Rules One Year Later

Rules: One Year Later (Part 1) Posted on December 11, 2012 by thedonkatsu Tadaaa altho I’m kinda technically still in hiatus, my overworked brain decided to create a two-shot as a sequel/continuation to “Rules”. It might have a diff feeling tho, just to warn you :) Not sure what part 2 is gonna be like but for now, here’s part 1 ^^ ——— “That’s it? She’ll make kids with the dumb redhead? Not Harry?!” Tiffany pouted then roughly shoved what remained of the popcorn inside her mouth.

“The correct term is have kids,” Taeyeon replied. Her eyes were rarely on the screen. The only thing she was concerned about was the girl who had been paying no attention to her for the past 130 minutes. “Fine. Have kids. I still can’t believe she ends up with him.” Tiffany then pointed at the rolling credits with her butter stained finger. “This is why I don’t like long running movie series. They twisted and crushed everything you had hoped for in the beginning.” She shook her head. “I’m so glad I skipped at least three of them. I can’t believe she chose Ron! I mean, Harry’s not that great either – he’s just lucky, most of the time, and kinda short – but at least he’s smarter and better looking!” A little smile started to spread on Taeyeon’s face as she leaned back in the comfortable leather couch, observing the continuously ranting audience. She suddenly noticed Tiffany’s long hair dangling dangerously close to the oily bowl and reached out to tuck it away safely.

Tiffany stopped talking when she felt Taeyeon’s touch. She turned her head and smiled, silently conveying her gratitude before getting off the couch with a grunt.

Taeyeon never took her eyes off the back view of her girlfriend until the latter disappeared in the kitchen. She heaved a deep sigh as she pushed herself off the couch to turn off the DVD.

She was quietly placing the disk back in its case when she felt a pair of arms encircling her waist from behind. It made her jump, almost dropping the case to the floor.

“Don’t scare me like that!” She looked behind her as her hands pressed the disk in place and snapped the case shut.

“Sorry.” Tiffany only smiled. “Is something wrong?” She finally asked, her smile now carried a hint of concern.

Taeyeon placed the DVD on top of the stack of movies before she turned around. “No.”

“Liar.”

“There’s nothing wrong. Technically.” Taeyeon also placed her arms around Tiffany, pulling her close.

“What about non-technically?”

“Non-technically?” Taeyeon raised her brows. “Is that even the correct term?”

“Don’t argue. Just answer. You’ve been quiet all night.”

“I was bored. I’ve seen the movie before.”

“Kim Taeyeon…” Tiffany’s tone was threatening.

Taeyeon deflated. She untangled herself from Tiffany’s arms then took hold of her hand, pulling her towards the couch.

Tiffany frowned. “Are you okay?” Taeyeon’s inexplicable behavior worried her.

Taeyeon smiled. “I’m fine. It’s just… well… there’s something that I need to tell you.” She then stopped, still trying to find the best way to say what she had to say. She had tried to figure it out in the past 130 minutes but to no avail.

“What is it?” Now Tiffany was really worried. They were doing great, or so she thought. They had been together for a year, pulling each other through the stress of their final year at the university. All that was left now was the graduation ceremony next month and plenty of free time to spend with each other.

“I… err… remember when you asked me about why my parents didn’t send me abroad for university? Like… way back before we even officially started dating?” Taeyeon slowly asked. Her hand squeezed Tiffany’s in an attempt to comfort her.

“Yes?” She remembered her question and Taeyeon’s answer. It wasthe conversation that she wished they would never have – the one situation she had hope would never come true. Her heart started to beat a little faster as her hand gripped Taeyeon’s tighter. “Do you still remember what I told you?”

She nodded hesitantly. “Are you gonna… Did they tell you to…”

“Yeah.”

She tightened her hold on Taeyeon’s hand yet again, not even caring whether it hurt her. “W-when?”

“Fall semester.”

“Next fall semester?”

Taeyeon nodded.

“But that’s…” Her throat dried up. So fast. It was too fast.

Taeyeon tried to smile albeit sadly. “Still four to five months away. We have plenty of time to do nothing and just be our happily unemployed hobo selves.”

Tiffany had frozen in her seat.

Taeyeon grew worried. She reached out, gently brushing Tiffany’s cheek with her thumb. “Hey…”

She fought the tears that had started to brim as the realization sank in.

“Don’t cry. It’s just temporary.” Taeyeon pulled Tiffany into a hug, soothing her back with calm strokes of her hand. “I’ll come home every chance I get. I promise.”

She wrapped her arms around Taeyeon, holding her tight. She didn’t want her to go. They had just celebrated their first anniversary and she had expected it to be the first of many.

“Fany…”

She closed her eyes, letting the tears rolled silently down her cheeks. Taeyeon had told her that this would happen but nothing could prepare her when it really did. She then moved to hide her wet face in the crook of Taeyeon’s neck, stifling a sob.

“I’m not breaking up with you.” Taeyeon held Tiffany closer. “Nothing will change. We’ll just… see less of each other for a couple of years but that’s pretty much it. We can still call, chat, facetime…” She swallowed her own sadness as she turned her head, burying her face in Tiffany’s hair. “I love you,” she whispered in her ear. “I swear I have no intention to break up with you. I believe we can do this. It’ll be alright.”

A sniff escaped Tiffany. Although she was relieved to hear Taeyeon’s words, it unfortunately didn’t lessen her sadness or dilemma.

“Don’t cry, Fany. Please don’t cry?” Taeyeon was struggling to hold back her own tears. It felt so unfair to leave so soon but she didn’t have a choice. Her parents had planned her overseas graduate study even before she entered high school.

It was something that both knew was unavoidable although they secretly hoped they were wrong.

Tiffany didn’t want to think or ask Taeyeon about it even as they finished their final paper. She thought that no news meant good news – that maybe the plan had changed somewhere along the way.

Taeyeon, on the other hand, didn’t have the heart to bring it up even amidst the enrollment preparations simply because she didn’t want to upset Tiffany. She had decided to postpone telling her until she couldn’t do so anymore, until she received the acceptance letter.

That paper finally arrived a few days ago and it had been plaguing her conscience as she searched for a way to break the news to Tiffany.

“We still have four months together. And we’ll literally spend every waking hour together after you moved out of the dorm next week,” Taeyeon coaxed, reminding Tiffany about their temporary living arrangement before the latter could find her own place to stay. She exhaled once the urge to cry had disappeared. “We’ll gain weight, contribute to the retail industry, shove some kids aside at the amusement park…”

Tiffany had to chuckle at that.

“And I’ll go job hunting with you if you want.” Taeyeon smiled, relieved to hear the soft laugh. She pushed Tiffany back to get a better look at her. Her heart broke at the sight. Making Tiffany cry was the last thing she ever wanted to do.

“I’m sorry,” she said as she wiped the wet cheeks with her hand.

Tiffany sniffed. “You haven’t washed your hand, have you?”

“They’re clean! You fed me the popcorn.”

“Then why do they smell like butter?”

“I don’t know. Because they touched your smooth butter-like skin?” She grinned.

“Dear god, Taeyeon.” Tiffany gagged.

Taeyeon grinned, glad to see that Tiffany still reacted to her joke. “Feel better?” She gently patted Tiffany’s cheek.

She shook her head.

“Sorry.” Taeyeon leaned closer, placing a soft kiss on Tiffany’s forehead. “Two years would go by so fast. Before you know it, I’ll be back here to make you gag at my cheesiness.”

“At least you’re aware of your cheesiness.”

Taeyeon smiled. She tilted Tiffany’s chin and kissed her.

Tiffany relaxed when she felt Taeyeon’s lips tenderly tugging at her own. Her hands went up to clutch Taeyeon’s t-shirt, pulling her as close as she could. She couldn’t imagine being without her for two years and that thought triggered yet another warm surge of tears as she deepened the kiss, letting out everything she was feeling inside.

Taeyeon could sense the slight tremble of Tiffany’s lips, followed by the sudden intensity of her kiss. She yielded, matching her lover’s pace and fervor.

They slowed down after a while, reverting back to the initial tenderness of light pecks on now slightly bruised lips.

Tiffany was the first to pull back. She let go of Taeyeon’s lip then opened her eyes.

“I’m sorry.” Taeyeon thumbed the remaining wetness away. She knew that she had been repeating herself but she just didn’t know what else to say.

She shook her head. “You’ve told me.”

“Bet you thought they were going to change their minds, huh?” Taeyeon smiled.

“I was hoping for it.”

“Me too.”

Tiffany bent down, placing her head against Taeyeon’s chest and her arms around Taeyeon’s waist, hoping to envelop herself in her warmth.

Taeyeon held Tiffany and pulled her along as she lay down on the couch. She lifted her legs and shifted until they were both comfortable.

“Will Jessica be going with you?” Tiffany asked after a few minutes of just quietly cuddling with Taeyeon.

“No. But Yoong might join me next year if she manages to graduate in time and if her grades meet the requirements.”

“Oh.”

Taeyeon rubbed Tiffany’s arm. “What about that plan you had? About going back to L.A? Back to your family?”

“No go.”

“No go?”

“No.”

“Not ever?”

“Maybe in… ten years?”

She looked down at the brown hair splayed on her chest. “Why?”

