For a moment, they just stood there in front of each other, in silence. Tiffany knows her tears are coming soon if she doesn't leave right now. Awkwardly but bravely she looks right in the eyes of Taeyeon, pleading at hers, Tiffany snaps away.
"I'm really tired for tonight…I have to go" as quickly as she ended, she turn her heels around and leaves Taeyeon's penthouse as quickly as she could before Taeyeon could say anything to her or stop her.
Reaches the bus stop, she was in luck as a bus happens to be coming to where she is at. Taking one last look at the condominium behind her, quietly bidding goodbye to Taeyeon mentally, she gets on the bus.
Taeyeon stood at the same spot where Tiffany left, but it didn't took her too long to snap herself back to reality and do the right thing, well- at least what she thinks is right for her.
Tiffany took a seat in the bus beside the window, her mind were messy right now, it kept repeating itself like a broken player, replying the part where Taeyeon calls her the nickname that no one else calls her so, never to be precise. And that beautiful reason that Taeyeon gave her for why she wants Tiffany to change her house, to redo the house interior and change the furniture, so that when she left, Taeyeon would still come home to the feeling of seeing Tiffany still being around her.
Silently in her thoughts, her eyes were slowly filling up with tears, Tiffany leans her head against the window, the bus is slowing down as she look out of the window, thinking if she could have the determination to do this bravely. A part of her is not willing to let Taeyeon go, but the huge part in her knows that she needs some me time for some time, to clear her mind completely from what she had been through, to start anew.
Taeyeon steps on the gas, she drives close up to the front of the big vehicle beside her car, she honk the driver a few times before winding down her window, "Hey" the driver looks at the person in the Iron Man mask with curiosity.
"Slow down. No. STOP" Taeyeon shouts out loud as she was looking back and forth from the driver next to her and the street she is driving on.
"What the-"
"JUST STOP!" Taeyeon leans back to her seat as she steps on the gas pedal harder, her car going further ahead than the vehicle beside her, drive up front and stopped her car. Having no choice, the big vehicle behind her had to step on the brake pedal.
Taeyeon got off car with her hoodie on and of course, her Iron Mask too. She walks to the bus and tap on the door of the bus to open. Thankfully it was the last bus for the night and not much passenger inclusive of Tiffany is in the bus but the bus driver was not willing to open the door to let this unknown stranger with the Iron Man mask onto the bus.
"Hey, what is going on!" one of the man in the bus shouts.
"There is this weirdo blocking the road" the bus driver shouted in return.
"The hell?" the man stands up to have a good look of what is going on.
Tiffany tilts her head a bit more as she leans on her forehead this time, to have a good look who is the weirdo that stopped the bus, her eyes widens at the familiar looking hoodie. Just in time, Taeyeon turn her head around. Tiffany jaw drops open wide seeing the Iron Man mask. She quickly picks her handbag up, the last thing she want Taeyeon to do is to cause a problem with her appearance, what would the paparazzi writes about this…Tiffany quickly make her way to the front, where the driver is at, "I know this person, sorry, let me down"
The bus driver shook his head in disbelief but open the door anyway.
Tiffany get off the bus, as soon as she does that, Taeyeon pulled her into her arms, hugging her tightly.
The bus drove off taking a small right turn to avoid Taeyeon's parked car at the side of the street with a loud honk as though to scold her for her doings.
"WHAT ARE YOU CRAZY NOW!? HOW CAN YOU DO THAT! HOW CAN YOU-" Tiffany slaps Taeyeon's chest multiple of times before giving in and buries her face into Taeyeon's chest as she cries her heart out, hugging Taeyeon in return. They just met, but God, she miss being with Taeyeon.
"Mi…I can't just let you go just this way" Taeyeon whisper, "I had to do something before I regret for eternity"
Tiffany sobs while shaking her head in disapproval in what they are doing right now and in whatever Taeyeon is about to do, she can't let her continue doing so, she needs to be firm, she needs to be fair to both her and Taeyeon. Taking a whole courage, she looks at Taeyeon as she breaks the hug, shaking her head again, a sign to Taeyeon not to do anything silly that could make her unable to decide. But looking at the Iron Man in front of her now, caused her to sniffle a little as she accidentally let out a soft giggle.
"You look silly" said Tiffany, her voice cracking at the end as she sniffs.
