La Continuation Chapter 2
Title: La Continuation (sequel to La Coincidence)
Pairings: Changmin/fc, bits of yunjae and yoosu
Summary: It all started with a coincidence which lead to much more. Now Min Ri has to keep her budding relationship and the fact that she lives with the five secret. Easier said than done...
A/N: I know it's been a while since the last update so THANK YOU ALL for waiting so patiently! Here's the next update- total of 8 pages! *proud* haha And please remember, I'm not going to post on hug anymore, so if you want, friend me!
Ultimately, Yunho’s worry was just.
Ever since that morning, the whole day had gone to complete hell- mass mayhem as the six of them scrambled to get together any and all necessities needed for the month’s stay abroad. Well, five of them rather.
Min Ri had all her things in her luggage so she was all set. What she self-appointed herself to do was run from room to room helping each member retrieve a certain article of clothing or find a missing shoe or another. If she hadn’t cleaned the house during her stay, things would be even more chaotic. Even now the members shouted in each room, communicating with one another in the different rooms.
“Hey Yunho ah, did you see that cologne of mine? You used it last” Jaejoong walks from bathroom to bedroom, bedroom to bathroom as if the little bottle would pop up from thin air along the way.
“Oh! I found your cell, I found your cell Yunho hyung!” Junsu sounds from between the couch cushions. “Now if only someone could tell me where I put my passport...”
“Min Ri ah, be a dear and make sure everything in the kitchen and laundry room is shut and secure and the food is all put away”
“No problem Jaejoong oppa, I’ve already checked the laundry and Changmin’s cleaned out all the kitchen food.”
“Thank you, you two are angels! Now if you could help me find that bottle of cologne?”
“I wonder if the manager called, dammit where is my cell? Hey Yoochun, help me find those jeans. You know, the black ones”
“Hyung you have about ten different pairs of black jeans, I’m looking for the scarf you borrowed from me and Junsu just said he found your cell”
“Yunho hyung those black jeans are in the closet behind Jaejoong’s bed, Yoochun ah the scarf is under your bed mattress, Jaejoongie hyung the cologne’s in the bathroom mirror cabinet, Junsu yah the passport’s in your bag on the table next to where you are.”
Changmin stands tall and proud in the middle of the living room, one black bag slung over his shoulder and a small roller luggage in his hand. He wheels it over to Min ri’s large luggage and sets his hand bag on top of it. Straightening up, he sees all four of his hyungs looking at him curiously with wide eyes.
“Wh-what?”
“Since when do you know so much?” Jaejoong tilts his head and crosses his arms over his chest, surveying the youngest.
“Um, genius maknae, remember?”
“Should’ve seen that one coming hyung” Junsu murmurs in Jaejoong’s ear while Jaejoong waves him off.
“How do you know where each of our belongings is and how on earth did you manage to finish first when you are usually last before Yunho?”
“Hey! I can’t help it!”
Changmin shrugs. “I’m just...observant? Besides, how many things do you need if we’ve already got an apartment in Japan? There are only so many clothes you need, before the brands provide us with some to model and endorse.”
But Jaejoong didn’t hear any of it and was already marching over to Changmin’s luggage and, much to the younger’s protests, clicks the button and yanks it open. He gapes at how everything is folded neatly, instead of being thrown haphazardly in bunches like he usually did.
“Wh-what on earth?” Jaejoong stutters as Yoochun howls in laughter and applauds Changmin for finally being neat like him.
With red cheeks Changmin mumbles “Min Ri showed me how to fold the clothes so I could fit more in. She didn’t do it all, just one shirt...and I think she’s doing the same for you guys in the bedroom.”
All four member’s heads simultaneously turn to the bedroom and they barrel off. Sure enough the clothing they threw blindly on their beds which they were going to stuff into their bags later on were folded and arranged neatly in piles at the foot of the bed.
“But...where is Min Ri?” Junsu tilts his head at the empty room.
As if on cue, a massive pile of clothing in the closet starts to move, and Min Ri squirms out from under it, letting out a meek cough.
“Um...clothes avalanche” she says with a blush staining her cheeks and notes the embarrassed looks the members exchangeabout the state of their closet in complete disarray bordering on a danger zone.
“I was trying to pull out that gray sweater Jaejoong owns which is exactly like mine, only at the last second all the other clothes from the shelf above collapsed along with it.”
