{ 21 }

It was 9 o’clock on the dot when the doorbell to Dara’s apartment rang. She quickly scrambled to her feet, fixed her hair a little and proceeded to get the door. When she opened it, she saw a casual-dressed Kwon Jiyong, far from his usual business suits.

She gazed at him a little more than needed. She had always known that Kwon Jiyong has a great fashion sense way back in the university. Perhaps, she believed, that that particular trait was one of the reasons why you just couldn’t stop yourself from ogling whenever he walks by.

PARK! Get a hold of yourself!

She cleared her throat and smiled brightly at Jiyong. “Hi. Good morning.”

A side of his lips upturned, revealing his signature smirk. “Good morning yourself. Let’s go.” He walked over to his Lamborghini parked in front of Dara’s apartment, leaning in there as he waited for Dara to safely lock her door.

From afar, Jiyong looked awesome. It was even more amazing when you get to see him up close. Dara could see some of her neighbors were busy staring at the Lamborghini Aventador, and even busier ogling at the gorgeous owner. She scowled at the looks they’re giving Kwon Jiyong, suddenly feeling possessive. She sped up her strides.

“You ready?” Jiyong asked.

Dara could feel the jealousy and envy spouting from her female neighbors. She inwardly smirked. Tch. Back off, you flirts! Kwon Jiyong is mine!

Her eyes widened as she caught herself. What the hell, Dara?! Get. A. Grip!

Jiyong took hold of Dara’s shoulder because for a minute he thought that she was going to faint. Her eyes suddenly widened. “Dara? Are you okay?”

Dara sucked in her breath before smiling and trying her best to be graceful. “I’m great. Let’s go.”

The two of them got inside the car as Jiyong drove off.

--

“So, where are we going?” Dara broke the ice. They’d been driving for a few minutes now, but Jiyong wasn’t saying anything.

“You were the one who asked me out, right?” He teased. “I thought you already planned the itinerary.”

Dara’s cheeks were tinted with pink as she tried to clear her name. “YAH! I did not ask you out!”

Jiyong laughed at Dara’s adorableness. Dara was surprised to see him laughing this casually that she can’t help but to show him a smile of her own.

What Dara didn’t know was that Jiyong was more surprised at himself. He only laughs freely when he was around his mother or Yuri, but Dara... Dara’s opening him up again unconsciously.

An event crossed Jiyong’s memory. He was a feeling a bit light-headed, causing him to pull over.

“Jwiyongieeeee! Let’s plant time capsules!!!” Dara excitedly gushed. The two of them were lying on the grass in the school’s field when she thought of that.

Jiyong stared at his girlfriend. “Babe, how did you come up with this ridiculous plan again?” He asked, propping his elbow on the grass to look at Dara better.

Dara scrunched up her nose as Jiyong voiced out his distaste. “Yah Kwon Jiyong!” She said suddenly, her voice dripping with fake sweetness. “Wanna break up?”

Jiyong laughed so hard that he even felt the need to sit up as Dara stared at him with a scowl. “KWON JIYONG!!!”

“Babe, you won’t break up with me.” He said smugly as he looked at Dara.

Dara’s face was suddenly covered with a sugary smile. “Really, babe?” She asked, which sounded more like a challenge. She pecked Jiyong on the cheeks to her boyfriend’s surprise and walked over to Jung Ilwoo who was a few miles far, one of the guys who was fearless to let Dara know of his admiration even though the whole university knows she’s taken by Kwon Jiyong, the guy who turned down every single girl at the campus.

Jiyong started to bubble up with rage as he saw Dara talking and laughing with Ilwoo. He was on his feet in no time at all, ready to charge at Ilwoo like a bull seeing red. “Bastard,” he muttered under his breath as he made headway towards the two.

“So Dara, where will you be around 7? My friends are plan–”

Jiyong wrapped his arm around Dara’s shoulder and stared at Ilwoo. “She’ll be in my room. You want to come?”

Ilwoo looked at Jiyong in surprise, then he slowly shook his head before smiling at Dara again. “Oh, Jiyong’s here. I guess I’d see you around, Dee.” Before Jiyong could utter another word, Ilwoo left like a breeze.

