Chapter 4: Beauty and The Beast

Prince Adam: Belle... it's me! 

[Belle stares into his eyes for a minute] 
 

Belle: It is you!

They never agreed to hang out more but somehow Jiyong and Bum Sang became friends. They were often seen together in the library after school or during lunch time. Bum Sang even joined the basketball team, as a manager though. There were no traces of bullying anymore after Jiyong had unlashed his beasty character, the bullies were now afraid of his steel punch and merciless anger. And what comes to girls, even more swooned over him now. Someone had taken a picture of his ragged self and posted on Internet. The girls were melting like ice cream in summer heat.

“So, how did Dara's date turn out yesterday?” Bum Sang asked during lunch one day.

“Hmm?” Hyum Woo looked up from his plate, finally giving Bum Sang some attention. He was rather passive and always seemed to be ignoring what others were telling him, in reality he did pay attention it just didn't show on his face. Bum Sang had always thought that it would be very hard to get along with such a cold and emotionless guy but he soon realize that Jiyong was not what he seemed to be, instead he was nice, thoughtful and friendly, if you gave him a chance that is. 

“She said she was going to meet some guy, her friend introduced them.”

“And so?” Jiyong asked lifelessly, yesterday's news. It was not that rare to see Dara on a date, yet she had never kissed before, what a sly fox. How did she manage to always dodge it? Not that Jiyong was complaining.

Bum Sang leaned a bit closer to whisper “I heard he is older, in college already and rich. And she was dressed into a y dress.”

“y dress you say?” Jiyong said completely calmly, but the metal chopstick he was holding bent into two.

“I wish I could have seen my pretty Dara in a pretty dress. I heard it was pink” Bum Sang went into his dreamy mode. “Pink must really compliment her pale complexion, such perfect creamy milk like skin she has. She is so perfect, how can she be so perfect?”

“How can you like her so much, she is always making fun of you” Jiyong was a bit amused.

“If a Goddess made fun of you, would you blame her?” Bum Sang chuckled, a dreamy smile still tugging at his lips. “A girl of your dreams.”

Jiyong scoffed. “I'd hate her” he lied. Which guy is able to withstand the girl he likes? There are no such males, if they like some girl they spoil her rotten.

Dara was lying on her bed reading a book when Jiyong walked into her room without even knocking. With furrowed brows she looked up and pouted her lips. She had her bangs pinned and was wearing a white facial mask on her face.

“Ya, shouldn't you knock before walking into a lady's room?”

“A lady's room yes.” Jiyong said dully. He stopped in front of Dara's bed, placing his hands on his hips. "But not into a monster's." 

“What if I was here?!” she nagged. "You are the monster here..."

“There wouldn't be much to see anyway.”

“Chi, you say so but secretly want to see it all” she rolled on her back and continued reading the book. 'You are particularly now' Jiyong wanted to comment when he noticed she was only wearing a sleeveless top and a pair of micro shorts.

“What do you want, anyway?” Dara finally asked after a short while. Jiyong snapped from his stare, realizing only then he had been staring at her bare thighs for way too long. Was he getting breathless or something? Wasn't he supposed to be different from other guys? What was this in the air? Or down there? Jiyong quickly cleared his throat and fixed his glasses, his thoughts shifting on sumo to avoid any accidents.

“I want to see your pink dress.”

“My pink dress?” Dara put the book down and looked up at his slightly flustered face. Jiyong's eyes widened because in this position he could see inside her shirt from the wide collar.

“Would you finally wear some clothes?” he growled, grabbing an edge of the comforter and throwing it over her body. Good bye sanity.

“It's hot” Dara said indifferently, kicking the comforter away. She was completely oblivious to what was going trough Jiyong's head a the moment, those inappropriate thoughts... “So, why do you want to see my pink dress? Are you secretly a ert, do you want to wear it?”

“I will tell you later.”

“Tell me now. You want to wear it, don't you?” Dara wiggled her eyebrows.

“Shut up. Just show it to me.”

“Geez, open the wardrobe and you will see it hanging on the left side.”

Without another word Jiyong walked to the wardrobe and pulled it open. Once he saw the dress his right eye twitched and he had a bit of a  trouble holding himself back from going all ballistic over this little matter. Slowly he grabbed the little piece of cloth with trembling hand and turned to glare at Dara.

“So you wore this nothing on a date?” he asked with tense voice.

“You don't know how y I look in it.”

Jiyong almost coughed on the rage that was growing unbearable inside him. Just a thought about her showing off in front of another guy like that, while she was still pure and innocent, it enraged him. If there was anyone to dirty her pureness that should be him, no one else. For some reason the urge to run to her and kiss her everywhere had never been so strong withing him as it was now. 'I should be that basta.rd who ruins you. Otherwise, how can I make you hate me?' Jiyong shook his head, those bad thoughts were harassing him again, making him afraid of himself and things he would be capable of doing.

“What are you doing?” Dara yelled in shock when she saw Jiyong cutting up her precious y dress. “Yah!” she scrambled on her feet and rushed to him but too late. She grabbed what was left from the pink dress, practicality nothing much. With teary eyes she looked at Jiyong's indifferent face, as if asking him why.

“You can wear something like this after you turn 18, understand?” Jiyong said strictly.

“Do you know how much money I spent on this?” she snapped. "You beast!"

“Too bad.” Jiyong attempted to walk past her but she pushed him back.

“What's this about? Who are you to order me around?”

“Your brother” Jiyong poked her forehead.

“Oww” Dara complained, stomping her foot. “You are not even my brother and besides you are younger!”

“Then” Jiyong leaned closer, towering over Dara. “What do you want me to be?” he raised a brow, bringing his face closer to hers and she leaned back, gulping soundly. “Your lover?” Jiyong whispered. Her cheeks flustered, he was teasing her again. "Isn't age just useless numbers?"

“I...”

“Dream on, my standards are way higher” Jiyong suddenly leaned away. “I don't date stupid brats, you know that.”

“Bastar,d!” Dara yelled at his back as he walked towards the door. “You will pay for this!” she shook the ruined dress in the air. “I hate you!”

A bitter smile spread on his lips.

'Yes, that's how it should be, forever.'

The next day atmosphere between Jiyong and Dara remained cold, their parents were used to this kind of ice ages and usually let it slide without questions or butting in. The kids were usually able to solve their own problems very quickly. Though, for some reason this time the quiet treatment, sulking, fuming, and angry glares lasted for 6 days.On Sunday Dara finally snapped, she was usually the first one to act with the short temper she had. After sitting in the dark and mumbling curses, meanwhile snapping at least 7 pencils and breaking 5 rulers, the math homework piling without Jiyong's help...

Yes, without him life was just way too hard, no one was helping her carry her school bag when she was tired and he stopped cooking too, when her parents weren't home she had to survive on ramyn and her lunch would be just a bun and a pudding. Moreover she knew perfectly well he was waiting for her to do something,