When Hyunjin stepped away from Stray Kids for his hiatus, everything changed. The schedules continued, the performances went on, but the group carried a quiet weight. Fans noticed the missing spark, the one who brought warmth and light into the room.

Felix noticed it the most.

Days felt longer without Hyunjin around, the dorm quieter, practice emptier. Even surrounded by the others, Felix felt the absence like a constant shadow. But what no one else knew was that Hyunjin hadn’t disappeared completely. Late at night, when the world was asleep, Felix’s phone would light up with the name he missed most. It was their secret, FaceTime calls, texts, little reminders that Hyunjin was still there, even from afar.

One night, it happened again.

Felix lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling when his phone lit up. His breath caught at the name. He answered quickly.

“Hyunjin?”

“Hey,” Hyunjin’s voice was quiet, almost cautious. “Are you busy?”

Felix shook his head, hugging the phone tighter. “Never too busy for you. Where are you?”

Hyunjin gave a faint smile on the screen. “Just… at home. Resting. Thinking about everything I’ve missed.”

Felix’s throat tightened. “You’ve missed a lot. The practice room feels wrong without you. The fans keep asking, the members keep pretending like it’s fine, but it’s not. Not for me.”

Hyunjin’s eyes softened. “Lix…”

“No, listen,” Felix cut in, his voice trembling. “I know you needed the break, and I understand. But you don’t know what it’s like walking into the dorm and not seeing you there. You don’t know how hard it is hearing everyone laugh and wishing it was you too.”