"HELL NO!" Tiffany yelled, fuming red.
"Is that so?" And Taeyeon didn't seem affected by it.
"This is how I treat everyone. I like to keep business and privet matters separate." Tiffany turned around fuming from anger, "D- Don't take this the wrong way, but I have got a boyfriend." She announced.
Actually, I don't, but maybe this will make her give up.
"Wow, for a grown woman, you sure are a lousy liar." Taeyeon had an amused look on her face.
"I'm not lying! I'm serious!"
"Then look at me."
Tiffany flinched when Taeyeon's arm blocked her way to the door.
"Look at me straight in the eye and say that again." Taeyeon glared.
Tiffany backed up until her back pumped into the wall and looked Taeyeon straight in the eye, "I...really..." She started but the eye contact got her a little intimidated, "I really...honestly...have a boyfriend, so- "
"Liar."
A hand on Tiffany's cheek held her in place and warm, soft lips on her own made a blush spread across her cheeks
"Wh- What are you...stop!" Tiffany pushed Taeyeon away.
Taeyeon leaned forward and held Tiffany's arms in place while Tiffany struggled agents her hold. Tiffany turned around once she got free from Taeyeon's hold ready to run to the door only to be held tighter from behind. The papers in her hand dropped to the floor along with her and Taeyeon. Her words were silenced by Taeyeon's lips again and her wrists were pinned to the floor. Taeyeon might be small and petite but her arms are a different story A few seconds in the kiss Taeyeon was ravishing her with, Tiffany felt Taeyeon's tongue go in her mouth. She shut her eyes tightly and had an odd thought that she might die if her heart decided to beat any faster. A hand slowly sneaking in her pants made her jolt up in shock.
"N- No...please stop!" She yelled in despair.
"You're awfully into it for someone who doesn't want to...and you're not pushing me away either." The second part Taeyeon muttered more to herself.
She had let go of Tiffany's wrists long ago but there wasn't any reaction to push her or run away coming from Tiffany.
"Stop...ah!" The sound of the kisses planted on her neck by Taeyeon turned Tiffany on to no end and she couldn't help it but moan because of the sensation of soft lips on her sensitive spot. She didn't know if she's hating this or liking it.
Taeyeon raised up a bit to look at Tiffany only to see a face she had seen only a couple of times before, 10 years ago that is. Tiffany was huffing and taking in deep breaths, her face flushed red and her eyes shut tightly. A face she missed so bad it hurts so much to see it again now.
"Tiffany..."
The moment Taeyeon said her name, Tiffany snapped out of the trance Taeyeon's mouth put her in. She immediately looked up at Taeyeon and when she realized what was about to happen, she slapped Taeyeon's arms off her and got up quickly. She felt a bit light headed so she leans on the wall and covered her eyes from the light of the room.
I hate her.
I have to leave.
I don't want to stay here a minute longer.
I just want to go home, take a bath and go to bed .
With those thoughts in mind, Tiffany leaned down and gathered the papers she dropped.
"Hey!" Taeyeon's voice didn't stop her from rushing to the door, "Tiffany!" Taeyeon called again but as the first time, she was ignored.
Tiffany ignored everything and just opened the door to return to her apartment only to bump into something hard in front of her. The moment she looked...she was met with an unexpected face.
Kangin?
Kangin looked just as surprised and confused as Tiffany is.
"What are you doing here?" He asked.
"Huh? Oh, um...I'm here on business." Tiffany answered hoping that there aren't any visible tears on her face.
"We went over a storyboard together." Taeyeon approached calmly.
"Seriously? It's 2 in the morning." Kangin grimaced.
"Well, what are you doing here then?" Taeyeon raised an eyebrow.
"I told you I would stop by. If I don't show up we would never get to hang out. I also brought food." He raised the plastic bag in her hand, "I came this late on purpose."
"Go home you idiot" Taeyeon groaned.
"Nah, I'm coming in." He said, already making his way inside.
While the two were arguing Tiffany planned to make her great escape, "Thank you for your help. I'm leaving." She muttered and walked past Kangin.
"Did she say something to make you upset?" What Kangin muttered to her made Tiffany hold a stop, "It doesn't matter to her if you're new or experienced. If you do a half-assed job, she's going to get you." Tiffany didn't understand why Kangin is telling her this, "Stop with the tears, you're pathetic." Tiffany immediately turned around, about to protest.
"What are you two whispering about?" Taeyeon who was standing a bit farther than the two asked with her hands inside the plastic bag Kangin bought.
"I- I'm just going to go..." Tiffany turned around again to escape this awkward atmosphere.
"Tiffany!"
