Too toot too toot too toot. The constant sound is penetrating through Dara's ears and entering her dreamless sleep jarring her awake. Her hand automatically reached out and groped on the bedside table to turn off the alarm clock so she could return back to sleeping. She slept late last night and she couldn't remember why she turned on her alarm clock so early anyway. She was already falling asleep again when she heard another sound. She irritably reached out to her alarm clock to turn it off again but the sound insists. She opened one eye while she grabbed her alarm clock hitting the off button to make it stop before she realized the sound wasn't actually coming from it. She looked around and saw her phone ringing. She sleepily answered it.
"Yeah?" She could feel her consciousness going back to slumber again.
"Yah! Dara, where are you?" It was Suzy. The one who share the apartment with her.
Dara had her mind answering but her mouth only grunted.
"You're going to be late. It's already 7:45 and we need that script," Suzy said.
It took a moment before it registered in Dara's mind. Her eyes snapped open and instantly went to the digital clock. Holy shit! She jumped up on the bed frantically.
"Gotta get ready. Call you later," Dara said before dropping the phone on the bed and sprinting to the bathroom to take a shower. Ah damn! She's gonna get fried. Or worst, fired.
Dara probably made it in the Guiness Book Of World Record after she finished showering and picking on any clothes to wear in her closet for a total of 20 minutes. This is the fastest she had moved in her entire life. She put her hair up in a sloppy ponytail, not bothering to blow dry it, picking on the stack of folders in her messy desk and running out of the house while mentally calculating the minutes it would take if she took the bus. She opted to ride a taxi instead even though it would cost her almost two days worth of meals. Better that than actually losing a job again and costing her a month of no income while she look for another job.
"Can't you go a little faster?" Dara asked the driver and leaned heavily on the seat while letting out her breath. Suzy probably didn't get home last night which explains why she's now running late. Her human alarm clock decided to party last night with her boyfriend and left her with an unreliable machine. She opened her folder to arrange the script all in sequence. Today's going to get hectic. Her boss specifically told her to come early for the Spotting, calculation of the script's duration, as today was the day they had one of the biggest artist in the music industry as a guest in one of their TV shows. It had taken almost 2 months to actually get a schedule from their company and she won't get surprised if her boss turned apoplectic if she got late even for a minute. She threw a couple of bills in the front seat thanking the driver and got out hurriedly once they have reached CSW, the TV Network she's currently employed at as a scriptwriter. In training. She half walk and half ran towards the entrance, one hand clutching the folder to her chest and the other hand groping her bag for her ID. She was about to clip her ID on her shirt when she crashed into someone. She lost her balance and she fell backward. "Shit!" she muttered but her eyes were on the papers she had carelessly put on the folder yet carefully arranged in sequence scattered on the folder as he landed on her bum. Now she's gong to do it all over again. She bit her tongue from cursing and she got on her knees to hastily pick it up.
"Sorry, miss, are you okay?" The guy she crashed in squatted to help her retrieve the scattered papers.
"Yes, yes. I'm okay," she said dismissively snatching the papers off the guy's hand then she suddenly grabbed his hand to ogle at his digital watch. 8:29.
"Ah shit!" She was unable to stop her mouth from uttering an expletive out loud as she quickly took all the papers and unthinkingly stack them in the folder standing up then sprinted off to where the elevator is, pressing the button several times before deciding that the elevator is taking way too long. Turned on her heel and ran to the stairwell to get to the 5th floor all the while cursing the alarm clock.
Donghae watched as the girl flit from the elevator to the stairwell, hearing her endless curses at something with an alarm. He rubbed his chin trying to think where he had seen this girl before. She looks so familiar but he can't place her. He was still thinking when Siwon nudged him.
"I thought you already went in the café," he said starting to walk. Donghae walked beside him.
"I just thought I saw someone... familiar. Just thinking where I've seen her." He shrugged dismissing the mystery of the girl.
The café was almost empty except for a group of guys sitting near the glass window laughing loudly. They strode over to them.
"Hey!" Kibum greeted as he saw Donghae and Siwon approach. Eunhyuk, Yesung, Kyuhyun and Sungmin were already there continuing their banters. One of the waiters walked over to them and asked if they could get them anything.
