Stray Kids: Their Girl

Chapter 32: Silver Linings Are A Gift

Chija's POV:

The city lights blurred around me as I stumbled out of the bar, my head spinning from too many drinks. I was happy, carefree, surrounded by laughter from my work friends—but there was an ache beneath it all, one I'd been trying to ignore for weeks. I missed them. The boys. Even though I was still hurt, still raw from everything that had happened, they were my family, and it had felt so wrong to be apart.

I reached for my phone and, without a second thought, I dialed Chan's number. It barely rang twice before he picked up.

"Chija?" His voice was full of surprise and... concern?

I hiccuped, trying to stifle a giggle. "Hi, Chan. I, um, don't have a ride, and I... kinda... need help."

There was a pause, and I could almost see his worried expression through the phone. "Where are you?"

I rattled off the address, leaning against the wall to steady myself as I waited. After a few minutes, I saw their familiar car pull up, and all eight of them got out. They didn't say a word as they walked over, just took my hands to help me into the car. Chan was in the driver's seat, with Minho beside him, and the others packed around me, their faces tense with worry.

The car ride was silent for the first few minutes, the boys tense around me as I lay slouched back in the seat. The whole world felt hazy, a comfortable blur around the edges, but my chest still ached in a way the alcohol couldn't numb.

I stared at the ceiling of the car, then turned to Felix beside me, squinting slightly. "You know... I missed you," I slurred, my words tumbling out before I could think to stop them. "All of you."

Felix blinked, a small, pained smile on his face. "We missed you too, Chija."

I huffed, not entirely happy with his answer. "But... it didn't feel like that. Nope. Not at all..." I shook my head slowly, letting the words drift out in a mix of confusion and pain. "It felt... like you just... forgot me. Just... 'poof!' Gone."

Chan glanced at me in the rearview mirror, looking more troubled than I'd ever seen him. "Chija, we didn't forget you. We just didn't understand..."

I cut him off, waving my hand dismissively, nearly hitting Hyunjin in the face. "Not 'understand'... no, no. You thought... you thought I was... oversensitive. Dramatic!" My voice grew softer, and I started staring at my fingers, tracing random shapes in the air. "Like it was my fault I felt that way..."

"It wasn't your fault," Seungmin said quietly from the back seat, his voice wavering. But I barely heard him.

"You know... those stylists..." I hiccuped, shaking my head again, "they said some really mean things. Really mean things." I laughed, a sad, breathy sound. "Like... calling me... a 'stray'—and I thought... 'hey, that's funny, 'cause... isn't that what you guys called me, too?'" I let out a bitter chuckle that quickly died, turning into a sniffle. "But you didn't believe me."

Minho turned, his face pinched with regret. "Chija, we—"

"Nooo..." I interrupted, stretching out the word. "You didn't. And that hurt, y'know? Like... if you said something like that happened, I'd believe you. Right away!" My voice wobbled, and I slumped further down, feeling tears prickle at my eyes. "You're supposed to be my family. Family doesn't... they don't make you feel like you're crazy. Or... or like you're just... too much..."

Felix's hand came to rest on my shoulder, gentle and warm. "Chija... we were wrong, okay? We didn't see it. But we're so sorry. Please..."

"Yeah, well..." I let out a sigh, closing my eyes. "Sometimes... 'sorry' doesn't fix stuff. Doesn't fix the... the feeling of being all alone when you're right next to the people you... love." My voice trailed off, and I felt a tear slide down my cheek. "Even when I was right there, it felt like I was just... some problem you wanted to go away..."