Taeyeon and Jessica are now in a rush to return to the conference hall. It just so happens, they enjoyed their conversation too much that they didn't notice that it is already half an hour past after they are supposed to be back.

"I'm sorry I didn't notice the time," Taeyeon said as they were pacing in the hallway.

"No worries. I didn't notice the time too." Jessica responded with a smile. Part of her is thinking she does not want to go back to the event yet and would prefer to continue the conversation with Taeyeon.

Taeyeon is also feeling the same. She wanted to ditch the conference in the first place and spending time with Jessica is a dozen times better than a boring afternoon listening to the things she is not interested in.

Thus, as they walked, Taeyeon and Jessica were then immersed in their thoughts on how to strike up the question. Right before they get into the conference hall, the two have finally gathered their courage.

"Hey. Do you--," they paused. They were surprised they uttered in unison.

"You go first," Taeyeon said.

"No. You go first. I think you said it first," Jessica said back.

"Okay then," Taeyeon took a quick breath then continued, "I'm wondering if you have plans later after the conference? I uhm- wanting to ask if uhm--," she couldn't find the right way to ask. She wanted to be straightforward in asking Jessica out for dinner. Yet, she felt she was stepping over too much. She thought maybe she was not reading the signs right.

"I actually wanted to ask you the same thing," Jessica uttered while shyly looking away.

For Taeyeon, it was fortunate that the former was not looking. Else, Jessica might have seen her smiling from ear to ear due to what she had heard. She quickly tried to suppress her smile by pursing her lips. Then, she dropped the question, "Do you want to go have dinner with me later?"

Jessica's eyes lit up. She looked at Taeyeon with a hopeful smile, "Sure. I am okay with it."

The former chuckled, "Great. Do you have any preferred cuisine? Place?"

"Not really. My initial plan for tonight is just to avail in-room dining service."

"Oh, really? I actually planned the same thing too," Taeyeon then suddenly realized that it is more of she is insisting in-room dining for them tonight. Well. In her mind, that is actually what she prefers. But then, she thought she might be stepping over too much again.

They both shared an awkward stare in silence. Jessica was trying to process what Taeyeon meant. Well. In her mind, that is also what she wanted. A place for both of them to talk freely and without other people around.

"So..." Jessica uttered softly, "Are we going for in-room dining?"

Taeyeon couldn't respond right away. She is still trying to read through the other woman's eyes if she wanted the same thing. Yet, now, the awkwardness of the moment seemed to have blurred her vision out.

"What do you think?" And that was all she could utter.

Jessica tucked her hair behind her left ear as she shied away again, "I'm okay with it. I don't mind."

That made Taeyeon sighed in relief, "Alright. I am so okay with that. Totally. Really," she chuckled awkwardly, " So... Your place or mine?"

"I wouldn't suggest my room. It's a bit of a mess. I checked in two days in advance preparing for this event. My documents are all over the place."

"I see. Okay. My room then. Is it alright if I can have your digits?" Then, she quickly added, "It's okay if you don't want to."

"No. It's okay. I think it's best to exchange numbers, anyway." They handed their phones to one another. And afterward, they continued to walk back to the conference hall while wearing triumphant smiles on their faces.

Throughout the second part of the day one conference, Taeyeon and Jessica were focused on the topics. It was the latter mostly and even continued participating in Q&A portions of the event. Taeyeon wouldn't want to have the same embarrassment from the lunch earlier. Thus, she started to actively participate as well, just in case Jessica would want to bring up topics about the conference on their dinner later.

Once again, Jessica and Taeyeon couldn't help but exchange glances and smiles from time to time. Yet, they knew they had to keep it low given that everyone else in the conference knew they are in rival conglomerates. Thus, during the fifteen-minute break, they decided to distance from each other while just exchanging conversations through messages. 

Taeyeon took that break to ask Jessica what she would want for dinner so she could order the food in advance. While being immersed by it when she was about to get out of the comfort room lounge, someone peered over her shoulder. "This seems to be quite a development," Sooyoung said which had Taeyeon dropped her phone on the ground.

Taeyeon glared at her friend as she took her phone back, "I swear if my phone will be damaged, you're going to pay me ten times over this." She smiled in relief after she checked. Fortunately, the phone was still intact.

Sooyoung continued to , "Tell me. Did the King finally find her Queen?"

"I do not know what you're talking about."

"I am talking about the woman named Jessica you're having a conversation with on your phone."

"She is not Jessica Jung."

Sooyoung smirked back triumphantly. She also knew her friend so well and that Taeyeon is bad at telling white lies. "I am not even saying that person is Jessica Jung. King, stop putting words in my mouth."

Taeyeon forced a smile, "Can you not mind my business?"

Sooyoung raised her hands, "Alright. I will." She tapped the former's shoulder before she went back to her table, "Just do not stare too much. She'll melt."

Taeyeon was too dumbfounded to react. 'Was I too obvious?' she asked herself. As the conference continued, Taeyeon continued exchanging glances with Jessica despite the thought she had. Although sometimes, she couldn't help but glance at Sooyoung too, and unluckily, the taller woman returns the glance while wearing a teasing smirk.

The day one conference has then concluded. Taeyeon and Jessica are aware that it will be another social opportunity to interact with other attendees. Thus, they took that moment to leave the venue right away so the others would not notice them gone. They proceeded straight to the elevator hall leading to the hotel suites. 'It's a good thing no one is still around here yet,' they thought.

"So which floor are you?" Jessica asked. 

"Nineteenth."

"Really? I am in the nineteenth too. 1906."

"I'm on the other side. 1920."

"Cool."