After Jiyong had stormed out everybody had lost their appetite. We called for the bill and were now idly standing outside the restaurant in silence. I couldn't stop thinking over what I had said and the obvious look of hurt that flashed in his eyes. It honestly wasn't my intention to hurt him like that. I don't even know what came over me. Maybe I  had reached my limit. Maybe I lashed out because of all the shock that I had experienced over the past two days, but I knew that no matter what excuses I conjured up, there was no excuse for what I had said. As much as we used to call ourselves arch-nemesis', and although we weren't quite on good terms yet, he was still a close family friend and I know he would never have done what I had so cruelly accused him of.

"I think it's best if Dara and I head back down," CL's voice broke my train of thought. I looked up to see them all observing me, I was surprised they weren't more angry at what I had said, but with that said I could see the obvious dissappointment in their eyes, and that just added to my guilt.

"I'll drop you guys off. Daesung, you and Bae make sure Minzy gets home okay," TOP instructed. Daesung nodded and walked into the direction of Younbgae's parked car, with Minzy tailing behind him quietly.

Youngbae caught my eyes with his own, I nodded, understanding what he was trying to tell me with that one look. With that, he turned around and followed Daesung and Minzy, getting into the drivers seat and driving off.

"Come on, my cars over there," we all silently followed TOP to his car.

I was about to get into the backseat with CL when TOP grabbed my arm. I looked up at him and he gestured to the front seat, where seungri was currently opening the front door for me. I didn't ask questions and clambered into the front. The atnmosphere was so tense that even CL didn't complain when Seungri crawled into the seat next to her in the back.

The ride back was short. Silent. TOP parked his car outside the two apartments, my eyes immediately flickered up to the male block where Jiyong's room was. The lights weren't on. Where was he?

I unbuckled my seatbelt and placed my hand on the car door, opening it, when TOP reached over me and pulled the car door shut. I looked at him quizzically, then looked out the car window, my eyes meeting with CL's. She gave me a small nod then turned around walking into the apartment with Seungri following behing her.

*Click*

I turned back to see TOP reaching over me and putting my seatbelt back on. I sat there silently not questioning what he was doing. He shifted into gear and we were off, driving to god knows where.

My eyes watched the scenery that flew by as he drove, the secene still on repeat in my mind. The look of hurt in his eyes constantly flashing in my mind, torturing me. I didn't understand myself why it bothered me so much to see him so hurt. Maybe it was because in the years I had known him as a child, I had never seen him hurt. Sure, I'd seen him fall over and get physically hurt, but never hurt in this way.

I didn't know how long we were driving for, but the car suddenly pulled to a stop. I blinked and looked out the front view mirror to see that he had driven up to the Han River. I heard him unbuckle his seatbelt, and mechanically I followed him, unbuckling myself and letting myself out the car. The cold air immediately hitting me in the face, almost slapping me in punishment.

"Come on," TOP spoke, from his current position, his hands clasped loosely together and elbows leaning on the railings as he stared out into the beautiful view that was eeh Han River at night. I obediently made my way beside him. My hands lightly gripping the rails before me.

The view was beautiful, but I coudln't find it in me to appreciate it in my current state of mind. We stood there for who knows how long, not exchanging any words. The only thing that could be heard was the swish of the wind and the soft lapping of the river as little waves were formed and made contact against the concrete below.

"Just for the record Dara-ssi, I never hated you back then, and I don't hate you now either," his voice echoed in my mind, causing me to cringe at how emotionless his voice was when he said those words.

"You know Dara, I'm really disappointed in you tonight," TOP finally spoke, his breathe causing vapor to form from the difference in temeprature of his breath and the cold night air.

Dara bowed her head, disappointed in herself too, but to hear Seunghyun tell her he was disappointed, it felt much much worse.

"You know, he's different around you," Seunghyun randomly said. I lifted my head up slowly, my eyes showing confusion, what did he mean different? He was the same wasn't he? Seunghyun chuckled, "I didn't really notice it till tonight. You may not notice it but he's at peace when he's around you. It's a subtle difference and one you wouldn't notice if you weren't looking for it, or in my case, know him as well as I do."

"I haven't seen him be himself in a long time. He's... free.. around you and i've never seen him act the way he does with you with anyone else. He can't help but invountarily show his real self to you, that not many of us have seen in a long time," he continued.

"I-I don't understand what you're talking about..." I stuttered, confused at his cryptic words.

"He never hated you Dara." Seunghyun simply replied, not elaborating on the words he spoke earlier.

"I know that now," I whispered, but couldn't help but want to defend myself a little, "But it's not like you can judge me for thinking he did. He was horrible to me from the first moment we met, what else was I to think?"

Seunghyun chuckled, his deep voice reverberating, "I can see why you would come to the conclusion, but Jiyong wasn't in a good place when he first met you."

My brows creased further, this was all so confusing. Why couldn't Seunghyun just speak clearly, and not all cryptic and mysterious. "What do you mean he wasn't in a good place?" my curiosity evident in my voice.

