“What’s taking her so long?” Jiyong looked towards the bar end of the bar and grimaced. He looked back and saw Taeyang and Top eyeing him from the other side of the table. He quickly cleared his throat and sat down pretending like nothing was the matter.

“He’s totally gone” Top muttered to Taeyang.

“You don’t have to tell me” Taeyang shook his head, “You should see how he’s at the office.”

“Do you think he knows he’s fallen for her?” Top asked.

Taeyang scoffed, “This is Kwon Jiyong we’re talking about. When has he ever shown that he can feel any emotion other than anger? He once told me that a heart, I quote ‘is just piece of flesh that pumps blood around a body’. So no, I don’t think he has the slightest clue why he’s like this and he probably never will.”

Top took a sip of his beer, “At least he acknowledged he has a heart. Sometimes it’s hard to tell.”

Jiyong abruptly stood up and stormed off.

“Where are you off to?” Taeyang called out but JIyong just ignored him.

“Yea he probably doesn’t” Top shook his head and watched Jiyong walk off while Taeyang nodded in agreement.

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“Dara! Wait! Hey! I just want to talk!” the reporter followed her out of the exit door and down the fire escape stairs.

“Please…go away!” Dara begged as she turned around and hurried down the stairs.

“You’re going to get hurt! Slow down!”

“Just leave me alone! I don’t know anything!” Dara shook her head and tried to go down the stairs faster when she suddenly slipped on the wet steps and tumbled down until she hit the ground below.

“Sh!t!” the reporter hurried down towards her, “Are you ok?!” he tried to shake her, “Hey-“

“Dara?!”

The reporter looked up the stairs at the sound of someone’s voice from inside the bar.

“Dara?!” The voice was getting closer and it sounded like Kwon Jiyong’s. He looked down at Dara one last time and went to hide down in the alley.

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“Dara?” Jiyong called out again, “Where did she go?” he looked around until he saw the fire escape door left open. He furrowed his brows and slowly made his way towards it, “Dara?” He looked out nonchalantly until something caught his eye. A small figure lying there on the ground. His eyes widened, “Sh!t Dara!”

Jiyong ran down the stairs and in no time he was kneeling beside Dara, “sh!t! Dara! Wake up!” he pulled her close to him and looked up the stairs again. Did she fall down? “Dara? Yah! Dara?” he shook her to wake her up, “Dara-“ Dara parted her lips slightly and furrowed her brows slightly to Jiyong’s relief. “Dara…” he called her again.

She opened her eyes and groaned slightly in pain. “Did you fall?” Jiyong asked worriedly, “Are you hurt?”

Dara bit her bottom lip, “…my ankle…” she looked down at her leg.

“Sh!t you’re bleeding” Jiyong said as he looked at her injured ankle, “Come on let’s go home.” Dara tried to sit up but she winced in pain. “Don’t move” Jiyong ordered her.

Dara nodded slightly as she tried to hold her leg, “…I’m so sorry…I fell-“

“I said don’t move” Jiyong warned her.

Dara looked up at him nervously, “but…it hurts…”

Jiyong looked down at her ankle again. He sighed and gently placed her arm over his shoulder and picked her up. Dara’s eyes widened as he sat her down on the steps. She held her breath at how close he was but she couldn’t help but stare at him. Jiyong kneeled down in front of her and reached for her hurt ankle.  Dara instantly blocked his hand nervously. “Stay still” he looked up at her and Dara had no choice but to put her hand on her lap. Jiyong gently placed his hand over her ankle and took her shoe off. Dara winced slightly and closed her eyes nervously. Her hands clenched into small fists as she felt him placing her ankle on his knee and she held her breath tightly. Jiyong looked up at her for a split second before focusing on her ankle once again. Dara gulped nervously ready to pull her ankle back when suddenly her heart stopped. She furrowed her brows and opened them slowly. There Jiyong was blowing gently over her wound.

