06 | Friends

***

The moment Tiffany pulled the car in front of a police station, she immediately signals Seohyun to step out of the car and they meet halfway at the hood.

"I'll come with him inside and you look after Yoona. I will send you a text immediately if it's about us."

"Then how are you going to explain it to Taeyeon-ssi?" Seohyun asked in concern.

"Don't worry, I can just run away in an instant and you have to drive right away once I step inside." Tiffany said in a low voice, glancing at Taeyeon inside the car. 

"How about I hack into their computer and-"

"No, you can't. There's no time for that. Running away is our best option."

Seohyun nodded. "Good luck."

"And so are you." Tiffany hugs the younger briefly.

"Um, girls, please look after my friend." Taeyeon approaches them.

"Jennifer, she's looking after him, Taeyeon-ssi." Answered Tiffany as she smiled briefly. "I'm coming with you."

"Chincha?"

"It's best you have someone by your side. I mean, so you won't take it alone." She explained, smiling awkwardly.

Taeyeon scoffed yet he nodded to agree. "It would really be better." he said and smile before he leads Tiffany inside.

"Unnie, fighting!" Seohyun cheer the older cutely and received a pat on her arm as she followed Taeyeon inside. Once they disappeared, Seohyun hastily stepped into the car and check on Yoona first then opened her phone, hoping she can hack into the station's system while the doe-eyed is soundly sleeping at the back.

Meanwhile, Tiffany and Taeyeon took their seats in front of the detective's desk, waiting for him to arrive. Both are relaxed and keep glancing at other people, especially those thugs from behind them. When the detective finally came, Taeyeon get up and introduced himself.

"It's nice to meet you in person, Mr. Kim." The detective said. "Please take your seat." he offers as he glances at Tiffany with a smile.

Taeyeon flashed a brief smile as well as he complied.

"This is the only CCTV footage that we gather so, I hope this will help us find them." The detective shared, turning his laptop so the two could see the screen. 

Tiffany gulped nervously as she immediately look closer at the same time as Taeyeon. Much to her relief, the video shows only the back portion. Also, they're all wearing black hoodies and jeans. She slowly side-eyed Taeyeon on her right and sighs audibly to see him not getting any clue about it. 

"Have you seen them?" she asked to check.

"Nope. I don't." Taeyeon confirmed disappointingly. "Aish, this is really the only video?" He asked the detective.

"Yes. It's from a clothing line, obviously. We've asked the said store and at that time, their other cctvs malfunctioned. None have also remembered these three buying there since they have a lot of customers and they're on sale." The detective explained. "But don't worry, there are customers that can be seen here clearly, we will try to ask them later."

"Tsk, just when I thought I could finally catch the thieves." Taeyeon huffed and tilted his head to Tiffany. The latter is on her phone which made her chuckle. "Looks like we're going home early, Donna-ssi."

 Tiffany hastily looked at him. "You need to rest early either way." she flashes a sweet smile.

"We'll call you for updates. Anyway, have a good evening, Mr. Kim."

"Wait, can you send the video to my phone? I'd like to think this over." Taeyeon took his phone and handed it to the officer.

"Sure."

"Why would you... do it?" Tiffany is agape. "I thought you don't recognize them?" 

"Yeah, I don't. But maybe someday I will encounter them. I mean, their outfits are simple and I could recognize it easily." 

"You're something." She scoffed in disbelief.

Taeyeon let out a soft chuckle. "I'm not a person that gives up right away, Ms. Donna-ssi." 

"You are a competitive person." Tiffany commented before she checked Seohyun's response.

Seohyun: That's good unnie. But can you ask for the video as well?

She checks on Taeyeon first and hastily replied to her.

What? Why would I do that?

Seohyun: Tell him you want to help as well.

And what will you do with the video?

Seohyun: We need to see to it that those people captured on the video won't say anything.

Oh yeah, the detective is going to ask those people on the video.

Seohyun: Looks like we have to work faster.

"Donna-ssi, let's go?" Taeyeon once again brought her attention back to him.

"Oh, yes." She replied awkwardly as she got up and bowed to the detective a couple of times. Taeyeon once again leads their way out. "Um, Taeyeon-ssi, could you probably share to me the video?" 

"Hmm? Why?" Taeyeon finds it random.

"I mean, I want to help."

"Help on catching them?"

"What else?" Tiffany rolled her eyes. "I might also encounter those hoodie girls." 

"Sure." Taeyeon didn't think twice and handed his phone to her.

"Thanks." Without a doubt, Tiffany started copying the file into her phone as they stopped in front of the car. 

Taeyeon smiled as he watch her in silence. He is fluttering and he doesn't want to end it. But the moment she look at him with an eye smile, he snapped out of reality and almost lose his balance. "I-I... appreciate this help, Donna-ssi." He said he took his phone back.

