"hyung, do you have a design in mind?" Jeno asked as Mark navigated the busy car park, searching for a space for their large muscle car.
Mark expertly maneuvered the car into a parking space near the entrance of Ikea, the bustling store was bustled with shoppers. he adjusted his cap and mask, nodding to Jeno and Chenle in the back seat.
"actually, i was thinking something cozy and colorful," Mark replied to Jeno's question. "maybe with a theme she likes, like stars. ahh should we go with pink? her clothes were colorful and pretty, so I think she'd like that"
Chenle chimed in from the back, "let's just combine them. pink-themed bedding with star-shaped night lights? that could be cute."
Jeno nodded in agreement. "and some shelves for her books and toys."
Mark smiled, feeling grateful for their enthusiasm. "let's make sure it's something she feels excited about. it's her first real room, after all."
with their plan set, they exited the car and headed inside Ikea, ready to create a special space that Daeun could call her own.
as they wandered through Ikea, Mark, Jeno, and Chenle found themselves in the children's section, marveling at the colorful displays of beds, shelves, and toys. Daeun's room was indeed spacious, which gave them the freedom to explore various furnishing options without worrying about space constraints.
"oh? i think she'd love this bed," Jeno remarked, pointing to a whimsical bed frame shaped like a castle. "totally a princess vibe."
Chenle nodded. "sure, and we could set up a little reading nook over there," he suggested, gesturing towards a cozy corner filled with cushions and small bookshelves.
ater a couple of hours of careful selection and loading up their carts, they made their way to the checkout counter, eager to bring everything home and start setting up her new room.
"yo, all of this stuff won't fit in my car," Mark said, eyeing the overflowing carts with a hint of concern.
Chenle laughed, giving him a playful slap on the back. "of course we'll have to call for backup."
Mark sighed but smiled, pulling out his phone. "okay, let's see if noona could help us. i don't want to risk damaging any of this stuff by cramming it all in."
after a few minutes of phone calls, they arranged for a larger vehicle to transport their purchases. while waiting, they grabbed some snacks from the store's café and continued to discuss their plans for Daeun's room.
"should we paint the walls, too?" Jeno suggested between bites of his sandwich. "or we can just use wallpaper,"
"relax guys, i have an idea," Mark laughed, quickly make another phone call. "Haechan-ah, you know how the wall is boring, right? how about you...."
-
"i can't believe i'm part of this," Renjun scoffed, rolling paint up and down the wall. they only left to paint the room, a task that turned out to be more challenging than expected. when the buzzer sounded, Renjun glanced up, a streak of paint across his cheek. "it's probably the bed they ordered."
Jeno grimaced as he went to see who was at the door. "great timing," he muttered under his breath. he returned a moment later with the delivery guys carrying the bed parts.
Haechan looked around the room, concern etched on his face. "where is the bed going? aren't the walls still wet?"
Jaemin, who had been touching up a corner, looked over. "we'll have to be careful. move the bed to the center of the room for now and wait until the walls dry completely."
--
few days later, the boys were juggling their busy schedules as it was time for Daeun's home visit. as long as she seemed happy and comfortable, everything would be set. they'd agreed on a day to collect her and her belongings.
everyone was on edge that morning. Mark paced around the living room, his footsteps echoing through the space. Jeno sat by the window, tapping his foot nervously against the floor. Chenle was engrossed in his phone, scrolling through various social media feeds for distraction. Jisung sat on the couch, fidgeting with his rings, occasionally glancing at the door.
Renjun, perched on the kitchen island, fiddled with his fingers, his usually calm demeanor replaced with anxiety. Jaemin tried to maintain a sense of calm, taking deep breaths and offering reassuring smiles to the others. Haechan wandered around the apartment, flinching at every unexpected noise, his nerves visibly frayed.
"when are they supposed to be here again?" Mark asked for the third time, looking at his watch.
"any minute now," Jaemin replied, trying to sound soothing. "it's going to be fine."
"i know, i know," Mark said, running a hand through his hair. "i just want everything to be perfect."
"she's already comfortable with us. we've done everything we can to make this place feel like home for her," Renjun reminded him gently.
"Mark hyung?" Jaemin called from across the room. Mark stopped pacing and turned around.
"yeah?"
"what are you going to have her call you? how does this work?"
"i don't know... i guess she can call me whatever she wants," Mark replied with a shrug. "i've been thinking about it, though."
Chenle looked up from his phone. "maybe 'Mark appa'? sounds cute."
Jeno chuckled. "or just 'Appa.' keep it simple."
Haechan, who had been leaning against the wall, chimed in. "why not let her decide? she's smart. she'll figure out what feels right for her."
Mark nodded, his expression softening. "yeah, that's better. whatever she's comfortable with.". she doesn't have to call me appa. she can call me anything she wanted, even just my name."
"she's Korean, right?" Jaemin asked, and Mark nodded.
"yeah, she is."
the doorbell rang, causing everyone to jump. Mark took a deep breath and walked over to answer it. the caregiver from the orphanage stood there, holding Daeun's hand. the little girl clung to her stuffed bunny, looking around with wide eyes.
