“Hi,” Baekhyun smiled as he slid into the booth. “Sorry, have you been here long?”

“About thirty minutes.” Taeyeon replied. “I thought we said to meet at 11 pm?”

“Yeah, I know. But I got a call from my high school friend and he had some problems so I was talking to him and lost track of time. Sorry.” Baekhyun replied as his attention went to the menu in front of him.

Taeyeon stared at the man in front of her as she watched him browse through the menu. It had been three days since the MBC music festival. And so far, Baekhyun had been texting her daily, asking if Jiyong was still bothering her. Jiyong hadn't contacted her and finally, Taeyeon felt like maybe everything could return back to normal. It had been starting to feel normal again which was a good thing.

It came as a surprise this afternoon when Baekhyun had texted Taeyeon asking her if she wanted to have a date tonight. She was delighted, of course. The old Baekhyun hardly suggest dates and always complained and blamed his busy schedule.

After placing their orders, Taeyeon asked, “So... the past one year, we've frequently had dates like this?”

Baekhyun looked up and then nodded slowly, “Uh, yeah...”

Taeyeon smiled sheepishly, “Sorry, I just don't remember a thing. All I remember was that period where we hardly have dates because you're always so busy so it came as a surprise to me when you asked me out tonight.”

Baekhyun reached for her hand across the table and said, “I'm not that guy anymore, Taeng. We're committed and serious. We love each other. Why do you have so many doubts?”

Taeyeon glanced at Baekhyun and then said nervously, “Actually... Never mind, it's nothing.”

“Come on, you can tell me. You can trust me.” Baekhyun said.

“Okay, I'm sorry if you think I have been doubting you a lot but that's only because Jiyong had been telling me that you and I weren't together anymore.” Taeyeon replied.

“And why is he saying that?” Baekhyun asked angrily.

Taeyeon fidgeted uncomfortably, “W-Well... he says that I was actually together with him after I broke up with you. Is that true?”

Baekhyun stared at Taeyeon for a moment and then said, “I don't know. Maybe after we broke up, you dated him in that few months. But last month, you told me you wanted to get back together and you even said that you regretted breaking up with me. So maybe GD is mad that you came back to me so he punched me the other day and started making up all these lies?”

Taeyeon took a moment to ponder and then said, “How did we break up the last time?”

“What?” Baekhyun withdrew his hand from her in surprise. “Why are you suddenly asking about that?”

“I'm just curious.” Taeyeon replied. “So, how did we break up the last time?”

Baekhyun cleared his throat, “It was a normal break up. We talked and we splitted on good terms. But after a few months, we realised we still love each other a lot so we got back together.”

Taeyeon frowned, “So, nothing major happened when we were breaking up?”

“Like what?”

Taeyeon was hesitant to answer and Baekhyun said, “We have to be honest to each other, Taeng. How do you expect me to reply your questions when you're not even being honest with me?”

“W-Well, Jiyong said that the night I went to your dorm to break up with you, you flew into a rage and was holding me against the wall. And then he came and punched you.”

Baekhyun snarled, “That didn't happen. That's bull. The very first time I ever interacted with GD was the day at MBC where he punched me.”

Taeyeon asked, “So, Jiyong's lying then?”

“Yes, he's lying.” Baekhyun said firmly. “He's probably jealous that you got back with me and started spreading those lies. Taeyeon, we promised each other that we're going to work hard on our relationship when we reconciled. I'm working really hard here, can't you see? I've changed for you. So can you please stop talking about GD everytime we meet and let's try to make this work?”

“Okay, sorry.” Taeyeon mumbled.

Baekhyun smiled, “Good. Let's promise to never bring him up again. Even if you have dated him, he's your past. You must have known he wasn't serious about you that's why you dumped him and came back to me.”

Taeyeon nodded slowly, “I guess...”

Their food arrived and Taeyeon was about to take a sip of her cucumber soup when she noticed Baekhyun staring at her.

“You ordered that?” Baekhyun asked, pulling a face.

“Yeah, why?” Taeyeon asked, putting her spoon back down that was already half way to her lips.

Baekhyun blinked, “I thought you don't take that anymore?”

“What? Soup?” Taeyeon stared at him, confused.

“No. Cucumbers.” Baekhyun replied.

Taeyeon raised an eyebrow, “I do eat cucumbers.”

