TIME WARP: I'll Always Remember... (Dani)

[Jared Park]

older!Jared
older!Jared’s outfit (sans the tie)

Set in 2017. Somewhere along the East Coast.

Jared let out a loud sigh as he fumbled with his tie in front of the mirror. Embarrassing as it was, he was shaking. Jittery, nervous, on the edge. It was like he travelled back in time and transformed into the jumpy boy he was six years ago. “Get a hold of yourself Park,” he said as he saw himself in the mirror, giving himself a disappointed grin in the process, “You’re not some squeamish fifteen year-old. And besides, it’s not like this’ll be the first time you’ll be taking Dani for a date right?”

True. In fact, he’s been taking the said girl into a number of different dates already for the past two years. Amazing? He himself couldn’t believe it.

Back in Hammel, he would never have thought about being with Danicca. No kissing, cuddling, holding hands – nothing too intimate. Heck, he doesn’t even feel safe being in the same room as her back then, spending most of his years terrified with the tricks she had up in her sleeves. And while he won’t deny that through some twisted trick of fate he felt something for the girl during the latter part of his stay, the fact still remains that she was a force to be reckoned, someone he’d dare not trifle with. It was only when they met again in post-secondary (no, he totally did not follow her to the said university; whatever gave you that idea?) did the boy find the courage to ask her out for the first time. It didn’t go as smoothly as he had planned, but at least it led to another. And another. And another.

After over ten minutes of fumbling, Jared decided to simply let go of the tie, opting to open his shirt up until two buttons and simply closing his vest. It wasn’t the most formal thing he could go, but at least it would give emphasis to the necklace Dani gave to him just over a year ago.

It was only when he saw that he has less than an hour left to get to Dani’s place did he finally stop feeling doubtful about how he looks (he seriously thinks his bangs are atrocious), grabbed the bouquet from his bed and made a dash for his car outside his apartment.

Instead of ringing the doorbell when he got to her place, he stood outside and grabbed his phone, grinning widely as he sent a text message. Hello sexy, it reads, My horoscope tells me it’s my lucky day. Is it really my lucky day today?

And no, he is totally not being sentimental or anything. Not at all.

[/blockquote][/font]

[Danicca Waylan]

[D]A[N]I[C]C!?

Outfit pt. un. Outfit pt. deux. Beloved Jared-gifted earrings

Dani had been getting ready for about two hours, which while not strange for a woman of her age on such a momentous occasion as this, was certainly strange for Dani. She had never put so much effort into her appearance as she had since the six-month mark with Jared, and the time she spent making sure the outfit looked just the right amount of sexy and totally-not-planned-at-all-whatsoever kept increasing by small increments. And now look where she was, wearing a dress of all things--over tights, sure, but it still counted as a dress--and earrings that were gifted to her and she only took off to clean. It was the tight, hem-high-on-the-thigh kind of dress that showed off the body that had developed very nicely since her fifteenth year. She had gained a few inches in height. Her chest had filled out, giving her some nice cleavage to show off if she wanted, and her body had developed the in-just-the-right-places kind of curves that she found, in combination with the aforementioned cleavage, made it difficult when trying to work on a team project with her male classmates, as Dani's University of Connecticut physics professor was fond of making them do.

As she checked herself one more time in the mirror, she let her mind drift back over the last six years, trying to figure out how, exactly, it had gotten this way. In high school Dani was a menace, especially towards Jared for some reason, and now, today, they were hitting the two-year mark of being together. They had both changed, she supposed, although the changes for her were mostly in appearance in her opinion, and for him... Well, Jared had certainly filled out, become handsome and the kind of man that would have ten girls and three guys hanging off of him at any one time if they weren't all terrified of Dani. There had actually been one smack-down, drag-out fight that she really hoped Jared hadn't heard about in the second month of their relationship that had ended with Dani having several bruises in very obvious places and a pulled wrist muscle. She told Jared she had fallen down the stairs, although she could tell in the tightening of his eyes that he didn't believe her. No matter what, though, she insisted that was what happened every time she got into any kind of scuffle--which yes, she still did get into those--that left marks that couldn't be covered with clothing.

She wasn't as bad, though. She had been changing for the better--taking anger management classes, not pulling childish pranks on, well, everyone as often as she had before, and actually holding two steady jobs alongside her Higher Education(Which consisted of physics and engineering, although she was really getting interested in genetics as of late): a nighttime waitress at a diner, and a weekend salesperson at a trendy chain store. She hadn't gotten into anything with any customers so far, so that was a plus, although everyone made sure that she hadn't worked on April Fool's Day this year--she had gone a little overboard in the Employee Joke Challenge at the diner the year before. Hopefully, there would be as little trouble and as high grades and good times in her relationship in the rest of this year as there had been before.

