46 | The Trip pt. 1

***

"Unnie!"

Seohyun's cute voice prompted Tiffany to wince as soon as she left the bathroom. "What is it Hyun?" But she got curious either way.

"It's my first time ordering online and I thought you might help me." Says Seohyun, sitting on a vanity chair while Tiffany sits down on the edge of the bed.

"Is this about our outing?" 

"Yes. I want to buy Yoona our couple outfits just as he did back in Sunshine Village."

"Why don't you suggest to wear those outfits?" 

"I know but... I want to buy it this time." Seohyun smiled cutely. "Can you help me decide?" She got up and took her seat next to the older one instead, so she could share her phone. "There are plenty of them that it's hard to choose."

"Wait, that's your promise ring, right?" Tiffany noticed Seohyun's ring.

"I mentioned this before.

"I know but..." She placed her left hand has her engagement ring next to Seohyun's ring. She exchanged a smile with her when they noticed it was quite the same, the difference was the design of the flower. "Guess, the boys have the same tastes?" 

"I bet." Seohyun shrugged her shoulders. "Now help me decide." She pursued the older without missing a beat.

"Aish." Tiffany playfully pokes her cheek before she checks the lists of couple outfits on the internet. "It's good that they'll deliver right away." 

"I know right?"

"Hmm, let's see..." 

Seohyun is waiting patiently. She doesn't only want help but she wants to also confirm if her preferred choice is the same as the older, one so she can confidently order it. 

"I think this one." Unfortunately, Tiffany chooses a different outfit which is a peach dress for her and a peach sleeve and white pants for Yoona. "It looked like a youth color for me." she explained. 

"I see. Oh, I think this is better. Okay, I will order this. Thanks, Unnie." Seohyun however didn't regret it as she trusted the older girl's preference and she liked it too. She left the bedroom with excited skips. 

"She didn't even complain about it?" chuckled TIffany softly. "Wait, Taeyeon and I should wear a couple of outfits for our family too." she hastily grabbed her phone nearby and ordered and checked the outfits again online.

***

As the birds chirped and a gentle breeze whispered through the air, Jessica and Yuri, after an hour of diligent searching, finally stumbled upon the tombstone of Jessica's Aunt. With reverence, Jessica bowed deeply, her head inclined at a perfect 90 degrees, before tenderly placing a bouquet at the foot of the tombstone. Then, she carefully poured a libation of soju, a symbol of respect and remembrance, around the grave before bowing once more, her gesture imbued with profound respect.

"Hello, Auntie," Jessica's voice was soft, barely louder than a whisper, carrying a weight of emotions. "You may not recognize me, but it's Jessica. The little girl whom my parents often left behind at your pop-up bar. It saddens me that I never got the chance to properly introduce myself back then, but I believe it's never too late. Auntie, I'll always cherish the memories of your kindness and the warmth of your presence. You were more than just an aunt; you were a second parent to me. I pray for your eternal peace in heaven. Thank you for being such an integral part of my childhood." she ended it with a sniffle as her tears could be stopped from falling.

Yuri tenderly passed her a handkerchief, which she gratefully accepted, using it to dab away her tears as she struggled to regain her composure.

"By the way, Auntie, this is my boyfriend, Kwon Yuri," she introduced him, her voice steady despite the lingering traces of emotion. With a gesture of respect, Yuri bowed gracefully before placing his bouquet beside hers. "He's been my rock, helping me navigate through life's challenges. He's someone I deeply cherish, and I hope you'll bless us with your guidance and support."

Without uttering a word, Yuri bowed once more, his gesture conveying his reverence and sincerity. After a moment, he straightened himself, his eyes soft with unspoken sentiments. "Please watch over us from above, Mrs. Jung," he murmured gently, his words carrying a heartfelt plea for her continued presence and protection.

Jessica's warm smile lit up as she glanced at Yuri before reaching for the bottle of soju, and pouring it around to mark the moment. "Until next time, Auntie," she whispered softly, her words carrying a promise as she pledged, "I'll be back for your anniversary." As they stood by the grave, Yuri gently intertwined their hands, finding solace in the connection, before they bid their peaceful farewell.

"How are you feeling now?" Yuri asked, his gaze tenderly lingering on his girlfriend despite the faint evidence of her recent tears in the form of under-eye bags.

"Much better," she replied, her smile reassuring as she exhaled softly. Her eyes lifted to the sky, tracing the graceful flight of birds overhead. "It's a new day, a brighter one," she remarked optimistically, her smile now filled with hope for the future.

"I'm glad to hear that," Yuri said softly, pausing to gently adjust her hair with care. "Where would you like to go for lunch?" 

"There's a restaurant outside the place, right?"

"Yeah, I think that was a ramen place."

Jessica's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Let's grab some ramen before heading back to the city," she declared with enthusiasm. Without warning, she started skipping ahead, nearly causing Yuri to lose his balance, but he quickly joined in, albeit awkwardly, matching her infectious energy.

After a while, they stopped when they realized there's one big cheery blossom tree nearby. 

