5 YEARS LATER

"Chan?"

His head snapped up at the sweet, familiar voice he had heard a couple of times before on the phone.

And there she was – real, physically present with him. Also, a couple of inches taller than him.

"Aisha!" he removed his face mask behind one of his ears, and an adorable smile graced his lips, creasing beside his eyes.

"Oh, my god, you're real!" Aisha mused, her eyes running all over his form and then at his eyes.

"I could say the same, ahhh!" Chan shyly giggled, obviously being the shyer one between the two.

"Can I, like, hug you? For research purposes, I swear," she hesitated before speaking, and he laughingly wrapped his buff arms around her thin figure, and she snaked her arms around his form too.

"Mom!" Lily cried, "Where is Matata?" 

"She must be with Hakuna, baby," Aisha called from the bedroom, trying to fit Ryan into a t-shirt. The five-year-old boy was adamant about going to preschool without a shirt. 

"But mom, Hakuna is with me," Ryan pointed at the soft toy in his hands. Apparently, the twins had chosen a set of plushies, him naming his 'Hakuna', and her naming hers 'Matata'.

"MATATA! I MISS YOU!" Lily threw a tantrum on the floor, laying down and crying. 

"Chan!" Aisha yelled, "Help Lily find Matata!" 

"Okay, okay!" Chan emerged from the washroom, wearing only sweatpants and no shirt. 

"I'm going to be like dad! No shirt!" Ryan proudly exclaimed, and Aisha turned to glare at the dad. He just nervously laughed, going to Lily and helping her find her plushy. 

"Mom," Ryan grinned, his chubby cheeks curving adorably, "I know where Matata is." 

"You do?" Aisha asked him, "Where is she?" 

"Hakuna ate her." 

"...Huh?" 

--- 

Sihyeon ran.

Away from the three, away from Seoul, away from the planet, away from this galaxy – at least that's what it felt like before Felix, Jisung, and Jiwon ran after her.

"Gosh, you're worse than me!" Jiwon yelled after her, and Jisung and Felix put on their masks again to avoid the attention they were getting from those barely a few people around them.

Sihyeon stopped when Jisung caught up to her and gently held her by the arm, ceasing her movement, and causing her to snap back to reality.

"I didn't... I didn't sign up for a marathon," Jisung breathed hard, placing his hands on his knees and catching his breath.

"Oh, my gosh!" she shrieked, "I'm so sorry! You know what? The meeting is done. I can't embarrass myself more. You're free to go, I won't tell anyone about your account."

"Calm down, woman!" Jisung straightened up to come to her face level, "You didn't embarrass yourself. Trust me, I would know. I embarrass myself a lot."

"Morning," Jisung spoke as he prepared bed tea for Sihyeon, and she stretched her arms, yawning, "Good morning, babe." 

He carried the tray with her tea and placed it beside her side of the bed. Smiling, the two looked at each other, and Jisung spoke, "You look like you had a good sleep." 

"The best," she sleepily grinned, her eyes still half-closed, "This bed is too comfy." 

"I bet my arms are better," Jisung smugly spoke. 

"That's what I was referring to," the two chuckled, and he leaned in for a kiss. 

However, she put a finger on his lips and spoke, "I need to brush my teeth. I probably smell like last night's dinner right now." 

"Alright, alright! Hurry, I want my kisses soon!" Jisung whined, and she poked his cheek, laughing and getting off the bed. 

--- 

"Lee Know is cute." 

Minho just stared at Yiren with wide eyes, practically unable to believe that he was actually meeting her. Her hair was put up in a tight bun, and her eyes wide and amused, she stared back at him, thinning her lips to perhaps control herself from laughing out loud at Changbin and Hyunjin arguing like kids.

"Oh?" Minho averted his eyes, his tsundere side showing, "I am."

 "Sir, would y- Sorry!" Yiren intentionally moved closer to him to spill a drink on his coat, as planned earlier in texts. Although she felt bad for ruining an ultra-expensive designer coat, it was a part of the plan to let them meet.

Minho pretended to be shaken and panicked over the spilled drink, but inwardly, he was timid about the fact that he was meeting her.

And as she told Hyunjin and Changbin that she was going to clean his suit up because it was her fault, and as soon as Yiren and Minho were standing outside of the washrooms, out of sight, she breathed out and rambled, "Dear sire, take me away to the world of Pocahontas!"

"...Eh?"

"I'm sorry! I'm awkward!" Yiren hid her face in her hands, and Minho chuckled. 

Yiren connected the video call on her laptop, and as soon as it showed Minho's face on the screen, she gasped, "MINHO! HELLO!" 

"You seem awfully energetic after a concert, Yirenie," Minho chuckled.

"Yeah, but it was worth it. Plus, towards the end of the show, I was just excited to see you again!" she gushed. 

"You see me on a video call every day," he raised a brow. 

"Video call isn't enough to get hugs and kisses from you," she frowned, and he sighed, saying, "That's idol life for you." 

"And it's tough being a solo artist! I have no idea how I'm managing the tour and the composition of the next album!" Yiren spoke, "I survived on five cups of coffee last week. I've never consumed so much caffeine before this!" 

"Take care of yourself, okay? Our home is waiting for you," Minho gently smiled, and she softly let out a chuckle. 

"Definitely, I'll rush back as soon as this Europe tour is over!" 

--- 

The eight men sat in the living room of their previous dormitory. This place had been abandoned by the boys four years ago, ever since Chan and Aisha's marriage. Chan and Aisha had been the first ones to shift to their own, new home, thanks to two growing children. With the passage of time, the boys eventually left the dormitory, except Hyunjin, Jeongin, and Seunmgin, and here, only the memories of chaos and comfort of the eight of them being together reside now. 

However, all of them collected in the dorm time-to-time, to feel nostalgic and reconnect with each other. True, they were still Stray Kids (read: Stray Men) and still made music together, but they truly only caused trouble on vacation, or on tours. 

And as of now, relaxing on the sofas, Chan initiated the talk, 

"Felix, how is Amy doing?" 

(a/n: A LOT OF PLOT TWISTS AND DRAMA IS YET TO COME -- BECAUSE THIS IS GONNA INVOLVE THE LOVE STORIES OF ALL OF THE EIGHT!! :D 

I hope you hang on to the next chapters and explore this story with me! Sorry if this was a little boring :")) 

Did you like it? 

Thanks for reading! I love you!)