"Taeyeon no—don't! Oh my god."
Exasperated beyond understanding, Tiffany face palmed as she watched the girl tackle the huge lump of snow in the backyard. Said girl then rolls over the snow covered ground with high-pitched and excited shrieks of happiness and it eases a bit of Tiffany's annoyance. Just a little bit.
Tiffany sighs, wondering why she even agreed to babysit this child in the first place. To her defense, she was only asked to look after this supposedly 20 year old being and Tiffany hadn't thought twice of accepting because it couldn't be that hard to watch over a young adult, right? Well, she couldn't have been more wrong.
It had been all sorts of annoying. When Tiffany's dad had knocked on her doorstep on one sunny morning, she had thought it was just one of his casual visits. She had missed the man dearly and was prepared to welcome him with open arms but when she opened the door, her father had an apologetic smile on his face—and a little girl cowering behind him. The girl wasn't exactly little but the way she seemed to be trying to shrink herself to the ground and the terrified way she had clutched onto her father's shirt made her seem so.
The girl was peeking over her father's shoulder with teary eyes and Tiffany blinks back at the seemingly blonde girl.
Oh Tiffany remembers how she jumped into the wrong conclusions that time—omg dad don't tell me you got someone pregnant while in outerspace she could pass as my daughter already—or dad I love you but please please don't tell me you're seeing her, she looks five!—Tiffany had been very grateful that before she could voice out those rather impossible and irrational thoughts, her father had cut to the chase.
"Miyoung-ah, I'm really sorry if this is sudden but I need a favor…"
And viola, Tiffany had somehow agreed to take an extraterrestrial being under her wing. Her father had to leave urgently, not even staying for the rest of the day and she was left with the little girl who refused to talk, let alone look at her in the eyes.
The first few days were a bit handful and frustrating, Taeyeon (Tiffany was surprised at the rather human name she was given) avoided her like a plague and usually stayed at the corner most parts of the house and kept to herself. The only thing Tiffany knew about her (aside from the details her dad had shared) was that the girl had an appetite that would put a huge lion to shame. But all that quickly changed and her relationship with Taeyeon improved when she asked the girl if she wanted to take a walk in the park.
Tiffany remembers the undying curiosity that shone in Taeyeon's brown and emerald eyes like fireworks as they walked around. Taeyeon had asked her questions about the world—what is that little ball of fur walking with four legs can I eat it—what is that tall brown thing with pink leaves on top it's so pretty can I eat it—what is that noisy machinery with wheels can I eat it—and more endless arrays of what is that and can I eat it.
Taeyeon had warmed up to her very quickly after that and suffice to say that Tiffany felt the same way too. It was impossible to stay annoyed at the girl because she simply oozed irresistible cuteness. Taeyeon was genuine, sweet and surprisingly very easy to teach. The girl was eager to learn and Tiffany was generous and willing enough to tell her about the world.
And Tiffany hadn't had a dull day since.
Shoulders slumping in defeat, Tiffany took a sit on the patio that overlooked the backyard. Her eyes never strayed away from the rolling ball of fluff playing on the wide expanse of snow. She shudders in Taeyeon's place, for the girl only wore a pair of gray cotton shorts and a black sports bra (all of which came from Tiffany's own closet) and yet she isn't at all bothered by the biting cold.
Tiffany sniffles a bit, pulling the covers she brought closer and she snuggles to the flimsy warmth it offered. She watches the girl play around for a few more minutes and she has a smile ready when Taeyeon finally looks up, blonde hair sticking out in all directions and warm brown eyes with specks of green instantly fixed on her.
Taeyeon grinned. It was that typical childlike and bright grin of hers—so genuine and incredibly sincere. Otherworldly, Tiffany dares describe it as and laughs at the unintended pun but she had meant it. Because… because how could one smile like that? Tiffany had been told that her own smile was a total killer but she didn't think her 'eyesmile' could hold a candle when compared to Taeyeon's, not even close.
The girl clad in so little clothing then skips over to where she sat, huge grin still intact but Tiffany isn't prepared when she practically got pounced on as the energetic and really, really cold girl jumped on her lap without warning. Typical Taeyeon squeezes the life out of her with her arms and buries her face on the crook of Tiffany's neck with her never ending giggles.
It was at moments like this that Tiffany wonders if she's babysitting a real huge puppy instead—and it's still a little baffling that the girl is actually an alien.
"T-Taeyeon-ah," Tiffany sternly calls out, stuttering from the cold. She winces when the cold from Taeyeon's body manages to seep past the blanket but in an inhumane development, the cold was quickly replaced by warmth and her arms that were about to push the girl away pulled her closer instead.
Taeyeon hummed, lifting her head. "Much better?" she grins proudly, happy that she managed to keep the person who's been taking care of her all the while warm. Her grin broadened when Tiffany gives her an affirmative nod with an appreciative smile.
Tiffany looks into Taeyeon's eyes, the color of it a beautiful combination of brown and green with the former being more dominant. She cups the childlike face, running her thumb over Taeyeon's rosy cheek and the alien (Tiffany's still having a hard time digesting that fact) automatically leans into her touch. "Did you have fun in the snow?"
"Snow," Taeyeon repeated as if she was trying to familiarize herself with the word. She makes a face and her grin dissolves into a frown. "It tastes horrible."
Tiffany laughed, "Well giggles, you're not exactly supposed to put it in your mouth."
As if in response to the little nickname Tiffany gave her, Taeyeon giggled. "It's pretty. Much better than Sammer."
"Summer." Tiffany corrects.
"Sammer."
"Suh-mer."
"Saaah-mer."
Tiffany shook her head, chuckling. "Why don't we go back inside and you can pick a movie to watch?"
Taeyeon's eyes lit up and her excitement was easily invoked at the mention of watching a movie. Tiffany's portable and breathing heater jumps off her lap and into the living room and Tiffany follows the excited girl while yelling after her to not make a mess.
It was a normal weekend. But it wasn't so mundane anymore with the addition of a little alien in Tiffany's life.
An addition she was thankful for.