"Black coffee," Siwon said while Donghae shoook his head not really wanting anything.
Sungmin snorted when the waiter went to the bar. "Since when do you drink Black Coffee?"
"Since I became the Chairman," Siwon said. "It goes with the job."
Siwon is the CEO and the owner of CSW TV, one of the biggest TV Network in the country. And also the building where the café is located.
"I can relate to that," Kibum supplied as he had just taken over his family's freight company.
"You have it easy guys," Eunhyuk chipped in. "Try getting sleep for less than 2 hours everyday." Getting sleep in between his schedule is currently a challenge for him.
"We are all busy now," Yesung said. "I can't believe we're living in the same country and this is the first time we actually had a free time to meet."
Donghae chuckled taking a slice off Eunhyuk's pancake.
It's true. Their schedule was so hectic that they could only know what's happening with the other either on TV or on the newspaper. Today is the only time they had managed to meet after graduating college. And that was 4 years ago. They were what you call the group of friends who were together since they were in diapers. Their parents had something to do with each other, either by meeting in the nursery when they were babies or working together on a project. They attended the same grade school forming a bond that only mischievous boys can create, getting together in trouble, their principal calling their parents to discuss their behaviour and a possible detention. But of course, their families belong to the round of wealthy known people that a couple of donations and sponsorship in the school let the boys off easy. Real easy.
Siwon had just taken over the CEO position of CSW last year when his father retired. Kibum had taken over their family's Freight Company since college. Sungmin currently has three businesses which included a restaurant with branches in different parts in and outside of the country, a martial arts school currently located in the heart of the city, and starting a coffee shop. Eunhyuk is one of the most popular celebrity in the country going from one drama to another and partaking in music nowadays. Kyuhyun came from a family of lawyers and is now one. Yesung is the son of the governor but ventured in manufacturing electronics and Donghae is the owner and the CEO of the biggest advertising agency in the country and currently working with other business overseas, spreading globally.
But of course, they didn't got their wealth just because they already came from a wealthy family. They also worked hard to retain that disposition. After the countless mischief in grade school, possibly turning their principal's hair grey, they managed to be a little serious in high school knowing that taking over their family's business is now an inevitable quest. Siwon and Kyuhyun were the first who had decided to turn the library into one of their classrooms, doing research on assignments, projects, book reports. They were the group's brain. Donghae, Eunhyuk, Kibum, Yesung and Sungmin were more free spirited, a little worried about the responsibility they would face in the future but decided to take the fun out of everything while it lasts. They charmed all the girls in school, running for the student body just for the heck of it and seeing the faces of their contenders seething at the unfairness of it all when they won by a massive count.
"Ah!" Donghae slapped the table now remembering. They all looked at him and he laughed. "I now remember her."He looked at Siwon. "You know the girl I thought looked familiar? Sandara Park. The girl in high school? The one who hated us?" He chuckled remembering her antics. "Is she working here?" He asked Siwon.
"Ah. Sandara Park. Yes, she's working here," Siwon answered remembering the girl who almost begged him to hire her because she needed to support her family, apologizing over and over for bringing trouble to him in high school and had promised to do her job and he won't hear any complaints from her.
"Sandara Park!" Eunhyuk said finally remembering. "The one who rallied on the front of the school gate when you won the school's presidency?"
"No, when we got the student body to vote for us," Donghae said still chuckling. He remembered the girl who was holding a big cardboard outside of the school gates telling the students not to be taken by a pretty face and should vote for someone who deserves to lead the school, ending with her almost bullying every student entering the school's premises.
"I don't know why she's so mad at us. It's not like we're castigatng her for skipping classes and getting into fights every other day," Donghae said.
"Her cousin is also running for the president," Siwon said. "You remember that tall, skinny nerd guy? Always in the library too. I honestly think he fits the position as the school's president a lot better than you did Donghae."
"It's not my fault they voted for me," Donghae said. "I only did it for fun. Besides, who's going to vote for him? All the girls love me and I look good in the school photos that will be taken down in history." He laughed. "I can't believe she's working here. Isn't her father the owner of that Real Estate agency?"
