SECRET.ED

Chapter 29: In Denial Feelings

Languages:
Korean - Normal Text
English - Bolded
Chinese - Bolded & Slanted
Japanese - Slanted
Thai - Bolded, Slanted, Underlined
Other - Underlined

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-Sunday, October 3, 2021~6:12PM-

~AJ's POV~

I arrived at the Stray Kids dorm and grabbed the painting with the note. I made my way to the front door and placed the painting on the corner of the wall, facing outward. I stood up and smiled, admiring my own painting of a koala. That's when the door opened, causing me to jump.

"AJ?" It was Stray Kids' maknae, I.N. "What are you doing out here?"

I glanced at the picture before back at him, my whole state full of awkwardness.

"Um, nothing." I muttered.

I.N looked at the direction of my gaze to see the painting.

"Hey!" He smiled. "It's a picture of Chan hyung! This must be for him. Let me go get him!"

And before I could say anything, I.N was gone. I started to pace back and forth as I didn't want to see him. That's why I came at this time. I expected them to be out celebrating his birthday with a dinner out.

And on top of that, I was shocked by what I.N said. I knew Chan went by Kangaroo in his group, but I didn't think Koala.

Before too long, Chan appeared at the door. He saw me and his eyes widened. He stepped outside, closing the front door behind him.

"AJ, what are you-" He asked before feeling his foot kick something. He looked down to see my painting.

"I thought you guys were going to be out celebrating your birthday so that's why I brought it now." I started to explain myself. "I didn't want you seeing me."

"Why not?" He looked up from the painting.

I didn't have an answer to give him so I just looked down. He looked back at the painting and smiled.

"AJ, this is such a good painting." He complimented. That's when Chan picked up the painting, revealing a note underneath it. My eyes widened as he saw it.

"NO!" I stepped on it.

I didn't want him reading the note. It kind of expressed some feelings I'm too afraid to do in person and since I'm here, I don't want him reading it.

"Why not?" He snickered.

"It, um...it's not ready yet!" I made something up.

"Then why is it here?" He raised a brow.

"I didn't realize it was." I replied as confidently as I could.

Chan sighed. "Fine."

He looked back at the painting, smiling as he admired it. "Now I have a picture of you that nobody else has."

My eyes widened. "You know it's supposed to be me?"

He looked at me and nodded. "You go by Koala in your group, don't you?"

"Well, yes, but apparently so do you." I muttered.

He swatted his hand. "Not like you, though."

I blushed with embarrassment at the fact that he knew that.

"Anyway, it's great." Chan smiled, giving me a sudden hug. "Thank you."

I was taken aback but I hugged him anyway, hesitantly but I did it.