Behind the Mask - Hyunjin x reader

Chapter 29

I stepped back slightly, watching them with a smile on my face.  

Hyunjin stepped closer and leaned against the wall next to me.

- Thanks for helping me pull this off.

I smiled. 

- Of course. 

- Alright team, let's do this! Minho clapped his hands together. 

- Yeah! For Jeongin! Han cheered.

- For all of us, the smiley boy corrected, grinning as he took a step back, letting them go. I'll be right there, cheering the loudest.

His gaze then landed on me, and he tilted his head slightly. 

But before I could open my mouth to introduce myself properly, Hyunjin spoke up.

- This is Y/n, our... friend, who stepped in for you. She.. this wouldn't have been possible without her. 

Everyone looked shocked at Hyunjin's words. 

Yeah yeah, this was the same boy who said he didn't want me here, and that I would never be a part of the team. 

That same boy who was now praising my presence. I smirked. 

There was a brief pause before Jeongin grinned.

- Ah, so you're the one Hyunjin keeps talking about.

Hyunjin coughed, eyes widening slightly.

- I do not-

- He totally does, Seungmin cut in with a smirk.

I chuckled, shaking my head.

- Well, it's nice to officially meet you, Jeongin. I've heard so much about you. It's... an honor to be covering your part. Truly. I hope I don't mess it up too bad. 

Minho rolled his eyes. 

- You're gonna do great, Y/n. Stop stressing out. 

Jeongin gave me a warm smile. 

- I already know you're gonna kill it. These guys wouldn't have let you step in if they didn't believe in you.

His words sent a surprising wave of reassurance through me. I had desperately been trying to calm my nerves since this morning, but knowing now that Jeongin, whose spot I had been covering, approved of me, made me feel somewhat lighter. 

- Alright, enough pep talk, we have a show to put on, Chan announced, clapping his hands.

- Let's do this, boys, Hyunjin nodded, turning towards me one last time before we all headed backstage. 

- and now, for our second performing act of the evening, coming straight from Whansu University, please make some noise, for STRAY KIDS!

I exhaled slowly, nervously twisting my fingers as the MC introduced us. The crowd erupted into cheers, and this somehow made me panic even more. 

- Deep breaths, Y/n, Felix said next to me. You've got this.

Hyunjin then glanced at me, his usual smirk replaced with something softer.

- You ready?

I met his gaze, my heartbeat a little too fast.

- Always. 

- Then let's kill it, he smirked, and the first beat of the music echoed through the venue. 

The audience went crazy as we danced through the whole choreo. My mind locked into the moment, and nothing else mattered in that instant. 

At some point, I caught sight of Jeongin in the crowd, standing close to the stage, a proud smile on his face, and his eyes slightly watery as he mouthed along to the lyrics and clapped energetically. 

He should have been up here with the boys, but even so, he was cheering the loudest, giving us all the strength to push through the routine. 

And as the final beat hit, the venue erupted into cheers. I stood there, breathless and slightly dazed, taking in the moment as the entire crowd cheered and clapped for us. 

Felix grabbed my hand and lifted it up in victory, and the rest of the boys followed, throwing their arms around each other. Hyunjin's hand found my shoulder, giving it a small squeeze before he turned to face the crowd, bowing with the others.

Jeongin was among the cheering crowd, a huge grin on his face, but I couldn't help but notice the discreet tear that rolled slowly down his chin. 

My chest tightened, but I did my best to smile back at him, and bowed with he rest of the guys. 

We had done it.