Im's publishing, Emerald editing division. Also known as a bunch of beautiful women. Due to various circumstances, I have resolved to quit this company.
So...
Why on earth am I still here?
Certainly, I feel like I'm about to pass away and finally say goodbye to this cruel world, and I'm sure everyone else feels the same way, too. Today is the last day of this month's cycle...
"P- Printing s- submission compleeete...waay to go, usss~..." Sunny said, almost coughing blood.
Sunny and Hyoyeon died on their desks while Tiffany and Yuri died on the floor. Taeyeon apparently died in another room.
*Bee-* *Bee-* *Be-* *Beep*
My-...My phone...
Ugh...this ringtone is set for my personal contacts, so I guess I can ignore it.
Probably just my parents...
More than that...It's uncomfortable even just sitting down.
That said, Tiffany pressed the red button to reject the call.
Tiffany tried her best to pull herself off the floor, only to collapse again, face first.
Just a bit...
I will rest for just a bit, then go home...
"AAAACCCCKKKK!" Tiffany let out a loud yelp when she felt someone stepping on her back.
"Huh, what? You were down here?" It was Taeyeon who was squinting down at her.
"You definitely did that on purpose!" Tiffany yelled.
"Sorry, my eyes have gotten so strained I didn't realize anyone was even there," Taeyeon said while yawning.
"What?!"
"Taeyeon-ah~...we're going now...hit my limit," Sunny said while holding on to Hyoyeon while Yuri was behind them. Slightly twitching.
"Gotcha. Good work." Taeyeon waved as she took a seat on her president chair. With those three gone. Taeyeon and Tiffany are the only ones on this floor now, "Tiffany, make 10 copies of each of these."
Tiffany stared at the papers Taeyeon was waving in front of her face, "Umm, I was going to start heading home, too...10 of each?" She squinted.
"And this. And this. And this one, too."
Several more papers were tossed at Tiffany, "W- Wait a minute! Don't just toss the documents!"
"Oh, that reminds me. The survey totals from last's month's issue are in." Taeyeon said.
"What?"
The survey totals are the detailed results from the tally of survey postcard included in each issue. Based on those results, we can predict what sort of trends are popular with our readers.
However...we can also gauge influence based on the number of copies in circulation.
"Wha- ?!"
"What?" Taeyeon looked up at Tiffany who gasped lightly after checking out the survey.
"Oh, it's nothing. Just...Jihye-nim's rank suddenly dropped. I-...I wonder why?" Tiffany frowned. Upset that her author's rank had dropped.
"Figure it out yourself." Taeyeon sighed and looked don back at her work.
She's always somewhere around 4th or 5th place, but she has dropped to the middle of the rankings. We're planning a big push along with some supplemental material in the comic issue the month after next. What should I do?
This is actually...really bad, I think. How did this happen? Jihye-nim is doing her best with her art, like usual. I don't understand the reason for this.
What is it...? Is there something wrong with the way I have been supervising her?
*sigh*
Seeing Tiffany starting to get depressed, Taeyeon sighed and took a seat on Tiffany's aeron chair backward with her legs either sides.
"Wait, Taeyeon! That's my seat!"
"What do you think is the problem?" Taeyeon asked, leaning on her arms.
"Huh?" Tiffany raised an eyebrow and looked at the survey, "Uh, well...I- I'm not really sure..."
"Are you stupid? If you can't even figure that out, you are not fit to call yourself an editor."
?!
"I- It's not as though I can help it! There wasn't any sort of magazine ranking system when I worked in literature!" Tiffany glared, "This is the first time!"
"Jeez, you're annoying." Taeyeon glared back, "Just give me anything you can think of."
Tiffany let out a sigh, keeping the glare on her face, "W- We have to keep up with our communication, and she's been performing the same as always...she has been accepting the edits to her drafts too."
"So?"
"S- So...then, maybe..." Tiffany cleared her throat, "...readers that hate her work tried to bring her down with negative votes?"
"Are you stupid?" Taeyeon frowned.
"The tally totaler purposefully ignored the postcards for her?"
"Yeah, right."
"Or really, in the confusion with getting together the magazine that month, all of Jihye-nim's pages were left out?"
"Enough with the conspiracy theories!"
I didn't want it to come down to this, but...
