I know this kind of people exist, I do, but really...
"What the hell is this?" Taeyeon frowns, "You have been meeting up with the author and talking this through like you should, right?"
There is a right way, and then there is a wrong way to say things!
"Oh, they're at it again," Sunny says, as she and Hyoyeon watch the scene between their boss and Tiffany unfold.
"Doesn't it warm the cockles of your heart?" Hyoyeon says with a smile.
Tiffany glares at the two before looking back at Taeyeon who is currently holding her storyboard. "W-...Was there something in particular you don't think is working? The new character we're introducing is going to be the focus of a major plot-point, I made sure to discuss it with the author at length. So if you have any problems..."
"You did?" Taeyeon looks surprised, "...and this is the result you came up with? Seriously? You have no editorial instinct at all." Taeyeon slams the storyboard on her desk, "I mean, the way you're treating the new character is completely understated."
"What part of it makes you say that?!" Tiffany snaps.
"Oh, wow. You're really telling me that you can't see it? You're in more trouble than I thought."
"Yes! You're absolutely right. So do you think you could show me exactly what parts of it were no good, please?"
Taeyeon raises and eyebrow, "Do you think anyone would want to help you, asking like that?"
"PLEASE...tell me!"
"What a pain in the ass..." Taeyeon sighs and grabs her sharpie.
...I want to wring her by the neck...
"Look. To sum it up, after both realizing their feeling for each other, the main characters finally start dating and then a new development arises in the form of this new character being introduced, correct?"
"Correct."
"Then this new character is seen by the protagonist as both a rival and a general nuisance."
"Yes."
"So basically, the new character is an antagonist brought in to test the main character's conviction and their primary objective in the story is to ultimately bring the main character down."
"Yes, that's right."
"In that case, why does the new guy seem to be lacking any real motivation? What I'm saying is, you need to make their romantic interest for the main character more obvious."
Tiffany shook her head in confusion, "That's why we designed them to act as they do; they're playing out the role of interference with the intention that in the end they will be rejected."
A moment of silence pass by.
"Oooh, right. I get it. Now I understand why that character never stops running their mouth." Taeyeon chuckles, a light bulb going off in her mind. "Makes sense. This is where the stumbling block would lay, considering you came all this way without experiencing any proper type of romantic relations before."
"Excuse me?" Tiffany frowns, "I don't believe that has anything to do with what we're talking about right now."
"Yeah. It does. I'm saying that if you don't know about it first-hand- "
"Thank you!" Tiffany snatches the storyboard laying on Taeyeon's desk, "You have been a great help. Now I understand your concerns, Taeyeon. I will take it back and think it over again."
Taeyeon yawns, "Oh, okay. You sure you can manage that?"
"You just watch me!"
On that note, Tiffany stomps back to her desk.
God...
Why is it that every word that comes out of her mouth seems to be set to rile people up...?
Is it intentional?
Does she even realize she's doing it?
Either way, it's a major flaw in her personality...still...taking into account everything Taeyeon said...
What exactly was wrong here?
Lacking in motivation?
Make the romantic interest more obvious?
Why is having the interferer do the interfering not good enough?
Last time it was about there not being enough flirting between the main characters. Now it's that the new character is all wrong...
How long is it going to take for me to get these things right on the first try...?
"Kanggun!" Tiffany yells as she finally reaches her meeting spot with her now ex-fiancé. "Sorry, there was a major accident so the trains were running late."
"It's fine. I only just go here myself." He smiles, "It's been a while since I last saw you! Have you been doing well?"
"Yeah!"
"I'm glad to hear that!" The smile on Kanggun's face got even bigger.
Ah...
What a relief.
Kanggun and I are back to normal.
"...And so, because of that, I was able to get a job through Dad's connections. I'm in charge of the interior design and coordination of the stores." Says Kanggun. The two of them are currently in a restaurant, having dinner together.
"Oh, that sounds, good! I know you have had an interest in that area since way back."
Kanggun sighs, "The problem is when something completely not my style comes through and I still have to do it. The clients will say either, do it exactly like this, thanks, bye! or request something absolutely ridiculous, so it could become really quite the chore."
