I'M BACK!!! Finally finished that hell of a week and I don't ever wanna look back🥲. Anw, this week's pretty lax so I hope I can update this daily since this story won't be a long one *fingers crossed*. Enjoy!

• Xiaoting •

"... Thank you for your work."

"Thank you for coming, Ms. Shen."

I nodded my head and motioned for Mashiro to call the driver. After a few minutes of casually talking with the investors by the doors, Shiro nodded to signal that the driver arrived. I shook my hands with the investors and finally left the restaurant where we held our meeting.

Eight months have passed since I left Korea. I was currently in China and had been staying here for almost two weeks. I wanted to extend my stay in Korea so I made sure to tell Mashiro that if she can compress our abroad visits into these few months that we'll be out here. Tomorrow's our flight back to Korea.

I couldn't help but smile because of how much I missed a certain energetic singer. We text almost everyday and calls are frequent between us, but it's not the same when she's beside me.

We'll be seeing each other again.

I took out my phone to text her.

==============================

Choi Yujin

Yujin, I'm flying back to Korea tomorrow. I hope we could meet.

🐇: REALY???
🐇: YAY🥰❣️
🐇: I'll pick u up from the airport~~

No need. I'll be arriving around 10PM. It will be too late for you to go out.

🐇: It's okay~~ I really wanna see u already🥺

Do you want to video call?

🐇: I always want to!! But not right now cuz i'm in a meeting~~
🐇: Wait!! That's not the point
🐇: I meant that i wanna see u as soon as u get back here~~

Oh. Won't it affect any schedules you will have tomorrow?

🐇: It's okay~ i'm on a hiatus since i just finished my overseas concert🥰
🐇: I only have to attend a few meeting like this for my upcoming activities~

I see.
As long you're sure it won't be a bother, then I'll see you tomorrow.

🐇: Can't wait!!🤩💕

👍

==============================

I hope tomorrow would come sooner.

•°~°~°•

The sky was dark when Shiro and I landed in Korea. I fixed my mask and sunglasses despite it being night time already. Better to be safe in case there are paparazzis who might catch Yujin here. I wasn't concerned for myself, I'm already used to the black material surrounding my reputation and I could just hire people to control the media, but it's different with an idol. It's harder to control the media because of the fans.

Yujin already texted me that she was waiting in her car. I asked her where she parked so that she didn't have to leave her car and look for me.

"Ting, Yujin eonnie is picking you up, right? Has she arrived?" Shiro asked.

I nodded my head.

"Then, I'll just go with you first." I turned my head towards her as we were walking side by side. She couldn't see my expression but I'm sure she felt it.

"Stop looking at me like that," She laughed. "Don't worry I won't bother your date ride with her. My friend's also here to pick me up. I'm just doing my job as your assistant.~"

"It's not a date."

"That's what my mother said at first."

"We're just friends."

"I didn't say you weren't."

"You're implying it."

"Whatever you say, boss."

"I've never liked any man, let alone a woman like me."

"Love knows no gender."

I huffed in annoyance. Yujin is a really good friend, I don't want to lose that friendship for something as fragile and unsure like love.

"Stop saying that. Yujin might misunderstand that I'm asking more from her. All relationships she was paired with has always been with men." I said.

We were already at the parking space. There were still plenty of people moving about. Mashiro ushered me to the side as we gazed at the rows of cars.

"Xiaoting, I've known you for a long time now. I want you to think about how you interact with her and, I guess," She sighed. "... be more honest with your feelings."

I craned my head to the side in confusion. "What do you mean?"

"I can count the close friends you consider in one hand. You don't treat us the way you treat Yujin."

"Of course," I nodded, not seeing what was wrong in that. "Not to have favorites, I'm closer with her than any of you."

"Because you allow her to."

"That's right. And that's because we're friends."

"We're also your friends, but you don't let us get too close with you."

I was stomped at her words. Deep inside I knew I was treating Yujin differently. I always associated it with her personality that's why it was easier for me to open up to her. But why am I—

I was brought out from my thoughts when I heard the voice that I missed despite hearing it almost every day.

"Xiaoting!~"

I turned around to be greeted by Yujin who was wearing a cap and scarf that was covering her whole face.

I felt my shoulders loose its tension and smiled behind the mask I was wearing. She stopped walking a few feet away from me and opened her arms. I didn't hesitate in striding towards her to wrap my arms around her waist.

"I missed you." I whispered.

I felt her stiffen. I guess it was uncharacteristic of me to suddenly be this vocal of how I feel but it was true. More than she could ever know.

"I missed you too, Ting."

I don't know how long we stayed in that position but I only stepped back when I heard someone clearing their throat.

"Yeah. Hi, I'm still here, you guys. Sorry to break you up but I just wanted to say bye before leaving." I don't know why but the smile Shiro had was annoying to look at. As if she knows something I don't.

"Hi, Shiro! It's been a long a time, I missed you!~" Yujin pulled Shiro into her arms as I watched on by the side.

"I missed you too, eonnie." She replied and hugged her back.

"Where are you staying? I can drop you off with Ting."

Mashiro smiled then glanced at me. I stared at her blankly, hoping to convey that she should stay true to her earlier statement.

"No thanks, eonnie. My friend's also here to pick me up." And as if on cue, a car stopped in front of us. A familiar face emerged from the car.

"Yaning." I greeted.

"Hey, Xiaoting. Nice to see you again.~" The singer replied. I nodded my head in acknowledgement.

"We're going now, Yujin eonnie, Ting. Have a safe trip." Shiro said.

"You aren't even going to introduce me first to the lady there?" Yaning complained. Mashiro simply laughed and pulled her to the car. "Maybe next time 'cause someone's impatient. I'll tell you know in the car."

