Chapter Twenty Two

Mr. Kim’s voice bounces off the walls filling the room as Yuri enters the den. “What’s going on?” she asks while joining the group. Mr. Kim’s voice rises signaling that Taeyeon might have said something he didn’t like.

“Mr. Kim is giving Taeyeon a lecture,” answers Sooyoung while stretching out on the floor. 

“What for?” questions Yuri slightly wary.

“She wouldn’t tell us. But it’s been going on and on for the last hour,” states Yoona, “I’m surprise she hasn’t walked out yet.” Yuri nods her head and turns to look at Hyoyeon who was thumbing through a magazine.

“Have you apologized to Jessica yet?” she asks while taking a seat next to her on the couch.

“Should I be apologizing?” questions Hyoyeon with an indifferent attitude.

“Considering that your sister is dating her, yes. She’s freaked, Tiffany’s freaked,” responds Yuri.

“Her fault.”

“Really? You’re the one who went berserk and attacked her.”

“She hit Sooyoung.”

“Because she was scared.”

“Are you siding with the enemy?” Hyoyeon sets the magazine down on her lap.

“I’m not siding with anyone,” responds Yuri while trying to keep her cool.

“Really? You are dating her sister Tiffany. So if you protect and side with her that-“

“Don’t bring Tiffany into this,” interrupts Yuri. “You were out of line yesterday. You could have seriously hurt Jessica. Screw the thought of her dating your sister. But she’s an innocent person. And you’re actions are putting us on the map. You’re endangering us all. What if Jessica was related to a rival? Now you’ve put Taeng in danger.” Hyoyeon’s face turns sour, “no wonder people feared Taeyeon before she switched schools. I think you should calm down and let Taeyeon lead things. She knows what she’s doing. She is the future.”

“My job isn’t to stay calm. I’m here to protect her. Jessica is a threat.”

“Jessica isn’t the mole. Taeng and I have already scanned her computer and everyone else’s in the house for any trace of her being the mole. There is none.”

“Why didn’t you say something?” questions Hyoyeon.

“Because I didn’t think that you would go all out berserk and decided to break her arm off.” Hyoyeon opens her mouth when the doors to Mr. Kim’s office open and Taeyeon steps out with her father following right behind.

“Yuri, Sooyoung, Yoona,” he greets the girls while turning to Hyoyeon, “Hyoyeon, we need to talk later tonight.”

Hyoyeon nods her head and their father exits out of the room. “So how bad is your punishment for whatever it is you did?” asks Sooyoung while sitting up. Taeyeon takes a seat on the floor beside her.

“Home-schooling,” answers Taeyeon while looking at Yuri.

“Home-school? Is that really a punishment? I mean not having to sit through boring lectures all day every day. Nap time whenever you want. Good food. How can that be punishment?” asks Yoona.

“He’s teaching me,” answers Taeyeon as her shoulders slouch. “Dad is teaching me here at home now since he does have teaching credentials before he took over.”

“What was the other option? We all know Mr. Kim gives you a choice in punishment,” questions Yuri.

“Quit my job at the mall and work by his side day in and day out,” answers Taeyeon while leaning back on her elbows and looking up at the ceiling.

“And you wouldn’t because of Jessica,” states Hyoyeon.

“Yup. I don’t spend time with her at school so I might as well cut that and keep work. Besides I need the money.”

“So what did you do to get in trouble?” asks Sooyoung while leaning in hoping for an answer.

“Some stuff.”

“Like what?” continues Yoona.

“Like usual stuff.”

“Stuff concerning Jessica,” states Hyoyeon.

“Speaking of that, you owe her an apology, Hyo. I mean it. This isn’t you sister telling you this is your master,” states Taeyeon as her voice becomes serious. She lowers her head and looks Hyoyeon in the eyes. “The treatment you gave her was quite uncalled for.”

*****

“How come I haven’t seen you around school?” asks Jessica while walking with Taeyeon through the park.

