Messy Brain

Dick Grayson: I don’t disappear.

Barbara Gordon: You ignored everyone for nine days.

Dick Grayson: I was reflecting.

Barbara Gordon: On what?

Cutie Dorm

Seungmin: Wake up.

I.N: I’ve been awake for an hour.

Felix: I made breakfast.

Lee Know (watering plants): Don’t touch my flowers.

3RERACHA Dorm

Chan: Guys, we should sleep.

Changbin: After one more track.

Han: I just had an idea.

Changbin: what kind?

Hyunjin: I don’t know yet

Changbin: then why are we discussing it?

Hyunjin: to feel productive

Chan: what was that

Hyunjin: not me

Changbin: not me

Han: not me

Seungmin: I was here

Felix: 😊

I.N: I didn’t move

Lee Know: then it’s your problem Chan

Chan: why is it always my problem

I.N: Not in this house.

Chan: …

Interviewer: And Lee Know, how do you feel about all of that?

Lee Know: I think everyone is being very dramatic. I’m just going to the military, not disappearing.

Lee Know: Also, why are you all acting like this. I’m not even gone yet.

Hyunjin: We’re not being dramatic…

Changbin: I’m still not worried.

Lee Know: You should be.

Changbin: …for them, right?

Lee Know smirk.

Felix: We’re just… expressing our feelings.

Lee Know: Don’t.

Felix: Okay.

I.N: Hyung, you’re going to miss us, right?

Lee Know: No.

I.N: …really?

Lee Know: I’ll be busy.

I.N, eyebrows raised.

Lee Know: …a little.

Bang Chan (softly): take care of yourself, okay?

Lee Know: I always do.

Lee Know: You should worry about yourself instead.

(quieter)

Lee Know: Don’t overwork.

Han: This is like a temporary separation

Lee Know: It’s a haircut and a uniform.

Han: You’re ruining the metaphor.

Seungmin (very casual, leaning back): Finally, some peace and quiet. Long overdue.

Lee Know: Don’t text me.

Seungmin: I won’t.

(pause)

Seungmin: …you’d better reply if I do.

Lee Know: You know I will.

Hyunjin: Wow this is fun, we’re all doing great…

Felix: Yeah, amazing…

Han: Emotionally stable…

I.N: Completely fine…

Chan: …why is everyone crying.

Felix (smiling, teary): I’m not crying.

Hyunjin: Me neither.

Han: This is just… a reaction.

I.N: Yeah. normal reaction.

Lee Know: You’re all so weak.

(pause)

…you all know I am not like actually going to war right? Like, I’m coming back, and also you will ALL GO too (except you Aussi boys). Seungmina stop crying!

Seungmin (quickly wiping his face, defensive): I’m not.

Lee Know: Oh waoh, flashback from the elimimation.

Chan: Shut UP, come here.

(everyone slowly gathers)

Han: This is the beginning of something new guys, but SKZ is forever…

Seungmin: If you narrate this, I’m leaving.

Lee Know: I’m actually leaving.

ALL: SHUT UP

(he leaves. silence for two seconds.)

I.N: …can we still text him?

Seungmin: No.

Interviewer: So Lee Know will have to go very soon for military service, how are you all feeling about that?

Hyunjin: Like… good fucking luck to whoever will be his superior.

Interviewer:...

Hyunjin: Genuinely. I hope they stretch before meeting him.

Changbin: Not really scared for him. The main three competences you develop in military service are: driving, cooking and fighting. And he knows how to drive and cook, he has black belts in taekwondo, hapkido and mixed martial arts, he runs 10km like it’s nothing, he knows how to box, and his hobbies include shooting and target practice, and he goes to the gym every day. He will be fine!

Felix: …how on earth are we not more scared of him?

Changbin: Honestly, if anything, I think the military should be a little scared of him. Like… respectfully, this feels like a staff transfer.

I.N: Put him in the marines to nerf him down.

Bang Chan (emotions visible on his face): It is going to be hard, I am losing my second in command, and a dear friend…

Bang Chan (emotions disappearing a little): I am also gaining the possibility to potentially stop wondering what the hell is going through his mind to do what he does, I will maybe finally stop being perplexed every day.

Interviewer:...

Bang Chan: …although knowing him, I’ll probably just be even more confused when he comes back... and somehow with new skills.

Hyunjin: Yeah, the only problem is that he is going to come back stronger than ever and more unhinged than ever, so I will be spending a lot of time in the air fryer, I think. (can’t wait, that will be amazing).

I.N: No, we will miss him. Stray Kids is 8, Lee Know is strong, like unbelievably so, and it is reassuring to know that hyung will go first, that makes it less scary for us. He is a great teacher, so I look forward to asking him to help me, knowing he will do it.

I.N: …even if I’m a little scared of the teaching method.

Felix: Although, to be honest, Korea is not Korea without Lee Know. I know he will be back, and that nothing will change.

Felix: except maybe the military.

Han: Absence makes the heart grow fonder, so I look forward to his return, to experience even more love than I do now, which I doubt is possible, but I look forward to it. I will finally be able to understand how the infinite expands, and experience what I know is true: the universe only expands to be able to contain all the love we have in ourselves for those we care about. Soulmates are not scared by the distance, they look forward to it, knowing that their reunion will be the birth of a new start.