HIBISCUS | Bang Chan of Stray Kids

Track 2

"Trapped in confusion, I still don't know myself well."

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Track 2

          There was a long pause before anything happened in the Michael Jackson room. The air became thicker with the pressure of Manager SKZ awaiting their acknowledgement. Each member casted worried and confused looks at each other before flickering over to Hwayoung, who still held her head low. For the first time meeting someone, this event topped off as the most awkward encounter. The words that Chan wanted to say to relieve the awkwardness in the dance room caught in his throat the moment Manager SKZ walked in, leaving him speechless with his lips slightly parted. His panic faded to speechlessness once his eyes made contact with his manager. Hwayoung still remained silent with her head down. She silently cursed at herself for making such a beginner mistake, especially in front of the people that she was supposed to be professional with. She clenched her eyes closed in irritation before brushing off the topic. Time seemed to pass slowly before Hwayoung finally cleared her throat. Picking up her head, Hwayoung flashed a quick smile, showing no trace of the previous tension as if nothing had even happened in the first place, "Let's get going then. We'll need all the time we can get."

          Hwayoung was the first to rise and made her way towards the frosted glass door. She slightly jogged out of the room and into the hallway, finding it refreshing to get out of the stuffed room. Before Stray Kids could follow suit, Manager SKZ stopped the members before they could arise, "Since only the song productions are in the works currently, only 3RACHA are needed. The rest are dismissed for the day."

          After a moment of silence, 3RACHA slowly rose to exit the room. On their way out, they threw one last questioning glance at their remaining members before disappearing into the brightly lit hallway. Showing no sign of Hwayoung, Changbin and Jisung quickly turned to Chan for guidance, "Should we?"

          Chan furrowed his eyebrows, wondering the same question, "No? I don't know. Let's just not say anything, okay? We don't need to start off on a bad foot."

          "Seems a bit too late for that," Changbin snorted before turning serious just from a single knowing look from Chan. Hwayoung and Manager An were already in the spacious elevator waiting for 3RACHA and their manager when they arrived. Even though there was more than enough room in the elevator, Hwayoung instinctively squeezed herself up against the walls of the elevator as much as she could. She hoped that they would not mention anything about what had happened earlier or better yet anything about Kandie. Her simple mistake would cost her much unwanted and closed off memories that she was too cowardly to face. In no way was she ready to have this discussion, especially with eight idols that she had just met. Thankfully due to his incredibly bad sense of reading the room, Manager An took charge of the conversation and aired the suffocating awkwardness by going over the themes of the drama and the types of songs that need to go along with them. Despite doing their best to listen to the man, 3RACHA kept curiously glancing back at Hwayoung from time to time. Their glances were in no way subtle causing Hwayoung to self consciously wrap her arms around herself. If she was not being hard on herself before the ride, Hwayoung definitely scolded her internal self even after exiting the elevator. Just before the crew reached the entrance of the studio room, Chan stopped the managers to speak, "We will do our best and work hard."

          Chan politely bowed with a smile. Even though he did not know the life of a manager, Chan still tried his best to ease the burden as much as possible with his politeness. He was a firm believer of killing people with kindness. Both managers turned and nodded in approval, "If you need us, we'll be in the next room over."