"I need to... We need to talk.." she practically whispered.

"Sandara?" She could hear rustling on the other end of the line. She could imagine him sitting up and struggling to open his eyes. This man is not known for getting out of bed, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. "Baby? Are you there? Are you okay?"

"I.." She held back a sob. Hearing his voice, so worried for her made her heart ache. "I miss you, Kwon Jiyong."

"What's going on?" He asked, sounding more alert now. "Where are you, babe? Are you in trouble?"

This is it, Sandara. She told herself. You have to tell him. He deserves to know.

"Dara!" His voice was sounding more urgent now. "Where are you? I can be there in a couple of hours. I just need to check on flights or see if I can charter a -  Dammit. Where the is that light switch?"

"I'm here. Jiyong, I'm okay.. I'm alright." She rushed to assure him. "I'm sorry.. I'm so sorry for worrying you like that. I didn't think.. You're probably tired from working on the cafe and I -"

"Dara." Jiyong interrupted her. "It's okay. I promise it's okay. I may have overreacted. My brain wasn't functioning at full speed when you called and I panicked. Okay, I'm calm now.. Talk to me, baby girl."

"I was just.." Dara gulped nervously.  "thinking about you and thought I'd call.."

You're such a coward, Dara! she chastised herself. Why are you so scared?

Probably because I could lose the love of my life over something that happened in the past! she answered herself. Then upon realizing what she did, she gave a mental groan, Great, now I'm having a conversation with myself.

"Aww.. Are you missing me that much?" Jiyong's tone grew playful, breaking Dara's thoughts and Dara couldn't help but smile at how carefree he sounded.

"I am. I really seriously am." She answered honestly.

"I miss you too. So much." He told her. "I wish you could have come here with me. You've always loved this place."

"I wish that, too." She responded. "Oh, by the way.. Thanks for the dessert cart you sent. Everyone loved it."

"And you? Did you like it?" He asked excitedly. "And did you see the card?"

"I did. I love it. I love the card. I love the message. I love everything about it. But not as much as I love the person who sent it."

"You're in a mood." Jiyong observed. "And I'm not sure I like it."

"Huh?" 

"I mean, I love you and you telling me you love me and miss me makes me happy. Of course it makes me happy but I feel like there's something going on with you and I can't do anything about it because I'm so far away." Jiyong explained, frustration and worry lacing his voice. "I can't hold you and assure you and myself that everything will be okay."

"I'm fine, Jiyong." she assured him once again.

"Are you?"

"I am. Now that I'm talking to you. I guess, I just.. needed to hear your voice." She told him. "I have all body parts intact. No one made me cry or anything."

"You can tell me anything, you know that, right?" He responded, still sounding like he didn't completely believe her.

"I know." Dara answered. It's just what happens after I tell you that's worrying me.

"Alright then." Jiyong conceded. "So tell me about your filming. You were with TOP hyung and Jaejoong hyung, right? Those two are such a riot when they're together."

"Yeah. The staff kept regaling me with stories of their antics when I came in.." Dara closed her eyes as she continued to tell him about her day, thankful that he didn't push her into talking.

After they've shared their days with each other, Jiyong once again asked her if she was alright. "Are you sure there isn't anything you want to tell me?"

Dara opened to answer, but found no words to actually do so.

"Dara?"

Dara turned around and saw Bom peering at her. She gave a sigh of relief, Saved by The Bom!

"Hey, Bom. I'm just speaking with Jiyong." She told the older girl. "I'll be there in a sec."

Bom nodded and went back inside.

"Ji, I gotta go. Bom's spending the night and she was looking for me." She told her boyfriend.

"I heard." He answered, his voice oddly more relaxed now. "I'm glad she's there with you. At least I can rest easier knowing you aren't alone."

"I'm fine, Ji -"

"So you keep saying." He answered. "But I can't help but worry about you whenever we aren't together. As someone who loves you, that's my prerogative."

"Okay okay, but you better take care of yourself while you're there. I worry about you too, you know."

"I do. I'll see you tomorrow night, baby girl. Let me know if your schedule changes." He told her. They planned on meeting up once he lands but they are both aware that their schedules are at the mercy of their managers.

"Will do. Good night, Ji. I love you." She whispered and listened to him return the sentiments. I'll tell him when he gets back. I promise

__________________________________________
 

"So what was that about?" Bom asked Dara as the latter entered the bedroom.

"Jiyong." Dara answered simply, making her way to her bed."I missed him."

"Were you having phone ? Was that why you had to go out? Dar- ouch! Quit it!" Bom tried to grab the pillow that Dara was using to hit her but she was laughing so hard, she couldn't grab it.

