*Yawn*
Tiffany got off the elevator with her shoulders slumped down.
I'm so sleepy.
I guess reading 100 chapters in one night is way too much, and when I think of how I have to spend the entire day in that garbage dump that is the editing department, my stomach gets all churned up.
"Good morning." She greeted lifelessly as she entered the department a.k.a the garbage dump.
"Good Morning Tiffany-ssi!" Three women greeted in sync with big beautiful smiles on their faces.
Tiffany stared at the three in silence and immediately bowed when she recognized none of them, "I'm sorry, I have come to the wrong place. Where is the Emerald editing department again?" She turned around to look for the garbage dump but was immediately held back by a small hand.
"Ahaha, what are you talking about? It's right here, isn't it," The girl with short blonde hair said.
Tiffany looked around right and left. Pink, frills, teddy bears, dolls, flowers, cake, fairies and more pink. No matter how you look at it this refreshing and girly atmosphere is not the garbage dump she was in yesterday.
"We're so sorry for neglecting you yesterday. We're finished with the dead manuscripts, so everything's fine now." The blonde said.
"I heard this is your first time editing comics, but don't worry we will teach you everything." The other blond with long hair said.
The three girls gave Tiffany thumbs up and Tiffany stared at them with a stoic expression, "Ah, please excuse me. I need to go to the restroom." Tiffany walked out of the department and grabbed the nearest person she could find and dragged her to the restroom despite the protests of the poor woman.
"Stop it! I'm not a member of your department!" The woman screamed in fear.
Why is everybody scared of my department?!
"I know that. I'm sorry, but I just have to ask. I can see just fine but what the hell was that?" Tiffany facepalmed and sighed.
"Huh?" The woman is clearly confused.
"Exactly what is that fresh editing office?! That part is great, but what I don't understand is how all the zombies from yesterday turned into energetic women?! If I remember correctly, that place was a garbage dump yesterday, But today it's spotless." Tiffany asked with frustration.
"Oh, that's because they reached the end of the cycle yesterday." The girl let out a relieved sigh and answered Tiffany calmly.
"What cycle ? Someone said that to me yesterday, too."
"They usually create a book within a 20 day period."
"Huh?" Tiffany frowned.
"It goes something like this. Checking plot and they're still normal. Checking outline,still normal. Check rough sketch, getting bad. Get the manuscript, they don't return home. Handing over the manuscripts, no showering. Checking blueprint, no sleep. and finally, finish proofreading, yesterday, on the verge of dying." The woman said with a hollow look on her face.
What the actual hell is that?
"And when it's all over, today, they emerge refreshed. They managed to do it this month too." The girl shrugged.
"And the editing department is pink because?"
Not that I mind.
"It's like the saying when in Rome, do what the Romans do. Taeyeon-ssi's policy is to have editors start by familiarizing themselves with the environment so they can understand the feelings of the comic...you know, romance."
What the actual hell is that?
"Well, it's proven and well-established editing department, so I'm sure it will do you good to stay there. A- Although there are many legends surrounding it...hahaha" The girl laughed nervously.
"Legends? such as?" Tiffany asked.
"Oh god, d- don't make me say it! you should do your best regardless. BYE" And the girl ran away leaving Tiffany confused as hell.
I knew it.
I might want to quit.
...
...
After going back to the department Tiffany got to know the girl's names.
The shorty with the amazing blonde hair that she first talked to is Sunny Lee. The absolute meaning of cuteness, the desk right next to Tiffany.
The tall, tanned, cool looking one is Kwon Yuri. Tiffany couldn't tell what her personality is like because she's calm most of the time and her face doesn't change expressions much just like a certain someone.
The one with long blonde hair who's always smiling is Kim Hyoyeon. Tiffany is kind of scared of her because Taeyeon warned her once.
Don't make Hyoyeon upset.
Later on, Tiffany was being taught by Hyoyeon and Sunny in the office when Tiffany noticed something on a certain page of the comic they're working on.
"Is something wrong?" Hyoyeon asked.
