Chapter Text
Finally! Stray Kids Lee Know and Han confess they’re dating!, Kpop Fans go crazy over the news that JYP Artists are officially a couple!, Dispatch informs you about everything you need to know!
„Just imagine how I, Han Jisung, anxious and socially awkward, almost run through another airport, the hand of my best friend held me close and navigated us through the screaming crowd. All the flashlights were on us and every Stay was after us. Imagine how they scream the most innocent ‚Good luck you two!‘ To the most inappropriate ‚How does his dick feel up your ass?‘ Everything was there. Not everybody was supportive. You ask how we ended up in a situation like that? Let me tell you. It all started when our manager demanded everybody to meet with JYP personally…“
***
Boys
The Boss wants to meet all of you. The meeting will be in room 502 on the fifth floor. I will get you from the studio. The meeting is today at 14.30.
I expect you all to be ready. I believe he got a new plan and big news. Steady yourselves for changes.
See you later.
„Did you see the mail?!“ Hyunjin stepped into the dance studio.
Everybody else was already there and yes, they all saw. „What could they want from us?“ Felix asked into the room. It never happened. JYP sometimes visited them during dance practice and observed their live shows from time to time, but he never invited them to talk into his office. Something was going on. „From the news that I see, there is nothing wrong with us.“ Jeongin googled them immediately. „Could it be a new plan for us?“ Seungmin chimed in and everybody looked at their leader, but Bang Chan also was at a loss.
„I have no idea. There is just one thing we can do and that is wait. They want to meet us in two hours, so let’s use this time on our choreography. We can’t do anything else.“
They all followed but the thoughts were not lost. They made more mistakes. It never really went completely perfect but they could all understand the nerves. Thats probably the reason why Minho didn’t explode after third time Innie misstepped. They finished half an hour earlier to get ready. To shower and change. Nobody wanted to meet JYP all sweaty and stinky.
***
They were standing in front of the office room. Chan checked on them one last time before their manager opened the door and let them in first. JYP himself sat at the end of long table. He shortly stood up and greeted them with a smile on his face. They all sat down. Four of them on each side. Chan, Minho, Jisung, Changbin and Hyunjin, Felix, Seungmin and Jeongin. Their manager stayed in the back and JYP on the head.
„How are you Stray Kids?“ He started lightly, glancing around the room, looking at each of them. He noticed something very important for his following topic but stayed quiet when Chan answered. „We are good, Sir. We just trained our choreography and the solo Songs are in production.“ JYP simply nodded before standing up. „You probably ask yourselves why I called you here.“ The group nodded. „I want you to look at something first.“ He closed the blinds of the room. „Especially Mr. Lee and Mr. Han should pay attention. The rest can relax a bit more.“ JYP noticed the glances between the two mentioned. He pressed a button and leaned against the windows, arms crossed. Everybody was focused on the screen. The title wasn’t shown but a too long intro of a compilation, obviously made from Stay, started playing, saying something about a superior ship in 4th Gen and then.. The title was: Seo Changbin exposing/shipping Minsung. Changbin wanted to protest but their manager stopped him from being too loud. The video played and showed various moments were Minho and Jisung just seemed to be a bit too close. The boys went silent. Everyone mesmerized on the screen. Jisung felt heat grow in his cheeks. Minho also went stiff. They weren’t together. They weren’t in love. They were just best friends. Nothing more and nothing less. They even talked about that. There were no romantic feelings between them and Jisung had the need to clarify that. So, he raised his hand before slightly standing up and starting. „Sir, I want to say that this is just the ima-..“ - „Sit down and watch the video. We talk soon.“ He got interrupted by JYP.
Han sat back down and swallowed hard, Minho laid a hand on his shoulder and slightly squeezed it. This was weird. What will happen?
Everybody in the industry and even fans knew that JYP was… not very open for same sex relationships. He wasn’t even happy with „normal“ relationships. So why would he show them a video like that? Chan was looking around the room. The others were quite restless themselves. There were funny scenes. Normally they would laugh, but not even Hyunjin dared to. Something was not right. Were they in trouble? Because they were good friends? The minutes went by and the video finished. Nobody really dared to say anything. JYP sat down, no emotions could be read on his face. As their leader he felt responsible, so, Chan was the first to talk.
