Hello, author's note is going to be infront for this chappie!

Took a bit of time to think about where I want the story to go on from the last chapter, and 

I thought it's only right that I pick up the pace a little. 

It's going to be a bit hard for me to update during November, mainly because

I'm moving house and there's going to a lot of dust and cement powder going around

which would probably give me lung cancer.

 But I'll try to update as usual, it may just take more than a week or so.

Enjoy!

[DARA]

  I stared in horror as the thugs holding me broke into howls of laughter, slapping their thighs as they mocked at Donghae's threat. Donghae's eyes narrowed into slits and the Traids boys growled dangerously behind him. My breathing was growing short as I looked around me frantically. Sharks, the area we are in is narrow. It is a alley that's line with video game machines and other arcade games. Nothing's going to turn out well if a fight broke out here. 

  Donghae took a step forward dangerously. I have to do something!

  "Wait!" I yelled, halting Donghae in his tracks. All of the thugs and the Traids boys were staring at me now. Oh ... *Gulps*

  Okay Dara, let's talk logic. 

  Summoning all of my courage and hopefully, my luck from all of the good karma that I've accumulated up to this point, I turned to stare at the bald leader of the gang that was grabbing onto my arm square in his eyes. 

  "I'm not here to play with anyone." I said loudly, trying my best to sound stern to get the message across that I'm not some pushover. "So you should just let me go and get back to whatever you were doing with your friends, or else.. or else..." I faltered, my mind failing me for a brief second before I snapped back to my senses and whipped out my phone from my pocket. "..or else it'll be a police case for... for harassment!"

  The thug leader snarled at me. Uh oh, maybe that wasn't the smartest thing to say. It happened in a flash; his hand clawed through the air for my phone and I withdrew myself so that he wouldn't snatch it away. Provoked, the thug leader released his grip on my arm and yanked my hair back; but before I could even yelp in pain, a hard plastic pistol from the shooting arcade was smashed onto the side of his face.

  Donghae didn't even let him wait till he hit the ground before he delivered his second blow. The pressure on my arm was released and I immediately huddled myself away from the scene as total pandemonium broke out. Teenager girls were screaming as they scampered out of the gaming center while the counter boy of the arcade looked on, hesitant to attempt to stop the situation as both gangs started to brawl. The noise of metal chairs hitting the ground and dull punching noises punctured the sickly digital music in the air. 

  The thugs were no match for the boys in the Traids. I stared in horror as Donghae brought two rival gang members down while stepping onto the back of the thug leader who's already sprawled on the floor, unable to move. Jackson was raining punches on one of the thug who was laughing particularly loud just now, cursing while urging him to continue his mockeries. 

  After all of the thugs were groaning in pain on the ground, Donghae straightened up, his own lips bloody and bruised. 

  "I'll give you five seconds to out." He warned. 

  The thugs all got up in a hurry, one huddling another as they quickly scampered out of the arcade. Only then did I allow myself to exhale in relief.

  This place is trashed....

  I swallowed at the mess that was created within the short ten minutes. Chairs were strewn everywhere across the small alley. Gaming drum sticks, guns and other props were lying on the floor. 

  Silently, I started to pick up the mess, pulling up the metal stools to return them to their original positions. Donghae's eyes were burning on my back. The counter boy was standing a short distance away with his jaw loose, staring as he waited with a mop. Fights like these must occur often in this place. It is easy to rearrange these chairs and props back, but I doubt I could do much with that crack on one of the video gaming machine.

  One by one, the traid boys who were eyeing me in confusion started to follow what I am doing. Chairs were reverted back to their rightful places and the props were picked up, dusted, and place back at their stations. 

  I sighed heavily before turning back around to meet Donghae's hard eyes. 

  "Ready to go with me now?" I asked.

[-]

  The Vanguard of the Traids was silent as Dara sat down beside him outside a convenience shop nearby with a new bottle of Betadin and a packet of cotton swabs. He had dismissed his gang back at the arcade. 

  Seeing how Dara is struggling alone to twist open the cap of the bottle of antiseptic, Donghae sighed and relented, blowing away his frustration at her. He grabbed the bottle from her hand, easily opened it, and returned it back. 

  "You must have a screw loose in your head to think that negotiating with those brainless slugs would work." Donghae muttered under his breath as Dara dabbed at the wounds on his lips with disinfectant. 

  "Anything's better than using your fist without trying other methods." Dara said patiently.

