{ 27 }

When Dara got outside of the restaurant, the warm air hit her face. She looked for her phone inside her bag but it slipped back when she tried to get it. That was when she realized that her hands were a bit clammy. She smiled nervously to herself. She still remembers how Jiyong was when he gets jealous.

Her mind wandered to Taehwan, Ilwoo and those other “cases,” as Bom, TOP, and Youngbae refers to it. The Kwonzilla unleashes itself, and it was never a good thing to watch. She hopes that he matured quite a bit this time. After all, five years have passed and they’re not kids anymore.

She dialled Jiyong’s number. The first ring didn’t even finish when an angry dragon answered the other line, “FUCK, ABOUT TIME KWON DARA!!!” He roared before Dara even got the chance to say a cautious “hello.”

Hearing the anger in his voice, Dara was quite sure that the five years did nothing to tame the childish Jiyong whenever he’s jealous. Still, rather than feeling angry herself, she felt this certain calm. Hearing anger and jealousy in his voice like this only proves that her Jiyong is back.

“Jiyong.” She acknowledged a bit stiffly, trying to hide her giggles. She feels happy hearing him call her Kwon Sandara, since he usually does that when he’s being cheesy or enraged. This case though, she was sure it was the latter’s fault.

“Jesus, I’ve been calling you and you didn’t answer! I thought something happened or you– Damn it, Mrs. Kwon, stop pulling that trick.” He replied. Dara was a hundred percent certain that even the clear phone reception didn’t do justice to Jiyong’s exasperated voice.

“Why?” She teased. “You thought I’ll cheat on you?”

He sighed deeply before answering. “I thought you changed your mind.” He answered seriously, making her guilty. “Seriously, babe, I was so close to losing it.” He breathed through the phone, and she could only imagine what he went through while trying to reach for her.

His answer silenced her. She didn’t know that he was fearing about her decision. When she accepted him, she was ready to accept everything about him wholeheartedly. God, it is Kwon Jiyong they’re talking about. She would never let him slip away again. “Why would you think that, Ji?” She softly asked.

“Because I’m the one who screwed up, Dee. Royally fucked things up. I promised–”

“No, it’s not your fault, Kwon Jiyong.” She stated firmly. “You didn’t even remember.”

“That’s it, Dara. I should have.” His voice still suggested anger– but it was now directed to himself. “I should have remembered. What if I didn’t meet you? What would have happened then?” He challenged, frustration in his voice.

Dara couldn’t answer his queries. Even she doesn’t know. Now, even thinking about not being with Jiyong feels like someone just ripped her heart out. She couldn’t imagine life without him anymore, because he gave color to her life. He gives life to her life.

“I couldn’t even think about it...” She silently admitted. “I’m sorry, Ji. I was just kind of occupied. I had classes going on.”

She heard him sigh again before he responded. “No, I’m sorry too. I unleashed Kwonzilla again without even asking you first.”

“It’s okay, really. Why were you calling, by the way?”

“Nothing.” He answered before his voice lowered into something only a bit louder than a whisper, but nonetheless enough for her to hear. “I miss you.”

Her breathing hitched and her heartbeat doubled up its pace. Oh my, there’s really no hope for me... He was just telling it to me through the phone but I’m getting so worked up! Aigoo, Kwon Jiyong, what did you do to me?!

“Dara?” He asked again. “Are you there?”

“Yeah.” She answered. “I miss you too,” she added in a quiet voice.

Jiyong let out a chuckle from the other line. “Where are you? At home?”

“Nah, I’m out with my friends.” She replied.

--

Jiyong’s face visibly darkened upon hearing Dara’s answer. Anyone who might see him will think that a great peril will befall Kwon Group of Companies because of the unexplainable but dangerous expression the great Kwon has. “Friends?” He parroted. “That... guy?”

“Guy?” Dara asked from the other line. “Which guy? Donghae or Wooyoung?” She questioned, pure innocence and curiosity in her voice.

She didn’t expect that her simple question will spark a Kwonzilla II. WHAT THE HELL?! He thought. So it wasn’t just that guy but... there’s another one?! FUCK, DARA!!! WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO ME?! “So there’s another guy?” He asked, willing his voice to be steady and calm even though all he wanted to do was to ram those guys’ heads to the Underworld.

