♡︎|2

chapter two—✧♡︎✧—

Felix stood outside Hyunjin's house, bouncing on the balls of his feet as he hugged his backpack to his chest. The morning air was crisp, the sun barely rising over the rooftops. He shivered slightly, his freshly blonde hair ruffling in the breeze.

"Why is he always so slow?" Felix mumbled to himself, pouting as he stared at Hyunjin's front door.

His impatience didn't last long. A few seconds later, the door finally swung open, and Hyunjin stepped out, running a hand through his slightly messy hair.

"Took you long enough!" Felix whined, immediately rushing over and grabbing Hyunjin's arm, clinging to him like a koala.

Hyunjin groaned, attempting to pry Felix off.

Felix only clung tighter, grinning up at him. "I missed you."

Hyunjin snorted. "It's been, what? Ten hours since you last saw me?"

"Ten hours too long," Felix said dramatically, burying his face into Hyunjin's shoulder. "Never leave me again."

Hyunjin sighed but let him hold on. He was used to it by now—Felix being the clingiest person on earth when no one was watching. And if Hyunjin was being honest, he didn't mind.

He gave Felix's head a little pat, rolling his eyes. "You're impossible."

Felix giggled, still wrapped around him as they started walking toward school together. Their steps were slow, unhurried—neither of them really wanting to deal with the day ahead just yet.

Felix peeked up at him. "Did you sleep well?"

Hyunjin shrugged. "Yeah. You?"

Felix yawned, rubbing at his eyes. "Could've been better. Might need my human pillow to help me sleep tonight."

Hyunjin flicked his forehead. "You mean me?"

Felix beamed. "Obviously."

Hyunjin shook his head, but his lips twitched into a small smile.

They walked like that for a while—Felix still clinging onto Hyunjin's arm, their shoulders bumping as they talked about nothing and everything.

But as they neared the school gates, something shifted.

Felix sighed, reluctantly letting go of Hyunjin's arm. Their moment of quiet softness had to end.

By the time they stepped onto school grounds, they had slipped back into their usual, more casual selves—Hyunjin cool and composed, Felix bouncing with energy but keeping a bit of distance.

"Hey!" Jisung called, waving them over from where he and Seungmin were waiting.

Felix grinned, jogging over. "What's up, losers?"

Seungmin smirked. "You look like a golden retriever again."

Felix flipped his hair dramatically. "Thank you for noticing."

Jisung reached up and squished Felix's cheeks. "Blondie Lix is back!"

"Hands off, Han," Felix grumbled, swatting Jisung's hands away.

Hyunjin snorted, shaking his head as he joined them.

"Did Hyunjin dye it for you?" Jisung teased, wiggling his eyebrows.

Felix rolled his eyes. "Maybe."

Seungmin smirked. "That's cute."

Felix shot him a glare, but before he could retort, a familiar voice interrupted them.

"Hyunjinnie!"

The group tensed slightly as Haeri approached, her usual radiant smile in place. Felix forced himself to stay neutral, even as his stomach twisted uncomfortably.

"Hey baby." Hyunjin greeted her, his tone sweet as honey.

Haeri immediately linked her arm with his, her grip just a little too tight. "You didn't text me this morning," she pouted.

"Sorry," Hyunjin said, glancing at Felix briefly before looking away. "I was running late."

Felix shoved his hands in his pockets, biting the inside of his cheek. The shift was always so obvious—how Hyunjin's posture changed, how his tone became more careful.

Their friends stayed quiet, exchanging subtle glances. None of them liked Haeri, but they knew better than to say anything outright.

"Come on, walk me to class," Haeri said, tugging Hyunjin along without waiting for an answer.

Hyunjin shot Felix and the others a small, apologetic look before following her.

Felix watched them go, his chest feeling heavier than it should.

Jisung sighed beside him. "She's the worst."

Seungmin scoffed. "Understatement."

Felix just forced a smile. "Whatever."

Felix tried not to let it bother him. He really did.

He kicked a small pebble on the pavement as he and the others made their way inside the school building, Jisung still grumbling under his breath about Haeri. Seungmin was quieter, but his expression was flat—his usual deadpan unimpressed look.

"She acts like he's gonna disappear the second she lets go of him," Jisung muttered, shoving his hands in his hoodie pocket.

Felix sighed. "She just loves him."

