#str4y writes

Changbin showing his man boobs and abs? Here for it. Totally here for it.

But I’ve noticed some Stays who weren’t even biasing him suddenly buying his album just because of that picture. Like… if you start stanning him for his body, you’re weird.

What if he gains the “weight” back? What if this was just a one-time thing? Are y’all gonna unstan him then? Be serious.

Stan him for the right reasons — because he’s funny, because he’s baby girl, because he’s full of principles and aegyo. Not because he’s showing skin.

Some of y’all can forgive racism and cultural appropriation without a second thought, but draw the line at dating or vaping. The priorities are genuinely baffling.

And please, don’t tell me that in 2026 Mark Lee doesn’t know what the Confederate flag represents. I’m not even from the United States, and I know exactly what that flag means and the kind of people who have historically used it. We need to stop acting like idols exist above criticism simply because we like them.

We’re in 2026. The same things people were calling out in 2015 are still happening today. And they’ll keep happening because companies and idols know that “cancel culture” largely doesn’t exist. More often than not, a weak apology is enough for people to move on and pretend nothing happened.

The energy people had when they were calling out Kiss of Life (and rightfully so) needs to be applied consistently. Accountability shouldn’t depend on how much you like the idol involved.

And before anyone says otherwise, I’m an NCTzen. But before I’m a fan, I’m a person with values and morals, and those will always come before any celebrity I support.

This isn’t just about Mark. It’s about the constant excuses people make whenever their favourite idol is involved in racism, cultural appropriation, or other harmful behaviour.

/ can contain spoiler \

turns out i was dead wrong 💀

after ep 8??? girl… it clicked. i knew Ramil loved Paytai, but one thing kept bothering me:

why didn’t he defend him from his father’s abuse?? like HELLO?

but this episode basically told me to shut up and watch.

turns out he’s been trying to protect him this whole time. standing up to his dad. risking everything. i just didn’t see it before.

and THEN. the NC scene.

when Ramil flashes back to Paytai getting whipped?? and realizes that even if this moment is supposed to be consensual, he’s not okay repeating that trauma.

like the shift??? from “i want you” to “i don’t wanna become my father” to “let’s make love instead of reenacting violence”??? chef’s actual kiss.

that scene changed the whole dynamic and i’m still recovering.

i’ll do another post on the NC scene specifically bc that caught me OFF GUARD 😭😭

also.

massive shoutout to Ohm & Jimmy.

the acting??? unreal.

you could feel Jimmy’s desperation. Ohm’s pain? the sorrow in his eyes??? no this was personal.

i’ll be real — at first i was not on board. the dynamic was off. weird vibes. Ramil was giving “entitled royal who thinks control = affection.” the way he used his power over Paytai made me uncomfortable. like. the collar in the car???gurls???

but then came episode 6.

the glass drop.

the kiss.

and oof — that kiss was not normal TV drama. it was raw. it was charged. it was possessive, intense, like Ramil was saying “you’re mine” without a single word. i felt like i shouldn’t be watching but couldn’t look away.

but the real plot twist?

Paytai’s smirk.

after all that, he smirked. not scared, not angry, not confused. no. he looked satisfied.

he wanted that.

he’s not some poor trapped soul waiting to be rescued.

he knows what he’s doing. he chose this. he chose him.

and now i don’t know whether to be scared for them or obsessed with them.

Stray Kids winning Best Album of the Year yesterday… I’m still emotional just thinking about it. Watching them cry on stage, seeing how much it meant to them — it hit so much harder knowing everything they’ve been through this year.

Lee Know was injured and still gave everything he had. He pushed through the pain just to stand with his members and celebrate this moment together. Hyunjin winning after spending this year doubting himself, even thinking about leaving the group… if that doesn’t show resilience, I don’t know what does.

And they won this award with an album that people absolutely tore apart when it came out. An album that so many hated on for no reason. To see that album rise, to see them rise, to see the industry recognise what the haters refused to…

As someone who’s been a Stay since the beginning, this moment was overwhelmingly emotional. I know how much they’ve suffered, how hard they’ve worked, how many sleepless nights, how many cruel comments, how many trolls they’ve endured. Watching them stand on that stage, crying, smiling, holding each other… it felt like watching a long fight finally pay off.

I’m so proud of them. So proud to be a Stay. And now I really hope we, as a fandom, step up ! that we become a fandom worthy of them. That we honour them, uplift them, protect them, and stop giving people reasons to use our behaviour against them. They deserve nothing but love and pride from us.

I’ve seen a comment about Alan’s betrayal in the last episode of Pit Babe season 2, and it really made me stop and think. I agree with it , even though it hurts to admit. The truth is, Alan doesn’t see Charlie or value him the way he does the other boys. And the decision he made in this episode proves it.

No matter how upset I am , and I know I’m not the only one feeling this way , I just can’t bring myself to hate him. Because for two whole seasons, P’Alan has been nothing but selfless. He’s always been the one holding everyone together, putting the team first, sacrificing again and again without asking for anything in return.

Which is probably why this hurts even more.

He didn’t just betray Charlie. He betrayed another selfless soul, someone who trusted him completely, who stood by him quietly and loyally. And not just Charlie, but Babe too. His first son. The one who’s always looked up to him like a father figure. That’s what makes it sting: Alan hurt the people who would’ve done anything for him.

Trusting Tony was, objectively, a terrible choice. Probably the dumbest decision he’s made — and he had to know that. But what’s wild is that it’s also the only truly selfish decision he’s made across both seasons. And I think that’s what’s left me feeling so conflicted. I love his character — I really do. But it’s because we know who he is, because we’ve seen his heart, that this betrayal feels so personal. So disappointing.

This series wasn’t just a show — it was a journey. A breath of fresh air that somehow turned into an emotional hurricane. I lived it day by day, clinging to every week, counting the hours until the next episode dropped, never knowing if censorship would take it away from us. The wait, the tension, the uncertainty — it made every moment even more precious.

I laughed until my stomach hurt, I got angry enough to throw my pillow, and I cried like my heart had been ripped out. These characters… they’re not just fictional to me anymore. They’re friends I’ve shared my Mondays and Tuesdays with, and now they’re gone, leaving this weird, aching silence behind.

I never thought I’d say this when I started, but it’s made it into my top 3, right next to I Told Sunset About You / I Told the Moon About You. The kind of top 3 where you don’t just “like” the series — it takes root in your chest and stays there forever.