Chapter 1

Dara was in her deep sleep when she heard soft knocks from the door. She was awakened but she felt lazy to open her eyes.

When the door opened slowly, Kim Won Bin appeared while holding a tray of food.

“Good morning baby! Happy Birthday! Breakfast in bed!” he greeted,  wearing a big smile while walking toward her bed.

Before sitting beside her, he put the tray over her side table and he couldn't hide that something in his smile.

She leisurely opened her eyes, “Good morning, Daddy.” She greeted back.  She then looked at the tray he brought. A silly smile painted on her lips when she noticed that the tray was covered. She knew her dad had surely put that cover for a reason. A naughty reason.

“So, how was the sleep of my birthday princess?” he asked while compelling his own lips not to grin.

She stretched her arms before she answered, “’Twas fine. But I’m sleepy still,” she then covered with her hands and yawned. “I think I’m going back to sleep. Your greeting makes me feel older,Dad.” She added mischievously.

Won Bin chuckled with her answer and played with her hair. “You silly girl… you better get up there or you’ll--.” He told her in brotherly manner. They treat each other like that—brothers and sisters. And he’s only seventeen years older than her.

“Or you’ll what? Huh,Daddy? Spank me?Huh? Huh?” she fondly interrupted. “Okay, do it, but I’ll make sure Jaejoong will know it,” she added childishly. She would usually act like a child boasting about her toy while speaking about Jaejoong. She knew she just loved everything about her boyfriend.Everything that Jaejoong was, and everything that Jaejoong was not.

 Hearing Jaejoong’s name, Won Bin’s face got serious. There’s something about Jaejoong that he knew and that he would always want to keep.  Forever. And that’s one of the reasons why he didn’t want seeing Jaejoong and Dara together.

She decided to ignore his reaction. She was getting used to it. Jaejoong was polite, for all she knew. He had already visited their house for several times. And whenever he did that, he would always ‘bless’ with her dad to follow the tradition of respect in the Philippines. But she knew the fact that Won Bin would old whenever Jaejoong would do that. He was only thirty five to be treated an old man. No one could even tell how old he really was for he looked ten years younger than his age. To add that women would even court him just to win his heart.

“Will that monkey be attending tonight?” he asked quietly in annoyance. His eyebrows had almost met as well.

She giggled with his manner. “He will love to. But I suppose he will better choose not to come. You know him, he always looks like he has seen a scary ghost whenever he sees you.” She chuckled as though teasing her father. But she knew Jaejoong was coming. He would not let himself be missing on the night of her debut party. Besides, she wanted him to be her last dance for the night.

He didn’t laugh nor speak back about Jaejoong. Instead, she cupped her face with his right hand. He then smiled and lovingly said, “I love you, honey.”

She wanted to sigh but she didn’t. Her father seemed uninterested as long as it’s Jaejoong.

She chose to close her eyes and uttered, “I love you too, Daddy,” She opened her eyes before she continued speaking, “You’re the best dad in the whole wide world." It was in her sweetest voice.

Hers was the sweetest voice to him.

“You’re the best either, Baby.” He had never wanted to call her ‘daughter’ or treat her as such.

He later loosened his hold. “I have to go now, honey. Don’t forget to eat your breakfast.” He bade good-bye.

Dara’s face saddened for a moment.

“Okay,” she said sadly. She motioned her face to look at another side of the bed.

He lovingly kissed her forehead, “Have a great day.” He then stood and walked out of the room

Dara decided to stay on her bed for two or three more minutes before she got up. She then looked for the tray her dad brought and removed its cover. After seeing what’s inside it, her sad face lightened and she took a giggle.

There were fish fillet, a big crab with mini fork aside, and fried fish topped with smiley through ketchup. In short, sea foods. Foods she was allergic with. She must be angry but that didn’t happen. He just knew how to make her laugh.

She left the room after seeing the foods anon, and she was giggling while walking to the kitchen.

Nanny Romina was in the kitchen when she got there. The old woman had a slender body; a waist-long hair that has always been pony-tailed; round eyes that has always seemed to talk; and she got wrinkles of course; her pointed nose seemed to have always smell Dara’s emotions; and her lips though had bare breaks could still paint a hushing smile.

