THE GIFTED | STRAY KIDS ✔

10

Hyunjin had settled into their daily routine. It had been almost two weeks since they started, and they were used to waking up and training at 8 in the morning until 6 in the evening. So when they received news that training was canceled for the day, Hyunjin felt a void in their schedule.

There was only one meeting scheduled for 1 in the afternoon, leaving Hyunjin with plenty of spare time. They considered training on their own but were informed that the training center was off-limits for the day.

Thus, they found themselves with only one option: idle sitting. The common room felt more crowded than usual with eight grown men confined to its space, making it seem smaller than it actually was.

"I'm so bored," Jisung whined, the umpteenth time that day. Hyunjin had lost count. Minho sat beside him, engrossed in a book from their shelf, seemingly unaffected.

"Oh, for heaven's sake," Seungmin groaned, walking over to the fridge to grab an ice cream. "Someone, please shut him up."

"I've tried," Felix replied. "He's not easily entertained."

"It's gone!" Seungmin exclaimed, slamming the refrigerator door shut and glaring at the others. "Whoever took my ice cream has a death wish upon them."

"It was Hyunjin!" Jisung shouted. "I saw him eat it yesterday! It was in a pink wrapper, right?"

Hyunjin panicked, desperately seeking help from the others through his pleading eyes. Seungmin shot a deathly glare at Hyunjin and positioned himself as if ready to chase.

"Jeongin, protect me, please! Use your shields!" Hyunjin dashed from their spot and sought refuge behind the youngest member, fearing for their safety.

Jeongin recoiled instantly. "I'm sorry, hyung, but I don't want to be on Seungmin hyung's bad side. He's scary."

Hyunjin gave Jeongin a betrayed look and hurriedly turned to Felix. "Save me from that monster, Lix! You don't want your dear friend to disappear, do you?"

Felix chuckled but ultimately allowed Hyunjin to hide behind him as Seungmin approached. "Alright, alright, Seungmin, forgive Hyunjin this time. How about I make brownies for you instead?"

Seungmin pondered the proposition for a moment, then nodded slowly and backed away, his eyes never leaving Hyunjin. "You've escaped for now, Hwang. But Felix won't always be there to save you."

Hyunjin stuck out his tongue, teasing Seungmin, while still taking cover behind Felix's small frame. The group fell silent once again, each resuming their previous activities.

Felix, Jeongin, Chan, and Hyunjin played cards. Minho now read his book aloud to Jisung, but in a hushed tone so as not to disturb the others. Changbin decided to do a brief workout in the corner with his dumbbells. Seungmin observed the card game intently.

As the group settled into their respective activities, time seemed to pass slowly in the confined space of the common room. The sound of shuffling cards and whispered conversations filled the air, punctuated by the occasional clink of dumbbells and the rhythmic turning of book pages.