Im's publishing's' Emerald editorial department.
After the new year, they are refreshed and starting with a clean state...of course, that doesn't happen.
Tiffany looked up and scanned the room. The air was stinky. The desks were overflowing with work. The floor was filled with questionable garbage. Last but not least, the working corpses that if you look at their faces right now, you would want to run away.
"Hey...Taeyeon, how did we end up in this state right after the new year. " Sunny asked, losing all hopes of living.
Taeyeon looked up and if looks can kill...Yoona would be dead right now, "This is caused by a bad custom called valentine's day which the magazine must also celebrate."
Ow...my stomach hurts. It's because I got a text message on new year's day asking me to present a project proposal at today's meeting. I did this once last year, but I still haven't got the hang of it, and now they're asking me to prepare it in such a short period of time. On top of that...the author won't accept the changes in the storyboard.
Tiffany's hand trembled, holding the phone to her ear while massaging the bridge of her nose. She was certainly talking with Ranmi about the changes in her storyboard, but she just wouldn't accept them.
This silence means that she doesn't like the suggestions, right?
"Um...so, if you keep it as it is, the explanation of the situation won't be enough. It should be easier for readers to- "
"But...I don't think every single thing has to be explained in the text."
"That's true, but in this case, I think it's really not enough."
"I don't agree."
"Well, other editors are also suggesting something similar for you. You see, the majority of your readers are pretty young, so if you could consider that as well..."
*silence*
"Alright, give me some time to think about it. Bye."
*click*
The look of death in Tiffany's lifeless eyes couldn't get stronger when Ranmi cut the line off.
"Yay, persuasion failed." Taeyeon cheered sarcastically as she passed by Tiffany.
"I didn't fail! We both gave our opinions, and..."
"Have you guys looked at the storyboard by Choi Junghun?" Taeyeon asked the whole office, ignoring Tiffany's protest in the progress.
"Yah!" Tiffany yelled.
"I have read it." Sunny raised a hand, also interrupting any complaints that were about to escape Tiffany's mouth.
"If there is any part that needs to be fixed, speak out." Taeyeon said, "First, Tiffany."
"What?! Wait a second!" Tiffany fidgeted as she searched through the mountain on her desk for the proper storyboard.
One of Taeyeon's policies is that everyone in the editorial department needs to check out all the storyboard at least once.
"Uh...I think page 32 should have more intervals, and be slowed down a bit." Finally finding it, Tiffany gave out her opinion.
"Yup, I don't like that part too." Yuri agreed.
"I think the rest is good, though," Sunny said.
"I agree," Hyoyeon also agreed
"Alright, thanks," Taeyeon nodded and took a note of the correction.
Ugh, my stomach. I should practice for the proposal meeting, but before that, I need some rest...
"Tiffany."
Hearing Taeyeon's voice call her name, Tiffany looked up at Taeyeon who was on her phone.
"Yes?"
"I'm gonna call Junghun-ssi now, so listen to what I say."
"Why?" Tiffany raised an eyebrow grumbly.
Taeyeon looked back at her with the exact same expression, "You...did you talk to all the authors in your previous company the same way?"
?
"That's right. Is there a problem with that?"
Taeyeon looked back at her phone, "No wonder. That's why you fail to convince them."
Tiffany glared, "I said that I didn't fail. She told me that she's gonna think about it."
"How many times have you tried? It's because she's not convinced, that she's not fixing it."
!
"Even though we tell them the right thing, if the person who's writing it is now convinced, nothing good will come out of it. What's too short and what's too much and why we want that. You must tell them accurately and consciously while taking the author's personality into account. You're not doing it, that's why it takes a long time."
Oh...I see...
She wanted to teach me about it, that's why she told me to listen.
"B- But..."
"I understand your point, but I also understand what Ranmi-ssi means." Taeyeon glanced at her.
"I don't think it's a good idea to push your opinions." Tiffany frowned.
Taeyeon looked at her in silence for a moment before looking at her phone again, "If you create good stuff that sells well by doing that, I wouldn't be complaining like this."
"Th- That's...we don't know until we actually publish it!"
Taeyeon looked at her with a cold glare, "People who think like that are not suited to be editors."
And that got Tiffany's heart pounding in anger.
"Have you been doing half-assed work like that?" Taeyeon raised an eyebrow.
"That's not it!"