He continued to blow over her ankle not realising she was staring at him in shock. Dara’s heart beat thumped loudly in her chest, she felt these strange flutters in her stomach and to her surprise a small smile appeared on her lips. Jiyong blew over her ankle one last time, “Is that better-“he stopped when he saw her looking at him strangely. He looked around before turning back to her, “What?”

Dara shook her head slowly and looked away, “…I thought...it was going to hurt…”

“I’m not a doctor” Jiyong stood up now, “I can’t magically click your ankle back in place.”

“…miane…” she looked down when she suddenly felt Jiyong’s arm around her waist. She turned around and came face to face with him. Her eyes widened and she leaned back but Jiyong just held onto her waist tightly.

“Don’t bother trying to walk on that ankle” he said bluntly and lifted her effortlessly. She tried to protest but one stern look from him shut her up immediately. “Put your arm over my shoulders” he told her nonchalantly.

“Huh?...a…ani” she stuttered fretfully  it’s ok…I’m ok-“

“It’s uncomfortable for me!” he said annoyed, “Just put your arm over my shoulders.” Dara blinked and hesitated for a moment before slowly putting her arm over his shoulder. She gasped slightly when he lifted her even closer to him. “That’s better” he said calmly.

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“We didn’t really talk tonight” Young deuk looked towards Minzy as they walked down the street towards Minzy’s flat later than night.

“Yeah I wonder why?” Minzy said with sarcasm.

“What?” he shrugged, “I said it’s ok if you don’t feel the same about me that’s all.”

“And what about the tiny part where you said I would have to eventually say yes to you” Minzy pointed out, “That’s enough to make me avoid you.”

“I’m not some stalker creep you know?” Deuk nudged her slightly, “I mean you were the one that kissed me-“

“Oh god! Will you please stop bringing that up in conversation?! Please!” Minzy clasped her hands together.

“Ok ok no kisses” Deuk replied, “…for now”

“Young Deuk!” Minzy glared at him as she reached her flat.

“Hey wait” he held onto her hand and made her turn around.

“What?” she asked half annoyed.

How about a good night kiss?” Young deuk making Minzy even more infuriated.

“YAH!” she slapped his hand away as he laughed out a loud, “Wah chincha! How can there be a guy like you?!”

“You saying I’m one of a kind?” he tilted his head to the side.

“That’s one way to put it I guess” Minzy folded her arms and looked away, “Look! I don’t know what you’re playing at but we are never going to happen-HWAH!” her eyes widened when he suddenly kissed her cheek.

“Good night. I’ll see you at work tomorrow” he called out as he ran off.

“YAHHHHHHH!” Minzy screamed after him.

“NIGHT!” Young deuk’s happy cries could be heard from the distance.

‘That was the first time I fell in love…’

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“You can undo your seatbelts on your own CL!” Seungri shouted in his car. They’d arrived at Cl’s place but considering how drunk she was, just getting out of the car was going to take some time.

“I…can’t” Cl mumbled, “Take it off…now…”

“Just do it!” Seungri gritted his teeth.

“I’m trying!” CL pouted and pulled at the seatbelt, “SEE! It doesn’t like me…just like you…take it off!! I don’t like the seatbelt too!” she then went to pointing at the seatbelt and telling it off, “I hate you too!!”

Seungri face palmed his face and angrily leaned over to undo her seatbelt, “This is the last time I’m going to help you” Do you hear me?! Why the hell am I even doing this-” Cl nodded as her eyes closed on her and without warning her face tilted forward until her lips touched Seungri’s cheek. Seungri stopped what he was doing, completely frozen. He couldn’t move, all he could fell were her lips on his cheek.

‘That was the first time…she attacked me (not the last time either)’

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Well…that was an eventful night?” Bom smiled nervously as she tried to unlock her front door. Top leaned on the wall and watched her fiddle with her keys.

“Why do I have a feeling you’re going to try your hardest to avoid me forever?” Top asked.

