Month: April 2019

Friendly-part 5

~ Lemon ~ Leave a comment

Tiffany sat in her couch, a cup of coffee in one hand and in another, a book she had bought not long ago and hadn’t had time to read yet. She took a sip of the hot beverage, placed it on the coffee table and opened the first page of her book, quickly letting herself immerse in the story.

She hadn’t seen Taeyeon since their last conversation at the Corner and she half expected it when she dodged the question about her relationship status.

She could see the interest that sparked in Taeyeon’s eyes every time Tiffany told her something about her.

Her lips protruded into a small pout as she recalled the deception on Taeyeon’s face when she heard the indirect rejection… The blonde had tried to hide it with a smile, although not very well.

Tiffany hated herself for crushing Taeyeon’s hopes of a relationship but she just had to. She couldn’t let any hint of her potential interest slip by and reach Taeyeon. She couldn’t like Taeyeon more than the friendly state they had already reached in this very short time.

Another memory played in her head, blurring the lines of her book.

A few days ago,, he came knocking at her door, drunk.

She heaved a sigh and decided to stop reading altogether since her brain couldn’t focus on the story.

Tiffany slipped the bookmark in between the pages, letting her mind leading her five days ago. Before her meeting with Taeyeon at the Café.

Tiffany let him in without a word. Took the few-hours-old flowers– he must have been hesitant to give them to her, Tiffany guessed– and the sorry state in which he was in left her heart tightening with guilt. The last rejection was still fresh in mind and the harsh words she had used weighed on her conscience.

She watched herself proposing him something to drink, gesturing at the leaving room, only for him to shake his head, eyes looking down, shoulders slumped. He seemed so so smaller than usual, shrunken and it was her first time seeing him this fragile. When he finally opened his mouth, his voice came out raspy and low.

“Tiffany I-” He let out a gasp.

“I know I said I would not ever give up and keep asking you until you agree to a date with me but…” Glassy eyes went up searching hers, tugging at her heartstring. “There’s only so much rejection a man can take… So, I’m asking you for an arrangement.”

Her eyes went big.

He nodded briefly. “This will be my last time asking so please just let me explain.”

And Tiffany let him. The faint scent of roses and soon-to-be wilted roses mixed together flooded the hall, infiltrating her windpipes like air to a balloon and she soon felt the need to open a window in order for the smothering smell to disperse.

The proposition was simple. He only asked for a month to prove himself and try to change her mind about dating him.

“If by the end of the month, just before the start of the academic year, you still don’t want me,” He inhaled with difficulty. “Then I swear I’ll leave you alone. But if I succeed to make you somewhat like me back, then please let me date you.”

How could she say no this that?

×××

And Nichkhun had been really sweet with her ever since that day. He would send her good-morning messages and often called to enquire about her day. He made sure to not be too clingy and respected her personal space, which Tiffany was really grateful for.

Days went on like this until one day, she just felt like she had to talk to someone about it. So she had reunited her two best friends in her favourite coffee place to talk about it. Jessica had been the most worried at first.

“Are you sure you’re ready for another relationship Tiff ? I thought you wanted to take a break from it all.” And it was true Tiffany was still healing from her last catastrophic relationship but at the same time, she wouldn’t deny that it felt good to have someone take care of her.

Sooyoung, on the contrary thought that it was good for Tiffany to get back to dating– Tiffany winced at that word– and that it would help her get her to forget her disastrous first relationship.

“We’re not dating, I just… allowed him to… woo me… I guess?” She blushed at the word because it sounded like a weird and old fashioned thing to say.

“Isn’t that the same thing as dating though ?” Sooyoung let out with a snicker as she grabbed a muffin choco and took a large bite.

“Mmh without the kissing and intimate stuffs…”

“Oh without the juiciest part?”

Tiffany groaned and took a sip of her drink to hide her rosy cheeks.

“I’m glad that you chose to give him a chance. He seems like a good guy and I hope he can help with your healing as well so that you can go back to doing what you love. Tiffany looked down.

Because of that girl, she had stopped modelling and cut contact with the world of fashion. She never returned to her old job— although she had been doing it for such a long time and never once thought of it as anything less than a hobby, something enjoyable. But now, everything reminded her of that particularly difficult period of her life.

