{ 22 }

Bom marched towards the two’s seat. “KWON JIYONG!” She yelled.

Dara and Jiyong stopped laughing and turned to look at the unleashed Bominator. Horror and fear were written on Dara’s face while Jiyong’s remain stoic and cold.

“Jiyong, what are you doing?!” Bom asked as soon as she reached Dara and Jiyong’s table. She knew that TOP already warned her not to interfere because it wasn’t her business but she couldn’t help herself. Dara had suffered so much from the hands of Kwon Jiyong.

“Bommie, please–” Dara tried to plead but Bom cut her off. “Please what, Sandara?! God, you never learn, woman! Stop hanging out with Kwon Ji–”

“Let’s talk, Bom.” Jiyong’s serious voice stopped Bom. “Don’t make Dara be the receiving end of your anger.”

Bom huffed and crossed her arms before looking at Jiyong menacingly. “Yes, that would be better, Kwon.”

Bom led the way towards her office. “Yah, panda, make sure that your Dara noona won’t get too upset, arasso?” She instructed Seungri whom they passed by on the way to her mini-office.

Seungri saluted which made Jiyong snort, but the younger guy paid him no heed. “Arasso, noona!” Seungri quickly ran over to Dara.

Jiyong and Bom entered the latter’s office. Bom shut the door before firing profanities at Jiyong. Her mouth’s going a mile a minute, but he wordlessly let her vent. Jiyong didn’t even manage to register one-half of what Bom was saying. All he was thinking about was how to get out of there faster to get back to Dara who was pestered by that Seungrat.

“Yah Kwon Jiyong, are you listening to me?!” Bom’s voice boomed over the limited space of the office.

“Bom noona, I wouldn’t hurt Dara. It’s impossible. For sure, she already forgot me in those five years.” He reasoned out.

Bom was tempted to throw every single piece of furniture she gets her hand to at Jiyong, but she tried to calm herself. Wait, she thought. If Jiyong thinks this way, wouldn’t it be better for Dara? She eyed Jiyong. He thinks that she’s over him already, and that Dara was only helping him because he asked her to. Aigoo, Kwon Jiyong, you’re still too dense.

Eventually, she sighed. “Okay, fine.” She conceded. “Since this is Dara’s decision, I’ll respect it. Just make sure no harm will come in her way.” She stared at Jiyong threateningly. “If she gets harmed in any way, I will really light a fire under your ass.”

Jiyong smiled. “Of course, noona.” After that, he walked out of the office.

I hope that he won’t discover the truth that Dara still loves him, or else a riot will surely ensue. She shook her head. Jiyong, just continue being your dense self and maybe... just maybe... everything will be fine.

--

When Jiyong stepped out of the office, he made it to their table in no time. He saw the rat talking to Dara. “Yah rat, get out of there.”

The two craned their necks and saw Jiyong. Relief flooded Dara that he doesn’t have any bruises or anything. Bom can be quite violent if she feels like it. She stood up and quickly examined Jiyong; turning his head and checking his arms for anything. “Are you okay? Did Bom do anything?! Aish! I’m so going to tell on her!!!”

Jiyong smiled upon seeing Dara’s concern over him. “Dara, it’s okay. I’m fine. Bom and I only talked.”

“Tch.” Seungri suddenly sneered. “Bom noona should have pounced on you.”

Jiyong’s eyes turned into slits while Dara scolded Seungri. “Lee Seungri!”

Upon hearing Dara’s stern voice, the rat’s face suddenly turned sullen. “Stop acting, rat.” Jiyong jeered. “The face doesn’t suit you.”

“Kwon Jiyong!” Dara reprimanded.

A smirk passed on Seungri’s face which didn’t escape Jiyong. He was about to say something again when Dara stopped him. “You two, stop it! Aigoo, I’m having a headache because of you guys.”

“Mianhae, noona.” Seungri apologized sincerely.

Dara tapped Seungri’s back. “It’s fine, Seungri. Why don’t you help Hayi over there? Customers are piling in.”

“Yeah, go away, you Seungrat.” Jiyong added tauntingly.

Dara pinched his side while Seungri nodded. “Okay, noona.” He begrudgingly walked over to Hayi to help.

When Seungri was out of earshot, Dara instantly slapped Jiyong’s arm. “Yah Kwon Jiyong!”

Jiyong frowned. “Yah, why are you hitting me?!”

“You. Are. Such. A. Child.” Dara answered, enunciating each word. “You even made Seungri feel worse!”

“That rat deserved it!” He tried to reason out, but his plead had fallen on deaf ears.

“Aish, jinjja! Shut up!”

The two continued to bicker as they made their way out of the café; with Jiyong defending himself and Dara shushing him off.

