“Taeng?”

“Tae?”

Sooyoung and Juniel look at each other. Not believing on what they see right now. The fact that seeing Taeyeon and Tiffany came together really confuse them.

Sooyoung pull Taeyeon to the side. “Yah. What is this?”

Taeyeon looks away, trying to avoid the question. But he then got slap on his shoulder. “Ouch! What the heck Soo?!” he half shouted to him.

Sooyoung shoot his sharp gazes, signaling him to answer his question. Taeyeon look at him and sigh. He knows he can’t run away from the question.

--

On the other side, the two women still standing there awkwardly and don’t know what to say. Tiffany keeps on fidgeting her finger and stare down to the floor. She really hopes Taeyeon could drag her away from here. There’s sense of regret coming into her mind. she should’ve listened to him earlier. Things wouldn’t be this awkward if she went home earlier.

“Uhm…” Juniel clear . “Are you coming with Taeyeon, Ms. Tiffany?” she asked.

Tiffany looks up and nods to her question. “Yeah.” She let out an awkward smile. “Oh and please just call me Tiffany. I think we’re all in the same age.”

“Ah really? Then it’s better like that.” She answered shortly. Their conversation then ended there as they both don’t know what to talk about. Honestly, Juniel was thinking on why they both coming together. How and why, these two questions been playing in her mind. And as much as her curiosity kills her inside, Juniel knows she can’t ask them.

Few minutes after that, both men came back and noticed the silence between them.

“Are you guys okay?” Sooyoung asked.

Juniel defended. “Yeah, we just… don’t know what to talk about. Right Tiffany?”

The model nods and let out her eye smile. “Yeah. I’m really bad in conversing.” She looks down, feeling shy.

“Whoa you guys already talk comfortably huh?”

The two women didn’t answer him and just smile among them.

But Sooyoung being nuts, he suddenly introduces himself out of nowhere. “So, I’m Choi Sooyoung. A neurosurgeon and… his best friend!” he grabs Taeyeon’s neck, making the latter choke.

Taeyeon tapped Sooyoung’s shoulder as in he needs help. “Yy-yah!”

“I’m choked you idiot!” He burst out after get release from Sooyoung’s grip. “Whoops. You’re too small, sorry Taeng.” He said while making a silly face. It’s been a while since he teased that guy and it’s good to see his reaction.

“You know I can loop choke you right here, right?” Taeyeon smirk. He knows the tall guy just messing around with him, so he back as he knows how much Sooyoung afraid of his jiujitsu moves.  

Sooyoung’s silly expression faded. “Oh come on, don’t have to be that serious Taeng!”

“You asked for it.”

Tiffany laugh looking at both of them. Her husband has a really fun friend. She still remembers Sooyoung’s voice clearly when he came to their house back then. He has the loudest voice that night. And judging on the others voice that night, they must be fun as this tall guy too.

Juniel on the other side keep looking at Taeyeon. She misses him. She misses to see his presence at the hospital. They just getting better but then he got suspended. She did try to smile to him but get ignored. While she keeps on glancing on him, there were a pair of eyes were aiming at her.

TIFFANY POV

I’ve seen Juniel keep staring at Taeyeon for nth time. Why she keeps on looking at him? Why don’t she seem normal like Sooyoung? My guts say that she’s not just his friends. I’ve been dying to know about her since the night he mumbled her name in his sleep. Should I ask Taeyeon about it later?

Huh what is this feeling? Am I jealous right now?

I was looking at Juniel when I felt someone pulling my wrist. It was Taeyeon.

“Let’s go. I’ll bring you to your doctor.” He said while staring into my eyes. And I immediately understand his sign. If he’s using this trick, that’s mean our secret still safe. I was lowkey felt really worried when I saw Taeyeon got pulled aside. Thank God it still safe and sound.

“Y-yeah let’s go. T-thanks Tae..-Taeyeon.” Crap I almost slip my tongue.

I saw how Juniel’s eyes started to divert its attention to my wrist. Of course she saw how Taeyeon pull my wrist. And if I was not mistaken, it’s the second time she saw Taeyeon hold my hand. I saw how her expression changed to flat and her eyes follow our moves. I bid goodbye and do a handshake with Sooyoung before making our move.

--

Taeyeon was still holding my wrist while dragging me away from them. I don’t even know where would he be taking me and I tried to cover my face by avoid staring at anyone. I almost bump into Taeyeon’s back when he suddenly stopped.

