[Chapter 4]

The Tempting Trigger

 

 

 

“So what do you think of that idea Tiff?” A voice called out.

 

No response.

 

The caller's head turned to look at her friend who was staring down at the wooden counter top, tracing her finger against the grooves. “Tiff?”

 

The latter lifted her head. “Huh?” Her eyes quickly settled on Jessica who was staring at her rather worriedly.

 

The worker pursed her lips lightly. “What do you think of that idea?”

 

Err. What were we talking about? Nodding her head, Tiffany found it best to just go along with it...whatever it was. “Yeah. That sounds good.” She gave her friend her signature eye smile.

 

Jessica beamed. “Great! I'll go tell Yuri.” Before Tiffany could question, the other English speaker disappeared behind the double doors.

 

With trailing eyes and semi pursed lips, Tiffany huffed out a sigh in defeat. I hope whatever I agreed to wasn't something important. She ran her hand through her hair and leaned forward against the counter top. Taeyeon. That's all her mind was wrapped around. Ever since the girl in white left her hours ago until now, Tiffany's head was repeating the same name over and over again. Taeyeon....Taeyeon...Taeyeon...

 

 

 

[Flashback]

 

“My name is Taeyeon.” With her free hand, she tipped her hat gently. “Kim Taeyeon.”

 

[End of Flashback]

 

 

 

“Tiffany.” Someone's voice snapped her back into reality.

 

Again the shop owner's head lifted. “Neh?” Her curious orbs now fixed on Hyoyeon on the other side of the bar like counter.

 

The dancer tilted her head to the side. “Did you get my order?” She questioned, plopping her down on one of the stools on her side.

 

Looking down at the counter top, Tiffany found no indication that she had written anything down. However, with Hyoyeon coming on a daily basis, she already remembered the Dancing Queen's usual order. “Uhm. A cup of tea with a bit of honey right? The usual?”

 

Hyoyeon's face turned sour. “Well, yeah.” And before she could add anything else, Tiffany already stood up straight and worked the girl's repetitive order. Observing the scene, Hyoyeon couldn't help but watch with pursed lips. “Hey Tiffany. Are you okay?” Her head tilted slightly.

 

“Yeah. I'm fine.” She looked over to her daily customer with a smile. “Why do you ask?”

 

With now tightly pursed lips, her eyes flickered towards the girl pouring water into a cup. She couldn't help but say, “You seem a little...”

 

“Ow!” Tiffany looked down to see she had over poured the hot water. Its burning liquid spilling onto the counter...and a couple of her fingers. Thankfully for the sink behind the main counter top, she was able to rush over and run her hand under cool water.

 

Hyoyeon sighed. “Off.” Seeing that she was okay with the cool water, the dancer stayed in her seat and just continued to look over her friend. Getting the pain to be somewhat bearable, Tiffany hurried with her daily customer's order and gave the cup of tea. “Hey Tiff, are you sure you're okay? You seem like something's on your mind.” The dancer's eyes stared right into Tiffany's, hoping for a truthful answer to come out.

 

Seeing the stare, the shop owner looked down. Her mind pondered with whether to tell Hyoyeon of her Guardian. What if she just thinks that I'm crazy? What if the others think I'm crazy? She lifted her gaze only to be greeted with the same pair of curious orbs. “I...it's just...”

 

The dancer put a hand on the counter top to catch Tiffany's attention. “Hey. It's okay. Yesterday was your mom's anniversary. I understand.” Hyoyeon gave her friend a sincere smile, in hopes to comfort the latter. “Just know that I'm here for you if you need to talk.”

 

“Thanks Hyo.” Tiffany flashed a quick smile before looking down at the counter top again. All the troubles from yesterday now returning back to her head. Yeah...Thanks Hyo...

 

A gentle hand on her shoulder brought Tiffany back to reality. “So are you sure you're okay with it Tiff?”

 

“Hmm?” She rose her head to look at Jessica again. “Oh, yeah. I'm completely fine with it. Thanks Jessi.” Tiffany turned her eyes into crescent moons. Still gotta figure out what it is...

 

Sensing how uneasy her friend was, Jessica sighed and leaned her elbow on top of the counter. “Yah,” She caught the attention of the duo. “You know what will keep your mind off of stressful things?” The main latter raised an eyebrow in anticipation. “Getting a lover.” To the side, Hyoyeon choked a little on her tea.

 

Tiffany hesitated. She didn't really know how to respond to that! “A-A lover?”

 

“Neh.” Her friend's smile widened. “You should look for one.”

