You're the One

-35- The Gift

The video shoot went well. Seungmin had done an excellent job of coordinating everything and everyone. Bang Chan was truly lucky to work with so many competent people. He lead Stray Kids with an "trust but verify" approach, so he had made sure to go through everything Seungmin had planned before he gave the go-ahead. They filmed the choreography twice with different outfits, so they could cross cut the video in post production. Hair and make up was excited to work on location, and spirits were high all around. Chan was glad their sweet noonas didn't know they were helping him put pressure on Mr. Park.

After the wrap, Stray Kids thanked everyone who had helped them with Park Jin-young's surprise. If everything went the way Chan hoped it will, Mr. Park would have no choice but to play along and confirm the leader's story. If it didn't go the way he planned, none of it mattered anyway. The thought made him relax, as if he wasn't gambling with the future of his seven best friends.

Time wise they were still doing good. They still had to do the post production, but the team had the whole evening and the next day for that part. Then the only thing left would be the small matter of confronting his boss.

Back in the apartment, Chan gathered his kids around him and praised all the effort they had put in the last nine days. He told them that they all had the rest of the day off. That meant that Minho, Changbin and Jisung could rest, before they engaged in their last assignment. However, he didn't tell them that he would start on the post production right away, since he knew they would object. In worst case, they would insist on helping him, and he needed them well rested.

To get away with it, he had to work in his own room. As he entered he saw an unknown package on his bed. Most of the time, they kept their rooms unlocked, so anyone could have left it there. It was clearly a gift, wrapped in brown paper and tied off with a simple cotton string. It was light weight and when he turned it around he could read an inscription on the wrapping paper. "It think it's about time you have this."

He went over to his desk and sat down, looking for a knife to cut the string. After removing the paper too, he was left with an A3 size canvas. It was a painting of Felix.

It was the most beautiful piece of art Chan had ever seen. It depicted Felix leaning onto a railing, looking out over the horizon, with his eyes half closed. His face was soft, and Chan could see the breeze in the boys hair. He could smell the salt of the ocean, as the sky and water melted together in different shades of blue, making it impossible to tell where one ended and the other began.

Chan had seen a lot of beautiful fan art of Felix, but Hyunjin had added an extra touch he hadn't seen before. Felix' face was covered in freckles painted in pure gold. It made the boy look even more ethereal and went elegantly together with his dreamy expression. Chan stared at the painting, while his heart wondered if this gorgeous creature could ever be with him.

The painting wasn't signed by Hyunjin, but Chan had recognized his style right away. As he turned the painting over, he saw a second inscription, written in Hyunjin's delicate handwriting: "Chan hyung. What is good for you, is good for Stray Kids. Hyunjin."

He placed the painting on the shelf above his desk, so he could rest his eyes there from time to time while he worked on the post production. It soothed him to look at Felix and the ocean. This Maniac music video might be what saved Minsung and Stray Kids, but maybe it would also be a blessing for Chanlix? The thought had been there in the back of his mind, and now after the movie night it felt like there could actually be a chance for them to be together. If Felix would want that.

He looked back at the painting one more time, and Minho's words came back to him: "I'm pretty sure Hyunjin will give you his blessing in his own, dramatic way." Could Minho be right about the rest of it as well?