The others laugh, remembering that episode of Jaejoong and Min Ri accidentally switching sweaters and Jaejoong takes the sweater from Min RI’s hands with a smile, folding it and placing it on his pile of clothes with a, “I’m bringing this with me then.”
With their clothing and belongings sorted out, soon everything was packed and the grand total of six luggage and bags stood placed in the living room.
They all gathered in the living room- Yoochun and Junsu sitting on the couch chatting with Changmin and Min Ri who were sitting on the floor, Jaejoong walking around lazily, staring out the window and Yunho pacing back and forth, wringing his hands. So far, so good. The call from the manager came fifteen minutes ago; he said he would come to pick them up in the large black van.
Right afterwards Yoochun had called Jin Jeong only to have her reply, “Relax. I’ve talked to him already and he agreed to let us both accompany you to Japan since I’m the best make-up artist they’ve got.”
But when asked what to say to the manager when he questions Min Ri with them, Jin Jeong answers, “You’re on your own with that. I can’t help.”
And that’s what got Yunho worried. He could fake a white lie easily, but what if, what if, the devil had it in for them that day and the manager saw through it? Saw through their masked eyes and faces? That’s all they would need now, someone breathing down on their backs like when they first debuted, hassling them even more about this, their one secret and comfort in the form of a friend.
And telling the truth would be out of the question- they’d nearly be strangled for letting Min Ri stay with them for the entire month, even in the context of platonic friendship and goodwill towards another. It seems the world would never believe the story of five guys living with one girl under the same roof, sans amorous relationships. But now...now there was one. Or at least the promising beginning of one just starting to blossom. So long as the rest of the world didn’t do their all to crush it.
The phone in Yunho’s pocket buzzes. A text from the manager. “I’m in the underground parking lot. Do you need help with the luggage for me to come up?”
Yunho’s fingers fly over the buttons replying quick, “No, all set. We’ll be right down, thank you.”
“Guys, let’s go” Yunho says and suddenly everyone gets quiet and serious. They quickly put on their coats and shoes and grabbing their bags they head out the door- Yunho and Junsu first, then Yoochun, Jaejoong, Changmin, Min Ri.
Min Ri’s head is down in thought as she walks slowly down the hall. Her steps seem to echo louder and louder with each step. Her thoughts turn back to when she first walked down these halls with the intention of leaving and never coming back. Now this was the second time. She stops and looks back at the door to the apartment. Will it ever open again for her? Will she ever come back?
She feels a soft touch on her hand and looks up to Changmin’s eyes. No...this wasn’t like that first time. She wasn’t leaving alone but in the company of the others. As Changmin laced his fingers through hers and gave her hand a squeeze, she felt better.
“Remember, this is not like your first experience walking down this hallway alone. I am here with you now,” Changmin murmurs as they slowly catch up to the others. She offers a bright smile at him and squeezes his hand.
“I don’t mean to break the mood but I don’t think it’s the best idea to...do that now” Yunho’s voice sounds from where he was, already at the elevator.
The pair looks at him, confused. With a painful look, Yunho nods at their joined hands and turns away sadly when they let go. The others didn’t speak, merely looking down at the ground. After all what could they say? They weren’t in the seclusion of their apartment anymore. The descending trip in the elevator was a silent one.
The moment the elevator doors open the shape of the sleek, black company van awaits them. A staff sat in the driver’s seat, the manager at the right. He rolls down the window.
“Record time, two minutes! You weren’t kidding when you said you’d be fast, Yunho.”
The leader nods. So far so good.
They pack their belongings in the trunk and each of them clamber in silently, Min Ri being the last and doing a formal bow, nodding “Annyeonghaseyo manager ssi” before going to take her place all the way at the back with Yoochun and Changmin.
“Wait a minute, how is Min Ri ssi with us?” The manager says after a few minutes, once they pull onto the highway. The van slowly starts accelerating, catching speed.
“Well she-” Jaejoong, Junsu, and Yunho all speak at the same time, surprising each other. They look at one another. Yoochun reaches across Changmin to softly pat Min Ri’s leg assuringly, and to also keep quiet.
“We decided she should come with us since her apartment is close by and it would be easier this way...” Jaejoong flicks his tongue over his lips.
“But if her apartment was close by, couldn’t we just have saved her a trip and gone to pick her up where she is? Or have Jin pick her up?” the manager’s brows furrow confused.
