GD sat on the bench while the crew sets up the next scene. It’s the first day of Breathe’s MV shooting. 2NE1 dropped by very early, and just like last night Dara was conspicuously cheery. She joined the girls as they broke into the usual ‘fighting fighting ya ya ya’ cheer. And she didn’t just join, she was now the loudest among the four. Whereas she would usually just sit quietly at the back, the Dara this morning sat upfront and chitchatted with him during breaks. She even teased him that he looks disappointed not having Aoi for his leading lady. He actually didn’t mind until YB arrived and she stood up to ALSO casually chat with him.

If it makes you happy…it can’t be that bad…if it makes u happy… then why the hell are u so sad.

The faint singing coming from behind him interrupted GD’s thoughts. He recognized the Sheryl Crow song. He turned his head around to see one of the dancers.

Her expression turned from anxious to surprised as GD stared at her and asked, “Noona, why are you singing that song?”

“Huh?… No reason. It just came to me. Why?”

“Ah…Just curious… It’s a nice song.” He smirked and just like that stood up and left the room in a hurry, if only to run away from the nagging thought that was telling him to ‘be careful what you wish for, you just might get it.’”

–

“Fighting, unnie.” CL said to Dara as she sat in her bed, preparing her stuff on her way for the CASS print ad shoot.

“Wanna come, Chaerin?”

“No, thanks, unnie.”

“Don’t you wanna see Lee Min Ho again?”

“Ew.” CL stuck her tongue out and left the room.

 “Unnie, good luck. Fa-igh-ting!” Minji cheered.

“Thanks Minki! But move aside please, you’re blocking the lights. I can’t find my lip sheener.” Dara said as she groped in her purple back pack. “You know what, Minki, if you keep growing at the rate you’re growing right now people will totally forget you’re the the maknae.”

“Hehe. Don’t worry unnie, I will just keep reminding them that I’m the maknae, just taller and sexier.”

“Haha, ero-Minki! Why don’t you just give me some of your moves? I work my a.s.s. off but you make it look so easy.”

She now stood up and headed outside with the maknae trailing her.

 “Hehe. Unnie, just follow your heart. Don’t fight it.”

Minji’s words stopped her in her tracks.

“What are you saying?”

MInji went ahead and pressed the down button. She leaned on the wall and clutched her fist and pressed it in her chest.

“I dance from here. I really can’t explain it, unnie, but it’s the only way I know. Once I hear the beat I let music take the lead and allow my body to just move with the flow… ummm…I’ve once read something… it says ‘the feet may learn the steps, but only the spirit can dance.’”

“Ah…wow, that’s really nice…I guess my spirit’s the lazy type who’d rather skip and wander around than attend dance school.” Dara joked and laughed out loud, if only to drown out the voice that was telling her just to give up the act on GD and swallow her pride.

“See you, later, Minki!!!”

–

“You shouldn’t let a guy hurt you like that.”

Dara was taken by surprise and unable to move as Lee Min Ho bent and whispered close to her shoulder.

He took the next seat and sat down beside her.

“Hi.” He was smiling. “I was observing you from across the room. Love life?”

Dara didn’t respond.

“Sorry, I don’t mean to scare you, I just noticed.”

You were observing, you just told me.

LMH offered her bottled water but she waved her hand.

“How do we get one when we’re in show business?” She asked.

“Huh?”

“A love life. How do we get one when we’re in show business.”

“Ummm, you get sneaky and clever, and put more work into it.”

“Speaking from experience?”

“No… Some friends of mine…”

“I see…”

“They wear the same face you wear now when something bad happens in their relationship.”

“Are they still together, these friends of yours?”

“One of them, yes. Still going strong.”

“Did they ever think of giving up?”

“The girl often does, but somehow they hold on. The guy, who is my friend, is really in love with her.”

“Just because she thinks of giving up it doesn’t mean that she loves him less. Some people get tired.”

Lee Min Ho grinned. She finally said something than just ask questions.

“Speaking from experience?”

Dara chose to not answer. She simply let out a deep sigh.

