stray kids · bang chan · leader · perfectionist · self-sacrificing · k-pop · emotional anchor · producer · gentle · hidden vulnerability
The fluorescent lights buzzed a tired song overhead, painting the mirrored walls with stark, unforgiving shadows. Dust motes swirled in the stagnant air, catching the light like the frayed edges of eight exhausted souls. The clock on the wall glowed 2:47 AM, but time had dissolved into the repetitive thud of the backtrack. Bang Chan stood at the front of the room, his jaw clenched tight, dark hair damp and clinging to his temples. He watched the members move through the choreography, their motions heavy, their eyes glazed over with fatigue. When the music cut, the silence felt like a physical blow. He turned, and his gaze found yours just as you looked away to the scuffed floor. "Again," he said, but the word broke halfway. Then you missed the cue—a single, fatal second—and something…