"He died after our graduation, I think. The agency was already bankrupt and they lost all their properties. Her dad left them with a lot of debt. I heard it on the news before. I felt sorry for her when she applied for a job but I think she's pretty okay," Siwon said. "She's not the same, rebellious Sandara Park in highschool."
"Did you know Yoona's here?" Kyuhyun asked Donghae suddenly cutting off the conversation after checking his phone and seeing a text message from Yoona.
They all looked at Donghae and he tried to sound nonchalant. "Yeah, I do." Yoona was one of their good friends since they were kids. They all grew up together. And Yoona was the girl Donghae couldn't seem to make a move on. Everytime she's near with that pretty smile, Donghae couldn't think. All the smooth words he knew to make the girl fall for him retract. Maybe it was also the fact that Yoona treated him like the way he treated the rest of the guys. Like friends. He hated that word. Friendship between a girl and a guy shouldn't exist.
"And you haven't run off to ask her out yet? It's been like, what? 10 years?" Eunhyuk said grinning. They all knew how he felt about Yoona. They knew that he likes her since high school. They had told him to ask her out but he just shrugged them off, giving the impression that he really didn't care that much but the truth is, they didn't know how scared he was to confess to her. And be rejected. She's like someone he couldn't seem to reach. Someone who already has everything, he's got nothing more to give. A girl he could only get in his dreams. When it comes to Yoona, all his confidence evaporates.
"We all know he's way too chicken," Yesung said.
"Please," Donghae said rolling his eyes eventhough his heart is going overdrive as they are so close to the truth. "Yoona asked me to see her. We went to a car exhibit yesterday." One of the things he loved about Yoona is that she is so feminine yet she knew about cars a lot more than any of the guys he knew. It's pretty extravagant but Yoona loves collecting cars. He remembered their conversation as they walked through the exhibit, Yoona eyeing the long row of vintage cars.
"What do you do with all those cars you're buying?" Donghae asked when they were standing at a red, really old car.
"Oh, they were all parked in the garage of my house," Yoona answered a little distractedly.
"And what would you do with them?" Donghae asked as Yoona started to walk to look at the next one. She turned to him with a big smile on her face and Donghae forgot his question.
"You think I'm crazy do you?" She tittered. "There's just something about buying cars which is... probably extinct in our generation and will be in the future... that draws me. It's like keeping history. It's probably a psychological affliction but... if I got the money, why not indulge, right?" She chuckled then froze when she caught sight of a black, rusty car. She strode over to it, eyeing it with longing as she drank it all in its rusty glory.
"This is the only car I can't seem to find. A 1928 Rolls Royce Phantom. I knew Kibum had managed to find one last year... Isn't it beautiful?"
Donghae was baffled. He eyed the car, looking at it and remembering the cars in that Titanic movie. Only much older. He could see the yearning in Yoona's eye as she looked at it one last time before walking on to the next one.
Kyuhyun laughed. "Maybe you should wish to be a car in your next life. Yoona would love you without questions asked."
"Wow, I really can't get over the fact that Lee Donghae, self-certified ladies' man, still go mute whenever Yoona's around. What happened to all the girls love me?" Sungmin said imitating Donghae's voice.
"Hey, I can get her if I put my mind to it. I'm telling you, there is no one I can't get if I started on her." Donghae responded a little arrogantly. "Yoona is just someone you can't play with. She's the type that you asked out because she's the woman you wanted your parents to meet."
The guys fell silent and then they burst out laughing at the same time. Donghae scowled. Can't they see he was serious?
"Ah damn, my stomach hurt," Eunhyuk said in between laughter.
Even Siwon was cracking his head off. "You've changed Donghae. I have never thought I would hear that from you."
The rest of the guys were all too busy laughing to even get a word out to mock him.
"You've become a girl," Kyuhyun managed to draw out. "I would have never dreamt of seeing the day Lee Donghae losing his touch."
"Is that the reason why we haven't seen you with a girl in the society pages for the last 2 years?" Kibum asked after his laughter subsided.
"That's because I'm not letting them see me with a girl," Donghae retorted but it seems like they weren't listening to him.
"This should go down in history," Yesung guffawed.
Eunhyuk patted his shoulder shaking his head. "Don't worry man. We welcome you to the Normal Guys Club."