  "Look at you preaching." Donghae's lips pulled into a reluctant grin. How can she sound this much like Granny Lee?

  Dara glanced at him before a smile formed on her face as well. 

  "This thing won't work." Donghae said, pushing Dara's cotton swab slightly aside. "Try this instead." A soft breeze blew past them, ruffling his frizzly brown hair up as he pushed his face closer to her with his eyes closed.

  Calmly, Dara suppressed a laugh and shook her head at his antics. She grabbed his shoulder and pushed him back upright again, before resuming her work. His anger seems to have subsided and he's back being the annoying chatterbox again; the Donghae that she's used to. 

  "Whether you like it or not, Dara, I'm not going to sit still and watch you keep getting involve with that Mafia Capo." Donghae sighed as he reopened his eyes. His tone was serious, but it was much gentler than it was that day during his outburst. He felt Dara's movements on him slow down, but he knows she's trying to pretend that she didn't hear him. "You deserve better than that."

  "Donghae.." Dara's expression was pained as she withdrew herself, screwing the cap of the bottle back on without breaking her gaze on him. He doesn't understand. Nobody will, but there's no such thing as worth it or not or who deserves who more when it comes to things like this.

  "I am safer for you, Dara. Better, stronger." He spoke sincerely, his eyes drilling into hers, almost pleading for her to see it. "He, has bonds to the Family that you cannot fathom. Leaving the Mafia would make him as good as dead. I'm a different case, midget. We don't have to be associated to the Underworld at all if you don't want to."

  "Donghae.." Dara winced at the tone in his voice. "You just feel obliged to take care of my safety because of your gratitude towards Grams. You don't have to tie yourself down because of that."  

  The Vanguard sighed heavily and pulled himself back. "I think I can distinguish between love and gratitude." He said bitterly, staring slightly exasperatedly at the girl who's knotting her fingers together. He knows that he's stressing her. 

  "I'm not going to press you for an answer, but think through it, Dara. Logically." He exhaled before breaking into a small, encouraging smile at her, lifting his arm to ruffle her hair. 

  [DARA]

  It's the late afternoon.

  I am idling around in the store again, with my face slumped in between my arms on the counter. The boredom is driving me crazy, so it prompts me to mull over the options that I have for my future. 

  One, I can do nothing and slowly allow myself to decompose among this pile of high end clothes that I can't even appreciate.

  Two, I can go to the medical facility and try to do some hardcore persuasion, which will probably involve low key begging and lots of snot going around.

  Or three..... there's not really a three.

  Even multiple choice questions have at least four options, yet I can't even find three now.

  I almost jumped when two slips of paper were suddenly slammed on the counter inches away from my eyes by a perfectly manicured hand.

  "Take it." The voice said haughtily.

  Since when did the Mafia Princess knows that I work here? Gosh, I was so into my own misery that I didn't even see her coming in.

  Hani was avoiding my puzzled gaze, her chin tilted slightly up with her arms folded across her chest as usual. I glanced at the thing that she placed in front of me. They're movie tickets.

  "What's this for?" I raised a brow. Weird that she isn't here to pick a fight. Anyway, with myself being stuck in my own limbo, I'd probably can't be bothered even if she does. 

  "It's just.... I haven't really apologised for the thing I said about your mum.. and I don't like owing people stuff!" She said, sounding defensive while blinking away, still avoiding my eyes. "I got these tickets for free. Just take it as repayment. If you don't have anyone to watch it with, I'll just spare you two hours of my precious time." 

  I widened my eyes in interest. Is this kid being serious? She still feels bad for what happened in Jeju? But nah, I'll very rather keep my evening to myself reclassifying my collection of natural science and technological science books. They've been piled up beside my bed for ages already. Besides, she'll just burn me with her words or taunt my dressing all night. 

  "Nah, I'm good." I smiled at her. Nonetheless, maybe it's time I change my perception of her. She does seems to genuinely feel guilty over how mean she can be after all. That proves that she can't be too bad. "Don't worry about it, it didn't affect me much." 

  "Oh..." She finally glanced at me as her shoulders slumped, before she quickly put her on her airs again. "Fine then, just throw them away. I have no need for them." She shrugged nonchalantly, pulling her Chanel bag off her shoulders before dumping it on my counter along with her phone. "Take care of this." She ordered, back to her usual commanding tone, as if I'm her servant girl, before going off to shuffle through the line of branded dresses. 