“What?” Bom tried to laugh, “I said I wouldn’t-“

“Prove it then” Top said suddenly

“Prove it?...How?” Bom stuttered.

“How am I meant to know?” Top shrugged.

“But…I mean…” Bom stuttered again.

“Its fine, if you don’t want me in your life I guess there’s nothing I can do about it” he said as he tried not to smile.

“No…please…” Bom bit her lip for a moment before suddenly looking up at him annoyed, “Wait a minute. I do want you out of my life. You’re the one that wants to be in my life, annoying the hell out of me 24/7 not the other way around. So yeah you know what, I will avoid you. Goodbye” she smiled and turned to walk into her flat when Top suddenly grabbed her arm. She spun around angrily only for her to hold her breath when she came face to face with him. Her eyes fluttered slightly when she saw how seriously he was looking at her. “…what…what is it now?” she managed to say while trying to look as calm and unaffected as possible.

Top looked at her closely, “Do you really want me out of your life?” Bom’s lips parted slightly with surprise when she saw he was being serious. “If you do then I’ll leave. It’ll be like I was never here” Top continued, “But for once stop pretending to be someone else. Especially in front of me. For once just do what you want to do.”

Bom stepped back slightly when he let go of her arm. She held her arm where he’d grabbed her and watched him walk up the stairs. Bom did what she always did in moments like this. She tried to think logically. She had a past with this guy and it wasn’t really the happiest time of her life so why would she want to risk repeating history. After all aren’t mistakes there to learn from and NEVER make the same mistakes again?! But at the same time, no actually for the first time her heart wasn’t listening to the straight talking, no nonsense brain of hers. Bom gulped and felt her heart rebelling inside her, thumping loudly so it wouldn’t be ignored. She looked back at the staircase longingly. And that’s when her mind did a strange thing, it started listening to her heart.

Maybe he’s changed? He hasn’t done anything wrong yet and to be honest he genuinely seems like he just wants to be a friend. There doesn’t seem to be any ulterior motive behind his actions and she must feel something towards him if she managed to open up this much about herself to him so far.

-----------------------

Top reached his door and pulled his keys out when he heard hurried footsteps from the staircase. He looked down and saw Bom running towards him. He looked surprised to see her as she held onto the railings for a moment tiredly.

She stopped in front of him and tried to catch her breath, “I…take it back…”

“What?” Top asked not quite hearing her.

“I take it back!” Bom gulped and looked up at him, “Let’s…be friends. Please.” Top smiled warmly for a moment before turning away and coughing. This was too much of a good opportunity to throw away without a bit of fun.

“Are you ok?” Bom asked worriedly.

“I don’t want your pity Bom” Top shook his head trying to look serious.

“Pity?” Bom asked, “No…it’s not that-“

“You made it clear you don’t want me in your life” Top interrupted her.

“But…I…”Bom panicked, “I’m sorry…I’m always like this. I push people away because I’m stupid like this.”

“No” Top stopped her, “I know how you truly feel about me. I know this is just pity-“

“It’s not!” Bom cried out, “I promise it’s not…I’m…I’m trying here Top…give me a chance to prove it.”

“Prove it?” Top raised a brow, “How?”

Bom bit her lip trying to think of something. Top looked at her with a small smile. He shouldn’t be so harsh on her. After all he’s probably the first and only person she’s opened up so much about her past and about her life right now to. He crossed his arms across his chest and watched her think anxiously. The first thing she did for herself was ask for a hug and now she was admitting that she wanted to be his friend.

He suddenly shook his head and started a countdown, “10…9…8-“

“Wait!” Bom stopped him, “Why are you counting?!”

“You have 8 seconds to prove to me that this isn’t because you pity me” Top said in a stern voice, “7…6…5”

Bom actually started jumping on the spot in panic. Was the alcohol still in her system?! Why the hell could she not think?! This was the first time she was actually letting go and wanting someone new in her life and she was going to ruin it just like this.