Tiffany lifted her head and looked up, meeting Taeyeon’s gaze. “Because I’m not alone anymore.”

That made Taeyeon smile. “You were never alone. There’s Soonkyu and Bucky too.”

Tiffany laughed. “Good ol’ Tom and Jerry. Yeah. Thank goodness for them.” She inched up to give Taeyeon a quick peck. “But you know it’s different.”

“From?”

She raised her eyebrows. “You seriously want me to say it?”

“Yes please. I like feeling special.” Taeyeon put on her most innocent look.

“It’s different from this rich brat who violated me on our second date.”

“Yah!”

“What?”

“I did no such thing!”

“Like hell you didn’t!”

“You violated me too!”

“Wha-… How?!”

“Rhythmically and skillfully.” Taeyeon then laughed out loud, breaking into her ahjumma chortles.

She hit Taeyeon’s arm, her face turning redder than a tomato. “Yah! You were the wild one!”

“Ah yes. That.” Taeyeon’s laughter died down. “Someone did tell me that apparently…” She pretended to cough. “You had labeled me Hulk since our second date?” Her cheeks blushed a bit but that didn’t erase the grin she had on her face. Tiffany gasped. “Who told you?” She glowered.

“Could be Tom, could be Jerry…”

She fisted Taeyeon’s collar. “Spill it, Kim Taeyeon.”

“Why should I?” Taeyeon’s eyes twinkled mischievously. “It doesn’t even matter. Fact is, you’re just as byuntae as I am.”

“So you admit you’re a byuntae?”

“Yes. But only for you.” Taeyeon held Tiffany’s hands that were still clutching her t-shirt. “You’re my kryptonite.” She lifted her head to give Tiffany a kiss.

“So you’re Supertaeng?” She laughed when she heard her own silly sentence.

“Only when I’m not Hulk.” Taeyeon then let out a low growl through her clenched teeth, complete with the nose wrinkle and narrowed eyes – her interpretation of how a Hulk would growl.

“Sigh… why do I love you again?” Tiffany repositioned her head on Taeyeon’s chest, placing her ear against Taeyeon’s beating heart. She closed her eyes. What would I do without you? Taeyeon’s hand searched for Tiffany’s then held it, entwining their fingers. “For the same reason why I love you.”

—-

“Honey!”

Tiffany increased her speed, walking as fast as she could, away from Taeyeon.

“Oh come on!” Taeyeon broke into a run when she realized that she would never be able to catch up with Tiffany in her current pace. She grabbed Tiffany’s arm as soon as she could reach it. “It wasn’t that bad.”

“Humph!” Tiffany yanked her arm free before rushing away yet again.

“Okay okay, I’m sorry for making you go into the haunted mansion.” Taeyeon dashed forward, hugging Tiffany from behind. “But it wasn’t that bad, seriously.”

She squirmed, struggling out of Taeyeon’s hold.

“Hey! I said I’m sorry.” Taeyeon tightened her arms. “Oomph!” And got an elbow in the chin as a reward. The force knocked her back a step.

Tiffany quickly spun around, approaching the grimacing girl who was holding her chin. “Sorry sorry sorry.” She pried Taeyeon’s hand off and started rubbing the inflicted area with her palm as gently as she could. “Did it hurt?”

“What do you think?” Taeyeon sulked.

“Sorry.” She grinned apologetically.

Taeyeon quietly let Tiffany soothe her injury until the latter stopped on her own. “Honestly though. Was it really that scary?” She asked.

“Only in the beginning.”

“I noticed.” Taeyeon showed her left arm now decorated with thin red marks. “But I thought that was it. You looked okay during the rest of the ride. Why did you run off like that then?”

“Because you embarrassed me.” Tiffany took a step back, folding her arms as she pouted.

“What did I do?”

“You kept soothing me as if I was a baby!”

“But you were acting like one!”

“It’s embarrassing!”

“I did it lovingly!”

“You cooed!”

“I cooed lovingly! I even used ‘baby’, ‘dear’, ‘my love’, ‘honey’…” Taeyeon counted on her fingers. “Which is why it was so embarrassing! Did you see how the staff at the exit keep laughing at us?”

“He was just jealous.”

Tiffany sighed in exasperation, dropping her hands to her side. “Taeyeon-ah…”

“Okay okay. Please forgive me. I thought it could make you smile.” She moved towards Tiffany then hugged her waist. “If it makes you feel better, my left ear is still ringing. I think you might have damaged it.”

“How is that supposed to make me feel better?”

“Because it’s even now. I embarrassed you and you made me deaf. An eye for an eye.” She paused. “Or in this case… a discomfort for an ear? Hm… I think I got the short end of the stick here.”

“Well… you are short…” Tiffany smiled slyly, feeling better thanks to the retaliation. Taeyeon rolled her eyes. “Here we go again with the height jokes.”

“Let’s see if they’ll allow you in the roller coaster.” Tiffany started to walk backwards, dragging Taeyeon with her.

“Ha. Ha. You know they will.” Taeyeon didn’t remove her arms from around Tiffany even though it made her stumble a few times.

“Let’s prove it then.”

“Better yet, let’s bet on it. If they let me in, you’ll be my slave for the night.” Taeyeon smirked.

“Slave? You’re going to make me work?!”

“Yes. Hard.”

Tiffany stopped abruptly, making Taeyeon bump against her. “And if I win?”

“I’ll be your slave for the entire week.” She knew that she couldn’t lose. “What do you say, Hwang?”

“Bring it, Kim.”

—-

“Miyoung-ah!”

Tiffany instantly sighed. Taeyeon won the bet and had been gloating about it ever since they left the amusement park. It was starting to get on her nerves. “What?” She answered curtly.

Taeyeon came out of the shower fully dressed.

“Why are you in jeans?” Tiffany asked.

“Why are you in pajamas?” Taeyeon replied.

“Because I’m tired and it’s late.”

“Well, go change. Let’s go out for dinner.”

“Can’t we just order room service or eat cup ramen or something?” She was already too comfortable on the bed.

“No. And since you’re my slave for the night, you have to do as I say.”

“Whatever,” Tiffany grumbled before changing the channel with the remote in her hand.

Taeyeon walked up to the bed, climbed in and sat down next to Tiffany. “You…” She kissed her cheek. “Are…” Another kiss. “My…” And another. “Slave.” She grabbed the remote from Tiffany’s hand. “So do as I say or there will be no Hulk until we go back to Korea.”

Tiffany just impassively stared at Taeyeon with her slightly pink cheeks, masking her delight in the cute gesture Taeyeon just did. “There’s still Supertaeng.”

“Nope. She’s out of the country.”

She shrugged, turning her attention back at the TV. “Okay then.”

The mattress shook as Taeyeon moved to block Tiffany’s view, sitting on her thighs.

“Please get off. You might be short but you sure ain’t light.” Tiffany placed her hands on Taeyeon’s shoulders, trying to push her away.

Taeyeon ignored the insult and grabbed Tiffany’s hands instead. “I want to take you to Tokyo Tower tonight, after dinner,” she said earnestly. “It’s kinda the highlight of this trip anyway.” She smiled.

The abrupt change in Taeyeon’s demeanor surprised Tiffany. For a few seconds, all she could do was stare at Taeyeon’s soft eyes and smile.

“So please get ready?” Taeyeon asked again, still in that quiet tone.

Tiffany blinked. Their banters and the playful arguing during this entire visit to Japan had successfully distracted her mind from the impending farewell next week. She knew that Taeyeon would eventually take her back to that tower but as sentimental as it was to her, she didn’t really want to go because going meant ending this trip; ending their blissful four months of doing everything and nothing together – of having Taeyeon with her.

The shift in Tiffany’s expression didn’t go unnoticed. Taeyeon knew exactly what Tiffany was thinking. She didn’t need the reminder either but what better way to spend their last night there than to return to where it all started.

“Please?” She pleaded.

Knowing that she couldn’t refuse Taeyeon, she was only able to exhale quietly as she freed her hands from Taeyeon’s grip, scooting off the bed to get changed.

—-

“Yokohama.” Taeyeon pointed at the colorful ferris wheel in the distance. Yesterday, they had finally taken that walk she had promised Tiffany last year.

Tiffany just nodded, holding onto Taeyeon’s hand.

“It’s not the end, Fany,” she spoke. “I’m not leaving you.”

“I know.” She kept her eyes on the night view.

“Then please don’t be so sad?”

“Two years, Taeyeon.”

“Could be less. I’ll try to finish as fast as I can and I’ll come home for the holidays and stuff.” She turned her head, observing Tiffany’s side profile and her mellow eyes. “What’s really bothering you?” She knew that there was more to it than just the fear of temporary separation.

“Remember when you said that even though you’d broken every rule when you met me, there was still that one month thing you kept? And your blunt honesty policy?”

“Yes?”

Tiffany breathed in. “I have a couple of those too.”

“A couple of what?”

“A couple of my strictly-to-be-followed rules that I should keep no matter how many others I’ve broken.” She gulped. “Because it’s safer that way. Hurts less.”

Uneasiness started to grow inside Taeyeon. “Oh? What are they then?” Tiffany had never talked about this before.

