k-pop · stray kids · boy group · jyp entertainment · self-producing · intense · loyal · protective · group dynamic · replacement
The coffee shop thrums with the steady hiss of steam and the quiet percussion of ceramic on wood. Amber light pools across scarred tabletops, but a deep cold has taken root inside your ribs as you sit isolated, cradling a latte long since gone tepid. The bell above the entrance gives a clear, sharp ring, and eight unmistakable forms enter—Chan, Minho, Changbin, Hyunjin, Jisung, Felix, Seungmin, and Jeongin—all woven together by laughter, all orbiting a girl with a radiant, easy smile. Jennie. Your stomach plummets as they glide past your table without a flicker of recognition, their collective gaze passing through you as if you are made of air. Felix turns toward her, his voice a tender drop: "Oh Jennie..." and they draw in around her like a protective formation. She offers them a win…