  I tried not to roll my eyes at her as she speedily picked three dresses to try in the fitting room. Did she even look at the price tag? A mere commoner like me wouldn't even think about touching these fabric if I was shopping. But alas, the children we are talking about here are teenagers that are so loaded that they probably have everything in the world. Sighhh.

  Hani's phone started to buzz on the counter.

  "Your chauffeur is calling." I said loud enough for her, who's in the fitting room, to hear.

  "Just hang him up." She snapped impatiently, sounding like Bom whenever she's trying to squeeze herself into a piece that she already knows is a lost battle.

  Nice, now I have to even become her clerk. I click on the 'Reject' button, and the buzzing stopped. Instead, the phone automatically brought me to her caller page. 

  I couldn't help but to take a peep, expecting a thousand of unfamiliar numbers on there. She does looks like the kind of kid that would be popular and parties hard. But instead, her caller log consists of only her chauffeur and occasionally, her older brother Soo Hyuk. 

  Oh.

  I remember what Youngbae said, that people tend to avoid her because of her involvement in the Mafia. My eyes glanced at the movie tickets again. Apologizing is one thing. Maybe she just wants to hang out with someone.

  Arghhhh, I'm so going to regret this!

  "Hey!" I called out. "You think we can make it for the show if we leave in half an hour?"

  Watching a movie with a Mafia Princess didn't turn out to be that bad of an idea, if you ignore the snobbish and borderline childish rambling that she throws out every now and then. Staying true to her identity as a pampered, overly-rich daughter, Hani almost bought the entire snacks bar at the cinema when she became confused and frustrated over how to order a combo set. But the perk is that I got lots of food to enjoy during the show. 

  I couldn't help but to notice how easier she actually laughs; every little punch line that is thrown on the screen would dissolve her into fits of giggle, which she would then try to hide by complaining about the character's silly antics. She teared up when the film was almost at its end, even though she wouldn't admit it. Somehow, it brings about a bit of a heartache to watch her. She's too prideful to admit that she's probably lonely, and she's not even twenty yet. Aish, looks like it'll be hard to loath her belittling attitude wholeheartedly now. 

  "You seem to have enjoyed today very much." Hani said in a high pitch, as we sat in the back seat of her family's luxurious Jaguar car. 

  Ohhhh, look who's talking. But yeah yeah, sureee.

  "It was fun." I answered lazily as a smile broke on my lips. I see an inch of a possibility of us ever being on the same frequency if she would just put her pride down a little. The Jaguar took a turn into the street where I lived. Outside the window, it was already dark even though its just the late evening.

  A smug look crossed her face as she nodded, waving off my unspoken gratitude. 

  "Phone." She demanded, opening her palm. Confused, I pulled out my handphone for her. She typed something into it, and returned it back to me. "Well, since you're Jiyong oppa's PA and I am Jiyong oppa's favorite person, I allow you to call me whenever you're miserably alone, like earlier, and I'll see if I can squeeze you into my schedule."

  On my caller page was her phone number which she had inserted. I suppressed my amusement and saved it. Miserably alone. Hah, I'm alone most of the time, but I won't call that miserable. More like my meditative me-time. 

  The car pulled over outside Gram's house and I had barely opened my mouth to say bye when Hani suddenly leaned forward, her eyes focused on something outside of the car as parted comically in shock. I tracked her bewildered stare with my eyes to see her favorite person leaning against the his car, kicking the sand beneath his feet disinterestedly.

  "What is Jiyong oppa doing here?" Hani demanded shrilly as she aggressively unbuckled her seatbelts to leave the car before I could react. Oh no, is it too late to pretend that we're at the wrong house?

  "Oppa!" The Princess screamed, charging forward with her stilettos. I groaned inwardly. Agh, we're all not going to get any sleep tonight. Why must Jiyong be here out of all days?

  Jiyong's head snapped up in surprise, his brows already furrowing already as his mind tried to figure out a hundred reasons of why-am-I-hearing-Hani's-voice-at-Dara's-House. Awkwardly, I shuffled out of the car as Jiyong's turn his baffled look from Hani, who had just flung herself onto him like a Koala, to me. He blinked, raising his finger to point at the car, and then at me. I hate to admit it, but he's adorable looking so confused. 

