STRAY KIDS one shots

Maknae or Leader

I got this idea from Dino Seventeen

Author p.o.v

Inside the room, there are three people sitting by facing each other. Each have these stern yet understanding look in their eyes. The atmosphere is tense yet somewhat cozy inside. Inside the room, there is the CEO of the company, their soon to be manager, and the one who suppose to be the youngest or what they call as maknae in their soon debuting boy group.

CEO: Jeongin, I'll give you a question. Feel free to give me any answer. We won't force you to do anything cause this decision could change your whole life.
Jeongin:*nod* I will, pd-nim.
CEO: You are now tittle as soon debuting group, Stray kids, maknae.
Jeongin: Yes, pd-nim.
CEO: Some said that being a maknae of 8 groups of people is never easy. Having 7 hyungs at the same time.
Jeongin: Yes, pd-nim.
CEO:*hand Jeongin some papers* These are all the names that are plan to debut six months after Stray kids. If you join this group, you will be the leader and the second oldest in this group. But you do know how our company works.
Jeongin:*confused* By that, what do you mean pd-nim?
CEO: You will need to train for another six months before debut. And, we didn't promise you that we will debut you in the next six months, if one or more of the line members didn't did great, your group will be push back further from due date.
Manager: In short, will you choose to be a maknae of Stray kids that are sure to debut or to be a leader for the plan to debut group?
Jeongin: Can I have sometime to think about these?
CEO: Take all the time you need. This decision will change the path of your life. Choose wisely.
Jeongin:*bow* I'll pd-nim. I'll take my leave first, pd-nim, manager hyung.

Jeongin close the door of the room with a mind full of things. Having eight hyungs at the same time is hard but being a leader is also a hard task. He has never wished to be a maknae or a leader. He just want to make his debut and perform on the stage. Without him knowing, he is already inside Stray kids dance practice room. The room is full with the smell of sweat. Groans and sigh are heard here and there. It's cleared enough that the rest have been  practicing for so long even with Jeongin's absence. They are all fall in the wooden floor yet when they heard the sound of door opening all their head are whipped to the one who enter the room with an uncertain look in his face. Worries instantly grow in their heart, no matter how tired they are, they will always make sure that none of their members are going through hardships alone, especially their maknae who they have known since they were young.

Chan:*worried* Jeongin? Are you okay?
Changbin:*worried* Did pd-nim said anything to you?
Jeongin:*nod* Yeah, he did say something.
Seungmin: Wanna share?
Jeongin:*shake his head* I'm sorry hyung but I can't share it to you guys now.
Felix: It's okay, Jeongin. Share it with us when you feel ready to.
Jeongin:*smile* Thank you hyung.

It's true that Jeongin, himself, feel a lot of love and care from his hyungs. He know that they care for him. He know that they always try to make everything easier for him. Can be said, he is one of the luckiest maknae in boy groups. But, no matter how much love is our to him, sometimes, he still wish for a friend of his age. He want to talk about his day and problems without worrying if his words will hurt his hyungs. He know that he can rely on them and they are always welcome of him. But, sometimes, the feeling of being the oldest is there inside him.

The practice went as usual except for the fact that his face expression is not as good as what it was before the meeting with their CEO. It will be all lies if he said that the talk didn't bug his mind for the whole day long. He didn't realize it that he have been ignoring everything that are asked to him cause he is too deep inside his mind.

Seungmin:*whisper* Hyung, what happened to Jeongin?
Minho:*whisper* Maybe the words he have with pd-nim hurt him?
Seungmin:*whisper* It could be. *to Jeongin* Hey, Innie, what do you plan for dinner today?

No response. Seungmin needs to grab Jeongin' s shoulder yet the response that he got is pretty shocking. Instead of answering with yes or sorry, he said something unexpected.

Jeongin:*surprised* I still don't know.
Seungmin:*worried* What is that Jeongin? What is the thing that you didn't know?
Jeongin:*realize* It's no-nothing hyung! So-sorry.
Minho:*worried* You sure it's nothing Jeongin?
Jeongin:*smile* Yes hyung. Oh, what is the question again Seungmin hyung?