“Yup,” she answered cheerily. “They’re really nice! Don’t you remember them? Hae and Woo are the new teachers last year.”

His mind flew to the last time he went to the school. There were indeed two new teachers, he remembers now. Huh, he snorted inwardly, those guys look like wusses. “Ah, yeah. I remember. I didn’t know their names, though.” AND I DON’T GIVE A DAMN! THEY SHOULD STAY THE HELL AWAY FROM YOU!!!

“Uh-huh, that’s them. Oh wait,” she told him. It seemed like she turned to another person because Jiyong can faintly hear another man’s voice. So, is that Donghae or Wooyoung? He scathingly thought.

“Hey, Heechul, what’s up?” Dara asked as Jiyong’s eyes widened. He could literally feel his veins pop out in a minute because of a green monster of jealousy hidden in the name of Kwonzilla was trying to unleash itself. SO IT WEREN’T JUST DONGHAE AND WOOYOUNG, BUT ANOTHER WUSS?!

“Oh, Donghae asked me to check up on you. Wooyoung’s about to gobble the whole dinner,” he heard the other man answer before chuckling. “They were trying to save some for you, but you better get inside.”

“Sure,” Dara answered faintly. “I’ll be there in a minute, Heechul.”

“Okay.” The other man answered and suddenly, Dara was back on the line talking to him. “Hey Ji, I’ll call you la–”

“Where are you, Dara?” He questioned, his voice eerily calm.

Dara, though quite weirded out by Jiyong’s question, answered. She told him the name of the restaurant they were in.

“Wait for me,” he said before turning off the phone. He grabbed his coat and keys before heading out of his office.

Taeyeon sprung up when he heard Jiyong’s office door open harshly. “Mr. Kwon, whe–” She wasn’t even able to finish her question when her boss dashed out to the private elevator. She could only sigh before finishing her work.

--

“Wait for me.” He replied and suddenly, the line went dead. Dara couldn’t explain the dread she felt when she only heard the dial tone despite of her attempts to recover the line.

She paced nervously outside the restaurant, thinking of a way to get out of the sticky situation she landed in. UGH! Jiyong’s jealousy is just over the top! She thought to herself. She wasn’t even ready yet to tell anyone about their current relationship. Telling Donghae was a contingency plan since he already saw her and Jiyong together. But telling Sohee and Wooyoung like this? Oh my god, Ahn Sohee will pummel me to death.

She was biting her lip in nervousness when a voice called out her name. “Dee! What’s wrong? Heechul said you’d be back in a minute.” Donghae’s concerned voice washed over her.

Dara looked at him, disoriented. “Jiyong’s coming.” She breathed out. “Oh my god, Hae, I don’t know what to do.”

Donghae looked at her and smiled. “Hey, Dee, it’s okay, it’ll be okay.”

“Jesus, Hae, how?!” She half-screamed when she realized that Donghae wasn’t the cause of her problems. She placed the heel of her palm on her forehead. “I’m sorry, Hae, it’s just that I’m–”

“It’s okay. Uhm, I’ll get the three of them out now, okay? So you wait for Mr. Kwon here.” Donghae instructed.

Dara nodded while biting her lip. Relief flooded her. She hugged Donghae for a moment. “Thank you, Hae, you’re really the best friend!” She said in excitement, not seeing her friend’s face sadden.

When she pulled out of the hug, he quickly masked his face with a smile and ruffled Dara’s hair. “Anything for you, Dee.” After saying that, he proceeded inside to their table.

He tapped Wooyoung’s back. “Hey guys,” he said, getting their attention, “It’s getting late. We should head home already.”

Sohee looked at her curiously. “Where’s Dara, Hae?” She asked.

“Dee’s fine. She’s outside, talking to someone. I think it was Bom?” Donghae lied smoothly.

Seeing how Sohee nodded, he assumed that he was a believable liar. He clapped Wooyoung’s shoulder again. “Seriously, monkey, let’s go. We still have work tomorrow, you know?” He said, disgusted by Wooyoung’s eating habits.

Wooyoung barely even swallowed the meat covered with lettuce stuffed in his mouth before he answered Donghae. “Why are you in a rush, dude?”

Donghae only shook his head. He was really grateful when he saw Heechul and Sohee stand up. “Jang Monkey is hopeless, Donghae.” Sohee said.