"M- Maybe it's just that...this particular comic isn't interesting?...or something...?" Tiffany looked down. Really hoping that that isn't the case.
Taeyeon stared at Tiffany for a moment before opening her mouth, "Well, I figured the results for this month would be something like this."
"Y- You're saying you thought it was boring?!" Tiffany's eyes widened.
"That's not it." Taeyeon sighed, "For this chapter, you had a long lead-in before getting to the main plot line. There was a lot of explanatory filler, so of course it turned out boring. Also, she's putting out far fewer page-counts than usual since she's working on another project now. Guess it can't be helped, but we had to put that story into this issue, so it doesn't really matter what sort of ranking you guys ended up with. Don't get all worked up because your rank fell this once. You need to look at the whole picture."
Tiffany looked down, clearly sad about her ranking, "B- But...do you think...maybe her ranking wouldn't have gone down if I had done a better job during the checking...or something?" Next thing she knew was a ruler in the middle of her head, "Wh- What are you doing?!" Tiffany held her head in pain.
"Tiffany." Taeyeon looked at her seriously, "Those surveys are of course important, but don't get thrown off-track by any results. I know you can get worked up cause it's like getting your report card once a month, but just understand that in order for someone to be on top, someone else has to be on the bottom. that's the break in serialized works. What's important are the results, and don't you dare think otherwise."
Tiffany looked down, speechless, "I-...I know that much, at least. But that's..." Pausing, she didn't know how to defend herself, "Excuse me...I will go make those copies now."
"Yah!"
Tiffany ignored Taeyeon's call and went straight to the printers.
I understand what Taeyeon is trying to say, but that's something she could say because she's able to easily differentiate between the perspective and the actual outcome. It's a skill that I have realized I still lack. It's natural that I get a little worried about this sort of thing.
"Give it here."
"Hm?"
Taeyeon came out of nowhere and snatched a few papers from Tiffany's hand and turned on the other printer, "The copies. I'm saying I will give you a hand."
Tiffany looked down, feeling a bit awkward, "Th...Thanks."
The room was later filled with silence and the only sound there was was of the printing machine making copies.
"You know..." Taeyeon broke the silence, "Don't let yourself be so indecisive. Those sorts of worries transfer right through your author."
"I-...I know that!" Tiffany glared at the poor papers that were being printed in front of her, "But...I do feel that it's definitely best to do as well as possible in the surveys...so just..."
"I'm telling you that you should have a little confidence, for crying out loud!"
Tiffany flinched when she felt Taeyeon's hand ruffle her hair gently, "Maybe it hasn't occurred to you, Taeyeon..." She glared at Taeyeon while fixing her hair, "...but self-confidence isn't something that just pops up out of nothing."
"Then get yourself some"
"What?!" Tiffany frowned.
"You're doing work that deserves it after all."
Hearing that, Tiffany's heart started pounding again as she continued printing.
What was that?
Is she...encouraging me?
Tiffany didn't notice that Taeyeon was already done with the printing and was right next to her
A button was clicked by Taeyeon, she turned 10 copies to 100 copies.
"Wait! Why did you do that? Changing the number of copies like that?! You just said 10!"
"Just a cute prank." Taeyeon walked away.
"In what way?! Aaargh!"
What's with that? Just when I was thinking she might be a good person.
"Hey, your cell phone is ringing," Taeyeon said.
"It's a personal call. Please ignore it."
"...Personal, huh?"
Tiffany noticed the change in Taeyeon's tone and turned to look at her.
"By the way, when was your birthday again?" Taeyeon sat on her president chair checking a storyboard.
"Huh?" Tiffany raised an eyebrow.
"It hasn't passed yet, right?"
"It's March 27th...why?" (Just pretend it is)
"Seriously? Moss balls day?" (Moss balls is a rare growth form of the species where the algae grow into large green balls with a velvety appearance)
"What? Moss balls?" Tiffany raised an eyebrow, "Oh, th- that's right! Since I gave you a present on your birthday, you should make sure you return the favor in full. Please, feel free to do so!" Tiffany flipped her hair as she turned back to the printer.
"Got it. Make sure you keep that day open."
Tiffany's eyes widened the moment she realized what she has just done, "It...It was just a joke! Why are you getting all serious about it?"
