Alive Pt 2
Title: Alive Pt 2
Author: limnological
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: TaengSic
Description: AU
The familiar clink of the can rolling down the vending machine jolts Taeyeon awake again. The peach juice is ice cold and revitalizes her senses as she gulps a mouthful down. She makes her way back to the children’s room, thinking about what to bring next week to keep them preoccupied and happy. The paper cranes were still exciting to them, but it was always good to plan ahead for future activities.
She stops at Sleepy Ahjumma’s door at the sound of a familiar song.
'Cause someday, someone's gonna love me
The way I wanted you to need me
Someday, someone's gonna take your place
One day, I'll forget about you
You'll see, I won't even miss you
Someday, someday
It is then that she realizes that Sleepy Ahjumma was the same one who sang ‘Almost’ two weeks ago.
Now she really wonders if the songs Sleepy Ahjumma were singing reflected the innermost parts of her heart, because clearly, she was not the type of person Taeyeon had imagined her to be. For some reason, she expected some fragile girl behind those walls, heartbroken about love and life. Instead, she was a snarky and haughty woman.
At least, that was her first impression of Sleepy Ahjumma. She wasn’t really counting on seeing the other woman again after extending her invitation only for it to be crushed so casually.
--
A week thumbs by slowly as a certain somber voice lingers in Taeyeon’s head. Perhaps that particular voice and tune is popping up because it’s Tuesday again.
“Why Tuesdays?”
Taeyeon stops nibbling on the styrofoam cup to look up at Sooyoung’s eyes.
“I don’t know.”
It’s break time again at the office which mean Sooyoung’s time to hassle Taeyeon for fun.
“There’s got to be a reason why you picked Tuesdays of all days to visit the hospital.”
“Can’t I just pick a random day to visit?”
“No!” Sooyoung’s quick to jump onto suspicion. “There’s got to be an ulterior motive!”
“You have way too much free time on your hands if you’re worrying about trivial things like that.”
“Fair enough.” Just as she’s fast enough to jump on, she’s even quicker to jump off.
Her personality always brings a smile to Taeyeon’s face during a mundane week.
“How’d you end up there again?”
“You forgot already?” Sooyoung just nods as Taeyeon continues, “Peach juice.”
“What?”
“I pass by the hospital on my way home every day. On one particular day after work, I was craving some peach juice. Then I remembered that when I visited my grandma as a kid, she’d always give me money for some juice from the vending machines. Next thing I know, I was already making my way towards the vending machine in the corridor. I don’t know what overcame me, but I even lied about visiting a patient when the nurses asked me. Then on my way back, I looked into one of the rooms, the door being left ajar, and I saw the kids there. They looked so sad that I just decided to visit them on the whim. And now, this is where we are.”
Sooyoung just nods slowly, “Who knew peach juice could bring people together like that?”
Taeyeon just laughs, “Indeed.”
--
Cupping her hands around her mouth, Taeyeon speaks, “Everyone, gather around. It’s story time.”
Dajung rounds the kids up as Taeyeon opens up a big picture book.
Clearing her throat, she begins using her reading voice.
“Long ago, God told all the animals he was throwing a banquet tomorrow, and not to be late. The mischievous rat told his neighbor, the cat, that the banquet was the day after tomorrow. So, the next day, all the animals lined up for the banquet, while the cat was sleeping away. The mischievous rat rode all the way to the banquet on the ox's back.”
Taeyeon continues to read, flipping here and there.
“The rat jumped off the ox’s back right at the finish line, finishing first. The ox came next. The powerful tiger arrived next while the rabbit hopped to fourth place. The dragon was favored to win first place but ended up in fifth place because he had stopped to help those in need. God was pleased with him. Cleverly, the snake wrapped itself around the horse’s leg and jumped into sixth place while the horse earned seventh.”
She pauses for a second to check if the children are still listening. Luckily, they are.
