Dara woke up to the incessant ringing of her phone. With eyes still closed, she grabbed her phone from it's usual position on her bedside table and groggily answered the call.

"Noona." That one word spoken in an eerily calm manner sent a shiver running through Dara's spine causing her to sit up in alarm.

"Good morning, Sanghyun!" Dara greeted as brightly and as cheerfully as she could.

"It's already two in the afternoon, noona." Sanghyun responded in a monotone.

"Oh." Dara ran a hand through her hair and wondered where Jiyong was. Momentarily forgetting her baby brother's scary aura, she looked around the room and found the note Jiyong left her earlier. After reading it, she flopped back down on the bed and sighed.

"Noona! Are you even listening to me?" Sanghyun whined.

There's the baby brother I know and love, Dara thought wryly. "Not really. What's up?"

"I asked how you were holding up." He huffed. 

"I'm okay. Why wouldn't I be?" She asked him.

"Kim Jaejoong." Sanghyun answered meaningfuly. Dara closed her eyes as everything came rushing back to her. "Is it true?" He asked quietly.

"It was a long time ago." Dara answered honestly. Upon receiving silence from the other end of the line, she bit her lip in worry. "Say something." she urged her brother.

"What Yang Sajangnim said in the video.. when Kim Jaejoong would take you to Japan.." He paused as if trying to sort out his thoughts. Dara worried that he'd get mad at her for going overseas with a boy, well, man. "He didn't like, kidnap you or anything, right?"

That was the last thing Dara expected to hear. She burst out laughing. He was so serious and his voice was so somber, she actually expected a lecture. 

Sanghyun remained silent for a few more seconds but when Dara's laughter showed no sign of letting up, he finally spoke. "Noona."

"What? I'm sorry." Dara told him, still giggling. "Why would he kidnap me? I'm sure he's richer than me. Especially back then, I was still starting out. You remember how broke we were then."

"I didn't say he would have kidnapped you for money." He answered darkly.

That shut Dara up quickly. "I'm sorry, dog poop. I was just caught off guard. I shouldn't have laughed." She went on to assure him, "I promise you whatever we did back then was fully consensual and nothing shadier than two idols wanting to keep their relationship a secret."

"Okay." 

"Are you mad?" Dara asked. "That I didn't tell you? I didn't tell anyone."

"I'm not mad that you dated him." He told her. "Boys have been hounding you since we were kids, I got used to it. I know you're smart enough to hold your own. I just.. I need to be able to protect you, you know?" He sighed. "I know that you hide a lot of things from us, especially when you think it will make us worry or make us sad.. I regret that you had to carry all those burdens alone and now that I'm an adult, I wish I could help you."

"I know that." She smiled. "And you know that I want to take care of you as much as I could, as long as I can. I also know that you're doing a great job. You're there for mom, and me and Durami whenever we need you. Even when we don't." she joked. "You're doing good for yourself and you're making us proud. You've become an amazing man, Park Sanghyun and I'm really proud to call you my brother."

There was a coughing sound at the other end of the line. Dara wondered if she made her chic brother cry.

"Oh, Durami noona is mad you didn't tell her you dated Kim Jaejoong." Sanghyun spoke after a while. "She says she's a DBSK fan and you have no right to keep her idol from her."

Dara chuckled. "I'll send my apologies later."

"She's not really mad." Sanghyun confessed. "Even mom."

"I know. Well, I hoped." Dara answered. "I had a feeling you guys would understand." Her mom and siblings have never let her down. They supported her throughout her career. Pushed her when needed, took care of her when she's tired, pampered her when possible and just simply loved her for herself. Not for what she bought them or for what she could give them. Even to this day, they don't want her spending too much on them. Her mom always says, that they could live simply as long as they are all together.

"So are you on house arrest?" Sanghyun's voice turned playful. 

"Actually, I'm not." Dara was surprised at this realization. "Hold on." She checked her phone and saw that there were several missed calls from YG Family, her friends. There were even more text messages from a number of people. One from her manager, but it was only a message of encouragement. She also saw Jiyong's message but no message from YG or from the management. "Surprisingly, I am not yet being summoned."

"Maybe because it's Yang sajangnim's fault, that's why he can't scold you." Sanghyun laughed his evil laugh. "He should scold himself but you have to be there to be the witness."

"Very funny." 

"It is! After how all YG artists impersonate him scolding you guys, this is your chance. Maybe Seungri should do it! I'm sure it will be hilarious." he suggested, still laughing. "He can get back at Yang sajangnim for all the times he was scolded. I'm sure he'll be happy to do it."

Despite herself, Dara giggled. "You truly are evil."

Sanghyun just laughed again."Oh, I have to go now. My manager is here to take me to the shoot."

"Alright. Stay safe. Do a good job." Dara reminded him.

"Yup." He answered simply. "Noona.. I.. iloveyou. bye."

