A Different Side Revealed




I watched Khun Khun as he happily skipped towards a black Cadillac Escalade.


I stopped on my tracks. My eyes widened as I eyed the beautiful creature in front of me.


“A CADILLAC ESCALADE!!!” I squealed like a little girl and ran towards the big car, encircling it like it was a precious toy I have been wishing for every Christmas.


Khun Khun laughed at my silliness. “Yes, it’s a Cadillac Escalade.” He told me as he approached me.


“This is yours??” I asked him, unbelieving that a sweet guy like him could own a bada$s ride such as this.


“Hey! You’re not the only one who can play with big toys, eh?” He teased me. He was probably pertaining to the White Range Rover.


“Ya Ya! This is such a cool ride, Khun Khun! When’d you get it?” I asked him while gently caressing the car. He put his hands on his jean pocket and smiled.


“I asked Jooseob-hyung to buy this for me while we were in Japan. I’ve been eyeing this for quite some time now so when I was sure of myself, I wanted to have it immediately.” He shared. I was eyeing it for quite some time as well. It’s just too y for a car.


“Want to drive it?” He asked all of a sudden making my head shot up in surprise. 


“WA-Whaaattt???!!” I was dumbfounded. He smiled and threw the key towards me and walked towards the passenger seat. I caught it expertly.


“Hey, get in the car, driver.” He ordered me. I looked at him then at the key in my hand. I still couldn’t believe that he would let me drive his car. Jiyong let me drive his but that’s because we were a couple back then. But Khun Khun…


“Hey, aren’t you getting in? We’re losing precious time, Dara-yah!” He exclaimed which made me jumped in surprise. I opened the door and went in, claiming my spot on the driver’s seat. Khun Khun did the same and sat on the passenger seat beside me.


As soon as we settled, I turned to him. “Khun Khun…” He looked at me.


“Neh?” He asked. I looked at him in confusion.


“Why’d you let me drive your car?” I asked him. He paused for a while as if contemplating what to answer me. Then, he smiled that sweet smile of his that can make fangirls squeal in delight.


“Guess, I’m just too tired to drive.” He answered me simply. I looked at him for awhile as if deciphering what he was thinking of.


“Oh…” I felt my face fell a little. Of course it was nothing special… 


“Plus, I always had this wish that the girl I love would drive for me. So…” His voice trailed off and he looked outside the window, as if shy at what he had blurted out.


I blushed involuntarily at his words.


I composed myself and a smile crept on my face. I cleared my throat which made him look at me.


“Arasso, Khun Khun. Today, I’ll drive you to your dream destination!” I gave him a sweet smile and a salute. He chuckled at my aegyo. “Where should we head off to, sir?” I asked him curtly, pretending to be an officer.


He looked at me amusingly and chuckled again. “New Seoul Station.” He answered simply.






















We arrived at New Seoul Station after driving for twenty minutes. I was hesitant at first to get out of the car as I saw how many people flocked the establishment.


Khun Khun must have seen the look of terror in my eyes so he reached for my shoulder and rubbed it comfortingly. “Hey… you didn’t think I’d let you go out there unprepared, right?” He asked me. I looked at him, confused with his statement.


“What do you mean?” I asked him but he was not looking at me. Instead, he was searching for something on the back portion of his car.Hayyysssst! I can’t believe this guy. He’s not even listening to me, aigoo!


He turned to me and offered a weird-looking mask that looked like a mountain rabbit. Yep, a mountain rabbit. Not the cute little fluffy rabbits we’re used to seeing in cartoons but a faded pink mountain rabbit. Hayyysssst…


“YA! This looks horrible!” I crinkled my nose as I picked up the weird-looking mask. He just chuckled at me and picked up a cute blue rabbit mask and wore it comfortably. My eyes turned into slits upon seeing the mask he chose from himself.


“YA! Let’s exchange!” I demanded as I tried to get the mask he now has on. He frowned and stuck his tongue out for me.