Pulling out an unopened tube of lipstick, she contemplated whether she should or shouldn't, then decided what the hell, and leaned into the mirror, popping the cap off and applying the bright red substance to her lips carefully. She leaned back, satisfied, and smiled at herself.

"Screw it," She said to the empty room, scowling. "I'm changing back into my jeans"

Before she could even pull her jeans back out, though, her cell phone buzzed obnoxiously and nearly jumped off of the cluttered-looking desk it was sitting on. Dani dove to catch it and picked it up just before it buzzed itself to a hard-wood-floored injury--she didn't want another crack in the screen, or worse, for the poor old thing to die once and for all. She could afford a new one, if she asked her father nicely, but she wanted to prove that she could support herself, and she had been doing well so far. Only once had she required parental assistance, and it was to pay the deposit on the building she was currently renting--two bedrooms, one and a half baths, a nearly nonexistent but perfectly grassy yard, all wrapped up in a blue-painted, white-trimmed exterior for $400 a month. She had to eat strictly ramen most of the time, and any new clothes came from the Goodwill, not to mention exceptionally long travel time from there to school, but it was because of all of that that she could call this place hers--mostly, anyway. It was still a rental.

Dani's heart did an overexcited flaildance in her chest for about half a second when she read the text message, and she forgot about how she looked, sprinting down her stairs and throwing the door open, a look on her face akin to a tiger looking at its dinner, although she felt more like a kid at Christmas, opening the door and seeing Jared. She stepped up to him and reached up with both hands to tug at his shirt collar, pulling him closer to her as she did every time he picked her up, which was her way of asking for a kiss. "Depends," She said in response to his text. "I hope you're not busy."

Of course, she wasn't getting sentimental either. Not at all.

[Jared Park]

older!Jared
older!Jared’s outfit (sans the tie)

Graduating Hammel and moving on to earn a post-secondary degree hasn’t been all that easy for Jared. Not because of the financial backing he’d need (his parents were more than willing to help him through it; oh the joys of having Asian parents), but mostly because he didn’t know where to go. Unlike Dani, he totally had no idea about his career path. He was definitely not cut out for medicine like his older brother, nor was he for accounting like his sister. He was considering taking a degree in political science and pursuing a career in law during his junior year in Hammel, but all that went down to the drain when he took a law elective and failed miserably. In the end, he decided to apply for (and miraculously, got in) a degree for mechanical engineering despite his lack of notable mathematical skill. He is thinking of shifting into another course – either computer engineering, architecture or something as far-off as literature – come the next semester though.

He is forever thankful however that the campus experience wasn’t as horrible as the initial selection process he’s endured. In fact, he could say that it’s the only thing that kept him in the said university. Despite his brother’s advice (Jasper claims joining a student organization early on might hamper his academic performance), he applied for the campus dance crew and got accepted. All those practices and routines he’s been doing has helped him mature and grow into his body wonderfully, his already active metabolism working with the intense workouts he does on a weekly basis sculpting his body rather well. (He still insists that it isn’t the case, even when Dani says it). Being in a high-profile ‘club’ also helped boost his popularity to unimaginable proportions, something he’s fairly sure Dani isn’t too happy about (especially the part where there are times when she sees him surrounded by ‘adoring fans’ he says).

If you ask him how he’s managed to keep himself sane and grounded through the extremes of his student life, he’d have a ready answer in a heartbeat: Dani. (Cheesy yes, but then again despite his ‘cool’ exterior, he’s still mighty dense and immature inside).


And as always, once he felt his collars tugged, he immediately indulged the mimic, planting a light one on her lips as he wrapped his arms around her waist. (Not that she needed to tell him every time they meet though; he’s just as eager to kiss her as she is anyway). “Well, I do have to take an incredibly noisy and scary girl to a date tonight, but I could just ditch her if you want,” teased the boy as he pulled out. Yes, it’s rather obscure and not to witty really, but then again, old habits die hard.

His grin got even wider when he had the chance to look at Danicca fully. “Told you you look better in skirts,” he smirked, giving his girlfriend a flirty wink, “Though I’d prefer if the hemline was a little bit higher.” Well, at least he’s grown to be more accepting of his hormones now, unlike before when he blushes so hard whenever a comment about it was thrown out of the blue. “You could’ve gone away with the leggings though. You have awesome legs anyway.”

After a minute or so of simply ogling at her (despite being together for two years, he still can’t believe why she went out with him), he gave Dani one last kiss on the forehead and promptly led her to his car. It’s not exactly brand new, but he’s mighty proud of it not only because it’s his first car (he was surprised he’s managed to snag a license in the first place), but also because he bought it with his own money. He promptly opened the door and handed her the bouquet he bought just a few hours earlier. “Come on in madam,” he teased, bowing as he opened the door, “The night awaits.”

[Danicca Waylan]

[D]A[N]I[C]C!?

