Always Seven // Xdinary Heroes 7th Member

ׂ╰┈➤ part 2.

I.

Fast forward to December 6th, 2022, and it was finally Xdinary Heroes' first debut anniversary. It was seven in the morning, and Minhee was on a mission to wake everyone up, ensuring they were ready for the eventful day ahead. They had a packed schedule, starting with a pick-up at 8 AM for practice until early afternoon, followed by their much-anticipated 1st Debut Anniversary Livestream in the evening. 

Minhee first targeted her roommates: Gunil and Jooyeon. Gunil, the leader and oldest member, was easy to rouse. His years of responsibility had made him a light sleeper, always alert and ready. Minhee gently shook his shoulder, and he responded with a groggy but cooperative grunt, quickly getting out of bed and heading to the bathroom with his towel. 

Jooyeon, however, was a different story. As the group's notorious sleepyhead, waking him was a daily challenge. Despite having only been roommates for a month, Gunil had already passed the baton to Minhee, who now bore the brunt of this daunting task. Minhee tried her usual methods—softly calling Jooyeon's name, shaking his shoulders, even resorting to pulling his blanket off, but to no avail. 

Jooyeon remained in his slumber, unmoved by her efforts. Frustrated but determined, Minhee sighed deeply, trying to summon patience and understanding for her perpetually sleepy roommate. "Jooyeon-Oppa, please, we have a busy day ahead," she pleaded, her voice a mix of firmness and gentleness. But Jooyeon merely mumbled incoherently and turned over, burrowing deeper into his pillow. 

Deciding it was best to tackle the easier tasks first, Minhee left Jooyeon to his dreams and proceeded to Jungsu and Hyeongjun's room next door. Waking these two was a breeze in comparison. Jungsu and Hyeongjun, being light sleepers, responded quickly to her wake-up call, blinking sleepily but obediently getting up after just a few gentle nudges and whispers. 

"Good morning, Jungsu-Oppa, Hyeongjun-Oppa. Time to get up," she said softly, and within minutes, they were on their feet, stretching and yawning as they prepared to face the day. With Jungsu and Hyeongjun awake, Minhee breathed a sigh of relief and moved on to the final room—Jiseok and Seungmin's. 

She approached Jiseok first, who, much like Jooyeon, was difficult to rouse. "Jiseok-Oppa, come on, wake up," she coaxed, shaking him gently. Jiseok groaned and turned away, pulling his blanket over his head. Minhee tried again, her voice more insistent this time. "Jiseok-Oppa, we have practice soon. You need to get up." 

II.

After several attempts, Jiseok finally opened his eyes and sat up, offering Minhee a sheepish, apologetic smile. "Sorry, Minhee. I'm up now," he mumbled. Minhee chuckled and ruffled his hair affectionately before turning her attention to Seungmin, who, thankfully, was much easier to wake. "Seungmin-Oppa, time to rise and shine," she said, and Seungmin responded immediately, sitting up and giving her a cheerful nod. 

"Morning, Minhee. Thanks for waking us," he said, already swinging his legs out of bed and stretching. With everyone except Jooyeon now awake, Minhee made her way to the kitchen, joined by Hyeongjun, who offered to help with breakfast. "Let's make something quick but filling," Minhee suggested, opening the fridge and scanning its contents. 

"How about scrambled eggs, toast, and some fruit?" Hyeongjun nodded in agreement, and they set to work, their movements efficient and coordinated. As they cooked, the comforting sounds of sizzling eggs and the aroma of toasting bread filled the kitchen, creating a warm, homely atmosphere. Minhee glanced at Hyeongjun, appreciating his assistance. 

"Thanks for helping out, Hyeongjun-Oppa. It makes things so much easier," she said with a smile. Hyeongjun grinned back, flipping a piece of toast expertly. "No problem, Minhee. We're a team, right?" As they worked, Minhee's mind wandered back to Jooyeon, still asleep despite her efforts. She knew she would have to face the challenge of waking him again soon.