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In November, Joong and Dunk suddenly stopped interacting online. No likes, no comments—it felt like they had completely distanced themselves from each other. Fans couldn't help but notice, and their concern quickly turned into speculation. Social media was filled with theories about what might have happened between them.

That same month, Dunk had his first solo fan meeting in Chongqing on November 15. Even then, Joong stayed silent. There were no words of encouragement or even subtle signs of support online. Fans started to overanalyze every small interaction, like Joong blocking comments on his post, or finally liking one of Dunk's comments on another one, as if it was the only sign of hope.

There was also talk about something that happened on November 13, just two days before Dunk's trip to China. The exact details are unclear, and honestly, no one really knows what happened. It's probably best left that way.

This period of distance between them inspired this story. It's about Dunk and Joong finally sitting down to have the conversation they needed and taking the first step toward fixing things.

I wrote in on November 16 to let my emotions out, but did not publish.

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Dunk stepped off the plane from Chongqing, feeling the familiar weight of exhaustion after an intense fan meet and traveling for a few days. It was late, well past 10 pm, and the airport was relatively quiet. Only a few people lingered, recording him on their phones and calling out his name. Dunk bowed politely in their direction, managing a small wave each time he heard his name. But he didn't look up, his eyes glued to his phone, scrolling through endless social media comments and posts. Mostly, he was catching up on news about Joong and checking his DMs—hoping for something, anything from Joong.

Nothing.

Dunk's chest tightened as he stared at their chat with Joong. He had messaged Joong a few times, sent apologies and explanations, but there was no response. Joong hadn't even read them.

He forced himself to keep moving, walking briskly toward the exit. He felt exposed, like everyone could see right through him, see how much he was struggling. He was too tired to put on a fake smile, too drained to do anything but nod and wave half-heartedly at a few fans who still called out to him.
He knew he should look up, give them a proper smile, but he couldn't. The only face he wanted to see right now was Joong's, and he knew it wasn't going to be here.

Outside, a company driver was waiting for Dunk and First. They had traveled together from China, and both looked equally drained. Dunk sank into the cushioned seat as the driver pulled away from the airport. He and First exchanged a few words about the upcoming premiere next Wednesday, but soon fell into silence. They had already talked extensively during the trip, including the situation between Joong and Dunk, and now exhaustion made further conversation unnecessary.

After a 30 min ride First was dropped off, leaving Dunk alone with his thoughts. Dunk let out a long, shaky breath as he pulled out his phone, opening his DMs with Joong. The last few messages still sat there, unread, a quiet reminder of everything he felt had gone wrong.

Dunk had been having the same conversation with Joong in his head for days, replaying it over and over. "I just wanted to help. I didn't mean to let you down. Please just talk to me, let me explain."

It felt like a wall had gone up between them, and Dunk couldn't break through.

On top of everything the whole fandom started speculating turning into a chaotic depressed mess just before the big premiere of The Heart Killers.

Dunk desperately wanted to fix things, but he didn't know how. He shut his eyes, trying to hold back the tears that threatened to spill.

About 20 minutes later the car slowed down as they approached the gate to his house. Dunk opened his eyes and spotted a familiar black car parked on the street. His heart jumped into his throat.

It was Joong's car.

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Dunk sat up straight, taking a deep breath, feeling a mix of hope and fear swirling inside him. As the car came to a stop, he thanked the driver and stepped out, grabbing his bags.

Inside, his dad greeted him with a smile. "You look exhausted," his dad said, taking one of Dunk's bags.

"Yeah, it's been a long trip," Dunk replied, setting his bags down. "But, uh, I need to step out for a bit. Joong's here, and we need to talk."

His parents exchanged a quick glance. They knew things had been off between Dunk and Joong lately. They didn't know the full story, but they had seen some of the hateful comments online and understood there was a conflict. His mom nodded, her expression softening.

"Alright," she said. "Why don't you both come in and talk here? It's late, and it might be more comfortable."

Dunk shook his head, forcing a small smile. "Thanks, but it'll be quick. We'll talk in the car."

Grateful for his parents' understanding, Dunk left the house. He took another deep breath and walked toward Joong's car looking at his silhouette, though he couldn't make out his face due to the glare of the streetlight.

As Dunk opened the car door and got in, Joong's handsome face looked back at him, expressionless. The scent of Joong's perfume and the familiar smell of the car filled Dunk with a sense of warmth, momentarily giving him the comforting illusion that everything was back to normal. But reality quickly snapped back, and Dunk felt a knot of fear tighten in his stomach again, unsure how the conversation would go and how it would end. Despite the conflicting emotions, he was genuinely happy to finally see Joong's face after several days of separation and silence.