"Yeah, gosh, I can totally relate." Tiffany nods, remembering her discussion with Taeyeon that morning, "All that aside, I'm glad you were able to find a job doing what you like!"
After seeing Tiffany's bright smile, genuinely happy for him, Kanggun couldn't help it but forget all his worries and smile back.
"Yeah, it's great! How about you Tiff? Any major changes?"
"Ha...haha..." Tiffany looks down, "Not really as you can see..."
"...Which reminds me."
Oh no...
Let's just say that Tiffany might have a hint on what Kanggun is about to say.
"How have things been going since then, between you and your neighbor?"
"What?" Tiffany averts her eyes and chuckles awkwardly, "Ah...um, it's...er...It's hard to really put a finger on what it is...or how it's going right now. That kind of feeling...like that, you know?"
Kanggun doesn't say anything and sips his drink. Fascinated with how awkward Tiffany has got.
"Oh, right! I really am sorry about that time at the hospital, Kanggun! I caused you so much trouble, all because I didn't tell you clearly what the situation was." Tiffany bowed her head, "I have been wanting to meet up with you and apologize properly for some time now. I'm sorry it took me so long..."
Kanggun smiles and shakes his head, "Oh, well...no, it's okay. I wasn't on the best behavior myself; getting all worked up despite the circumstances."
Tiffany cautiously looks up at Kanggun to find him smiling at her.
"I'm fine now! you don't have to worry about me!"
"Kanggun.."
"There is one thing, though." Kanggun looks at her seriously, "I still worry about you." He sighs, "I'm happy for you Tiff. As far as I know, you're living the life you want, but I also know that there must be a lot of obstacles going forward as partners when you're both of the same sex, so I worry."
"..."
"Are you really doing okay, Tiff?"
Can't really say it's going well...can I?
We work at the same company.
She's my boss.
We're both women.
We're connected in so many ways.
If the time comes where I would actually tell her properly that I really like her, I still can't imagine it working out so that we have a happy ending.
And Taeyeon went ahead and said something like that...
I want to be super lovey-dovey with you. - Taeyeon
There is no way that real life is going to turn out like a novel, you know?
We're not kids who can do things and not have to worry about the consequences, anymore, and taking into consideration our current lives, I can't say with any conviction that we're doing the right thing.
That's why I can't help it but be hesitant about taking that last big step.
That's what it means to step into the world of adulthood, I guess.
But even then...
"...Tiff?"
"Hm? Oh, sorry! I got caught up in my thoughts for a bit."
Kanggun smiles, "If you don't have a good, fortunate life, after all this, I will be disappointed." He looks down, "If it doesn't all work out, then it feels like me giving up on being with you was kind of pointless."
Tiffany looks down, realizing how insensitive she's being, "Right. S- Sorry."
"No need to be sorry! It makes it sound like you're pitying me and I don't like that." He laughed.
"What? No! That's not what I mean at all! I'm so sorry!...and I apologized again..."
Kanggun laughs awkwardly, "You still haven't got out of the habit of apologizing for everything, have you, Tiff?"
"Argh...sorry, I'm trying to keep it under control."
"Haha, you did it again!"
"Damn it!"
They share a laugh at Tiffany's expense for a moment.
"Oh, that's right. I almost forgot. I picked up a copy of Emerald the other day." Kanggun says excitedly, "The name escapes me, but it was an ongoing story...and I'm not sure what happened to get the two main characters there, but it was the one where the couple had admitted their feelings for each other and decided to start dating. It was really good!"
"Oh! That sounds like the one I'm in charge of!"
"Oh, really? Then is the character who turned up at the end going to be the rival? That's what they call the interference antagonist, isn't it?"
Tiffany laughs awkwardly, "Yeah, that's what they're called."
After a while of Kanggun fussing about the chapter of Tiffany's story and asking for spoilers.
"If you're the one in charge of making that kind of romantic stories like that, you should make sure that your own love ends with a happy ending as well. If you don't, then I can't even run interference on the relationship I had to let go of for the sake of the person I cared for.
"Kanggun..."
"So for that reason...give it your all, Tiff!"
