Jiaqi stood on the balcony and watched as the mist swirled around her, tugging her back into the memory of an empty bed and a terrible headache. 

She couldn't help but feel someone staring at her from behind. Taking a breath to collect herself, she quickly turned in her heels. Only to find that no one was standing there, shrugging it off as being paranoid, Jiaqi started to make her way back into the airport. 

Xueer, feeling her cheeks flush at the childish action, slowly leaves her hiding place behind one of the airport columns.

"This is the final boarding call for passengers on flight 9JX to Jiangsu. Please proceed to gate 3 immediately. The final checks are being completed. Thank you." 

Hearing the announcement, Xueer dashed off to gather her luggage, while Jiaqi walked toward the check-in desk while rummaging through her purse. Pulling out her passport and the flight ticket, Jiaqi swiftly glides to the gate and gives the ticket to the attendant. Jiaqi shoots them a small smile before making her way over to the jet bridge. 

/

Not far behind, flustered and out of breath, Xueer stumbles into the line a few paces behind Jiaqi.

Awkwardly watched the many shades of black and beige blur together as they made their way up the bridge. She did her best to compose herself and stay undetected by the fansites that line the gates.

"Miss, can I see your ticket?"  The sound of the attendant makes Xueer snap to attention and immediately hand over her ticket.

“Thank you; have a lovely flight.” Xueer hummed before carrying her suitcase up the ramp.

/

Making her way through the narrow walkway of the plane, Xueer did her best to locate the number on her ticket seat 3J. Stopping at her row, Xueer struggled as she focused on magically making her bag into the carry-on shelf.

“Need a hand?” Jiaqi quipped, letting a small smile grace her lips. Xueer could only stare; Jiaqi looked as beautiful as ever and still took her breath away. Jiaqi, pleased at the reaction of her ex, gently took a hold of the suitcase and neatly put it on the carry-on shelf.

“… Thanks. I think that’s my seat.” Xueer nodded towards the seat next to Jiaqi while running a hand through her hair.

“Then I guess we should take our seats then?” Jiaqi swiftly made her way to her seat, leaving a dazed Xueer in the middle of the airplane walkway. Eventually, Xueer willed her legs to move; she was stiff as she finally sat down next to Jiaqi.

“Ladies and gentlemen, please put on your seat belt as we prepare for the ascent.” The sign lit up above the captain’s door, indicating for seat belts to be put on. Xueer knew Jiaqi would never say anything, but she was scared of heights, including planes. Jiaqi was gripping the armrest, and her eyes clamped shut, her sharp jawline on full display. Clearing , Xueer started to talk in hopes of distracting Jiaqi from her fears of flying.

“Did you miss me?” Xueer knew she was drifting into uncomfortable territory, but she couldn’t think of anything else to say.

“Nope,” Jiaqi responded in a sarcastic huff. Xueer smiled at that she knew this Jiaqi. It was the same Jiaqi that would debate with her over dance combinations and dinner orders.  

“Not even… just a little bit?” Xueer jested, lightly knocking their shoulders together, hoping to keep Jiaqi talking. An electric silence fell over both of them, Xueer was about to face Jiaqi when she didn’t get a response. Instead, Jiaqi let out a labored breath and, in hushed tones, let out a string of words that seemed to echo in Xueer’s mind.

“I couldn’t stand not being able to see you, so I disappeared completely.” Xueer tenses at those words; they carried so much pain and weight, She wasn’t expecting to have a heart-to-heart with Jiaqi on a 4 AM flight, but here she is.

“I missed you.” Jiaqi relaxed hearing those words but began frowning when she remembered the TV caption at the airport. When will Kong Xueer’s, boyfriend pop the question?

“I bet you miss your boyfriend more then.” Jiaqi's voice cut through the dry airplane air, and Xueer did her best to mask her reaction. Xueer was caught off guard, but she responded without thinking.

“What about your fiancé, I bet she misses you as well.” 

/

The next hour on the plane, the stewardess overheard words of pain and rejoiced as they staggered through the shambles of their broken relationship, trying to see where it went wrong.

“I never meant to hurt you, Jiaqi. I’m sorry. I was the only thing the company allowed me to control.” Jiaqi exhales that the weight on her shoulders was still there, but this time she had someone to share the weight with.

“Xueer… I know it wasn’t your fault, and you were forced to break up because of your company. but the pain was so real and hurt so much. Jiaqi did her best to keep her voice even, but the silent tears dashing her cheeks didn’t go unnoticed by Xueer.

“I wanted to tell you so badly... the breakup replays in my mind every day, and each time the pain comes flooding back.” Timidly, Xueer started to cup Jiaqi’s face and tenderly began to wipe away the tears with the pads of her thumbs. Jiaqi couldn’t help but lean into the familiar touch; the comfortable silence encased them in their world, far away from fansites, managers, and competitive companies.

/

“Do you want to see our new choreography?” Jiaqi offered, Xueer an exclusive viewing of her team's new routine for her competition. Xueer watched in wonder as she watched her old friends perform in pristine technique.

“You’ve gotten better. I didn’t think you could, but you always surprise me.” Jiaqi couldn’t help but smile at Xueer's comment and be proud of her teammates.

/

During the last hour of the trip, Xueer learned that Jiaqi is staying in the same city. They both agree to save money, not get lost, and share a hotel room for the night before meeting with their managers. The stewardess found the two asleep on each other's shoulders before waking them up at the end of their flight. 

"Excuse me, miss, we've arrived at the destination." A young-looking stewardess gently shook Xueer's arm, waking her from her slumber. 

/

The idol and the dancer managed to scramble into an airport taxi and headed off to their shared hotel for the rest of the night. 

/ 

Jiaqi barely heard the sound of baggage being tossed aside as the redhead spun around and pressed her to the hotel door. Jiaqi bearly had time to brace herself for a passionate kiss filled with unsaid regrets and fire met lips.

Jiaqi couldn’t hold back the helpless whimper that escaped from her lips, and Xueer couldn’t help but smile into the kiss. She had missed Jiaqi more than words could describe; the only thing on her mind was making up for the lost time.

/

Jiaqi pushed away, panting to look up at Xueer hovering over her, her red hair hiding them from the harsh world. Trying to study her shaking hands, Jiaqi tried to release her gripping Xueer shirt collar and instead settled on cupping Xueer’s face.

Hesitantly, Jiaqi brought her gaze to search Xueer’s eyes, praying that she’d find sincerity and reassurance.

Picking up on the shift, the Xueer moved to lay down next to Jiaqi, dove down, nuzzling into Jiaqi’s shoulder. Quickly searching for Jiaqi’s hands, Xueer intertwined them and brought them to her lips, smiling softly.

Jiaqi glanced at their intertwined hands before throwing a fleeting glaze at Xueer, before murmuring all her fears that buried themselves into the hotel walls around them.

“What was that?”

“What if this is all a cruel dream, and that this story is going to go the same way as before?” Xueer felt her heart tug painfully in her chest at Jiaqi’s words.

“Xu Jiaqi, I love you. That has never changed. No matter what happens, I’m not letting go of you again.”  The confidence that Xueer exuded was enough to calm Jiaqi's frisky nerves. 

Smiling at the woman she loved, Jiaqi surprised Xueer by quickly straddling her and smirking down at her with confidence that Xueer hadn't seen since their evaluation performance.

"Good, because I plan on taking all night to show you how much I've missed you." Xueer couldn't help but gulp and surrender to the magnetic force that was Xu Jiaqi.