Taeyeon came to her parents' house and waited for her mother in the living room. It had been almost half an hour since she was standing in the same place and position.

Eventually, the long-anticipated moment had arrived.

Mrs. Kim walked arrogantly into the living room as she took off her sunglasses. She handed her purse to the maid as she looked at Taeyeon with a cynical smile.

Taeyeon can't take her eyes off of her mother. It was very surprising because she gave the same look that she always gave to Jessica. But there was more hatred than ever. Her eyes were watery from too much pressure.

"It's been a while since you came here, isn't it? It gives me a shock because it looks like I need to hurt people around you, especially your wife, for you to come and visit me."

"I didn't came here to meet you. I just came to tell you that you've no right to come to my house and touch my stuff, to touch her. Even if you asked for my permission, you'll never get it. Remember that, you'll never get it."

Mrs. Kim was speechless with Taeyeon's hurtful word while trying to maintain her arrogant posture. And she did not say it but deep down in her heart, she was hurt. In fact it was clearly visible in her eyes.

Taeyeon grabbed her backpack on the couch and deliberately bumped her mother's shoulder as she walked past her.

"Stop being a rebellious child, Kim Taeyeon." Mrs. Kim spoke with a distressed voice which made Taeyeon stop without turning around.

"Then you should stop interfering my life." Taeyeon replied almost instantly, without guilt.

"You're my responsibility. No one can prevent me from carrying out my responsibilities, including that basta-"

Taeyeon didn't want to hear her mother to continue her words and refer to Jessica with the obvious title. And without hesitation, she cut her off out loud, "Her name is Jessica Jung!"

Mrs. Kim snapped and her eyes widened in shock.

Taeyeon spoke rather calmly after but still she made sure she was clear with her words, "It's up to you if you want to say that you've responsibilities or rights over me, but please remember that you don't have the right to come to my house and touch her as you please."

"You're the one who put me in this life. You even promised me that you'll let me live my life the way I want to only if I agreed to marry her. I've done my job and now it's your turn to fulfill your promises." She added.

Taeyeon was clearly hurt through her own words. In the end, she was not able to hold it anymore and just let her tears flow down her cheeks.

She bit her bottom lip as she clenched her fists.

"Is it that hard?"

"..."

Taeyeon turned to her mother when she didn't get any response. Her tears flowed more freely as she looked at the older woman who had her back on her.

"Is that one ing request too hard for you?!"

"Lower your voice, Taeyeon! You've no right to yell at me."

"Then why don't you give me the ing right to live my life the way I want?"

"Because you're my daughter."

"I am not your daughter! I'm just a ing tool that you need to satisfy your ing greed!"

"Shut it, Taeyeon!"

Taeyeon and her mother, including other maids who were watching from a distance immediately turned towards the owner of the voice.

Apparently the voice belonged to Taeyeon's father. He walked downstairs and made his way towards his wife and daughter.

"You told me to shut it when the fact is that you who made me act like this!"

"You bast-"

Mrs. Kim quickly caught her husband's arm to prevent him from hurting Taeyeon. She knew he was going to hurt Taeyeon and she did not want it to happen for the umpteenth time.

"Leave now." Mr. Kim said, gritting his teeth.

"Honey, what are you-"

"Let her go. That's what she wants."

"Yes, that's what I want." Taeyeon answered.

Without hesitation, Taeyeon turned and made her way out of the house. For some reason, she can feel the pain deep in her heart.

And it hurt so much.

—

Taeyeon stepped out of her car and made her way to the entrance of her house. It was almost 11 pm and the atmosphere was cold and dreary.

As Taeyeon opened the door, she stopped when she saw Jessica laying on the sofa with her bare legs folded in the cold air.

Jessica's swollen eyes closed tightly and her face clearly showed that she fell asleep crying.

Ginger ran downstairs and Taeyeon thought he was coming to greet her, but then he immediately approached Jessica and lied down on Jessica's stomach.

It bothered her but Taeyeon just shrugged it off since she knew that Ginger was close with Jessica nowadays. But it was to deal with the uncomfortable feeling that she felt at the moment. She took a deep breath and decided to calm her mind with a hot shower and sleep.

