Tiffany went to school extra early on Monday, hoping to get a chance to talk to Taeyeon alone but when she finally saw her, Jessica and Donghae were with her. Taeyeon didn't even give her a glance and just continued walking. Tiffany started to follow her, wanting to explain herself, but stopped when Jessica gave her a warning look. Don't push it.

Tiffany looked at Taeyeon, her back her. 

'I need space.'

The words still echoed in Tiffany's mind, loud and clear.

Most break-ups start with those words, don't they?

Tiffany grinded her teeth and tried to hold in the tears, as she gave up and slowly turned away. Eyes of curious expectators followed her. It was embarrassing but Tiffany was too upset to even try to hold her head up. Whispers would soon follow. And she hated that even in a situation like this, she still cared what people thought of her.

She felt pathetic, acting like this but she couldn't help it. 

She just can't lose Taeyeon, too.

--

Tiffany spent most of the days and nights outside and never came home until she's sure her mother was already sleeping. Every morning, a bowl of fresh cereal sat on her side of the table, along with some fresh mixture of fruit juice. Her mother would wait for her to get out of bed and finish preparing for school every morning, before she'd go to work. Despite all of that, Tiffany just avoided her like a plague and would just grab a bread and go. 

--

Taeyeon had been ignoring Tiffany for days and all Tiffany could do was watch her from afar, even when all she wanted to do was run to her and beg for forgiveness. She missed her. Longed for her. It's funny how she had no idea  that Taeyeon could make feel this way until she ed things up between them. 

While Taeyeon's days went on as usual  (based on what Jessica told her), Tiffany started choosing isolation more than being with her new friends.  Aside from that Hyoyeon had been bugging her about Taecyeon's party while Yoona told her about her worries about contraception and having . It only added pressure to her. She definitely wanted to take the time and try to figure out what she could do to save this relationship but she got her friends, too, and her friends needed her help.

The pressure of her school life, love life, and matters at home were starting to get too much for Tiffany. And to be honest, she didn't know exactly how to deal with them.

When the school year started, all Tiffany wished for was to set things right with her Bora, but ended up ruining more things than she had bargained for. 

--

- Hi Taec. 

- Hey! 😁

- Just message you coz I remember your birthday's coming. When was it again? 🤔 🤔 🤔

- This Friday. 😎 

- Oh, it's coming soon. Advance happy birthday! 🥂🎂  🤑

- Thanks! Hey, I'm holding a party, btw. Want to come? 

- Gee, thanks.... I'm not sure, though.

- Its Bora, isn't it?

- May..be?

- 🤠 Don't worry bout her. I got your back, fam. Besides I always liked you better. 😉 😉 😉 😉

- Taec, please. 

- Hahahahaha I'm not joking tho

- K. Can I bring my gals with me, though? 

- Are they hot?🤨

- Yes, but I'm the best looking. 

- Well... that's disappointing. 

- You're a douche. 

- Hahaha Sure, just take them. The party's not cool without you. 🖤 🖤 🖤

- Whatever Taec. 

- Tiff

- Yeah?

- Sorry about that time, with you and Nick. 

- That's all in the past now. 

--

"Are you sure I look good enough?"

"Yes, Yoona, for the nth time!"

The voices seemed so far away. Her eyes couldn't seem to focus on anything else. Ideas came and went. Tiffany's mind was floating. It kept on going back to that moment and linger there.

You know what? Maybe, you don't need to tell her at all. 

"Isn't it right, Tiffany?"

I don't know about this anymore, Fany.

"Fany? Fany?"

Don't contact me.

How exactly did they come down to this?

"TIFFANY!"

Tiffany snapped out on her reverie by two voices joining forces to get her attention. Back in reel time, Sunny was looking at her with a worried expression while Yoona just glanced at them distractedly, before going out, probably to try on another dress. 

"Are you okay, Fany?"

It was Sunny who said it. She had always been the more perceptive of the girls. Sooyoung also is but it's not like her to talk about what she sees; only ever open to observe. Yoona and Hyoyeon were almost always oblivious about the world, focusing on themselves, the now, and what they want; Tiffany wished she could be like them.

"You seemed out of it since this morning." That was an understatement. She'd never been herself since Taeyeon asked for a break.

"Yeah, Sunny, I'm alright. Just.... a bit tired."