I looked around and quickly recognize the place. It his office. I remember coming here with his food. And today the same thing happens again. I got dragged and he held my wrist.

“Come on in Fany, quick.” I saw he unlock the door and open it for me.

I just followed his order and walk into his office. There’s not much papers on the table like before and piles of files I’ve seen before also has gone.

Taeyeon shut and lock the door after that. Since the window blind already brought down, he switches the lamp on straight away. We then take a seat on the sofa, and I can hear he let out a deep sigh while lean back.

I can understand why he let out the sigh. He must be panicking earlier. We nearly get caught and I truly thanked God for still giving us a chance to keep our secret. I felt really guilty for not listening to him earlier.

“Um I’m sorry Tae…” I release his grips and look at him with a pleaded eye.

Taeyeon sit straight and looking at me with a confuse look. “Why with the sorry?”

“I should’ve listened to you earlier. You probably wouldn’t have to answer to your friend if I didn’t come with you.” I look down. I really feel guilty towards him.

I feel something touching the back of my hand. He put his hand on mine and put it on his lap. I saw how he turn his body to face me.

“Fany, that’s nothing okay? It’s not a big deal. We’ll still need to tell them one day, so consider it like a rehearsal.” He squeezes my hand lightly.

How can he be so calm? Not even a single flinch. I know it’s a burdensome to keep a secret, but he still tries his best to fulfill my request.

“Where can I find another you Tae?”

He winked and pinched my nose. “You won’t. There’d be one Taeyeon and he’ll always be here, with you.”

I can feel something roaming in my stomach. His words really make me smile like an idiot. “You’re silly Tae.” I hit him gently. “I’m telling you the truth Fany, I’ll not going anywhere.”

I didn’t answer him because I know there’s no words can describe my feelings now and I don’t want him to see my tomato face. All I can do is just hide behind his back and continue to his shoulder.

He just let himself being hit and speaks after that. “I’m sorry our lunch date turns to be like this.”

I stopped hitting him and speaks from behind his back. “It’s okay Tae. I’m happy to see you help people in need.” I do understand his work, the work that need him to put others first before himself. But even if he’s not a doctor, he still a normal human who have humanity and urge to help people.

I moved my head from his back to the normal position again and speaks. “And to be honest, it really fascinating. You look cool Tae.”

“I am?” he asked.

I can see how happy he looks. He looks like a kid who’s really happy to get praised.

Just when I want to answer him, I heard his phone vibrate from inside his pocket. Since it’s only both of us in the room, I can hear the vibrate sound clearly. I signaled him to pick up the calls or reply to the text first. It might be from Sooyoung since they met earlier.

He pulls out his phone out from the pocket and tap the screen. I can see it was a text message, not a phone call. My smile faded right away when I see the sender’s name. Why must it pop up now?

I see that Taeyeon has nothing to hide as he was replying to her text message right next to me. I can read her text clearly from my position and my blood starts to boil. I don’t even know why do I feel so angry when I read it. I try my best to control my emotion and expression, but I failed as I accidentally let out a groan.

“Ugh.”

TAEYEON POV

Juniel’s text came at the wrong time. Both me and Tiffany were having a really good conversation, but then her text came in and I can feel our happy vibes turn into sorrow.

From: Juniel

Can we meet? I have something to say. Please?

My eyebrows wrinkled as I read the text. I really don’t mind my wife to read the text as I don’t have anything to hide. But I just hope she didn’t misunderstand it.

I just reply to her text like usual. I can feel that there were a pair of eyes behind me, so I tap the keyboard calmly.

To: Juniel

I’m sorry Jun, I don’t think I can. I’m quite occupied today.

I know what’s in Juniel’s mind. She must want to talk about us. She’s been waiting to talk about it since we met at the club. But time doesn’t seem to give us some space so we couldn’t finish it. Although I am free right now, I don’t want to left Tiffany for someone else. She’s my priority right now, so leaving her just because want to talk to my ex is a big no no.

She didn’t take that long time to respond to my text. And her next text makes me choke because of surprised.

From: Juniel

I missed you Tae. I missed you so much.

I don’t  know how to respond to it and I’m sure Tiffany already saw it since she just behind me. Great, things just get worst.

“Ugh.”

I froze as I heard the groan. She freaking saw it. I’m dead, I really am. The romantic movie has turn into horror I guess.

I gulped and turn to her. “F-Fany… I-I cc-can-” crap, now I’m stutter!