“The goat, monkey, and rooster worked together and finished together. As for the dog, he finished eleventh after stopping to wake up the pig. The pig finished last explaining that he had stopped for a nap and to eat.”
She reaches the end of the book.
“All the animals had fun at the banquet, except for the cat, who was at home sleeping and dreaming for a banquet that would never come.” With that, Taeyeon closes the book as three kids look at her with awe.
“What a meanie rat.” Jiyoo snuffs out with crossed arms.
“The rat shouldn’t have done that.” Dajung frowns.
“I want to be a cat.” Jinsu mutters cutely as Dajung combs her hand through the younger girl’s hair.
“He was mean to do that, wasn’t he?” It’s then that Taeyeon notices something, or rather someone is missing. “Where’s Kyungsan?” The kids just look at her cutely with blinking eyes.
“I dunno.” Jinsu mumbles.
Taeyeon puts the book down and holds out papers for the children.
“Why don’t you kids get started on this first while I look for Kyungsan?”
“Okay Ahjumma.” Dajung replies, but then her mouth goes wide. “Oh! It’s Kyungsan!”
Taeyeon turns her head back to look at the doorway. She’s greeted with an endearing and surprising sight.
Kyungsan stands in the door way with his hand tugging on Sleepy Ahjumma’s hospital gown. The blonde yawns widely before putting on an act for the kids.
“Jessica Jung, here to save you from your monotonous day at the request of Private Kyungsan.” She salutes lazily then makes her way across the room to Taeyeon.
Her choice of words makes Taeyeon laugh inside because ‘monotonous’ was the perfect word to describe every day at work.
“Kim Taeyeon, pleasure to have you join us.” Taeyeon introduces herself as Jessica sits across from her on the floor, “But if I recall correctly, you had used the words ‘over my -“
Jessica just holds her hand up to shush Taeyeon. Then she grabs Kyungsan’s cheeks and rubs them together like an elderly person does when grabbing a grandchild’s face.
“How can you say ‘no’ to that face?”
Taeyeon’s chuckling. “Achilles heels?”
“Kyungsan,” Jessica turns the little boy around to face her, “Teach me how to fold.”
The transition in conversation was a sign to Taeyeon that Jessica wasn’t one to talk about those things outright.
“I think Ahjumma should teach you.” Kyungsan says cutely as he walks back to the circle of children and plops right next to them.
“Did I just get rejected by a five year old?”
Taeyeon snorts, “Yeah.”
“Whatever, I’m not a pedophile anyway,” Jessica flips her hair casually. “So what’s the deal with these cranes?”
“What do you mean?”
“Isn’t there a legend behind them?”
“Yeah, they say if you make a thousand, you’ll be granted a wish.”
“You believe in that crap?”
The attack takes Taeyeon by surprise, but she bounces back, knowing how stupid it does sound.
“Why don’t we try? And then you let me know if it works.”
Jessica just shrugs her shoulders nonchalantly.
--
Turns out that Jessica doesn’t have the skills needed to create such masterpieces.
“It’s a paper crane, not a paper rock.” Taeyeon lectures as she snatches the paper ball out of Jessica’s hands.
“I didn’t feel like making a paper crane. I follow my own heart.”
“So you made a paper rock?”
“This is dumb. Origami is dumb.”
“You’re as dumb as this rock.” Taeyeon teases her without reservation. Normal people withheld their tongues when they just met someone, but Taeyeon wasn’t normal. She didn’t have filters.
“I know I rock.”
That comeback reinforces Taeyeon’s stance of zero guilt for teasing her earlier about being dumb. The wrinkled paper ball greets Jessica promptly in the face.
“Excuse me, I am a patient of this hospital. I don’t need any more injuries.” She tosses it back with a scowl on her face.
Taeyeon just scoffs. “How fragile would you have to be to be hurt by a paper rock?”
“Tell me if this hurts,” Jessica quickly grabs a blank sheet of paper and crumbles it up into a ball, throwing it at Taeyeon.
