Donghae didn’t know why but he get the feeling that Darie is avoiding him all of a sudden. From the minute he returned back to the bunk, Darie scuffles to the other students and talk a storm with them for even the most insignificant details. Like the color of the freshmen’s shoelaces, the color of a pen’s ink…. If he tries to approach her, she would then flit to another group. He tried to recall everything he said and could not find if there is something he had said that offended her. Is it because of the kiss? Could be. But considering the number of kisses she stole from him…. He sighed heavily. He still shouldn’t have done that. In this society where double standards still apply, he overstepped himself.

He bit into his french toast as his eyes lifted unwillingly to the other table where Darie is seating beside that sophomore, Chanyeol. The freshmen and Mrs. Sun Woo had cooked breakfast for them before they go home. They were chatting animatedly and he looked more than happy to entertain her. In fact, he looked ecstatic from where Donghae was sitting. Their voices could be heard over the din of chatters.

Or maybe that’s because he was so tuned in to their conversation.

“I’m really having a hard time on writing editorials,” Chanyeol was saying. “I’m not sure what words I should use that wouldn’t sound too arrogant or, you know, too criticizing if I don’t find something good in what I’m writing about.”

“Editorials is a harsh job,” Darie said. “You get a lot of hate for it.”

“Really?”

“Because there are a lot of people who won’t agree with you, you know. So you gotta make sure that you’re using the right words and the right sentences not to sound too… know-it-all and stuck up.”

Donghae bit back a scoff. That’s how her editorials always sounds.

“Really? Can… you teach me?” Chanyeol looked eager.

“Sure bud,” Darie said clapping him on the shoulder as she munched her toast and Chanyeol’s face brightened.

Donghae’s scowl deepened.He put the rest of the toast inside his mouth and just decided to focus his gaze on somewhere else. He didn’t even know why this bothers him. He had been wishing for Darie to leave him alone since the minute she started acting weird. Now that she does, it annoys him that she’s ignoring him.

Maybe he should just start to focus on the main reason they went here. Focus. That’s where he is good at.

After briefing the freshmen trainees and packing to get home, they all boarded the bus at close in the afternoon. He couldn’t help but scowl again as he saw Darie sitting next to Chanyeol at the middle part of the bus, not even looking at him. So, she’s really ignoring him now.

That’s cool. That’s how he wants it anyway.

He placed his bag on the overhead bin with a little too much force and dropped down on his seat feeling agitated than he cared to admit. He rested his chin on his hand and just glared out of the window as the rest of the students packed inside. He shifted in his seat to get comfortable just as he felt someone took the seat beside him.  He just hoped it is another student that wouldn’t be inclined to chatter all the way to Soo Man City.

“Feeling grumpy?”

His head turned to the person sitting next to him and his heart did a little lurch when he found Darie sitting comfortably next to him. She was grinning even though she was looking at Mrs. Sun Woo who was saying something at the front of the bus beside the driver.

“No,” he answered wryly but Darie just turned to him with that mischievous grin she always had nowadays.

“That’s good then,” she said. “I would hate to make you grumpy if you already are. I would guess it’s gonna be a long ride for you because you can’t shut me up.”

Donghae let out a little chuckle, a secret part of him feeling glad that she’s now talking to him. And will continue to talk to him for this whole ride. “I have a way to shut you up.”

Donghae watched her grin froze and it took a moment before he realized what he said. Darie might have construed that phrase in a very non-innocent way. “I meant… I meant food.” He felt himself redden. “I could… you know… make you eat.” He cleared his throat.

Sandie raised one of her eyebrows at the way Donghae blushed. He looked so cute she wanted to laugh. For a minute there, she thought Donghae had some un-mannerly thoughts raging in his head. After he kissed her, it’s no surprise to her. After all, she is pretty kissable. She tried not to think that Donghae might have done that at the thought that she is Darie Park. It made her feel bitter and resentful when he uttered her twin’s name and she tried to put a distance between herself and Donghae Lee while she tried to make sense of what’s happening to her and re-focus on her main goal.

So now here she is, back on her plan. But she have to admit, she’s enjoying this way too much. She gave Donghae a wide, teasing grin. “I think I would prefer the other way for you to shut me up.” Then she bobbed her eyebrows up and down at Donghae while he was sitting there gaping at what she was saying..

“You’re back to being weirdly… uncouth,” Donghae said.

“Yeah, it’s my favorite hobby nowadays,” Sandie said. She is not sure what uncouth is but she believes it is something to do with her being too forward. “It only comes out whenever you’re around.”

