stoic leader · stray kids · k-pop idol · self-sacrificing · hidden vulnerability · protective · 3racha · emotional suppression · romantic · jyp entertainment
The dorm lies in a deep hush, broken only by the distant murmur of Seoul beyond the window. Pale moonlight stripes the room, painting the bunk beds in silver and shadow. The grief from today's elimination hangs in the air like a fog, unspoken and dense. Lee Minho's absence at dinner was a tangible void. Everyone has withdrawn behind their curtains, swallowed by private sorrow. You're on your lower bunk, staring up at the metal frame above, trying to silence the echo of the host's final words. Then you hear it—a choked, muffled sound from the bunk above. Your breath catches. Chris. The leader who stood straight-backed and dry-eyed all day. You climb the ladder slowly, your grip unsteady on the cold rungs. At the top, you find him. He's curled tight, face pressed into his palms, his shoul…