Next thing they know, they’re throwing paper rocks at each other while the children stare at them strangely.
They are literally acting like children in front of children.
“Ahem, Miss Jung.” Nurse Lee clears her throat as she stands by the doorframe, clipboard in hand. “It’s time for your check up.”
“Party pooper.” Jessica replies as she stretches and heads towards Nurse Lee.
Nurse Lee glares at Jessica while Taeyeon’s grinning as she watches them walk away. Apparently, the sassiness of Jessica was given to everyone.
--
A week has passed and this time, Taeyeon’s brought her guitar along for the visit. The kids gather round as she sings a song she’s been listening to on the radio lately.
Try to deny it as much as you want
But in time our feelings will show
'Cause sooner or later
We'll wonder why we gave up
Almost, almost is never enough
So close to being in love
If I would have known that you wanted me
The way I wanted you
Then maybe we wouldn't be two worlds apart
But right here in each other's arms
Forgetting the rest of the lyrics, she stops there, surprised by the unexpected visitor. Jessica sits in front of her, eyebrows raised as she stares at the guitar.
“No more paper cranes?”
“I was afraid the kids were going to get tired of paper cranes soon, so I brought my guitar to sing to them.” Her fingers keep strumming the guitar.
“You’re pretty decent.”
“Not as good as you.” It’s what she really believes and she isn’t shy of complimenting the blonde.
“This is true,” Jessica says it without shame as she picks up a piece of paper, “but do you even know what my singing sounds like?”
“I heard your singing when I passed by your room a few weeks ago.”
“What was I singing?” She starts folding a paper crane.
“It was ‘Almost’ and ‘Someday.’”
“Ah, my classics.”
“Those songs are quite sad.” Taeyeon sets the guitar down next to her. “Did someone break your heart?”
“Wow, screw you asshole, way to ask about dying hearts at a hospital.”
Taeyeon’s hand flies up to cover Jessica’s mouth, but misses completely as Jessica leans back, “There are children!”
“‘Asshole’ isn’t even a swear word.”
“It is too.”
“You didn’t even yell at me when I said ‘shit’ our first meeting!”
“That’s because I didn’t know you then! Now stop swearing in front of the kids.”
“It’s not a swear word.”
“Is too.”
The blonde returns to folding the paper crane.
“Is not.”
“Is too.”
“Is -“
Jessica stops midway as she stares at her newfound paper cut. The both of them lock eyes and Taeyeon laughs as Jessica scoffs.
“Great, another injury, because I clearly don’t have enough of those.”
Taeyeon was beginning to understand that sarcasm was second-nature to Jessica.
“I’ll get the nurse.”
“It’s a paper cut, not a hemorrhage.” Jessica’s eyebrows furrow together in a judgmental way.
"We're in a hospital,” Taeyeon shrugs. “Might as well abuse the fact that it's their job to take care of patients."
A mischievous grin sets upon Jessica’s lips. "You're right. Call the head nurse."
Taeyeon’s brow arches up, thinking it’s a joke, but Jessica doesn’t falter and her lips curve up.
“Aye, aye, Captain.” She throws in a faux salute, showcasing her knowledge of learning the language of Jessica.
Jessica lightly scoffs at the mannerism, but Taeyeon doesn’t miss the way her smile grows fractionally wider.
--
Sure enough, the head nurse rushes to Jessica’s aid at god speed. The two liars can almost see the smoke coming out of the nurse’s ears when she realizes it’s a false alarm. Muttering under her breath, she places the band aid on Jessica’s finger. When she’s done with that, she stalks up to Taeyeon in the hallway, giving her a piece of her mind.
A scolding in the corridor is all Taeyeon receives from the head nurse as Jessica makes a peace sign behind the nurse’s back from her bed. Taeyeon takes the earful without a protest as she cautiously holds a thumbs-up sign for Jessica to see below the nurse’s line of sight.
The breathtaking smile she receives from Jessica is enough reward for pulling off this stunt.
