Chapter  12

Taeyeon was ecstatic when the morning came, she jumpstart her morning like an eager teenage girl that is so excited with her first date.

“Morning Umma!” Taeyeon went to kiss her mother on the cheeks before settling down beside her niece’s side.

“Morning baby!” She also gave the child a loud kiss making the young girl squeal in laughter.

“Morning Mama!” Taeji also return her a sweet kiss.

“What are you having for breakfast baby?” Taeyeon ask the kid as she looks over the table on what her mother has prepared for them for breakfast.

“Pancake and syrup!”

“Okay!” Taeyeon get up and took some pancake on Taeji’s plate and drizzled it with some maple syrup then she cuts it in tiny bite size pieces. She also took a glass of milk for her little girl. When Taeyeon already see Taeji happily eating her breakfast that’s when she only get her own food.

“Umma, can you please prepare a bit earlier for the party? I need to bring you and Jiji there around 5.” Taeyeon looked up to her mother who is currently placing down her cup of coffee at her side.

“Why so early Tae?”

“Because I need to pick up Tiffany at their apartment by 6.”

“Oh! Okay!” Mrs. Kim is quite surprise at her daughter’s reason but stopped herself to ask further she’ll let her be for now she knows Taeyeon will come up to her when she feels like it’s the right time to tell her and mainly because this is the first time she saw her daughter acting excited and hyper again in a very long time. Mrs. Kim threw a warm smile to her daughter who is happily munching the food she cooked while occasionally feeding her granddaughter.

“Mama, you taking me to school today?” Taeji tugged on Taeyeon jacket as she successfully get it on to her body.

“Yes baby, see I’m wearing my shoes so we can go now. Let me take a look at your uniform first.” Taeyeon squat down and checked if Taeji’s uniform are all neat.

“Ah Umma I’ll also pick Taeji later after her class.”

“Okay, then I’ll cook extra for our lunch.”

“Ah don’t worry about that Umma I won’t be having my lunch here I have an appointment. I’ll just pick Taeji up then drop her home then I’ll go again.”

“You’re quite busy today huh.”

“Hahaha its fine Umma!” Mrs. Kim smiled seeing how her daughter’s smile seems to never fade the whole morning.

“Okay just drive safely and don’t rush.”

“I know mother! Baby go kiss your grandma bye bye we’re going now.” Taeyeon’s pats her niece’s back and the little girl happily runs to her grandmother.

“Bye Umma! Jiji going to school! Love you!” Taeji kiss her grandmother’s cheek and then Taeyeon kissed her next.

“Be a good girl baby! Love you too!” Mrs. Kim watch the two walk towards the door with a smile on her face. She silently prayed for their safety and hope that they all would stay happy and safe.

“Okay baby you’re good. Let’s go!” Taeyeon held out her hand and Taeji happily grabbed her mama’s hand as they skipped out of the house.

The moment Taeyeon and Taeji stepped out of their gate. An unknown shadow is following them constantly stealing glances on the two happily playing duo. In the corner that shadow continues to watch and observe Taeyeon and little girl in her arms. Waiting.

Taeyeon also felt like they are being watched but tried to dismiss the eerie feeling and just continue their way to Taeji’s daycare school.

“Taeji, Mama will pick you up later okay. Don’t go out anywhere without Teacher until I’m here okay.  And what’s Mama no. 1 rule?” Taeyeon asked the little girl as she tidies her bangs.

“Don’t talk to strangers and don’t go with them because Mama, Umma, Appa and Daddy will cry!” Taeyeon laugh then kiss Taeji on more time before letting her go to their classroom.

“Very good! Okay get inside and be good to your teacher and classmates! Have fun baby!”

“Bye Mama! Love you!” Taeji shouted at her then smiled widely before disappearing inside the classroom.

“I love you too.” Taeyeon whispered to herself. She always feels happy and proud whenever Taeji would do something sweet to her.