“ANI-YOOO!” He emphasized the word like a little kid. “This is MINE and that is YOURS.” He pointed to the hideous looking mask I was holding.


“NO fair! How come yours is cute while mine looked like it went into depression??” I protest. He just smiled at me sweetly.


“It’s because you’re Santokki, MOUNTAIN RABBIT.” He pointed again to the mask as if lecturing me. I narrowed my eyes at him.


“And what about you? What gives you the right to wear a rabbit mask, huh?” I snorted. He smiled confidently as if he was waiting for that question to be asked.


“Well, you might not know this but Panda-hyung once said in an interview that I look like a cute rabbit. So…” He adjusted the mask carefully on his face and smiled at me foolishly.


I looked at him expectantly, anticipating what he was about to say. “End of discussion. You, mountain rabbit.” He pointed towards me. He then pointed to himself. “Me, cute rabbit.”


How could you argue with such an elementary type of logic such as that?? I swear he would really put Seungri and Bae to shame.


He led me towards the second floor of the establishment. I still wasn’t sure where we’re going or what we’re going to do. I just followed him, or make that, let myself be dragged by him.


By now, people were giving us weird looks and stares, reminiscent of our misadventures in Japan.


Aigoo, I can’t believe I missed Japan already…


We reached the second floor and stopped at a cute-looking ice cream parlor. I marveled how that whole store stood out amongst the busy establishments surrounding it.


I looked at Khun Khun and a playful smile appeared on his boyish face. Though still wearing a mask, I can see his eyes twinkling.


“What you say, Dara-yah? Craving for some ice cream, neh?” He asked me with mischief in his eyes. I chuckled at how excited he had looked.


“YA! It’s so early in the morning and you thought of eating ice cream?? Aigoo…” I shook my head. He just chuckled and held my hand. I jerked from his touch which he sensed.


“Is everything ok, Dara?” He asked me with a look of concern. I looked at our hands briefly before taking a big gulp.


“Neh. Let’s go!” I told him cheerfully.


We came close to the ice cream parlor. Natuur. I read the sign. I tried to look inside but frown upon noticing that it was close.


“Khun Khun, the place is close.” I informed him. He didn’t seem to hear me as he was busy talking to someone on the phone. Haysssst! He’s ignoring me again. I moved closer to hear what he was talking about.


“Neh, ajumma.” Ajumma? So he’s talking to an aunt? “We’re here outside your store right, now.” Pause. “Neh, neh. Kamsahamnida!” He cheerfully ended the call. After placing his phone to his jean pocket, he turned to me and smile. I straightened myself and acted bored.


“It is closed. But not for us.” He winked at me.


Just like that, the ice cream parlor’s light lit up and I was greeted by different pictures of mouth-watering ice creams and delectable desserts.


“H-how did you--- h-ow is that poss----“ I was speaking incoherently. Khun Khun chuckled again. Ya! Is chuckling the only thing this guy knows how to do??


“I know that aunt who owns this place.” He held my hand again and dragged me inside where a pleasant-looking aunt greeted us.


“Khunnie Boy!” The aunt greeted him excitedly. They exchanged hugs and I could tell that they missed each other.


“Ji Rin-ajumma!” He hugged the aunt tightly while a big smile was pasted on his face. Awww… he looks like a little boy who had just seen his omma... I looked at them with thoughtfully, touched at the scene that was unfolding right in front of me.


They released each other from the hug and the aunt’s attention turned towards me. She looked at me for awhile like I was some weird creature inside a museum. Her eyebrows would jut out one after the other which crept me out.


I was starting to get nervous and shaky at the odd way the aunt was looking at me. Am I that horrible-looking today? I mean I know I slept so late last night but still…


It was then that I noticed Khun Khun pulling up something invisible from his face. At first, I wanted to burst out laughing as I watched him do animated gestures with his face and hand. But then I realized he was trying to send me a message.


I tried to mimic what he was doing so I placed my hand in front of my face and tried to pull something invisible. I almost jumped in surprise as I felt something covering the lower half of my face.