“A-wha” Jaejoong fumbles, looking to Yunho for help. Yunho shrugs his shoulders, eyes wide as he shakes his head in a silent ‘I can’t help you.’
“Car pool” Min Ri’s calm voice sounds from the back. “I thought it would be better to all be at one location and do the car pool. You know...to save the aggravation of driving...”
The manager chuckles. “Well alright, whatever it is Min Ri ssi...” He settles back and watches the cars passing by on the highway.
Yunho lets out a quiet breath he had been holding. He sinks back into the seat in relief and a glance from the corner of his eye shows Jaejoong and Junsu doing the same. A gentle hand is placed on his shoulder and Yunho turns around to see Yoochun’s eyes twinkling as he gave a small smile.
‘We can relax now...’ was the silent meaning being conveyed.
Meanwhile Changmin was fighting hard trying not to latch and hold onto Min Ri’s hand. He knew if he did, he wouldn’t be able to let go once they got out of the van. He wanted to keep her close and make sure she wouldn’t fly away from him like she nearly did at that time...
He shifts so his leg bumps against hers and stays there. She quirks a small smile and moves her foot so her leg hooks behind Changmin’s. Their pinkies latch and clasp together, resting on Changmin’s thigh as he bounced his knee up and down happily.
Yoochun darts a glance down at the sight and smiles inwardly. He looks up to see both of them smiling at him and a genuine smile spreads across his face as he chuckles. The others didn’t hear it, too busy in a heated discussion of something-or-other in which they got the manager involved in.
Finally they pull up to the airport terminal. Min Ri glances out the window and her heart stopped.
Fans. Crowds of them. Of course, how could she have forgotten?
“Oh, Jin Jeong’s car is behind us” Yoochun murmurs to them both and Min Ri turns in her seat. Sure enough, Jin Jeong was getting out of the passenger’s side while a friend of hers was behind the wheel. With ease she pulled out her luggage and waited for the others to come out.
“Alright, the airport staff is here, you guys slowly head on out, one by one” the manager’s relaxed face now turned to one of stone. “Min Ri ssi, I’m sorry but you will have to come out last, using the other door, so the fans won’t...try anything” he nods.
Min Ri swallowed and nodded. After all, he was only looking out for her own safety. Who knew what conclusions the fans would jump to. Or jump her. She shivered. Slowly she waited as Yunho slid the door open a crack and went out, then Jaejoong, Junsu, Yoochun, last of all Changmin. He couldn’t say or do anything, just turn to look at her one last time before setting a grim face, stepping out to the bustling crowd awaiting them and wishing them a good trip.
She nods a thank you to the driver, who smiles back amiably, and making sure the crowd was withdrawing, following the quintet, she steps out of the van on the driver’s side, the side of the street. She quickly pulls out her bag, luggage, slams the trunk shut and taps it twice to signal the driver all was well and he could go off.
“Min Ri girl!”
She turns and gets an armful of Jin. Laughing, she squeezes back tightly.
“I’m so glad it all worked out in the end, oh god, thank you!”
Jin smirks. “I’m close with the manager, we were schoolmates. Hell he owes me one.”
She high fives Min Ri. “So free plane tickets! Of course part of the perk of this job” She flips her hair dramatically as Min Ri laughs. “Now come, let’s go and check in our luggage”
They walk in and line up on the same line the guys were on. Only, they were at the very beginning and given priority due to the amount of fans crowding around.
“Don’t forget, we can’t be up there...we can’t risk any fans recognizing and ruining your pretty face” Jin says softly, her joking demeanor suddenly changed. Min Ri smiles in understanding and nods.
After awhile they check in and are off to relax for the moment in the cafe lounge. There, finally safe from prying eyes they all sink into armchairs dropping their bags and rolling out their shoulders.
“So Jin, you’re perfectly fine leaving your home and cat for a whole month?” the manager arches an eyebrow as he jokes to Jin Jeong sitting next to him. It was only the eight of them in the lounge, excluding the two airport personnel who were outside the doors, so they could now talk comfortably.
“Yes, perfectly fine. My friend will drop in each day to check in on the cat” Jin Jeong uses her ‘thank-you-very-much’ tone.
Junsu sighs. “I want a cat some day. It must be so much more different than having a dog. If your cat ever has kitties, give me one will you noona?”
