credits: GZ

credits: IBMINO

credits: tarozuki

His footsteps were heavy as he made his way towards their flat. Serving as a host and accommodating the elders of the Underworld Tribunal on top of fulfilling his duties as a Dragon Head was utterly strenuous. He had to divide his unit to allot different tasks to be able to accomplish everything and he had to determine which of the missions required his attention and which of them could be appointed to his sworn brothers. Everything was piling up one after another.

Jiyong entered the keycode to their place. The words he was used to saying tumbled out of his mouth before he even pushed the door. "Hi babe," he said in a tired voice, like he was programmed to say it every time he arrived home.

Dara was waiting at the other side of the door, following him with her gaze as he mechanically strode towards her and gave her a kiss. The girl trailed behind him as he sluggishly walked across the living room, discarding his jacket on the couch. Dara picked it up and followed him towards the bedroom, watching silently as he removed his shirt and threw it unceremoniously before collapsing facedown on the bed. He groaned in exhaustion and folded his arms, resting his head on it.

"Jiyong," Dara called out softly while placing his jacket on a hanger. The guy did not respond so she made her way towards the bed and sat on the edge. Her eyes trailed down his sleepy form, her gaze focusing on the tattoo at the back of his right shoulder. It felt like it had been a long time since they last talked to each other. They were living under the same roof, but she was missing him as if they were on different places. Whenever he arrived, he always seemed very exhausted and irritable, which was why she let him be - giving him space to be on his own, thinking that it was what he needed.

But that night, she wanted to tell him about the Product Convention before it slips her mind again. She would've texted it to him, but she didn't want to disturb him during the day seeing how busy he was. Knowing Jiyong, he would probably ask a lot of questions, so discussing it in person was a better option.

Dara scooted closer and his upper arm gently while calling his name again. "Jiyong..."

"What?" He asked drowsily. "You want ?"

"No."

"Okay."

A long silence followed as she studied his features, wondering if she should just talk to him tomorrow. The Product Convention was still a few days away, anyway.

"Jiyong, roll over on your back so you can sleep comfortably," she whispered while pulling a pillow. The guy complied without uttering a word and Dara placed the pillow under his head. She then rid him of his pants and put on his trousers before lying next to him.

But sleep was elusive and Dara lay awake, staring at the ceiling while pondering over things. She and Jiyong have been living together for quite some time that the awkwardness was long gone. She wondered if it was a good thing. How does he view her nowadays? Does he still think that he is lucky to have her by his side? They were so used to each other that everything they did seemed like a routine. Still, she would rather do the same thing no matter how boring or routinary it was if it meant being with him. Jiyong was her other half. But does Jiyong still think the same way?

Those troubling thoughts lingered in her mind until she fell into a deep slumber...snuggling closer to the man she dearly loved.

_____________________________________________________________

Dara was preparing for work and Jiyong just stepped out of the shower when her phone rang. She quickly picked up the phone seeing that Bom was the one calling, expecting the call to be about the upcoming Product Convention. She stole a glance at Jiyong who was zipping up his pants, his towel draped on his upper body. She had to tell Jiyong about it before he leaves.

"Bad news," Bom said before she could utter a word. "The Product Convention was rescheduled tomorrow instead of this weekend, so we have to check in at the hotel this afternoon."

"What?!" Dara shrieked in astonishment. "Tomorrow? Bom, I'm not prepared!"

"Yes, you are. You've read the documents a hundred times and you even practiced your demo using the presentation slides!"

"Oh my God. Bom, I'm seriously panicking now."

"Calm down. Pack your stuff and let's meet at the hotel."

"Oh no! Oh no! Oh no!" She ended the call and ran across the room, pulling out her luggage from the closet. She would slice Bom in half once she sees her! The disaster was starting right from the get-go.

Jiyong eyed the girl with furrowed eyebrows as she moved in a hurry, stuffing her clothes in her luggage.

"What's this about?" He asked while drying his hair with a towel.

"Jiyong, oh my God. I'm sorry! I have to attend an out of town Product Convention with Bom and we will be staying at the hotel for a week, starting today."

"What?!" Jiyong threw the towel aside and faced her, clearly displeased with what she said. "And you're telling me this now?"

"It was supposed to be this coming weekend but it was rescheduled. I meant to tell you today because I thought it was still a few days away."

"You should've told me as soon as you heard about it!" Jiyong said, irritation laced in his voice. "I need time to arrange who will be guarding you since we have visitors and everyone in the unit was already assigned to them."

"I'm sorry," Dara mumbled meekly, seeing how exasperated the guy was.

