Inspired by Stray Kids at the 2023 VMAs and Bang Chan at the after party :3

The VMA’s were everything you expected — loud, flashy, overwhelming… and unforgettable.

You were there as a soloist — one of the biggest in Korea right now. And him? Bang Chan, leader of Stray Kids, one of the most talked-about groups on the planet.

You’d crossed paths before — music shows, award stages, the occasional polite nod in a hallway — but tonight was different.

Stray Kids won Best K-Pop Group. Bang Chan gave the speech, calm and composed like always. You won Best K-Pop Soloist of the Year. The crowd screamed for you both, the cameras flashing nonstop.

And yet… the moment that stuck with you wasn’t the stage. It was later — at the after party.

You showed up alone. So did he.

Surrounded by celebrities and flashing lights, neither of you really knew anyone. You both looked the part — dressed to perfection, like you belonged there. But in a room full of noise, he looked oddly quiet… almost distant.

You spotted him first, standing near the edge of the crowd, drink in hand, scanning the room like he’d rather be anywhere else.

And for a second, his eyes landed on you.

Just a moment — but something about it lingered.

Two people. Same industry. Same night. Same strange feeling of not quite fitting in.