Love Him For Me

Chapter 21- Loving Hurt, Loving Heals

Dara is a bit nervous. This is only her second time replacing Betty to sing in Prince Cafe and the first one was like a year ago. The band members knew that if Dara is their main vocals, they should do most of the songs acoustic. Acoustic is her forte. So everyone got busy due to last minute changes on their repertoire.

She didn't get the chance to really dress up so she just doned a white long sleeved sweatshirt with a vest, jeans and boots as her outfit for tonight.

They will start performing in about fifteen minutes so Dara started vocalizing and stretching her fingers as she would also play the guitar in some of their songs.

Meanwhile, Jiyong's been driving for an hour around Busan looking for cafe's with live band. It was especially difficult for him to find where Dara could be singing since he can't roll his window down afraid he might get recognized. His lamborghini is already getting attention by itself.

He thought of going to the coffeeshop where Dara worked to ask around but then he remembered he can't, so he ended up driving around the area when he happened to pass by a small cafe with few people inside. He can't tell if there's live band singing so he rolled down his window a little and sure enough, he heard a familiar voice singing and it's coming from inside the cafe. He looked for a parking space a few blocks away and with his usual jacket and hoodie on, he walked his way towards the cafe. Good thing the inside is dim, nobody can easily recognize him. He looked for the dimest part of the cafe and when he found the perfect spot, he positioned himself there.

Dara is singing the last three of their songs for their last set. She is starting to feel a little relieved that their performance is ending.

Jiyong listened with closed eyes to Dara as she sings some of popular songs beautifully. She would sometimes even change the arrangement of it to make it sound uniquely hers.

It's down to their last song but Jiyong wanted to hear some more. He has never enjoyed a performance like this in his entire life and he wanted more. When she finished singing, Jiyong shouted: "More!!! Encore!!!"

Dara was about to leave the stage when she suddenly heard someone shouted 'more' She wanted to see who it was but the spotlight blinded her eyes.

Then the rest of the people inside started to shout "More, more!" as well.

The band members looked at her asking her to grant the audience's request. She went to them and whispered the next song she's going to sing.

She positioned herself back to the stool where she's seated the entire time with guitar on her hand. Before singing she wanted to give a short talk.

"Good evening everyone, I hope you're all having a good time. The last song I'll be singing for tonight is a special song for me. Every time I get to sing here, I sing this song. I heard it somewhere and fell in love with it since then. But I know the songs not mine and I shouldn't be singing it in the first place but please allow me to sing it one last time. Hope you like it as I did. Here it goes."

Then she started strumming the guitar.

As Jiyong listened to Dara while she talks on stage, she looks awkward and natural at the same time and he thought it's kind of cute. Then he imagined what it would be like if he peformed on a stage with her. The idea made him smile.

But his smile faded away as soon as Dara started playing the guitar.
He was shocked. He couldn't believe his own ears. Dara is singing his song...

Loving can hurt
Loving can hurt sometimes
But it's the only thing that I know
When it gets hard
You know it can get hard sometimes
It is the only thing that makes us feel alive