:: chapter twenty-four ::

Jiyong gently tucked her hair behind her ear as he gently brought her face closer to him as he leaned down and brushed his lips with hers. She fluttered her eyes close as their lips started to move gently, slowly. Jiyong scooped her on his arms as he walked his way to their bed, laying her gently on it. His lips left hers as it left small wet kisses on her jaw line, down to her neck, to her collar bone as he slowly remove her dress.

Dara let out a soft moan as his lips kept creating warm sensation as it continued to conquer her body. It was driving her crazy. Jiyong removed his shirt and threw it on the floor as he claimed her lips once more. He started fiddling with her bra as their skin touched burning a sensation taking them high, breaking them free. Her hands started roaming over his body as their kiss deepened more. And without noticing it they were both naked as her hands moved on his every curved as his lips touched every inch of her gently.

The moon was shining brightly in the sky together with it their hearts were beating faster, louder. Shouting every bit of their feeling as they spent their last night in the house that witnessed their love, in the place where they call their own. It was not just any house, it was a home. It was their home.

‘Open your eyes baby,’ he whispered as she slowly fluttered her eyes open. She was welcomed by his beautiful eyes and fascinating smile as her lips curved into a sweet smile. He kissed her forehead then her nose then landed a quick peck on her lips as she broke into another smile. ‘I love you,’ she whispered. ‘I love you more,’ he answered in a chuckle as his hand slid its way to hers as their fingers intertwined.

‘You’re so beautiful,’ he whispered as he slowly entered her making her gasped. He kissed her jaw line. ‘Wonderful...’ he whispered as he pushed more until he reached her core making her arch her back from the sensation running wild inside her. ‘Fascinating...’ he trailed as he claimed her lips with her answering his kiss as their bodies moved in the beat of their hearts, in the sound of their breathing, in the silence of the night.

‘And...’ he trailed off as they both climaxed. He leaned down and kissed her on her forehead as she smiled with her eyes closed. ‘... You’re mine,’ he whispered as he fell on her side. He then wrapped his sweaty arms on her pulling her closer to him as their eyes met and as a smile was drawn both in their lips.

‘All yours,’ Dara grinned at him as he bit his lips suppressing his giddiness. His face then became serious as his fingers gently caressed her cheeks. ‘Just trust me... I can work this out,’ he whispered as Dara smiled faintly at him and reached for his hand holding it tight as she laced her fingers with his. ‘We will work this out,’ she whispered as Jiyong smiled giving her a quick kiss on her lips. He nodded.

‘We will work this out...’

...

He stared at her petite figure locked in his arms. She was beautiful, she was his everything yet he can’t help not to notice her being extra skinny and pale. Fear suddenly crept its way to his chest. It all suddenly felt like he was slapped hard by the reality that he could have been really just borrowing her from Him. That very thought made him tightened his hold of her as he felt his breathing became heavy. He tightly shut his eyes as he started to calm himself down.

He fluttered his eyes open and stared at her innocent sleeping face once more. A smile tainted his lips as he landed a quick peck on her forehead. She looked so peaceful and it made his heart flutter. All he wanted was to be with her, to love her, to kiss her, to take care of her, to be with her through time, through infinity and beyond. But most of all he wanted to give her peace, a peace she deserved, a peace that she also brought to him.

He closed his eyes as he leaned his head on hers trying to catch sleep since they will be leaving tomorrow and will surely be engage on a long trip and who knew how much stress awaits for their arrival. Tension slowly crawled in his body as he felt his heart hammered out of nervousness against his chest to the point that he found himself trembling. And in seconds he felt his tears streamed down his cheeks as he quickly wiped it off.

Questions filled his mind until he felt himself cower, tempted to never leave and just stay where he’ll be sure that they will be together yet even this great escape of theirs can’t assure him anything. He felt like his heart was gripped tightly as if saying it will soon rip his heart off. He was afraid, he was frightened that they would be separated and he knew he will not be able to take it.

And that’s when he realized that his life already belonged to her, his breath was hers, his heart was hers, and his soul was all hers. He no longer owned anything of his for everything was hers. And somehow knowing that he felt his breathing went even as he slowly calm down. His mind cleared as his heart was seemingly able to breathe.

