Starting Over
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Starting Over
Dara was running late for school forgetting to set her alarm the night before. Everything that happened the night before was all a blur yet she couldn’t shake the kiss she shared with Seunghyun off her mind. She didn’t know if she felt guilty for leading him on or happy because she was giving him a chance. After gathering her book bag and eating her breakfast she quickly headed off to school. As she made her way to school Seunghyun caught her by surprised as he waited outside her home
“Seunghyun,” Dara called the moment she stopped running.
“Annyeong,” he called making his way towards her.
“What are you doing here?” she asked.
“Just wanted to check if you’re okay,” he replied.
“Uhm I’m okay,” she muttered awkwardly after getting a glimpse of his lips. Thoughts of their kiss from last night suddenly flooding her mind and unconsciously making her blush. “Ah, uhm Seunghyun…”
Seunghyun laughed at her gentle expression He knew what she was thinking about just by looking at her turn red from embarrassment. “Kwenchana Dara? You’re bright red.”
“DEH?” she yelled more embarrassed now. She quickly bowed unable to face him again. “Uhm l-let’s go to school.”
“Deh,” Seunghyun bowed suddenly walking closer to her. Dara looked up in surprised meeting his gaze. He smiled and quickly held her hands against hers gently leading her. They walked quietly for a while, not a single word being spoken. Though it definitely surprised Dara, she felt warmth emanating from Seunghyun. It was comforting for her to have his hands around hers. “Sorry about not seeing you off last night,” she apologized.
“It’s alright,” he answered simply enjoying her company, “I left right after you fell asleep. Your mom came in to check on you.”
“Ahh,” she muttered, “Seunghyun about last night…”
“Yeah?” he asked a bit nervous.
“Uhm,” she started unable to form her words, “Uhm thanks again.”
He smiled and turned to face her, “Dara can I ask you something?”
“Deh,” she complied.
“Should I be holding your hands?” he suddenly questioned.
“Uhm deh?” she asked before realizing Seunghyun’s true question. It took her a minute to finally answer. “Yes, you can hold my hand.”
“About last night too,” Seunghyun continued, “The kiss…d-did it mean something to you?”
Her cheeks blushed once more at the thought yet she couldn’t bring herself to reject him, “I kissed you too so yes it does mean something.”
Seunghyun sighed in relief, “Ahh o-okay. It meant something. I’m happy to hear that.”
“You are?” she asked puzzled.
“Yeah,” he expressed, “It may not be exactly the words I want to hear from you but at least I can say I’ve made a mark in your heart.”
Dara smiled at his sudden words, “Komawoyo Seunghyun, thanks for being so patient with me.”
“You’re welcome,” he answered, “As long as I can make you smile, I can wait for the rest of my life.”
She chuckled, “Thanks.”
Seunghyun smiled and gently pinched Dara’s delicate nose, “I should be the one saying thank you for giving me a chance.”
Dara shook her head, “You’ve proven yourself to me. I’m trusting you with my heart. Take care of it okay?”
“Deh,” he saluted before grabbing Dara’s hand again and placing it by his heart, “Dara’s heart safely locked in.”
Dara chuckled once more, “Come on or we’ll be late.”
“DEH!” Seunghyun saluted as they made their way to school.
******
Jiyong sat quietly against a tree in the schools garden. Apart of him was glad that things between him and Seo Hyun are done yet he couldn’t help but feel sadness realizing it must have been hard for her too.
“All you do is hurt those around you,” he murmured to himself, “What a worthless bastard you are.”
He didn’t know what to feel. Was he supposed to be happy now that he was free as well? Was he supposed to feel guilty for hurting not only Dara but Seo Hyun as well? Questions that he couldn’t answer lingered in his mind and all he wanted to do was to run away. As he tried to answer the questions, the school bell suddenly rang signaling it was time for his classes. He swiftly stood from his spot and headed for his first class which he had been adamant about avoiding since it was with Dara, yet he couldn’t bring himself to stay away. He needed to face her sooner or later.
After reaching his class and sitting at his usual spot, he immediately laid his head on the desk suddenly feeling weak. He hasn’t been feeling well all day and for some reason it was getting worse.
As students quickly made their way to their respective classes, Dara patiently waited for her best friend Bom who was lovingly parting ways with her boyfriend. Seunghyun had said his goodbyes earlier and was now making his way to his owl class. After finalizing their final goodbyes Dara and Bom made their way to class. As both entered the room, Dara couldn’t help turning her sight to Jiyong who seemed to be asleep in his desk.
