KNOT 18 - BEAUTIFUL NIGHTMARE

A few hours before the traffic accident...

"I have to go", Dara said weakly and bolted out of the room. Bom immediately followed Dara while Seunghyun silently closed Jiyong's bedroom door.

Jiyong cursed under his breath and rubbed his face with his palms; angry at himself for not being able to do anything. 'Say it, Jiyong'. He can still hear her soft voice in his mind and it's driving him to madness. It's like his childhood is repeating all over again. Why is it that the people he wanted to be with are being taken away from him? No matter how badly he wanted to be with Dara, he's scared of the possibility of Seunghyun's words. He tried to convince himself that the former deity's words might not be true; but since they were untied on the full moon just like what Seunghyun told him, his words about Dara and him might not be far from the truth.

Jiyong grabbed a shirt and fixed himself before going to the living room. Not finding Seunghyun there, he headed outside and went to the hill overlooking Dara's university - the place where the hadana and jursa became mortals. Seunghyun often tells him that he frequents that place to think about the human realm and the deity's realm so there is a big chance that he will find him there.

Upon reaching the hill, he saw Seunghyun with his hands clasped behind him, lost in his thoughts while roaming his eyes around. Jiyong silently stood beside him and shoved his hands inside his pockets, his gaze darting towards the orange sky as the day is nearing the end and night is about to fall. "You know why I came to find you", he said.

"Unfortunately, I do", the jursa replied. "And unfortunately, I cannot answer your questions. I have said what I needed to say"

"So, I'm really not the guy for Dara? And if I pursue her, something bad will happen to Dara?", Jiyong let out a bitter laugh while shaking his head. "It still sounds ridiculous to me"

The jursa looked at Jiyong with an impassive expression on his face. "What do you plan to do, Kwon Jiyong? Sandara Park is hurting now because of you"

"Whatever I choose to do, she will be hurt", Jiyong let out a frustrated sigh before turning to the jursa. "Now tell me, what am I supposed to do?"

"What do you really feel for her?", Seunghyun asked.

Jiyong turned his gaze forward, pondering over his question with furrowed eyebrows. "She's annoying", he said after a while. "She does things that gets on my nerves - saying random words while we're walking, smiling like an idiot even when everything's spiraling out of control, watching crappy dramas and bawling like a kid, easily forgiving someone who hurts her. She makes my head ache with all the things that she does. But it's hard to ignore her smile. It's hard to ignore her calm face when she's sleeping. She makes me feel like everything will be alright because tomorrow, she'll be as bright as today"

Jiyong picked up a flower on the ground. He then sat on the grass and rested his arm on his bended knees while playing with the flower with his hand. "I feel contented by just looking at her while we're eating our meals. Dara makes life bearable for me. Before I met her, there's a hole in my chest where my heart should have been. Dara found my heart and made sure it's on the right place."

Seunghyun smiled wryly and looked at the sky which is now turning dark. "Does that mean you're staying beside her despite my warning?"

_____________________________________________________________

"I've heard of what happened", Yang Goon said while glancing at the ruler of the underworld. Jang Hyuk remained silent, his eyes fixed on the Seoul traffic below as both deities stood at the edge of a building's rooftop. "Why must Sandara Park suffer the consequences of the actions she did not commit? The destined couple has minimal time left and you plan on taking what little time they have away from them."

"I'm doing this to let the thief know the result of his foolishness. Because of what he did, someone will suffer"

"This is unjust, Jang Hyuk"

"I'm from the underworld, Yang Goon. Justice does not mean anything to us"

The lunar matchmaker god tilted his head to the side and smirked. "We both know that is not the truth. You are hoping that the thief will return the candle if you do this. The candle from the Cave of Woes is important to you as the Red String Registry is important to me. In that regard, I understand your desperation to get it back. But this is not the proper means to achieve your end."

A bitter laugh escaped Jang Hyuk's lips as he stared at the ascendant of the string-keeper deities. "You want me to take pity on Sandara Park? Pity will lead me nowhere."

"Showing compassion is a display of courage", Yang Goon countered.

"My decision will not be swayed"

"A king's pride is a poison, Jang Hyuk. You said you still can get Sandara Park's soul even if the candle is not in your hands. If that is so then-"

"Yang Goon", Jang Hyuk cut him off, weariness shown in his face. "The Cave of Woes protects the candle's flame. And the candle's flame is tied to the person's soul. A powerful deity can extinguish the flame and if that happens before the full moon, Sandara Park's soul will leave its mortal body but it will have nowhere to go, since the gate of the underworld is not open for her yet. I swore at the River of Unbreakable Oath that I will only get her soul during the full moon and for that reason, I will be powerless to get her through the gate."