"No. I'm just wondering if this author ran out of time or something." Tiffany frowned.
"Huh? Why?" Hyoyeon who was standing next to Tiffany's desk leaned down to look at the page in Tiffany's hands.
"Because it's all white and only this part is toned...it's almost as if...she omitted-"
"YOU FOOL!" a ruler was thrown at Tiffany shutting her up by none other than Taeyeon.
"W- WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!" Tiffany yelled back.
"BITCH THAT'S WHAT WE CALL THE MAIDEN'S HEART-GRABBING FRAME!" Taeyeon screamed back.
"H- Heart grabbing?" Tiffany questioned while rubbing the spot on her head where the ruler landed.
"That's right. Look! This is the scene where the main character and her partner finally confess their feelings for each other after refusing to give in for so long. That's why it's important to let the readers know that It's coming. And when the readers at the edge of their seats...we strike...in one fell swoop." Taeyeon explained calmly.
"Do you understand these feelings!?" Sunny squealed.
Not one bit.
No, I understand what they're trying to say. What I don't understand is why the characters suddenly start sparking so much and their hair and clothes flutter so much even though there is no wind.
Besides, I know it's just a made up story, but how can the main character achieve happiness so easily?
Is the reason why I think reality is so harsh...is because I have never been in a real relationship?
I used to believe in sayings like, "You will be rewarded as long as you do the best you can." and, "Your feelings will definitely be reciprocated someday."
Should I be glad to have discovered that those are only deceptions, or not?
If that's what it means to become an adult, I guess it's not a bad thing, but it is awfully depressing.
Then again, it's not like I'm pessimistic or anything. I'm just moving forward without looking back.
Tiffany's thoughts were cut off with a hand ruffling her hair and when she turned around with her chair she saw that it was Taeyeon with the usual cold expression that Tiffany figured out that this is how she usually looks.
"You know I really feel like we have met somewhere before, but I can't recall where. Did you change your hair color or something?" Tiffany slapped Taeyeon's hand off her and turned back to her desk.
Don't touch me like that.
"Well, we do live in the same town and have been working in the same industry, so I'm sure there were times when we passed each other by chance. Maybe at a printing agency or something."
Taeyeon stared at Tiffany before replying, "Yeah...you're right. maybe that's it." Taeyeon rubbed her hair and walked back to her desk at the head of the office.
"Huh? Tiff, what are you planning to do with our company's comic catalog?" Sunny asked when she realized what Tiffany was holding.
"Oh, since this is my first time working with comics, I was thinking of memorizing all the comics our company has published."
Sunny's eyes widened, "Seriously?! You do realize that our company has published thousands of books, right?"
"Well I'm planning on reading them all too, not just memorize their titles, so I'm sure it will be fine." Tiffany gave out a polite smile that didn't reach her eyes.
"Holy crap! There is no way I could do that."
"But...I used to read all the books at my school when I was a student. It was my hobby."
At that moment, the world froze to Taeyeon.
Tiffany and Sunny stopped their chit chat and looked at Taeyeon who was looking at Tiffany with shock written all over her face.
"What is it?" Tiffany frowned at her.
Taeyeon's face immediately went back to the normal resting bitch face and looked down, "Nothing..."
What's with her?
I don't expect praise, and I do think I need to do it.
She must be thinking that it's normal to memorize the names of the products or something.
It's a big handicap for me to be a comic editor when I don't read them myself, and I'm fully aware that I have to develop my skills.
But...
I think this is better than doing nothing. I don't want people to think that I'm useless.
Especially Taeyeon.
For the next few days, it got busy
Tiffany started getting into her job and managed to concentrate. Taeyeon however, started watching Tiffany like an owl.
...
...
"What?!" Taeyeon was raging on the phone and everybody in the whole floor was watching in fear, "You're not done?! Why not?! Yesterday you said you would turn it in early this morning! When can you get it done!?"
"..."
"You don't know?! What the hell!? Do you have any idea how much we have to fight with the printing agency to push back the deadline?!"
