Weeks have passed since they last saw each other, and not a day goes by without her missing him. Without her worrying about him. Especially recently with the recent news about his fellow hyung. She couldn’t imagine what they must have gone through. To hear such a big scandal concerning someone so close to them, it must have been really tough on them.

It must have been much tougher on that hyung – Jieun couldn’t imagine how he must have been feeling right now as someone who is a huge fan of the group, including him, as a whole. To think that she already wanted to die when her supposedly racy scandal broke out. What was supposed to be an innocent oppa-dongsaeng picture turned into something ugly just because he was shirtless and she was merely only wearing a nightgown. But this… this is beyond another level. She prays that he remains strong facing this no matter how cruel and harsh the media can be. She prays that everything will go well eventually.

It is not just the hyung she’s worried about – she worries so much about him. Is he alright? Is he okay? Is he doing well? Thousands of questions raced through her mind without stopping. She did text him ‘Are you okay?’ numerous of times when the news first appeared. She did ask him how he is holding up whenever they call each other. But all she got was the cold emotionless ‘I’m fine’ as an answer. And she hates that. She knows that he means well – he is trying to not make her worried for him. But it only makes her feel even more worried for him. She wishes that he could open up to her eventually.

Because she truly cares for him.

*

“Jieun ah, can I come over?” Jiyong asks her as soon as he lands from Japan for fan meetings via a call on that day to which she answers a ‘yes’. He couldn’t stand this any longer so he really needs her right now to make it all go away.

He hates that he couldn’t do anything to make the situation better. He thought that the situation could not get any worse when the news first broke out. But it did. Hyung is now hospitalized in a really critical condition, and he couldn’t do anything about it to make it better. He feels helpless. The feeling of guilt has taken over him like a storm. He should’ve been a better leader, a better friend, a better brother. He should’ve seen the signs of it all. He should’ve been sterner with the hyung despite him being older than himself. He should’ve done something.

But he didn’t. And that is the worst part.

He needs her right now. Because she is the only one he could think of that could make him feel better. At least for a while.

*

“Jieun ah…” He puts his arms around her waist, not wanting to let go as soon as she opens her door for him. Can they just stay like this forever?

“There there,” she says to him in that comforting voice of hers. She pats him at the back with that soft hand of hers, trying to relieve him of his troubles. This is really what he has been missing. It truly feels like it has been a long time since he has her here in his arms. “We should go in, oppa,” she adds worriedly.

“No, let’s stay like this for another minute,” he mumbles, his head still resting on her shoulder. He truly does not want to let her go. He thinks those weeks without her are already a torture for him. To deal with another fraction of minutes or seconds without her here in his arms is asking for it.

He really misses this.

*

“Are you okay?” she worriedly asks him once they have settled down in her living room, her eyes expressing concern.

“Honestly… at this point right now, I don’t feel like doing my comeback now. It just doesn’t feel right,” he answers honestly.

“I know oppa but you have to. Your fans are counting on you. I’m sure your fans were happy to see you guys during those fan meetings.” She tries to make him see from the fans’ point of view because she knows how much he cares for them.

“It’s my fault, Jieun ah. I should’ve done something. I mean, I’ve been through this before,” referring to his old drug scandal ages ago – “I should’ve warn him about it. I should’ve…”

“It’s not your fault, oppa. It’s not his fault too. Sometimes, these things happened and sometimes, these things are blown out of the proportion. All you have to do right now is to pray for a fast recovery for him, stay strong and just carry on with the comeback. He wouldn’t want you to be sad and put it aside. You just have to stay strong for him, for your fans… for me.”

Her words wash over him as if they cleanse him and make him see the light. She’s right. He couldn’t just throw it away. The show must go on. Sure, he has to change his title track from ‘Bull’ to ‘Untitled, 2014’ just because it doesn’t feel right to promote something too ‘out there’ when his hyung is suffering. But the show must go on. He has to carry forward regardless of personal matters. “You’re right,” he finally answers.

He looks back at her, noting how concern she looks. He hates to see her worrying about him like this. He should be the one to give his shoulders for her to cry on, not the other way round. But at the same time, he is glad to have her in his life. Cause right now, she is his rock, his voice of reason. She is someone he could rely on. “You… thank you for being here. I’m so sorry for being like this the first time seeing you after a while.” His eyes showing his vulnerability, stripping away the ‘G-Dragon’ side of him.

“It’s okay oppa. I’m here for you… always.” She pulls him in for a hug, consoling him by patting him at the back.

He too reciprocates the gesture, thanking God for this moment. For her. Three words come into his head naturally again. He knows without a doubt that that is what he feels for her. But he is not going to say it out loud to her yet. Not now.

*

“You…”

“Hmmm?”

“Should we watch something?” He gives her a small smile, trying to lighten up the mood. Other than eating whatever delicious food she was cooking, watching television together has become a common activity between these two.

“Oh sure. Let’s watch my episode of Fantastic Duo. I was waiting for you to come back because I want to watch it with you,” she exclaims. She switches on her television and searches for the episode that she has been saving to watch for a few days now. It feels right to only watch it with him – it is after all, his initiative that got her to guest in the show.

“Okay, you.” He lightly gave her a peck on the cheek before putting his arm over her. She lightly places her head on his chest, trying to get comfortable before starting to watch the show.

*

“Who does he think he is?” he points out, his jealousy showing. “I swear, Jieun ah… why are you too nice with guys?”

“They’re just my fans, oppa. You know that.” His jealousy at this moment is just too cute, she is not even that bothered about it.

“Especially him. Supermarket sheriff, whoever he is.” At this moment, they are watching the part where that guy and Jieun have just finished a short impromptu duet of ‘It’s you’.

“Oh, then you better brace yourself because spoiler alert, he is actually the one I chose to sing with in the end.” She gives him a cheeky smile, silently enjoying seeing his reaction.

“Really? So he gets to sing with you twice?” to which she nods at him. “Wow, seriously! First, Oh Hyuk. Now, him. When is my chance to sing two songs with you on stage?” And suddenly, an idea pops into his head. Why didn’t he think of this earlier? He feels stupid for not coming up with it sooner. He should’ve thought about it on that day. “Jieun ah, that’s it!”

“What? What’s going on?” Her eyes showing curiosity. She heavily wonders what it is he is so excited about.

“What do you think of becoming my guest in my Seoul concert? We can finally sing Palette together on stage and then we can probably sing another one of my songs,” he grins widely.

“Oppa, are you sure? I mean, your concert is only a few days from now. I don’t know if we would be prepared for it. Besides, I have to attend Sangsoon oppa’s DJ gig on that night,” remembering Hyori unnie’s invitation to watch her husband perform. It was really a good thing that she decided to do the reality show with them because through that, she has gained two wise people who are so content with their lives as friends.

“You can leave early if that’s what you’re worried about. And I’m sure we can perform it well on that day. Because Jieun ah, it would mean a lot to me if you can do this. I already feel bad for not being able to promote it with you before so this is a chance for us to sing it together. Please say yes,” He feels hopeful about it. He really wants her there with him on stage despite how last-minute it is.

To do it or not? She knows without a second thought that she should. And she wants to. But she doesn’t want to be too rash with her decision. She takes her time answering it, evaluating the pros and cons to it. Obviously, there are no cons to such decision so she settles with an “okay” as her answer.

“Okay?” He repeats her answer, making sure what he heard is correct.

“Yes, oppa. Let’s do it!” she smiles widely.