Outfit pt. un. Outfit pt. deux. Beloved Jared-gifted earrings

Believe it or not, Dani didn't know precisely what she was doing with her future, not like Jared thought. She had, at the beginning, but then things started to get... Muddled. At first she had known the exact reason she was taking the classes she was, the exact places she would be applying for her internships at, and the exact place she would be in her life at all times. Then, she found Jared again. Well, he found her. She had just been sitting at a table and studying her textbooks, comparing her notes from the guest lecturer with a chapter in one of said textbooks, and suddenly, he was there, asking if she went to Hammel. She told him no, because there were a few people who either (a) didn't go to Hammel but somehow heard from this person who knew that person, or (b) went to Hammel, but knew who Dani was and immediately started trying to reminisce about something she did while she smiled and nodded awkwardly or just plain ignored them until they realized she was blocking them out and just left. But the boy looked so much like a kicked puppy when she snapped the no at him that, after he mumbled "Sorry, I thought you were someone else", she called him back. They talked. They actually laughed. And suddenly it went in that direction.

She liked it quite a bit. It helped her maintain a balance, and gave her more to do than studying and sitting around watching old anime on the internet. She actually could use her power when the two of them were together, not be constantly worrying about slipping up despite the years of training. She could joke around and fully be herself, and she could complain about work or perverts or the freaks who still managed to be teacher's pets in college, without any problems for her at all. She also learned to put her listening skills to use--for some reason she was fascinated by Jared's simple little stories; she enjoyed seeing him actually open up and talk to her after so long being scared to be within several feet of her. There was nothing nicer, to her, than just laying curled up with Jared on the couch and talking about everything and nothing.

Okay, so there were nicer things. There was kissing Jared, for one.

Dani raised her eyebrows, stepping back from her boyfriend--god, it was still unbelievable somehow that they were together like that. "Oh, so you're cheating on me now." She laughed, dropping the serious facade, and then she crossed and uncrossed her arms, tugging at the hemline of her dress to try and get it to seem a bit longer. She blushed, realizing that she was fidgeting. "Shut up, Jared. You know I hate wearing these things in the first place." It was true--while she did like how Jared looked at her when she wore them, skirts and the like made her feel vulnerable. Hence the leggings--although her legs, yes, were amazing, she didn't feel comfortable not wearing something pant-like.

Walking to Jared's car, Dani was feeling relaxed again for the first time since she remembered she had to get ready for the date that night. She had laughed when he had first appeared at her house, a lime green car being his new form of transportation. But after she thought about it for a bit, she had realized that it was the only car that truly said Jared. Speaking of saying Jared, that was exactly what happened with Dani when he presented her with the lovely bouquet. She grinned dryly at him when he opened the door for her, but focused her attention on maneuvering herself into his car in the low-heels she'd decided to wear without falling. She wore low heels because high heels were spawns-of-satan. She still hasn't mastered the damned things--at one point she twisted her ankle when she was on one of the first dates with Jared.

It made for a fun next date, although Dani didn't remember a ton because she was so loopy on pain meds. She still hasn't found her black tie.

[Jared Park]

older!Jared
older!Jared’s outfit (sans the tie)

Jared could honestly say that he doesn’t like talking about how he reconnected with (and eventually dated) Danicca when he saw her alone in the university library. And it wasn’t just because he looked like, in his words, ‘an utter loser’ with the way he carried himself after Danicca turned him away.

Would he be forced to retell the story on how they got together, he’d probably start from that second week of university classes, when he caught a glimpse of her inside an adjacent classroom as he was rushing to get to his. That just to check if it really was the Danicca Waylan he saw, he stayed on after his class, waiting until her class was dismissed to check if she’d come out of it (and since it was apparently a laboratory class she was on, it took him an extra hour of waiting). And when the object of his obsession curiosity came into view, instead of talking to her, he hid behind a bush and watched her from afar.

Ever since then he began stalking following her, so much that he’d managed to map her schedule out two months into the term.

It took another two months before the found the strength to approach her and introduce himself. Or at least reintroduce himself at that. And even back then he had to convince himself for half an hour and even ran the stuff he was supposed to say in front of a mirror. (Which he didn’t end up saying anyway because he mumbled so much when the time came).

So yeah, he did put quite a whole lot of work to get the ball rolling, even more to get it to where they’re at. And was it all worth it? “Heck yes.”


“Oops. Did I just slip?” grinned Jared, arching his eyebrow a bit to tease Dani some more, “It’s been going on for a while now. Like, two years? I think I’m supposed to take her to dinner tonight. I forgot.” He simply chuckled when he saw his girlfriend fidgeting with her skirt, sneakily wrapping his arm around her waist, effectively pulling her closer, as he led her to his car and decided to tease her some more. “Well, I’d be more than happy to help you get the uncomfortable dress away. But promise me you’d leave the leggings on?” Yes, whatever timidity Jared had when he was in high school promptly got thrown out the window. Part of it was due to his experiences in university, particularly in the said institution’s dance crew, but he’d say that most of it was due to him being with the vocal mimic. As lame as it might sound, she was his first girlfriend, and quite frankly, being with her gave him a huge confidence boost. He could just conquer the word with her by his side really.

