Stray Kids: Their Girl

Chapter 33: Healing Hearts

Chija POV:

The past few days had been a whirlwind of emotions. Every moment I spent with the boys felt surreal—too good to be true, considering the pain I had carried for so long. They were doing everything they could to make up for what happened, and part of me still couldn't believe it. After the long, silent weeks where I felt so disconnected, they were now nothing but kindness, love, and patience.

I had always thought of myself as their assistant, the one who took care of all the little things for them—helping with schedules, organizing the chaos of their lives, and making sure everything was running smoothly. But now, it felt like they were all doing the same for me. Every morning, they would bring me coffee, fresh juice, or breakfast in bed. Chan would always be the first one to ask how I was feeling, his voice gentle, like I might break if he spoke too loudly. Felix would sit beside me, offering me a warm smile and holding my hand, making sure I knew he was there.

Even the little things they did—making sure I was well-rested, giving me small, tender touches when they passed by, constantly checking in on me—were enough to make me feel loved, cared for, and, most of all, seen.

That afternoon, we had finished a long day of work. I was about to go into the kitchen to prepare dinner for everyone, as I usually did, but this time, something felt different. As I moved toward the door, I felt a hand on my wrist.

"Chija," Seungmin said softly, his voice a bit nervous. "Let us take care of you tonight."

I blinked, startled. "What?"

"Please," Chan chimed in, his eyes filled with that familiar warmth. "Just... relax. We've got it covered."

I opened my mouth to protest, to tell them I was fine, that cooking was just something I did. But then I saw the way their eyes pleaded with me—so full of sincerity and love. My heart swelled, and I couldn't deny the tenderness in their gaze.

"I—I don't know..." I trailed off, still unsure.

Minho stepped forward, his usual seriousness replaced by something softer. "You've been taking care of us for so long, Chija. Let us show you that we care, too."

Felix gave me a mischievous grin, his voice playful. "Come on, don't make us beg."

I sighed, rolling my eyes, but there was a soft smile tugging at the corners of my lips. "Fine. But only because you all look so cute when you beg."

That earned a chuckle from the group, and they immediately started moving around the kitchen. I stood by, unsure of how to react, as they began preparing dinner. Chan was chopping vegetables, Minho was stirring something on the stove, and Jisung was seasoning the meat with an almost overly enthusiastic amount of spice, causing Hyunjin to laugh.

Seungmin gently nudged me toward the living room. "Go sit down. We'll handle everything."

I hesitated but finally relented, sinking into the couch, trying to ignore how touched I felt by their actions. I wasn't used to being pampered. I was used to taking care of them. This felt... nice. Comforting.

Felix followed me, plopping down beside me with a bright smile. "Are you okay?" he asked, his voice softer than usual.

I nodded, trying to hide the emotions bubbling inside me. "Yeah. Just... I wasn't expecting this."

He smiled, brushing a stray lock of hair behind my ear. "Well, that's what family's for, right?"

I could feel my heart beating a little faster at his words, and I quickly looked away, trying to focus on the other boys. But there was something in his eyes, something tender, that made it hard to ignore. I was so used to feeling like I was in the background, always trying to make things easier for them, that this sudden shift felt almost overwhelming.