“Alright, settle down!” Mrs. Sun Woo had yelled over the chatter and the bus started to move. Sandie looked over at the front and Donghae turned to the window, a smile he couldn’t stop spreading over his face.

Darie had her crossed over her chest as she watched GD enter the cafeteria during their lunch period. Eyes narrowed, she watched him go to his usual table with the rest of his friends, his face barely holding a smile as he sat down. She gave a silent scoff. . He had been avoiding her since this morning, she’s sure of it. At first, she thought he just had some things that he’s thinking of but when their eyes met at a corner of the school, he suddenly turned in the opposite direction after giving her a glare. For whatever reason he thinks she deserves to be glared at, she couldn’t even fathom.

She should be the one giving him the glare of death. In fact, she should be the one pulling an attitude around here. He practically mauled her. Well… not really the exact term but he completely took advantage of her vulnerability. She is not Sandie who could kick his without batting an eyelash and he took advantage of that.

“Hey, aren’t you going to eat?”

Darie turned to see CL munching on her sandwich beside her. Bom was looked at her too while sipping her frothy iced tea. They had a tray of food in front of them but Darie wasn’t touching any of hers. She shifted in her seat and cleared .

“I’m not really hungry,” Darie mumbled.

“Wow,” Bom said. “Never thought I would hear you say that.”

“Actually, I’m waiting for you to say that,” CL teased Bom looking pointedly at her two sandwiches, one yogurt, a plate of mac and cheese, and a piece of a chicken leg.

“It’s my cheat day!” Bom said making a face at her friend.

“Everyday is your cheat day,” CL said with a laugh.

The two bickered with Bom looking mostly affronted and Darie glanced at the direction of the Dragon’s table to see GD getting up from his seat and starting to walk towards the exit of the cafeteria with his hands inside his pockets.

“I’ll catch you guys later,” Darie said knowing neither CL nor Bom heard her as they were too busy arguing over protein and carbs. She followed GD out with her determined strides.

GD bent over to pick up something that fell when he took his hand out of his pocket only to see Sandie—no—Darie Park standing in front of him with a malevolent expression on her face as if GD had murdered her entire family. He inwardly sighed and decided to continue ignoring her by walking past her but Darie blocked his way.

“You owe me an apology,” she said making GD stop to look at her. Her tone insinuates that she believes he really have something to apologize for.

“I don’t owe you anything,” he just answered but Darie grabbed the sleeve of his jacket before he could walk past her. He gave her the most withering look he can manage.

“You attacked me,” Darie said with gritted teeth. “I could count intimidation too but that is probably a normal thing for you and I can ignore that but you forced yourself on me. And I deserve an apology for that improper show of temper.”

GD smirked though he didn’t look amused. “I didn’t know there was a proper way to show your temper.”

“I was a guest in your house and you broke the Guest-Receiving decorum. Just apologize to me already!” Her voice came out in high pitch as she is starting to get agitated.

GD wrung his arm out of her hold and leaned over her with an ominous expression on his face but Darie stood her ground. She refused to be intimidated again.

“Alright. I’m sorry. You happy?”

This guy is really unbelievable. He doesn’t feel any guilt whatsoever. She doesn’t even know why she’s talking to him demanding his apology when it’s obvious that his apology is just words passing through his mouth.”Ecstatic,” she said just as sarcastically. She’s so done. So done with him!

She was about to leave when GD opened his stupid mouth again that made her stop. “Now, you apologize to me too.”

Darie scoffed. “And why the hell for?”

“Oh I don’t know.” GD put a hand on his chin and adopted a pensive expression as if he was really thinking hard. “Maybe it could be the fact that you attacked me too.”

Darie tried not to blush but she could feel it creeping up her neck and spreading all over her face. Drat. Yes, she did. But it was because… damn. It was because of what? She didn’t even know what possesed her to kiss him when she had never kissed anybody before. She didn’t even know how to kiss, for crying out loud. In fact, she never would’ve learned if GD didn’t kiss her like the way he kissed her. He had no right to kiss her back! It was obviously a schizophrenic moment for her.

She lifted her chin up defiantly. “Okay. I’m sorry, too.” Her tone is as insincere as his. “I was drunk.”

“You didn’t look like you were drunk.” Now he’s wearing that arrogant smirk.

“I didn’t know there was a certain look for drunk people,” Darie retorted.

“You didn’t smell drunk either,” GD continued his voice reeking of arrogance ignoring her sarcastic remark.

Her face is probably combusting now and she blinked several times, her brain scrambling for something to respond with. “That would be a more preferrable reason to live with other than admitting that i had given it to a possible symptom of a mental disorder. Now, if you’ll excuse me.”  She flipped her hair as she turned her back on GD scowling at herself. Why did i even talked to him? I’m such an idiot!

