CHAPTER 24

Dara was wondering how the two can be like best buddies in a span of 2 days. She now actually believes her husband’s so called charm (that affects both men and women according to him) and honestly she felt out of the place at the moment.

The two decided to bring Jiji and Dadoong to the vet together and the two, also decided to tag her along. She was supposed to be enjoying her rest day today but the two just had to ruin her sleep-all-day plan. She huffed and eyed the two who were seating side by side, animatedly talking about their respective cats (more like bragging about what special skills they can do) totally ignoring her. Do cat’s even have special skills? She rolled her eyes at them.

Jiji jumped off of Jaejoong’s lap and crawled towards her nuzzling on the leg of her pants. She happily picked him up and settled him on her lap. At least the cat knew she was there.

“He likes you more.” Jaejoong said smiling at her.

Dara smirked. “Of course he does. You’ll be surprised, next time he’ll abandon you for me”

Jaejoong’s eyes widened. He took Jiji from her and raised the cat leveling it to his face.

“Jiji, I am your owner you cannot do that to me!” He said dramatically. Jiji just stared at him with bored expression. The cat yawned in response and Dara laughed.

“What? Are you two ganging up on me?” The man pouted, face scrunched up in a feigned hurt expression.

“You’re just so easy to bully.” Dara laughed taking Jiji from him and settling him again on her lap. Jiji tiredly purred then nuzzled on Dara’s arms. “Hey, how did the two of you meet each other?”

“Jaejoong hyung called me.” Thunder said eyeing Jaejoong.

Jaejoong scratched the back of his head. “Well, I asked you before to set up a meeting but you never did, so, I called him.”

Dara shifted her gaze to her brother who was sitting beside her husband and not beside her. She gave him a questioning glare. Thunder shrugged his shoulders.

“I’m a fan. You didn’t know?”

“You never mentioned!”

“You never asked.”

Dara seriously wanted to choke her brother. How in earth did he become a fan? He never mentioned Jaejoong’s name –not even once. She never heard any TVXQ or JYJ song playing, not a single poster nor album in his room. She eyed her brother –her psychic radar was sensing something wrong.

Cheondoong was not the type to break his barriers to strangers–especially if that stranger had something to do with his sisters. He was an overprotective brother and a strict one. He acted like the father in the family ever since he grew taller than his sisters.

“Noona don’t think deeply you’re giving yourself permanent wrinkles. I like Jaejoong hyung, he’s cool.” Thunder said in a matter-of-factly tone.

Jaejoong switched glances from Thunder to Dara obviously confused.

“Is there something that I should know?” he asked.

“Nothing hyung. Noona’s just paranoid.” The younger answered shrugging his shoulders while petting his cat’s head.

“Paranoid about what?”

“Well, let’s just say I’m an overprotective brother and no suitors can go near my noonas without passing me.”

“Oh.”

Dara glared at her brother but the younger just rolled his eyes at her.

“But don’t worry hyung. I like you. We’re cool.” He said smiling. The older felt a wave of relief. Feeling relieved he smiled.

“Yeah we’re cool.  Fist bump!” he raised his hand and bumped his knuckles with the younger. Dara couldn’t help but smile. Maybe her brother really liked Jaejoong, or maybe Jaejoong was just too damn adorable that nobody can resist his charm –yeah even her cold hearted brother.

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“Hyung what’s with the face again?” Daesung asked as he settled on his usual seat in the dining table.

“Yeah, we thought you and noona now are fine?” Seungri followed placing a set of toasts on the table.

Jiyong sighed, “Yeah, we’re fine.”

“Then what’s bothering you?” Taeyang joined sitting in front of the leader and stabbing its half eaten toast with his fork. Jiyong didn’t bother arguing which was new to the older. The older mashed his eyebrows.

“You don’t look fine to me” he said stuffing his mouth with the stolen toast.

Jiyong grunted before poking the egg on his plate. Seungri placed a new batch of fried eggs on the table and settled himself beside the leader.

“There is really something weird because he only cooked for himself. Selfish right?” The maknae said eyeing the leader for any reaction. Jiyong again did not bother retorting which made the others worry more. Normally Jiyong would strangle the maknae and throw a fit (which was very normal). But now the leader was exceptionally down.

“Seriously Jiyong you’re scaring us.” Taeyang said.

Jiyong looked up to them with unreadable expression. “Why, can’t I be quiet?”

“No, we’re scared because you might suddenly snap and burn the house down. God Jiyong we’re your friends why do you always shoulder your problems alone? You---“ Taeyang stopped as a hand gripped his arm. He looked up to find Daesung shaking his head. Taeyang lets out an exasperated sigh and stood up.

“I’d be going now. I need to talk with Teddy hyung.”

