No Boundaries
What would happen if a prince helplessly fell in love with a famous idol?
What would happen if the idol seemed to hate the prince so much?
1: Homecoming Unwelcoming
“I’m going home today. Please don’t exaggerate with the guards, I’m fine with the public transports to go there.” A pause. “She left me this email last night. Judging by the time she should be landed in 3 hours, Your Majesty.”
“Have you checked which airline she boarded?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Have you secured the airport?”
“Yes, I’ve released the usual protocol for her.”
A sigh. “Stay close to her movement, I don’t want something happen to your sister.”
“Yes, Your Highness.” A bow then the tall woman left the big hall. As soon as she outside, she took out her cell phone. “Don’t let the press got a sniff about this and please take my sister home safely.” She commanded.
In exact three hours later, the airport announced that a flight from London had just landed. All men in black suit were exchanging message to get ready for the arrival.
“We still do not have her position, Your Highness.” A man spoke. “Her phone is still turned off.”
“How about the field guards? Have they got a view of my sister?”
“Negative, Your Highness.”
“I need you to widely open your eyes to see your surroundings and get a simple view of my sister. Keep trying tracing her phone and location.”
45 minutes later, there still no progress on the hunt. The woman massaged her temple, getting impatient with all of that. “Where in the world this kid is?” She kept massaging her temple and monitored the CCTV videos on screen at the same time. “Secure the perimeter and get the chopper ready. I give you 15 minutes to search the entire terminal before I personally go there.”
“But Your Highness…”
“15 minutes from now. You don’t want my mother plus my wife scold the squad just because I’ll be there, do you?”
“Y-yes, Your Highness.”
The woman excited the room with crumpled face. She was worried, pressured, and yet happy because her sister would be home soon enough. She missed her so much. “This kid…” She mumbled.
“Who is this kid?” A voice sounded behind her.
The woman turned her body to find her sister standing in front of the door. “Y-you’re here?”
“Good morning, Your Highness Prince Yuri.” The sister gave a bow acknowledging the other woman.
“YAH!” Instead of a hug, Prince Yuri knocked on her sister’s forehead. “Don’t you know the entire palace went crazy because of you?! Don’t ever pull that kind of stunt again!”
“I know I know I’m sorry. Where’s Umma and my sister in law?”
“The Queen is resting and your sister in law is attending a charity event. Anyway, I’m glad that you’re here, Taeyeon-ah.” Yuri hugged her sister.
“Taeyeon-Unnie.” The sister intentionally emphasized the last word.
Taeyeon chuckled. “Fine. See, I told you I’d be fine exposed in the public. They won’t recognize me.”
“Still, a protocol is still a protocol that you should follow, Taeyeon-Unnie.” Yuri exhaled. “Now excuse me, I need to dismiss the guards. I’ll see you at the Queen’s hall.”
Kim Taeyeon, 25 years old, had just finished her studies in London. She once held the Crown Prince title before she happily gave it up to her half sister Kwon Yuri. She preferred to have a life as a normal citizen and not bound to numbers of regulations. However, she was still a Prince to South Korea, although the people seemed forgotten about her existence because she spent most of her life abroad to pursue her dream to be a chef. But one day, she heard that her dear Mother was sick, so she decided to come back home.
Kwon Yuri, 24 years old, the famous handsome Crown Prince of South Korea. Even though she had the same mother who gave birth to her, she had a different father from Taeyeon, which was why they had a different family name. She was not supposed to be the Crown Prince and she was very aware of it, but her half sister offered the title, because she wanted to live freely without the ground rules and be herself. Yuri almost rejected the suggestion, but she realized if she didn’t take it, then their country would come to an end.
“The Crown Prince and Prince Taeyeon have arrived.” A guard outside the Queen’s palace shouted. Taeyeon and Yuri went inside the building. They quickly bowed.
“Your Majesty.” Yuri greeted as she gave big bow to the Queen, followed by her half-sister.
“Umma!” Taeyeon said once she rose from bowing. “I missed you.” She hugged the Queen. “I heard that you’re not well, so I decided to come home.”
“I’m fine.” The Queen smiled and held her daughter by the cheeks, observing the changes. “You become more beautiful, my dear. How is London? I’m sorry I rarely go there to see you.”
“It’s okay Umma. What important now is you have to get well soon and me and Yuri will take care of you. Right, Yuri-ah?”
The Crown Prince agreed with the statement.
“Don’t worry about me, Taeyeon-ah. You should get some rest first, I know the jetlag will be hard to handle. Go to your place, I’ll be here all day, resting.”
“But I sti—“
The Queen quickly interjected. “No. Go to your place and get adjusted with our time first, then we’ll talk about anything else.”
“Yes, Umma.”
“And Crown Prince Yuri…?”
“Yes, Your Majesty?”
“Do we still need to go to the charity event?”
“No Your Majesty, Princess Sooyeon had got it covered.”
The Queen smiled. “I’m so thankful you chose her to be your wife.”
Yuri grinned.
---Taeyeon was left alone in Yuri’s palace since her own was still not ready to move in. Her sister was gone to attend some meetings related to the nation’s issues. Since she didn’t have much thing to do plus she couldn’t fall asleep, the short prince decided to turn the TV on.
The petite young lady settled to a music program. She sometimes moved her head or feet to the beat, enjoying the song. Idols after idols appeared then her eyes stuck to one singer.
The singer sang a ballad song with her soft voice, flowing the story so smoothly through the melodies. She often smiled to the camera or the audiences, showing two beautiful crescent moons that could strike any heart that saw it, including a certain prince in front of the TV.
“Close your mouth before you stain my carpet.”
Taeyeon quickly did so and stood up from her seat.
“Taengoo!”
“Princess Sooyeon! What a pleasure meeting you in my room!” Taeyeon bowed.
“It’s Crown Princess Sooyeon and as far as I remember this is my house.” The princess quickly hugged the latter. “Wow, you’re still short.”
Princess Jung Sooyeon, 25 years old, married to the Crown Prince. She used to abuse Yuri and bullied her when they were kids, but then slowly she fell in love with the tanned woman as they grew up. Taeyeon, Yuri, and herself were three best friends since babies. Jessica’s family was also part of the royal family although they were not directly the descended. Sooyeon or Jessica, she chose the English name because she didn’t really like her name, was known for her icy attitude. She loved to order people around, but thanks to the handsome prince, the bossy manner was toned down a couple notches.
Taeyeon sulked, instantly released herself from the hug. “Still love to tease me, I see. You’re not tall either, Sica.”
“At least I’m taller than you.”
“Stop with the height insult please. I just came back from London not to hear any of your affront, Your Highness.”
Jessica laughed. “Sorry. How are you? Finally be a chef?”
Taeyeon smiled. “I’m fine, thanks. Degree wise I am a chef, but job experience wise… not yet. I was about to open a small café in London when I heard Umma is sick. So… yeah… Here I am.”
Jessica seemed to understand her situation. Didn’t want the mood turned to be somber, she asked another question, “So I’ve been told that you might stay here until your palace is finished?”
Taeyeon nodded. “Hope you don’t mind. Since your dear Hwangtaeja* already approved the notion.”
Jessica shrugged. “As long as you help cleaning and cooking, I’m fine.”
“And here I thought I would be treated as a prince.”
Jessica chuckled again. “Well, I need to hit the shower before the dinner. I’ll leave you with the idols. Have fun.”
“Alright.” Taeyeon went back to the TV but the singer already replaced with other performer. She let out a disappointed sigh.
---“Have you gotten any sleep, Taeyeon-ah?” The Queen asked in the middle of supper. It was only the four of them having the dinner.
“Not really, Umma. I couldn’t sleep, but I rested well enough. I’ll try to get some sleep later.”
“Good. Because you’ll need a lot of energy tomorrow.”
“For…?”
