The girls were practising for their comeback. They wanted this comeback to be perfect because they worked very hard for it.

The girls had partially produced the song themselves, and were working on the choreography.

They just finished up with the practice and were packing up to go back to the dorms and eat fried chicken with the dreamies, when Eun's phone rang.

It was her mom. She excused herself and went out of the practice room to talk.

She picked up the call, and smiled, "Yes, mom?"

But her smile faded when she heard her mom's voice.

"Eunji-ah..."

↳

Eun entered the practice room expressionless, but her breaths heavy. Her head was spinning from everything her mom told her.

The members looked at her. She was pale. Something wasn't right.

"You okay, eonnie?" Rae asked worriedly.

Eun snapped back to reality and did some movements with her hand. She walked towards Kei.

"You sure you're okay?" Kei asked.

"I'm...I'm fine." Eun managed to mutter. "Is your phone on silent?"

"Hm? Yeah." Kei nodded and looked at her phone. "Oh, mom called?"

"She called my mom because you weren't picking up." Eun said, her voice breaking. "Your uncle passed away a few minutes ago..."

"What?" Kei's eyes widened.

"Call your mom after you get to the dorms." Eun said and gulped.

"Should we go back now?" Jinnie asked, and the others nodded.

"Y'all go ahead...I'll stay here for some time." Eun said. "I'll come back myself."

"What do you mean you'll stay here for some time, it's almost 1 AM-" Hae said.

"I'll call manager-nim to pick me up..." Eun said.

"...are you sure you wanna stay here alone?" Lily asked.

"Yes." Eun nodded.

"Okay, let's go then." Dri sighed.

"Eonnie, come back soon, please." Loona sighed.

↳

The girls were in the dorms, as they got ready for dinner, which was going to be fried chicken with the dreamies.

Kei just got off from a call with her mom, that her uncle had passed away because of covid.

The doorbell rang, and Naomi opened the door only to be greeted by the dreamies.

"Hey, guys!" She smiled.

"We got fried chicken!" Jisung smiled.

"And something veg too. For Loona." Renjun said.

They went in to the living room and put down the packets of food on the table, and sat down.

Jaemin sat with a smile, as he looked around, expecting to see someone. And that someone is Eun.

"Where's Eun?" He asked.

"She didn't come back yet?" Rae looked Kei, who shook her head.

"I'll try calling her." Jisung said, and fished out his phone.

He called her, and put it on speaker, but it kept on ringing.

"Ah, shit...I'll call manager-nim-" Lynn was cut off.

"No, wait...I'll go and get her...don't tell the managers just now. If I can't find her, then tell, okay?" Jaemin said. "What happened though?"

"Kei's uncle passed away...I think she's disturbed." Hae sighed.

"I think something else happened too." Lily said.

"She wasn't even close with my uncle." Kei said.

"Where was she?" Jaemin asked, getting up, grabbing his mask and cap.

"She said she wanted to stay in the practice room for some time." Dri said.

"Okay, I'll call you guys." Jaemin said, and left the dorms.

↳

Jaemin ran inside the building after showing his ID, and straight towards the practice room.

He opened the door and saw her sitting on the couch, expressionless, or that's what he thought so.

"Yah! Jung Eunji!" He yelled, as slowly walked towards her. "You know what time is it? You made me so worried-"

His eyes widened as he saw her up close. He jogged and sat beside her, as she looked at. Her cheeks, nose and eyes were red, and her long eyelashes were wet.

"Are you okay?" He asked and she broke down.

Jaemin looked at her worriedly, and pulled her close to him, and put her head on his chest.

She buried her head and cried out, wrapping her arms around his waist.

His phone vibrated in his pocket, and it was Jeno calling. He picked it up, and said, "I found her...we'll take some time to get back...got some problem, save some chicken."

He looked at her and hugged her even more tightly, making her cry harder.

"What happened, Eun...tell me..." He said.

"Jaemin-ah...I don't like this...I can't do this anymore." She cried.

"Why?" He asked calmly. "I heard your mom called...did she say something?"

She slowly nodded. "My grandma passed away this morning...she got a heart attack 3 times yesterday, and they didn't even bother to tell me."

Jaemin stared at her sadly, as he cupped her cheeks, making her look up. "They might have thought they'll worry you. Grandma is in a better place now."

Eun closed her eyes, and he wiped her tears. She slowly nodded. "I can't go to the funeral either...my neighbourhood is filled with cases of the virus..."

"It's okay. Your grandma loved you a lot, right? So she'll never leave you...she'll always be there for you, watching over you." Jaemin comforted. "Don't cry, please?"

She sobbed and nodded, wiping the tears with her sweater paws.

"Your grandma must be really proud...she got a really pretty and kind granddaughter." Jaemin smiled.

"She's happier because I got 9 sisters who take care of me, and because I got you." She smiled sadly, making him hug her again.

ok this turned out to be longer than expected