Dara’s dad said her mother died immediately after she was born, so the old woman took care of her since she was a baby. Nanny Romina had already been her companion all these time. She could easily say wether Dara Park was telling the truth or not, or if she really meant what she said, or what tears from her say. Indeed, it had always been easy for Dara share her secrets to the old woman.

“Dara! How are you feeling? Do you feel itchy?  Tell me.” Nanny Romina said in panic, and worry could vividly be seen in her face.

Dara just giggled with her Nanny's reaction, “Nanny, nothing happened to me. I didn’t eat any of these," she said giggling while looking at the tray of  food.

“This is your Dad’s fault. He’s already old to play childish games like this.” Nanny Romina tapped her forehead.

Dara didn’t speak and silence won for a moment. The two were only looking at each other as though having a silent fight. But it was replaced by a burst of laughter after a quite while.

Hotel Williams

Varied kind of people attended Dara’s debut bash-- from the biggest names in politics and business industry to the celebrities and family and friends.

Certainly, Dara’s bestfriends, Sarah, Jessica, Rizza, and the cats and dogs Travis and Jelly were also present. The latter were still bashing each other when they reached the venue. Even in formal attires.

Dara stepped down from a zigzag ladder when she was called by the emcee after a video presentation of her pictures taken since she was a baby. A video clip of greetings from her friends abroad was also presented.

All were stunned by her beauty. She wore a simple pink Cinderella gown. She chose the said gown because she wanted to show people her simplicity. She’s also in light make-up which made her look more innocent and enchanting.

She looked at her dad when she reached the floor. He looked very enchanted with the beauty of his daughter. She smiled at him when their eyes met, and so as he.

And Jaejoong? He looked very enthralled. Being proud that he was Dara’s boyfriend could be seen in his eyes.

Travis was her first dance during the 18 Roses. She was giggling every time she stepped over his feet. Travis was born with two left legs to tell why.

Her dad was her seventeenth dance. He was gazing at her all the time they were dancing. For a reason Dara couldn’t understand, she felt awkward toward her father during their dance. His hands were cold and she could see he’s nervous. His looks were also strange. Ah, perhaps he was just not used of dancing with his daughter.

Jaejoong was her last dance and he couldn’t help a content smile while they were dancing.

“You look..." he said with shimmering eyes, "...so beautiful.” And his hands cupped her face in awe.

“Oh, really?” her eyes were sparkling while looking at Jaejoong.

He nodded, “And I’m proud to be the luckiest guy in the world because I’m your boyfriend.” He said earnestly. He then stopped dancing, gazed at her for a minute. He looked at her eyes as though asking for permission of what he was ought to do, her eyes glittered in agreement. He gazed at her a bit more and then took her lips with his.

She was surprised when she felt the smooth thing claiming her lips but she felt the love that was in that kiss, and it was too overwhelming for her to complain. She closed her eyes instead.

The crowd got wild-- some clapped, some whistled and some screeched for twitterpatting. Riz's voice was most dominant.

She slowly opened her eyes after that twitterpatting kiss. Jaejoong was smiling and she was smiling back.

But her smiles faded when her eyes captured her father from where he was standing. His right fist was closed and he was looking at Jaejoong as though he was killing him. Wait, was that jealousy she saw in his eyes?

“Is there any problem?” Jaejoong asked in wonder after seeing her stop.

“H-huh? None. There’s no problem.”

She decided to ignore what she saw and continued dancing. Maybe it was just normal for a father to get jealous seeing his only daughter being kissed.

She didn’t see her dad again after her dance with Jaejoong. She thought he mingled with the visitors. And she decided not to look for him; especially that her bestfriends had already dragged her to their table while screaming out of excitement.

**

Dara was walking to her room. Her party had just finished and she could say had great fun. The whole night puzzled her,though. She had not seen her dad after the dance and she thought he already went home to have a rest from a day of work. He was not used of attending parties, to add with.

Dara felt tired but she thought she would surely sleep with smile in her lips.She thought.

When she got to her room, she was surprised that the door was already opened although the light was not on.

“You’re home…”a familiar voice made her heart thump. She quickly d for the switch and turned the light on.

“D-daddy,” she muttered when she noticed who it was. He was standing at the other side of the door. “D-dad, you’re drunk.” She stammeringly said. She could smell the wine on her father’s breathing. For a sudden, she felt fear deep inside, and at the back of her mind were a million questions.

