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nabi sat in a small office, standing beside felix, who was only a day older than her. she couldn't shake off the nerves that twisted in her stomach, but the familiar warmth of felix's presence made her feel a bit more at ease.
"hey, nabi," felix whispered with a bright smile, his eyes shining with encouragement.
nabi glanced at him, her heart fluttering. she knew how shy she was and appreciated felix always cheering her on, especially when she made progress in speaking with people.
"hi," she replied, waving shyly.
felix's smiled widened at her response, making her feel a little more confident. just then, minho joined them, striding up beside felix with his usual air of confidence.
"ready?" minho asked, his voice calm and steady, a reassuring anchor for nabi.
as they walked into the meeting room where jyp awaited them, nabi felt a mixture of confusion and excitement. she didn't quite understand why she was back, but it felt important that jyp had called them for a "meeting."
"so, i heard you guys have continued practicing since you left," jyp said, a proud smile gracing his lips.
"yes," they all replied in unison, the words tumbling out in a rush.
long story short, jyp informed the trio that due to their dedication and improvement, he was considering reinstating them into the group. it felt surreal to nabi. she had missed this place, the members, and the music that connected them all.
"there's something missing without all the members together as one," jyp added, his tone serious but hopeful.
they all expressed their gratitude to the ceo, following him as he led the way to where the remaining members were gathered. nabi's heart raced as they approached, her palms sweating with anticipation.
felix and minho stood in front of the members first, announcing their return. the others beamed, welcoming the two back with open arms. however, they hadn't seen nabi yet, assuming she was still away from the show.
that's when jyp opened the door again, and nabi walked in slowly.
now standing next to minho, she looked up at her fellow members, and a wave of warmth washed over her as she saw their happy faces. the group felt complete again, and nabi couldn't help but smile at the first person who caught her attention, jeongin, who returned a bright grin back at her.
his braced gleamed in the light, making his smile look even bigger.
nabi then glanced at hyunjin, who had been looking at her since she walked back in. their eyes met and words were spoken with no sound needed. hyunjin quickly looked away, shyness overtaking him as the reality of her return sank in.
"the only way i'm allowing them to stay is if everyone puts together a 10 member performance and a 7 member performance. after the show, i will decide which group will remain," jyp said, laying down the challenge.
as he exited the room, the members nodded and bowed to him, their expressions shifting to excitement and determination. once the door closed, nabi found herself enveloped in a familiar hug.
hyunjin wrapped his arms around the younger girl, holding her tightly as if he feared she would disappear again. nabi melted into the hug, feeling the weight of their shared history and the bond they had built over time.
when he finally let go, nabi remained close to him. she hugged everyone, laughter and joy bubbling up as they welcomed her back. she playfully messed with jeongin, who couldn't stop smiling, his joy infectious.
watching jisung hug felix and minho, nabi felt a rush of comfort. chan stood little to the side, a smile on his face as he observed the reunion. nabi, feeling bold, walked over to him and offered a small hug.
"welcome back," he said softly, his smile genuine.
the group gathered in a circle, putting their hands together for a small chant, their voices echoing the bond they shared.
"stray kids!" they shouted in unison, their voices filled with energy and unity.
now the group had to make a great performanc to keep the three, once eliminated members, in for a debut as a whole.
now, they needed to put together an incredible performance to keep the three reinstated members for their debut. the anticipation hung thick in the air as they filed into the recording studio, ready to dive into the session for the song they would perform.
nabi felt ecstatic to be back but also nervous as she prepared to record her part. she took a deep breath, trying to steady her racing heart. the members gathered around her, offering support and encouragement. they constantly reassured her, praising her efforts and helping her refine parts she could improve.
"just breathe, nabi. you've got this," felix encouraged, giving her a thumbs up.
"yeah, you sound amazing!" minho chimed in, his confidence contagious.
with their support, nabi found the strength to push through her anxiety and, for once, she didn't let that lack of confidence falter her singing. by the end of the day, nabi was exhausted. hyunjin stayed close to her, helping her with a few tips and tricks he had up his sleeve.
"it's okay," he spoke softly as he met her outside of the recording studio, "accidents happen; we learn from them."
nabi smiled up at him, grateful for his steady presence. she took a moment to breathe, following his advice.
"breathe a bit; it's okay, i promise," hyunjin repeated, his voice a calming balm for her frayed nerves.
she focused on her breathing, taking deep, steady breaths to ward off the rising anxiety within her.
"i won't let you leave this show again."
his words struck a chord within her. she had a second chance and she was determined to make the most of it. with the support of her friends, she felt ready to tackle anything.
