She's crying.

She's fucking crying after he told her he loves her.

It's not definitely tears of joy, but something else. Something she's conflicted about. Something that hurts her inside.

"Dara," Jiyong called, trying to gather her in his arms but she stopped him.

He hates it when she cries. She's always been vulnerable in his eyes.

Fragile as glass like he's afraid she's going to break. And something tells him her world is crumbling right now. She didn't have to say but he could tell it. He'd been an expert in reading her with the little crumbs she drops aka showing her emotions, expressing her thoughts.

But it's still very frustrating, figuring her out on his own when this woman put up a massive invisible wall. One that says she can do everything on her own, thank you very much.

Fuck that, he's gonna tear that wall, no matter how long it takes. He'd been doing it for years, and he's not gonna stop now.

"Dara." He called her again and she cried even more, putting her hands on her face, muffling her cries.

Shit. She's in pain, he's in pain.

Is he professing his love to her really that bad?

He knew it was not the right timing, but he needed her to know about this. Where he was coming from, because in the next day or so her life is about to change, their lives changing.

She wouldn't stop crying, and worse, she wouldn't let him console her. Her whole body language shows she doesn't want anyone holding her right now. And that pained him so much.

His chest tightened just looking at her — dressed in a white flowing gown soiled by the recent events, yet she still looked breathtakingly stunning to him. Her makeup was long gone, but she had always been a natural beauty, with or without makeup. She's always been beautiful.

She consistently took his breath away.

Her pink, plump lips trembled, and he wanted nothing more than to kiss her senseless right now, whispering assurances of love that everything would be alright. The tiara pinned in her disheveled, long brown hair, with a few highlights in her crown, made her look like a queen — his queen.

He thought he almost lost her. When she didn't respond to any of his texts and calls today, he knew something was wrong. He asked his spies if they'd seen her today and one mentioned they saw her in a salon downtown Malcom with Kim Jaejoong.

He was angry back then and still is angry now. It took longer than he expected to find out what she was doing there and why with Kim with the latter telling him the specific details much later in the car earlier.

But by the time he found out the whole party she was attending is in the fucking Yorkville, it was too late for him to do anything.

She's already there. Once he found out about it, he sent some of his undercover men to that party to look for her but then she was already gone, headed back home, thank God.

But then she won't still answer his calls, he needed to know where she's at to make sure she's safe. Send one or two or maybe ten cars convoying her inconspicuously behind to make sure she's fine.

He was beyond worried and frustrated. How hard it is for her to inform him she's going to Yorkville today? She never mentioned it to him. But then, this is Dara. She never mentions anything to him.

He had to find everything on his own. Damn this infuriating woman he loves so much.

Might as well call him a masochist.

And then when she finally contacted him, she gotta dropped the bomb that she'd been chased by no other than Big Teddy. Woojae sending his most loyal henchman after Dara is a clear message to him.

He knew right away that she had been targeted. Woojae deemed Dara very important...to Jiyong, his archenemy in this dangerous gang rivalry. Woojae figured it out right away with that one meeting at Crab Crass Bistro. That G-Dragon finally has a weakness, a woman he loves.

And Dae confirmed his suspicions, the motherfucker put Dara in his sadistic red list and her life is in danger...forever.

Until Jiyong finally put Woojae in his place - and that would be six feet underground. The motherfucker.

"Dara," he called her for the third time.

This time, she looked up still with that tear-stricken beautiful face of hers.

He showed her a small smile. His anger dissipates. She needs him right now, no matter how she denies it.

"You don't have to tell me anything about it," He gulped. "my confession. I love you and I just want to let you know that." He gave her a pleading look next. "But please...please let me protect you."

She didn't answer him, she still looked conflicted and definitely hiding something else.

Always hiding something else.

She then shook her head. "No. I mean, I don't know." She looked down and when she looked up again to meet his gaze with that alluring brown eyes of hers, she looked more determined...on something. Like she decided something that involved him but won't tell him.

As usual.

"I have to go home." She said, wiping the tears in her eyes.

He wanted her to stay with him here, this weekend — forever, but held his tongue, nodding instead. "I'll drive you home."

She shook her head again. "I'll take a cab." She averted her gaze from him as she added, "I want to be alone."

She didn't want to be with him. She rather has a stranger drive her than him. His chest tightened again as he nodded at her.

"I'll arrange that for you." His voice was small and weak. He wanted to hug her, to touch her but then she was still on guard...about something.

She turned his back as she headed to his room, not saying anything to him again. She's probably going to change into much more comfortable clothes. She has her separate dresser in his room, afterall, stocked with designer clothes he provided for her a few weeks ago.

He sighed deeply once he was alone as he drank the remaining whisky Dae had given him earlier which he didn't drink until now.

If Dara leaves and won't talk to him for god knows how long, he might drink himself to death for distraction until she finally talks to him again.

Yes, he's that pathetic.

He was on his second glass of whisky when she came back to him, still dressed in that beautiful dress.

She turned around so her back was facing him.

"I need help taking off the dress." She said.

He knew what she meant but still, he held his breath when she gathered her brown locks straying from her bun and tucked them on her right side, giving him a perfect view of her pale, slender neck.

Finally. Finally, he could touch her.