How much cheesier can one get?

“So, aren’t you going to ask me where I’m taking you tonight?” shrugged the Canadian as he drove down from Dani’s apartment and into the main road, “For all you know I could just be bringing you to McDonald’s just to get back at the number of pranks you’ve pulled on before.” He gave Dani’s thigh a gentle pat before winking ominously, adding, “Unless of course you want to start with some mundane ’How did your day go?’ questions and go from there?”

The black tie is safely lodged in Jared’s cabinet. Along with a number of random articles he ‘stole’ from her, namely a few dozen lace panties.

Whoever thought the boy is still innocent after all these years must be dreaming.

[/justify][/font]

[Danicca Waylan]

[D]A[N]I[C]C!?

Outfit pt. un. Outfit pt. deux. Beloved Jared-gifted earrings

Dani smiled sweetly. "Of course, sweety. But you have to wait until after dinner to get dessert." She patted his shoulder. She just loved to tease him.

Dani actually would have asked him what he was doing with her that night, but was a little preoccupied. As soon as she got in the car, she had to sit in such a way with the seat-belt that she felt the key she kept on a long, thin chain under pocketless dresses press into her flesh, made to feel wider than it usually was by its companion clipped there next to it. She had made the copy of her house key several weeks ago, planning to give it to Jared, but every time she got the time or place ready to give it to him, she chickened out. Which was totally not like her at all, but she realized that this, this insignificant little chunk of etched metal, was probably the biggest move in the history of Dani-relationships. Yes, she was giving him a key, and she was hoping to forget about it until she needed to actually give it to him. The stupid seat-belt made her remember before it was time.

Shifting in her seat so that the belt was no longer pressing at her chest, she put on a wry smile, turning so she could look at Jared while he drove. "Well, I suppose it would be justified then. I did such funny things to you--but the horrified look on your face was just so cute back then!" Of course she looked back on what conspired between she and Jared now and thought of it all as "cute kid's stuff", but she also thought that she wouldn't be able to do it to him anymore if she suddenly had to again. It was just so exhausting anymore to plan things out like she used to, use every resource possible and set up an elaborate trap, or employ someone to help hang him upside-down from a tree or fly his underwear on a flag pole. Now she had significantly less energy to waste on things like that.

And significantly less reason to.

Dani let her thoughts wander elsewhere, and she opened her mouth to speak. What she said would likely shock him, especially when he was expecting 'how did your day go' questions, but it would be better than any reactions she had gotten from anything in weeks, months even. the implications weren't factual, swear to God, but on top of everything else, she did want to know his reaction, just in case. "So how would you react if I said I was pregnant?" And she braced herself in case he accidentally accelerated or slammed on the brakes.

_{[[OoC: I apologize for the crappy shortness of this one. We'll revive it next post! >]]}

[Jared Park]

older!Jared
older!Jared’s outfit (sans the tie)

“After dessert? That’s way too long,” said Jared in a playful-sort of whine, “Can’t it fast forward a bit to the middle of the main course. Or even the appetizer. I’m pretty sure it’ll get my appetite working to the extreme.” He brought her head closer as she fumbled with her seatbelt, hugging it close to his chest and sneaking in a kiss on her forehead, sniffing and taking in his girlfriend’s scent. With a satisfied grin he pulled away, settling in his seat and putting his own seatbelt on. Sending Dani one last playful wink, he set the car on drive (no way was he driving manual; he’d die) and stepping on the accelerator.

And as he drove across the busy streets and dodged a few cars here and there, his right hand is placed firmly on Dani’s thigh, his fingers intertwined with his girlfriend’s own. The moment seemed so perfect, so does he really need to tell her that? It can wait, can it?

He call mull over it the whole evening, but despite all the likely scenarios, the answer would be a clear-cut no. Fate can be such a bitch at times.

“They weren’t funny,” he replied in a serious voice, “Not to me, they weren’t.” He could still remember how he wanted his girlfriend dead back then. To tie her up and hang her upside down, above a tank filled with either man-eating sharks or molten steel. He wasn’t all gory and vengeful, but teen!Dani had seemingly brought out teen!Jared’s dark side by then. The fact that she was with his best friend/big brother Robbie then did nothing to change his opinion of her. (During the early parts of their relationship anyway; heaven knows how he became quite the green-eyed monster later on). “And for your information, my horrified face was not the only cute thing with me back then,” added Jared, pinching Dani’s nose, “You were just too focused on embarrassing me in front of the whole student body that you didn’t see how much cuter I was smiling like this.” He promptly puckered his lips and puffed his cheeks, making his eyes smaller as he crossed his eyebrows.

And then she asked that.