Yuri cleared her throat. “Umma wants to announce your present and throw the homecoming celebration, right Your Majesty?”
“Correct.”
Taeyeon quickly wiped her mouth. “But I don’t want to be announced. Can you cancel everything?”
Yuri spoke again. “Well tough. I can’t. Please don’t act like a kid, we need to do this, Taeyeon. You are the country’s prince, they need to know that they have you.”
“If I may add, just count this as our expression of joy and love for having you here with us. And it would be a perfect example for the society. Us as one happy family.” Jessica added.
“But they have you already, I don’t think the people need another royal family member to be publicly displayed.”
The Queen cleared her throat. “What Yuri and Sooyeon said were right, Taeyeon. I don’t want any more discussion on this because this is fixed. You understand?”
“Yes, Umma.”
---“The Palace announced the come back of Prince Kim Taeyeon…” A woman increased her TV’s
volume to get the news.
“Good Morning people of South Korea, my name is Kim Taeyeon, maybe many of you had
already forgotten about me and questioned where did I go for the past years. I was finishing my studies in The United Kingdom. But, I went back here, in South Korea, because I wanted to serve my Queen and especially my country and my people. I hope we can all work together in
harmony. Thank you.” The prince bowed and the crowd cheered and chanted her name.
“Whoaaaaa, Prince Taeyeon has gotten much more handsome than before.”
A scoff.
“What’s with the scoff?”
“I met her yesterday. She knocked me down at the airport without even apologize and walk away with her arrogance and then we met again and she took away my cab without a word. No
wonder, just another spoiled rich kid.”
“She’s not a spoiled rich kid, she’s the prince. Maybe she didn’t notice you yesterday? Or she was in a hurry? Or maybe the press went after her?”
“Whatever. Prince or not, in a rush or not, she was rude to me plus she made my elbow bruised. It was extra impolite of her. I hope she gets a karma.”
“Stop hating her, Fany-ah!”
“I was just saying, Soonkyu-yah. Now please get my hair done, I need to go to my schedule early.”
There was Tiffany Hwang, a Korean-American singer that was currently very famous in the country not just because of her stunning voice, but also because of her gorgeousness. She was also known as the eye smiling princess of the nation, her eyes will formed two beautiful crescent moons if she was smiling.
She was still in her twenties, 24 years old to be exact, still single although there were a lot of equally handsome candidates to her exquisiteness who was chasing and begging for love. But surprisingly she turned down every one of them with the reason of not feeling the chemistry after the third date.
Although she was kind almost to everyone, she has a tiny issue with condescending individuals. An easy example would be her point of view of the long lost Prince that just came back.
2 : Wrong Hand
“That wasn’t so bad, was it?” Yuri asked.
“What? Being exhibited in front of the entire nation or getting flashed by a million cameras in a day? I’m still seeing spots.” Taeyeon rubbed her eyes.
Yuri laughed. “Both?”
“Yah! Don’t do that!” Jessica slapped Taeyeon’s hands, which were rubbing the eyes. “That would make it worse. Go find some eye drop or wash your face.” She scolded.
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“And while you’re at it, please tell someone to get our dinner ready.”
Yuri looked at her wife, surprised. “Baby… She’s still the Prince, you shouldn’t order her like that.”
The princess shrugged before fitting her back close to her husband’s arms. “But I’m married to the Crown Prince, I have the ability to do that.” Jessica grinned and pecked the latter’s lips.
Five minutes later, a fresh Prince Taeyeon re-appeared at the living room of Kwon’s Palace with a basket of fruits in her hold. “Already told the cooks to fix us the dinner, but it might take a while, so I stole this from the kitchen, Your Highness Princess Sooyeon.” She bowed and served the fruits on the table.
“Seobang?” Jessica called.
“Hmm?”
“If I’m not mistaken we do need another helper. Don’t you think Taeyeon will match the profile?”
“Be thankful that you are my sister’s wife, Sica.” The three then enjoying the fruits and engrossed with whatever played on TV, until the short prince loudly gasped. “This singer! Do you guys know her name?” She pointed the TV.
“The name is Tiffany Hwang. She came from California to be a singer here. She’s 24, still single, and she’s a very nice person.” Jessica stated, she left the two princes’ jaw dropped.
“Baby? How did you know all of that?”
“Y-yeah. How did you…?”
“I met her a few times for several events plus there’s an amazing thing called Google. Why? You like her, Taengoo?” Jessica squinted her eyes and smiled in playful manner.
Taeyeon’s cheeks were flushed. “I… Uhh… I saw her yesterday and I was just curious.”
“I see. I can arrange a meeting for you two if you want.”
Taeyeon was actually temped with the offer because she liked the singer from the moment she saw her on TV yesterday, but she was too shy to meet her in person for real. “Ah… no… I’m good.”
“Okay.” Jessica said.
“Anywaaaayy…” This time The Crown Prince who was spoken. “You have a schedule
tomorrow. First charity event to attend, it’s not formal, I think you can wear jeans. Wow I feel like an artist’s manager.”
Taeyeon slumped on her seat, showing her disinterest. “What is it about?”
“Blood donation. You’ll be there to encourage people, specifically young people, to actively participate the red-cross.”
“You’ll survive.”
“Why don’t you and Sica attend that?”
Yuri shook her head. “We can’t because we have an appointment with a doctor tomorrow.”
“Why? Is one of you sick? Oh my God, did you two infect me with something? Should I go to the doctor too tomorrow? My blood won’t be good to be donated if I’m sick.”
Princess Sooyeon rolled her eyes on the exaggeration. “We’ll be seeing a gynecologist to get me pregnant. You want to get pregnant too, Taengoo?” Jessica waited for Taeyeon’s answer that never came. “Thought so.”
Yuri only laughed at the scene. “Just eat healthy food and get enough sleep tonight, Taeyeon-ah. Speaking of food, I think we should go to the dining hall, my tummy’s begging for meal.”
---A white van passed Seoul’s main roads in the middle of the night with two women as the
passengers. “Where is my schedule for tomorrow, Sunny-ah?” One with the jet-black hair asked.
“Here.” A shorter woman handed her a piece of paper.
Tiffany skimmed the columns and rows that are filled with the to-do list, the place, and the time, but two were outlined with different color. “What’s with these two?”
Her manager slash assistant, Lee Sunny, who was also her best friend, cleared throat to explain. “So you see, the time of those two off-air events is the same. Here we have the power to choose one over the two since you can’t split into half and attend both. The choice is yours.”
“Red Cross and orphanage. Hmm…” Tiffany started to think. “I assume the Red Cross is about blood donation and the orphanage…” She paused her brain just realized something. “Do I have to deal with babies and kids?”
“Then no. We’ll go to the red cross.” Tiffany didn’t like babies, toddlers, kids, you named it. She didn’t use to have kids around her, she would go awkward around them.
Sunny suddenly smiled bright, knowing that her best friend would choose the blood donation rather than stuck with bunch of wailing babies. She clapped her hands in excitement. “Good. Then I’ll have the chance to see Prince Taeyeon in person!”
Tiffany’s eyes widened. “That snotty Prince would be there?”
Sunny nodded, smiling so widely.
“Can I just stay at home after the music show?”
“What? Why?”
“I don’t feel like going.”
“Because of Prince Taeyeon?”
Tiffany slowly nodded.
Sunny clicked her tongue and put on her serious face. “This is work, Fany-ah. You have to be professional. Since you don’t want to meet the Prince then I suggest we should play and have fun with babies.”
“No no no no. No babies. Please. I’ll go to the Red Cross, but I don’t want to be near that snobbish Prince. Please Sunny-ah.”
Sunny shrugged. “We’ll see.”
---There were Yuri, Jessica, and The Queen, enjoying the tea near the Palace’s fishpond. Taeyeon already turned in for the night, her eyes were still blinded by the flash.
