Dragon's Butterfly (Hiatus)

Pawn 020

Park Sandara

-months later-

"You sure you really want to go back to Busan for the winter break, Dara?" Bom asked me from the doorway as she watched me pack some of my clothes.

"Yeah," I told her, hoping it would be convincing. "I miss my mother and brother, you know."

Bom sighed and helped me stuff my tiny bag of toiletries. "You're so lucky, Dara. Gosh, I wish my parents would even come back here in Seoul and won't think all about their freaking business like they don't have a daughter at all. Tch."

I patted her arm. "Bommie, they care for you, you know. Why else would they send you to YGU, right?"

"To become the one to handle all the crap they started," she said sarcastically. "Oh well, I still owe them one. If they weren't for them, I don't think we'd meet."

I smiled, remembering. We were still kids then in Busan when we first met. We didn't know at first that we were cousins—we were actually awkward with each other. When we learned that my father and Bom's mother were siblings, we somewhat got okay with each other, playing with some of her dolls at her room. We really got close when Bom's parents were always away, and I would be there always for company.

"But I'll really miss you," Bom puffed up her cheeks. "Can't you just stay here instead and have fun with me and CL? I mean—the temperature's too harsh to travel right now!"

"That's why I'm leaving early so the weather won't catch up with me," I said. "And I think Omma wants me to visit—you know how she gets if I don't."

Bom huffed, admitting defeat. When I set down my bags, she enveloped me into a tight hug.

"Take care, Dara, neh? And oh—say hi to Sanghyun and Auntie for me."

I smiled at her as we broke off from the hug. "I will, of course. If you want, I'll bring some corn and crab for you." Bom beamed in delight; crab and corn are two of Bom's favorite things. Our moment was interrupted when we heard the doorbell ringing madly.

"Bom-ah! Sandara-ah! You have visitors outside!" we heard the landlady call out behind the door.

"Tell them we're coming, ahjumma!" Bom called back. "Wait—who are they?"

"Aigoo, I don't know! But I'm pretty sure they're from the same university where you girls go. Go down and attend to them!" With that, we heard her footsteps fading.

Bom and I looked at each other warily before we decided to leave our unit. We took the elevator to take us down and we saw CL, Seungri and Daesung standing near the main door. CL, seeing us, quickly ran and pounced at me, making me almost lose my balance.

"Lee Chaelin!" Bom and Seungri scolded her, but CL ignored them.

"Unnie!" she wailed. "Is it true??"

I blinked. "What is?"

She held me at arm's length as she scowled. "That you're leaving for Busan!"

I chuckled softly and mussed her blonde hair. "I'm sorry, CL, but I will. I need to see my family, you know?"

CL pouted, looking like a cat that never got the cream. "Unnie, you should've told me sooner!"

"Correction sis, us," Seungri muttered, throwing me a sad look. CL turned to stick her tongue at him and he stuck his tongue back. Daesung rolled his eyes at the twins' antics.

"But anyway, noona," Daesung said, walking up to us, "Aside from the fact that we feel quite bad because you didn't tell anything about this, we're also here to wish you a safe trip back to Busan. It's quite far now especially on this cold weather."