In less than a second, Jared changed from the unaware, happily humming twenty-something that he was to a sweaty, mumbling wreck of a man. “W-WHAT?” he managed to say after three or so minutes, after he was sure they’re parked safely near the sidewalk. (And yes, he did stop abruptly for a moment or two, but he insists that it wasn’t his feet on the brake but rather the car engine died). “Y-you can’t be s-serious, c-can you?” ‘Cause if she is, this’ll change everything (in a good way). He must stay with her. “B-But we u-used- never mind that. We’re keeping it. Him. Or her, I mean,” he said with a nod, trying to assure her everything’s all right.

Because that’s all women need in times like these, right?

[/justify][/font]

[Danicca Waylan]

[D]A[N]I[C]C!?

Outfit pt. un. Outfit pt. deux. Beloved Jared-gifted earrings

Dani had managed not to giggle like an idiot schoolgirl when Jared hugged her head, nor did she give a girly laugh at the fact that the pranks weren't funny. In the end, Dani had to give in and let a giggle escape at the face Jared made, though. It was cute, but mostly because it was a Jared face.
And she at the moment found everything he did "cute".

Dani expected a lot of things in response to her out-of-the-blue question, but Jared's immediate acceptance (after the initial panick-attack, but Dani put that out of her mind) was not on the list. Dani leaned over and kissed Jared, putting her arms around his neck and putting her forehead on his shoulder. She took a deep breath and said everything in a rush. "I'm sorry I scared you like that. Really, I am. But I'm not. Pregnant, that is. I am sorry I scared you, but last week, I was tired and feeling sick and achy, and I got scared and took a test and it was negative, I just had low-grade flu, but I got to thinking and had to ask you, because I needed to know that you could be what I needed. I'm sorry, really Jared. Please, if you're going to be mad, could you not... yell?" She stopped talking, allowing herself a few deep breaths, not realizing that she sort of had a death-grip on his shoulders. She could feel Jared's stiff shock, and was hoping he wasn't angry with her. She didn't want to look up yet and see what his emotions were--she'd be able to read everything far too easily from him, not only because he was such an open book, but also because she had learned the entire encyclopedia of Jared mannerisms.

She was trying to find more ways to apologize when she realized how tightly she was gripping his shoulders--likely just past a smidge too tight for his pain threshold. She released him, pulling back and apologizing again, still not looking at his face, only looking at her hands, now clasped in her lap. She was upset at the fact that she had even asked him--she ruined the whole damn night, and he'd probably be so damn angry at her, and she felt like throwing up and punching someone. At the same time, preferably.

[Jared Park]

older!Jared
older!Jared’s outfit (sans the tie)

[/url][/right]

Jared was just racking his head on how he would tell his parents and his siblings (sans Jasper, because he’s such a prude and heaven knows what he’ll say) about Dani being pregnant when she suddenly rambled on about it being a prank and about her testing negative and about having a flu. “You test negative? Why would you even test yourself?” he asked, looking at her with his head tilted slightly to the right. As far as he can remember, they were always protected. He was forgetful, yes, but he was never without…

..Oh. He remembers now. That one time three weeks ago. Oh.

Thank goodness they got lucky then.

Him pulling aside and Dani rambling has surprisingly taken the tension off his shoulders, finding himself visibly relaxed halfway through his girlfriend’s speech. He actually chuckled a bit, shaking his head despite the death grip Dani has on him. “I’m sorry about yelling. I was surprised, shocked even, after all,” he said, tenderly brushing her hair as he planted a kiss on her forehead. “You know, if you had told me this back in Hammel, I think I would’ve slapped you by now. Or maybe Robbie might’ve killed me, since I slept with his girlfriend and all.” He still couldn’t believe how all those things happened really. Only he knows that if the two hadn’t gone together in Hammel, he wouldn’t have been jealous conflicted and he wouldn’t have realized that he does feel something that is more than just hate for his then arch-nemesis.

With all things finally sorted out, Jared is finally ready to return back to the road and drive to the restaurant. He doesn’t want to lose his reservation after all; he had to call for it three months in advance after all. “Before we head out though, one question. What do you mean ‘I needed to know that you could be what I needed’?”

-xxx-

Fortunately they got into the restaurant without so much of a hitch and didn’t lose their reservation. He took the seat just beside the big aquarium where the Asian arowana was, not too far from the grand piano and the string quartet, but far enough for them to appreciate the music and still be able to hold a decent conversation without being distracted.

“So, how’re you liking your food?” asked Jared as he sliced his steak and promptly plopped it to his mouth. They were halfway through their five-course meal and he could happily say that it was money well-spent.

The small talk was part of Jared’s plan after all. It was, however, more to get rid of the jitters he was feeling than distract Danicca. The last thing he needs is for him to shake wildly and stutter while presenting his gift.

