China Doll [DaraGon/NyongDal]

{ 04 }

{ 04 }

"WHAT THE HELL, PARK SANDARA." Minji, Chaerin, and Bom deadpanned as I told them about my acceptance for the role. It is quite obvious that they're not happy with how things turned out. Mukhang mas gugustuhin pa talaga nilang sila na lang ang magpakain sa akin kaysa tumanggap ng trabaho kung saan kasama ko si Jiyong.

"Are you freaking insane, girl?!" Nanggigigil na tanong sa akin ni Minji. "Seryoso ka na ba talagang gawin 'yan, Dara?"

Huminga ako ng malalim bago nagsalita. "C'mon, it's just a job, girls. Besides, kahit ano pang sabihin ninyo, nakapirma na ako ng kontrata. Hindi naman pwedeng mag-back out na lang ako dahil lang sa personal matters!"

"This is a big deal, Dara." Singit agad ni Bom. "We've seen how wrecked you were because of this guy. Hindi mo rin naman siguro kami masisisi kung ganito kami mag-alala sa'yo," paalala niya.

Tumango-tango si Chaerin. "Bom's right. We just want to be assured that you're going to be okay, Dee."

I softly smiled at them. "I love you guys for worrying this much about me, but I swear I'm gonna be fine. As I've said, that was forever ago and I've learned. I don't want to be caught up in Jiyong's schemes again. Tinanggap ko ang trabahong 'to because I know that this is a big break."

Nagkatinginan silang tatlo bago bumaling sa akin. "Alright then," Minji conceded, sighing. "We don't want to hinder your opportunities, Dee. Ang sa amin lang, we don't want you to get hurt or you're definitely pulling out of that project." She threteaned.

Napangisi ako bago sumaludo. "Yes, ma'am!" Natatawang sagot ko.

Inakbayan ako ni Bom. "O sige, tama na ang drama. Didn't you tell us that you still have a meeting for script reading tomorrow?"

My eyes widened when I remembered. "Oh shoot. Yup, thanks for the reminder Bommie. 9 AM nga pala 'yun!"

Natawa na lang silang tatlo. "You're really scatterbrained. I wonder how you'd memorize your lines, Dara." Chaerin teased and I sent her a narrow look.

"You'll see, Chaerin-ah! I'll surprise you." Nakangisi kong sagot bago dumiretso sa kwarto para magpahinga.

--

I arrived at the KBS building at quarter to nine. Pambawi man lang sa grabe kong lateness no'ng nakaraang meeting. Dumiretso ako sa receptionist para magtanong. "Good morning. I'm looking for Ms. Song Hwayoung."

The receptionist smiled back. "Ms. Song from the Casting Department?" Tumango ako bago siya nagsalita muli. "Just head to the ninth floor, miss."

Tumago ako at nagpasalamat bago dumiretso sa elevator. I quickly pushed the up button and looked around while waiting for the lift when I caught sight of a familiar guy who was walking towards the elevator himself.

I wasn't sure how many times I blinked just to make sure that my eyes weren't tricking me. When the man stood next to me, my assumptions were confirmed.

He's the sort of drunk guy who tried to hit on me last time!

Hindi ko na namalayan kung gaano katagal ko siyang tinitingnan. I was even surprised when he turned his head to me and his eyes widened, too. "Hey, you look familiar." He spoke before cocking his head to one side, his eyebrows furrowing in confusion. "Have we met before?"

He's tall. Even taller than Jiyong. I think this guy's approximately ten centimeters taller, or something around those numbers. He has a sharp jaw and his features were what you'd call chiseled.

"Oh right!" He snapped his fingers before grinning down at me. "I remember now. You're that girl from the bar last time!" Excited niyang pahayag.

Just in time, the elevator came. I quickly stepped inside and he swiftly followed me inside. We were alone inside the elevator and it was kind of weird to stay in one lift with a stranger who tried to hit on you.

Tahimik ko dapat na pipindutin ang '9' na button nang maunahan niya ako. Nilingon niya ako. "What floor will you be in?"