She stopped again when Taeyeon called.
"I will call you later."
Tiffany clenched her fists and teeth at that.
"Please don't!"
Once Tiffany was back inside her safe apartment, she immediately collapsed in the entrance and hugged her aching body.
Why would Kangin visit this late?
Why did Taeyeon let him in?
And even after she molested me, too.
He came this late on purpose, huh.
No, now is not the time to think about these things.
I need to read the storyboard again and make sure that I can explain all the changes to the author.
With slow footsteps, Tiffany made her way inside the apartment and took a seat down the couch before starting to read the storyboard again.
My body...It's aching. Everywhere Taeyeon touched is burning with heat.
I can't-...I can't concentrate with my head spinning on this.
Ranmi-ssi deserves better. She gave it her all to finish this storyboard on time. I do not tolerate a half-assed job.
Concentrate!
I need to concentrate!
As if the world is agents her, her phone started ringing, preventing her more from concentrating.
It's Taeyeon.
So Tiffany rejected the call and turned her phone off.
That's right.
I decided a long time ago that I would never fall in love with Taeyeon again.
...
...
A week before Emerald's deadline.
"What? All your assistants caught the flu?!" Tiffany's voice shook the whole floor. She's certainly talking with the author she's in charge of, Ranmi, "A temperature got all your assistants sick?...Huh? Are you okay?...Oh I see, that's a relief." Tiffany seemed a bit nervous while talking.
Where are the others?
Well...
"Where the hell is the manuscript?! Why isn't it here already?! I told you to go get it yourself if there was the slightest chance that it would be late!" Taeyeon is yelling none stop.
"ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHH" Sunny is clenching her hair and screaming.
"It's done...we're all done." Yuri is giving up on life.
Hyoyeon had her forehead on the desk and is waiting for her soul to leave her body.
Chaos ensues.
"Excuse me." Tiffany muttered to her author on the other side of the phone before removing it from her ear and put her hand on the receiver, "Could you all just shut the fuck up for one moment?!" She screamed.
It seemed to have worked because they all actually got silence and all eyes were on her, it's the first time they actually hear her swear and get mad like that.
"I think you know this but the printing office needs the material for printing by noon today." She got back to the phone in her hand not minding the stares directed at her.
And while Tiffany is on the phone...
"Taeyeon! Why does this place look like a garbage heap?" Kangin walked in.
"I heard our best author is not going to make it for this month's issue. Is this true? If it is, you have to let the financial department know, hell you have to let everyone know!" He's pretty much just as angry as Tiffany right now.
Taeyeon glared at him and put her index finger in front of her lips indicating for him to shut up before pointing at Tiffany.
"I can definitely be on a plane by five or six this evening and do the tones on the way," Ranmi said over the phone.
"But you can't carry a cutter on board." Tiffany rubbed her temples in stress.
"Ugh..."
If I go pick up the manuscript and take the 6 o'clock flight back, I can be back here in the airport by 8:30 PM, and if I make the taxi hurry, I should barely make it.
A moment of thinking for Tiffany made the decision clear for her, it's a chance to proof herself, she just can't mess this up, "Alright, just please hurry up," Tiffany nodded to herself and approved Ranmi to continue her work.
"Where does she live ?" Kangin asked.
"Jeju-do," Taeyeon replied.
"Seriously? You're fighting a losing battle." Kangin shook his head.
Taeyeon didn't say anything at that.
"When things get this bad, you need to make a quick decision or everything falls apart. I say drop her this time." He continued.
"Yeah, I agree..." Taeyeon nodded.
"Excuse me!" Tiffany couldn't take what she heard and walked over to the two.
Both Taeyeon and Kangin looked up at Tiffany who's already in her coat.
"Give me twelve hours to do this! I will fly to Jeju-do and be back around 9 PM, I will ask the printing office to push back the deadline and- "
"Just let it go," Taeyeon said with a sigh.
"It will never work, there is no way you can pull this off. Sunny, bring me the list of our backup artists." Taeyeon coldly brushed Tiffany off.
"Wait, please! Ranmi-ssi worked so hard, we can't just- "
"Tiffany! It doesn't matter if she worked hard, it's not going to be enough this time. don't get so carried away. In a crisis like this forget about yourself and face facts" Taeyeon said sternly.
Tiffany couldn't accept Taeyeon's decision, she believes that she could make this work, "I will make it work somehow, besides, Ranmi-ssi is on her way to the airport as we speak!"
"Well then, you should know that a manuscript full of sketchy drawings with no tones is out of the question, Emerald will never print it. Just let it go, you're wasting your time." Kangin butted in.