“Yes, Umma. We are trying to get you a grandchild.” Yuri said as she held her wife’s hand.
“Both of you are still young, don’t be too rush, I’m not in a rush to have a grandchild. Your health is more important to me.” The Queen caringly stated. “But it’s your family, your decision. How long have you been married again? Pardon my old brain.”
Jessica softly chuckled. “It’s fine, Omoni. We are going to have our first anniversary next month, right Seobang?” Yuri nodded.
“I see. It seemed the right time for your plan.” The Queen sipped her tea. “Anyway, how was your sister doing today?”
“She was great, handling the press so well. And she agreed to go to the blood donation tomorrow.”
Yuri’s mother showed her satisfaction from the news. “Good, I hope she could help you later on, Yuri-ah.”
“Yes, Umma.”
“Well I think I should go to my room, it’s getting cold. Good night you two. Good luck tomorrow. Keep me posted, okay?”
The couple agreed to the request and sent the mother back in her room before heading back to their room.
“Seobang…” Jessica called, swinging their connected hands, walking to their place.
“Yes baby?”
“How many kids do you want?”
“Hmm… two. How about you?” She glanced her wife.
“Hopefully we can get two beautiful babies.” Yuri tightened her hold.
Jessica nodded. “Should we do it tonight?”
Yuri stopped her track and tilted her head. “Do it? What’s it?”
“Make babies, Seobang.”
The Crown Prince’s cheeks were reddened. “Oh… that… Err… uptoyou.”
Jessica giggled seeing her hubby getting shy. “You’re cute.” She tiptoed and kissed Yuri deeply. “I’ll see you in the bedroom.” She winked and left the Crown Prince dumbfounded.
“Yah! Crown Princess Sooyeon, wait for me!”
---Jessica was tidying Yuri shirt’s collar in the living room when Taeyeon appeared. “Oh my God, would you stop kissing in front of me?!” She covered her eyes when she saw the couple.
“We are not kissing, my wife is fixing my collar.” Yuri said. “Now, I’m going to kiss her.” She pulled Sica’s chin up and gently kissed the lips. “Thank you baby.”
“Ew. Too much cheese in the morning.” Taeyeon grimaced while the pair only laughed it off. “Are you going too?”
Jessica checked her watch. “In a bit. I thought there’s something you want to say to her, Seobang.”
“Oh, yeah.” Yuri went outside and went back with a taller woman wearing a full black suit, hair tied up, complete with telecommunication device dangling on her ear. “This is Choi Sooyoung, she will be working with you as your practically everything, your personal assistant, stylist, guard, driver, even chef, so be good to her.”
Taeyeon quickly helped her new assistant to stand up straight and shook her hand. “Don’t be too formal with me since we’re going to work together.” She smiled. “I think we’re in the same age, you can call me Taeyeon if you want.”
“If there are just two of you. Remember that she still need to follow the protocol, Taeyeon-ah.” Yuri reminded.
“Ah… I almost forgot.”
“I will wait for you in the car, Your Highness.” Choi Sooyoung bowed to the three and left the room.
“So, that was the first. The second thing I wanted to tell you is your palace is ready for you to move in.”
Taeyeon nodded. “Thank goodness, then I don’t have to hear you two get it on like last night.”
That instantly made Crown Prince Yuri and Crown Princess Jessica lowered her head in embarrassment.
“I was just kidding, you two.” Taeyeon dorkily grinned. “Well, I should go now. Good luck with the pregnant thingy!” She turned her heels towards outside, but then stopped. “Oh, Yuri, you missed a hickey on your neck.” She laughed.
Yuri quickly turned to her wife and confirmed about Taeyeon’s statement. Jessica only showed her reddened cheeks and hastily looked for her concealer.
---“I can call you without honorifics, right?” Taeyeon asked the woman who drove the car.
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“I’m 24 years old, Prince Taeyeon.”
“Ah… That makes me to be your ‘Unnie’. I am a year older from you, but Yuri is as old as you are.”
“I’ve noticed, Your Highness.”
Taeyeon frowned. “Call me Taeyeon, or Taeyeon Unnie, or Unnie. I don’t really like with the ‘Your Highness’ name calling.”
“But like what Hwangtaeja had told us earlier, I still need to follow the protocol.”
“But she also added the flexibility. So, relax, Sooyoung-ah.” Taeyeon grinned again. “What am I supposed to do in the event later?”
“Ehm…” Sooyoung tapped her fingers on the steering wheel, thinking. “Blood donation is a must, then I think you should do the usual Prince stuff, wave and smile to the cameras, shaking hands, sign things, Y-yo-“
“Taeyeon.”
“Y-yes. T-taeyeon U-unnie.”
Taeyeon smiled. “Much better.”
“But you need to wait until the field guards cleared the hall before going in and then wait again before you going out. I will give you the sign and please keep yourself close to me.”
Taeyeon nodded. “Arasso. There will be a lot of famous figures other than me, right?”
“From what I heard, several idols would be there, Y-your—Taeyeon Unnie.”
Taeyeon’s ears perked up. “Idols? Will Tiffany Hwang be there?”
Taeyeon clapped her hands in excitement.
---The Prince finally could sit back and relax after donating her blood and endlessly being flashed by the paparazzi. It was now the time to enjoy the buffet. Although the host already prepared a special table for Taeyeon, the prince chose to blend with other crowd.
The petite girl was happily taking food onto her plate with her apparently shikshin assistant. She was about to drag Sooyoung to the patbingsoo vendor when a hand that she almost grabbed, slapped away her own hand. “Ow Ya—“ She stopped her words right after she saw who was standing beside her. She immediately bowed. “I’m sorry. I thought you are my assistant.” Her heart skipped a beat when she realized who the woman was.
“It’s okay. Please be careful next time.”
Taeyeon nodded. “I’m Taeyeon, by the way.” The prince offered her hand.
The other person only smiled briefly. “Tiffany.” Then she walked away.
Taeyeon jaw dropped ad her eyes followed the movement of the other woman. She felt intrigued by her treatment.
3: Stalker Duo
“Do you want me to go in there with you or…?” Yuri asked her wife as she was continuously soothing her wife’s back.
Jessica was nervous to see the gynecologist, scared of what the doctor would say according her reproductive system. “Up to you…”
The Crown Prince kissed the Crown Princess’s forehead. “I’m coming then. I will always be with you every step of the way.” She smiled.
The wife was also beamed her smile, feeling a little bit relaxed. Then the nurse told them that they were ready to examine the Crown Princess Sooyeon.
“Good day Crown Prince and Crown Princess.” The doctor bowed before warmly smiled to the couple. “I have been informed that our Princess was going to see me. It’s an honor to have you both.”
“For us too, doctor. Thank you for your time.” Yuri said.
“You are very welcome, Your Highness. Now shall we start the check up?”
The couple nodded. Jessica was being led to the changing room and then to the examination chair. The doctor sat in front of her. “Pardon me, Your Highness.”
“Y-yes.”
“This is my hand and this is the speculum, Crown Princess or should I say Mrs. Kwon?” The doctor then started observing Jessica.
Jessica winced every time she felt the cold metal came in contact with her skin and immediately signaled her hubby to stand beside her. Being the attentive husband she was, Yuri held her wife’s hand and rubbed it softly through the check up.
After 10 minutes or so, “Please have a seat, Crown Prince and Crown Princess.” The doctor gestured the respective seats for the pair.
“So, how’s my wife, doctor?” Yuri asked once she seated, holding Jessica’s cold and trembling hand.
The doctor smiled. “Everything looks good so far. But I will do more observation on the Crown Princess.” The physician turned to look at the Princess. “I recommend Your Highness to take supplements and get more rest.”
Jessica only nod to the suggestion the doctor had given her.
“Is there anything else she should do?” Yuri asked.