Taeyeon walked upstairs and as she looked up, she was startled when her maid slowly approaching her. She can see the guilt on her face despite the dim light. She decided to stop and waited to hear what she had to say despite knowing that it must be related to Jessica. Or her mother.

"What is it?" Taeyeon asked in a tired voice as her maid stood right before her.

"Taeyeon..."

"Just say it. I want to rest."

"Please stop hurting her."

"..."

"She's already got enough."

"..."

"I can't stand seeing her like that. It hurts me. Imagine how painful it is for her, Taeyeon. Even other people can see her pain. Even other people can feel her pain. Please stop hurting her. If you still want to continue to hurt her, I will have to leave. I'm sorry, but I can't bear to see the pain of others, especially when I can't do anything about it."

The maid burst into tears as she looked at Taeyeon, who was avoiding her eyes and just stared at the wall next to them.

After a brief silence, Taeyeon took a deep breath and exhaled it gently. She raised her head and smiled sardonically to her maid.

"You can leave. I don't need you anymore." Taeyeon patted her maid's shoulder a couple of times as she walked away, making her way to her bedroom upstairs.

After 20 years of working for the Kim's family, the maid eventually took her leave. Before stepping out of the house, she covered Jessica properly with a blanket to protect her from the cold with tears in her eyes.

"Please be strong, Jessica."

—

Jessica woke up from her sleep. She immediately went upstairs to get ready for school. It was a surprise that she managed to enter the bedroom easily and it looked like Taeyeon forgot to lock the door last night.

As Jessica walked into the room, she was stunned when she saw Taeyeon, who was sleeping soundly on her cozy bed. Without realizing it, she boldly approached the latter with a gentle smile.

Jessica did not realize that she had fallen in love with Taeyeon all over again. And the feeling of love had always been there since the day they were pronounced married. Well, she can't even count just how many times she had fallen in love with her.

As the days passed, it became irresistible. And yes, she knew well that it was an unrequited love.

Slowly and carefully, Jessica took a seat next to Taeyeon on the bed. She gently laid her right palm on the latter's left cheek.

It felt so right. Although it was the first time she got to touch her face, it was weirdly tthe feeling that she missed the most.

As Jessica stared at Taeyeon's calm face, her head was slowly moving closer and she closed her eyes.

For the first time, Jessica was able to kiss the forehead of her other half.

Even if you told me to stop and get rid of this false hope, it doesn't go away that easily.

And I promise you, it will remain in my heart. Always.

I know that I shouldn't be like this but I can't give you up. I know that one day everything will be fine.

We will be fine.

Because...

Just the fact that I could love you, I am happy.

I love you, Kim Taeyeon.

After Jessica lips parted from Taeyeon's forehead, tears were already flowing down her cheeks.

And it was painful.

—

Taeyeon was sitting alone at her seat in the classroom. She was listening to music with her earphones plugged perfectly in her ears. At the same time, Jessica was repeatedly glancing at her while talking to Tiffany and their other friends at the back of the class.

 Yuri showed up a while later with a slightly worried look. She glanced toward Jessica and the other girls before she took a seat next to Taeyeon. She was about to say something but decided to rest before she turned to Taeyeon without moving her chair and pulled out one of the earphones.

Taeyeon glared sharply at Yuri and took back the earphone, putting it back on her ear.

"Hey! Listen to me first. I've something to tell you." Yuri, once again, pulled out the earphone along with the phone from Taeyeon's hands. She placed it on her own desk.

"What?" Taeyeon was getting annoyed. But instead of scolding Yuri, she tried to be patient and listen to what her friend had to say.

Yuri smirked.

"I've no time to play with you, Kwon Yuri. What is it?"

"Let's go to the nightclub."

"Huh?" Taeyeon frowned with the sudden invitation. Moreover, she had never been to that place before. For her, a nightclub was too dirty and cheap for her. Not to mention, she was not as social as Yuri.

"Tonight, 10 pm sharp!"

"Are you mad? No way!"

Yuri simply replied with a wink. She patted Taeyeon's head with a silly smile before she left. Just like that.

Although Taeyeon did not want to go, it was not like she could refuse her friend.

After thinking hard about the invitation, she decided to give it a try.