{ 37 }

“Jangin eoreun, jangmonim, Durami, Sanghyun, we’ll see you at Seoul soon, neh?” Jiyong told the Park family as he and Dara got ready to leave the next morning.

“Of course, Jiyong. We want to meet your family, too.” Mrs. Park lightly answered.

“Neh, neh, oppa! I want to meet your sister!” Durami added. “Gosh, she’s so pretty...” She said, her voice dreamy.

Jiyong grinned and affectionately ruffled Durami’s hair. “Don’t worry, Durami-yah, Yul’s nice. I bet you two will hit it off.”

“Jinjja, oppa?!” Durami’s eyes widened.

“Noona, can you stop being Kwon Yuri’s fangirl for a minute?!” Sanghyun interjected. He turned to face Jiyong. “Jiyong hyung, remember my words, neh? Prove yourself to Dara noona.”

“Gladly, Sanghyun.” He answered as he engaged in a bro hug with the youngest Park. Durami hugged her, as well as Mrs. Park while Mr. Park shook his hand. “I’m really sorry for the trouble, but I will leave some of my men to guard you here.” Jiyong apologized.

“Ani, Jiyong. We understand.” Mr. Park replied. “Just make sure our Sandara’s not hurt, okay?”

“Appa!” Dara whined while Jiyong just gathered her closer. “Certainly, jangin eoreun.”

Dara hugged her family for a long time before they finally parted. They waved once more to the rest of the Park family before Jiyong helped her in the chauffeured car.

“Hey babe, don’t feel too sad,” Jiyong cooed as he saw how lonely Dara looked as they got farther and farther from the Park family’s residence.

She smiled a bit. “I just can’t help it. I miss them a lot, too.”

He held her hand and smiled. “Don’t worry, we’ll see them again soon. They’ll meet eomeoni and Yul, right?” He answered, trying to cheer her up.

Knowing this, Dara look energized than before. “Yeah.”

“We’ll schedule the meeting as soon as possible, neh? In the meantime, eomeoni told me that we should have dinner at home. Yul’s ecstatic to see you again.” He replied.

Dara smiled at Jiyong. “Thank you, Jiyong-ah.” She softly said as she looked at Jiyong’s face.

His eyes and smile shone with so much love as he gathered her closer. “No, noona,” he whispered to her hair. “Thank you.”

--

The flight back to Seoul had been brief. Jiyong instructed the driver to bring them to Dara’s house, fearing for her safety under the tight scrutiny of the media people. Exactly as what Jiyong expects, there were reporters camping out in front of her apartment, waiting to catch her alone. It’s a good thing that Jiyong told the driver to park the car meters away from her house so they could observe first. The identical black cars were also great camouflage to hide the two famous figures.

Dara trembled at the sight of them. She didn’t expect that such a large number of people would be willing to wait for her just for some news.

“Go to my place.” Jiyong ordered and at once, the car zoomed away, leaving the reporters alone with not as much any idea that their prey had already gone past.

Thankfully, there were only a couple of reporters in front of the building where his penthouse unit was located. The security around the place is tight, added to the fact that Jiyong has his own bunch of bodyguards.

When they entered the place, Dara quickly stationed herself on the couch and sprawled herself there. She really feels tired, what with the back and forth from Seoul to Busan and vice versa, along with the insistent reporters trying to crumble her life down.

Jiyong moved her head to his lap and lightly massaged her temples. “Why don’t you sleep now? I’ll just wake you up when it’s time to go to eomeoni, hmm?” He suggested, seeing that she was beat.

“Hmm,” was her only answer, sleep already pulling her in.

He lightly kissed her forehead and leaned back on the couch to get some sleep himself.

--

Jiyong chose to drive his own car to the Kwon mansion. The public doesn’t know about his car since he’s usually chauffeured back and forth when he attends different meetings. Also, he seldom goes out to play, which is why the white Lamborghini was just in the garage, gathering dust.

The bodyguards were still following them. Dara, however, could care less. She was nervous upon meeting Madame Kwon for the second time around.

“Hey, babe,” Jiyong said soothingly as he glanced at her. He took her hand and squeezed it gently to comfort her. “C’mon, you already met eomeoni. Why are you still nervous?” He asked, chuckling.

Dara was tempted to smack his head, if only he wasn’t driving. “Yah, I only met her once and the next time I meet her, we’re already getting married?! Don’t you think it’s weird?! What if she hates me? What if she doesn’t want you to settle with me? Ji, I–”

“Babe.” Jiyong cut her off. “You already met her. She isn’t like that. Both of them like you, you know? Eomeoni will support me because she knows me.”

“I don’t know, Ji.” She replied, sighing. She’s way out of Madame Kwon and Kwon Yuri’s league. She wasn’t elegant, actually, she’s the opposite. She’s clumsy and crazy and she stutters. She doesn’t carry herself confidently. “I could list down a million reasons why Ma– eomeonim won’t accept me for you.”

“Don’t worry, babe, I could erase all that with one reason.” He responded smugly.

Dara cocked her eyebrows. “And what was that, pray tell, Mr. Kwon?”

He smirked. “I love you.”