“Yes, Your Highness. We may need to take samples for the lab, so we can make sure that Princess Jessica is alright.”
---The Queen was having a family dinner with her family members. She didn’t get the chance to spend the morning with the Princes and Princess. Hence, she missed them and decided to gather them around with a simple warm supper.
“How was the check up, Hwangtaeja? Is Princess Sooyeon pregnant by now?” The Queen asked.
Yuri chuckled and Jessica blushed. “Not yet, My Queen. We were just being observed today, dr. Han will give us the result of Princess’s health condition in a couple of days. Let’s just hope for the best, Umma.”
“I believe everything will go as you have planned.” The Queen showed her motherly smiled as she turned to her older daughter. “How was your day, Prince Taeyeon?”
“Bloody.”
The answer made the whole table laughed.
“Well, was there anything else than bloody in your day?”
“It was kind of fun actually.” Taeyeon said. “I got to see famous idols today.” She grinned. A second after, the short Prince smiled like a fool.
That caught the Crown Princess’s attention. “Idols?” Jessica questioned.
Taeyeon nodded, munching on her steak. “Yeah.”
“Was Tiffany Hwang there?” The Princess kept digging.
The Prince stopped cutting the meat when she heard the name.
“So she was there. Have you confessed? Did she say yes?” Jessica teased.
Taeyeon choked on her food and Yuri was laughing on the reaction. But the Queen was lost from the conversation. “Who is Tiffany Hwang, Sooyeon-ah?”
Jessica gently held the Queen’s hand. “She is your soon-to-be daughter-in-law, Omoni.”
“Omo…” The Queen was surprised. “Your girlfriend, Taeyeon-ah?”
Taeyeon was coughing now. She took a sip before answering. “No, Umma. She’s a singer and I just adore her.” Then she sent glares to Jessica, which was not giving any effect on the Ice Princess.
“Our Taeyeon has a girlfriend.” The Queen teased.
“Ummaaaaaaaaa~” Taeyeon whined.
---Taeyeon put down her big suitcases on the floor of her bedroom in her own palace. She was about to rest her body on the bed when three knocks on the door distracted her from doing so. She walked to the door and opened it, just to find her assistant. “I’m sorry to bother you, Your Highness.” Sooyoung bowed.
“I thought we agree on not calling me ‘Your Highness’. Anyway, what can I do for you, Sooyoung-ah?” Taeyeon flashed her kind and warm smile.
Sooyoung looked for the guards and waited for a couple of seconds before saying, “I just wanted to tell you that I’ll be just down the hall if you need anything, Taeyeon Unnie.”
“Alright.” Taeyeon nodded and grinned.
“Do you need help with your luggage?”
“Uhmm…” Taeyeon looked at the messy scene in her room. “I could use some help.” The Prince opened the door bigger and let the taller girl went inside.
The tall girl and the not-so-tall girl started to arrange and fill in the closet with the clothes from the Prince’s bags. They were exchanging information as they did so.
“So you are going to live here with me until I felt that I don’t need your help anymore?” Taeyeon reassured.
“Yes, Taeyeon Unnie.” Sooyoung answered.
“That’s boring.” The Prince commented. “How will you meet your family then?”
“Then I’ll ask your permission.”
“Don’t worry, Sooyoung-ah. I will always say yes.” Taeyeon grinned. “Don’t you have any question to ask me?”
“Hmm…” Sooyoung thought for a second. “I heard that you studied to be a chef. Do you mind if you cooked something for me someday, Unnie?”
Taeyeon chuckled. “Sure. How about after we finished this?”
Sooyoung beamed with happiness. “Yay!”
---“Here it is… samgyetang a la Chef Taeyeon.” The Chef, or as known as the Prince, served a freshly cooked Korean ginseng chicken soup.
Sooyoung already drooled over the food on the table. “Wuaaahhh… Thank you for the food, Unnie!” She immediately dug in.
“Yah, slow down.” Taeyeon warned after she saw the shikshin eating without chewing the content of her bowl.
“It’s just too good, Unnie.”
Taeyeon smiled. “Glad that you liked it. Anyway, what’s my schedule for tomorrow?”
“Uhh… One second.” Sooyoung fished out her phone to check the Prince’s to-do list for tomorrow. “You have nothing so far. Prince Yuri hasn’t told me about anything.”
“She didn’t tell me either. So that means I’m free, right?”
Sooyoung shrugged. “I suppose so. What do you want to do tomorrow, Unnie?”
“Hmm…” Taeyeon scratched her head. But then a brilliant idea came up in her mind. “Let’s stalk someone.”
“H-h-uh? Who…?”
“Tiffany Hwang.”
“And why do we have to do that?”
---The next morning Prince Taeyeon was accidentally met her half sister at the parking lot. “What are you doing here early in the morning?” The Crown Prince asked.
“I… I wanted to go outside and travel around the city since I have absolutely nothing to do today.” She lied. As what the short Prince had planned the night before, she was going to stalk the eye-smiling singer for the whole day. Why? Because she felt intrigued, attracted, and yet enthralled by the girl. But she didn’t want her half sister to know what she was about to commit… yet. “What are you doing here so early in the morning?”
Yuri pressed a button on her key and unlocked one of the sport cars. “I missed driving on my own. So I’m gonna spin some laps around the palace before the morning meeting with the ministers.”
“Meeting with ministers. Super boring.” Taeyeon commented. “Oh well, I’ll be going now.” She paused to take a breathe before shouting, “CHOI SOOYOUNG LET’S GO!”
“Wait.” Yuri halted Taeyeon from entering the car. “You are going to travel around the city only with Sooyoung?”
“Uhm… Yeah. Why?”
“It’s not safe, Taeyeon-ah. I’ll call another cars to protect you all the way.” The tanned woman was about to dial a number on her phone when a hand swatted her way.
“Please don’t. I don’t want to make a big scene through the entire city. That’s why I’m taking Sooyoung only.” Taeyeon begged. She didn’t want her stalking planned went fail just because she would be easily found.
Yuri showed her worried face. “I’m not really sure about that.”
The Crown Prince did still not like the idea, but she gave up anyway. “Alright. One last time. If anything happens call me or Sica, okay?”
“Yes Appa.”
“Good girl. Don’t make me plus your Umma worry about you today. Have fun!” Yuri was referring to Jessica.
Little that Taeyeon knows, Yuri sent a back up car to follow the Prince car for the whole day.
---Sooyoung and Taeyeon got into a black sedan, not the one the Princes or Princesses usually take, but the modest one, so they wouldn’t be easily discovered by the victim of their tailing scheme.
“Do you happen to know where do we should start today?” Taeyeon asked the woman beside her, pulling the front cap of her hat lower.
“It will be too late if we go to her house, let’s try her agency building. How about it, Unnie?”
“Sounds good to me.”
Sooyoung quickly drove the car to the destination. Taeyeon on the other hand, was too excited she failed to hide her enthusiasm in front of her assistant slash new found best friend and roommate. “Can I ask something, Unnie?”
“Sure, shoot away.”
“Why are you so happy?”
“I… uhh… Can’t I just be happy today?”
The conversation went down as they rode their car to Tiffany’s agency building. Once they got there, Sooyoung parked the car across the street with the best view directly showed the lobby’s door. Hence, they would notice when the singer would go out from there.
Five minutes went by.
Then it turned to twenty.
The short Prince finally sighed after 30 minutes she waited and paid her full attention to the door. “Damn. Where is she? What took her so long?” She massaged her temples.
“There she is, Your Highness!” Sooyoung yelled, pointing at the walking Tiffany.
Taeyeon’s eyes immediately followed the movement of the singer. Her lips pursed into a creepy smiled as she stared the eye-smiling lady. “She got into a coffee shop! Should I go to?” She asked Sooyoung.
“Won’t it be too fast?”
