on a breezy Sunday afternoon, the dreamies visit an orphanage in Incheon.
"she's adorable," Mark said with a smile, crouching down to the baby sprawled on the floor. she was dressed in a sweet, colorful singlet, gazed up at them with her big, round, bambi eyes.
to the baby, he looked like a lion from an animated show she loved. she reached out her arms, wanted to be picked up. just as Mark was about to scoop her up, a staff member intervened, lifting her gently.
"Daeun! there you are, cheeky girl!" the caregiver exclaimed, bopping the baby's nose playfully before turning to the seven boys, chuckling softly. "i'm sorry. these babies are always causing trouble!"
"no, no, it's okay" Haechan grinned, and Jeno nodded.
"she's a cute one," Jeno added, with Mark agreeing silently as the baby babbled and smiled widely, her eyes darting to him.
as the caregiver started to walk away with her, the baby let out a small noise and reached back towards Mark. his heart melted at the sight, and he couldn't help but reach out to her one more time.
"can I hold her for a bit?" Mark asked, his voice soft.
the caregiver hesitated for a moment before nodding with a smile. "of course, just be careful."
Mark gently took Daeun into his arms, cradling her carefully. she immediately settled against him, her tiny fingers clutching at his shirt. the other Dreamies gathered around, their expressions softening as they watched the tender interaction.
"finally, Mark hyung made a new friend, everyone applause," Haechan teased lightly.
" she really likes you," Jaemin added with a grin.
Mark chuckled, looking down at Daeun with a gentle smile. "she's something special, isn't she?"
the baby cooed in response, her eyes wide and curious as she looked around at the group of boys surrounding her.
"she must be a czennie," Jisung joked, making the others laugh.
"she likes handsome men, huh?" Jeno teased, touching the baby's fingers, finding her utterly adorable. the caregiver chuckled.
"Daeun has been with us for a long time, i can't recall the last time she looks okay being around strangers. she's the easiest to care for, totally a sweetheart," the caregiver said, a warm smile spreading across her face.
the boys exchanged glances, feeling a deeper connection to the little girl. Mark, still holding Daeun, felt a surge of protectiveness and affection.
"is there any way we can help out more?" Mark asked, looking at the caregiver earnestly.
the caregiver's smile widened. "your visit today means a lot. spending time with the children, showing them love and attention, it's more than enough. but if you want to visit regularly, that would be wonderful."
"we'd love that," Jaemin said, the others nodding in agreement.
as they continued to interact with the children, the Dreamies found themselves drawn back to Daeun repeatedly. she seemed to have a special bond with them, one that felt almost fated.
when it was finally time to leave, Mark reluctantly handed Daeun back to the caregiver, feeling a pang of sadness as she reached out for him again.
"take care of her," he said softly, giving the caregiver a small smile.
"for sure," she replied, her eyes warm with understanding. "thank you for spending time with them today. it means a lot to these kids."
as they walked out of the orphanage, the dreamies couldn't stop talking about their experiences, their hearts full from the interactions with the children.
-
the drive home was loud with chatter about the TV show they had just filmed, but soon the conversation shifted to the baby they had just met.
"Melk, you are quiet today. is leaving the baby bothering you? because she cried?" Haechan asked, and Mark nodded.
Chenle grinned widely. "let's adopt her then."
"don't be an idiot," Renjun scolded. "think it through. adoption is a huge responsibility."
"i know," Chenle replied, his smile softening. "but did you see how she looked at us? it's like she already feels like part of our family."
Mark sighed. "i just can't stop thinking about her. she was so comfortable earlier, like she was meant to be with us."
Jaemin nodded. "but, it's not just about wanting to adopt her. we have to consider if we can provide her with the care and attention she needs, especially with our schedules."
Jisung, who had been listening quietly, spoke up. "but we have each other. so if we share the responsibility, maybe we can make it work."
the van grew silent as they all pondered the possibility. adopting a child was a significant step, one that would change their lives forever. but the bond they felt with the baby they met was undeniable.
"we should discuss this seriously," Renjun finally said. "let's first talk to our management, see if it's even possible. and we need to make sure it's what we all want."
as they pulled up to their dorm after dropping off Chenle, the discussion continued. they knew it wouldn't be easy, but the idea of giving Daeun a loving home filled them with hope and determination.
"we'll figure it out," Mark said, a newfound resolve in his voice. "for Daeun."
" fistly, we need to do this the right way," Haechan said, setting down his bag. "we should visit her regularly, get to know her better, and let her get to know us. that way, it won't be such a big change all at once."
Jaemin nodded. "we can make sure she's comfortable with us. then only we'll plan how we can manage our schedules around her needs."
Mark looked around at his friends, feeling a sense of gratitude. "honestly, it's a big step, but I believe we can do it. she deserves a family who loves her and can give her everything she needs."
"so let's take it one step at a time," Renjun reminded them. "we can start by visiting her more often and talking to the orphanage staff. if we all feel this is the right decision, we'll make it happen."
they all agreed, their hearts set on the possibility of bringing Daeun into their lives permanently. the bond they felt with her was strong, and they were ready to take on the challenge together.