Everyone know that the smile he show isn't the usual smile that shine from him. It's a fake one. They are close enough to eachother to know that it's a fake smile that he showed to them yet they didn't want to force him to let them know even though they are worried and curious about what have happened to their maknae.

Jeongin is attend every dance practice and vocal practice. He always does his best there but sometime his mind will travel off again. He thought that he have enough time to think everything through without needing to tell anyone.

Chan:*excited* Guys, great news!
Felix: What is it hyung?
Chan:*excited* We will start recording our songs next week!
Felix:*surprised* What?! For real?!
Hyunjin:*excited* Recording!

At that, Jeongin realize that he didn't have enough time to think about everything through. He is so confused about the choice. He want to stay with his hyungs but he remembered some of his friends told him that having seven hyungs at one time won't always be good. He is scared of the future that is waiting for him. But being a leader is not an easy task. He will need to take responsibility of his groups, and he is not guaranteed to be debut six months again. If he choose to debut right now, he is sure to be debuting, and he is the maknae of them.

Seungmin:*worried* Jeongin? Jeongin you look pale. Are you sure you are okay?

Silence. Jeongin keep silent. Still deep inside his thoughts. Changbin on the side is really worried about Jeongin and decide to shake Jeongin pretty hard to wake him up from his deep thinking.

Changbin:*shaking* Jeongin!
Jeongin:*startled* Y-yes hyung?!
Changbin:*sigh* Jeongin, I never want to do this. But you will need to tell us everything that is bothering you.
Jeongin: I do-don't know hyung.
Changbin: We will help you answer the questions that are bugging your mind. Can you try telling us Jeongin?
Jeongin:*hesitate* I'll try.

After a few second of silence, Jeongin take a deep breath and tell him everything. Starting from what the CEO said to him, the decision that he need to make, and the challenge that he will need to come through.

Chan: The question is will you stay with Stray kids or stay back as a trainee to be a leader for the plan today debut group?
Jeongin:*nod* Yes.
Jisung: What do you choose?
Jeongin: I don't know. W-what i-
Changbin: I'm sure that you heard a lot of things from outsiders that having seven brothers at the same time is hard.
Jeongin:*nod* Yeah, that's also I heard from my parents and friends. B-but I know that being a leader is not easy as well. I don't know what to choose hyung.
Seungmin: We can't force anything to you cause this decision could change your life. Just *pause* we will support every decision you make.
Felix: Feel free to come to us everytime you have a hardships.
Chan: We will always be here for you. Take your time and think through.

Jeongin: Pd-nim, manager hyung, I decide to be the maknae of Stray kids.
CEO: You didn't want to be the leader of the plan debut group?
Jeongin:*shake his head* I am not strong enough to be a leader yet, pd-nim. I am happy that I have seven hyungs that I can depends on.
Manager: But you won't have any same age friend.
Jeongin: Its nice to have a same age friends, but I still prefer being a maknae of Stray kids.
CEO: Okay, I'll accept your decision. Now, go on, your recording time is coming close.
Jeongin:*smile**bow* Thank you pd-nim. I'll take my leave now pd-nim, manager hyung.

Jeongin:*excited* Hyungs!
Hyunjin:*confused* Jeongin? Why so excited?
Jeongin:*smile* I make my decision hyung.
Felix: What is it Jeongin?
Minho:*sad* Is it to be a leader of the plan debut group?
Seungmin:*hopefull* You will stay with us right?

Jeongin just smile and pull all his seven hyungs to a tight hug. His hyungs now have a big smile radiating proud and happiness.

Chan:*whisper* Thank you for choosing us, Jeongin.
Seungmin:*whisper* We will take good care of you Jeongin.
Jisung: We promises you that.
Jeongin:*smile* You already did that hyung. I know that you will always take good care of me.