"Don't think you're any better" said Taeyeon, running the side of her index finger to wipe the tears away underneath of her puffy eyes, the two giggles weakly at each other, "I'm not going to make it hard for you but please be fair to me at least?"
Tiffany pouts, but she's glad that at least Taeyeon knows what is on her mind, "What is it?"
"Spend some quality time with me? Before you leave…" Taeyeon plead, "I know you may think it will be harder for us to leave if we do, but whether we spend some time together or not, it is going to be hard for us to leave each other anyway. So, why not, why can't we cherish the remaining time we have for each other…together"
"I hate it" Tiffany groans, cuddling into Taeyeon's arms again, "…hate it when you got the right word at the right time…how it makes sense"
Taeyeon hugs Tiffany even tighter than before, her forehead pressing on Tiffany's head, "I hate that the fact that I have to wait for another two years to call you mine again" she groans.
In agreement, Taeyeon had finally managed to persuade Tiffany to stay with her for the few weeks before leaving Korea for her me time. Though they were together in one house, it was still awkward for Tiffany to be clingy to Taeyeon like how they used to be, after all she has been through, at times when Taeyeon reaches out to touch her, she would flinch or jumped up in shock, causing the both of them to become awkward it and Tiffany could see the guilt in Taeyeon's eyes for not being able to help her on it and that is what makes her more determine to have this me time for time being.
Taeyeon sat on the bed as she rest her right cheek on her right fist as she watch Tiffany unpacks from the brown boxes of what clothes she should bring and what should she not. Taeyeon even made her promise to leave those that she doesn't want to bring with her, behind.
These few days have been awesome for Taeyeon. She's glad that Yuri understood her situation therefore every practice she is done for the day, she'll head home as soon as she could. Once her schedule is done for the day, she make no waste of time but to head straight home, just so she could spend more time with Tiffany. Even if it's just a measly difference of an hour but time is so precious for them these days and Taeyeon learned to value every bit of seconds that passed.
Tiffany folds some of her favorite clothes and packed them in the huge pink luggage bag that Taeyeon bought it for her as a gift, "Don't you have some vocals practice to do?" Tiffany asked as she looks through the boxes for more of her favorite clothes. Taeyeon shakes her head.
"Yah" Tiffany scolds, it made Taeyeon smile a bit, Taeyeon opens her mouth, but it ended up being a big sigh coming out instead. She looks at Tiffany for a moment, as though to capture every seconds and every inch of Tiffany's face and expressions or movements.
"Don't look at me that way" Tiffany pretends to scoff as she breaks the eye contact and continue to pack her clothing. Taeyeon smile at that.
"Fine" Taeyeon finally said, getting up on her feet as she walks across the wooden floor, she stops right next to me, "Give me a minute, I'll go get my guitar" she left after Tiffany nodded but didn't left for too long, as she really did stick up to what she said, coming back with a guitar in her right hand.
Taeyeon made her way to where she has sat 2 hours ago, she place the guitar properly in a position where she's ready to play, "I'll practice my vocals here, if you don't mind" she asked.
Tiffany shakes her head, showing that she's not minding anything that Taeyeon decides to do. She watches as Taeyeon tune the guitar, give it a few strum and tune it again. She knows not much about a guitar, but watching how Taeyeon was doing the tuning, it look really cool from her view.
"Beautiful breathtaking sight right?" said Taeyeon all of a sudden, without looking at her.
Taeyeon slowly looks up, her teasing eyes meeting with Tiffany's confused ones, "It charms all the fangirls all the time. An all kill" she chuckles, Tiffany rolls her eyes, but a smile appear across her face.
"Don't pretend you're sorry, I know you're not..
You know you got the power, to make me weak inside.
Girl you leave me breathless but it's okay 'cause you are my survival,
Now hear me say."
Taeyeon stops strumming on her guitar after that verse to look at Tiffany a bit before continuing,
"I can't imagine life without your love,
Even forever don't seem like long enough~~"
Taeyeon closes her eyes as she prepares for the next part, giving out her all,
"Cause everytime I breathe, I take you in..
And my heart beats again~
Baby I can't help it, keep me drowning in your love.
Everytime I try to rise above, I'm swept away by love.
Baby I can't help it, you keep me drowning in your love"
Taeyeon ends the song smoothly, "You wanna ask me why I picked this song?" she looks at Tiffany.