"Don't mention it." Tiffany replied as she walk to the car first.

Taeyeon can't help and smile giddily. He took a couple of seconds before he returned to the car as well. And throughout the ride to Yoona's home, he had been smiling while glancing from time to time at Tiffany. He couldn't forget the eye smiles from her until he also reached home.

***

Jessica didn't think twice and she kicked Yuri off of the bed and the latter dropped on the floor with a loud thud. Yuri clutch his stomach as he grunted in pain. 

Realizing he was hurt, she hastily get off the bed and check on him. 

"Are you okay? Omo, Omo... did I kick you hard?" And she felt bad seeing his painful expression. "I'm so sorry." She apologized.

"Do you have superpowers? It hurts so bad." Yuri complained. He keeps moving left and right to endure it.

"Aish." Jessica hit his arm. "That's your fault! Why do you have to do that?! That was unnecessary!"

"Because you were hitting me!" reasoned Yuri, sending glares but he continued to whimper.

"Yah, are you a kid? You can't take the pain that well?" And Jessica finds it funny now that he sounds like a kid. 

Yuri stopped and realized he was just exaggerating. It doesn't hurt so bad anymore. He turned to face her with glares. "You pay for this."

"Ha! Not even an ice cream would I give you. Tsk." Jessica gets up but only to just realized she was in his bedroom. She stopped as she tries to remember what happened. "What the, did I fall asleep?"

"She's crazy." Yuri chuckled, pulling himself up into a sitting position. "Pull me up." And offer his hand.

"How did I end up here?" Jessica grabs his hand and pulls him up carelessly.

Yuri almost felt like his arm came out. "Aish." And he attempted to hit her.

"I'm sorry." Jessica stepped back, pulling up to v-signs. 

"Tsk, can't you be more careful, I thought you know I'm sick?" Yuri reminded as he take his seat on the edge of the bed with a loud sigh.

"Looks like you've already taken the meds. I'm going home now, Sir." Jessica remembered the pills. She bowed and quickly grabs her messenger bag on the sofa, hastily leaving the bedroom without waiting for any response.

Chuckling, Yuri fell on his back and closed his eyes. The kiss however immediately flashes in his mind causing him to open his eyes and touch his lips. His cheeks then turned red and his heartbeats quickened. "Why did I... do that?" he asked himself softly but couldn't come up with an answer. His mind can't stop recalling the kiss and the way how her lips are the softest and taste like strawberry.

A foolish smile formed on his face as he cover his face and wiggled.

Meanwhile, Jessica walks to the bus stop, noticing how quiet the road is already and she wonders if there's even a bus that will come. She let out a huge sigh, looking up to the sky with a pout. "I shouldn't have agreed to that in the first place." She regretted it but suddenly she thought of the kiss. She hastily shakes her head and taps her cheeks a few times as it feels hot out of a sudden. "I'm seriously not going back to that villa anymore." she mumbled while holding her red face. 

Moments later a bus finally came and she almost tripped on the way inside out of excitement. 

***

The next day...

Walking out of the bedroom while spreading her arms upward and yawning, Tiffany almost immediately runs to the living room when she saw Seohyun in the living room.

"Any progress?" She asks immediately.

Seohyun pouted sadly and shakes her head. "We can only hope none of them remember us that day, Unnie." She said and close her laptop. She woke up early to continue searching for five customers on the video but failed to find them across social media platforms.

"Tsk, and a miracle could do that." Tiffany sighs as she leaned her back on the sofa.

"Jessica Unnie came home late last night by the way but woke up earlier than us." Seohyun shared, grabbing her plate of breakfast.

"Chincha? But where is she now?" The older glance at their kitchen but there are signs of their friend.

"She went out to buy coffee. We're out of it."

"Oh, in a cafe?"

"Nope, just those in a sachet." Seohyun replied with a giggle. "You should've bought new when you used all of them for your interview." she reminded.

"Oh, speaking of that, did you receive any message from Yoona's company?" Tiffany couldn't help and grin, positive her friend will get the job since the latter enjoyed the date.

Seohyun checked her phone and shake her head. "Nada. And I don't think they would ever give me a chance."

"Huh? Why not?"

"I mean, our date was a bit awkward throughout you know. And I don't think he likes me." Seohyun shrugged her shoulders as she took a bite of her ham.

"Are you sure? I've seen all the smiles and laughter from Yoona."

"Aish, that's because I was messy you know with my food."

"I'm pretty sure he likes you though." said Tiffany, teasingly as she nudge the younger.

"Ha! He's a womanizer." Seohyun doesn't feel like the doe-eyed will ever like her and she's glad deep inside. She doesn't have to pretend again that she's a decent woman. 