"Well, I have to say I'm a bit worried. You're talking less and less these past few days. And knowing how much you can talk on a daily basis, the fact that you're suddenly so quiet is never a good sign." Sunny sat down beside her, resting her hand on her leg to comfort her. "Do you want to talk about it?" 

Tiffany just shook her head reluctantly. Today's the worst day to talk about it.

"It's-"

Tiffany looked up to see who's talking.

"It's about Taeyeon, isn't it?" It was Sooyoung. Tiffany didn't notice she was also there. And she's the least possible person Tiffany would expect to open the topic up.

"Hey, what's happening here?" Hyoyeon entered suddenly, clad with the most glittery silver dress Tiffany had ever seen in her life. Behind her, Yoona craned her neck. Apparently, she went out to get Hyoyeon. "What's taking you guys so long?" 

Both Tiffany and Sunny gave Sooyoung a warning look before Sunny smiled promptly at Hyoyeon. "Nothing. Tiffany was just so excited about the party tonight that she couldn't fall asleep last night." 

"What!? Don't tell me you're not going to come? You have to come, Fany. We've all been waiting for two whole weeks just for this!" She said even though she and Yoona were actually the only ones enthusiastic about the party.

"No, don't worry. I'm fine.  I would definitely come."

"If you're fine, why are you crying then?" Yoona pointed out, pointing at something on Tiffany's face.

Crying? Tiffany reached for her cheeks. She was crying.

"I don't think using the pronoun 'we' is appropriate for that sentence but okay, Hyo. Anyway, Soo, you're done putting your makeup, right? Can you take Tiffany to the living room for a cup of coffee? I think this lack of sleep is affecting her eyes."

Sooyoung just nodded, ushering Tiffany outside hurriedly, before Hyoyeon and Yoona could inquire more. 

--

Taking a whiff of fresh air on the veranda of Hyoyeon's house, and a sip of a refreshing cup of hot chocolate instead of coffee, Tiffany felt like she could breathe again. 

"Thanks, Soo," Tiffany spoke quietly. 

Sooyoung gave her a thin smile before blowing on her own cup to cool it down. "I didn't do anything, though. I think you should say thanks to Sunny, instead."

"No, really. I appreciate it. I hate feeling this way but I especially dislike being patronized when I'm feeling this way." Hyoyeon and Yoona would do that. They'd talk about Taeyeon without second thoughts if that would make Tiffany feel better. "How did you know, though? I mean, that it was about Taeyeon." 

"I don't know. I guess, I just guessed. I always come to school early, you see. Every day, I'll see her waiting for you by the gates in the morning but suddenly she's not doing that anymore." She turned to Tiffany, suddenly looking worried and guilty. "You guys didn't break up, did you?"

"No. Not yet, at least," Tiffany chuckled, amused. The thought of Taeyeon and her breaking up made her stomach do an uncomfortable nervous churn but the sight of Sooyoung's innocent big brown eyes made the sensation tolerable. She gave the girl a teasing look, "Why do you look so guilty, though?"

"It's- It's not because of me, is it?"  

"Hahahaha, of course not! Are you thinking about that time in the library?" Sooyoung nodded fervently. "That almost didn't come up in the conversation, to be honest." 

Sooyoung smiled against her cup, relieved. For a few minutes, they just sat down with each other quietly. The sky was starting to have some stains of grey and violet. Soon the sun would set. By each passing second, the impulse to tell everything to Sooyoung built up. Tiffany didn't really want to bring it up, but she felt like she owed Sooyoung an explanation.

"So... Okay, this is what really happene-"

"You don't have to tell me, Tiffany," Sooyoung cut her off before she could finish the sentence.

Tiffany looked at her, confused and surprised.

"Let's just sit like this until the other girls are finished," Sooyoung didn't look away from whatever spot she was staring at, a comforting smile plastered on her face. "Just relax, Tiffany. Everything will be better soon."

Understanding Sooyoung, Tiffany joined the latter, enjoying the beautiful sunset and the violet sky. The hot chocolate warmed Tiffany's stomach, along with Sooyoung's quiet company. 

--

Choking smoke, flashing lights, blaring music, and the smell of sweat and alcohol on the dance floor. The crowd was ecstatic. Some dancing senselessly to the music, some too busy flirting to dance, and a whole lot of couples... or strangers, shoving their tongue in each other's throat. Pushing through the plastic curtains, Tiffany had to stop on her track and stare.