After finishing dinner, Kanggun and Tiffany separate. Each going to their respectful homes, and each of them with their own heavy thoughts in their mind.
Ah...
What am I doing?
Making Kanggun feel like he has to look out for me so much.
Kanggun...even after I did such a cruel thing to him, he still worries about my well-being.
He really is good to me...
Letting go for the sake of the person you love.
That too...is another way to show your love for someone.
It's not exactly a love where everyone will get their happily-ever-after, but it's not like they enter the relationship with the intention to give it all up. There is no reason anyone would fall in love hoping to become someone else's rival.
I mean, take a look at what I did back then. Just based on the pure emotions I felt at the time, I crashed head on into it...
Oh...was that it? Is that what Taeyeon meant when she was explaining it this morning?
What I'm saying is, you need to make their romantic interest for the main character more obvious. - Taeyeon
Don't just see them as a role necessary to the narrative...show that the character has a defined romantically driven intent.
That's it, isn't it?
Even though the protagonist may only see it as an annoying intrusion. The antagonist is laying their heart on the line, truly hoping to win the heart of the protagonist in the end.
*Gasp*
Wait, what am I doing?! Don't go mixing real life with a comic! Kanggun, forgive me!
Jeez, here I go again!
No wonder there is nothing I can do about my habit of apologizing!
Actually, if I think about it...back in school...I get the feeling that I said something very similar to Taeyeon.
Just then, as Tiffany walks down the street. The convenient store door ahead opens, and from there Taeyeon comes out. Blocking Tiffany's way.
Tiffany immediately turns around so that Taeyeon won't notice her.
"Yah!"
But it was already too late.
Tiffany stops and looks back, "Oh, is that you, Taeyeon? Didn't see you there. Such a coincidence to meet you here! What are you up to?"
Taeyeon squints, "If you think that anyone would ever fall for that, there is something wrong with you."
And so, Taeyeon follows Tiffany to wherever she's going.
"You left work so fast I didn't expect to see you coming home at this time," Taeyeon says.
"I'm working within our set hours, so it's not like I'm causing anyone any problems!" Tiffany fastens her steps in hope that Taeyeon would stop following her, even though they're both going on the same way.
"No, it's great timing. Let's go home and have dinner together."
"No, thank you! I just ate!"
"With who?"
"It's none of your business! If you're going to pry anymore- "
"Okay, but, our apartment building is in the opposite direction."
"I have not been exercising enough lately, so I thought I would take the park route home." Tiffany fastens her footsteps. Knowing well that Taeyeon's short legs and petite body plus the stress from work would slow Taeyeon down.
"Hey, wait up..."
"I told you, I'm already full, so I don't need dinner! Thank you very much for your consideration, but I'm afraid I will have to- "
Taeyeon almost bumped into Tiffany's back when she suddenly stopped. When Taeyeon was about to ask her what was wrong, she realized that there was someone standing in front of Tiffany.
"Oh, hey! It's Tiffany! What a coincidence! It's been too long."
"D- Donghae-ssi..."
Yes. It was Donghae who just came out of a shop and saw that Tiffany was right in front of him.
"Y- Yeah, it has been a while. W-...um...what are you doing here?"
"What do you mean? My house is just over that way, remember?"
"Yeah, right! We take the same train, don't we."
Why did we have to meet up now of all times?!
"Oh, who do we have here?" Donghae looks over Tiffany's shoulder, "If it isn't Taeyeon."
Donghae-ssi, no one is going to believe that you didn't see Taeyeon there!
"Tiffany. We're leaving." Taeyeon says as she turns around, refusing to face Donghae and completely ignoring him.
"Say, Tiffany-ssi..." Donghae looks back at Tiffany, "I would really like to hear back from you about my confession the other day. What do you say?"
"Excuse me?"
"Well, lately if I try to invite you out to talk about it, you turn me down..."
"Oh..." Tiffany coughs awkwardly, "I'm sorry about that. I had a lot of work come up at once."
"Yes, of course. I completely understand that." Donghae smiles, "It's just that I would like to get a response from you sooner rather than later."
"Um, no, it's just...I..."
