{ 29 }

“Eomeoni, Yul-ah.” Dara heard Jiyong say. She was still left in the middle of his living room, looking so un-fresh. She was even wearing Jiyong’s shirt and boxers! OMONA OMONA, JUST WHAT WOULD MRS. KWON THINK OF ME?! OTTOKAE, KWON JIYONG!!!

When she saw that Jiyong was opening the door wider, her mind went into an overdrive. She quickly ran back to his bedroom. It’s not the brightest plan, but it was all she can think of at the moment. I’ll just stay here until his mom and Yuri go home, she conceded. Or maybe they’ll go?

Her phone’s ringtone suddenly came blaring. She grabbed her bag and took her phone. “Hello?”

“Unnie? It’s Minkki.” The voice on the other line answered. “Where are you? We’ve been trying to contact you.” She added, her voice full of worry and concern.

Ugh, damn. Of course. I have work today and I missed it! She glanced at the digital clock on top of Jiyong’s drawer. It was already 11:30 in the morning. God, I never thought I could sleep this much.

“Mianhae, Minkki-yah. I’m okay. I just feel sick this morning, and I overslept.” She lied. It’s not like she could just tell the girl that she overslept in her boyfriend’s arms and that they’ve got nothing to worry about, right?

“Minkki, is that Dara?” A voice on the background shouted, and after a few seconds there was a shuffling before Dara heard the other voice clearly. “Dara-yah! Are you mopey again?!” Wooyoung joked, making Dara laugh.

“Ani, Wooyoung-ah. I’m just sick. I’ll be back tomorrow, you don’t have to worry.” She assured him. After all, she wasn’t even sick.

“Arasso. Call next time, okay? We were really worried. It’s the first time you missed a work day.” Wooyoung seriously added. “Donghae, Sohee and Mrs. Han are worried too.”

“I’m really sorry to worry you all.” Dara answered, regret evident in her voice. “Tell everyone I’m sorry and that I’ll be there tomorrow.”

“Okay, Dee. Take care of yourself.”

“Sure, Woo. Thanks.”

“It’s nothing, Dee,” he answered before the line went off.

Dara placed the phone back inside her bag before she sighed. “OMO!” That was the only time when she noticed that Jiyong was leaning on the door, his arms crossed over his chest. “Who was that?”

“Wooyoung.” She answered nonchalantly. “My friend, remember?”

He stepped inside the room as he nodded his head. He stopped in front of the bed. “Your male friend, yes, I do remember, Kwon Dara.”

She couldn’t help but to laugh. “Yah, you’re jealous again?” She teased.

“Tss.” He snorted. “Kwon Jiyong? Jealous? Of whom? Those wusses?” He faked a laugh. “Jeez, Dee, give me a break.”

“Ahh, really? Then I could go to school now–”

Dara wasn’t even able to finish her sentence when Jiyong’s eyes snapped into hers. “YAH, why would you go there?! You’re late already!”

She shrugged and feigned innocence. “Well, Wooyoung said Donghae was–”

Jiyong felt himself heat up with frustration. He remembered how that Donghae was too protective of Dara. He doesn’t feel good that the man gets to see his Dara for long hours while he was stuck inside his office, meeting with stuffy businessmen who were only trying to get in Kwon Jiyong’s good graces.

Dara observed his reactions, and her lips curled into a smile. “So, you were saying something, Kwon?” She asked smugly.

“Get up, eomeoni’s asking for you.” He answered, avoiding her smug question. It was Dara’s turn to be flustered.

“Mrs. Kwon?” She parroted, swallowing a huge gulp of her saliva. Even thinking about meeting the elegant Mrs. Kwon was already killing her with anxiousness.

“It’s Madame Kwon,” he corrected, enjoying the horror on her face. After torturing him with Donghae’s name, it looks like Jiyong found his ace on his mother’s name.

Dara gulped. Madame... Kwon? Whoa, it sounds too regal and grand. Really fitting for Mrs.– Madame Kwon.

She looked down at the clothes she was wearing– Jiyong’s shirt and boxers. “I can’t go there! Omo, just what would Madame Kwon think if I go there looking like this?!”

Jiyong bit back a laugh. “You’re in luck, then. Yul and eomeoni just dropped by here after shopping. I’m sure Yul can whip something up. Take a bath first.” He turned back to the door. “I’ll call her in to help.”

Before Dara could even protest, Jiyong was out. She could only sigh. She went inside the bathroom to at least take a bath. She was about to start by brushing her teeth when she noticed that there was only one toothbrush in there. Aigoo, of course! Jiyong’s living alone. Tss. I wonder if he has extra?

She stepped out of the bathroom but found no one. She slumped her shoulders and went back. She eyed his toothbrush as she deliberated. Should I just use it? AISH! Use it? Or not? Use it? Or not?

In the end, she ended up using his toothbrush. She changed into another of his shirt and boxers before going out. She was even surprised when she saw Yuri sitting on his bed. The younger girl quickly stood up and smiled happily at Dara. “Hi unnie!”

Dara could only smile awkwardly. Ugh, do I really have to meet Yuri like this? Me wearing his brother’s shirt and boxers?! Uwaaaaah! She wailed inside her mind. Yuri seems to have noticed the awkwardness, since she held up her thumb and grinned. “Don’t worry unnie, I think it’s romantic! Jiyong oppa’s not really the kind to just lend anyone his things, but he even made you wear them!” A dreamy look was on Yuri’s face as she clasped her hands together. “Jiyong oppa’s head over heels in love with you.”

Dara blushed. “Not really, Yuri-yah.”

“Aigoo unnie, don’t be so modest! You’ve got Kwon Jiyong wrapped around your fingers.” She answered and grinned.

Truer words were never spoken.

--

Yuri did a good job cleaning her up at such a short time. She left her brunette curls down and applied a small amount of make-up on her face, just enough to accentuate her light features. She made her wear a black dress. It went down to her knees, but it hugged her figures all on the right places. Yuri even lent her a designer platform pumps to go with the dress.

When she emerged from the walk-in closet, Yuri clapped her hands in awe. “Omo unnie, you’re so pretty! I think you should really dress up always.”

Dara smiled. “No, Yuri, it’s all your hard work. If it weren’t for your expertise and for the pretty dress, I won’t look like this.”

Yuri smiled and linked her arms with Dara. “Aigoo unnie, oppa will surely drool.” She said and winked before the two girls made their way out.

--

“Just why is that two taking too long?” Jiyong asked himself anxiously as he paced back and forth.

Madame Kwon laughed at her son. “Jiyong, ladies need a long time to get ready.” She offered.

After a while, both of them heard Yuri’s heels clacking on the floor while she was giggling. Jiyong whipped up his head and saw Dara, wearing a black dress which reveals nothing, yet he could only imagine the amount of men he would want to kill for staring at his Sandara.

Madame Kwon stood up upon seeing them. She offered a warm smile to Dara whose nervousness was obvious. “Hello there, dear. I’m Kwon Yuhee, Yuri and Jiyong’s mother. I’ve heard a lot about you,” she said.

Dara smiled. “Ah, I’m Park Dara, Madame Kwon. It’s very nice to meet you.”

Madame Kwon elegantly laughed. “Just call me eomeonim, Dara.”