Sneakily grabbing the box from his vest pocket while she was looking somewhere else, Jared promptly opened the box and placed it on the table, slowly nudging it towards Dani with his finger. “You like it?” he grinned, adding shrug at the end to look cool and detached.

This’d at least soften the blow of what was to come, right?

[/font]

[Danicca Waylan]

[D]A[N]I[C]C!?

Outfit pt. un. Outfit pt. deux. Beloved Jared-gifted earrings

Dani wasn't even going to answer his question, waiting to see if he remembered before too long. She nodded when she saw his confused face fade into a look of "oh. That's why" and then laughed right when he said "Robbie would kill me", waiting a moment to be sure he was done talking before grinning and saying "But if something had happened at Hammel, Robbie wouldn't have had the chance to kill you. You'd have already been dead and in the ground in the middle of a forest somewhere. Could you picture the look on Matt's face?" She laughed again. Granted, that probably wouldn't have been funny for Jared, but she was wondering at Matt's preferred method of killing Jared if something were to have happened while she was in school. Would he have done it in a way that looked like an accident? Said that Jared "fell" down the stairs or in the shower? That seemed like a very Matt thing to do if he had heard anything about that kind of thing happening.

Dani cringed inwardly when Jared asked one final question, and she just leaned over and kissed him, dismissing him with one simple sentence. "Nothing you need to worry about--it's all right now."

--x♥x--

Despite her boyfriend's best seating efforts, it took a nice chunk of Dani's concentration to not be watching the fish the entire time. Those things gave her the creeps for some reason. She ordered something random off the menu and ended up with some sort of breaded fish. At least it tasted good.

She smiled at Jared. "It's very good. Honestly, Jared, you spoil me. I don't know how I'd be able to deal with lack of amazing dinners like this if you were gone all of a sudden." Then a chunk of fish fell off of her fork and bounced off of the edge of the table to land on the floor. She was just looking around to make sure nobody had seen that--nobody was looking in their direction, thank gods--when Jared threw the gift onto the table.

And Dani's heart decided to stop working for a second.

There would have been a million thoughts flying out of her mouth in seven different voices and two different languages if her mind wasn't a complete blank just then, all along the lines of how amazing the ring was and how did Jared afford it and maybe a few other thoughts that had nothing to do with it. All Dani could do was stare, wide-eyed, at the box sitting on the table in front of her. When coherent thought half-returned, she simply said "Oh my god, Jared. It's..." It was perfect, but good lord that was a diamond. He needed to stop giving her diamonds--it made her feel way more special than she had much of a right to. Especially when she kept saying stupid things like she had earlier in the night.

She was scared to touch the box, let alone the ring itself. She was worried that this would be his trick, the way he got back at her for all the pranks and jokes and tortures she put him through when they were in school. It would be justified, him pulling this back at the last second, although it would be a lot more evil of him than anything Dani had ever done.

[Jared Park]

older!Jared
older!Jared’s outfit (sans the tie)

Matt. Somehow he still cringes inwardly whenever Dani’s giant of a brother is mentioned. He’s fairly sure Matt never really liked him, considering how he was continuously scheming to get his little sister in trouble when they first met and how he’s snagged her from his protective arms the next. Jared knows he means well (Jasper’s pretty much on the same page, only he’s more of a nagging brother than a silent, scary one), so somehow he’s managed to live through his stares and firm handshake when he went home with Dani for Christmas last year. “I still think Matt just needs to get laid. You know, to divert all that anger from me to more productive things,” he teased, as they finally got back on the road.

He squeezed Dani’s hand just slightly when she gave him an equally ominous answer. He couldn’t help but think something was up. Could she have gotten wind about it? Did Jeraiah-unnie tell her anything?

-xxx-

If you were gone all of a sudden. Jared knows it wasn’t meant to be anything but a tease, but he couldn’t help but feel just a tad bit awful about it. He heard about women being intuitive and perceptive, and while he’s teased Dani more than once about her having bigger balls than him (metaphorically of course), he’s not quite sure if his girlfriend’s sixth sense is really that strong.

In his mind (and heart), he wants to say ‘Leave you? Why would I do that? You’d simply hunt me and drag me back if I do anyway.’ and it pains him deeply that he can’t. He’d be lying, to Dani and himself. And it would most probably make her hate him even more, should she hear what he’s supposed to say next. So instead he simply gave her a weak smile, saying, “I could always give you a list you know.”

Her reaction to the ring was all Jared had expected and more. He had to will himself not to tear up, mostly because Dani wasn’t even crying yet. It’ll just look awkward.

So instead he promptly stood up, walked over Dani and grabbed the box. Since she seemed to be so scared to touch it, he held her hand and slipped the ring himself, planting a kiss on her lips as he did. “Don’t worry. It’s not an engagement ring just yet. I promise it’ll be bigger once it comes.” If she doesn’t brea-No. I can’t think like that now.