“Don’t worry, Sandara-ssi. My friend always told me that no matter how many times she gives up on him, he’ll never give up on her. He’ll always be around waiting for her to come back. Just because he loves and she’s worth the entire wait, even if it means a lifetime. I don’t even like that girl. I think she’s a bit.ch, but he loves her anyway. So, you, you just take all the time you need.”

 “Thanks for that. Really.”

“But noona, if you’re hurting so much already, it wouldn’t hurt any more if you get back with him, would it? Look, if my friend goes crazy losing a girl like that b.it.ch, how much more for a guy losing a girl like you. You know what I mean?”

Dara laughed, loving his logic. “So, it’s noona already?”

Lee Min Ho laughed as well, blushing in embarrassment.

“At least you’re laughing now.”

“Yup. Just in time for our take, so thanks… I just notice we have quite an audience tonight. How about we make them jealous?”

“As long as none of them is your guy, sure.”

“Haha! Don’t worry, with your size, you can take him anywhere.”

“Ah, noona, I really don’t wanna take him anywhere. In case you haven’t noticed, I go for girls.”

–

The next day, Dara received her usual bouquet of flowers. This time it bore a message and a name.

Sandara ssi, it was a pleasure meeting and working with you. I hope we can do it again someday. LMH.

It was also the last.

–

Top opened the door for GD and the two nodded to each other.

“Hey, bro, what’s up?” GD asked. Top called him earlier to invite him to come over.

“I should be asking you that.”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“I saw your radio interview yesterday, and honestly, man, I’m tired hearing you say you feel lonely. I mean, seriously it makes me feel like I suck being your friend, you know what I mean?

I’m afraid this sounds kinda gay, really, but I’m just concerned. Whatever it is, you know, you can talk to me; you can talk to us. You should.”

“Thanks T. But it’s nothing. I mean, I suppose it’s just a phase. People go through these sorts of phase, right?”

“I guess so…” TOP pondered on it. “You are 21, popular, successful, so there’s a lot of pressure on you… But still… It doesn’t change that I feel bothered… you now… I feel responsible…”

“Thanks, bro, I really appreciate this. But don’t worry about me. Really.”

“You wanna get a break? Wanna go somewhere?”

“No.”

“Hey, you don’t just miss SeungRi right?”

“What? No!” GD laughed.

“Just kidding…You obviously need a girl friend.” 

“You think?”

“Hell yeah! You were lonely so you got Gaho, right? But you’re still saying it now. Gaho is cute and all but you need a girlfriend.”

It wasn’t exactly the case about getting Gaho, but TOP is quite right on point. Except that he already has a girlfriend. Dara.

Dara.

“Why don’t you just court Bom noona, anyway? She says she needs a boyfriend. It’s a SIGN!”

GD’s face remained unchanged even with Top’s excitement. “It’s not. I have no plan or intention doing that.”

“Why not?”

“Why don’t you and Taeyang court Dara?”

“Hey, i did. Sort of… YB… I don’t know about him, but honestly, I think Dara might like her if she only knows.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah. A lot of girls like him, you know.”

“But so do you.”

“Yeah, well, YB’s different.”

“How different?”

“Hey, why are you asking me? You know the difference between us. I mean, don’t you think Dara might actually like him if only she knew? Why not, right”

Why not? The same reason why it’s not you perhaps? Perhaps, it’s because it’s always been me.

“I guess.”

“The CF came out already. Did you see it?” Top asked GD.

“No. Did you?”

“Nah… Maybe I’ll check later when I’m not busy… I’m sure it sucks!”

They both laughed.

“Except Dara, that is…She’s…” Top appeared to have gotten lost for a moment. “How do two kissing scenes take a hundred takes? It’s ridiculous!”

“No idea.” GD responded. He really didn’t need to be reminded.

“Hey, I know, I bet you missed 2NE1tv yesterday. Didn’t you?”

“Uhu. Why?”

“I knew it…Well, you missed Bom noona dancing sexily to your song.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. Wait let me find it. Come here.”

GD followed TOP in his room as the hyung searched for something in his computer.

“Wait it’s loading up.”

“This better be good.”

“Oh, it’s good. Better than don’t touch my mask and rapping happy birthday to you.” Top teased.

“Look!” Top moved his monitor to give GD a better view of the video now playing.