"For the time being we could just date, then you could get to know me during that time. I don't mind if that's how we start out."
"Donghae."
Donghae smirks and looks at Taeyeon who just called his name sternly. "What?" He asks.
"The fuck do you think you're playing at?"
"What exactly do you think I'm playing at?"
Taeyeon glares, "I'm saying what's the point in trying to make this girl here agree to start dating you?"
Donghae smiles, "Isn't it natural to want to date the person you're into?"
"Smells like a whole lot of bullshit to me, considering you don't even have the vaguest interest in her at all."
"Oh, really? How are you so sure of that exactly?" Donghae folds his arms, "Take a good look at yourself, Taeyeon. You really think you're in a position to be saying these things yourself?" He chuckles, "It's not like Tiffany and You are actually an item, right?"
"..."
"That's what I thought. So how about you keep out of it?"
"I- "
"Ah, don't think you can get away with hiding it behind your concern for her as her boss, either. That opens up a whole other bag of how you shouldn't be mixing your personal and work lives like that."
Something is...kind of off here.
Tiffany who had been standing there, looking at the ground this whole time started wondering to herself.
Something feels weird about this whole situation...
Donghae says he likes me and wants to start dating me, yet despite his words, even though I'm right here in front of him, he's barely giving me a second glance. Instead, it's the girl he's supposed to be at odds with that seems to be holding his full attention.
So really what's going on here?
Is he...
"Tiffany, we're going home," Taeyeon says and grabs Tiffany by the wrist.
"What?! Hold on- Will you slow down?" Tiffany yells as she tries to keep up with Taeyeon this time.
"Taeyeon, stop!" Donghae yells.
"Shut the fuck up!" Taeyeon stops and looks back, "It will be a cold day in hell before I let her date the likes of you!"
Taeyeon...
"Let's go!"
"Taeyeon, wait up just one moment! D- Donghae-ssi..."
Ah.
No doubt about it.
Now Tiffany is sure. The look on Donghae's face as Taeyeon drags her away says it all.
That's it then.
What Donghae-ssi really wants is...
"...Donghae-ssi..." Tiffany forcefully stops Taeyeon from walking and looks back at Donghae, "...is it possible that the person you are interested in...is actually Taeyeon?"
Donghae's eyes widen.
Taeyeon frowns.
And a moment of silence passes by as all three of them realize what's actually going on.
"Was I that obvious?" Donghae smirks, "Aaah, damn it! There I go, racking up another failure."
Taeyeon squints, "What do you mean by, another?" Donghae's real motive is as clear as the sun to Taeyeon now. "You mean to say that was what your intentions were when you stole all my previous partners as well?"
Donghae smirks, "What was I supposed to do?" He laughs, "The nerve of those people, thinking they deserved to stand by your side...it's laughable that they thought they were anywhere near good enough to be with you, right?"
Taeyeon's eyes widen, now seeing how Donghae really is.
"Remember? When you were working for Weekly Earth, that idiot let everyone at the office know that she was into you. It was out of consideration for you that I got her attention and tried to lure her my way. I thought I had done a good job of it too, but in the end, she still blurted out her love for you...what an indescribable idiot."
"..."
"You don't have to tell me you hate me, I know you do, but I can't allow anyone else to be with you. I'm the only one who is fit to stand by your side. Nobody but me can work at your pace and there's nobody that understands you as much as I do. You know this yourself, right? So stop playing around and come to me already, so we can go back the way things were when we worked togeth- "
"HAVE YOU LOST YOUR FUCKING MIND?!" Taeyeon facepalms to calm herself down after screaming on the top of her lungs, "Jesus, listen closely."
After taking a deep breath, Taeyeon glances at Tiffany before looking Donghae right in the eyes.
"The reason I quit Weekly Earth was because I thought that the comic you were trying to create and the ones that I was in charge of clashed so badly. The way things were going, it was only going to get worse for the authors and the magazine. I didn't like the way it looked for me either, so I made the decision to leave. I guess it's fair to say you're damn good at what you do, but if we're gonna lay it all out, it's not just the way you do things, it's also everything else, that I absolutely...hate about you."
