"Your mother and father are coming home today, Miss... but we don't know what time exactly..." The head maiden told the birthday girl as she sat alone at the dining table, eating her food slowly.

October 12th, 2019. It was her 20th birthday yet, no one was there to celebrate it with her. Both her parents were in Spain for their Business trip, and her girlfriend practicing for tomorrow's event in their agency. Although Xiaoting stopped by earlier, Y/n was still asleep so she just went off without greeting the older. Y/n then received a birthday message instead and by that, she was already happy.

"And Miss Shen dropped off earlier, you were still asleep but she told us not to wake you up" The head maiden added.

"It's fine, Mrs. Fei. I'm planning to spend my day all by myself anyway. Thank you for the breakfast, it was delicious" Giving the maiden an assuring smile, Y/n went back to her room and then covered herself with her thick blankets.

"If only I have a sibling, I have someone to talk to right now~" She sighed. Y/n always wanted to have one but her parents said she's enough already. Her cousins were busy as well, she can't go home to her grandmother too because Zhejiang is too far.

Ting🌷
It's break
What are you doing?
Did you eat breakfast already?
Are you awake?

💍❤
I'm up now, baobei
I already ate
How about you? Did you eat before you left to work?

Ting🌷
Yep
By the way~
Happy 20th 💗
We're growing up so fast 😢

💍❤
Thank you, 宝 (Bao)
You're turning 20 too, soon. The countdown starts now
Who are you spending your birthday with?

Ting🌷
You, of course

💍❤
Well, I can't take you out. It'll be boring if you spend it with me

Ting🌷
No, we can have indoor dates, you know... like we always do
Your company is never boring to me
Our instructor is back
Talk to you later
I love you

💍❤
I love you too
Good luck

Smilingly throwing the old-fashioned phone she was using aside, Y/n stood up to stretch her limbs. The phone she was using only has her family, Xiaoting's, Xiaoting's family, and relatives' contacts on it. It was so old fashion, you can't do anything with it, just texts (Keypad phone)

Her parents never wanted her to own a phone because the phone's location is easy to find, they're afraid someone might get her again. But after getting engaged, they gave her an old-fashioned one to stay in contact with her fiancée.

The whole day, Y/n spent her time planting fruits with the house gardeners and maidens, and also painted the back of their house with ugly designs because she sucks at drawing/painting.

Noon came and still, her parents haven't arrived yet. The maids already cooked food for the family and workers to enjoy but seems like the old couple was going to be late. Night came and Y/n spent her birthday with the house workers instead. It was a fun yet sad celebration for her. The workers made her laugh but deep inside, she's feeling incomplete.

The majority of the food was given to the workers to take home to their families. Y/n dismissed them all since it's weekend anyway. The workers will come back on Monday. Y/n was now all left lonely in their big mansion. It's so big ghosts might live there but Y/n isn't a scaredy-cat.

The clock strikes at 6:30, and her parents or Xiaoting never came to their house. She knows they're busy but it makes her upset that they still need to work during weekends. Breathing heavily, she was stopping her emotions to burst out. She never felt this sad in her entire life. She's not a cry baby but in this situation, she feels really, really emotional.

Before her first tear could ever fall from her eyes, someone grabbed both of her shoulders, scaring her with a deep "Boo!"

"Yah!" She jumped out of the seat, instead of getting angry at the person, she ran behind the sofa and then hugged them tightly. She knows it's Xiaoting because of the voice and antics. "You came home early?" She asked. Usually, Xiaoting and the trainees end training at 7:00 pm. Y/n knows because she was an ex trainee there.

"I can't miss my fiancée's birthday, you know" Xiaoting hugged back the smaller girl in front of her. They sway each other happily at the moment.

"Happy 20th birthday and 3rd anniversary, 宝宝"

"Ah, I thought you forgot about the anniversary" Oth of them chuckled. "How could I? We got so many events on our birthdays... you got our relationship anniversary while on my birthday, we got engaged" It was true. Early first year in the relationship, Xiaoting spent her 19th birthday in Song's mansion and as Y/n kissed her on the forehead, some maid saw that and reported it to Y/n's mother. Both of them were called immediately and at the thought of getting to the edge of the relationship, they got engaged instead.

