{ 04 }

When Dara settled on her desk the next morning, Mrs. Han, the most experienced teacher in their faculty and the person whom Dara treats like a second mother was on a roll. “Faster, people!”

Dara was clouded with curiosity. “Uhm, excuse me Mrs. Han, but what’s happening?”

“Oh Dara, dear, the school’s benefactor will be coming later today, probably around lunch time and the principal dropped by here a while ago to ensure that we will be ready if ever he tours around.” Mrs. Han explained.

“Oh…” She answered, nodding her head.

“You fix your workplace too, Dara.” The older woman advised her.

Dara smiled at her. “Sure, Mrs. Han.” She answered and went back to her desk. She only dusted and fixed some of the papers stacked in there when Donghae, a fellow teacher, caught her attention.

“Yah Park Sandara, you don’t have anything to clean there anymore! Help me here!!!” He cried out.

Dara and the rest of the faculty members laughed. Donghae’s desk was littered with papers of various sizes, shapes and colors. He keeps his things there not because he’s lazy but because he said he feels good seeing the efforts of his students. That’s a good reason really, but it wasn’t handy in times like these. The principal ordered them not to stack a lot of papers. Only one holder was allowed and a few folders.

She rushed in towards Donghae who was having a hard time. She quickly helped him fix it by temporarily putting it in cartons. All of Donghae’s papers took up almost six cartons. Good thing that the students are busy with their exams and only proctors are needed that’s why they aren’t that busy.

They also wiped and dusted Donghae’s desk. After an hour, his desk actually looks like a desk and not a place for junks.

“Whoa, Dara can make wonders! She actually made Donghae’s desk look like a real desk!” Wooyoung exclaimed.

Donghae threw a paper at Wooyoung which made all of them laughed. He then turned to Dara. “Thanks a lot, Dee. You’ve been a big help.”

Dara smiled. “It’s nothing. I barely have anything to clean anyway.”

“Oh yeah, it’s your first time right?”

“Yeah, I only came here this year, remember?”

“Oh, I came here last year and when the dragon came in, I thought I was gonna pee myself!” Donghae laughed, recalling the memory. “He asked about the new teachers, and that time it was that monkey Wooyoung and I. He doesn’t admit it, but when I asked Mrs. Han and the others they said that Wooyoung looked more nervous than I did.”

“Really?” Dara asked. “Is the boss really that bad?”

“Hmm, not bad, no,” Donghae answered thoughtfully. “It’s just… his aura is too strong. Very fitting, really, to the rumors circulating around.”

“Rumors?”

“Well, for one, he looks cold, acts cold and speaks cold. You stand side by side with him and you could totally feel your insides freeze. He barely shows emotions– no, wait, he doesn’t show expressions at all! He’s a total cyborg, I’m telling you.” He answered and tsked, shaking his head.

“Omo. What should I do then? Aish, I’m the only new teacher this year in here…” She asked him worriedly.

Donghae patted her shoulder. “Don’t worry too much. You’ll be fine, Dee. He’ll just ask for new teachers, you’ll walk there beside him, you answer a question or two, then he leaves and you can faint. Wooyoung and I will surely catch you!”

“Yah!” Dara screamed and smacked Donghae’s head. “You’re not helping right now!”

“Hae’s kidding, Dee.” Wooyoung interjected. “The dragon’s not that bad. He’ll just freeze you.”

Dara’s face scrunched up in annoyance. She’s really worried meeting the “dragon” and the two guys are just feeding her worry. “But… why do you guys call him dragon?” She curiously asked.

“Oh, the vice principal said that “dragon” was the boss’ nickname in the business society. He’ll burn you with fire if you don’t step out of his way. He can chew you down and spit you up just like that. Even if you fight, you’ll lose. That’s why they say that when the dragon wants your company, just sell it to him. That way, you’ll at least have your company’s worth. If you try to fight?” Wooyoung shook his head repeatedly and made disapproving noises. “You’re in a lose-lose situation. You lose your company, you lose your money.”

“Yeah. He’s the number one businessman now, right? He even surpassed his father.” Donghae agreed.

“Well, number one businessman or not, he’s still ruthless and cruel. Does he really have to do that to people? Coerce them into selling when they clearly don’t want to? Is that even the way of a human?” Dara smirked, her good side kicking in. “No, maybe it’s too humble to even call that kind of person human. He should respect other people, too! I bet he’s only respected because he imposed it on his workers. He just pushes them arou–”

“SANDARA!” Wooyoung shouted.

Dara looked at him. “Why, what’s wrong?”

“Don’t turn a–” Donghae was just about to warn her when someone beat him to it.

“Turn around, miss.” An unfamiliar voice boomed through the whole faculty room.

Her eyes widened. She gingerly and slowly turned around, where she was face to face with a man who looked stoic, but his eyes look angry. Is he… the dragon? Dara asked herself. Perhaps. Wooyoung and Donghae’s description fits him.

“…he looks cold, acts cold and speaks cold. You stand side by side with him and you could totally feel your insides freeze. He barely shows emotions– no, wait, he doesn’t show expressions at all! He’s a total cyborg, I’m telling you.”

They were right, Dara conceded. This guy is a total cyborg.

“Who are you?” The man asked.

“Pa– Park… Sandara.”

“And what are you here?”

She was about to answer when Mrs. Han intercepted. “Mr. Kim, please forgive Dara. She’s a new teacher here and she hasn’t met Mr.–”

The cyborg turned to look at Mrs. Han. Even the older woman stumbled a little under this Mr. Kim’s scrutiny. “Exactly, Mrs. Han. She’s a newbie, yet she dare defile Mr. Kwon’s name.”

Dara stiffened, hearing that surname. “Kwon…?” She whispered to herself.

“That’s enough, Jaejoong.” A very familiar voice said. The man walked inside the room as if he owns everyone in there. It was a familiar voice, alright, but Dara couldn’t feel the warm emotions which it used to have.

She slowly brought her head up, and there he was. Kwon Jiyong. The man she loves who vanished without a trace five years ago. Not even TOP or Youngbae ever saw him again.

The first thing she noticed about him was his eyes. It was different. It wasn’t gentle anymore. It was cruel… and ruthless. Unforgiving and cold.

“Kwon Jiyong…” Dara muttered under her breath, her tears threatening to fall.

Kwon Jiyong didn’t even spare her a glance. Instead, he ordered Mr. Kim and his other men to leave and proceed to wherever they were going.

When they all left, Dara felt her knees turn to jellies. “Kwon Jiyong…” She muttered again, and she was about to faint when Donghae caught her.

“Dara?” Donghae’s concerned voice was followed by Wooyoung’s, and then there were a variety of people crowding her and then it was black.

Where is my Jiyong?