Yang Goon eyes widened in disbelief at Jang Hyuk's revelation. He clasped his hands tightly behind him while pondering deeply. "Does that mean a powerful deity can also light the candle?", he asked after a while.

Jang Hyuk hesitated for a moment before answering, "No. I am the only one capable of lighting the candle but as much as possible, I only do it once when the mortal is born since giving a second life to a mortal has a lot of repercussions to the human realm."

"I see", Yang Goon whispered.

"I need the candle back", Jang Hyuk said firmly. "Whoever stole it probably wants to save Heloise's soul out of pity. That is why I will turn Sandara Park into a living dead, for him to realize his foolishness. I- ", Jang Hyuk frowned and whipped his head to the other direction in bewilderment. "The candle is back to the cave...", he whispered in confusion.

"What?"

"Sandara Park's candle is back at the Cave of Woes", the ruler of the underworld responded hastily. A blaze of fire appeared and Jang Hyuk was about to step into it but Yang Goon's words stopped him.

"Now that everything is in its proper place, please let the destined couple be in peace for their remaining days together"

Jang Hyuk sighed while shaking his head in awe. "Your belief in Heloise and Abelard astounds me. Their love will end up in sorrow but why do you still insist on having them together until Heloise's last breath? Is this your compassion, Yang Goon? I think you are more cruel than I"

"This is all I can do for them", the lunar matchmaker god answered somberly.

Jang Hyuk remained silent while staring at him for a moment. He then stepped in the blaze of fire and disappeared without uttering a word.

==

Bom went to her bedroom and opened the window. She stared at the night sky and sighed. Suddenly, her eyebrows furrowed and she whipped her head sideway, seemingly listening to something.

'Sandara Park must stay on the left side.', she heard the ruler of the underworld's voice in her head. After that, she saw flashes of a car accident near Jiyong's place; with Dara inside a cab sitting on the right side. There was a dead body of the guy riding a motorcycle and unconscious bodies of the drivers of the red car and the cab. Dara's face was almost unrecognizable with blood and broken glasses. Bom then saw flashes of the hospital where Dara is lying on a bed with a lot of life support equipments and Jiyong crying miserably at the side, pleading Dara to wake up.

Her mouth gaped and she immediately stormed out of the apartment and ran. Meanwhile, Seunghyun was standing alone on the hill overlooking Dara's university after Jiyong got a phone call from Min Young. The jursa was thinking about the time when he entered the Cave of Woes. Just like what the hadana said, Seunghyun is keeping something from her. But Seunghyun knew that Bom is also keeping something from him. He saw the ethereal orb that the hadana threw in the sky when they were about to become mortals. He has not confirmed what it is but he believes that whatever Bom is planning, she only wants the best for the destined couple.

While in deep thought, Seunghyun also heard the voice and saw the flashes of the accident. His eyes widened in astonishment and he quickly sprinted away, hoping that he is not too late.

_____________________________________________________________

CL's POV

"SWEETHEART!", I hastily paid the snacks that I purchased and bolted out of the store as soon as I heard Seungri's voice. Why does he turns up EVERYWHERE? I purposely chose the convenience store far away from our apartment so I could walk leisurely and enjoy some peace and quiet but lo and behold, the vagina is here. God, Bom is already enough! Please throw Seungri somewhere else!

"Hey sweetheart!", Seungri draped his arm over my shoulders and smiled at me. "I was calling you, didn't you hear me?"

"I was ignoring you", I shot back and elbowed him to keep his germs away from me. "Personal space", I hissed before walking ahead of him. "Why are you spreading evil in this side of town?", I asked.

"I bought these!", he excitedly pulled out the adult magazines and merrily waved them on my face. Him and his filthy porn. I warily looked at the almost naked girls on the cover before eyeing him with disgust. He is definitely a pervert.

"What?", he asked defensively. "Don't you think these are precious?", he waved the offending magazines again in front of my face.

"I'm a girl." You idiot.

He just smiled goofily as I rolled my eyes at him. This guy amazes me. Just show him a photo of an almost naked girl's body and his problems will instantly fade away.

"What are you doing here, by the way?", he asked.

"Buying stuff and regaining my sanity. I left Tinker Bell in the apartment"

"Tinker Bell? Oh, you mean Banana Bom", he chuckled.