Impatiently, Baekhyun said, “You used to but you don't anymore.”

“Really? And why not?” Taeyeon asked.

“Well, I hate the smell of cucumbers and we kind of agreed that whenever we go out, you wouldn't order any cucumber stuff. So... slowly you just stopped taking cucumbers at all.” Baekhyun explained.

“Is that so?” Taeyeon stared at her cucumber soup in front of her. “But you don't have to eat what I ordered...”

“I don't, but the smell really gets to me.” Baekhyun grimaced and then pushed the soup away from her. “Come on, order something else. I can't stand it.”

Taeyeon watched her soup being pushed away and she sighed inwardly. She really was looking forward to having that soup...

“Well, I'll just order the mushroom soup then.” Taeyeon said reluctantly as she signalled for the waiter to come.

When her soup finally arrived, Baekhyun was already halfway through his pasta and Taeyeon thought that this was one of the strangest dates ever. Baekhyun was just eating as he replied texts on his phone from time to time. They weren't really talking at all and Taeyeon couldn't think of what she should say to him.

Is this considered normal in all of their dates for the past year?

“Who are you texting?” Taeyeon asked.

“You know, just my friends...” Baekhyun replied distractedly, his eyes still on the phone.

Trying to bring his attention to her, Taeyeon said, “You know... I heard that you told some of your members about going on a trip with me.”

Baekhyun finally looked up and then grinned, “Oh yeah, did Chanyeol tell you that? Damn, it was supposed to be a surprise...”

Taeyeon smiled, “Really?”

“Yeah, I thought maybe we could spend the weekend in Jeju together.” Baekhyun said.

Taeyeon thought about the clear skies and blue waters of Jeju and she remembered the sandy beaches. A sudden image of a roadside seafood stall flashed in her mind.

“Did we go there recently?” Taeyeon asked.

“No, we've never been there together.” Baekhyun replied. “Why?”

Taeyeon frowned, “That's strange... I suddenly recalled this seafood stall with an ahjumma grilling the squids...”

“Well, you did head to Jeju with Kyuhyun hyung for that CF.” Baekhyun said. “Maybe you guys had lunch there?”

“Maybe... I'll have to ask Kyuhyun oppa about it.” Taeyeon said.

“So... how about we go away this weekend? I've nothing on and I heard that SNSD has no schedule too.” Baekhyun said.

“Yeah, this weekend will be good. I do need to get away from the craziness in Seoul.” Taeyeon smiled.

“Good, I'll book our accomodation and we'll meet straight at Jeju airport, okay?”

Taeyeon nodded, feeling excited and giddy as though it was going to be her first date. Her members were wrong. Baekhyun did change for the better. He seemed serious and committed and they apparently go on dates often and is even going take a trip together. What more can a girlfriend ask for?

===========================

On Thursday night, Taeyeon was rudely awakened by the chiming of the doorbell. The other residents of her dorm Tiffany and Sunny weren't in and Taeyeon wondered who it could be. Tiffany was in Shanghai for an event and Sunny had gone home to visit her family.

Groggily, Taeyeon stumbled out of bed as the doorbell continued chiming. Ginger who had been sleeping with her in bed hurried out with Taeyeon as well. Ginger reached the door first and then started whining and scratching at the door excitedly.

“Who is it, Ginger?” Taeyeon asked tiredly. “Is Fany back?”

Unlocking the door, Taeyeon gasped in surprise when Jiyong entered her dorm.

“What the hell are you doing here?” Taeyeon stared at him. “It's almost three in the morning!”

“I know you're going to Jeju tomorrow with him.” Jiyong said angrily as he shut the door behind him.

“Get out.” Taeyeon said.

Jiyong ignored her as he merely stared at her furiously, “Why are you going with him? Shouldn't you at least clear up the whole situation before deciding if you want to go with him?”

“There's nothing to clear up.” Taeyeon folded her arms. “There's nothing wrong with going on a trip with my boyfriend.”

Irritation flashed across Jiyong's face, “He never treated you right, Taeng. It's a mistake to believe him.”

“I don't even know if the nasty things you've been saying about Baek is even true. All I know is I see a changed Baekhyun.” Taeyeon said. “He's serious about the relationship.”