"Whoa, isn't that so beautiful, Yul?" Jessica's love for flowers once again kicks in and she jogs toward it. She was amazed at how big and beautiful it is. 

Yuri just casually followed her under the tree. "Isn't this weird? Just one cheery blossoms tree?"

"I guess this serves as the home for spirits?"

"Um, don't scare me like that." He warned and suddenly the wind blew too hard, causing him to goosebumps and the cheery blossoms dropped on them, showering them as it welcomed them to the place. "I think it just answered me." he mutters as he rubs his nape.

Jessica is amazed and she tries to catch the falling flowers and their petals. Turning to her boyfriend, she offered it with a smile. "Get some, baby."

"For what?" Yuri softly chuckles but he took some of it from her hand nonetheless.

"And then spread it, so the spirits will give us blessings."

"What? Why would I do that? I think it will give me some bad luck instead."

"Yah, just do it." Jessica can't believe how scaredy-cat her Yuri is. 

"Ugh, fine." He sighed in defeat and then looked at the petals on her left hand. "Should I wish instead? I mean, I want my arm to recover quickly."

"Hmm, do it then." She agrees with a sweet smile. 

Yuri smiled back at her and then he spread the flowers around them. "I wish my arm would heal quickly." he says softly and some of the flowers landed on his shoulder and inside the sling of his injured arm. 

"Guess what? Your wish is about to come true," Jessica teased, her laughter soft and melodic, earning a warm, silent smile from Yuri in response. "Anyway, let's get going," she said, turning to leave, but before she could take a step, he gently took her hand and leaned in, pressing a lingering kiss to her lips.

"Thank you for trusting me today," Yuri said, his voice soft and sincere as he pulled back slightly from the kiss. "I honestly didn't expect you to open up about your aunt, but I'm grateful you did after I convinced you to visit her grave."

"I know I can't keep secrets from you for long, and we promised not to keep anything between us," Jessica replied softly before gently embracing him. "Thank you for being patient with me, Yul," she whispered, feeling his comforting pat on her back.

Pulling back, they smiled sweetly at each other and intertwined their hands again as they resumed walking back to the car.

***

Pulling the car effortlessly in front of Taeyeon's company, Tiffany glanced over her shoulder to check on Da-On in the backseat, finding him fast asleep. They had spent a long day at the mall preparing for their outing tomorrow, and her son had expended all his energy with his sarcastic wit while searching for the perfect items to buy.

Glancing at her watch, Tiffany smiled briefly and murmured, "He should be here in fifteen minutes. Let's wait a bit longer, sweetheart." Her gaze returned to Da-On, her smile widening as she admired his peaceful slumber.

As anticipated, Taeyeon emerged from the lobby. Initially assuming it was his driver inside the car, he approached without a second thought. However, as he drew nearer, the front window rolled down unexpectedly.

"Tiffany?" he exclaimed, disbelief evident in his voice.

"Quick, hop in before your security gives me a lecture for parking here," Tiffany instructed, unlocking the passenger seat with a welcoming gesture.

"What are you doing?" Taeyeon complied, sliding into the car, only to discover their son nestled in the back seat. "Oh my, I thought you were alone. Why is our little one out there, fast asleep?"

"We had quite the day at the mall, that's how he exhausted himself. But just look at his peaceful face; it's another day he'll cherish," Tiffany explained, a sweet smile spreading across her face. She shared in her son's happiness, knowing she wouldn't forget this special day spent together.

"Now that explains with the bags." He softly chuckles upon realizing the paper bags next to their son. 

"Thanks for your card, though," Tiffany couldn't help but mention as she finally started driving. She had noticed the credit card on the nightstand earlier, accompanied by a note that read 'Use this to buy anything Da-On needs'. Initially, she had considered declining it, but she wanted Taeyeon to feel they were sharing the responsibilities for their son. "So yeah, I decided to use it today to prepare for tomorrow's outing," she added, offering a grateful smile to her fiancé.

"Tsk, it's my duty either way but I'm glad you did use it. You bought for yourself too?"

"Nope, I bought you a new shirt," she teased, casting him a mischievous smile. "Open the compartment." 

"You did?" Taeyeon opened it and found a paper bag inside. "It was just a joke," he chuckled in disbelief, but curiosity got the better of him, and he opened the bag anyway. To his surprise, he found the same brand of white polo shirt inside. "Heol, can't believe you bought me the same design," he exclaimed, astonished.

"My apology gift for ruining your shirt." She explained while her focus was on the road.

"Thanks. I'll wear this tomorrow."

"No, we're wearing a family outfit. I'll share it later when we arrive." 

Taeyeon is once again surprised. "You are becoming unpredictable, Tiffany Young." and he's loving it.

"I'm unpredictable too, Kim Taeyeon," Tiffany proudly declared to her fiancé, only to receive a kiss on the cheek, prompting her to glance at him.

"Yeah, keep surprising me, baby," he said with a sweet smile. "I'll be honored."

Chuckling softly, Tiffany smiled gleefully, maintaining her focus on the road.

