They're playing games on Taeyeon's new gaming console and rapidly descending into a wrestling match over laughs and accusations of cheating, when Taeyeon's phone rings. She reluctantly pulls away from Tiffany, quickly jabbing the pause button on her controller in defence of the mischievous glint in her eyes, and answers the phone.
"Hello?"
"Taeyeon, it's your mother."
Taeyeon freezes. "O-Omma?"
"Yes. Hello. I know it's been a long, long time since we've talked."
Taeyeon lets out a slow exhalation. "It has been almost eleven months, omma. I... I was starting to think you wouldn't talk to me again."
She hears a shaky breath on the other side of the phone. She reaches out for Tiffany, grips her arm tightly, but doesn't look at her yet.
"Omma, do you want to talk?"
"Yes. I'm just not sure what to say. I tried to think of something, a little speech, but I find myself still speechless after eleven months."
Taeyeon gulps, and closes her eyes. "Yes, omma."
"Are you still with Miyoung?"
"Yes, omma. And we've told her father. He's learning to accept us."
"I told your father, a couple of weeks after you told me. He asked why you hadn't called in so long and I told him what you had said."
"And what did appa say?"
Taeyeon feels the warmth of Tiffany wrapping around her, the comforting slow breaths on the back of her neck. She leans into the touch, and waits for her mother to answer.
"We don't... understand. We just don't understand why you would do something like this."
Taeyeon clenches her eyes even tighter shut and grips the phone. "And what exactly do you think I'm doing, omma? I've fallen in love and I'm in a relationship with the person I've fallen in love with. You don't understand that? And if you can't understand why I would be in a relationship with the person I'm in love with, then I'll explain it to you. She makes me happy, omma. She keeps me warm when everything around me is cold, and she's my shining light when it gets too dark. I love her, and I want to keep her by my side."
"How long have you two been dating now?"
"Almost eleven months, omma."
Her mother takes a few deep, even breaths before speaking again. "Listen, Taeyeon, we want you to understand something. We, all of us, your family, we love you very, very much. We know how hard it was for you, after you decided not to be a singer, and we know you've been learning from that incident for years. If you're even half as happy with her as you were when you used to sing, then we do understand. We understand your happiness very well. We just don't want you to lose yourself."
Taeyeon laughs briefly. "Omma. Your words are close to expressing my deepest fear. In a sense, I didn't want to be a singer because I didn't want to lose my voice, and then I lost my voice. But it's different. Tiffany - Miyoung - she's different. With her, I didn't lose myself. I gained myself, and her."
There's a long silence on the line. Taeyeon opens her eyes and shifts to kiss Tiffany on the cheek. Their eyes meet, both filled with concern, as they wait for Taeyeon's mother to speak.
Her mother sighs. "Okay. Okay, I understand."
"Really? Omma?"
"Yes, I understand. Taeyeon... you're my precious daughter. I don't want to lose you. I may not approve of your relationship in some ways, but I approve of your decision to follow your heart. I'm still struggling. We all are. We still have a lot to talk about, and a lot to think about. But I've told you since you were a baby; if you're happy, I'm happy, deep down in my heart. I love you, my child."
Taeyeon finds herself grinning. Tiffany wipes the tears from Taeyeon's cheeks, mirroring her smile even though she didn't hear those words.
"Thank you," she breathes, looking at Tiffany. "Thank you, omma. I love you all too."
She hears a sniff before her mother mumbles a goodbye and hangs up. Taeyeon lets the phone fall from her hand and pulls Tiffany closer to squeeze the life out of her. Tiffany returns the embrace with as much enthusiasm, and presses her face into Taeyeon's hair.
"She's trying," Taeyeon whispers. "She still loves me, and she understands that you make me happy. She's going to try."