"Park Bom! You have such a dirty mind!" Dara told her as she continued hitting the older girl.

"Come on. As much as we all travel, of course there are times when.. you know.. " Bom smiled up at Dara. "I for one, freely admit that when Tabi starts -"

"Park Bom!" Dara interrupted. "I don't want to listen to your capades with Tabi. I have to face him for work in the next couple of days and I don't think I can look at him with a straight face if you corrupt me!"

"As if." Bom rolled her eyes at Dara. "You're the one that corrupted me. I was such an innocent young girl and then you come into YGE and exposed me to.. Boys!" Bom gasped dramatically. "All your love triangles and secret confessions.. Aigoo.. It's enough to corrupt even the purest of souls."

Dara giggled. "Who was it who asked for my help to distract CL and our sunbaes during company events just so she could sneak out and go on a date, hmm?"

Bom huffed. "Well,okay. That was me. But only because the person you were dating was in the event with you. If he wasn't you'd be right there with me ninja-ing our way out so Sajangnim won't notice."

"Good thing you finally got together with Tabi, huh? Your ninja skills could rest, within the company, at least." Dara lay down and looped her arm around Bom's. "We've been through so much together, haven't we Park Bom?"

"We have, Sandara Park." Bom agreed. She peered at Dara when the other girl failed to respond. "What's with you?"

"Jiyong says I'm in a mood." Dara shared with a laugh.

"Are you?" Dara shrugged in answer to Bom's question. "Looks like you are. The question is, why?"

"I'm.. processing.." Bom waited for her to continue. Dara sighed as she snuggled closer to Bom. "There's something I want to tell you but I can't. Not until.." I tell Jiyong.

"Until?" Bom prodded.

"Until I figure it out in my head." Dara told her. Until I tell Jiyong. The words ran through Dara's head once again.

"Talking to me used to help you figure things out.."

"Yeah.. But this time, I have to do it my way." Dara prayed Bom would accept her answer. Bom studied her expression carefully, as if trying to read Dara's mind. Whatever she saw there must have assured her somewhat that Dara wasn't in any immediate danger.

"Okey Dokey Yo." Bom joked and both girls laughed. This is one of the many reasons the two girls are such good friends. They push when needed but give space when asked. When they settled down, Bom turned serious. "I'm here for you. For whatever, okay?"

"I know." Dara answered. "That's what helps me soldier on. Knowing that at the end of the day, you'd be there."

"Forever." Bom assured her.

___________________________________

"Dara unnie!!"

Dara stopped walking upon hearing Hayi calling for her. The young girl was running towards her with a big smile on her face. When she got near enough, she grabbed Dara's arm and propelled her to continue walking.

"What's going on?" Dara asked her looking at the young girl's excited face. "Did you like win an award or something? Ohmygod, you're dating!"

"I wish. With the oppas and even the dongsaengs always on guard, when would I actually be able to? I need to hang out with you and Bom unnie more to learn about your techniques." Hayi mumbled. She turned towards Dara with a sneaky smile on her face. "So anyway.. I heard you were recording something with TOP oppa today.."

"I am." Dara confirmed warily, not liking the smirk on the younger girl's face. She, TOP and Jaejoong were working on the song that will be released along with their CF.  Another surprise for the fans is that TOP and Jaejoong are helping produce the song. And since Dara and TOP are here, they decided to just record in YGE. "And?"

"Nothing. I want to give you moral support." Hayi told her.

"Hayi-ah.."

"Fine!" Hayi conceded, giggling. "I want to see Jaejoong oppa."

"Don't let Tabi hear you say that. If he finds out that you replaced him as your ideal man, he'd pout forever." Dara warned her. People think that TOP is oh-so-chic and a cold city guy, when in reality he is seriously just a kid stuck in grown-man's body. Actually, that could be said for most of the males in YGE. Hmmm.. There must be something in the air..

"I see TOP oppa almost everyday and I see him when he is at his bingu best. It kind of ruins the vibe." Hayi whispered. "But of course if he asks, I'm there to support the two of you."

"The vibe?" Dara asked incredulously.

"You know. The viiiiiibe." Hayi wagged her eyebrows up and down causing Dara to burst into laughter. After they calmed down, Hayi asked Dara about Jiyong who is still in Jeju, three days after his planned return.

"Stressed." Dara answered, a worried frown creasing her face. "You know that the renovations in his cafe were delayed because they found faulty wiring. It could be unsafe if the wiring wasn't fixed immediately. Jiyong's actually worried about it because he has the place inspected regularly for to make sure the building and their facilities are up to code, but this slipped. So he's not sure if this was negligence on the part of the manager or of the contractor."

Hayi frowned. "That must . I know Jiyong oppa hates that part of being a business owner."