Dara's eyes widened in surprise as she took a look at her phone screen. He hung up on her! But then again.. She smiled at his parting words. Although they are really close, Sanghyun doesn't really them that he loves them. He really is the cold city guy. When he isn't busy being the evil brat that he is, that is.

She smiled as she sent him a text message telling him she loves him too. Then she sent some heart stickers and then some kiss stickers and some hug stickers.

She's not sure how long she sat there with a stupid smile on her face at her brother's unexpected verbal expression of love. She was jolted out of her stupor by a text message coming in. Reading it, she found it was from Bom and the girl was demanding for proof of life and threatened to start breaking things if it wasn't given immediately.

Dara sighed and started typing up a response to Bom. After sending it, she  went to work on replying to her other close friends as well. 

 

_____________________________
 

"Hey, baby boy." Dara greeted as she entered the recording studio, surprising Jiyong who was playing with some tracks.

"Babe!" He greeted back happily. "What are you doing here? I thought we were meeting for lunch."

"I tried calling but I think you're phone's dead." She said simply prompting Jiyong to take out his phone to check. True enough, the battery was drained. Must have been because he has been checking his mentions non-stop to find out if their fans have picked up on his hidden clue.

"Sorry." He rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. "So, you came from your meeting?" He asked her as he pulled her closer. Dara obliged and sat on his lap, putting her bag on the table in front of them.
 

"Nope." she answered, shaking her head.
 

"Oh, you just on your way up?"
 

Dara made a buzzing sound. "Wrong again."
 

"What?" Jiyong asked with a laugh.
 

"I just came to see you." she started sweetly, then narrowed her eyes. "Since I think some people don't want to see me."
 

"So I'm a back-up plan, huh?" he teased.
 

"You know it's not that." Dara pouted. 
 

"I know." Jiyong answered. "How are you holding up?"
 

"Well enough." She replied. "I've been staying away from the internet. I'll deal with whatever when I have to. How are you holding up?"
 

"Well enough." He mimicked her answer. "Seriously though, I'm just trying to keep my mind off it. I don't want to read how you make such a cute couple and would make adorable babies. I mean, what about our babies? I'm sure they're going to be way cuter than any imaginary baby they can imagine!"

Dara giggled softly. "I know. You were such a cutie when you were a kid."

"I was, wasn't I?" He asked with a hint of pride. 

"You were. Still are." She confirmed,leaning her head against the crook of his neck. "It shouldn't matter, right? This issue? I mean, we know the truth. The people we love know the truth."

"You and me, babe. That's all that matters." He gently lifted up her face for a kiss which Dara returned eagerly.

She pushed away from him with a giggle. "You know what's funny?"

"My heartbroken face because you won't keep kissing me?"

"Sanghyun said maybe the reason I'm not being summoned to the seventh floor is because it was actually sajangnim that spilled the beans." She told him with an amused smile. "I mean, I didn't make a mistake. He was the one who was caught on video saying something he shouldn't have been saying and because of that, he can't scold me."

"When has the issue not being our fault ever stopped hyung from scolding us?" Jiyong asked wryly.

"Don't ruin my fun." Dara continued, "Sanghyun also said either sajangnim should scold himself or maybe Seungri could scold him. Kinda get revenge for all the scoldings he could receive."

Jiyong smiled at that. "That rat will surely enjoy and take advantage of an opportunity like that."

"I think I would enjoy that too." Dara confessed with a giggle.

"Let's get it on video and send it to everyone." Jiyong suggested. They spent some more time laughing about it until they eventually got bored and Dara asked Jiyong what he was working on. She tried taking a look at his notebook but he quickly put it out of her reach. "It's not done yet."

"So?"

"It still . I'll show you when it's ready." He promised. "How about I play you the song I've been working on?" He asked her and thankfully that distracted her enough from wanting to see his lyrics. He wasn't ready for her to see his emotional turmoil. After all his assurances that he was fine, that they were fine, she'd worry about him. 

"That's great, Ji." She complimented. "Is this for Big Bang or for your solo?"

"Not sure yet." he admitted. "I guess it depends on our theme for the next album." He played her another track and listened as she gave him her feedback. He has always loved having her listen to whatever it is he's working on since she always gave him honest feedback. That and he just loved sharing every aspect of his life with her. "You know.." he started "I want to make you a song."

"Don't you always?" she asked in amusement. He has at least one song for her in every album he's ever made. She also knows that he has several other unreleased songs for her, about her or inspired by her. 

"No.. I mean, yeah. I meant I want to make a song for you.."

"Okay.." Dara dragged the word out signifying her lack of understanding,

"A song for you to sing." Jiyong clarified.

"Oh."

"I have so many ideas. Don't you think it's time for you to release another solo?" He asked. "It's been years since Kiss and even then, that song had Chaerin featuring. Nothing against Chaerin but I think you deserve one that's your own."

