"I call you pet names...?" 

Jiyong smiled and let out a low hum as he helped her get off of bed and on to the wheelchair while the shock and confusion on her face stayed. He thought it was cute and funny.

It's only been a few days since Jiyong started taking her out of her room just so that they could stroll around. Her doctor advised her that she should start with her rehabilitation program if she wanted to recover as soon as possible. Dara was hesitant at first. She had already implanted on her mind that she would never be the same again so why did she have to waste her energy? Jiyong on the other hand didn't take no for an answer. They have been through this talk countless of times now and it would often lead them to bicker and argue. He knew that he was never going to get back the Dara who danced gracefully with the limited happiness that was given to her. He may not see her shine on stage but she still shined in his eyes and that's all that mattered. He wanted her to experience her life again and they weren't going to go through a lot of that behind the restriction of a wheelchair. 

"You call me a lot of names." he said. "You call me 'babe' all the time." 

Dara blushed and hit his army shyly while he just smirked. He leaned down on her ear and she shied away from his warm breath.

"And you keep wanting to see me ." he whispered. 

"Kwon Jiyong!!!"

He laughed and patted the top of her head. On the other hand she frowned and crossed her arms like the adult she was. The obvious shade of red was still very much prominent on her cheeks and they were just begging to be pinched. Dara shrieked in her wheelchair when Jiyong wouldn't let go of her cheek and the people in the halls looked at them with amusement. They looked like an innocent and happy couple. Jiyong was happy that he was slowly getting his old Dara back. It just gave him more hope that the girl he loved never really left. 

Dara waved at the elderly man that they passed by in the garden and the latter waved back with his toothless smile. Her heart clenched because of his undeniable cuteness while Jiyong did the same as he watched her. He gave her a quick peck in the cheek and he was rewarded with flustered look. 

He looked at her deeply and shook his head. "You are so freaking adorable." 

"What?" 

"Nothing." 

He helped her sit on the ground and lean on the tree and he sat beside her, his hand automatically locking with hers. He felt her head rest on his shoulder and he couldn't help but memorize the way she looked peaceful right then. Dara suddenly turned her head to face him. The both of them just stared at each other before she crinkled her nose, making him smile. 

"Hey," she mumbled. "Continue." 

He nodded and kissed her pink lips before looking up the sky and savoring the sunshine. Oddly enough, Dara didn't feel the need to react just like she would always do. She just found herself snuggling up beside him and looking at the same sky. 

"You were annoying as hell. You drank a lot and you like watching these weird TV shows that don't even air anymore... and most of all, you were obsessed with Min Dongwoo." 

She hit him on the arm and frowned. "Min Dongwoo is great." she defended softly. 

He jokingly scoffed at her and shook his head. Even when she lost her memories she was still going to have that idiot's back, he frowned. He ruffled her hair, slightly annoyed, and the girl let out a silent shriek.

Her hair was still long and he estimated that it already reached her lower back. Right now she had it in a pony tail but it still doesn't hide the fact that it was still long. Jiyong called his mom if he could come in just to cut her hair. When the older lady heard the word 'girlfriend', she immediately said yes and she was on the way just as we speak. Of course Dara threw a small tantrum when she found out. She was still very hesitant on wanting to get her hair cut but he insists that it would be better for her. A new haircut would symbolize a new life and a new Dara. She admits that she was amazed by how philosophical Jiyong was. But then he just had to annoy her about eating and becoming a the tip on the chicken wing again and the eloquence that she thought he had quickly disappeared. 

She didn't know why it seemed that Jiyong was pushing his life and the Dara he knew at her. The thought of meeting his mother was considered a big step that she highly believed that she still wasn't ready for. And he just told her that she was coming without asking if it was alright with her. She couldn't help but think of all the negative things going around her and it made her feel bad about Jiyong's efforts. He was clearly trying to help her but here she was seeing all the bad in him. Dara knew she had to change. She didn't like arguing with him but she couldn't restrain the feeling of being alienated. 

He's helping you, Dara. Just trust him. 

Jiyong gave her a questioning glance when he felt her hand squeeze his. She just looked at him with conviction and he had a hunch that it was because she was still coping with him and her new life. Jiyong leaned in to kiss her on the head as Dara relaxed into his touch. 

"Don't be nervous. I'll be right here." He looked at her deeply. "Always." 

