"They're more important than me"

Step In

They were returning from a work trip to the US, and of course, hundreds of STAY were waiting for them at the airport entrance. His fatherly instincts kicked in immediately. He remembered Seungmin talking about a sasaeng — a man who creeped him out more than anyone ever had.

He told him that he was seeing him everywhere, that he was constantly calling him without even knowing how, and that he was receiving dozens of threatening messages from the same number. He was terrified — everyone could see it.

As they were walking through the hallways of the airport, STAYs with their phones up, screaming, Chan sent a look at Seungmin: he was clearly anxious, eyes darting everywhere. He reached him, took his hand and whispered in his ear, "It's okay, I'm with you." Seungmin smiled weakly and squeezed his hand.

They walked a few more meters when Chan glimpsed something silver sticking out of the sleeve of a man beside Seungmin.

His mind had never locked in so fast. He grabbed Seungmin by the shoulders and moved him abruptly just as the man pulled out the knife. A short scream escaped Seungmin's mouth when the blade drew a line of red across his arm.

Chan immediately wrapped his arms around him, turning his own back toward the armed man. He should have never done that.

"Hey, Minnie, are you o—"

His voice cut off.
Pain spread through his back. His eyes widened. Warm liquid ran down his spine. People around them started screaming.

Seungmin slowly turned, terrified and confused as to why the leader had stopped talking.

"Hyung...?"

Then he saw.
Chan's knees buckled.

"Hyung!"

The other members, who were ahead, turned. Some screamed, some froze, some ran — but the scene was the same for everyone: Chan, leaning against Seungmin, both on the floor, with a knife embedded in his back. His white shirt was rapidly turning red, his face losing color.

Everything became a blur.

Staff surrounded them. Minho reached Chan first, already trying to keep him awake. Changbin tried to pull Seungmin away, without success.

"Hyung! Chan hyung!!"

His screams were filled with fear, panic, and desperation. He tried to escape Changbin's arms, but he was too weak compared to him.

"Hey, hyung, come on, stay with me,"

Minho said, tapping his cheek in an attempt to keep him conscious. His voice was trembling — something Minho never allowed to happen.

Chan's eyes were losing focus.

"Hey, you're not doing this to me, Bahng Christopher Chahn. Not now, not ever."

His voice cracked on the last word.
Seungmin finally broke free from Changbin and threw himself toward the leader.

"H-hyung, I—I'm so sorry. It's my fault, it's all my fault. Please, don't go away... I n-need you, you can't leave us..."

Tears streamed down his cheeks.
Chan's lips parted.

"Min... It's not your fault..."

"Yes, it is! He meant to stab me, not you!"

"No. It's fine. You're alright... that's what matters..."

Felix, who had been crying the whole time, snapped.

"How can you say that?! How are we supposed to live without you, hyung?! Huh?! What makes you think your life is worth less than ours? We wouldn't even be here if it weren't for you, Chan — you can't leave us..."