"Tae..."

"Stop it."

"Tae, please..." Jessica slowly reached her hand out to touch Taeyeon’s cheeks, resting her hands there with utmost gentleness.

Taeyeon surprisingly did not do anything and stood still as she let Jessica be while she slowly closed her eyes with a quiet sigh.

Jessica caressed her the pad of her thumbs on Taeyeon’s cheeks, wiping the warm tears rolling down the latter’s cheeks.

At that moment, deep down in Taeyeon's heart, it felt like Jessica was brushing the pain she had endured despite having her tears flow as if there was no end. It was hard for her to stop. And the pain made her think that maybe death was better than living. She was already dying inside.

But with Jessica there with her, touching her with such affection, she could feel the peace she was craving for. It felt so different and unfamiliar but she would like the feeling to linger for a while more, or even for a long time.

"I'm here..." Jessica whispered.

Everything was quiet and calm at that moment, as if time had stopped and froze just to give them a chance to feel each other’s presences.

Flashback

Before the wedding ceremony began, Taeyeon went to meet Jessica and her parents-in-law in the waiting room after being told by her parents. Jessica was getting her make-up done accompanied by her parents and they had no idea that she would come to meet and greet them.

Taeyeon arrived in front of the door where Jessica and her parents-in-law were. When she was about to get a hold of the doorknob, she suddenly stopped and stood still without making any movement.

And the reason was none other than the conversation she overheard from inside.

"Honey, I hope you can do your best for this marriage. Remember, it's not easy for us to get this opportunity. This is our only chance to expand the wealth of our family. The Kim has everything, baby! And we can get that everything only when you do well. So, please, don't let us down."

"Your dad is right, honey. Please don't disappoint us and just do whatever it takes to win more trust from them. Especially, Taeyeon. She is their one and only daughter, and I'm sure you can get anything from her if you do your best. "

"Yes! Taeyeon, honey, Taeyeon! Taeyeon is the key! I don't mind if you want to love her for real or use her to help us, just please do us a favour to gain their trust."

Silently, Taeyeon was waiting for Jessica to say something. Yet she heard nothing. Nevertheless, she could not help her heart from planting the seeds of hatred against the Jung, especially Jessica, the bridge for them to win everything her family owns.

It hurt her so much at the fact that they made Jessica as a tool to feed their greediness.

It made her wonder, what had she done against them when all she did was breathing in such a small world where no one knew the painful life she had to live in?

Did it even make any sense that someone who was sure that she never did anything wrong to be thrown in a world filled with pain that looked exactly like a punishment as if she had committed the worst sin in her past life?

And just like that, Taeyeon left.

End of flashback

Taeyeon grabbed Jessica by her wrist and opened her eyes, which had turned cold as she stared at Jessica.

"Tae..."

"Why are you doing this to me?"

"Tae, I–"

Not willing to hear the answer, Taeyeon threw Jessica's hand in a rough way and walked away.

Jessica could not say anything anymore. Instead of crying, she completely went speechless as she froze on the spot.

Everything was going well and Jessica wondered what exactly happened to Taeyeon.

Was it because of her? But why? What had she done?

Jessica wished she could read Taeyeon's mind. Although she knew it would hurt her even more if she got to know what the latter thought of her.

—

That night, Taeyeon was resting on her bed while leaning against the headboard. It was such a quiet night until the sound of her sobbing broke the silence. It was nothing new as she had been crying herself almost every night without anyone knowing. Very unlike her stone-like nature.

Flashback

13-year-old Taeyeon just came back from school with a card in her hand. It was an invitation to the international singing competition that she wanted to give to her parents.

"Mom! Dad! I'm home!"

Taeyeon cheerfully called out for her parents as she ran around the house looking for them. At the kitchen, she saw her maid who was serving lunch on the dining table for her.

"Aunty! Where is mom and dad?" Taeyeon asked while trying to catch her breath from running.

"Oh! Taeyeon, welcome home. They are probably in their room. Why?"

"Look! I've been chosen as the representative of my school in a singing competition!" Taeyeon showed off the invitation card and jumped with excitement, grinning widely.

"Wow! Really? Congratulations!" The maid clapped her hands as she flashed a motherly smile, ruffling her hair.

"Thank you, aunty! Let me give this to mom and dad first, and then we can have lunch together! Wait for me, okay?" Taeyeon waved and ran upstairs to meet her parents in the master bedroom.

"Oh God!" Taeyeon stumbled on the last rung of the stairs. She quickly got up after and continued her paces, making her way to her one and only destination at that moment.

"Mom...? Dad…?" Taeyeon called out but she got no response. She held the doorknob and slowly opened the door to the master bedroom. At that time, she could only see her parents’ back and they were talking and were not aware of her presence.

And so, she decided to wait.

Minutes passed and as the conversation continued, she suddenly felt regret for coming and listening to everything even though it was not why she came.

