The Family That's Ours (Sequel to Family)

I love you. All of you.

Dae speeds home, not caring about traffic laws. Which she definitely should have, since she's not as...aware as Hyunjin. She's clearly not as experienced as him, so there was a higher chance of her getting caught by authorities. Which meant game over for her and JYPE.

The whole time while she was driving, she heard her phone ring, texts blaring as well. Chan, Changbin, everyone was calling her. Begging her to come back and let them explain. She ignored them, feeling a bit of Deja Vu at the situation. She smiled ruefully to herself, reminiscing in the memory of being sent to Detention.

By some chance, however, Dae didn't get arrested. She made it back to the dorms in about 20 minutes. She slams the car door more aggressively than she should've. She proceeded to stomp up the many steps to her dorm.

Dae answered Chan's call when she arrived in the living room of her shared home with Jinyoung.

She hears Chan call to the others that she answered; it was safe to assume she was on speaker.

"What, Chan?" She spitefully spits. "What do you want?"

"I want to explain, Dae. Please let me-"

"No!" She screams loudly. "You don't deserve to explain. You deserve absolute shit!"

"I get you're mad-"

"Mad?" She chuckles, remorse in her tone. "Dad, I've been in agony. Ji almost died. Almost died! And you weren't there for me. Noah is dead, Chan. Dead! And that's not even the worst part. No one trusts me anymore. They think I know about your disappearance, your whereabouts. Obviously! I fucking don't. I haven't been on a mission since you left! Do you know how much that hurts?! Do you?!"

"Dae-"

"No! Shut up! I'm done! I'm fucking done," Dae's voice lowers to one full of melancholy and sadness. Stray Kids could tell she was crying now. "I'm done with your inconsistencies. I'm so tired of the whiplash. I'm tired of the relationship I have with you guys. I'm done with the unending love one day and then the next, a house full of hatred. So please, don't call me again. I'm 2 years away from being an adult. And I'm mature to handle myself, so you won't have to worry about that."

"Are- Are you cutting us off?"

"Yes, Chan. I am. Thank you for the happiest childhood I could ask for. Thank you for all the memories you've given me. But I'm just tired of being sad because of you guys. So... goodbye. I love you. All of you."

Dae hit the 'End Call' button and dropped her phone to the floor. Silent tears rolled down her face. She didn't want to do that. But it was the safest and most responsible option for her.

"What... happened?" Jinyoung asked, placing a hand on her shoulder. Her screaming had woken him up, and he stood in the hallway listening to her conversation, trying to piece everything together, but failing.

"I went back home. And found my dads there," Dae's words were slow and ragged. More tears spilled out of her eyes.

Jinyoung put the rest of the pieces together.

A few days later, Dae was staying up, working on lesson plans, but her mind kept floating to her fathers. She wanted to cut them off; it was best for her. But she just couldn't. The lovely memories she had with them, she smiles and cheer she would only get with them; it was enough to make her regret her words.

Slamming her laptop closed, she sighed, putting her head down.

"I need to apologize."

Grabbing the car keys, she walked out of her dorm and downstairs to the parking garage.

The drive to her old home was slow and quiet. She liked it that way. It let her put her thoughts together - what she was going to say.

She unlocked the door to her home slowly, and carefully, listening for any sound of life. However, there was none.

Stray Kids had left that same night; the night of the phone call. Regretting what they did to her, they disappeared out of her life again. This time... permanently.

Dae searched the house, finding no one.

Regret filled her entire being as she lost some of the biggest supporters in her life.