It was just an easy banter but Donghae felt his pride is being wounded. He shrugged off Eunhyuk's shoulder. "I don't want to be in your Normal Ugly Guys Club. You want to see how I can make a girl fall for me in a matter of days?"
"We want to see how you can make Yoona fall for you in a matter of days," Siwon said.
Donghae shook his head. Yes, his pride will go down if the girl in question would be Yoona seeing as he can't even ask her to go out on an official date because that would attract questions and he doesn't think he have enough confidence to tell her he's been inlove with her since highschool without croaking.
"Guys," Donghae said diplomatically as they nodded on Siwon's suggestion. "As I've told you, Yoona is someone you only asked out if you mean to settle down. I don't want to settle down just yet. And besides, Yoona is our friend. We don't play with friends."
"So what are you saying?" Kibum asked rubbing his chin.
"I'm talking about any girl. Except Yoona," Donghae clarified. "I can make any girl fall for me in just a matter of days."
The guys looked at each other. Then Kibum grinned. "Want to make a bet on it?"
Donghae scoffed. "You really wanted to lose?"
"You sure you're gonna win?" Kibum said smirking.
"Hold up hold up," Siwon said, always the diplomat. "Why is this conversation suddenly turned into betting?"
"It's just for fun," Kibum said. "We haven't seen each other for years. I think it's about time we do a little something to stimulate our boring life."
"So we're going to use a girl? For fun?" Siwon said really against. Always the gentleman.
"She's going to have fun too. With me. Isn't that an even ground?" Donghae said. Always the conceited one.
"No," Siwon simply said.
"Sandara Park," Kibum suddenly said, a wide grin spreading on his face. They all looked at him and Kibum smirked. "You said you can get any girl to fall for you? Then make Sandara Park head over heels for you."
All them of started laughing with Donghae's mouth agape. "Sandara Park? Is she even a girl?" Donghae can't help but ask.
"I want your villa in Wando," Kibum stated what he wants out of the bet he proposed, smirking and crossing his arms on his chest.
"I refuse to partake on this nonsense," Siwon said. "Sandara Park is my employee and she's under my protection!"
"I'm good with just watching how this will turn out," Sungmin said ignoring Siwon's protests.
"Wait wait wait!" Donghae said. "I haven't agreed with Sandara Park!"
"That's because you know you can't get her," Kibum said.
Why did this conversation suddenly turned into this? He had remembered Sandara Park as the girl who only goes to school to sleep and never mingle much with any students other than her cousin. From what he heard, she's got a gang or something. But if he refused, he'll never hear the end of it. He was about to open his mouth to reason out why Sandara Park isn't actually a girl to ever feel anything for the opposite sex when Yoona's words rang in his ears.
This is the only car I can't seem to find. A 1928 Rolls Royce Phantom. I knew Kibum had managed to find one last year
Can he really do this? Next to impossible. Can he win this? Chances are slim to none. But Sandara Park is also a girl, as much he can't believe it himself. Any girl would either be stoned or an alien to be immune to his charms.
"Your Rolls Royce." Donghae nodded to Kibum. "That 1928 Phantom. You can have my villa if you win but you'll give that car to me if you lose."
The guys all whoop at the turn of the bet. Kibum was silent for a minute, rolling his tongue inside his cheek thoughtfully. "You're on," he finally said.
"Okay, stop stop stop!" Siwon said. "You are not going to use my employee as a subject for your entertainment!"
After a series of bickering with Yesung, Sungmin, Kyuhyun and Eunhyuk agreeing to bet a hundred grand, confident that Donghae's going to lose and Siwon protesting all the way but falling on deaf ears, Kibum asked for papers and pens so they could all write their terms. They wanted a week for Sandara Park to fall for Donghae which Donghae rejected saying he can accept if it was a normal girl and Sandara Park is far from normal no matter what Siwon said of her changing. They agreed with two weeks. After a series of contesting the terms, revising, they finally agreed on the summary and Kibum wrote the entirety of the bet on another empty paper.
Bet on Donghae's Self-Proclaimed Ability To Make Any Girl Fall For Him.