Still holding her hand as he sat back on his seat, he tilted her chin slightly so they’re seeing eye-to-eye and spoke, “Dani, I…you…it’s just…” When he realize he’s been stammering, Jared stopped for a bit and took a few deep breaths. “You know how much I love you right? That it’ll pain me much to be separated and all that cheesy crap?” He’s trying so hard not to sound serious; if it does, he might just break down into tears like that and it’ll be embarrassing as ever.

“I…have to leave. For a year. Maybe two? My grandparents are sick and I need to be there. Mom and Dad are still stationed halfway across the world, Jasper-hyung’s doing his residency in France and Jeraiah-unnie’s got a whole lot of projects lately, filming in and out of the country. I’m…the only one they’ve got.” Asian families are so tight about their grandparents after all. Nursing homes have never been an option, at least according to his dad. “I’m sorry I only told this to you now.”

There. He finally said it. If she storms off suddenly, he can’t really blame her, can he?

[Danicca Waylan]

[D]A[N]I[C]C!?

Outfit pt. un. Outfit pt. deux. Beloved Jared-gifted earrings

Dani didn't consider herself to have much of a sixth sense, but it was nice that Jared thought she was that intuitive. She more often associated a sixth sense and intuition with mothers and psychos than with people like herself. But there is one thing Dani knows, and it's when Jared's avoiding a subject. She was wondering what it was, thinking of confronting him about it, but then the ring came out, and she assumed that he was trying not to psych himself out of giving it to her. She smiled at him when he pulled away from the kiss, and rubbed her fingers together to get a feel for what she would be wearing constantly until that engagement ring took its place as the one ring she'd ever wear.

She was practically beaming when he tilted her chin up to look at him. She waited as patiently as possible for him to get out what he was trying to say, expecting some cheesy, sappy, Jared-y statement, and she got what she thought would happen. To some extent. She was confused, but still smiling, and simply nodded when he actually finished a sentence. Her smile slowly faded as he continued speaking, the pucker between her brows deepening with every word. She understood about his family, really she did, but he was leaving her. He was leaving her. She pulled away, shaking her head to escape his grip. He was leaving her, godsdammit, and he was acting that calm about it? Her voice was thick and rough when she spoke, just narrowly avoiding letting the hitch in her breathing show. "And you expected me to, what, just say 'okay'? Like, 'Oh, Jared, I'm fine with being left by myself in a city full of people that I couldn't care less about, you go ahead and dump me in a fancy restaraunt then go to Vancouver', while I wait here and try to get the hell on with my life."

Dani narrowed her eyes to keep from tearing up. She had been dumped a few times before--okay, once, and she had dumped the other couple--but, as she found she was unwilling to admit right now for some reason, she actually fracking loved Jared. She clamped her teeth together to keep the string of profanities going through her brain from escaping rather loudly, and looked him in the eye.

"Do you have any idea how terrible you are?" She couldn't take it--she averted her eyes. "I was--I was ready to give you a key, I was going to ask you to move in with me, but now you just leave me, no warning, just 'Hey, I gotta go, have a nice life'? Do you have any idea how much that fucking hurts?" Her voice was rising in volume--she tried to supress it. She had to live in this town, after all. One more thought that wouldn't be shared with her boyfriend Jared anymore.

So, Dani was basically going to scream at him, give him the silent treatment, or kill him, depending on if he started talking now, and what would be said. It didn't matter that he was or wasn't guilty of the offenses Dani's mind was piling onto his case, all that mattered was that she loved him and he was leaving her alone in a city a continent away from where he would be. What he didn't realize was how much this would tear her apart: even with how strong and independent she generally was, she had been... re-formed so that her life and her self now fit conveniently with Jared. It would be plain torture trying to reorient herself to a life without him.

She wondered how soon she would be mailing things he forgot in her house to a Vancouver adress, and what she would never see again.

[Jared Park]

older!Jared
older!Jared’s outfit (sans the tie)

Ok. So maybe giving his girlfriend a diamond ring just moments before breaking to her the news that he’d be leaving her alone within the next month or so to move across the continent isn’t exactly the best idea in like, forever. But who could blame him? He knew how heavy his news would be, so he tried to think of a way to lessen the pain and possibly overshadow the impending separation. And to his defense, he clarified that in no way was the ring an engagement ring – he’s already given her a pair of earrings and a necklace, so he figured a ring would be the next logical choice.

In retrospect, maybe that bracelet the saleslady kept on flashing to his face the day he bought the ring would’ve been the better choice.

He was just about to answer Dani’s first question (he had to interrupt her to clarify himself and stop her emotional embers from turning into a full blown forest fire) but was stopped when he suddenly heard it. …Dump me…. At the numerous scenarios he’d think that would play out, such is the one he fears the most. While he hasn’t been dumped before (Dani was his first girlfriend after all), he’s been the shoulder-to-cry-on by a good number of friends – both dump-ers and dump-ees – to see the emotional anguish such a phase in a relationship brings. It’s something he doesn’t really want Dani to feel about all this.