"It's been so long you stayed with me. Thank you for accompanying me always..." Xiaoting added her lips beside the shorter's ears.

"And I thank you for appearing in my life, without you, I'm rotten to boredom now..." Just in time, the television played a slow, romantic song for the two to dance to. They never danced together before because Y/n is beyond embarrassed to dance beside the main dancer. "Dance with me" Xiaoting whispered to her but Y/n refused. "I don't think I can dance this"

"Just follow my lead" Taking Y/n's hands, Xiaoting started to waltz, Y/n following her steps. The song was perfect for them and it was the first time Y/n ever encountered this song. It is called Lover by Taylor Swift.

Every moment, Y/n followed until she got used to it. She looked up at Xiaoting to see the other staring back at her. The staring contest was never new to both of them. They could do it all day without breaking contact and were never shy about it. Even if their faces are flushed, it's a competition who can stay in the staring contest longer.

"Can I go where you go?... Can we always be this close?... forever and ever" The song lyrics were slowly getting hooked with Y/n. It was a great, meaningful song, addressed to lovers. It's like a wedding song but a bit more upbeat.

"Who sang this song?" Y/n asked.

"Taylor Swift"

"Who's that?"

"The singer of this song"

...

"Okay... it's the first time I heard the singer's name... I like her voice" Y/n complimented. She can't access western sites, she can only listen to music through television. She doesn't have a phone to start with. "Me too" Xiaoting was quietly staring over at the shorter one in front of her who was busy reading the lyrics flashed on the television.

'I've loved you 3 summers now, honey, I want them all'

"Wow, I guess this song is really for us, huh? How did she know it's our 3rd year?" Y/n joked.

"Yang"

"Yeah?" Turning her head back to Xiaoting, giving her the brightest smile she could show. "Nothing, I just want to say I love you" Beeping Y/n's nose as she started swaying again.

"Do you know what that action meant?"

"What action?" Xiaoting was unaware. She knows nothing about symbolic gestures but Y/n was the way around. Being the love brain she is, she already watched hundreds of romantic movies and read hundreds of romance books. "If you boop someone's nose tip, it means you like them"

"Well, I like you"

"I know"

"Come on, move your feet, let's dance" Xiaoting's untied her arms around the older's waist and then took her hand to lead her again. "You've seen me hundreds of times dancing ballroom, I know you know the steps already, Yang"

Dancing to the slow song felt like an eternity. Their hands never let go of each other except when they spun each other. Their giggles echo the house, as well as the loud song. At the ending when they alternatively spin each other, it was repeated 3 times like the song itself never wanted to stop them dancing. But before both of them could finish the spin for the last phrase, Xiaoting stopped moving her body which made Y/n confused, not until Xiaoting pulled her closer.

They've been dating for 3 years already, yet, they never had their first kiss. But now, those longing years are finally over. Xiaoting made a move again.

Pulling Y/n close until their lips met, Y/n was never surprised, wrapping her arms around Xiaoting's neck to pull her to her height level. After a few seconds, both of them eventually pulled out but their foreheads leaned on each other. Smilingly as Y/n placed another peck, the song changed into a rotating sound-like song with the same singer.

The environment then turned into an enchanted like atmosphere as they look into each other's eyes, smiling at the thought of giving each other their first kisses.

"Am I your first kiss?" Xiaoting asked.

"Yes, why? You can say I'm not a good kissee because that was just a long peck, Shen Xiaoting..."

"Then kiss me once again, the long one, what do they call it?" Y/n instantly knew what Xiaoting was talking about and then launched herself at the other girl, diving as she initiated another kiss. She thinks what Xiaoting meant was to "make out" So she showed what that means.

After a few minutes, Y/n broke it and then asked "is that what you're talking about?"

