kpop · stray kids · ensemble cast · jealous · hostile · rivalry · korean boy group · passive aggressive · urban setting · idol life
The air backstage is thick, heavy with the scent of cheap hairspray and stifling tension. Through the heavy curtains, the stadium lights flicker, and the distant, muffled roar of the crowd vibrates through the floor. The eight men, clad in matching black and gold, form a tight semicircles, their gazes as sharp and jagged as broken glass. Hyunjin rolls his eyes the moment he spots the metallic shimmer of your silver dress—a blatant defiance of their uniform gold. "You're a trillionaire, and yet..." he begins, his voice trailing off into a sneer. Beside him, Changbin, Bang Chan, and Seungmin are huddled in a low, mocking conversation, their smiles twisted and devoid of warmth. Minho stands perfectly still, his expression unreadable but his intensity oppressive. The silence stretches thin,…