As soon as the guy was out of their sight, Dara distanced herself with Jiyong. She placed both of her hands on her hips and stared at him, challenging him. “You were saying something, Kwon?” She smirked, looking pompous.

“AISH!” Jiyong let out. “YAH KWON SANDARA, DO YOU WANT ME TO DIE?! AND WHO WAS THAT BASTARD CALLING ‘DEE?!’ ASSHOLE! HE WASN’T EVEN YOUR FRIEND!!!”

Dara’s demeanor suddenly changed from smug to cute. She placed her arms around Jiyong’s waist and looked up to him while pouting.

Jiyong could only sigh, his anger being diminished because of his crazy and unpredictable girlfriend. He looked down at her before stealing a kiss from her pouting lips. “Jeez, babe, the things you make me do.” He huffed before asking, “Where will we place it?”

Dara was rubbing circles at the back of Jiyong’s palm as an attempt to calm him down. He suddenly pulled over without warning, and she figured that maybe he remembered another piece of their memory. She could only helplessly hold his hand and stare at him while he suffers.

After another painful minute, Jiyong seems better. He was breathing heavily, but he doesn’t look dizzy anymore. “Are you okay?” Dara gently asked.

Jiyong stared at her for a long time before answering. “I’m feeling better.”

Dara heaved a sigh of relief. “Thank God. I was about to panic if that lasted a minute longer.”

Jiyong was surprised to see that Dara was still holding his hand, rubbing circles. Whenever he was with women, he tries not to get intimate with them and just simply satisfy their carnal lust. He doesn’t cuddle, he doesn’t hold hands, he doesn’t let his stare linger. He was afraid that he might send them the wrong signals if he does that, so he does his best to avoid that. Yet, with Dara holding his hand, he doesn’t feel like it was awkward. He doesn’t feel the need to pull his hand out, rather, he wanted to hold it tighter. Dara holding his hand was like a familiar memory. Their hands look like the perfect fit.

“Are you still diz–” Dara didn’t finish asking her question when she followed Jiyong’s eyes. He was staring at their hands together. She reddened and tried to pull away, but Jiyong didn’t say anything. He simply tightened his hold on her hands and even intertwined their fingers before proceeding. She could only stare at him in disbelief.

Internally, Jiyong sighed. He doesn’t know what he was doing either. He was simply letting his instincts take over, and this is what it wants. Dara didn’t seem to hate it either, since she didn’t insist on taking her hand back. He glanced at her for a bit before squeezing her hand a little.

Let’s just be happy for now.

--

The car ride passed by in silence. Jiyong was still holding Dara’s hand tightly, but neither of them managed to even croak a word. Jiyong pulled over in front of a café. “Let’s go. I bet you haven’t eaten breakfast yet.”

He was the first one to get out of the car and he opened the door for Dara. She was just about to feel giddy with excitement when she realized who the café owner was.

None other than her best friend, Park Bom.

Dara cringed at the thought of Bom seeing Jiyong and her together. She bets on her life that Bom will have a major galactic flip once that happens. She tugged at Jiyong’s shirt to stop him from going inside the place. “Uhm, can’t we go to another one?”

Jiyong stared at her curiously. “Why? Is there something wrong here? This is…” He looked at the café’s overall façade. “…Bom’s place, right?”

Dara’s eyes widened when Jiyong uttered Bom’s name. UGH! Sometimes Jiyong can be so stupid! “So you know Bommie’s in there and you want to go inside?! Are you freaking kidding me Kwon Jiyong?!” Dara half-screamed. She was about to go all-out when she realized that they were in public and she will only humiliate herself.

He only smiled at her boyishly. “Relax, Dara. I also want to talk to Bom.”

She could only huff before the two made their way towards the café.

--

“Good morning, what can I get–” Seungri’s eyes widened upon seeing their boss’ best friend. “O, Dara noona! What are you doing here? Do you want me to call Bom noona?!” He excitedly gushed.

Dara was just about to answer when Seungri fired another string of questions. “Noona, are you all right?! The last time you were here, Bom noona immediately asked us to clean up and go. You looked really pale that night, noona, and you were even crying. Are you better now?”