"Yes... now, I must say that you're a great kisser, are you sure I'm your first kiss?" Xiaoting was surprised how could she be Y/n's first kiss but her lips moved like it's already kissed other lips before? "You are, really. I guess I learned it by watching movies"

"Aiya~ I think you're not skipping the adult contents in the movies, that's why" Xiaoting clicked her tongue while shooking her head.

"What do you expect? I'm free to watch them, I'm 18 and above already" Y/n countered. "You still skip them? Then you're not open-minded"

"I am open-minded! But it's uncomfortable, you know"

"What do you mean?"

"I don't know... I guess I watch with my parents, it's inappropriate to glue my eyes on the television when the actors are making out... but never mind anyway, I don't like watching them anyway. I can kiss you now... I must say you're my first kiss too, Yang. I'm happy that I am your first as well" Beeping the shorter's nose once again before placing a gentle kiss on her forehead.

"I hope I will be your first and last kiss" Xiaoting added.

"Please help me"

Y/n was then brought back to reality when she felt unfamiliar lips on hers. Her hands gently pushed Doah's shoulders right away then turned to Xiaoting who was looking extremely sad behind Doah.

"Is he gone?" Doah asked but she noticed that Y/n is not listening. "Unnie, hey" snapping a finger in front of Y/n's face to get her attention.

"Thank you, unnie... and I'm sorry" Doah turned around to Xiaoting who was raising her brows in a confused manner. "I'm very sorry, I need to cover myself from that guy... he's really annoying... I'm sorry"

"It's okay" Both of them turned to Y/n. Doah was smiling while Xiaoting displays a confused and surprised face. "Thank you, unnie. Sorry for ruining your date- oh, by Xiaoting unnie's face... are you two, perhaps, dating?" Doah asked all of the sudden. "What are you talking about? Aren't Xiaoting dating another girl?" Y/n dodged the topic for no further questions.

"We're just friends" Y/n added that broke Xiaoting's heart into pieces. Even though what she said was true, Xiaoting thinks that Y/n's covering up herself so Doah could still chase her.

"Why can't she say yes, we're dating, so this girl would stop," Xiaoting thought. Doah is now beyond annoying to her. She once saw Y/n's messages with her and every time, Doah would ask Y/n to hang out with her. She's very obvious that makes Xiaoting pissed.

"I'll go home now" Xiaoting announced that made Y/n confused this time. "Bye unnie" Doah excitedly said at the thought she could get Y/n alone this time but no, Y/n knows Xiaoting is angry and she can't let this argument grow. She's sick of the ups and downs, why can't they have that peaceful relationship just like before?

"I'll go home now too, Doah. Have a safe ride home" Without further do, Y/n ran towards the walking Xiaoting, asking what's the matter.

"Don't ignore me" While on the road, Xiaoting wasn't paying attention to Y/n who was trying hard to get her attention.

"I'm sorry, I didn't see that coming. I promise it's-"

"No, I know you never expected it too... but come on, Yang Y/n. Why do you keep giving red flags green lights? Can't you see she has a crush on you and you keep on giving her hope?"

"What do you mean by red flags? Doah's nice"

"Nice to you, you never know her attitude towards us and to your so-called daughters. Please, can you just... ignore her?"

"What, why? She didn't-"

"Are you going to defend her still? She freaking kissed you in front of me, it's like choosing her instead of me. Why? Do you like her? Then go on, leave me-"

"No! I don't like her. But she's my friend- why, when you cheated on me, I didn't stop you from befriending Yurina, right? It's so unfair, Shen Xiaoting"

"It's not unfair, just tell me you like Kim Doah-"

"I don't fucking like her!" Unconsciously shouting in front of Xiaoting's face, Y/n got slapped for the first time in her entire life. The driver was nervously looking at the rearview, gulping at what he saw. He can't understand them but it's very obvious that they're fighting. Xiaoting, who just got conscious of what she was doing, was surprised to herself more. She never harmed Y/n physically until this one. They never fought like this before too, it was just words, no actions.

