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The pink scrunchie around your wrist had always been your go-to accessory. You'd worn it countless times, both for its practicality and the comfort it brought you. It wasn't just any scrunchie—it was your favorite, a small token that made you feel secure no matter where you were. It was a part of your daily routine, whether you were on stage with your girl group or just relaxing at home.
One evening, as Chan was packing for another long tour, you noticed the usual tension in his shoulders, the kind that came with knowing you'd be apart for a while. You wanted to give him something to take with him, something that would remind him of you whenever he felt the weight of his schedule. Without much thought, you reached for the pink scrunchie on your wrist.
"Here," you said, gently slipping it off and holding it out to him. "I want you to have this. So you can think of me whenever you need to."
Chan blinked in surprise before a soft, warm smile spread across his face. "You're giving me your favorite scrunchie?"
You nodded. "Yeah. Keep it with you, okay?"
He took the scrunchie, examining it for a moment before slipping it onto his wrist. It was a bit out of place against his usual style—pink and delicate—but he didn't care. It was from you, and that made it perfect.
"Thank you," he murmured, pulling you into a hug. "I'll wear it every day."
True to his word, Chan never took the scrunchie off. Whether he was on stage, in interviews, or just hanging out with the rest of Stray Kids, the pink scrunchie stayed on his wrist. It became a part of him, much like it had been a part of you, and though fans noticed the unusual accessory, they just thought it was a quirky new addition to his look.
Things took a turn during a music video shoot with a darker concept. The pink scrunchie didn't quite fit the aesthetic, and a staff member kindly asked Chan if he could take it off for the duration of the shoot. Chan agreed, but instead of stowing it away in his bag, he wrapped it around his water bottle, keeping it in his line of sight at all times. Even when he couldn't wear it, he wanted it close.
After the video was released, STAYs quickly picked up on the scrunchie in behind-the-scenes footage. Some fans noticed it wrapped around his water bottle, while others remembered seeing a similar scrunchie on your wrist in past photos and videos. They began connecting the dots—your scrunchie had disappeared around the same time Chan's appeared. It didn't take long before the theories started circulating online.
What started as a small observation snowballed into a full-blown investigation. Fans began making videos with timestamps, showing the exact moment you stopped wearing the scrunchie and when Chan started. They compared outfits, dates, and every tiny detail to support their theory. The internet was flooded with screenshots, TikToks, and Twitter threads, all pointing to one conclusion: you and Chan were dating.
The next morning, you and Chan were lounging on the couch, scrolling through your phones when you both noticed the sudden influx of notifications. Fans were buzzing with excitement, piecing together the mystery of the pink scrunchie with impressive detective skills.
Chan chuckled as he showed you a particularly detailed Twitter thread. "They're really good at this, aren't they?"
You groaned, hiding your face in your hands. "I can't believe they figured it out because of that scrunchie. I thought it was just a small thing."
Chan draped an arm around your shoulders, pulling you closer. "Well, it was special to us. I guess they picked up on that."
Deciding to address the situation, Chan took to Bubble later that day, sending a series of light-hearted messages to STAY.
"You guys are too sharp, seriously."
"How did you figure out the scrunchie thing? Lol."
"I guess there's no hiding now!"
His tone was playful, but there was also a hint of pride in how observant and caring his fans were.
Meanwhile, you decided to have a little chat with your own fans on Bubble. Though you were still a bit flustered, you couldn't resist teasing them about their detective work.
"I can't believe you all noticed that!"
"You guys really are too good at this, I swear."
"Now Chan's never going to let me live it down because of a scrunchie, Lol."
You playfully scolded them at the end, though your fondness was clear.
"Next time, maybe don't be such great detectives? Just a thought."
Your fans, of course, took it all in stride, flooding you with messages of love and teasing you right back for the accidental reveal. It was impossible to stay embarrassed when you saw how much they genuinely cared for both you and Chan.
That evening, as you sat with Chan, you both couldn't stop laughing about how the scrunchie—something so small and personal—had led to your relationship being outed.
"I guess there's no hiding now," you said, leaning into his side.
Chan smiled, pressing a kiss to your temple. "I'm okay with that. I like that they know how much you mean to me."
You grinned, resting your head on his shoulder. "Me too."
And so, what started as a simple gesture of affection had now become a public symbol of your relationship—one that fans couldn't stop talking about. Even though your secret was out, the love behind it was undeniable, and that was something both you and Chan were more than happy to share with the world.