Dara found herself nodding though she still felt inwardly reluctant. He just smiled but soon that got wiped off when she pulled his shirt in order to meet his lips. He raised his brows in surprise despite immediately replying to the kiss. He watched how her eyes closed and how her hesitant lips skimmed his. He didn't want to force her into anything so he just responded with the same gusto as her. 

"Are you alright?" he asked, cupping her cheeks as soon as they pulled away from each other. 

Dara just stared at him wordlessly before breaking out into a smile. She then jumped up to hug him by the neck while he remained dumbstruck in his spot. When the blood finally got to his brain, he carefully lifted her up to sit sideways on his lap, tucking her legs neatly on the ground. He embraced her back, burying his face on the side of her head, cradling it, and feeling the warmth that felt so unfamiliar yet so recognizable at the same time. 

It felt right.

The both of them thought, feeling each others heart beats. 

_____________________________

"Omo, look at you! Do you not feed her, Jiyong?" 

Mrs. Kwon hit her son repeatedly while the boy could just groan and run away from the crazy old lady. The girl that came with her laughed and Dara found herself focusing on this mystery of a woman. Jiyong told her that he only had one sister but who was she? She didn't look anything like him and his mom... maybe she was a distant relative? she inwardly hoped. 

Mihyun felt someone looking at her and with a yawn she turned to Dara who quickly averted her gaze. Her eyes momentarily closed and formed into a thin and contented line while the two relatives continued to bicker in the background. She lazily walked up to her, accidentally stumbling on the way. Dara felt her hold her hand and she unconsciously took it back with a guarded expression. Mihyun understood and gave her the space she needed. 

"Stop embarrassing me in front of my girlfriend!" 

"YOU DARE RAISE YOUR VOICE AT YOUR MOTHER, PUNK?!"

"They're always like that." Dara heard her speak. Even her voice sounded nice, she frowned. 

Dara saw his mother prepare her tools while she continued to bicker with her son. She saw all this happening but her attention remained at the mysterious girl that Kwon Jiyong has yet to introduce. She saw how he acted so comfortable with her and how they call each other nicknames. Earlier, she saw how Jiyong and her hugged for more than 3 Mississippi's and she felt a sudden burst of anger surge through her. formed into a thin line, contemplating on this weird new feeling. Was he like this with everyone? she couldn't help but wonder. Dara was like a robot that was able to feel emotions for the first time. It was definitely a strange experience. Her brows won't stop moving from too much furrowing and she couldn't stop it!

From what she heard, her name was Mihyun. She was tall—almost as the same height as Jiyong—and she was undoubtedly beautiful. The aura that surrounded her was calm and her overall appearance exuded the same thing. She had the tendency to daydream or doze off and Jiyong seemed to also have the tendency to pat her head and about some inside joke that Dara had no business being in. There was nothing about her that was hateful and she couldn't help but dislike her because of that fact. Mihyun was perfect inside and out while Dara was a broken girl on a hospital bed. 

"Mihyun-ah, do you know where my comb is?" 

Mihyun scurried over to Mrs. Kwon and she saw her say something and shake her head. The old lady then released a frustrated sigh while her hands planted sassily on her hips. Mrs. Kwon turned to Dara with a sheepish smile while throwing her a peace sign. Dara blinked and eventually smiled seeing his mother's playfulness. 

"Come with me, Jiyong." she said as she pulled her son by the arm.

He grumbled. "Why do I have to come with you? I wanna stay here." They all heard the unbelieving tone in his voice and Dara momentarily snapped out from this suspicious-looking Mihyun that stood way, way to close to him. They were practically mouth to mouth for heaven's sake! In reality though (where people are sane) the two only stood about a foot apart from each other which apparently was danger zone for the unknowingly jealous. 

Anyways, Jiyong was left unanswered and he was forced to leave the room looking like a child that was about to throw a fit. Mihyun and Dara could just look at the door wordlessly before they both broke out in fits of giggles. Eventually, the laughter died down and was replaced by what Dara thought was an uncomfortable silence. Mihyun silently sat on the stool by her bed while she could just shift from her position. Dara could feel her eyes on her and she took a chance to peek. There she saw Mihyun smiling contentedly, it was as if she had just finished drinking some hot milk on a cold winter night. What was she up to?

"I'm glad I finally get to see you in person." 

Dara tilted her head in confusion and inwardly concluded that she must've forgotten her like how she did with Jiyong. She should feel guarded by her words but she found herself relaxing at the calmness of her voice. Dara couldn't figure herself out. Should she treat her as a threat or a friend? 

Wait... a threat?

