{ 13 }

Dara woke up to her phone’s endless ringing. She checked her phone and saw 23 missed calls and 16 messages. She scrolled through them and saw that almost all of it came from Ahn Sohee, still speculating that something’s going on between her and Kwon Jiyong.

One of the messages caught her eyes though.

From: 010-xxxx-xxx

Meet me at the Yuri Mall at 3.

She squinted her eyes at the message. It was sent last night, at 12:38 AM. Who’s this person? And jeez, of all the places in the world, he/she should just ask me to meet at the YURI MALL, at 3 PM!!! Ugh! Kwon Jiyong is invading my mind again.

She quickly typed in an answer.

To: 010-xxxx-xxx

Excuse me, I think you have the wrong number.

After sending that, she decided to turn off her phone because of Ahn Sohee’s endless ministrations, asking her about her “relationship” with the dragon. She went to the bathroom and decided to toughen up, since it will be a long, long day ahead.

--

Dara was correct to assume the worst. She was only getting ready to walk inside the school when the younger guard approached her. “Good morning, Ms. Park. You quite made a scene with Mr. Kwon yesterday.”

She smiled uncomfortably. “Yeah, it just… happened that way, I guess.”

“Yah Won Rae! Stop grilling, Ms. Park, will you? What happened yesterday was hers and Mr. Kwon’s business!” The older guard, whom Dara knew as Han Su Won, scolded. Su Won turned to Dara and smiled gently. “You can go now, Ms. Park. I just hope you’re ready when you step in the school.” He advised, making Dara remember her gentle father in Busan.

She returned the smile and thanked him before proceeding to the faculty room. She hasn’t even taken five steps when Go Yoo Bin, a teacher from History Department, stopped her. “Dara-yah!”

“Oh, Yoo Bin sunbaenim.” She greeted. She inwardly shook her head. Go Yoo Bin was one of the snob teachers around the school. She really makes use of her seniority to boss around the younger teachers.

“Dara-yah…” Dara wanted to cringe at the way Yoo Bin calls her name. The two have exchanged occasional smiles and conversations, but they were always formal to each other. To her utter surprise, Yoo Bin suddenly grabbed her hand up. “Dara-yah, just call me Yoo Bin unnie, okay?!”

“Uhh, sure, Yoo Bin sun– unnie.” She only hoped that her smile didn’t come out like a wince.

Yoo Bin suddenly nudged Dara. “Dara-yah, I’ve been meaning to ask this since yesterday but you suddenly disappeared with Mr. Kwon.” She smiled secretively. “Are you and Mr. Kwon going out?”

Dara wanted to barf at what she was hearing from Yoo Bin. Of course, that cunning woman will only approach her for the sake of gossip. Truth be told, Go Yoo Bin and Ahn Sohee are the ones competing for the “Queen of Gossips” title at their school. Yoo Bin wanted to one-up Sohee that’s why she’s acting familiar with Dara.

She shook her head and gently pulled her hand away. “No Yoo Bin sunbaenim, I’m not going out with Mr. Kwon. See you around sunbaenim.” She said as she hurriedly walked away from the leech.

Sohee is totally better than Go Yoo Bin, she thought. At least Sohee’s not just treating me good because she thinks I’m a gossip machine. But okay, I gotta admit there’s that.

She had been trapped a few times more before she finally reached their faculty room. “UGH!” She groaned loudly as she settled on her desk.

Sohee was about to approach her when she stopped her. “Please Ahn Sohee, not a word about me going out with Kwon or whatever!”

With that warning, Sohee quietly retreated, looking dejected. Dara saw that and instantly felt guilty. “Yah Ahn Sohee, I’m not dating Kwon, okay? We just know each other.”

Sohee’s eyes twinkled and she walked towards Dara’s table. “Really?! But you guys seem overly familiar!”

“It’s just… we knew each other from the uni six years ago. We were both studying in the same school before he dropped out.” She explained. She would never tell Sohee about her past with Kwon Jiyong no matter how much she pities her. Not that she doesn’t trust Sohee because she does, but telling the truth will only complicate matters more. Besides, technically, she’s not lying. Jiyong and her really knew each other from the university.

“Were you two friends, then?”

“Yeah.” Dara saw how Sohee stopped herself from giggling. “Ahn Sohee! We’re really friends! We had three more friends, you know my best friend Bom, and her boyfriend TOP and of course, Youngbae.”

Sohee looked disappointed at what she pointed out. “Aww, I thought you guys were like secretly going out before.” She shrugged. “Anyway, thanks Dee!” As her friend turned around, she heard her whisper, “Go Yoo Bin’s totally going down” before she returned to her seat.