He was hers, she was his and there’s no way they will be separated. If he had to give up everything he would, if he had to kneel down he would, if he had to die he would.

Dara smiled faintly as she stared at the wall where collage of their photos was plastered. She stood up as she placed three more photos on it. She smiled as she felt his arms wrapped around her waist as she slowly faced him. He smiled as he landed a small kiss on her lips. ‘I’m going to miss this house,’ she pouted as he chuckled at her cuteness. He then pinched her nose lightly. ‘We can always go here anytime you want,’ he said as he pulled away from her to check their things.

‘How about...’ Dara trailed as she wrapped her arms around his waist. Jiyong rolled his eyes completely knowing what she will say. ‘We stay here?’ she added as Jiyong shook her head. He then gently removed her arms around him as he faced her with brow arching up as Dara pouted. ‘Dara,’ he called as Dara heaved a sigh. ‘I just...’ she trailed off as she averted her gaze away. ‘Don’t wanna be separated from you...’ she added in a whisper as Jiyong pulled her closer to him as Dara locked him in her arms burying her face on his chest. ‘And we won’t okay?’ he asked as Dara nodded against his chest.

‘Promise?’ she asked as she stared straight to his eyes. ‘Promise,’ he smiled as he leaned down and claimed her lips as her arms automatically snaked on his neck. Dara heaved a sigh as she pulled away from him with him gently sliding her bag pack on her arms. She smiled. He then offered his hand which she happily took as their fingers intertwined. She smiled as the thought of how their hands just perfectly and magically fit each other crossed her mind for the nth time. Jiyong pulled her as he landed a sweet kiss on her hair making her chuckle as she fixed her scarf.

‘Let’s go,’ Dara said as Jiyong nodded and with that they both paced to the door, out to their room and finally out of their house which did not only become their hide out but their paradise.

There are seconds when each of them wanted to stay, to return yet they both know that it’s about time to face their problem, to stop from running.

...

They were both walking to the train station once more when they passed on the white chapel. Dara smiled at Jiyong with the latter doing the same. She was caught off guard when Jiyong suddenly pulled her to the chapel. Her lips broke into a smile as her heart fluttered proudly of him. Jiyong pushed the wooden door of the chapel as he walked hand in hand with her to the front of the altar. Dara looked at him curiously as he smiled at him. He then placed both of his hand on her shoulder and made her face the empty wooden benches of the small chapel.

‘Close your eyes,’ he said against her ears and her hair as he was standing behind her with their bodies touching. Dara fluttered her eyes closed. ‘On a beautiful day like this, after we finish college... we will be back here, but that time... there will be people with us,’ he whispered as Dara slowly fluttered her eyes open as her face became serious as his every word seemingly come to life in her eyes.

‘There will be our classmates, Mr. Song and Mr. Yang, then we have Chaerin, Seungri, Youngbae and Minzy all dress in white with a grin on their face as they were looking at us teasingly,’ he said as Dara stared at the empty bench with her lips curving into a smile as she was like seeing what he was saying. ‘Then there will be my parents with Ill Woo and Tae Hee and they will be waving at us yet still acting as elegant as ever,’ he added as she chuckled a bit.

‘Then there will be your mom whom I bet is tearing up a little, she will be with your dad and your brother and they will be smiling at us,’ he added as Dara’s tears starting to swell in the corner of her eyes. Jiyong held her hands as she made her face him. ‘Then we will be standing here, you will be wearing a beautiful white dress and your hair will be long and you’ll have a ring of flower around your head,’ he said as he tucked her hair behind her ear. ‘Then I’ll be standing in front of you smiling while wearing white clothes,’ he added as her tears fell. Jiyong brought both of her hands on his lips. ‘Dara...’ he called sweetly as Dara kept on crying.