What's that? Are you telling me I'm not suited for editing? You have got to be kidding me!
Just then, Taeyeon's phone rang with the name Choi Junghun flashing on it/
Asserting like that, then show me...how you can persuade an extremely popular author.
"Hey, this is Taeyeon...yeah it's about the changes in the storyboard. From pages 30 to 32."
A moment of silence and...
"Those pages are boring, can you redo them all?"
Wha- ?!
"What? You're asking me why? 'Coz it's boring, don't you think so?"
What?! Hey!
What are you saying to the queen of romance comic in all of Korea?
"There are heaps of other ways to draw it."
Whoooh!
"Yes, yes. That's all, thank you."
*click*
Just like that, Taeyeon was done with the call, successfully persuading the great Choi Junghun into changing something in her storyboard.
"Was that helpful?" Taeyeon asked with a sign of smug in her voice.
No, absolutely not!
Going back to her desk, Tiffany slumped on her aeron chair tiredly.
Ugh, I'm going to a have a hole or two in my stomach soon...
Tiffany opened her eyes upon hearing her phone ring. Looking at the name flashing on her phone, Tiffany's eyes widened.
"Hello?"
"Ah, just a moment. I'm at work now..." Immediately after answering the phone, Tiffany got up and made her way out of the office, "Excuse me. I will be out for a minute."
"Okay." Sunny answered and the whole office watched Tiffany dash out to the rest area.
"What happened?" Yuri who was confused asked
"A personal phone call, is it? I guess it's her partner ha. ha. ha." Sunny laughed bitterly in monotone not noticing Taeyeon who actually took her eyes off her work and stared at the door Tiffany went out of.
"Happy new year, Tiff!" A deep manly voice echoed through Tiffany's phone to her ear.
"Kanggun(OC)...sorry but I'm at work right now." Tiffany started massaging her temple out of stress.
"Ah, that's right. I could have texted you but I wanted to hear your voice."
"So what is it?"
"I just got back from America and I'm at Incheon airport. Do you mind if I bring your souvenir over tonight?"
"You don't have to do that."
"But I couldn't see you during new year's, so it's been a long time since last we met. I will leave as soon as I give it to you, so please?"
"I don't even know what time I will finish, and- "
"Then should I visit your work instead?"
"No, please don't do that."
"Then I will come to your place. Text me when you're heading home. Oh, the taxi's here. Bye now. Talk to you later!"
"Hey! Gun-ah!" Realizing that Kanggun had already hung up, Tiffany let out a deep sigh and stuffed her phone back in her pocket.
"Who's that?"
Tiffany looked back and saw that it was Taeyeon with her arms crossed.
Was she listening?!
"It's about time for the proposal meeting."
"Oh...Excuse me I will go get ready."
"What about the answer to my question?"
"What?"
"Was it your boyfriend?"
"It was not! I apologize for answering a privet call."
"That's not my point..."
The staring competition between the two was interrupted by none other than a grinning Yoona walking over, "Heeey! It's been a while Unnie! How are you?"
Taeyeon frowned and looked at Yoona with a raised eyebrow, "We met yesterday. What's the company's director doing here?"
"Strolling." Yoona's and Tiffany's eyes met, "Happy new year, partner in cri- "
"It's Tiffany!"
"Haha, what a good timing. I have already sent a thank you note to your father, but could you also tell him that I said it. The new years rice cakes were really yummy."
"..."
What?
"Rice cakes?" Taeyeon raised an eyebrow.
"Freshly made rice cakes are totally different from the ones we buy at the store. I won't get tired from eating it three times a day."
Upon hearing that, Tiffany frowned, "Excuse me, but do you and my dad know each other?"
"What? You didn't know? He and my old man have been playing golf together for several years now."
"I see...I'm sorry, I didn't know that." Tiffany looked down and nodded.
"Do you know that this girl has a fiance arranged by her parents? It's already the 21st century" Yoona said to Taeyeon who somewhat had empty eyes.
"I see." Taeyeon didn't look affected by it at all.
"They were so worried about her changing jobs back then, they came to talk to my father. You shouldn't make your parents worry too much. See ya later." Yoona waved and was on her way.
"Please wait! Yoona-ssi!" Tiffany followed Yoona who stopped and looked at her in confusion.
"What?"
"Excuse me, but...did my father really discuss me changing jobs...with your father?"
