It Just Happened That Way || JEONGIN from skz!

34

Yeona's POV

The two days with Jeongin went by in a flash. He was already gone and back to touring, but in a couple weeks, we would be seeing each other in Berlin, the first city I fell in love with. I bought the plane tickets, booked a hotel room for a couple nights, and even convinced Jason to join me so that he could see Felix (and so that neither of us would have to be the only significant other there). My manager also approved my remote work (getting that approval was easy because of all that happened during the pandemic). I was ready to start traveling for about 6 weeks.

The first stop would be Berlin, and then I was going to go to Amsterdam to watch the boys perform again. I'd also be going to London and Paris. I wasn't sure if I'd be watching all of their concerts, but I was definitely going along and having a little Europe trip myself. I hit up all of my old European friends and made sure they knew I'd be in town.

These couple of weeks went by extremely quickly, to my relief. I climbed and trained every day. I worked longer hours to make up for whatever might happen when I was working from different time zones. Days leading up to the flight, I made sure the apartment was cleaned and everything perishable was thrown away, and I arranged to have Jess take care of my mail situation before leaving.

Next thing I knew, I was on a plane, headed to Berlin Brandenburg Airport. Jason and I met up at Incheon for the same flight, both of us excited and nervous to be going abroad for the boys. I was also excited to be going to the new airport in Berlin — it was already more than 5 years old but I still hadn't been.

When we landed, Jason and I went took the U-Bahn (the underground) to the hotel near the Verti Music Hall, where the concert would be held, by the East Side gallery. It was really nice to be back in a familiar city, one that I had spent so much time at in my early 20s and late teens — back when I had been avidly learning to speak German.

Jason and I wouldn't be able to meet up with the boys until later than evening for a quick dinner inside the backstage area before their last rehearsal. As such, we decided to do a little tour through the Tiergarten on bikes. There's a beautiful and outdoor biergarten inside the Tiergarten that I wanted to show Jason.

"You're really so random, Yeona. Can't believe you know of this place!" Jason shouted to me, biking behind me as I led the way. I laughed and slowed down to let him catch up.

"You wouldn't believe how good the food is here. And the beer!"

I wasn't one to drink too much, mostly because of training, but also because Jeongin didn't drink much. But a German beer? I couldn't pass that up.

We finally arrive, get our food and beers, and sit at a long picnic table along a big pond, marveling at the string lights above us.

"This is so romantic, Yeona."

I look at him and roll my eyes. "I'm exactly the company you wanted at such a romantic place, aren't I?"

Jason laughs at me, and pulls out his phone and starts taking photos of everything, including myself. The two of us just giggle and have our little photoshoot before sending the best ones to Jeongin and Felix, captioned: You two are missing out!

"So how ARE you, Yeona? It's been ages since we hung out like this, without the boyfriends."

I huff a sigh, "I know! They're always getting in the way, aren't they?" I reply cheekily. "I've been good. I mean, the tour sucks." Jason nods in agreement, sighing and rolling his eyes. "But what can you do when you're dating—" I stop, look around with mock suspicion, before mouthing "Kpop idols."

He laughs at me, lifts his beer up, and says "Cheers to being the neglected counterparts!"

"Cheers!"

We drink, and I ask him, "How are you and Felix managing?"

He looks up, and thinks for a second, before shrugging his shoulders. "We're managing."

I look at him pointedly, like Is that all?

"Okay, I mean. We've had our rough spots here and there even before this tour happened."

"Oh no."

"Yeah, it's fine now, but I feel like it's because we just want to make every moment that we do have with each other happy, even if that's not what's on our minds. Does that make sense?"

d"Yeah it does. Like you can't waste what little time you have by arguing or something?"

"Yes, exactly." He huffs a sigh. "I know this is terrible to say, but I just miss when they were less busy and less...famous."

I wince, mostly because I know exactly what he means.

"Life's easier when there are less eyes and less schedules," I reply.

He nods and continues, "But Felix feels really badly about not having enough time for me, and that makes me feel bad, and also makes me feel like I'm demanding so much. But I'm not. I don't think I am?"

I nod, completely understanding his sentiment. Jason and I were both similar in that we liked to be independent and we didn't like to be hindrances to others, especially our partners.

"Jeongin is the same way. I think he feels guilty, but I don't want him to. But I don't know if he would ever believe me if I said that it's okay, because...I guess he just knows that deep down, it's been hard for me."

Jason and I were on the same wavelength about our relationships, holding on to when it was easier, holding on to the hope of a return to normalcy after the tour, and holding on to the love we felt for Felix and Jeongin.

"Well," Jason says, getting up to throw away his trash. "Let's stop being depressing and get outta here."

I chuckle, and follow suit.

Later on, at the hotel room, Jeongin texts me, "Are you on your way? We just got to the venue! It's massive! I'll be in hair and makeup for a couple so I might not be able to text back. I'll see you here!! I love you!"

I smile, and pick up my clutch with my ID and my backstage pass, and head out the door to see Jason already waiting for me to go.

"We can just take the U-Bahn right?"

"Yep, let's go!"