"I told you I will get the manuscript! I never make promises I can't keep!"
Why should I listen to him?!
A moment of silence ate up the atmosphere until a chuckle coming from Kangin broke it, "You sure are confident."
Tiffany glared at him and turned to Taeyeon who was staring at empty space, waiting for her response.
"Okay, get going already. I will take responsibility if something goes wrong." Taeyeon sighed.
"Huh?" Confusion was written all over Tiffany's face.
"I told you to get going!" Taeyeon yelled and pointed at the door and that was Tiffany's cue to get going.
"Okay!" And just like that, Tiffany stormed out of the office, out of the company, rode a taxi, and flew to Jeju-do .
Once Tiffany was gone from the office Kangin turned to Taeyeon, "Hey now, Taeyeon. Have you lost your mind? This is a company, not a playground."
As a response, Taeyeon leaned back on her big president chair and crossed her legs with a hand on her cheek and a high n mighty look on her face, "Yeah, I know."
...
...
Tiffany's plane successfully landed in Jeju-do and Ranmi was waiting for her there in the airport. After exchanging a quick greeting the two immediately got to work in a cafe in the airport.
She has huge bags under her eyes even her glasses can't hide them, I don't think she has slept at all and her face looks flushed.
Is she running a fever?
Did she get the flu like all of her assistants after all?
I know that she's reaping what she has sowed, but...when I see how serious she is, as her editor I feel like I have to do whatever I can to help her.
I'm probably too soft.
What am I thinking? Who's going to stand by the author's side if not her editor?
Besides, Taeyeon said she would take full responsibility if something goes wrong, so I can pretty much do what I want and everything will be fine .
...
No, wait...I see.
If this falls through, I won't have to shoulder any of the blame.
Because Taeyeon will.
"Get going already. I will take responsibility if something goes wrong."
If this one manuscript drags down the whole magazine, they're all going to blame her, and as one of her editors, who couldn't even do this one thing, I won't have any right to even apologize to her, what's more, it's possible she was just being contrary because Kangin-ssi is her rival.
"Oh, that reminds me."
"Yes ?" Tiffany looked up at Ranmi who was smiling at her.
"Your corrections on the storyboard were a huge help," Ranmi said.
Tiffany frowned in confusion.
"I think this is the kind of thing only a set of fresh eyes could spot, so I wanted to thank you," Ranmi Smiled.
Tiffany smiled back, "I'm glad I could help you, but let's concentrate on finishing this first."
"Oh! Right, sure." Ranmi chuckled awkwardly before resuming her work.
That was...one of the things Taeyeon pointed out.
I know I can't be perfect right out of the gate, but all my enthusiasm wasn't really worth squat.
I did a half-assed job.
...
...
Seoul, Im's Publishing, 9:35 PM
"Taeyeon-ssi! We really can't wait any longer!" A man from the printing company was in panic in front of Taeyeon and Kangin.
"Sorry, she will definitely be here soon." That's all Taeyeon had been repeating over and over again for the past hour.
"This is it, give it up. You have run out of time." Kangin glared at Taeyeon for her mistake of trusting Tiffany with this.
Taeyeon sighed and picked up her phone again.
"Taeyeon!" Kangin put a stern hand on her shoulder.
"Let me just call her." Just as Taeyeon was about to press the call button, the door banged open revealing a sweaty, huffing and exhausted looking Tiffany.
"I have got the manuscript!" Tiffany yelled and put the file containing the manuscript in view.
"You're late! Way too late!" The man from the printing agency is almost in tears.
"I am so sorry, I got stuck in traffic!" And Tiffany was in the same state.
"Did you do the typesetting? And all the corrections?" Taeyeon asked as she quickly scanned through the manuscript to make sure everything is perfect.
"Yes! Everything!" Tiffany said as if she's answering a military officer.
"What about the final check?"
"I did it three times!"
At hearing that, Taeyeon immediately put the manuscript back in the folder and gave it to the man who's almost about to faint.
"Ok! I will take these to the printers!" He yelled before running to the door.
"Thank you very much!" Tiffany bowed to the guy who dashed out of the office with a wave.
Just as Tiffany finally relaxed and regained her normal breath again she turned around to face Taeyeon and Kangin who're looking at her with their usual resting bitch faces.
"Please accept my deepest apologies." She bowed 90-degrees, "It was my fault things got out of hand. I didn't do my job well enough. I was too wrapped up in my emotions and made troubles for everybody. This will never happen again!" Tiffany was breaking down on the inside as she heard nothing from either of the but Kangin was the first to break the silence.
"Oh well, if that's it, I need to get back to work." He turned around and started walking to the elevator.
