The REPLAY of SKZ: Let's Go Back to Those Times

Chapter 17 - I.N

Listening to his words like robots, we all sit in the comfy, padded office chairs. There's nine chairs on each side of the table with two more at the head and foot of its length. JYP was sitting at the head of it on the side opposite of the door. I feel a little jittery with the silence taking up the room and stealing away breath. Stray Kids sit in the nine chairs closest to JYP at the head. Our nine-person group dubbed SKZ sits the farthest away from the man himself. We take the seats closest to the door.

Chris-hyung sits at the other head with Lewis-hyung and Sky-hyung next to him, on opposite sides of the table facing each other. LK-hyung and Jisung-hyung are sitting next to each other, but Sung's leaning so close to the former that it rather resembles them laying on top of each other. LK-hyung is running his hands through Ji's hair with a tender look on his face as Ji grips the living shit out of his other hand. Bokkie-hyung is sitting next to Sky-hyung and me. With Bok on my left side, my right is occupied by Sam-hyung.

"So... I can certainly see the resemblance. What brings you here?" JYP starts, directing the attention towards Chris-hyung, his head resting on his hands intimidatingly as he leans forward in his seat. He's probably trying to see if Chris-hyung will just roll over and announce that he's lying or whatever. But Chris has a backbone, as Lewis would say.

Chris dips his head in respect, showing submission to JYP, who he recognizes has higher power but ultimately deciding not to give in, before answering, "Personally? Nothing. We were told by someone that we're going to be staying here for two weeks."

JYP leans forward further (how he managed that I don't know). Maybe he's intrigued, I think. "Who? Are they a threat to us and my company?"

Chris-hyung ponders over his questions for a second. I do too. I mean, they threatened to murder and they sent us here. No doubt that they have magic powers or a very smart mind paired with some technology that's really science-y. That alone proves that they're dangerous. With their brain or body, they have something over us. But they brought us here for a reason, there must be some explanation or need for us to be here. That's the one thing in our favor I suppose.

"I- yes. I think that they could hurt us. They said that they were the ones who brought us here, and even they lied, that piece of  knowledge is power. I'm sure there are people out there that would want to... chat with us, if you get what I mean. Though, I don't- I don't think the person plans to hurt us, they just put the threat out there as a precaution." He says thoughtfully.

It makes me freeze up. Chat. He said it so kindly, like two old friends chatting up a storm about how they've been doing after not seeing each other for years. But really it's something so much darker. More like experiment, more like torture. I shiver at the thought. If any of this gets out, we'll be in serious trouble. No doubt the government would be curious, as would all the saesangs or fake "fans", and even international people who don't have a care for K-POP. We'd be a phenomenon! I guess we better be careful about who we trust.

The weight of his words sit in the room heavily, glances sift back and forth through the room. I can feel Lix-hyung tense a bit beside me, he's always been a bit more scared when it comes to media and "fans" who think his personal business is their business too. Not to mention the hate he gets—we all get—that's untrue or is completely out of our control.

I place my hand in his thigh, massaging the muscle gently as I press down and squeeze. His body lets go of some of the tension. He puts his hand on top of mine, interlocking the fingers so he can fiddle with them as he pleases. I relax my whole hand, letting him do whatever he needs. STAYs always joke about me wanting to take care of someone else—especially Bok-hyung—and they're not really that far off. He's so cute, who wouldn't?

"Okay... we'll worry about that later. How can we believe you? Sure you've got similar looks and voices but if you're lying I doubt you know the more personal things. Chan-ah, tell me something only you would know."

"Umm..." Chris contemplates over his memories of JYP, "Hmm... you... uh- yelled at me for eating too much pork belly when I was a trainee?" He says uncertainly.

JYP considers it, no one could have really found out about that. In fact it only was found out by us in October of last year that that even happened. Crazily enough though, he's still technically lying to JYP, he didn't even eat all that pork belly, it was TWICE surprisingly. He's just that kind of nice guy. JYP nods to himself, "Very well. With that considered, let's learn a bit more about you! What year are you guys from?"

"We're from 2023, five years in the future."

"Okay! Good! You guys look like real, seasoned idols now! Are you? Are you well-known and popular? Does Yongbok get better at Korean? Did I make a mistake adding those two back?"

The whole room grows tense. Chris-hyung looks offended for the two and holds himself back from any regretful actions or words by tightening his fists at his sides. Lee Know-hyung looks undoubtedly pissed. And I'm sure just about everyone else from SKZ is as well, besides Yongbok-hyung. Bokkie-hyung stops playing with my fingers. His eyes are a little wide and offended as his body grows tense once more and the progress is back down to ground zero.

Chris-hyung sighs quietly, no doubt emotionally exhausted from this talk already. It's gonna be a long day. "We are well-known. In fact, we've broken some album selling records and we're number one in the fourth generation of boy groups. Even STAY has won some awards. Yong-"

Bok cuts him off, he's probably hit his breaking point. He starts speaking, "I can speak Korean just fine now, JYP-hyungnim. I have been for five years. All I needed was a little more time. Both me and Lee Know-hyung have improved in the fields you saw us struggling in." Initially, it was a little cold, but he mellowed his voice out so they don't get in trouble with JYP. They didn't need him to associate insubordination or blatant disrespect with them.

Stray Kids was in a similar position of anger but they didn't act in it nor confort the verbally attacked duo. The two were luckily sitting right next to each other so they could rub each other's backs comfortingly and hold the other's hand.

JYP looks a little shocked at such an unexpected response. He was probably expecting Chris-hyung, the addressee, to speak for them. Certainly not Yongbok, the person JYP is speaking about, in perfect Korean, the language JYP kicked him out of the group for. I feel proud of him, good on him for telling JYP off without actually doing so.

"Is this true Chan-ah?" JYP asks, and I almost roll my eyes. Of course he wouldn't believe Yongbok-hyung, even if he just proved it. Chris-hyung's fingers crack and pop under the pressure of his fist. It makes disgusting noises but I get why he's so angry. While we're all super protective of each other, he's on another level of it with his leader—or dad, as STAY calls him—instincts.

"Yes it is, JYP-hyungnim! I'm glad they're a part of this group and our fans are just as glad. They both improve their weaker skills immensely and they make this team special in their own way. I highly doubt we would be where we are without them." Chris-hyung spoke diplomatically, which makes sense as it would make it less about how attached he—all of us—are attached to them and more about the logic and reason to keep them in the group.

Lee Know-hyung had to sit on the sidelines, dancing in the background for a group that wasn't his. Yongbok-hyung had to travel to a new country, learn a new language and fight for a spot on a team during all of it. I may be the maknae, but I'm no idiot when it comes to feelings. They've been through a lot and are feeling probably pretty dejected at JYP's words. Yongbok starts to fiddle with my fingers again.

"Alright, I'm glad! Let's continue to talk about your future then!"

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Hello! Most importantly... drumroll please... HAPPY 24th BIRTHDAY TO CHANGBINNN!!! His birthday live was so adorable! I wish him the best birthday and I pray the members will let him exist in peace for the day! (My Changbin emoticon: ᕦ(ò_óˇ)ᕤ)
Secondly, rereading this, I kind of realized that you don't even get the JYP talk this chapter really, it's more of a intro into it, so sorry about that! I hope you enjoyed it anyways!
Also, in the honor of Changbin, I shall spoil and say next chapter is indeed in his POV!