Today was a day off before she had to shoot a commercial and Irene had decided to take a train back to Daegu and meet her "purple friend". While excited, she was quite disappointed she couldn't take you with her. 

"I'm so sad I can't go with you today, Unnie," you greeted her with a pout from the dining table. "I really miss hanging out with you and Purple-Unnie." 

Irene could only smile sadly and went to you, taking you in her arms with your head on her chest. You inhaled her scent, knowing you'll be away from each other for quite some time. 

"I know it Eli but you have a schedule, remember? I can't just cancel your schedule. Trust me, I would if I could." She patted your head lovingly.

"She misses you too, you know," she added. 

You pulled back slightly from your position to look up at her. "Really?" 

Irene grinned in reply. "Of course! She asked if you were coming with me and was sad when I told her you have a schedule." 

You pouted again and brought her back into a tight hug. "Call me when you get there, okay? I don't care if I'm busy I'll pick up I promise." 

Irene laughed loudly, her signature dolphin laugh making you grin in happiness. "How about you call me? That way I won't disturb your schedule and you get to talk to me. I'll text you instead when I get there. Deal?" She pulled back from the hug to look at you in the eyes. 

You looked at her, wondering how someone can be so naturally beautiful. "Deal! I'll call you as soon as possible, Unnie," you went quiet for a second, "are you sure I won't disturb you, though?" 

She shook her head in amusement. "Of course not, Eli! You'll never disturb me." 

You smiled and nodded. "Okay!" 

Your leader let go of the hug completely to look around the kitchen to see if she's forgetting anything. 

"Do you have the camera with you, Unnie?" you reminded her. 

Irene had to film for her episode of Eye Contact and she was quite nervous to do it alone. She usually has the members around her even when she's the one filming and this time she would be completely alone.

"Yeah, I have it in my bag don't worry." 

"Just make sure you don't forget to record, Unnie," you , a playful smirk on your face. 

She turned towards you with a glare. "Yah, Eli! I'm not that old, you know." 

You laughed out loud and shook your head no. "With the way you act with gadgets you never know, Unnie." 

"Meany." By the time she finished saying the word she was already beside you and smacked you on the shoulder, you holding your shoulder in mock pain. 

"Ow, Unnie! Do you have to be so violent, my goodness." Irene just shook her head in mock disappointment in response.  

"Whatever, I'm leaving. Be good to Manager-Oppa, okay? If you need anything don't hesitate to call me, okay? or Seungwan if you need someone immediately," she rambled on, now concerned that she had to leave her little sister that's more like her child behind for a few days. 

You smiled, standing up from your seat and coming to her side, putting both your hands on both of her shoulders. "Hyun-unnie, I'll be fine. I promise to be good to Manager-Oppa and call you or Wan-unnie if I need anything," you turned serious, "now please enjoy your time back home, okay? Don't worry about us here and have fun with your shoot. I'll call you every day if that'll make you feel better." 

She couldn't help but smile, wondering how you had grown up so quickly. "I will, I promise. And yeah, call me every day that'll make me feel a lot better." 

You smiled in amusement. "I promise, Unnie. Now go or you'll be late." 

She took a good look at you before kissing your forehead, taking you into her embrace one last time. "I love you, Eli. I'll see you soon." 

You closed your eyes, trying to savour the feeling of her warmth. "I love you too, Unnie." 

She left and you had to get ready for your own schedule. You knew it was going to be a long day already with none of the members with you. 

It was a few hours later that you had finished your schedule and in the car on the way to the gym. You felt restless so the gym would be a good idea to lose that energy. 

You took out your phone to call Irene, as you had promised. "Do you think she arrived yet, Oppa?" You turned your head to look at him in the driver seat considering you were in the passenger seat. 

Manager-oppa nodded. "She should be. You want to call her?" 

You nodded in response, looking at your phone. "Yeah, I promised her I would." With that you dialled her number. 

On the other side, Irene was still on the train while filming. She already explained to the camera the story of how she missed her train and was about to miss the second one. She couldn't believe her luck. 

While filming, she felt her phone vibrated. She looked at it and found that it was you. She smiled at the camera while showing your contact-name calling. 

"Hello?" 

"Hello, Unnie! I just finished my schedule, are you there yet?" 

Irene giggled in reply. "No, I'm still on the train. I missed mine and almost missed the second one," she laughed. 

On the other side, your eyes widened in surprise. Well, that's a side of Irene you don't see every day. Besides, she's with Manager-unnie, how did that happen?

"What?! How?" 

She only laughed in return while Manager-unnie was covering so her laugh wouldn't be heard by the camera. "Just watch the video later. It's funny, I promise." 

You whined. "Aw, Unnie! But I want to know now." 

Irene shook her head, knowing you were pouting. "Nope! You have to watch it or it wouldn't be funny." 

You sighed in defeat. "Fine then, I will." 

She suddenly got an idea, looking at her friend who was smiling with a knowing look in her eyes. 

"Wait, Eli. Someone wants to talk to you." Irene smiled mischievously at the camera, giving her phone to her friend. 

"Hello?" You didn't know what to expect. 

"Eli!" Her friend shouted with excitement and Irene could hear your excited reply. 

"PURPLE-UNNIE!" 

Irene, her manager, and her friend looked at each other and laughed. 

While her friend continued talking to you, Irene explained to the camera how you and her friend knew each other. It was during her training time that you went home with her during a holiday when you weren't able to go back home. She had introduced you to her friend and the rest was history.  

After some time, her friend said her byes to you and gave the phone back to Irene knowing that they were about to arrive. 

"Are you on your way back to the dorm already?" 

"No.. Well, yes but I'm going to the gym first before going back."

She furrowed her eyebrows. You only go to the gym outside of the scheduled time when you're restless or need some time alone and she knew you didn't have gym scheduled for today. 

"Why? Are you okay?" 

"I'm okay, Unnie. Just feeling restless, I'll be fine after I workout." 

Irene frowned. "Are you sure? Did something happen?" 

"No, no everything's fine," you let out a sigh and she couldn't help but become more concerned, "I guess I'm just restless because I have no one with me and everyone's busy with their own things." You became quiet for a short while. 

"It's fine, Unnie. Maybe I need to be alone from time to time," you said, trying to sound optimistic.

Irene couldn't help but feel a bit guilty knowing that you felt that way though she's glad you were talking to her about it. She knows how lonely it could get without anyone around you when you're usually surrounded by people. 

"Okay, thank you for telling me. Maybe you can try to see if Rosé or Lisa is free? It's been a while since you've hung out with them, right?" 

Irene could hear the smile on your voice. "That's a good idea! I'll text them, Unnie. Thank you. Now enjoy your time with Purple-unnie! Please bring back some of the macaroons you make."

Joohyun laughed in response. "I will. I love you, Eli."

Your voice was soft when you replied. "I love you too, Hyun-unnie. Call me when you get to the commercial shoot, okay?" 

"I will. Bye, Eli."

"Bye-bye, Unnie." 

Irene's smile dropped as she hung up, looking at both her friend and manager to see them looking quite worried. 

"Is Eli okay?" 

Irene sighed while putting her phone away. "Yeah, she's just restless because she's all alone."

"Well, she'll be okay, Irene. Said she'll call you if anything happens right?" Manager-unnie tried to comfort her.

Irene smiled while nodding, appreciating the gesture.  

She can't wait to be home again.