The smile on Yoona's face went down and serious expression was in place, "My bad. Forget what I just said. It's got nothing to do with you being here. So don't be bothered."
Tiffany shook her head and didn't know what to think of that.
"Anyway, the rice cakes were nice. Thanks." Yoona waved and left, leaving Tiffany in the middle of the hallway looking at the ground.
...Apart from the department, I thought that getting a job at Im's publishing was based on my ability alone.
Even getting another job...it was with the influence of my dad.
*Whack*
"Yah, let's go the meeting."
The whack Tiffany got on the head with a roll of papers from Taeyeon didn't irritate her as usual but instead, Tiffany looked at Taeyeon with a pleading expression, "Taeyeon...did you know about this?"
"About what?" Taeyeon looked away and acted cluelessly.
"I mean...about me?"
Taeyeon looked away, rubbed the back of her neck and sighed. Not sure how to deal with this situation, "Well, yes." She said.
Tiffany swallowed hard and looked down.
How embarrassing.
The lifeless and stressful look in Tiffany's eye couldn't get worst. Her hair fluttered as the train passed by her and stopped completely.
Somehow, it was a very long day. I just want to sleep already...
Oh yeah, I should text Kanggun. I don't think he will come this late, though.
Opening her phone, Tiffany started texting and suddenly she was pulled by her hoodie into the train that she was a second away from missing.
"Wha- !? Taeyeon?"
It was none other than Taeyeon who pulled her in just before the doors close, "Don't just stand there dazed. Sit down."
Tiffany didn't say anything to reply and sat down next to Taeyeon.
"Here you go."
Tiffany stared at the plastic bag Taeyeon placed on her lap, "Alcohol?" Tiffany raised an eyebrow after examining what the plastic bag contains.
"Come to my place."
"What?" Tiffany looked sideways at Taeyeon who was looking away.
"You talk more when you're drunk."
"What?" Tiffany frowned.
"Complain. I'm saying I'm here to listen." Taeyeon said, looking stoically at empty space.
Okay, Tiffany would be lying if she said that she wasn't moved a tiny little bit, "N- No, thank you. There isn't anything I want to talk about."
"If you keep on worrying like that and let it affect your work, I will be the one troubled," Taeyeon said.
"...Yeah, yeah you're right I get it." Tiffany said with a grumpy smile.
"..."
"Hey...does having connections bother you that much?" Taeyeon said. Referring to Tiffany's Dad.
"What?"
"It's just that you're ahead of others from the beginning. Why don't you take advantage of it and step forward?"
"A- As if it's that simple. Only those in the same position can understand this sort of thing." Tiffany shook her head.
"I hate people who are troubled by useless things. It's really inefficient. Why don't they start doing what they should be doing?"
"Yeah, yeah, you're right. It's useless. That's so true. Please go ahead and hate me more." Tiffany said sarcastically.
It was a comfortable silence for a moment that made Tiffany think, since when did silence between them become comfy?
"...I don't know what you're aiming for."
"What?" Tiffany glanced at Taeyeon grumpily.
"But you can't accomplish 100% right from the start. What you can do is complete things one by one and obtain self-confidence, you know?"
Tiffany looked down, "Of course...I know that."
These words...only the successful and self-confident can say such words. In reality, I'm someone who's indecisive on even the trivial matters. I often realize my mistakes only when someone points them out. The more good treatment I receive, the more aware I am of my incompetence. Under such circumstances...
Tiffany chuckled painfully, "If I could have gained self-confidence I would have already done so long ago."
Taeyeon glanced at Tiffany and looked back at her favorite area of empty space, "You have a bad personality." She said.
And whose fault is that?!
"The presentation for today's proposal meeting...you did well."
The little pat on her hair set Tiffany's heart racing.
"Keep it up, good work."
Listening to her ridiculously fast heart beat, Tiffany blushed.
Is she...trying to cheer me up...perhaps?
"Th- Thank you." Tiffany jumped in her place as a loud screeching sound was heard and the lights turned off, "What? Is it an accident?" Tiffany asked holding on to her bag tightly.
"Our apologies to all passengers. The train has stopped due to the activation of the safety system."
"Oh my god!"
"Whoa, it so dark."
"No emergency lights?"
"We apologize for the inconvenience."
