26 - Surrender

“The past few days I’ve thought about everything that happened between us…I recalled everything I did…”

“Seung Hyun came by parent’s house…I’ve been skipping uni for weeks now…he always puts up with me…but today he told me I’m a douche bag and he punched me…he said it was all my fault that you left that way…”

“I signed with YG. I’ve been lying to myself and to my so called friends this whole time…I need Seung Hyun more than he needs me…he’s always been my anchor that keeps me grounded…I just didn’t have the balls to admit it before…”

“I miss you Dara…my nights have been lonely without you…”

*****

It was the first shooting day of the movie. They were shooting Woobin at a suburb near Seoul. Dara and Seung Hyun were discussing the scene while waiting for the crew.

“That’s good.” Dara replied as Seung Hyun consulted her on how he wants to do the scene. She was amused to see that Seung Hyun was so nervous.

“Relax Choi. You’ll do great. It’s just first day jitters. I’m sure you know what you’re doing.” She tapped his arm reassuringly.

“Well better not hover over my shoulder and watch me like a hawk coz it makes me more nervous.” He replied. Dara raised her hands in surrender.

“Geesh. Cool it. I was just excited to see it. No need to get all touchy.” She laughed, completely understanding her best friend.

She left Seung Hyun as he put out a few more directions keeping everyone busy  before they start shooting Woobin. Dara looked around and found Woobin sitting on his chair, drinking iced coffee. As if on queue, Woobin held her gaze while sipping his coffee. He raised his brow and smirked at her. Dara just shook her head in amusement and came towards him. She sat down on the empty chair beside him.

“You better not screw this up Woobin.” Dara said lightly.

“Are you doubting me!?” He asked in mocked hurt, his hands placed on his chest. Dara looked at his expression and couldn’t help but laugh. She really did believe in Woobin’s acting skill. She was just nervous and excited for this movie.

“You could get a Daesang for this you know…” Dara murmured as she leaned on the chair and looked at the blue sky. Woobin leaned on his own chair and looked up as well. He took a deep breath and sighed.

“Nah. It’s okay if I don’t. I’m just glad you gave me this role. I really needed something new.” He answered honestly. They both closed their eyes and smelled the fresh air.

“Hey Dara…remember that night in Cannes when you got drunk?” Dara opened one eye and looked at him. Woobin shifted sideways to look at her.

“You were talking about your ex boyfriend. You were quite uncanny that night. Where is he? I want to meet him.” He asked excitedly. Dara cleared and closed her eye again. She tried to sound as nonchalant as she could.

“You’ve met him already.” She answered curtly.

“Hi Dara.” Jiyong’s voice made Dara jumped up to her seat.

She saw Jiyong looking at her pensively. His eyes trailed to Woobin and he gave a forced but polite bow before reverting his attention back to Dara.

“Hey…” She was perplexed with his manner towards Woobin. He was usually genuinely polite.

“Seung Hyun told me to get you out of his hair today. He’ll get more nervous if you’re around watching his every move.” Dara narrowed her eyes at Jiyong and he looked like he wanted to shrink in nervousness. Then Dara glared towards Seung Hyun’s direction. The latter was oblivious to the whole thing, he was busy minding his business putting out last minute instructions to the crew. Woobin on the other hand was just enjoying watching Jiyong and Dara’s interaction.

“It’s him.” Woobin murmured, leaning over to Dara. She shot him a horrified look. She opened but couldn’t speak.

“He’s your ex.” Woobin continued boldly. A low chuckle resonated from his throat as he leaned back on the chair with both his arms beneath his head.

“Wow. You dated G-freakin-Dragon. I’m impressed.” Dara wanted to bury the smile that formed in Woobin’s lips but it seemed like her body was frozen.

“Although he did make you cry…which is unforgiveable by the way.” His eyes had this playful unabashed look. Jiyong clenched his fists to keep his temper.

“But that was what, how many years ago? Four? Five? If the guy still wants you, you should get back with him…or if you’re completely over him Dara, you can always come to me. I can always hook you up with my friends…I have a few friends…dashing like me and quite taller…” Woobin goaded, relishing the way Jiyong was boiling from where he stood.

Before Jiyong and Dara could react, they heard Seung Hyun roaring that they’re ready for the shoot. So Woobin dusted his knee and stood up. He smirked at Jiyong and tapped his shoulder. He leaned unto Jiyong’s ears.

“Don’t make her cry again.” Woobin’s voice was serious and Jiyong heard the underlying threat in his voice. Jiyong could only gulp in response and watched Woobin walked off towards the set.

*****

Jiyong brought Dara at a quaint coffee shop right outside Seoul. The coffee shop had a nice view of the mountains.

“Here you go.” Jiyong placed Dara’s café latte in front of her.

“This place is nice.” Dara murmured appreciatively as she smelled the fresh air.

The coffee shop was self service with only one barista who also mans the cashier. The furniture was all wood and all the designs were coffee bean inspired. Dara gave out a small smile as her eyes roamed around the quaint coffee shop.

“How’d you find this place?” Dara asked curiously. Jiyong scratched his head and looked down. He tried to give out a nonchalant laugh and almost failed at it.

“I found it by accident.” He answered evasively.

“When I found this coffee shop, I thought of you…I knew you’d really like this place…so yeah…”

Silence filled the table. They looked at each other meaningfully, the aroma of the coffee teasing their senses. Dara cleared and looked down, her hands cupping the warm mug.

“I’m sorry about Woobin. He’s just like that. But he’s a nice guy if you get to know him.” Dara said softly. Her heart throbbed as seconds passed by and Jiyong was still silent. She looked up to meet his eyes as he was battling his thoughts.

“Is it really true? Am I really unforgiveable?” Jiyong waited for her answer with bated breath. He looked at her closely, studying her facial expression, he tried as much to read through her eyes. Dara held his gaze and gave out a small smile.

“I’ve already forgiven you. And besides, it’s not as if I wasn’t blameless. I didn’t stand up and confronted you about how I felt. I just left without a word…” Dara’s voice shook. She realized that even though she was deeply hurt five years ago, Jiyong suffered just as much after she left. His messages over the past five years showed how much he suffered and how much he missed her.

“I’m sorry. I hope you can forgive me for the way I left. You may have treated me badly, but I know you loved me in your own way…and you didn’t deserve the way you suffered after I left. I’m sorry I hurt you Jiyong.” Dara blinked away her tears. A great sense of regret filled her.

“Hey…don’t cry…” Jiyong reached out for her hand and held it very dearly.

“It’s just that if I talked to you before I left for New York…I just knew I would end up not leaving at all. If I saw you and said good bye…I just knew that I wouldn’t be able to leave you at all because I…I loved you too much to leave you then…” Dara was finally coming to terms to be honest with herself. Somehow, it gave her a sense of relief.

Jiyong lifted Dara’s hand unto his lips. He looked at her with a mixture of pain and love in his eyes.

“You have nothing to apologize for. If you didn’t leave me that way…I would still be the same jerk I was back in college…maybe even worse. You changed me. I am who I am now because of you. I’m not the same selfish douche bag that you met back in college. I’m a better person now Dara…and it’s all because of you…”

“Dara…if you’d only give me a chance…I want us to start again…I’m still that guy you fell in love with but I’m a better version of myself.”

“A chance…is all I’m asking