Author's POV
Backstage at the SKZOO pop-up store, a makeshift lounge area buzzed with the aftermath of controlled chaos. Stray Kids, minus the two who'd caused a minor earthquake amongst the STAYs, lounged on plush couches, faces flushed with exertion and amusement.
"Did you see the look on that one STAY's face when you winked at her?" Felix, the group's sunshine personified, practically squeaked with laughter, nudging Hyunjin with his elbow.
Hyunjin, ever the cool one, smirked. "Please, that was nothing compared to Bang Chan practically handing out the last Bbokkari."
Bang Chan, sprawled on the couch flipping through his phone, chuckled sheepishly. "Hey, it wasn't my fault it landed right at my feet! Besides, you saw the disappointment in her eyes. A leader has to make sacrifices."
"Sacrifices?" Seungmin, the group's resident puppy, piped up, tilting his head in confusion. "What sacrifices? Did you give away your signed Bbokkari, hyung?"
The other members erupted in laughter, the sound echoing through the empty store.
"Easy there, Seungmin," Changbin, the group's rapping powerhouse, patted his shoulder consolingly. "Bang Chan just played cupid for a lucky STAY and her Bbokkari."
Hyunjin leaned forward, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Speaking of cupid, did you see the way she blushed when I told her Bbokkari found his forever home? Almost as good as the limited edition ones, wouldn't you say, Bang Chan?"
Bang Chan shot Hyunjin a playful glare. "Don't get ahead of yourself, Hyunjin. We were just having some fun."
"Fun?" Lee Know, the group's resident dance machine, raised an eyebrow skeptically. "Looks more like you were giving STAYs heart attacks with your impromptu flirting session."
"Hey, spreading sunshine and a little bit of Stray Kids magic is part of the job description, right?" Bang Chan countered with a wink, earning another round of laughter from the group.
Despite their playful teasing, a sense of satisfaction lingered in the air. Seeing the joy on the STAYs' faces, the genuine excitement over securing their favorite SKZOO plushies, it was a reminder of the connection they shared with their fans.
Just then, the door opened, and the store manager peeked in cautiously. "Everything alright in here, boys?"
Bang Chan, the ever responsible leader, rose to his feet with a reassuring smile. "Everything under control, thanks for letting us help out! We just wanted to spread a little extra cheer for the STAYs."
The manager chuckled, shaking his head fondly. "Well, you certainly achieved that. Just try not to cause a stampede next time, alright?"
"No promises," Hyunjin quipped with a wink, earning a playful shove from Bang Chan.
As Stray Kids exited the store, the afternoon sunlight filtering through the windows bathed them in a warm glow. The mission, a spontaneous decision to surprise the STAYs and promote the SKZOO pop-up store, had been a success. But beyond the sales figures and media buzz, it was the genuine connection with their fans that truly resonated with them.
They may have caused a little friendly chaos, but for the STAYs who walked away clutching their coveted SKZOO plushies, and for the members of Stray Kids themselves, it was a day filled with laughter, unexpected encounters, and a little bit of Stray Kids magic.
Stepping out of the bustling SKZOO pop-up store, Melody and Beth basked in the warm afternoon sun. The bag holding Bbokkari felt pleasantly heavy against Melody's shoulder, a constant reminder of the incredible encounter. Beth, still buzzing with excitement, launched into a rapid-fire account of everything they'd witnessed.