It's okay, Tiffany. This used to be your scene.

"Hey guys," Hyoyeon had to shout it just for Tiffany and the other girl's to hear her over the deafening music. She pointed at the corner. "Look, he's there!"

They all followed where Hyoyeon was pointing.

There standing in the middle of the dancefloor, with his douchey hair and arrogant smile, was Nickhun, dancing with a random girl. Noticing more company, he pulled his shirt upwards while making a body roll to tease the eyes of his stupid admirers with his abs. Tiffany couldn't help but roll her eyes. He's like a damn peacock. 

After a whole minute of drooling over Nickhun and being distracted, Hyoyeon gathered the girls together to give Yoona a pep-talk. 

"Now, Yoona, remember what we told you okay? Don't talk too much. When he says a joke, just laugh. When he’s saying, something you don't understand, what will you say?"

All turned to Yoona.

The girl did her best version of a dumb girl laugh and nodded as if Hyoyeon just said the most interesting thing in the world, "I know right. You're so smart."

From the corner, Sunny gave Tiffany an exaggerated shake of the head. Tiffany could only shrug. Yoona and Hyoyeon had been stone set to get to this moment. They couldn't possibly stop them, could they?

"Hmmm. Could be better but I'd say good enough." Hyoyeon announced proudly. "Do you guys agree?" Hyoyeon didn't even wait for them to answer, "I think you're ready now." She went behind Yoona and pushed the girl to the dance floor before saying, "Go, girl!"

--

Somewhere along the night, Tiffany lost Sunny, Sooyoung, and Hyoyeon in the crowd. On the dance floor, she could see Nickhun and Yoona flirting and dancing. Whatever magic Hyoyeon told Yoona, it's probably working because Yoona looked more confident than ever and with that dopey smile on Nickhun's face, he looked like he's found the girl he's going to take home for the night. 

Tiffany observed Yoona, tried to find any signs of uneasiness or discomfort, and hell-bent on snatching her away from there at the slightest sign of doubt on her face.

Tiffany found none, though. 

She really couldn't believe a beautiful girl like that would waste this much time just for a boy like Nickhun.

 The thought sent her back to those days when she was the one in Yoona's position. She tried hard to remember what it was about Nikchun that made her want him so bad that she'd ditched Bora just to get him.

She remembered thinking she was in love with him. 

Or maybe she just had deluded herself about thinking she did to rationalize her careless actions. 

In the end, Tiffany couldn't remember. 

She guessed, in the end, whatever urged her to do what she did, it didn't leave a mark longer lasting than the mark of her hurting Bora had left in her. 

--

Tiffany followed Yoona to the lavatory when the girl finally detached herself from Nickhun.

"Yoona? Hey," Tiffany hurriedly locked the door behind to make sure no one could hear them.

"Oh hi, Fany. Is it only you? Where are the others?"

"I don't know, to be honest. But, first things first, are you sure about this?"

 "About what?" The blankness on the girl's face made Tiffany want to facepalm. For someone who declared this to be the will-be greatest night of her life, Yoona looked like she couldn't be bothered to remember anything after this.

"About sleeping with Nick! What else?"

"Yes, of course. Fany are you okay?"

"Yes, just worried. About you. I just don't think you know what you're getting yourself into." 

Yoona gave her a smile, giving her look as if Tiffany's the younger one. "Fany, it's just . You do it.  Everybody does it. It's not that of a big deal."

"I know, I know. I'm sorry. Just..... I just hope you're doing it for the right reason. Not just because everybody's doing it and not because everybody thinks he's hot." She looked Yoona straight in the eyes, trying to make her understand. "Remember, you're not just anybody. You're Yoona. You're charming and fun and sweet. I just hope you have that in mind before.... you know? is just , in the end, yes- But knowing the reason why you're doing it; that's important. I just don't want you to regret it." 

--

It's nearly 3 am and the party was still hot. Tiffany couldn't see any of her friends anymore and she couldn't be bothered because they all came to the party for different reasons and she trusts her friends, aside from Yoona, to know what they're doing. 

Tiffany went upstairs for some quiet and settled on the couch. She opened her phone, looking at the pathetic messages she sent to Taeyeon over and over again and dreading the fact that Taeyeon never replied.

"Trouble in paradise?"