“I’m getting homeschooled,” answer Taeyeon. Jessica gives her a questioning look. “I kind of spilled everything to my dad. So he gave me two options, home schooling or quitting work and working by his side.”

“And you chose home schooling?” Taeyeon nods her head. “School’s going to be uneventful.” 

“Well at least there’s work,” suggests Taeyeon. Jessica nods her head this time before latching onto Taeyeon’s arm as they begin walking again. “Jessica…”

“Hm?”

“How come we don’t have nicknames for each other like the rest of the group? Better yet how come we haven’t kissed?”

“W-what?!” exclaims Jessica. She never expected for Taeyeon to ask about that. “We do kiss.”

“On the cheek doesn’t count. That’s not a couple’s kiss. I want a real kiss,” she turns and looks at Jessica before leaning in. Jessica out of defense pushes Taeyeon’s face away and hastily walks away. A pout forms on Taeyeon’s face as she watches Jessica walk away from her at a quick pace. She brings her hand up in front of her mouth and breathes into it. She sniffs it, “It’s not my breath…”

Sliding her hands into her pockets she walks after Jessica.

*****

“You apologized to Jessica yet?” asks Yuri while going through the shoe boxes in the back of the store.

“No,” answers Hyoyeon doing the same.

“Taeng’s going to be upset don’t you think?”

“It’s not as bad as what father went on and on about,” responds Hyoyeon while restacking the box she was looking at. “This whole time Taeyeon was the mole.” She looks at Yuri, “and you knew about it didn’t you?”

“If you think you’re mafia skills are going to scare me, save it,” responds Yuri as she finds the shoes she was looking for. “Your duty is to follow Taeng and to protect her. It’s why Mr. Kim took you in. You’re not to questions Taeng’s motives. Do your job.” She exits out of the room back to the front and prepares to ring the customer up when Tiffany walks in.

“Yuri are you busy?” she asks while leaning on the counter. Yuri shakes her head no while counting change and handing it to the customer. “Let’s go on a date then.”

“Okay…what’s the special occasion?”

“There is none. Are you saying I have to have a special occasion for us to go on a date? Taeyeon takes Jessi on dates all the time for nothing,” states Tiffany sounding a little angered. Yuri looks her way while shaking her head furiously.

“No. I was just wondering.” She checks her phone for the time; she raises her hand only extending her index finger signaling for Tiffany to wait. Yuri disappears in the back again, “Hyo it’s my lunch break. I’m heading out with Tiffany.” Hyoyeon shoos her off. “Alright but I really think you should man the front.”

“I know how to do my job Yuri.” Yuri nods her head and exits back to the front room. She grabs hold of Tiffany’s hand and leads her out of the store.

“Is Hyoyeon working today?” asks Tiffany curiously while looking over her shoulder.

“Yeah, but she’s a bit grouchy today.”

*****

“How did you come in contact with my dad?” asks Jessica while stirring her drink.

“He actually contacted me,” answers Taeyeon. “He said he spotted us one evening and decided to search me up. Found out I was a Kim’s daughter, the Kim’s daughter and heir. Said he worked for the government. He was planning on sending my father to prison for a very long time. Unless that is I work for him and destroy my family’s empire.”

“And you just said yes?” questions Jessica.

“Well I said no at first. But then after you I told you about myself and you got scared, I decided why not.”

“So you did choose a girl over your own family?”

“No, not really. I was already debating since the business is something I don’t like. Your reaction was all I really needed to reassure myself that I was making the right decision.” Taeyeon’s phone rings. A sigh escapes her lips as she reads the caller’s name. “It’s my dad,” she states heavy heartedly. 

“Go ahead and answer,” states Jessica. Taeyeon nods her head and stands up heading outside the small café to answer the phone.

Jessica sighs and plays with her napkin. She can’t believe her father would stoop so low for his career. He was on the verge of destroying a family. Taeyeon’ family, which by the way was at least semi normal. She folds the napkin into a triangle. Leave it to Daddy Jung to ruin families.