She remembered the first time she felt so proud and blessed and happy and love all at the same time when the moment Taeji first ever said the word ‘Mama’ to her or when she first took her first step towards her open arms or when Taeji would sleep peacefully on top of her chest when she’s still an infant and now she would cuddle beside her hugging her tightly. But she thinks nothing beats the moment she first heard Taeji cried just outside the delivery room door that’s when she knew their new happiness has arrive. During all those time Taeyeon would always cry tears of joy.

When Taeyeon is walking back to her car she felt that creepy feeling that she’s being watch and followed again. She immediately stopped walking and turns around to see I’m someone is indeed following her but just frowned when she saw no one. She just hastens her footsteps trying to want to get inside her car as she can.

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 After taking her niece for school, Taeyeon went to their studio café with a very happy mood. Her friends were even throwing her some questioning eyes when they saw her skipping on her feet while whistling some random happy tune.

“Morning Taeng! You seems to be in a good mood my friend!” Yuri said in a matter of factly tone when she entered Taeyeon’s office and catching a smiling Taeyeon too.

 “Morning Yul! And yes I am!” She answered back partnered with a bright smile on her face.

“Wow too much for the trying hard to get Taeyeon today huh?! Whatever it is, it must be something really really nice! ‘Coz you won’t be smiling from ear to ear like that if it’s not!” Yuri also felt happy seeing this happy Taeyeon today.

“Yul, please give me a favor?”

“Favor? Sure anything for you buddy!”

“Can you please not bother me all morning? I really need to finish picking up the pictures that Yoona shoot last week, so she could finally show the final draft to the newlyweds. “

“Ouch Taeng! Too much for me being nice huh?”

“What you’re nice and you’ll be really gonna be much nicer if you will do my favor?”

“But why?”

“Aish Kwon Yuri no more question! I need to be work free before lunch! Go help Hyoyeon in the kitchen or something.” Yuri threw another puzzled look at her so focused friend when a light bulb suddenly lit in her brain.

“Aha!”

“What?” Taeyeon jumped on her chair when she heard Yuri suddenly screamed.

“You’re going on a LUNCH DATE! Yes! Finally! You’re going out on a date! Yes! Thank you Lord! You finally asked her out! Yes! Yes! Yes!” Yuri screamed and jumped up and down like a lunatic all over Taeyeon’s office, gaining more attention that it should be.

“Unnie what’s wrong?” Yoona rush in followed by the same worried Sunny and Hyoyeon.

“Yeah What’s wrong Taeng?” Hyoyeon asked carefully seeing that their friend look embarrassed enough to be tease more.

“And why is Kwon Yuri acting like that?” Sunny pointed at the still ecstatic Yuri.

“It’s because! Our friend here!” Yuri pointed at Taeyeon who is now starting to blush even more. “Is having a date with her lovely dentist!”

“Yes!”

“Finally!”

“I’m happy for you Taengoo!”

“Aish! If you guys won’t stop, I won’t be able to get to that lunch because I still won’t be finished with this by that time! So please let me work peacefully!” Taeyeon pleaded with her hyper active friends, she also feels happy and she silently thanks them for giving her so much support.

“Roger that!” Sunny, Hyoyeon, Yuri and Yoona saluted at her with their huge smiles before walking out of her office to leave for work.

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Taeyeon took out her phone and texted Tiffany two hours before their supposedly “lunch meeting”. She still can’t use the word date after the word lunch afraid that she would only be jumping on to conclusion.

‘Just think of this as a friendly lunch with a new friend! Yeah just something like that’ She inhaled sharply before she started constructing her text.

Hi! Just wanna check if you’re still up for lunch with me? :)

Taeyeon sends the message with a shaky thumb.

Shortly after that her phone signaled her for an incoming message.

Hello! Yes! Lunch is still on! You and me! ^^

Great! I’ll text you the place next! Thanks Tiffany! :)

Taeyeon replied in a flash and.

