That Night

-Jessie, tell me about that Kim Taeyeon.-

Tiffany was never a very patient person, but this was a circumstance in which she was willing to make an exception. Sort of. She gingerly placed her phone by her side, anticipating staccato vibrations indicating Jessica's reply. Knowing Jessica, she would be lucky if she didn't have to wait for two months for a reply. 

-ugh do u have any idea what time it is Tiff ><-

Tiffany softly exhaled, disappointed that her minutes of waiting resulted in a less than satisfactory response. 

-its almost 12:15 now will you please answer my question?-

Tiffany's nimble fingers glided all over the screen of her pink phone. This time, it only took Jessica an exiguous amount of time to reply. 

-why don't u find out for yourself. be at my office tom after lunch.-

Tiffany furrowed her eyebrows in thought. She had no idea what this meeting would entail. She began to type out another question before Jessica had cut her off with yet another soft hum from her phone. 

-convo over, see u tomorrow im sleeping now bye- 

Tiffany would just have to wait a little longer then. 

"Slow and steady wins the race, Tiffany. Just wait." Tiffany mumbled to herself before drifting off into dream land. 

~~~~~~~~~

The Next Day

"You never answered my question, Kim Taeyeon..." 

She replayed the events from the previous day in her head over and over, even when her mind couldn't afford to wander.

Like in class, for instance. She was at least 98% certain that everything her professor had taught today slipped through her mind and into the air. Instead, this Tiffany Hwang character occupied the needed spaces in her brain. She just couldn't help it, and how could she? Not when she couldn't remember the last time somebody had made such an undeniable impression on her, regardless of her current annoyance at the model. 

"Tell me something, do you find me attractive?" 

No , I do. Who wouldn't?

Can I just melt in her glorious voice? Her eyes... They're like a beautifully written allegory...

Jeez, what is the matter with me right now? Why am I even thinking of her? Of all people! Ugh, she is so full of it. Even from the way she moves. She probably thinks I'll come crawling to her with that smile of hers.  She probably gets asked out on the daily.

...But how do you keep someone like that out of your mind? Just get a grip, Taeyeon. God, this is really annoying. I feel like a crazy, hormonal teenage girl. 

I can't stop thinking about her. 

This must be what crazy feels like. 

Yes, that has to be it. I'm going crazy and she is the cause. Thanks a lot, Tiffany. 

Taeyeon's daydreams and inner monologues were rudely interrupted by none other than her best friend, Yuri. 

"Yo yo yo, Taengoo, what is up with you? Did you even catch my story?" Yuri had a quizzical look on her face, snapping her fingers at Taeyeon in hopes that it would bring her back to reality. Taeyeon abruptly sat up straight, as if she had just been jolted awake from a light nap. 

"Wh-what? Oh, sorry. Yeah, continue, I'm fine," Taeyeon dismissed the questions, despite the fact that she was now under the scrutiny of her two friends. She tried with all her might to avoid looking nonplussed. 

"Yeah, right. What did I just say right now, then?" Yuri arched an eyebrow, crossing her arms like a parent awaiting an explanation. Needless to say, Taeyeon really didn't care at the moment. Sunny smirked, finding mirth in this new situation. 

"Either something about that new student in the music department you find quite attractive, or your new workout regimen," Taeyeon haphazardly guessed. Yuri's eyes widened, while Sunny provided a round of applause, albeit short. 

"How the heck... You're a good guesser, I'll give you that, Taeyeon." Yuri her nonexistent beard. Taeyeon sighed, relieved that they would hopefully leave her alone now. Hopefully. She propped her head back on her hand, staring outside of the cafe, back to her dazed state. 

"Sooooo, are you gonna tell us why you've been on cloud nine this whole day?" Of course they wouldn't.

"You were so out of it that you didn't even notice the professor staring holes into you during the lecture," Sunny stated, and Yuri nodded in total agreement. 

Damn, that bad?

"Yeah, that bad! Go on, spill. We're listening. Unlike you, a few minutes ago," Yuri grinned, looking at her friend expectantly.

Sunny only observed. She analyzed Taeyeon's face for traces of anything interesting. As if on cue, she caught Taeyeon trying to stifle a blush coming on. Bingo. Gotcha, my friend. 

"There is nothing to spill," 

"Is it a girl?" 

Taeyeon rolled her eyes. "Yuri, there is nothing to spill," 

"You think she's hot? She must have been, I mean look at your face, you look like a little tomato right now," Sunny added, squishing the older woman's cheeks. Vexed, Taeyeon shook herself free from Sunny's grasp. They want the story? Fine, I'll give them the story. After a long pause, Taeyeon broke the silence.