"Seems like you are urging me to ask you so" Tiffany smirks, but deep in her heart, she wants to hear the whole song of Drowning by Backstreet Boys from Taeyeon's version, never has she imagined a song like this, to be sang by a Korean Girl, so well.
"It was on the radio few nights ago…I sang along with it…and you're in my mind all the time" Taeyeon admits, putting the guitar aside.
Tiffany smile, one of the saddest smile that Taeyeon has seen ever since the time they spent together in this month.
"And I'm telling you this not to make you feel guilty or sad, but to let you know that I love you, I always will" said Taeyeon in a firm and confident tone, Taeyeon offers her palm out at Tiffany, "Can you..come here?" this time, for the first time, Taeyeon asked for a skinship, something they have been avoiding and not bring up about.
Tiffany walks and took Taeyeon's hand, she could feel what feels like a thousand volt going up from her palm up to her body as their hand touches, is how she would describes it.
"It's me" said Taeyeon firmly, at first Tiffany doesn't get why Taeyeon said so, but as Taeyeon use her other hand to taps her lap, she get what Taeyeon meant. She inhale deeply before doing what Taeyeon asked her.
Finally, she sat on Taeyeon's lap.
"Not too difficult right?" asked Taeyeon in concern.
Tiffany shakes her head.
"Not forcing yourself to go against your inner feelings right?" she ask carefully.
Tiffany smile a bit, shaking her head. Seeing how cute Taeyeon is being right now, being so careful towards her, she leans in, kissing Taeyeon's forehead. Now that made Taeyeon smiles.
"Give me some time, Taeyeon-"
Taeyeon press her index finger up against Tiffany's lip, "If that's all that you are asking for, then that is what I am giving you" Taeyeon nod her head once, Tiffany nods in return.
Taeyeon looks away, "Shit..gotta pee"
Tiffany quickly gets off of Taeyeon, giggle at the midget, scrambling off the room in flash.
Taeyeon walks into her room and into the bathroom, she locked the door behind her, pressing both palms at each side of the sink counter top, she hangs her head low, sniff a bit as she felt her nose become runny, the first tear slide down her cheek, falling off midway, the droplet hitting on the black tiles in the bathroom. Shaking her head, she tries to control her tears. Taeyeon breathes harshly, she took all her courage to look at herself in the huge mirror in front of her.
"Pathetic" she said at the mirror, chuckling at herself.
Tiffany looks at the bohemian dress in her hands, she smile at it.
"No"
Wanting to turn her head around to respond to Taeyeon, but her breath was almost taken away in surprise when Taeyeon rest her chin from the back on her shoulder, "Don't bring this…"
"And why not"
"It's almost see through" Taeyeon groans.
Tiffany laughs at the same old jealous Taeyeon that is starting to kick in, "Right" Tiffany folds the clothes and pack it into her luggage bag anyway.
"Hey!" Taeyeon scolds in protest, but her anger were flushed away when Tiffany turns her head around, pressing their lips up together. She tilts her head a bit to the side, to fully capture those lips that she has been longing for, how much she has misses it, into hers.
Firmly, yet soft and gentle at the same time. Pulling Tiffany's bottom lips in between hers.
Tiffany cups Taeyeon's face, to stop the kiss briefly, she looks into Taeyeon's eyes lovingly.
"Lets not get ourselves carried away" Tiffany grins, Taeyeon returns it with a smirk.
"Exactly" said Taeyeon, with a soft smile.
Taeyeon sat at the couch right after her dance practice ended, Yuri quickly made her way to where she is at, she taps the girl on the shoulder, Taeyeon turn to her in respond.
Yuri leans in closer as she whispers, "Shouldn't you be going now?"
Taeyeon leans her chest lower, closing the gap in between her chest and thighs, she clutches both of her hands tightly together, she scowled just by the thoughts of it, she can't remember since when time has passed on so smoothly. Without realizing, just by the thoughts of it, her eyes were tearing up.
Yuri frowns seeing how hurt Taeyeon is being right now, she reaches forward to give an encouraging squeeze on Taeyeon's shoulder, "You can go if you want, Tae…that is why I end today's practice earlier-" her words were cut short when Taeyeon shakes her head slowly.
"I can't make it more difficult for her" said Taeyeon bitterly, shaking her head once again.
Not wanting to cry in front of her manager, her best friend, Taeyeon kept herself distracted by the things in the dance studio, her eyes wanders around, not wanting to keep her mind focus on one thing, one thing that could lead her to cry.
