Dara almost fell off her chair when she read Trollie`s text:

Dreamt I won my tenth straight at Music Bank last night. The best part of everything was you. ^v^

Jiyong!!!! She screamed inside.

“Ms. Park? Are you okay?”
“Huh? Yeah.” She looked up to acknowledge the make-up artist in front of her.
“Well, I wouldn’t want you to look like hell in front of Mr. Lee Min Ho so please keep still.” She giggled, eye liner on hand.
Dara looked at herself in the mirror. Jiyong!!! Im gonna get you for this!!!

Dara looked around at the scene that`d been set-up for their first day of shooting. She wasn`t in any same place she`d been to but everything was familiar to her. She smiled and bowed to everyone. Hasn`t it been just more than a year when she filmed The Return of Iljamae? When she was Sandara Park of the Philippine fame, Sandara Park who played opposite TOP? Now she`s Dara of 2NE1. The 2NE1. They all recognize her now. A number of them came up and asked for her autograph and photo. She smiled as she remembered how she lamented to her Filipino fans then how no one asks for her autograph anymore while consoling herself how important everyone`s role is, big or small. Perhaps one of them will make a name for herself too someday, she thought.

“Hello.”
Dara turned around and saw a tall handsome guy bowing before her. She bowed back.
“Hi. You`re Dara of 2NE1. Nice meeting you. I`m…”
“Lee Min Ho,” she cut him. “Of course I know who you are. Nice meeting you too.”

They smiled and proceeded to sit in the chairs reserved for them. Dara was relieved meeting him wasn`t awkward as she feared. She actually thought she liked him already. Not to mention that he is so damn handsome. And tall. And…Ok Dara enough, say something. And stop fixing your hair for crying out loud!

“Go Hye Sun says hi.”
“Ah, did you guys talk about me?”
Shouldn`t I have mentioned that?
No, not really. It`s just that she learned we`d be working together, so she asked me to give you her regards. She did add that she enjoyed working with you.”
“Oh, thank you. Thank you very much. Please tell her so did I.”
“Sure!” she beamed.
“I hope we can say the same after too.”
“This isn`t your first acting experience, right?” he continued before she could answer him.
“No, it isn`t. I`d appeared in Return of Iljimae briefly and had been acting back in the Philippines.”
“I`ve heard about it.”
“You have?”
“Yeah. They told me.”
They. They who? She thought. Cass Management sure didn`t discuss his background with her. Not that she needed it.
“You know, you`re very popular in the Philippines? They asked me about you when I went back a couple of weeks ago. I don’t know, I guess they assumed we met since we`re both in show business.”
“Really? Well, I learned it was a hit there actually, but me being popular there too?”
“Yeah, you are. They keep wishing you`d visit. Most of them probably wish I bring you rather than 2NE1 when I get back. Haha!”
“Really! Wow! I don`t know what to say.”
Don’t. Dara felt like hitting herself.
“But I`m really flattered. Please let them know that I appreciate it.”
“Sure will.”
The director approached them and introduced himself. He told them about the shots he wanted to take this time.
“Are you guys ready?”
“Sure. Sandara-ssi and I are ready.”
Dara was surprised at him answering for her but somehow she found comfort in it.
“Good. Give us ten minutes.” The director left the two.
“By the way,” Lee Min Ho spoke, “I`m sorry I should’ve asked you. But is it ok if I call you, Sandara-ssi? You really don`t look noona to me. May I?”
“No one wants to call me noona, it seems.” Dara chuckled. “Sure.”
“Cool!”
Yup. I really do like him already. Dara heard herself say.
“Water?” Lee Min Ho offered.
“Oh, yes, thanks.”
Really really like him already.

*
Dara called GD after they wrapped the day`s shoot.
“Hey, Blondie!”
“Baby, where were you. How come you didn`t text me back.”
“Baby???”
“Of course, you`re my baby girl.”
“Ewww!”
GD didn’t mind her. “Can I see you tonight?”
“No. I`m off to the practice room to rehearse with the girls now.”
“You`re done filming? How was it?”
“Today`s shoot, yes. It went really well. You`d be proud of me.”
“I don’t wanna see it…I wanna see you.”
“Didn’t you hear what I just said? We`re probably rehearsing til midnight.”
“I miss you.”
“I miss you too… Bye now.”
“Bye babe.”
**

GD joined YB in Top`s room to watch and cheer on the girls at the Mnet 20s Choice Awards.

