She kept shivering underneath her leather jacket and couldn't comprehend why, once is normal because it's kinda chilly anyway. Twice is understandable because sometimes people just shudder randomly, And thrice is suspicious, there must be something wrong with her. 

 

She kept shivering.

 

Excitement. That must be it, she thought. She's excited, scared, anxious, nervous, and she feels very stupid surrending to these feelings. 

 

 

 

What would she do again?

 

Give her a hug? It'll be fine if she doesn't hug back.

 

Give her a friendly cheek to cheek? What if the girl steps back? 

 

Okay, i think that's too extreme given the circumstances.

 

 

 

"She's here" 

 

 

So should I just what? stand there and do nothing? 

 

 

"Tiffany"

 

 

 

Oh yeah, silly, of course i'd smile, she always likes it when I smile. Okay, smile. I will smile.

 

 

"Miyoung!"

 

 

"Huh?"

 

 

"Taeyeon. She's here" Jessica said, looking at the girl and then back to Tiffany, her eyes were somewhat worried.  

 

Tiffany felt her whole body go cold, felt the urge to run, felt goosebumps rise from her skin. Felt the adrenaline surge in like a mad tidal wave, and she thought of how Taeyeon's voice sounds like again, hearing it personally or if Taeyeon changed her hair, or her perfume.

 

 The fact that Taeyeon was actually with someone tonight officially flew out from the windows of her mind.

 

It amazed her that she could still think straight as walked forward and opened the sliding door and into the living room, with Jessica tailing her attentively.

 

 

 

Jessica and Sunny exchanged stares.

 

 

 

A circle of boisterous people gathered near the kitchen, none of them was seated, still engrossed into catching up and doing crazy stunts.

 

 

 

 

Juhyun has her arms around Taeyeon's minute shoulders, engulfing the latter into a side-hug while Yuri and Yoona chatted in front of them about some incident that happened on one of their drama series. 

 

"And he was like flailing his arms around like this, Oh my, it was so funny!" Yoona demonstrated and everyone was all smiles, even Sooyoung and Hyoyeon who were arguing a second ago about how to properly use a bread knife magically forgot about their little quarrel and laughed along with the group.

 

Yoona did a double take before suspending her actions  mid-air, all heads turned to a certain direction and there they were.

 

 

Or for Taeyeon, there she was.  

 

In her usual blinding glory that made her go crazy just by looking at her. 

 

Her breath hitched and by reflex, she clutched her hands tight.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Taeyeon felt her body go numb, like thousands of needles are poking it to no end. She doesn't know what to do, She's just staring at her, and she's just staring back. 

 

The tension was thick, everyone in the room can possibly feel it. 

 

The awkwardness.

 

It was not long before Sooyoung cleared and proceeded to chat along with the others as if nothing happened, but not before giving Tiffany a meaningful look and it reminded the latter of their heartwarming conversation a while ago. 

 

It was Tiffany who made the first move, walking ahead to greet the other one. A few steps here and there, she never broke the eye contact. 

 

When she reached her, with just a little space between them. She could feel Taeyeon tensing, just like her. But the latter's scent didn't go unnoticed. 

 

Sometimes when people smell a specific fragrance, it reminds them of something that happened in the past, like they're being teleported back to it, back to the same place with the same person with the same old feelings.

 

 

Tiffany was feeling nostalgic. 

 

 

Taeyeon kept fidgeting with her hands, an obvious sign of being uneasy. She was playing the hem of her shirt and stupidly waiting, she wanted to be the first one who talks so it would appear that she had been well, that she had moved on from her but her voice was lost. 

 

 

Kim Taeyeon was unable to use her voice. 

 

 

"Hi..." Tiffany spoke, her hands were sweating and she was having a hard time keeping her voice straight.

 

Taeyeon wanted to close her eyes and just revel at the sweet sound of that voice she hasn't heard for years. The old hoarse and raspy but oh so beautiful voice of Tiffany tickling her ears. 

 

 

And stoked the gentle flame burning inside her chest. 

 

 

Tiffany was always assertive, she was always one step ahead of her when she wanted something from Taeyeon. And before Taeyeon could snap back to reality, Tiffany was again advancing towards her. 

 

If she could only yank her closer and hug her to no end right now that would be so much better but she's so stunned by Tiffany's mere presence that she couldn't move, and the only thing she was aware of was the terrible and loud beating of her heart and Tiffany's fragrance, how Tiffany's hair flowed down like a river of ebony along the length of her shoulders, how Tiffany's dress looked gorgeous on her, how red her lips were, if they were still soft and moist like the last time she had kissed them, and Tiffany. Tiffany. Everything about Tiffany.

 

Her head was spinning from this overwhelming feeling consuming her inside out, Tiffany had that smile on her face, that stupid smile Taeyeon couldn't help but fall for, the girl was coming closer and closer. It was maddening, like some disease she caught when she was fifteen and was unable to heal from then on.  

 

Tiffany to Taeyeon was within arms' reach and Taeyeon's arms were ready, so ready for the long due embrace, the same warm embrace they used to have, the feeling of her hands on Tiffany's lithe waist and the other girl's arms around her shoulders, everything would've went smoothly when suddenly the doorbell rang and from the intercom a face of a beautiful young girl showed.

 

Sunny galloped along like the kid she is and in stepped the last guest for that night's party.

 

Tiffany froze and reluctantly retreated a few steps back, obviously disappointed somewhat pissed off as she wondered who could be that person when all of them are already present inside the house.
 

 

 

She was so near to hugging Taeyeon.

 

 

 

 

So near.

 

 

 

"Everyone, sorry i'm a bit late, we forgot to wrap this up. Unni, for you" the girl said and handed Sunkyu a bottle of champagne, a vibrant smile was plastered on her face. 

 

Everyone inside the room did a chorus of Hi's and Hello's when they recognized who the girl was. They were shocked but none of their shock could compare to Tiffany's shock. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The girl stood beside Taeyeon and what Tiffany saw made her heart clench.

 

The girl held Taeyeon's hand and slowly interlaced their fingers. Taeyeon smiled at the girl jovially. The happiness was sincere and Tiffany saw that, it made her feel something that she didn't like. 

 

Tonight reminded Taeyeon of those drunken nights she had, not knowing whether this was all true or just games her mind invents, having to experience that hopeless feeling of being in love with her best friend yet having to stand beside someone she actually cares for. 

 

It was weird because tonight, she knows she's one hundred percent sober. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Hi unni, it's been a long time, it's nice to see you again" The girl spoke sincerely.

 

Lips curved into a smile. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"H-hi, nice to see you too, Yejin-ah" Tiffany answered, face stern and eyes fixed on Taeyeon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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