I get it now
Tiffany looked around her department with hazy eyes.
This is...the so-called "Period", the cycle.
Garbage, files, books and papers started piling up and a questionable smell is lingering in the air. Not to mention the three dead bodies a.k.a Sunny, Yuri and Hyoyeon.
"Tiffany, come with me. We're going to that idiotic author's place." Taeyeon said as she grabbed her Filson briefcase.
"Right now?" Tiffany frowned
"Grab the last 12 sheets. We will continue the rest there."
"But I didn't learn everything yet!" Tiffany yelled as she followed Taeyeon in a hurry.
"You're the only one who's free right now!" Taeyeon looked back at the three zombies.
"Take care of things here!"
"Y- Y-...e-...s." Sunny barely muttered.
As the two made their way out of the company literally jogging their way out, Taeyeon held her phone up to her ear making a call.
"Thank you for doing business with us, this is Taeyeon from Im's Publishing."
I wonder why she's in such a hurry.
As the two got to the author's house, Tiffany realized something.
Here as well?
Why do all the people involved in the world of comics seem to have short life spans?
She frowned as she came in the same atmosphere as the one she just came out of.
Working zombies in the middle of a garbage dump.
"Ta- Taeyeon..." A girl on the head of the table who's crying and sniffing flinched in fear as Taeyeon walked closer to her furiously.
"If you can cry out of guilt, why don't you meet your fucking deadline?!" Taeyeon yelled.
"What's not finished is not finished, damn it !"The author yelled back.
"I'm the one who should be mad here! Want me to strangle you?!"
The two immediately started fighting.
"Would the two of you shut up and get to work already?!" One of the assistants interrupted.
Tiffany felt sorry for the author who's still crying while drawing.
"I know I'm causing you a lot of trouble, but this page is the highlight of this chapter so I really want to draw it well *Sniffle* I can't allow myself to get lax by saying things like I can always fix it later when it's compiled into a book. *Sniffle*" The author punched the table.
"If you can't allow that, then don't miss your deadline. Someone who can't even get the basics right has no right to make any requests." Taeyeon said calmly.
"I know that already!"
Ah...
This is bad.
The author is panicking.
"How many pages still need to be drawn?" Taeyeon asked.
"Five pages."
"For real?! Hurry up and start drawing already."
"I know you don't have to keep telling me that!"
She looks like she hasn't been sleeping, and she's staggering.
"Say, is this comic interesting?" The author asked with a shaky voice.
"Huh?"
"Can I still fix it now? *sniffle* I don't even know anymore whether or not the things I draw are interesting or not."
I have to calm her down.
"It's too late to worry about that now, stupid!" Taeyeon said.
Hey!
See, she's getting really nervous.
"I think I want to fix it." The author sniffled more.
"Just move your hands already!" Taeyeon yelled.
I have to do something
"Taeyeon, I..." The author face palmed stressfully.
Read the atmosphere for goodness sake, Taeyeon!
"Don't waste calories doing useless things," Taeyeon said.
Ah, enough already!
"Excuse me!" Tiffany interrupted everything making Everyone look at her.
"I bought your latest Volume!"
"Huh?" The author looked confused.
"What? No, I mean, um I just joined the editing department, so I'm certainly reading the books my company has published one by one. But even as someone who's their first time reading a comic, I think your works are really interesting. I heard your latest Volume has been published this month so I bought it."
"You can't get them from your company?" The author asked and actually calming down after hearing Tiffany's words.
"Well, I can, but I always buy the books I find interesting because that's my way of paying the author back."
"You actually use your salary from our company to give money back to them. What are you thinking?" Taeyeon said as she sat next to one of the assistants and started working.
"Ah!" Tiffany gasped after the fact sank in.
"You only realized that just now?" Taeyeon raised an eyebrow.
I'm such an idiot.
I only wanted to cheer her up, and yet...
"No, I mean, I really think your comic is interesting, so I was thinking we should just work harder...or something like that." Tiffany looked down and blushed because of embarrassment.