  "I went out for a movie with Hani." I said, trying not to laugh at how he's trying to pry her off him, while still keeping his eyes on me. He seems tiredly used to it already. A small, gnawing feeling nudged me at the physical closeness that they share, but I dismissed it. She's young. And she knows him probably since she's a baby. Let's just NOT think about how her monstrous s are pressed against his chest, because that thought would most likely send some thunderstorms across my face. Besides, he is actively trying to get her off. 

  "Yeah, I treated her because she is your PA." Hani said proudly, before her face quickly turned sour again. "What are you doing here outside her house?"

  I glanced at Jiyong nervously, wondering how is he going to explain to her. But he turned stoic like his usual self, and in an aloof voice, he answered, "I need her to sort something out for me." 

  Right. Using the Personal-Assistant--shield again, aren't we? Psh. 

  "Send me back!" Hani requested, seeming rather satisfied with the explanation. 

  "You have a chauffeur here." Jiyong deadpanned, shoving his hand into his pockets.

  Immediately, Hani stormed over to the car in large strides and.. you guessed it, she dismissed the driver and outright told him to drive home first, before climbing right into the passenger seat of Jiyong's Mercedes. 

  "I'll come back." Jiyong said to me exasperatedly and I watched as he got into his car in annoyance. 

  That was how I got left alone again. I sighed as his tail lights disappeared into the distance. I sat down on the front porch and shivered slightly from the chilly night breeze. Just the thought that's he's actually waiting for me outside my house plasters a stupid smile on my face. I swear, I can think about what he said in the rain for five hundred eternities. 

  I'm already here in standby mode for you.

  KYAAAAAAA!! It's so hard not to spazz whenever this line invades my mind, which happens unwillingly. But my bubble was popped when Donghae's words creeped into my consciousness. I tried to push what he said off my mind, but it comes coming back to bother me, especially the part about what would happen if Jiyong ever decides to leave the Mafia. 

  Almost half an hour has passed but he's still not back yet. I started to craned my neck to look for any signs of him approaching. Nothing bad could've happened, right? What if he got into an accident on the road or something? Gosh, why is he so worrying?

  Finally, a pair of headlights illuminated the small street. I immediately shot up. 

  "That was long." I said as he got out of the car.

  "What are you doing out here? You should've gone inside." He frowned. 

  I bit my lips sheepishly and opened my arms for a hug. But he simply raised an eyebrow in amusement and leaned back just as I scooped the empty air. GAHH, the humiliation! My dignity is bruised. 

  "No hugging." He teased.

  "Why?" I whined. It's been days since I saw him! What's wrong with asking for a hug? At least I asked! All he does was to grab me as and when he wants one. Tch, rude brat.

  Like the douche that he is sometimes, Jiyong simply shrugged with his tongue pushed against the inside of his mouth.

  HPMH. Fine.

  "Bye." I said in a straight tone before turning around on my heels. Why did I even waited for him? I should've gone straight in and get the hella on my warm bed. Before I have taken two steps, an arm wrapped around me above my chest and tugged me backwards before my back hit something sturdy. 

  "Clingy." He clicked his tongue, his low voice inches away from my ears. 

  I think I died. Exclamation marks!!!!!!

  "Let's go out." I suggested, turning my face slightly so that I can see him, before I abandoned that almost instantly. I can't do this. I'm gonna melt into a puddle of goo. Why does he have to shred my pride before trying to heal it by killing me completely?

  "I'd rather hang out in your room." He smirked sleazily, earning himself a flick on his arm, which made him let go. 

  "It's still early." I persuaded. "You have a car here, let's go."

  "I think I became a driver." He grunted. 

  We went to Bamdokkaebi Night Market, a temporary set up which promoted cultural street performances and handmade goods and food. Jiyong looks faintly irritated by the loud noises as soon as we stepped out of the car already. That's too bad. I pulled him along and we joined the crowd, waddling aimlessly through the night market that's decorated by red and yellow lanterns. Food trucks selling food of various different exotic countries were parked here and there, attracting long queues. I moved from here to there like a butterfly, stopping for a moment in front of a man blowing a flute before moving over to a stall selling small cactuses in Campbell soup can. Behind me, Jiyong followed along silently, his hand gripping on mine firmly to make sure that I didn't get lost in the crowd.

  "Young lady! Young man!" A stall owner stopped us, his booth displaying an array of traditional Korean bracelets. The crystal beads that were hand woven into the braided threads sparkled under the lantern glow, sending tiny fragments of colorful lights everywhere. They were beautiful.