He wasted no time, reaching for the zipper of her dress. Deliberately touching her warm skin, he noticed goosebumps there as he gently caressed her. Restraining himself from embracing her from behind, he stepped forward until her back was against his chest. She smelled so good, and the temptation to bury his face in her hair was strong.

He just wanted her close.

He didn't realize he was holding his breath as he zipped her dress down...slowly and taking his sweet time. Making sure his fingers came in contact with her warm skin as she tried not to flinch with his touch.

The dress was completely zipped down now and he was looking at her bare and naked back. She's not wearing a bra. The strap of her dress loosened on her shoulders as she gathered the front of her dress to prevent it from slipping down completely.

This is probably the first time he has seen her like this...bare and less. Unassumingly sexy.

The first time and definitely won't be the last time.

Before he could stop himself, his right hand reached for her bare back, fingers caressing her warm skin, earning a soft gasp from her.

It's definitely torture having her so close like this yet he cannot intimately touch her. He has always been gentlemanly around her.

There's always a right time for that. Now, is not the time.

Well, except when he kisses her. Damn, he always wants to kiss her. Like right now.

"I have to go." She murmured as she started to walk, her knees wobbly at first but she managed to steady herself and then disappeared to his room.

He sighed once she was gone. His willpower was running thin and he didn't know how long he could stop himself from kissing her...and more.

But the discussion about that is probably thrown out the window, she is mad that he's a gangster. She didn't say it out loud but she was definitely disappointed.

Maybe if she's willing to hear him again — once they're past the shock and not emotional, he could tell her more about it. About his life, about his world.

Because whether she likes it or not, she's part of his world now.

--------

Soon, Dara returned to the living room clad in comfortable clothes – a grey hoodie, black jeans, and white sneakers. Her brown hair flowed freely on her shoulders, noticeably shorter, giving her a more youthful look. Though, the expression on her face remained unreadable.

Jiyong sipped his third glass of whisky, feeling a bit tipsy now as he awaited Dara's words, his gaze fixed on her.

She met his gaze, glanced at his half-empty glass first, and then back at his face, her lips pursed.

"Since you're drunk, I think we're done talking here?"

He wanted to scoff. They hadn't really talked much, but whatever. "I'm not drunk," he said as he finished his drink and placed the empty glass on the table. He then walked towards her, stopping in front of her, where her sweet, unique scent filled his nose.

"Yes, you are." She argued.

He shrugged. "Since I'm not driving you, might as well help myself to a drink," he said nonchalantly. "It's not like you care."

She seemed like she wanted to argue more. "It's my first time seeing you drink alcohol." She whispered after a while.

He ignored her scolding tone. "Many firsts about me are coming your way, Dara." He smirked, barely reaching his eyes. "At least you're finally getting to know me, right?"

She shook her head, turning her back to him, heading for the door when he stopped her by the arm. His grip on her was tight.

She glared at him while his gaze at her was one of longing. He didn't want to let her go.

"My men will be watching you from a distance," he told her. "Making sure District 1 is not after you again." He closed his eyes briefly as he heaved a deep sigh. "This will be a temporary setup, people trailing you, but as long as you're in Malcom, District 7 will provide you with protection."

She gritted her teeth. "Speaking like a true gangster," sarcasm lacing her voice. "District 1, District 7, red list, VIP. Too many vocabularies. What else do I need to know, GD?"

He clenched his jaw. "You can always ask me questions, Dara."

She raised her hands in frustration. Her mouth was about to release a curse when the last inch of his restraint cut down. He pulled her closer to him and crashed his lips onto hers, surprising her.

He took advantage when she released a soft gasp, allowing him to insert his tongue, deepening the kiss.

She moaned and he groaned upon hearing it as he gently pushed her against the wall. He couldn't get enough of her as he kissed her breathlessly, swallowing the curses and moans from her.

She put her hands on his chest, and he thought she would push him, but she surprised him when she pulled him closer to her, answering his kiss.

The joy in his heart was evident as his initially intense kiss softened, becoming gentler, savoring every moment of it.

Just when he thought they could stay like this longer, perhaps forever, she pulled away from the kiss, breathless and staring into his eyes.

He reached for her, kissing her once more. Once. Twice. And more. Planting kisses on her face – her forehead, her eyes, her nose, her cheeks, and her mouth.

"Please stay with me tonight," he murmured on her lips, staring back at her.

She looked conflicted again, briefly glancing at his place, appearing somber before turning her gaze back to him.

"I'm outta here," she whispered as she weakly pushed him away.

He took a step back, giving her the distance she needed, even if that simple rejection felt like piercing his heart.

She walked towards the door, opened the doorknob, and was about to leave but not before giving him one last look and a reminder.

"I want my role back. I hope you're not forgetting that." Her words before she left his apartment.

He looked down, shaking his head. Of course, that's what all matters to her.

Her role and nothing else. As if they didn't just share a passionate kiss. As if she was not suddenly thrust into a gangster world. His world.

Her interest in him was only minuscule. Or maybe she really didn't care. Didn't care about him, at all.

--//--//tbc

a/n: Somber Jiyong :( Thanks for reading. Please leave me some votes & comments. See you in the next chapter.