Chapter 35: Departures, Vibes & Lip Balm Secrets

"Sometimes, it's not the flight that takes off — it's your whole life."

The morning light spilled through the curtains like golden confetti. Choen sat up, groggy but electric inside. Today… was the day. The day her name would be printed on an international boarding pass. The day her dreams would cross oceans. 🌍✈️

She packed the final piece — her sketchbook. Stuffed with dreams, designs, doodles, and lyrics no one had ever read. The kind of sacred mess that made her her.

As she zipped up her luggage and adjusted her hoodie, she took a deep breath and moved toward the door — hand on the handle.

But before she could turn it—

Click.

The door opened from the outside.

There stood Dokkaebi, his usual sharp, unreadable face softening slightly when he saw her.

"You scared me," Choen blinked.

"I came to pick you up," he replied, stepping aside so she could pass.

"I… I could've gone by myself," she said, half-defensive, half-touched.

"I know. But that doesn't mean you should."

A beat.

Then, simply: "Let's go."

At the airport, chaos had already bloomed like fireworks. 📸

Fans behind barricades.

Cameras flashing.

Security shouting.

Voices rising in chants.

"CHOEN! CHOEN! GLITTER! CHOEL!"

She stood still for a second — wide-eyed — until Dokkaebi gently tugged her forward. He shielded her like a wall of calm, walking her through the noise, the flashes, the screams.

Inside, safety swallowed the madness.

But as he turned to leave, something shimmered on the floor beside his shoe. A small, familiar object.

Her lip balm.

The one with the subtle strawberry sheen.

The one that always, somehow, smelled like her.

Dokkaebi picked it up slowly. He held it for a long second… then pocketed it.

He didn't return it.

Meanwhile, inside the lounge, Choen met Choel.

And he was already smirking.

"You're late," he teased, sipping his iced americano.

"I—actually, Dokkaebi brought me—"

"Oh?" He leaned closer. "Well, I've got something to tell you then."

"What?"

"I'm your personal manager for this world tour."

"Wait, what?"

"You heard me," he winked. "All mine. Try not to faint."

Choen blinked. Her cheeks went pink. Her mind — a chaotic parade of "HUH!?" "WHAT!?" and "EXCUSE ME!?"

But she couldn't reply — because the boarding announcement echoed through the lounge.

"Flight to Los Angeles now boarding…"

As she followed Choel to the gate, wheeling her dreams behind her, her heart fluttered like a pre-debut stage curtain.

This was it.

This was really happening.

But somewhere back there, in a jacket pocket...

Her lip balm whispered in silence, waiting for its return.

🌸 From Your Writer's Window 🌸

My blooming Aurablooms 🌼💖 —

The world tour begins, and secrets are already blossoming 👀

What do you think Dokkaebi really feels for Choen?

And let's be honest: if you were Choen, what would you do if someone said "You're all mine"? 😳💬

Drop your thoughts, theories, and favorite moment below!

We're boarding this journey together — and the ride is going to be legendary. 💫

Next stop?

Los Angeles.

Let the chaos begin. 🌍🎤✨

With magic & mischief,

~ Your chaos pilot 🌼