‘Then there will be white flowers everywhere...’ he whispered. ‘Then there’ll be a priest standing on this altar,’ he added as they both glance at the altar with a faint smile on their lips as Dara wiped her tears and bit her lips. ‘I...’ he trailed off as Dara looked at his eyes which were screaming sincerity and love and it was enough to bring her to tears once more. ‘Kwon Jiyong... take you Sandara Park as my lawfully wedded wife for richer and for poorer, in sickness and in health... till death do us part...’ he said as he moved closer to her. ‘I promise to love you, to take care of you and to be with you through eternity... through everything... for you are my life, my everything and my world...I will be your prince, your superhero, your bestfriend... I will be anything you needed me to be... I love you my dear,’

‘I...’ Dara trailed off with a smile on her lips as her tears streamed down her cheeks. ‘Sandara Park, take you Kwon Jiyong as my lawfully wedded husband for richer and for poorer... in sickness and in health... till death do us part,’ she said almost forcing the words to come out of her throat. ‘I promise to love you, to take care of you... and to be with you through eternity... through everything... for you are my life, my everything and my world... I will be your princess, your superhero, your bestfriend... and I will be anything you needed me to be... I love you and nothing will change that,’

Jiyong wiped his tears as he chuckled. He then pulled her closer to him as he leaned down and claimed her lips for a sweet kiss. He pulled away as he held both of her hands and brought it to his lips and kissed them. ‘Dara,’ he breathed. ‘Please believe me... the next time we will be here they will be with us, they will be smiling at us, clapping for us, congratulating us. They will be so happy for us... your brother will be one of them... my parents will be one of them and everyone who is and will be against us will be one of them...,’ he whispered as she kissed her forehead as she closed her eyes nodding in agreement to his words.

‘I now announce you,’ a voice suddenly said as they both stared at the altar only to see the chapel priest as he was standing in front of them after placing down new set of flower on the altar. ‘Husband and wife... May your love be blessed and be guided by our dear Lord,’ he continued with a smile as Dara and Jiyong broke into soft chuckles as they nodded to him. ‘You may kiss the bride again,’ the priest chuckled as Jiyong leaned down and kissed Dara once more.

They both pulled from the kiss as they bowed down to the priest thanking him. ‘I will waiting for your return, with your parents and friends...’ the priest smiled as he walked down to them and placed his hands on their shoulder. ‘May God bless your love ... take care my dear ones,’ he smiled as he ruffled the hair of both. Dara and Jiyong just thanked him as they wiped their tears away. ‘Dramatic,’ Dara chuckled as Jiyong laughed with her. ‘Wait for us, we will be back,’ Dara smiled at the priest as she moved closer to Jiyong with him wrapping his arm around her waist. The old priest nodded.

They both heaved a sigh as they then bid goodbye to the priest as they walked towards the chapel door waving goodbye. ‘Thank you!’ Dara said as it echoed all over the place with the priest nodding to her once more. Dara then drifted her eyes back to Jiyong as their hands laced together. ‘I can’t believe we’re married,’ Dara giggled as Jiyong chuckled. ‘It was too fast... I’m actually shock,’ Jiyong joked as Dara playfully hit him.

‘I can’t wait to return,’ Dara suddenly whispered as they were welcomed by the breeze outside the chapel. ‘Me too...’ Jiyong whispered as they started walking to the train station, filling the distance with laughter and stories, memories that will forever lived in their heart.

Suddenly they forgot their fears, it was as if everything became okay, it was as if their worries were replaced by the promise that they both made. And it was as if they gained strength to finally face whatever was waiting to them in their return from the reality they once tried to escape from.

Yunbin slammed the phone for the nth time this day. She can’t believe how many calls she was receiving everyday and it kept on increasing everyone was trying to give information on her daughter’s location hoping to obtain the reward Sanghyun announced on the television. ‘Stupid people,’ she muttered darkly as she finished her cup of coffee. It was almost six in the evening and still it felt like her day was still going to be long.

She was not a bit worried of her daughter knowing she could be anywhere with Jiyong and she knew she was safe. But she was worried over her son, she was worried on how Sanghyun seemingly to overwork himself, searching for his sister like no other. Yunbin heaved a sigh as she stared at their wooden staircase wondering if he was sleeping right now or dealing with phone calls and emails.