The day drew to a close as Darie berated herself endlessly for the rest of the day and scowling at every chance she glimped GD and his friends. She really hated him. She really really hates him. She hated him probably more than Sandie hated him. Darie just nodded to CL and motioned that she will leave first while muttering under her breath on ways she wanted to murder herself as her mind keeps on reminding her what happened last night at that stupid party. Maybe she should hang herself up in a tree with a note that her death should be blamed on GD Kwon and that she will roam the school and haunt all students that will have any connection to GD Kwon. That’ll teach him not to mess with her.

Ugh, where did my brain go? She had acted like an idiot, now she’s thinking like an idiot. She went out of the school hall and down to the lot looking for her driver’s car. She opened her bag to look for her phone to call the driver when she bumped into a solid form. She looked up and bit the dread from appearing on her face.

HyunSeung was looking at her with scrutinizing eyes. He wasn’t speaking but he seems to be studying her. Darie’s grip on her bag tightened as tension filled her body. There is something about this guy that is creeping her out. Why is this Sandie’s best friend?

“Are you okay?” He asked after a moment.

He sounded concerned or worried but Darie couldn’t really tell as she is thinking on how to get away smoothly without running. “Y—yes. Of course.” She tried to make her voice sound like Sandie but she didn’t think it was successfull.

HyunSeung’s forehead creased slightly looking perplexed at her answer but he probably accepted that as he started questioning her about something else. “Why did you go to the Dragon’s party? Oh right. You are now the future Mrs. Dragon.” The spite on his tone is evident. “I had never thought you could even stomach the thought of being in the same room as him. Now, you’re marrying into that foul greedy family.”

His face held disdain and mockery and Darie really couldn’t think on how a person can have so much anger in them. Sure she gets angry too but it doesn’t consume her. And it only last for less than a day. Of course, she’s still angry at her sister but she doesn’t think she can talk to her or about her in this inflection.

And besides, what is she going to tell him? Sandie didn’t even told her anything about this guy apart from being her best friend. And she doesn’t think she can improvise her way out of this one. Why? Because her brain probably stopped working everytime she’s scared. 

“Look...,” she started, her eyes roaming the lot for someone to call to distract this guy and fortunately, or unfortunately, seeing as she doesn’t have any other choice but to swallow her pride, she saw GD walking towards his bike. “Oh there’s GD. Let me just talk to him for a second. We have something to... figure out. See you tomorrow.”

She didn’t wait for him to answer and walked hurriedly towards GD who is already sitting atop his bike and starting the ignition. She swung her leg over the back seat without any word startling GD, his head practically swinging 190 to look who had dared to even do so.

“Just shut up and get me out of here,” Darie hissed before he could say anything.

“What?” GD was frowning over the way she demanded him to get her out of there.

“I hate you and i don’t want to talk to you but that HyunSeung guy is scaring me,” Darie said. GD automatically looked around and met HyunSeung’s eyes standing a few feet away from them with his jaw clenched, his hands a fist at his side. GD’s eyes stayed on his face a few second before he smirked and mocked a salute in his direction.

“What are you doing!” She scolded him. “You’re going to incite his anger more and i don’t want to deal with that while i’m here.” She pinched him hard on the side and GD cursed.

“What the ?!” he hissed at her giving her a glare.

“Drive now.” She glared back at him.

She should’ve known GD would be as petulant as ever because he got back at her by driving his motorbike like a mad man once they hit the highway. She burrowed her head on his shoulder as she screamed her hate at him again and again.

Once they reached the Park’s house, Darie immediately got off, her knees shaking a little. She wasn’t even wearing any helmet, what if they crashed?! God, GD is really really hateful!

“ You are such—“ She started to rant but GD just left her behind in a cloud of smoke as he drove off. She coughed away the cloud of dust that gathered in her face and glared at the direction where GD had took off. Then she let out a heavy irritated breath. . She was about to turn when she noticed a small notebook on the ground. She picked it up and opened it wondering it was and realized it was actually an English subject notes with scrawls that she could barely make out.

“He’s an and an idiot,” Darie muttered as she read a name written on the top of a page. He probably dropped it from his pocket or something. She can’t believe this is where he write notes on a subject. It’s basically a notebook where she only doodles on.  And the most funny thing is, their teacher is accepting it. This could never pass in SM High. She shook her head and just turned to go inside her house thinking if she should return it.

Maybe she will if he won’t be an tomorrow. The question is, would he even notice it was missing?

The answer would be a resounding No.

