“The nearer I am to you, 
the further I see our distance”

The girls around Ara screamed hysterically as Sungjin came nearer to the mosh pit. Ara took a few steps back, unlike the others, “must know your concert manner Ara!” she muttered to herself. She needed to focus on her camera. Then, she noticed Sungjin seemingly throwing in her direction. Placing the camera down, she met eyes with him. He had confirmed her guess. He threw thrice at her but they were all snatched away by other fans. Showing his empty basket, he pouted in Ara’s direction. Ara felt her heart being squeezed at his sweet gesture. She mouthed ‘Gwenchana’ at him and he nodded smiling before running off in a kid-like manner.

Confetti flew in all directions as the instrumental “Congratulations” played in the background. The boys held onto each other’s hands and dipped their heads in the air for a 90 degrees bow. As usual, it lasted for a good 1 minute. The concert ended and Ara was about to leave when staff approached her. Biting her lips nervously, she discreetly slipped her memory card into her secret pocket. There were incidents when other MYDAYS reported to staff only at the end of the concert that fan sites took videos during the concert. And she seriously hated those bitter fans.

“Yes?” Ara kept her calm composure.

“For you,” The staff member said, handing her a teddy bear and a black crane.

“Who is this from?” She asked.

The staff didn’t respond and just left her there baffled.

Sitting at the café in the hotel, Ara took the bear and the crane out from her bag. She didn’t know why but her hands started to unfold the crane unconsciously. Ara found tears welling up in her eyes when her prediction was proven correct. It was from Sungjin. She recognized his handwriting in a heartbeat and his words made her feel guilty.

감사합니다 . . . 죄송합니다.

”What are you even sorry for?” Ara tightened her grip on the paper, crumpling it slightly.
The café played a familiar song, ‘You did well today’ Ara hadn’t heard for a long time. It was a song that DAY6 covered. The song brought back memories, too many memories in just 3 minutes. Ara remembered their first concert when DAY6 had little fans back then. She remembered the smile on Sungjin's face when he saw the crowd that was waiting for them to perform. She remembered the look on his face when they received their first win after 3 years. She remembered the first time Sungjin called her by her name at the fan meeting.

Ara lowered her head in embarrassment and guilt. She had promised to be there for him from the start, till the end. She was supposed to support him unconditionally but she didn’t know when and how she started to get greedier. She wanted more of his attention. She wanted to look at only her. She wanted him for herself, just like the other possessive fans. Ara thought she was disgusting acting like that, she wanted to despise herself.

“I should be sorry instead, Sungjin-ah you deserve to be happy no matter what” She sighed and folded the crane back.

Honestly, it didn’t and shouldn’t matter. Whether he had a girlfriend or not, she thought to herself. After all, he would never be hers.

She was destined to be his fan forever.

“I should have known my position” She laughed bitterly.

“Are you tired?” ShinYe asked.

Ara turned to face her with her eyes closed. She nodded.

“My heart is tired too,” She thought silently to herself.

“In that case, hurry and sleep” ShinYe muttered her breath.

Ara nodded once more before drifting to sleep.

“DAY6 is not departing early, why are we checking in so early today?” ShinYe asked, yawning with her mouth wide open.

“YAH!” Ara covered her mouth and gave her a glare.

“Sorry” She stuck her tongue out cutely.

“I wanted to get Sungjin a little gift,” Ara said as she glossed over the tourist shirt.

“I think he’d like this” ShinYe pointed to a plain black shirt.

After walking in the store for 15 minutes, Ara eventually settled with the black shirt that ShinYe pointed a while ago and had it wrapped nicely.

“What are you writing?” ShinYe peered and Ara quickly finished off her last words and closed it.
“Secret,” She said before slipping into the bag.

“This is for you!!” Ara hurried along and passed the bag to Sungjin. His hands were filled with other fan gifts but he still took hers with a grateful nod and warm smile.

Ara hurriedly took her camera up to take a few shots before entering the immigration.

In the plane, Ara looked over to see Sungjin still holding onto her gift bag. It seemed that he had passed the other gifts for safekeeping by his manager. It was the same action like these that made her fall for him even deeper. So deep that she wondered if she could ever get out of this black hole. Her love for him was getting out of hand and it was difficult for her now. Closing her eyes, Ara wished the plane would take her worries away as it took off.

“Sungjin hyung, who gave this to you?” Dowoon asked.

Sungjin looked over in Ara’s direction and smiled.

“Ara-sshi did”

Reading her card brought a wide grin on Sungjin’s face. When YoungK was about to take a peek Sungjin hurriedly closed it and kept it safely in his clutch.

“What’s that?” His curious gaze still not leaving the clutch.

“Nothing much” He replied and closed his eyes, hugging the clutch to sleep.

The announcement that they will be reaching Incheon airport in 15 minutes woke Ara up. She stretched her arms in the air and looked around. Some of her friends were still sleeping while others had their laptops open, they were busy editing their photos to post once they arrived. She looked over at the boys and saw Jae annoyed by Wonpil again. Sungjin was looking out the window and when he turned back, they met eyes.

Sungjin smiled in a way that made her heart race every single time.

Ara smiled back before reclining in her seat and closing her eyes. Her heart was thumping wildly in her ribcage as if wanting to be set free. She felt conflicted.

Seems like the plane didn’t take her worries away, not even the slightest.

“Ladies and gentlemen, we have arrived at Incheon Airport. The time now is 2:00 AM KST”