{ 25 }

Jiyong and Dara lay together on the couch while cuddling, just like the old times. The couple decided not to think of anything for now. All they want to do is to savor each other to at least make up for their five years of separation.

In the middle of watching a movie, Dara suddenly giggled, earning a curious look from Jiyong. “What’s funny?” He curiously asked.

Dara craned her neck to look at Jiyong before grinning. “Nothing. I just can’t believe we’re together now, you know?”

Jiyong smiled and hugged her closer. “I love you, Kwon Dara.”

She giggled once more before settling herself on Jiyong’s chest. “Honestly, I never thought we’ll get back together. I have lost my hope, but here we are now. I don’t know, Ji, I can’t explain how happy I am right now...”

“You don’t have to worry anymore, babe. You have a dragon to protect you.” Jiyong teased and grinned.

Dara playfully slapped his arm.

--

“WHAT THE HELL?!”

“Oh, congratulations!”

“Of course, it’s still you two huh?”

There are three kinds of reactions when you tell people that you’re in a relationship, Dara conceded. First, there are the Park Boms of the world.

“WHAT THE HELL, PARK?!” She screamed. Dara was instantly glad that they chose to meet in her house, or else the Bominator will wreak havoc and might injure innocent people. She turned to Jiyong who only looked amused. “AND YOU, KWON! I TOLD YOU, RIGHT?! I WARNED YOU! WHAT THE HELL IS HAPPENING TO THE WORLD RIGHT NOW?!”

Second, the Dong Youngbaes.

“Oh, congratulations!” He gushed excitedly. His eyes widened a bit at Dara and Jiyong’s revelation, yet anyone could instantly tell that he was happy for his two best friends. He suddenly sighed, much to Dara and Jiyong’s surprise. “I should really make Chaecat come home, I don’t like being the fifth wheel!!!”

Lastly, the Choi Seunghyuns.

“Of course, it’s still you two huh?” He cockily said, as if he never doubted that Dara and Jiyong will end up in each other’s arms. “I’m happy for you two. I hope no one would leave this time, aryt?”

Bom was still prattling off about her disappointment when Dara held her hand and smiled gently. “Bommie-yah... Can’t you just be happy for us? We love each other, and I really want this to succeed this time. Please, Bommie?”

Bom stared at Dara and glared at Jiyong before calming down. “I just don’t want you to get hurt again, that’s all.” She sighed and looked at Jiyong. “Ji, remember what I told you in your office? Dara suffered so much when you left. To think that we were just mere students then! What more will happen now that you’re a hotshot businessman?” She anxiously stated.

“Noona, I’ll take care of Dara. I’m really sorry because I left her before, and I don’t want to make excuses, but I was in an accident when I couldn’t even remember. And then we went to America and suddenly all the pressure’s on me since abeoji died. I will always love Dara, Bom noona. You can count on that.” Jiyong solemnly promised.

A minute of silence passed before Bom stood up. All of them were dumbfounded, thinking that she will leave, but she suddenly pulled Jiyong into a headlock. “Tss. Arasso, Kwon! Just make sure that you won’t break your promise, okay?!” She turned to Dara. “Dara-yah, where’s the food?! I’m freaking starving!!!”

“Noona... Can’t... Breathe!!!” Jiyong stuttered, still pulled into a headlock.

Bom let him go and gave them a sheepish smile. “Oops, sorry, Ji.”

“Noona!”

--

When Dara went to school the next morning, anyone can positively tell she was glowing. The older guard, Su Won, greeted her. “Good morning, Ms. Park. You look more beautiful today.” He amicably told her.

She smiled at him sweetly. “Thank you, Su Won ahjussi. Good morning, too!” She chirped back before she proceeded to their faculty room. The woman was almost bouncing out of happiness. Won Rae, the other guard, looked at Su Won.

“Ahjussi, Ms. Park’s really beautiful, neh?” His eyes lingered some more at Dara. “She looks like an angel...”

Su Won smacked the head of the younger guard. “Aigoo, just weeks ago you were gossiping about Ms. Park’s private life!”

The younger man could only bow his head in shame before following Park Sandara’s trail once again.

--

She opened their faculty door happily. “Good morning, everyone!” She greeted everyone cheerfully before settling down at her desk.

She was busy arranging her things when Minji suspiciously stared at her. “Unnie, just what exactly happened over the weekend?”

Dara tried to look inconspicuous, but there was no denying her bright smile. “What? Nothing happened, Minkki. You’re over-thinking.” After telling off her student teacher, she hummed softly while continuing to arrange her stuffs.

“Dara unnie, this isn’t nothing!” The maknae cried. “Something definitely happened that you’re not telling me.”

The older girl didn’t bother answering Minji’s questions. She knows herself that something feels different today: the sky seems bluer, the sun seems brighter, the road seems cleaner, everyone seems nicer, and everything was better than ever! Yet, she wasn’t ready to share that to her colleagues yet, since she knows that they will have a field day when they learn who Dara was dating.

“Did someone eat a happy meal?” Sohee asked sarcastically when she sat down behind her desk.

Dara brushed off the sarcasm and greeted her happily. “Good morning to you too, Ahn Sohee!”

“Aish!” Sohee grunted before walking over to Dara’s desk. The latter and Minji were both surprised when Sohee slammed her palm on the table. “Yah Park Sandara, just exactly what happened?!”

She was about to spout a denial when Wooyoung butted in. “Just tell us honestly, Dara. Truthfully, you’re freaking us out. You were all mopey last week and now you’re a big ball of sunshine.”