“Noh…jusht...tipsy.” He answered in drunk voice. He then shut the door and motioned closer to her.

Her knees trembled. She tried to move her feet backward, and she managed to do so. A small step, at least. She wanted to run but she couldn't find her strength.

He clinched his two arms at the wall to block her. They were only breath away.

She stared at her father in fright. Her heart was beating so fast, her tears were about to leave her eyes.  She didn’t have an idea why he was acting like that or if there was any reason why he was acting so.

Her father placed his index finger on her lower lip after a while. He then grinned zanily. “What a lucky guy.”

She knew he was pertaining to Jaejoong.

“D-ddad you’re drunk.” She mumbled again and liquid started to flood her eyes because of fear.

“I’m not!” he shouted. It was the first for Dara. She grew with a calm and sweet dad and now he was looking at her as though he was dreadful. She gulped in terror. “Just…” he leaned his face closer to her. “…tipsy.”

Dara’s eyes widened and she took a hoarse breathe. Her dad almost kissed her!

“D-dad…please…l-let me go.” She begged in tears. Her voice was cracked, her body was shaking and her face was begging to end that conversation.

Won Bin then stopped and gazed at her as though he went back to his senses.

“Dara…” he whispered.

She remained silent but her tears continued to flow.

He took a deep sigh and freed her.

“S-sorry.” He stattered. He covered his face with his hands as though saying he had done something miserable.

“I-it’s okay dad. Y-you’re…you’re just drunk.” She gulped again. She hoped for her dad to leave the room. She just thought she wouldn't bear it  anymore if he would stay a moment longer.

He shook his head in confusion. He then moved a step backward and punched the wall. Blood from his bleeding hand dropped on her shoulder.

She wanted to screech but her voice seemed to had left because of fear. She took a deep frightened sigh instead.

Won Bin brushed his hair with his hands. He looked so confused of what he had just done.

“D-daddy…” at last, she had the courage to speak.

“S-sorry, Dara. I’m just…” he breathed deeply. “I’m just drunk.”

There was a moment of silence. Dara wanted to speak but there was the fear of what he might do once she spoke. She didn’t know why he was doing those things or why he had drown himself in wine. He had never wanted her to see him drunk. But why now?

Later, he  moved backward. Looking bewildered. He then stormed out of the room without saying a word.

She was left baffled. Did he really drink that much that he acted like that? For a moment, she found it hard to move and her knees were still shaking when she walked to her bed and sat beside it.

Seconds passed and her eyes were captured by the two picture frames on the side table. One was her picture on a swing with his father at her back. The other one was her mother’s face- the only remaining picture she knew. For unknown reason, her grandfather burned all her mother’s memories. Perhaps to be able to cope with her mother's lost.

She felt warm liquid covering her eyes while gazing at the pictures. “Why dad? Why are you doing this?” she wanted an answer but she couldn’t have it.

Few minutes later, she laid herself on bed, closed her eyes and tried to digest things that have happened. But she failed, so she started to cry again until she fell asleep numbly.

Dara’s eyes were chinky when she woke next morning. She felt pain and she wanted to think that last night was just a fairytale that turned into a nightmare. The worst nightmare she ever had.

She found herself gawping at the ceiling. A moment later, she felt her eyes bursting in tears. Again.

“Daddy,” she whispered  bitterly. She was still puzzled by the reason of his acts last night.

She stared at the ceiling for few minutes more before she decided to leave her room.

She went to the Flower Garden aback their mansion. She used to go there to get peace. She enjoyed lingering her eyes upon the flowers that dance with the calming morning breeze, and she loved smelling their fresh scents. Now, she hoped that by going there, her counfusions would be eased. Even at its least.

She picked a rosebud, motioned it near her nose and smelled it while touching it like a fur.

“Dara…” there was a baritone voice that called her name from behind while she was smoothing her hands at the rosebud. She felt nervous.

It was Kim Won Bin, her dad. For a reason so vague to her, he was the last person she would want to see that day.

“May we talk?” he asked in low voice.

*soon*

so so sorry, I'm not that good in English, and writing with English as the medium is not my thing. Just trying anyway, there's no harm in trying, right?