“You know your schedule is too busy to have any pets, Junsu” the manager says. “Even the dogs you guys bought for the dvd shooting are given to trainers to take care of.”
“Right...” Junsu looked positively crestfallen.
“But maybe in the future, Junsu” Jin Jeong says softly, reassuringly.
“Yes, of course in the future” the manager echoes the words.
Min Ri meets Changmin’s eyes from across where she sat and smiles.
“Do you still see Mandoongie often, Changmin ssi?”
He smiles. “Not as often as I’d like to. I’d want to see her more often, get to take her on outings like a walk on the beach, a stroll in the park, you know, take care of her more.” His eyes twinkled.
“Oh I see” Min Ri responds airily, conversationally. “I’m sure she can’t wait to get the time to do all those things either.” Of course she didn’t fail to catch the other member’s eyes twinkling in mirth.
Just then the announcement overhead signals their flight. “That’s us” the manager says then groans as he got up out of the seat. “I’m getting too old for this...”
“You? Never” Jin Jeong laughs.
Soon they file into the plane for their red-eye night flight. They all have first class seats, another perk of traveling frequently, and a quick glance around showed that the plane was half empty with only a few dozing businessmen in the seats around them. Jaejoong and Yunho sat side by side, then Yoochun and Junsu, Changmin and the manager, Jin Jeong and Min Ri.
Jin Jeong noticed the way Changmin would always lean forward a bit when talking to the manager to eye Min Ri as she played and experimented with the buttons on her chair. She chuckled at how sweet the pair was acting.
“Ever fly in first class before?” Jin Jeong makes conversation
“Is it that obvious?” Min Ri laughs.
Jaejoong cracks open one eye in her direction and grins, having heard them even with his headphones on. Yunho by now was conked out next to him, mouth wide and eyes half-open. Jaejoong tsk-s at the poor leader and uses the scarf in his bag to wrap Yunho’s neck and hide his face. Tipping his beanie lower on his face, Jaejoong nods to the women before closing his eyes in a brief nap as well. A quick glance at Yoochun and Junsu showed Junsu attempting to talk to Yoochun while the latter nodded slowly, head tilted back, eyes opening and closing heavily. Junsu covered a yawn himself. Only Changmin and the manager were still awake, talking low in hushed tones so not to disturb the others.
“Well, seeing as it’s your first time flying first class, it’s better to have an expert show you the ropes, hmm?”
And before Min Ri could ask what she meant, Jin Jeong had gotten up and walked over to Changmin and the manager. After a brief exchange in which the manager smiled, shaking his head, Changmin got up and Jin Jeong sat down, proceeding to start up a conversation with the manager in which he looked much more energetic about.
A smiling Changmin walks over to Min Ri and sits besides her. She only stares with wide eyes, mouth opening and closing like a fish.
“But-but-I-you-she...”
Changmin chuckles low. The overhead light and voice sounded, telling them to fasten their seat-belts and get ready for takeoff.
“Ahh, looks like I’m going to be stuck here for now,” Changmin smirks at Min Ri.
She finally gets what Jin Jeong did and shakes her head in disbelief. Then smirks right back at Changmin.
“So, someone told me you’re new at first class traveling? Well, let the pro talk you through it...”
“Honestly, don’t you think the two of them make such a sweet couple? Hypothetically speaking of course” Jin Jeong murmurs to the manager.
The small lights overhead for the other members were off, the whole compartment dark except for the two lights above Changmin and Min Ri, illuminating the two who were fumbling with the buttons on their seats and laughing. The two finally set back their seats,talking while looking up. It was as if they were lying on grass looking at the stars, not in an airplane.
The manager grunts. “I suppose they make a good couple...but it’s not for me to decide.”
Jin Jeong narrows her eyes, spitting fire. “What do you mean by that? If you’re referring to the company you should know I-”
“Of course I don’t mean the company!” he exclaims shocked. “I would definitely hide one of the boy’s relationships from the company if it means their happiness, but I was referring to the two of them. Do they even know each other? They’ve only met at work a couple times. It’s up to them whether they click or not...”
“Oh you never know...” Jin Jeong says softly, looking at the pair who had finally closed their eyes, facing each other. “They might be different but sometimes differences bring people closer together.”
And with that the older pair also lean their seats back and close their eyes for an hour, waiting until the descent to Japan.
