Trapped

53

"I'll be dropping Dara off." Yang Hyun Suk said as he fixed his jacket. 

"Sajangnim, why not let Dara stay for a while. I'll drop her off. I promise." Xin suggested, earning a few nods from their friends. 

A few minutes after they arrived at Jiyong's apartment, they were already having fun. Actually, the unexpected gathering at Jiyong's place instantly became a party. Christina even asked why they even thought about dining out in the first place - having to go through such a difficult situation because of it, when they could've enjoyed themselves and act freely at GD's. The place was huge and they could've just ordered takeout or something. 

But, like any other good thing, it had to be cut short when Yang Hyun Suk called, saying he was already a few minutes away. They had to quickly clean everything up and pray that the 'meeting' with YG Entertainment's boss would quickly finish so that they could go back to having fun. 

"CL and the girls have been worried sick. They're planning on sleeping at their old dorm tonight."

With those words said, Yang Hyun Suk led the disappointed Dara - who wanted to spend a few more minutes with her friends, out the door. 

"When will you guys leave?" Jiyong asked out of the blue, a few minutes after Yang Hyun Suk closed the door to his apartment. 

"Wah~" Soonho said with a smirk playing on his lips and a shake of the head. "Remind me to bring Dara the next time I visit this dragon so that I don't get kicked out immediately."

"His moods shift faster than you can say 'he's whipped'." Bajowoo said, as he sat more comfortably on the couch - not showing any signs of leaving the place. "You got it bad Kwon!"

~

"Is that really him?"

"Don't take photos, remember what the Dean said yesterday?"

"Gosh, is he sick?"

"Omo! He might really be preparing for a comeback."

Jiyong walked with his head slightly lowered so that his hat could cover more of his face. He was at the hospital with Ssabu-nim to get himself checked up. 

Normally, they would've invited the Doctor to the YG building but Jiyong would have to be checked from head to toe so they had to really visit the hospital. And in order to not inconvenience everyone in the hospital, they just requested the Dean and the nurses and doctors to not take any pictures. 

They went in at 2AM so they were sure not too many people were roaming around the hospital corridors. 

"Ssabu-nim." He called out to the man walking beside him who turned to look at him. "What happens if I'm not entirely healthy?" 

"Well, it depends." He replied, smiling at Jiyong. "Don't worry Ji, just by looking at you now, I know your body has improved quite well."

Jiyong smiled at the man and continued to walk to the Doctor's office. 

It was already a few minutes after 12 noon when they finished. There were a lot of people walking around so Jiyong decided to put a hospital gown over his actual clothes and have Ssabu-nim push a wheelchair - carrying him, out the hospital and into the waiting van. 

It was a full proof plan but, somehow, a few women in their mid 20s recognized Jiyong's tattoos and walked over towards him to ask. 

He was sure that if he didn't take care of it, rumors about him being sick or something along the lines would spread like wildfire even before he stepped foot inside his van. 

"Oppa, are you sick?" A woman asked worriedly. 

"No, I just finished my general check up. I didn't want to cause a commotion so I did this. Keep it a secret for me?" Jiyong said in a hushed tone that sounded so sweet and caring, making the girls nod their heads almost immediately. 

Jiyong signed his autograph a few times and left with Ssabu-nim. 

"That was close." The latter said as soon as he closed the van door. 

"What was?" Taehee aske, looking at Jiyong and Ssabu-nim from the rearview mirror. 

"He was recognized. Luckily, they were easy to talk to and just asked for a few autographs." 

"So, how'd the check-up go?" Taehee asked after nodding his head. 

"This kid's one lucky block." Ssabu-nim said as he pointed at Jiyong with a chuckle. "I've never seen anyone pass 2 rounds this quickly. "

"He passed?" Taehee asked, surprised at the news. He assumed Jiyong would have a hard time with Ssabu-nim and his health the most but he actually passed it easily. 

"Yah, don't think I didn't go through hell okay?" Jiyong said, frowning at the memory of him trying so hard to fix his health while on hiatus. "I had to call Ssabu-nim at least thrice a day to make sure I was doing everything right!"

~

"He passed?" Yang Hyun Suk asked the person on the other line with wide eyes. "Are you sure it was Jiyong?"

CL - who was in front of Yang Hyun Suk because she was called in for a discussion about their schedules, scrunched up her brows. Like Yang Hyun Suk, she couldn't believe her ears as well. 

"Ssabu-nim, stop pulling on my leg. This is serious." Yang Hyun Suk said, still not convinced. "Okay. Let's talk when you arrive."

"What was that about sajangnim?" CL asked as soon as he ended the call. She already had a hunch but she just couldn't believe it. 

"Apparently, Jiyong passed the health check." Yang Hyun Suk said with a smile. 

"He did? Jinjja?" Even if she didn't like the fact that Jiyong was advancing way too quickly, she was happy that his health improved. 

"Yeah." Yang Hyun Suk looked at CL and gave her a fatherly smile. "You look pleased. I thought you didn't like Jiyong for Dara?"

CL realized that her smile had already reached her ears and cleared her throat, trying to compose herself. 

"I'm just proud that he got rid of his stubbornness and improved his health. You're the one to talk sajangnim, didn't you not like Oppa for Eonnie too after you found out that she was hospitalized?" 

"I didn't say I didn't like them to be together. I was just disappointed." 

CL couldn't counter more so she avoided the man's eyes and looked down on the time table he had on her lap - it was Dara's schedule. 

"Well, if he can change and make it up to Eonnie, and if Eonnie wants him back, then I can allow it."

Yang Hyun Suk's smile widened. 

Was CL finally giving way?

"But he has to go through me, Minzy and Bom Eonnie first."

"Of course." Yang Hyun Suk said, his smile not faltering at all. 

He knew that CL was finally considering the fact that Jiyong and Dara could get back together. She wasn't denying it anymore and was slowly accepting it. 

It was a good start.