Tiffany couldn't hear any of the voices around her. As to why? Well...let's just say a certain someone beside her took advantage of the dark and proceeded to steal her lips away. Tiffany didn't protest and closed her eyes. She didn't have the chance to respond to the kiss because the warm lips left her's before she could do anything. She put her hand on her chest in an attempt to calm her heart down a bit only for it to beat even faster when Taeyeon's hand was put on top of her cold hand.
"Wha- What did you just do?" Tiffany asked in panic.
"I kissed you," Taeyeon responded smugly.
"W- We're in public!" Tiffany didn't sound like she liked it but at the same time, she didn't remove her hand from under Taeyeon's.
"I know. That's why I did that now." Taeyeon yawned. Not really minding the darkness. In fact. She's enjoying being cozy with Tiffany.
"..."
"Hey," Taeyeon broke the comfortable silence again.
"What?"
"The phone call this afternoon..."
Just then, the lights turned back on and the train moved again, continuing its way to the next station.
"What?" Tiffany asked, looking away while both of them broke their interlocked hands before anyone sees.
"No...it's nothing."
"If it's nothing then please don't ask." Tiffany glanced at Taeyeon and saw that she was looking down at her hands with an unexplainable expression. It's Tiffany's third time seeing Taeyeon's face like that. She can't help it but feel sad when she sees her making that face.
"Hey...come to my place," Taeyeon said again.
"I think I shouldn't. It's late and I will be a bother."
Taeyeon looked back up at her favorite empty space, "I'm saying that I want to be with you."
Tiffany couldn't say anything in reply to that and just looked down with red cheeks at her hand that got cold again after separating it from Taeyeon's.
Our apartment building is 9 minutes away from the subway station.
Just 9 minutes
It feels like forever
"So...what are you gonna do?"
Tiffany looked at Taeyeon's back in front of her as both of them were walking those 9 minutes to their apartment in the cold night.
"Are you coming or not?" Taeyeon asked again.
"If I do come I don't know what you will do." Tiffany blushed and averted her eyes from Taeyeon who was looking back at her.
"Of course, you do."
Of course, I do. What's she acting all high and mighty for?
Tiffany clenched her teeth to prevent a yelp when she felt Taeyeon's hand hold her's and their fingers interlock.
"Wh- What?"
"Since you would never say something like I will go I'm taking you in by force."
"What?! What the hell is that? And let go!" Tiffany tried jerking Taeyeon's hand away but it was no use.
"Shut up."
"Taeyeon!"
Taeyeon let out a chuckle as she swung their hands, "It seems like you've popped up." Taeyeon smirked as her eyes traveled down Tiffany's shirt.
Just the thought combined with Taeyeon's hand reduced Tiffany into a mess.
What..am I...doing?
Saying that she will take me in by force...what an idiot. No. I don't want this. If I go into Taeyeon's apartment again...If I don't want it, I can simply shake off her hand and run. If I don't, we will walk up the hill as she holds my hand...and my heart pounds like crazy.
I'm a fool.
"Tiff!"
Both Taeyeon and Tiffany looked up at the person standing in front of their apartment building and calling for Tiffany.
"I'm glad! I thought I came to the wrong apartment!" It was a tall, fine guy dressed in American fashion.
"K- Kanggun?!" Tiffany's eyes widened and she retreated her hand from Taeyeon's as fast as possible upon seeing the guy.
Taeyeon just stood there a little surprised by Tiffany's reaction. Who might this be?
"I sent you a text message. Did you see it?" The guy that Tiffany addressed as Kanggun smiled widely when Tiffany approached him.
"What? Oh, sorry. I was on the subway...more importantly, why are you waiting for me in this cold weather?!"
"Don't worry. I haven't been waiting long. I wanted to see you, Tiffany." The guy shook his head and smiled shyly.
"What?" Tiffany was taken aback.
"Here's your souvenirs!" The kind of bubbly Kanggun placed a lot of plastic bags between Tiffany's hands, "Oh, is she your friend?" He asked and smiled at Taeyeon.
"Huh? Oh, uhm...my next door neighbor..." Tiffany glanced at Taeyeon and averted her eyes.
"Good evening. Thanks for taking care of my Tiffany!" The guy smiled at Taeyeon.
Tiffany's heart dropped when she saw Taeyeon actually smile back politely and nod.
"Good evening." Taeyeon greeted politely, "Your boyfriend?" She asked Tiffany.
Oh, this is bad.