She felt her face blushing wildly. “Tch.”

Jiyong laughed at her indifference, already accounting it to shyness. “Don’t worry, really. Kwon Dara, always, remember?”

Dara smiled, her tension easing as every minute passes. She couldn’t even put to words how lucky she is for falling in love with Kwon Jiyong.

--

When Jiyong parked in front of the mansion, Dara couldn’t help but to gawk at the lavish mansion in front of them. Every part of it was detailed, each of the nooks and crannies. She quickly knew that each part of the intricate mansion was made with utmost planning and of course, uncountable amount of money.

“Good morning, Master Kwon, Miss Park,” the Kwons’ butler, Yoo Kyung Min, greeted.

Jiyong only spared him a smile but Dara bowed 90 degrees. The former chuckled at her cuteness while Kyung Min was flustered, not knowing what to do now that a guest bowed to him. He only bowed back, and Jiyong slung his arm around Dara’s shoulders so as to avoid more shy interactions. “Where are they?” He asked, pertaining to his mother and his sister.

“They are already in the dining hall, Master Kwon.” The amicable butler replied.

Jiyong walked towards the dining room but Dara turned around and bowed to Kyung Min again. “Thank you, ahjusshi.” She said before going to Jiyong’s side again.

The butler could only rub his nape and flash a shy smile at her while Jiyong pinched her nose. “Aigoo, what am I gonna do with you.”

She smiled at him as they proceeded to the dining hall. Dara was awed at each part of the house.

When they reached the place, both Yuri and Madame Kwon stood up, welcoming them with a smile. “Hi unnie!” Yuri chirped happily as she ran to hug Dara.

Jiyong faked hurt. “Yah Kwon Yuri, are you my sister?!”

The women only laughed. After hugging Jiyong, Madame Kwon moved to Dara. “It’s nice to see you again, Dara.” She said after hugging her.

Dara, still not used with the warmth Madame Kwon was showing her, smiled. “I’m happy to be here, Mad–” She slapped her mouth with her palm. “Eomeonim.”

“Let’s all sit down now!” Madame Kwon said as she guided them through the vast dining hall. Dara’s eyes widened, seeing that there was a feast prepared on the table waiting for them.

“Eat comfortably, Dara.” Madame Kwon told her as they all settled down. The older woman noticed Dara’s stiff motions as they went through dinner.

“Errr, I’m not really used to this, eomeonim,” she answered honestly. The place she’s used to was her small table in her apartment, with Bom, TOP, and Bae hogging food to themselves, eating fast in fear that nothing will be left once they scoop another serving. She was used to eating at simple restaurants, where Wooyoung gobbles two lettuce-wrapped meat to himself because he’s just like that. She was used with the chopsticks and spoon as utensils, not along with a hundred others.

“You should be, unnie.” Yuri butted in. “When you’re Jiyong oppa’s wife, I’m sure you’ll have to attend these stuffs.”

Dara gulped, thinking about that. She has read about those things, where a famous businessman’s wife has to attend social gatherings with the wives of his business partners. It scares her.

“Yah, I won’t force her to attend if she’s not comfortable.” Jiyong answered, sensing Dara’s stiffness.

She smiled at Jiyong gratefully. The little talks went on. Dara talked to Yuri about Durami and the youngest Kwon immediately clapped her hands, happy to know that she won’t have a hard time connecting with Dara’s family.

“When will we meet your family, Dara unnie?” Yuri asked, already excited with the prospect of being close with Durami.

“That’s really up to you.” She answered, smiling.

“Why don’t we make it this week?” Madame Kwon answered. “We’ll go there. You told us you’re from Busan, right?”

Her eyes widened at what Madame Kwon said. “Ah, they can just go here–”

“No, babe. It’s only proper that we go there.” Jiyong said.

“Jiyong is right, Dara.” Madame Kwon supported. “We’re the groom’s family, it’s only right that we go there.”

“If... If that’s what you want.”

Yuri clapped again. “It’s settled then! Aiyaaaa, I’m excited!”

The mother and daughter started discussing about the things they should bring once they visit Dara’s family. Dara smiled happily, contented that all her worries were for nothing. Both Madame Kwon and Yuri were nice to her.

“Didn’t I tell you?” Jiyong whispered to her ear. He slid his hand to hers and held it tightly. “Everything’s great, babe.”

Yeah, Dara thought. Everything’s perfect.

--

“The plans are moved earlier,” the man told his employees. “We need to move faster. It’d be more complicated once we let this go on.”

“Certainly, sir.” The men’s leader answered, his deep voice reverberating through the walls of the room.

The man looked out angrily. “If only that boy died... we won’t be having much problem now.” He muttered under his breath, angry that their plan before was unsuccessful in eliminating Kwon Jiyong.

“Don’t worry, sir,” the leader responded again. “We’ll definitely succeed this time.”

The man stared at the leader’s face, satisfied with his performance. “Make sure of that.”

___________________________________________________

Comments? ^^ (kyaaaah I'm sorry but if I don't get like, ten plus comments I won't update T.T this story's being added in various reading lists but only a handful comments/votes and it makes me sad...)

-X

P.S. A hint