She wouldn’t go so far as to call it a habit.

 

There isn’t any real reason for her to creep on random people like some crazed stalker.

 

It’s only but natural – when you’re perpetually stuck behind the counter of a quaint little café down the corner of some small side street, you’re bound to come up with the oddest ways and methods of passing the time.

 

At least, that’s how Taeyeon likes to reason it out.

 

And so on Monday mornings, it’s all about watching that balding, middle-aged guy struggle with his steaming cup of Irish coffee as he scurries towards his office building. (Usually, he can only take five strides away from her doorstep before he lightly spills his drink. These days, however, he can already go as far as ten – a new record for him.)

 

During Wednesdays, she spends the lazy afternoon serving cups of Macchiato and guessing which of those college kids would be the first to put their books down and break out the juiciest gossip instead. (As of the current tally, it’s the woman with the fake collagen lips who’s in the lead, with a total fifteen gasp-inducing ‘scandals’ under her belt, if Taeyeon has heard everything correctly.)  

 

Thursdays are a bit more peaceful, with only two regular customers – a couple, by the looks of it – coming in to occupy the most obscured table inside her little café. They always come in fifteen minutes after each other, and Taeyeon does nothing but serve them cakes and Espresso Romanos and then leave them be. (Taeyeon thinks there’s something more fishy going on, what with the furtive looks and nervous glances those two are always casting in her direction, like she’s some paparazzi. She swears the faces hiding behind those scarves and hoodies are vaguely familiar.)

               

Fridays are completely different, because that’s when the neighborhood prodigy comes in and plays the old piano for her. (Taeyeon doesn’t forget to brew a pot of green tea when Seohyun comes because being the health freak that woman is, Seohyun refuses to drink anything that’s unhealthy. Even if it’s for free. )

 

Tuesdays, Saturdays and Sundays are the slowest days of the week, and it’s during these long days when Taeyeon spends most of her time tirelessly debating with herself whether it’s really possible for someone to die of boredom (once in a while, Seohyun drops by and butts in and makes it a two-person conversation).

 

“It’s just not possible, Taeyeon-unnie.”

 

“But what if you’re so bored that you forget to eat or drink for days, or even weeks?”

 

“Then you’d die of starvation and dehydration.”

 

“Caused by boredom.”

 

//

 

Today isn’t any different, Taeyeon muses to herself, as she restlessly raps her fingers on the wooden counter for the umpteenth time. Her gaze travels to the old cuckoo clock hanging on the wall across. It’s only three o’clock in the afternoon, the bird obnoxiously informs her, a few hours since that snooty high school kid stepped out with her latte.

 

For a moment she considers closing the café early this time around and take the opportunity to head upstairs to her apartment and just kick back and relax (not that she hasn’t been practically doing just that since early that morning).

 

But then the door suddenly jingles open and Taeyeon is forced to put aside that tempting idea for the moment. She looks up to greet her newly-arrived customer with a wide smile.

 

Dark brown hair. Thin, pink lips. Perfect set of pearly white teeth.

 

 

And a fairly conspicuous patch of what looked like bird droppings slithering down one shoulder.

 

 

Taeyeon cringes inwardly at the sight (of the dirt, not the pretty woman).

 

Fumbling slightly, she pulls out a fresh piece of washcloth from under the counter and swiftly wets it under running water, before handing it to the unfortunate stranger who had entered her humble shop in haste. “Uh, here, why don’t you use this to wipe… that thing off your shirt?”

 

The spastic dance and the muttered curses stop as soon as Taeyeon opened .

 

A pair of piercing chocolate eyes.

 

“Thanks.” The woman tugs the proffered cloth from her grasp and breaks the eye contact with a startled blink. Taeyeon watches in quiet amusement as her visitor lightly swipes away the dirt, careful not to make any more mess than there already is.

 

“Your café is empty,” the woman oh so casually observes, visibly torn between tossing the soiled towel in the trash bin and handing it back to its owner until Taeyeon motions for it. 

 

“So I’ve noticed.” Her eyes sparkle with mirth. She swiftly chucks the dirty cloth to the nearest bin and shrugs. “It’s a dead hour this time of the day.”  