"Yeah, that thing", I grumpily replied. "I mean, have you talked to her? She seems to be excited with every trivial things and everything she says ends up with a sparkle. Look at me, my name is Hadana Bom! *sparkle, sparkle*!"

"Mean", Seungri teased.

"Tired", I pointed at myself and slumped my shoulders in exhaustion. "And I still have no job. I'm a sad soul with no job, I deserve to be grumpy."

"Did Banana say anything unusual? Jewish Seunghyun is a bit odd sometimes"

"Tell me about it. It's like they're not from this world. And she always addresses us as humans", I said while shaking my head. Bom is cool as long as no weird stuff is coming out of her mouth which makes me want to question if she's crazy in the coconut. She's funny especially when she's drunk and when she's high with caffeine. The rest of the time, though, I'm trying not to kill her.

"No one can beat His Excellency Seunghyun. Have you stared at his eyes? It's like he can see my penis!"

"Exactly! That's what I told Dara!"

I can't believe I'm having this conversation with Seungri out of all people. We just jump from one nonsense topic to another but everything flows naturally. He still annoys the hell out of me but being with him is comfortable. I don't even know when and how we got this close. He came barging in my life and suddenly, he's someone whom I can show my temper and not worry that he'll be offended or anything. Seungri is the type who can dance with anyone's music. I guess that's why people find it easy to approach him.

"Sweetheart, you're staring", his teasing voice pulled me back to reality. "You're seriously making me blush", he added and wrapped his arm around me. All the positive things I thought about him were instantly erased. This monkey has no good points whatsoever! Aigoo!

"PERSONAL SPACE!", I yelled at his face and threatened to punch him. Ugh! He's shaving five years of my life, seriously. I marched off ahead of him and ignored him once again.

"Sweetheart, don't be grumpy. I'm sure you'll have a job soon. Perhaps the company are still evaluating the applicants that's why you haven't got a call", he said while following me from behind.

I wish that was true. Living on my parents' allowance is murdering my ego, to be quite honest. It's been eating me up lately. I thought once I graduate, things will just go as planned. It turns out real life does not work that way. I passed my resume to all the top Fashion Design firms but none of them gave me a call yet.

"CL!", Bom's voice startled us. She was running towards us, panic written on her face. Upon reaching us, she grabbed my purse and pulled out some money while speaking rapidly. "Use the communication device and tell Dara to stay on the left side of the vehicle. That is the only way to save her life", she said and quickly hailed a cab.

"Wait, Bom. What's happening?", I asked in alarm.

"Tell her to stay on the left side!", she yelled and slammed the door shut. Seungri and I were left dumbfounded as the cab sped away. I absentmindedly fished out my phone from my pocket and tried to contact Dara, my heartbeat doubling its pace when I wasn't able to get hold of her. My hands are getting sweaty with nervousness as minutes pass by.

"S-She's not answering. Seungri, what's happening?"

"Text her what Bom told you. Then try to call her again", he instructed.

"Do you think something bad happened to Dara?", I asked and clutched my chest in panic. "Oh my God. What am I going to do?"

"Calm down, Chaerin", Seungri's gentle voice entered my ears. Somehow, hearing him call my name felt very reassuring.

_____________________________________________________________

Dara bit her lips and pounded on her chest as she stared outside the cab's window; hoping that the pain will stop. So many questions filled her mind. What is Min Young to Jiyong? Why is she in his apartment? Why is she wearing Jiyong's clothes?

Dara thought that Jiyong has feelings for her, was she mistaken? If she was, then why did Jiyong make her feel that she's special to him? Or did she just hope for too much?

She wiped the corner of her eyes and inhaled deeply, accidentally dropping her phone. When she picked it up, it was only then that she saw the missed calls and unread messages since her phone is on silent mode. She read the message and frowned.

From CL:

STAY ON THE LEFT SIDE. WHATEVER YOU ARE RIDING OR WHEREVER YOU ARE, STAY ON THE LEFT SIDE. THAT IS WHAT BOM TOLD ME. sHE SAID THAT WILL SAVE YOUR LIFE. I KNOW IT SOUNDS CRAZY. CALL ME IMMEDIATELY! PLEASE BE SAFE DARA.

That was odd. Why would Hadana Bom tell CL that message? Even though confused, Dara scooted to the left side of the cab and continued reading the other messages, which are mostly from CL telling her to stay at the left side. Everything was a blur after that. All she can remember is that she heard a loud crash and her body slammed forcefully to the side...then darkness and silence followed.

