Choose Your Story [STRAY KIDS FF] ✔️

Prologue

"Argh! Today's shift is finally over!" you stretch as you exit the store you've been working in for the past three years. After all this time, the manager still didn't offer you a full-time contract but the payment was rather good for a part-time job. You've been saving every penny - you have only one goal - attend a kpop concert, specifically a STRAY KIDS one. Those eight young men took over your heart from the moment you heard their song in the mall, and since then you set that goal for yourself - at least once in your lifetime, you have to go and see them live! All those missed concert opportunities, life on instant food or no food at all, and countless part-time jobs which you changed over time were all for this one ticket for a three-hour show.

'In the end, it'll be all worth it,' you think to yourself and sigh, suppressing a tear.

Living alone was hard but you didn't want to burden your parents, especially since you finished college and still didn't have a full-time job. They were disappointed at first but decided to let you live your life, cover for your own expenses, and fangirl over eight men in the small space of your cheap apartment. Your mom knew about your obsession over STRAY KIDS; she wasn't overly excited that you ate cheap take-out just so you can save for their album, but decided to keep it to herself and help you pay the rent.

You put your earphones in and connect them to your smartphone, ready to relax with the music of your favorite band. The happy tune of "My Pace" starts playing in your ears and you let out a content sigh this time - it's the weekend, meaning two days of complete peace. And how do you use your free time? Answer: looking through Twitter and TikTok, liking a saving every SKZ fanart or fan edit, and, last but not least, watch Chan's room Vlive.

'Why do I need to hang out with friends when I can hang out with Chan?'

The thought made you giggle - you rarely missed SKZ's lives (only if there was a time-zone difference) as they made you feel closer to them at least in one way. Nope, you're not a delulu! These boys just make you so happy with their music, dance, funny videos, and chaotic behavior.

Did you watch the survival show? Yes. Did you cry? Also, yes! 

Watching that show made you realize how hard it was to be a kpop idol and these boys deserve the world, they've been through a lot!

And who's your bias? 

Yeah, all of them! It doesn't matter - even if you pick one... boom, there comes another one and wrecks you and if you start liking the wrecker then again... boom, comes another one and steals your heart again and the vicious cycle never ends!

So, no, you're not a delulu but you find yourself guilty at one point...

Another way to spend your free time is... reading fanfiction. And that's when your brain shuts down the whole world around you and pulls you in those words of talented internet authors, fans like yourself, who pour their ideas, desires, fetishes, etc. into words that keep you awake at night. Not gonna lie, you read some kinky stuff and the fluffy ones, and both made you feel some kind of way.

You love these boys but you couldn't help yourself to peek into the world of fanfiction... and it didn't end with just a "peek". One story led to another and you found yourself crying and gasping for air as the sun slowly rose in the east. Lately, your favorite has been the Mafia AU and you just couldn't wait for your shift to end so that you can continue reading.

Crossing the street, with "Hellevator" blasting in your ears, you open your favorite reading app and the story that you started reading during the lunch break. The suspense was so addicting and the Mafia SKZ were mouthwatering. You had a clear image of them in their "Freeze" MV outfits and the story became a hundred times better. Safely crossing the street you open another chapter of the fanfic with "Hellevator" nearing the end. It's just you, the music, and the story; nothing else matters. You still have time until your bus arrives so why not read more.