"Well, we will have a party at least."
"Thanks, I appreciate it, but..."
"Really I just want an excuse to spend time with you," Taeyeon said nonchalantly while still reading the storyboard and rolling a pencil in her hand
"What ?!" Tiffany blushed as she put her stuff in her bag
"At this age, birthday parties are nothing but an embarrassment. not to mention that...at home, my mom and Kanggun always make a fuss over it, which is more trouble than-...ah"
Oh, crap. I mentioned Kanggun...
Tiffany glanced at Taeyeon who was looking at her, waiting for her to continue what she was saying.
For my part it's all settled and done with...but my mother is the same as always.
And I don't actually know if Kanggun has come to terms with it yet either.
With things like this...what must Taeyeon be thinking?
"Well, I will be going home. Good work today..." Quickly closing her bag, Tiffany was about to rush to the elevator but bumped into Taeyeon's desk causing everything on it to fall over, "Aah..." She was on the verge of crying as she leaned down and started gathering all the books, files and questionable trash,
"What are you doing? Klutz" Taeyeon sighed and got up.
"Well, sorry! but really, it's your own fault for leaving things all over the place like this..."
Tiffany heard Taeyeon's footsteps approaching her but did not look back. Next thing she knew was her chin being grabbed and turned to her right where her lips met Taeyeon's. Her eyes widened as she got triggered. They were alone so Taeyeon would of course not hold back, why didn't she think of that?
"Wait! What are you- !" Her hands that were pushing Taeyeon away were grabbed and she was pinned to the side of the table as both of them were sitting down now, "Wai-! That's-!" She was immediately silenced by Taeyeon's lips. Giving up resisting, Tiffany let Taeyeon do whatever she wanted at that moment. The moment Taeyeon pulled away, they shared eye contact. Tiffany wondered, what's that empty look on Taeyeon's face?
"At least close your eyes..." Taeyeon titled her head to the side as she released Tiffany's hands.
"P- Please get away from me! We're at work!" Tiffany looked away.
"No one's here." Taeyeon got up and brushed the dust off her clothes.
"That's not the issue here! Please get- "
"By the way, can I ask you something?" Taeyeon took a seat on her president chair with a leg up the seat.
"What is it?" Tiffany sighed, got up, and opened her phone.
"So what ended up happening between you and that fiancé of yours?"
Tiffany's heart skipped a beat. What should she tell Taeyeon? "Like I told you, that's..."
*bee-* *bee-* *be-* *beep*
"Your phone."
"I said please ignore it! I'm off!" Tiffany angrily pressed the reject button and stuffed her phone in her bag.
"Today we were finishing the proofreading, so I brought my car. I will take you home." Taeyeon offered to Tiffany who was already walking away.
"No thank you!"
It's no good...what am I doing? Nothing about our situation has changed, but the least I can do...is to let her know about my feelings. Why is it that when I'm near Taeyeon...I always...
"Tiffany! Wait!"
"What is it?" Tiffany turned back to Taeyeon who was holding the telephone's handset with a shocked expression.
"Your mother has been taken to a hospital!"
"Kanggun!" Tiffany called as she finally reached the hospital room.
"Tiff!" Kanggun was standing there with his eyes clearly red.
"Why didn't you answer your phone?! I kept trying, but it never went through! Then I finally got an answer when I called your work..." Kanggun was obviously upset.
"I'm sorry!...and my mom is...?" Tiffany looked at her step-mother laying on the hospital bed in horror. She has lost her real mother when she was very young and her stepmother is like a real mother to her since her dad remarried after. She's not ready to lose another one.
Kanggun sighed, "They said it was acute gastritis. With medicine, she will be just fine, but just in case, they're having her spend one night here. It was probably caused by stress or over-eating..." He said calmly as they left Mrs. Hwang to rest.
"Over-eating?!" Tiffany's eyes widened, "That's it? Way to scare a person..." She huffed in relief.
"You're one of the causes, though, Tiff!"
"Huh?" Tiffany looked questioningly at Kanggun.
"Your mom has been so worried about you! You're always so short on the phone, and she said that you haven't even gone home once!"
"Yeah, but work has been so busy..."
