To Lee Know,
To Lee Know,
Hi. You probably won’t see this, but I wanted it to lie around the Internet, just in case, even though it’s a 1 in a trillion probability (probably).
I’ve been a STAY since 2022, around 6 months after the release of ODDINARY, and you have been my absolute favorite person for the past four years. I genuinely cannot put into words how much I adore you. In an industry built on manufactured perfection, your presence stands out loudly. You do not need to shout out into the void to stand out, because your personality and beauty do all the work for you.
With your upcoming enlistment, this birthday will be a little different — it feels a bit bittersweet, because for the past 4 years, your laughter was the constant anchor, and your voice was the constant background, as I grew into a teen. In a strange way, I grew alongside you. Now, in the blink of an eye, you’re 28.
There is so much to love about you. There is so much I love about you. Firstly, you have worn accessories to spread awareness about animal extinction, such as the polar bear earring from the Tear of Glacier collection from the brand Wing Bling.
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In August 2019, you shared a photo to ask for fans’ input on which earrings you should wear for the day, showing a safety-pin earring alongside your snow leopard and polar bear earrings, knowing safety-pin accessories have a specific meaning: “You’re safe with me,” primarily symbolizing solidarity and signaling that you stand with minorities.
You have quietly donated so much that you were officially named the youngest member of World Vision’s esteemed “Bob Pierce Honor Club”. You were the first K-Pop idol to contribute to donations for the Nepal Emergency Flood Relief, causing other idols to follow suit and gaining the widespread attention and love you absolutely deserved.
All three of your cats are rescues, and you clearly love them with all your heart, spoiling them with toys and treats. As a cat mama, I understand deeply. Whenever you’re near children and animals, they seem to warm up to you so quickly, such as the child actress for Christmas Evel who hugged you. My mom once told me, ‘animals and children can sense good people,’ and that’s you.
Sometimes, when I’m having a hard day, I wish I could meet you. Just once. I would tell you how cool you are, and how much people admire you. And, I feel like a hug from you would be the warmest, most cozy hug I could ever get (not that I expect things like that). I’m nearly half your age, so I have a kind of ‘little sister’ love for you, I suppose.
In an industry obsessed with weight and bodies, you have consistently expressed and stressed that those things don’t matter nearly as much as being healthy, and I love that. That is what caused me to have such positive views on my body and myself, in general. You normalised eating 3 to 5 meals a day, and you normalised struggles. You have spoken about struggling yourself, feeling depressed, and that it’s okay to feel that way because we’re human and it has heavily impacted the way I view life.
You feel like the reliable guardian of Stray Kids, alongside Chan, of course. It feels as though being near you means being protected. You’re highly observant; you notice what other people don’t. People call you quiet and intimidating, but I think you’re observant and simply have a sharp, striking gaze. You don’t let hurtful words sway you. When you say ‘let’s let go of it,’ you actually let go of it and don’t care about it anymore. You know your worth; you know your value. Yet, you are still so humble. You don’t waste time beating around the bush; you’re straightforward yet gentle.
Your photoshoot with Matin Kim turned out beautifully, and I love how you look. You exude this calm yet lethal feeling. Your beauty astounds me.
Happy birthday, Mr. Linos !