OMO!


I let out a gasp as I realized I was still wearing the hideous-looking mask Khun Khun gave me. In a flash, I took off the mask and stole a glance at the aunt.


“Mianhe, ajumma! I didn’t notice that I was still wearing a mask.” I bowed my head repeatedly while mentally scolding myself for being a scattered-brain once again. While bowing, I heard Khun Khun laughing uncontrollably beside the aunt. I threw him a dirty look which shut him up for awhile. He was still giggling though. Hayyyssst… the nerve of that boy!


I looked at the aunt again and was relieved to see that she wasn’t giving me the weird glances anymore. Instead, her face showed recognition.


“Oh! Dara Park of 2NE1!” She exclaimed and ran to me like an energetic teen. She held my hand and led me towards one of the seat.


“I love your group so much! 2NE1 and 2PM!” She cheerfully told me. I couldn’t help but be touched at how she seemed to be so happy to have met me.


“Kamsahamnida, ajumma! I’m so happy that you like us!” I told her happily. She smiled brightly.


“Just call me Ji Rin-ajumma, arasso?” She told me. I nodded and smiled back at her. She then turned her attention to Khun Khun who was still standing on the spot we left him, watching us with a big smile on his face.


“Now, what are you still doing standing there, little boy?” I saw Khun Khun cringed as Ji Rin-ajumma called him “little boy”.


“Haysssst, auntie! Told you not to call me that. I’m a man, you know!” He ruffled his hair and sat on the free seat beside Ji Rin-ajumma.


“Haysssst, this boy! He never once complained when I called him little boy before, even if s were with him.” She told me. “But now, since he’s with a girl, aigoo! He’s acting all demure all of a sudden.” She said with so much emphasis and emotion that I wondered if she was somehow connected to the Big Bang maknae, Seungri.


Her statement made Khun Khun blushed even more. His face now looked like a tomato had been rubbed furiously on it.


“Hayssssst, auntie! Must you embarrass me??” He muttered to Ji Rin-ajumma under his breath, pleadingly. Unbeknownst to him, I have heard him clearly which made me laugh out loud.


“Hayssssst you Ssantokki!!!!!!!!!” I laughed even more as he hot redder due to anger.




















“Oh, Jiyong-oppa! What are you doing here so early?” Little Minji asked me as I stood outside the apartment of 2NE1. I smiled brightly at her and ruffled her hair.


“Good morning to you too, Minki-ah! Is that the way to greet your oppa?” I . Minji blushed a little and bowed.


“Mian. Good morning, Jiyong-oppa!” She greeted me more cheerfully. I chuckled at her cuteness.


She led me inside the apartment and let me sat on their living room couch. I noticed CL preparing their dining table.


“Yo, CL!” I called out to 2NE1’s leader. CL, upon hearing my voice, immediately looked and ran towards me.


“Jiyong-oppa!” She yelled happily and gave me a hug. I laughed at her cheerfulness.


“Hayssst, C-L.. Y-you’re, ah, he-heavy…” I panted as I lay sprawled on the couch. Minji was laughing at our childishness.


I sat up and straightened myself as I was able to be free of CL’s weight. I looked around for the lost rabbit but couldn’t find any trace of her.She’s probably still sleeping…


Just then, Bom-noona materialized from her bedroom. “Ssantokki’s not here. She went out.” She said simply. I looked at my watch and frowned. 10 AM.


“Isn’t it too early to go out? It’s just 10 AM. Where the hell will she go this early?” I noticed CL and Minji stiffened on their seat while Bom-noona looked like nothing special was happening. That definitely made me suspicious.


“She went alone, noona?” I asked Bom-noona. She looked at me hard at first then sighed.


“I guess no need to keep it a secret to you. Khunnie fetched her earlier and said they were to go somewhere. Something about Dara “making it up to him” after she ditched him last night.” 


My blood instantly boiled upon hearing that Nichkhun fetched Dara and dragged her to god-knows-where. My hands turned into fists and I felt my breaths becoming uneven. I closed my eyes and breathed in and out to somehow calm my nerves.


