Made For You - Stray Kids x original character

Stop ignoring the group chat

Leon, of course, apologized profusely. He bought flowers, ordered my favorite food. He told me that he was just sensitive because he was auditioning for a chair in the Seoul philharmonic orchestra, and one of his colleagues had mentioned my reputation as JYP's ghost writer. And I forgave him, of course.

"That's a bullshit excuse and you know it," I was sitting on the floor of the practice room with Minho. He had convinced me to leave my office for a little bit to take a break with him.

I shook my head, "even so, it's not like he's wrong, Minho."

He clicked his teeth in annoyance, "Ro, he became wrong the moment he hit you."

"I am a bit of a laughing stock, not just in the classical music world, but amongst other songwriters and producers too..."

Minho stayed silent, he knew he couldn't refute that one. Our CEO had taken advantage Of my naivety and locked me into a contract that allowed him to under pay me. If he was paying for my songs individually he would have given me hundreds of thousands by now. There were other writers and producers contracted, but they had all been in the business for years before they accepted a contract. They weren't fooled, and their contracts were fair. I was hired at eighteen, fresh out of college, no experience. Only a portfolio of music and a handful of impressive internships. But JYP saw an opportunity to use me to churn out music for low rates.

I played with the hem of my jeans, "you know what they call me right?"

He didn't answer, his eyes trained on the floor.

"JYP's bitch, music whore, cash cow... they all think I'm stupid, and honestly they are right."

Minho took my hand, "they are wrong to say that about you, you've literally written more music for this company in five years than the most senior writer has written in his whole tenure. They know you are talented."

I shook my head and looked away, "anyway, none of it matters. I'm just saying that I get why Leon is so mad about it."

He sighed again, "Ro, I'm mad about it and I've never hit you. And it's not like this is the first time this has happened."

I knew he meant well, it was just too much. I pulled my hand back, "thank you Minho, for pulling me out of that room for a bit. But that song isn't gonna finish itself, I'll see you in our lesson tomorrow."

I walked out of the door and leaned with my back against the wall. It really was too much.

——

I had started becoming friends with the stray kids members shortly after their debut. It was easiest for me to get along with them because we were around the same age, and they were one of the only groups I didn't have to write for. I got along with the other artists just fine, but something about them was just really easy for me to connect with. Some time after that I was appointed as not just a songwriter but also stray kids personal vocal coach. My undergrad was in vocal performance, so it made sense. That allowed us to spend even more time together, and as the years went on we became each other's closest friends.

Which is what made it so hard when it was tense like this. I wasn't mad at any of them, and I knew in my head that they weren't mad at me, they were worried. However, the mind is a fickle thing and it was far too easy to interpret their worry as disappointment. I had been ignoring the group chat, dodging them in the halls and keeping our lessons short.

That's why it was so awkward when I finally did get cornered. Hyunjin stood in front of the door to my office, barring me from leaving.

"Robin."

He was one of the only members taller than me, 5'10" to my 5'9", and yet I felt about three foot tall.

"Hyunjin."

He crossed his arms, "why are you overthinking everything again?"

I chewed on my bottom lip, it had finally healed all the way over, "I just..." I ran a hand through my hair, pushing my bangs out of my face, "I'm embarrassed."

He came and sat down in the chair on the other side of my desk. I was in my office, not my studio so I had the full desk job set up.

"Explain?" He asked, a bit more gently.

I sighed and leaned back in my chair, "I'm embarrassed because you guys keep having to come to my rescue. I'm a grown up, a big girl, but I can't handle this-him-on my own."

He leaned forwards, trying to get me to make eye contact, "Robin, we are friends, it's what we do," he finally caught my eye, "I don't have to tell you how many times you've saved my ass."

I sniffed lightly, they all knew I was a cry baby but I still hated crying in front of them, "you aren't wrong. I also just feel like I'm letting you guys down because I can't do what you want. I can't leave him, I don't want to, I don't think..."

He smiled a sad half smile, "you aren't letting us down, we are just worried. I would never force you to do anything, you have to move at your own pace and make your own decisions. I just want you to talk to me, stop ignoring the group chat." He smiled a bit at the end.

I nodded softly, "okay."