==

The noise echoed on Jiyong's ears as if everything is a dream. His feet started moving on their own accord while his heart pounded painfully inside his chest. He can hear his raspy breathing as he sprinted towards the intersection, his mind chanting Dara's name repeatedly. Even though people are already crowding and the entire street came to a standstill due to the accident, he still refuses to believe that everything is really happening.

Nervous murmurs filled the scene and people already called for help. The man riding the motorcycle who was racing with the red car that hits Dara's cab is sprawled on the street in a puddle of blood. The red car is smashed on the right side of the cab and the drivers' conditions are unknown.

Jiyong shoved his way towards the middle of the street, unmindful if he's pushing the people in front of him forcefully. He has to see Dara. He has to see that she's alright. 'God, please let her be safe.', he silently prayed while biting his lips. His eyes went wide when he saw the silhouette of Dara at the back of the cab, her head tilted at the side. Panic surged through his system and he couldn't even recognize his own voice as he yelled her name.

He was about to run towards her but someone blocked his path and held him by the shoulders. He didn't even bother to see who it was and just pushed him away, his eyes fixed on Dara, wanting to get to her quickly. When he finally reached the cab and saw her sitting unconscious at the back, he felt like his heart is being ripped into a thousand pieces. He wanted to delude himself that once he blinks his eyes, everything will just turn out to be a big lie. The girl inside the cab couldn't be his cheeseball, right?

He was about to open the car door when a hand stopped him, the same hand that tried to block him a while ago. He lifted his gaze and met Seunghyun's eyes.

"She's safe. Wait for help to arrive", he said as the sound of the ambulance was heard from a distance.

_____________________________________________________________

"D-Dara", Jiyong whispered in an unsteady voice, his hands firmly holding Dara's hand. Dara was unconscious but the doctors assured Jiyong that there are no other injuries except for minor bruises and he should not be alarmed. They have also run some tests to make sure she is safe. Still, Jiyong is uneasy. Looking at Dara lying on the hospital bed is slowly killing him.

He planted a soft kiss on her hand and rubbed it gently while looking at her sleeping form. His heart is beating wildly as he stared at her; constantly reminding himself that she's safe to calm his nerves. Jiyong brushed the strands of hair away from her face and stared at her once again.

"God", he whispered and rested his forehead on the edge of the bed, firmly shutting his eyes while still holding Dara's hand. Did he do this to her? His mind wandered back to the time when Seunghyun told him that he should stay away from her. He should have listened to him. He promised that when the time comes, he will let her go but he became too greedy.

But how can he stop when being with her is the sole reason why he's looking forward to yet another day? How can he stop when holding her in his arms is the greatest feeling he has ever experienced? Why does he have to meet her if he has to walk away eventually? Is this their fate?

Jiyong straightened on his seat when he heard the door opening. CL and Seungri together with the two former deities entered the room.

"Dara", CL whimpered and hastily strode towards the hospital bed, her eyes becoming misty as she looked at her friend. "She's alright, sweetheart", Seungri assured her.

"I don't understand why this happened", the hadana mumbled as she stood by the door with the jursa. "It seems like the ruler of the underworld meant to put Sandara Park in danger but retracted his decision at the last minute that's why he let us see the flashes to prevent the accident from happening. But why would he do this?"

"I don't know, but...", Seunghyun paused and glanced at Bom, his face remaining impassive "..we should grab this chance." Bom frowned at Seunghyun, not understanding what he meant. Before she could ask again, the jursa turned around and left the room.

Seunghyun watched his steps while walking slowly, his mind recalling the love between Heloise and Abelard. Many people have analyzed and revered the story of the tragic lovers, complicating things with their stunning words. Their love letters have been admired by the literary writers, drawing in inspirations at unimaginable lengths. The two became the templates of romance.

The red string of fate between Heloise and Abelard is the most beautiful thing he has ever seen. It was a common dream for hadanas and jursas to attain such beautiful string for the destined couple assigned to them. However, centuries have past and it remained unattainable. He thought that by throwing challenges that are nearly impossible to surmount, he will be able to achieve it. But his ascendant told him that experiences need not be grand to produce such beautiful red string. Everything is quite simple. Everything depends on the destined couple.

And his ascendant was right. Heloise and Abelard simply did not let go and kept each other in their hearts. They poured their love in paper to bridge the distance between them. Those letters that are highly praised by people for its literary narratives are nothing but simple letters for Heloise and Abelard - the declaration of their love despite the circumstances surrounding them. They are just two people who refused to let go of each other.

