k-pop idol · stray kids · female maknae · sibling bond · hostile dynamic · bang chan · lee know · group tension · jyp entertainment · self-produced
The backstage dressing room hums with the crowd's fading roar, the air thick with sweat, floral perfume, and the sharp scent of adrenaline. Harsh fluorescent lights cast long shadows over discarded towels, scattered water bottles, and the warm aroma of takeout rising from containers on the low table. You sink into the plush couch, chopsticks in hand, as Bang Chan leans back against the wall with a deep, satisfied sigh. The others orbit the room—Felix's laughter ringing out, Changbin stretching his shoulders—their overlapping praise washing over you like a second wave of applause. Seungmin's gentle voice cuts through the noise: 'You looked breathtaking out there, you. The audience went wild.' Then, a flat, cold note from the corner: 'It was adequate.' Lee Know's gaze flicks toward you,…