summertime fun (pg) - jessica/taeyeon
was written for the unniefic 24 hour challenge but obviously i didn't make it in time... there could be bad tense changes and all sorts of crap in here. didn't edit it.
Things had never looked so depressing before. All it was supposed to be was a simple yearbook signing. But Taeyeon had become like a nosy squirrel in the process of getting a closer look at Jessica's popularity.
It was true that they were best friends, but being best friends didn't mean that they were exclusive. Taeyeon can only blush at the word: "exclusive". Her thoughts are in the process of running away with her imagination and she doesn't realize until too late that Tiffany Hwang is looking over her shoulder.
"Who's are you signing?" comes Tiffany's breathy voice.
Taeyeon gets a little shiver down her back, her shoulder tingles too because Tiffany lightly perches her fingers there for balance.
"Oooh, Jessica's" she answers for herself, then giggles. "Can't think of what to say? You've been spacing out for a whole three minutes."
Taeyeon looks behind her and sees Tiffany's glossy, stretched lips. She's smiling and her eyes are in wonderful crescent shapes. Sometimes, it is way too easy to be charmed by Tiffany Hwang.
"Look" Tiffany says, reaching over Taeyeon and pointing with a perfectly manicured finger at a spot on the page. "This is my little scribble. But you know? It took me a while to think of a perfect message. There's something about Jessica Jung that makes you want to leave a memorable message, don't you think?"
Taeyeon finally clears her throat.
"I...I don't really..."
"Then again, you're her best friend. So maybe not."
Tiffany smiles again, making Taeyeon lose her voice for the umpteenth time.
"Well, then I'll leave you to it" Tiffany says before she sashays off to chat with someone else.
There's something that looks like annoyance etched on Taeyeon's face as she considers about Jessica's yearbook one more time. But in reality, Taeyeon regrets not being able to hold the conversation with Tiffany for longer.
'If it were Jessica...' she thinks. 'If it were Jessica, they'd be two social butterflies in perfect sync.'
Taeyeon sighs and grips the gel pen in her hand harder. Tiffany's right about one thing: Taeyeon has this urge to leave a memorable message. It hasn't slipped Taeyeon's attention that Jessica has failed to tell Taeyeon about her plans for the summer. There'll be no need for sentences like: "Have a great summer!" because Taeyeon knows that Jessica will be having a "great summer" without her.
Taeyeon tries to focus. She's sure that she has read something a while back about writing the perfect greeting card message. And though a yearbook message isn't quite a greeting card message, Taeyeon figures the same rules apply.
'What was it again?'
Taeyeon is sure it goes something like...
Rule One - Be sure to include a personal touch. Include a mention of a memory you've shared or a recent event you were invited to.
Two weeks ago had been Jessica Jung's birthday party. So, naturally, all the social butterflies of the class had insisted on making a party planning group. Taeyeon had only been included by default as the childhood best friend. And though Taeyeon would have made things a little more cozy and a little more private had she been the sole party planner, things had turned out to be a huge bash at a rented, eighteen-and-older night club. Taeyeon had only been able to talk with Jessica once during the party.
Jessica had been the one to find Taeyeon that night. Grabbing Taeyeon's wrist delicately, Jessica had led the way through the crowd to a private room, upstairs on the second floor. Jessica had sat her down on the plush, velvet couch. It was dark and a little quieter, but Taeyeon could still feel the bass of the music pulsating through the door and through the bones of her ribcage.
"I opened your present early" Jessica had said. "I hope you don't mind."
Jessica had been smiling, looking at Taeyeon through her bangs and through her long, mascara-dark lashes. The silver friendship bracelet that Taeyeon had wrapped for Jessica's birthday was dangling between Jessica's french manicure.
"Oh, ah...do you like it?"
Taeyeon had looked away, scratching at her neck to alleviate the embarrassment at having to look at the meager gift in Jessica's hand. But Jessica had leaned in then, embracing Taeyeon closely. As Jessica pressed her hand on Taeyeon's back, Taeyeon could smell the perfume she was wearing.
"I love it" Jessica had whispered.
Taeyeon had been pretty sure that her ears were bright red. But, in her pleasure, she felt a little selfish; Taeyeon had been contemplating telling Jessica that she hadn't heard what Jessica said due to the loud music outside, so that perhaps Taeyeon could hear those words one more time, when three girls had burst into the room.
They were giggling, questionable drinks in hand. And when Tiffany, who had been one among the three, had stumbled a little closer to the two of them, Taeyeon had smelled peach Schnapps on her breath.
