A/N: I really do apologise for such a short update after 4 months. I'm not really getting inspiration anymore and university life has been super hectic for me that I haven't had the time to continue this. I'm not sure if I will be able to continue this story anymore, maybe ages later, who knows, I would finish just for the sake of it. But I won't delete this story either! Apologies again, and thank you to those who have supported this story so far. Thank you so much for your encouragement. 

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday passed. Friday finally came; the day Taeyeon and Yuri looked forward to the most.

Exams were over. High school was over. Summer before university officially started.

‘’Oh my god Tae we’re done! We’re done with high school wooo!’’ Yuri jumped up and down next to Taeyeon once they exited the exam hall and the two best friends embraced each other.

‘’We definitely need some sort of special celebration, Yul.’’ Taeyeon smirked.

‘’Are you thinking of what I’m thinking?’’ Yuri smiled as she cheekily winked at Taeyeon.

‘’Let’s go shopping!!’’ Taeyeon laughed.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The girls were at the mall a while later, ready for some crazy shopping spree since it used to be their favourite past time, way before school got busy for them.

‘’Hold on Tae, I want to head to the washroom. Do you need to go?’’

Taeyeon shook her head. ‘’You go ahead. I’ll just head to that store opposite the washroom, come find me when you’re done.’’ Yuri nodded and headed off the other way.

Taeyeon made her way to the store she had her eye on a while ago, and quickly got immersed into the new dresses that were on sale. ‘’Yuri is going to love these skirts.’’ She smiled. While examining the dresses, she remembered how Baekhyun was her company the last time she looked at dresses, more specifically, the prom dress that is sitting in her closet at home. Taeyeon took her phone out and stared at the last message she sent to Baekhyun. No reply. She sighed and started typing.

To: Baekhyun

My exams are over! ^^ haha have you been studying hard? Hope you’re doing well and let’s catch up soon!

From: Taeyeon

When Taeyeon put her phone away, she looked up upon hearing a very familiar laugh. She looked around the store, and saw Baekhyun with another girl near the door while Taeyeon was at the back of the store. She observed their intimate interaction and couldn’t help but silently cry, and couldn’t bring herself to move from her spot. Taeyeon watched as the girl picked out a red dress and handed it over to Baekhyun, followed by Baekhyun patting her head and walked over to the cashier with the dress to pay. They both smiled at each other and headed out of the store.

Taeyeon felt like her world stopped moving, and after what seemed like a decade, she managed to leave the store, leave the mall, leave Baekhyun and that girl. She texted Yuri saying there was an emergency and apologized for leaving early. Taeyeon felt stupid and naïve that she couldn’t even bear to face Yuri and tell her the truth. When she got home, she spent the rest of the day crying on her bed, under her covers. By night time, Taeyeon checked her phone again to see messages from Yuri, but no reply from Baekhyun.

‘’Why Baekhyun…?’’ she whispered to herself whilst staring at his name on her phone.

Taeyeon couldn’t help it but sent him another text.

To: Baekhyun

There’s something I want to talk to you about. 10pm at the park. I’ll be waiting.

From: Taeyeon

By 9:45pm, Taeyeon arrived early at the park. She found the empty swings and sat down on one of them as she slowly moved back and forth whilst fiddling with her fingers. She looked at her phone. 9:46pm.

She sighed. ‘’Why is time going so slow…’’ Taeyeon whispered to herself and closed her eyes to let herself rest until Baekhyun came.

When Taeyeon fell asleep whilst waiting on one of the long benches at the park, a pat on her shoulder woke her up. She rubbed her eyes and looked up, blinking as she tried to recgonise who was standing in front of her.

‘’Noona…are you okay?’’

That voice. The voice that belonged to the person Taeyeon longed to see the most, talk to the most for weeks. Taeyeon couldn’t help but start tearing up at the sight of Baekhyun standing in front of her.

‘’No…I’m not okay…’’ she said as she sobbed. ‘’How could you…’’

Baekhyun remained silent, but slowly sat down next to Taeyeon on the bench, trying hard to maintain a distance.

‘’What did you want to talk to me about?’’ he asked bluntly.

Taeyeon stopped crying, a little shocked with Baekhyun’s straight-forwardness and harsh tone. She took a deep breath and looked him in the eye.

‘’Alright, let’s get straight to it then. Now that my exams are over, I’m mentally ready to tell you.’’

Baekhyun raised his eyebrows. ‘’O-okay…go ahead…’’

‘’I like you.’’

Baekhyun’s eyes widened and opened his mouth to respond when Taeyeon put her hand up to stop him.

‘’I saw you with another girl today, and I know that I have no chance. I’m older than you and not as pretty so I’m sure you will choose others over me. Obviously I’m not asking you for anything, but I want to let you know that it took me much time and courage to figure out my own feelings and to say this out loud. Yes, I like you. Yes, I know you are younger than me, but age doesn’t matter to me. Finally, I want to assure you that I am willing to commit into this relationship. Or well, if a potential relationship could happen between us. More than…what we are now.’’

Silence filled their surroundings as they continued to stare at each other. Hearts beating fast, breathing suddenly seemed like a difficult thing to do.

‘’I-I…’’ Baekhyun tried to speak first, but stopped almost immediately after he opened his mouth and closed his eyes to think.

When he opened his eyes, Taeyeon was staring at him, eagerly waiting for a response. Anything. Baekhyun took a deep breath and also looked at Taeyeon in the eye. He put a hand on her shoulder and whispered in her ear.

‘’You’re just a noona to me.’’