"It doesn't matter, as long as we get to live comfortably once we date them." Tiffany reminded the younger about their plan. 

"We really should look for a new job instead."

"Yah, you know it's hard to get a job in this country. They're too strict with requirements."

"Then should we return stealing?" A big smile plastered Seohyun's face only to receive a hit on her head. "Ah!" 

"The last thing you should remember always is that Interpol is looking for us. Being with these guys is our way to hide from them and also to start a new life."

"Wow, am I hearing Jessica Unnie?"

Tiffany giggles. "Do I sound like her?" she crossed her arms in the process.

"You do. But actually have a point." Seohyun couldn't agree more. "I was just thinking about money that's why I don't want to waste time with some trash guy."

"In time, you'll get to like him too." Tiffany positively responded, taking one of the hams from the younger's plate, and hastily returned to her bedroom when she heard her phone ringing.

Huffing, Seohyun just finished her meal when the door opened with Jessica came in. "Unnie, you're going to make my coffee right?" She immediately asked her.

"Nope, I bought it in a cafe." Jessica smiled as she handed a cappuccino to the younger.

"Whoa, thanks, Unnie." Seohyun flashed a bright smile.

"Has Tiffany woken up?" asked Jessica as she walks to the kitchen while slurping on her drink. 

"Yup."

"She hasn't eaten?"

"Nope." said Seohyun with a giggle.

Tiffany came out and quickly went to the kitchen. "Yah, where was your job yesterday you went home late, eh?" 

"Didn't Seohyun tell you?" Jessica raised her eyebrows, taking her seat and continuing her breakfast.

"I forgot to ask. So where? Looks like it paid big?" Tiffany took the seat across from her friend as well.

"Yeah, quiet. I mean, it was a cleaning service so they pay according to the employer as well."

"Whoa, lucky you."

"So when are we going to buy our cars?" Seohyun suddenly asked loudly from the living room.

"After this breakfast." And Jessica shouted to respond. The apartment is big enough that it's hard to hear everything inside.

Tiffany got excited which made her grab her fork and eat her breakfast as well. 

***

Yoona feels like his entire world had been squeezing his head since he woke up. He felt like just skipping work for the day but he received a message about the first filming shoot for the reality show. So he forces himself to shower, make himself breakfast and take hangover pills and sleep on the road for at least an hour.

"Mr. Im, do you want me to drop by Mr. Kim's cafe?" His driver asked the moment he realized he was awake.

"Sure, Ahjussi. Please order me an iced coffee." He favored, flashing a friendly smile. He felt good now that he had another round of sleep and the pills seemed to the taken effect already. He finally grab the script from the side and look into it while his driver went out to buy his drink.

Suddenly he remembered something from last night, causing him to stop reading the script.

Flashback...

Feeling something moving on his right, Yoona opened his eyes slowly as he tilt his head to check on the person. "Jennifer-ssi." He called her as he grin foolishly. "I didn't know you're this pretty up close." 

The latter scoffed and didn't give him a look. He moves even closer so there's no room between them.

"And you actually have a nice voice. Are you a singer, Jennifer-ssi?" 

"I'm not a singer."

"Oh Chincha?" 

"Yah, just sleep." Jennifer pushes him gently.

"Why would you let me sleep if I want to see your beautiful face?" He moved closer again and leaned in close to her face. The latter put her palm over his face and push him hard, causing him to hit the car door. "Ah!" 

"Omo, omo, are you alright?" She hastily checks on her.

He rubs his head and smiles foolishly as he composed himself. "I will be fine if you kiss my head." He then looked down.

"Are you kidding me?" She chuckled but with an angry tone.

Yoona looked up and pouted cutely. "Or how about a kiss on my lips?" 

"Hell no!" The latter throw her hand to hit him but he instinctively got her wrist and as he lean into her face she hit his forehead with her free hand, his visions blurred and eventually out.

End of flashback...

"What the... did I just do?" He cursed so loud in time his driver returned.

"Did something happen, Sir?" 

He chuckled awkwardly as he shake his head. "Nothing, ahjussi. Um, where's my coffee?" He quickly look for it and hastily grabs it from his driver as he started slurping on it. 'Oh God, Oh God.... how am I going to face her again if we meet? I'm freaking embarrassed. Aish.' 

***

Slowly parking their cars in the middle of the bridge, Jessica, Seohyun, and Tiffany all stepped out respectively and meet in the middle. All three of them wear smiles as their hair is flying from all the strong winds. It's great spring weather that they are feeling so good and excited to spend the day. 

"So, should we start looking for a job again?" ask Jessica after a couple of minutes of silence. 

"Where do you want to start?" Tiffany asked back.

"How about we look into the vacancy again, Unnie. I've seen a lot of companies looking for new sales clerks, admin, managers, and accounting staff." Seohyun suggested.

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