So Sweet And So Bitter

XXIX.

> Mingyu <

We walk to the elevator of the hotel, Chanyeong and Minae both came to get us at the party and I look at the digital clock inside of the structure only now realizing that it's only a bit past midnight.

I thought it'd be late when we went back but because of Wonwoo's stomach ache and everything else that happened we both preferred to get back earlier.

My mind is still running with all the words we exchanged just half an hour ago and I am struggling to keep myself from holding his hand. Afraid that he'll slip away at any moment.

I never thought it would come to this, he's never voiced his feelings to me before and he never showed that he had any in him. But him asking for time is all I could ask for. It means that it will come a time in which we'll be able to find each other again and be together without any past regrets or grudges.

I look at him now as he's standing right in from of me inside of the elevator. He took off his mask in the car and he's now holding it in his hand, his shoulders show his tiredness and his head is leaning forward as he's rubbing his eyes with two of his fingers.

My lips unconsciously curl thinking about the implication of our conversation but I force myself to stop that thought.

"What time are we leaving tomorrow?" I ask my manager who is standing right beside me. Unfortunately, even though I was supposed to leave the day after tomorrow, I have to take the first flight tomorrow because they scheduled me a photo shoot for tomorrow evening.

I wanted to refuse the job, spend more time here and enjoy the warm air, but I had already signed the contract and it wouldn't have been a good thing to leave.

"Be ready by six down in the lobby" Chanyeong says as he and Minae get off on their floor and I nod disappointed but not surprised that I won't be able to get any sleep at all.

The elevator stops on our floor and we get out, walking to our rooms in utter silence, only the sound of our feet landing on the carpeted floor can be heard.

I think about how I still have to pack my suitcase, since I made a mess earlier while trying to find my mask, and how I am not going to get any sleep, hoping for it to not affect my photoshoot tomorrow.

We arrive in front of our doors and I turn to Wonwoo. We look in each other's eyes, waiting for the other to say something first.

"Have a good flight" He says after what seem like minutes, an upside down smile makes its way on his face as he now avoids my eye.

"Thank you" I manage to get out. "Good night"

"You too" He says just as he takes the key of his room and opens it, giving me a last smile before he shuts the door while I am still looking at it.

- - -

The morning after I land in Seoul earlier than I thought, the flight was supposed to take longer but fortunately for some reason we made it early. It's a quarter past midday when I look at the airport's clock so I suggest we stop for lunch before I go back to my apartment.

But before we even make it outside of the airport a crowd of people surrounds me and Chanyeong. Usually no bodyguards accompany me on flights, since I'm not Brad Pitt and since my fans are respectful compared to some people that I've seen for other celebrities.

But this crowd I have not seen before, there are not only fans, which I recognize thanks to their banners and aproximately young age, but also reporters? When I open the door to exit I see three cameras in front of me, and three men behind them.