“Whatever, mandu.” Wooyoung shot back lamely.

Donghae had to fist Wooyoung’s collar and drag him out to make him stay away from the table. The guy wanted to clear everything out, even the vegetables. Jang Wooyoung’s really insatiable when it comes to food.

When the quartet came out, they saw Dara standing in front of the restaurant. “Hey,” she greeted nervously, but thankfully, Wooyoung and Sohee didn’t notice it. Mostly because Wooyoung was still ranting about the allegedly “wasted” food inside and Sohee was busy being lovey-dovey with Heechul.

“We’ll go first,” Heechul said. “I’ll surely treat you guys next time.” He added and grinned, especially at Wooyoung.

Before any one of them could say anything, Wooyoung already fist pumped into the air and grinned back at Heechul. “You said that!”

“Aigoo, he’s a hopeless case,” Sohee commented once again. She smiled and waved goodbye to her friends before the two of them headed home.

Donghae, Wooyoung and Dara were left. Donghae smiled at Dara. “See you tomorrow, Dee.” After that, he dragged Wooyoung with him, but the latter wasn’t having it.

“Hey, hey, why are we leaving Dara?!” He protested.

“Because she has somewhere to go, monkey.” Donghae answered before Dara could even make out a coherent response. The former waved at her again before dragging Wooyoung away.

Dara felt a little relief. Wooyoung, Sohee and Donghae are her precious friends but she still wasn’t ready to let them in that much of a secret. Maybe, someday, she will finally muster the courage to tell them the truth about Kwon Jiyong, but she was sure it wasn’t the time yet.

A mere three minutes passed and Dara’s eyes fell on white Lamborghini Aventador in front of the restaurant. A second passed and a handsome man wearing a black suit, a loose necktie, and a deadly face emerged from it.

Jiyong walked over to her, no trace of smile to be found on his face. “Where are your friends?” He asked seriously.

Dara bit the inside of her cheek to contain her laughter. So that’s the reason, huh? She thought, her eyes glowing with mischief. Of course, Kwon Dara having dinner with three men? HUH! It’s highly unlikely that the great Kwonzilla will just let that fact go.

He noticed Dara’s mischievous look and it irritated him more. “Seriously, Kwon Dara, where are those wimps?!”

She couldn’t contain her laughter anymore and she exploded. She was giggling her heart out while he was looking at her, no amusement laced his face. Dara hugged his waist and looked up to him. “Jiyong-ah, they’re all my friends. They are no threat to you.” She assured him.

Hearing Dara’s voice like that and seeing her look up at him like an innocent girl ebbed his anger away. He sighed. You’re being a total pushover around Dara, Kwon. You’re the man stupid in front of love. “God, Dara, you’ll be the death of me.” He responded, his voice as light as a feather.

Dara could only smile again. “No, I won’t. More like you will be the death of me.”

“Impossible.” He said and flashed her a crooked grin, the one she loved the most. He lightly kissed the bridge of her nose. “C’mon, let’s get you home.”

He stole another kiss from her lips before he led her to his car. They were bathed in a comfortable silence throughout the whole drive, until...

“YAH, this is so not the way to my house.” Dara protested when she started seeing different places. The buildings were higher and everyone was buzzing with energy and activity. She lived in Seoul, but she lives in the quieter part of it. Jiyong’s car was driving through the streets of Gangnam.

“I’m getting you home, babe,” he answered, his voice innocent but his mischievous eyes betraying his pretension.

“Home?! Jiyong, we’re on the other side!” She exclaimed just when Jiyong parked in front of a tall condominium building.

He turned to her and smirked. “I am your home, right?” He said and winked before getting out of the car and opening the door for her.

“Jiyong, I have work tomorrow.” She faintly protested, starting to give in at his whims.

His playful eyes found hers. “I have it too, babe.”

“I hate you, Kwon, you’re a jerk,” she whispered to him as they made their way inside. Dara was awed at the extravagance the building was imposing. The moment she saw it, she was already certain that this place was the most expensive condominium building in all of Gangnam.

The side of his mouth upturned. “But I’m the jerk you love,” he answered as they stepped inside the elevator and he pushed the ‘P’ button.

________________________________________________________

I really live for seeing Kwon Jiyong's raging jealousy kekeke ~ Ottokae?! Good luck, Dara! ;P

-X