Taeyeon believed that she had made a giant mistake going to the noraebang. Yoona and Seohyun were having the time of their lives, singing children’s songs and current pop songs. Taeyeon was bored to tears, as she mindlessly and lifelessly shook the tambourine. After the fifth song, she couldn’t stand it. “I’m going out.”

            But the two other girls were too engrossed in singing that they failed to notice the shorter girl slink out of the room.

            Taeyeon walked out of the noraebang building with a giant, heavy sigh that accompanied her heavy footsteps. She walked along the snow-covered streets in the chilling January air. She shivered as gusts of wind blew past her, weaving their way into her small body through her jacket. She shuddered from bone to muscle to skin to the very tip of her nose. She wrapped her blazer tighter around her and continued to strut along in the snow. She wanted to head on over to her favorite café to get a hot drink, whether it was chocolate or coffee, it didn’t matter to her. All that mattered was that she’d find a warm, quiet place to wallow in. As she was walking, she spotted a bundle of…something huddled against the wall across the street. Squinting and cursing at the streetlamps for providing no light at all, Taeyeon made her way across the street.

            She cautiously approached the bundle and noticed that it was shaking. She poked it. “Yah. Whatever is in there, are you ok?” She mentally slapped herself for sounding so stupid. The bundle shifted a little, revealing what seemed like a human.

            “HEY! I can see you in there! It’s cold, come one out. I don’t bite.” Taeyeon poked the bundle once more before ripping away the top layer, revealing a shivering girl underneath. Taeyeon immediately regretted her actions and placed the blanket gently upon the girl once more. “Hey, I’m sorry…I didn’t know…” She wrapped her arms around the girl and brought her to her feet. “Let’s get you someplace warmer.”

            Still in her arms, the mystery girl looked at Taeyeon as they were walking. Her features were small, yet beautiful. She had this dorky aura floating around her, but right now, her facial expression carried no signs of dorkiness on it. “We’re here.” The girl’s thoughts were interrupted by Taeyeon’s soft and melodic voice. Taeyeon helped the girl into the café.

            “Ah! Annyeonghaseyo, Kim Taeyeon-ssi! Where is-“

            “Yoona?” Yoona? The wheels in the mystery girl’s head were turning round and round. So, this Kim Taeyeon girl had a…girlfriend? To be expected…

            “Yoona’s with her friend Seohyun at the noraebang. This is my friend-“

            “Tiffany Hwang.” The mystery girl finished Taeyeon’s sentence for her. Taeyeon stared, wide-eyed at the girl next to her. Her voice was husky, yet carried a certain weight in it.

            “Right this way ladies. Taeyeon, your usual, I presume?”

            Taeyeon shook her head. “Just two hot cocoas. And make them with extra whipped cream and mini-marshmallows please!” She smiled dorkily. Something within Tiffany fluttered as she saw the dorky side of Taeyeon appear.

            Taeyeon turned to the girl sitting across from her and smiled. She stuck out her hand. “Hi! I’m Kim Taeyeon, nice to meet you.”

            Tiffany reacted by shaking the other girl’s hand. Certain electric sparks ran up and down each girl’s arm as they connected hands. Tiffany looked into Taeyeon’s eyes. They were warm, and sinless, whereas her own were…

            She looked away, but realized soon that their hands were still connected. She pulled away and heard Taeyeon clear . Tiffany tried looking someplace else, but out of the corner of her eye, she spotted Taeyeon looking at her. Was it her scars? That’s all people every stared at. She came to the conclusion that Taeyeon was like every other person: treating her nicely out of pity for her ugliness.

            “Two hot cocoas with extra whipped cream and mini-marshallows! Here, Taeyeon, have our homemade peppermint patties! Enjoy!”

            Tiffany couldn’t help but giggle when Taeyeon clapped her hands together excitedly when she saw the sweets. Taeyeon held up a peppermint patty to Tiffany’s mouth. “Tippani-ah, say ‘aaaah.’”

            Tiffany was shocked at the kind gesture, but shook it away as pity. She opened anyways, and closed her eyes as explosions of minty freshness mixed in with melting chocolate swirled around in . It was heaven in a chocolate bar.

            Taeyeon giggled at the girl sitting across from her. She found her actions to be adorable, and when she smiled...oh God, when she smiled…

            Her eyes disappeared and formed crescent moons when she showed off her beautiful, toothy smile. Taeyeon was mesmerized by the raggedy-clothed girl sitting across from her. Her skin radiated in the pale light of the café, and her curves…

            Taeyeon could feel her own face heating up. She gave herself a mini-pinch on the knee. “Stop it Taeng. No byuntae tonight.” She chastised herself. She saw Tiffany staring at her strangely and forced a smile at her. “Sorry…a bit tired…” She saw Tiffany nod and go back to munching hungrily on the small bit of peppermint patty.

            That’s when it hit her. “Tippani, have you eaten?”

            The other girl slowly shook her head, but put her arms out. “Don’t worry about me. Please. This is fine.”

            “Uh. Yeah, if you were a mouse. Let’s get you something to eat. Kangiiiiiiin!” Taeyeon waved the tall, but chubby waiter over. “Can I get a…Tippani-ah, what do you want to eat?”

            A million options ran through the other girl’s mind. But what came out of was, “Mushrooms…”

            Taeyeon burst out in laughter but collected herself. “You heard the girl. Mushrooms it is!” Once she placed Tiffany’s order, Taeyeon turned back to the girl, who was red in the face and looking away. “Hey, nothing to be ashamed about, mushrooms are nutritious and delicious!”

            Tiffany couldn’t help but giggle at the cheesy rhyme that came out of the other girl’s mouth.

            “You have such a beautiful smile…” Taeyeon’s eyes widened. Did that really just come out of her mouth? She looked at Tiffany, who was equally as flustered. “So, Tippani, do you want to tell me why you were wrapped up in a bundle of blankets outside just now?”

            Taeyeon immediately regretted asking the question after seeing the uncomfortable shifting of the girl sitting across from her. “It-It’s ok if you don’t want to. I’m just curious, that’s all.”

            Tiffany gave Taeyeon a reassuring smile. To be honest, Tiffany felt something towards the shorter girl. She wanted to believe that Taeyeon was acting out of true kindness, but her interactions with she-who-must-not-be-named had turned Tiffany into a skeptic.

She trusted no one.

Not even herself.

THANKS TO THOSE WHO COMMENTED!!!! <3 you all!!!!
And by the way, this is a TaeNy fic with YoonHyun along the way... :)

Part 4 will come........with TWO more comments!!!!

Thanks~~~~

Saranghae~~~!!!!