Her hand went to grab the cup of coffee and she downed half of it in one big gulp, appreciating the taste that the sour liquid left in her mouth.

Jessica’s concerned eyes, softened… With mama Jung’s proud gaze and Sooyoung’s hand that was covering hers, at that moment everything felt so nice…

And with the help of her friends she knew one day she would be okay again.

×××

Taeyeon held up a curse as she pulled her car to a stop just before the light went red. She had slept through her alarm this morning and had to rush to get read, kissing her well paced routine and breakfast goodbye.

Looking around, she noticed a familiar pink car parked on the side of the road. The driver, a short brunette in heels and fashionable clothing stood up next to it, visibly annoyed.

The light turned to green and Taeyeon threw a last glance to the young woman just before driving away. For a split second, her eyes widened as she recognized Tiffany.

Quick, Taeyeon parked her car on the same side a little further, unfastened her seatbelt and got out of her car.

“Tiffany !” The brunette turned around as she heard Taeyeon’s voice, her eyes went big in surprise after seeing the blonde running towards her. “What are you doing here ?”

The short girl knitted her brows. “We take the same way to go to work, Fany…”

Tiffany stared at her and then looked away before putting on a serious expression. “Do we? I don’t know, I haven’t seen you around in quite a while… Maybe I would remember it if you hadn’t missed so many days of work to avoid me.”

Taeyeon opened her mouth to protest but gave up. She took half a second to compose herself before glancing back at Tiffany.

“Look, I’m already late to an important meeting,” She gestured at the pink Chevrolet. “Your car needs assistance so let’s not waste anymore time, I can drive you…err”

All that came out of her mouth before she could even think about how mean and unfriendly it sounded to her ears… She glanced worriedly at the brunette, only to be met with an unreadable expression.

Crap.

“Sorry… I didn’t mean—”

Tiffany briskly walked back to her car to take her bag and coat and strode to Taeyeon’ SLK, leaving the girl to follow behind. Her brows were knitted and her angry glare didn’t meet Taeyeon’s eyes after that. Not even once.

Taeyeon sighed. She didn’t mean to snap back but she had a bad morning to say the least and she wasn’t used to filter her words around anyone since the only people whom she was closed too her were Yuri and Seolhyun… Seolhyun was an angel and always knew how to placate Taeyeon. Yuri… Well, Yuri usually didn’t care much and it seemed as if annoying her was like second nature to the dark skinned girl, so she really did not have any remorse snapping back at her…

But she had to admit that she was going easy on Tiffany most of the time.
Tiffany was the most perfect girl she had ever met thus far and they got along fairly well too. Since Tiffany didn’t want her as more than a friend, Taeyeon was settling for the closest thing they could have, and that was friendship.

So now wasn’t the time to drive Tiffany away with her moody and childish side.

Taeyeon, once again glanced at the passenger seat as the car halted at a red stop. The other girl kept her eyes glued to the window. She was still a bit upset that Taeyeon had ignored her messages for a week! Let alone that she didn’t go to work and didn’t tell her why…

As expected, they arrived late for work, Taeyeon personally went to apologize to Tiffany’s superior.

“And just like this, Tiffany’s small ruffle towards Taeyeon completely vanished. And she feels a bit silly now.

Tae: It’s okay, I was an idiot

She quickly typed an answer.

Tiff: Don’t say that, I would’ve been in much more trouble , hadn’t you been there to drive me and you even saved me from my boss’ wrath!

Taeyeon chuckles.

Tae: Alright, just treat me to dinner one of these days and I’ll call it even.

Tiff : No problemo. But I’ll pay !

Tae: As you wish ㅋㅋㅋ : D Well, gotta go.

Tiff: See you at lunch?

Tae: I can’t. I know my dad and he’is going to double my workload for coming late to this morning meeting…

Tiff: You’re joking …

Tae: I wish I was

Tiff: Oh. 😦 (

Tiff: Well, see you later then, I guess…

Tae: Yep, yep ! See ya 🙂

–

..

