"I'm late! Damn!" He mumbled the words as he pushed the elevator button repeatedly, hoping it will come faster.

 

He let out a huge sigh when the ding sound echoed in the hallway and the elevator doors slides open for him to step in. He watched as the mirror finish stainless doors close, revealing his hooded figure. 

 

"I look like a panda" He muttered while staring at the obvious dark circles around his eyes. He only manage to sleep for 2 hours before his phone rang and the sound of his anxious manager blasted through the speaker. The dateline of his album launching was merely within a week and there were many things still left unfinished.

 

The elevator hesitated briefly and then started to descent. Young Bae tapped his right foot, waiting impatiently for the elevator to reach the parking level.  When it finally reached its destination, Young Bae made a bee line for his car. He was about to hop into the car when he felt a strong tug on his upper arm.

 

He looked over his shoulder and saw a familiar face, smiling warmly at him.

"What are you doing here Jiyong-ah?" He frowned at his best friend. 

 

Young Bae's brain wasn't in its prime state from lack of sleeping but he still could comprehend that it was too early for Jiyong to get up and arrived at his place. He knew  how Jiyong loves to sleep and it was difficult for the guy to be up and ready at this hour.

 

"I am here to pick you up of course!" Jiyong chirped, dragging Young Bae away from his car and closed the door for him. Jiyong towed his bestfriend and walked over to his black lamborghini that parked two cars away from Young Bae's. He opened the passenger's door for him and gestured him to get in. 

 

Young Bae looked at him with his confused eyes, wanted to ask further but then decided to let it slide because he was in a hurry. He get into the car and Jiyong followed suit. He started the engine and rode their way to YG Building.

 

It took them half an hour to reach the building and they spent it in silence since Young Bae unconsciously fell asleep not long after his head touched the soft leather headrest. 

 

Jiyong pulled into the vip parking lot near the entrance door, he turned off the engine and unbuckled his seatbelt. He turned sideway and fixed his gaze at his best friend who was still sleeping soundlessly. 

 

He has befriended Youngbae for more than 10 years but that was the first time he saw him in such exhausted state. He didn't like the idea of waking him up, he knew Young Bae had barely enough sleep in the past few days. 

 

Jiyong let out a heavy sigh, he has requested Yang CEO to put off  the dateline but he said it was Young Bae who insisted not to postpone the album launching, saying he's not willing to let his fans down, he had put it on hold long enough.

 

Jiyong forced himself to give Young Bae a light nudge to wake him up. The latter stirred slightly and opened his eyes. It took him a couple of seconds to absorb his surrounding and realized he had fallen asleep in Jiyong's car.

 

"What time is it now? Haiz! Thanks Ji!" He gave his best friend a light tap on the shoulder and then bolted his way to the building.

Jiyong watched him scurrying his way into the building and shook his head, he really wanted to knock some sense into him, rushing things will not give you the best result. But befriended him long enough, Jiyong knew how stubborn Young Bae is, he would only end up talking to a wall.

 

It was the ninth time of retake and Young Bae didn't show any sign of stopping. Jiyong could hear how strained his voice had become and ordered the staff to stop recording. 

 

"Young Bae-ah, let's call it a day, will continue it tomorrow ok?" He spoke over the microphone from the control room.

"But there's just a small part that's lacking Jiyong-ah, let's just finish it ok?" Young Bae pleaded, knowing this time it will be hard to convince Jiyong to continue with the recording.

 

"Nope, it's useless Young Bae-ah, can't you hear your own hoarse voice?!" Jiyong raised his voice, he had hold his anger down for couple of hours for giving in when Young Bae insisted to continue with the recording even though he wasn't in good condition.

 

Young Bae let out a heavy sigh and closed his eyes, he knew better he was in no condition to continue with the recording but it's just so little time left to finish recording Jiyong's song and give the final arrangement. He took the headphones off and sauntered his way out of the recording room. He walked straight to the long sofa in the control room and threw himself on it. He could barely keep his eyes open, when Jiyong kneeled beside him and placed his hand over his forehead.

 

"Are you feeling alright Young Bae-ah?" Jiyong asked when he felt Young Bae's temperature escalated slightly.

 

"I'm fine Jiyong-ah....just dead tired" Young Bae croaked, eyes closed as he felt aches all over his body.

 

"Let's go to see a doctor Young Bae-ah, you don't look so good" Jiyong nudged his upper arm lightly, voice laced with worry.

 

Young Bae open his drowsy eyes and met Jiyong's worried eyes "I am fine Jiyong-ah...don't worry....need some rest....just stay with me.." He squeezed Jiyong's hand and gave him an ensuring smile before drifting back to sleep.

 

Jiyong told one of the staffs to bring a blanket and pillow over. He lifted Young Bae's head slightly to slide the pillow in and then tucked the blanket around him. Young Bae seemed to completely in deep sleep since he didn't even stir while Jiyong did those things.

 

"It looks like that he completely knocked out" said a voice from behind.

Jiyong turned around to see CEO Yang walked into the control room. He approached them and then touched Young Bae's forehead to check on him.

 

"Luckily it's just a slight fever" He said and then tapped Jiyong's shoulder lightly.

He took one of the chair in the room and sit on it, Jiyong followed suit.

 

"How's the recording go?" He asked while watching the sleeping figure.

 

"Almost done Hyung, we just need to record a few more part and finish the arrangement" Jiyong replied.

 

"That boy is surely stubborn, isn't he?" CEO Yang chuckled and Jiyong just let out a sigh.

