School

Jaejoong was walking at the hallway when he was stopped by a forceful yet tender hands of someone

"Goodmorning sunbae!"

"Neh. Goodmorning Jessica!"

Jessica's smile turned into a pout

"You said you will come to the audition the other day. I was disappointed when you didn't"

Jessica Jung is the pretty yet smart president of the Drama club in their school. She's also a popular student specially to male students. She has been seeking Jaejoong to audition for their club for almost a year now.

Jaejoong felt his heart skip a beat seeing Jessica make a cute face

"A-ah something came up that day. Mianhe"

"Sandara sunbae?"

"Yeah" he answered simply

"Oh that's the bell for my first class. I'll still wait for you to audition though. You promised me remember!

..well I need to go sunbae. Anyeong" Jessica ran as she waved her hand

Her glowing smile is like a virus. He was affected by her carefreeness that unconciously made him smile up to his ear. She never failed to amuse him. 

Jaejoong was still glued to the hallway Jessica had ran to when Dara suddenly came out of nowhere.

Curious where Jaejoong's focus was, she turned and saw a glimpse of Jessica

Squinting her eyes, she flicked him right at the center of his nose

"YAAAAAAAAAHH! AISSH! That hurts!" he shouted rubbing his nose

"You're spacing out"

he looked at the hallway and again unconciously, a smile formed in his lips

"You're inlove."

"Bwo?" his full attention was now stolen by his bestfriend

"You like Jessica don't you?" she said smirking while crossing her arms

he heaved a deep sigh before speaking.

"I don't know"

"Yes you are. I can tell."

"How?" he met her eye to eye

"Everytime you see her, you smile unknowingly. Your eyes sparkle whenever you see her smile."

"I-i'm not really sure. But I feel happy and nervous everytime she talks to me"

"I guess you've never been serious with any of your past girlfriends am I right? That's why you can't distinguish if you already love or you just like her."

"Maybe"

"Guess that's what we would never have.. A love connection" Dara chuckled at her comment

Author's pov

Yeah... if you think Jaejoong is inlove with Dara or Dara with Jaejoong...

Sorry to cut your hopes too quick but no.. that would be the most impossible thing to happen

It's not love that's keeping them together.

They didn't really start out as friends. They were even sworn enemies before. Jaejoong had always been the bully in Dara's life before. He would to no end. Jaejoong would not even give up even if Dara was crying already.

But it all changed when Dara's mother left her.

flashback

Jaejoong was hiding behind a tree when he saw Dara climbing up the hill where he was. Dara ran from their house when she learned that her mother left them for good. Looking up at the skies, she started calling her mom while crying. Jaejoong couldn't take it anymore and walked to Dara. He sat beside her. He just stayed beside her letting her let out all her frustrations

"Is this how you are also feeling? Is my pain same as yours? Did you feel what I did when your mom abandoned you?" Dara asked still looking up the skies

And yes, Jaejoong was also abandoned by his mother. He was then adopted by the Kim's. Though he still hold a huge grudge against his real mother, he still somehow longs for her. He still hopes to see her once. again.  And even though he was welcomed warmly by the Kim family, he still somewhat feel an outcast sometimes.

"I can now understand you. I now know what you're really feeling inside." Dara turned to him

"Let's be friends from now on and promise to protect each other so we won't be hurt by anyone ever again"

Her words hit him. Dara thought just like her, Jaejoong is the loneliest person in the world. He changed his attitude towards her and became her protector. They understand each other more than anybody. They were absorbed in their own world where nobody was allowed to step into.

end of flashback

It was their sentiments that connected them. They became attached to each other because of the same life experiences they had to go through. 

They have never seen each other as a subject of love. They were just connected by the things they share in common. 

Break time

Jaejoong prefered to stay in their classroom while his friends went to the cafeteria. He was still bothered with what Dara had to say about what he feels towards Jessica.

He himself wasn't sure about it. All he knows right now is he looks forward to everyday of seeing Jessica smile. 

"Psssssst"

he turned to see who was calling. It was Jessica. Her head peaking behind the door.

She smiled brightly when she saw him looking at her

She then grabbed a chair and placed it in front of him with just a small table separating them.

"I saw you staying behind. Want to share with me?" she asked as she took her lunch box out

"Ani. I'm fine. Just eat till you're full." Jaejoong can't erase the smile on his face