Dara smiled at Seungri’s concern for her. She treats Seungri as her little brother now, since she sees bits of Sang Hyun– her brother in Busan– in Seungri’s deep concern for her. She ruffled the panda’s hair before answering. “Neh, I’m better now, Seungri-yah. No need to worry for noona.”

Seungri nodded and heaved a sigh of relief. “I kept on pestering Bommie noona since the last time and she even threatened to cut my wages because of that.” He said and pouted.

Dara laughed at him. “Don’t worry Seungri-yah, I will talk to Bom. Thank you for your concern, saeng.”

Jiyong’s eyebrows mashed together as he saw Dara getting chummy with the worker behind the cashier. She volunteered to get them drinks and food because she said that she’s been a frequent customer in here, so she already knows they’re specialty. To his surprise, the worker suddenly bombarded Dara with questions while Dara watched him with a tender smile. He suddenly felt like practicing his judo skills… on the man behind the counter.

When she ruffled the guy’s hair, Jiyong had the desire to throw the man to outer space or something. He then stood up and walked towards the two who were oblivious to his presence. “Dara, aren’t you done yet?”

The two looked at him. Dara’s look was apologizing but the other guy’s look was scrutinizing him. Hah! He huffed and smirked. Who is this guy?!

“Omo, mianhae, Jiyong. I’ll order now.” Dara apologized and was about to order when the worker spoke.

“Noona, you’re with him?” His voice was sharp.

Jiyong was about to answer when Dara beat her to it. “Ah, neh. Seungri-yah, can you get me my usual? And then–”

“Just make that two.” Jiyong cut off before turning to Dara. “You go and wait in the table. I’ll bring it there.”

Dara was about to protest when Jiyong turned her and made her walk towards the table he was occupying a while ago. She stopped sulking since she knows how stubborn Jiyong can be and let him do what he wants.

Meanwhile, the tension between the two guys was increasingly growing and growing as every minute passes. Jiyong briefly read the worker’s name tag and saw that his name was Seungri. Tch, what an ugly name, Jiyong thought childishly. Seungri? HAH! More like Seungrat! Tss.

The two were so involved in trying to stare each other down that they didn’t even notice another customer behind Jiyong. “Uhm, excuse me, can’t I order yet?”

They stopped trying to kill each other with their stares. Seungri placed Jiyong’s order in the tray while the latter paid. “Don’t hurt my noona.” Seungri said before handing Jiyong the tray.

Jiyong didn’t answer; he only grabbed the tray from Seungri and marched towards their table.

--

Seungri watched as the guy ate with his Dara noona. Don’t get our panda wrong, he doesn’t like Dara romantically– though he admits he had a crush on her for a brief period of time when they first met– but he feels protective of her because he knows that even though Dara acts like she was always strong, she’s still a woman who gets hurt.

Dara was also the reason why Bom and Seungri usually bonded. Bom strictly instructed him that he should always watch over Dara at all costs whenever Bom’s not around the café, and Seungri took that job pretty well.

He couldn’t take it anymore. He turned and called one of his fellow worker, Hayi, who was busy mopping the floor. “Hayi, can you take the cashier for now? I have to talk to Bom noona.”

Hayi shrugged and nodded before setting the mop on the side. “Sure, oppa.”

When Hayi replaced his spot, he immediately went over to Bom’s office, knocking loudly.

“Come in!” Bom’s voice rang through the other side of the door.

Seungri immediately went in to see a furious Bom. “You panda! Did you have to knock like your pants are on fire?!” She scolded but Seungri only dismissed her.

“Noona, Dara noona is here!”

Bom’s brows furrowed. “Dara? But she didn’t tell me she’d go…”

“Noona, she’s with a guy!”

Bom suddenly stood up from her seat, not bothering even though she knocked down some of the paper works on her desk. “A GUY?!”

Seungri nodded enthusiastically. Bom marched out but not before shouting “Thanks, panda!” to the part-timer.

And there, Bom saw Kwon Jiyong and Park Sandara, laughing together like the past five years didn’t happen.