"She has been worried about me too." Kanggun wrapped his arms around Tiffany and inhaled, "She invited me to dinner and we talked a lot, but then she said her stomach hurt and suddenly collapsed...I was so shaken up and then I couldn't get in touch with you...but, I'm glad you came, Tiffany."
"I'm sorry for making you worry...and...thank you..." Tiffany patted his back, "I'm so glad you were there for her..."
And just then, Taeyeon had turned the corner to see the sight of the two hugging tightly. Tiffany who had her chin on Kanggun's shoulder saw Taeyeon. Her eyes widened when she saw Taeyeon looking at them with no emotion whatsoever.
Oh god...
Tiffany immediately shoved Kanggun away and only then did he realize Taeyeon's presence, "Your...neighbor?"
"Ah...she was nice enough to drive me here from work..." Tiffany said awkwardly.
Crap...what do I do? She saw that just now, right? I wasn't really doing anything I should feel guilty for, but still...
"I went ahead and put the car in the parking lot, is your Mom okay?" Taeyeon said as calmly as usual.
"Ah, thank you. It's acute gastritis, apparently. So there doesn't seem to be any danger." Tiffany looked down, not able to look at Taeyeon in the eye, "They will be keeping her here overnight, just in case. So for now, I'm planning on staying until the end of visiting hours. After that, I will return home."
"I'm glad everything seems fine." Taeyeon nodded, "If anything happens, call me, okay?" Taeyeon turned and walked away with a wave.
Taeyeon doesn't seem bothered...but maybe I should explain everything, at least. But then...
"Ah...umm...Taeyeon!" Tiffany followed Taeyeon who was waiting for the elevator.
"What?" Taeyeon looked back.
"No, uh...it's...just..." Tiffany looked down.
How do I explain this sort of thing in the first place? Or...wait...do I even need to explain anything? I know it looked like we were embracing, but it was nothing like that...or something? But well, she didn't ask in the first place...
"What is it?" Taeyeon asked again as the elevator door opened.
No need to over think it, really. After all, Taeyeon and I...aren't even dating or anything.
"Forget it. Go back to your family's side already!" Tiffany got her hair ruffled again by Taeyeon, "And feel free to call me up if you get lonely." Taeyeon crossed her arms as she stepped inside the elevator with a smirk on her face.
Tiffany looked at her red in the face with a hand on her hair, "Wha-...What's that supposed to mean?!"
This person...
She always...
Always...
"Tiff! Hey!...I-..." Kanggun walked around the corner just in time to see Tiffany looking down in front of the elevator door with a red face. She was fixing her hair with a restless expression. She shook her head, managing to mess her hair again. Her hand rested on her hair, her cheeks red as hell and looked like she's bothered by something...or someone.
The expression Kanggun saw made him look at Tiffany in a different way.
Because that was definitely the face of someone in love.
"Are you fine with hot chocolate?" Kanggun asked as they stopped in front of the vending machine. Visiting hours were over and he and Tiffany were on their way out of the hospital.
"Yeah." Tiffany let out a sigh.
"Going home by taxi?" Kanggun asked.
"Yeah. Thanks a lot for today, really." Tiffany smiled tiredly as she received the hot chocolate from Kanggun.
"If you hadn't been here...I wouldn't have been able to get through this easily. You really saved me."
Kanggun glanced at Tiffany, "...You really are nice, Tiff. That's why I love you."
"Ah...Kanggun, umm..."
Tiffany stopped, not knowing what to say
"I'm sorry for being annoying with it, and for bringing it up at a time like this. Tiff. I really...do love you." He said, "Can't you accept me as your boyfriend?"
Tiffany looked away awkwardly, she didn't know what to say or what to do. A much different reaction to when Taeyeon says I love you to her, "...I'm sorry." She settled with apologizing, "Kanggun, I- "
"Tiff, is it possible..." He sighed, "...that you're in love with that neighbor of yours?"
Tiffany looked up in surprise, "Huh?!" She immediately backed away to the wall with the biggest shock of her life,"Ah ha ha ha ha ha! wh- wh- wh- what are you talking about?! Kanggun-ah what's with you all of a sudden?! That person- she's a woman you know!"
Kanggun looked at Tiffany weirdly, "...I have always been watching you, Tiff. Back when you suddenly started behaving strangely, and even when you had other boyfriends. I was always watching you."
