(2) For Those With A Conscience
Changbin: Do you know his address?
Chan: Of course I do. Here.
Chan hands Changbin his phone, where the address is already typed into a GPS app.
Changbin: Alright, let's go get these babies.
Chan: I wonder why he's doing this.
Changbin: I couldn't tell you. All I know is that it can't possibly be over what happened before the hiatus. Did you do something to piss him off?
Chan: No. Not that I know of.
As they drove off down the many streets they had to pass, Chan tried to think of what he could have done wrong.
Nothing that he could remember warranted a reaction like this from their manager, so he was at a loss here.
They started to near the house, having spent most of the ride in a contemplative silence.
Meanwhile, inside the managers house, he was preparing the littles for a game.
Manager: Alright kids, when I give you the signal, what do you do?
Hyunjin stood up.
Hyunjin: We run into closet! Like this!
The manager laughed a bit to himself as Hyunjin ran with his fullest speed into the hallway closet.
Manager: Good job Hyunjin. Did you two understand that?
Jisung and Jeongin nodded in unison.
Manager: You are adorable. I almost regret doing this.
The group heard a noise outside, which caught their attention. They all looked out of the window, noticing a car pulling up which the Manager recognized.
He went to the door and opened it, seeing Chan and Changbin emerge from the vehicle. He quickly put his hand up, making a peace sign towards his cheek, signaling the littles.
Jisung quickly grabbed the hand of Little Jeongin and they ran towards the closet. Hyunjin peeked out of the door, trying to observe.
Manager: Close the door, Hyunjin!
Hyunjin: I sorry!
Jeongin pulled him into the closet and closed the door himself.
Just as they did, Chan and Changbin made it to the doorstep.
Manager: Boys, welcome. What brings you here?
Chan: Cut the crap, you know why we're here.
Manager smirked, letting both men inside. He closed the door behind them, ready for this conversation.
Changbin: So let's get to it. Where are the littles?
Manager: Safe. Don't worry about them.
Chan: I'm going to continue to worry until I see them. So tell me why you're doing this so we can resolve it.
Manager sighed, pacing the room a few times. He was thinking of a way to explain what his issue was to where they could understand.
Manager: Chan. I know you're probably confused. But...my reason is quite simple. You have caused me significant trouble.
Chan: I caused you trouble? You? The man who is causing our fans significant stress by not allowing us to do literally anything for eight months?
Manager: Heh, you don't get it. You see, ever since the announcement of the hiatus, people have been coming after me. I have recieved thousands of messages in the past six months calling me some of the worst things known to man. People are blaming me for your situation that you and Minho caused.
Chan: But see, it's not our fault. It is your fault. Hyunjin and Han were sick, and we were not going to let them perform in their condition. You wanted them to.
Manager: And you disobeyed me. Now your so-called fans are disrespecting me. They're causing such an outcry that I could lose my job over the trouble they're giving to JYP about hiring me.
Changbin laughed.
Changbin: I say it's deserved if they do.
Manager: Why are you even here?
Changbin: Rude.
Chan: Just tell me what i need to do. Okay? I want my kids.
Manager: Tell them I did nothing wrong.
Chan: Excuse me?
Manager: Go to the company, do a livestream,
something. Just tell the world the real truth, that I am a good person who wants the best for Stray Kids.
Chan: I'm sorry, sir, I'm not a liar. I can't do that.
Manager: What? Do you disagree with me?
Chan: Yes! I definitely disagree! Six months ago wasn't the first time you had put a member of this group in potential danger. You care more about how you present to the world than for the safety of your artists.
Manager: That's not true. I care very much and I don't want your image to be ruined.
Chan scoffed.
Chan: Is that what you're going to sit here and claim? That everything you have done is to save our image?
Manager: Yes.
Chan just stared at him. Memories of all of the things the manager has said and done were coming back to him.
Chan: So when you did what you did three years ago, was that to protect me?
The manager's eyes widened.
Manager: What do you mean?
Chan: You know what I mean. I know you know what I mean.
Changbin: I don't.
Manager: Again, why are you here?
Chan: Don't speak to him. You're not allowed to talk to my members. I'm getting tired of you thinking you own us.
Manager: You've got me all wrong here. I don't think that way. I just want you to clear my name.
Chan: I. Don't. Lie. To. My. Fans.
Changbin: Sometimes you do.
Chan: Changbin, go stand in a corner.
Changbin reluctantly steps back into a corner, still listening.
Manager: But you must do this. If you want your littles back.
Chan: I'm not going to say something I don't mean. You're a terrible person.
A loud thump sound is heard from the hallway, followed by the sounds of crying. Changbin immediately recognizes the sound.
Changbin: Chan hyung, that's Jeongin!
They both run to the hallway, hearing the sound from behind a hallway door. Manager watches as Changbin opens the door, revealing their three babies inside of the closet.
Jeongin looks up at them with wide eyes full of tears.
Jeongin: Binnie?
Changbin immediately lifts him to a standing position, wrapping him in a hug. Chan does the same with Hyunjin and Jisung.
Changbin: What happened baby? We heard a noise.
Jeongin: Sungie drop shoe box on me.
Everyone looks at Jisung.
Jisung: I not do that. Was ghost.
Hyunjin: We go home now? Closet is dangerous!
Chan and Changbin look at their manager.
Manager: You three will stay here until the situation is resolved.
Chan: I told you I'm not going to lie. So something has to give.
Manager: And you'll figure it out yourself. Kids, back into the closet.
Reluctantly, the littles let go of their hyungs, with Hyunjin pulling them into the closet.
Manager stands in front of the door.
Changbin: You know, we could just call the police.
Manager: Go ahead. Tell them I have three members of the group I manage at my house. Tell them I brought them here so we could talk and see what they say.
Chan and Changbin look at each other.
Chan: Okay...I see how you want to do this. Changbin, come on.
Changbin: But-
Chan: Come on.
Changbin: Okay... Babies, we'll be back! Stay safe! If he hurts you I'll kill him! And don't drop anymore shoe boxes on Jeongin!
Jisung: I not do that!
Changbin: Jisung I know you did it.
Chan took Changbin's hand, dragging him away and outside.
As they left the home, Chan took out his phone to make a call.
The line was picked up seconds later by Felix.
Felix: Any luck?
Chan: Felix, get the members together. Their boyfriends too.
Felix: Everyone?
Changbin: Everyone?
Chan: Everyone. Starting today, we have a case to build.
Felix: A case? For what?
Chan sighed, he stared at the doorway of the managers home.
If there is one thing in this entire world that he does not take lightly, it's when someone messes with his family.
And right now, three members of that family were inside that house.
Chan: Our manager. He thinks he can take my babies and get away with it? We'll see if he changes his mind when the police show up with an arrest warrant.
The two buckle their seat belts. They can hear Felix telling the others the plan.
Changbin: How are we going to get him arrested?
Chan: Remember inside the house how I mentioned the incident three years ago?
Changbin: I do. What was the incident?
Felix was listening as well, over the phone.
Chan: Let's start heading home. I'll explain it there.
Changbin drove off, still thinking of what the incident could be.
Chan had never told anyone about that day, but he figured now was the time.
He was the only one who truly knew how horrible their manager was. He wanted to protect the managers image in front of Stray Kids.
But after everything that has happened...
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...the manager will never want to show his face at their company again.
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