"Don't you think it's best to give her a proper goodbye?" asked Yuri carefully, squeezing and tapping a few times on Taeyeon's shoulder.
Taeyeon smile to herself apologetically, "I'll never say goodbye to her" once she realize she will be going home to an empty place, where the other presence has left, unwillingly, a single tear slide across her face.
In her white sneakers, baby blue skinny jeans along with her black collar tee. She walk across the big white tiles as she watches other passengers hurrying themselves to check in, while some made their way to the counter to ask for something, others are probably just like her, waiting for her flight, for her turn.
Tiffany sees an empty bench somewhere near the check in counter, she drags her luggage bag behind her and go for that seat. As she sat and left her luggage bag standing in front next to her, Tiffany went through her passport to make sure that everything she needs later for checking in, is in her hand.
Slowly, very deeply in her thoughts, she remembers something.
The very first time huh, Kim Tae Yeon.
Tiffany turns her head to the right side, being on an empty bench alone obviously means there was no one beside her, but through her vision, she remembers seeing that girl in her long and heavy looking brown locks, how fair Taeyeon's skin was, as though she was a porcelain doll.
Tiffany smiles as her mind is replaying that very old and wonderful scene where she comes to know Taeyeon for the first time.
"It's a bother, don't you think" Tiffany mutters to herself the exact same sentence that Taeyeon ever first said to her, remembering exactly the reason why she actually turn her head around to look at Taeyeon for the first time. Tiffany could only giggles to herself as she finds it funny how she remembers what Taeyeon exactly said to her that causes her to think that the idol was so full of herself.
She smiled even more remembering how annoyed she felt as Taeyeon continues talking to her, invading her privacy instead of letting her sit there alone quietly. It made her smile becomes even wider when she remembers how after Taeyeon fully introduces herself of who she is and even offered for Tiffany to take a picture with her, but Tiffany totally went out of it and said she wasn't even a fan of hers and how shock Taeyeon were at that time, and look at where we are today, Taeyeona…
"Excuse me"
Someone interrupts Tiffany in her deep thoughts, she snaps out of it and turn around to only find a man, well dressed in a full suit, with a warm smile on his face as he bows his head a little bit, "Yes?" Tiffany ask as she looks at the man.
"Are you Ms. Hwang?" he asked, Tiffany nodded her head, "Then this is a parcel for you" he continues as he offers a medium size brown packaging of box to towards Tiffany.
"Me?"
He nodded his head again.
"From whom?" she asked.
"Then perhaps, after taking a look at it, would give you an answer to your question" he smiles again.
Hesitantly, Tiffany took the box and have it place on her thighs before she looks at the man one more time, no suspicious look. Couldn't be a bomb… Tiffany shakes her head, feeling how silly her thoughts were, but still, it's better to be safe than sorry. She looks around to see if it's any by standers nearby that asked the man to deliver this to her. But seemingly, everyone around her is just minding their own business, her eyes wanders back to the man who is still looking at her.
"Have a safe flight, Ms. Hwang" he bows.
Tiffany bowed her head a little bit in return. After the man left, Tiffany looks at the box being prettily tied by a light pink ribbon, she undo the pink ribbon and took the cover of the box lid off. Amongst the pink shredded paper, Tiffany dug thoroughly and her fingers touch against something, reaches for it blindly, she pulls it out.
A book with its front page printed an eye which she knows who it belongs to, the title of the book says it all'GREY' by E L JAMES, Fifty Shades of Grey as told by Christian. Tiffany almost chuckled seeing the book itself, she looks around again, half hoping that the person who gave her this would be somewhere here, but at the same time, she doesn't want anything to obstruct her determination for their better future that she hopes they'll have someday. Confuse with her own feelings, Tiffany rubs it off by placing the book aside and look thoroughly the box again before she discards it, this time, below the box, her fingers hit against something of what it felt like, hard plastic.
Pulling it out through the shredded papers, she's already tearing up seeing what is held up in her hands because she realize just how much she has fallen in love with this person and how much she has already miss her even though they are still in the same country.
Tiffany breathes out longingly, "Tae~" her lips curved into a frown after the name left the tip of her tongue, she grips the Iron Man mask tightly with her fingers, before hanging her head lower so she could avoid letting people see that she's suddenly crying all by herself, she just don't need any extra attention.