Tiffany looked down awkwardly as she remembered what Kanggun is implying.
"But that was the first time I had ever seen you with an expression like you had earlier."
"Earlier?" Tiffany raised an eyebrow.
"...Wait, no. no, I supposed that was the second time I have ever seen it. Back in high school...now and then...you would get that look on your face."
Tiffany swallowed hard as they went out of the hospital doors.
"Is that neighbor...possibaly the same person you have loved since middle school?"
"Umm...that's...that's not...umm, Kanggun! I...umm..." Tiffany stuttered here and there as she covered her mouth and felt how hot her cheeks were. She couldn't say anything out of embarrassment, but she knew that she had to tell the truth.
Kanggun stared at her in anticipation.
"It's...It's weird, right? For two girls..." Tiffany clenched her eyes shut.
"...Tiff, it's already 20XX, Homosexuality is everywhere now and is not something irregular to see."
"Ah geez, I wanna die..." Tiffany massaged the bridge of her nose as she felt all the stress suddenly come back.
"...Are you two dating?" Kanggun asked softly.
"N- No! I mean, it's not like that!" Tiffany grimaced.
"Does she realize how you feel about her?"
"Umm, uh...I-...I'm not really sure...but...probably?" Tiffany sighed and looked down again, "Just...it's like...I'm still not sure...about a lot of things...it's...just...I can't return your feelings, Kanggun, and I'm sorry for that."
"...I can't accept that." Kanggun looked down.
"Kanggun..." Tiffany looked at him apologetically.
"After all...if you're standing around being unsure about details like two girls being together, with those half-hearted feelings...you will just wind up getting hurt!"
Tiffany staring in surprise at Kanggun who was huffing after his outburst.
"Don't worry."
Eh...?
Tiffany looked at their side to see whom the voice belonged to, only to see Taeyeon leaning on the wall crossing her arms next to where they're standing, looking straight ahead.
"It's not half-hearted in the least," Taeyeon said.
"Taeyeon!" Tiffany gasped.
Taeyeon looked straight at Kanggun, "If it's resolution you're concerned about...I prepared for this long ago."
Tiffany looked at Taeyeon with her jaw agape, "Wh-...What?! Why are you still here?! Didn't you go home?!"
Taeyeon sighed and looked back at Tiffany in a bored manner, as always, "Well, you said you were going to be here until visiting hours were over...since work was finished, I thought I would pick you up if I could, so came back for you."
"W- Were you listening to our conversation?!"
Taeyeon sighed again, "More like you just didn't notice me."
"What?!" At this point, Tiffany wished there was a hole she could jump into and never see either of these two ever again.
"Ms. Neighbor!" Both Taeyeon and Tiffany looked at Kanggun who was standing straight with a serious face, "If you make Tiff cry, I will never forgive you!"
"K- Kanggun..." Tiffany looked at Kanggun apologetically.
"Tiffany...I love you! So...do your best!"
Tiffany watched Kanggun run away with her mouth slightly the realization finally sank in...
Wait...umm...uhh...wh- what just happened?
"Well, shall we go home?" Taeyeon said, patting her on the shoulder.
Impossible!
"Oh, do you mind if we drop by the bookstore on the way?" Taeyeon asked as she pulled Tiffany to her car.
"S- Sorry...I have something else to do..." Tiffany struggled against Taeyeon's hold like usual.
There's absolutely no way...I can be myself around Taeyeon like this...and yet despite knowing that...
Despite knowing that, Tiffany went down to the bookstore with Taeyeon.
I should just focus only on work right now!
That's right!
I don't have time to think about anything else!
And yet, her heart is pounding like crazy just by looking at Taeyeon's back in front of her.
"You have been acting really weird for a while now." Taeyeon looked back and raised an eyebrow at her.
"You- You're just imagining things!" Tiffany stopped in the romance comics section while Taeyeon just waited by the side.
I should find something to study...something that will help improve Jihye-nim's survey results! There must be a hint somewhere! At the same time, two high school girls got a hold of the Emerald Magazine.
"What? Are you buying that?" One of them asked.
"Yeah, I really want to read the next part of Choi Jihye's comic!"
"Seriously? Lend it to me next time!"
"Gotcha!"
The girls happily went to the cash register and bought a copy of their magazine.