“2…1 and a half…1…and….and-“

Suddenly she looked up and in the moment went on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek with closed eyes.

“…1…” Top managed to whisper in shock as Bom kissed his cheek. But without a second to waste Bom stepped back still with closed eyes and ran away without looking back. Top blinked slightly and felt his cheek where Bom’s lips had been a moment ago. It felt strange. Or was that because he wasn’t expecting it? Nevertheless he looked towards the stairs with a strange and concerned expression.

‘That kiss…that was the first time I realised just how much she really needed me…’

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Music: Hello, Goodbye by Hyorin]

Jiyong lifted her slightly in his arms again and Dara’s hands clutched onto his shirt around his neck. He kept his gaze straight ahead while she kept hers on him. “What were you doing out there anyway?” Dara’s eyes fluttered but she didn’t say anything. What would he do if he found out a guy had been harassing her? “You can’t go off on your own like that. What if something happened to you?” Jiyong asked again, “You’re meant to be my responsibility.”

Dara bit her lip, “I…didn’t want to be a burden to you…”

Jiyong stopped walking and slowly looked down at her, his face fell slightly when he saw how her lips trembled and her brows furrowed as she looked at him. Dara shook her head slightly, “I don’t want you to-“

“What? Worry?” Jiyong cut her off. Dara didn’t say anything and kept her head down. “If you don’t want to burden me” Jiyong cut her off, “Then stop making me worry.”

Dara bit her quivering lip but still held onto him closer.

“Everything you bloody do makes me worry!” Jiyong raised his voice, “But that’s my problem, not yours! Arasso?!” Dara looked up at him nervously. “But if you’re so adamant on making me not worry then don’t run off like that again!” Jiyong said in frustration, “Don’t miss meals! Don’t wait up for me till late at night! Don’t be so scared of everything! Don’t listen to the crap other people tell you! They don’t know anything arasso!”

Dara kept staring at him while holding her breath.

“That’s all I want you to do” Jiyong sighed, “Then…then I’ll stop worrying about you.” Dara nodded slowly and a small warm smile appeared on her lips. She closed her eyes and suddenly she felt her heart beat loudly. She opened her eyes and looked up at him with surprise and that’s when she felt little flutters in her stomach again. She held her breath and blinked nervously.

“What did I tell you about your blinking?” Jiyong asked bluntly. Dara scrunched her face apologetically and shut her eyes instead.

Jiyong shook his head and waited for her to open her eyes.

Dara opened one eye and looked at him carefully.

“Can we go now?” Jiyong asked. Dara relaxed and nodded as he started walking once again. Her hands enclosed around his neck one more time. She liked how his shoulder brushed against her cheek every time he took a step. She took a deep breath as the wind blew past him and then to her carrying his warm fragrant to her. Her eyes searched his face, how could there be a person like him? For someone like him to exist in her world was just not possible. Her eyes finally closed heavily and in her sleep she could still smell his scent and hear his breathing.

It must have been a while before a dream conjured up in Dara’s mind. In her dream, Jiyong was still carrying her but this time they were walking down a large green field filled with daisies. She smiled brightly in her dream and hugged Jiyong without any hesitations.

“It’s so beautiful” she smiled brightly as he smiled back at her. “Can’t we stay here forever? ...just you and me” Dara sighed and inhaled the perfume of the flowers happily. She looked up at him and saw that Jiyong was still smiling at her, “You don’t know how happy I am with you…” she whispered and then in her dream she leaned in to gently kiss him on his cheek before leaning on his shoulder again.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bom slowly closed her front door and peered up at the hole. When she was sure Top wasn’t looking she exhaled deeply and clutched her shirt tightly. “What did I just do?” Bom whispered and strangely she couldn’t help but smile. That was the first time she’d done anything spontaneous and brave in her life. She bit her bottom lip and looked up at the hole one last time.