Pairings: Changmin/fc, bits of yunjae and yoosu
Summary: It all started with a coincidence which lead to much more. Now Min Ri has to keep her budding relationship and the fact that she lives with the five secret. Easier said than done...
A/N: I know it's been a while since the last update so THANK YOU ALL for waiting so patiently! Here's the next update- total of 8 pages! *proud* haha And please remember, I'm not going to post on hug anymore, so if you want, friend me!
Ultimately, Yunho’s worry was just.
Ever since that morning, the whole day had gone to complete hell- mass mayhem as the six of them scrambled to get together any and all necessities needed for the month’s stay abroad. Well, five of them rather.
Min Ri had all her things in her luggage so she was all set. What she self-appointed herself to do was run from room to room helping each member retrieve a certain article of clothing or find a missing shoe or another. If she hadn’t cleaned the house during her stay, things would be even more chaotic. Even now the members shouted in each room, communicating with one another in the different rooms.
“Hey Yunho ah, did you see that cologne of mine? You used it last” Jaejoong walks from bathroom to bedroom, bedroom to bathroom as if the little bottle would pop up from thin air along the way.
“Oh! I found your cell, I found your cell Yunho hyung!” Junsu sounds from between the couch cushions. “Now if only someone could tell me where I put my passport...”
“Min Ri ah, be a dear and make sure everything in the kitchen and laundry room is shut and secure and the food is all put away”
“No problem Jaejoong oppa, I’ve already checked the laundry and Changmin’s cleaned out all the kitchen food.”
“Thank you, you two are angels! Now if you could help me find that bottle of cologne?”
“I wonder if the manager called, dammit where is my cell? Hey Yoochun, help me find those jeans. You know, the black ones”
“Hyung you have about ten different pairs of black jeans, I’m looking for the scarf you borrowed from me and Junsu just said he found your cell”
“Yunho hyung those black jeans are in the closet behind Jaejoong’s bed, Yoochun ah the scarf is under your bed mattress, Jaejoongie hyung the cologne’s in the bathroom mirror cabinet, Junsu yah the passport’s in your bag on the table next to where you are.”
Changmin stands tall and proud in the middle of the living room, one black bag slung over his shoulder and a small roller luggage in his hand. He wheels it over to Min ri’s large luggage and sets his hand bag on top of it. Straightening up, he sees all four of his hyungs looking at him curiously with wide eyes.
“Wh-what?”
“Since when do you know so much?” Jaejoong tilts his head and crosses his arms over his chest, surveying the youngest.
“Um, genius maknae, remember?”
“Should’ve seen that one coming hyung” Junsu murmurs in Jaejoong’s ear while Jaejoong waves him off.
“How do you know where each of our belongings is and how on earth did you manage to finish first when you are usually last before Yunho?”
“Hey! I can’t help it!”
Changmin shrugs. “I’m just...observant? Besides, how many things do you need if we’ve already got an apartment in Japan? There are only so many clothes you need, before the brands provide us with some to model and endorse.”
But Jaejoong didn’t hear any of it and was already marching over to Changmin’s luggage and, much to the younger’s protests, clicks the button and yanks it open. He gapes at how everything is folded neatly, instead of being thrown haphazardly in bunches like he usually did.
“Wh-what on earth?” Jaejoong stutters as Yoochun howls in laughter and applauds Changmin for finally being neat like him.
With red cheeks Changmin mumbles “Min Ri showed me how to fold the clothes so I could fit more in. She didn’t do it all, just one shirt...and I think she’s doing the same for you guys in the bedroom.”
All four member’s heads simultaneously turn to the bedroom and they barrel off. Sure enough the clothing they threw blindly on their beds which they were going to stuff into their bags later on were folded and arranged neatly in piles at the foot of the bed.
“But...where is Min Ri?” Junsu tilts his head at the empty room.
As if on cue, a massive pile of clothing in the closet starts to move, and Min Ri squirms out from under it, letting out a meek cough.
“Um...clothes avalanche” she says with a blush staining her cheeks and notes the embarrassed looks the members exchangeabout the state of their closet in complete disarray bordering on a danger zone.
“I was trying to pull out that gray sweater Jaejoong owns which is exactly like mine, only at the last second all the other clothes from the shelf above collapsed along with it.”