Taeyeon agreed. “Ah yes yes. You’re right.” She held back her desire to go inside the same store where Tiffany was located and waited for some more.
Sometime later that day, the stalker duo called for a time out. They had been following the famous singer’s schedules most of the time and they were hungry and yet, exhausted from all the waiting. Sooyoung suggested Taeyeon to dine in a secluded restaurant near the broadcast station Tiffany was currently at. She knew the place was pretty secured for famous icons. Yuri once had simple dinner with Jessica there successfully without anyone noticed, not even the press.
Taeyeon stretched her back once she sat down on the chair. “Gosh, my back. I didn’t know being a stalker would be that hard. Anyway, go order anything you want, it’s on me, considering your payment for today’s… job.” She grinned.
Sooyoung gladly took the permission and ordered bunch of foods to fill her empty shikshin stomach.
But then a loud commotion could be heard from the restaurant’s entrance. Taeyeon craned her neck to get the view. Her eyes widened. “Yah! Choi Sooyoung!” She hissed while secretly giving a hint to her assistant.
“Oh my God. It’s our victim!” Sooyoung whispered after she saw who was entered the diner. “Who’s the cute girl beside her?” Her voice trailed off.
Then two pair of eyes set straight to their direction. Sooyoung quickly turned her head, while Taeyeon was hiding her face behind the menu as fast as she could. “Shoot!”
---“Isn’t that Prince Taeyeon?”
“Where?”
Sunny pointed at the mysterious woman with a hat at the way back of the restaurant with her chin. Being a huge fan of the Prince, she would easily recognize the figure.
Tiffany looked at the same direction and furrowed her brows. “She is looked like her. But it doesn’t mean that that woman is her, don’t be silly, Lee Soonkyu. Why would be a Prince with gazillion money like her have a dinner here with a date?”
The shorter girl found herself nodding away on Tiffany’s statement, although she was still sure though that the woman was Taeyeon. “True.”
4: Busted
“Sunny, stop looking at them.” Tiffany warned.
Lee Sunny diverted her eyes back on the menu. She was somehow still convinced that the person, who was sitting behind her, was the Prince. “Sorry, I just… Never mind.” The short manager secretly glanced at Taeyeon’s direction again.
Unfortunately, the singer caught her best friend staring back at whom the shorter girl thought the Prince of Korea. “Lee Soonkyu!” Tiffany hissed.
Sunny shook her head before once again, read the menu on her hand. “Right. Sorry. I was just so sure that she is Prince Taeyeon.”
“I told you, she is not. Well, if she really was your Prince, then what would you do?”
“Err… nothing.”
Tiffany snapped her finger. “Exactly.” She raised her hand up to signal the waiter to come. “Now let’s just eat. I still have radio interview after this.”
“Right.”
---“I think we should get out from here. That girl in front of her started to get really suspicious on us, Sooyoung-ah.” Taeyeon said, her eyes secretly stole glances at Tiffany’s table.
Sooyoung immediately finished her plate after she heard what Taeyeon had said to her. “Awight.” She said with a mouth full of food. For Sooyoung, no matter the urgent thing was going to happen, full stomach was still number one.
Taeyeon fixed her disguise before standing up, heading to the cashier and paid for the meal. Once they were in the car, the Prince huffed.
“Tired, Unnie?”
“Yeah, kind of.”
“Do you want to head back now or still want to follow Miss Tiffany?” Sooyoung asked as she started the car.
“Let’s just go home. I know you’re tired too.”
---Choi Sooyoung parked the car then went outside to open Taeyeon’s door just before the short Prince protested and did it by herself. The two were not aware of another people presented in the garage.
Not until one of the two individuals cleared the throat.
Sooyoung turned her head and suddenly bowed deeply. “G-good evening Prince Yuri and Princess Jessica…”
“Hi Sooyoung.”
“Yuri? Sica? What are you guys doing here?” Taeyeon asked after she got out from the car.
“Waiting for you.” Yuri said. “How was the city tour?”
“It must have been fun, Seobang.” Jessica commented, smirking all the way.
“Which places have you been visiting?”
Taeyeon scratched her head. “Err… Gyeongbuk Palace. You know the usual tourist spots.”
“Did you escort Prince Taeyeon there, Sooyoung?”
“Yeah, she drove me there.” Taeyeon took over.
“Oh really? Because from what I’ve been told…” Jessica unfolded a piece of paper. “… You went to… let’s see… S.M. Enterainment’s office, then a recording studio, a photoshoot studio, a TV broadcasting studio, and Seobang! Look at this!” The princess pointed a name on the list. “We had our dinner once there! Wait, there’s a footnote from our guy.”
“It would appear that Prince Taeyeon was following Miss Tiffany Hwang throughout the day.” Yuri read the footnote. “Stalking a singer, really Taeyeon?”
“And you were stalking me too?” Taeyeon retorted, blushing furiously, but still trying to conserve her dignity.
“There’s a different between stalking and keeping you safe. I sent another car to follow you around just to make sure that you would be safe.” Yuri said.
“But we happened to gain a thing to tease you.” Jessica added, backing up her hubby. “Taeyeon and Tiffany sitting on a tree K-I-S-S-I-N-G!” She laughed.
Yuri was laughing too. The short Prince could only took the humiliation and accepted that she had been caught in a worst state.
“Can we talk about this somewhere else? I prefer to end it though.” Taeyeon sulked.
Yuri and Jessica stopped laughing. “Okay, sorry. I guess that’s enough teasing for today.” The Crown Prince stated. “We should go back and rest, we’ll have a long day tomorrow. Get her ready early tomorrow, Sooyoung-ah.”
“Y-yes, Your Highness.”
“Goodnight, lovebird.” Jessica snickered as she locked her arms onto her husband’s.
“Don’t dream about Tiffany. Pity the girl after you stalked her all day, don’t stalk her in your dream too.” Yuri chuckled.
“Shut up!”
---Taeyeon rubbed her eyes, trying to get rid of the sleepiness. She knew she couldn’t fall asleep now. Not in front of board of ministers that were scrutinizing her every action. But the boredom slowly killed her, her eyes especially. The short Prince looked up from her seat, watching her half sister calmly giving her speech with her grace and charisma.
I made the right choice by offering my title to her. Taeyeon thought. She would never be able to do what Yuri had done.
“Does Prince Taeyeon want to add a thing or two?”
The petite girl snapped from her thought and looked at her surrounding. People were waiting for her answer. She gulped and thought of an answer for a second, but what she could think of if she didn’t even know the question. “Ehm… I could not agree more to what Crown Prince Yuri had said.”
“So it’s settled then, Prince Taeyeon would be our representative in promoting South Korea not only inward but also outward.”
Taeyeon’s eyes widened after she heard one of the ministers spoke. She shot a shock glance at Yuri, baffled with the statement.
Instead of explaining, the Crown Prince only signaled her sister to nod away.
Taeyeon closed her eyes for a second before replying, “Yes, I understand. I will give my best on my duty.”
Yuri then gestured Taeyeon to stand up and to get ready to leave the room. “I would like to thank for the ministers presence for this meeting.” The people in the room bowed deeply on the two Princes until they got out from the room.
“You’re the new face of our palace and you happened to agree to it.”
The petite girl was trying to catch the tanned woman’s steps. “But I wasn’t even k—“
“Know?” Yuri stopped and looked at her sister. “I know you weren’t even listening. That’s why next time it’s important for you to pay attention to a meeting like wise.” The Crown Prince paused to type a message on her phone. “Anyway, it’s a good chance for you to work with famous people in promoting our country. For example, Tiffany Hwang.” The Crown Prince grinned.
Prince Taeyeon’s mind suddenly clouded with the images of her stalking victim.
Seeing this, Yuri took a chance to say, “Now you got the implied benefit, I can go with peace.”