I glared at Mashiro who only laughed harder. Yaning got even more confused by the second.

"Fine~ Bye, Ting and lady I don't know the name of!" Yujin laughed and waved her hand goodbye.

When they finally left, Yujin helped me move my luggage into her car. When I finally got in the passenger seat and her on the driver's seat, a comfortable silence descended on us. I didn't mind as I quietly stared at Yujin's side profile.

She suddenly turned her head towards me and smiled. "I've got an amazing idea."

I raised my eyebrows in question.

"You know that I'm on hiatus right? And I know that you're on break after jumping from one country to another. Do you want to stay over at my place?"

I froze at her proposal and muttered, "Oh."

"...Just the two of us?" I craned my head to the side in question.

Her eyes widened comically and I couldn't help but giggle at her expression. "What!? No! Of course, my sisters are there too. I mean, not that I don't like it when it's just us two, but if you don't want to—"

I cut off her rumblings. "Yes."

"I knew you would say that. Totally understandable— Wait, yes?"

I laughed. "I'm a bit hurt that you seemed to expect I would reject your offer."

"... Well, it was a totally out of the blue idea. I just missed my best friend and wanted to hang out with her."

I remembered Mashiro's words earlier.

I am being honest. Yujin is my best friend and I hate to lose that privilege. Yes. That's why I'm treating her differently than others.

I nodded my head to indicate that I understood her. She started driving towards her home.

It was around midnight when we arrived. The house was dark and quiet. Her sisters were probably asleep. Maybe because of the night being so late and fatigue, we both fell asleep as soon as we finished washing up. She offered to share her queen-sized bed, I thought that we were so close and shared a bed already so I accepted her offer.

•°~°~°•

It's been a long time since I had a good sleep. I could only sleep that well without waking up from nightmares if I was dead beat overworked.

Or I feel safe and comfortable. Like right now.

After pondering this fact for a few minutes, I tried to sit up when I realized that Yujin was hugging my waist. I smiled and looked at her resting face. I truly missed her presence. It was most probably thanks to her that I was able to sleep so deeply.

When I freed myself from Yujin's hold, I rose up from the bed to stretch. The clock on the wall said it was already 8:47 AM. I stretched out my body and decided to find breakfast.

Right as I opened the door, a girl holding a bunch of... snacks? was standing a few feet in front of me. When she heard the creak of the door, she turned to look. The moment we had eye to eye contact, we both froze.

It was actually hilarious because her arms were filled with food as she reached out to open a door which I'm guessing is her room.

"... Xiaoting eonnie?" She said rather awkwardly.

"... Uh, yes. Hello, Hikaru." I tried to muster a not-so awkward and sincere smile.

"You know me? Wow, hey, hi. I'm Yujin eonnie's sister. I'm adopted but who cares. Anyway, you probably know already, right? Eonnie must have talked about me. She should if she's talking to her future wi– I mean, are you connected with the house wifi? If not, I can connect you. I'm blabbering aren't I? Sorry, just the nerves. Hello again, eonnie talks about you a lot."

The awkward smile I had was easily replaced with a fond one. The girl was adorable, albeit nervous. "Don't be sorry. I'm kind of nervous too and I don't even know why. Yujin talks a lot about you, too."

"Oh, I guess that's understandable."

Silence fell upon us. I was never a talkative person and despite wanting to be a warm person that Yujin's sister can easily approach, I seem to be having a terrible start.

The door in front of Hikaru suddenly opened and revealed a familiar blonde model.

"Hikaru, what—" Her eyes bulged open when she saw me.

"Nice to finally meet you in person, Hiyyih." I smiled.

"Hello?" She said this like a question. "What are you doing here, Xiaoting eonnie?"

Hikaru suddenly elbowed her side. "I don't mind you being here! Just curious. Eonnie did tell us she was going to pick you up from the airport, but we didn't know that you were going to stay over last night."

"We didn't see each other for a long time so we decided that I could stay for some time here... But if you find my presence uncomfo—"

"You're definitely welcome here, eonnie!" Hikaru interjected.

I smiled. "Thank you."

"You know what? Let me just put down these snacks in my room and make some real breakfast. Just wait a minute, Xiaoting eonnie." I nodded my head.

After Hikaru put down the snacks, she closed the door to her room and looked at us.

"I know I said we'll make breakfast, but I can't cook for the life of me." Hikaru laughed. Hiyyih followed along with a 'me too'.

They both looked at me and I could only awkwardly scratch my head. "I'm sorry, I never really learned to cook."

"That's alright. Aside from Yujin eonnie, there's only one other person who knows how to cook in this house." Hikaru giggled. They both tugged me towards a room close to the stairs and I could only follow them.

Without bothering to knock, they opened the door of the said room. "Yeseo~"

I waited by the door as they woke up their youngest. A girl begrudgingly sat up and was about to admonish the two teens jumping on her bed when she caught my eyes.

For the third time that morning, a pair of eyes widened at my presence. I waved a hand to say hello.

"Xiaoting eonnie?" She walked towards me and the two other sisters followed.

"You must be Yeseo. Glad to meet you. Although I wanted all of us to meet in a more proper situation and prepared manner, this isn't too bad." I said lightly.

Yeseo laughed and shook her head. "It's okay, eonnie. We already acknowledged you to be part of the family so this is perfect."

I was pleasantly surprised at what she said. "Thank you." I said sincerely.

Yeseo waved her hands. "It's nothing. Yujin eonnie talks about you a lot that we felt like we also personally know you."

"So I've heard." I laughed. "Yujin talks a lot about you guys, too. She's really proud of all of you."

"As she should!" Hiyyih exclaimed and we all laughed.

"So, shall I make breakfast for all of us?" Yeseo grinned.