"I think we should just send her back to the orphanage. She is no help at all. Useless!" Mr. Kim said while staring at the outside view through the balcony.

Hearing what was said by her father, Taeyeon let go of the invitation card.

"She is still a kid, honey. You shouldn't get your hopes with her for now. Let her grow first." Mrs. Kim responded, sighing.

"She is fifteen! She is not a kid anymore!"

"Well, what do you expect from a 15-year-old girl anyway? If you want her to do what we want her to do now, do you think she can do it?"

"Of course! We have spent so much on her, our time and money, for 15 years and now she should be thinking of repaying us instead of giving us a bunch of useless invitation cards! Singing, huh? Pfft!"

"Come on, honey. Just let her do what she wants to do now. At least we will have something as a reason for her to obey us later."

"And what if she still wants to be a singer? What about us? What about the company? What about our agreement to make her as our source of wealth? What–"

"I got it! You can stop now." Taeyeon cut her father off. She was not able to listen anymore. Her heart was already broken into pieces.

Mr. Kim and Mrs. Kim turned to Taeyeon with surprise. She looked at her husband, hoping he would say something to fix the situation. But instead, Mr. Kim just stood there without saying anything.

"It's fine. You don't need to give any explanation. I got it." Taeyeon could read her mother's face.

"Taeyeon, it's not like what you think, dear. We just–"

"Do not call me that, Mrs. Kim. From what I have learned, people don't call other people they don't care about with such affection. And you know it well that I don't deserve the title either."

The older woman was going to going to open but she had lost for words. Her eyes started watering. She wanted to say something but all she did was stand still.

"I am sorry for interrupting but I think this is the best way to hear the things you want me to hear in the last fifteen years, when you took me as your child. Oh wait, I mean, tool. Am I right?" Taeyeon paused with a bitter chuckle. Her eyes became blurry due to the tears threatening to come out yet she still held it in, not wanting to look weak. "Because... after this, I'll be busy thinking on how to repay you. But at least I won't look like a fool again." Taeyeon continued and forced herself to smile even though she felt like dying inside.

"Taeyeon." Mr. Kim called softly.

"Excuse me." Taeyeon turned around and her tears fell eventually.

After living in happiness and perfection for fifteen years, she only found out that she was an orphan raised by people who had never been sincere in loving and taking care of her.

What a fool.

End of flashback

Taeyeon brushed her hair back and folded her legs up, sobbing on her knees and crying with all her might. She whispered incoherently.

“I am a fool. Not you. It’s me.”

—

At the same time, Jessica was on her way to check on Taeyeon but she chose to wait in front of the door instead. She did not want to disturb her, and just waited faithfully.

Unfortunately, she could not hear anything other than the calm silence again from the inside.

The calm silence that she always heard whenever Taeyeon holed up in her room.

Jessica sat down on the floor after almost half an hour of standing and leaned against the wall right next to the door. On that cold night, she eventually fell asleep while waiting for the improbable.

—

Taeyeon roughly wiped her tears. She got off the bed and made her way towards the door with her car key in her hand. As soon as she stepped out of her room, she was startled at the sight of the girl, who unexpectedly made her reluctant to continue her steps.

Taeyeon released a soft sigh. After contemplating whether to just leave or not, she chose to stay and kneeled down beside her sleeping wife. And while staring at Jessica's face, she drifted in her own thoughts.

You.

You touched me.

You made me feel different and unfamiliar with you.

Was that real or was I imagining things?

If it really happened, did you see what I tried to say?

I have been hurt and I'm still hurting.

Did you see that?

Can you see that?

It hurts so much and I don't think I can stand it anymore.

I want you to stay away, go away from here.

From me.

From all this pain.

I…

I want you to forgive me.

Taeyeon gathered her fists on her lap and tears started spilling again from her eyes as she bowed her head with guilt.

I am sorry.

I am really sorry.

Taeyeon could not stay any longer and decided to leave without saying anything.

Just then, Jessica woke up from her slumber just when Taeyeon was heading downstairs in hurry.

"Taeyeon!" Jessica went after Taeyeon but Taeyeon did not bother. "Taeyeon, wait!"

They left the house almost at the same time but Taeyeon was faster. She hurriedly got into the car parked on the front yard accompanied by the rainstorm.

"Taeyeon! Stop! Please! It's dangerous, Tae! Stop it!" Jessica knocked on the door window but Taeyeon ignored her completely and started the car.

Jessica kept on shouting, trying to stop Taeyeon while standing under the heavy rain. Yet her efforts ended in vain as Taeyeon drove off, leaving her behind.

Jessica unhesitatingly followed after Taeyeon by running down to the road and out of nowhere, another car came from behind. Jessica turned around only to see the car with blinding lights speeding towards her.

Reflexively, Jessica stopped and covered her vision with her arm.

And then it all went black.