Stay ~ A Stray Kids Fanfic

Seungmin

     Seungmin's POV
     That Night

    Whatever was supposed to happen at the lake was later done that day. The death of Minho's character had taken place under more harsh, freezing conditions with so many takes that Changbin's arms started to feel sore. But it all led up to this moment, the final scene in which the ending prevailed...my ending.

     I nurse a long yawn that then jumps to Felix as he rewrites the scene on the clapperboard. It was nearly midnight at the subway station on the outskirts of Seoul where Chris claimed it'd be less busy. We filmed a benign funeral scene in the graveyard at someone's grave before taking the bus fifteen minutes south. I had slept a mere five minutes before being awoken and pushed off the bus.

     Even now, it's hard to fight sleep.

     "I need more eye drops!" Jia shouts as she stands beside Minho lighting himself a cigarette. The smoke channels throughout the hazy lighting of the dank station. It wasn't too crowded, only a few citizens taking their leave home or to work. Then there were the homeless nestled in the corners, wrapped in whatever they could find to make it through the night.

     I lean against a post with a dying lightbulb that would flicker violently whenever a train arrived. The smoke stained yellow from the amount of smokers who take their hit there. I waft the current stench emitting from Minho's fingers.

     "How many more takes, Felix?" I ask, handing the half-empty bottle to our actress.

     The blonde, with eye bags darker today than any other, yawns in response. "Hopefully just two or three. I wanna head home."

     "Me too," sighs Jia.

     "You said it. Give me a light." Minho tosses the black, plastic lighter to Hyunjin to light his own, Jisung quickly scolds him on it. The two argue until Jisung deems 'too tired' and sits back soundly on the director's chair. The microphone in my hand begins to slip.

     Changbin nudges me. "Just a few more minutes," is all he says. I grip the mic tighter, thankful to not get scolded this late at night. "Does the bus even run at 1 am?" He asks Chris from the other side of our set.

     The leader doesn't look up from his phone. Instead, he shrugs, brushing away the question completely. Changbin groans just as the ground begins to rumble. He shoots up straight. "This is it!"

     We all get into position as the train pulls up to its stop. I hold the microphone above Jia but just out of shot. When the train rolls to a stop and the doors open, Felix shouts, "Action!"

     People file out, not looking up from their phones as we film Hyunjin standing before the opened doors, Jia's eyes overflowing with tears from the eyedrops. Changbin slowly maneuvers around them, Chris doing the same with his GoPro.

     Then they recite the script, my words.

     "How long will you be gone?" She sniffles, the red makeup really making the crying visage come to life.

     "I dunno. However long they'll need me. Maybe forever." He says the words like it's a curse, unforgivable and permanent. She sniffles again. "Please don't cry. Not for me. Not for Junho."

     Her sobs emerge from deep within her throat, a hand clamping her mouth just as Hyunjin pulls on to hug her. Felix nods knowingly from beside Changbin. Then, Minho quietly skitters to the doors at the other end of the train. It was a dangerous move, but we've already done it three times, no matter how much Minho complains.

     I didn't speak a word. I couldn't hold a train door open as the other one closed. The train conductor from the last one made a note to chuck an empty cola can at the junior to let go. I'd carry the microphone all night if it meant I didn't have to do that.