Tiffany was staring at them dumbfounded. Those girls just bought a copy of their magazine just to read the comic that she's working on.
"Comments like that...are pretty nice in a simple way, right? Stop getting so worked up. You're doing just fine." Taeyeon let out a little smile and ruffled Tiffany's hair gently, "I'm always looking out for you"
I really should have...gone home on my own. But then Kanggun had to go and make all those weird comments and it makes me hyper-aware. It was just a superior praising her subordinate...but somehow it was so embarrassing...and I feel like I'm just going to melt away.
I can't stop my heart from beating like crazy.
*ding*
The elevator arrived and the two got in to go up to their floor. Taeyeon was standing near the elevator buttons while Tiffany was leaning on the back.
"Uh...umm...thank you for driving me home. Sorry to impose when I'm sure you were tired." Tiffany said awkwardly.
"Hey...do you mind if I ask you something?"
"Yes?"
"That guy..." She looked back, "How did he know about me?...Did you tell him about us?"
Tiffany gasped lightly, "O- Of course not!"
"Then how?"
"..."
"Tiffany?"
Tiffany looked away with a hint of red on her cheeks, "I mean, It's just...well...he said that...I had a strange expression on my face...when I was thinking about you."
"What did he mean strange?" Taeyeon did not look back because she knew that it would be harder for Tiffany to speak up that way.
"I don't know!" Tiffany yelled in frustration.
"So then...the fact that he realized because of that...in other words...it means you were wearing an expression that exposed your feelings?" Taeyeon said after putting the pieces together.
*ding*
"I said I don't know what he was talking about!" Tiffany ran away the moment the elevator doors opened, "Good night! Thank you for today!"
"Tiffany!"
Tiffany clenched her eyes shut when she felt Taeyeon's hand grip hers before she could reach her apartment door.
"Did you seriously think that I would let you go after hearing that?"
Ah...just like this...once again, I'm going to...
As Tiffany anticipated, next thing she knew, she was leaning back on Taeyeon's door as they made out the moment they got in. She let out a moan when she felt Taeyeon kiss a lower spot on her neck.
"Where did he touch you?" Taeyeon pulled away and got a hold of Tiffany's face.
"That...that was nothing really..." Tiffany's eyes widened the moment Taeyeon stripped her out of her jacket, "He was just...feeling lonely...he probably just let himself go when I arrived..." Tiffany could barely speak properly as Taeyeon nibbled on her ear, "Um..uh, please! No more than this!"
Taeyeon got pushed away but still kept Tiffany in place, "And why not?"
Tiffany gulped and looked away from the intensity of Taeyeon's eyes, "It's just that...I...I need a bath...because it's the end of the cycle..."
Taeyeon smirked, "Perfect then. We will just take one together."
"What?!" Tiffany was already being pulled towards Taeyeon's shower by the hand, "Wait- no! I would rather not...!"
"We will wash everything, clothes and all!"
"Wait! No, that's, don't! Taeyeon!" Despite Tiffany's protests, Taeyeon had already opened the shower head and warm water started streaming at them as they kissed against the wall, "What are you doing? *huff* *huff* this is- " Tiffany leaned to the side to take a breath the moment Taeyeon's lips left hers.
"Tiffany. Look at me..."
Tiffany clenched her teeth, the water was doing nothing to relieve the heat in her body, "Why..." She asked.
Taeyeon put a finger on her chin forcing her to look at her, "I want to see the face you only show to me."
Tiffany's eyes widened when she saw the look of want and lust in Taeyeon's eyes.
"P- Please stop!" Tiffany pushed Taeyeon away.
"No. I definitely won't" Taeyeon argued.
"Why not?!"
Taeyeon got a hold of her again as Tiffany looked away with the cutest most flustered expression a human being could muster and said with a soft voice, "It's just...too embarrassing..." She said shakily.
"..."
"..."
"Yah!"
"Wha-?!"
Tiffany looked at Taeyeon in surprise. Wondering why she just yelled at her.
"You idiot! Don't turn me on like that!" Taeyeon glared.
"Wh- What?" Tiffany's eyes widened when she saw Taeyeon taking off her top. Next thing she knew, Taeyeon had grabbed her by the collar and start kissing her furiously while stripping her
"Fany-ah..." Taeyeon pulled away to take a breath.
