Target 14 (1/2)

Third Person

Different emotions stir inside Jiyong when Youngbae and Dara stated how much they love each other. He felt betrayed; forlorn like a lone wolf in the dark. He should have told her how much he loves her now that it is too late. Regrets. Yes, that is what this was called. Regrets that should have been prevented; should have been eliminated. But it is too late to say even how he loves her; it is too late.

"You two are together again?"

His voice came out as if he was happy for them; a perfect lie if we categorize. Jiyong knows himself very well, and if there is one thing, he could describe himself when he had said that, liar. He is not really happy for them, neither glad. Jiyong had known Youngbae too well and he knows that his 'I love you' was true. That it was the truth of what he feels for Dara. But what could be the meaning of this? Jiyong thought that this couple in front of him treats each other like friends, or if more than that, it could be lesser than romance. But today, he realized he was dumb. To fall for such underhanded tricks, and to fall for Dara, who himself knew was meant only for Youngbae. His only.

Jiyong gives his best smile to them. Cheers for the couple, but what about me? "Congratulations, I'm glad I became a part of your reconciliation."

He tried to make it like a simple, "How are you?", but his feelings betrayed. He knew himself too well, and he knows he will break down any minute from now. So, Jiyong thinks he should excuse himself before he could even bawl in front of the newly reconciled couple. He does not want them to see how sad he was truly in their affair. "Ah, excuse me. I have...to go!"

Youngbae abruptly stands up from his seat, his mouth agape because of Jiyong's presence and before he could even say a word, Jiyong stormed out of the shop. He covers his eyes using his left arm, ignoring every person who curses him once he bumped them and runs faster, arriving at Teddy's car, much to the astonishment of the latter.

"Ah, Jiyong! Did you buy...” Teddy stops; his hand outstretched halfway and continues, "Jiyong, did something happened?"

Jiyong did not answer, but instead removes his arm from his eyes and collapses, his eyes half-lidded with sadness. Luckily, Teddy catches him in time before he even slumps to the floor, and Jiyong bawls, punching Teddy's chest. Teddy clasps on him tighter, his lips pressed together as he resists whining, and because of his annoyance, he put his full grasp on both of Jiyong's arms, holding him in place.

"WILL YOU STOP BAWLING AND TELL ME WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?!?!?!" Teddy cannot help but shout, stopping Jiyong from crying and he helps him up, Jiyong's cries muffling. Jiyong gulps, now in the state of hiccups and mumbles, "It...hurts."

Teddy, as if he knows what really happened after Jiyong said those words, leads Jiyong to his car, his right arm wrapped around Jiyong's waist while Jiyong's other arm is on his shoulders. Teddy helps him get in the shotgun seat and Jiyong quickly covers his face, his tears strolling uncontrollably as Teddy close the door for him. Then from behind, Youngbae exclaims, his breathing still shallow when he spoke, completely stopping Teddy from going to the other side. "Appa! Please...Jiyong got the wrong idea!"

He takes a deep breath before whispering, but is enough for Youngbae to hear, though is not enough for Jiyong to hear. "I'll text you later, Youngbae." Then, Teddy walks toward the driver's seat, gets inside and starts the engine, just in time for Dara to arrive, still grasping for breath. The car drives off, much to Dara's surprise and without even having a proper rest; she chases it, shouting for Teddy to hear. "Stop the car! Appa! Stop the car!"

But she is too tired to run much longer, and her run started to transform to strides, then quickly transforms into a halt, completely stopping from moving. Dara put her hands on her knees, catching every air, she could take and slowly, tears start to stroll down to her cheeks. She rubs it away, did not even know where it had come from, but it will not stop, much to her frustration. Why would she even cry? Is she that sensitive? Or Jiyong's too much important for her to cry?

"You love Jiyong."

Her tears become gradually when the realization hit her. It was neither mere fiction nor opinion. It was a fact. She really does love Jiyong; much to the extent of getting jealous to the celebrities, he was rumored dating; much to the extent of crying when he had told her to forget about their first kiss. He was that important to her, but it was too late. It is too late to tell him how much she loves him; it is too late.

Dara hiccups, rubbing the edge of her eyes, but it just caused her to bawl even harder, before completely collapsing on the road, covering her face with her red hands. "It's...too late."

Youngbae, who was just beside her, obliviously raises a brow and naïvely asks, "What do you mean by that?"

Dara was not even bothered by his naiveté, but still answer, "I-I realize too late that I..." She takes a sharp intake of breath, still covering her face.

"I?"

"I love Kwon Jiyong."