“One is to never date anyone who doesn’t live in the same city…” She looked at Taeyeon and even in the darkness of the observation deck, she could see the shock and worry. “And the other is to never date anyone who can’t or won’t spend special days with me. Birthdays, anniversaries… Christmas…”

“I will spend your birthday with you!”

“I know but-…”

“And we celebrated my birthday and we spent last Christmas together and our anniversary and graduation a-and…” Taeyeon stopped talking when Tiffany kissed her. For the first time since she knew for sure that she’d be leaving, she was scared of losing Tiffany. Her arms went around her to hold her tight as she kissed her with everything she got. She didn’t want to lose her.

Tiffany’s eyes were glistening when their lips finally parted. She closed them as her forehead touched Taeyeon’s.

“Please don’t break up with me?” Taeyeon whispered, closing her eyes. “I’ll come home for Christmas and for summer break and for every other break there is.” She swallowed her tears. “Please?”

“Will it work?”

“Yes.”

“How do you know?” Tiffany lifted her head and opened her eyes.

Taeyeon looked at Tiffany. “Because it will.”

Deep down, she wished it were true. “Long distance seldom works, Taeyeon. You know that.”

“It’s only two short years, Fany! Probably less!”

“You know I don’t want to end this eith-…”

“Then don’t! We can do this. I’ll come home very soon.” Taeyeon sighed. “I’ll be back and things will return to normal except we won’t be students anymore. Nothing else has to change.” She was still looking intently into Tiffany’s eyes when she gently cupped her cheek. “I will not so much as blink at another woman. We can talk everyday. We have technology on our side.”

“…”

She grew scared when Tiffany didn’t say a word. “Fany?”

Tiffany gave Taeyeon a small smile but the latter didn’t quite understand what it meant.

She wanted to ask but before she could, Tiffany had kissed her again, making her swallow the words.

“Let’s go back. I’m tired,” Tiffany said after their kiss ended. She pulled Taeyeon by the hand, towards the small elevator. ---

======

She stirred the drink in her hand, tuning out the familiar sound of her friends’ bickering. Her mind was only filled with the person who was going to leave her in a few days.

“Isn’t that right, Fany? Fany? Yah! Hwang Miyoung!” The loud voice jerked her back to reality. “H-huh?”

“What’s the point?” Sooyoung shook her head. “Here I am submitting my dignity to this… this hobbit, out in public, all for someone who’s not even listening to me.”

“Don’t worry, you didn’t have much to lose in the first place, Bucky,” Sunny said, earning a fake punch from Sooyoung. She stuck her tongue out before turning her attention to her other, quieter, friend. “Don’t look so sad, Fany.”

“How can I not? We haven’t even passed the honeymoon period.”

“Honeymoon? So you’re married now?”

“You know what I mean.” Tiffany was not in the mood for witty replies. She let go of the straw she had been disfiguring and rested her hands on her lap.

“It’s only for two short years. She’s not breaking up with you. I bet you’ll see her again at Christmas,” Sunny matter-of-factly stated. “I can understand the unwillingness to part but it’s just temporary. Aren’t you blowing this a little out of proportion? You’ve been mourning like she’s dead for four months now! Ow!” She glared at Sooyoung for that kick. “What?” She mouthed at her glaring tall friend.

“Long distance relationships are hard! She’ll be at the other side of the globe, in a country where all the girls are tall, pretty, fashionable and speak with a sexy accent.”

“It is far but two years is seriously not that bad and-… Wait. Sexy accent? What sexy accent?” Sunny looked at Tiffany then at Sooyoung. She was confused. “Isn’t she going to the States? Where they all speak non-sexy-hurricane English like Fany and Sica?” “She’s going to Hogwarts, you old toad,” answered Sooyoung in a fake British accent, slurring her fail pronunciation. “To the land of Notting Hill and Bridget Jones’ Diary and handsome Prince Harry.” She raised her mug to take a sip in mock elegance, complete with the pinky lift.

The mention of the romantic movies made Tiffany flinch but her friends were now too busy talking to notice.

“I thought you preferred Prince William?”

“He’s married now and thinning at the top so no thank you. I prefer them single, young, vibrant and with smaller nose and teeth.” Sooyoung flipped her hair, still speaking in her bad accent.

Sunny snorted, barely stopping herself from retorting. This wasn’t the main conversation so she diverted her attention back to Tiffany. “England it is. But they’re not gonna be all pretty and tall and fashionable, Fany. Even though the accent thing might indeed be slightly dangerous…” She saw Tiffany’s eyes widening. “I said ‘might’. Relax.”

“Hm… that accent. Jude Law, pre-Twilight Robert Pattinson, Clive Owen… Gasp! Christian Bale! Batman’s so hot,” Sooyoung mused, fanning herself with her hand while smirking contently at the thought of the handsome men. “Ow!” She jumped when Sunny kicked her under the table. “What? He is hot!”

“Focus, Bucky!” Sunny snapped her fingers. “Look, Fany, this isn’t the end, okay? She’s not breaking up with you and I think she’s not the cheating type especially after that whole fiasco with her psycho ex,” Sunny calmly comforted Tiffany after shutting Sooyoung up. “Is there something more to this?”

Shifting slightly in her seat, Tiffany inhaled before opening her mouth to speak. “I promised myself to never date anyone that doesn’t live in the same city.”

“What? Why?”

“Because it will only break my heart. Like I said, long distance relationships are hard. The chance of success is… what… 5%? Remember that classmate of mine? Sun-whatshername? How her boyfriend dumped her through email? Coldly discarding her just like that after she waited for him for… two years?” That little fact instantly silenced her. Two years. Just like Taeyeon and me. “Then why did you date Taeng?”

The straightforward question from Sunny caught Tiffany off guard. “What do you mean?”

“You knew that she would leave the country. Didn’t she tell you about her plans early on?”

“Well… yes, but back then it was just a possibility. She was here so that was all that mattered.”

“She’s still here.”

“Not for the next two years.”

“She can visit you anytime she wants! Private jet, remember?” Sunny frowned. “See what I mean? You’re totally exaggerating right now.”

“What? I’m not! Aren’t you supposed to be more supportive?” Tiffany knitted her brows, clearly not happy with Sunny’s words.

“I’m just telling it like it is. You’re whining like a baby.”

“You don’t know how I feel!”

“Even so, you’re being totally unreasonable. Taeng isn’t leaving you for good. You’ll just see less of each other for a while. That’s it.”

The two girls were now glaring at each other.

Sooyoung clapped her hands like a movie slate, breaking the stare down. “Okay enough! I give you one point and a yellow card each.” She pointed her finger at Sunny then at Tiffany. “Sunny’s right, Fany. Although I know it’s hard, you’re being a total drama queen right now. And Sunny, Fany has a point. We’re not in her situation so we can’t judge. She has every right to be worried.”

Both friends didn’t comment.

It took Tiffany’s ringing phone to break the icy atmosphere at the table.

“Hello?” She answered the call.

“Hey, where are you?”

“Starbucks.”

“Insadong?”

“Yes.”

“I’ll come pick you up then.”

“You’re done with the packing and stuff?”

“Yes. For now anyway.”

She quietly exhaled, feeling her heart grow heavier. “Are you still home?”

“No. I’m back at the apartment.” Taeyeon knew that Tiffany was still having a hard time coping with the news. And so, she had begged her parents to let her stay at the apartment until a couple of days before her flight because she wanted to spend as much time with Tiffany as she could even though the latter had moved out, having now found an apartment that she shared with an old friend from school.

“Do you want to go somewhere later? If not, I can just ask Sunny or Sooyoung to drop me off so you don’t have to go out. It’s faster that way.”

“What about dinner?”

“Let’s just order take-out.”

“Oh. Okay then. So you’re coming home soon?”

Tiffany held her breath at the word ‘home’. Soon her home would be at a country she had never been to, five thousand miles away across the ocean, because that was where her heart would be.

“Fany?”

“Yeah. I’ll be home soon. You can go ahead and order dinner if you want.”

“Okay then. See you.”

“Bye.”

She was still staring at her phone when she sensed her friends moving to stand. She lifted her head and saw that Sooyoung was shouldering her bag while holding her car keys in her hand.

“Come on. I’ll take you both home,” Sooyoung said understandingly.

“Thanks, Syoung-ah.”

—-

Something soft pressed against her cheek, waking her. She huffed when she felt it for the second time – on the back of her hand this time.

Moving to lie on her back, she took a second to stretch. She heard a giggle next, willing her to open her eyes. Blinking to adjust to the light, she turned her head and saw that dimpled smile. “What?” She asked in a raspy voice.

Taeyeon shook her head. “Nothing.” She was happily admiring the cute view of Tiffany waking up. It was something she wouldn’t be able to see again for a long time so she mentally recorded every second.

“What are you doing?” The last thing Tiffany remembered was the movie they were watching together.

“Watching you sleep.”

“Creep.” Tiffany pushed Taeyeon’s face away, her palm covering the cheeky grin.

Taeyeon laughed. She stood up from her squatting position, taking hold of Tiffany’s hand to pull her up.

“What time is it?”

“Midnight.” With one final grunt, Taeyeon successfully made Tiffany stand firmly on her feet. She then hugged her. “Happy birthday.”

Now Tiffany was fully awake. She remembered that it was indeed her birthday but she didn’t feel excited at all.