"But everybody has already gone home, right?" Taeyeon raised an eyebrow.
"Haven't you heard of the wondrous invention called the cell phone? I will see you later." He chuckled and turned around, waving.
Tiffany bowed to Kangin's back as he exited the floor they're in and watched Taeyeon as she made her way to her president chair and relaxed with a sigh.
"Did Kangin-ssi stay here to wait for me?" Tiffany asked nervously.
"Well, it's his magazine too. He takes pride in it." Taeyeon closed her eyes and rubbed her nose bridge to get rid of the drowsiness.
Tiffany looked down at the dirty floor. She's too disappointed in herself for all the troubles she has caused for everyone today, and her mood didn't go unnoticed by Taeyeon.
"Hey, chin up. In the end, we got the magazine ready for printing."
Tiffany let out a self-loathing chuckle, "That's not the problem here." She shook her head.
"Even if everyone was freaking out, I knew you would come through. When it comes to you, it's not about whether or not you can do something because once you say you will do it, you will definitely do it, come hell or high water, so I pretty much had no reason to worry." Taeyeon shrugged.
Tiffany looked up at Taeyeon.
"That's what I have always loved about you," Taeyeon smiled serenely.
At that moment, it was as if time has stopped.
How could Taeyeon say that so easily?
Taeyeon got up and walked passed Tiffany, patting her hair as she passed by, "Good job." And out of the room she was, missing the sight of Tiffany collapsing on her knees and put her hands on her red, hot cheeks.
Where Taeyeon touches me...I burn with heat.
Please...I beg of you...don't tear down any more of my barriers.
...
...
Oh man! Get a grip already!
Tiffany figured that the best way to get rid of all the heat Taeyeon caused within her is by washing her face with cold water from the sink in the bathroom.
Working in the romance manhwa section doesn't mean I turn into a fair maiden!
Anger, hate, resentment, respect, awe, admiration, stirred, nervous, alerted and a bit aroused.
Taeyeon makes her feel all those things at the same time that Tiffany thinks it's actually ridiculous. She's mad at herself for feeling all these things. She's mad at Taeyeon for making her feel all these things.
The moment she looked up at the mirror she almost jumped off her feet when she saw someone behind her in the reflection.
"Kangin-ssi...sorry, I didn't see you there." She apologized as she turned around and cursing herself for deciding to use the male/female bathroom.
Kangin was leaning on a stall door looking right at her as she wiped the water off her face, "You sure have balls for sneaking your way into this company" He said.
What?
"Did you know Taeyeon worked here?" He asked.
"Huh? Sorry, I do not follow." Tiffany frowned.
Kangin glared,"Do realize that it's your fault that Taeyeon is not herself anymore?!" He yelled.
What?
Seriously, just what is supposed to be my fault now?
"Sorry. I really don't understand." Tiffany shook her head, nervousness apparent on her face.
What the heck is he trying to say?
Kangin let out a breath through his nose and made his way to the door, "Just don't let it get to your head."
"Wait!"
As the bathroom door opened Tiffany put her plan to follow Kangin on pause and stared at his back.
Because Taeyeon was there.
"What? You're still here?" Taeyeon who was passing by stopped and looked up at Kangin.
"I have still got work to do," Kangin said as he matched his steps with Taeyeon and the two got further and further away from the bathroom but Tiffany could still hear their chatter.
When they're not working...Taeyeon and Kangin are actually...friends?
...
...
On the way back, Taeyeon and Tiffany met in the subway, what a coincidence.
Not.
"I'm glad things turned out okay," Taeyeon said as she scrolled through a storyboard.
"Sorry about everything," Tiffany who's sitting beside her, apologized as she helped Taeyeon to organized another storyboard.
"This comic is going to be published next month." Taeyeon referred to the two storyboards their holding in their hands, "You know how to do the color proofs, right?" Taeyeon handed Tiffany another paper finally wrapping up the two storyboards in together and Tiffany put them in separate files.
"Ah yes, I will be fine." Tiffany nodded and let out a sigh, relieved that she has finally finished her workload for the day.
Silence ensues between them as Tiffany felt herself get drowsy.
I wonder...not that I know what's going on between them in the first place. But then again...I can't exactly ask Taeyeon about it. Not that I would anyway, but If I did ask her...I wonder what she will say.
I wonder...what I want her to say.
"I'm also thinking of putting you in charge of the magazine the month after the next." Taeyeon has actually been talking to Tiffany for the past minute, but it's starting to bother her that Tiffany has not been responding to anything she has said, "Hey, are you listening ? Tiffa-..."