“Unnie!” Minji said as she walked towards Dara’s desk.

“Yah, does everyone really have to be so loud in the morning?!” Wooyoung crankily said as he drank his coffee.

“Jang Wooyoung, you don’t have the right to complain since you’re the one who’s always loud in the mornings even before!” Donghae shot back.

Wooyoung only grunted in response. “What’s with that monkey?” Dara whispered to Donghae.

“He challenged Khun in drinking!”

Dara’s eyes widened. “Khun?! As in Nichkhun, the PE teacher?!” She stared at the grumpy Wooyoung in disbelief. “Whoa, Jang Wooyoung’s out of his mind!”

Donghae laughed. “Yeah, totally. Khun was about to let it go but Wooyoung started blurting out that he’s totally better for Victoria, you know, Khun’s wife, and there. They started drinking and some even placed bets on that monkey.”

Dara smiled. Nichkhun’s protectiveness over Victoria was really amazing and cute. They are both non-Koreans, with Khun being Thai and Vic being Chinese. They just accidentally met at a driving school where Victoria wore a fashionably oversized shirt but Khun’s protectiveness, having a younger sister himself, kicked in. He fixed Vic’s shirt even though they were complete strangers, and their relationship picked up from then on. Victoria’s actually TOP’s colleague in a marketing company, but she took a break since she’s taking care of their baby girl, Ireumi. She’s turning three soon.

“It’s no wonder Khun won. He’s good at everything!” Dara gushed.

“I second the motion.” Sohee added even though she was looking at her work.

“Yah Park Sandara, aren’t you my friend?! You should side with me and nurse my broken heart!” Wooyoung whined.

“Stupid, it’s your ego that’s broken, Wooyoung!” Dara replied, making Wooyoung scrunch up his face.

“Minkki-yah, you’re early.” Donghae commented.

“Yes, oppa, I feel bad since I’m not here last time to help Dara unnie when she met the dragon.” Minji answered truthfully.

“That’s fine, Minkki.” Donghae smiled at the guilty girl. “Your Donghae oppa saved your Dara unnie!”

“Yah yah yah Lee Donghae, have you forgotten that I was the one who stopped Dara from talking more about the dragon?” Wooyoung butted in smugly.

“Aigoo, Hae. Just let that monkey be, since his butt totally got kicked by Khun last night.” Sohee intercepted while laughing.

“AISH! I hate you guys!” Wooyoung whined childishly and buried his face in his desk.

“Oh unnie, it’s time already. Let’s go?” Minji asked Dara and the two made their way out.

--

It was already late when Dara got home. They were all busy checking the students’ exams since the tests were done. At least, Dara was glad that none of her students in the English subject failed. She really gave her all teaching them, and it was nice for her hard work to pay off.

That was the only time that she remembered to turn on her phone. Since Sohee already made the news of her and Kwon being friends, the endless harassing stopped. She’s really thankful to Sohee.

When she turned it on, she was surprised to see 13 missed calls and 9 messages, all coming from the same number.

From: 010-xxxx-xxx

It’s Kwon Jiyong.

From: 010-xxxx-xxx

I’m coming already. See you.

From: 010-xxxx-xxx

Why is your phone off?

From: 010-xxxx-xxx

I’m here. Where are you?

From: 010-xxxx-xxx

Why aren’t you replying?

From: 010-xxxx-xxx

I’m at the café near the main entrance.

From: 010-xxxx-xxx

It’s 3:30 already, Ms. Park.

From: 010-xxxx-xxx

Never mind.

Her eyes widened at the messages. It was Jiyong…

To: 010-xxxx-xxx

JIYONG!!! I’M SORRY! I DIDN’T KNOW IT WAS YOU! I TURNED OFF MY PHONE BECAUSE MY CO-TEACHERS WERE BUGGING ME. SORRY JIYONG!!!

She nervously fidgeted as she was waiting for Jiyong’s reply. Fifteen minutes passed before her phone made a sound, signaling a new message.

From: Kwon Jiyong

It’s okay. Let’s just try again tomorrow. Will you be free?

To: Kwon Jiyong

Yes, sure.

From: Kwon Jiyong

Same time and place. Good night.

Aish Jiyong. Did you remember something? Why Yuri Mall of all places?

___________________________________________________

A/N: If there are KhunFany shippers out there, mianhaeyo! I acknowledge KhunFany but I still ship KhunToria keke ~~ I really love them in WGM! Are there any KhunToria shippers out there? Chingu haja keke!~ Btw, please do leave a comment ~!