Wild thoughts | Stray Kids Imagines

Paying | Seo Changbin

Dating Changbin meant getting used to his stubborn insistence on paying for everything whenever you two went out. Whether it was a simple coffee run, a movie date, or a fancy dinner, he always managed to pull out his card before you could even reach for your wallet. You'd tried arguing with him about it multiple times, but he always had the same response: "I want to take care of you."

It was sweet, but also frustrating. You didn't want him to feel like he had to pay for everything, especially since you enjoyed treating him too. Still, Changbin was relentless. No matter how many times you tried to beat him to the punch, he always seemed one step ahead.

So, you came up with a plan.

One evening, you and Changbin decided to have dinner at a cozy little restaurant near your apartment. It was the kind of place you both loved—warm, intimate, and with incredible food. As usual, Changbin took charge of ordering, smiling across the table at you as you discussed your day and shared stories.

Halfway through the meal, Changbin excused himself to use the bathroom. This was your chance. The moment he was out of sight, you signaled the waiter and quickly handed over your card to pay for the meal.

The waiter smiled and nodded, returning with the receipt just as Changbin was walking back to the table. You tried to keep a neutral expression, but the excitement of finally beating him at his own game was hard to contain.

Changbin sat down, glancing at you with a contented smile. But when the waiter came over to drop off the receipt, Changbin's smile faltered. He looked at the bill, then back at you, confusion written all over his face.

"Wait... did you pay?" he asked, his voice a mix of disbelief and something else—something bordering on offense.

You smiled triumphantly. "Yup. I beat you to it this time."

For a moment, Changbin just stared at you, processing what had happened. Then, his expression shifted from confusion to something more serious. "Y/N... why did you do that?"

You blinked, taken aback by his tone. "Why not? I wanted to treat you for once. You always pay for everything, and I thought it was only fair."

Changbin frowned, clearly not amused. "But I like paying for us. It's my way of taking care of you."

"I know, and I appreciate it, really," you said, reaching out to take his hand. "But I want to take care of you too. It doesn't always have to be you paying. We're in this together, right?"

Changbin sighed, his shoulders slumping a little. "It's not about the money, Y/N. It just feels... weird. I like being the one to pay. It makes me feel like I'm doing my part."

You squeezed his hand, trying to reassure him. "And you are. But sometimes, I want to do my part too. We can share that, can't we?"

He was quiet for a moment, clearly grappling with the idea. Finally, he looked up at you, a small, grudging smile tugging at his lips. "You're really not going to let this go, are you?"

"Nope," you said, grinning back at him. "I love you, but you need to let me do things for you too."

Changbin sighed again, this time with a hint of amusement. "Fine. But next time, I'm paying."

You laughed, relieved that he was starting to come around. "We'll see about that."

But even as you both stood to leave, hand in hand, you could tell Changbin was still a little offended that you'd managed to outmaneuver him. The ride home was quiet, but not in an uncomfortable way—more like he was mulling over the whole situation.

When you got back to your place, Changbin finally broke the silence. "You know, I'm really serious about this. I like taking care of you, Y/N. It's important to me."

You softened at his words, stepping closer to wrap your arms around him. "And I like taking care of you too. It doesn't have to be one-sided."

Changbin looked down at you, his expression serious but full of love. "Alright, but just this once. I'm not letting you pay again."

You giggled, standing on your tiptoes to kiss him softly. "We'll see, Binnie. We'll see."

He let out a small groan, but his arms tightened around you, pulling you closer. "You're too stubborn for your own good."

"And you love it," you teased.

Changbin rolled his eyes but couldn't hide the smile on his face as he leaned down to kiss you again.