Stray Kids Imagines

Found You (I.N.)

You raised the volume on your earbuds as you stared at the monotonous traffic downtown Seoul had to offer.  This summer, you'd wanted to relax and just chill at home and binge K-dramas.  But when the opportunity to intern at JYP Entertainment arose, you just couldn't resist.  You would be learning how to mix vocals and remaster tracks for various artists.  It helped that you had experience writing and recording your own songs, so it'd be cool to see it done professionally.

Plus, part of you hoped you'd get to see GOT7.  They were your favorite group, but you'd also heard a lot about Stray Kids.  They were under the same label, but you weren't sure if your heart could handle another investment in another Kpop group.  But at the same time, you did want to see what they were about.

You found the building with ease.  One time, your friends had convinced you to camp outside the building to wait and see if any idols walked by.  The whole adventure pretty much fell flat when you all got hungry.  But this time, it was for real.  You'd be able to step inside the building and not have to worry about anyone stopping you.

Inhaling sharply, you pushed open the front door, showing your ID badge to the security guard before continuing on your way.  Wow, so this is what it felt like to work in the real world.  You glanced down at your ID card and rubbed a finger over your photo.  You looked so terrified in it because you didn't know what to expect.  

THUD!

Suddenly, you were on the ground, and your phone had skidded a few feet away.  The person you had bumped into quickly gathered your belongings and helped you up.

"I'm so sorry," he apologized, bowing formally.  "I should have been looking where I was going."

You were about to admit that it was your fault when you quickly found yourself at a loss for words.  

"Yang Jeongin?!" you asked in surprise.

"You must be mistaken.  My name is I.N.," he said hastily.  "Sorry again."  

Yang Jeongin was your childhood friend you hadn't seen in years.  Back then, you did everything together.  And back then, you promised you would find him again after you left to study abroad for a few years in France.  But you were certain this I.N. guy was Jeongin.  No one else could look this adorable.  You made a mental note to look into his profile later and see what his actual name was.

"Do you have a boyfriend?" I.N. asked shyly.

You raised an eyebrow.  There was no way some stranger would ask that.  "Jeongin, you really don't remember me?" 

I.N.'s gaze faltered ever so slightly.  "I'm sorry... I don't know what you're talking about."  

You found the producer's studio that you were supposed to be meeting your mentor in, and your jaw dropped when you saw GOT7 sitting in the recording booth.  Your eyes flitted to Jackson.  In the videos you binged late at night, he never failed to make you laugh.  Or blush.  Either was fine with you.

Your mentor sat in a swivel chair in front of a complicated set up.  He explained the basics of how to record vocals, but you couldn't concentrate.  It felt like you were being watched.  You turned to look at the frosted glass door and caught a glimpse of a shadow darting by.  

At lunch, you were invited to eat with Stray Kids in their training room.  Your project assignment would be to help them record for their upcoming album.  The members made good conversation, all except for I.N.  You watched as the others left, leaving Jeongin's lookalike alone with you.

"So, did you enjoy learning how to produce?" I.N. asked slowly.

"Yeah, it was pretty fun."  You paused.  "I'm sorry about earlier.  You really look like this friend of mine whom I really used to like."

I.N.'s expression changed completely.  "Whoa really?!  You liked me too?!"

You laughed at the fact that your best friend couldn't act, but then you realized he had said 'too'.   He noticed the surprised look on your face, but didn't have time to react before you tackled him in a hug, basically pinning him to the ground.  

"Why the heck did you lie to me?" you pouted, and I.N. leaned up to peck your nose.  

"Does that make it better?"

You were so flustered you couldn't speak, but after a few seconds, you managed to regain your momentum.  "Darn it!  How are you still so adorable after all these years?!"

"I tend to have that affect on people, don't I?" I.N. winked as you both stood up and straightened your crinkled clothes.

"You!"  You stuck out your bottom lip even more.  "You better not do that in front of anyone else!"

Jeongin walked towards you and cupped his hands around your face.  He placed a gentle kiss on your lips.  "You don't know how long I've been waiting to do that," he giggled, and you almost exploded from a cuteness overload.  

"Wait, back up.  When did you first start feeling things?" 

Jeongin tilted his head in thought.  "Years ago, that's for sure.  And when you left for France, I didn't know how I was supposed to deal with it.  I thought you'd be in another country having fun while you left me alone to wallow in my loneliness.  I thought you left because I hinted at liking you, and you didn't feel the same way."

You laughed.  "There's no way I'd ever leave because of you!  Jeongin, you know I basically cried myself to sleep every night because I missed you so much, right?"

And so the two of you caught up, trading stories about the years in each other's lives you missed out on.  You heard about how Jeongin transformed into the maknae of his boy group Stray Kids.  And he found out about how you learned French and learned how to make French pastries.  Over the course of the next few months, the two of you fell deeply in love again.  Finally, the two of you were standing at the altar.  Jeongin still looked adorable even though the years had aged him.  And you stood there in your white dress that trailed behind you.  Finally, you'd never have to worry about being apart.  

One night, after you two had finished reading the kids a bedtime story and after Jeongin hushed them to sleep with a gentle lullaby, you pulled your husband to the living room to talk.

Both of you had a cup of warm tea you'd made in your hands, and you snuggled up to him under a warm, knitted blanket.  

"Remember the day I walked into JYP Entertainment and you pretended you didn't know me?  I never found out why you did that," you smiled, taking a sip of your drink.

Jeongin coughed.  "I was scared.  I was scared that you wouldn't like me or see me the same way.  I was worried that I'd spent years waiting for something that seemed nearly impossible."

You pressed a light kiss to his neck and giggled as you saw him visibly turn red.  "I'll never stop falling in love with you, will I?"

---

A/N: OKAY.  Ha.  I'm not okay.  This made my heart melt like cheese, and now I'm looking for a Jeongin in my life!  Thanks eternalnamjoon for requesting this!  I haven't written something this fluffy in a while, so I really enjoyed it :)

Question of the imagine:  Have you ever let someone go even though you didn't want to?  Like maybe you knew holding onto your crush might hurt you in the long run?  Sometimes, I wonder what would happen if I held on a little longer...