"Finish your breakfast, Jiyoon-ah," said Tiffany right before her phone rang. She saw the number and answered the call. "Hey."
"Hey. Are you still at Yoong's?"
"Yeah. We're having breakfast. Have you slept?"
"A little. I just got another call from that paramedic."
Tiffany tensed. "Hold on." She excused herself politely and left the table, going to the living room to take the call. "Please tell me that Mrs. Yoon's alright?"
"She fainted again last night, in front of her house."
"Oh no. Did they take her to the hospital?"
"No. She put up a fight so they let her rest at home." Taeyeon sighed. "What do we do, Fany? The medic said that at this rate, she won't last much longer."
"I... I don't know." Tiffany sat down on the couch, at a loss for words. "I'll go talk to her later today, after I drop Jiyoon off at school."
"Take Joonmyun or Jongin with you."
"I'll be fine on my own."
"Just do it, Fany. Or I'll call them myself."
"Okay. I'll ask one of them to come along." She decided not to argue. "How are you holding up?"
"I feel like throwing myself into a barrel of coffee but it's nothing new. Please be careful today?"
"I will. No need to be so paranoid, Taetae."
"Better safe than sorry."
Tiffany was about to reply when she saw the little girl running towards her.
"Is that Taetae?" asked Jiyoon as she looked up at Tiffany expectantly.
"Yeah. Hey, someone wants to talk to you," she told Taeyeon. "Here you go." She handed the phone to the excited little girl.
"Hello? Taetae?"
"Well, hello there. Who is this?"
"It's me, Jiyoon."
"I don't know anyone named Jiyoon."
"Gasp! Taetae!"
Taeyeon had to laugh. "Good morning. Did you sleep well?"
"Yes. Are you coming home today?"
"I don't know but I hope so. What did you have for breakfast?"
"Auntie Yoong made wa-waph-... waf-..."
"Waffles," said Tiffany in English to help the stuttering girl.
"Waffles!" repeated Jiyoon in the exact pronunciation. She grinned proudly when Tiffany patted her head.
"I see. Was it good?"
"Uh-huh."
"Better than my fried rice?"
"Yes."
Taeyeon laughed again. "Yah! How could you say that?"
Jiyoon only giggled in reply, happy to be able to tease Taeyeon.
She almost sighed when she heard the cute sound, feeling the returning regretful jab for not being there to see it in person. "You better go get ready for school now or you'll be late."
"Okay. Bye, Taetae."
"Bye. Be a good girl today, okay? Give the phone to Fany, please."
The girl did as she was told and ran off again, back to the dining room.