“But—yah! Where are you going?”
“Meeting Jessica’s doctor!”
---“Good Afternoon, Hwangtaeja.” The doctor bowed.
Yuri briefly nodded and smiled. “Afternoon, doctor. I suppose my wife already went here earlier.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“You wouldn’t mind to repeat the result for me then, would you?”
The doctor smiled. “Not at all, Your Highness.” Then the doctor took a paper from the drawer. “Instead, it would be my pleasure to deliver such a good news for you.” The doctor smiled then gestured Yuri to take a seat.
The Crown Prince suddenly felt good since the doctor had mention about delivering good news to her. She calmly sat down, crossing her legs, clasping her palms, and waited for the words.
“Princess Jessica is wonderfully healthy, but other than that, we also found that she’s currently pregnant for two weeks, Hwangtaeja. Congratulations.”
“W-what? M-my wife’s pregnant?”
The doctor confirmed it again. “Yes, Your Highness.”
---“Hi Umma.” Yuri spoke through the phone.
“Umma? Seobang, check your phone.”
“I didn’t call the wrong person. I just got out from dr. Han’s office. Congratulations, baby.” The handsome tanned woman said, her lips formed a wide grin on her face. She was beyond happy.
Jessica giggled on the line. “And congratulations to you too, Appa.” She said.
“Two weeks, huh?”
“Yeah…”
“That means… that night…” Yuri blushed.
“The one that you were so drunk. Beast Yul night.” Jessica giggled.
“Yaaaaahhh~”
“Sorry. Let’s tell them tonight, Seobang.”
“Alrighty. I’ll see you later. I love you, Sica Umma.”
“I love you too, Yul Appa.”
---“Sooyoung-ah, I’m bored!” Taeyeon yelled while slouching on the couch in her palace’s living room. After finished the morning meeting with ministers, she got absolutely nothing to do. Her sister left her to see her sister-in-law’s doctor. Her mother was also left to see her doctor. So the only person she could bug all day was her assistant. And unfortunately, the short Prince already bored teasing and playing with Sooyoung for the past two hours.
“What do you want to do then, Unnie?” Sooyoung asked. “I can set up another Wii game, if you want.”
“Nah, I’m tired playing Wii.” Taeyeon exhaled. “I don’t know what to do actually, but I’m bored staying in this place whole day.”
But then a bright idea came upon the tall assistant’s mind. “How about stalking Miss Tiffany again? It’s kind of fun, Unnie.”
“No. Yuri and Jessica will tease me to death if they knew about this.”
“But Crown Prince and Crown Princess were not in Palace right now. They wouldn’t possibly know and send another car to follow us if we sneaked out first.”
Taeyeon turned her head to Sooyoung. Temptation to see the girl she admired was already filling her brain. She smirked, followed along by her assistant. “Good job, Sooyoungie. Put on your disguise. We’re going to stalk some more.” She evilly chortled.
---“Yah. I think your info is not valid, Sooyoung-ah. She wasn’t even here.” Taeyeon stated while looking at Tiffany’s agency office door through her binocular for the past forty minutes.
The shikshin checked on her iPad again while munching chocolate bread. “Their website said that she would have an interview right there and should be finished by ten minutes ago, Unnie. Maybe she hasn’t come out yet.”
Taeyeon puffed her cheeks. “Let’s take a break and get coffee.” The short Prince put on her mask and hoodie before getting out of the car. She walked to the coffee shop just beside the singer’s agency office followed closely by her tall assistant.
“Let me get the order, Unnie.” Sooyoung was a bit worried that people inside the café would find out about Taeyeon, so she offered to take charge in ordering the drink.
“I’m fine.” Taeyeon patted her shoulder and went on ordering with no problem.
---“… yeah, he was a bit annoying, but I’m fine Sunny.” Tiffany smiled sweetly as she opened the café’s door and went inside, letting her manager went inside too.
“I didn’t know it would be like that. But oh well, you did great, it should be perfect to be aired.” Sunny said. The two were keep conversing until they got in front of the cashier to order. “I want ice Vanilla Latte. What do you want Fany?”
“I… uhh…” Tiffany tapped her chin while reading the beverage lists on the wall. “I’ll just have ice lemon tea for today.” She made her order. “I’ll find us seats, could you…?”
“Yeah yeah. I’ll take care the drinks, go find a nice spot!”
Tiffany beamed. “Thanks Sunny-ah!” She then walked to a secluded part of the café. She usually chose that place because she would have a very comfy ambience, far from the noisy crowd. But today, her usual spot were taken and only left another seat just beside it. Tiffany shrugged and went to sit on the couch.
Taeyeon, on the other hand, was almost made a very loud gasp and went on crazy fangirling mode when the singer set her beautiful rear, for Taeyeon’s liking, on the seat next to her. Fortunately, the girl could stop herself and act as normal as she could, although she had to kick Sooyoung’s legs under the table to channel her excitement.
Sooyoung could only maintain her poker face while stuffing the food onto her mouth to stop flinching from the pain the Prince had caused, and not to make their stalking victim startled from her suffering.
“Guess what…” Sunny came, holding a tray on her hands. “The barista that has been checking me out gave us these cakes for free.” The short manager put down the tray on the table.
“Whuaaaa…” Tiffany eyes twinkled when she saw the cake. “I wish the unagi chef near our place was this kind to give us free unagi don.” She took a bite. “Yummy!”
But then, Sunny threw her glance towards the next seat beside her. She found that the two people seating right next to her were oddly familiar. “Prince Taeyeon?”
5: Meeting
Sunny threw her glance towards the next seat beside her. She found that the two people seating right next to her were oddly familiar. “Prince Taeyeon?”
Taeyeon and Sooyoung chocked on their drinks.
The short Prince was panicked that this… short… creature… sitting in front of her favorite singer was able to blow up her cover. She cursed inside when she realized that she had no way out but to reveal herself. She gulped and was about to open her mouth when a voice butted in.
“They are just another customers, Sunny-ah.” Tiffany then turned to a pale Sooyoung and terrified Taeyeon, slightly bowing. “I’m sorry for my friend, are you guys okay?”
The two only nodded in respond to the question.
“Yah! I told you to stop obsessing on that snotty Prince.” The singer scolded the manager.
“Would you stop calling her snotty?” Sunny retorted.
Snotty? Taeyeon thought to herself. So I was only a snotty Prince to her…? Is that what people thought about me? She shook her head. She gestured Sooyoung to get out from there, not forgetting to bow to Tiffany and Sunny briefly before heading to the door.
The Prince went on silent mode as far as they drove back from the café to the palace. She felt kind of down when she heard what her favorite singer thought about her. Then she huffed.
“Are you okay, Unnie?” Sooyoung broke the silence. Actually she was worried about her boss for being not talkative as she used to be.
Taeyeon snapped from her trance. “What was it, Sooyoung-ah?”
“Sort of… why?”
“I don’t know. You seemed kind of down after we left the café.”
The shorter girl sighed. “Am I snotty, Sooyoung-ah? I mean I know you just knew me just for a couple of weeks, but am I?”
“No, Unnie. You are not snotty. Not at all in fact. My former boss is.”
“Your former boss?” Taeyeon looked at the latter.
“Yeah, minister of finance’s daughter. She’s kind of… spoiled. But this is our secret Unnie.”
“I understand.”
“Actually I was a bit surprised with your gestures and how you treat people. I couldn’t believe that you actually went to the Palace alone from the airport with public transportation. Never in my life I see or hear about someone who has a high rank in society still do what you did, you know.” Sooyoung confessed. “I’m pretty impressed by your action, Unnie. You are awesome.” She grinned.
“Well thank you.”
“Don’t hear about what people say about you, Unnie. It’s better for you to show them who you really are rather than drown yourself in sadness and stress just because of their words or judgment.”