"No. It's not like that." Tiffany was quick to answer as to not make Taeyeon misunderstand anything.
"Heeey! What do you mean by that?" Kanggun pouted.
She definitely misunderstood.
"Well then, I will be going ahead." Taeyeon nodded before turning around and walked inside their apartment building.
"Hey!" Tiffany called but Taeyeon didn't turn back.
"Tiff! The hotel I'm staying in is awesome!" Kanggun started chatting, resulting in Tiffany missing her chance to follow Taeyeon.
After Kanggun finally left, Tiffany walked inside their apartment building, glancing at Taeyeon's door as she passed by it before she went back to her own.
What should I do? I must quickly clear up the misunderstanding, but...
What should I do?
What the hell should I do?!
I must explain the situation to her as fast as possible. She completely misunderstood.
What should I say? How should I explain it so that she will understand? I must clear up things up!
But...come to think of it, it's not like Taeyeon and I are lovers or anything like that. If it has nothing to do with her then there is no need for me to explain. If I don't want to be any more involved with her than I already am, I should just leave it as it is. It's impossible for me to have anything with someone I used to go out with and I have other things that I should concentrate on.
That's right. It's better for my sake...
So I wonder...why am I standing in front of her door?
Tiffany face palmed and sighed. She looked at the little container between her hands.
I'm just gonna say it casually while I give her some rice cakes.
I want to clear things up, that's all.
With that thought in mind, Tiffany rang Taeyeon's door bell
"Yes?"
Tiffany gulped when Taeyeon's voice came in through the intercom, "I- It's Tiffany." Tiffany wondered if Taeyeon heard her because it got silence for the next few seconds.
"...What do you want?"
"Wo- Would you like some rice cakes? My family made it during the new year's holiday."
Silence again.
The intercom turned off and a few seconds later the door opened revealing Taeyeon's piercing dark eyes.
Tiffany swallowed again when she saw how cold Taeyeon's eyes were.
"Sorry for the bother. This..." Tiffany looked down and extended the container to Taeyeon.
Taeyeon nodded and accepted the container.
Why is she still wearing her coat?
"Should I keep it in the fridge?"
"Oh no, please keep it in the freezer."
"Okay, thanks."
Taeyeon walked in her apartment leaving the door wide open. Tiffany took the chance and followed Taeyeon to clear up what happened earlier.
"Umm..."
"What is it?" Taeyeon opened her freezer and looked sideways at Tiffany.
"Well, It's about the guy just now. He's not my boyfriend or anything like that. It would make me uncomfortable if you misunderstood. Our relationship is not what you think, he's just an old acquaintance. Anyway, he's not my boyfriend so please don't get- "
"Fiancé."
Tiffany froze.
"Bull's eye, is it?"
"..."
"You guys seems close."
Tiffany looked down, guilty, "How did you know?"
"I just guessed." Taeyeon shrugged, "I'm sorry but I'm going out now, so can you leave?"
Tiffany raised an eyebrow at Taeyeon who was fiddling with her phone, "Now ? Are you going to the convenience store?"
"I'm going to see my cat."
"..."
Her cat...does that mean...Kangin's place?
"You're in my way. get out." Taeyeon passed by Tiffany walked straight to the door. To her surprise...she got held up by the arm. She looked back at Tiffany, surprised to see Tiffany herself with a surprised face. As if she didn't mean to do that, "What?" She asked calmly.
"Uhm. honestly, we're not like that. Our parents decided this whole engagement thing. Neither of us takes it seriously. I'm telling you the truth."
Taeyeon was a bit taken aback by the fact that Tiffany is actually explaining to her with her eyes clenched shut.
"It's just that we're childhood friends, and both of us were only kids. that's why he likes me, but only like a sibling."
"He must like you." Taeyeon didn't buy that
"What?"
"Do you think he would wait for you in this damn cold weather until his cheeks got red like that just because you guys are close?"
"..."
"Don't you think he wants you to let him into your room?"
"No, that's..." Tiffany looked away.
"You're slow with this kind of thing."
"Well..."
"More importantly, what do you want me to do by telling me this?"
Tiffany stared into Taeyeon's glare, "What do I...want..."
It's not like Taeyeon and I are...lovers or anything like that. Aside from our past, we're just a boss and subordinate. The truth is, I don't want to be involved with her than I already am. It must be the right thing to do from an objective viewpoint too.