The others laugh, remembering that episode of Jaejoong and Min Ri accidentally switching sweaters and Jaejoong takes the sweater from Min RI’s hands with a smile, folding it and placing it on his pile of clothes with a, “I’m bringing this with me then.”
With their clothing and belongings sorted out, soon everything was packed and the grand total of six luggage and bags stood placed in the living room.
They all gathered in the living room- Yoochun and Junsu sitting on the couch chatting with Changmin and Min Ri who were sitting on the floor, Jaejoong walking around lazily, staring out the window and Yunho pacing back and forth, wringing his hands. So far, so good. The call from the manager came fifteen minutes ago; he said he would come to pick them up in the large black van.
Right afterwards Yoochun had called Jin Jeong only to have her reply, “Relax. I’ve talked to him already and he agreed to let us both accompany you to Japan since I’m the best make-up artist they’ve got.”
But when asked what to say to the manager when he questions Min Ri with them, Jin Jeong answers, “You’re on your own with that. I can’t help.”
And that’s what got Yunho worried. He could fake a white lie easily, but what if, what if, the devil had it in for them that day and the manager saw through it? Saw through their masked eyes and faces? That’s all they would need now, someone breathing down on their backs like when they first debuted, hassling them even more about this, their one secret and comfort in the form of a friend.
And telling the truth would be out of the question- they’d nearly be strangled for letting Min Ri stay with them for the entire month, even in the context of platonic friendship and goodwill towards another. It seems the world would never believe the story of five guys living with one girl under the same roof, sans amorous relationships. But now...now there was one. Or at least the promising beginning of one just starting to blossom. So long as the rest of the world didn’t do their all to crush it.
The phone in Yunho’s pocket buzzes. A text from the manager. “I’m in the underground parking lot. Do you need help with the luggage for me to come up?”
Yunho’s fingers fly over the buttons replying quick, “No, all set. We’ll be right down, thank you.”
“Guys, let’s go” Yunho says and suddenly everyone gets quiet and serious. They quickly put on their coats and shoes and grabbing their bags they head out the door- Yunho and Junsu first, then Yoochun, Jaejoong, Changmin, Min Ri.
Min Ri’s head is down in thought as she walks slowly down the hall. Her steps seem to echo louder and louder with each step. Her thoughts turn back to when she first walked down these halls with the intention of leaving and never coming back. Now this was the second time. She stops and looks back at the door to the apartment. Will it ever open again for her? Will she ever come back?
She feels a soft touch on her hand and looks up to Changmin’s eyes. No...this wasn’t like that first time. She wasn’t leaving alone but in the company of the others. As Changmin laced his fingers through hers and gave her hand a squeeze, she felt better.
“Remember, this is not like your first experience walking down this hallway alone. I am here with you now,” Changmin murmurs as they slowly catch up to the others. She offers a bright smile at him and squeezes his hand.
“I don’t mean to break the mood but I don’t think it’s the best idea to...do that now” Yunho’s voice sounds from where he was, already at the elevator.
The pair looks at him, confused. With a painful look, Yunho nods at their joined hands and turns away sadly when they let go. The others didn’t speak, merely looking down at the ground. After all what could they say? They weren’t in the seclusion of their apartment anymore. The descending trip in the elevator was a silent one.
The moment the elevator doors open the shape of the sleek, black company van awaits them. A staff sat in the driver’s seat, the manager at the right. He rolls down the window.
“Record time, two minutes! You weren’t kidding when you said you’d be fast, Yunho.”
The leader nods. So far so good.
They pack their belongings in the trunk and each of them clamber in silently, Min Ri being the last and doing a formal bow, nodding “Annyeonghaseyo manager ssi” before going to take her place all the way at the back with Yoochun and Changmin.
“Wait a minute, how is Min Ri ssi with us?” The manager says after a few minutes, once they pull onto the highway. The van slowly starts accelerating, catching speed.
“Well she-” Jaejoong, Junsu, and Yunho all speak at the same time, surprising each other. They look at one another. Yoochun reaches across Changmin to softly pat Min Ri’s leg assuringly, and to also keep quiet.
“We decided she should come with us since her apartment is close by and it would be easier this way...” Jaejoong flicks his tongue over his lips.
“But if her apartment was close by, couldn’t we just have saved her a trip and gone to pick her up where she is? Or have Jin pick her up?” the manager’s brows furrow confused.