“Changed?” Jiyong scoffed. “He's the one who has tricks up his sleeve. You'll never be happy with him, Taeyeon.”

“I am happy with him.” Taeyeon replied vehemently.

“I doubt so.” Jiyong said and then advanced towards Taeyeon slowly.

Taeyeon's eyes widened as she backed away from him until she felt her back hit the kitchen island counter behind her.

“Does he make you feel like this?” Jiyong whispered dangerously as his hand came up and gently caress Taeyeon's cheek.

Taeyeon felt a delicious shiver down her spine as she swallowed nervously.

Jiyong's hot breath was against her ear as he whispered, “What about this?”

Before Taeyeon had time to register, she felt Jiyong on the spot below her left ear and her knees almost buckled from the sensation. She was gripping on to the counter behind her so tightly that her knuckles had turned white.

Finally coming to her senses, she shakily pushed Jiyong away from her.

“D-Don't ever do that again!” Taeyeon stammered.

Jiyong stepped back and then said seriously, “I know where you liked to be touched, Taeyeon. If we weren't in a serious relationship, how would I know?”

Taeyeon's face was already burning at this point and she looked away, embarassed, “J-Just get out...”

“No.” came Jiyong's reply. “I'm not leaving until you promise me you won't go to Jeju with him.”

“I'm not promising you that.” Taeyeon said firmly.

Jiyong shrugged, “Okay, then I'm not leaving.”

Taeyeon watched as Jiyong made his way to the kitchen and poured himself a glass of water.

She narrowed her eyes at him, “You really have thick skin, Kwon Jiyong.”

“Since I'm not leaving, might as well make myself comfortable.” Jiyong replied matter-of-factly as he took his glass of water and proceeded to set himself down on the couch.

“Fine, do what you want. I'm not caving in to your ridiculous request.” Taeyeon sniffed. “Come on, Ginger, let's go back to sleep.”

Ginger gave a soft bark and much to Taeyeon's dismay, her dog jumped right onto Jiyong's lap and settled himself there.

“Traitor.” Taeyeon mumbled as she headed back to her room and slammed the door shut.

===========================

It was about two hours later that Taeyeon sat up in bed. She couldn't sleep at all, not with Kwon Jiyong in her living room and also the fact that her mind couldn't stop thinking about earlier when he was whispering into her ear, caressing her and how he managed to make her feel those funny feelings in the pit of her stomach.

Getting out of bed, she crossed the room and quietly opened her door and tip toed towards the living room.

It was dark but Jiyong had the lamp beside the couch, creating a soft yellow glow around him. His back was facing her and Taeyeon was surprised to find that he wasn't asleep and he seemed to be in the middle of talking to Ginger.

She stood still and listened as he said to the dog in his arms, “Tell me what I should do, Ginger... I feel so guilty everytime I see her. It's all my fault. I shouldn't have let her drive off alone that night. If it wasn't for me, she wouldn't have gotten into that accident...”

Taeyeon's eyes widened. Was she with Jiyong before the accident and she had driven off alone and somehow crashed into the truck?

“She's with him now and I don't know what else I can do.” Jiyong said softly. “Sometimes I just want to shake her and make her remember all the things he did to her... Was she really so mad at me that she chose to forget about me during her coma?”

Ginger whined softly in response and Jiyong sighed, “What if she never remembers me, Ginger? What if I'm never getting her back?”

Taeyeon felt her heart clench as she listened to the sound of Jiyong's voice breaking. Jiyong stopped talking and Taeyeon slowly backed away until she reaches her room and softly closed the door.

Taeyeon knew she shouldn't allow herself to be swayed by Jiyong but somehow, the raw emotion from his voice sounded so heartbreaking that she couldn't help but feel something stir within her.
 

===========================

Taeyeon woke up the next morning at around eight to find Jiyong asleep on the couch. She expected him to have left but apparently not. Ginger, the little traitor, was fast asleep in the arms of Jiyong. She had never seen a sleeping G-Dragon before and it felt strange to see him asleep in her living room just in his t-shirt and skinny jeans. He had a frown on his face as he slept and Taeyeon wondered what he could be dreaming about.

She watched them for a long while until Jiyong shifted in his sleep and Taeyeon quickly turned away, afraid that he might catch her staring at him. She headed to the kitchen and poured herself a glass of water and then she heard him wakin