“What?! Yah Jang Wooyoung, I’m so not mopey!” She vehemently denied but she’s aware that there was some truth to Wooyoung’s words. She had been very affected about Jiyong’s rejection that almost everyone noticed it.

“Quit it, Dara.” Sohee said. “Tell us.” She added threateningly. Wooyoung walked over to her desk and crowded her along with Sohee and Minji.

Dara desperately looked around for help and spotted Donghae who hasn’t moved an inch or talked a word since she got inside. “Lee Donghae, help me please!” She cried, but either Donghae was wearing an invisible earphone or he didn’t hear her (which was too unlikely because they’re desks were a meter away from each other), since he didn’t even look her way.

“HAH!” Wooyoung shouted. “Are you guys playing with us?! Last week it was you, now it was Donghae... Is the Mopey Syndrome spreading around here?!”

She slapped his arm. “Shut up, Jang.” She muttered before she casted a sideway glance at Donghae. She wondered what exactly happened that night when she found Jiyong next to her on her bed. She clearly remembered being in the café with Donghae, and then she asked him to take her home, but that was it. She couldn’t quite recall where or when Jiyong came into the picture.

Besides that, Donghae even seemed upset. She was sure he was just avoiding her, since he hadn’t looked her way once. It was very unlike Donghae, because out of the four of them– Sohee, Wooyoung, Donghae and her– the two of them were the ones who were very close to each other. They only knew each other for the past year, but there was just something in Donghae that would make you feel safe and secured. That was what Dara felt whenever she’s with him.

I’ll definitely ask him what’s wrong, she conceded. She doesn’t want the fight to drag on, even though she wasn’t even aware of what she did wrong. Regardless of that, Donghae had been a very helpful and supportive friend to her, and it was time to return the favor.

--

It was lunch time, and Dara quickly bolted out of her class without even waiting for Minji. The younger girl could only shook her head at the weirdness which Dara was displaying. However, Dara couldn’t even bring herself to care, since all her thoughts were on Donghae.

She reached the faculty room in record time, but other than Mrs. Han, it was empty. She walked up to the older woman and asked, “Mrs. Han? Have you seen Donghae?”

“Oh, Donghae? He already went out.” She simply answered before getting back to her chore. Dara thanked the older woman before aimlessly walking outside, weirded out with her close friend’s behavior. There had never been a time when he acted like this, and now that he was, it was puzzling Dara a great deal. Besides, she bet that Donghae even got out of his class early just to avoid her.

Students were greeting her but all she could muster was a nod. Her shining happiness had lessened because of Donghae’s attitude towards her, and she intends to keep on being happy for the rest of the day. Now that she got Jiyong back, there’s absolutely no reason to be all ‘mopey,’ like what Wooyoung said.

Her feet brought her to the school garden. Only a few students hang out in that place since it was too isolated and it was not kept well. She had raised the issue with Mr. Jang once but he brushed it off, saying that the school has many other issues needed to be dealt with other than the dying garden. She found the place and since then, the four of them would sometimes hang out in there. Even the signboard was ruined, so she doubted if any other students know that it was still there.

She cautiously went inside; making sure that no student was around. After that, she sat on one of the old wooden benches which creaked whenever you sat and shift. She was about to open her energy drink when she heard a rustling of the grass. She instantly stood up, thinking that someone was there.

She was about to break into a run when she recognized the intruder. “Lee Donghae!” She yelled, running towards him.

Donghae looked a bit disappointed seeing her, and that did not escape Dara. However, she decided that she should just let it pass. “Yah, I’ve been looking for you.” She told him as they sat down side by side at one of the creaking benches.

He didn’t respond. She internally sighed before handing him the energy drink. “C’mon, drink it. You look exhausted.”

He accepted the drink and mumbled a “thanks” before he opened it and drank. The silence between them was awkward, and Dara couldn’t take it anymore. “Hae-yah, do we have a problem?” She gently asked.

Donghae stiffened before looking away. “No, Dara, we don’t.”

She sighed. Looks like interrogating Donghae won’t be an easy feat. “What happened that night, Hae? We were together, right? When I woke up...”

Donghae huffed. “You were with Kwon Jiyong, right?”

Dara turned her head to him. Omo, he saw Jiyong... A feeling of dread crept up on her. She wasn’t ready yet to tell anyone about their relationship. “Donghae–”

“No, Dara. I understand. Maybe you still don’t trust me enough to tell me that you are dating the dragon.” He angrily cut her off.

“Hae, it’s not like that–”

“Then what is it like, Dara?” His features softened. “I’m contented being your friend, Dee. It just hurts me to know that you haven’t admitted anything to me... to us. We’re also your friends.” He added, his voice pained.

“I’m sorry, Hae.” She quietly responded. “It’s a long story, really.”

“I have all the time in the world.”

“Hae...”

Donghae sighed. “Okay, fine. I understand. So you’re not yet ready to tell me right?” Dara helplessly nodded. “It’s okay, Dee. I just want you to be honest.” He stared at her eyes directly. “Are you dating Kwon Jiyong?”

“Yes,” she replied, a bit breathless. It was totally different admitting it in front of Bom, TOP and Youngbae who knows the entire story and admitting it in front of Donghae who only knows Jiyong as ‘the dragon.’

“I’m so sorry, Hae... I didn’t mean to lie to anyone.” She apologized.

Donghae patted her back as she bowed her head down. “It’s okay, Dara.” He answered, his voice only above a whisper. Dara was too busy bathing on her own misery that she failed to notice Donghae’s.

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