“Dani, Dani, what are you saying?” he said, in panic and hurt, immediately going back to her side, gently scooting her over to hug her close, wrapping her arms around her and tucking her head on his chest. “I’m not dumping you. Why would I do that? I’m not like that.” Despite her resistance, he was just a bit stronger (those hours in the gym paid off then) and he managed to successfully keep her within his arms. “Dani. Look at me,” pleaded Jared, trying his best to smile despite the tears threatening to go down from the corners of his eyes, “I love you. Haven’t I told you that enough lately? Why would I dump you.”

He felt stung when she said something about moving in. God that was a huge decision. And now he could understand how hurt she feels. “I’m sorry” was all he could say.

“I gave you the ring as a sign that I’ll forever be yours. Even if we’re far apart. You know. Like a pledge ring or something. I mean, I thought we could make the whole long distance relationship work.” Yes. Blame that to the chic flick marathons he’s had with his sister back when he was a teenager. “But seems I was wrong. As always. I can’t ask you not to be angry with me right now; you have every right to. Heck, if you’d want to dump me, fine. But, before you do that, maybe we could finish our meal first? Just until dessert?”

Incoherent as hell? Yes. He blames the effort it takes to keeping those tears from flowing. Rather taxing, he says.

ooc:
-gags- I APOLOGIZE. I told you it'll be crappeh. D;. SORRY.
- Jam[/font]

[Danicca Waylan]

[D]A[N]I[C]C!?

Outfit pt. un. Outfit pt. deux. Beloved Jared-gifted earrings

She was failing at keeping the tears at bay. She tried to pull away from him when the hug came, but he was stronger than her. She hated that she couldn't fight him for any long amount of time. After a few seconds of hiding her face from him, her tears flowing freely now, she looked up. She really hated that bit of revealed vulnerability, those little tracks of saltwater down her face that showed her weakness. Her dark eyes scanned his face for any bit of falsehood, but she found none. What she found was tears. She'd made him cry.

A remarkably weak voice in her head acidicly whispered, Good. He deserves it, after what he did. But that was... What? Take care of his family? Be more responsible than the average college-age person she knew? Sure, there must have been a better way to tell her... or not, but he didn't deserve for her to just explode like that.

He was being extremely sweet, to the point of "syrupy sap", and Dani began to shake with suppressed laughter--partially because it was such a Jared thing to say, but also from relief--when he said that she could dump him once dessert came around. That one switched around rather easily, who was dumping who, but at least it wasn't the reaction she'd expected. In answer to everything he rambled about, she kissed him. When she pulled back, looking him in the eye, she said "I'm still mad. I won't break up with you, but I am still mad."

She patted his cheek in a comforting, everything's-just-fine-now gesture, then let him go back to his seat. He could be given some time to calm down, to talk about trivial things. She'd confront him when they got back to her house, talk about how to make a relationship of that kind work. Maybe they'd be able to laugh about the whole thing at some point, but right now she was still fuming. She'd just gained nice acting skills since becoming a waitress.

[Jared Park]

older!Jared
older!Jared’s outfit (sans the tie)

Jared has never been much to for façades. He can neither keep one up nor uncover one himself. Despite being nearly twenty-five already, he’s still as gullible as a ten year-old, believing most anything at face value. So while he knows for certain that Dani’s still rather angry with him, her kissing him meant (to him) that somehow, the brunt of her anger has passed. That he’s managed to quell most, if not all, of her frustration. That while the hurt is still there, it’s more manageable now.

More importantly, there won’t be any break-ups happening tonight.

“Mad? Are you serious? You do know that when you say mad, it means you’re crazy. Don’t you mean you’re angry?” He couldn’t help but laugh at his lame attempt to alleviate the heavy air that surrounds them currently, in effect making his effort seem a whole lot lamer than it originally was. He rubbed his nose and sniffed a bit, happy that he needs not to hold back his tears now (they went away thank God). Giving his girlfriend (still!) a kiss on a forehead (taking in that enticing smell of her hair in the process), he promptly pinched her cheeks and went back to his seat, sticking his tongue shyly as he saw some of the restaurant patrons sneakily looking at them. “Ha. Guess we gave them quite the show, didn’t we?”

The rest of the evening went on rather smoothly. When dessert finally came, he flashed Danicca another grin and grabbed her hands, squeezing them just a bit as the waiter placed their plates down. “I’m really sorry for not telling you earlier. I…I thought there was going to be some other way, so I waited ‘till the last minute.” Guess he should’ve told her the minute he was told of the news. They were in a relationship after all; honesty and transparency should’ve been at the forefront of everything. “Don’t worry. I have nothing to do tomorrow. I’ll sleep by your flat. Key?” he added with a grin, holding his other hand out.

All will be well, right?

[/justify][/font]