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JIyong finally arrived home with Dara sleeping soundly in his arms still.  It must have taken him over an hour to walk back from the bar with Dara but he hadn’t wanted to wake her up. He closed the front door with his back gently and looked down on Dara to make sure he hadn’t woken her up. He then slowly made his way up to her room.

JIyong gently opened Dara’s door with his elbow, careful not to stir her and walked over to her bed before placing her under the covers. He pried her arms off his neck and stood up to leave when her hands clasped against his hand and slowly brought it to her cheek. He looked uncomfortable standing there with his hand as her pillow but there wasn’t much he could do without waking her up so in the end he sat down on the side of the bed waiting for her to let go on her own.

Jiyong looked at her for a moment, his expression was laced with confusion. He slowly tore his gaze away from her and looked straight at the blank wall opposite him.

[Flashback]

Jiyong continued to walk in silence while Dara slept in his arms. They were nearly home now and he was wondering whether to wake her up or not.

“…It’s…so beautiful…”

He furrowed his brows and looked down at Dara cautiously as she smiled softly in her sleep.

“…you don’t know…how happy I am…with you…”

Jiyong shook his head, she must have hit her head when she fell today otherwise why would she mumble- his thought stopped right there when he felt something warm on his cheek. Her lips were so gently touching his cheek it felt like he was imaging it. But it was real. Her kiss stirred something strange within that wouldn’t let him move.

As soon as she leaned away, the cold air filled the warm touch of her lips. He furrowed his brows slightly, it felt strange. His heart started beating faster, he felt flutters in his stomach and he could do nothing but stare at her.

[End of flashback]

Jiyong sighed, how did he let things get this far? He seemed to hate the very thought, but at the same time he gently touched his left cheek where she’d kissed him with uneasiness while Dara continued to sleep without worry next to him.

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“That was the first time I kissed him…6 years ago.” Dara smiled as she longingly dreamt of her past.

Journalist Soomi in front of her couldn’t help but smile either as she placed her pen down on her notepad, “…and you thought it was a dream?”

Dara now looked at her and shyly traced her long soft black hair behind her ear. She crossed her legs beneath her neat pencil skirt and tapped the leg of the table with her stiletto heel gently.

“You know Ms Park, I honestly was not expecting your story to turn out like this” Soomi confessed as she took her glasses off.

“What were you expecting then?” Dara asked with a smile.

“I don’t know. The whole of South Korea knows your story, I mean the kidnapping side of the story…but I didn’t really think that your story would have moments like this.”

“You mean moments like this with Jiyong?” Dara asked amused.

“Yes” Soomi nodded, “How is it that a man like Kwon Jiyong happened to act only that way around you and no one else?”

Dara smiled and shook her head too, “I don’t know either…still to this day I don’t know.”

“Then tell me something else” Soomi asked again, “How were you able to change yourself from the person you were back then to this successful, idolised artist with sell out exhibitions all over the world? I mean your work has literally shocked the art industry into such a chaotic frenzy!”

Dara tilted her head slightly, “Isn’t it obvious from where my story is going? Everything I am today it was because of him. Because of Kwon Jiyong.”

Soomi furrowed her brows, “Don’t you want to give yourself a little credit? I mean maybe Mr Kwon did help along the way, but you must know you’re here because of your own hard work Ms Park? A lot of your feminist fans might be disappointed to hear that you got to such a height of success only because of a man?”

Dara laughed slightly now and smiled brightly, “Maybe they will think that. But just because the truth will hurt or disappoint them, I can’t change the truth can I?

“So you are telling me you are where you are and what you are all because of Mr Kwon?”

“It’s hard to believe, isn’t it? Considering his infamous reputation.” Dara asked, “But you called me to write about my life and that’s what I’m doing. To understand my life and my story, you need to understand the man that I fell in love with. Only then will you and the world understand who I truly am.”