Dara sat beside him, where she was assigned to sit. She glanced at his direction once more before being interrupted by the teacher’s voice.
“Good morning class,” the teacher greeted, “I’ve got some good news and bad news for today. First the good news. Our yearly school festival is coming and we need two representatives to represent our class. Since I know most of you won’t volunteer I’ve made the selection myself. For this year, I was intent on choosing Jiyong Kwon and Seo Hyun Lee, but due to circumstances those have change. The bad news is that Seo Hyun she has left the class.”
“DEH?” the class roared in surprised including Dara. He quickly turned to face Jiyong who was now fully awake and listening.
“Yes, Miss Seo Hyun has transferred back to Seoul,” the professor continued, “Leaving us with Jiyong Kwon and Sandara Park as the new class reps for this year festival. The two of you see me after school.”
Dara sighed not really excited about the idea of her being the class representative. Fate really was not on her side when it comes to avoiding Jiyong.
“I’ll tell him to pick another person in my place,” Jiyong suddenly spoke.
Dara turned to face him noticing his flush face, “Are you okay?”
Jiyong coughed before answering, “Yeah.”
“Uhm, you don’t have to tell the teacher to replace you,” she called, “I don’t hate you Jiyong, you’re still a friend.”
This caught him by surprised, “Are you sure?”
She nodded, “Yeah, by the way did you know Seo Hyun was moving?”
“Yeah, she told me today,” he answered before coughing again, “She broke up with me too.”
“Deh?” she whispered upon hearing the professor start his lecture, “Oh…”
Jiyong smiled, “I’ll be okay.”
“Uhm,” Dara started, “Ah, okay.”
Jiyong smiled before putting his head down again feeling lightheaded and nauseated. Dara watched him sleep unable to comprehend the professor’s lessons. Was he really okay? She knew him too well, he wasn’t.
*****
Lunch time went too quickly for the class. As students made their way to their respective lunch areas Dara slowly gathered her things noticing Jiyong still asleep.
“Dara you ready?” Bom asked.
She turned to face her, “You go on ahead; I need to ask the teacher a question.”
“Ahh, okay,” Bom replied, Oh can you wake Jiyong up too, he’ll miss lunch.”
“Deh,” she muttered.
Bom made her way to the lunch area leaving Dara and Jiyong. Jiyong was still asleep and Dara couldn’t help but worry. She quickly made her way towards him ready to wake him up. She tapped his cheek gently realizing he was burning up. “Omo,” she called. She quickly shook him to get his attention. “Jiyong! Jiyong! Jiyong! Nabi!”
“I h-havent heard you call me that in such a long time,” he groggily spoke as he tried his best to lift himself up, “I-it’s nice to hear again.”
Dara ignored this quickly helping Jiyong, “You’re burning up, we have to get you to the nurse’s office.”
“Ani,” he answered too quickly, “I’ll be fine.”
“No you won’t!” she yelled trying to lift him up from his seat, “Now come on I’ll take you there.”
Jiyong knew it would be of no use to turn away Dara. He knew her, she was stubborn. He slowly got up with the help of Dara as they made their way to the nurse’s office.
“I’m making you feel uncomfortable again,” Jiyong spoke after a coughing hysterically.
“It’s not the time to talk about that,” she replied, “How can you go to school when you’re like this?”
“I was fine this morning,” he answered, “I guess it was from the rain last night.”
“PABO!” she called, “Who told you to drench yourself in the rain.”
“I had to,” he uttered, “You needed your space. I had to.”
Dara felt her eyes fill with tears remembering his words from last night, “Aish pabo!”
“Yeah I am a saekki,” he muttered, “So you’re better off with Seunghyun.”
“Let’s get you to the infirmary,” she stated quickly changing the topic. She tightened her hold on Jiyong as another coughing fit hit him.
Once they reached the infirmary, Dara quickly helped Jiyong lay down. She hurriedly covered him in one of the blankets and then proceeded to call the nurse to have him get checked. After informing the nurse she made her way inside his room. “The nurse will see you in a moment,” she announced.
“Thanks,” Jiyong replied, “I’ll be fine now so you can go eat lunch.”
“Are you sure you’re okay?” she tried to assure.
“Deh omma,” he jokingly replied with eyes closed, “Now go, Seunghyun’s probably worried.”
Dara sighed, “Arasso, if you need anything just give me a call.”
“Same number?” he asked.
“Yeah why wouldn’t it be?”
“I don’t know, you might have changed it too,” he spoke.
“Pabo,” she whispered.
