji we’re talking about in here! It’s Taeji, Unnie.” Yoona’s eyes started to get teary so Taeyeon came to their side and hug her dongsaeng.

“Hush now Yoong. Relax. I won’t let her do anything bad to Taeji and beside there’s too many of us watching Taeji. She can’t get to all of us.” Taeyeon continue to pat Yoona’s back who is now silently crying on her shoulder.

“Aigoo our Yoona! I thought for a second there you finally became so brave but in truth you’re still our cry baby Yoong!” Sunny tried to tease their dongsaeng to lighten up the mood.

“Of course not Unnie! I’ll protect Taeji just like how Taeyeon unnie keeps on protecting me all these years! I love Taeji I won’t let anything bad harm her!” The girls couldn’t help but smile specially Taeyeon after hearing what Yoona has just said.

“Thanks Yoong! Aigoo I’m a little sad my baby Yoong has really grown up now. It’s okay Taeji still has a few more years I could live with that.”

“Yoona is freaking out more than the mother. But like what the mother has told earlier big baby, there’s a lot of us protecting Taeji we’ll keep her safe.” Hyoyeon pats Yoona head gently.

“Thanks Hyo, Yul, Sunny. I’ll never know what I’ll do without you guys beside me.”

“That’s what family does Unnie.”

“Yeah. That’s why I love you guys so much!”

“Ewww let’s stop this already Taeyeon is starting to get cheesy already because of too much sweetness she caught during her lunch with Tiffany. We still have a lot to prepare for the party tonight! Come on get your butts moving people!”

“Yes Boss Soonkyu!” They all said together as they saluted their friend.

“Wow Sunny you now act like our manager! Are you finally taking our offer?” Hyoyeon asked smiling at their friend who smiled back at all of them.

“I can’t leave you guys like this now can I? Look at all of you, you guys couldn’t even manage a small dinner party for our shop’s anniversary. It’s clear you guys need someone to manage these kind of things and especially now that Taeyeon’s gonna be more busy managing her love life!”

“Yah Sunny!” Taeyeon screamed at her friend.

“Yeah you’re right she might miscalculate the accounting and all I will see is Tiffany’s name all over the ledger.” Hyoyeon second the motion of teasing their now flustered friend.

The atmosphere was somehow back to normal as the five friends started to prepare again for their small thanks giving party for their shop’s anniversary.

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Taeyeon took a break from setting up the table and sat down on one of the chairs. She took her phone out of her jeans pocket and stared at the blank screen.

‘She haven’t texted me since lunch.’ She sighs and turns to look at her wrist watch.

’15 before 5, I should get ready. I need to pick Umma, Aunty and Taeji and after that I have to pick Tiffany too but. Is she still coming?’ Taeyeon sighs for the second time and this time it was caught by Sunny.

“Hey you need to be going now. Aren’t you supposed to pick your family by 5 and you still need to change your clothes.” Sunny saw how dejected her friend is being right now.

“I received a text from Juhyun asking me if she and Jessica can come here earlier since her unnie is being too hyper for her to handle. So I told her to just come, they’re probably on their way now.” Sunny smiled when Taeyeon suddenly lit up to look at her.

“They still would come? All of them?”

“Silly Taeyeon, there’s no reason for them not to come. You’re thinking too much. Go now and pick Taeji so we could have our little mascot running around. Go.” Sunny pulled her friend up from sitting and walked her out to the door.

Taeyeon took her phone out one last time before she start to drive back home and quickly typed a message.

Hey! Can I still pick you up an hour from now?

What kind of question is that Kim Taeyeon? I’m almost done with my make up you can’t back out on me now!

No that’s not what I mean, I mean, I’m sorry. You don’t need to come if you’re mad at me.

Why would I be mad at you?

I… I… because I manage to spoil our lunch at the end.

Silly. No you didn’t. I’m not mad, I understand. But I’ll be mad if you’ll back out on me tonight! And Jessica and Juhyun are already on their way.

Thanks Tiffany. By the way, I’m now on my way to pick up my Umma and Taeji. I’ll text you again later.

Your welcome! See you then! Drive safely! ^^

Taeyeon starts her engine and drive back to her house feeling much relieve.