Jongsuk was cautiously excited about the trip. He didn’t usually like going overseas - he felt it was too much of a hassle – but this time he found himself looking forward to that trip. It was a trip which he wanted to go for. He didn’t exactly know what to expect from this trip, or how it would turn out. He didn’t want to get his hopes too high, in case they ended up not being able to meet again. He was also still afraid of becoming too close to Woobin. However, all of these doesn’t change the fact that somewhere deep inside of him, he was really looking forward to it.

The next few weeks, they updated each other about their schedules before and after their fanmeets, and also their flight details and times where they had no schedules. They weren’t going on the same flight after all – the organizers and their companies decided against it, saying that it’ll cause a massive jam at the airport. However, they were returning on the same one. They had managed to schedule their flights in a way such that they would be returning to Korea together. Woobin didn’t have to get an extension, he had schedules the day after his fanmeet anyway.

They didn’t have much time together, the only time they could squeeze out was the time after Jongsuk’s fanmeet and the time before their flight the next day. They knew they weren’t proficient enough in Chinese to be able to roam the streets alone, so they just decided that they would meet at the lounge in Jongsuk’s hotel.

With their crazy schedules, time passed really quickly. It was soon the day of Jongsuk’s fanmeet. Woobin had actually ended his schedules a little earlier and he had managed to convince his manager to drive him to the venue of Jongsuk’s fanmeet. His manager didn’t have a clue that they were planning to meet – and he didn’t exactly want them to, in fear that they became too close again – but he knew Woobin would be annoyed if he were to interfere. After some persuasion and realizing that Woobin wasn’t going to give up, his manager agreed to allow him to go to the fanmeet venue.

With the help of the staff, Woobin got into the backstage without much trouble. He sat at the resting room and listened to Jongsuk’s voice as he addressed his fans and thanked them for coming. When Jongsuk started singing a song and dancing – the last item on the rundown for the night -- he couldn’t help but peek from behind the curtains. Jongsuk often danced and sang on set, but in front of a crowd, he was shy. Woobin thought the sight was amusing and had much trouble holding back his laughter. He was still laughing when Jongsuk went backstage.

Jongsuk wasn’t expecting to see Woobin there. Of course he wasn’t, their plan was to meet at the lounge in his hotel. He was really surprised to see a laughing Woobin backstage, and when Woobin saw his surprised expression, a smirk appeared on his face.

 “Wh-whoa, what are you doing here?! This wasn’t part of the plan, was it?”

Woobin shrugged. “Here to steal your fans. Nah, my schedule ended earlier so decided to drop by.” He broke into a laugh and started singing the song that Jongsuk was singing previously.

Jongsuk widened his eye and gave Woobin a kick on his leg. “Mean.”

Jongsuk was signalled by the organizers and staff that he had to go off for his celebratory dinner. He acknowledged the staff and turned back to Woobin, “Coming with me?"

"Nah, it'll be weird for me to join."

"We still meeting later?”

“Of course we are. This is just a bonus. I’ll meet you at your hotel later.”

Jongsuk nodded as he watched Woobin return to his manager before rushing off for his dinner. He smiled to himself. Woobin’s appearance was a really pleasant surprise to him.

Woobin could easily just leave with Jongsuk, but being the responsible person he is, he felt that it was better if he at least informed his manager, even if he knew it meant he would have to spend some time persuading him. His manager was pretty firm this time round, saying that they have already met and there was no need to meet again. Woobin understood his manager’s concern, but he tried to nicely reason that they didn’t even had time to catch up backstage. He didn’t throw a tantrum – it wasn’t like him to do so. He spent twice the effort and time trying to persuade his manager, and eventually they allowed him to go on conditions.

Jongsuk was already in a fresh set of casual clothes and sitting in the lounge waiting for Woobin when he arrived. It wasn’t exactly a private place, but the hotel staff had made sure to keep it out of bounds to people who weren’t staying in the hotel. There were still some fans around, but those were people Jongsuk knew enough, and he trusted that they wouldn’t take pictures or anything now that he was off work. He signalled to Woobin, who caught him from a distance.

“Hey, waited long?”

Jongsuk smiled and shook his head. “Nah, not really. Want to drink anything?”

Woobin got himself a cup of iced chocolate and sat down next to Jongsuk, who was for a change, drinking a cup of mocha. Jongsuk gave Woobin a really bright smile, “thanks for coming just now. Though you were still mean.”

“I wasn’t mean, you were just amusing. How has China been to you?”

“Tsk. China has been…not too bad. You?”

“China has been pretty good. You don’t sound too sure though. Still having mixed feelings about fanmeets?”

“Not really. It isn’t just about fanmeets. You know how my previous drama didn’t turn out quite well…I’m actually in the midst of filming for a new drama now and I kind of just felt like I should be focusing on it instead….”

“Doctor Stranger got you down too badly huh? I didn’t have the time to watch it, but I heard you did well.”

“Could have been better. It fell short of what I’ve hoped to achieve.”

They were both there for work, and so it was natural that their conversation was about work. Their conversation branched into their daily work, talking about their current projects and what they were busy with. It wasn’t a casual conversation, it was something they could talk to everyone about. Woobin had his own circle of friends who could understand well what he was going through. Jongsuk didn’t have that many. In fact, he really appreciated that he could have this discussion with Woobin, and that Woobin could give him advice, actor-to-actor. He trusted that Woobin wasn’t the kind who would say something just to make him feel better. He wasn’t sure if it was the atmosphere of the place, the late night, or being in a foreign country. But Jongsuk found himself forgetting the fact that he didn’t want to rely too much on Woobin. Instead, he found himself opening up and confiding in Woobin, a lot more than he would have wished for. He felt refreshed and a lot more at ease with himself, and with Woobin. This was a conversation that he had needed, that was long overdue.

Their conversation had moved on from work-related topics to personal topics. They were talking like really good friends again, hurling insults at each other and laughing and joking around, but at the same time, telling each other about their personal problems and updating each other about their lives. None of them was holding back anymore. Jongsuk had definitely opened up, and he no longer wanted to be cautious around Woobin. He missed being able to talk to Woobin freely like that.

Time passed really quickly, it was way past 2am before they knew it. They were too engrossed in their own conversations and didn’t realize it was that late. It was only until Woobin received a call from his manager that he realized that he should be going.

“We will be taking the same flight back tomorrow anyway. Want to stay for the night? It’s quite late now…” Jongsuk offered.

Woobin smiled and pointed to his phone. “Would love to, but I promised hyung I’ll be back. He’s coming to pick me now.”

Jongsuk laughed. “Cinderella, huh?”

Jongsuk waited with Woobin until his manager got there, and he watched as Woobin’s van left the hotel. He took a deep breath, taking in the chilly air, as he looked up into the sky, smiling. He felt really good. Woobin was looking up at the same sky through the window of the van, also smiling to himself. They could both feel it, they were back to how it was all like when they were working together, the kind of friends who could trust each other wholeheartedly without being afraid that the other would leave. They knew it, that they were friends who would be by each other’s side, for as much as they needed. They trusted that they didn't have to keep their distance or avoid each other again. They weren't going to do it again.

Sorry the story isn't progressing very quickly but I thought it was necessary for them to become fully comfortable around each other again.

I was actually writing it halfway when the news of Jongsuk and Woobin's Beijing Fanmeet came out, and being the fangirl I am, I kinda changed the context and settings. The fangirl in me might have just been overly excited. I hope they really meet when they're there though!