The jursa headed towards the hospital garden and sat on the bench, a tired sigh escaping his lips. Having been assigned to the destined couple bearing Heloise and Abelard's souls is exhausting and is full of uncertainties. Sandara Park and Kwon Jiyong has a sorrowful ending that awaits them and despite this fact, he and Hadana Bom are tasked to make use of the little time they have left to strengthen their bond.

His eyes darted on the entrance of the hospital and saw Jiyong making his way towards him. "She is going to die soon, Kwon Jiyong", he mumbled sadly while Jiyong was still far from him. Seunghyun knew this incident will have a big effect on the destined couple.

Jiyong stopped at a near distance and inhaled deeply, raking his hair with his fingers in frustration. The jursa did not utter a word and waited for him to speak, his eyes fixed forward, staring at nothing in particular.

"Is this it? Is this what you mean?", Jiyong's voice croaked as he faced him. "Did this happen because I'm still keeping her by my side?", he asked. Seunghyun did not respond and lowered his gaze. His last challenge finally bloomed.

_____________________________________________________________

Dara whimpered and her eyebrows furrowed. When she slowly opened her eyes and blinked at CL, relief flooded her friend's body.

"Thank God", CL exclaimed as Seungri pushed the button to call the nurses. A doctor and a nurse entered and examined Dara, which took quite a while as the test results were also brought in. They also explained that Dara can be discharged in the morning.

After the doctor and nurse left, CL, Seungri and Bom kept their mouths shut while eyeing her. Dara was sitting on the hospital bed silently, still shocked with the accident. If not for the text message that CL sent her, she doesn't know what could have happened to her. She felt like her energy has been drained; too weak to even utter a word.

"How are you feeling?", CL asked while reaching for her hand.

"I'm fine. A bit shaken, but I'm going to be alright", Dara replied, her eyes focused on her lap. She then heard someone sniffing and when she lifted her gaze, she was taken aback when she saw CL sobbing beside her.

"You're so cute", Dara chuckled and patted CL's back to console her.

"Shut up", CL shot back while wiping her tears. "I almost had a heart attack when I learned you were in an accident! I don't even remember how I got here"

"I shoved you inside the cab while you're losing it", Seungri butted in. "My ears are still ringing from your endless scream", he added and dodged CL's punch.

The three of them continued chatting while Bom silently watched them. "I'm really glad you're safe Dara. I was so confused when Bom told me that-", CL's voice trailed off and her head whipped towards Bom in bewilderment. "Wait, how did you know that she will get into an accident?", CL asked suspiciously.

"I saw it in a dream and it felt real. That is why I acted impulsively", the hadana replied, her face remaining impassive. "CL, can you get a change of clothes for Dara? And please take care of the paperworks as well"

"I'll accompany her", Seungri volunteered, guiding CL out of the room. He knew Bom wanted to be alone with Dara.

When it was only the two of them left, the hadana sat at the chair near the hospital bed facing Dara. "I know you have a lot of questions", she started. "But I'm afraid I'm incapable of answering them"

"I wanted to ask you how you knew that I will be in an accident"

"It is not your time yet", the hadana replied.

Dara frowned but kept her mouth shut. "We are living as mortals temporarily. But time will come when we will go back to being deities that is why we still need to be careful with our words. There are things in our realm that humans should not know", Bom explained.

"I read a book before", Dara said after a while. "It describes the red string of fate that resembles the string that was tied to me and Jiyong. It tells the story about the lunar matchmaker god and the deities that guards the string. I wanted to ask you...", she bit her lips and looked directly at the hadana, "I wanted to ask you if it is true"

Bom smiled at her and tilted her head slightly. "It sounds like a very beautiful book", she replied.

"You're not giving me clear answers, Hadana Bom"

"Life is full of uncertainties", Bom remarked. "Sometimes, knowing the answer does not amount to anything"

"There you go again", Dara sighed in frustration and leaned back on the bed's headboard. "I just think it will be wonderful if that book is true", she added while fixing her gaze forward. "I found that book when we were searching for the magic words. It seems so long ago...the smell of the books in the library, the sound of flipping pages, the peaceful silence with Jiyong beside me. Do you know he doesn't talk much at first when we were tied? He always has this stoic expression, like a cyborg. But because we are binded by the red string, he doesn't have a choice but to let me see a peek of who he is. Things started from there."