She stood up and grabbed her cup as she paced to the kitchen when she suddenly heard the doorbell ringed. She quickly placed the cup on the sink shouting ‘wait’. She then paced to the door and to their gates to open it. She quickly lost words upon seeing her supposedly visitor.

‘Mom,’ Dara called to her smiling with her tears on the corner of her eyes. ‘I missed you!’ Dara exclaimed as she threw herself to her mother as her mother hugged her tightly chuckling as she pulled Jiyong’s arm and hugged him as well. ‘I missed both of you!’ she exclaimed with tears on the corner of her eyes. ‘I hate you both for not even calling for these past two weeks,’ she said clicking her tongue as she wiped her tears with both apologizing to her.

‘Aren’t you mad?’ Dara asked as Yunbin shook her head in honesty. ‘I’ve been there and done that,’ she winked as the two chuckled at her. ‘I understand you both more rather than getting angry with you,’ she added smiling. ‘Let’s get inside. It’s cold out here,’ she added as they went inside the house.

Both Dara and Jiyong sat on the couch as Yunbin went to the kitchen and prepared something for the two. She then came out with a tray of

cookies

and cup of hot chocolate. Dara smiled. ‘I miss your homemade hot choco,’ she smiled as Yunbin kissed her forehead. ‘I missed you too baby,’ she smiled as she sat down on the couch across them and started asking questions when she noticed how tensed the two looked and her smile fell off.

‘Where’s...’ Dara trailed off as she glanced at Jiyong who smiled faintly at her. ‘Oppa?’ she added as she stared at Yunbin once more. Yunbin heaved a sigh and was about to answer when their eyes drifted on the stairs as Sanghyun was descending as he was wearing his black coat. ‘I got a good information mom,’ he said as the three stared at him. Sanghyun fell silent as he finally saw his mother together with Dara and Jiyong. Dara stood up together with Jiyong.

‘Oppa,’ she called as Sanghyun’s jaw clenched he then dashed towards them as he landed his strongest punch on Jiyong making the latter fell on the floor, blood on the corner of his lips. ‘Oppa!’ Dara exclaimed as she quickly went to Jiyong only to be pushed by Sanghyun as the latter hovered above Jiyong throwing him his strongest punch here and there as Jiyong didn’t dodge nor fight back.

‘Whay are you not fighting back!?’ he asked as he kept on punching Jiyong as Dara and his mother kept on calling his name begging him to stop. ‘Fight back you damn bastard!!’ he shouted as Jiyong just stared at him, guilt on his face making Sanghyun’s temper raised more as he kept on punching him. ‘Oppa!’ Dara cried as it was ignored with him continuing to beat him, as Jiyong continued letting him.

‘You will not take Dara from me too! You won’t! I will protect her!’ Sanghyun shouted.

‘Dara!’ Yunbin shouted as it was followed by crashing sounds making Sanghyun stop as their eyes stared at Dara who fell on the floor clutching her chest tightly as she was breathing heavily, fighting for some air. Pain was written all over her face. Sanghyun’s body numbed in the sight of her sister having seizure in front of him, Jiyong pushed him as he stood up and dashed towards Dara holding her in his arms. ‘Dara,’ he called out as he quickly scooped her and dashed towards the door with Yunbin following them as she was starting to cry. Sanghyun finally snapped out of his reverie as he stood up and followed them as fast as he could.

He quickly opened the door of his car as Jiyong quickly get in with him slamming his self on the driver’s seat. Yunbin quickly opened the gates of their house as he quickly started the engine and sped off to the nearest hospital. Jiyong as holding Dara’s hands tightly as he was whispering things, pleading to her as the girl was still clutching her chest tightly begging for air, begging for relief and it was getting hard to watch each second.

He then kissed her hair as his tears started forming on the corner of his eyes. Sanghyun was taken aback seeing his reflection on the mirror as he increased speed more. ‘Dara please hold on baby... please...’ Jiyong desperately whispered against her hair as his tears continued flowing. Fear slowly gripped his chest as he felt his body was numbing out of it.

The car stopped as Sanghyun went down and opened the door with Jiyong rushing out carrying Dara he was then welcomed by the nurse and stretcher he quickly laid Dara on the stretcher as they pushed it to the emergency room.