The One Who Got Away

Chapter 15

Back at her car with Bom at the wheel, Dara pulled out her phone and scrolled through her contacts. At last, she found the number she’d thought she wouldn’t ever use. Although subconsciously maybe she did think she’d have some use for it because she still saved his number.

She pressed call and waited for the owner to pick up his phone. It was rude not bothering with the niceties but she’d gone past beyond caring. She didn’t even introduce herself. As soon as her call got through she said, “Sunbae, where is he?” 

There was no need to clarify who was the “he” she was looking for. The person on the phone got it right away. There was no need to identify herself either, he’d been waiting for her to call him after printing carefully his number on all the packages he’d been sending her for the past years.

He couldn’t hide the excitement from his voice, “He’s here at YG for the day. He has a recording session for his upcoming solo album.” He didn’t need any coaxing to disclose confidential YG information. Others might say he was being a disloyal manager but this is Dara he’s talking to. He’d do anything to get the two back together.

“Sunbae, don’t let him know I’m coming but don’t let him leave until I get there. I’m already on my way.” Dara told him.

“Okay. Don't worry. Leave it up to me. I’ll also tell the front desk that you’re expected. I’ll also tell them to show you where the studio he’s at.”

Soonho was beyond pleasantly surprised to hear her voice on the phone. In fact he was ecstatic. He was a little bothered hat Dara sounded cold and detached on the phone but he shrugged it off. He’s just so excited at the possibility that things finally might look up for his charge now that Dara’s getting back into the picture.

A few minutes later Dara was walking into the YG building when she stopped midstride as a screaming, running panda was making its way towards her, “Noona!!!!! Noonaaaa... Ow!!!Ow!!Ouuuuuch!!!!” His excited yapping turned to yelps of pain. Bom had grabbed his ear and held on to his hatchet earring. “Noona! Help me!!! Who is this monster?!!!?”

Dara couldn’t help but smile at the antics of Big Bang’s maknae. The years didn’t seem to dull this man-child mischievous spirits. She turned to Bom and looked at her as if to say, ‘Go easy on the child.’
Bom sighed. She was just about to get started.

She let go of the earring, transferred her hold to his ear and gave it a sharp tug before letting go. He yelped once more in response. “That’s just a sample of what I can do to you if you don’t cooperate. Start walking, boy. Take us to your leader.” The Bominator was having fun playing gangster. 

He obediently led the way to the studio. He turned puppy dog eyes to Dara and wailed, “How could you let her do this to me? I thought I’m your favorite Big Bang member?” He held on to his sore ear. “You know you’d only have to ask and I’d say yes. Because you’re my favorite Noona. But you let her hurt me!!”

He threw a glare at Bom who threw him an ‘I’m watching you’ hand signal. He pouted.

Despite herself Dara chuckled at Seungri’s childish act. “I’m sorry Seungri-ah. I’ll make it up to you some other time. I need to settle somethings with Jiyong first.”

At the mention of Jiyong, Seungri sobered up. “I think it’s high time you do, Noona. He’s no fun ever since you left him. And he keeps on making those sad, love songs of his. It’s depressing. He's depressing.”

Dara didn’t know how to react to that so she just kept on walking. A few steps later, Seungri stopped in front of a door. “He’s in there, Noona.” He gestured towards the door.

Dara stood hesitating at the door. She was so bent on venting her anger earlier that she hadn’t thought that far ahead on what to say to him. Now that she’s here, she’s starting to feel her nerves acting up.

“Yah!” Bom hissed at her. “You can’t back out now. We’ve already come this far.”

“What do I say? What should I do, Bom?” She turned frantic eyes toward her friend. 

“Aish! Sandara Park! Are you forgetting yourself? You’re a freaking radio DJ, you speak for a living. Now you tell me you don’t know what to say? Get your butt in there and do what you came her to do.” She berated her friend. 

Sandara stood stock still in front of the door. Bom sighed in exasperation. “Ugh. You’re gonna hate me for what I’ll do next but you’ll thank me for it later.”

She looked at Seungri. Gestured at the door with a slight shake of her head while looking at him. The boy was quick, she’d give him that. He has his uses after all. He nodded in understanding. Seungri grabbed the knob and flung the door open. Bom then quickly pushed her frozen friend into the room. As soon as Dara stumbled her way inside Bom turned to Seungri and said, “Quick! Palli! Shut the door and don’t let her out.”

Dara was startled from her trance at Bom’s push. Before she knew it the door had clicked shut behind her. She frantically tried to turn the knob but an opposite force from the other side of the door countered her efforts.

“Shit! Shit! Shit!” She was trapped. 

“No one’s allowed in here except the producers and me. I’m sorry but I have to ask you to leave.” She heard a voice behind her speak.

‘Fxxk! I’m seriously fxxked!’ She turned her game face on, squared her shoulders and slowly turned towards the man who had unknowingly haunted both her nightmares and dreams all these years.