GD was twirling the car keys in his finger, smirking as he could imagine the look on Darie Park’s face earlier when he rode the bike and making her eat dust. Literally. She’s probably swearing never to talk to him again.

His smirk gradually fell when he recalled the way HyunSeung was looking at them—no. Looking at Darie. It ws the look of a vindictive guy who believes he was betrayed by someone he trusted. He had seen it on his father’s face before.

And the aftermath wasn’t pretty.

Maybe he ought to warn Darie Park. Then he shook his head, Why would he? Pretty soon Sandie Park would be back and they could go and team up against him. Why would he try to protect her sister?

He passed by his father’s study but stopped when he heard him call his name. He doesn’t even know his father’s home.

His father was smoking a tobacco as he sat on the swivel chair of his desk with a calculating expression on his face. He watched as his son entered and stood in front of him.

His father didn’t wast time with family pleasantries. “You are going to stop  your foolishness with Kim Taeyeon.”

He knew it. This is the only reason his dad would call him anyway. Everything is about the Society and he only talks to him when the Society is concerned.

His father let out the smoke and out out the light on the ashtray. “There is nothing more beneficial to our family than the Tigers. The Elder has already been informed but we need his approval for this union and i don’t want anything messing with his decision.”

GD smirked. His dad is in for a lot of surprise. “Maybe you should talk with the Tigers. If there’s anyone who’s going to mess this up, she will be the first on the list.” Once Sandie Park is back, she will be the one kicking and screaming around here.

“Then Park can deal with her daughter. Right now, i’m dealing with my son.” His father crossed his arms over his chest and leaned on his chair. “You spent all your time with Kim Taeyeon last night even if Sandie Park is present. The Elder had a lot of informants. Even if the Kim’s is not part of the society, he will still respect their clan. I like Kim Taeyeon but i don’t want her for The Dragons.”

“Because they are just a small family and could not do anything to further your power in the Society?”

His father didn’t even deny it. “Exactly.” He sounds as if it’s obvious enough. “Don’t let me turn out to be the bad guy on this, Jiyong. I could easily wipe her and her entire family out. She may be my goddaughter but that relationship will end if she will continue chasing after you.”

“She’s not chasing after me,” GD couldn’t help but defend her. That threat that his father had issued is making his hands ball into fists.

“That’s good, then,” his father said lighting another tobacco. He took a whiff before opening a folder. It looks like he was dismissed.

GD’s jaw clenched hard and left his father’s office seething. His dad had never gone back on his words. Or his warnings, for that matter. He knew that he can do what he says he will do without any evidence that it was him.

He slammed the door of his room shut and went to the balcony to get in some night air to calm his raging emotions.

“Don’t leave.”

GD was standing rigidly outside of the classroom when Taeyeon walked out after saying goodbye to her teacher. He had just heard that today is Taeyeon’s last day. Her move to the US was sudden that he couldn’t believe it at first.

Taeyeon bit her lip looking like she also wanted to cry.

“We just graduated grade school,” GD said. “I thought we swore we would graduate high school together too?”

“I’m sorry GD. I didn’t want to go too.”

“Then don’t. You can live at our house until your parents come back.”

Taeyeon didn’t speak.

“Taeyeon,” GD tried one more time taking a step towards her.

“I can’t,” Taeyeon said tearfully. She looked at GD with tear streaked eyes. “My dad was caught in a drug scandal. He named the head of the operation and now they’re hunting him. Your father’s society is helping my dad get away. I have to be with my family.”

“Then i’ll tell dad to protect you.”

“He has been protecting me all this time,” Taeyeon said. “There were lot of attempts to my life and my family, GD. For three weeks now. We have to always keep our guard up, always be on our toes. And... i don’t want to live like that. I’m sorry.”

“ Taeyeon....”

“ I’ll come back,” she promised. “Once everything is fine, i’ll come back, i promise.”

Taeyeon put her arms around him, hugging him tight before leaving without a word. GD stood there alone, watching her as she disappeared.

They were freshmen when Taeyeon left. They were kids. Even at that time, GD was set on his plan to marry Kim Taeyeon once they come of age. Taeyeon had a lot in common with him. And she is the only girl who knows him. All the things that happened to him, she was there. Comforting him. She was his bestfriend and his best girl. Taeyeon leaving made him feel so alone and isolated. Even with his friends around, there seems to still be a void inside him that’s waiting to be filled up.

True to her promise, she did came back. He didn’t know what he felt when he saw her smiling at him that first time she came back. And when she hugged him, he couldn’t move. He couldn’t believe she was back. After so long of missing her, wanting to know how she is, wanting to know what she looks like now, it suddenly felt so surreal to find your first love