last memories last goodbye| seungmin ×skz

chapter 1

The final echoes of their last song hung in the air as the music gradually faded, leaving behind only the distant claps of the crowd. The overwhelming energy of the concert was replaced with a heavy silence, the kind that only comes when something monumental is ending. The lights on the stage dimmed slightly, casting a soft glow on the members of Stray Kids as they stood together, their bodies tense and their hearts heavy. They had given everything, poured every last ounce of energy into that performances, but now the reality of what was happening set in.

Bang Chan stepped forward first, his usual confidence crumbled beneath the weight of the moment. He cleared his throat, struggling to maintain composure, but the emotion in his eyes betrayed him. "Stay, we… We don’t know what to say," he started, his voice cracking. "These years, this journey with you, it’s been everything. Thank you for staying with us, for loving us. We’ll never forget you."

The crowd responded with a roar of love, but the sound of it was muffled, as if Seungmin were submerged in water. His heart pounded in his chest, and he instinctively reached up to rub his eyes, trying to focus through the haze that had suddenly clouded his vision. The edges of his sight were blurry, but he swallowed hard, forcing himself to stay steady. He wasn’t going to break. Not here, not now.

Lee Minho, standing beside him, clenched his fists at his sides, his face unreadable but his eyes glassy with unshed tears. "I don’t think any of us were ready for this," he said, voice deep with emotion. "We’ve been through so much together, and even though it’s the end, I will always be grateful. Stay, thank you for everything. You’re in our hearts forever."

Seungmin took a shaky breath, feeling the pressure building behind his eyes. He felt the familiar twinge of fear and discomfort, a heavy weight pressing down on his chest. But he clenched his jaw, forcing himself to stay strong, stay present. This moment, this last stage with his members, with Stay, it had to be perfect. He couldn’t ruin it.

Seo Changbin stepped forward next, his voice low and thick with emotion. "We’ve always said that Stay is our family, and you’ve proved that every single day. You’ve stood by us through thick and thin, and we will never be able to repay that. Thank you for believing in us. Always."

The crowd responded with an even louder cheer, but it felt like a distant hum in Seungmin's ears. He could feel his hands trembling slightly, and he closed his eyes for a moment, willing himself to focus. The light in front of him was too bright, the noise of the crowd too overwhelming. His breath hitched, and he suddenly felt a sharp dizziness in his head, a wave of nausea rising from his stomach.

Hwang Hyunjin took his turn, his usual flair of energy replaced with a quieter, more tender sadness. "I can’t believe this is the last time we’re standing here with you," he said, his voice a soft whisper, though still clear in the microphone. "Stay, thank you for giving us your love, your strength. You’re more than just fans to us, you’re part of us, and we’ll always carry that with us."

Seungmin’s vision flickered, the world around him swaying, and his pulse quickened as the dizziness intensified. He could feel it now, the tightness in his chest, the difficulty in breathing, and the pressure building at the back of his head. His fingers clenched, and he fought against the overwhelming urge to collapse. But he couldn’t. Not now.

Han Jisung’s voice broke through the fog in his mind, raw with emotion as he spoke next. "We’ve laughed, we’ve cried, we’ve created so many memories together. And even though this is goodbye, it’s not the end. We’ll never forget you. You’re with us forever, Stay."

The sound of Stay’s cheers reached Seungmin’s ears, but they felt muffled and far away, like he was underwater. He fought to keep his balance, focusing on Jisung’s words as he continued, but it was hard to concentrate. His hands felt cold, his legs weak, and he wondered if he would be able to make it through his own final words.