It was Nickhun. He just went out of a room, looking rugged, hair messy, and all over the place, like he just had gotten laid. Maybe, he really just did. Tiffany followed the opening on the door with her eyes, hoping not to see Yoona inside the room but the door shut close before she could really get a glimpse. 

Tiffany just shrugged at the question. She didn't scoot away when Nickhun took the space beside her. Besides, their break up wasn't so bad.

Between the two of them, there's no better person. Tiffany broke up with him because of the same reason Nickhun broke up with Bora.

Whilst Nickhun cheated on Bora with Tiffany, Tiffany cheated on Nickhun with Taeyeon.

They were one and the same.

Two ty people, who deserved exactly what they had gotten.

"Hello to you, too, Nick."

"Hi, Tiff. So how are things with your little friend going?" Trust him not to think before asking anything.

"Stop calling Taeyeon my friend to protect your brittle ego, Nick. She's my girlfriend."

He scoffed, throwing his back on the couch, stretching his arms on the top surface of the couch. "Friend, girlfriend, gal friend, shag friend, call it whatever you want, it's all the same to me." Tiffany couldn't help but roll her eyes. Even now, he's still the same jerk he dated. "Back to the topic. Are you guys, okay? Saw your girlfriend a lot since we have Physics together," He deliberately paused between saying girl and friend, obviously not wanting to acknowledge it. "She's been in an awful mood lately."

The information irked Tiffany. Jessica told her Taeyeon was all fine and dandy. "We're fine. Just a little bump on the road." 

"All part of the relationship, right?"

Tiffany let out a laugh, "You talk as if, you've been in one." 

The grinned, self-satisfied, before winking, "Well... I've been to many, lately."

"You're still disgusting, do you know?"

"Haha, one woman's opinion. Anyway, speaking of women. Your friend was with me."

"Please tell me you didn't sleep with her."

"Nuh, she's not interested in me. Wasted my time. She went with Taec, though."

"What- Are you sure?" Tiffany felt some sort of relief wash through her. It's funny because Taecyeon was almost as bad as Nickhun. He's like his double, just with a bit more muscles.

"Yeah, I saw Taecyeon taking her to his car. Such a shame. She's cute but with a weird taste. I don't get what she saw on that monkey." 

Tiffany threw him a throw pillow. "Get over yourself, Nick."

"What? Like how you get over me? How was it again?" Nickhun leaned closer, smirking before going for it, "Like this, right?"

And then he had grabbed Tiffany on the back of her neck and forced a kiss on her. It was out of nothing. Very Nickhun. 

Surprised, Tiffany pushed him away and slapped him. She tried to erase the feeling of his lips with the back of her hands but it didn't erase that disgust she felt. "What the hell, Nick! You know that's not funny!"

Nickhun just laughed it off. "Come on, Tiff. I'm joking and it's just a kiss. You never had problems kissing just anybody before."

"That's before Taeyeon. Everything's changed now. Excuse me, I need to go."

Giving Nickhun another shove, Tiffany gathered her things and went for the stairs. Unaware of the other set of eyes watching them.

--

Tiffany found Sunny first when she got to the first floor. Hyoyeon was wasted and Sooyoung had already been picked up by her parents. Sunny kept asking her what's wrong on their way out, but Tiffany wouldn't answer. She had a bad feeling. She had an urge to run to Taeyeon and explain. 

Waiting for Sunny to call for a taxi, Tiffany took out her phone and typed hurriedly.

- Jessi, is Taeyeon with you? 

- Not anymore. She just went out. What's wrong?

Tiffany didn't care to reply to Jessica after that. 

- Tae, can we talk?

- Tae, I need to tell you something, please. ASAP.

- Taeyeon, don't believe anything you're going to see before I get there. Please.

- Taeyeon, please reply. I'm going to your dorm. 

- Taeyeon, if you can see this please send me a message.

- Anything.

- Something.

- You know I love you, Taetae. 

And then the bad feeling came true.

Taeyeon sent her a link thru sms. Already knowing what she would find, Tiffany clicked it.

It was there.

Right, on Bora's Instagram story. 

A picture of Nickhun and Tiffany kissing. 

Nice shot.

Sunny could only stare when Tiffany Hwang fell on her knees and cried like a child.

She did it.

Tiffany really did it this time. 

- Let's break up. - Taeyeon