 

"Don't worry about it too much Jiyong-ah...Young Bae is a strong kid, he can handle it" CEO Yang assured him.

 

"I know that Hyung....but this is the first time he exhausted himself like this, I can't help but worry for him" Jiyong said while his eyes gazing at sleeping Young Bae who seemed to be disconnected with the rest of the world.

 

"You always have a soft spot for him Jiyong-ah, you're more stern with the rest" CEO Yang said pointedly.

 

Jiyong just gave him a smile and then turned his chair around, facing one of the the computer in the control room.

 

"By the way Hyung, I want you to hear the new song for BigBang's album" Jiyong said as he clicked couple of buttons and then the sound of a trap beat music resonated in the control room. His voice and Young Bae's were the only ones filled in the song, since it was mostly just the two of them who worked for BigBang's album, the other members were busy with their own schedules.

 

CEO Yang bobbed his head up and down to the music, seemed to really enjoy the beat. 

 

"What do you think Hyung? Is it good enough to be in the next BigBang's album?" Jiyong asked after the music stopped playing.

 

CEO Yang pondered,  his eyes shifted from Jiyong to the picture on the wall and then back to Jiyong who was waiting anxiously for his answer.

 

"It's a good song Jiyong-ah, but I don't think this song suits BigBang's vibe" CEO Yang said.

 

"Really? I think we need to try something new Hyung" Jiyong said, a little bit disappointed with CEO Yang's opinion.

 

"Why don't we do this Jiyong-ah, you and Young Bae can sing the song, I think this songs suits both of you" CEO Yang suggested.

 

"Me and Young Bae? As in duo?" Jiyong asked incredulously and received a nod from CEO Yang as his answer.

 

Jiyong perked up, finally after such a long time, he and Young Bae will be able to materialize their GDYB dream.

 

"I can't wait to tell Young Bae about this!" Jiyong smiled ear to ear, making CEO Yang chuckled at his reaction, he always has a soft spot for the bright kid.

 

 

Young Bae woke up late in the morning with a face stood merely two inches away from his face. He sat bolt upright and immediately held his chest to calm his racing heart beat.

 

"Jesus, Jiyong! You scared the hell out of me" Young Bae exasperated as he stared down at Jiyong's too happy face.

 

Suddenly Jiyong jumped on him and hugged him tightly, making the air left his body.

 

"Young Bae-aaahh, Young Bae-aaaahhh" Jiyong sounded like a child that just got a new toy.

 

Young Bae confused at his best friend sudden lovey dovey action and wondered what has happened.

 

"Jiyong-ah I can't b-breathe" Young Bae coughed the words out, Jiyong was surprisingly strong with his hold while Young Bae hasn't fully recovered to shake off the hug.

 

Young Bae's alarming tone  made Jiyong instantly released the hug and eyed him worriedly.

 

"I'm sorry Young Bae-ah, are you alright?" Jiyong asked while watching his best friend who still let out a series of light coughing.

 

"I'm fine Jiyong-ah, you just almost send me to heaven, that's all" Young Bae jokingly said after he was able to breathe properly.

 

"Yah! I am not that strong and you are not that weak Young Bae-ah!" Jiyong pouted, he walked away and sat on the chair across the sofa with his arms crossed.

 

Young Bae let out a chuckle at Jiyong's cute reaction and thought that something extremely good must have happened to make Jiyong suddenly jumped on him like that.

 

 "What's the good news Jiyong-ah....tell me please" Young Bae asked while looking at Jiyong warmly.

 

Jiyong's face soon lit up at the question and he let out a fake cough "Well, firstly we managed to finish the arrangement for you" Jiyong paused to see Young Bae's reaction and saw his face decorated with a bright smile.

 

"Thank you Jiyong-ah, I am glad to hear that" Young Bae felt like a huge burden just being lifted off his chest and he knew he had Jiyong to thank you for that. But he also knew that wasn't the reason for Jiyong to be so excited.

 

"So...? What's the good news?" Young Bae asked further

 

"Last night I played the good boy demo to Hyunsuk hyung, and he likes it" Jiyong paused

 

"And...?" 

 

"And... He doesn't think the song suits BigBang..." Jiyong trailed off

 

"So...?" Young Bae frowned, confused why was Jiyong so happy when his song got rejected.

 

"So..he asked both of us to sing it instead" Jiyong grinned

 

"Us?" Young Bae stared at Jiyong with confused eyes.

 

Jiyong just couldn't hold it back anymore, he didn't bother to wait for Young Bae to comprehend his words "We finally sing as a duo Young Bae-aaah!!" Jiyong exclaimed as he got up from his seat

 

"What?! Are you serious?!" Young Bae stood up and stared at Jiyong who just nod his head repeatedly with tears slowly formed at the corner of his eyes.

 

Young Bae walked his way forward and then engulfed Jiyong in his arms tightly as he also felt tears started to prick at the corner of his eyes. Those years of waiting and finally they can realize their dream to form a duo.

 

"What do we do? Where do we start?" Young Bae asked excitedly after he released the hug.

 

"We're going to start by feeding you with breakfast and some vitamins, I don't like the color of your face Young Bae-ah" Jiyong said, while grabbing his best friend's hand and dragged him out.

 

"Yah! I am not a kid ok! I rarely fell sick compare to you Jiyong-ah!" Young Bae protested a long the way.

 

"True! That's why I need to keep you healthy so you can take care of me" Jiyong chuckled.