"I-I'm sorry-" gently held the cheeks that were turning red, Y/n pushed her hand away and scooted farther to the other corner. Xiaoting observed her but she has no emotions. The mark is starting to get visible and she feels really sorry about it. She didn't know what came on her just now.

"Y/n" She called but seems like the other girl was in her thoughts. Xiaoting was afraid Y/n would overthink again so she inched towards her and held her hand. Y/n was fully aware and threw Xiaoting's hands away.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to do it" Y/n was just staring into the thin air, breathing normally which is... odd. She feels really angry but she can't let it out.

"Bao" Xiaoting tried and tried but she can't get Y/n's attention. "I'm really sorry"

Y/n started shaking, not because of crying, she's becoming angry and angrier as she hear the words "sorry" She was once allergic to it and it's returning. "Mr. Kim, stop the car" The driver did as what his boss said. Xiaoting was nervous at the thought of Y/n dropping her off. She got no money with her, she might get lost if she gets off this highway.

"Where are you going?" But instead of getting kicked off, Y/n was the one who get out of the car. "You can go now, Mr. Kim" Y/n instructed and just after closing the door, the car started moving away. Xiaoting wants to follow her but they're already far. "Can't believe we're in this situation again, you're so messed up, Shen Xiaoting..."

"Unnie" Doah called Y/n. They were on this beach in Doah's hometown. She was touring Y/n 3 times in a row already. She's thankful the older likes her company.

"Yeah?"

"Have you thought about what you're going to do after being an idol? Are you still going to be a celebrity or get away from the public?"

"I guess I have to continue my profession"

"What is it?"

"Business"

"Oh, so you're a business person too..." Doah knew another thing about Y/n. Every day, she would gather hundreds of facts from the older. She feels happy because she thinks Y/n is opening up to her.

"What about you?"

"I'm taking business soon this September. I'll stop being an idol for the meantime"

"You know what my father told me? Finish my study first before doing what I like. I never wanted to be an idol but I need to watch over my friend here so I came" Kicking off the sand on her feet, Xiaoting came into her mind again. It's been days since they saw each other.

"Your father must be strict"

"Not really, he's a busy man, thou. He likes to work and work, I guess I got my traits from him" the two found a bench on the corner and sat there. The sun has completely risen already. They were walking beside the sea for so long now. Y/n is going home later so Doah asked her to get their last walk.

"Unnie" Doah called again.

"Yeah?"

"I have something to tell you, but don't get mad if you hear it"

'Is she going to confess?' Y/n thought. It's obvious to her now that Doah likes her.

"Go on"

"Unnie, I like you" Y/n just smiled at her before patting her head. She doesn't want to hurt the little one so she's going to reject her gently.

"It's not bad to like someone, Doah-ssi. But I'm-"

"It's okay if you don't like me back, unnie. I just want to tell you my real feelings and your response is enough" Doah forced a smile before removing Y/n's hands on top of her head. Not gonna lie but that pat gave her hope.

"I know that you like someone too and I'm incomparable to them"

"That's not true, I don't have someone in mind. I just want to focus on work now" Y/n excused. She can't just say she's engaged to Xiaoting because Doah knows Xiaoting and Yurina are dating.

"But we'll remain as friends, don't worry, I won't ignore you" Y/n assured.

"Hmm, we'll remain as friends. I got that in mind" Doah responded although the next few days, Doah never texted Y/n again. Y/n was grateful yet sad that she must've hurt Doah. She never told to Xiaoting because they might fight again. She was also planning to break up with Xiaoting at that time to recover. But during the 'break up', nothing changes. They're still the love birds until Doah planned on showing up again.

"Mr. Kim, can you drive me towards Song residence instead?" Xiaoting told the driver. Mr. Kim followed what she said and then started the engine again. They were in front of Kep1ers dorm but she wanted to apologize to Y/n again. She will do everything to get Y/n's kindness again.

bff🌷
What I did was wrong
I will do everything to make things right again
Thank you for loving me and caring about me unconditionally