crescent. kim hongjoong ✓

eleven

In the dimmed cabin of the airplane, an hour or so into their journey, Hongjoong turned to Yuna, breaking the comfortable silence, "So, what's the plan for this New York adventure?"

"Oh, right. Hold up."

Yuna retrieved her phone and pulled up the scheduled events, holding it so Hongjoong could see. As he leaned in, she explained the various activities lined up.

"We've got a few meetings, some charity work, and, of course, a bit of leisure time. Oh, and the art gallery-" she added, glancing at him.

Hongjoong peered over her shoulder, studying the schedule with genuine interest. As she explained, he listened attentively, his focus shifting between the phone and Yuna.

As Yuna looked back at him amidst of explaining, to see if he was still listening, in that closeness, she became acutely aware of the shared space and the proximity of their faces.

When the explanation paused, their eyes met, holding a gaze for a fleeting moment. Yuna's attention momentarily drifted to a faint scar on Hongjoong's cheek – a detail not easily noticeable from a distance.

Without thinking, she pointed at it with her manicured nails, a spark of curiosity in her eyes. "Oh! Is that...?"

Hongjoong's hand instinctively reached to trace the scar as memories resurfaced. "Yeah, a reminder of a clash with a ring. What kind of ring were you wearing?" he responded with a wry smile.

Yuna chuckled in surprise, "Well, it really stuck, didn't it?" There was a genuine lightness in her laughter, and Hongjoong couldn't help but smile, rolling his eyes playfully.

"Yeah, it did," he replied, the banter easing the atmosphere.

Shifting gears, Yuna resumed discussing their plans, "Anyway, it's going to be early afternoon when we reach. We could get some rest, and in the evening, how about a stroll down Fifth Avenue? Maybe visit a nice place in New York or something?" The suggestion brought a sense of ease, as if the shared laughter had created a bridge between them.