- At Random Bookstore.
Tiffany was standing there, in between people, with a grumpy expression, as usual, tossing random comics in her shopping basket.
If this is how things are going to be, I'm just going to drawn myself in work and I'm going to start with reading a huge pile of comics for research.
Besides, I changed jobs so that I could show everyone at my old job what I'm made of.
I don't have time to go gaga over Taeyeon.
"Huh? Is that you Tiffany?" A familiar voice interrupted her thoughts.
When she turned around she was met with the smiling face of a plus sized guy
"Shin...dong?"
"It's been a while!"
"You didn't use to be a big fan of comics Tiffany, so I wasn't sure if it was actually you in the comics section," Shindong said as he took a sip of his beer.
The two had gone to a nearby restaurant to catch up with each other.
"I would have never thought you would become a comic's editor! And romance comics to boot! Just like me." Shindong let out a laugh making Tiffany chuckle and get out of her grumpy mood.
"Actually, it hasn't really sunk in yet for me too..." Tiffany smiled, taking a sip of her beer.
"Oh, but still, as someone who entered Hwang's Publishing the same year as you, I'm happy for you. Besides, there can never be too many comic's editors." Shindong stuffed his chubby cheeks with food, making Tiffany smile even more.
He hasn't changed.
I had to endure all kinds of malicious gossip about getting my job through nepotism and contacts.
Shindong was the only one who treated me as just another co-worker.
"So, y'knooow...I've always thought thaaat...it'sh kinda written in a comics' author's DNA that they just can't keep their deadlines. Am I right or am I right?" Shindong has gotten completely drunk.
"I think you have had enough, Shindong." Tiffany was face palming, she had only drunk a little of her beer glass and Shindong is already in his 6th after two trips to the bathroom.
A bang on the table startled Tiffany.
"So when I press 'em for the resultsh...day always blow up at meee with I'm going all out here! If they are sooo serious about their work, why can't they finish things on time?!"
"Uh, well...haha..."
Just how upset Shindong is?
"I got shooo pissed that I went all this is how many people have to suffer because of you! back at 'em. I showed 'em this list to really drive home the point, and then the head editor got shooo mad at me...me!"
"Well, uh...that's..."
"And then! And then after I met up with my inconsiderate ass of an author to get her manuscript and swung by the typesetters, thinking I would finally get to go home, I ended up with a freakin piece of racy dialogue stuck to my ass that says ahh...n-...no, don't..."
Tiffany grimaced just imagining the situation in a fully packed commuting train, "That...That must have been awful."
"Still, I love my job and 'm not quittin'...just like one o' dose people in a baaaad relationship...uuuuuurgh..." Shindong gagged, feeling the need to vomit.
"Why don't we get going..." Tiffany chuckled nervously, already getting up from her seat.
"Oh shut uuup Tiffffffff...'sides, you're a woman and you attract more girls than me, what the hells' up with dat?"
"Yeah, yeah." Tiffany brushed it off and went to Shindong's side to help him up.
Shindong pouted making Tiffany chuckle at his drunken talk, " 'm gonna go to the toilet." He stood up, a bit wobbly.
"Watch out!" Tiffany immediately held on to him as he swayed to the left as if he was about to fall down.
"You okay?" Tiffany asked in worry, Shindong didn't look so good this evening, to begin with judging from the bags under his eyes.
''m juuust fine. Urgh...'' A groan escaped Shindong's mouth making Tiffany frown.
"No, you're not. I'm putting you in a taxi, let's go." Tiffany pulled Shindong by his arm, not realizing the eyes of the person passing by her were on her.
"Tiffany?"
When Tiffany looked back to see who just called her name, it turned out to be her worst nightmare.
Taeyeon?!
"Wh- What are you doing here?" Tiffany asked with a flustered face as she held into Shindong.
Taeyeon just stared at the two, clearly not liking what she's looking at.
"Taeyeon-ssi! I found us a table." A woman dressed in business attire called for Taeyeon.
Huh?
She's here with a woman ?
N- Not that it matters who she hangs out with...
Tiffany watched bitterly as Taeyeon turned around and went along with the woman.
"Taeyeon? Monthly Emerald's head editor? That Taeyeon?" Shindong suddenly snapped out of his drunken state at the mention of Taeyeon's name.
"Yeah," Tiffany confirmed, a bit confused at why Shindong knows who Taeyeon is.
"Oh crap, this sucks! I should have given her my business card!" Shindong face palmed, "Oh maaan, and I was right next to her! The famous editor! Wow, I suck!"
Tiffany raised an eyebrow at that, "Is Taeyeon famous?"