"...She's a model," 

Silence. 

Yuri's jaw hit the table with a clamorous thump, and Sunny looked just as incredulous. Taeyeon then took a minute to revel in their reactions. 

"You. Hooked up. With. A. Model?" Yuri managed to eke out, making sure to emphasize select words. Of course, she drew unwanted attention to their table. Sunny even almost covered their raucous friend's mouth, sheepishly apologizing to surrounding patrons. Concurrently, Taeyeon had turned at least three or four shades of red darker, burying her face in her hands to conceal her reddened visage. 

She couldn't help but let her mind wander there, not after something like that had been mentioned. 

No, no, no! Do not think about her like that! Anything but that! Think of puppies, 35 mm film, grapefruits, anything! Dammit! 

"W-we didn't hook up!" Taeyeon stammered, vigorously sipping cool water to calm herself. 

"Yet," Sunny waggled her eyebrows suggestively. Taeyeon then nearly choked on the water, eliciting a fit of guffaws from Yuri. 

"I knew it was too impossible, a model sounds too out of your league," Yuri sighed with relief. This earned her a knock on the forehead. 

"You say that as if a model is in your league, Kwon Yuri," Sunny scoffed. Someone needed to deflate that ego from time to time. 

"How did you manage to meet a model, though?" Sunny continued. Heaving a long breath, Taeyeon decided to go from start to finish, leaving out nothing. 

She explained everything. From the impromptu photoshoot request from Jessica, to the grueling three hours of photographing the fire that was Tiffany Hwang, to their very close contact during the shoot. Taeyeon made sure to include the annoying feelings that were now plaguing her, both the negative and (possibly) positive feelings she was now dreadfully harboring. 

"Shoot, I should have been a photographer. Why didn't I think of that!" Yuri whined. For the umpteenth time since they met at the cafe, Taeyeon rolled her eyes. 

"It's a lot harder than you think, you pabo. Besides, I just went on that long-winded story about Tiffany and that's all you have to say?" Taeyeon harrumphed. Out of nowhere, she felt a hand on her shoulder. 

"I say go ahead, Taeyeon." Yuri encouraged. Taeyeon opened to protest when a single finger landed on her lips to silence her. Go ahead? Why would I play with fire like that?

"It's a no-brainer! She's unbelievably out of your league and yet she seems to be interested? Why the hell not?" Yuri reasoned. Taeyeon bit her lip in thought. "Jump on it, Kim Taeyeon. When was the last time you've had a girlfriend? Who happens to be a model, of all things! Give her a chance," Yuri threw her arms in the air in an exaggerated manner. 

As much as she was reluctant to admit it, Yuri might have had a point. 

What, no! Yuri has no point. She probably flirts with all her photographers. I'm just another one. 

Save yourself the time, Taeyeon.  

"In all honesty, Taeyeon-ah, I say be careful," Sunny prevailed as the voice of reason once more. Her tone was still light, but now had a sincere edge. Taeyeon made sure to listen carefully. "There's no point in denying that there's no attraction between you two, because there clearly is," 

"Thank you! See, Sunny agrees with m-" Yuri began. 

"-But you should proceed with caution. I don't know Tiffany, so of course I'm not judging her or her intentions, but there's always the possibility of you being lead on. Just looking out for you, you know." Sunny half-smiled. Now, Taeyeon was really conflicted. "But I trust your judgement, Taengoo." Sunny added. 

They're both right. 

Too bad, though. There will be no Tiffany and I. 

Proceed with caution. Hmm. Why not, though?

Taeyeon was about to begin a different topic of conversation when her phone's ringing interrupted her next thought. She excused herself to read the text. It was from Jessica. 

-hey, pop by my office when you're free-

Taeyeon arched an eyebrow. Again? For what? She was about to reply when another beep beat her to it. 

-we're looking at the drafts of the magazine spreads. figured u should come see.- 

Huh, that makes sense. Taeyeon wasn't doing anything anyway, it couldn't hurt. She typed her reply, asking what time she should be there. 

-soon, if possible.-

Taeyeon checked her watch. It was certainly doable. 

-sure thing, give me a minute.-

She looked up to find Yuri and Sunny bickering about some innocuous topic, she wasn't sure. 

"Hey, sorry guys, I gotta run to Sica's office. Next lunch is on me," Taeyeon apologized, patting crumbs off of her cardigan before standing up.

"Aww, you're ditching us? I'm holding you to that lunch, Kim Taeyeon." Yuri pointed a threatening finger and narrowed her eyes at Taeyeon, all in jest. 

"And don't forget to update us on Tiffany~" Sunny said in a voice dipped in caramel. 

And with that, she bid her friends goodbye one more time and was on her way. She started her car when she had a little thought. 

Wait, would Tiffany be there? 