Taeyeon loosened her hold to be able to look at Tiffany. Her smile disappeared when she saw the sad look. “It’s your birthday, Fany.”

“So?”

“So smile.”

“Don’t feel like it.”

“Why not?”

Tiffany lifted three fingers. “Three days left.”

Taeyeon didn’t know what to say to that. “Let’s just forget that for now and enjoy your birthday.” She turned around and squatted down to light the candles on the cake that she had placed on the coffee table. She then lifted it and showed it to Tiffany. “Ta-da! Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday, my Miyoung. Happy birthday to you! Yay!” She cheered for herself after the song, skipping in place while carefully balancing the cake on her hands.

Tiffany had to smile. “Thank you.” She kissed Taeyeon gratefully.

“Make a wish.” Taeyeon gestured the cake closer to the birthday girl.

She closed her eyes and clasped her hands. Please bring Taeyeon back to me no matter what will happen to us in the next two years. She felt tears but held it back. “Fany?” It took Tiffany quite a while to make her wish and Taeyeon had begun to worry. “The candles are melting.”

After taking one deep breath to make sure that she wouldn’t cry, Tiffany opened her eyes to see Taeyeon’s brows furrowed with concern.

She quickly blew out the candles. “Yay.” She faked her enthusiasm and clapped her hands.

Taeyeon placed the cake on the table before embracing Tiffany with the biggest hug she could give. She felt Tiffany relaxing in her hold. “Happy birthday, honey,” she joked. “Ow!” She flinched when Tiffany slapped her butt.

“Thank you.”

“That’s it? No ‘baby’, ‘dear’, ‘honey’?”

“No.”

“Oh come on.”

Tiffany moved her head, nuzzling her nose in Taeyeon’s hair. “I love you,” she whispered in Taeyeon’s ear like Taeyeon had done to her many times before. “And I’ll miss you very much.”

The last sentence sounded so much like a goodbye it made Taeyeon choke. She coughed, withdrawing her arms from around Tiffany.

“You okay?” Tiffany soothed Taeyeon’s back.

“Y-yeah.” She coughed one last time, hoping that it would chase away the returning fear of losing Tiffany.

“I’ll get you some water.”

“No. It’s fine.” Taeyeon quickly caught Tiffany’s wrist before the latter could walk away. “I’m fine.” She tenderly ran the back of her fingers over Tiffany’s cheek. “I love you too.” She refused to say that she’d miss Tiffany just as much because she didn’t want to hear that hint of finality again.

“Taeyeon…” She held the hand that was still on her cheek. She couldn’t do this. She didn’t want either of them to be crushed. “I think we need to talk.”

Taeyeon inhaled sharply. She knew what Tiffany was going to say but she refused to give in. “I’m not leaving you! We’ll be fine! I’ve told my parents that I would be going home for Christmas. I’ll come home. I’ll come back to you.” The fear of losing Tiffany once again gripped her. “Please just give me a chance to prove myself? I love you. I don’t want to let you go. I’m not ready to end this. I don’t want to end this. Don’t do this.”

“Long distance relationships are tough, Taeyeon. You know that. It doesn’t work 95% of the time.”

“Then we’ll be the 5%!”

Tiffany looked down, avoiding Taeyeon’s eyes. “I-I… don’t know if I can.” She swallowed. “I’m sorry for being selfish but losing you later would hurt at least a thousand times more.”

“You’re not losing me! Not now, not later, not ever!” Taeyeon reached out, tilting Tiffany’s head by the chin. Both their eyes were filled with tears. “I love you. I don’t want to break up with you.” She kissed her. “I haven’t even given you your birthday present yet.”

Tiffany smiled a little. “What did you get me then?”

Letting go of one of Tiffany’s hands, Taeyeon reached inside her pocket. “Well… this might sound a bit strange but I’ve been thinking.” She paused, steadying herself. “I know you need a sense of security, a guarantee. I do too, honestly. Like you said, long distance relationships are tough and very uncertain. I realize that too but it doesn’t mean that we can’t make it work.”

The hand inside the pocket wrapped itself around the small hard object.

“I don’t know about you but I really like our recent living arrangement, after you moved out of the dorm and before you found your new apartment.” Taeyeon smiled. “And it got me thinking. Is it possible to have that again after two years? After I return? Is it possible to have that again permanently and not just because one of us happens to be homeless at the time?” She tried to add a little humor to ease them both.

Tiffany kept staring at Taeyeon quietly, unsure where the latter was going with this.

“I know I’m not making much sense now but hear me out, okay? It took me a while to sort through all those messy and seemingly unrelated thoughts until it hit me. I might have found the solution to both. Something that would convince you that I’m serious about us and at the same time convince me that you’ll still be here when I return.” “What are you talking about, Taeyeon?” Tiffany furrowed her brows, confused by Taeyeon’s words.

She slowly took her hand out of her pocket. “I know it’s crazy to ask you to marry me-…”

Tiffany gasped. “WHAT?!”

“I said it’s crazy! I’m not doing that! Breathe, Fany. Breathe.” Taeyeon quickly assured Tiffany, rubbing her arm to set her at ease.

Tiffany breathed in. In spite of the relief, her heart couldn’t seem to stop increasing its pace in anticipation. So she had thought about marrying me? Us? Married? “Let me repeat that. I know it’s crazy to ask you to marry me so I’m not doing that. However, I do have something else to ask you.” Taeyeon unclenched her fist, revealing a small diamond ring in the middle of her palm. She then picked it up with her other hand, holding it between her fingers. “Consider this a promise ring.” She looked into Tiffany’s eyes. “I’m promising you me; my heart, my love, my faithfulness… everything. Will you do the same? Will you wait for me? Can you break one more rule for me?” She paused before adding, “Please?”

Tiffany was rendered speechless. What Taeyeon said took a while to sink in so she just stood there gawking at the ring until she could digest everything. Her lips then started to tremble as her eyes filled with tears. She pounced Taeyeon, hugging her tight as she felt her doubts and fears melt away at Taeyeon’s sincere and determined effort.

Her phone suddenly rang again, piercing the silence of the apartment with the ringtone of her favorite song.

Taeyeon loosened her hold. She smiled when she saw the messy teary face. “Here.” She took some tissues from the box on the coffee table and gave them to Tiffany. “You don’t want to get that?”

Tiffany shook her head. “Whoever it is can call me back later.”

“Could be your Dad, wishing you a happy birthday.”

“He’ll call me back.”

“So?” Taeyeon held up the ring.

“You promise you’ll come back to me?”

Taeyeon nodded.

“Even if we drift apart?”

“That won’t happen but yes, I’ll come back to you even if we drift apart. We’ll talk it out somehow,” Taeyeon said. “I want to fight for this. I don’t want to call it quits just because of temporary physical distance.” She hesitated for a second before deciding to throw caution to the wind. “It’s been crazy up to this point anyway so one more insanity won’t make that much of a difference, I guess.” She smiled at Tiffany. “I actually have a plan.”

Tiffany didn’t understand what Taeyeon was talking about. “What plan?”

“A future plan. Things I want to do.”

“Huh?”

“When I get back, after I get my degree and before I start working, I want to come clean with my parents. I want them to meet you then I want you to move in with me. I told you that I like our recent living arrangement, remember? I want to relive that.”

“W-wh-what?!” Her jaw dropped when she heard what Taeyeon said.

Taeyeon’s smile widened. “Told ya it’s crazy but a girl can plan, right? But that’s for much later. Let’s not talk or think about that for now.”

She then realized that she was still holding the ring. Her free hand grabbed Tiffany’s. “I’ve laid it all out for you to see, Fany. My past, my present and what I want for my future.” Taeyeon held Tiffany’s gaze. “This is me and I’m all yours if you’ll have me.” She nervously smiled. “So what do you say?”

Tiffany’s eyes went to the ring then back to Taeyeon’s shaky smile and hopeful eyes. What did I ever do to deserve you? She felt so lucky to have this wonderful person love her this much. “I guess breaking one more rule won’t make that much of a difference.” A smile started to spread on her face, hiding her eyes behind two perfect crescents. “Yes, I’ll wait for you and I promise to stay faithful to you too.”

“Whew. Thank god!” Taeyeon quickly slipped the ring onto Tiffany’s finger. “I thought I was gonna die from the suspense.”

“Never knew it was so easy to kill the Hulk,” she teased. She then glanced at her hand and smiled, feeling tingling warmth spreading through her entire body all the way to the tips of her toes.

“Hulk no die! Hulk smash!” Taeyeon suddenly shouted with a growl before she grabbed Tiffany and squeezed her tight, lifting her off her feet.

“Y-yah!” Tiffany shrieked when her feet left the ground for a second. She wrapped her arms around Taeyeon’s neck, holding on tight. “What are you doing? Let me go!”

“Never!” She started walking, pushing Tiffany back in the direction of the bedroom. “You’re mine! My precious!” She did the voice then halted her steps. “Wait. That’s wrong.”

Tiffany was laughing. “Make up your mine. Hulk or Gollum?”

“Hulk of course! He’s still a million times better looking than that Gollum even in his angriest, greenest state.” She started walking again. “You’re mine! Roar!”

“Roar?”

