Chapter 7 (1/1)

Two weeks passed before Bom received a call from Dara. And as luck would have it, she was with Jiyong and Chaerin and their other friends when she received the call. She knew it was Dara the moment she recognized it was an international number. Bom excused herself and quickly ran outside of the café they were at as she answered the call.“Yoboseo?”“Bommie?”Bom covered her mouth to keep from screaming. She couldn’t help the tears though that sprang to her eyes. “Dara!”She stomped her foot and pouted. She didn’t realize that Jiyong could see her from his seat in the diner. As he watched her he knew instinctively who it was that was on the phone. Jiyong sat there, fighting the urge to stand up and follow Bom. Youngbae had to repeat his question to Jiyong because he wasn’t paying attention. Instead of answering though Jiyong stood up and excused himself, saying he’d be right back. He quickly made his way outside to where Bom was. As he approached he heard her say, “Dara you pabo! How could you keep that to yourself for so long?”“Is that Dara,” he asked, stepping close. Bom spun to look at him, her eyes growing round and she looked as if she were trying to find an excuse to lie to him.“I know that’s her,” Jiyong said. “Let me speak to her, please?”Bom sighed and nodded. She wasn’t sure how to handle the situation between these two but one thing she felt certain of was that the two of them, Jiyong and Dara, needed to talk. “Dara, hold on,” she said, then handed the phone over to Jiyong. She then left to go back inside. Now that she had Dara’s phone number she would just call her back later. She’d let Jiyong speak to her for now.“Dara?” Jiyong turned his back to the street and leaned close to the wall, listening carefully for her voice. There was a long pause and he feared she would end the call. “Please don’t hang up,” he said.After a few moments he heard her voice. “Hi, Ji.”He closed his eyes and swallowed. “How are you? Are you settled in now?” He was trying very hard to remain calm and not do or say anything that might make her hang up on him.“Yeah, I am.” She paused.“I wanted to congratulate you,” he said, making himself sound cheerful. “Boston University. Wow, I always knew you were a nerd.”He heard her small laugh. He could picture her smile. It made him miss her more.“Thanks Ji,” she said.They were silent for a few moments, both struggling to speak.“Where’s Chaerin?” she asked, and Jiyong closed his eyes in pain. Why did she have to ask that? He decided right then to speak honestly since this might be his last chance.“I miss you, Dara. I’m sorry if I did something to hurt you or make you turn away from me. I just wanted to let you know that I miss you… and that I love you.”Dara shut her eyes, tears flowing down her cheeks. She smiled though and said back to him, “I miss you too, oppa. You didn’t do anything, there’s nothing to apologize for. Please don’t think that.”He nodded, but didn’t believe her. “Take care of yourself, Dee. I worry about you there. Please be careful.”“I will. Don’t worry. Sorry, I have to go now. Tell Bom I’ll speak to her later, okay? Bye oppa.”Dara ended the call and dropped down onto her bed and covered her face with her hands. After their lunch Jiyong drove Chaerin home. He didn’t notice how quiet she was. And when they reached her house she suddenly turned in her seat and said, “Oppa, do you love me?”Jiyong blinked in surprise. “What?” he asked, completely surprised at her words.She expelled a breath of air as she searched for the right words. “I don’t think this relationship is working for us.”She paused, waiting for his reaction. When he didn’t say anything, she continued. “Oppa, I really like you. And I think you like me too. But I don’t think I’m the one in your heart.”Jiyong stared at her, and he knew in that moment she was right. He did like her but he didn’t love her. Even as he thought of it the image of Dara came to his mind. She was the one he loved. He’d been so blind. All along it was her but he’d been so stupid not to see it.Chaerin smiled sadly at him before she leaned forward and kissed him gently on the cheek before she pulled back. “I think the person in your heart is the one you spoke to on the phone this afternoon. What’s more, I have a feeling she feels the same way about you.”Jiyong looked away, unable to meet Chaerin’s eyes. He heard her laugh softly and he turned to look at her.“Some advice? If you love her, don’t let her get away from you. Go after her, Jiyong.” With that she opened the car door and got out of the car. She leaned down to look at him through the car window and she gave him another smile before she waved and then turned and walked away.Jiyong unbuckled his seat belt and opened the car door. “Chaerin wait!” He ran around and stopped beside her while she looked at himHe took a deep breath and looked her in the eye. “I’m sorry,” he said, and she smiled back at him. Her hand reached for his to give it a squeeze.“Don’t be. We had some good times together. But I think if we’re both honest with each other we’ll know that we’re probably better off as friends. I’m okay with that.”He smiled at her, feeling lighter than he had in a long time. “You’re a special girl, Chaerin. Thanks for putting up with an idiot like me.”She laughed at this and reached over to hug him briefly. “Apology accepted. Now go find out what you’re going to do with that girl in Boston.” She winked at him before turning to leave.