𝐏𝐋𝐔𝐒𝐇𝐈𝐄 •ﻌ• [ᴄʜᴇɴᴊɪ]

4: ʟᴏꜱᴛ ᴄᴏᴍꜰᴏʀᴛ

Chenle returned to his new apartment after an eventful evening. The welcome event had been lively, filled with new faces and friendly introductions. Although he was excited about his new start at the university, a gnawing discomfort had settled in his chest.

He had spent the day unpacking and organizing his belongings, a task that seemed endless but was necessary to make the apartment feel like home. As the day drew to a close, the apartment, now neatly arranged with books, clothes, and personal items, looked like a cozy refuge. However, there was one thing missing-a small, plush companion that had been a constant in his life.

The plushie, a well-worn teddy bear named ❝Brownie,❞ had been Chenle's faithful companion since childhood. He remembered vividly how Brownie had been with him through every major milestone, from his first day of school to family vacations. The soft, comforting presence of the bear had always provided solace during stressful times.

Chenle began his nightly routine with a sense of calm. He changed into his pajamas, brushed his teeth, and prepared for bed. As he was about to pull back the covers, he reached for Brownie to place on his pillow, as was his custom. His hand swept across the bed, expecting to feel the familiar softness, but Brownie was not there.

Frowning, Chenle scanned the room. The plushie must be somewhere in the apartment, he thought. He had been so engrossed in unpacking earlier that he might have misplaced it. He checked the bed again, hoping it might have slipped under the covers, but it was not there.

He methodically began searching every corner of his room, turning over the pillows and rummaging through his unpacked boxes. ❝Brownie, where are you?❞ he murmured to himself, growing more anxious by the minute.

He opened every drawer, checked the closet, and even peeked under the bed. His heart pounded with mounting frustration. He rifled through the remaining unpacked boxes, but the familiar plush texture was nowhere to be found.

Chenle's mind raced as he tried to remember where he might have seen Brownie last. ❝Maybe I left him in the car,❞ he reasoned, but he quickly dismissed the thought. He had made several trips between the car and the apartment, and he was sure he would have noticed if Brownie had been there.

As he continued his search, the reality of the situation sank in. Without his plushie, he felt a profound sense of loss. Brownie wasn't just a toy; it was a symbol of comfort and security that had been a part of his life for as long as he could remember. The idea of sleeping without it felt unbearable. He felt a pang of homesickness, a longing for the familiar and comforting presence of his childhood.

Chenle's phone buzzed on the bedside table, a reminder of his parents' calls earlier in the evening. They had called to check in, and he had reassured them that everything was going well. He hesitated, considering calling them now, but he dismissed the thought. He didn't want to seem childish or overly dependent. Besides, he was sure they'd just tell him to check the same places he had already looked.

Defeated, Chenle finally gave up the search. He turned off the lights and climbed into bed, trying to push his worries aside. He pulled the covers up to his chin and stared at the ceiling, hoping that sleep would come despite the absence of his beloved plushie.

But sleep did not come easily. Chenle tossed and turned, his mind restless and troubled. He tried to find a comfortable position, but the absence of Brownie left a void that seemed to expand with each passing minute. He felt a growing sense of unease and insecurity that he couldn't shake.

With every toss and turn, Chenle's anxiety grew. He glanced at the clock on his bedside table. It was well past midnight, and he could feel the exhaustion setting in, but sleep remained elusive. He tried to calm his mind by counting sheep and focusing on his breathing, but thoughts of Brownie and the unsettling feeling of being in an unfamiliar place kept intruding.

As he lay there, he imagined the little bear, safe and sound in a familiar place, perhaps waiting for him to return. The thought only made him more restless. He longed for the comforting weight of Brownie against his chest, a soothing presence that had always helped him find peace in troubled times.

✧˖°.𖹭🧸

Finally, as the first light of dawn began to creep through the window, Chenle felt a mix of resignation and fatigue. He knew he had to get some rest before his first official day at university, but the discomfort of missing Brownie made it nearly impossible.

❝I'll find him tomorrow,❞ Chenle whispered to himself, trying to muster some resolve. ❝I just need to get through tonight.❞

With a final sigh, he closed his eyes, hoping that tomorrow would bring both the return of his cherished plushie and a more peaceful night's sleep.

⸻🧸
Was eating a Brownie so I decided to name the plushie Brownie 💀

Vote and comment <3

[Unedited]