"Oh here you are, Birthday Girl!" Tiffany had said, tugging Jessica by the elbow. "And I thought you were doing something naughty with a guy up here."
Tiffany had noticed Taeyeon as she said this and had winked as if they had been in this together from the start. Taeyeon had been left speechless then too. But just like that, Jessica had been taken away, laughing and giggling.
No matter how short-lived it had been, Taeyeon couldn't forget that night. And so, pen perched above the blank spot on Jessica's yearbook, Taeyeon started to write.
"To my dear friend Jessica. It seems a little weird to write a graduation message like this when I saw you just weeks ago at your birthday party. Did you know? I was glad you liked my present and I'm thankful that you wear it everyday..."
Rule Two - Don't forget the greeting! There is a reason for this greeting card and, although the card should say the important stuff, don't forget it in your personalized message!
Taeyeon couldn't really believe they were graduating. Three long years at a high school full of girls. She wondered if this environment was what had turned her weird and super conscious of other girls. She wasn't quite sure. All she was sure about was that, rather than getting to know all about girls, attending an all-girls school had made her more curious about them. Jessica was no exception.
Taeyeon kept telling herself that it was a phase, it was normal to be curious about things, she was still growing after all. But in one recess of her heart, she felt guilty. Here was Jessica, a childhood friend, a best friend, who loved Taeyeon as a friend and secretly Taeyeon was having these strange thoughts and feelings about her. Her guilt was one of the main reasons she had not asked Jessica about her plans after graduation.
Taeyeon had heard things here and there. The other day, Yuri had been talking to Yoona about inviting Jessica to their backpacking trip across Europe. Tiffany too had been discussing some kind of trip to a pension in the countryside. Jessica, however, had said nothing to Taeyeon.
"I can't believe we're graduating" Taeyeon wrote on the next line. "Congratulations on graduating! I'll never forget the times we had together."
Rule Three - End your message with a hopeful note or good tidings for the future.
Taeyeon looks up. Jessica is perched on a desktop, wearing a white one piece dress. It looks amazing on her. Standing next to Jessica is Tiffany, who's admiring the pattern of Jessica's tights and running her fingertips all over Jessica's knee.
Taeyeon tells herself that this feeling of tightness inside of her chest isn't jealousy. Why should she be?
"I hope you have lots of summertime fun" Taeyeon writes at the end. "Your friend, Taeyeon."
Taeyeon's eyes drift to Tiffany's cute, looping handwriting on the other side of the page. Taeyeon reads Tiffany's message to Jessica for the second time.
"To Sica~ Sica~..." it starts. Taeyeon smiles wryly, wondering if Jessica will read Tiffany's message first or Taeyeon's.
Taeyeon closes the yearbook. It's time to give it back to the owner, but Taeyeon feels like her message has something left to be desired. She finds Jessica in the hallway, waving back a delighted Hyoyeon who teases Jessica with a cucumber.
"Get it away! Get it away!" Jessica whines and finally hides behind Taeyeon when Jessica sees her coming.
"I brought your year..."
"Let's go, Taeng" Jessica whispers into Taeyeon's neck.
And just like that Taeyeon is catapulted out of the hallway and into a deserted classroom, led only by the iron grip of Jessica's hand.
"Here" says Taeyeon, hoisting the heavy book over to Jessica.
Somehow, after the exchange she's witnessed in the hallway, Taeyeon is feeling more depressed than ever. She just wishes that the last day of school would end already. But she knows it's her own fault because she's been torturing herself over the matter of summer plans.
"Wait" Jessica say when Taeyeon turns to leave. "I have yours too."
Jessica rummages through her backpack and Taeyeon can't help but notice the tinkling of the friendship bracelet on Jessica's slender wrist. A dark tome comes out of Jessica's bag and Taeyeon belatedly remembers that she too had given her yearbook to Jessica for signing. Amazingly, Jessica is bashful about handing it over.
"I don't know why" Jessica says, "but it was kind of hard writing to you when I know that you're right here."
The childishness that Jessica could render on her features and voice sometimes could surprise Taeyeon, as it did now.
"Call me after school, after you read it" Jessica continues. "Okay?"
When Taeyeon goes home, she opens her yearbook with almost shaking hands. There are lots of messages in lots of random places, but she's already memorized Jessica's handwriting. And like a beacon homing in on that one piece of familiarity, Taeyeon finds it.
"My darling Taeng" it reads. "Remember that time we sang in the Talent Show together? You might not know but our parents were thinking of having us audition for an actual entertainment company. It's been several years since then...I can't believe we're already on our way to college. I don't know if you're free, but I found this amazing voice camp to attend over the summer. If you're free...how about going with me for some summertime fun? Love, Jessica."