“Yes. ROAR-cough…” Taeyeon broke into a coughing fit thanks to that extra loud roar she tried to do.

There was no sound coming out of Tiffany now as her laugh reached its peak. She clapped her hands in front of Taeyeon’s face, making the latter blink and grimace.

“Weirdo,” Taeyeon said.

“You’re talking about yourself, right? Oof.” Tiffany’s legs hit the bed right before she fell flat on her back with Taeyeon on top of her.

“Of course not. I’m a ma-… err… woman of steel! Supertaeng!” Taeyeon dove down, latching onto Tiffany’s neck.

“Make up your mind, will ya?”

Taeyeon lifted her head after placing several more kisses. “I’ll leave it up to you. Which one do you prefer?”

“Well… it is my birthday…” “Mmhmm.” Taeyeon couldn’t resist nibbling on the smooth skin so she just picked up where she left off while waiting for Tiffany to finish her sentence.

“So I think I’ll just go with the one you said I could have; the one you gave me.”

“Huh?” She stopped. “What do you mean?” She looked at Tiffany.

Tiffany smiled, sweeping Taeyeon’s hair aside so she could look her straight in the eyes. “I want you, Kim Taeyeon. Just you.”

If Taeyeon could choose a moment to live in forever then that would be it. Her heart almost exploded with joy when she heard what Tiffany had said.

“I’m all yours.”

—-

“So you’re engaged?”

“No.”

“But you gave her a ring, promised her you’d wait and told her that you’d want to tell your parents about her and move in with her?”

“Yes.”

“Did she promise to wait for you too?”

“Of course!”

“How is this not an engagement?”

“I didn’t ask her to marry me.”

“Close though. You might as well have, Kim Taeyeon.”

“It’s too fast for that.”

Jessica scoffed. “When have you two ever slowed down?”

“Hm. Good point. Shall I ask her to marry me instead then?”

“Wha-… are you crazy?!”

“But you said-…”

“How can you get married when you don’t even have an income of your own? Heck, you haven’t even told your parents yet!”

“Hey! I was just asking since you were the one who kept insisting that it’s an engagement when it’s clearly not.”

“Well what is it then?”

“Err… a promise?”

“That’s it? Like I promised you that I’d see you off the day after tomorrow?”

“Of course not! Um… a pre-engagement then?”

“Pre-engagement?”

“Yes. Before getting officially engaged.”

“R-ight. Okay. I guess I should congratulate you and Tiffany on your pre-engagement then.”

“Why thank you, Sica. That’s very nice of you.”

“I’m being sincere here.”

“So am I.”

“For some strange reason, I find you very irritating today,” Jessica said in a flat tone.

“You’ll miss me, huh?” Taeyeon grinned, knowing that she wouldn’t get a straight answer. They weren’t the expressive best friend types.

“See you at the airport then.”

As expected. “Okay. Please don’t oversleep? I don’t want to miss my flight because of your laziness.” “See? Irritating.”

“Bye, Sica.”

Taeyeon hung up, still with that small smile on her face. She would miss her snappy best friend.

The bathroom door suddenly opened and out came Tiffany.

“Let’s go,” Tiffany said after checking herself in the mirror one final time. She shouldered her bag.

Taeyeon moved off the bed. She grabbed the large gym bag filled with the things she would bring home to pack. “Sica sent her congratulations on our pre-engagement,” she said with a grin.

“Pre-engagement?”

Taeyeon nodded proudly. “I made that up myself.”

“I thought so. Then what does that make you? My pre-fiancé?”

“That sounds weird,” said Taeyeon, grimacing.

They walked out of the apartment hand in hand.

“Just a fiancé then?” Tiffany casually suggested as her finger pressed the elevator button.

That made both of them blush.

“Um…” As much as she liked the sound of that, she knew that it was still way too fast.

“Don’t worry. I was just kidding.”

“I’m not saying I don’t like it.”

Tiffany smiled. “Let’s take it slow for once, see where this goes first. Neither of us is going anywhere anyway. Not physically, I mean.”

The elevator dinged softly before the gold hued metal plates slid open.

“I guess that’s true,” Taeyeon said as she pressed the button for the basement car park. “Okay then. Let’s try to go slow this time.” She smiled at Tiffany.

“Besides, we can’t get married even if we want to,” Tiffany spoke again after a brief pause.

“Why not?”

“I have another rule.”

A groan escaped Taeyeon. “Why do you have so many rules?” She let out a loud and heavy sigh. “Let’s hear it then. Why can’t we get married even if we want to? What’s your rule?”

“My spouse must be taller than me.”

Taeyeon rolled her eyes.

“I really want that whole being carried over the threshold thing after the wedding so he… or she… must be tall and strong enough to do so.”

“Length does not determine strength.”

“So you’re claiming that you can carry me?”

“Of course not.”

The elevator stopped with a soft ding.

“You’re too heavy.” Taeyeon walked out, pulling Tiffany with her.

“Excuse me?!”

The loud voice made Taeyeon flinch. “What? I’m not implying that you’re fat or anyth-… OW!” She held her inflicted shoulder. “I’m not! Honest! I’m not even strong enough to carry my sister, okay?”

Tiffany sulked.

“You chose the original Kim Taeyeon so you have to settle with that weak version. If you had chosen the Hulk or Supertaeng…” Taeyeon smirked.

“Won’t make any difference. They only have strength in the bedroom.”

“Yah!”

“What?”

“They are strong enough to carry you!” She saw the deadpan expression. “Piggyback.” She added with a grin.

It was Tiffany’s turn to roll her eyes. She let go of Taeyeon’s hand since they had now reached the car. “Open the door.”

“Yes, honey.”

“And stop using that,” Tiffany added as she got inside the car.

“Yes, dear.” Taeyeon closed Tiffany’s door before going to the back of the car, disposing her bag in the trunk. She then took her seat behind the wheel.

“That too.”

“Whatever you say, babe.” Taeyeon winked greasily.

Tiffany shuddered. “Ohmygod.”

She laughed as she started the engine. “Man, I’m so gonna miss this.” It was something she casually said to herself, not intending for it to come out of her mouth. Her smile grew sad when she heard it.

“Yeah. Me too.”

She turned her head to see Tiffany looking at her with the same sad smile.

They drove quietly out of the building, into the busy Seoul streets.

Tiffany noticed Taeyeon’s right hand on the gear stick when they stopped at a red light. She reached out, placing her hand on top of it.

The touch startled Taeyeon who was staring blankly at the light, waiting for it to turn green. She smiled before she lifted her hand and flipped it to hold Tiffany’s better, entwining their fingers.

“Let’s make a new rule,” Taeyeon said as she started driving again. Her right hand didn’t let go of Tiffany’s.

“Huh? What rule?”

“Never let a week go by without at least one video chat.”

Tiffany smiled. “What if you got too busy?”

“No excuses. Not from me or from you.”

“I like this rule. Can I add one more?”

“Of course.”

“Be honest and tell me personally, not through email, when you think you can’t do this anymore.”

That came as a surprise to Taeyeon. “What?” She stole a glance at Tiffany. “That won’t happen. Have you forgotten my promise?”

“No but I want to be realistic. Should it happen, I’m not saying it will butif it does… please tell me straight away?” It took another second for Taeyeon to reply. “Would you do the same?” As much as she hated to admit it, the situation was indeed plausible and could also happen to Tiffany.

“Realistically speaking, huh?”

Taeyeon nodded.

Tiffany exhaled. It hurt to even think that they could reach that point but it was definitely better to be prepared. “I would.”

“Okay then let’s add that.”

The rest of the drive to Tiffany’s apartment was spent without another word from either of them. Both were preoccupied with too many thoughts and feelings about them and their future.

Taeyeon parked the car before stepping out to walk Tiffany up. “I’ll come by after dinner.”

Tiffany nodded in reply. She closed the car door and walked around the vehicle, towards the waiting Taeyeon. She took the hand that was extended to her, letting Taeyeon guide her inside the building and up the elevator.

“I’ll wash these and give them back to you tomorrow.” Tiffany pointed at the clothes she was wearing as she stopped in front of her door.

“No need. I still have plenty of shorts and t-shirts.”

“Oh okay. Do you want to come in for a bit?”

“I think I’ll just be on my way. My parents are waiting for me.” She gave Tiffany a quick kiss. “See you tonight.” She was about to walk away when Tiffany stopped her by pulling her in for another, deeper kiss. She gladly surrendered even when the tugs became nibbles and bites.

“I’ll miss this feistiness,” she said with a smirk when Tiffany finally released her.

“Then you shouldn’t be leaving me.” Tiffany jokingly fisted Taeyeon’s collar as she glared at her.

“I don’t have a choice.”

Tiffany unclenched her fists then pushed Taeyeon back by the shoulders. “Go on then. Leave.”

“Gasp! You’re casting me aside? Is there someone else?”

“Yes.”

“How could you? I thought we were pre-engaged!”

Tiffany shook her head. “Enough. Go home. Your parents are waiting.”

Taeyeon grinned before stealing another peck. “Bye, baby.” She then ran away before Tiffany could hit her.

“Yah! Stop that!”

