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"Thank you for setting the table, Daera", Mrs Lee gave the young woman a warm look and Daera smiled brightly. "No need to thank me!" She said and bowed politely. "You give me a roof over the top and a bed to sleep in, while I'm here. It's the least I could do!" The girl spoke and Mrs Lee laughed.

"Your parents must be proud to have such a warm and generous daughter." Mrs Lee continued but got interrupted by her son, that waltzed into the kitchen on his crutches. "Mum, her parents are never home. My manager is looking after her. More or less..." Donghyuck waddled over to his girlfriend and cheekily pecked her cheek.

Daera blushed by the sudden PDA in front of Donghyuck's mother, but the woman only laughed. "Your parents aren't home?" She then asked, while continuing stirring the soup she was currently cooking. "If I'm correct, they're currently still in Greenland. They work all over the world; flying from place to place. I've been living alone since I was thirteen. My uncle looked after me from time to time."

"Ah, is this how you and Donghyuck met?" Mrs Lee asked and Donghyuck grinned cheekily. "Yes, she came to our practices and was always busy with her glittery backpack and at first never paid attention to me." - "Save that story for when your father, uncle, aunt and cousins come over later. They can't wait to meet you personally, Daera-yah!" Mrs Lee said and smiled over to the girl who stood next to her boyfriend.

Daera was nervous when it was time for the rest of Donghyuck's family to arrive. She hoped his family was as warm and caring as his mother was, but when Daera finally met Donghyuck's father, she realised immediately where Donghyuck had his sassy attributes from.

Mr Lee came into the house, sun-kissed skin and a youthful smile on his lips. He wore a suit and had a bag over his shoulder. When he entered the kitchen, where his wife was still busy preparing the dinner, his smile got even bigger and he walked over and back-hugged his wife.

Daera was surprised by this. She never saw her parents be this close to each other. And not even Ari and his wife were hugging each other as the Lee's did. But the girl started to understand why Donghyuck was this touchy to her and his members. It's what he has learned ever since he was a young boy.

"Where's my son?" Mr Lee asked and turned around seeing Daera standing in the door that connected the kitchen with the living room. "Oh? A young woman?" He grinned and looked like his son. Daera understood why Mrs Lee fell in love with her husband.

Daera bowed politely. "Good evening, Mr Lee. My name is—" Mr Lee interrupted her. "Choi Daera, Donghyuck's girlfriend from Seoul, right?" Mr Lee gave Daera a bright smile and Daera nodded. "How'd you know?" She asked and looked at the man, wishing for Donghyuck to appear from wherever he was right now.

"Our son talked about nothing but his gorgeous girlfriend ever since he came home to rest from his fracture." Mr Lee said and took his bag off his shoulder. "It's a pleasure to finally meet the lovely lady that's on our son's mind all day all night." Mr Lee let out a warm laugh and Daera smiled until she joined Mr Lee's laughing fit.

"What are y'all laughing about?" Donghyuck waddled into the kitchen, cursing his crutches. "There's my lovely son!" Mr Lee turned around and embraced his son. Donghyuck eyed Daera over the shoulder of his father and rolled his eyes. Daera bit her lip, so the chuckle wouldn't come out.

"Dad, that's embarrassing." He simply stated when his father let go of his arms. "Don't act all tough, Donghyuck. I bet lovely Daera likes seeing you being babied, am I right Daera-yah?" Daera nodded and smiled brightly. Mrs Lee chuckled and called the girl over.

"Those two are no use. Would you stir this for a while until I get a box of Kimchi from the basement?" She asked and Daera nodded, walking over to the stove to stir the vegetables, Mrs Lee was frying. 

"What are you doing in Seoul?" Mr Lee asked when he came back after changing his business attire. "Oh, I'm a regular high school student. I'll graduate in two months." Daera said and Mr Lee nodded. "Have you already taken the college entrance exam then?" Mr Lee continued and Daera nodded. 

"My best friend and I started taking the exam as soon as we were allowed to," Daera said and Mr Lee nodded. "Ah, I wish your company would allow you to do the same, Donghyuck." Mr Lee said with a look over to his son. "Wouldn't it be nice to study something?" He continued and Donghyuck rolled his eyes. "Dad, I can still take the exam when my career has established. We're still Rookies and we need to work hard. And since I am currently on a Hiatus I can't do anything so." Donghyuck looked away and Daera sensed, that this was a sensitive topic for the eighteen-year-old.

She could only imagine how hard it must feel sitting at home all day, without enjoying the things his bandmates did. She knew how hard it was for him to spend his days alone and not amongst his best friends. 

Daera looked at Donghyuck and gave him a warm smile. He smiled at her in return. Mr Lee sighed and wanted to add something to his speech when the doorbell rang. "That must be your relatives." Donghyuck's father stood up and walked out of the kitchen.

Once the man was out of the kitchen, Donghyuck let out a big sigh. "He's been annoying me with this topic ever since I left for Seoul to become an Idol," Donghyuck confessed and Daera threw an arm on his shoulder. "He only means the best for you", she smiled softly. "Parents only try their best to help us grow into caring and thoughtful adults," Daera said and Donghyuck grinned.

"I really have a smart girlfriend. No wonder you passed the college entrance exam." His lips were curled upwards and he leaned in to peck her cheek when a high pitched voice called out his name. Donghyuck took a step away from Daera and grinned towards the door, that opened with a bang.

A young woman, maybe a year or two older then they stood in the door. Her long brown hair curled and tied into an half-up-half-down. She wore a beautiful flower-printed dress with black tights and black biker boots. Around her shoulders was a padded coat and she had the best and most glittery eye-make-up Daera had ever seen on a female. 

"Hyuckie!" The woman called and pushed her black bangs out of her face. "I missed seeing your gorgeous face!" And then she strutted into the kitchen, pulled Donghyuck in a tight embrace and placed two kisses on his cheeks; a bit too close to his lips in Daera's opinion.

The woman pinched Donghyuck's cheek and grinned. It was the same smile, Daera had seen on Donghyuck a thousand of times and on Mr Lee when he greeted his wife. It was a smile of pure adoration towards the person opposite of her.

"Nice to see you again, Sora-noona." Donghyuck grinned and Daera bit her lip and looked at Donghyuck's older cousin. She was a gorgeous looking female, and all of a sudden, Daera felt misplaced.

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↳ NEW CHARACTER UNLOCKED!

Name: Lee Sora

Age: 21

Portrayed by Oh My Girl's Jiho

| the possessive cousin |