 
Taeyeon smiles at her computer screen, satisfied. She was almost done with the supplementary work her father had given her for coming late to the meeting this morning. She apologized, and tried her hardest not to show even the shadow of the smile that was about to break on her lips after the little exchange of text she had with Tiffany before stepping into the room.

Her eyes took a brief glance at her watch, the round screen displayed 8:45pm…
Time had flied pretty fast and she wondered if Tiffany was still there, waiting for her or if she had already taken a cab home.

Taeyeon opened her phone and slid through the messages, read and unread, to Tiffany’s most recent text.

She hesitated over what to text.. What if Tiffany had already gone home without waiting for her ? She would feel bad for not telling Taeyeon in advance and making her wait, wouldn’t she? Even if Taeyeon told her it was no bother…

Yeah, better go see for herself. If Tiffany was there then she would ask her if she needed a ride and if she wasn’t, she would still call to make sure Tiffany arrived home safely.

–

Awkward.

“T-Taeyeon…”

No. Awkward was not strong enough to describe what she felt right now.. Confused? Yes. Embarrassed. Ashamed? Definitely. Upset…? No, angry. And jealous. The last two had currently taken over all of the others…

“Taeyeon…”

She jerked as a hand rested on her shoulder, and blinked, suddenly realizing she was right in front of Tiffany.

Her eyes met Tiffany’s for a brief second, before they shifted to the other person currently staring at them questioningly. This other unwanted witness, the dot in the otherwise pristine white office. An question mark on a blank page…

“Hey,” She snapped back to reality at the softest tone she had ever heard Tiffany use; soft and yet it could not have sounded louder to her right at this moment. She was rarely this sensitive. Her skin was like a thin membrane who could break at a single touch from Tiffany. Her nose was overwhelmed by Tiffany’s scent, even two steps away from her, Tiffany’s presence was already too much.

“I’m here Taeyeon, please look at me…” The other girl reached out to her and their hands almost touched…

Almost. Taeyeon brought it out of grasp and stepped back.

Tiffany looked at her with a look of hurt, and strangely it did not affect Taeyeon much this time. Her defensive mode was on and it prioritized her self over anything ‘Tiffany’ right now.

She felt betrayed. The bubble of happiness she had been in all day had popped as soon as she stepped into the office. She thought Tiffany was alone, which was a logical thing to assume since it no other employees ever stayed this late.

So she opened the door, only to find Tiffany and some annoyingly tall and handsome guy standing very close to each other… and of course the guy had a very big bouquet of pretty pink roses, which Tiffany had gleefully accepted and smelled like in those annoying rom com movies she found so unrealistic and cheesy that it was really hard not to laugh at…

Her jaw hardened and she took another step back towards the door, this one more definitive.
Tiffany reached out again and grabbed the sleeve of her jacket.

“Taeyeon let me—”

“No. Listen I-I’m sorry I barged in and…” Another glance at the guy. Her stomach flipped. “…look maybe… I should go. See you…” She gave a shaky smile that , she thought, was pretty okay—even if Tiffany thought her acting horrible— but then her voice cracked, betraying her.

She let her head fall down and stared angrily at the blurry floor tiles as her feet took her to the elevator in a rather disoriented stride— if the dancing black lines between the tiles were any indication… but then maybe it was just the tears pooling and invading even the corners of her eyes…

She stepped out of the building in long strides, not caring about the heavily pouring rain soaking her clothes— that’s right, the weather forecast had warned about the rain on the radio this morning, she only vaguely heard it, in between her jarring thoughts. And Tiffany.

She sat in the driver seat of her car, her hand looking for the usual rectangular pack in her jean pocket… only to remember a second too late, how Yuri had forcefully thrown out the last one weeks ago. She cursed and instead, whipped out her phone, dialled number three,..

She would probably— no, certainly regret what she was about to do. In the future. In a future that wasn’t tonight…

 

 

“Jieun…”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A/N: Hello again ^^ I’ve been more active on aff these past months.

Hope you enjoyed this part 5 ! (I’m still wondering where this story is going tbh. I keep telling myself that I should’ve kept it as a oneshot. ^^’ Or write a very short sequel…  I feel like it’s a bit too late now? TwT

Anw enjoy