"T- Taeyeon..." Tiffany was turned on by Taeyeon's dazed face, "Not...so rough!"
"Fany-ah... !"
"...Ah...oh...crap." Taeyeon groaned.
Tiffany raised an eyebrow when Taeyeon suddenly turned limp on her once their session was over, "Taeyeon...?" She held on to Taeyeon who collapsed but she couldn't see her face as Taeyeon rested her forehead on Tiffany's shoulder.
"Sorry...I haven't...gotten a good night's sleep in a week..." Taeyeon said.
Tiffany gasped as she realized what was going on, "Umm! Wait...hold on! Taeyeon!" Tiffany tried her best to keep Taeyeon in her arms as she felt her body slipping because of the water still coming from the shower head. She did her best to slowly slide down against the wall to sit on the floor. She panicked when she heard Taeyeon's steady breath near her ear, "Umm, I'm sorry, but if you're going to sleep, then you should do it in a proper place! This is really inconvenient for me! And in this state!" Tiffany groaned when she didn't hear any respond from Taeyeon, "At least take your fingers out!"
It was no use, there is no way Taeyeon is waking up anytime soon.
What do I do now?
*huff*
Tiffany stared at their reflection in the mirror near them. She was sitting on the floor hugging Taeyeon who's sitting on her lap while hugging her with her legs on either side of Tiffany's. She looked at her own face. It was completely flushed and she looked as if she's in a daze. Upon seeing that, Tiffany looked away from the mirror feeling bothered.
Did I really make that weird face?
"That was the first time I had ever seen you with an expression like you had earlier" - Kanggun
She recalled what Kanggun had said.
There's no way for me to confirm it...but I do wonder...what kind of face it was. What kind of expression do I make when I think of Taeyeon?
"Wh- What exactly is this?" Tiffany grimaced upon seeing a bunch of huge files being placed on her desk by Taeyeon. It was the first day of the new cycle in the office so everything looked pink and frilly and cute and all the questionable trash was thrown away.
"The complete training manuals for romance comics editors. Compiled by yours truly." Taeyeon brushed the dust off her hands.
"What?" Tiffany raised an eyebrow.
"You're worrying yourself sick, so I thought I'd really put you through your paces."
"What?" Tiffany exclaimed again.
"Wai- Tiff!" Sunny gasped and pulled Tiffany to the side, "What the hell are you getting yourself into?!"
"What? It really isn't...it's just...Jihye-nim's survey results were pretty poor this time, so we were just talking...I really think it's best to get good results." Tiffany said in all seriousness.
Sunny sighed and held Tiffany's shoulders, "Be careful! Taeyeon is a real hardass!"
"What?"
"If you tell that girl that you want to make a comic that gets good survey results, she will seriously do a number on you!"
Tiffany chuckled, she didn't know why the hell Sunny has a terrified expression on her cute face.
"First it starts off with over-the-top super-spartan one-on-one training until you're ruined beyond recognition, then she refuses to let you leave until you completely understand everything, and then there is the brain-washing..." Sunny gulped, "There are dozens who have left the editing department because of her! We have all gone through it ourselves and suffered trauma from it."
"Eh...?" Tiffany got cold sweat just by hearing that. If what sunny said was really true...then that explains why Emerald is number one.
"Tiffany! let's go." Taeyeon called.
Tiffany gulped and turned around slowly, "Ah, umm, Taeyeon...I really do appreciate the thought. But I can't possibly take up your time. So if you would just tell me the points to pay attention to..."
"What?" Taeyeon frowned, "Man, you really are a half-assed loser!"
"Wha- ?!" Tiffany was clearly ticked off by that.
Taeyeon sighed, "Well, I do agree there's no sense in coaching someone with no drive. After all...I was stupid to even bring it up to you in the first place I guess."
*BAM*
The table was slammed by none other than Tiffany who had a challenging glare towards Taeyeon who crossed her arms upon seeing that, "Bring it on!" At this point, the whole floor was watching the two interact with their jaws agape.
"Oh. Well then..." Taeyeon smirked.
Oh man, this girl pisses me off!
Just you wait
Just you wait
Just you wait!
I'm totally going to bring this girl down!
Days until Tiffany falls (completely) in love: 141