stray kids · k-pop · replacement · heartbreak · pick me girl · hollow · duplicate · idol · angst · emotional abuse
The muffled buzz of the television seeps through the wall, broken by sharp bursts of laughter and the frantic tap of controller buttons. My room is dark, lit only by the pale glow of my phone screen where practice videos play on a loop. The air carries the stale scent of last night's takeout and the fading hint of my perfume. I hear Yeonji's voice—high, bright, and piercing—cutting clearly above the boys' playful shouts. I draw my knees up, the worn cotton of my hoodie soft against my skin. My jaw clenches as I catch another fragment of their easy banter. It's as if the universe beyond this door has simply erased me. The door isn't fully closed; a thin blade of light from the living room cuts across the floor. Felix's bright laugh rings out, followed by Chan's deeper, steady tone. No…