"Same," tipid kong sagot bago tinanggal sa kanya ang atensyon ko.

"I'm really surprised though." Simula niya. "What are you doing here? You're an actress, too?" Curious nitong tanong.

Tumaas ang kilay ko. Too? Does that mean he's an actor? Oh well, I internally shrugged my shoulders. He definitely has the looks for it.

"Just a newbie." I responded, and he laughed.

"You're too humble. Everyone starts as a newbie, you know?" Nagkibit siya ng balikat. "I'm a newbie myself in acting. I started out as a model, then someone offered me to do a drama in the past so I thought, why not? Wala namang mawawala sa akin." He smiled. "And then I gradually began liking it, hanggang sa andito na ako ngayon."

"Well, first major project ko kasi 'to. I've been in a few print ads here and there but nothing as big as this."

He tapped my shoulder briefly before speaking. "You've got nothing to worry about. Sigurado namang tutulungan ka ng staffs at co-stars mo." The elevator made its resounding 'ping!', signaling that we're already on the ninth floor. Sabay kaming lumabas. "Speaking of, ano nga palang project mo?"

Akmang sasagot na sana ako nang marinig ko ang pamilyar na boses ni Ms. Song Hwayoung. "Dara-ssi, Kiyong-ssi! Come, the conference room is this way!" Maligaya niyang bati sa amin bago tumalikod.

Nagkatinginan kami. "Devil Beside You?!" Namimilog ang mga matang sabay naming sabi bago kami natawa. "What a coincidence," he chuckled.

He held out his hand in front of me. "I'm Kiyong. Jang Kiyong. And I'm sorry for hitting on you last time." He said, his eyes disappearing into a grin.

I smiled back as I reached for his hand. "Park Sandara. You can call me Dara, though. And no worries, we're co-workers now, aren't we?" I laughed into the handshake.

"That's good to know." Sagot niya naman, hindi pa rin bumibitiw. "I'm glad to meet you here, Dara."

As much as it's weird to admit it, I'm also glad to meet a familiar face here too. Isa pa, magaan ang loob ko kay Kiyong. He looks really nice and dependable, kahit na mukha siyang mahilig mangulit at iisang letra lang ang pinagkaiba ng pangalan niya sa pinaka-nakakairitang lalaki na nakilala ko.

"Would you two mind not hogging the hallway to yourselves?" Epal ng isang boses. Agad kaming napabitaw ni Kiyong sa isa't-isa at napalingon.

Of course, who else would it be other than the great Kwon. Lihim ko siyang inirapan at magma-martsa na sana para sundan si Ms. Song nang marinig ko ang malamyos na tinig ng tawa ng isang babae.

I turned around, only to find myself faced with a really beautiful woman. She was smiling as she slapped Jiyong's arm. "C'mon, Jiyong, you're being mean." Saway nito bago bumaling sa amin ni Kiyong. "You're also in Devil Beside You, right?" Sabay kaming tumango ni Kiyong.

"Nice meeting you, I'm Im Yoona and I'll be your co-worker, too." She introduced with a sweet smile.

Tumango si Kiyong at ngumiti. "It's nice to meet you, too. I'm Jang Kiyong."

"If I'm not mistaken, we've met before, right? Sa grand opening ng SMTOWN sa COEX Artium?" She amicably conversed.

Kiyong nodded. "Yup. I was with fellow models at that time."

Yoona nodded before turning towards me. Napalunok ako. "I'm Park Dara, it's nice to meet you, too, Yoona-ssi." I meekly introduced.

Yoona smiled. "No need for such formalities. You can call me Yoona."

Tumango na lang ako. "You can call me Dara, too."

"Have you guys met Jiyong?" Tanong niya. I nodded, and Kiyong did too. Pumalakpak si Yoona. "Now that we got the formalities out of the way, shall we?" She asked, smiling, before pulling Jiyong's arm. "Let's go, Ji," malamabing niyang tawag bago sila naunang tumuloy sa conference hall.