━ WHAT MADE DAEDAE CRY ON HER BIRTHDAY?

LOCATION:  MUSE'S DORM
TIME:  10:31AM

CINDY opens the door to
DAE and JAEYON's shared room.

/ dae is lying on her bed,
jaeyon has already woken up /

CINDY:  *shakes dae*
CINDY:  Dae, wake up.
/ serious tone /

DAE:  ..... hm?

CINDY:  We're called to a meeting.
              Get up.
/ why the serious tone? /

DAE:  Okay.. *sleepy*

DAEDAE gets up and starts
to get ready. The other girls are
already up and are silently
getting ready too.

/ the atmosphere is heavy /

The girls leave the dorm and
head to the car. None of them
is saying anything and Daedae
is too sleepy to notice it.

ㅡ ㅡ ㅡ ㅡ ㅡ ㅡ ㅡ ㅡ

LOCATION:  AERA HQ, MEETING ROOM 3
TIME:  11:15

The girls enter the meeting room.
But they're not alone.
Vixio and Vieneuss are also in
the room. Everyone all carrying the
serious and thick atmosphere.

/ now daedae is awake /

DAE:  *to jina*
DAE:  What's going on, unnie?

JINA:  We're called for an important announcement.

CEO Lee enters the room and the
artists bow to greet her. She gives
a tight smile and bows too. Then it
falls to a sad frown as soon as
stands straight up.

CEO LEE:  *inhales*
CEO LEE:  Our lovely, talented artists.
CEO LEE:  I've seen all of you grow and develop. I've seen you all face difficulties and got through them. I've seen you all break your limits and did what was impossible.

/  all eyes on the ceo  /

CEO LEE:  I am incredibly thankful for all the passion and confidence you've all showed not only me, but everyone you intend to show it too.
CEO LEE:  I am - and everyone in Aera - are extremely proud of you all.

DAE:  / ???? /
DAE:  / why is ceo saying these things? /

CEO LEE:  However...

CEO LEE:  It's time to say 'Goodbye'. Due to CEO Zhang's absence, Victor Koo's managing was not able to make Red Marble support Blackace for their upcoming comeback and VeteZ has big debts for the trainees who left the company.
CEO LEE:  Aera tried to support, but it is simply not enough to restore the two.

CEO LEE:  The investors all gave up on us.

The atmosphere grows thicker,
artists' eyes are glossy and shaking
at the obvious meaning of
CEO Lee's words.

CEO LEE:  Aera has to shut down.

JAEYON:  Seriously? 😨

CINDY:  *bursts into tears*

JINA:  *trying not to cry, but tears still stream*

Minnie is seen standing up and
urgently leaving the room with
flowing tears. Minyoung is hanging
his head low. Yushim is hiding her
crying face onto Sunhee's shoulder -
who's hid her tears with her palms.

CEO LEE:  Aera will not be operating anymore.
/ *trying not to cry* /

DAE:  / really holding back her tears /

LIVIE:  *wiping her tears away*

CEO LEE:  I've told the other artists and the workers. Please pack up your things. A moving truck will be outside your houses. I've sent messages to your guardians.

CEO LEE:  You've all done well.
CEO LEE:  Thank you, for choosing Aera.
*bows and stays like that for a while*

Everyone in the room starts clapping,
unable to say anything with their
glossy eyes and cheeks drenched
with still flowing tears.

DAE:  *biting her lips, trying not to cry*

ㅡ ㅡ ㅡ ㅡ ㅡ ㅡ ㅡ ㅡ

/ the ride home /

DAE:  *calling her mom*

DAE:  Hey, mom.
DAE:  Mom....
DAE:  Aera is-is shutting down.
/ *voice breaking* /
DAE:  I'm coming home today.

ㅡ ㅡ ㅡ ㅡ ㅡ ㅡ ㅡ ㅡ

LOCATION:  MUSE'S DORM
TIME:  12:02PM

The members all follow a very
solemn and sad Daedae into the
house, watching her unlock
the door and enter.

The living room is dark
when she nears it.

DAE: *clicks the lights on*

DAE:  *jumps in surprise*

DAE:  Whatㅡ 😳

In the living room stands Dae's mother
and five of her friends, VIXIO's Jaeho,
Middlemist's Jaesung, Leone's Haneul
and trainees Kimoon and Eunsang.

DAE: What's going on? 😦

ALL:  HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU~

DAE:  😯

ALL:  HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU~

DAE:  . . . .
DAE:  *covers her mouth*

ALL:  HAPPY BIRTHDAY PARK DAEDAE!!
ALL:  HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU~~!!! 🥳🥳🥳

DAE:  *breaks down to her knees*
DAE:  *bowing deep and crying*

JAEYON:  She's crying 🤭

CINDY:  Oh my ㅡ  awe baby, it's okay~

DAE'S MOM:  Happy birthday my precious daughter.

DAE finally stands up and hugs her.

ㅡ ㅡ ㅡ ㅡ ㅡ ㅡ ㅡ ㅡ

DAE:  So Aera isn't shutting down?

JAEHO:  No, dumbie. It's a prank.

DAE:  I seriously was about to
          lose it in the meeting room!ㅡ

DAE:  I was looking at Jaeho but
          he was tearing up and I really
          thought that it was all real!

JAEHO:  Believe it or not,
               I was about this 👌🏽
               close to laughing loudly
               when you entered
               the meeting roomㅡ

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super late - i'm so sorry