After a few seconds, I opened my eyes and looked at Bom-noona who was eyeing me curiously.


“What time did he fetch her?” I asked her in the calmest voice I could utter. She thought for awhile then said “AHA!”. 


“They left around 8:30 I think.” She said. That was a long time already. I sighed as I realized that they may have gone far now if they left an hour and thirty minutes ago.


“Kamsahamnida.” I told her. I looked at the other two girls who were watching me curiously. “I brought you breakfast just in case you haven’t eaten yet.” I placed the food on their table and left the apartment without saying goodbye.


When I was already walking outside the building, I bowed my head and sighed. “You know this is bound to happen, Jiyong, right? Nichkhun did not yet give up. You know he’ll do anything to get Dara’s full attention.”


I clenched my fist and a new wave of determination pass through me.


“Neh, that means you shouldn’t give up as well! If Nichkhun wouldn’t back down, the more you shouldn’t slack off.” I reminded myself. I didn’t care that there were a few passersby that looked and pointed at me weirdly.


“KWON JIYONG, FIGHTING!” I yelled as I threw a fist on the air and entered my Bentley.






















Ji Rin-ajumma served us two of the best tasting ice cream flavors I have ever consumed in my entire life! I picked the melon flavor while Khun Khun chose Green Tea.


We talked for awhile with Ji Rin-ajumma. I found out that Khun Khun met her during one of 2PM’s concert in Jamsil where Ji Rin-ajumma accompanied her sick niece who was a big fan of 2PM. Since she knew that her niece wanted to meet 2PM personally, Ji Rin-ajumma went to all the trouble in order to communicate with 2PM members. She even went to the extent of sneaking inside the boys’ dressing room. She was caught by the guards, of course. Fortunately though, Khun Khun was walking outside when he witnessed the whole incident. Seeing the helpless ajumma being dragged like a prisoner, he took pity and told the guards to release her. This gave them the chance to talk and she revealed that she just wanted to grant her niece’s wish as she just had four months more to live. The story touched Khun Khun so much that he asked their manager to arrange a special seat for Ji Rin-ajumma and her niece in the crowd. Ji Rin was so ecstatic by this, not knowing that Khun Khun had a surprise in mind.


During the middle part of the concert, Khun Khun called out for someone in the audience. It was Ji Rin-ajumma’s niece he called for. Shocked at being acknowledged during a concert, her niece couldn’t help but cry as she was guided towards the stage where Khun Khun and the rest of the boys serenaded her with the beautiful song “Thank You”. Ji Rin-ajumma said that it was one of the happiest moments of her niece’s life, one that she would never forget.


Khun Khun left us for a moment as he stepped outside to answer a phone call. I was left with Ji Rin-ajumma who was still sharing the moments she had with Khun Khun and 2PM.


“After the concert, Khunnie Boy and the rest of 2PM frequently visited Rae Min-ah. Even when she was hospitalized, 2PM came at least once a week, bringing so many food, stuff toys, goodies and so many things to make her smile. They would even sing for her even if they don’t have a set-up and we don’t have any money to pay them. They became oppas for Rae min-ah and our family are very thankful that they remained by her side until her last breath.”


I gasped as I realized that Rae Min had already passed away.


“It was very tough for the boys during the few remaining days of Rae Min’s life. I have told Khunnie Boy not to visit anymore as Rae Min-ah told me she didn’t want her idols to see her at her lowest and to witness her pain. The other members agreed to Rae Min’s request. Khunnie Boy, however, was stubborn. He insisted to be there and to stay with her as she went through the series of tests and chemotherapy. He would cheer up Rae Min-ah every after session. Whenever he noticed Rae Min-ah looking down and tired, he would clown around, making a fool of himself just to make her laugh. He would show how tough and strong he was when Rae Min was starting to lose hope. But I could see how much it has affected him every time he would hear her scream or cry in pain.”


