credit : the12wolves@SPZ

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They sat opposite each other on Dara's house balcony in the elite area of Mapo-gu. Jiyong seemed anxious and hesitant -his eyes occasionally glanced at Dara in front of him. She snorted softly, waiting for him who still chose to be silent and kept looking down while playing his fingertip nervously.

"Ji? What did you want to tell me?" said Dara breaking the silence between them. Jiyong looked up, and exhaled for a moment. "It's about me and Sulli."

Dara now sat up a little straighter and reached for his left hand, "What happened?"

Jiyong smiled bitterly, seems like he forced himself to talk. "I..uhm, i'll never.. forget the look on uncle and aunty's face just before they told me that Sulli had leukemia, Dara.." The girl in front of him widened her eyes, too shocked to react.

"E-eonje buteo?" Dara asked him carefully.

Jiyong tightened her grip on his hand, "it's almost.. 2 years." 

Dara's hazel eyes became misty, "Gosh, Ji.. t-then, w-what did you do on the streets earlier when Sulli really needed you?"

"Dara-ya, I told you that I was with her. I was with Sulli at the hospital. Then I wanted to get some fresh air outside, that's all." Jiyong replied to her with tired expression which made her soften her gaze.

"Jiyong-ah." He looked at her with somber expression. "You must be really love her.." Dara said softly, but loud enough to Jiyong heard that phrase. He smiled, "I don't know, Dara." Dara furrowed her eyebrows, "What do you mean?"

"Do you remember? One year ago when I told you about her presence in my life?" Dara remained silent, 'cause she still remembered it clearly. The day when her first heartbreak occurred. And it hurts. A lot. "...You know that right, Dara? Sulli is the daughter of Choi Sajangnim, nae appa chingu. Sulli also is a childhood friend who had moved to New York. I never saw her more than a dongsaeng, Dara.." said Jiyong again making Dara frown.

"My family and I got the news about her return to Korea at the time, but she was very ill. Ahjumma told me that she was already suffering from the disease since one year earlier, she said she wanted me to be with her. That's why.. she wanted to go back here. For me. "

Thump.

Dara felt pain in her heart.

Again.

But she was trying so hard to look strong as she stared at the guy she loved so dearly. He showed an expression of someone who had many burdens on his heart. Expenses are eager release. But Dara didn't understand what was in his heart, and yet she was eager to ease his burden. Hold him, comfort him even with only one sentence : "everything will be just fine.' Yeah, Dara really wanted Jiyong to understand how she loved him as small and simple as that.

"Ji.. Sulli loves you very much, angeurae?" A thin smile formed on Dara's lips. "You must look after her. See? She came back for you, Jiyong-ah. You, you have to help her to get better."

Silence.

"... I like her, Dara."

Dara forced a smile.

"But I don't love her. I..love someone else." Jiyong's answer made her freeze in one second. Dara stunned not knowing how to behave and respond. She wondered what was Jiyong’s real intentions of his words just now. But.. that look. Bead eyes, as if to convince Dara that Jiyong’s words was addressed to her. Just as when he said a similar sentence in their secret place. They were both silent staring at each other. As if the silence could make them reach one another, make them break through the invisible wall between them and change things so that their feelings can be delivered.

***

Just a few minutes after Jiyong left -'cause he still needed to accompany Sulli at the hospital, Dara walked into her house with feelings that were still mixed up in her mind. She was angry, angry at having to face the fact that now Sulli would need Jiyong more than herself. But she also felt some hope for her and Jiyong to be