But...
"Let go of me," Taeyeon ordered.
Tiffany did just that. Slowly letting go of Taeyeon's arm.
Taeyeon turned around, about to walk away. Only to feel arms wrap around her torso and Tiffany's forehand pressed on her back. Taeyeon didn't know what to say or what to do. She did not expect this at all, so she just stood there and looked at the ground with wide eyes.
"...A...long time ago, he confessed to me. But I...turned him down..."
"What did you tell him?" The unexplainable expression was back on Taeyeon's face. Not that Tiffany could see it.
"...I told him that I-...I have been...in love with someone for a long time. We held hands once, but there is nothing more between us, It's true...so..."
"So...?"
"Please don't go to Kangin's place..."
Taeyeon immediately turned around and hugged back Tiffany who didn't let go of her. Next thing Tiffany knew Taeyeon had made her lean on the door and was caressing her cheek. She was getting closer and Tiffany knew what was coming. Instead of protesting like always...just like last time...she accepted everything Taeyeon was going to give her.
What am I doing?
Tiffany asked herself as Taeyeon locked lips with her softly and gently.
Taeyeon leaned back and smiled softly, "I don't know your last 10 years, so...tell me everything. Everything without hiding anything."
Tiffany's eyes widened.
Taeyeon chuckled and gave Tiffany another kiss, "I want to...know everything about you."
Tiffany closed her eyes as Taeyeon hugged her tightly like she's scared that Tiffany will be gone.
Even though she always scolds me.
Even though she always insults me.
It's because she holds me like I'm too precious to her...
I won't tell her...
Even though she makes my heart race and my chest ache with such pain that tears well up in my eyes.
I'm filled with happiness just by the warmth of her body.
She's the only person who has ever made me feel this way in my life...
I won't tell her such frustrating things...
Tiffany was lost in the little smile Taeyeon gave her as she pulled her by the hand.
"I want you...Tiffany..."
Ugh, it's gotten more interesting.
Tiffany face palmed right after she finished reading through the story board for Taeyeon's author.
"What do you think?" Taeyeon asked everyone.
"It's good. Yeah, I think it's much better now." Sunny said giving a thumb up.
"Got any complains, newbie?"
Tiffany glared at Taeyeon for the way she addressed her, "No, nothing...I agree that it's gotten better, but I don't think it's a good idea to tell an author Fix this, it's boring."
Taeyeon raised an eyebrow, "Are you an idiot?" She said as she whacked Tiffany's head with a roll of papers, "Do you think flattery and making a fuss over them will actually work? Say it out clearly when you should, and you will get quality work. What's wrong with that?" Taeyeon crossed her arms and gave Tiffany a challenging glare, "More importantly, put other people's work aside and hurry up and take care of the story you're in charge of."
Tiffany sighed and face palmed in stress remembering that she has to negotiate with her author again.
"That's an important part of the storyline. If she doesn't fix it, I won't let it be released in the magazine." Taeyeon said.
"I know that!"
Grabbing the phone, Tiffany dialed her author's home number and prepared herself mentally as she watched Taeyeon walk away to her president chair.
How should I persuade her? Should I mimic Taeyeon?
No way. It's impossible.
"Hello, this is Tiffany. How are the revisions going?" Tiffany greeted as soon as the line picked up, "Yes. Right. Oh, no, it's like I said...if you do it like that, the next development would be..." Tiffany face palmed again when she heard Ranmi protest to what she's saying, "Yes, yes, but..."
- 15 minutes later.
"Yes, but if you do that..."
- 30 minutes later.
"I know, but what I'm saying is that..."
- 45 Minutes later.
"Uh...uhm..."
- 1 Hour later
I have reached my limit!
"Excuse me, but the truth is, it's boring if you leave it as is!"
All the corpses in the office stared at Tiffany after hearing her blow up.
I- I said it!
B- But it's the truth, and I think she can make it better if she triumphs over this! Ranmi-ssi is capable of doing it! In fact Taeyeon made it by saying...
*click*
Be~ep
Be~ep
Be~ep
Tiffany gulped when she heard the dial tone.
"Ah, right, Tiffany. Do not say it's boring to other authors no matter what. That only works with Choi Junghun and Jung Sooyeon."
Tiffany looked up at Taeyeon in disbelief, "...You..."
You should have told me beforehand!