Taeyeon stared at her assistant. “Good words. Thank you, Choi Sooyoung.”
“The pleasure is mine, Prince Taeyeon.”
---Jessica just went inside the Queen’s Palace when she saw Taeyeon walking to the same direction with her while straightening her jacket. “Taeyeon?”
Taeyeon halted her steps and looked at the one who called her. “Sica?”
“Just got home?”
“Yeah. You too I guess?”
The Crown Princess nodded. “Just finished my schedule. Is Yuri with you?” She craned her neck to check whether her husband was behind the girl or not.
“Err… No… Didn’t she suppose to be with you?”
Jessica hooked an arm with Taeyeon while continuing her step, dragging Taeyeon. “I thought she spent the whole day with you. So you didn’t know about the news yet, right?”
“News? What news?”
---“We are pregnant!” Yuri and Jessica announced the good news to the Queen and the Prince. They widely smiled and held hands when they did that.
The Queen was beamed upon hearing that. “Omo! Congratulations Yuri-ah, Sooyeon-ah. How long is it?”
“Two weeks.” Yuri said, rubbing her wife’s still flat stomach.
“I’m going to be a grandma!”
“And I’m going to be your new babysitter! Yay! Congratulations, sissy!” Taeyeon hugged her sister and then her sister’s wife.
“Glad that you already knew your role to our baby’s life.” Jessica snickered. “I’ll send your uniform later.” She joked.
Jessica shook her head. “Not that I’m aware of, Omoni. Maybe the symptoms haven’t started yet.”
“You should take care of her better, Yuri-ah. Let Taeyeon help you with some of your tasks.” The Queen advised.
The Crown Prince nodded as she helped her wife to get the food. “Yes, Umma. I already did it today, actually.”
“Really?”
“Yes. Taeyeon will help handling the ministry of culture, sport and tourism, as well as with the ministry of foreign affairs, Umma.”
“Is that true, Taeyeon?”
Taeyeon was agreeing to her sister’s statement with defeated look. “It appeared so, Umma.”
“Isn’t it great to see my daughters working together? I’m proud of you two.” The Queen showed her motherly smile. “And I think, we should announce about your pregnancy.”
“We will do it in a couple of weeks, Umma, when we celebrate our anniversary.”
---Taeyeon was spending her time at her palace’s balcony after the dinner with her family. Somehow she was still thinking about Tiffany’s words back at the café and about Sooyoung’s words back in the car. So I should show people that I’m not snotty?
But how…?
The petite girl threw her glance at the sky. Why do I even bothered with her words, it’s not like that I wanted to steal her heart.
Are you out of your mind, Kim Taeyeon?
But she’s beautiful, and nice, not to mention that butt to die for.
Wait, why do I concentrate only to her again?
Well, she’s part of the society.
And…
Butt.
“Eish…” Taeyeon ruffled her own hair.
“—nie… Your Highness…?”
Taeyeon startled and turned around to see her assistant. “Yes?”
“Hwangtaeja just told me that you are free for tomorrow. And she also told me that if you wanted to go somewhere you should give her head ups.”
“Okay. Anything else?”
“That’s all, Unnie. I’ll be in my room if you need anything.”
“Thanks Sooyoung-ah. Good night.”
“Good night, Unnie.”
---“Seobang?” Jessica called.
Yuri was brushing her hair before went to her wife’s side on the bed. “Yes, my Princess?”
The tanned woman put her head on the fair skinned woman’s lap. “And then?”
Jessica automatically stroked her Seobang’s hair. “I think she went to stalk that singer again.”
“And why would you say that?”
“Because she was wearing those clothes, baggy hoodie, simple shirt and jeans like when we caught her red-handed.”
“Then why if she stalked that singer again?” Yuri buried her face on Jessica’s tummy, peppering it with kisses.
The Crown Princess smiled upon the gestures. “Don’t you think your sister is falling for the girl?”
Yuri looked up. “It’s obvious, baby. Since the day she asked you about her, I knew that she already fallen for her.”
“Should we do something about it?”
“Nope. Not for now.” Yuri buried her face again. “Let’s stop talking about Taeyeon. I want to talk to my baby.” She kissed the skin of Jessica’s tummy once again before saying. “Hi little one. I’m your Appa. I can’t wait to see you.”
Jessica giggled when she felt another kiss. “Yah~ It tickles, Appa.”
---Tiffany woke up just to find her manager watching the TV loudly. Apparently it was about the spoiled Prince her best friend loved. The Prince was documented spending her time touring around Seoul with public transportations, helping the elderly with their jobs, living a humble life kind of thing.
“Turn down the volume if you want to continue fangirling over your Prince in my room with my TV.”
“I just wanted to prove that Prince Taeyeon is not a spoiled brat like what you think, Fany.” Sunny said as she obeyed the singer’s command.
“Are we going to argue about this right now?”
“No, I’m just showing you the fact.”
“Okay, point taken.”
“Wait…” The short manager paused the screen. “Isn’t that the lady we met at the restaurant and the café?” She pointed at the taller woman behind Taeyeon.
Tiffany involuntary looked at the frozen image on her TV. Her eyes widened.
Then everything hit Sunny’s brain. “Oh. My. God. You do know what that means, right?” She squealed. “I got to choke the Prince—wait that came out wrong. I mean… You do know what I mean!” Sunny squealed again.
“That was not something you should proud of, Sunny-ah.”
---Sooyoung took a deep intake of air into her lungs after she went inside the car. She was tired following and guarding the Prince. She was actually relieved and thrilled when Taeyeon decided to call in and asked the Palace to get them with a car.
“Tired, Sooyoung-ah?”
“Y-yes. Your Highness.”
“Thanks for today.”
“You’re welcome, Your Highness.”
“Let’s get something to eat. Uh… Mr. Driver…? Could you drive us to this address?” Taeyeon showed her phone which showing the café near Tiffany’s office’s address.
“Absolutely, Your Highness.”
“Thank you.”
“Do we need to secure the area, Your Highness?” The driver asked.
“No need. We’ll be fine. I have you two by my side.”
---The customers inside the café were frozen when they recognized the person who was just entered the building. They couldn’t keep their mouth shut when they saw Taeyeon walked slowly
approaching the cashier who was ready to take an order. But a few seconds later, the crowd was starting to take pictures, murmuring one to another, and squealing when the Prince threw her signature smile at them.
“G-g-ahem-Good evening, Y-your Highness.” The cashier bowed deeply. “M-may I take… your order?”
“Hi and yes please. I would like to have…” Taeyeon read the menu plastered on the wall behind the latter. “One cappuccino, one double-decker sandwich… What do you want, Sooyoung-ah?”
“I’ll have the same, Your Highness.”
“And Mr. Driver…?”
“I’ve eaten before, Your Highness. I will wait outside, just in case.”
“No no no. Please join us. One cup of coffee, yeah?”
“Y-yes, Your Highness.”
“Okay. So…” Taeyeon repeated the order and paid for the meal. After that she took the same seat when she was there a few days ago, followed by Sooyoung and the current driver. Sooyoung
was behaving by the book that day because there was another Palace’s squad member until the Prince insisted that they, Sooyoung and the driver, to treat her as their friend.
This was absolutely causing the unusual reaction from the people.
And then came the singer into the café. She usually ordered something before going home with her manager. When Tiffany entered the café, she was suspicious because the other customers and even the whole crews of the place were concentrated onto something. They were looking to a same direction, her regular spot. “Hey, can I get one strawberry ice tea?”
“Sure, Miss Tiffany, anything else?”
“And one frappucino blended.”
Tiffany was giving her credit card to the cashier when she asked, “What is happening?”
But before the cashier got to answer the question, a super fangirl of the short Prince butted in. “Yah Fany-ah! Prince Taeyeon is hereee!” Sunny for the nth squealed.
“Don’t tell me she’s right there?”