The one who can't read the atmosphere is-...is me.
Tiffany clenched her eyes shut but a comforting hand on her shoulder made her open them and look up.
"So even the new girl can say such things," Taeyeon said as she placed the paper she just finished on the author's desk, "Have I ever made a mistake when I say something is interesting ?" She asked.
"No." The author answered.
"Besides, I have already spoken with the printing agency, and they have pushed the deadline back to tomorrow morning."
"Huh? But didn't you say that the deadline is this afternoon?" The author asked.
"I knew you would never make it in time. Though don't forget that doing things like this will only hurt your repetition."
"I- I know." The author smiled a little and looked so touched by Taeyeon's action.
"Then get to work already!" And moody Taeyeon is back.
"Y- Yes ma'am!"
Ah...
She was yelling on the phone all the way over here.
I wondered who she was talking to.
So she was negotiation with the printing agency.
Even if I didn't cheer her up...
From the start, Taeyeon has been planning to let her finish her drawings flawlessly.
...
...
Roughly 20 Hours Later
Sunrise
Taeyeon and Tiffany got back to Im's Publishings after finally delivering the final manuscript to the printing office. They immediately collapsed on the couch in the lounge on the fifth floor where their office is, completely exhausted and just concentrated on breathing normally for now.
I didn't know that the morning sun could be so harsh.
I think I'm dying.
"I'm so glad we somehow made it in time." Tiffany leaned on her knees barely comprehending words.
"You really helped a lot." And the surprise came from Taeyeon's mouth/
"Huh?" Tiffany immediately looked up at Taeyeon.
Taeyeon was leaning back on the corner of the couch with her hair covering the right side of her face not allowing Tiffany to see what kind of expression she had on.
"She doesn't usually get that hysterical, but things were really rushed this time, so maybe she got confused," Taeyeon said to Tiffany about the author who's house they just left an hour ago, "She seemed to have recovered after you cheered her up." She continued.
"I'm really sorry about that. I wish I have said more encouraging things, but I always end up blurting out whatever is on my mind when the time calls for it." Tiffany looked down again and blushed remembering the embarrassment she brought upon herself.
"Blurting out, huh..."
Tiffany sensed that Taeyeon got off the couch but didn't say anything and did not dare to look up, instead, she waited until a few minutes later she felt something warm on her cheek that made her flinch.
"You did well," Taeyeon gave her a serene smile before putting a can of a warm drink in her hand.
It was the first time she stays with Taeyeon for over 24 hours.
It was the first time Taeyeon prises her.
It was the first time Taeyeon smiles at her.
And let's just say that smile flipped a weird switch inside of Tiffany.
Suddenly her heart is pounding loudly and her face felt hot. The smile on Taeyeon's face is already gone as she retook her spot on the couch and sipped on her own drink, but Tiffany's heart was still raging.
Even Taeyeon can smile.
Well that goes without saying.
On the other hand, why the hell is my heart pounding?
"It's good to be straight forward." Taeyeon said, "I think saying things like I really think your comic is interesting is really encouraging."
"If that's true then I'm relieved." Tiffany looked away with a hand on her hot and red cheek.
Maybe I should change my opinion of Taeyeon.
She has the ability to bring full potential out of someone and create something good with them that people actually buy.
I-...the things I have always dreamed of doing, she's really doing them.
Tiffany stole a subtle glance at Taeyeon and found that Taeyeon had her eyes closed and looked peaceful, probably not sleeping but just relaxing. She realized that she has been staring for a long time now when Taeyeon's eyes fluttered open to meet her gaze.
Seeing that they were making an intense eye contact, Tiffany immediately looked away and put a hand on her pounding heart.
Am I an idiot?
Why is my heart pounding?!
She's a girl!
Be it a guy or a girl, I have decided to never fall in love again.
"You're still the same." Taeyeon suddenly blurted out making Tiffany put on a confused expression.
"What do you mean?" Tiffany asked.