“It’s okay Tae. You can keep typing, don’t make her wait.” She cut me off as well as she cut her smile away. She changed her pose by folding her arms together and sit close to me. Like she’s monitoring what I’m going to write.

This text really ruins everything. I do have nothing to hide, but it does make me flustered for a moment. And now Tiffany is mad, I can feel it.

I put my phone aside. “No. I won’t reply to her anymore.”

“Why? You reply to her just now. Or you don’t want me to see it?” she questioned me. I really hope God will help me right now. this message!

“What? No, of course not. I don’t have anything with her Fany I swear.” I tried to reach her hand, but she brushes it away.

“She likes you Tae. I’m not stupid to not know that.” She blurted it out. “And the facts that you mumbled her name in your sleep made me really curious about her since then.”

Me? I mumbled Juniel’s name in my sleep? “What? When?”

“The night we met at the club. You came home drunk.”

I tried to remember the night, but I can’t. All I remember was I saw Tiffany with Chul Woo, and I pulled Juniel to the dance floor… crap! Now I remember to drink few shots of vodka that night. But I don’t remember mumbling Juniel’s name though.

“That night… yeah I remember. Juniel was there too.”

“I know. I saw her.” she says with a flat tone. I swear she looked scary right now. How can a beautiful woman change into a scary creature with just cutting her smile?

“Fany, I don’t even remember mumbling her name in my sleep. What did I say?” There’s no way I confessed my love for Juniel or even reminiscing anything about her since I already cut everything off.

I waited for her to talk but she just stays silence while staring at corner of the room, avoiding my gazes. Although she didn’t say anything, I know that she felt affected with Juniel. I never expect that today will be like this, we should be happy and going for a little date after lunch.

I gently moved her chin towards me. “Here is not a good place to talk. We’ll go somewhere else. Hm?” the facts that she just met with Juniel here really don’t help anything. It will make her even mad.

“I want to go home.” She stands and grab her bag.

 I hang my head low in defeat. Seems like our date today has ruined. “Okay then we’ll go home Fany. Let’s go.” I tried to hold her hand, but she brushes it away.

We walk out from my office, and she continue to ignore me by walk first. I stay behind her and try not to bump into anyone.

Just when I prayed so hard, God has decided to test me once again. I pulled Tiffany who was already few steps away from me and went into emergency stairs near us.

“What’s wrong with you Tae?” She half scream.

--

THIRD PERSON POV

They both now stays in emergency stairs and Taeyeon were catching his breath. his heart is beating so fast after he saw Sunny walks towards them earlier. He was leaning on the wall while Tiffany is still clueless on what happen.

“What’s wrong with you Tae?”

Taeyeon put his index finger on his mouth, signaling her to keep quiet. “Sshh…”

“What? Why do I-” her words get cut off when Taeyeon suddenly push her body onto the wall and cover her with his body. He put his face close to her so no one can see her. Tiffany can hear the door being open and there’s some voice coming along with it. Since it’s a small space, they can hear the voice echoing, accompany with steps coming towards them.

“Gosh, people nowadays.” They heard someone say something while walking towards them. “Make love somewhere else. This is a public place. Duh!” they heard she groan, and her steps started to move away as she were running down the stairs.

As that person left, Taeyeon still stand close to Tiffany. He didn’t move an inch and stare into her eyes. His gazes brought down to her pink lips. He observed every detail of her face. The face of a woman who was upset at him a moment earlier because of her jealousy. Considers it as a good thing, because she reacted to Juniel’s message and that showed how her feelings developed for him.

Tiffany, on the other hand, remained still and gazed down. She didn’t have the courage to look the man in the eyes because she knew she’d lose to herself. Furthermore, Taeyeon’s musky scent began to permeate her senses, leading to a mental fog.

The only thing she knows next is, their lips already pressed together. Didn’t push him away, she instead tilted her head so that they’d have the perfect position.

Time may have frozen as their lips met, but the flutter only grew stronger. As her knees became weaker, Tiffany’s heart hammered in her chest. She could only concentrate on how soft he was on her lips, how addictively he dominated all of her senses. This may not be their first kiss, but being with the person you truly love, makes it feel like the first time.

If it could be described, it’s like opening your soul and tasting feelings and seeing every color of the rainbow in their own sensuous way, almost like catching a smile in a bottle, with its softness and sweetness.

It was still unclear if she had imagined this moment into reality, but there was pure passion in the way his fingers curled around hers. On the other side, Taeyeon kept his eyes half-open, stealing a glance at her every time he returned for breath, just to be sure that this wasn’t all just his dream.