Things had never looked so depressing before. All it was supposed to be was a simple yearbook signing. But Taeyeon had become like a nosy squirrel in the process of getting a closer look at Jessica's popularity.
It was true that they were best friends, but being best friends didn't mean that they were exclusive. Taeyeon can only blush at the word: "exclusive". Her thoughts are in the process of running away with her imagination and she doesn't realize until too late that Tiffany Hwang is looking over her shoulder.
"Who's are you signing?" comes Tiffany's breathy voice.
Taeyeon gets a little shiver down her back, her shoulder tingles too because Tiffany lightly perches her fingers there for balance.
"Oooh, Jessica's" she answers for herself, then giggles. "Can't think of what to say? You've been spacing out for a whole three minutes."
Taeyeon looks behind her and sees Tiffany's glossy, stretched lips. She's smiling and her eyes are in wonderful crescent shapes. Sometimes, it is way too easy to be charmed by Tiffany Hwang.
"Look" Tiffany says, reaching over Taeyeon and pointing with a perfectly manicured finger at a spot on the page. "This is my little scribble. But you know? It took me a while to think of a perfect message. There's something about Jessica Jung that makes you want to leave a memorable message, don't you think?"
Taeyeon finally clears her throat.
"I...I don't really..."
"Then again, you're her best friend. So maybe not."
Tiffany smiles again, making Taeyeon lose her voice for the umpteenth time.
"Well, then I'll leave you to it" Tiffany says before she sashays off to chat with someone else.
There's something that looks like annoyance etched on Taeyeon's face as she considers about Jessica's yearbook one more time. But in reality, Taeyeon regrets not being able to hold the conversation with Tiffany for longer.
'If it were Jessica...' she thinks. 'If it were Jessica, they'd be two social butterflies in perfect sync.'
Taeyeon sighs and grips the gel pen in her hand harder. Tiffany's right about one thing: Taeyeon has this urge to leave a memorable message. It hasn't slipped Taeyeon's attention that Jessica has failed to tell Taeyeon about her plans for the summer. There'll be no need for sentences like: "Have a great summer!" because Taeyeon knows that Jessica will be having a "great summer" without her.
Taeyeon tries to focus. She's sure that she has read something a while back about writing the perfect greeting card message. And though a yearbook message isn't quite a greeting card message, Taeyeon figures the same rules apply.
'What was it again?'
Taeyeon is sure it goes something like...
Rule One - Be sure to include a personal touch. Include a mention of a memory you've shared or a recent event you were invited to.
Two weeks ago had been Jessica Jung's birthday party. So, naturally, all the social butterflies of the class had insisted on making a party planning group. Taeyeon had only been included by default as the childhood best friend. And though Taeyeon would have made things a little more cozy and a little more private had she been the sole party planner, things had turned out to be a huge bash at a rented, eighteen-and-older night club. Taeyeon had only been able to talk with Jessica once during the party.
Jessica had been the one to find Taeyeon that night. Grabbing Taeyeon's wrist delicately, Jessica had led the way through the crowd to a private room, upstairs on the second floor. Jessica had sat her down on the plush, velvet couch. It was dark and a little quieter, but Taeyeon could still feel the bass of the music pulsating through the door and through the bones of her ribcage.
"I opened your present early" Jessica had said. "I hope you don't mind."
Jessica had been smiling, looking at Taeyeon through her bangs and through her long, mascara-dark lashes. The silver friendship bracelet that Taeyeon had wrapped for Jessica's birthday was dangling between Jessica's french manicure.
"Oh, ah...do you like it?"
Taeyeon had looked away, scratching at her neck to alleviate the embarrassment at having to look at the meager gift in Jessica's hand. But Jessica had leaned in then, embracing Taeyeon closely. As Jessica pressed her hand on Taeyeon's back, Taeyeon could smell the perfume she was wearing.
"I love it" Jessica had whispered.
Taeyeon had been pretty sure that her ears were bright red. But, in her pleasure, she felt a little selfish; Taeyeon had been contemplating telling Jessica that she hadn't heard what Jessica said due to the loud music outside, so that perhaps Taeyeon could hear those words one more time, when three girls had burst into the room.
They were giggling, questionable drinks in hand. And when Tiffany, who had been one among the three, had stumbled a little closer to the two of them, Taeyeon had smelled peach Schnapps on her breath.
"Oh here you are, Birthday Girl!" Tiffany had said, tugging Jessica by the elbow. "And I thought you were doing something naughty with a guy up here."