~~~~~~~~~

Tiffany emptied the rest of her coffee cup while Jessica was flipping through the different pictures on her desk. Much to her amusement, she caught Jessica talking to herself again. 

"Wow, I really like this one." Jessica said, visibly awed. She turned the picture over to show Tiffany, and she nodded in complete agreement. With the glint she saw in her own eyes, Tiffany would have assumed that the model in the picture was a totally different person from her. She exuded so much charm, the camera captured her in the most impeccable time. Thanks to Taeyeon. 

She would never let anyone hear it, but she couldn't wait to see her.

"Taeyeon did really well. I really do owe her," Jessica thought aloud, still flipping through the pictures. Tiffany took this as an opportunity to do her digging. 

"How'd you meet her, anyway?" Tiffany asked in a casual tone. Jessica stopped flipping for a moment to look at Tiffany across her desk. 

"Oh, that dork you've been so bent on talking about?" Jessica grinned smugly. Tiffany's curiosity would be hard to quell at this point. 

Dork? Wait, so she's not as cold as she was letting on? Interesting...

"We were childhood friends, met her in middle school way back when. Why?" Sica continued as she resumed looking at the same pictures. 

"Just wondering. I didn't get to talk to her much during the shoot. She seems kind of... aloof?" Cute, more like. Jessica tilted her head, surprised at Tiffany's statement. "Anyway, I don't think she likes me very much," 

"That's strange, she's usually very warm and animated... Maybe she was just nervous," Jessica said. On the surface, she seemed oblivious, but it didn't take a genius to decipher that there was something a little more than curiosity behind Tiffany's questions. Besides, her whole bet with Victoria wouldn't exist if she thought so otherwise. Tiffany and Taeyeon just didn't know it yet. 

"Oh? About what?" About me? Or...?

"Taeyeon didn't tell you? She's not a fashion photographer, I called her here because the real one couldn't make it." Jessica informed. Now, that surprised Tiffany. She was so in control of the shoot, as if she had been doing it for years. The way she instructed her, too. Oh man, those brown eyes. 

"She's really talented, Jessie." Tiffany finally said.

Unbeknownst to the two occupants of the office, a third party was just about to enter. 

"Thanks," Taeyeon peeked her head through the glass door of Jessica's office. Tiffany turned around to hear see the person of interest. She winked at her haughtily, flirtatiously. Hello. Taeyeon rolled her eyes, but really it was only to combat the shade of crimson threatening to spread across her face. Seriously. 

"Yah, didn't someone tell your short self that eavesdropping is wrong?" Jessica threw a paper ball at Taeyeon and missed. 

"I didn't, I was just walking in when the two of you happened to be talking highly of me," Taeyeon shrugged, taking the unoccupied seat next to Tiffany. Do not even look at her, do not even pay attention to her. She does not faze you. Although... she looks super stellar in casual clothes. Dammit, Taeyeon!

"Seriously, Taengoo, you did a great job. Possibly better than what oppa could have taken. I mean, look at these!" Jessica handed her a couple of pictures. 

"Wow, I should call the both of you to do this more often if the results are gonna be like this each time," Jessica joked. 

"I'd rather not, actually." Taeyeon said, perhaps a little too sharply. This time, Tiffany frowned. She couldn't help but be slightly offended by Taeyeon. She hadn't done anything overly wrong to her, so why was she like this? 

"If that's the way you want it," Tiffany said with an equally, if not more, harsh tone. Day ruined. 

Jessica could sense the lightning bolts that they were now threatening to shoot at one another. It was unlike anything she'd seen from Taeyeon before. Huh, why is she acting weird?