“Never!” She stuck her tongue out before turning around to press the elevator button. A pair of hands suddenly grabbed her from behind. She smirked and was about to make another comment when she felt herself being spun around by force then shoved against the wall. “W-whoa…” Tiffany’s lips once again attacked hers before she had a chance to talk.

“Stop calling me that,” Tiffany hissed, releasing Taeyeon’s lip after a hard suck. She then went for Taeyeon’s neck. “Say you’ll stop.”

All Taeyeon could do was gulp and babble something incoherent as she shook under the heat and intensity of Tiffany’s expert mouth and tongue.

“F-fany…” She inhaled sharply when Tiffany’s palms met the skin under her shirt.

The elevator dinged but they ignored it even as the metal doors opened.

“There are children and elderlies in this building, you know. Go to your room,” the young woman from the elevator commented as she walked past them.

“H-hey, Yul…” Taeyeon tried greeting Tiffany’s roommate.

“Hey,” Yuri casually replied. She had accidentally ran into the two while they were making out in the kitchen on Tiffany’s moving day so she wasn’t too surprised to come across the same scene twice.

Taeyeon faintly heard beeping sounds followed by the clicks of a door opening and closing somewhere along the quiet corridor. She tried pushing Tiffany back. “Fany-ah… Ugh. Fany…” She squirmed when she felt the familiar pain on the skin near her throat.

Tiffany was too busy focusing on that one spot to even respond.

It took three pushes before Tiffany released the now red skin with a loud pop. She checked her handiwork and smiled victoriously.

“You just have to do that, don’t you?” Taeyeon knew what Tiffany had done. “How am I gonna explain this to my parents?” She pointed at her neck.

Tiffany merely shrugged. “I’m sure you’ll think of something. I’m hoping that this will stick for at least two weeks.”

“Two weeks?!”

“So they’ll know that you’re taken.”

With a soft sigh and an understanding smile, Taeyeon reached out, placing her arms around Tiffany’s waist. She kissed her one last time. “I’ll see you tonight then.”

“Drive safely.”

“I will.” She reluctantly let go. “Bye.”

Tiffany never took her eyes off Taeyeon until the latter had disappeared inside the elevator. She took a deep breath then exhaled, silently praying that her birthday wish would come true – that Taeyeon would come back to her.

========

The girls bowed and nodded politely as they said their goodbyes to the couple and their youngest daughter. “Well, I guess I should get going too,” Jessica said after Taeyeon’s family had left. “Take care of yourself, okay?” She nudged Taeyeon’s arm coolly.

“You too.” Taeyeon patted Jessica’s arm in return. She hesitated but then decided to just give her best friend a quick hug.

“Why are you two always so awkward when it comes to physical contact?” Yoona asked, shaking her head after she saw the reluctant gesture.

“Not always. I remember Sunny telling me about Taeyeon clinging onto Jessica around campus one time,” Tiffany said with a sly smile.

“I had to. I wasn’t feeling well and she was taking me to the clinic that day,” Taeyeon answered matterof-factly.

“And it was just that one time, okay?” Jessica added.

“Are you sure they’re best friends?” Tiffany asked Yoona and the tall girl just shrugged.

“They’ve always been kinda… weird towards one another. I don’t know why though. It’s not like any of them have some kind of infectious disease or anything.”

“This is not the time to analyze. I have a brunch date so Yoong, kindly drop me off?” Jessica interrupted before the conversation could continue.

“Yes, Sergeant!” Yoona saluted Jessica before she tackled Taeyeon with a hug. “Take care, Unnie. Don’t go after British panties okay? Love our nation’s product.”

“Yah!” Taeyeon pushed the now laughing tall girl away. “You better behave. Graduate next year or I’ll upload that photo of you crying after wetting your pants in kindergarten.”

“Gasp! You wouldn’t!” Yoona leaped back in exaggerated shock and horror – eyes wide and mouth agape.

“Watch me.”

“Hmph!” She stuck her tongue out at Taeyeon who then retaliated with the exact same action.

“Have a safe flight, Unnie,” Juhyun calmly gave Taeyeon a hug, putting a halt to the childish exchange. “I’ll probably see you again in a few months anyway so I have nothing much to say. Take care of your health, study well and don’t do weird things, okay?”

“Yes, Mother.” Taeyeon warmly patted Juhyun’s back. “Can you do me a favor? Stick around for a bit then take Fany home?” She whispered so no one else could hear them.

“Sure thing.”

“Thanks. I owe you.”

“No big deal, Unnie.” Juhyun smiled, breaking the hug.

“Let’s go!” Jessica grabbed Yoona’s wrist and started pulling her away. “Bye, Taeng!” She waved to her best friend with other hand.

“I’m in no rush so I’ll just wait for you, Unnie,” Juhyun told Tiffany.

The offer surprised Tiffany. “You don’t have to.”

“I want to. I’ll be at Starbucks. Take your time and let me know when you’re done.” Juhyun smiled then hugged Taeyeon one more time before she left the two alone.

For the next minute, all the remaining two could do was hold each other’s hand.

“Your parents are kinda cool,” Tiffany finally said.

“Why is that?”

“They let you have some time alone with your friends.”

“Well, they know how close I am with those three.”

“What about me?”

“What about you?”

“Do they know about me? I mean, did they ever suspect us?”

Taeyeon nodded. “I think so but they never asked directly. I got a few general questions about you and there was that out-of-the-blue ‘Miyoung is very pretty, don’t you think?’ question from my mother once

and my father’s ‘I heard Miyoung liked Japan’ comment but they didn’t pry, thankfully.” She paused. “I suspected Captain Han.”

“That kind co-pilot? For?”

“For telling my parents about who I took on those trips to Japan.”

“Oh.”

“It’s nothing to worry about,” concluded Taeyeon.

“Okay then.”

There followed a few other random comments about their friends until they ran out of smalltalk. Suddenly they found themselves in the midst of heavy silence, loaded with the impending farewell they could no longer avoid.

“I’ll miss you.” Taeyeon stepped closer, pulling Tiffany into a hug.

She could barely hold it together when she felt the warmth of Taeyeon’s arms around her. She buried her face on Taeyeon’s shoulder, fighting the tears that were threatening to fall out of her closed eyelids while she breathed in raggedly, letting Taeyeon’s scent invade her senses for one final time. Her hold on Taeyeon tightened, silently conveying her unwillingness to part.

Taeyeon was also struggling to stop herself from crying. She turned her head, pressing her nose against Tiffany’s hair, embedding that fruity smell she liked so much in her memory. “I love you,” she whispered in Tiffany’s ear. “I’ll be back for Christmas. I promise.”

Tiffany wanted to reply but choked the moment she lifted her head.

With a silent sigh, Taeyeon wiped the endless tears that were now streaming down Tiffany’s face. “I’m sorry.”

She could only shake her head when she heard the apology. It took a few minutes and several deep breaths before she was finally able to calm down. “I love you too. Take care of yourself.” She felt like she had just taken a punch to the stomach when she heard her own parting words. She had to cover her mouth to stop herself from sobbing out loud.

Taeyeon’s heart broke as she embraced Tiffany for the second time, letting her cry on her shoulder. She blinked her tears back. “You too. Eat well and take it easy on the job hunt.” Her hand gently stroked Tiffany’s hair. “I’ll call you as soon as I arrive.”

She waited until Tiffany’s sobs had died down before she slowly released her hold to take another look at the completely messy face. She had to smile when she saw the red nose and eyes. The next few months without this person who had become an inseparable part of her days would be very tough, she realized with a gulp.

Tiffany was still slightly hiccupping when she saw Taeyeon leaning in to kiss her. She kissed her back through the small involuntary jolts.

Taeyeon had to chuckle when their kiss kept getting interrupted by the small ‘hic’ sounds from Tiffany. She pulled back. “Why are you so cute?”

“I… hic… don’t know.”

Her hand went up, caressing Tiffany’s damp cheek while her mind took a mental picture of the cutely flushed face. She sighed when she realized that she wouldn’t be able to do this again for quite a while. “Always remember my promise. I’m yours regardless of distance. I’ll always be yours.”

“I will.” Tiffany held Taeyeon’s hand. “Remember mine too.”

“I will.”

Taeyeon knew that she had to leave but her feet were rooted to the ground, unable to move. She ended up kissing Tiffany again until the latter pushed her back.

“You’ll miss your flight.”

“I’ll just wait for the last call.” Taeyeon tilted her head, recapturing Tiffany’s lips. She simply couldn’t get enough of her.

As if on cue, an announcement suddenly rang overhead, telling all passengers of that flight to London to proceed to the gate for immediate boarding.

Tiffany reluctantly ended the kiss. “You better go.” Her lips trembled as a fresh batch of tears crept up her eyes, threatening to spill.

Taeyeon grabbed the back of Tiffany’s head and pulled her for one final passionate kiss, ignoring the whispers and the onlookers. She broke the kiss when she felt her own tears streaming down her cheeks. She quickly wiped them with her hands and tried hiding her sadness behind a fake smile. “I guess I should get going.”

Tiffany watched Taeyeon slowly backing away. Her heart sank deeper with every step Taeyeon took.

“Bye.” Taeyeon lifted her hand and waved, never breaking eye contact even as she stood in the queue to enter the hall.

She could only wave back in silence because she was biting her lip, suppressing the urge to cry again.