Dara bended her knees and hugged them, resting her chin on top. "The red string brought us together, but it also kept us apart. We were cautious with our actions then, thinking that we were only driven by the situation. Now that we are untied, we have no more excuse."

A soft laugh escaped the hadana's lips as she sat at the edge of Dara's bed. "I am learning a lot since we became mortals...things that I have taken for granted when I was a deity", she said. She then placed her forefinger on Dara's heart, startling her. "This..", Bom paused and smiled at her, "I now understand your heart".

_____________________________________________________________

Jiyong did not even bother to open the lights as he entered his apartment. Min Young has already left to attend the sudden meeting with one of the bid competitors. He has already called her earlier to inform her that he can't make it and that she can just get her clothes which were stained by coffee from the washing machine.

He slumped tiredly on the couch and leaned back, staring at the ceiling. After hearing her voice and taking a peek inside her room to check if she's alright, he left the hospital without even showing his face to Dara. He can already hear her endless complaints followed by her cute pout once she learns that he's not there. A bitter smile formed on his lips just imagining it.

'Jiyong, Jiyong'

'HUBBY!! ~ ~'

'CLING!'

He loves hearing it. He loves her tiny voice calling behind him with her strawberry backpack strapped in his shoulders. He loves the feel of her touch when she clings to him. He loves seeing her smile. He loves it when she's fussy and complains about little things. He loves the sight of her every morning when he wakes up.

Jiyong ran his hand over the couch, sadness crossing his eyes. It was only a few days ago when they were watching one of her crappy dramas. Dara doesn't know but he treasures every moment he has with her; because he knew that in the end, he will only be left with nothing but memories.

[ ==O Flasback O== ]

A few days ago...

Jiyong rolled his eyes and sighed frustratedly when the drama characters were on screen once again. Dara and him were watching in his apartment while Seunghyun is out. There were a hundred different less annoying things that they can do but of course, the cheeseball won't let their free time pass without her drama marathon.

The drama they were watching is so insufferably greasy that he wanted to block it from his memory . He's trying not to die every time the male lead opens his mouth. Seriously, if he talks like that in real life, someone should just please kill him before he kills himself. He didn't know the words forever and love can be so overused in a sentence that he wanted to punch any of the drama characters who are about to utter those words.

Oh brother. Jiyong almost gagged when the final episode rolled in. He was pretty sure his lunch is crawling up his throat. If the male and female lead will have babies, he is absolutely certain they will be as boring as them. He can't imagine watching a special episode with them as a couple followed by their crew of mini-nightmares. Why did he agree to watch this stupid piece of crap again? Jiyong peered slowly at Dara who is still focused on the screen, her head comfortably resting on his shoulder. Oh well, it's a small price to pay.

"Hubby", his thoughts were interrupted by Dara's voice.

"Mmmmhhhmm?"

"Can I hold your face?", she asked, making Jiyong stare at her in bewilderment.

"It depends. Are you planning to slap me?", he teased. Dara glared at him and crossed her arms over her chest. "Arasso, arasso", Jiyong cooed and gently rubbed her upper arm. "Go ahead", he added. Dara happily sat on his lap facing him and smiled.

"What drama did you watch this from? Or is it porn?", Jiyong asked nonchalantly.

"Jiyong!", Dara huffed and lightly hit his shoulder.

"Don't wiggle. Something might be alive down there"

"Forget it", she was about to move away but Jiyong held her waist, keeping her on his lap.

"I'm just joking. Go ahead", he said softly.

Dara stared at him before lifting her hands, cupping his face. She ran her fingers on his cheeks, noting the feeling of his skin against her hands. She traced the contours of his face, his nose, his lips, before meeting his steady gaze. "It's amazing", she whispered in awe. "I watched this in a drama and I thought it's no big deal but...it really felt wonderful"

Jiyong captured her hands and kissed her palm before guiding her hands behind his neck. He then wrapped his arms around her waist, his eyes never leaving hers. "You're abusing your cheeseball privileges way too much", he said with a hint of amusement in his voice. "Tell me about this drama"

"Well", Dara pouted as she tried to recall the story, her fingers interlacing on Jiyong's nape. "The male lead was a grumpy and scary guy like you", she looked pointingly at Jiyong. "And the female lead was a cheerful, beautiful and kind girl..."

"Like you?", he asked, cocking his eyebrows at her.

"Yup!"

Jiyong sighed dramatically and looked at her with blank eyes. "Whatever. Just use our names so I can easily understand the story. Male lead is Jiyong, female lead is Dara."