It was Dara up early and turning the music on.

He knows the beat very well. Hello.

A smile formed on his lips.

Soon after Dara was walking around the room waking Minji and CL up. Bom joined in, stood right below the camera, and started dancing in her bathrobe, swaying her hips and waving her hand to the tune.

“Cute huh? Bom noona is so fun to watch right there.” TOP remarked.

The Park sisters laughed. As Bom left the room, Dara looked at the camera, raised her right arm, then closed and opened her hand.

Hello.

GD felt his heart leap at the sight of it.

Now, THAT, T, ladies and gentlemen, IS a SIGN.

“Wooot! I knew it.” Top excitedly said, pointing to GD, who was now grinning from ear to ear.

“Thanks, bro. You may not believe it but I really owe you one. I gotta go now.”

GD left in a hurry. His feet suddenly seemed to have a life of its on.

–

Meanwhile, while TOP and GD were having their conversation, Dara was busy checking feedbacks to her CF, particularly to her acting.

Loli Loli oh Lollipop…

“Hello?” answered Dara.

“Hoi, lola, kumusta? How come you havent replied to my email?” It was her best friend, Melissa Ricks, on the other line.

“Oh, Mel, i didnt know you emailed me. Why didnt you just text me?”

“Well, coz It’s really nothing serious. Just something about you-know-who. I wrote you like ages ago, and got no reply til now.” Dara could just imagine her rolling her eyes.

“Oh, sorry, didn’t have time to check my mail nowadays. And you didn’t mention it when we texted yesterday.”

“Well, I just thought you’d wanna know. Just read it, ok? And tell me what you think?”

“Ok. I’m actually online right now.”

“Ok. Cool, I’ll check it later. I have to go. Bye lola. Miss you.”

“Miss you too! Mwah!”

Dara checked her e-mail right away. She quickly scanned her inbox. There were lots of it unopened, a whole page, most from friends back in the Philippines with Congratulations for a subject.

Melissa Melissa Melissa… Nope.. Nada

She clicked on Next.

Wait. Did I just saw Ji’s name? He emailed me?

She clicked back and sure enough there was an email from him.

Kwon Jiyong  ………………………………….  Monday, 09/08/09 04:00

She clicked on it

There was nothing except:

To Dara noona 

Dara noona? NOONA???????? Dara was furious.

But Dara still found herself clicking on the link. Another window popped up

The video loaded fast and soon Dara is watching a clip of Gaho with his sad puppy eyes. He was sitting on the floor, a paper in front of him, with the words written:

Dara noona, please forgive hyung already. He hasn’t tickled and carried me since coming home Sunday night. I miss him very badly but he misses you even more. T-T 

The next scene is of GD lying in his bed, face down on his pillows, his blonde hair covering most of his face, and Gaho walking around on top of him, licking his face, but GD not paying any attention. Suddenly Gaho sits as if giving up, and then looks to the camera.

Noona, please. Ive been really good but my charms don’t work. I’m just a puppy after all. T-T. A message appeared at the bottom.

Dara was laughing now. She stood up and started walking.

It suddenly seemed like her feet and heart had a common understanding. Whatever it really was is beyond her, the only thing she’s certain is that it felt so right, there was nothing left but to put her trust into it.

She remembered Minji’s words.

God, if dancing feels this good to Minji, then I seriously haven’t danced in my whole life yet.

She took her her cellphone out as she pressed Down button on the elevator.

Just a second passed by when she heard the ping.

That was quick, she thought, as she pressed the phone to her ear, listening to the ringing, and waiting for the other line to answer.

As the elevator opened, Dara heard a familiar sound along with it.

Rrriiiinnnggg…

The next thing she saw was GD fumbling to get his phone from his pocket, flipping it, then putting it to his ear.

It was only then that he looked ahead and saw Dara staring at her, phone still pressed to her ear.

“Hello.”

“Hello.”

-

A/N: Sorry this took long… had a lot of revisions.

I just love the song On The Side of Angels by Leanne Rimes, and had always thought it fitting for our Daragon couple. That song inspires this chapter, with the dancer, Minji, Lee Min Ho, TOP, Melissa Ricks,and cutie Gaho as angels to our couple.