Taeyeon made a heart with her fingers then peeked through the gap cutely.

She had to smile when she saw that. She blew her a kiss and wistfully watched the love of her life disappear from her sight.

—-

“You’re up early,” Yuri commented when she saw her roommate happily humming to herself in the kitchen, all showered and awake unlike her usual Saturday mornings. “And what’s with the humming?” She took out a bowl from the cabinet.

“It’s the 23rd.” Tiffany pointed at the calendar hanging next to the fridge where a huge pink heart was drawn around today’s date. “Ah. Right. Taeyeon’s arriving today, huh?” Yuri pulled the fridge open.

“Yes!”

“No wonder.” She took out the milk carton. “When are you meeting her?”

“She said she’d call me as soon as she lands around noon. I can’t wait!” Tiffany took a bite from her cereal then chewed while grinning from ear to ear.

Yuri grabbed the open cereal box then poured herself a bowl. “How long will she be staying here?”

“A couple of weeks.”

“That’s quick.”

“Her classes resume right after New Year.”

“I see.” Yuri walked towards the fridge to put the milk carton back. “I assume that you’ll be MIA till then?”

She smiled. “I’m not going anywhere.”

“But you’ll disappear, holed up with her at her apartment.”

“She’d have to spend time with her family too, you know.”

“But I bet-…”

Tiffany’s phone suddenly rang, cutting Yuri’s argument short.

She snatched the phone with such speed that she accidentally splattered milk all over the counter as the spoon she let go fell into the full cereal bowl with a loud clang and splash.

“Yah!” Yuri quickly grabbed some paper towels to wipe the spill.

“Hello?” She wasn’t even paying attention to her frowning roommate.

“Hey.”

“Are you here?” She asked in loud, high-pitched excitement.

“I’m afraid I have bad news.”

Her smile instantly disappeared. “What happened? Are you okay?”

The buzzer suddenly rang and Yuri left the kitchen to answer it, leaving Tiffany to her phone call.

“Yeah but I’m still in London.”

“What?”

“They canceled my flight so I had to wait for the next available one.” Taeyeon sighed. “It’s been so frustrating. At first they only said that it was delayed. We had waited for hours when they decided to just cancel it altogether. Engine problem or something.”

“So you’re still at the airport?” Tiffany checked the clock on the wall. “But it’s past midnight there!”

“I spent the day trying to find another flight to Seoul but they’re all fully booked. I could barely get a seat in this one.”

Every eager expectation vanished as she deflated, her heart filled with nothing but disappointment.

“I’m sorry, Fany.”

“It’s not your fault.” She tried not to sound too sad about it. Taeyeon would still come home albeit one day later. “Just be careful and be safe.” “Don’t worry. I will.”

There was a pause and Tiffany heard muffled voices before Taeyeon spoke again.

“Hey, I gotta go. I’ll call you back in a bit.”

“Sure.” She was still trying to sound unaffected.

“I’m really sorry, Fany. I’ll talk to you later, okay? Bye.”

“Bye.”

Tiffany could only stare at her phone in disbelief for the next few seconds. She was about to channel her frustration when she saw Yuri approaching.

“There’s a package for you,” Yuri told Tiffany with her thumb pointed towards the front door.

“Package?”

She nodded. “From your family maybe? The delivery guy needs your signature.” She then resumed eating her cereal.

Heaving a loud sigh, Tiffany half-threw the phone to the counter before she dragged her feet towards the door. She still couldn’t believe that she had to wait one more day before she could see Taeyeon.

Silently cursing whoever was responsible for the flight cancelation, she pushed the slightly ajar door open and froze when she saw the person standing there.

“Delivery for Miss Hwang!” Taeyeon opened her arms. She laughed when she saw Tiffany’s shocked face. “Merry Christmas!” She hugged the stunned woman.

It took a few seconds until Tiffany realized what was going on. “YAH!” She pushed Taeyeon away. “You tricked me!”

Taeyeon grinned victoriously. “I couldn’t resist.”

“Meanie.” Tiffany sulked, crossing her arms.

Taeyeon was still smiling. She felt so happy to be able to see Tiffany in person again, not only through video chat. She took everything in, observing Tiffany from top to toe. Even without makeup and dressed

only in a hoodie and a pair of sweatpants, she still thought that her girlfriend was the most beautiful person she had ever seen.

She watched Taeyeon smile and saw the look in her eyes. She finally gave in, smiling along, unable to deny the joy she felt at the sight of the person she had desperately missed for the past few months.

Taeyeon reached out, taking Tiffany’s hand. She then pulled her in for a kiss, wrapping her free arm around Tiffany’s waist. Her body shivered with relief and want as she welcomed the familiar touches; her heart was on the verge of exploding.

The kisses quickly turned intense as each tried to refill the void she had felt while separated from the other.

Tiffany started moving back inside the apartment, pulling Taeyeon with her.

They were oblivious to anything else as they hurriedly stumbled their way towards Tiffany’s bedroom, hands busily tugging and clawing at clothes.

Taeyeon kicked the door close as soon as she entered Tiffany’s room. She then dropped the bag she was shouldering to the floor while letting Tiffany take the scarf and coat off her.

A giggle escaped Tiffany when she felt Taeyeon grabbing her arms, pushing her back to literally throw her onto the mattress. She then watched Taeyeon kick her shoes off before climbing on top, hovering over her with those familiar dark eyes. “How I missed my little Hulk,” she said as she reached up, cupping Taeyeon’s face with one hand.

Taeyeon held the hand and kissed it before she dove down, capturing Tiffany’s lips without hesitation. Her hands nimbly unzipped Tiffany’s hoodie then lifted the tank top as the desire to feel that warm and smooth skin again overtook her. She had been yearning for her for so long, all through those cold and lonely months.

One by one, their clothes were removed and tossed aside. Yet their kisses soon mellowed, turning gentle as heated passion slowly transitioned into warm and soft caresses.

Emotional longing replaced physical desires as they took their time exploring each other, noting the changes and embracing the familiarities.

Tiffany’s fingers combed through the now-lighter-in-shade hair of the woman who was trailing kisses down her body. “You lost weight,” she commented.

“I did?” Taeyeon replied without lifting her head.

“Yes. Couldn’t see it clearly through video chat before. Were you not eating well?”

Taeyeon stopped what she was doing. She moved up, hovering over Tiffany once again, looking into her eyes with a smile, grateful for the care and attention. “I have no problem with the food.”

“Then please eat more.”

She kissed her. “I’m fine. I guess it was just the stress and all. You lost weight too.” Her finger traced Tiffany’s jawline that had noticeably become more distinct since the last time she saw her.

“I got lonely.”

Taeyeon smiled sadly. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be.” Tiffany pulled Taeyeon down, kissing her with everything she had. “I’m so glad you’re here.”

“Me too.”

—-

She watched the sleeping face, disliking the exhaustion lining the dark circles under the eyes. She knew that Taeyeon had just finished her mid-term exams and had therefore been lacking sleep.

Her fingers tenderly glided over the pale skin, following every contour of the small body lying against her own. She wished she didn’t have to say goodbye again after two weeks.

Taeyeon suddenly stirred, shifting and huffing, making Tiffany smile with her cute facial expressions. She then blinked, slowly opening her eyes.

The first thing she saw was Tiffany’s smiling face as she became aware of the tingle from the soft finger pads brushing against her skin. She snuggled closer, nuzzling her nose in the crook of Tiffany’s neck as she pulled her body towards her.

Tiffany stopped moving her hand to tighten her arms instead, cradling Taeyeon. “Can we just stay like this until New Year?”

Taeyeon chuckled weakly, still feeling drowsy with sleep. “Fine by me.” She fell asleep again a second later and woke up to an empty bed.

She frowned when her hand found nothing but cold sheets. Lifting her head off the pillow, she was about to get out of bed altogether when the door opened and in walked Tiffany.

Her arms reached out, silently begging her to come back to bed.

Tiffany smiled at the sight. She placed her phone on the small table next to the bed and sat on the mattress. Taeyeon’s arms immediately wrapped themselves around her waist, pulling her to lie down.

“Your parents are looking for you,” she said as she kissed her.

“My parents?”

“Yes.”

“How do you know?”

“Yoong just called.”

“Oh.”

“So you ran off right after you arrived?”

“Of course not! I made sure my luggage were placed safely in my room, gave my family their gifts and only then did I run off.” Taeyeon grinned.

Tiffany shook her head. “I’m more than happy to see you but you should spend some time with your family.”

“I will.” Taeyeon withdrew her arms and turned her body to stretch her tired muscles. “There are dinners and plenty of Christmas stuff to attend with them.”

“So you’ll be busy?”

Taeyeon had to laugh when she heard that. “I will still spend most of my time with you. It’s why I came home in the first place anyway.” She returned to her previous position, holding onto Tiffany. “What time is it?”

“Almost six.”

She raised her eyebrows. “Really?”

“You pretty much knocked out on me.”

“Sorry.”

“I’m just kidding.” Tiffany smiled as she combed Taeyeon’s hair with her fingers, sweeping it aside. “You should get plenty of rest.”

“I’m rested.”

“I’m serious.”

“I’m officially on holiday, remember? Rest and relaxation until New Year.” Taeyeon gave Tiffany a reassuring smile before she kissed her.