Visits to the hospital just became ten times more interesting.
Author: limnological
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: TaengSic
Description: AU
The familiar clink of the can rolling down the vending machine jolts Taeyeon awake again. The peach juice is ice cold and revitalizes her senses as she gulps a mouthful down. She makes her way back to the children’s room, thinking about what to bring next week to keep them preoccupied and happy. The paper cranes were still exciting to them, but it was always good to plan ahead for future activities.
She stops at Sleepy Ahjumma’s door at the sound of a familiar song.
'Cause someday, someone's gonna love me
The way I wanted you to need me
Someday, someone's gonna take your place
One day, I'll forget about you
You'll see, I won't even miss you
Someday, someday
It is then that she realizes that Sleepy Ahjumma was the same one who sang ‘Almost’ two weeks ago.
Now she really wonders if the songs Sleepy Ahjumma were singing reflected the innermost parts of her heart, because clearly, she was not the type of person Taeyeon had imagined her to be. For some reason, she expected some fragile girl behind those walls, heartbroken about love and life. Instead, she was a snarky and haughty woman.
At least, that was her first impression of Sleepy Ahjumma. She wasn’t really counting on seeing the other woman again after extending her invitation only for it to be crushed so casually.
--
A week thumbs by slowly as a certain somber voice lingers in Taeyeon’s head. Perhaps that particular voice and tune is popping up because it’s Tuesday again.
“Why Tuesdays?”
Taeyeon stops nibbling on the styrofoam cup to look up at Sooyoung’s eyes.
“I don’t know.”
It’s break time again at the office which mean Sooyoung’s time to hassle Taeyeon for fun.
“There’s got to be a reason why you picked Tuesdays of all days to visit the hospital.”
“Can’t I just pick a random day to visit?”
“No!” Sooyoung’s quick to jump onto suspicion. “There’s got to be an ulterior motive!”
“You have way too much free time on your hands if you’re worrying about trivial things like that.”
“Fair enough.” Just as she’s fast enough to jump on, she’s even quicker to jump off.
Her personality always brings a smile to Taeyeon’s face during a mundane week.
“How’d you end up there again?”
“You forgot already?” Sooyoung just nods as Taeyeon continues, “Peach juice.”
“What?”
“I pass by the hospital on my way home every day. On one particular day after work, I was craving some peach juice. Then I remembered that when I visited my grandma as a kid, she’d always give me money for some juice from the vending machines. Next thing I know, I was already making my way towards the vending machine in the corridor. I don’t know what overcame me, but I even lied about visiting a patient when the nurses asked me. Then on my way back, I looked into one of the rooms, the door being left ajar, and I saw the kids there. They looked so sad that I just decided to visit them on the whim. And now, this is where we are.”
Sooyoung just nods slowly, “Who knew peach juice could bring people together like that?”
Taeyeon just laughs, “Indeed.”
--
Cupping her hands around her mouth, Taeyeon speaks, “Everyone, gather around. It’s story time.”
Dajung rounds the kids up as Taeyeon opens up a big picture book.
Clearing her throat, she begins using her reading voice.
“Long ago, God told all the animals he was throwing a banquet tomorrow, and not to be late. The mischievous rat told his neighbor, the cat, that the banquet was the day after tomorrow. So, the next day, all the animals lined up for the banquet, while the cat was sleeping away. The mischievous rat rode all the way to the banquet on the ox's back.”
Taeyeon continues to read, flipping here and there.
“The rat jumped off the ox’s back right at the finish line, finishing first. The ox came next. The powerful tiger arrived next while the rabbit hopped to fourth place. The dragon was favored to win first place but ended up in fifth place because he had stopped to help those in need. God was pleased with him. Cleverly, the snake wrapped itself around the horse’s leg and jumped into sixth place while the horse earned seventh.”
She pauses for a second to check if the children are still listening. Luckily, they are.
“The goat, monkey, and rooster worked together and finished together. As for the dog, he finished eleventh after stopping to wake up the pig. The pig finished last explaining that he had stopped for a nap and to eat.”