“A-wha” Jaejoong fumbles, looking to Yunho for help. Yunho shrugs his shoulders, eyes wide as he shakes his head in a silent ‘I can’t help you.’
“Car pool” Min Ri’s calm voice sounds from the back. “I thought it would be better to all be at one location and do the car pool. You know...to save the aggravation of driving...”
The manager chuckles. “Well alright, whatever it is Min Ri ssi...” He settles back and watches the cars passing by on the highway.
Yunho lets out a quiet breath he had been holding. He sinks back into the seat in relief and a glance from the corner of his eye shows Jaejoong and Junsu doing the same. A gentle hand is placed on his shoulder and Yunho turns around to see Yoochun’s eyes twinkling as he gave a small smile.
‘We can relax now...’ was the silent meaning being conveyed.
Meanwhile Changmin was fighting hard trying not to latch and hold onto Min Ri’s hand. He knew if he did, he wouldn’t be able to let go once they got out of the van. He wanted to keep her close and make sure she wouldn’t fly away from him like she nearly did at that time...
He shifts so his leg bumps against hers and stays there. She quirks a small smile and moves her foot so her leg hooks behind Changmin’s. Their pinkies latch and clasp together, resting on Changmin’s thigh as he bounced his knee up and down happily.
Yoochun darts a glance down at the sight and smiles inwardly. He looks up to see both of them smiling at him and a genuine smile spreads across his face as he chuckles. The others didn’t hear it, too busy in a heated discussion of something-or-other in which they got the manager involved in.
Finally they pull up to the airport terminal. Min Ri glances out the window and her heart stopped.
Fans. Crowds of them. Of course, how could she have forgotten?
“Oh, Jin Jeong’s car is behind us” Yoochun murmurs to them both and Min Ri turns in her seat. Sure enough, Jin Jeong was getting out of the passenger’s side while a friend of hers was behind the wheel. With ease she pulled out her luggage and waited for the others to come out.
“Alright, the airport staff is here, you guys slowly head on out, one by one” the manager’s relaxed face now turned to one of stone. “Min Ri ssi, I’m sorry but you will have to come out last, using the other door, so the fans won’t...try anything” he nods.
Min Ri swallowed and nodded. After all, he was only looking out for her own safety. Who knew what conclusions the fans would jump to. Or jump her. She shivered. Slowly she waited as Yunho slid the door open a crack and went out, then Jaejoong, Junsu, Yoochun, last of all Changmin. He couldn’t say or do anything, just turn to look at her one last time before setting a grim face, stepping out to the bustling crowd awaiting them and wishing them a good trip.
She nods a thank you to the driver, who smiles back amiably, and making sure the crowd was withdrawing, following the quintet, she steps out of the van on the driver’s side, the side of the street. She quickly pulls out her bag, luggage, slams the trunk shut and taps it twice to signal the driver all was well and he could go off.
“Min Ri girl!”
She turns and gets an armful of Jin. Laughing, she squeezes back tightly.
“I’m so glad it all worked out in the end, oh god, thank you!”
Jin smirks. “I’m close with the manager, we were schoolmates. Hell he owes me one.”
She high fives Min Ri. “So free plane tickets! Of course part of the perk of this job” She flips her hair dramatically as Min Ri laughs. “Now come, let’s go and check in our luggage”
They walk in and line up on the same line the guys were on. Only, they were at the very beginning and given priority due to the amount of fans crowding around.
“Don’t forget, we can’t be up there...we can’t risk any fans recognizing and ruining your pretty face” Jin says softly, her joking demeanor suddenly changed. Min Ri smiles in understanding and nods.
After awhile they check in and are off to relax for the moment in the cafe lounge. There, finally safe from prying eyes they all sink into armchairs dropping their bags and rolling out their shoulders.
“So Jin, you’re perfectly fine leaving your home and cat for a whole month?” the manager arches an eyebrow as he jokes to Jin Jeong sitting next to him. It was only the eight of them in the lounge, excluding the two airport personnel who were outside the doors, so they could now talk comfortably.
“Yes, perfectly fine. My friend will drop in each day to check in on the cat” Jin Jeong uses her ‘thank-you-very-much’ tone.
Junsu sighs. “I want a cat some day. It must be so much more different than having a dog. If your cat ever has kitties, give me one will you noona?”