"This is ing great. Where the hell will I pull out people who will accompany you out of town to guard you?"

"I don't need guar-..."

Jiyong eyed her sharply, shutting her up. Another string of curses flowed from his mouth as he strode towards the bedside table to get his phone. He furiously dialed a number and pressed the phone on his ear while pacing back and forth, waiting for someone to answer.

"Youngbae, round up a few people who can guard Dara in her out of town trip for a week," he instructed. "Yes, ask the Deputy Mountain Master unit and the Red Pole unit. I need them now. I'll try to call their leaders to give them a heads up."

Dara quietly packed her stuff as Jiyong continued calling up members of the Triads. She knew he would be upset, but it made her heart heavy because of the way he reacted. It felt like she was another obligation that he had to shoulder. She could only hear irritation in his voice, unlike before wherein she could see worry in his eyes. Was she being sensitive? Or was she beginning to become a burden...a dead weight that he had to carry?

She was zipping up her luggage when she caught sight of Jiyong's white shirt draped on the laundry basket. Her eyebrows furrowed deeply as she stared at the red stain visible on the shirt. Her heart pounded erratically when she realized what that red stain was. She grabbed the shirt and stood up, furiously facing Jiyong.

"What's this?" She asked, trying to control her trembling voice.

Jiyong glanced briefly at what she was holding before hanging up the phone. "What?"

"This lipstick mark," she trailed off, unable to hide her distress. "Why do you have a lipstick mark on your shirt?"

"It's nothing."

Dara bit her bottom lip and averted her gaze, trying to calm herself before shifting her eyes back to the guy. "How did this happen?" It was becoming hard to breathe as a mixture of frustration and anger engulfed her. Couldn't he see how this was affecting her? Was it too much to ask him to explain what really happened? She was ready to listen, but he was shrugging it off as if it was something that did not concern her!

"It's nothing," Jiyong repeated. "What the hell are you trying to imply? You know I don't have concubines anymore."

"Yes, I know. But how did you get a lipstick mark on your shirt?"

"Our secretary accidentally bumped into me," he replied flatly.

"Secretary? This is the first time I'm hearing about this. How did she bump into you?"

"Jesus, Dara!" He erupted and strode towards her. "Do you have to know every ing detail? Do I have to re-enact it so you'll be satisfied?" He furiously grabbed the shirt from her hand and threw it back to the laundry basket. "This is ing ridiculous!"

"Don't I have the right to ask what happened?"

"NOTHING...HAPPENED!" Jiyong enunciated each word firmly, making Dara flinch. He exhaled audibly and walked towards the closet, pulling out a shirt and wearing it hastily. "Your guards from the Deputy Mountain Master unit will be here in a few minutes. Prepare your stuff."

"Jiyong, there was a lipstick mark on your shirt. Of course, I'll react this way," she explained, her calm voice masking the storm raging up inside her.

"Can we ing not talk about this?" He muttered without throwing a glance at her, his eyes focused on his phone.

Dara drew multiple breaths, swallowing down the flurry of emotions swarming through her. "Why not?"

"Because it's nothing. It's not important."

"It is to me."

Jiyong suddenly lifted his gaze in irritation, his eyebrows mashed together. "We're still not through this?"

"But-..."

"! Can we please...STOP...talking about this? What the hell do you really want me to say? What is it that you want to hear, huh? JUST ING TELL ME WHAT YOU WANT TO HEAR SO I CAN ING SAY IT AND GET THIS BULL OVER WITH!"

The girl froze with his outburst, opening slightly to say something but decided against it. There was a burning feeling in her chest and a tight knot in her stomach. Jiyong's attitude hurt her beyond words that all she could do was stand on her spot and stare at him blankly, her arms hanging limply on her sides as if energy had been drained from her.

Seeing Dara's pained expression, Jiyong turned around briefly and cursed under his breath. He let out an exasperated sigh before facing her again. "Alright, let's stop," he muttered. "The men from the other unit are on their way to pick you up. We need to meet them downstairs so I can brief them on what to do."

Dara remained unresponsive as she began gathering her stuff in slow movements, the depressing atmosphere between them weighing her down.

"You got everything?"

"Yes," she replied unenthusiastically, purposely averting her gaze.

"Hey." Jiyong held her upper arm, making her glance at him. There was a brief silence between them as they looked at each other's eyes, not knowing where to start. "The lipstick mark was really just an accident."

"Okay," she said in a sullen voice, hanging her head low.

"Can we not argue over it anymore?"

"Okay."

"Babe, look at me," he whispered. She complied and looked at him somberly.

Jiyong pulled her to him, gathering