Friday – Month 1, Day 14 (1/1)

“Mmm …” Sooyoung stirred and immediately the aroma of coffee caused her nostrils to flare. Sleep kept her eyes shut, but she could hear movements in the kitchen, where her houseguest must be brewing a pot of coffee. She felt warmth and fabric around her, while the surface did not feel like her bed.                   While Sooyoung was still slowly trying to wake up, a foreign finger hooked one of her nostrils, causing her eyes to shoot wide open. She was greeted with the strange face of a small boy, who was staring intently at her. “Mason!” She growled and turned away from the boy. Her back felt a bit tense from sleeping on the couch and she felt bad for Taeyeon who had to do so for the past few days.                   After Sunny dropped Mason, who is her little cousin, off at her place, Sooyoung and Taeyeon had to keep the boy entertain. While it was fun at first, the two women’s energy ran out long before the child’s. He wore them ragged until late at night, when they collapsed against each other on the sofa. As usual, Taeyeon woke up earlier than Sooyoung and made breakfast.                   “Aunty Sooyoung is up, Taeyeon-unni!” Mason giggled and clapped before he ran away.                   “You little rascal.” Sooyoung mumbled and closed her eyes again, so that the morning light did not completely dispel her sleepiness away. She was comfortable and happy, so she wanted to remain that way.                   “It’s not his fault, I asked him to wake you since it’s about time for you to get ready for school.” Taeyeon said from the kitchen.                   “I guess so.” Sooyoung replied, but made no effort to move.                   Suddenly, a huge weight landed on her stomach and knocked the wind out of her. “Auf!” She pushed against the sudden mass.                   “Wake up, Aunty Sooyoung! Let’s play!” Mason wiggled around as Sooyoung tried to push him off her stomach.                   “Get off me, boy!” Sooyoung successful removed the burden and immediately sat up. “That was dangerous, you could have crushed my ribs or punctured my lungs.” Normally, Sooyoung was not much of a morning person, and this morning was especially grating to her nerves.                   “But I wanna play! I’m bored!” The curly haired kid complained. “Play with me, Aunty Sooyoung!”                   “How come you call me Aunty but you call Taeyeon-unni as Unni?” Sooyoung rubbed her eyes with her palms and stifled a yawn.                   “Because you’re so big and tall … you must be ancient, right?”                   Sooyoung opened her eyes in shock at Mason’s reply while Taeyeon could be heard cracking up in the kitchen. In fact, the shorter woman’s laugh was so loud and mature that Sooyoung thought some ahjumma had invaded their home. She threw the laughing woman a pointed look before she flicked Mason’s forehead, causing the boy to wince in pain.                   “Owwie.” Mason’s lips pouted and his eyes teared up.                   “What am I? A tree? Just because I’m tall doesn’t mean I’m ancient. I’m younger than that ahjumma, you know.” Sooyoung pointed at Taeyeon, who stopped laughing immediately. “You should call me unni as well.”                   At this point, Mason ran into the kitchen and hugged Taeyeon’s leg. “Taeyeon-unni, that Aunty is so mean. She hurt my forehead!”                   “Argh. I’m going to get that Sunny for leaving this boy here.” Sooyoung threw back her blanket and rose from the sofa. She watched as Taeyeon easily comforted the kid with a morning snack. The older woman’s gentle and caring nature easily pacified even the worst of children.                   Sooyoung stood and leaned against the breakfast counter while she watched Taeyeon interact with her little cousin. She admired the older woman’s patience and calmness. Most of all, she respected Taeyeon’s ability to forgive. Inside her heart, Sooyoung still felt so guilty about her nosiness that led to her confrontation with Tiffany. That happened two days ago, but it still haunted her like it was just moments ago. She felt like she ruined Taeyeon’s chances of getting Tiffany back. But the older woman had been nothing but a saint. Taeyeon forgave and comforted while Sooyoung cried in her arms.                   A blush crept onto Sooyoung’s cheeks when she saw that Taeyeon caught her staring.                   “I am very beautiful, aren’t I?” Taeyeon winked after she had sent Mason off with a snack.                   “You’re radiant.” Sooyoung made her way around the counter and stepped into the kitchen, where she wrapped her arms around Taeyeon and hugged the older woman’s tight. “You’re the perfect unni.” She was sincere in her feelings since Taeyeon was her ideal sister, like the one she used to have.                   “Yah … are you up to no good?” Taeyeon patted Sooyoung’s back, but she laughed nervously. “All these compliments early in the morning aren’t good for my inflated ego.”                   “Your head is already big, no one will notice.” Sooyoung cheekily replied.                   Taeyeon rolled her eyes and poured herself a cup of coffee. “Whatever. Just get your butt ready for school or you’ll be late.”                   “Yes ma’am.” Sooyoung saluted the short chef and then turned around to get to her room.                   Shortly later, she returned and had breakfast with Mason and Taeyeon. It was the liveliest breakfast that the young woman had in a while. As she looked at the two smiling faces at her table, Sooyoung could not help but grin brightly. She felt like her lonely apartment was starting to feel like a home.                   After breakfast, Sooyoung bid the two farewells before she head to school. Sunny texted her while she was getting ready and requested if Mason could stay with Sooyoung for one more night. While she wanted to decline, Sooyoung felt bad for her cousin, so she reluctantly agreed. Since Taeyeon did not have a shift until the afternoon, she was going to watch Mason until Sooyoung came home. Sooyoung felt even more appreciative of the kind older woman. With a smile to herself, Sooyoung thought that if she was not careful, she might fall for the sweet Taeyeon. And what a mess that may turn out to be.