"How was the fan meet?" Joong asked, his tone calm but distant.

"It went well overall, but it was tiring and a bit stressful. Fans are really bold these days," Dunk replied, then added, "But I don't think you came here to talk about that, did you?"

Joong nodded slowly, poking his cheek with his tongue—a habit he had when he was lost in thought. He kept his eyes fixed ahead, avoiding Dunk's gaze.

"How about we go for a ride?" Joong offered, finally turning to look at Dunk.

Dunk nodded, feeling a bit of relief at the idea of getting away from the house and having some privacy. Joong started the car, and they slowly drove away from Dunk's house.

They drove in silence for a while without looking at each other. Joong eventually pulled into an empty parking lot near a shopping center. It was dimly lit, with no other cars around, offering them the privacy they needed. Joong parked in a corner, further away from the streetlights and security cameras.

Joong turned towards Dunk, locking eyes with him, his eyebrows slightly furrowed as he bit the inside of his lip. It was obvious Joong was upset. His intense stare made Dunk feel sick to his stomach, but he gathered his courage and shifted his body to face Joong more directly.

"Dunk," Joong started, his voice calm but cold. "Do you understand what you did wrong?"

Dunk took a deep breath before replying, "Of course I do, I do now..." He paused, then continued, "Look, I'm really sorry. I don't know what got into me, but I really thought... I thought it could help," his voice shaky, desperation clear in every word.

"Do you know how this made me feel?" Joong's eyes bore into Dunk's, his voice slightly more emotional. "How do you see me at all? Am I a mindless child to you who can't take care of his own problems?"

After a short pause, Joong continued, "I was honestly shocked, and I didn't know if I could trust you anymore."

Dunk swallowed, feeling the weight of Joong's words pressing down on him. Guilt stabbed at his chest as Joong laid everything out, making it painfully clear how much his actions had hurt Joong.

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Dunk kept his eyes locked on Joong, staying silent to give Joong the space he needed to finally let it all out, to share his true feelings.

"And then it all went public, causing chaos right before The Heart Killers premiere," Joong continued, his voice trailing off slightly. "You knew better than anyone that I already had a lot on my mind. I really didn't need this on top of everything else, and especially not from you." Joong's tone held an unspoken expectation, as if he was waiting for Dunk to finally give an explanation.

"I'm sorry, Joong. I really am," Dunk said, his voice trembling. He reached out, his hand hovering over Joong's, but then pulled back, unsure if Joong would accept it. "I wish I could take it all back. It wasn't what I meant to do, everything just went so wrong. I promise, it won't happen again."

Dunk's voice shook slightly as he looked at Joong, pleading for understanding and forgiveness. Joong didn't reply, and Dunk felt his hope fading. He turned his face to the side, resting his head on the seat, and closed his eyes to steady his breath, determined to keep his emotions under control.

Joong looked at Dunk, whose familiar profile seemed especially beautiful in the dim light, with deep sadness showing clearly on his face. He sighed, unable to resist any longer, and gently took Dunk's hand, his expression softening. Dunk's eyes widened in disbelief at Joong's touch, as he stared at their joined hands before looking back at Joong.

"Dunk, the worst part was seeing all that hate directed at you. You know how much it hurts me when you get attacked like that." Joong paused, his voice breaking for a moment. "But seriously, this still pisses me off because you could've avoided all of that!" Joong's tone shifted to exaggerated frustration, half-joking as he firmly squeezed Dunk's hand and raised it slightly.

"Ouch," Dunk said, pretending it hurt, but a smile broke through. He knew Joong was genuinely pissed, but it seemed like, in that moment, Joong's anger was already fading. Dunk's heart lifted a little, sensing the shift between them.

After a brief pause, Joong added, still holding Dunk's hand, "I know I can be emotional, and sometimes I act before thinking, but please, just talk to me first. Trust me more, and don't do things behind my back, no matter your intentions." His tone turned serious but gentle.

Dunk nodded, quietly agreeing with Joong's words.

"So... does this mean you've forgiven me?" Dunk asked, his tone careful but hopeful.

"Nope," Joong replied, a bit too quickly.

"Are you still mad at me?" Dunk asked, pushing a little further.

"Oh, definitely!" Joong nodded, raising his eyebrows.

Dunk's head dropped again, and he let out a sigh. "I wish there was something I could do to make you feel better," he muttered quietly, almost to himself.