"You said it. He prefers to leave those things with the operations managers. He loves the conceptualization and execution but prefers to hand over the reins when it comes to the day to day operations to someone else. However, this time he has to find out if the manager is part of the problem or not." Dara bit her lip in worry. Jiyong really has been stressed out about this. His father even had to fly to Jeju to help manage the crisis. She's taking it as a sign that she made the right choice when she decided to postpone her confession.  Well, it's my sign and I'm interpreting it the way I want to, she thought stubbornly, unknowingly jutting out her lower lip.

"What's got you pouting, noona?"

Dara turned to find Mino, trying to keep pace with her and Hayi. "Mino-yah!" She grabbed his arm with her free hand and held him captive as they walked towards the recording studio. "How are you? Are you finished promoting with Bobby?"

"For now." He smiled at her fondly. "I'm back with Winner. Kang leader is putting me to work to make up for all the time I've been absent."

"Oh, my poor baby." Dara commiserated. "But hey, good news for your fans, right?"

"Exactly." Mino agreed. "Now, if only I can get my members to back off with the teasing about my MV, I'd be a very happy boy."

"Oh, you big baby!" Dara teased. "If you can do all those y scenes, you can take the teasing."

"That's what everybody keeps saying." He whined good-naturedly. "Anyway. Where are we going?" He has been happily going along with them since he currently has free time. And being with Dara usually leads to something interesting. At the very least, he's sure he could get her to feed him something delicious. 

All the younger boys know that Dara has a soft spot for them, probably because she doesn't see her brother as much as she wants to these days. She tends to get the urge to spoil them. Winner has been shamelessly making use of this weakness. Not that they don't return the favor, they take care of her as much as she takes care of them, it's just that they enjoy Dara babying them. iKon is still a bit more reserved since they have mostly been promoting in Japan and they haven't gotten the chance to bond with her as much as Winner has. They usually join in when the others are acting cute with Dara but they don't really instigate it. 

Although that punk Chanwoo has been making use of his maknae status to charm away their favorite noona. Mino silently resolved to spend more time with Dara. He'll also have to tell s to make sure to spend time with her. Maybe Jinwoo hyung can cook for her again or Seungyoon can play guitar with her.

Unaware of the direction of Mino's thoughts, Dara smirked and turned to Hayi. "Wanna take this one, Lee Hayi?"

"I'm going with unnie to support her in her recording." Hayi answered.

"What's the catch?" Mino asked suspiciously.

Dara leaned closed to Mino to whisper but Hayi tried to cover to prevent her from answering. "Nothing. Why do you think there's a catch?"

"Probably because you're trying to suffocate her, Hayi-ah." TOP's amused voiced alerted the three of them that they have now reached the recording studio.

"Oppa." Hayi greeted. Then seeing Jaejoong who was standing behind TOP, watching them silently, she bowed formally. "Sunbae. Welcome to YGE."

Mino also bowed, greeting his seniors. 

Since their arms were still entwined, something both juniors seem to have forgotten, Dara was jerked with each bow. "Yah!"

"Oops." Hayi laughed as she straightened up.

"Sorry, noona." Mino apologized as he tried to steady Dara.

TOP shook his head at the three of them. "Now what are the three of you up to now?"

"Nothing." Hayi answered quickly. "We were just walking."

Dara snickered at Hayi's panicked look. So she decided to give her a break and tease Mino instead. "And talking about Mino's y MV."

Mino blushed as TOP and Jaejoong laughed. "Yeah. We were watching it earlier. Nice job, Song Minho."

Mino blushed harder at TOP's compliment. Dara shook her head and pretended to cry. "My babies are growing up. What am I going to?"

"Why don't you try recording, Sandara Park? That's why you're here, right?" 

Four heads turned quickly towards the voice, while Jaejoong merely looked on with polite interest.

"Sajangnim. Welcome back." Hayi and Mino greeted their president.

"Eh, that's what I was about to do, Sajangnim." Dara laughed.

"Yeah. I see that." Yang Hyun Suk observed the tableau in front of him. With Jaejoong and TOP in front of the door and Mino, Dara and Hayi in front of them. "I didn't realize you needed to be physically connected to Mino and Hayi to record. Or that you can record outside a recording studio, Dara-yah."

"Sajangniiim.." Dara pouted, trying to use her aegyo on her president. "It's Seunghyun's fault. He is blocking the door. And here I was all fired up and ready to record but he won't let me in. Right, Mino? Hayi?"

The two younger kids blanched at being put on the spot. They can't go against TOP but they don't want to contradict Dara. They looked at the still pouting Dara and then at TOP who was smiling but he looked as if he was just daring them to sa