---Oh. My. God. I can’t believe she took my favorite place. AGAIN. Tiffany huffed when she saw
the short Prince handsomely sat down while having a conversation with whom happened to be her guards in Tiffany’s mind.
On the other hand, Taeyeon had noticed that the singer she liked already took the seat beside her, along with the short girl she always seen beside the girl. The one who almost blew up her cover. The short Prince turned her head to greet them. “Good evening, Miss Tiffany and Miss…?”
“Please marry me.” Sunny breathed. That answer earned a sharp step from Tiffany. “I’m Sunny. I mean. Tiffany’s manager, Y-y-your Highness.”
“Ah.” Taeyeon nodded. “Nice meeting you here, please call me Taeyeon. I’m not a Prince at time like this.” The Prince offered her hand to shake.
The Manager gladly took the hand and held it close. “Please let me have your baby.” Sunny unconsciously stated, again. And Tiffany had to kick her leg, again.
“Sorry, she’s your biggest fan. Nice meeting you here, Taeyeon. And please call me, Tiffany.” Tiffany forced a smile on her face. “What brings you here, Taeyeon?” She asked, purely curious.
You. “I just happened to drive by the street and I was hungry so I decided to take the pit stop.” Taeyeon smiled. “You are a regular here I suppose?”
“Yep.”
“Well, okay. Enjoy your drinks?”
“Yes, Taeyeon. You too.”
6: Scheme
“I won’t wash my hand for the rest of my life.“ Sunny said dreamingly in the bathroom of the apartment she shared with her best friend. And then she sniffed her own hand. “I still can smell her, Fany-ah.”
Tiffany was just rinsed her mouth from brushing her teeth when she felt to gag on the statement came out from her manager. “And here I thought asking the Prince to get you pregnant was embarrassing enough.”
“Not washing my hand is not an embarrassment.”
“Not when you are my manager who happen to use her hand every time a lot of time in front and to a lot of people.” The singer paused. “I still don’t get it though. Why do you like her so much?”
“Who? Prince Taeyeon?”
A nod.
“Well duh. She’s smart, independent, kind, not to mention good looking and many other things that I couldn’t describe by words.”
“I agree that she’s smart and good looking, but independent and kind? I don’t think so, those were just the images she wanted the people to portray her.”
“But you do agree that she’s good looking and smart, you don’t really hate her, do you? You were just butt hurt on your bad day, and unfortunately, she was there.”
---Sooyoung re-read the letters on her smartphone’s calendar which showing her boss’s schedule for the week. “Uhh… Unnie…?
“Yep?” Taeyeon was preparing a dish for their dinner.
“Can I ask you a question?”
“Sure.”
“What’s with visiting S. M. Ent’s building for the whole week?”
Taeyeon stopped chopping and thought for an answer. “I uhh… I was planning to ask the artists from there to make promoting commercials for our country’s tourism. And… and… to get the performers for Yuri and Jessica’s anniversary. Yes. That.”
“Ah…” The taller woman nodded. “But why the whole week, you can just pop in one day, ask the management for the suitable candidate, and finish everything by then? I mean it’s not a hard work. Wait, are you still stalking Miss Tiffany Hwang?”
“What? Pfft. No.” The Prince quickly denied.
“Oh come on, Unnie. Tell meee~~ Tell Ddooyoung. Tell Ddooyoung, pweaseeeee~~” Sooyoung learned that Taeyeon would grant her wish with the aegyo a couple days ago. And since then she was using it all the time.
“Oh God. Fine. Yes, I’m stalking Miss Hwang.”
“Why?”
“What do you mean why? Told you I’m curious.”
“Oh come on, Unnie. I would still believe that reason a week ago. Not now. I know you already. Wait…” Sooyoung paused. “Can I ask a question again?”
The short woman rolled her eyes. “You’ve been interrogating me. It doesn’t make a different to ask my permission, S’young-ah.”
“Well, I’m just trying to be polite, Unnie.” Sooyoung said.
“So? The question?”
“Do you like Miss Tiffany Hwang?”
Taeyeon was surprised and accidentally cut her hand. “OW!” It bled out. The Prince quickly sucked the blood while running to the nearest faucet to get her would clean under the running water.
Sooyoung immediately helped Taeyeon with band-aid and any other things needed. “Oh God, I wounded the Prince. I’ll get hanged in the yard tomorrow.”
“Don’t exaggerate. It was my own fault.”
After everything done, Taeyeon went back to her chopping board, hoping that the shikshin would forget the topic.
But she was wrong.
“From the reaction, I guessed you do like Miss Hwang.”
“OW!” Taeyeon cut another finger and the messy scene was replayed again. She frantically ran to the faucet; followed by her assistant, who was searching for the band-aid.
“I will definitely get hanged tomorrow or chopped off to pieces. Oh no. I’m sorry Unnie. But please do answer me before I die.”
“…”
“Come on, your secret is safe with Choi Sooyoung.”
Taeyeon shrugged. “I think I might like her since the day I saw her singing on screen.”
“Omo…” The assistant closed her mouth. “Love at the first sight!”
The Prince involuntary blushed. “Not love… Sooyoung-ah.”
“Yet, Your Highness. I like this kind of thing! Let’s get Miss Hwang to like you too, Unnie. I’ll help.”
“Do we have to?”
The tall woman nodded so eagerly.
“Okay. Trying won’t hurt.”
---Soon after dinner was served and eaten by the Prince and her assistant, the two were in Taeyeon’s palace’s library to brainstorm or whatever Sooyoung had proposed before.
The tall shikshin found a white board and some markers and she thought it was perfect to use it as the mood board. “So… We have been stalking Miss Hwang for more or less a week. With and without being exposed.”
The Prince nodded as she watched the younger girl started scribbling something on the board.
“What we have learned about her so far?” Sooyoung asked, turning her body to see Taeyeon.
“Uhh… She’s a very famous Korean-American singer. A very beautiful one.”
The assistant rolled her eyes but she wrote it down anyway. “And then?”
“Her manager is my biggest fan, just like she said.”
“Okay. And then?”
“She loves pink.”
“Uh-huh. Then?”
“She hates me.”
“Ow, my poor poor Prince.” Sooyoung jotted it down again. “Cheer up, Unnie. Maybe we can turn her hatred to be love towards you.” She winked. “Now, the question is, why does she hate you?”
Taeyeon looked away to think of the answer, but then she remembered something. “She described me as a snotty Prince.”
“Focus, Sooyoung-ah.”
Sooyoung took a deep breath and closed her eyes for a second. “Right. Sorry Unnie. Back to the topic, those were what we have learned about Miss Hwang. More or less.” She paused. “And as your helper, I have learned a thing or two about you.” The tall shikshin was jotting down on the board again until a loud voice sounded across the room.
“YAH!” Taeyeon yelled. “What’s with the fun sized?”
“Well I wanted to write short but it will hurt you more, so, I think it would be better to write it this way.” The younger girl said casually.
That was just earned more protests from Taeyeon for a bit while. But then everything went back to the most important topic of how to make Tiffany Hwang like Kim Taeyeon.
Sooyoung dusted off her hands after putting down the markers. “Now we have to analyze…”
---“Sic—uhmmm…” Jessica was pulling Yuri’s collar and assaulting the lips with her own once she saw the Crown Prince entering their palace. “Ya—mmm…” Yuri was obviously trying to figure out what was happening with her wife.
After a minute smothering her husband without mercy, the Crown Princess finally let go the plump pair pinkish lips. She traced the outline with her thumb and smiled. “Hi…” Jessica said while catching her breath.
“Wow. What was that?” Yuri was still dazed by the kiss.
“My lips. I missed you.” Jessica grinned. “Anyway, I tried to cook today.”
That instantly alerted Kwon Yuri and brought her back from her trance. “What? You’re cooking?”