Terms: Make the victim fall head over heels in a matter of two weeks with the victim declaring her love in front of Cho Kyuhyun, Kim Kibum, Kim Yesung, Lee Eunhyuk and Lee Sungmin to prove Lee Donghae's proclamation of his undeniable charm's authenticity.
Target/Victim: Sandara Park
What's on Stake:
If Donghae Lost:
Lee Donghae's villa in Wando would be transferred under Kim Kibum's name.
A hundred grand each would be transferred on the bank account under the name of: Cho Kyuhyun, Kim Kibum, Kim Yesung, Lee Eunhyuk and Lee Sungmin.
If Donghae Wins:
The 1928 Rolls Royce Phantom of Kim Kibum would be given to Lee Donghae including the papers of its ownership (as a gift to Im Yoona, the girl he's drooling over since nursery.)
A hundred grand each would be transferred under Lee Donghae's bank account from Cho Kyuhyun, Kim Kibum, Kim Yesung, Lee Eunhyuk and Lee Sungmin.
They were laughing as Kibum finished reading it out loud especially the quip about Yoona. Donghae didn't even bother to deny it. It was true anyway. Why bother.
"We've got a lawyer here so make sure you keep your end of the bargain," Kibum said patting Kyuhyun's shoulder as he addressed Donghae.
"Make sure you keep yours," Donghae said.
"You guys are the worst," Siwon said.
"Lighten up," Yesung said elbowing Siwon. "We're not going to use Sandara Park. She's gonna slam Donghae down even before he had the chance to start."
"I can't wait until I get your money," Donghae said.
"I can't wait until I get yours," Yesung fired back.
"Let's all sign," Eunhyuk said snatching the paper off Kimbum's hand and taking the pen on the table. He was chuckling as he signed his name at the bottom of the paper with it's messy scrawl.
"I will validate it," Kyuhyun said jokingly as he signed his name. They all signed it until Siwon took the paper.
"I'm betting on this too," Siwon said taking the pen off Sungmin's hand.
"What a fake," Kyuhyun said. "Your people should know you're not as nice as they think you are."
Siwon scribbled something on the paper then gave it to Donghae. They all looked at it. Siwon had added his condition.
If Donghae Lost:
Lee Donghae's villa in Wando would be transferred under Kim Kibum's name.
A hundred grand each would be transferred on the bank account under the name of: Cho Kyuhyun, Kim Kibum, Kim Yesung, Lee Eunhyuk and Lee Sungmin.
A hundred grand would be transferred on the bank account under Sandara Park's name and a personal apology given to her..
If Donghae Wins:
The 1928 Rolls Royce Phantom of Kim Kibum would be given to Lee Donghae including the papers of its ownership (as a gift to Im Yoona, the girl he's drooling over since nursery.)
A hundred grand each would be transferred under Lee Donghae's bank account from Cho Kyuhyun, Kim Kibum, Kim Yesung, Lee Eunhyuk and Lee Sungmin And Choi Siwon.
They all groaned when they saw what Siwon had written.
"You're making us look bad!" Kibum said exasperatedly.
"That's not my intent," Siwon said. "I wanted to make you feel bad."
They scowled and Donghae shook his head at Siwon. "By the time I'm finished with her, she's going to be thanking me for making her feel her femininity."
"If she's even feminine to begin with," Eunhyuk jibed earning chuckles from the guys and a shake of Siwon's head because they all knew Sandara Park is anything but that.
"Where is your head?! I told you to come here 7:30 because we need to formulate the script and do some edits on this trash you have written and now, not only you were late for an hour and 6 minutes but you have not even done enough research on our guests?! Do you know how long our company have worked to even get them to agree spend 30 minutes of their time on us?!"
Dara had her head tucked under her chin as her supervisor, Mr. Kraz, spit his anger on the almost crumpled script she had passed for his approval inside his office. Guess he didn't like it seeing as he was already breathing fire.
"Have you looked up Bigbang when you wrote this? Do you even know who they are? They are one of the most sought after artists in this generation and I can't believe, for the life of me, how you think Seung Ri is the main rapper and TOP as the main vocalist!"