Taeyeon turned away. Not standing to look at Donghae's face anymore.
"...No way that can be true. You're remembering it all wrong." Donghae mutters.
"Tiffany, we're out of here," Taeyeon says and grabs Tiffany's hand, gently this time.
"Tiffany-ssi."
Tiffany looks back.
Donghae was waving at her as she's being dragged away by Taeyeon. "Now it's all out there. I look forward to working with you, okay?" He smiles, "Officially, as rivals!"
"Here you go."
"Thank you." Tiffany takes the cup of hot chocolate from Taeyeon.
Wait, uh, huh...?
What am I doing in Taeyeon's apartment?!
More than that, what is she thinking about?
Is it about what just happened?
"Sorry about that," Taeyeon says.
"Excuse me?"
Taeyeon sighs, "All this is happening because of that idiot."
"Oh, no. That's not a problem. What I'm more curious about is..." Tiffany looks down at her cup, "Taeyeon...did you know about that?"
"Hm? About what?" Taeyeon sips her hot chocolate, clueless.
"What? Come on, I mean about how Donghae-ssi...you know...has feelings for you, Taeyeon."
"Oh, right. Well, I had an inkling, I would say? Seemed like too much of a pain, so I pretended like I didn't notice anything." She sighs, "But since he came along and tried to interfere with you like he did to that girl back at Weekly Earth, I couldn't let him take it any further. It's why I told you to stay away from him, not that you listened to me at all."
Tiffany frowns, "Now hold on just a minute. This whole mess has ultimately sprung from your own bad behavior, I think?"
Taeyeon raises an eyebrow, "How is it my fault?...more like it's yours for having too many openings."
"Come again?!"
"I don't think so. Look at how he acts. He makes everything way more complicated than it needs to be."
"Complicating things...?"
"You saw it, didn't you? If he was acting purely on his feelings, when it comes to that guy there's never anything he would do that would be straight forward and simple. Not saying there's not a place in the world for those kinds of people, but purely for the sake of his own interests, he doesn't care who he gets trampled with his scheming. He's the definition of sub-human." She squints, "I don't understand how he thinks acting like that would make anyone fall in love with him in the end."
"Ah...haha...yeah."
She's right. I can't see how doing that would make me fall for anyone, but-
"But even then, but even so, Donghae-ssi just likes you Taeyeon, so...ow!?" Tiffany gets hit on the head by the fucking role of papers that she's going to burn someday.
"And I'm telling you; so what if he does?" Taeyeon takes a seat next to Tiffany on the couch. Annoyance visible on her face. "I mean, I can understand how hard it is to abandon the love you have for someone. As for my own relationship, I'm so in love I can't stand it. Not to mention I have been doing it for the past 10 years."
Ah...
"It's taken us a while, but we have finally got to the point we're at now. No way am I letting you slip through my hands now." Taeyeon gets closer to Tiffany.
Tiffany closes her eyes, anticipating what's going to happen next. That anticipation, however, was met with a small peck on the forehead.
"So please...don't back out on me, okay?" With a tender smile on her face, Taeyeon closed the gap between them one more time, this time, however, her lips landed on Tiffany's own.
Taeyeon's lips were so warm and soft that she couldn't help it but get lost in the kiss immediately.
"W- Wait a minute...b- but..." Tiffany pushes Taeyeon away and looks down, "But have you forgotten? The last time we got together it completely ruined the both of us.
Taeyeon frowns, "Because of your crazy misunderstanding, remember?"
"Yes! But I told you about that already- "
Tiffany looks up at Taeyeon when her hand was put on top of Taeyeon's chest.
"You know..." Taeyeon sighs and gives Tiffany space, "There is nothing broken inside of me. I'm still the same person I was 10 years ago, and I have always, always loved only you."
Oh god...help me...
"Fany-ah," Taeyeon calls with a smile on her face as she slowly pushes Tiffany to lay down, "Do you have anything you want to say to me?"
Saying stuff like, she's so in love with me she can't stand it...
How is it she can keep such a hold on her composure?
She's crumbling down the walls I had so desperately built up around me, relentlessly finding her way back into my soul.