No, Thank you Taeyeon! ^^

She couldn’t help but grin like a fool after reading the short reply of gratitude. She breathes first before she composed her next text to Tiffany about the place they would have their lunch at.

I’ll see you then? ^^

Yes! See you :)

Taeyeon immediately went out of her office when the clock strikes to twelve. Ignoring the whistles and huge grins plastered on her friends faces when they watch her made a dash out their studio café.

Before starting the engine of her car, Taeyeon checked her phone again to see any text from Tiffany and upon seeing one, she hurriedly scurried the poor cell phone’s screen.

Hi! I’m on my way! See you! ^^

Me too! :)

I’m about to start driving! See you!

Okay! Let’s just wait up, whoever comes first!

Don’t reply to my text anymore and focus on the road! Take care ^^

Taeyeon smiled reading Tiffany’s text for the nth time already since they started exchanging texts. She felt more excited than ever and the simple thoughtful message coming from the other girl suddenly made her heart feels warm.

Taeyeon took a deep breath before pulling the restaurant’s door. Her eyes are already focused on the table where Tiffany is already sitting at. While the latter’s eyes are also fixed on hers coupled with a simple yet still the most dazzling smile Taeyeon had ever seen. Taeyeon took her time and walk towards Tiffany in a very normal pace as she tries to mask away her excitement and nervousness at the same time.

“Hi! Sorry I’m a bit late, parking hassle.” Taeyeon greeted the smiling girl before taking her own seat.

“It’s okay. I also just got here!”

“I forgot how hard it is to find a parking space during lunch hours. Did you mange to find a spot easily?” She tried to make a casual conversation with her. Tiffany reluctantly smiled at her before answering.

“Uhm well, I kinda guess that it would be hard to park my car so I just left it at the clinic and just took a taxi to get here.”

“Wow! That’s so clever of you!” Taeyeon praised Tiffany but deep inside she’s already rejoicing hearing that the latter didn’t bring her car, meaning she could offer her a ride back at the clinic. But unknown to the celebrating photographer, the shy dentist already thought about this the whole morning.

“Would you like to take you orders now Miss?” The waiter approached their table and asked for their orders. After placing their orders, the two went quiet trying to think for another topic to tackle in order for them to continue gathering simple information about each other.

“Well.” Both said at the same time.

“You go first!” They awkwardly smiled at each other after speaking at the same time again.

Taeyeon recovered first and faked a cough. “You can go first.”

“Okay. Thanks!” Tiffany flashed her trademark smile that instantly caught the older girl off guard.

“W-w-what for?” Taeyeon can’t help but to stutter after experiencing the smile attack again.

“For inviting me for lunch.”

“I think I should be the one thanking you instead because you accepted my invite.”

“But you’re the treating. So thank you!”

“No thank you.”

“Are we going to argue about who should be the one to say thank you?”

“Uhm well…” Taeyeon trailed off. She can’t believe she’s behaving like this.

“Hahaha I can’t believe this!” She got startled when she heard a low laughter coming from Tiffany. Taeyeon couldn’t help but smile along with Tiffany.

“You’re welcome Dr. Hwang.” Taeyeon said while smiling at Tiffany.

“You’re welcome too Mrs. Kim.” Taeyeon’s smile vanished as she heard what Tiffany had addressed her. She was about to clear the misunderstanding, which is the number one agenda on why she asked for this lunch when the waiter already came back with their drinks and some appetizer. Taeyeon looked up at the waiter and before thanking him.

“Uhm Tiffany… wait can I call you Tiffany?” She cautiously asked.

“I believe we’re already passed that stage when you said goodbye to me last night.”

“But you called me…”

“Because you called me Dr. Hwang first so I thought that maybe you forgot or is just teasing me. So which one is it?” Tiffany mentally smacked herself, she didn’t know if what she said came out too strong or what because she can’t tell based on the expression of the older girl sitting in front of her.

