The hate. Pt1 Pt 2 Pt3
The hate had stopped feeling like words a long time ago.
At first, it was comments—easy to scroll past if you didn’t let your eyes linger too long.
She doesn’t belong.
She’s ruining Stray Kids.
Why is there a girl in a boy group?
You learned to smile through it. You always did.
But today, at the airport, the hate had teeth.
⸻
The moment the automatic doors slid open, the noise hit you like a wave.
Cameras. Shouting. Your name screamed in voices that didn’t sound like fans—more like hunters.
“Y/N!”
“Get away from them!”
“She’s the reason they’re uncomfortable!”
Security moved fast, forming a loose barrier, but there were too many people. Phones shoved forward. Bodies pressed close. Someone grabbed your sleeve.
You stumbled.
“Hey—!”
A sharp tug from behind yanked you back, nails digging into your wrist. Pain flared, sudden and real.
“Let go!” you cried.
Chaos erupted.
“Y/N!” Chan’s voice cut through the noise, panicked.
Changbin shoved forward, physically blocking you with his body. “Back off!” he shouted, fury burning in his eyes.
Another hand reached for you—this time catching your hair.
You screamed.
Felix was there instantly, wrapping his arms around you, pulling you into his chest like he could shield you from everything at once.
“Don’t touch her!” Hyunjin snapped, his usual calm completely gone.
Security finally surged in properly, forcing people back, but the damage was done. Your heart was hammering, breath coming in short, shaky gasps. Your hands wouldn’t stop trembling.
Someone had tried to hurt you.
Because you existed.
Because you were the only girl.
⸻
Inside the van, the door slammed shut, cutting off the noise—but not the fear.
You sat frozen, staring at your hands like they didn’t belong to you anymore.
Felix was still holding you, his arms firm but gentle. You could feel his heart racing against your cheek.
“You’re safe,” he whispered, over and over. “You’re safe, you’re safe.”
Chan turned around from the front seat, eyes dark and furious. “Did anyone touch you anywhere else? Are you hurt?”
You shook your head, but your vision blurred anyway.
“I—I’m sorry,” you whispered.
The words slipped out automatically. A reflex.
The van went silent.
Chan’s expression shattered.
“Don’t,” he said quietly. “Don’t ever apologize for that.”
Han leaned forward, voice shaking. “That wasn’t your fault. That was never your fault.”
Hyunjin clenched his jaw, staring out the window like he was holding back something dangerous. “They crossed a line.”
“They’ve been crossing lines,” Changbin muttered. “For months.”
You curled in on yourself, hugging your knees. “If I wasn’t here… this wouldn’t happen. They wouldn’t get hurt. You wouldn’t get dragged into this.”
Felix stiffened.
“No,” he said, firmer now. “Don’t you dare say that.”
You looked up, startled by the intensity in his voice. His eyes were glassy, jaw tight.
“You think we don’t choose you?” he continued. “Every day? You think we don’t want you here?”
Chan nodded. “Stray Kids is nine. That’s not a concept. That’s our family.”
Seungmin spoke softly, but his words hit hardest. “And family protects each other.”
⸻
Back at the dorm, the adrenaline finally wore off.
That’s when it hit you.
The shaking. The tears. The way your chest felt too tight to breathe properly.
You broke down in the living room.
Felix knelt in front of you immediately, wiping your tears with his thumbs. “It’s okay,” he murmured. “You don’t have to be strong right now.”
Jeongin brought you a blanket, carefully draping it over your shoulders like you were made of glass.
Han sat beside you, close but not overwhelming. “You scared me,” he admitted quietly. “I hate that they made you feel unsafe.”
“I hate that I’m the reason—” you started.
Chan cut you off gently but firmly. “You are not the problem. Misogyny is. Obsession is. Hate is.”
Changbin cracked his knuckles. “And management is going to hear about this.”
Hyunjin finally turned to face you, eyes burning. “If anyone ever touches you again, I don’t care where we are—I’ll lose it.”
You gave a weak laugh through your tears. “Violence isn’t the answer.”
“Today,” he said flatly, “it almost was.”
⸻
That night, none of them wanted to leave you alone.
Felix stayed beside you on the couch, one arm around your shoulders. Chan sat on the floor in front of you, grounding, steady. The others hovered nearby—present, watchful, protective.
For the first time since joining the group, you let yourself say it out loud.
“I’m scared.”
Felix tightened his hold. “Then be scared with us.”
Chan smiled softly. “You don’t have to face this alone.”
Seungmin added, “You never have.”
You leaned into Felix’s shoulder, exhaustion pulling at your bones.
Outside, the world was still cruel. The comments would still be there tomorrow. The hate wouldn’t disappear overnight.
But here—surrounded by eight people who chose you, defended you, stayed—
You were safe.
And for now, that was enough.