 

“I-I don't know about that.” Tiffany looked away. Her head rose to see Jessica's grin still plastered on her face. “I-I mean with things going the way they are, I just don't think I'd have the time.”

 

Jessica waved a shooing hand towards her American friend. “Aww c'mon Tiff. You're so stressed handling everything on your own. I think it's time you look for a lover.”

 

“Yeah! That sounds like a great idea!” Hyoyeon joined in with a grin of her own.

 

The auburn haired girl eyed her boss up and down once before locking eyes with the latter. “You're cute, funny, caring, I think you can reel in anyone you want if you tried.”

 

As the other listed all of her features, Tiffany couldn't help but blush a little. I-I thought she liked Yuri, not me. Trying to divert the attention on someone else, Tiffany pursed her lips. “Do you have one?” She tilted her head curiously.

 

Jessica looked down. “Well, I...” Her head lifted to share a gaze with Tiffany. “I-I don't have a lover, but I have someone in mind.” Blood rose to the confessor's cheeks as she dropped her gaze down towards the counter top again. Coincidentally, so did Tiffany, but the dancer's attention was on the speaker.

 

“Oh! Jinja?!” Hyoyeon leaned across the wooden divider. “Who is it?!”

 

The latter's cheeks turned an even darker shade of pink. Her eyes flickered to Tiffany, seeing that she was anticipating an answer as well. “I-It's...”

 

“Aigoo I'm tired!” Yuri announced while pushing through the double doors. The raven haired girl crossed the back counter work area and joined the trio. “So what are we talking about here?” She stated with her hands crashing against her hips. Her head turned to look at Jessica. “Omo, Sica you're face is red. Do you have a fever?” She reached a hand out to caress the blushing worker's face.

 

In a flash, Jessica shoved through the double doors yelling, “I'M TAKING MY BREAK!!!”

 

Tiffany let out a soft sigh as her face began to revert to its natural hue. I knew it.

 

The trio stared at the swinging doors until they finally came to a stand still. “Uhh...what happened to her?” Yuri questioned.

 

The Dancing Queen sipped her tea and shrugged. “She was about to tell us something embarrassing but she ran off.” With an approving nod, the shop owner turned and leaned her back against the counter, facing away from her usual customer. Tiffany's mind then began to wander as she began to turn oblivious to the world. “So Yul.” Hyoyeon stated.

 

The latter's eyes shifted to the speaker. “Neh?” She tilted her head curiously.

 

After another sip, she set her drink down. “What do you think is a good way of relieving stress?” Hyoyeon laced her fingers together before resting her chin on the finger bridge.

 

“Stress?” The questioner nodded with a slight grin. “I usually workout when I'm stressed.” Yuri shrugged, though she was very curious with where this conversation was headed.

 

The Dancing Queen flickered her eyes towards Tiffany's back. “I was thinking that if you have a lover, then you don't think of stressful things and you can relax.” Hyoyeon glanced back at the raven haired worker. “What do you think?” Again her eyes flickered to Tiffany's back before finally resting on the latter.

 

Yuri caught the constant glances towards her boss and smirked. “Oh yeah! I think that's a great idea! You can be all lovey dovey with them and all your worries will go away.”

 

The duo smirked when they saw Tiffany look away from them. Blushing perhaps?

 

“Yeah, maybe somebody should go looking for one.” Hyoyeon added trying hard to suppress a giggle. “I think I know someone who would love to go on a date right about now, just to loosen up and all of that.”

 

A laugh erupted from Yuri's throat as she suddenly poked her boss's side, making the unsuspecting victim yelp loudly. “Yeah Tiff!” Yuri blurted out excitedly as she poked again. “You should go on a blind date and let loose!” She giggled with another couple pokes towards the latter's waist. “Go have some fun and forget about all your worries for just once!”

 

Tiffany stared at Yuri with pleading eyes as her hands were desperately trying to protect her ticklish body from Yuri's assault of finger jabs. “Like I said last time Hyoyeon! NO THANKS!”

 

“Aww c'mon!” The daily customer lightly slammed her drink on the counter top. “I can hook you up with someone no problem! Nicole has a lot of friends who're looking for lovers too!”

 

Yuri continued on with her merciless assault on Tiffany. “And I have a couple gym buddies that are looking too! C'mon!” She grinned happily. When nothing but yelps came from the latter, Yuri paused just to add, “And I won't stop poking you until you agree!”

 

“Eek! Yuri stop!” Tiffany pleaded, trying hard to swat away any jabs charging at her body, though she was failing rather miserably at it. “You're such a kkab!” She managed to holler. When Kkabyul continued on, unfazed with her words, Tiffany was left to finally shout out, “You're fired if you poke me again!”

