♫

 

(BACKGROUND SONG: UGLY BY 2NE1) ♫

 

 

 

 

Dara couldn't help but feel shy and scared with these people surrounding her.

 

For heaven's sake, she's only clad in silk robe, with only her undies beneath it.

 

She's never been this exposed, right now she seriously wanted to cry if not for the girls on the other room.

 

 

 

“Don’t…” Dara tried to stop the staff but she’s helpless.

 

 “AAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!” she screamed as she felt the stinging pain on her skin when they ripped the sheet off her legs.

 

 

“No!!!” she warned the person doing her manicure. “I can’t work with long fingernails!”

 

“This is just temporary, Dara-ssi.” She heard her answer.

 

“Just leave my hair down!” she told the stylist.

 

“Aigoo, Dara-ssi. That pretty face deserves so much attention. We can’t keep it hidden forever underneath this… this… Oh boy! Yah prepare a hot oil treatment for her hair please!”

 

Dara shut her eyes. The whole team was in chaos.

She tried to motivate herself by thinking the girls would love the outcome of this.

She’s doing this for the party so she would look presentable enough.

So she won’t embarrass her family.

 

She stopped struggling after a while. It’s useless, she thought.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Oppa! You really came!” Sulli said as he welcomed Jiyong and Youngbae. “Hi Youngbae oppa.” She bowed at him.

“Happy birthday Sulli… Sorry we just learned about it this afternoon, we weren’t able to prepare gifts.”

“Hey oppa, it’s alright. At least you came.” Sulli said.

 

The two walked inside the apartment when Sulli guided them further in.

 

“Hi Krystal.”  Youngbae greeted the girl who was busily preparing the foods to be served.

 

“Oh, oppa.” She smiled at him, trying her hardest not to stammer.

 

“Please, excuse us if we’re wearing like this. We still need to attend a prior appointment.”  Youngbae said.

 

“Oh… So does that mean you’ll be leaving anytime soon?”  Krystal asked him, obviously sad with the news.

 

“Neh.”

 

“Where are your other visitors?” Jiyong asked Sulli.

“They’re probably on their way here.” She answered with a wide smile plastered on her face, unable to believe her luck for having the guy she’s dreaming of inside her house tonight.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cars started to thrive at the driveway of the Seoul Grand Hotel, a property of the Gongs, as time ticked nearly 7pm.

 

Invited guests wouldn’t miss it for the world. This is a very important day for those in the upper society.

 

No media men were allowed, save for the few appointed ones by the Parks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

“I haven’t seen his grand children arrive yet, sajangnim.” The guy in front of the car told Dong Won.

 

“Let’s see if he really says he doesn’t give a damn anymore.” He smirked as he rolled the window down. “You’re too old for this game, Young Jin.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Omo! Omo! How do I look?” Minzy kept fixing her hair and turning around the mirror.

 

“Yah, you already look gorgeous. Stop doing that yu’re making me dizzy.” CL told her.  “I wonder where that rat is! Aisht! Top oppa and Daesung are already here! What the hell is taking him so long?”

 

“I see someone’s getting impatient!” Bom teased.

 

“I’m not!” CL fired back.

 

“Ooh.. I didn’t even say it’s you… “ Bom laughed at her. “Aigoo CL-roo. Don’t tell me you’re falling for the guy… “

 

“Of course I’m---- !’’ CL was about to talk back to Bom but the connecting door opened, revealing Dara.

 

She couldn't help but curse.

 

 

“Whoah…” Minzy said as she leaned forward to check if her eyes aren’t fooling her.

 

 

“KYAAAAAAH You did well unnieeee! Daebak!!!”  Bom squealed as she ran towards the head stylist, who by that time looks like a hurricane just struck him.

 

 

“Unnie… you look.. I can’t even explain…” CL said as she went nearer her unnie.

 

 

“Stop that girls… Aigoo…” Dara chuckled  “Aren’t  we going yet?''

 

 

“Seriously Darong… you look amazing!” Bom complimented her.

 

“But you three look better than me of course.” Dara said shyly. “I’m not just so comfortable with these nails…”

 

 

“Agassi…’’ someone knocked on the door. “Seungri-ssi is already here.”

 

“Arasso. We’ll just follow downstairs.” CL replied.

 

“KYAAAAAH!!!” Minzy giddily screamed.

 

“Yah, that’s my date, not yours!” CL snapped at the maknae.

 

 

“Aigoo.. Aigoo… You’re so possessive! I was just being giddy for you.”

 

 

“So that just leaves Youngbae and Jiyong missing… Where the hell are those two?” Bom said.

 

Dara furrowed her brows and felt something in her when she heard Jiyong wasn’t there yet.

 

Sulli has a party too. Could it be…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Bro I’ll just go downstairs and get the car ready.” Youngbae told Jiyong after saying goodbye to Krystal when they couldn’t find Sulli.