“Just call me Taeyeon and I’ll call you Tiffany.” Both smiled at each other after that.

When their food arrived, Taeyeon put aside first her main agenda and just let Tiffany and herself eat in peace since both are really already hungry. The excitement made her really famished all along. Both didn’t notice how they are eating enthusiastically after they we’re already almost done with their plates.

“Wow that was good!” Tiffany was the first one to speak.

“Yeah! It was delicious right?!”

“Yep!”

“So dessert?!”

“Of course! That’s my favorite part of every meal!” Tiffany beam in joy after hearing the word dessert.

“Me too! What will you have?” Taeyeon already signaled the waiter.

“Hmmm I want strawberry cheese cake!”

Taeyeon smiled as she watched Tiffany scan the dessert menu. “A slice of strawberry cheese cake and Vanilla choco hot fudge please!”

When the waiter came back with their desserts Tiffany’s face instantly glow with happiness and Taeyeon wonders how is possible that Tiffany’s smiles would be more dazzling than it already it is. Even the waiter couldn’t help but to stare much to Taeyeon’s irritation but tried to hide it and courteously dismissed the poor guy.

“Yay! Dessert!” Taeyeon watched first.

“Seriously for a dentist, you surely love to eat sweet treats.”

“Hmmm that’s why I became a dentist because I love sweets so much since I was a kid and because I love eating sweets, I get to become a teeth hygiene freak, I got scared that I would destroy my teethes so, viola I took dentistry in college since I thought I understand the importance of having healthy teethes. Pretty boring right?” Tiffany told Taeyeon her childhood story on why she decided to become a dentist.

“No, not at all.”

“How about you Taeyeon what made you decide that you wanted to become a photographer?” Again, Taeyeon was caught off guard by Tiffany. She didn’t saw that one coming.

“Hmmm how do I say it.” Taeyeon stopped eating her ice cream and think hard.

“I think it started out as a hobby. My father gave me my first camera when I turned ten+. It was just a simple Polaroid camera. From then on I got to like taking photos of anything.”

“When you say anything I get the feeling that persons are not included since persons are not things you know.” Taeyeon was baffled. She wonder how could this girl in front of her can easily caught her off guard making all her defenses down.

“Well, kinda.” Taeyeon wavered. She’s beginning to be afraid of this girl. Or more likely she’s beginning to be afraid of herself for not having the power to hide anything from her.

Tiffany patiently waited for Taeyeon to continue her words. “I really kinda don’t like taking picture of people because I think they’re superficial. Humans are great in hiding their own emotions and feelings. They can perfectly hide their true selves with a simple smile unlike other things like places, sceneries or objects. They are what you see, there’s no pretention.” A short silence  pass by between them.

“I’m sorry if I sounded too cynical or whatever. It just that…”

“It’s okay Taeyeon. Everybody has their own reasons. Everybody has their own story. And yours didn’t sound that bad.” Tiffany assured the suddenly looking sad Taeyeon.

“But that was before.” Taeyeon looked up again and met Tiffany’s eyes. A small smile now playing on her lips.

“I now love taking pictures of peoples before I only took Taeji’s pictures to be exact. And it was Yuri and Yoona who always took pictures I’m just in charge in choosing and editing the pictures they took for the final cut and managing our business funds.” A soft chuckle was heard next.

Tiffany silently looked at the now smiling girl sitting in front of her. She looked at Taeyeon’s eyes that are now full of adoration for the child that is the topic of their on-going conversation.

“I could see you really love your daughter.” Tiffany smiled.

“A child could really change a person’s outlook in life, especially one’s own child. You’re so lucky Taeyeon for having a very beautiful daughter.”

“Uhm thanks Tiffany but…” Taeyeon was about to tell Tiffany her real relationship with Taeji when she was again cut off by an intruder.

But this time it was more than an intruder. It was the most un-wanted person Taeyeon would ever want to see. Not even the mere shadow of that person nor hearing the name of that person.