She reaches the end of the book.
“All the animals had fun at the banquet, except for the cat, who was at home sleeping and dreaming for a banquet that would never come.” With that, Taeyeon closes the book as three kids look at her with awe.
“What a meanie rat.” Jiyoo snuffs out with crossed arms.
“The rat shouldn’t have done that.” Dajung frowns.
“I want to be a cat.” Jinsu mutters cutely as Dajung combs her hand through the younger girl’s hair.
“He was mean to do that, wasn’t he?” It’s then that Taeyeon notices something, or rather someone is missing. “Where’s Kyungsan?” The kids just look at her cutely with blinking eyes.
“I dunno.” Jinsu mumbles.
Taeyeon puts the book down and holds out papers for the children.
“Why don’t you kids get started on this first while I look for Kyungsan?”
“Okay Ahjumma.” Dajung replies, but then her mouth goes wide. “Oh! It’s Kyungsan!”
Taeyeon turns her head back to look at the doorway. She’s greeted with an endearing and surprising sight.
Kyungsan stands in the door way with his hand tugging on Sleepy Ahjumma’s hospital gown. The blonde yawns widely before putting on an act for the kids.
“Jessica Jung, here to save you from your monotonous day at the request of Private Kyungsan.” She salutes lazily then makes her way across the room to Taeyeon.
Her choice of words makes Taeyeon laugh inside because ‘monotonous’ was the perfect word to describe every day at work.
“Kim Taeyeon, pleasure to have you join us.” Taeyeon introduces herself as Jessica sits across from her on the floor, “But if I recall correctly, you had used the words ‘over my -“
Jessica just holds her hand up to shush Taeyeon. Then she grabs Kyungsan’s cheeks and rubs them together like an elderly person does when grabbing a grandchild’s face.
“How can you say ‘no’ to that face?”
Taeyeon’s chuckling. “Achilles heels?”
“Kyungsan,” Jessica turns the little boy around to face her, “Teach me how to fold.”
The transition in conversation was a sign to Taeyeon that Jessica wasn’t one to talk about those things outright.
“I think Ahjumma should teach you.” Kyungsan says cutely as he walks back to the circle of children and plops right next to them.
“Did I just get rejected by a five year old?”
Taeyeon snorts, “Yeah.”
“Whatever, I’m not a pedophile anyway,” Jessica flips her hair casually. “So what’s the deal with these cranes?”
“What do you mean?”
“Isn’t there a legend behind them?”
“Yeah, they say if you make a thousand, you’ll be granted a wish.”
“You believe in that crap?”
The attack takes Taeyeon by surprise, but she bounces back, knowing how stupid it does sound.
“Why don’t we try? And then you let me know if it works.”
Jessica just shrugs her shoulders nonchalantly.
--
Turns out that Jessica doesn’t have the skills needed to create such masterpieces.
“It’s a paper crane, not a paper rock.” Taeyeon lectures as she snatches the paper ball out of Jessica’s hands.
“I didn’t feel like making a paper crane. I follow my own heart.”
“So you made a paper rock?”
“This is dumb. Origami is dumb.”
“You’re as dumb as this rock.” Taeyeon teases her without reservation. Normal people withheld their tongues when they just met someone, but Taeyeon wasn’t normal. She didn’t have filters.
“I know I rock.”
That comeback reinforces Taeyeon’s stance of zero guilt for teasing her earlier about being dumb. The wrinkled paper ball greets Jessica promptly in the face.
“Excuse me, I am a patient of this hospital. I don’t need any more injuries.” She tosses it back with a scowl on her face.
Taeyeon just scoffs. “How fragile would you have to be to be hurt by a paper rock?”
“Tell me if this hurts,” Jessica quickly grabs a blank sheet of paper and crumbles it up into a ball, throwing it at Taeyeon.
Next thing they know, they’re throwing paper rocks at each other while the children stare at them strangely.