“Sup?” GD greeted the two when he arrived. Top was already glued to the tv while YB was busy tinkering Top`s laptop.
“The girls are still in Musicbank…ey, you arrived on time…they`re up now.” Top answered without taking his eyes off the tube.
“I love that show!” he exclaimed as he hopped on the opposite sofa.
GD was speechless at the sight of Dara looking gorgeous in a hockey tee. I love her.
“She looks great tonight, doesn’t she?” It was Top.
The other two exchanged glances.
“C`mon, don`t you play me now. Don`t go pretend like you don`t see it.” Top egged them.
“Of course, they all look great. They`re like our sisters, you know.” YB answered him.
“Speak for yourself.” Top said to which the three of them followed with a laugh.
“Guess I`m just not her type.” Top whispered just barely enough for GD to hear.

GD stood up to hide the uneasy feeling inside him.
“Anybody up for beer?” he offered as he made his way towards Top`s kitchen.
He just stood there – his hand on the refrigerator door, eyes staring blankly inside.
I’m sorry, T. I tried but… I hope you`ll understand.
“Hey, Ji, come out man, you just won!!!” GD heard Top call for him.
GD pretended not to hear him but before he knew it Top was already behind him, slapping him in the shoulder.
“Youre the man!!! You just won by album pts. alone. You should`ve seen the girls giving you thumbs up. I`m proud of you, bro!”
“Yeah, thanks, T… guess we`ll need more beers then, huh?” GD smiled as best as he could.
“Good idea. I`ve a feeling there’s more to come tonight.”
*
“Bommie unnie, you were spacing out again tonight.” CL told Bom as the four of them were in the car on their way for MNet 20s .
“Oh, you noticed? Sorry about that, something just came to me.” Bom answered with a smirk.
“In the middle of a performance?” CL was in disbelief. “And what was that?”
“Nothing, nothing, not a thing.” A mischievous smile spread across Bom`s face.
“Bommie unnie, ok. But please, let`s focus this time, ok? Please?”
“I promise.”
*
“Dara!” Bom whispered close to Dara while they changed for their perf outfits.
“Hmmm?” Dara was busy adjusting her shorts and net top. It thrilled her that SeungHo put her in GD`s top. But wearing shorts on stage for the first time doesn`t give as much appeal. Transition, SeungHo called it. In preparation for her upcoming femme fatale image in the Cass beer CF.
“Is there something between Jiyong and CL?” she asked in an even softer voice.
“Huh? What do u mean?”
“I`d been thinking about it. Could it be that there`s something we don`t know? They are pretty close. He gives her stuff. He compliments her a lot. I don’t know but I feel like Ji likes CL.”
Dara felt her stomach turn. “You think?”
“Sort of… well, not really then, Ji`s close to all of us but lately, Id been thinking about it. Oh, shhh..here she comes.”
“Dara unnie. Bommie unnie. What are you two up to?”
“Nothing. Nothing. Not a thing.” Bom answered, mischievous smile up again.
“Ah, you said that already.” CL turned to Dara.
“Dara unnie.”
“CL roo.”
“Dara unnie.”
“CL roo.” The two cooed back and forth.
Dara put her arms around CL. My dear Chaerin roo. You are an amazing girl. You already have everything. Don`t take my Jiyong away from me, k?
“2NE1, five minutes!!!” The call stopped them.
“Dara, you look really good in shorts! You should often wear it!” Bom exclaimed while looking at Dara`s legs.
“Bom, if only we all had your legs we`d be wearing shorts in every perf!”
“Thank you. I quite like them too.” Bom replied sweetly. She can be quite unabashed around the girls. “And… if we all had CL`s body, we`d wear swimsuits underneath our shorts!”
“Except Gong Minki!” Dara was quick to add.
They all laughed.
“Ok ok, that’s enough. Let`s go to our places.” The leader ordered. She extended her right hand forward in the center and the rest of the girls followed.
“2NE1, nulja!!!”
*
Top and YB were in celebration mode but not GD. Sure he`s happy for the girls winning, including them for Lollipop, sure he`s proud that Dara looked the most radiant tonight but his conscience was eating him especially with the sight of Top intensely fixed on Dara every time the girls come up.
“I kinda miss them. I mean, they used to just hang around YG, but now they`re all over Korea. I miss them being just ours. You know what I mean?” YB spoke.
“Yeah, I can`t seem to call them my kids now unlike when they started. It`s like they`re all grown up, and already belong to Korea, to their fans, and not mine, ours.” A hint of melancholy escaped from GD`s mouth. “But I`m really happy they got so much love from the start and their fans are growing.”
“Don`t even mention those fanboys.” Top quickly added.
“Do you mind?” Taeyang asked.
“Not really. But Dara has a lot of celebrity fans… I lost count but there`s Wooyong of 2PM, MC Mong, and that child Minwan of FT Island.” Top answered with a smirk.
“You lost count?…and did you just call Minwan a child?” YB laughed.
“He`s fifteen!!!”
“Ah, I see. Dara looks fifteen anyway.”
“Thanks, bro, I just feel like a pedophile now that you mentioned it.”
“HaHa! Look, im just saying it`s not a surprise young boys like her too.”
“Well, she needs someone who can protect her. Old enough to.”
YB and GD exchanged glances.
“Yeah!!!” YB cheered and the other two smiled approvingly when Fire played and the crowd went wild.
“Look at that!” Top exclaimed as soon as the camera zoomed in on Dara`s butt. “They can`t do that to her! Perv!”
“Chill it, T, im sure Yg will deal with Mnet about this. We`ll just tell him what happened and he can ask them to make sure this doesn’t happen again.” YB calmed him.
“These fan boys.” Top shook his head. “Lee Min Ho`s okay, right?”
They shrugged their shoulders.