 

And thus, the torturous poking finally stopped. Yuri let out a huff and folded her arms with a pout. “Fine~”

 

While all of this was going on, Hyoyeon was spectating, sipping her drink in amusement. As everything began to settle down, she set her drink back on the counter and eyed the shop owner. “So~” She grinned. “What do you say?”

 

Tiffany took a while to respond when she saw Yuri getting ready to poke her again. When Kkabyul finally gave up, the shop owner looked over to the dancer. “I say, I'm perfectly capable of finding someone on my own thank you very much!” She huffed a loud sigh and folded her arms, raising a challenging eyebrow at her raven haired worker who looked ready to charge once more. I just don't know if she's real...

 

 

 

 

A sigh escaped from Tiffany's lips as she walked down the hallway to her apartment. As she reached her door the sudden thought of yesterday entered her head making her hesitate. Slowly she pushed open the door and stepped in. Everything seemed fine, nothing out of the ordinary. The shop owner closed and locked the door before letting out another sigh. So was it all a dream? She shook her head and hurried to her room. There's only one way to prove that yesterday really happened.

 

 

 

[Flashback]

 

The Guardian smirked. “I think it's best that I keep this for a while.” She reached into her blazer and pulled out Tiffany's gun. “Just to be sure you won't do anything drastic.”

 

[End of Flashback]

 

 

 

Rushing to her dresser, Tiffany opened the third drawer and reached to the very bottom right. If it's not here then that means yesterday did happen. That means I wasn't dreaming and-

 

[Clank]

 

Her hand brushed against the metal object. Tiffany's heart seemed to have stopped for a minute as she grabbed the fatal weapon and pulled it out. She stared at the gun in awe, tilting and turning it as it glinted with the room's light. But I thought she took it?

 

 

 

[Flashback]

 

“How will I see you again?”

 

The other smiled. “I'm a Guardian. I come in at the right moments. Have I not?”

 

[End of Flashback]

 

 

 

“The right moments.” Tiffany mumbled to herself. That would be enough to bring her back right? She let out a shaky breath as she gripped the gun tightly. “Then I can see you again.” Her voice was so soft that even Tiffany, herself, wondered if she had said anything. But her main concern about that sentence was...to whom was she referring to? Her Guardian...or her mother? The gun raised to her right temple. Its barrel nuzzled with the flesh of her skin. “The right moments.” Her voice was a whisper. “She said she'll come in at the right moments.” Again Tiffany let out a shaky breath.

 

What would doing this prove? A voice in her head called out. No, it wasn't Tiffany's conscience talking to her. Was it? This voice was soft and elegant. It was soothing...

 

Tiffany froze at the voice intruding in her head. Or was it coming from the room? Taeyeon? The girl looked around, but to her dismay she was alone. There was no angelic girl in all white. There was no top hat or blazer. There was nothing.

 

What would doing this prove? The voice repeated again.

 

“It...” Tiffany whispered. Her head hung as her eyes settled on the floor in front of her, though the gun still remained against her head. “It would prove that I'm right. That my Guardian would come and save me.”

 

What if your Guardian doesn't come? Would killing yourself really be worth it? Tiffany gasped silently. Would the blood shed be worth it just because you wanted to see your Guardian again? Would you really risk your life just for some test? Just to see if your Guardian would come to your rescue? The voice was soothing, but it was a stern and serious tone.

 

“If she doesn't come...then she failed as a Guardian...Right?” Tiffany mumbled. Her arm began to turn weak as she debated with herself if she should. There was no response from the mysterious voice anymore. It was quiet. Somewhere deep down inside Tiffany, she was longing for a response. She wanted to keep the conversation going, but still, nothing responded. Slowly the gun lowered and rested in her lap, her eyes glued on the weapon.

 

Soft thuds came from in front of her and Tiffany looked up to see bullets falling and crashing onto the carpeted floor in the middle of the room. Her eyes then locked on a pair or white shoes next to the bullets. Slowly, they traced up the white slacks and blazer and fixed onto the face of her Guardian. Though she looked very angelic, there was a hint of disappointment over her features. “Taeyeon...”

 

The Guardian's outstretched hand that dropped the bullets tucked back across her chest as she stared at the girl sternly. “A Guardian's purpose is to give someone a second chance at life by granting one wish. We aren't there to save you Troubled Ones if your life is in danger. Remember that.” Taeyeon lectured.

