A week after they've met again, Chan is chilling on the couch in Woojin's apartment when he asks this:

"Is chicken still your favorite?"

Woojin smiles bittersweetly at the question.

"Yes, it's still my favorite."

"I know why." Chan says quietly like he's telling a secret, "I know why it's your favorite."

Woojin remembers. Remembers that the reason his favorite food is chicken is because, back when he was in Stray Kids, it was the only meal he was allowed to have in an entire week.

He makes his way from the desk he was previously sitting at and sits down next to Chan.

"Woojin, I'm so sorry." Chan snivels and hides his face in his hands, "And I can't even say I didn't know, because I knew."

"Channie. Channie, look at me."

Chan looks up at him shakily.

"I can't lie. I still resent you for not doing anything. About them starving me. About our miscommunication or lack thereof. About Minho, Changbin, Hyunjin, Jisung, Felix, Seungmin, and Jeongin not making it any better." Woojin starts, "But I still love you." he says this like it's obvious but also embarrassing at the same time, "Doing nothing about my suffering was a huge mistake on your part and then making it worse for my continued suffering was also a really horrid thing to do. But you're apologizing now, and it might take a lifetime of apologies for me to fully forgive you, but I'm willing to wait until that happens. Me loving you doesn't mean I'm overlooking all of your faults and wrongdoings; I love you despite everything bad you've done. It might be naive of me to trust you again like this. But I know that you love me too. You love me enough to try your hardest at not ruining my life again."

There's a pause in which Chan processes Woojin's words. It could've been a minute. Or an hour. Five hours? All Chan thought is that he hasn't earned this type of kindness. At least not yet. Hopefully eventually.

"Thank you." Chan finally says, "Thank you for giving me a second chance. Or third. Or whatever number we're at. I don't think I deserve it but I'll take it. Because you're right, I do love you. Never stopped loving you."

"I'm also sorry."

Chan's eyes widen in panic and he cuts him off, "There is no reason for you to apologize. Absolutely no reason. You left because you wanted to and I'm not holding that against you. Don't listen to the haters. I don't agree with anything they say. That video in 2024 when you moved to Kustomade was enough. More than enough."

A tear slides down Woojin's face, "So, why'd you ask about my favorite food?" he changes the topic.

"I was gonna ask you if you were free next week." Chan answers, looking anywhere but Woojin's face.

"For fried chicken?" Woojin asks with sparkly eyes, "Wait, isn't it your birthday next week?"

"That kind of has something to do with this." Chan says it like a question.

"I should be the one taking you out if it's your birthday!" Woojin exclaims.

"Oh, uh, okay?" Chan, once again, says it like a question.

"How about that place we passed by yesterday? It was full so we couldn't go there but I'm sure if we get there quickly we can get in." Woojin suggests, "Or we could get something else? Since it's your birthday, we should eat your favorite food."

"I think fried chicken is fine." Chan grins.

"You sure?"

Chan nods with a content smile, "It's a date." he says half-jokingly.

Woojin looks mildly taken aback.

"Sorry." Chan adds quickly, "That was stupid of me to say."

"No. It wasn't. It wasn't stupid of you to say. It's a date." says Woojin.

***

Chan's phone rings for the third time that night.

"I swear, I might just turn it off at this point." he mutters, taking it out of his pocket.

"Chan hyung!" the person on the other end screams.

"Felix, I told both Jisung and Jeongin that I'm busy." Chan reprimands.

"Busy with what!? You're never busy! But then suddenly you've been busy for a whole two weeks!" Felix complains.

"Can I not have a life outside of you guys? I'm no longer your leader. I'm not even an idol anymore." Chan hisses.

"It's your birthday and you're busy! How- oh my god. You're seeing someone, aren't you?" Felix asks, Chan could hear the excited smile in his voice.

"Maybe." Chan says simply.

"You totally are. I cannot believe you're finally getting around. You have to tell me everything about them. Bye! Enjoy your date!"

Then he hangs up.