"You don't know?!" Shindong snapped at Tiffany, his eyes wide with surprise, "She's the one who lifted Emerald from the bottom to the top just in one single year." He raised a finger to emphasize one year.
"Oh...I had heard as much, but- "
"Anyway, the word is that she never cuts any corners...at work or in her privet life." Shindong shrugged. All he's telling Tiffany are things he had heard from work, not his own sayings, but that didn't stop Tiffany from getting bothered by the second as he continued, "She basically goes out a lot, whether it's men or women. Well, she's really beautiful, so I can understand why. These are all just rumors, though."
Anger.
Endless anguish .
This is precisely why I didn't want to admit anything to myself.
She had a woman with her.
I wonder who that was.
So Taeyeon is someone who would do that. Which means that...she was just playing with me after all, and that means that I should just suck it up and deal.
But still...is that what she was really like?
She has always been stoic and that hasn't changed. In my memories,...she was a shy loner who would sit in the same section in the library reading a book after school. I wanted to read the same books she did, so...I would dig out the check-out cards, all serious about it.
*Gasp*
No!
That was just the folly of youth!
I was one confused kid!
"You do realize that it's your fault Taengoo got all weird back then, right ?" - Kangin
I could say the same about myself.
I fell in love, and when I got dumped, I didn't go to school because I was so shocked. Then to top it all off, I went back to America to continue my studies there. I was so pathetic back then, that I don't want to think about it anymore...or maybe it's not that I can't, but that I don't really want to.
When you fall in love, you have to lay yourself bare in front of another person.
And now...simply the thought terrifies me.
"Uh, good evening." Tiffany awkwardly greeted Taeyeon who's leaning on the wall next to her apartment door, "Wow, that rain came out of nowhere, right? Hahaha." Tiffany rushed to her apartment door passing by Taeyeon who didn't move a muscle.
"You're not done with the revision of your proposal and yet you're out and about, huh?"
Tiffany stopped right before she opened her door and looked at Taeyeon with an unhappy expression.
"If you have got time to cozy up to some guy, you should get back to work instead," Taeyeon said in all bluntness.
"What? I'm not neglecting my duties. and you're the last person I want to hear that fr- "
Just as Tiffany was done unlocking her door, Taeyeon grabbed her and dragged her away, all the way to her own apartment and closed the door behind them.
"Ugh...hey! What are you doing?!" Tiffany snapped as soon as she got her wrist free from Taeyeon's hold.
"I said that you're not working hard enough." Taeyeon crossed her arms and stood in the way of Tiffany to the door with a glare almost visible on her face.
"Yes, I am! Don't worry about me! And please get out of my way!" Tiffany tried to go around Taeyeon but it was no use, Taeyeon completely blocked her way and refused to move.
"Well, if you're that far ahead, let me see," Taeyeon said with a challenging look on her face.
"You're really not one to talk, Taeyeon!"
"Huh?" Taeyeon raised an eyebrow, not understanding why Tiffany would say something like that.
"Who was that beautiful woman you were with earlier?!" Tiffany snapped once more. The memory of Taeyeon with that woman at the restaurant just infuriated her.
"What?"
"You should practice with your preach!"
The confused look on Taeyeon's face immediately relaxed after she heard that, "That was an author."
...
"Huh?" Tiffany squinted. Now she's the confused one.
Taeyeon was visibly angry when she said, "We were there on business. Kang Junmin, one of our authors."
Tiffany blushed hard the moment the realization sunk in.
"Are you an idiot or something?! Stop letting your imagination get the best of you!" Taeyeon with a huff as she ran a hand through her hair.
I hate this
"Please get out of my way! I bought work to do at home!" With her head down, Tiffany tried to walk past Taeyeon to the door.
"Then do it here!" Taeyeon immediately extended her arm to stop Tiffany.
I want to get out of here right now!
Tiffany struggled against Taeyeon to reach the door but it was no use because Taeyeon is using all her strength right now to stop Tiffany from leaving.
"I'm serious! I will do this by myself. So please don't worry about me!" Tiffany yelled, her voice a little muffled by Taeyeon's shoulder.
"Hey!" Taeyeon struggled back against Tiffany and felt that her legs were about to give in.
"You- You should do these things with Kangin!" Tiffany unconsciously blurted.
A moment of silence more struggling passed by.
"What? What's Kangin got to do with all this?" Taeyeon yelled back in frustration.
"All of these misunderstandings aren't exactly fun. So...please move." Tiffany clenched her teeth and pushed harder.
"Kangin is just a friend." Despite having trouble with coordinating her speech and her strength, Taeyeon did her best to keep Tiffany away from that door.
"You're in my way! Please mo- "
"Tiffany!"