--

Somehow, the two ended up at the park where they used to have dates. They sat on the same bench where Jiyong carved his words of affection for Dara, but neither of them tried to bring that up, afraid that it will break the comfortable mood around them.

“How... did I ask you?” Jiyong suddenly brought up.

Dara stared at him, confused. “Ask what?”

He briefly glanced at her before looking ahead of them. “You know... ask you to be my girl.”

Silence followed his question. Jiyong didn’t think that it would be awkward, since he thought that Dara had been over him already. What he doesn’t know was that it’s too hard for Dara to retell the story, since everything was still fresh on her mind, like it only happened yesterday.

“It’s just that... I sort of remembered the last time we were here, but not everything. There were flashes, but it wasn’t a complete memory. I was confused.” He added.

He noticed the long silence and spoke. “You don’t have to tell if you–”

“It’s okay.” Dara cut off. She also stared ahead of them, afraid that she’ll break down if she met Jiyong’s eyes. “It happened in winter...”

-Flashback-

Dara, Bom and Chaerin were watching She’s The Man while munching on their caramel popcorns. Their finals just ended earlier that day, and the three girls decided to relax themselves. Dara popped the CD and the girls drooled at every scene with Channing Tatum on it. Dara laid flat on her stomach on her bed, Chaerin sat beside her while Bom was on the floor.

When the film ended, the three girls could only sigh. Chaerin leaned on the wall. “God, Channing Tatum’s just hot.”

“Totally!” Dara gushed. “Besides, they’re too romantic. It’s so cute!”

Bom snorted. “As much as I loved the film and Channing Tatum’s abs, I’m telling you girls that a relationship isn’t always that mushy.”

“Oooooh,” Dara and Chaerin teased. “Did you and Tabi had a fight?”

“Nope.” She replied. “It’s just that, relationships are two-way streets, you know? I just want to give you girls some advice.”

“Who needs it?” Dara sneered.

“Yeah, it’s not like Dara unnie and I have anyone.” Chaerin added.

“Tch! Yah, I have eyes, okay?! Chaecat, I know you and Bae have this ‘thing’ going on,” Chaerin visibly reddened at what Bom pointed out, “...while you Dara, I know that you like Kwon.”

Chaerin and Dara groaned. “We gotta give it to you, Bom, you know everything.”

Bom shrugged and puffed her cheeks proudly as she continued eating her popcorn.

“Well, Bae oppa and I are taking it slowly.” Chaerin confided. “We’re just exclusively dating right now.”

Bom slowly nodded. “Of course, expect nothing else from Dong Youngbae.” She smiled. “Bae’s the kind of guy who’s really sensitive to other people’s feelings. That’s part of the reason why I love him as my friend too much. Whenever Tabi and I gets in a fight, he’s like the mediator who talks to us.”

Chaerin smiled proudly upon hearing Youngbae’s remarkable trait. Being a doctor-in-training, what Bom said was true. Youngbae was a man of a few words, but when he talks, you can expect that it’s a no-nonsense thing.

“What about you, unnie?” Chaerin nudged Dara. “Spill!”

Dara sighed and rolled over to lay on her back. “I don’t know...”

“Aiyaaaa! What is it?!”

“I mean...” She sat up next to Chaerin. “I feel so helpless!”

Chaerin and Bom stared at each other, confused. “Helpless? Why?”

“Well, it had been months since Ji and I went to that accidental date, right?” The two girls nodded. “And we’re doing well. But... there’s nothing. I mean, we’d been friends, and sometimes I feel like he flirts with me–”

“Shut up, Park, he always flirts with you.” Bom cut off.

Dara glared at Bom, making the latter shut up. She continued. “But then there were times that he’s so far away! I don’t understand. The signals were so mixed up. I like him, really. But sometimes I feel like I’m just a noona to him. I think...” Her cheeks pinked. “I think I even love him.”

Chaerin and Bom gasped. “Really?!” They screamed.

Dara only nodded.

They were about to comment when a loud knock came. Since Bom was the one on the floor, she got up and opened the door. “Oh, Jiyong-ah.” She nervously called out. She glanced at Dara whose eyes widened.

“Bommie noona.” Jiyong greeted. “Is Dara noona there?”

Dara was about to send signals to Bom not to tell Jiyong but of course, nothing stops Park Bom. “She’s here! Why?”

“Can you ask her to come? I gotta show her something.”

“Sure!” Bom enthusiastically nodded. She left the door open and ran towards Dara. “Ssandara, ppal li! Jiyong’s asking you out!”

Dara sighed, looking depressed. “Maybe he has a girlfriend and he wants me to know who it was first because I’m the one closest to him.”

“You pabo!” Bom roared. “Dress up now because Ji’s waiting for you!”