"Wait, we're not heading to Yuri's Villa, are we?" Taeyeon observed the deviation from their usual route.

"Let's make a quick stop at the park before heading home," she explained.

"Oh, that park, wasn't it?" Memories of their past outings flooded Taeyeon's mind.

"Well, it's our go-to park," she remarked, stealing a glance at him with a fleeting smile.

"Let's dive into some street food and give Da-On a real taste of it," Taeyeon exclaimed eagerly.

"Absolutely," she agreed without hesitation, her enthusiasm matching Taeyeon's.

***

Carefully parking the car a couple of blocks from the Villa's neighborhood, Yoona stepped out and glanced from left to right before checking the time on his watch.

"Hey, look at that!" Seohyun's enthusiastic voice echoed from a distance, catching his attention instantly. He waved back as she skipped towards him, her energy infectious.

"Here comes my man!" Seohyun exclaimed with a grin as she approached him, wrapping him in a sweet and warm embrace as soon as she was within a few steps.

"What's up with the detour? Why'd we park so far from the villa?" He asked curiosity piqued as he returned the hug, squeezing her before they pulled back.

"I told you I will make it up with you, right?"

"About the pulling my hair when you were drunk?" 

Seohyun nodded with a giggle. "There's a hair salon nearby. Let's freshen up your look," she suggested, playfully ruffling Yoona's already thick hair.

"I don't need a haircut," Yoona disagreed, shaking his head. "I only lost a little from your assault," he chuckled, running his fingers through his hair to fix it.

"Hey, when was the last time you got a haircut? And look, you've even got some hair under your chin now," Seohyun teased, pointing at it before grabbing his arm. "Let's just go for a quick trim, hmm? I'm planning to get mine done too," she added, leading them towards the salon with a determined stride.

"What? Your long hair already looks great," Yoona remarked.

"The last time I got mine cut was a year ago. Haven't you noticed how long it's gotten?" she said, shaking her head to emphasize her long hair, which swayed with her ponytail.

"Well, it's beautiful, Seohyun. I don't mind it," Yoona shrugged. "Let's just head home, hmm?"

"No, it's not comfortable anymore. I think both of us should get haircuts, especially with summer around the corner. It'll be much cooler and refreshing," Seohyun insisted, eager for a change.

Speechless, he could only scoff and follow his girlfriend until they reached the salon.

"Miss, I'd like an undercut fade with a side part for him, like in the photo. And for me, a wolf cut," Seohyun instructed the hairstylist for both Yoona and herself before taking her seat beside him.

"Seriously? A wolf cut? Are you sure that'll suit you?" Yoona voiced his doubts.

"Just wait and see, Mr. Im. You're going to be speechless," she replied with confidence, flashing him a playful wink as she crossed her arms.

Both of their stylists donned the barber capes and got to work on their thick, long locks. Yoona and Seohyun closed their eyes, surrendering to the expertise of the stylists. They relished the sensation of skilled hands maneuvering through their hair, fluttering with each movement.

"It's done."

After thirty minutes, the barbers removed their capes, and the couple opened their eyes to behold their reflections in the mirror. Both were speechless and astonished at their new, fresh trims. However, their amazement grew even more as they turned to check out each other's hair.

"Whoa, you weren't kidding about it suiting you," Yoona remarked, pulling out his phone to snap a photo of his girlfriend.

"I told you," Seohyun chimed in, flipping her wolf-cut hair and offering a cute smile for the camera as her boyfriend continued snapping photos. "Now, it's your turn," she said, grabbing the phone and prompting him to pose like a model, playfully.

***

[The Zoo day!]

"Are we gearing up for a camping trip?" Yihyun exclaimed as she laid eyes on the plethora of provisions packed into the trunk. Folding chairs, a sizable gallon of water, and enough food to feed a small army filled every available inch of the van's storage space.

Jessica chuckled lightly before adding her modest contribution to the provisions – a container holding a bag of chips, a first-aid kit, and some extra pads, mindful of her current period. "Just wait until you see Seohyun and Yoona's car," she teased. "I have a feeling they've gone all out for this outing too."

"Wait, does this mean this is only Yuri Oppa's van, Unnie?"

"Yeah, and that Taeyeon's camp truck will also be used. The Kims will be in that truck."

"Wow, we're going all out for just a safari and zoo trip, aren't we? And then camping after this, right?" Yihyun's excitement bubbled over, her smile lighting up with anticipation.

"We're hitting the campground after the zoo. Sunday's officially Camping Day," Yuri declared as he settled his bag onto the backseat, assisted by a helpful maid.

"What? And you guys didn't tell me?" Yihyun exclaimed, her surprise evident. Without waiting for a response, she swiftly turned and headed back inside the house to hastily gather some clothes for the unexpected camping excursion.

"No one told her? I thought we sent a message on the group chat," Tiffany remarked, her voice tinged with surprise as she strolled past Yihyun on her way to the camp truck.

"She was at the convenience store last night, she stayed out late, Unnie. And she hardly checks the group chat," Seohyun explained as she headed to Yoona's white car