Tiffany found herself being swung around and finally she was facing Taeyeon who's pinning her on the door she so desperately wanted to reach just a second ago.
"Aren't you in love with me?" Taeyeon asked calmly.
"Huh? What are you saying? You just don't get it. All you do is jump to conclusions.St- Stop being so full of yourself!" Tiffany looked away to the side with a deep blush on her face. She actually panicking on the inside. She tried her best not to be affected by Taeyeon's words but the blush on her face hid nothing.
"So what's your answer? Am I right?" Despite the sight in front of her, Taeyeon wanted a direct answer from Tiffany's mouth.
Feeling like she has no other choice but to admit it, Tiffany started physically struggling once again, "Please get out of my way!" She yelled.
"Answer me!" Taeyeon yelled back, still not letting go of Tiffany.
"Shut up!" Tiffany shook her head, absolutely refusing to give Taeyeon her answer.
"I love you!"
Tiffany stopped all the struggling and just stood still, staring at empty space for a few seconds before slowly looking at Taeyeon who had an unexplainable look on her face.
Seeing that Tiffany is finally looking at her, Taeyeon took the chance to lean in and capture Tiffany's pink lips. Tiffany immediately tensed up once she realized the contact but did not fight it. Her face warmed up, her breath hitched and her eyes went a tad bit wider.
Don't be stupid.
Like I would ever fall again for the same person I was in love with 10 years ago.
The moment Taeyeon pulled away Tiffany looked down and took a deep breath in an attempt to calm her nerves down.
"...Please, stop...don't tease me like this." Tiffany said with her head down and voice shaky and barely audible.
However, Taeyeon did just what Tiffany expected. She grabbed her chin gently, forcing her to look up and kissed once more.
No way.
I will never ever do that.
So my heart beating like crazy is simply because...
Tiffany's thoughts were cut off when she felt Taeyeon's arms go under her thighs and lift her up on the wall carefully so their lips won't break apart.
A moan slipped past Tiffany's mouth when Taeyeon's lips traced kisses down to her neck.
She feels so hot in against my body...way too hot...
I can't...if we don't stop...
"Taeyeon, let go..." Tiffany struggled to stay as her breath hitched once more, "Taeyeon! haa...ah...sto-...ngh!"
After leaving a mark, Taeyeon put Tiffany down and backed off to give her the chance to regain her breath.
Looking up, Tiffany saw Taeyeon, red-faced, disheveled clothes from their struggles, her side swept fringe slightly covering her left eyes.
And again, Tiffany found herself pushed to the wall once more, "St- Stop!" She yelled.
"You still haven't answered my question," Taeyeon said, her face only inches away from Tiffany's.
Tiffany did not say anything, completely forgetting the topic of their argument earlier.
"What do you say?" Taeyeon asked again.
Tiffany looked down and swallowed heavily, "I will never...never fall in love with you again!"
The dazed look on Taeyeon's face turned into an unsatisfied glare and instead of letting go, she laid Tiffany on the floor and held her wrists.
"H- Hey! Stop it, Taeyeon." Tiffany started struggling for the nth time that night and turned right and left to avoid looking Taeyeon straight in the face.
Just when Taeyeon was about to lean in and steal Tiffany's lips once more...
*ring* *ring*
"Your phone is ringing! Please answer it!" Tiffany yelled, desperate to get Taeyeon off her.
"No way." Taeyeon got even closer, determined to get Tiffany to feel more.
"Please, it might be work related!"
"Shut up!"
"Hurry!"
With one strong push from Tiffany, what little left of Taeyeon's strength finally ran out and Tiffany managed to get up, grab her bag and run out of the apartment, ignoring the sound of Taeyeon's voice calling her name.
With a frustrated huff, Taeyeon stood up and grabbed her phone, "Before you say anything else, there is something I want to ask you." She said with the coldest voice she ever made to whoever is on the other side of the phone the person on the other side of the phone, "What exactly did you tell Tiffany, Kangin?"
"I told her to stop sniffing around you."
"What? She works for me. What the hell were you thinking?"
"You're not one to mix business with pleasure, right?"
"I'm not mixing them."
"Yes, you are."
Taeyeon sighed and face palmed.
"Taengoo, stop it already."
"Stop what?"
"You always get caught up in your past love. You haven't forgotten how badly that ended for you, have you? If you don't want to end up as miserable as you were back then I would suggest thinking this over."
Taeyeon's eyes widened at the realization struck her.
"Hey! Are you listening?!"
"I'm tired. I'm hanging up." Taeyeon shook her head and cut off whatever Kangin was about to say to her as she ended the call.