They parted after a while and Taeyeon whispered something next to her ear that send shivers to her spine. “I love you Fany.” Taeyeon finally blurt out the words he’s been dreaming to say since before.

That three magical words has made her heart pounding even faster. And this time, he wrapped his arms around Tiffany’s slim figure and met her lips halfway again. Tiffany felt her entire body tingled, and the sensation of Taeyeon’s body pushing against hers as his arms wrapped around her felt nearly forbidden.

“I love you too. Promise, you won’t leave me?” she mouthed the words after broke their kiss. This is her first time felt that she really being loved purely, without anything. She hugs him and put her head on his chest. The emergency stairs felt like their own world, that small space make their hug tighter and the sun rays through the window shined like their feelings.

He gave out a wide smile. “You have my all, Fany.”

Their first kiss ended with Taeyeon tighten the hug and kissed her hair crown. They walk downstairs hand in hand and quickly go home before bump into other people.

--

N CAFÉ

“Aera, you shouldn’t let yourself hurt. He’s clearly don’t love you at all. Just leave.”

Aera put down her coffee cup and shakes her head. “You know I won’t do that Hyo.” She fed a little whipped cream from the cupcakes to Yohan, to prevent him from making a fuss. “Is it good baby?” that boy smile widely when she praised him. Despite of having a stressful married life, Aera will always make sure to give enough love to her son.

“Hyo is right, Chul Woo didn’t deserve you. Leave him Ae, we both here for you.” another woman is brushing Aera’s shoulder, trying to persuade her. They both know Aera has been living a miserable life ever since she got married with Chul Woo.

Hyoyeon and Seohyun. They both has been Aera’s best friend since college. Their bond was so strong that their parents got to know and became close. Knowing from the start that Aera is not a social butterfly, they are delighted to know that she has met her true love. But only God knew how crushed they were when they discovered that the man was merely manipulating her and was not real in his intentions to marry her.

“He loves me, I knew it. We had a child together. See?” she brushed Yohan’s messy hair and gently pinch his chubby cheeks. “You’re mommy and daddy’s gem, right Yohan?” the boy then touches Aera’s cheek with his small fingers. She kissed his fingers to earn that little guy laughter.

The two friends look at each other. They adore how Aera love her husband, but this is wrong. Good women were made for a good man. And Aera is a good woman. She deserves to have happiness and a perfect family.

“Aera…” Seohyun grips her wrist and looking into her eyes. While Hyoyeon already fold her arms, started in giving up in persuading her.

Aera knows how much her friends care about her and she’s thankful for having them from the start until today. But she can’t deny her feelings. She loves Chul Woo, and she believe that he’ll love her one day. “Girls, come on… can’t you guys just support me?” says her while takes a spoon of cake.

“Of course we can, but not by looking you hurting like this.” Seohyun said and that makes Aera frowned. “Who said I’m hurting?”

Hyoyeon who was silence since earlier already had enough with all this. She let out a deep sigh and fix her sitting position before answering Aera’s question. “Listen here. There is no doubt that you’re a good mother and obedient wife. But no matter how good of a woman you are, you’ll never be good enough to a man who isn’t ready.” Hyoyeon moved closer and plead to her. “Please think about your heart. He’s not ready for you Ae.”

“So you asked me to be a selfish mother and put myself first instead of my son? Like that? No. I won’t. I don’t mind getting hurt as long as my son have a perfect family.”

They noticed how her expression started to change.

“No that’s not what I mean Ae. We just…-” Hyoyeon’s words got cut off by Aera’s taking Yohan from the highchair and get up from her seat. “Aera please-”

“That’s enough you two. I do appreciate your concern, but I can manage my life.” she takes her things and walk away from there, leaving Hyoyeon and Seohyun facepalm themselves.

--

Tiffany takes off the baseball hat as they reach home. Sadly, they couldn’t finish their dates smoothly but at least they both got something in return. Taeyeon can still taste the strawberry on his lips, and he curved a smile whenever he thought about their kiss.

Tiffany slammed her body on the sofa as soon as Taeyeon unlock the door. There’s a lot of unexpected things happen today and among them, there’s one thing that make her smile widely. Ignoring the fact that she’s going blushing, her eyes wandering to every corner of the house, trying to remember on what happened at the stairs earlier.

“Your face getting red. I guess you’re thinking about my lips huh?” he said as he put his cold palms on her cheeks, trying to cool down the heat.