 Jiyong just tapped his arm and nodded.

 

Jiyong looked around and tried to find Sulli and there by the balcony, he found her.

 

“Sulli…” Jiyong called for the girl’s attention.

 

Sulli  was happily drinking wine with her friends who just arrived at her house. She excused herself from them and went towards Jiyong who was waiting near the doorway.

 

“Neh oppa?”

 

“Sorry Sulli, but we need to go. We might be late.”

 

Sulli just pouted. “I wish you could stay longer oppa.”

 

“Mianhe Sulli-ah… We really have to go.”

 

“I think there’s  really nothing I could do about it.” Sulli said. “Thank you for coming oppa-----AAAACCCK!!!”

 

“OMO!!!”

 

 

Jiyong’s eyes widened in horror.

 

Sulli  was about to kiss him goodbye but she tripped. However Jiyong was quick to catch her.

 

But it was too late for Jiyong to notice the wine when it finally spilled on his suit.

 

 

“Omo, oppa! Sorry!” Sulli said but deep inside, she's smiling triumphantly, thinking she outwitted Jiyong.

 

Sulli tried to find a napkin and immediately dabbed it on his soaking wet suit.

''I didn't mean it! I’m sorry oppa!'' She said.

 

''I gotta go.'' he said stopping Sulli's hand.

 

''But... But your suit...''

 

''It's fine. I gotta go.''

 

And with that, Jiyong stormed out of Sulli's apartment, leaving the girl dumbfounded.

 

He looked at his watch and cursed when he saw what time it was already.

 

15 minutes before 7pm.

 

How the hell will he arrive on time? He immediately contacted Youngbae.

 

 

 

“Man, I got a problem.” He said as he fumbled with his keys.

 

“You go ahead and pick ahjumma up. I need to change my suit… Neh… Thanks. I’ll go there as soon as possible.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Hahahaha! This is hilarious! Aigoo. I mean, those girls are just like sisters!” the old Park laughed his heart out when the Lees shared the thing that worried them the most about CL.

 

“Exactly! I mean, those are just rumors but still we couldn’t help but feel sad about it.” Mrs. Lee said.

 

“Oh by the way,” the old man then turned to the Gongs. “I’ve heard Minzy invested on DB & Co. too… Too young but really wise, she knows where to put her money.” He praised.

 

“That’s why we’re not pursuing her to go with us in Japan anymore. Besides, the building we assigned her has been full of tenants. My husband here is thinking of assigning her here but, of course we still need to talk to her.

 

“Those girls… They really make us feel proud.”

 

“Sajangnim…” a man in black bowed at the old man before whispering something.

 

“Excuse me for a while.” Young Jin told the couples.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“You grew up so fast, Teddy. You were so small then. Just a 5 year old boy then when I last set my feet in your house.” Hyun Suk told Teddy.

 

“Aigoo uncle, I used to play pranks at you. I know I’ve been a naughty boy back then.” Teddy chuckled.

 

“Glad you still remembered when you sprayed your pee on the car that I was cleaning, you rascal!”

 

“Yaaah… hahahha… Aigoo. That was so embarrassing uncle.” Teddy laughed.

 

 

 

The two stopped reminiscing when the door finally opened, revealing the old Park.

 

 

Hyun Suk looked at the man. His jaw almost automatically tightened . 

The memories are still fresh in his mind.

The pain, the fear, the agony and loneliness.

 

But this man before him was so different from the man he knew.

 

Gone is the cold aura, the frightening face at one look you’ll be able to see how heartless he is.

Right now… all he can see, is an old man… sad… frustrated… perhaps guilty… and

EMPTY.

 

Hyun Suk was about to stand up out of courtesy but the Young Jin cut him to it.

 

 

“Sit down please.” He heard him say.

 

“I’ll go ahead, harabeoji.” Teddy bowed to his grandfather. “Uncle.” He said as he bowed to Hyun Suk.

 

 

Silence filled the air when Teddy left.

 

 

 

 

“How have you been, Hyun Suk?”  the old man asked, breaking the eerie silence.

 

“Good… I should thank you. Everything turned out fine and I even got this position all thanks to your mocking words.” Hyun Suk bitterly said.

 

The old man just nodded.

 

“Where’s Eunju?” he blurted out all of a sudden.

 

“Somewhere in Europe. She’s doing great. She has her own boutique there. But I haven’t heard anything from her lately.”

 

Now it was Hyun Suk who nodded.

 

 

 

 

“I asked you to come for two main reasons.” The old man said as he shut his eyes.

 

 

“One is to share a secret to you…. The other is to ask you a favor.”

 

 

Hyun Suk felt his heart beat race.

 

 

“I am not expecting that you’d go easy on this one but…”

 

“Just spill it.” Hyun Suk cut him off.