Tiffany let out a deep breath and grabbed Taeyeon's small face and pulled it closer. Capturing her small pink lips into a deep kiss.
"Wow, would you look at that...Tiffany is taking the lead."
Tiffany immediately stops and pulls away, glaring and blushing furiously at the same time.
"What? You've done it once already, right?" Taeyeon smirks.
Without saying anything, Tiffany pushes Taeyeon off her, when Taeyeon was about to complain, she found herself being pushed further, not away, but down. Tiffany had just pushed her down and stranded her.
And kissed her.
Taeyeon smiled against the kiss and closed her eyes. Letting Tiffany take the lead. Soon, enough. Clothes were off and the two found themselves in Taeyeon's bed. With Tiffany taking the lead.
Approximately, 30 minutes later...
"Let me get some will-yah?" Taeyeon says as she pushes Tiffany away from between her legs and switches their positions. She found that Tiffany was averting her eyes and looked like she had something to say, "What is it?"
"Ah...ahm...so, uh..."
"What?"
"...Well, I mean...was it...I'm sorry...wasn't it...did it not feel good?" Tiffany finally says what's on her mind and looks at Taeyeon as if her life depended on the answer.
"Yeah. Well, I was thinking you're not very experienced..." Taeyeon says honestly.
"O- Of course that's how it's going to be! I got it, alright? Not like I can help it! It's not something I just go out and practice!" Tiffany says with frustration visible on her face.
"Sure you can. Practice on me."
"What?! How can you say such a thing?"
"Because you're the one that brought it up?"
"Wha- ! No, well...yes, I did! That is what I said, but still...that's not what I was saying..."
"Aaaah, alright I get it. Shut your face."
"Excuse me?!"
"You're too damn adorable, so stop it," Taeyeon says and buries Tiffany's face in her boobs.
Tiffany's face heats up, "Wha- "
In the end, Tiffany gives in to Taeyeon. Like always. And she enjoyed every single bit of it.
I still can't dream to be able to operate on the same level as Taeyeon does in the workplace...and unlike Donghae, I can't honestly say I'm worthy enough to be by her side.
Even so, Taeyeon.
The fact that she chose me...it made me happy.
Yet here I am, still unable to tell her I feel this way, our bodies intertwined with each other like this yet again. Is this also something that can be called...love?
Whether it's one sided, or both people feel the same way, love can't be called anything else other than love.
Giving up on your feelings for the sake of the one you like...
Doing everything you can to make the one you like turn your way.
Being unable to do anything but just look because you don't know what to do with how strongly you feel towards the one you like.
There are so many ways this thing that we call love can take form.
If all those are true, could the way I feel now also be...?
"Alright. Well, this all seems a lot better now." Taeyeon nods as she reads Tiffany's new storyboard after fixing it.
Yes, I did it!
"So tell me, what changed?" Taeyeon asks.
Tiffany smiles proudly, "I...If I put my mind to it I can do anything! I guess you could say it's a talent of mine!"
"Hah!"
Tiffany frowns and looks at Taeyeon who's pretending that she didn't just laugh.
"Oh, almost time for the meeting to start."
With a sigh, Tiffany grabs her stuff and follows Taeyeon to the meeting room.
"Oh, hey! It's Tiff!"
"Oh, what, Sanghwa? You here for a meeting?" Tiffany approaches her friend who's just about to enter the elevator.
"Yeah. For the photo collection I told you about last time." Sanghwa smiles.
"Sounds like a lot of work! Hope it all goes well..." Tiffany smiles back.
"Greetings! Im Taeyeon-Sunbae-nim, wasn't it? (Taeyeon's old family name)" Sanghwa nods to Taeyeon, "I hope our Tiffany hasn't been giving you too much trouble?"
"Kim. The name's Kim Taeyeon. That's an amazing memory lapse you have going there." Taeyeon smiles back.
Tiffany awkwardly stands there and watches the two interact. Both wearing a fake smile that for some reason has murder intent behind it.
Huh?
What?
Wait a minute...did it just get really, really, chilly in here...?
Days until Tiffany absolutely completely falls in love: 53