"Miyoung, you are catching more unwanted attention right now" said Taeyeon.
"How did you know my name?" she asked in surprise.
"This"
Taeyeon held up the 50 shades of Greed novel in her hand at Tiffany's sight.
"Your name was written on the inside of the first page, that's how"
She quickly snatches the book back into her hands.
"Pretty kinky for someone like you to read such novel"
She place the Iron Man mask back into the box and put the box beside her instead as she picks up the book and flips off the front cover, smiling brightly as it happens the way she has guessed it. The first page of the empty page is written in beautiful small writings which she knew who it is.
"Hey Mi, I don't know how many times I've pick up and drop a pen in my entire life, but I did so when I am writing to you now. I hope you'll understand why I decide to keep myself busy today instead of spending the last hours with you. It's not going to be a goodbye for us, because we'll be meeting soon again. I hope everything will go smoothly for you, Mi..and I'm going to work hard till we meet again.. The airport is one of the best place for me, because it is where I meet you, it is where we were fated to meet and be in each other's live. You don't have to tell me where you are, because my heart is with you and when the time comes, I'll come and look for my heart again. I'll always love you, please remember this. Wherever you are. You will always be in my heart and mind. –Taeyeon-"
Tiffany runs her fingers through the writings, she fish her phones out from her pocket to text some special someone.
Half heartedly, she unlocks the door to her penthouse with her key card, she looks into the dark room as it reflects perfectly of how she's feeling right now. Darkness. Turning the lights on, her eyes widen in surprise, far left corner in her living room.
Taeyeon drops the key card and her handbag onto the dining table and walks to the new side corner of her living room.
Her walls used to be painted all black, but this specific corner of the wall is no longer black but pink instead with a new white chair that Taeyeon has never seen before, on the pink wall, there's a few photo frames nailed onto it, it's a couple of their selfies that they have taken before. Then Taeyeon realize, on the white chair, sits a pillow, she picks up and realize the pillow cover is actually a print out consist of their pictures taken together.
Taeyeon sees an envelope sitting on the chair behind the pillow where she picks it up. Sitting on the chair now, Taeyeon rips open the envelope to pull the letter out, she smiled upon looking at the cute writings.
"Dear Taeyeon, I'm sorry if the pink isn't going well with your black walls, but hey, it's Mi's corner anyway, so no complaints :P I can't do very much since I am running out of time and knowing you, you'll never be able to say goodbye to me on the last day so I had everything planned out and well, I guess, thankfully, I know you well enough ;) Taeyeon, you don't need me to furnish the entire house to just remember me because with our pillow, just hug it till I'm back :P okay? Tae…I'm sorry I made such decisions, the pain won't be forever I promise..Soon, before we know it, we'll be saying our hello again :D you're the root to my tree Taeyeon, so you have to stay strong as your tree is trying her best to be extremely strong to stand tall! Thank you for always fighting for me and not giving up on me, Tae…I'm glad that I choose you instead of anyone else in the end. You've rock my world! HWAITING KIM TAE TAE! Xoxo, Fany"
She smile, but she can't avoid letting out a sigh knowing that she'll be away from her.
Just then, she hears a notification coming from her phone. Reluctant to let go of the pillow, she hugs it tightly and made her way to the dining table where she left her handbag at.
Her eyes widens at who the sender is,
[Thanks for the kinky novel! It's going to be a good company for my flight later ;)][Tiff Tae]
Taeyeon smirks at the message, she finds it cute as she could totally imagine how Tiffany would say it, how her teasing expressions would be.
[I'm digging into the pink 3][Tae Tiff]
[Just the wall? How about the rest of the stuffs? ):][Tiff Tae]
[Love your effort3][Tae Tiff]
[Love yours too..^^][Tiff Tae]
They are both glad that their text messages are keeping them accompany, Tiffany looks at her watch strap around her wrist where else, Taeyeon is looking at the clock on her wall.
[I'll be checking in pretty soon][Tiff Tae]
[Take care please….Take care of Mi for me :3][Tae Tiff]
[LOL! I will dork. You too][Tiff Tae]
[Obviously I'll be taking good care of myself! /roll eyes/ :3 I'm still going to look for my heart, remember?][Tae Tiff]
Tiffany sends a thumb up emoticon.
[Mi..][Tae Tiff]
[Yes?][Tiff Tae]
[I want to grow old with you][Tae Tiff]