 

“Ah,” the stranger all but whispers, and Taeyeon wonders to herself if she’s creeping her out with her grin (Seohyun had mentioned it a few times before), given the way the woman’s eyes keep on flitting between her, the empty café, and the scorching sun outside.

 

“Is there anything else I can help you with?” Taeyeon graciously inquires before the silence gets any more awkward.

 

“Um, sure.”

 

The answer comes as a pleasant surprise.

 

“Can I have a cup of Americano, please?”

 

She cheerfully shoots up from her seat towards the sink and makes a grand motion of soaping her hands under the running tap. Lest she gets shut down for atrocious hygiene standards, of course. She did just handle bird poop a while ago.

 

“For here or to go?”

 

The stranger blinks at her once more.

 

“I’ll have it here.”

 

The pitcher and utensils melodiously clink and clatter against each other as she gets right down to work. “One steaming cup of Americano, coming right up.”

 

It looks like those boring days are about to change.

 

 

//

 

 

And that’s when it starts, that little game in which Taeyeon guesses (more like wishes, but she won’t admit that little fact) whether the pretty stranger would come in for the day. When she does, Taeyeon takes note of the woman’s habits and jots them down in her head.

 

Like, how she always orders the simplest drink on the menu. Or how she always takes the corner table, the one where she can have a full view of the café (not that it’s hard; the place is small). Or even how her pretty little nose is always buried under that huge book of hers.

 

On good days, her friend Yuri comes in to help at the café, so Taeyeon takes advantage and studies the woman a bit more.

 

Two weeks and counting, and Taeyeon is fairly confident that she has familiarized herself with the woman. At least enough to start a conversation that doesn’t involve her asking for the woman’s order (even though that itself is a moot question because she already knows).

 

“An Introduction to Modern Astrophysics,” Taeyeon reads out loud as she sets the customary hot drink down on the small table. “That looks intimidating, judging from the thickness alone. Must be a hard book to read, isn’t it?”

 

Those warm, chocolate eyes widen for a second. “Uh, no. Not really.”

 

“Oh. Then, you’re intimidating.” Taeyeon mentally slaps herself for her foot-in-mouth moment (because what kind of woman would want to be told they’re intimidating?). She hastily recovers with a good-natured laugh and a scratch on her head. “Well, good luck on your book report, or exam, or whatever that book is for.”

 

“A little bit out of your league, isn’t she?” is what Yuri whispers to her as soon as she gets back behind the counter. That earns her friend a good smack on the head.

 

“Shut up.”

 

 

//

 

 

“I didn’t order a cake, though.”

 

The pretty woman looks at the generous slice of strawberry cake on her table and then up at her, head tilting slightly in confusion. It takes most of Taeyeon’s self-control not to gush at the cuteness of it all (professional, she is professional).

 

“It’s on the house.” Taeyeon just grins that chesire-cat-grin of hers. “Think of it as a ‘thank you’, for being my best customer. You’ve been putting food on my table by regular visiting my café for the past month.”

 

“Then, thank you as well.” The woman offers her a quick bow before burying her face behind her book once more, but Taeyeon thinks she also sees a tinge of crimson slash the woman’s cheeks before she takes her leave. 

 

“It’s Jessica…”

 

She turns around.

 

“My name is Jessica.”

 

The pretty woman – Jessica – says once again.  If possible, Taeyeon’s grin widens just a bit more.

 

“Nice to meet you, Jessica. I’m Taeyeon.”

 

 

//

 

 

Of course, there are those days when Taeyeon doesn’t always appreciate the idea of having Jessica in her café.

 

Like, for example, today.

 

“Sick people belong in warm, fluffy beds, you know. Not inside cold, deserted cafés.” She calls out from behind the counter, throwing aside rug she’s been using to absently clean otherwise spotless counter. 

 

Taeyeon walks over and takes a closer look, eyebrows knotting lightly at the other woman. Red nosed and watery eyed, Jessica’s suspicious appearance leaves Taeyeon wondering how the woman even managed to drag herself in there.  

 

“I’m actually about to close for today,” she adds, much to the chagrin of her visitor.

 

“Oh.”

 

“Yeah, I don’t think anyone’s coming in, anyway. Especially with that kind of storm raging on.” She peeks outside the window, then instinctively takes a step back when the dark skies flashes dangerously for a split-second.