I felt my eyes starting to well up as she continued her story.


“It must have felt so bad knowing that Rae Min was suffering and you and Khun Khun could not do anything about it…” I felt a tear escaped my eye.


“It was, Dara-sshi. It was so hard to control my tears from falling every time I would her scream or cry. I had to applaud that boy because no matter how I know he wanted to cry, he still showed a tough façade, assuring Rae Min that everything will be alright.”


“The death of Rae Min-ah had affected him so much. Due to his stature as an idol, he was only allowed to visit her burial ground after all have left so as not to create a commotion. I accompanied him to her spot and gave him time alone with her. I stood behind him and witness how he cried over her and sang for her, telling her that she would always their number fan and friend.”


I was bawling my eyes now. I didn’t know that Khun Khun has harbored such a sad story.


“It was the first time I saw an idol cried for a fan and call me foolish or selfish but I felt good knowing the he cried for my niece. It must have meant that my niece became a relevant part of his life for him to waste such precious tears.”


“You see, that boy is not just an idol. He’s also a boy who feels and loves. Even after Rae Min’s death, he would still continue to visit me. At first, we would share stories about Rae Min-ah. He told me that he treated her like a sister because his younger sister was far away from. She was living in Thailand with their parents and he missed her so much that he was so happy upon meeting Rae Min because she reminded him so much of his sister.”


“After some time, we became good friends. He would always look for me and seek advice when he’s feeling confused or weary. He would meet me here and we would talk until morning.” She smiled as if remembering the times they have shared.


“Though we talk here all the time, he never ate ice cream though. He said he wasn’t fond of it.” She told me with a laugh. I frowned a bit in confusion.


“But when we were in Japan, he would always drag me to this ice cream place where we always go to and we ate and ate ice cream there almost every week.” I told her. Ji Rin-ajumma looked at me for a long time as if inspecting my face. After a moment, she smiled a knowing smile.


“Ahhhh… then he must have found his angel.” She said with a thoughtful look and a knowing smile.


“Angel?” I asked, confused. Ji Rin-ajumma nodded.


“His angel.” He winked at me and looked at me meaningfully. I was starting to get creep out once again. Thank god Khun Khun came in. He looked at my confused expression then turned to Ji Rin-ajumma.


“Were the two of you talking about me behind my back?” He playfully asked us. I blushed involuntarily.


“Neh, Khunnie Boy. I told him about you finding your angel now.” She gave another meaningful look to Khun Khun and now, it was his turn to blush.


“Aigoo, ajumma. We must go now.” He gave a peck on Ji Rin-ajumma’s cheek. Then, he turned to me. “Come on, I’ll bring you home. I promised Bom-noona to bring you home before lunch.” He told me with a smile.


I nodded and walked after him. Just as we were about to exit the store, Ji Rin-ajumma called out to Khun Khun.


“Take care of your angel, neh, Khunnie Boy?” She looked at me and gave me another wink.


“Neh, ajumma!” He chuckled. 


We waved goodbye to her and headed towards the parking lot.


Once inside his car, I decided to ask him what was bugging me since earlier.


“Khun Khun, the angel ajumma said earlier. Is that…” Me? I couldn’t finish my sentence.


“Oh, that angel of mine?” He asked me, looking at me innocently. “Well, let’s just say she’s a bit dense.”


“Dense?” I asked him. He nodded and looked ahead. I suddenly felt my heart beating unevenly.


I gathered all the courage I could muster as I spoke my next words. “Is it--- is it, ah…”


“Is it you?” He finished my sentence for me. I widened my eyes and gulped. I was stunned and did not know what else to say.


He turned towards me and looked straight in my eyes. He held my hands and squeezed it tightly.


“Neh, Dara-yah. It is you. It will always be you.”


I felt my heart stopped beating. For awhile, I could not see, feel or hear anything. I didn’t even noticed that my phone was ringing continuously.


At that moment, I was held captive by Khun Khun.




