They are literally acting like children in front of children.
“Ahem, Miss Jung.” Nurse Lee clears her throat as she stands by the doorframe, clipboard in hand. “It’s time for your check up.”
“Party pooper.” Jessica replies as she stretches and heads towards Nurse Lee.
Nurse Lee glares at Jessica while Taeyeon’s grinning as she watches them walk away. Apparently, the sassiness of Jessica was given to everyone.
--
A week has passed and this time, Taeyeon’s brought her guitar along for the visit. The kids gather round as she sings a song she’s been listening to on the radio lately.
Try to deny it as much as you want
But in time our feelings will show
'Cause sooner or later
We'll wonder why we gave up
Almost, almost is never enough
So close to being in love
If I would have known that you wanted me
The way I wanted you
Then maybe we wouldn't be two worlds apart
But right here in each other's arms
Forgetting the rest of the lyrics, she stops there, surprised by the unexpected visitor. Jessica sits in front of her, eyebrows raised as she stares at the guitar.
“No more paper cranes?”
“I was afraid the kids were going to get tired of paper cranes soon, so I brought my guitar to sing to them.” Her fingers keep strumming the guitar.
“You’re pretty decent.”
“Not as good as you.” It’s what she really believes and she isn’t shy of complimenting the blonde.
“This is true,” Jessica says it without shame as she picks up a piece of paper, “but do you even know what my singing sounds like?”
“I heard your singing when I passed by your room a few weeks ago.”
“What was I singing?” She starts folding a paper crane.
“It was ‘Almost’ and ‘Someday.’”
“Ah, my classics.”
“Those songs are quite sad.” Taeyeon sets the guitar down next to her. “Did someone break your heart?”
“Wow, screw you asshole, way to ask about dying hearts at a hospital.”
Taeyeon’s hand flies up to cover Jessica’s mouth, but misses completely as Jessica leans back, “There are children!”
“‘Asshole’ isn’t even a swear word.”
“It is too.”
“You didn’t even yell at me when I said ‘shit’ our first meeting!”
“That’s because I didn’t know you then! Now stop swearing in front of the kids.”
“It’s not a swear word.”
“Is too.”
The blonde returns to folding the paper crane.
“Is not.”
“Is too.”
“Is -“
Jessica stops midway as she stares at her newfound paper cut. The both of them lock eyes and Taeyeon laughs as Jessica scoffs.
“Great, another injury, because I clearly don’t have enough of those.”
Taeyeon was beginning to understand that sarcasm was second-nature to Jessica.
“I’ll get the nurse.”
“It’s a paper cut, not a hemorrhage.” Jessica’s eyebrows furrow together in a judgmental way.
"We're in a hospital,” Taeyeon shrugs. “Might as well abuse the fact that it's their job to take care of patients."
A mischievous grin sets upon Jessica’s lips. "You're right. Call the head nurse."
Taeyeon’s brow arches up, thinking it’s a joke, but Jessica doesn’t falter and her lips curve up.
“Aye, aye, Captain.” She throws in a faux salute, showcasing her knowledge of learning the language of Jessica.
Jessica lightly scoffs at the mannerism, but Taeyeon doesn’t miss the way her smile grows fractionally wider.
--
Sure enough, the head nurse rushes to Jessica’s aid at god speed. The two liars can almost see the smoke coming out of the nurse’s ears when she realizes it’s a false alarm. Muttering under her breath, she places the band aid on Jessica’s finger. When she’s done with that, she stalks up to Taeyeon in the hallway, giving her a piece of her mind.
A scolding in the corridor is all Taeyeon receives from the head nurse as Jessica makes a peace sign behind the nurse’s back from her bed. Taeyeon takes the earful without a protest as she cautiously holds a thumbs-up sign for Jessica to see below the nurse’s line of sight.
The breathtaking smile she receives from Jessica is enough reward for pulling off this stunt.
Visits to the hospital just became ten times more interesting.