 

“I’m sorry, then I should just – huh? What are you doing?”

 

Jessica questions her when she walks over to the door and starts locking. She flips over the ‘close’ sign then draws down the curtains for good measure.

 

“Like I said, sick people belong in bed.” Taeyeon gently wraps her hand around Jessica’s (warm) dainty wrists and gives a gentle tug, afraid that if she isn’t careful, the frail-looking woman would actually crumble at her touch. “Come on, let’s go.”

 

She leads her to a door at the back of the room, silently thankful that Jessica didn’t have half a mind to decline. (That, or she’s just too sick; either way it’s not like Taeyeon is a shady person, if she may say so herself.)

 

Taeyeon tugs the door and reveals a set of stairs leading to her small (yet cozy) apartment.

 

“Go on, take the bed.” She guides her over and tucks her in herself when she sees the hesitation in those chocolate eyes. “No coffee for you today, Sica. I’ll make some soup for you to eat instead.”

 

There’s faint blush on the woman’s cheeks, but Taeyeon isn’t sure if that’s just because of the girl’s temperature.

 

“Rest for a while, okay? I’ll be back.”

 

(She spends the rest of the night nursing the other woman back to health. Not that she really minds. Though she wishes she could just escape the subsequent teasing from Yuri, instead.) 

 

 

//

 

 

“Hi! You must be the Taeyeon I’ve heard all about.”

 

Taeyeon plasters a smile, eyes indiscreetly (or so she hopes) traveling to their linked arms, all the while thinking how badly she wants to slap Yuri for that poorly disguised snort.

 

You see, it’s not often that Taeyeon gets tongue-tied. On a scale of not once to never, she’s probably around the range of nope, never happened. But that’s only until today, when Jessica walks in.

 

With somebody else.

 

“I’m Tiffany, Jessica’s friend.”

 

“Yes, I guess that’s me,” Taeyeon hesitantly answers, blinking away at the blinding smile the woman is flashing her. “Taeyeon, I mean.”

 

“Thanks for taking care of her while she was sick. Jessica may look meek as a lamb, but she can be stubborn as a mule sometimes.”

 

Jessica surprisingly keeps quiet and shuffles embarrassedly beside her friend, and Taeyeon can’t help but smile genuinely at the adorable woman (despite the fact that they’re still linking their arms).

 

“No, it’s okay. I really didn’t mind.”

 

“As a sign of gratitude, how about we treat you to a movie tonight. If you’re free, of course.” Tiffany briefly glances at someone behind Taeyeon then grins at her (somehow it looks suspicious, but she lets it go this time). “You can take your friend with you, if you want.”

 

She doesn’t even need time to consider her offer, because her friend Yuri readily supplies the answer.

 

“We’re free!”

 

 

//

 

 

And that’s the reason why Taeyeon found herself standing in front of the movie house, hours later, waiting in line to get in and watch a horror film she doesn’t even remember choosing.

 

The night goes by in a blink of an eye (probably because she had her eyes closed, clutching Jessica’s arm and whimpering like a kid the entire time). Before she knows it, they’re standing in front of Jessica’s modest apartment, ready to say goodbye.

 

“Thanks for the movie. I’m sorry I used your arm as a shield.” Taeyeon sheepishly offers as she kicks the non-existent dirt on the pavement. Their so-called friends have left them hours ago after offering ridiculous excuses; so ridiculous that Taeyeon swears there must be a catch somewhere.

 

“It’s okay. Actually, I’m more sorry about Tiffany. I don’t know why she’s so insistent on watching that horror movie.” Jessica frowns (in that cute way that makes Taeyeon wants to pinch her cheeks). “Though your friend Yuri was pretty adamant as well.”

 

“Yeah, she can be insufferable at times.”

 

Her quiet laugh tickles Taeyeon ears all the same.

 

“Well, I guess this is it. Good night, Taeyeon.”

 

Taeyeon watches the woman disappear inside the building, feeling more than a little dumbstruck and inexplicably winded at the soft, pink lips that grazed her cheeks mere seconds ago.

 

(Well, again on that same scale of not once to never, this goes along the range of there’s always a second time.)

 

 

//

 

 

Yuri calls it ‘love’ and leaves it at that.