Dara reluctantly fixed herself before going to Jiyong. The latter’s eyes lit up seeing her. “Hey, noona, let’s go!” He grabbed her hand and the two dashed off.

--

Dara found themselves in an unfamiliar place. “Hey, where is this?”

“It’s a park, Dee noona.” Jiyong grinned excitedly. “I found it, and I thought it’s a really good place to hang out.”

Dara’s heart fell. Hang out, she bitterly thought. Of course. He’d only ask me out to hang out. Tch.

“Sandara?” He asked gingerly.

She turned to him. Jiyong seldom calls her full name, and he didn’t even use honorifics. “Why?”

“I... I have something to tell you.” Jiyong made her sit on one of the wooden benches, and surprisingly, he sang.

[A/N: PLAY THE SONG ON THE SIDE!]

Only as a dongsaeng, just that much you think I’m adorable

But noona you are a woman to me

Dara’s eyes widened at the song Jiyong was singing. Is he...

You say “What do you know?” “You’ll understand when you’re older”

You say that I’m acting rashly but noona you’re a woman to me

No matter whoever you meet and no matter what you do,

I can only wait...

CONFESSING?! KWON JIYONG... SINGING HER A SONG?! Dara’s mind was in a daze, cannot fully grasp what Jiyong was doing.

Because noona is a woman...

Because you are my woman.

Jiyong looked embarrassed, because truthfully, he doesn’t know where his confession will take him. Dara was only sitting there, looking dumbfounded, and there were even a few people who were watching him.

I’ll call you by your name, no matter what you say

So that you can feel me as a man, I’ll hold you tightly

I’ll call you by your name, no matter what you say, I don’t care

Don’t be surprised

If you really look, you are a young girl

Dara was only staring at Jiyong. She doesn’t even care about the other people who were watching them, gushing about how sweet and cute Jiyong was. Just a while ago, they were talking about how Jiyong only finds her as his noona...

Where have you gone? Where do you hurt?

You look sad, noona, it doesn’t suit you

When I ask you “Has something happened?”

You only tousle my hair

If someone makes noona cry, whoever that might be

I’m not going to stand it

...and she was right. Jiyong sees her as a noona.

Becayse noona is a woman...

Because you are my woman.

He sees her as a noona whom he loves. She wasn’t the only one.

I’ll call you by your name, no matter what you say

So that you can forget your sadness, I’ll hold you tightly

I’ll call you by your name, no matter what you say, I don’t care

Be in my embrace

If you really look, you are a young girl

Jiyong feels insecure, too, that she might only see him as a dongsaeng. Dara wanted to cry out of happiness, but she remained unmoving in her seat.

Because I like you, I must be doing this

I know that this isn’t right

Because I like you... Because I like you...

Because noona is my woman, because you are my woman

Because you drive me insane...

Dara’s heart beat wildly, and she won’t even be surprised when it jumps out of her chest. This was the day she had been waiting for. For months, she thought that Jiyong was only teasing her, playing with her, but not taking her seriously. But the truth was that he was only hiding himself through those fronts. He was unsure too, just like her.

Don’t be sorry, because I’m happy

Even if I look at you, I shed tears

I’ll call you by your name, no matter what you say, I don’t care

Just be my side...

He suddenly knelt in front of her and held her freezing hands. Everyone watching them swooned, and some were even taking pictures of them. Jiyong looked at Dara’s eyes straightly.

In the end, I’m telling you...

He gently squeezed Dara’s hand and held it close to his heart, which was also beating wildly, just like Dara’s.

You are my woman.

Tears dabbed on her eyes as Jiyong finished singing. He cleared his throat before he spoke. “Sandara noona, I like you. I think I love you. We haven’t met for a long time, but I hope we can change that. Noona, I hope you will see me as a man, and not just a naughty little brother that you have to watch over. I hope you’ll give me the chance to prove to you, that I can also be a man. A man who will always watch over you and stay by your side for a very, very long time.”

“Jiyong-ah...” Dara whispered. She lowered herself and embraced him. “Saranghae.”

-End of Flashback-

Neither of them spoke after Dara told the story. She’s on the verge of breaking down, but she doesn’t want to burden Jiyong.

To her surprise, he knelt in front of her and held her hand, just like the way he did that night. This time though, he said different words.

“Noona, mianhae.”

__________________________________________________________

The song he sang was Because Noona You're My Woman by Lee Seung Gi. You guys should play the song when he starts singing ^^

I feel like this is the longest chapter I've ever written. The most heartbreaking, too, especially that last line... T.T

Tell me what you guys think!~ Please do comment! I know you want me to update faster, but I hope you guys will vote and comment, too :(

-X