Needless to say, it wasn't soon before Jessica had ended their little meeting. Tiffany had somewhere to be and Taeyeon had a test she needed to study for. Besides, the tension in the room was making the air pretty thick. 

"Don't forget the exhibition launch party this weekend," Jessica managed to say before the two had left her office. 

Tiffany didn't know what to say to Taeyeon, and vice versa. They also expressed no desire to walk out together, so Taeyeon went to the bathroom to let Tiffany leave first. 

As soon as she reached the ground floor, she found Tiffany standing outside the lobby doors. She must be waiting for someone to pick her up...

Taeyeon merely shrugged. She fished for her keys and was about to turn around and walk in the opposite direction when she saw a second figure approaching an unaware Tiffany. Suddenly, something felt amiss. There was just an unfathomable gut feeling she couldn't fight. 

She stopped for a moment, observing the situation from afar. Some creepy guy was sauntering towards Tiffany. She saw him say something to her, and she politely laughed. Huh, maybe I was wrong. Maybe they know each other. I'll wait it out just in case.

Then he continued talking, and Taeyeon could see that Tiffany was now clearly looking more and more uncomfortable with this character, despite the eyesmile she was maintaining. That, and he was getting a little too comfortable and close to Tiffany for Taeyeon's liking. No, they can't know each other. What is this fool doing? All right, I'm going out. 

Taeyeon was now steadily making her way towards Tiffany, ignoring every little thought telling her that she should go home. She never doubted her intuition. She walked through the doors. 

He was about to forcefully grab Tiffany's wrist when Taeyeon reached the scene. 

"There you are! Let's go home, babe," Taeyeon beamed. She hoped that she was convincing enough for this guy to back away or she would have to punch him where the sun doesn't shine. Tiffany looked at her with the most relieved eyes, which then told Taeyeon that her intuition may have been correct. 

"O-of course! Let's go," Tiffany was more than happy to stand next to Taeyeon and hold her hand. It felt like tiny pricks of electricity surging through their interlaced fingers. She called me babe, ohmygod. The look on the guy's face was priceless. 

"If I catch you near her again, you'll be sorry, sir" Taeyeon glared at the man, before leading Tiffany to her car. Her voice could have frozen over a dessert, and her stare could have had him on his knees. She didn't know it, but Taeyeon could be really scary when she wanted to. As soon as they reached Taeyeon's car, Taeyeon's stone cold demeanor switched to a look of pure concern almost instantaneously. 

"Are you okay?" Taeyeon asked. Her eyes studied Tiffany, checking if she was all right. She wondered if this was an occurrence that happened to Tiffany often. She grit her teeth at the thought.

"I'm fine, Taeyeon. Really. Thank you," Tiffany smiled, reassuring her. That was a side of Taeyeon she was never expecting to see, considering where they currently stood with one another. She was so protective, so hot. Full of surprises, this Taeyeon is. Full of surprises. 

Taeyeon sighed with relief. She must have been too uneasy to realize that they were still holding hands. 

"What a pig that guy was," Taeyeon shook her head, putting the key in the ignition and starting her car.

"I know. But I'm glad you handled him for me, babe," Tiffany giggled, and Taeyeon froze. For the second time since she'd met Tiffany, something clicked in her brain. She chose to ignore the pet name. Oh, hell. 

"I'm driving you home, where do you live?" Taeyeon said in an even tone, snapping back to trying to be unfazed by the beautiful woman who was now seated beside her. In her car. Alone. For several minutes. 

Tiffany told her address to Taeyeon, and off they drove. 

A/N: I'm a day late, noooo haha

Hello again, guys ^^ I apologize for ths chapter, it might just be me, but it was a little eh, in my opinion. This is supposed to be the chapter before all the "action" sort of starts to happen lolol A filler or segue, if you will lol

Anyways, thank you thank you thank you so much to all who read, commented, and subscribed! It's crazy! That was the biggest jump in subsrcibers I was ever expecting to get. thank you so much, wow I can't even, you guys are the best... Also, shoutout to Stephan, maraming salamat po~ haha. 

But what did you all think? (I think Taeyeon's bravado was kind of hot, I've always wanted to write something like that haha.)

Next update will be very very soon ^^ 

-Sare

P.S Have some uber cute Stepho, the gif inspired a part of this chapter~