Dara bit her tongue to keep herself from speaking because if she did, she would definitely lose this job. She have to think of her mother working two jobs and her brother already getting ready to graduate hgh school and go to college. She already spent almost all of last night trying to gather every information she could find on the internet, while typing the sequence of the show. She probably didn't know what she had already written as she was already nodding off on her table.
"Now we have to redo the script all over again," her supervisor continued. "And Bigbang would be coming here at 9:00 for the show. You have caused us so much wasted time!"
I already told you I didn't know Bigbang, you stupid moron. This is your job and you passed it on to me so you could flirt with the new accountant and party with your team last night. Big projects like this are supposed to go to those experienced writers and now you're blaming me for wasting time? She felt like her tongue is already bleeding for biting it too hard. She was contemplating whether staying here is actually worth it or if not, she could take a swing off this pesky ape's face.
"Your sequencing is hilarious!" Her boss still continuing his tirade. "Why is there no part of introduction on this?"
Because you said they were the most well known artist in the country, why the hell would they need to introduce themselves, idiot! She put her hand on her mouth so she could literally stop herself from speaking which her boss mistook as her trying to hold off crying.
"Now, you're going to cry?" Mr. Kraz said incredulously. "I don't know why CEO Siwon gave me a blubbering airhead."
Okay, that's it! She lifted her head up, fire in her eyes and ready to tell him what she thinks of him when Suzy knocked on the door and walked in.
"Mr. Kraz, calm down," Suzy said walking to stand beside Dara. "Dara already told you yesterday she hasn't got any experience in script writing. And she came to a place where music isn't really an essential part of life so just let her off easy." She put her arm on Dara's shoulder and pressed it on a little too hard silently telling Dara to keep her mouth shut.
Mr. Kraz sighed in resignation. If course. Suzy was one of their most prized TV host in CSW so it's no wonder he didn't contradict her as she smiled widely at him. He waved his hand in dismissal.
"Just get out of here. I'll get Bo to edit this crap." He already lifted his phone and Suzy had to drag Dara out of Mr. Kraz's office.
"Ow!" Dara said shaking off Suzy's hand making it's permanent print on her shoulder.
"You're going to thank me for saving you," Suzy said as they turned on the corner. "I can see your ears getting red and I know you're a breath away from opening your mouth and getting yourself fired again." Suzy had been her roommate in the dorm when she was starting college and they became fast friends. Suzy probably is the closest to a best friend she could have as she lost all contact of her high school friends after her father died.
"I think it'll be worth it if I can even get his nose bleeding," Dara said feeling sorry that she couldn't do even flicking his wig off his bald head.
Suzy faced her putting her hands on her hips. "Dara, think about what I told you. You're now a grown up woman. Act like a lady. Not like some hooligan who's going around threatening to punch someone's face."
Dara sighed, scowling. Yes, Suzy was right. She have to act like a lady. She graduated 4 years ago but stayed with her mom to help with their small laundry business when she realized they needed a bigger income as her brother is already going to college next year. This was her fourth job after getting fired for the last two just a couple of months ago and unofficially resigning on the last. Mouthing off smeone who pissed her is a part of her daily routine, which caused her to be kicked out in that small printing company and that radio station she had worked in after two days of being hired. And she was pretty lucky she didn't get arrested when she headbutt that snaky, perverted manager on that restaurant when he felt his hand sliding on her thigh when she fell asleep in the stock room wearing that ridiculous uniform. Maybe it's because the manager didn't have enough time to call the cops after she had rendered him unconscious. She stormed out of the restaurant not even bothering to ask for a paycheck on that 6 hours she worked busing tables.
She had spent almost a week trying to get another job and Suzy offered to refer her on CSW but she made her promise no more headbutting, cursing, or anything like that. Then she made her feel guilty by saying that her mother had worked three jobs, basically getting sleep for less than 5 hours, just to get enough funds to see her graduating and helping with her brother's education once she gets a job. She relented remembering her mother who used to wear jewelries at the time when Dara was so busy spending his father's money and now, her mom is wearing grubby clothes donated by their relatives as they already lost everything after finding out their father was in neck deep with debts. Suzy went on about how the people in CSW are professional and she have to act the position she would be given.