 

Tiffany hung her head apologetically and put the gun aside. The last thing she wanted to do was tempt herself to blast her brains out with a bul- Her eyes shifted to gaze at the gleaming copper pieces between them. “But you knew.” She lifted her head so she could make eye contact with her Guardian. “That's why you took the bullets out.”

 

Taeyeon sighed and looked away. “Actually no I didn't.” She mumbled under her breath before turning her head to look at Tiffany again. “I did that just to be sure.” Her expression became stern once more. “But if you'd want to blow your brains out just to see if I'd come to your rescue then go ahead.” Taeyeon stretched out her hand above the bullets and it was as if everything reversed itself. The bullets lifted up into the air and back into the Guardian's hand. With a quick flick of the wrist, all 10 bullets whirled through the air right at the gun in a line. Then just like magic each bullet disappeared into the weapon.

 

Disbelieving eyes were glued on the firearm. Did they really just...? Her curious orbs wandered to Taeyeon who just lowered her head in a challenging manner. I have to believe it with my own eyes. Tiffany reached for the gun and slid out the magazine. There they were. 10 copper bullets all nice and neat. She slid the magazine back into the gun and stared at the deadly weapon, wondering if she should pull the hammer back to load the chamber. Would she stop me if I tried? Her curious orbs stared only at the Guardian's shoes, too ashamed to even look up at the elegant girl. Eventually Tiffany decided against it and stood up to tuck it away in her dresser.

 

With the gun now gone, Taeyeon let out a hefty sigh and unfolded her arms, catching Tiffany's attention in the process. She fell back into an invisible chair and rested her head on one hand. Staring curiously at the other, Taeyeon just had to ask, “If you wanted to talk to me, why didn't you just call my name?”

 

Tiffany made her way to her bed and sat as Taeyeon questioned her. She looked down and laced her fingers, her thumbs fumbling with each other. “Because, I remember you said that you'd come only if you felt like it. I thought that if it were more serious, then you'd definitely come back.” Her head rose to make eye contact with her Guardian.

 

Taeyeon rolled her eyes at the answer. “Well then, what's your reason for wanting me here so badly?” She stared back at Tiffany.

 

“Well...I...” Tiffany's eyes wandered around the room before resting back on her Guardian. “I wanted to talk to you...”

 

“You wanted company.” Taeyeon corrected as she lowered her hand and sat up straight.

 

Tiffany stayed quiet. Her eyes met with her Guardian again. There was silence as she contemplated whether to agree or not with Taeyeon. “I wanted your company.”

 

White clothed Taeyeon nodded her head. “Alright. I'm here now. Did you decide on what to wish for already?”

 

With pursed lips, Tiffany looked down at the ground. Am I being selfish? She rose her head again and let out a soft breath. “I wanted to talk...Just. Talk.”

 

Taeyeon's eyebrows rose. Is she serious? The Guardian tilted her head slightly. In her 900 plus years of being a Guardian, none of the other Troubled Ones ever summoned her just to talk to her. They only called for her when they wanted to make a wish. This...was definitely new. “Well then.” She sat up straight, her attention fully on the other girl. What did you want to talk about?”

 

Hesitation. Tiffany didn't expect her Guardian to be okay with it. She expected Taeyeon to just brush her away and tend to other Troubled Ones. Surely she wasn't Taeyeon's only Troubled One in the world right? So wouldn't she need to tend to their needs as well? Her eyes were glued on the white clothed girl, her thoughts fumbling around not sure of what to discuss first. “I want to talk about...

 

 

 

 

 

Everything.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

N/A: Hello my loyal readers and anyone that's new! ^^ I just want to let everyone know that I'm finally not brain dead anymore [thank God] because I'm done with mid-terms! Yay! *throws confetti and celebrates alone like a little loser* But it won't be until dead smack mid-December when I'll have to study for finals. Aigoo. Thanks college, for stressing me out with Christmas shopping and finals! Oh well, that's life I guess right?

 

ANYWAYS! Here's chapter 4! I'm trying hard not to really rush the story so people understand, but at the same time trying hard not to backstep sooo much you know? Anyways, let me know what you think! ^^ I'm working on the next chapter [though I'm still jumping around here and there]  so hopefully I'll be able to upload another chapter soon!

 

-Jeo

 

Fun Fact [about the story]: I chose Taeyeon's Guardian's years to be 910 because of their numbers for the Oh! Era. Taeng's number: 9 Tiffany's Number: 0 [Though it was intentionally supposed to be a 01] Though honest mistake, I thought it was supposed to be 10 but I didn't completely get my facts straight until after I put up the other chapter. Oh well right? I'm only human.  I'll just leave it as it is.