The sun was beginning to set over downtown Orlando, casting streaks of orange across the buildings. You were lost in thought as you walked near Lake Eola, iced coffee in hand, when bam! You collided full-force into someone turning the corner. Your drink flew. Your shirt was instantly soaked.
"Oh no—!" you gasped, stepping back in shock.
"Whoa, I'm so sorry!" came a low, frantic voice.
A pair of warm hands reached out to steady you. You looked up—and your breath caught. It was Bang Chan. Real. Right in front of you. Baseball cap, hoodie, and now wide, worried eyes locked on yours.
"I should've been watching where I was going," he said quickly, eyes darting to your coffee-stained shirt. "God, I just ruined your day."
You tried to laugh it off, even though your shirt clung awkwardly.
"It's okay. Just coffee."
But Chan frowned. "No, it's not okay. Let me make it up to you."
You blinked. "What?"
"There's a chill spot not far—my members and I were heading there for dinner. At least let me get you something to eat and sit somewhere with AC while that dries off." He smiled gently. "You'd actually be helping me feel less guilty."
You hesitated—until he added,
"Besides... I kinda owe you a coffee and a clean shirt now."
You smiled back, heart pounding. "Alright. I'll let you make it up to me."
Chan grinned. "Deal. Let's go before I spill anything else."
And just like that, you found yourself walking alongside Bang Chan, heading into an evening you never saw coming.
You walked alongside Chan through the warm, lively streets of downtown Orlando. The sunset painted the sky in streaks of gold and pink, and even though your shirt was still damp from the coffee incident, you couldn't help but smile.
"So... what brings you to Orlando?" Chan asked, hands in his hoodie pocket.
You glanced over at him. "Actually... you."
He raised an eyebrow, smirking. "Me?"
"Well—your group," you clarified with a light laugh. "It's my first K-pop concert. I flew in for it."
Chan's eyes widened, a mix of surprise and something soft. "No way. Your first one?"
You nodded. "Yeah. I've been a fan for a while, but life always got in the way. This time, I made it happen."
He slowed just a bit, visibly touched. "That means a lot. Seriously. But... you didn't freak out when you saw me. Most people do."
You shrugged. "I figured you probably get enough of that. I mean, I was freaking out internally, but I didn't want to treat you like you're not human. You looked just as startled as I was."
Chan laughed, and it lingered this time. "You're different. In a good way. Chill, honest... feels easy talking to you."
You smiled, brushing a stray hair behind your ear. "Thanks. I guess I just didn't expect this kind of fan experience."
When you reached the rooftop restaurant, Chan opened the door and nodded toward the stairs.
"Ready?"
"As I'll ever be."
The second you stepped onto the rooftop deck, a wave of conversation hushed. Seven familiar faces turned toward you—eyes wide, jaws slightly dropped.
Han's mouth opened first. "Wait. Chan brought someone up here?"
Lee Know looked between the two of you. "She's real. And she's calm. Is this... a social experiment?"
Hyunjin leaned in dramatically. "Is this a new PR strategy? 'Bring a stranger to dinner?'"
Chan laughed. "She's not a stranger. She's actually coming to our concert tomorrow—her first one."
The group's energy shifted instantly.
"No way!" Seungmin grinned. "Your first K-pop show and you bumped into him? That's like a fanfic!"
Felix stood up and offered you a seat. "Welcome. Seriously."
As you sat down, Chan leaned close and whispered, "Told you they'd love you."
And as the night went on—with food, laughter, and moments you never thought you'd live—you realized something: This wasn't just your first concert. It was the start of something unforgettable.
The rooftop shimmered under the glow of string lights, the warm Florida breeze brushing past as you shared laughs and food with the eight members of Stray Kids. But as each one scooted closer throughout the evening, the conversations grew deeper.
Changbin leaned over, genuinely curious. "So what do you do? You've got this strong energy—like you're used to taking charge."
You smiled. "I'm in the Air Force. I work in Emergency Management."
His eyes widened. "Wait... like disaster response?"
You nodded. "Pretty much. I help prepare the base for natural disasters—hurricanes, fires, chemical threats. My job is to make sure we're ready for anything."
"Whoa..." Han said, jaw slightly open. "You're like... the person people depend on when everything's going wrong?"
"That's intense," Seungmin added with a newfound respect. "That takes real guts."
I.N leaned forward, wide-eyed. "So when a hurricane's coming, you're the one telling everyone what to do?"
You chuckled. "I don't just tell them—I train them, build the plans, run drills. We stay ready so we don't have to panic later."
Felix beamed. "That's actually amazing. You're protecting lives in your own way."
"You're like the real-life version of our leader," Hyunjin joked, nodding toward Chan.
Chan smiled, glancing over at you. "Yeah... except she's in charge of actual emergencies."
You laughed, and his gaze lingered on you a beat longer than expected.
"You're calm, confident, and you don't treat us like a big deal," he said, voice low enough for just you to hear. "It's kind of rare."
"I just believe people are people," you replied, meeting his eyes.
Blue against brown. His lips quirked up slightly.
Hyunjin, who had been sketching idly again, looked at you and then quietly said, "I keep getting distracted by your eyes. Seriously... they're unreal."
You smiled, a little flustered. "I guess they stand out more when everyone's staring at me."
"They're not just pretty," Han added. "They look like you've seen a lot... and handled all of it."
That quieted the table for a second. The respect they felt wasn't just fan-level anymore—it was real.
Chan nudged your arm lightly. "You know... if this whole Emergency Management thing ever slows down, you might have a future managing a group of chaotic idols."
You laughed. "Somehow, I feel like natural disasters might be easier."
He grinned. "Touché."
But beneath the laughter, something else sparked—connection, trust, and the feeling that this night meant more than any of them expected.
As the dinner plates cleared and the conversation mellowed into soft laughter and city sounds, Chan stood and gently gestured for you to follow him toward the edge of the rooftop. You stepped away from the table, the chatter fading behind you, replaced by the quiet hum of Orlando's night skyline. You both leaned on the railing, the breeze playing with your hair.
"I meant what I said earlier," he began, voice low and sincere. "About how calm you are. There's something different about you."
You glanced over. "Different good or different weird?"
He chuckled. "Definitely good. You didn't try to impress us or act like we were untouchable. You just... were. And that stood out more than anything."
You smiled, heart warming. "I've had to be steady for a lot of people. Especially in my line of work. There's no room to panic when the world starts falling apart."
Chan nodded slowly. "That's probably why I feel so safe talking to you. Like, you actually listen."
The honesty in his voice took you by surprise—and comforted you at the same time.
You turned to him, eyes meeting again under the soft glow of rooftop lights. "You don't always have to lead, you know. Sometimes someone else can be the calm for you."
His gaze softened. "Yeah... maybe that's what I've been needing."
Before either of you could say more, a quiet voice behind you broke the moment.
"Hey... sorry to interrupt," Hyunjin said, stepping forward, eyes a little hesitant but intense. "Can I talk to you for a second? Alone?"