The old man sighed.

 

“You and Eunju… You had a daughter. And she’s still alive.”

 

Hyun Suk couldn’t believe it.

He expected for this but hearing it come out of this old man’s lips is so much to bear.

 

 

“Park Sandara…” Hyun Suk couldn’t take it anymore. “Is she my daughter?” he managed to ask when he felt a lump on his throat.

 

The old man nodded, his eyes still shut, but the tears that came running down his eyes didn ‘t escape Hyun Suk’s vision.

 

Unable to bear the emotions that has been overwhelming him, Hyun Suk buried his face in his hands.

 

Anger.

Happiness.

Peace of mind.

Excitement.

Fear.

 

He wasn’t able to think anymore he only realized he’s been crying hard.

 

“What took you so long to let me know!!!”

 

“I’m sorry…” the old man said… “I’m sorry…”

 

“How about Eunju? How could she just leave our child in your care?”

 

“She didn’t know… I took the child away and told her the baby’s dead.”

 

“YOU’RE A DEMON!”  Hyun Suk stood up and pointed a finger at the old man.  “How could you do this to your own daughter? And to my daughter!!!”

 

“She’s my grand daughter too!”

 

“But did you seriously treat her as one, huh??? Did you?”

 

“I had to do things that way… I was in a point of no return… One way lead to another… I’m willing to tell you everything, if you would want to listen.”

 

Hyun Suk sat down and braced himself for the whole revelation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The girls went downstairs except for Dara who has been complaining about her nails. She finds it too long, therefore asking the the prep team to find a way to fix it.

 

''Aisht! This is why I don't wanna have a girlfriend! Girls can be really fussy with their looks!'' Top said he was about to rake his hair but immediately pulled his hands back down remembering he just fixed it earlier.

 

''Girls are really like that, hyung. Of course they don't want to look ugly in front of men!'' Seungri proudly said as if bragging he knows a lot about women.

 

''It's okay for me to wait forever as long as I'll see my sweet Minzy in the end...Aigoo...'' Daesung dreamily said.

 

''Eewww. You're making me sick hyung!'' Seungri grimaced and stuck out his tongue in disgust.

 

 

''So girls are fussy ehh???'' Bom said as she walked downstairs.

 

''And we don't wanna be ugly in front of men?'' CL looked at Seungri why cocking an eyebrow.

 

''And... And... You can wait forever...'' Minzy said as she bowed her head down, her cheeks blushing.

 

''Yah!'' Bom scolded Minzy. ''Way to ruin our entrance. Aisht!'' Bom said.

 

''Mianhe unnie but that's what Daesung oppa said.''

 

 

The girls continued to banter leaving TOP, Seungri, and Daesung slackjawed with the sight before them.

 

 

(le's just say... This is how Bom was dressed... )

 

 

 

 

 

(and CL-roo)

 

 

 

(and Minzy)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Daesung offered his arms to Minzy upon entering the grand ballroom of the hotel, which Minzy gladly accepted.

 

''You look amazing tonight, Minzy-ah.'' Daesung told her as the walked further making the girl blush.

 

''T-t-hank you oppa...'' she said.

''I was just wondering... Are your parents strict? I mean, they might see me... Us... And...''

 

 

''They are... But they're reasonable. And i believe they trust me well.''

 

Their conversation stopped when blinding camera lights flashed before them.

 

 

 

''You look damn hot in black, cat.''

 

''Stop eyeing my body, you might not notice you're already drooling.''  CL said cooly to Seungri.

 

''Pshhhh... Conceited.'' Seungri said and pouted before looking away.

He then felt CL grab his arms.

 

''Yah!'' he looked at her but the girl continued looking ahead with a smug look

 

''Press. Have to act lovey dovey. Eww.''  She said before locking her arms with his.

 

''Act my , you just wanna touch me.''

CL smiled before the cameras.

 

''Remind me to kill you later, rat.'' she gritten her teeth.

 

''With sweetness?'' he more.

 

 

 

''Shall we?'' TOP offered her his arm.

 

Bom cleared and looked away before hooking her arm on his.

 

''You seem anxious...'' TOP has been observing her. ''Something wrong?''

 

''Nothing... Well... You see... Aisht!''

 

''Easy...'' TOP pulled her by their linked arms.

 

''I'm worried about Dara.''

 

''We all are. But just for tonight, try to lessen your anxiety levels, arasso?'' he told her and Bom widened her eyes in surprise when TOP pulled from their linked arms and held her hand instead.

 

''What are you---''

 

''If this doesn't make you feel comfortable then ---'' TOP tried to say but Bom tightened her grip and smiled as they faced the cameras.

 

 

 

''Ladies and gentlemen...'' Teddy's voice echoed through the whole area. ''Good evening.''

 

 

''Tonight, we are here to celebrate the strong partnership betwe