Seunghyun sighed heavily, glanced at me, then looked ahead again, "The day that Jiyong had moved next door to you was exactly one week after his harabeoji had passed away," he started, I gasped loudly at the news. Now that I thought about it, I only ever heard the Kwons mention a halmeoni who they visit often, but never a harabeoji.

"Ji was extremely close to his grandparents, his harabeoji especially. He spent the beginning of his life in their care whilst his parents were busy, as it was still the early years of their business. He grew to love them, maybe more than his own parents. When news came that he had passed away from a heart attack, Ji's whole world came crashing down. He was absolutely devastated and cried for 3 days straight in his room, refusing to eat. He couldn't accept the fact that the harabeoji that was his rock was no longer on the same land as him. Then his parents dropped the bomb that they were moving. To say Jiyong was furious was an understatement. He wasn't in the right state of mind for the move." he continued.

"Whilst he was grieving he would only talk to Dami Noona and myself, anyone else he ignored - even his parents. He'd only just lost his harabeoji and now he was being told he was going to move. Move away from where his harabeoji and halmeoni lived, away from the life he'd made for himself, and all the memories he'd created, away from his friends. I guess the day you met him he still wasn't in the right state of mind. His emotions were probably still all over the place, I guess he was experiencing the phase of anger that came after mourning. The fact that he'd lost one of his confidants -me- was probably another large blow to him. Unfortunately for you, you just happened to be there at the wrong time, and ended up suffering the bulk of him venting his frustrations and anger." Seunghyun finished.

I stood there, taking it all in, shocked. I honestly didn't know what Jiyong was going through at the time we met. He'd never said anything about this, I thought he was just being a spoilt little brat, but no... he was just a grieveing little boy. I don't think it was Seunghyun's intention but I felt another fresh wave of guilt wash over me. I had so much to apologise for. "I-I didn't know..."

"It's okay Dara, Jiyong never told you. Like I said he locked himself away and didn't talk to anyone other than Dami and myself, so there's no way you would've known. I don't want him knowing I told you this either, he'd serve my on a platter," Seunghyun joked, but I could hear the seriousness behind his voice. I nodded,to show him I understood and wouldn't breathe a word to Jiyong about tonight.

"The point i'm trying to get at Dara is that you've never really tried with Ji. You may think you have, but he's a stubborn one, much like yourself. I hope this talk has allowed you to see him in a  different light - the right light. I think you've misunderstood him and his intentions for far too long and I think the least he deserves is a bit of your time and most definitely an apology. I've never seen him this hurt before over something someone said." Seunghyun said, his eyes flickered with the slightest bit of pain - pain for his bestfriend's suffering.

"I will Seunghyun Oppa. I'll fix this. Thankyou for bringing me here and having this talk with me," I thanked him, my gratitude obvious in my voice.

Seunghyun smiled then ruffled my hair, "Let's get you back to your apartment hmm?"

The ride back was filled with silence again, as I thought over everything Seunghyun had told me. He was right, I'd never really given Jiyong the time of day... I never tried to get to know him properly. That's when I knew my mission had changed, it was no longer 'attempt to befriend the devils spawn' but 'get to know the real Kwon Jiyong, and apologise in the process.' A smile lit my face at the thought, the first one since I had laughed freely at the restaurant.

Seunghyun pulled up in front of my aprtment for the second time tonight, this time he didn't stop me from exiting his car.

"Dara-ah, remember what I said neh?" he said looking at me intensely, I nodded then closed the car door, waving as I saw him drive off. I made my way up to the apartment slowly, thinking up different ways of apologising to Jiyong.

I entered the apartment and was greeted by darkness. I squinted at the clock on the wall. Woaah, we must have been talking for a long time. It was half one in the morning, and I had class tomorrow. I closed the door quietly, trying to be as silent as possible so I wouldn't wake up CL. I slipped my shoes off and tiptoed into my room, closing my door gently. I flicked on my lights and immediately made my way towards my window.

I sighed heavily, and leaned against the large window, my arms resting on the window pane and my chin resting on my arms. Jiyong was home. I could tell because I was currently staring at his drawn curtains. He was probably a sleep, hence he closed his curtains, but I couldn't help but get the feeling he did it so he wouldn't have to face me. I sighed again, thinking about what I could do.

*lightbulb!* A smile crept on my face as I pushed myself away from the window and made my way to my desk. Where is it?! I thought, as I rummaged around on my desk. Ah ha! Found it!

I picked up my block of yellow post it/sticky notes and got to work.

== 10 minutes later ==

I stood back from the window and admired my work with my hands on my hips. There on my window was a large smiley face made up of post it notes, with the words 'I'm Sorry' written underneath. My smile widened as I imagined Jiyong's reaction when he would open his curtains, the smiley face greeting him early in the morning.

With that image in mind I closed my curtains then stepped away from the window before turning off the lights and slipping into bed, falling into a deep, much needed sleep. The last thing that entered my mind were his words, "I never hated you back then, and I don't hate you now either."