“Aren’t you hungry?” Tiffany asked when Taeyeon once again unzipped her hoodie.

“I am but food can wait.” Taeyeon placed a kiss on the base of Tiffany’s neck. “I still haven’t gotten enough of you.”

“Even Supertaeng needs food, you know.”

Taeyeon grinned. “I know.” She lifted the tank top then gently kissed the belly underneath. “Later.”

Tiffany squirmed and laughed when Taeyeon suddenly tickled her sides. “Y-yah! Stop it! You know I’m ticklish!”

“I want to hear you laugh.” Taeyeon removed her hands as she straddled Tiffany. “I miss seeing your weird laugh.”

“Weird?”

“The hand clapping and all that.”

Tiffany mockingly clapped her hands steadily as if she was applauding Taeyeon.

“Not like that!” Taeyeon grabbed the hands, halting their rhythmic movements.

“And you think tickling me will make me laugh and clap my hands?”

“Yes.”

Tiffany stuck her tongue out.

Taeyeon smiled widely. “I love you.” She leaned forward and kissed her.

Tiffany pushed Taeyeon, turning them over so that she was now straddling her. She smiled slyly when she saw the expectation in Taeyeon’s bright eyes. “Pervert.” She poked Taeyeon’s forehead.

“Ow! What did I do?”

“Nothing near to what I’m going to do to you.” She discarded her hoodie then lifted the tank top off in one swift movement, carelessly tossing it aside.

Taeyeon reached out but Tiffany slapped her hand away before it could even touch her. She gulped. “Omo. I miss Feisty Hwang.”

“You haven’t seen anything yet.” Tiffany leaned down, lips hovering dangerously close to Taeyeon’s ear. “You will do as I say,” she whispered before flicking her tongue against the now red shell, smirking when she felt Taeyeon shudder under her. “I will make you wish you never left.”

—-

She tucked her chin inside her scarf as she watched the recurring scene of Taeyeon’s parents hugging their daughter. She looked away, suppressing the urge to cry.

The past two weeks felt like two hours. The days they spent together and their warm intimate Christmas and New Year’s Eve were now nothing but memories and soon she’d be without Taeyeon for an even longer period of time than the last.

She straightened up when she saw the couple taking their leave then bowed politely.

“You must come the next time we invite you over to our party, okay, Miyoung?” Taeyeon’s mother said.

The unexpected sentence startled her. “Y-yes, Mrs. Kim.” She bowed again.

She had skipped the Christmas party invitation because she felt that it would be too awkward. She had politely declined by telling them that she already had another party she was attending with her friends. Taeyeon knew the truth, of course, and so did Jessica, Yoona and Juhyun.

The small family left Taeyeon and her friends after another quick round of smiles and goodbyes.

“I think Auntie knows,” Juhyun whispered to Yoona who nodded.

“I think so too.”

“How could she not when her daughter kept disappearing like that?” Jessica commented, having overheard Juhyun’s words.

“What are you guys talking about?” Taeyeon asked as she took hold of Tiffany’s hand.

“I think Auntie knows,” repeated Juhyun loud enough for everyone to hear.

“Yeah. I suspect they all know by now,” Taeyeon said. “It was easier to hide when I wasn’t living at home.”

“Well, duh?” Jessica rolled her eyes. “You’re lucky you still have the apartment and us as an excuse for not coming home.” She had to lie to Taeyeon’s parents a few times when they happened to ask her about their daughter’s whereabouts.

“Yeah. In my case, it’s hard to lie to them. They know me too well,” Yoona added. “Anyway, we better get going,” she said. “I expect better gifts next time you come home, okay, Unnie?”

“But you wanted British panties!” Taeyeon then laughed out loud.

Yoona glared cutely at her unnie. “Then at least get me sexy ones, not those grandma panties! They’re at least two sizes too big! What am I supposed to do with 12 of those ugly flowery underwear?”

Taeyeon laughed even harder, feeling very proud of her little prank. “It’s a value pack! Fine, fine. I’ll get you smaller flowery panties next time,” she said after her laugh had died down. “Juhyun has your real Christmas present.”

“What?”

“Uh-huh. I didn’t just buy you panties. Very nice, aren’t I?”

“Why didn’t you tell me earlier? It has past Christmas now!”

“Because I wanted to torture you just a little bit longer.”

Yoona sulked. “I’ll get you for this, Taeyeon unnie.” She then whipped out her phone, pretending to type a text message. “Dear Auntie, I’ll come by later to drop some of Taeyeon unnie’s stuff. She left them at Tiffany unnie’s. I think they’re underwear.”

“YAH!”

“HEY!”

The choding laughed out loud. “Ah… sweet revenge.” She pocketed her phone. “I’ve saved that to draft. One more prank and I’ll accidentally press ‘send’.”

Taeyeon scoffed. “Accidentally?”

“Yep. My thumb would slip right onto the button,” threatened Yoona.

“Don’t, Yoong. Please don’t,” begged Tiffany a bit too seriously. She didn’t want the drama with Taeyeon’s parents.

“She’s just kidding, Unnie.” Juhyun immediately tried to console Tiffany. “She’d never do that.”

“Yeah. I was just kidding, Unnie. I’d never drag you into my revenge,” Yoona told Tiffany earnestly. “I would only make one certain short unnie suffer.”

“Thanks,” she replied in relief.

“Come on. Let’s get going.” Jessica gestured towards the two maknaes. “See you in the summer, Taeng.” She waved before pulling Yoona’s arm.

“Bye Unnie! Don’t forget your medication and your spare pants! We wouldn’t want you to stink up the whole plane now, would we?” Yoona shouted loud enough to make several heads turn. She then laughed her unique mischievous laugh.

“That little choding…” Taeyeon shook her head as she facepalmed, embarrassed by the looks people were giving her.

“Take care, Unnie.” Juhyun was the only one to hug Taeyeon this time. “I’ll take Fany unnie home,” she said without being asked.

“Thanks.” She patted Juhyun’s shoulder with one hand since her other one was still holding Tiffany’s.

“I’ll be at Starbucks, Unnie,” said Juhyun to Tiffany after she had taken a step back.

“Actually, I think I’ll just take the train today,” replied Tiffany.

“But it will take you a long time to get back home,” Taeyeon interjected.

“It’s okay.”

“Fany-ah, let Juhyun take you home,” Taeyeon pleaded.

She shook her head. “Not today.” She then smiled at Juhyun. “Thanks though.”

“Are you sure, Unnie?”

She nodded.

Juhyun glanced at Taeyeon, asking for her to decide.

“Please, Fany?” Taeyeon squeezed Tiffany’s hand. She only wanted her to travel more comfortably.

“I’ll take the train,” Tiffany said sternly, ending the discussion.

“Sigh… okay then.” Taeyeon looked at Juhyun. “It’s okay, Juhyun. Thank you.”

“My pleasure, Unnie,” the youngest of the three replied with a small smile. She somehow understood Tiffany’s decision. She waved goodbye then turned around to leave.

“Why wouldn’t you go home with Juhyun?” Taeyeon asked as soon as Juhyun had walked away.

“It’s less embarrassing to cry in front of strangers,” answered Tiffany with a sad smile.

“That is true,” Taeyeon replied with her own sad smile. She had also cried in the plane back then and would probably do the same this time.

Tiffany pulled Taeyeon into a hug, wrapping her arms around Taeyeon’s neck. Her eyes were already tearing up. “I’ll miss you.”

“I’ll miss you too.” Taeyeon comfortingly rubbed Tiffany’s back.

“Call me as soon as you arrive?”

“Definitely.” She then loosened her hold, gazing into the glistening pair of eyes for a second before she kissed Tiffany. Her heart ached at the thought of being without her again. “You must not lose more weight, you hear?”

“Only if you promise to do the same.”

“I’ll eat like a pig.”

Tiffany smiled. “Will you end up looking like one?”

“Yah!”

She laughed through her tears. “I love you,” she sincerely told her.

“I love you too.” Taeyeon kissed the now wet cheeks. “I’ll be back for summer and we’ll run off to Japan again.”

“You do remember that I have a job now, right?”

“So? Ask for leave. Let’s spend two weeks there. We’ll travel around. Go to Osaka, to the Universal Studio and then to Okinawa. There are so many gorgeous beaches there,” she said excitedly.

Tiffany smiled. “I’ll go wherever you want me to go but I’ll be happy just staying in Seoul, in my room or yours. Just you and me, curling up on the bed, watching some random movie, talking…” Her eyes blurred with tears once more as her own words reminded her of the things she wouldn’t be able to do for the next seven months.

“Don’t cry.” Taeyeon wiped Tiffany’s cheek with back of her hand. “We’ll do all that too.” She kissed her again.

Just like before, it took the final call announcement for Taeyeon to move her feet. She waved sadly after placing another kiss on Tiffany’s cheek. “Bye, baby.” She grinned mischievously to hide her sad eyes.

Tiffany only shook her head, unable to protest. “Bye.” She waved back and silently fought to numb the pain as she watched Taeyeon leave her for the second time.

Rules: One Year Later (Part 4) Posted on December 17, 2012 by thedonkatsu Does this story suck? If yes, I’m sorry >