Seungmin scoffed. "There's love, and then there's whatever that is."

Felix didn't reply. He knew what they meant. Haeri was too overprotective. She needed to know where Hyunjin was at all times, what he was doing, who he was with. And when he was with them, she made it clear she didn't really like it.

But Hyunjin loved her.

That was the part Felix couldn't argue with.

He'd seen the way Hyunjin looked at her, how he softened when she smiled at him. How he let her tug him around even when he was exhausted, how he always texted her goodnight, even if he was half-asleep.

Felix didn't hate Haeri.

But he hated how she made Hyunjin act different.

"Whatever," Felix muttered, shaking his head as they reached their lockers. "Not our problem."

Seungmin raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Since when do you not care about Hyunjin?"

"I didn't say that," Felix huffed. "I just mean... it's his relationship. We can't say anything."

Jisung groaned, leaning against his locker. "I hate when you're right."

Felix smirked, flipping his hair. "I am pretty wise."

"Okay, never mind," Jisung deadpanned. "You're insufferable."

Felix just giggled, the tension easing slightly.

Still, as he grabbed his books and headed to class, he couldn't shake the feeling in his chest.

He knew how this day would go.

Hyunjin would be with Haeri between classes, walking her to her next period, carrying her bag when she asked. He wouldn't sit with them during lunch—not unless Haeri was busy.

And Felix wouldn't get to be clingy.

It was fine. It wasn't like Felix needed to be attached to Hyunjin all the time.

(He totally did.)

But he would wait.

The day dragged on, just as Felix had expected.

Classes were boring, and Hyunjin was nowhere to be found during their breaks. Not that Felix was surprised. Every time he glanced around the cafeteria, he could see Hyunjin sitting with Haeri and her friends, her arm looped through his like she was afraid he'd disappear if she let go.

Felix stabbed at his food with his chopsticks, barely listening to Jisung and Seungmin bickering beside him.

"He's totally brainwashed," Jisung muttered, following Felix's gaze.

Felix sighed. "He's not brainwashed, Ji."

"Then why does he let her act like that?" Seungmin cut in, stealing a piece of Jisung's fried chicken. "He's not that oblivious."

Felix shrugged, picking at his rice. "Because he loves her."

Jisung groaned, slumping against the table. "Gross."

Felix rolled his eyes but didn't argue. He didn't like watching Hyunjin be pulled around like a pet, but it wasn't his place to say anything. If Hyunjin was happy, then that was all that mattered.

Right?

Still, he couldn't help but sulk a little as the day went on.

Even when school ended, Hyunjin was still with Haeri, walking her to the front gate with his backpack slung lazily over one shoulder. Felix hovered near the bike racks with Jisung and Seungmin, trying not to stare but failing miserably.

"Are you waiting for him?" Seungmin asked, unimpressed.

Felix huffed. "No."

"Liar," Jisung sing-songed.

Felix groaned, shoving his hands into his hoodie pocket. Okay, maybe he was waiting. But it wasn't that obvious, was it?

Thankfully, it wasn't long before Haeri finally let Hyunjin go, giving him a kiss on the cheek before turning to leave with her own friends.

Felix immediately perked up as Hyunjin jogged over, running a hand through his hair.

"Sorry," Hyunjin sighed. "She—"

"We know," Jisung cut in.

Hyunjin gave him a look before turning to Felix, nudging his shoulder. "Ready to go home?"

Felix grinned. "Always."

Jisung and Seungmin exchanged knowing glances, but they didn't comment as Hyunjin and Felix waved them off and started walking home together.

The second they turned the corner and were out of sight from the school, Felix immediately clung onto Hyunjin's arm.

Hyunjin groaned. "Seriously?"

Felix pouted, squeezing him tighter. "I was deprived all day."

Hyunjin laughed, shaking his head. "You're ridiculous."

Felix only hummed, resting his head on Hyunjin's shoulder as they walked. This was his time. No Haeri, no school, no need to pretend like he wasn't the clingiest person on earth.

"You do know I'm still gonna be here tomorrow, right?" Hyunjin teased.

Felix gasped dramatically. "You mean you're not abandoning me for Haeri?"

Hyunjin groaned. "Felix—"

"I knew you still loved me," Felix cut in, smirking.

Hyunjin flicked his forehead. "You're so annoying."

Felix just giggled, swinging their arms together.