When she was scheduled for an interview, she received a call from her brother saying her mom was sent to the hospital from exhaustion and she realized, she really needed to get her act together. This is no longer highschool wherein she take things all in stride. Living in the moment. She have to plan. She have to act. And if that means she have to be like Suzy, all dainty and feminine and reserved and conversative then so be it. Just so she could keep a job. When she realized CSW is actually the TV network owned by Choi Siwon, her schoolmate, she made every way to see him and begged him to give her a job. Any job. Short of groveling on his feet, she told him he would never hear any complaints from her, she's going to be a model employee, she could work 24 hours a day if he asked. She just need a job. Siwon probably took pity on her and end up asking her what she knows about Production. He then sent her with recommendation on the Production team to be trained as a scriptwriter after she told him she graduated Journalism as her course.
"Fine," Dara said in resignation. "I'll try to keep my temper at bay." She rolled her eyes heavenward. "What I would do for money."
Suzy chuckled. "Maybe I should train you to be a girl. Look at what you're wearing. And your hair! Did you even put some powder in your face? You have to dress smart not like you're just going to the grocery or something. You have to be professional!"
Dara was about to defend herself when someone shouted, "Bigbang's here!"
Whatever Suzy had tried to teach her all flew out the window as she suddenly shrieked leaving Dara surprised. "Oh my god Bigbang's here!!" She turned on her heel and almost ran at the studio with Dara watching her with a wry expression.
"Lady my ass," Dara muttered as she walked to the studio letting out her breath. She watched as Suzy greeted the guests, now back to her ladylike diposition and she watched her as she greeted Bigbang. She watched as Suzy gently tucked her hair behind her ear as she conversed with them, smiling couteously, charming the guests. Even her hand gestures are graceful and poised. That is probably how she should act from now on. She honestly can't see herself as a dainty little ballerina. Or even understand why she needs to be like Suzy to keep a job. She graduated college with respectable marks. Why do they want to see how she dress up instead of seeing what's inside their head? People in this world are so judgmental.
"Dara, can you buy Mr. Kraz some coffee? I can't find Ji Sung."
She turned her head at Mei, one of the head scriptwriters, behind her with a bunch of papers in her hand. She tried to stop herself from swearing again. Now she's going to be that oaf's errand girl?
Okay, remember what Suzy told you. You need this job. You can just use this as an experience to get a better, real journalism job.
"He didn't give any money to buy coffee, did he?"
Mei shook her head as she tried to arrange the papers. "Just ask for reimbursement."
Dara scowled. She walked out of the studio to go to the café at the ground floor. She went in fishing her pocket for some money. She didn't notice the group of guys at the far corner falling silent when she went to the counter to order a latte.
Donghae and the rest of the guys were all looking at Dara as she bought a coffee and Donghae grimaced at the sight of her messy appearance.
"The clock's ticking," Kibum said smirking.
Donghae pressed the bridge on his nose in exasperation before standing up and going over to the girl wearing a tattered jeans, and by means tattered, it means tattered as it looks like it has been worn one too many times and a wrinkled shirt which she probably didn't iron before deciding to wear it today. He stood behind her wearing his most winning smile as the staff handed her the coffee
Dara turned around and stopped to see someone behind her. She stepped on the side to go around him but he did the same blocking her. She looked up at him ready to tell him to get out of her fucking way but then remembered what Suzy told her. Manners.
"Excuse me," she said but Donghae just stood in front of her smiling charmingly. Dara raised one of her eyebrows wondering why he's standing there blocking her way like an idiot. "Are you deaf?" She inwardly sighed. Manners Dara. Manners.
"First, you didn't apologize to me, now you're calling me deaf?" Donghae asked tilting his head.
Huh? She had no idea what he's talking about. Would he be somone she had beaten up before? At Dara's questioning look, Donghae explained he was the one she crashed into a couple of hours ago.
"You crashed into me near the elevator? And I helped you with your papers?" Donghae said.
"Oh,' Dara said remembering. "Okay. Sorry. Thank you." She stepped around Donghae to leave and Donghae could see his friends allmost dying in trying to hold their laughter. He ran in front of Dara stopping her from walking out of the café.