„Sir, really. That’s just Stay doing a fan-thing. They are not together and as much as I know they don’t intend to be.. We all know what stands in our contracts. No romance. We all don’t intend to break this rule.“ He finished soon, his posture calm but his voice nervous. „Mr. Lee, Mr. Han. What do you think about this video?“ Everybody turned to them, even they turned to each other. Minho shortly nodded to Han before the former started to answer. „This is for the fans. They like to imagine us together. In reality we are just best friends. In general we don’t have anything against it, as long as it doesn’t go too far.“ - „What would be too far?“ JYP immediately threw the question back. Again Han and Minho looked at each other. This time Lee Know answered. „To be honest, I don’t really know a serious answer to that, but it gets weird when they start to do some Voodoo shit or something.“ Han nodded, Hyunjin and Seungmin slightly giggled. The answer wasn’t intended to sound cheeky, but sometimes it just came out like that.
JYP was not impressed, but also started to smirk slightly. „JYP Entertainment wants to try something new. That’s why you all are here. Really, I am not fond of that idea, but I trust the marketing team, so I want to give it a try. There is no official idol couple in any other group in this industry.“ The room was quiet, you could hear a pin fall. „By now you might have guessed it. The marketing team and I want to do something new with you. We want to be the first in the industry. We want you to stand out and open a path for other idols and just like you said: The fans play a huge role which is the reason we choose Stray Kids.“ They all kind of guessed what their boss prepared. JYP made a move with his hand and each and everyone of them got a folder in front of them.
„We want you, Mr. Lee and Mr. Han, to act like a couple. We want to openly deliver a statement which discovers your ‚relationship‘ and we want to issue another which confirms, we allow that relationship. In front of everyone are new contracts, because this only works, if you all work together. There is obviously a raise to your wage. Have a look.“ Nobody said anything. Everybody opened the folders and read through the details.
Requirements:
- Holding Hands
- Updating Social Media together
- Being close together in Interview-Situations
- Minimum: Kiss on the Cheek
The salary will be increased by 100% to the content that has already been put into effect.
JYP would double their salary for that?! Han thought.
„We will leave you alone for a moment to discuss. But I‘m sure you will make the right decision.“ Their boss said kind of… he smirked but it did not seem sincere.
As soon as the door closed they started to talk. „What the fuck?“ Hyunjin. „Are they serious?“ Jeongin. „That has to be a joke.“ Seungmin. Felix laughed dry. Changbin was extremely quiet. So were Minho and Jisung. Jisung was still looking at the contract.
„Calm down. We don’t have to sign. Then we just forget about everything here.“ Chan tried to reason, but Hyunjin laughed slightly. „Did you see his face? There is no way out, well or do you want to leave the spot of JYPs favorite?“ Chan rolled his eyes and started again. „He said it himself. He is not fond of the idea, so when…“ - „Yeah, because he hates relationships. Especially those which are not heterosexual.“ Changbin shook his head while leaning back and closing his eyes. Felix raised his hand. „What if we do this and kind of lead a change in the industry?“ His voice was soft, but Seungmin argued. „Or we get left at that, because this country is not ready for a change like that.“ Jeongin nodded. There was a moment of silence.
„What do you think, Jisungie?“ Minho asked gently into the silence.
All eyes went to the person talked to. Still looking at the paper in front of him. Even though he sometimes doesn’t act like it, he is pretty mature and logical, when it comes to this stuff. So he answered, what nobody really expected.
„I mean, it’s nothing we usually don’t do. Maybe the kissing part, but if that’s all that changes.. I guess we could pull it off.“ He finally raised his head to look at the other members and lastly Minho, who simply smiled at him. „Then let’s do it?“ He asked and Jisung started to grin. „Why not? Jagi-ah~“ He added the nickname with a tint of sarcasm and they laughed. The other members looked at them in disbelief.
„Are you sure? Like.. Are you serious?“ Felix asked, his mouth wide open in disbelief. Han just shrugged and took the pen to sign the paper. „Has anybody else a valid reason against it?“ Nobody said anything, even though there was someone who would have liked to say something. Han was quick to sign the contract and gave the pen to Minho who also signed. With that everybody else followed. They left the contracts in the room and decided to go back to one of their dorms to evaluate the situation.