How can one expect an energetic bundle to stay put? Not a dog like Joon, of course. He pokes among the bags, some big and some short. There is a gap in one and he takes it into his head to hide. A bit of a squeeze, but it works.

“Joon?” calls out Wonpil after five minutes or so.

Joon blinks, unbeknownst to the others, remaining quiet.

“Catch up, Wonpil, you’re going to make the rest of us late!” reminds Jae.

The boy nods, but a frown mars his clear features. Funnily enough, he picks up the bag Joon is in. The additional weight slips unnoticed due to the rush.

Once the studio has been set up, the members get working on their instruments and vocals. The warmups, the brief instructions.

“We need to settle the new song first, alright?” says Sungjin.

“Okay,” says Wonpil absent-mindedly.

“We’ll go and find Joon during the break,” whispers Dowoon solemnly, noticing Wonpil’s downcast expression. “I didn’t forget him either, even if the others did at the moment.”

The older of the two grins at the drummer’s words.

“This is why I like you best,” declares Wonpil with an affectionate rub of the younger’s head. “Be my younger brother already.”

Dowoon squints, turning away, as though embarrassed by the proposal. Meanwhile, Brian and Jae are trying to invent a better way to sync their instruments’ melody. Sungjin watches them in slight interest, before bringing the team together.

The new song recording works well, though the two remain a little worried about the sesame dog. Where could he be? Considering his mischievous ways, he should be discovered soon.

“Leader Sungjin, maybe we should look for Joon,” begins Dowoon politely.

The leader in question scratches his neck awkwardly.

“Well, actually I did ask the staff to help look before we started,” he admits. “I just didn’t want to make it a big fuss among us. But they didn’t find him yet so–“

Suddenly, all the members have to use their hands to block a loud noise coming over the studio room’s speakers. It is, in fact, familiar. The sound of a lonesome dog howling.

“Ack, Joon,” says Jae in quick realisation, his face turning pale.

“And how did he get stuck in the audio room?” asks Brian in grudging wonder.

Both Wonpil and Dowoon dash out of the studio and into the audio room to rescue the miserable dog. While Dowoon switches off the broadcasting, the other boy gets on his knees.

“Stop crying, you silly thing,” says Wonpil with a flat voice, arms outstretched. “Come to me.”

Joon blinks, before wearing that adorable smile and tackling him.

“You weren’t abandoned again, okay?” he assures quietly, before leaving a small kiss on the dog’s forehead. And somehow, Joon knew.

[click here to continue]