Taeyeon's eyes widened for half a second,"You don't remember me?" Taeyeon asked with a smirk.
"Um...you said that before but I think you have mistaken me for someone else."
A moment of silence passed by them
"This is my first time meeting you." Tiffany continued.
Taeyeon's eyes looked colder than they usually did for a moment before Tiffany found herself forced to lay down on the couch.
"Wh- What are you doing?" Tiffany stared at Taeyeon who's hovering over her
"Maybe you will remember if I do this." Taeyeon's smirk widened before she leaned down.
"What?"
And before Tiffany even realized it, her lips were captured by Taeyeon's.
"Wait!" Tiffany struggled to say between the kiss as she tried to pull Taeyeon off her, "Taeye-...what? Taeyeon!" After more struggling, Tiffany was pinned down and kissed by Taeyeon again.
"Ouch.." Taeyeon grunted.
Tiffany had finally managed to push Taeyeon away and escape to the edge of the couch and away from Taeyeon.
"Stop. Please stop joking around. I'm a woman, you know?!"
Taeyeon looked at Tiffany with an unexplainable expression, "Joke?...ah yes. To you, it was all a joke, wasn't it?"
"Huh?" Tiffany looked confused.
"The atmosphere around you has changed quite a bit, but you are still as straight forward as ever."
Tiffany was so confused, "What are you talking about?" She asked with a frown.
"You..." Taeyeon started "You said that you loved me, right?"
"Huh?!" Tiffany watched Taeyeon getting up and pat her clothes to get rid of any dust that might have gotten on it.
"It must be nice to be you. I can't believe that you dumped me and then forgot all about it." Taeyeon said without much of an emotion.
"What? Dumped?" Tiffany grimaced.
"I'm going to the printing agency, try to remember me in the main time."
By now Tiffany had absolutely no idea what Taeyeon was talking about.
"What are you saying, Taeyeon?" Tiffany asked Taeyeon who was already by the door looking back at her.
"My parents divorced when I was a senior in high school, so my family name changed. My old name was Im Taeyeon." Taeyeon shot her a glare before leaving.
At the mention of that name, Tiffany stared to slowly realize who Taeyeon really is. There was a sinking feeling in her stomach and sweat beads were forming on her temple.
Im...Taeyeon?
Im Taeyeon.
"Im Taeyeon." She said out loud to test it with her voice
"Sunbae...we are going out, right? Because Sunbae you never say anything."
"Im Taeyeon...Sunbae?" She muttered, finding the sound of that very familiar.
"Sunbae, do you-...do you love me?" Innocent teenage Tiffany asked the blonde in front of her who was in the middle of putting a shirt on.
The girl stared at Tiffany for a moment and the next thing Tiffany heard was a chuckle.
She laughed at me?!
What? Why?!
Could it be that...she was just playing with me?!
And that was the biggest shock in Tiffany's whole life.
As the realization finally sank in, Tiffany got up and ran out of the room as fast as she could and kept running until she caught a glimpse of the girl she wanted to see so bad.
"Wait up, Taeyeon Sunbae! Sunbae!" She yelled but Taeyeon did not turn her way and kept walking, "Taeyeon!"
Taeyeon finally stopped and looked behind her only to see Tiffany running towards her full speed.
Im Taeyeon = Kim Taeyeon.
Im Taeyeon = Kim Taeyeon.
My first love whose very existence I tried to erase from my memories.
Why did I have to meet her again here and why does she have to be my boss?!
Gosh Tiffany, how could you be so dense?! The two family names are similar enough!
"Wait up! Don't just say whatever you please and then run away. How dare you just announce yourself in front of me like that without a shred of remorse? After doing such a horrible thing to me. How about apologizing, huh?!" Tiffany yelled once she stopped in front of Taeyeon.
Taeyeon crossed her arms and let out an angry breath through her nose, her expression clearly not a happy one, "Horrible thing?" She raised an eyebrow.
"That's right!" At this point, Tiffany is raging mad.
"I did to you?" Taeyeon questioned.