"Okay. So, in the drama I watched, Jiyong is completely detached to the rest of the world until Dara came into his life"

"I just threw up in my mouth", Jiyong interjected, making a disgusted face.

"Do you want me to continue?", Dara asked in irritation.

"Fine. Continue"

"Anyway, Dara constantly bothers Jiyong and at first, Jiyong was stoic and doesn't even talk to her but things slowly changed. He found himself always wanting to hear her voice; his eyes were always wandering to where she is standing and he found himself smiling whenever she's being silly. In short, Dara was able to break through his wall by clinging to him even when he tried to push her away"

"But Dara is not from Jiyong's world and she is in constant danger. Jiyong loves her so much that instead of keeping her by his side, he would rather see her leave. He knew Dara loves him too but he did not even let her choose. He did not ask her whether she wanted to stay or to leave. Jiyong just wanted Dara to go back to her world, where she is safe"

"Jiyong made the right choice", Jiyong said.

"He sacrificed their love. His decision will just hurt both of them", Dara countered.

"He'd rather know she's safe. She will find another love"

"What if she doesn't? God, I hate that drama!"

"Cheeseball...", Jiyong pulled her closer to him and gently rubbed her back. "Stop watching those crappy dramas", he said.

"Hubby ~ ~", Dara wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her face on his shoulder.

"Mmmhhmmm?"

"Tell them to rewrite that drama. The two leads should be together in the end", she whined.

"Arasso", he answered while smiling. "I'll buy the network companies and show those bastards who's the boss. They should not be messing with my cheeseball's dramas", he added.

Dara's lips curved in a tiny smile and hugged Jiyong tightly. "You are so corny", she mumbled.

"I learn from the best"

"Who?", Dara pulled away slightly and peered at him.

"You", Jiyong replied.

"Me?", she playfully asked again.

"You"

"Me?"

Jiyong abruptly leaned down, bridging the gap between their faces. "You", he whispered and planted a soft kiss on Dara's lips. He withdrew back, their noses brushing lightly against each other before tilting his head to kiss her cheek.

[ ==O End of Flashback O== ]

The door opened and Jursa Seunghyun stepped in, cutting Jiyong's thoughts. He strode towards him and joined him in the living room, not bothering to open the lights.

"Coffee?", he asked.

"Are you kidding me?"

"No"

Jiyong stared blankly at the jursa who was looking back at him with an unreadable expression.

"Soju?", Seunghyun offered once again.

"Are you trying to console me?"

"Perhaps"

"It's not working", Jiyong rubbed his face with his palms and sighed heavily. "What exactly are you here for? You and Hadana Bom entered our lives and started messing things up. We were living quite well before Dara and I were tied to each other. If I hadn't met her...", his sentence hang, not knowing how his life will turn out to be without Dara.

"Don't I really have a choice?", Jiyong asked after a while.

"Yes, you do"

Jiyong laughed bitterly at his response. "No, I don't. I can't be with her or else, something like this will happen again"

He can't accept it. It's better this way rather than seeing her in danger again. He has to do what he does best - creating distance between himself and other people. Jiyong lifted his gaze and roamed his eyes around. The apartment looked so cold and empty. But when Dara was staying there, it felt like home. No matter how many crappy dramas she watch, no matter how annoying her miu-miu is, it's okay. Unfortunately, he has to let her go.

Seunghyun did not utter a word and just observed him. There are sorrows that cannot be consoled. This is one of them. No matter what he says, it will hurt the same.

_____________________________________________________________

From Jiyong:

Don't go to work. I've taken care of it.

Dara scowled at her phone and collapsed on the couch. Even though CL told her that Jiyong was with her last night, he did not even bother to see her when she was discharged from the hospital. She stood up and walked towards her room, clueless on what to do. She was alone in the apartment since CL went to a job interview while Bom...where the hell is Bom?

Dara climbed on top of her bed and started fiddling with her phone. While browsing through her photo folder, her lips curved in a smile upon seeing her photo with Jiyong. Her fingers unconsciously touched her lips as she recalled the night when Jiyong first kissed her. But the smile did not last when she suddenly remembered Min Young.

'Potato head', she thought as she rolled over and lied on her side. Min Young was in his apartment before her accident. She wanted to ask Jiyong about it but she's scared of what his answer may be. Dara fumbled her phone again and browsed the past messages between her and Jiyong.

From Jiyong:

I can't sleep.

From Dara:

(=_= )\(^_^ )

From Jiyong:

What are these bald things?