She looks out the window watching as her girlfriend walk back and forth while on the phone. Taeyeon’s comment, from earlier, climbs its way into her mind. Why hadn’t they kiss? And why don’t they have pet names?

It wasn’t as if she was didn’t have one picked out for the shorter girl. In fact she does have one. She came up with it one night while talking to Tiffany about such trivial things. And a kiss, well the thought has crossed Jessica’s mind a few times. Even more so since Taeyeon likes to share ice cream with her.

So why haven’t they done any of those things? Should she take the initiative? A pout crosses her face as she falls deep in thought. 

Taeyeon reenters the café and takes her seat across from Jessica with a small smile. She picks her spoon up to eat, “Taengoo.” She stops eating and looks up at Jessica with a confused expression.

“Taengoo,” Jessica repeats before breaking into a smile.

“Uh, Jessica…what’s a Taengoo?” asks Taeyeon.

“You.” 

*****

Hyoyeon raises her hand to knock on the door but lowers it out of fear. Which is something she shouldn’t posses. She’s a bodyguard. She works for the Kim family. She raises her hand again and knocks on the door. Waiting a few seconds the door opens revealing Krystal, “Can I help you with something?” asks Krystal.

“I’m looking for Jessica,” states Hyoyeon.

“Well she’ not here. She went out with some friends a while ago,” responds Krystal. Hyoyeon’s shoulders drop a little.

“Well can you let her know that Hyoyeon came to talk?” asks Hyoyeon. Krystal nods her head and shuts the door. She turns around and looks at her older sisters that were watching television.

“She said she came by to talk,” states Krystal while joining the older girls on the couch.

“We know. She’s been coming over for the last three days,” states Tiffany, “But she can’t talk to Jessi because she’s too violent.”  

“I think Jessica should listen to what she has to say,” counters Krystal, “she is dating her sister.” Both of the younger girls turn and look at Jessica.

“I’ll see what she wants when I visit Taeyeon later tonight,” states Jessica.

“Is Yuri going to be there?” questions Tiffany.

“I don’t know…she’s not my girlfriend.” Tiffany pouts and crosses her arms for a quick second before reaching out for her phone.

“So what are you and Taeyeon doing?” asks Krystal with a grin. Jessica rolls her eyes and pushes herself up heading towards the door. “Where are you going?”

“To Taeyeon’s,” answers Jessica while sliding on one of Taeyeon’s coats.

“Thought you weren’t going til later?” questions Tiffany.

“Changed my mind.” Jessica opens the door rand walks out.

*****

“Why didn’t you let me in on anything?” asks Hyoyeon while taking a seat at Taeyeon’s desk.

“Because I need to do some things on my own,” answers Taeyeon, “you’re always doing things for me. The house help is always doing things. The tutor does my work. Yuri and the gang do other things. For once I just wanted to do something on my own. So I can feel failure and success.”

“That still doesn’t mean you couldn’t have told me.”

“You don’t approve of anything I do. How was I supposed to tell you?” Hyoyeon sighs. Taeyeon was right. She can’t even remember the last thing she approved of. “Besides…think of this as a test, in which you failed. You need to sharpen your skills.” Taeyeon looks up from her phone and runs the bed room door, snatching it open. “Jessica!”

“Is Hyoyeon in here? I went to her room and she wasn’t there,” asks Jessica while entering the room to see Hyoyeon sitting at the desk. “Krystal told me that you came by earlier.”

“Oh…yeah…” Hyoyeon looks around for a quick second.

“It’s okay. You were just protecting Taeyeon. I probably would have done the same if someone was hurting Krystal.” Hyoyeon nods her head before turning to look at Taeyeon.

“I’m heading to my room for the night. No funny business.”

“Yes ma’am,” responds Taeyeon as she watches Jessica crawl into her bed. She closes the door behind Hyoyeon and walks to her bed. “Ready for our date?” Jessica shakes her head no, “why not?”

“I want to meet your parents,” states Jessica.