“Haysssss! Why is she not picking up??!” I hissed under my breath. From my side, I felt the maknae elongating his neck and peeking on what I was doing.


“Ya, maknae! Go bother your other hyungs!” I told him irritated. He pouted like a little child. No, scratch that. Like a little brat.


“Ani! They’re not doing anything interesting unlike you.” My eyes narrowed at his statement.


“And what is so interesting with what I am doing huh?” I asked him as my eyes became dangerously small.


“Well, you go from this *imitating me as I took a deep breath* to this *imitating me as I paced around the room* to this *imitating me furiously dialing a number on my phone* to this *imitating me as my eyebrows crease” to t----“


“YA MAKNAE! WANNA DIE???!!!!!” I yelled, causing TOP-hyung to wake up with a bolt, standing straight and saluting like a soldier.


“NEH, BOMMIE-YAH!” He exclaimed like a soldier answering his officer.


The remaining members, including me, looked at one another and burst out laughing. When hyung realized what had happened, his cheeks turned crimson red which made us laughed harder.


We were only interrupted when Teddy-hyung came in.


“Jiyong, hyung called for you.” I frowned. Did I get into a scandal again? I inspected Teddy-hyung’s face but found nothing to worry about.






















I was so lost on what I was watching that I didn’t notice my best friend was just a couple of inches away from me, snooping into the video that I was watching.


“AHA! I KNEW IT!” She yelled out as if she was able to solve the world’s greatest problem. I immediately closed my laptop and looked at her in confusion.


“Ya, Kwon Yuri! What is brewing up in that crazy mind of yours again huh?” I asked her as she looked at me with pure amazement.


“I knew it. I just knew it.” She giggled continuously. “Tell me, what was the real reason you dragged us to Woobar last night?” She asked me while wriggling her eyebrows. I frowned as I recalled what I told her last night…


“Ya! Didn’t I tell you that I was feeling down because my “boyfriend” rejected my offer to spend time together and instead, went with Dara Park?” I tried to sound hurt. Yuri narrowed her eyes at me as if not believing a single word I just said.


“Oh, really? That was the real reason, eh?” She eyed me suspiciously. I was about to answer when she continued. “Come on, now, Yoon-ah. We’ve been best friends for years now. I know you better than anyone.” She said meaningfully. All her playfulness earlier was gone now. “I know that until now, you’re still pining over HIM.” She said.


I rolled my eyes. “Him? As if! Yuri-ah, it’s been a year and a half already, ok? I have moved on already.” I flipped my hair and pretended to busy myself with my phone.


“Oh, so you have moved on? To whom? Kwon Jiyong? HA! You may have fooled the public but not me, my dear best friend.” She told me meaningfully. “How could you have moved on when it was very evident last night how you got so affected during 2PM’s and 2NE1’s performance at the MAMA? Your pitiful gazes last night? That’s not the gaze of someone who has moved on.” She smirked.


I felt a huge lump formed in my throat. Damn it…


“Are you really sad that Jiyong didn’t spend time with you or because you know Dara is spending time with----“


“OK OK! FINE! I’M STILL NOT OVER NICHKHUN! ARE YOU HAPPY NOW?” I felt my tears suddenly flowing. I waited for Yuri to say something more but instead, all I heard was silence. 


After a moment, I felt two arms hugging me tightly. I held on to the arms as if I was seeking comfort from my omma.


“I still love him, Yuri-ah. Until now this stupid heart of mine still loves him! What should I do?” I looked up at my best friend as fresh tears started falling.


I felt her caressed my hair gently. “Then fight for her, Yoon-ah. You’re a fighter. Don’t give him up if you still feel something for him.”


“But Dara’s a part of his life now. I don’t even know if I am still a part of his life.” I sniffed. 


Yuri sighed. “What do you want to do then?” She asked me as she continued caressing my hair.


“I don’t know, Yuri-ah. All I know is that I want him to be happy, so that at least one of us is happy.”


I buried my head on her lap and cried the tears that I have prevented from falling for a year now.