“You know your schedule is too busy to have any pets, Junsu” the manager says. “Even the dogs you guys bought for the dvd shooting are given to trainers to take care of.”
“Right...” Junsu looked positively crestfallen.
“But maybe in the future, Junsu” Jin Jeong says softly, reassuringly.
“Yes, of course in the future” the manager echoes the words.
Min Ri meets Changmin’s eyes from across where she sat and smiles.
“Do you still see Mandoongie often, Changmin ssi?”
He smiles. “Not as often as I’d like to. I’d want to see her more often, get to take her on outings like a walk on the beach, a stroll in the park, you know, take care of her more.” His eyes twinkled.
“Oh I see” Min Ri responds airily, conversationally. “I’m sure she can’t wait to get the time to do all those things either.” Of course she didn’t fail to catch the other member’s eyes twinkling in mirth.
Just then the announcement overhead signals their flight. “That’s us” the manager says then groans as he got up out of the seat. “I’m getting too old for this...”
“You? Never” Jin Jeong laughs.
Soon they file into the plane for their red-eye night flight. They all have first class seats, another perk of traveling frequently, and a quick glance around showed that the plane was half empty with only a few dozing businessmen in the seats around them. Jaejoong and Yunho sat side by side, then Yoochun and Junsu, Changmin and the manager, Jin Jeong and Min Ri.
Jin Jeong noticed the way Changmin would always lean forward a bit when talking to the manager to eye Min Ri as she played and experimented with the buttons on her chair. She chuckled at how sweet the pair was acting.
“Ever fly in first class before?” Jin Jeong makes conversation
“Is it that obvious?” Min Ri laughs.
Jaejoong cracks open one eye in her direction and grins, having heard them even with his headphones on. Yunho by now was conked out next to him, mouth wide and eyes half-open. Jaejoong tsk-s at the poor leader and uses the scarf in his bag to wrap Yunho’s neck and hide his face. Tipping his beanie lower on his face, Jaejoong nods to the women before closing his eyes in a brief nap as well. A quick glance at Yoochun and Junsu showed Junsu attempting to talk to Yoochun while the latter nodded slowly, head tilted back, eyes opening and closing heavily. Junsu covered a yawn himself. Only Changmin and the manager were still awake, talking low in hushed tones so not to disturb the others.
“Well, seeing as it’s your first time flying first class, it’s better to have an expert show you the ropes, hmm?”
And before Min Ri could ask what she meant, Jin Jeong had gotten up and walked over to Changmin and the manager. After a brief exchange in which the manager smiled, shaking his head, Changmin got up and Jin Jeong sat down, proceeding to start up a conversation with the manager in which he looked much more energetic about.
A smiling Changmin walks over to Min Ri and sits besides her. She only stares with wide eyes, mouth opening and closing like a fish.
“But-but-I-you-she...”
Changmin chuckles low. The overhead light and voice sounded, telling them to fasten their seat-belts and get ready for takeoff.
“Ahh, looks like I’m going to be stuck here for now,” Changmin smirks at Min Ri.
She finally gets what Jin Jeong did and shakes her head in disbelief. Then smirks right back at Changmin.
“So, someone told me you’re new at first class traveling? Well, let the pro talk you through it...”
“Honestly, don’t you think the two of them make such a sweet couple? Hypothetically speaking of course” Jin Jeong murmurs to the manager.
The small lights overhead for the other members were off, the whole compartment dark except for the two lights above Changmin and Min Ri, illuminating the two who were fumbling with the buttons on their seats and laughing. The two finally set back their seats,talking while looking up. It was as if they were lying on grass looking at the stars, not in an airplane.
The manager grunts. “I suppose they make a good couple...but it’s not for me to decide.”
Jin Jeong narrows her eyes, spitting fire. “What do you mean by that? If you’re referring to the company you should know I-”
“Of course I don’t mean the company!” he exclaims shocked. “I would definitely hide one of the boy’s relationships from the company if it means their happiness, but I was referring to the two of them. Do they even know each other? They’ve only met at work a couple times. It’s up to them whether they click or not...”
“Oh you never know...” Jin Jeong says softly, looking at the pair who had finally closed their eyes, facing each other. “They might be different but sometimes differences bring people closer together.”
And with that the older pair also lean their seats back and close their eyes for an hour, waiting until the descent to Japan.