"We haven't seen each other for a long time and that's all you can say? No how are you or..." His voice faded at Dara's clueless expression. It would've been comical and he could've laughed if he wasn't the one being subjected to this. "You don't remember me?" How is that even possible? He was the person every girl remembers. He was voted as a president for three years straight in high school and voted for the School Visual during graduation. You would have to be pretty dumb to not remember someone as him!
Dara scrutinized his face trying to see if she even knows him. "Nope. Doesn't ring a bell," she said starting to walk but Donghae blocked her again. She looked at him starting to get irritated.
"Oh c'mon," Donghae said. "Are you trying to get back at me for jeopardizing your cousin's career?"
"Mister, you are mistaking me for someone else," Dara said her brows furrowed.
"You're Sandara Park, right?"
Dara looked surprised at knowing this guy knows her name. Then an unbidden thought came into her mind. "You're not one of those guys I beat up at Shin Dong High school, are you?" Oh just what she need. Her past coming to haunt her. She already tried to forget her delinquent days when her father died, swearing she will become a model citizen. Except for the swearing and fighting to defend herself.
Donghae looked shocked at what she said. "No. It's me. Donghae. Lee Donghae?"
Dara's head tilted looking clueless as ever.
"Lee Tuk High? The school's president?" Donghae is starting to get irritated as Dara's brows furrowed deeper. "The one you rallied against when your cousin lost? Choi Siwon's friend?"
"Ah..." Dara said but still looking like she does not remember. "You're my boss' friend. Hello." She really can't get what this conversation is about. "Is boss here?" She looked around but Donghae took her by the shoulders to face him looking like he's ready to throttle her. "You remember me now?" He could now hear Yesung snorting loudly.
"I don't," Dara said honestly. What is his problem?
Donghae looked so incredulous, his hands dropped from her shoulders ignoring his friends' not-so-subtle laughter. "I was the school's president. The school voted for me. Your cousin ran for president too and you rallied at the school gates telling people not to vote for me because I'm just a pretty face."
"What?" Dara said looking more lost. "From what I remember, I rallied against Kim Kibum. He's our school's president."
Donghae could only stand there, speechless for the first time. The guys are now laughing loudly, not even bothering to cover it and Dara turned to see where the laughter is coming from then caught sight of her boss. Oh shit. Be femine. Thank god she didn't let her cursing tongue get the better of her and tell this guy to get fuckin' lost. She stood up straight.
"Good morning boss," she greeted cheerfully before hastily picking up her feet and walking hurriedly out of the café. Donghae could only watch her go, still reeling at the thought that Dara didn't know him. That has got to be a joke!
The guys were all doubled over laughing and Kibum said, "Say goodbye to your Villa, Donghae."
Dara slowed her steps when she was well far from the café. Aish. Why is being a girl so friggin' hard? She could've handled that differently, showing her boss she deserves to be working at CSW. Or something worth more than a scriptwriter and having to work under Mr. Kraz's team who sole purpose in life is to challenge her determination to become a model employee. She could've just pretend she knows that Donghae guy or apologize for forgetting. Stupid. She was still reprimanding herself as she strode to the elevator when she caught sight of that mini drugstore at the far end of the building. She stared at it for a long time before glancing at the coffee in her hand. A smile crept up on her lips as she walked towards the drugstore.
Minutes later, she knocked on Mr. Kraz' office who is now getting ready to go to the studio to start Bigbang's interview. He scowled when he saw Dara walking in. Dara put on her most contrite expression.
"Mr. Kraz, I just want to tell you how sorry I am that I messed up the script," Dara said her voice sounding so apologetic. "I just... I thought I was already good enough to take up that job but I was wrong and I just want to tell you how extremely lucky I am that you took me under your wing. You are the best mentor any trainees could ever have and I'm thankful that I was placed here and I totally understand your anger at me earlier. I know it's unforgivable but I hope that, with your guidance, I can, at least, deserve to be in your team." She placed the coffee in his table. "Please accept my apology." She bowed her head, her shoulders drooped, looking weak and ready to cry as she stepped out of the office. Once she turned on the corner, she lift up her head, her smirk etched on her face as she took out the bottle of laxative from her pocket.
"I hope you enjoy your coffee," Dara said grinning as she dropped the empty bottle in the trash bin making a clanging sound.