Bom's P.O.V

I felt electrocuted all of a sudden, the hair on my nape standing up, and I press my hand on it, the sudden urge of pity fills my heart. What could be the reason of this? Do not tell me something happened to my family. Or much worse to Dara? Top's right with me, so he is not one of my worries. But how about Ssantokki? Dara is with Youngbae, so she is safe right? I am not wrong with letting them both alone, right? I mean, Youngbae is a guy, so they will be both safe right?

"Agi, will you stop being all jumpy?" I abruptly look at Top, who was back then concentrating on a piece of paper, his face suddenly softens when he saw my face, then he heaves a sigh. "I'm sorry, I'm just stressed out."

I nod, understanding what he meant and ask, "Schedules?"

"Partly," He says, focusing on the papers he brought with him here. "Some are old lyrics that I study."

"Oh, so you mean you are getting inspiration from those old songs are you?"

Top was about to answer my question when his phone suddenly rang, as if it knew its cue, his ringtone filling the dry air, and I suppress a smile to let him know it's okay for me for him to answer his phone. He let out an apologetic grin before professionally answering his phone, without even taking a glimpse on the caller I.D "Yeoboseyo?"

He did put the loudspeaker on, because when the other line answered, I heard it. "Hyung! GD is wildly breaking the glasswares while shouting. Daesung is trying his best to calm him down, but Hyung will not stay put. He's screaming a name, as he does it, I think."

Top's mouth was agape, his face showing how shocking it was for him, because that is Jiyong. The ever so calm and kindhearted person. Top closes his eyes for a moment, and asks Seungri. "What's the name he's shouting?"

"Dara, I think. Then, he's cursing himself, and is shouting, 'It's too late!'" Seungri says, spazzing ad I hear a couple of glasswares being thrown in the background and Jiyong's exclaim of Dara's name cleared my doubt of him exclaiming Dara's name like what Seungri stated a while ago. "Hyung, you have to get here and fast! We might end up living with many shards of glasses around us because now, he's breaking the vases!"

Top hangs the phone up, abruptly turning to me, his face looks as if he was being slumped by both heaven and earth. He heaves a sigh before apologetically looking at me, his eyes half-lidded with worry. "Agi, I have to go. You know Jiyong, whenever he becomes mad, the maknaes are the one being targeted."

"Take care, and don't drive too fast!" I warn him, lifting my index finger halfway as he stands up from the couch, and he smiles, leaning up to me. He seized my lips, devouring it as if he was hungry, and my lips were his food before pulling off, leaning his forehead against mine as he says, "I will."

He grabs his coat that was just hanging on the backrest of the couch, before waving a hand at me, his lips twisted upward and I return it, still sitting on the couch. I watch him as he walks toward the door, putting his coat on and when he had opened the door, his jaw nearly dropped on the floor. Curiously, I raise a brow, secretly figuring out what he had seen. Is the electricity bill messanger-ssi now beautiful or sexy?

Top widens the door up, as if welcoming the person outside in, and when it enters the apartment, my eyes widen in shock as my mouth gapes open. It was Dara entering the house, and Top waves a hand at her in a hurry before heading off, closing the door behind him. When she turns her body towards me, which was the time that I should panic and call the beauticians. She looks haggard, her eyes sore, and her face as red as a tomato. Her hair that has been always smooth and silky was now rough and frizzy. Her lips, polished in a straight line and her clothes, very unkempt. She looks like Sadako in a way.

"Dara? What happened to you? Is this because of Jiyong?" I ask, standing up with my hands on my waist, and upon hearing my words her face dims, hanging her head down, refusing to lift her head up anymore. When I finally reached her, I realize she is mumbling incoherent words, and I cup her chin, forcing her to lift her head up. She obliged, lifting her head up as I check her face. The corners of her eyes seem like she just cried, and the traces of dried tears were clearly seen on her face. I frown, thinking of the bad things Jiyong must have done to her. I thought he loves her? In addition, what was with the drama a while ago of shouting Dara's name? It is his loss, not Dara's. Such a stupid jerk.

And in just a span of a second, tears started to stroll down her face before she quickly wraps her arms around my neck, burying her face in the crook of it, tickling me with her breath as she speak. "Bom, I hate myself. Such a dumb person am I huh?"

"Hey, you are not! Who said so? I'm going to beat that jerk up!" I exclaim, my eyes widening in shock as she sniffs, gradually filling the air and she softly answers, "Me."

"And why do you think you're dumb?" I ask, astonished by her mere words and she answers, but her voice sounds like she was forced to do so. "Jiyong got the wrong idea when he saw me and Youngbae back at The Usual Place and now, it's too late! He got the wrong thing! He will think we are dating! If only I had realized it sooner!"