From Dara:

They're emoticons, you cyborg. Don't you still know how to use them? I taught it to you before.

From Jiyong:

Ah. Yeah, I remember now. I really can't sleep. This is your fault. (+_+)

Dara chuckled after reading Jiyong's text with an emoticon that does not even reflect the content of his message. She still remembers that night when he sent it to her - the night when he went on a text explosion because she decided to move in with CL.

From Dara:

Just close your eyes and count sheep. What's up with your emoticon? I don't get it.

From Jiyong:

This? (+_+)   http://www.pitt.edu/~dash/type0332.html)

Yang Goon remained silent and focused his gaze forward. Borrowing Sandara Park's candle poses a great risk but it is something he has to do.

"What is it that you wish to gain? What you did almost caused agony between the destined couple", Jae Sang asked after a while.

"It's for a worthy cause", the lunar matchmaker god replied, his voice laced with worry.

_____________________________________________________________

It's been two days and Jiyong still hasn't visited her.

Dara adjusted the strap of her strawberry backpack and sighed, watching her feet while taking a stroll around the area. What is up with him? She expected him to be on the verge of paranoia because of her accident but except for that one text he sent her, she did not hear from him ever since.

She reached the park that they used to frequent and continued walking, her mind drifting back to that moment when she asked him to say the words that she's been longing to hear. But what was it that she saw in his eyes? Hesitation?

Her ringing phone stopped her from her tracks. She pulled the phone from her backpack and was surprised to see it was Jiyong.

"Watch where you're going", he said firmly. Dara furrowed her eyebrows in bewilderment. She lifted her gaze and saw that she was about to hit the light pole in front of her. How did he know that? Is he here?

"Where are you?"

"Go home. You're supposed to be resting", he instructed in a stern voice.

"Jiyong, where are you? You didn't even visit me"

"Go home"

Dara darted her eyes around, hoping to see him but to no avail. "Where are you?", she asked frustratedly.

"Don't come to work anymore. I've submitted a recommendation letter for you to be transferred to the Marketing Department. They will contact you soon. I wil be leaving the company after the Jeju trip"

"W-What? Jiyong, what's going on?"

"Let's stop this, Dara", Jiyong whispered while looking at Dara as he hid behind the tree in a far distance. "Don't look for me anymore"

Dara stiffened while holding her phone firmly. "You want me to stay away from you?", she asked.

"Yes", Jiyong replied, clenching his fist.

"Why?"

"I'm getting engaged with potato head"

Dara felt like air has been knocked out of her chest. She heard him clearly but her mind refuses to process what he just said. Their memories together flooded her and her heart constricted in pain. Why is he doing this?

"W-What is this Jiyong?"

"I'm sorry for leading you on"

"I..", Dara breathed in deeply to calm herself. "I thought you love me"

"I never said I did", he muttered.

She was frozen on her spot as the call ended abruptly, the light of the moon casting a shadow on her face. A soft breeze blew, letting a few strands of her hair cover her eyes as her tears threaten to fall. She weakly slumped on the ground and bit her lips while looking up at the night sky.

Jiyong turned around and with heavy steps, left the place. His chest was constricting painfully; the sight of Dara slumped on the ground imprinted in his mind. He never imagined it will hurt so much to lie. As he walked away, his vision became blurry and his breathing became ragged. He lifted his hand and felt his cheek, surprised to feel the dampness on his face. The burning sensation in his heart was unbearable that his steps halted automatically. With his head hanging low, Jiyong fell apart.

_____________________________________________________________

A few hours before the traffic accident...

"Does that mean you're staying beside her despite my warning?", Seunghyun asked.

"I...don't know", Jiyong said truthfully. "I just want to create memories that I could go back to. Even if it means that in the end, I still have to fade in the background."

Silence stretched between the two as the darkness of the night finally settled. The sky is beginning to be ornamented with the bright stars and the moon is now peeking behind the clouds.

"I'm sorry for giving you this nightmare", the jursa softly said.

"This nightmare has been my most beautiful dream", Jiyong mumbled.

Writer's Note:

JIYONGGGG!!! WAHH!!!

By the way, I suggest you read the links I'm providing ^_^ They're pretty interesting. I created this story using the folktales and the true story of Heloise and Abelard as the foundation.

Are the Cheeseborg Minions still waving their pompoms? Sorry it's taking a while for my updates \(*o*)/ \(*o*)/ \(*o*)/

I'm really busy with my work (=_=")

I miss you guys!!