“Oh I’d go with you.” The maknae stood and dumped his plate in the sink.

“Hey who will wash the dishes?” Daesung cried. Seungri turned and stuck out his tongue.

“I cooked, so you wash.” He said before shutting the door and leaving them. Daesung pulled his hair in annoyance for once again he was left with the grumpy leader. He eyed the man in front of him who was still silent, poking the abused egg on his plate relentlessly. He sighed, he felt like he was getting old for sighing too much.

He picked up the plate of toast that Seungri cooked and dumped a couple on his plate. He also noticed that both their mugs were still empty so he stood up and went to the refrigerator. He took out a carton of milk and poured some in his own mug and the leader’s.

Jiyong finally looked up to him.

“I want coffee.” he said.

Daesung shook his head. “No, it will just make you more antsy.” The leader pouted and went back on poking his egg. The younger sighed again for the nth time, his eyes rolling the back of his head. 

“Hyung, you know you can talk to me right?” The younger couldn’t help but say as he stuffed his mouth with the toast that the maknae cooked. For the past few days he had been the other’s confidant. Weirdly, the older would talk to him about his problems and though he had heard the same problems countless of times he still listened.

 “I know.” The older answered after a minutes of silence.

“Then what’s wrong? I’ve never seen you so down like this before.”

“It’s.. just..” The leader pushed the plate, dropped the fork on the table and leaned back on his chair. “Dara, Jaejoong and Thunder went to the vet together today.”

“Then?”

“Thunder likes Jaejoong. Dara told me.”

“So.”

“It’s weird. “

“What’s so weird about that?”

Jiyong cupped his face and ran his hands through his hair. “It took me mountains of hardships just to tame that little dragon. He didn’t want me for Dara remember?”

“Well, if I have a sister I wouldn’t allow her to date you too.” Daesung shrugged his shoulders while munching a piece of toast. Jiyong threw him his napkin –a reaction he needed from the leader. The younger just laughed.

“Like I would date your sister!” he growled.

“Just joking hyung.”

Jiyong rolled his eyes at him. “My point is. Thunder was accepting Jaejoong very fast.”

“Hello. Maybe because it’s just a show?” Daesung arched his eyebrow.

“No. Jaejoong met him yesterday without WGM cameras.”

“Oh?..”

“Yeah..and Thunder is ignoring my texts.”

“So you mean to say. Thunder is ignoring you now and he is possibly mad at you for hurting his noona. Well, I couldn’t blame him if he feels that way. If I were him I would’ve hanged you somewhere. He’s kind of nice actually for not hunting you down.”

Jiyong fought the urge to strangle the younger. “Wow, thank you for being such a nice friend. That actually brightened up my mood.” He said sarcastically.

“What I’m saying is. You cannot blame the kid if ever he hates you now. You know how he loves his sisters.”

“I know.”

“And you don’t know yet if he’s really mad at you.”

“You’re right.”

“Now are you feeling better?”

“A bit.”

“Good. Stop sulking over nothing and ask noona about Thunder. She knows the answers to that.” Daesung stood up and brought his plate and mug over the sink.

“Thanks Dae. You’re the best.” Jiyong said leaning backward and glancing at Daesung over his shoulder.

“No prob hyung. Now wash the dishes coz I still have a schedule.”

“Okay –wait  what?” Jiyong stood up knocking the chair down. Daesung rushed towards his room and locked it.

“That’s the least you can do hyung!!”  Daesung screamed from inside his room.`

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The visit to the vet didn’t take that long. Jae still wanted to take them out and eat lunch but his manager called him for some urgent matters. He still drove them back to their house before going to his meeting with his manager.

Dara closed the door behind her and hurried towards Thunder before the younger closes the door to his room. She held the younger’s arm and pushed past him entering his room. The younger stared at her weirdly.

She sat down on his bed and crossed her arms on her chest.

“Explain.”

“Explain what?” the younger settled the cat on the floor and sat beside her on the bed.

“Since when were you a fan of Jaejoong? I am not buying that excuse of yours.” Dara mashed her brows together. The younger laughed and laid flat on the bed.

“Noona. Why does it matter? You should be happy I am not making him mop the house or clean the bathroom.”

Dara huffed tugging the younger’s shirt pouting. The younger propped his elbow on the bed, rested his head on his palm and turned sideways to face her.

“Noona. Do you like Jae hyung?” he suddenly asked.

“What are you talking about? Of course I like him.” The older managed to say in a calm tone. She actually liked the guy. No doubt about that. Who can possibly hate someone as adorable as him?

“You mean like him as in like him.”

“What do you mean like him as in like him?” Dara narrowed her eyes at him. The younger shrugged his shoulders.

“You know what I mean.”

Dara paused for a moment. She didn’t know why her brother was asking her such question. She told him before about the show and he never paid attention. So why ask now?