“Heard that!”
She chuckled before making her way out the infirmary. She was worried for him though she wanted to distance herself she couldn’t knowing he was like this.
“Pabo nabi,” she whispered before heading to the cafeteria.
*****
Dara hurriedly made her way to the cafeteria still worried about Jiyong. She couldn’t help but think that maybe it was her fault that he got himself sick.
“Dara,” an acquainted voice called. She turned to face Seunghyun patiently waiting for her by the now empty classroom.
“Oh Seunghyun,” she called back, “Why are you here?”
“Waiting for you,” he replied.
“Oh,” Dara muttered shyly, “Mianhe, I had to drop Jiyong at the infirmary.”
“What happened?” Seunghyun asked worriedly.
“He’s running a high fever,” she admitted, “He didn’t look good so I forced him to get the nurse to check him.”
Seunghyun nodded, “Kwenchana?”
“Deh,” she cheerfully answered as she wrapped her arm with his, “Thanks for waiting for me.”
“Well a boyfriend does that,” Seunghyun joked.
Dara giggled at Seunghyun’s sudden affection, “Cre, cre, lets head to lunch, I’m starving.”
“Oh, before I forget,” Seunghyun uttered as he took a box out from his backpack, “Omma made these for you.” Seunghyun handed Dara a box containing different kinds of cupcakes.
“Omo,” she cooed as caught a glimpse of the cutely made cupcakes, “Neomu gwiyeobda!”
“I guess you like them?” Seunghyun joked.
Dara cheerfully nodded in agreement amazed by the creation Seunghyun’s mother had made, “I couldn’t possibly eat these! Their too cute!”
“Well you can eat those, I’ll bring you more tomorrow, she made handfuls of them,” Seunghyun answered, “Want to trade lunch boxes today?”
Dara nodded, “Sure.”
“Assa,” he uttered as they quickly made their way to their groups table.
“Yo! Saeloun keopeul!” Seungri yelled at the two.
“YAH!” Dara called embarrassed, “I michin nom!”
“Omo noona!” Seungri exclaimed surprised by his noona’s words.
“Yah Seungri-yah!” Bom called out, “Sit down and eat your lunch, your bothering the saeloun keopeul!”
“Bom-ah!” Dara whined, “Not you too!”
“Mian…couldn’t help it you two are just so adorable!”
“More than me?” Taeyang joined, “I’m hurt chagiya,”
“Aww my agi is jealous?” Bom cooed, “You’ll always be the jal saeng-gin in my life.”
“Arasso,” Taeyang concluded before turning to the new couple unsure whether he should be happy or a bit mad, “Yosh!”
Dara smiled, “I like your reply better than the sekki next to you.”
“Noona!” Seungri called, “I’m a good boy.”
“Geojismal!” Bom joined.
“Noona!” Seungri whined again, “Aish, I’ll eat, I wont win against you two. Chugha haeyo noona, hyung.”
“Where’s Jiyong hyung?” Daesung suddenly asked as he finally took notice.
“He’s at the infirmary,” Dara answered quickly, “He’s running a high fever so I forced him to get checked up.”
“Still bossy as ever,” Seungri added, “I don’t know why he never asked you out noona, you two are perfect for each other.”
“YAH!” Bom called as she smacked his head, “Shikro!”
Seunghyun and Dara turned to face each other a bit awkwardly which Taeyang quickly noticed He turned to give Seungri another glare though he felt a little joy from his dongsaengs words. “Just keept eating,” he added.
“What are those?” Bom questioned as she took noticed of the pretty box Dara was holding.
“Oh these?” she said, “Seunghyun’s omma made these, their cupcakes, want one?”
“Deh!” Bom answered excited. Dara quickly handed her one which earned her an automatic squeal, the same reaction she had earlier, “Neomu gwiyeobda!”
“I know right?” Dara joined, “We gotta learn how to make these!”
“ANIYA!” Taeyang rejected hearing the word Bom and cooking in one sentence, “Remember the last time she cooked.
Dara suddenly remembered the time when Bom almost burned the whole school down because she thought eggs including the shell were microwavable. Ever since that incident the group never made her cook again. “Omo, we can just buy them Bom-ah.”
“Yeah,” she whined.
“I wanna live Bom-ah,” Seunghyun added, “Stay away from the kitchen chebal!”
“Aish, arasso,” she concluded.
Though Jiyong was not present, the rest of the group still continued their daily routine. While they still worried, they knew he would be fine. He was as strong as they came, a measly fever wouldn’t pain him too much.
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