She stood there in the middle of the hallway, looking at her own disheveled appearance in the mirror and remained as stoic and calm as ever.
But on the inside...she was a complete mess.
On the other side, Tiffany sat in her own hallway after taking her shoes off and hugged her heated body.
What the hell?
Why is my heart going crazy?
I'm so stupid. This is all just a game for Taeyeon. She's just...teasing me.
...
This is my first time presenting a proposal here. I do have some previous experience, but I'm still really nervous.
Tiffany had her hand on her pounding heart feeling super nervous as she walked towards the meeting room.
I didn't forget anything, did I?
She opened the folder she had in hand and flipped through it, certainly finding something wrong.
Huh?
Huh?!
"Tiffany."
She turned around upon hearing a familiar voice
"You forgot your proposal," Taeyeon said and calmly handed Tiffany her proposal.
"I- I'm sorry. I accidentally grabbed the wrong papers." Tiffany nodded to Taeyeon gratefully.
"Idiot. At least make sure you have got the right papers with you."
"W- Well, sorry about that" Tiffany as always got pissed off and walked away, leaving Taeyeon no choice but to follow behind.
"Calm down. I okayed your proposal, so there is no way it won't pass." Taeyeon yawned as she pressed the elevator button
And that only pissed Tiffany even more.
Wh- What the hell is up with you?!
Make up your mind on whether you're trying to cheer me up or put me down!
Just as the elevator door opened, Tiffany's brain stopped functioning and the only thought in her mind was the word beautiful repeating itself over and over as she stared at the girl in front of her.
Despite looking tired the girl was still amazingly beautiful and graceful.
"Good morning." Taeyeon and Tiffany greeted as the both of them stepped into the elevator with the pretty girl.
"Morning." The girl greeted back and Tiffany got a big surprise when Taeyeon slightly but surely smiled back at the girl.
Who's this?
Just as Tiffany asked herself that, Taeyeon spoke up, "Tiffany, this is Im Yoona, the senior managing director."
A company director?!
Upon hearing Taeyeon's introduction, Tiffany bowed 90 degree's to the pretty girl, "It's nice to meet you. I'm Tiffany Hwang."
Yoona only nodded at her. Although with a smile, but Tiffany still felt a little intimidated.
"She's holding her first presentation today, so go easy on her, Yoona," Taeyeon said.
"Yeah I saw her proposal." Yoona looked back at Tiffany with a smile, "You did good, considering that it's your first time."
Tiffany felt a little embarrassed upon receiving a compliment from a director.
"The comic is good. Make sure you pull this off." The elevator stopped and Yoona raised her hand and waved, "I need to go to the restroom, so I will head off first."
As the two of them also walked out the elevator, Taeyeon smirked and looked at Tiffany from the corner of her eye, "You should be jumping out of joy right about now."
"Huh?" Tiffany raised an eyebrow.
"That girl rarely calls anything good."
?
"It means that she noticed you."
And that only added to Tiffany's stress.
On no, I'm really nervous now. I think...
Tiffany froze in place upon feeling Taeyeon wrapping an arm around her shoulder and resting her chin on the other.
"It's okay. If you falter, I will be right there to help you." Taeyeon said in such a calm voice that it actually helped Tiffany calm down, "Do your best." A pat on the butt from Taeyeon and that was it.
The elevator door opened once again to their desired floor and Taeyeon had already let go of Tiffany to not make the others in their surrounding feel conscious of them.
Tiffany who had been followed Taeyeon out did not know what to say back to her, "Oh...um...I..." She felt the annoying blush creep up her face and her heart pounding roughly.
"Oh, that's right!"
Tiffany looked back the moment she heard a familiar voice near her, Yoona was looking at her from around the corner just before going inside the lady's room.
"You're the only daughter of Hwang's publishing company president, aren't you?" Yoona asked with a smile.
Tiffany held the grimace that threatened to show, "Uh, yes."
"Right. Right. I'm actually in the same boat since my dad is this company's president! We have both ridden on our parent's coattails, haven't we? So let's both do our best, partner-in-crime!"
Everyone in the hallway who's been watching the interaction between the two had their jaws agape due to Yoona's words
"Bwahahahahahahahahahahaha~" Taeyeon was the first to laugh out loud.
As fascinating as the sight of Taeyeon actually laughing, Tiffany did not hesitate to glare at her, "H- Hey, Taeyeon! Weren't you supposed to have my back?!" Tiffany protested which made Taeyeon immediately turn stoic again.
"Why?"
You're my superior, aren't you?!
Arrrrrgh!
One day, I'm definitely going to drag you down from your high horse!
This is positively definitely, most assuredly not love!
No way!
...
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302 days until Tiffany falls in love