Mihyun rummaged through her backpack and she took out loose pieces of paper that she then handed to her. Dara took it with a hesitant grip and inspected the stack that had a bunch of scribbles and doodles on it. She looked at her quizzically and then looked back at the papers. Now that she got a better look at them, all of the letters seemed to talk about Jiyong for some reason. 

"Those are from you." Mihyun said, making her look up. "They were our 'little secret' since you didn't want Jiyong to know about this." she giggled. 

When Dara continued to look at her confusedly, Mihyun started to explain, "They were letters I get from you... about wanting to know Jiyong better. It may not seem a lot since I get more emails than actual letters. I have a lot more of your messages on my phone if you want to see." the girl smiled again, remembering when she first got them.

"Omo Mimi-yah, you have mail."

Mr. Kwon handed the dazed girl a neatly sealed white envelope that had a cute little stamp on the corner of it. She narrowed her eyes at it, seemingly inspecting this 'bizarre' thing in her hand. She rarely ever gets mail and when she does it usually goes to her house's address not the Kwon's where she was at right now.

Mihyun thanked the old Kwon and sauntered over to her own makeshift room in their house. She gently closed the door with her foot and carefully peeled the envelope open. She pursed her lips into a pucker as soon as she saw the bright-colored paper inside it. She settled herself on the futon before getting a better look at what was in the letter.

Hello chingu~!

I know it may come of as a shock on why I'm writing to you. My name is Dara by the way. I'm the one who Kwon Jiyong never seems to stop talking about. And I'm not annoying as he makes it sound like. I'm a very lovely person just as you are ^.~. Anywho, I just... wrote this letter y'know... so that you can tell me EVERYTHING about Kwon Jiyong. All his likes, dislikes, embarrassing stuff he's done... I want all of it please! 

You may be wondering, 'why the hell would I give you that kind of information, you total stranger?' Well my little dove, I know that you know how much Jiyong talks all day everyday about me. Jesus, that guy loves me too much, I can't blame him. Wouldn't it be fair if I know things about him too? I would want to talk to you about this in person but my... circumstance isn't allowing me to. Please help a sister out here. Don't let this fellow sister be oppressed by the whiny mouth of your friend. And please don't rat your me. Let's keep this a secret between us, neh?

In all seriousness though, I really want to get to know Jiyong even more. He keeps grumbling about a schedule and all and I have no idea what the heck he's talking about. What got his so stuck in his ? You get what I'm saying? Was he always this uptight? He cracks a few jokes from time to time and it looks like he's holding himself back. It's kinda sad to be honest. I seem to get in his way most of the time since I'm still not familiar with his usuals are and how his past was. 

Oh man, this letter is getting pretty lengthy isn't it? I'm sorry about that... I don't expect you to just give such private information (but it would be really really really nice if you did please) but just give me a letter back so I'd know that you were able to get this. I want to be less of a hassle in his life and it might help if I get to know him better. He shuts me away when I do it to him so might as well get the next best thing which is you. You are like Jiyong's twin... his platonic (oh god please be just platonic) other-half for a better word. No one knows him better than you.

Please let me know him better than himself too. 

Mihyun felt the wholeheartedness beneath the sender's words and couldn't help but trust her. It's true that she'd heard countless stories about this 'Dara' but she never expected that she would find a way to seek out to her in order to understand Jiyong better. The thought brought genuine happiness in her heart. She could tell how Jiyong likes Dara by how he speaks about her and the same goes with Dara and her letter. Mihyun could just imagine the smiles on their faces as they tell her about each other.

She never really did see Dara in person but she could tell that she was child-like but good in character from Jiyong's stories. From then on, their communication went back in forth almost once every week. And true to her words, Mihyun did keep this a secret. She was used to people confiding in her so she was already familiar in the art of 'Jay therapy sessions' confidentiality. It warms her heart that people trust her with their secrets and she could always just sigh in relief at the thought of not accidentally 'spilling tea' yet. Although it stopped so suddenly from some reason. She tried to message her back but a reply never got back to her. 

But now here she was, seeing the girl that she grew to love right before her eyes although in a very unfortunate circumstance. She couldn't see the playful happiness that was once laced in every word she wrote. It was replaced by a person that was figuratively draped with uncertainty and melancholy. She heard from Jiyong that she's been in a coma for about two years but one thing struck her. How was she able to send those letters if she had been sleeping in a hospital bed all this time? She couldn't help but wonder if Dara really was the person behind the Dara in the letters. Was she mistaking her for someone else...? If she compares it now, the