"Well, I did record some songs for the We Broke Up soundtrack." She said carefully.

"I know and those were amazing but they weren't officially released, right?" She nodded. "I want to write a song for you. We don't even have to tell people I wrote it, if that's what's worrying you. I just.. I think you deserve a solo."

She smiled at him tenderly. Loving him for wanting more for her. For wanting her to keep reaching for her dreams. Even though she knows that a solo single from her is highly unlikely. The bigwigs are never going to sign off on it. Even after getting positive feedback for her songs in the We Broke Up soundtrack, her live performances in the busking event and the song she recorded as part of the drama she guested in and the support from her members when she expressed wanting to do something acoustic, she was given the run around. Not really saying no but definitely not saying yes. She didn't even receive a 'maybe later'. 

She sighed. "I would love that, Ji. You know I treasure every song you write for me. I just.. It would be great, wouldn't it? But I don't want you stressing yourself over it and getting worked up when they don't approve."

"I'll make them." He insisted petulantly. 

"Like you did for 'Hello'? she asked pointedly, referring to the tantrums he threw just to make their duet happen.

"I have no idea what you're talking about." He said, putting on his best 'innocent' face.

She rolled her eyes at him. "I love that you want to do it, Jiyong, and if it makes you happy, go ahead. I'll love it whether or not we get to release it. I'll love it because you made it for me."

He tightened his arms around her, "I'll make it happen, baby girl. Trust in me."

"I do. But I also want you to remember that I'll still love you forever even if it doesn't happen." She assured him, planting a kiss on his temple. 

Unknown to both of them, Jiyong's liking the photo of the fairy on the apple has gone also gone viral. Fans theorizing correctly that this was Jiyong's answer to the Jaedara issue.

_______________________________

"So, have you spoken to Yang Sajangnim?" Jaejoong quietly asked Dara at the set of their magazine shoot. To say that the two of them were surprised to see that they were working with each other today was an understatement. The fact that they were surprised actually surprised them a bit since they were both knew it was bound to  happen sooner or later. They just thought that they would get more of a heads up. After the initial shock, they greeted each other politely and hid behind their masks of professionalism. Both are very aware that because of the incident people will be keeping an eye on their actions more intensely than usual.

"No." She answered as she leaned back on the chair she was occupying in their standby area. They were given a ten-minute break and they were just hanging out since the make-up artists have finished touching them up.  "I think he's been avoiding me."

"My boss has also been screening my calls." He told her. "I've been requesting for a meeting since this issue came out and I've heard nothing."

Dara could hear the frustration in his voice and she felt a bit guilty at not really doing much to confront YG. She was just waiting to be called to his office and be given instructions. In case it wasn't obvious, she hated confrontations. "Is it really that bad for you?" she asked.

Jaejoong thought about it for a few seconds before admitting that it wasn't. "I'm just.. really frustrated about this whole thing."

"I know. I'm sorry."

"I mean, they gave us so much when we were actually a thing. They worked so hard to bury it then now.." Jaejoong shook his head. "I guess I just don't understand."

"They were actually right to be concerned about us back then." She reminded him tactfully. Jaejoong grunted a denial which brought a reluctant smile to Dara's face. "Admit it. We weren't making the best decisions at that time."

"We were making the best decisions for us." Jaejoong countered.
"Maybe. Or maybe we were being incredibly selfish."

"Putting yourself first does not make you selfish, Sandara." he told her. 

"I hope you remember you said that." She mumbled.

"Huh?"

"I said, we still hurt a lot of people, including each other and ourselves." She covered. "I'm really sorry for what my.."

"It's in the past." Jaejoong brushed off her apology. "Besides, it was fun while it lasted, wasn't it?"

"It was." She smiled. "I hope you find happiness, Jaejoong."

"What is happiness?" He asked rhetorically, smirking at her. "You don't have to worry about me, Sandara. I'm not your problem anymore." With those parting words, he stood up and headed for the refreshments table.

___________________
 

Back in YGE, Jiyong was on his way out. He just finished an exhausting recording session with Winner and iKon for their collaboration song and the final product is pretty awesome, if he had to say so himself. He's really proud of how far those kids have come, overcoming the survival shows and being pitted against one another. This collaboration is their gift to their fans who have been with them since WIN days and also a request to stop the fan wars. They want to show everyone that the idols themselves are in good terms with one another and while battling it out in the charts is fine, they don't want fans getting personal or bashing the other group. He and Youngbae have been brought in as producers as a sort of throwback to when they mentored the two groups.

He pressed the down button and waited for the elevator to arrive. He took out his phone and started texting Dara. He knew she had a photo shoot today and he wanted to know if he could pick her up after she's done.

The elevator made a dinging sound and he looked up briefly and noted that it was still on it's way up, so he moved over to the side so that he didn't block the way for whoever was coming out. He then tu