What the hell am I going to do?!
This is a dream
This is a dream
This is a dream
Take me back to 5 minutes ago!
209 days left until Tiffany falls in love.
...
...
- After Taeyeon's birthday.
Taeyeon said it was urgent, so I went to her place...
"What is this?" Tiffany raised an eyebrow at Taeyeon. When she arrived at Taeyeon's apartment, she found a cake resting on top of Taeyeon's coffee table.
"It's a cake," Taeyeon stated the obvious.
"No shit. I can see that." Tiffany crossed her arms and nodded.
"I wanted to at least have a birthday cake," Taeyeon said.
"What?! How is that urgent?" Tiffany grimaced.
"It says best if eaten before the end of the day and it's 11 o'clock now." Taeyeon showed Tiffany her phone's lock screen with the time on it and pointed at the text written on top of the cake box.
"I'm leaving! Eat it by yourself!" With a huff, Tiffany turned around and proceeded to walk to the door.
"It's been decided that if you don't eat it with me, you will get double the amount of work."
Tiffany froze. She looked back at Taeyeon and glared, "...That's called harassment, you know?"
"I know." Taeyeon nodded.
Tiffany looked at Taeyeon spitefully and face palmed.
"It's only for an hour, so stay here. Since it's not fun if we just eat it, I thought of something."
"What is it?" Tiffany sighed as she walked across the living room over to the couch and took a seat next to Taeyeon.
"The one who lets a candle fall must answer the other's question."
Tiffany's frowned when she saw Taeyeon placing a load shit of candles on the cake but she shook her head and helped Taeyeon light them just for the sake of getting this situation over with. Next thing She knew was a knife being placed in her hand and her hand being grabbed by Taeyeon and stabbed the cake right in the middle.
"And your first attempt failed."
Tiffany looked at Taeyeon in disbelief when a chunk of the cake fell,"What the hell?! That wasn't fair!" Upon Tiffany banging the table, another piece from the cake fell.
"You lose again. First question; when was your first love? Second question; what's that person's name?" Taeyeon asked, stoically.
"Wha- but- " Tiffany clenched her teeth and instead of answering the questions, she stuffed her face with cake.
Taeyeon shrugged and grabbed her fork only to have a piece of the cake fall when she touched it, "Damn." She frowned grumbly.
Tiffany laughed at Taeyeon in a mocking manner, "First question; why do I have to answer that kind of questions?!"
Taeyeon was pissed off by Tiffany laughing at her. Carefully, both in serious mode, they ate away. In the end, it was a draw. However...
Shit! I ended up eating the whole cake with her.
Tiffany felt like she had lost.
And Taeyeon let out a satisfied sigh.
- One day at the office.
"Dishwashers are on sale which means I must buy one, right?" Tiffany said excitedly while showing a catalog to Yuri.
"It's not much since you live alone, so why don't you just wash every day?" Yuri asked with a stoic face as usual.
"I...guess...you're right..." Tiffany nodded slowly.
And just like that, Yuri crushed one of Tiffany's dreams of owning a dishwasher.
Hyoyeon is a really nice person. She's always smiling. No matter when or where or how stressed she is, she always has a smile on her face. In the morning. At lunch and dinner. A day before our deadline. Always smiling.
One day Tiffany was very angry.
"What's wrong?" Hyoyeon approached.
"Arrrrgh! I can't reach the author and the deadline is really soon! I don't know what to do!" Tiffany was on the verge of breaking the phone in her hand.
"Oh, again?" Hyoyeon asked casually. This is nothing new to this office.
"This is totally a proof that she's not taking me seriously. What am I gonna do?!"
Hyoyeon is always so kind and full of smiles. She's such a good person, "Hahaha, that's simple." She laughed calmly, "You barge into their house at around 3 o'clock in the morning, and while playing around with a cutter right there at her bedside, you say, It's going to be okay. You will definitely get this done, there is no reason why you can't get things done, you are a doer. You just slipped a little bit in your schedule. I have got high hopes for you because you always come through, now don't you? No reason why you couldn't this time, right? You are one of my authors, after all. And after you have repeated this litany for a few times, smiling all the while, she will come around."
Tiffany stared at Hyoyeon's back as she walked away in shock.
"That reminds me, Tiffany. No matter what you do, never piss off Hyoyeon." Taeyeon warned as she passed by.