Tiffany had noticed Taeyeon as she said this and had winked as if they had been in this together from the start. Taeyeon had been left speechless then too. But just like that, Jessica had been taken away, laughing and giggling.
No matter how short-lived it had been, Taeyeon couldn't forget that night. And so, pen perched above the blank spot on Jessica's yearbook, Taeyeon started to write.
"To my dear friend Jessica. It seems a little weird to write a graduation message like this when I saw you just weeks ago at your birthday party. Did you know? I was glad you liked my present and I'm thankful that you wear it everyday..."
Rule Two - Don't forget the greeting! There is a reason for this greeting card and, although the card should say the important stuff, don't forget it in your personalized message!
Taeyeon couldn't really believe they were graduating. Three long years at a high school full of girls. She wondered if this environment was what had turned her weird and super conscious of other girls. She wasn't quite sure. All she was sure about was that, rather than getting to know all about girls, attending an all-girls school had made her more curious about them. Jessica was no exception.
Taeyeon kept telling herself that it was a phase, it was normal to be curious about things, she was still growing after all. But in one recess of her heart, she felt guilty. Here was Jessica, a childhood friend, a best friend, who loved Taeyeon as a friend and secretly Taeyeon was having these strange thoughts and feelings about her. Her guilt was one of the main reasons she had not asked Jessica about her plans after graduation.
Taeyeon had heard things here and there. The other day, Yuri had been talking to Yoona about inviting Jessica to their backpacking trip across Europe. Tiffany too had been discussing some kind of trip to a pension in the countryside. Jessica, however, had said nothing to Taeyeon.
"I can't believe we're graduating" Taeyeon wrote on the next line. "Congratulations on graduating! I'll never forget the times we had together."
Rule Three - End your message with a hopeful note or good tidings for the future.
Taeyeon looks up. Jessica is perched on a desktop, wearing a white one piece dress. It looks amazing on her. Standing next to Jessica is Tiffany, who's admiring the pattern of Jessica's tights and running her fingertips all over Jessica's knee.
Taeyeon tells herself that this feeling of tightness inside of her chest isn't jealousy. Why should she be?
"I hope you have lots of summertime fun" Taeyeon writes at the end. "Your friend, Taeyeon."
Taeyeon's eyes drift to Tiffany's cute, looping handwriting on the other side of the page. Taeyeon reads Tiffany's message to Jessica for the second time.
"To Sica~ Sica~..." it starts. Taeyeon smiles wryly, wondering if Jessica will read Tiffany's message first or Taeyeon's.
Taeyeon closes the yearbook. It's time to give it back to the owner, but Taeyeon feels like her message has something left to be desired. She finds Jessica in the hallway, waving back a delighted Hyoyeon who teases Jessica with a cucumber.
"Get it away! Get it away!" Jessica whines and finally hides behind Taeyeon when Jessica sees her coming.
"I brought your year..."
"Let's go, Taeng" Jessica whispers into Taeyeon's neck.
And just like that Taeyeon is catapulted out of the hallway and into a deserted classroom, led only by the iron grip of Jessica's hand.
"Here" says Taeyeon, hoisting the heavy book over to Jessica.
Somehow, after the exchange she's witnessed in the hallway, Taeyeon is feeling more depressed than ever. She just wishes that the last day of school would end already. But she knows it's her own fault because she's been torturing herself over the matter of summer plans.
"Wait" Jessica say when Taeyeon turns to leave. "I have yours too."
Jessica rummages through her backpack and Taeyeon can't help but notice the tinkling of the friendship bracelet on Jessica's slender wrist. A dark tome comes out of Jessica's bag and Taeyeon belatedly remembers that she too had given her yearbook to Jessica for signing. Amazingly, Jessica is bashful about handing it over.
"I don't know why" Jessica says, "but it was kind of hard writing to you when I know that you're right here."
The childishness that Jessica could render on her features and voice sometimes could surprise Taeyeon, as it did now.
"Call me after school, after you read it" Jessica continues. "Okay?"
When Taeyeon goes home, she opens her yearbook with almost shaking hands. There are lots of messages in lots of random places, but she's already memorized Jessica's handwriting. And like a beacon homing in on that one piece of familiarity, Taeyeon finds it.
"My darling Taeng" it reads. "Remember that time we sang in the Talent Show together? You might not know but our parents were thinking of having us audition for an actual entertainment company. It's been several years since then...I can't believe we're already on our way to college. I don't know if you're free, but I found this amazing voice camp to attend over the summer. If you're free...how about going with me for some summertime fun? Love, Jessica."