the day had come when the Dreamies were busy promoting their new album. Daeun, although no longer the center of attention for now, always had her essentials taken care of.
when the Dreamies had to leave at dawn, they often left her in the care of the 127 members. she behaved well, but like anyone, she felt sad being apart from her appas for days.
😺💭UPDATE
"ahh i feel bad"
"now that we got busy with promotions, we left Daeun with the urichil hyungs."
"at first, she was fine and listened to them"
"it's good"
"but this morning, Mark saw her pout while Jaemin was packing her bag"
"to send her to the hyungs as usual"
"she didn't cry"
"but it was clear that she's sad about being left."
"we've decided not to send her away anymore"
"😂"
"aigoo"
-
now, here they were at Studio Choom, filming the choreography for their new single. during breaks, they wanted to spend time with Daeun, hoping to win back her heart after being so busy for nearly a week.
"Haechan-ah, not too tight," Jeno instructed as Haechan blindfolded Daeun.
"i know, i know... okay cutie, you need to guess which appa is who- uh uh, no peeking! ready, go!" Haechan said playfully.
everyone formed a circle around her. she took a few steps forward, reaching out and feeling a large hand adorned with rings. after some thoughtful fiddling, she heard a stifled laugh from Jisung.
"Jisung appaaa!!" she exclaimed correctly. Jisung scooped her up, pecked her cheek, and put her back down to continue the game.
later on, she identified Jeno by his perfume and Chenle by his bracelet. she was quick guesser, making the members proud of how well she knew them.
when it was Mark's turn, he decided to be playful. as soon as Daeun got near, he took a step backward, giggling as her hands desperately grabbed the air. "appa...appa, did you.... leave again?" she asked, stopping and lowering her hands, her lips jutting out in a pout, sad that he's nowhere to be found.
"nope, appa's here, little one. let's see what they prepared for lunch, hm?" Mark said, feeling guilty for making her sad as he picked her up, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead.
two days left before The Dream Show 2 in Europe. this would be their first time flying with Daeun, and her first time on a plane. they couldn't predict how things would go, but they were all excited and a bit nervous.
"angel, we've already put that in the 'no' pile, right?" Jaemin whined as she hesitated over what to pack. she was rummaging through her wardrobe, tossing clothes everywhere, thinking she was helping him out until Renjun stepped in.
"bubs, come here" he beckoned her to come, distracting her from keeping bundling her clothes.
good job for helping Jaemin appa, so now, should we let him pack for you?" Renjun suggested. Daeun obediently nodded, finally sitting down to wait patiently.
"kitten, where are you?" Chenle called excitedly from downstairs, holding an expensive dress in a zipped bag meant for her to wear at the iHeartRadio Music Awards. it was probably the most expensive piece of clothing in her wardrobe, chosen and bought by him.
"what's that?" she asked, curious as he bring the dress upstairs to show it to her.
"wanna peep?"
"yes, yes!" she gasped excitedly, running over as he unzipped it a little.
"none of the other appas have seen it. we'll keep it a secret, okay?" Daeun giggled, high-fiving him as he walked out, leaving a confused Jaemin behind.
-
that evening, they gathered in the living room with suitcases and bags. nervous and excitement filled the air. Daeun tugged on Mark's sleeve, indicating she wanted to be carried. he lifted her up, watching Renjun snap at Haechan over a few things.
Daeun huffed, wrapping her arms around Mark's neck and squishing her cheek against his, glancing around at the chaos.
Jisung and Jaemin were lifting and pointing at suitcases, complaining about their weight, while Jeno was meticulously organizing paperwork and passports into Renjun's bag.
Mark and Daeun just stood there, observing the scene. "shall we make our way to the car, baby?" Mark asked absentmindedly, starting to put her down when he felt her nod against his cheek. he slipped her backpack on, making sure she had everything she needed for the plane journey.
she was excited, even though she had no idea what the iHeartRadio Music Awards were. in her mind, it could be anything—a big playground or a place with lots of candy.
the leader smiled down at his little princess as she slowly made her way down to the cars, her small backpack bouncing with each step. the others slowly started to follow, lugging their suitcases and bags behind them.
before stepping out, Mark patted his pocket to check for her bucket hat and face mask, knowing she would need them at the airport. he hadn't told her yet that she'd have to cover up, but he knew she would comply.
this trip was a big step for them, especially for Daeun, and they couldn't wait to see how she would react to everything. the members only hoped that she would enjoy the experience as much as they did.
