Idol [Lee Felix of Stray Kids]

52. Real Life

AiDi, Hana and Charlie were leaving to the venue ahead an hour after Felix and his Stray Kids' members because Hana had noticed that AiDi would stay clear of Hyunjin whenever the male would come close. She had noticed these little things two days ago after they had filmed their new family vlog. Now she was more than interested in to know what happened between the pair to have her brother distance himself from Hyunjin after how she had noticed how close they had gotten since all three—Hana, her baby daughter, and AiDi—had moved to South Korea so that Felix could spend more time with Charlie and to raise her with Hana.

"Are you ready to go see your appa and uncles perform on stage?" Hana cooed at her daughter who squealed and babbled at the throat of seeing Felix and her uncles—Bang Chan, Lee Know, I.N, Han, Hyunjin, Seugmin and ChangBin—on stage.

As they entered the venue where Stray Kids were performing, they could see fans already lining up for the concert. Screams were heard when they were noticed and they quickly waved at the fans before led inside towards backstage where they saw the boys getting ready.

"AiDi?" Hana asked before they walked over to the boys "Are you okay?" Hana asked, glancing over her shoulder at him.

AiDi snapped out of his thoughts, forcing a smile. "Yeah, I'm good. Just... thinking."

Hana raised an eyebrow. "About what? You've been a little too quiet lately. It's not like you."

He shifted uncomfortably. "Nothing really. Just... stuff."

"Stuff or Hyunjin?" Hana probed, her tone gentle but probing.

AiDi sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Let's not get into that right now, okay? I just want to focus on Charlie and the performance."

"Alright, but I'm here if you need to talk," she said, giving him a reassuring squeeze on the arm before they turned a corner and the venue loomed ahead.

Once inside, they were escorted to their seats, good ones too—close enough to see every expression on the members' faces. As excitement bubbled around them, Hana glanced at the backstage area where the members were preparing. There was Hyunjin, his presence magnetic as always, but AiDi's gaze avoided him completely.

"Hana," AiDi whispered suddenly, his voice taut with tension. "Can we just... stay away from Hyunjin?"

"What happened?" she urged, her heart beginning to race. "You were so close before, what changed?"

AiDi's eyes darkened, and for a second, she thought she saw a flicker of pain cross his features. "He kissed me, Hana. And then he just... walked away. Like nothing happened."

Hana's eyes widened in shock. "Oh... AiDi, I didn't know. I'm so sorry."

"It's fine," he muttered tersely, but the pain in his voice betrayed him. "I don't want to think about it, okay?"

Before she could respond, the lights dimmed, and the audience erupted into cheers as Stray Kids made their entrance, brilliance flashing with each heartbeat of the music. Hana's attention shifted to the group, finding Felix amidst the chaos, and her heart swelled with pride as he lit up the stage. But she couldn't ignore the tension between AiDi and Hyunjin lingering in the air like thick smoke.

As the performance unfolded, AiDi sat rigid, tension coiling in his shoulders. When the show ended, they made their way backstage to congratulate Felix and the others, and Hana could feel the electric charge in AiDi's body as they approached Hyunjin, who was laughing with other members.

Hana held up Charlie so she could wave at her father. "Look, honey! There's appa!"

Felix spotted them and grinned, waving back enthusiastically. "Charlie! Hana! AiDi!" He rushed over, crouching down to scoop Charlie into his arms.