"Who else could I be talking about? Because of you, I- "
"Weren't you the one who did a horrible thing?" Taeyeon cut Tiffany off with a glare.
"What?" Confusion was back on Tiffany's face.
"Who's the one who suddenly kicked me from behind and then disappeared without a word the next day?" Taeyeon asked, clearly frustrated.
Tiffany was confused for the nth time that day, "Kicked you from behind? What are you talking about? Besides, the one who disappeared without a word was you."
"What's with you? Do you conveniently forget anything that isn't of interest to you? You really are the worst." Taeyeon let out a sarcastic chuckle.
"You- You're one to talk! It might have been the whim of youth, but I- I was actually really serious about you. Yet you played with my heart and threw me away!" Tiffany pointed an accusing finger at Taeyeon.
Now it's Taeyeon's turn to be confused, "Huh? When did I do such a thing?"
"Well, when I asked you Do you love me? You chuckled!"
"I don't know anything about that." Taeyeon shook her head, "Even if I really did that, we were still high school students, so I might have done that to hide my embarrassment, right?"
Tiffany suddenly frowned sadly and couldn't say anything back.
After not hearing a response from Tiffany, Taeyeon's eyes widened and looked at Tiffany with a grim expression, "You-...could it be that you thought I was only playing around with you, and that's why you knocked me down and ran away? And you have continued to hold a grudge agents me for 10 years?"
The lack of words and the deep blush on Tiffany's face explained everything.
"You-...are you an idiot?"
Tiffany frowned
This bitch!
"Y- You're the idiot! I'm- "
"How stupid. The mystery is finally solved. If that's the case, it's okay for me to come on to you, right?" Taeyeon turned around and continued walking with Tiffany hot on her trail.
"Huh?"
"No matter how many times I try to be in a relationship, I can never forget about you. For that reason...I will make you say that you love me one more time.You better be prepared for it." Taeyeon nodded more to herself than to Tiffany.
"Do- Don't joke with me! Wait! Because of you, I- "
Tiffany tried to go in the elevator with Taeyeon but the door closed in her face with Taeyeon's cold glare as the last thing she saw of her. She put her hands on the cold doors of the elevator and slammed her head lightly a few times.
Calm down!
I have got to calm down!
What's the meaning of this?
Was it all a misunderstanding on my part?
No way!
I mean, that incident gave me such a shock that completely changed who I am as a person!
This isn't something that could be settled with an explanation as simple as that she was hiding her embarrassment.
How could I be so careless as to not recognize her as Sunbae from the start?
Well her hair is completely different and it's only normal to forget how someone looks after 10 years.
If I had recognized her, I would have quit on the spot!
"I can never forget about you"
Tiffany put a hand on her heart and asked herself
Why are you beating so hard and loud?
What if...what Taeyeon said was true? What if I just misunderstood everything?
I wonder if Sunbae...really did love me.
Does she still love me?
If that's the case, could I fell in love with her again?
I was the one who fell in love with her first.
As much as this sounds like a comic, I'm sure that if I can say "I love you" everything will end happily.
...
...
...
Like hell, that would happen!
Even if she did that to hide her embarrassment, she shouldn't have done such a misleading thing!
I hate my self for getting so worked up over every little thing.
As if I'm stupid to say, "I see, is that so?" and forgive her!
No!
This is not love!
Who would fall in love with a jerk like her again!
She's going to make me say, "I love you" ?!
Like hell, I would say that!
...
...
...
"That was fast. Did you come to confess?"
As Tiffany finally reached her apartment door she was faced with Taeyeon's resting bitch face.
Standing right next door...
"Huh? What are you talking about? Besides, this...is where I live. Since about a year ago." Tiffany replied with a sarcastic smile.
Since they both have very irregular schedules, they have never come across one another.
Am I stupid or what?! Why the hell is my heart pounding?!
Pull yourself together, damn it!
This is not love.
This is not love.
This is not love.
This is not...love...right?
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Number of days to falling in love: 364.