Taeyeon stopped mid sentence as she felt a weight on her shoulder, and when she turned to Tiffany, she realized that she has fallen asleep. She inhaled sharply when she looked at Tiffany's face all relaxed and untroubled like she always is at work. Tiffany looks prettier without a frown or a scowl directed at her. Taeyeon felt the urge to just lean in and capture those pink full lips like she had done a few days ago, to bite them and kiss her way down to Tiffany's jaw then neck.
But in reality, she just wants to have Tiffany's warmth close by her like this.
...
...
Tiffany's eyes slowly fluttered open to greet the morning sun and the beautiful sound of the annoying birds.
Man, I slept well.
What time is it?
She sat up and started touching around for her phone as the other hand rubbed her eyes.
Where is my phone?
Her hand went on top of something soft and warm that definitely was not her phone. She frowned and touched the warm thing for a few seconds, examining the texture.
Warm, soft, firm, the size of her hand.
What?
The moment she decided to squeeze harder, the sound of a soft moan was heard by her side. she immediately looked at her side and saw the cutest most beautiful sight she has ever seen in her life.
Taeyeon was there, curled up to her side and clenching the blanket tightly, her mouth slightly open and her exposed chest is rising and falling at a steady pace.
The admiring smile on Tiffany's face soon vanished and turned into a horrified expression.
This is Taeyeon, naked, sleeping next to her, on a bed, that is clearly not her's, not to mention that Tiffany's hand is still squeezing Taeyeon's left boob. Tiffany then realized her own naked state. She looked around the room and it did not look familiar, although similar in size.
This is not her room.
This is not her bed.
And hell this is definitely not her phone.
This is Taeyeon...sleeping...naked...next to her...in bed, and she's squeezing her boob.
"ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG!" Tiffany screamed as she jumped off the, pulling the blanket with her to cover herself and backed away until she bumped into the wall.
"SHUT YOUR TRAP STOP YELLING!" Taeyeon who woke up because of Tiffany's scream, screamed back just as loud.
"Why the hell are we sleeping in the same bed?!" Tiffany pointed at Taeyeon, clearly horrified.
"Shut up! You fell asleep on the train you idiot!" Taeyeon clenched her hair as she felt a splitting headache come because of Taeyeon waking her up with a disaster alert.
Tiffany looked at Taeyeon suspiciously, but then it hit her, she does not remember going back home last night, the last thing she remembers was organizing storyboards with Taeyeon in the train.
"I carried you all the way home on my back and put you to bed, and this is the thanks I get?!" Taeyeon glared at Tiffany, clearly not minding her own naked state.
Wh- What the hell?
I don't remember anything.
Tiffany let out a terrified whimper when she spotted her clothes scattered on the floor. She immediately ran to them and proceeded to cover herself.
"Shit, it's still early." Taeyeon groaned after seeing the time on her phone.
"Uh, umm...I'm just asking, but there was absolutely no weird hanky-panky, right?" Tiffany asked with frustration visible in her voice.
"Weird hanky-panky? What the hell is that?" Taeyeon grimaced.
"Uh, you know..." Tiffany looked at the bed and then back at Taeyeon whose back is facing her, and seeing her fair skin and glorious butt is really not helping Tiffany's case right now.
Taeyeon looked back and smirked, missing Tiffany ogling at her assets, "And if there was? If you like me, it's all good, right?"
Tiffany's already red face impossibly got even redder.
"I'm leaving! Thanks for looking after me last night! If something like this ever happens again, please don't bother!" Tiffany dashed out of the apartment, not even bothering to say bye to Taeyeon.
Calm down!
She's just pulling my leg!
We didn't do anything!
B-...But if we did...
I wouldn't really...
"No!" She yelled to herself.
She gets me so riled up!
Tiffany's eyes widened when she pulled her apartment door open and it did not budge.
My keys...and my bag...
She sighed and banged her head on the door before slowly making her way back to Taeyeon's apartment.
The moment she opened the door she was greeted by Taeyeon's resting bitch face, dressed in a big shirt that she's literally lost in and Tiffany imagines that there is nothing underneath. Taeyeon's arm extended to her with her bag and jacket in her hand.
Tiffany blushed and bit down on her lower lip as she accepted her things from Taeyeon.
"I'm going to come right out and say this. There must be something wrong with you! I will never ever say I love you because there is no way I'm falling for you!"
Taeyeon looked at her stoically for a second, "Keep telling yourself that," She chuckled in a mocking manner before walking back in her apartment leaving Tiffany in the doorway with her mouth agape.
I seriously hate her guts!
This is not love!
It's not!
No way!
How could it be?!
...
...
...
...
...
331 days until Tiffany falls in love