  "These couple bracelets would ensure that both of your hearts will eventually find its way back to one another even if you get separated." The stall owner promoted. I'm already bought over by the prettiness of the small bands. They even have a small tail of short, fringed threads!

  "Let's get one." I turned to Jiyong.

  "No." 

  I knew it!  

  "Please, just for the sake that they're so pretty!" I begged. 

  "You can't really believe that something this cheap have magic, can you?" 

  "But, but!!!"

  "No."

  ARGHHHHHHH.

  "Please?" I pleaded, trying to look Hani-ish as I batted my eyelids at him.

  "I'll get you one if you want it that much." He cracked a laugh. 

  "It comes in a pair." I sulked.

  "It's too cheesy."

  OH COME ON, it's just a bracelet! I scrunched up my nose in annoyance. 

  "Come on, nerd." He rolled his eyes. "You tell me what my job is before thinking whether I should be walking around with a damn bracelet."

  Wow, that stung a little. My lips twitched and I think he caught that flash of hurt across my eyes, his expression softening immediately as he quickly pulled me towards him. 

  "I'm sorry Park." He said in a gentle tone as I fought not to look at his eyes. "Which one do you want?" He sighed, raking his hair in frustration. My ears perked up.

  "So I won?" A grin immediately cross my lips. 

  "Since when have you not?" His lips curled at my elation.

  YIPEE!! WE'RE GETTING THOSE SPARKLES!!

  "THANK YOU JIYONG!" I shrieked, wrapping my arms around his neck before I ran back for the stall, hardly able to contain my excitement. 

  KYAA!! The Caporegime Kwon Jiyong from the Seoul Mafia that everyone fears is actually willing to wear a couple bracelet for me!

  A minute later we were back as wanderers on the street. On each of our wrist were identical traditional wristbands, braided together with thick, leather brown thread that are interwoven with pale, translucent orange beads. I was giddy with happiness, and I couldn't stop throwing glances at the bracelets that are above our interlocked hand. 

  Becoming chatty, I started telling Jiyong everything that happened today, from how I was worrying over the stupid med facility to how my movie with Hani was. Actually, I don't really know if he's listening or not, since his mouth was shut again like his usual cold demeanor. 

  "...so actually, I conclude that Hani's not that bad of a person, you know. Maybe I should go out with her- Are you listening to me?" 

  "Zzzzzzz."

  "Jiyong!"
 

 We almost reached the end of the street when he suddenly stopped and pointed to a food cart selling maltose candy. 

  "Go and get one." He nudged me.

  "Eh? How did you know that I liked these?" I asked him, puzzled. 

  Jiyong blinked at me for a moment, before he broke into a hearty laugh. 

  "I was the one who bought you that candy in Jeju." He chortled.

  My eyebrows furrowed together as I stared at him in confusion before it hits me. That candy that a toddler passed me in Seongup Folk Village! So it wasn't from the elderly vendors! Oh my gosh, so he was following me the entire time?

  My mouth parted as he waited patiently for me to recall. An overwhelming warmth flooded me suddenly as every event where Jiyong had silently done things like this for me filled my mind. I couldn't even begin to describe the happiness that threatening to rip my chest apart now. 

  "Thank you." I breathed, staring at him like he's some ethereal, magical creature.

  "It's a bit late, but I'll accept it." He twisted his lips as he tried not to smile.

  Without thinking, I leaned up and pecked him on the lips before withdrawing myself swiftly. I think my mouth is going to tear apart from smiling this much. Jiyong can be unbelievably sweet sometimes.

  He cupped my face and brought his lips down on mine again, this time firmer. He angled his face so that my lips were captured in his perfectly. The electrical feeling that ran through me the first time we kissed was gone, now replaced by a small ball of warmth in my chest that slowly spreaded itself all over my body.

  I love this man.

  When we finally pulled apart, he leaned his forehead against mine with his eyes closed, a ghost of a smile hanging on his lips.

  "You drive me crazy sometimes, Park Dara." He whispered.

  I bit my lips and looked away, trying hard not to lose control and spazz the life out of me at the way my name rolled off his tongue. The closeness between our faces and the way I could feel his breath.

  "I may be promoted to become the next Underboss." Jiyong said, slowly opening his eyes that was immediately enlaced with mine. "Do you want to attend the ceremony.. as my woman?"