Stay Kids' Tenth Member

Teddy's Elimination

It was the filming of the next episode of Stray Kids, after Minho's elimination, and it was at the end. JYP announced he would be sending another member home.

Teddy was a realist and excepted to be sent home at some point. Who's ever heard of a girl being in a boy band? Exactly, no one. The idea didn't really add up in her mind either.

JYP called Teddy forward and began picking the young girl apart, "Kim Mei. Your good. But we don't need good. We need great. We need something that will stand out, other than your gender. I feel like you're always one step behind the boys. Whether it be your dancing, your singing, your rapping, or even your Korean. It's just not quite there. I'm sorry but I have to let you go."

Before JYP even left the room you could hear sniffles. Teddy waits until the door closes behind the older man before she turns around to look at her boys. Felix was already approaching the girl with tears streaming down his face.

Teddy smiles at the boy and whips his face with her small hands, "ah. There's no need to cry, Oppa. I'm not dying, I just won't be able to debut with you guys."

Felix pulls Teddy in for a tight hug. Balling up some of the younger girl's shirt as he released sobs.

After a while Felix moves aside to allow others time to say goodbye to the younger girl. Han immediately allowed his arms to wrap around Teddy.

"Please don't leave me," Han pleaded with the girl. It caused Teddy's eyes to weld with tears. However, she knew crying wouldn't change the fact that she had to leave. So she didn't let them fall.

Han and Teddy had always been close. Han never really cared that Teddy was a girl. Making him the first person to really accept Teddy in the group.

Teddy rubbed the boy's back as he sobbed on her shoulder, "Oppa, please don't say that. You know I can't stay."

Han nodded and cried a bit harder as he released Teddy. Teddy watched as the boy sulked away.

Chan came up to Teddy and grabbed her by her shoulders. Examining her, as if it were the last time the two would ever see each other.

Teddy noticed how, even though he was fighting hard against them, a few tears had fallen from Chan's eyes, "don't do that. Be strong for these boys. Lead them. Teach them. And love them, never let them question why they are here."

Chan pulled Teddy in for a hug, almost choking on his words as he whispered in her ear, "you don't deserve this. I should have helped you. I'm so sorry."

"Channie Oppa, you are the best leader I could've asked for. It's not your fault," Teddy whispered back to her former leader.

Chan released Teddy, not saying anything more before wandering off to go console the other members.

Seungmin was the next one to approach Teddy. Even though the two had yet to really bond Seungmin was bawling.

Teddy felt horrible for it but she honestly found it a bit amusing. Absolutely heartbreaking but amusing. She always loved how tender hearted Seungmin was. Teddy flung her arms around Seungmin and held him tightly, "oh, Seungmin Oppa. If you cry to much you'll cause a flood."

Teddy could hear Seungmin chuckle a bit before he continued his sobbing. Teddy hushed the boy but it wasn't much use.

"I'll work hard for you. I promise," Seungmin said as he released Teddy.

Seungmin walked over to Felix and they hugged one another crying. Changbin then approaches Teddy and pulls her into his arms.

Changbin didn't say anything. And Teddy honestly appreciated it. He didn't beg for something she couldn't do.

Teddy would miss how Changbin wouldn't ask unnecessary questions. How he would just comfort you until you were ready to talk about it.

After a few minutes he lets go and holds Teddy at arms length. With tears streaming down his face he nods to her, saying a thousand words with his nod. And walks off.

Woojin runs up to Teddy and captures her in his arms. Teddy heads the older boy sniffle a bit before speaking, "call me if you ever need anything. And I'm serious about it. Even if you just want someone to kill time with, call me."

Teddy rubs Woojin's back in attempt to comfort the boy. She was very grateful to Woojin because he play a parental figure in her life, in a strange sort of way. Woojin made sure Teddy never felt alone and was always there when the girl felt homesick.

Woojin had finally let go of the girl. And Hyunjin was ready to take his turn holding the girl.

"I'm going to miss you, you know that?" Hyunjin said, his voice wavering as he failed resisting his tears.

"I know. And I'll miss you just as much. If not more," Teddy replied, tucking herself into Hyunjin's hug a bit more.

Feel the girl move closer Hyunjin holds her a bit tighter. He stroked her hair as he spoke, "you have to continue working hard. So when you do become a big idol I can yell at JYP nim about how he was dumb for letting you go."

Teddy nods before replying, "I will. I promise."

After having the reassurance of a promise Hyunjin let's go of the girl and mopes away.

Teddy was ready for the one person she really didn't want to say goodbye to. Except at first glance she didn't see him.

That was until she spotted someone crouched on the floor sobbing. Taking a deep breath the small girl walks over to the boy.

"Are you not going to say goodbye to me?" Teddy says, trying to keep the conversation light. Because she knows if it gets to heavy there will be waterworks.

Jeongin gets up and hugs the girl tight, "I don't want to say goodbye to you. Goodbye means leaving and not coming back."

"You'll see me again. I'm not going to leave you. Ever. I'll be at your debut, I'll just be in the crowd instead of on the stage. I'll be at your comebacks and very other major event. Heck, I'll be around so much you'll get sick of me. I'd never leave you, you're my best friend," Teddy can feel her eyes fill with tears. She tucks her head into Jeongin's chest to where no one can see her face.

For the members that were watching the two, they couldn't tell if the girl was crying or not. But they saw the way she had balled up some of Jeongin's shirt in her fists, as if he were her source of what little strength she had left.

Their hearts went out to the youngest of them. They had practically be connected at the hip and truly relayed on one other.

After minutes of the two just holding each they separate. Teddy's eyes still had tears in them but nobody knew if she had let them fall.

Teddy waved a finally goodbye and wandered off to where she would be filming her final goodbyes and last words for her boys.