“Honestly I like Jaejoong hyung. He seems like a nice person.” Dara turned her head towards her brother. The younger was just staring at her with unreadable expression. She hated it the most when the younger was acting like he was the oldest.

“We are together just because of the show.” she answered.

“I know. But he likes you. More than you thought he likes you.”

The statement made Dara flinch. She had never considered her feelings towards Jaejoong. It was true that she likes the man. He’s nice and kind. He makes her happy. But thinking of them more than just an on screen couple never crossed her mind.

“How’d you know?” she asked.

“I’m a man. I know.”

Dara stared at her brother. She didn’t know what to say. Honestly, she didn’t want to think of their relationship as something more than what it should be. She likes the light and warm feeling whenever she was with Jaejoong and putting their relationship into something more will make things complicated.

“I saw the picture.” The younger suddenly said cutting her off her mini trance.

“What picture?”

“Jiyong and the Japanese model.”

Dara scrunched her brows. The way the younger called Jiyong by just its first name alarmed her. There was indifference in his tone and she didn’t like the way his face was void of emotion. But, the picture, how did he see it?

“I don’t know what you mean.”

“Stop covering for him. That bastard.”

“Cheodoong watch your language. He’s your senior!!” Dara stood up and glared at the younger.

The younger stood up too and glared down at her. Dara took a step back.“I respected him. I looked up to him. I trusted him. He told me he will never hurt you. I believed him and what did he do? He dated this Japanese model behind you? I saw the picture –the one where he’s kissing that woman in a bar.”

Dara stood silent. She can see the rage in the younger’s eyes. That picture, that picture that she had been keeping in her laptop –the picture that broke everything.

“He said he didn’t kiss her. The picture just looked like he was but he wasn’t.”

“Yeah right.” The younger huffed and Dara almost broke into tears. She wasn’t covering for Jiyong. Deep inside her she knew it was not what it looked like.  She knew no matter how big of a bastard Jiyong can be he could never cheat on her.

The younger spun on his heels after staring at his sister. It took all his will power not to hug her and comfort her. She must learn for herself. He walked towards the bathroom silently. He paused upon reaching the door.

“Just try to forget him. There are other guys out there worthy of your time. You don’t deserve to be hurt. You deserve to be happy. That’s all I want.”

Dara stared at the younger, her heart aching. Sometimes it amazes her at how her little brother thinks like an adult. How he protected them, though in not so obvious ways but he did. He cared for them, a lot.

“And, I don’t hate Jiyong hyung. I am angry, yes, but I don’t hate him.”

That made Dara smile. His brother was still a big Kwon Jiyong loyalist. He can’t find the heart to hate the man. How could he? He looked up to him for a long time. The respect can never be erased that easily.

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The couple seemed to be getting used to the house as they decided to film WGM in their Vampire Couple House again. It was more comfortable and cozy in the house than outside where the cold winter wind was already blowing.

“Will you be here for Christmas?”

Dara glanced at her husband who was tugging the corners of the pillow with a pout. She just came from their concert in Taiwan and their next stop was in a couple of days. She must admit it was tiring to travel, and filming We Got Married with Jaejoong alleviated all the stress.

“We still have one more for this December. Singapore. After that I am free.”  

The glow in the younger man’s face couldn’t be hidden. The smile that was tugging his lips was too obvious. “So were spending Christmas together?”

The older nodded and went towards the younger to rest her head on its shoulder. The younger did the same and they stayed like that for a couple of minutes. No one spoke. Both were bathed in silence, but it was comforting -surprisingly.

A sudden knock on the door startled the two. Jaejoong jumped up and volunteered to open the door. He was a bit confused when he didn’t see anyone in the monitor. He still opened the door out of curiosity and found a red mailbox in front of their door.

“Yeoboo…” he called out carrying the not so heavy mail box.

“What’s that?” Dara asked.

“A mission?”

Dara sat up straight and made a room for her husband on the couch. Jaejoong sat beside her and opened the mail box. They found a red envelope with We Got Married’s logo in front. Jaejoong hastily tore open the envelope only to find an invitation.

We Got Married Couples Christmas Party

Date: Decemer 23

Time: 01:00 pm

Place: We Got Married Village

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End of Chapter 24

A/N:

So this is shorter than my previous updates around (2,600 words only)

Writing in third person drained my energy, but it was fun.

I NEED YOUR HELP.

TELL ME THE COUPLES THAT YOU WANT TO SEE IN THE WGM CHRISTMAS PARTY.

SEND IN YOUR SUGGESTIONS DOWN THERE.

I’ll be expecting sweet comments from you guys. Please inspire me to update faster. Your comments do wonders.

Love yah  ♥

@anjellie_ka