The En- Hearthrob😏 Toddlers👶

~28~

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The day had barely begun, but the dorm was already buzzing with a mix of excitement and nerves. Heeseung, while preparing for his short business trip, moved quickly through the rooms, packing his suitcase and mentally going over the boys' schedules. The boys, each in their own way, followed him around, some quietly holding onto his shirt, others trailing behind like little shadows.

This trip had been scheduled long in advance, and though Heeseung knew it was only for a few days, his heart still tugged with worry over leaving them behind. After all, he was now more than just a bandmate to them—he was their temporary guardian, older brother, and friend.

"Alright, who remembers the rules?" Heeseung asked, stopping in the living room where the boys had all gathered, eyes wide and attentive. They stared back at him, clearly not wanting him to go.

"No running with food," mumbled Jake, barely audible.

"Yes, and no jumping on the couch either," Heeseung added with a little smile. "And what about sweets before dinner?”

“No sweets unless we finish all our food!” Sunoo said, sounding a bit deflated but trying his best to be cheerful.

Heeseung chuckled, crouching down to be at their eye level. “Perfect. And remember, this is only for a few days. Hyung will be back before you even know it.”

The boys didn’t look entirely convinced. Sunghoon’s hand clutched the sleeve of Heeseung’s shirt, while Ni-ki and Jay exchanged worried glances.

Sunoo, who usually was a bundle of energy, seemed especially nervous. He shuffled closer to Heeseung, looking up with teary eyes. "You’ll really come back, right?" His voice was barely above a whisper, a vulnerability that tugged at Heeseung's heart.

Heeseung gently took Sunoo’s hands in his. “Of course, I will, Sunoo-yah,” he said softly, pulling him into a hug. “I’m just a call away if you need anything, okay?” Heeseung’s words were firm but gentle, and he tried to radiate all the reassurance he could muster. One by one, the other boys piled into the hug until they were a small mountain of affection on the living room floor.

After a few more rounds of goodbyes and promises to be back soon, there was a knock at the door. The boys all turned, eyes widening with curiosity and perhaps a touch of apprehension.

“Must be her,” Heeseung murmured, glancing at the door before looking back at the boys. “Alright, everyone, deep breaths.”

When he opened the door, a woman with a bright smile and perfectly styled hair stood there, giving a friendly wave. She looked perfectly put together, from her crisp blouse to her warm expression.

“Hello, you must be Ms. Hyejin,” Heeseung greeted, gesturing for her to step inside.

“Yes, that’s right! And you must be Heeseung,” she said cheerfully, her gaze briefly sweeping over the boys with a warm smile. “Thank you for the detailed instructions you sent ahead of time. I’ve read through them, so I know all about each of their unique little quirks.”

As Heeseung introduced her to each of the boys, Hyejin bent down, holding out her hand in a welcoming gesture. “Hi, everyone! I’m here to take care of you while your hyung is away,” she said with a bright smile. “We’re going to have so much fun together.”

The boys nodded, some reluctantly taking her hand for a shake, others shyly hiding behind Heeseung.

“Alright, Ms. Hyejin,” Heeseung said, “I know they can be a handful, but they’re good kids.” He then turned to the boys, giving them a serious but kind look. “And you all need to remember to be on your best behavior, alright? No sneaking sweets, no roughhousing, and listen to Ms. Hyejin.”

“Got it, hyung,” Jungwon said softly, though he looked like he was already missing Heeseung.

Seeing their worried expressions, Heeseung pulled each of them into another quick hug. “It’ll fly by, I promise,” he said. “Plus, you can call me anytime.”

As Heeseung picked up his suitcase, he turned to Hyejin one last time. “Thank you again. I really appreciate you stepping in to help.”

“Of course,” she replied smoothly, smiling sweetly. “I have plenty of experience with kids, so you can leave without any worries.”

Heeseung gave her a relieved smile before looking at the boys one last time, blowing them a quick kiss, and then stepping out of the dorm. He was halfway down the hallway when he heard a soft little voice calling after him.

“Hyung!”

He turned to see Ni-ki standing in the doorway, his little hands balled into fists as he watched Heeseung walk away. “You’ll come back soon, right?” Ni-ki’s voice was small but full of hope, his face a mix of vulnerability and trust.

“I promise, Ni-ki-yah,” Heeseung replied, giving him a reassuring nod. “Take care of each other.”

With that, he turned and left, giving one last wave as he disappeared around the corner.

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As soon as the door clicked shut, Ms. Hyejin’s demeanor shifted. The bright smile she had worn while Heeseung was around quickly faded, replaced by a look of impatience.

“Alright, kids, here’s the deal,” she said, crossing her arms and raising an eyebrow. “I’m here to look after you, but I don’t want to hear any nonsense. No loud noises, no messes, and absolutely no crying. Understood?”

The boys stared back, unsure of what to say. Sunoo took a small step back, his earlier confidence vanishing.

"Y-Yes, ma’am," Jungwon said softly, his tone full of confusion. This was not the friendly babysitter they’d met just a few minutes ago.

“Good,” she replied coldly. She walked over to the couch, dropping onto it and immediately pulling out her phone. “Now, all of you—go play in your rooms or whatever you do. Just stay out of my way.”

Jake, ever the bold one, took a tiny step forward, glancing back at his brothers before speaking up. “But…we were going to read a story with hyung,” he said, clutching a picture book they had planned to read with Heeseung before bed.

She didn’t even look up from her phone. “Well, that’s too bad. Go find something else to do. I don’t care.”

The boys exchanged uncertain glances, huddling closer together. This wasn’t the warm, fun babysitter they’d expected, and the realization was settling heavily on them.

For the rest of the day, they stayed close to each other, too nervous to leave their rooms. Occasionally, one of them would muster the courage to ask for a snack or water, only to be met with a roll of the babysitter’s eyes and a curt response.

By bedtime, they had all gathered in one room, lying close together as they whispered softly to each other, trying to comfort each other as best as they could. Sunoo was curled up next to Ni-ki, clutching his favorite plushie tightly, while Jay and Jungwon lay side-by-side, facing the door as if waiting for Heeseung to walk back through it.

The dorm felt emptier than ever, and for the first time, they truly understood what it meant to miss someone.

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**End.**

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