She felt shy suddenly and quickly hide her face behind his body. “Now you’re hiding yourself Fany? Come on, let me see your angry face earlier.”

“Angry? When did I get angry?” Tiffany pretended not to know anything and get back to her position after hearing his word.

He knows Tiffany understand what he meant, so he just looking at her while smiling.

Tiffany gave up immediately as she can’t control her emotion anymore. “Fine.”

Taeyeon chuckled with her antics and pinch her cheek. “You’re cute.”

“Don’t distract me Kim Taeyeon.” she warned.

He pouted. “And don’t be so serious Fany.”

“I’m not being serious right now, but if you keep on playing then I’ll be dead serious.”

Taeyeon knows he need to tell her everything now. He took a deep breath and told her about what has happened between Juniel and him before. Yes, Tiffany now knows that Juniel used to be her husband’s girlfriend and the fact the she still likes him made her heart started to boil.

She knows that even if they were not an ex, there might still a possibility for her to like Taeyeon as that man has a package. He has a good job, baby-faced, silky-smooth skin, gentleman, and more! Any woman could fall in love with him.

--

“Are you really don’t love her anymore?” Tiffany asked the same question for nth time and Taeyeon never get tired answering her. “Hundred percent sure. I’m positive that she just a history to me.”

“But what if she’s begging you? What if she’s trying her best to get you back? What if-” her question gets cut off by sudden kiss on her lips. He gives her a quick kiss on the lips before answer to all her uncertainties. “Even if she’s crying out of her lungs, I’ll still choose you. Why do I have to go back to my past when I have my future in front of me?”

Suddenly, an idea appears in her mind. She knows that it will sound crazy, but there’s nothing wrong to ask. “Tae, what if we tell them about us?”

Taeyeon who was sipping his water choked and put down the glass after tapping his chest to ease the pain. “Are you serious?” it’s not that he does not agree with her suggestion, but he think that it is not necessary for her to give up her image.

“If that can make her stop putting hope on you then let’s just do it.” she turns to him and let the TV alone.

“Fany… I don’t think Juniel is matter right now. She won’t be a threat to us. The one that I think we need to settle first is Chul Woo then we’ll figure something out for her.” He suggested.

Her eyes get big as in disbelief on what she heard. “How can you say she’s not a threat Tae? Can’t you see what she’s trying to do earlier? She’s trying to get you back. That is why we need to tell her about us, so she’ll come to her senses.”

He finds that it just a small matter that shouldn’t be stress about. As long as he stays on his path, Juniel can just keep her hope inside. “It just a text and I don’t even say anything that giving her hope.”

Tiffany’s getting mad with his answer. Taeyeon seemed to defend Juniel, and she hates that. “Wait, why are you defending her? What so hard for you to tell her about us?” she questioned him.

“What? No I’m not defending her, I just stated my opinion about it Fany.” Taeyeon explained himself calmly. He understands that she might thought he’s on Juniel’s side, but what he’s trying to do is just voice out his opinion. Nothing more.

“Opinion? Then why you dragged Chul Woo along in this matter? We’re discussing about your ex and suddenly he got tagged. He doesn’t even appear in this mess earlier.” Tiffany stands, ready to walk back to her room when suddenly Taeyeon hold her wrist. “We’ll tell her. We’ll tell everyone about us. Okay? Let’s not fight over this small thing.” He tried to calm her down. Taeyeon really don’t want to end their day with quarrelling, it’s totally not good for relationship.

She throws the TV remote that she was holding on the sofa and walks back to her room, ignoring his words.

“Fany.”

“Fany.”

“Fany.”

Taeyeon keep on calling Tiffany while following her from behind, but she didn’t answer him and just shut the door as soon as she went into her room. He didn’t get the chance to hold the door but instead, his nose had knocked on the door as he followed Tiffany closely and end up get bruise on his forehead.

“Ouch, that’s hurt than getting slammed on the mat.” He muttered to himself while brushing his forehead.

He keeps on knocking on her door, but no answer from her. So he just waited outside of the room while compress a warm towel on his bruised forehead.  

Hi! i hope you guys enjoy the chapter and i'm very sorry for late in update. Thought on update it on my birthday (1/11) but time didn't let me do that ><. Though my birthday has passed, i just want to pray for everyone's health and may you guys be given a good life. Stay safe everybody! xoxo

p/s: as usual, i didn't check the grammar and spelling, so apologise for all the mistakes! oh oh and don't throw bricks at me for not telling them the truth yet! the time will come ahaaaaaa ;p