You alright, babe?"

Dara smiled at the question, her nose scrunching in amusement for absolutely no one to see. Things between her and Kris were still so new that the little things about him still tickled her, like the way he always answered the phone with a sort of concerned lilt to his voice and questions that'd be better placed in the mouths of helicopter parents across Seoul than in the one of her very new boyfriend. Dara wasn't sure if it was a Chinese thing or a Canadian thing or simply a Kris thing but the first time he'd answered her call like that, she'd been confused. "Uh...yeah. Should I not be?" Months into this relationship now though, she knew better. It was still difficult not to answer the question directly though.

"Yeah. No. I'm missing you."

"Aw, I don't believe that for a second," Kris had spent more time than he'd care to admit trying to decide whether or not to join Dara in New York for New Years Eve. He'd spent so much time trying to make up his mind that by the time the 29th rolled around, it seemed kind of silly to pack up his bags and make a last minute trip just to spend a few days with his new girlfriend. He'd see her January when she'd be back in Seoul and visit her.

"It's true. I wouldn't lie to you," Dara rolled over onto her stomach in the massive hotel bed. Talking to Kris made her feel like a middle schooler all over again and she kind of loved it. While some criticized her for how many men she'd dated over the last couple of years, she didn't see anything wrong with it and she could at least admit to herself that this was her favorite part of a relationship - the beginning, when the boy was so cute and so charming you couldn't see any of his flaws.

"I know you wouldn't, babe. Is Lay not keepin' you entertained?" Kris couldn't stop himself from bringing it up. It was one of the many reasons he'd had such a hard time deciding on whether or not to join the trip. As much as Kris could say he loved the boys for the press and the fans and on some level really, truly mean it, Kris was still hurt that the friendships he'd come to depend on so much fell apart over what amounted to a work decision. And it hurt even more that no one but him seemed to really care or want to make the effort to repair things.

"He's keeping Chaerin entertained," Dara reminded him. She couldn't say anything more about it. The situation was so weird. Two best friends dating two ex-best friends. Double dates obviously weren't in their immediate future. The topic of Lay and Chaerin's new flirtationship and Lay and Kris's strained friendship were topics they all did their best to avoid. Lay was a bit of a wildcard, but Chaerin and Kris were both extremely private about their relationships and while Dara loved being in the public eye, everyone was her friend. Even the boys who'd hurt her boyfriend. She couldn't hold Kris's feelings over Lay's head and she'd never stop her best friend from enjoying a little fun and happiness. So she just...didn't talk about it.