"There's one thing that might make me feel a bit better," Joong said, his tone so serious it made Dunk turn back to look at him.

"What thing?" Dunk asked, genuinely curious.

Instead of replying, Joong leaned in closer, his eyes fixed on Dunk's lips. He tilted his chin slightly, silently indicating, "This."

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Dunk's heart raced, a mix of nerves and anticipation washing over him, with a hint of disbelief. Slowly, he leaned forward, bridging the distance until his lips met Joong's. The kiss was soft at first, hesitant, as if Dunk was making sure it was okay to really kiss Joong, but Joong didn't pull away. Instead, he let Dunk take the lead, responding just enough to show he wanted this too. Joong's subtle movements were like an unspoken permission, a moment of mercy, allowing Dunk to pour all his emotions into the kiss.

"Wait" Dunk interrupted the kiss and asked. "You just shaved?"

"Mhm," Joong replied, nodding slightly.

"So, you weren't planning to forgive me tonight, but you definitely had kissing me in mind?" Dunk asked with a playfully shocked tone as he pulled away further from Joong.

Joong let out a frustrated sigh, his patience wearing thin. He moved closer, his eyes filled with a deep longing. "Dunk, seriously, just stop talking," he muttered as he cupped Dunk's face in his palm.

This time, Joong closed the gap, his lips capturing Dunk's in a heated kiss. It wasn't gentle—Joong kissed him with an urgency that made it clear he couldn't hold back anymore. Dunk's hands moved instinctively, one behind Joong's head and the other wrapping firmly around his waist. Joong's hands roamed, one slipping beneath Dunk's sweater, brushing against his warm skin, while the other rested on Dunk's neck, deepening the kiss. They both savored each other's touch, as if they hadn't kissed in months.

"I love you," Dunk whispered suddenly between kisses

Joong paused for a moment, letting Dunk's words sink in. Dunk didn't often express his feelings so openly, and hearing it now made Joong's heart swell with happiness, despite everything they had been through.

"I know," Joong whispered before diving back into the kiss. It wasn't an "I love you too," but for Dunk, it was enough. It gave him the reassurance he needed—a promise that everything between them would be alright.

Joong's kisses grew more intense, his lips and tongue moving with growing urgency. He shifted his focus to Dunk's neck, tugging at the collar of Dunk's sweater to gain better access. He started with soft kisses, but they quickly grew more demanding, his need was evident in every touch, until Dunk let out a shaky breath, enjoying the warmth of Joong's lips against his skin.

"Joong, hold on," Dunk said, making an effort to control himself. "Fans will notice if you leave a mark again!"

Just then, Dunk's phone rang, breaking the moment. He sighed, fishing it out of his pocket. It was his mom.

"Hey, Mom," Dunk answered, trying to steady his voice.

"Dunk, are you alright? It's late," his mom asked, concern in her voice.

"Yeah, everything's fine," Dunk reassured her, glancing at Joong with a smile. "We just went for a ride. I'll be home soon."

After hanging up, Dunk turned back to Joong, who looked at him with a wild yet disappointed gaze, as if his prey was slipping away.

Dunk leaned in and gave Joong a quick peck on the lips. "We should head back now," he said, his smile a mix of relief and sadness.

As they began driving back, the silence between them was more comfortable this time.

"Thank you!" Dunk said suddenly, breaking the quiet. "Thank you for talking to me today and not waiting till Wednesday."

Joong smirked, keeping his eyes on the road. "You can thank the fans... they were posting all those sad, tired pictures of you and comparing them to how happy you looked with me in Singapore."

"Really? Our fans... nothing ever slips past them." Dunk shook his head with a small smile. "I thought I looked completely fine."

Joong chuckled. "Speaking of that, let's stay low for now. I don't want any more speculations before The Heart Killers premiere."

Dunk nodded quietly, agreeing with Joong's words.

As they arrived at Dunk's house, Joong parked the car, and they both hesitated for a moment. They reached out, their hands finding each other, fingers intertwining as they exchanged a lingering gaze.

"Good night," Dunk said, letting go of Joong's hand and opening the car door.

"See you on Wednesday," Joong replied, giving Dunk a reassuring smile before the door closed.

Dunk knew things weren't perfect between them yet. He understood it would take time for Joong to fully heal and regain his trust, but he was hopeful. It felt like they were on the right path, and Dunk found himself excited about the upcoming The Heart Killers premiere again. The thought of being by Joong's side on that big day filled him with anticipation, something he had almost stopped looking forward to during their time apart.