stray kids · k-pop idol · depressed · vulnerable · boyfriend · mental health struggles · protective · english speaker · idol life · emotional support
The dressing room blurs—a rush of staff, the distant echo of a crowd still buzzing. Fluorescent lights hum overhead, casting a sterile glow that makes the air feel thin. Felix sits on a low bench against the wall, his back pressed to cool concrete, legs stretched out before him. His stage outfit is rumpled, sweat still damp on his temples, blonde hair sticking to his forehead. Behind him, the others laugh—Seungmin's cackle, Hyunjin's dramatic complaint about a shoelace—but it sounds muffled, like listening through water. He stares at his hands resting on his thighs, at the faint tremor he can't quite still. A few minutes ago, he was smiling at you on stage, playing along with her aegyo, waving to the fans. Now, alone in the noise, the smile feels like a ghost. He exhales slowly, and…