The 9th | Stray Kids Extra Member AU

❀ 23: The Dance Practice ❀

"I'm so tired," Yejun whined as they walked into the practice room.

The group now only had about one month to prepare for the comeback, the company had already let it be known that the album will release on October 22, so now the pressure to finish preparing for this album was really on. This also meant Chan was incredibly stressed about everything and he wasn't in the best mood today.

"You shouldn't have stayed up so late. I told you we were all getting up at nine in the morning," Chan sighed, placing his water bottle down on the counter.

"Sorry, I tried to sleep, but we ran out of melatonin, so insomnia is kicking my ass," Yejun apologized, placing her water bottle next to his.

"I wish you would've told me, I would've gotten more last time I went to the grocery store," Chan ran a hand through his hair. "How are you and Jisung?"

Yejun's cheeks grew red at the question. Obviously, everyone in the dorm knew about the two, but they still got flustered when asked about each other.

"We're good," Yejun answered simply. Chan drove himself and Yejun, while the others were stuck in traffic in their ubers. "Thank you for that whole day by the way. I don't think I ever got the chance to thank you."

"As long as you guys are happy," Chan gave her a small smile. "Also, you guys made up for it by recording for seven hours straight the next day."

"Well, we had to get the album done," Yejun shrugged, stripping herself of the hoodie she had put on due to the cold weather outside. Underneath, she was wearing a cropped tank top and a pair of spandex, her normal practice wear.

"You've been over the choreo, correct?" Chan asked, motioning for her to sit down and begin stretching.

"Yeah, multiple times," Yejun answered while stretching her limbs. Chan nodded, that being the only question he had.

"Yejun-ah," a loud voice echoed in the practice room.

"Sung-ie," Yejun smiled warmly at him in the mirror. She watched as he approached her, not even taking his jacket off before he gave her a hug. "How was traffic?"

"Terrible, I wish Chan would've let me go with you guys," he glanced up from the hug, sending a glare Chan's way.

"I'm sorry, bubs," Yejun patted his back, giving him a kiss on the shoulder before pulling away completely. "I'll take an uber with you on the way back, yeah?"

Jisung nodded, walking over to take his jacket off. Everyone else was stretching, Yejun helping Jisung with some of it. She felt cool being the only one who was able to do the splits in the group, so she showed off her flexibility whenever she could. Usually, no one seemed to mind, everyone finding it cool how Yejun could bend herself like a pretzel. Today, though, was not the day to mess around.

"Yejun, we don't have time to fool around," Chan's eyes were cold in the mirror. Yejun was taken a bit off-guard, along with the other members.

"Sorry, Chan," Yejun bowed her head, the natural curls in her hair bouncing very slightly.

"It's okay, just don't do it again," Chan sounded aggravated, but even he knew that being angry wasn't fair.

Throughout practice, Yejun's exhaustion was showing. She knew she needed to practice, but her body and mind were so fatigued from the lack of sleep that she couldn't help but mess up a few times. There was one move that was especially difficult for her.

"Yejun, please do the move correctly!"

"Yejun, practice that move over and over while we take a five!"