“Dara will be fine, T. She can take care of herself.” GD finally had the strength to speak to Top about Dara.
“You`re right.” Top managed to smile now. “You know, if I can`t have Dara, I hope she ends up with one of us in Big Bang or YG.”
“Don`t say you`re giving up now.”
“It`s not that, Tae, i`m just being realistic, can`t force her. Sooner or later I`d have to… Don`t you like her?”
“Me?” YB was taken aback.
“Yeah. Don`t you? Don`t tell me bout that sister peeinmypants again. That only applies to Minzy. I know you`re always hanging around Teddy hyung`s studio with her around.”
YB grinned wide. “She`s cool and pretty. Cute and sexy. Great smile every time. Yeah.”
“I knew it. You`re just being nice to me. How about you, bro?” Top turned to GD. “You like CL? Or is it Bom?”
“Yeah, Ji, who is it?” YB faced him as well.
“CL? Bom noona? Where`d this come from?”
“You compliment CL a lot, and imitating Bom noona, grinning like a teenager. C`mon now. Spill.”
“I do? I was just saying those things, just coz it`s true. Nothing more to it. Bom noona, I just find her very amusing. That`s all.”
“So you want to watch that clip of her over and over? I like your sense of humor. Just say you find her cute. None of these stuff we say here gets to president YG.”
GD laughed. “Really, there`s nothing to say. And I`m gonna go now.”
He took his last gulp and stoop up.
“Bye guys.”
“Bye, bro. You`re not gonna go watch Bom noona`s clip again, are you?” Top teased him.
GD forced a smiled. “Good night.”
Walking back to his room he thought about what just happened.
YB too? Too many girls are after him. Hot sexy girls like Son Dambi want him.
Have anyone you like, B, just not Dara. Don`t take her away from me, k?
He checked his phone. No new message from Dara but there were people congratulating him for his Music Bank win.
He turned his computer. Quite instinctively he looked for the clip the guys teased him with. He does have the clip, Bom noona`s don’t-touch-my-mask-among-others clip. He clicked on it, headphones on.

Yeah, don`t touch my healthy foods.
Don’t touch my make up.
Lotion.
No! Mask – the packs you use for your face.
You cant! You got it?
He grinned. Hearing her laughter alone awakened every pore of his senses.I love her. The sound of her laughter…the things I`d do to hear her laugh like that. The things I’d do to make her the happy.