Love Unexpected

Chapter 4: Back to the land of the living

Bowling was so much fun. You all ended up at your favorite Korean BBQ place. Pigging out on so much meat. It was so good. Binnie says he's getting you back in the gym next week. You agree without fighting. You know better than to try and say no to him.

Once the night is over Felix takes you home. He kisses your cheek and gives you another hug. He squeezes you hard. You let out squeal when you can't breathe. He releases you. You guys say goodnight and he's off. Promising to see you again soon.

When you walk into your house it's so quiet. You're feeling alone again. It's so empty. You guys spent all the time together with all the guys and loudness and laughter. You hadn't realized how much you missed it untill this week. Until you had been around the guys again.

Alone with your thoughts you start thinking about after the hiatus.

The past

They had decided to let Stay know Jinnie was back through a music video. Stay had gone crazy. They cried they laughed they cheered. Everyone was so happy he was back. They had some schedules and then dropped Oddinary. The maniac tour was crazy. Kept them so busy. It ended in March of 2023. A few more months and the move would happen. You and Chan would officially be living together.

They got a two month break. Well "break". A few days they had to film some stuff for the next comeback in June. You were excited for Stay to hear the album. It was their best work yet. You were so proud of them.

As usual Chan was busy even though it was vacation time. He was always creating. Sometimes you wished he would focus on you a little more but you understood him. And so Hyunjin as usual entertained you. He came by one day with a surprise and to make you leave the house. He had rented out an amusement park for a night. Hyunjin always had to go above and beyond. You just shook your head and smiled. He told you about his clothing line that was dropping in June. Beaming with excitement. And asked you to model some of it. He looked worried about your answer but of course you agreed. You would do anything for him honestly. Plus, if his line makes you look as good as he does, who were you to say no?

You guys rode rides and ate snacks. Played some games. You found yourselves holding hands interlocked and walking cuddling really close together. To comfortable you thought in your head. You remember staring at him. His perfect side profile. Those plump lips. They looked so soft and kissable. And his hair. Your hand itches to run through it.
Hyunjin -"You're staring. Everything okay?". You blush.
Vee-"Yeah. Sorry. I spaced out I guess. Didnt mean to stare". You could tell he didnt believe you.

Then he was staring at you. He was thinking about your cute nose and pretty mouth. He always loved how you had an hourglass body. Your dark hair and eyes always catching his attention. You definitely had caught his eye from the beginning. He'd seen you in the halls at SOPA. But never spoke to you there. He'd met you at the company. He hadnt known you were dating Chan when he introduced you to everyone as his childhood friend. And since you guys always said you were just friends, he had let his heart be captured by you. Then one day he went to the building to practice a special performance. It was around 2 am and he walked in on you guys making out. You didnt see him. But he never said anything.

Senior year when you and him graduated he finally told you guys he knew. And well it became you three. Now watching you sitting in the carousal, he wished he'd had said something.
Vee- "It's late. We should go".
Hyujin- "Yeah. Thanks btw. For tonight. For coming with me".
Vee- "Of course. Thank you for getting me out of the house. I really needed it and its always fun with you." You feel yourself blush and look away.
Hyunjin- "Hey Vee", (he looks down nervously) "I need to talk to you about something".
Vee (you get nervous) "Okay".
Hyujin - "Was it just me? During the hiatus? I thought maybe there was something there you know. Between you and me?"

You get more nervous-you thought it had just been you. -"Honestly, yes. I felt it too but you know we can't. Even if I weren't with him, we could never. He's your best friend and leader of SKZ".
Hyunjin looks up at the sky. You can see his eyes sadden and his wheels turning. You wish you could read his mind. "Yeah. Okay" he says. You guys get up and he takes you home.

The next few weeks during the comeback things get crappy. Hyunjin and Felix are being bullied again. Even being threatened. Stay bugging out and demanding JYP do something. The hashtags and articles just everywhere. All this mess caused Chan a lot of stress which led him to work more. Which meant less time together. Which meant more time with everyone else.

The present

It's been a few weeks now since coming back to the land of the living. You're back into the rhythm of life. Writing dancing modeling. Gym time with Binnie and Han. It's your least favorite part of the week but you start filling back out and getting your muscle back.

You hadn't seen Hyunjin since bowling night. He'd been flying around the world. Paris Italy New York. His fashion line was taking off. He was busy.

All SKZ activities had been halted after what happened to Chan. The guys just didn't feel right moving on as seven. Key from Shinee had talked them. Being as he knew what it was like to lose a member. Not under the exact circumstances but he knew how they felt. He told them it's going to take time. So, everyone was doing their own thing for now.

You'd gotten the invite to Leeknow's movie premiere. He'd been filming before what happened and he just finished it. It's how he coped. He threw himself into work. Your tsundere boy. Always pretending he's heartless. You all knew better. He loves deeper than any of you. Losing his only hyung in the group must've been painful.

Han had produced and composed for other idol groups. He threw himself into that. He wrote some of his saddest most heart-breaking songs during this time. His songs were charting though. But that's no surprise. 3racha was one of if not the best composing, producing team out there.

You missed them. You take your phone out and go to the group chat you guys had for years. Your heart skips a beat when you see his name. Damnit. You shake it off and type. Asking the guys if you can get together soon. Most of them respond within seconds.
🐱 When?
🐿️ What day?
🐈Time?
You smile. Of course, they would say yes. You guys schedule a day you're all free. The only one who hasn't answered is Hyunjin. You can see he saw the message. You decide to message him separately.

Me🌜-Hi Are you going to be busy that weekend? We can change it you know. So, it's all of us.
Jiniret❤️-....
Me🌜-Hyunjin, pls don't ignore us, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you feel bad. I care about you. You know that.
Jiniret❤️-I'm sorry for going MIA. It's just a lot right now. The met gala plans for next year. My clothing line. JYP breathing down our necks about Stray Kids. And every time I think of you my heart sinks. Cuz I know. I know whatever we had is probably gone now.
Me🌜- I get it. It's okay. Take care of you. See you soon hopefully.
You pause and think about sending the next message. You decide to send it.
Me🌜-I really do miss you Jinnie

You sit down on the sofa and throw yourself back. Tears threatening you. You miss him as much as you miss Chan. You shouldn't. But you do. And your heart starts breaking because losing one person you love sucked. But losing them both is going to kill you.