On the next following days, as if the world conspired against him, the opportunity to put some distance between Yuqi and him presented itself. The training camp that was initially supposed to take place on the college ground had been relocated to the sports-town at the foot of the mountain resort.

"Wow they spend so much money this year!" she commented when he broke the news about the training camp on their way back from a hangout with Soyeon and some other friends.

"It was to be expected, no?" she gave him a quizzical look. "It was our turn to host the festival this year, so obviously they want everything to be fancy and perfect to boost their ego!" He mused as they gliding through the busy night street. "But the sports fund mostly came from the alumni association pocket, including this training camp..."

"Really?"

"Yeah, I heard the owner of the resort was our alumni..."

"Xuxi, isn't that place quite far from our neighborhood?" He nodded. "So how are you supposed to go back and forth between Gapyeong and home then?" she asked again.

"What? Oh no, that would be very tiring and unpractical..." he exclaimed as he slowing down and halted behind the black SUV. "I'll be staying at the resort for the time being..." he continued again rather carefully as they were waiting for the green light.

"Oh...." she responded in a rather nonchalant tone. He glanced at her and raised his eyebrows tentatively. She took it very well than he expected— "Wait? WHAT???" Or not.

He sniggered at her slow reaction and mused, "It called training camp for a reason sweetie..."

"So you'll be away for the rest of the summer?" she asked him, looking conflicted.

"Yeah, I guess..." She frowned. "Well maybe I'll come home on the weekend..." he added hastily. She drew a deep sigh and stared at him with a pair of somber eyes. "What?"

"Nothing..." she mumbled low.

"Then what with those misty-eyed look?"

"It'll be bored if you're not around..." she muttered in a childlike tone.

"It's not like I'm going to stay there forever..." He laughed and ruffled her hair, feeling somewhat happy with her response. "You can play with Soyeon while I'm away..." He added again. She pursed her lips. "Should I tell Soyeon you just made a disgruntled expression regarding her companion?" he .

She glared at him. "You're dead meat then..."

He chuckled and turned left toward their residential complex. "It only a couple of weeks and I'll come home on the weekend. I'm sure you can survive by then..." he mused reassuringly, trying to convince both himself and the gloomy and pouty-lips girl on his passenger seat.

"Of course I will..." she exclaimed in dignified sort of way.

"That's the spirit..." he commented as they stopped in his driveway.

"Yeah, maybe I should get a boyfriend while at it..." she replied grudgingly and unbuckled her seatbelt.

He scoffed and jeered, "Sure shortie..." she glared at him and get off the car. He followed suit.

"So what time are you move out again?" she asked him while egging away toward the front gate of his shared-house.

"Maybe around 10..." he followed her steps. "Why?" he inclined his head slightly when he noticed she kept staring at him.

"Just because..." she shrugged and strolled off. He grinned to himself and tailed her closely.

"Where are you going?"

"Walking you home..." he winked at her.

"Xuxi, I live next door..."

"Walking you to the front door then..." he joked. She snorted and punched the passcode on the front gate then they climbed off the white stone stairs in silence.

Halfway through the stairs she stopped and wheeled around, facing him. "I don't think I can see you off tomorrow..."

"Why not?"

"I'm planning to binge-watch k-drama tonight, so I probably still sleeping by then..." she explained.

"So those sappy k-dramas are more important than me huh?"

"Of course, it is..."

"I see, so that how it is huh?..." he mumbled low, glaring at her while pouting his lips.

She laughed at his reaction and mounted the stairs again. "You should go back now!" she said once she reached the landing.

"Yeah, I still need to pack some stuff. See you in the morning! I'll drag you out of the bed if necessary!" he mused, she didn't respond to his joke, she just stood there, staring at him,  looking very somber.

"What?"

"Um..." she stopped and bit her lips.