 

Seohyun calls it a ‘chemical reaction’, then launches into an elaborate explanation of endorphins and neurosignals that Taeyeon doesn’t bother to listen, much less understand.

 

That balding, middle-aged guy calls it nothing short of a miracle, but that’s just because he’s more than relieved now that Taeyeon has something to worry about other than watch him spill coffee on himself on Monday mornings (surprisingly, he knows about that).

 

In any case, Taeyeon doesn’t try to think much about that indescribable feeling at the pit of her stomach whenever she sees Jessica. (Except that she does, going as far as asking whether there’s an actual medical condition that can make her feel like having a cross between stomach butterflies and a constant bout of indigestion.)

 

For today Taeyeon just settles with watching Jessica tinkle around the old piano (that Seohyun often plays), on this peaceful Tuesday afternoon. Perched on the barstool, she rests her chin on the counter and smiles to herself. The realization doesn’t come to her until much after, that the more she watches her, the heavier that feeling in her stomach feels.

 

“Hey, Taeyeon. Do you know how to play?”

She snaps into attention. Jessica waves her over, and like a faithful little puppy, Taeyeon comes with her (invisible) tail wagging.

“Eh, just a little.” She settles beside the woman and randomly presses a few keys.

“Play for me?” Jessica blinks and tilts her head, something that Taeyeon swears should be illegal because how does one refuse a request when confronted with a face like that? (Like Jessica could tell her to jump and she’d ask how high.)

And so Taeyeon does.

She doesn’t have Seohyun’s graceful fingers, nor her pitch perfect voice, but still she tries. She tries in earnest, even though her fingers are clumsy and her voice cracks a few times, singing about being simply out of league of this perfect woman she managed to find. Jessica has grown quiet by the time she finishes the song.

Taeyeon figures she must have done something right, though, judging by the way Jessica deeply stares at her with those big, twinkling eyes in a way that she can’t really explain (it takes a lot control not to get lost in them). 

And if that isn’t convincing enough, the warm, soft lips that softly presses on her own is.

 

//

 

 

“Not that I’m really complaining, but you don’t seem to have your books around these days.” Taeyeon observes one quiet Saturday night.

 

There’s this nagging thought that’s been bothering her for a while, like an itch she’s been trying to scratch, every time her gaze falls on the woman. Today hasn’t been any different, the thought pestering her all afternoon, until she finally pinpoints what exactly it is that’s been missing.

 

“Aren’t you being a little relaxed with your studies?”

 

“Hmm?” Jessica glances from the table she’s been clearing, and thinks for a moment before exclaiming, “Oh! That’s because I got my master’s degree a couple of weeks ago. I’m now working as a marketing consultant at some firm downtown.”

 

“You’re a marketing what? You’re working where? Wait, I thought – ” She almost drops the tray she’s holding to gawk at this highly unexpected revelation. “Whatever happened to that book report you were doing? That modern astrophysics and stuff? You were always lugging that big book around a couples of months ago.”

 

“Ah, that.” The other woman scratches her head then turns back to what she’s been doing. “Well, you see, it was, uh, it was more of a pastime, really.”

 

“A pastime?!” Taeyeon’s voice goes a few notches higher. She doesn’t even bother to hide the incredulous look on her face. All those times, sitting in the corner, back against the wall and with full view of the place, Jessica looked like some paranoid government agent watching – oh.

 

Oh. 

 

The corners of begins to tug.

 

“Um, yeah.” Jessica hastily gathers the rest of the empty cups and plates into her tray and dumps them into the sink. She keeps her head bowed but there’s no hiding the full blush that adorns her face. “Because I like… watching… stars.”

 

“Really?”

 

“They fascinate me.”

 

“I see.”

 

“Wait, why are you closing the shop early? It’s barely past seven o’clock,” the other woman calls out when Taeyeon walks over to the door and starts locking up.

 

“Well, you’ve got a rather boring pastime there.” Taeyeon hums while she thoughtfully rubs her chin, all the while donning a strange glint in her eyes. “How about I teach you a more… productive one instead?”

 

“Yeah? What is it?”

 

She slowly stalks over mildly confused woman and shoots her a predatory grin.

 

“I’ll show you… upstairs.”

 

*****

A/N: Thanks!