INTO YOUR EYES | CHANLIX ✔

XXIV

CHAN was dressed in an elegant white suit for tonight's ball. The ball he dreaded to go to. The assurance that Minho would be with him the whole night was the only thing keeping him going.

The Hwang, Han and Seo family had travelled from their respective kingdoms and were all at the ball to congratulate Chan for two things.

One, for winning the games.

Two, for his upcoming marriage with princess Changmi. All the royals had brought the Bang family gifts and gold galore.

Chan's two weeks to decide whether or not he wanted to marry Changmi were up. The King didn't let him choose in the end because his wife and he had grown to like the Seo princess.

It was extremely unjust to Chan but he was tired. If not Changmi, then the king would just find another wife for him within a few days.

Two weeks ago, Chan would have fought with his father for this. Why? Because he had Felix.

But now, he wasn't so sure anymore. He still loved Felix. Chan knew that the young chef was the owner of his heart. Although they let go of each other, both of them knew they were still madly in love.

"Chan?"

The prince snaps out of his thoughts and looks towards his brother. "What is it?"

"It's time for your dance with princess Changmi."

Minho gives Chan a sympathetic look and gestures him to go to the centre of the ballroom where Changmi was standing with her beautiful red gown.

Sighing, Chan walks towards her slowly and offers her his hand. "Shall we dance, my lady?"

Changmi smiles shyly and takes Chan's hand. Minutes later, they're both gracefully dancing across the ballroom with everyone's eyes fixed on both of them.

Hyunjin, Jisung and Minho being the only ones without a smile on their face. They knew Chan's true feelings.

Changbin, who was watching everything unfold intently, searches the venue for Felix. He wonders how the younger would be feeling right now.

As he guessed, Felix's face held only the emotion of hurt and sadness. Changbin could tell that the young chef was on the verge of tears as his eyes were glued to the dancing couple.

Not able to bear the sight, Felix runs out of the ballroom with tears flowing from his face. Changbin frowns and runs after him.

No one pays heed to this except Chan. The prince had seen everything. His body urging to abandon Changmi then and there to run after Felix and Changbin.

But he didn't. Not with everyone watching. He can't risk anyone following him outside. Chan would get Felix caught and that was a definite no.

Changbin, on the other hand, followed the younger to the porch. When he entered, he saw the younger sitting on the floor, quietly crying into his palms.

"Hey, Felix," Changbin walks closer to the younger and sits beside him. "Don't cry, you'll be okay, darling."

Felix briefly looks at Changbin with his tear-stained face and notices that the only thing that filled in Changbin's eyes was worry.

The chef breaks down at this and throws himself into the prince's arms, sobbing into his chest. Changbin sighs and rubs Felix's back soothingly, whispering sweet nothings into the younger's ears.

"I love him too much to see him like this," Felix mumbles before pulling away from the embrace a few minutes later.

"I understand," Changbin replies, fixing the younger's messy hair. "I know what it's like to see your loved one with someone else."

"Do... you mean...?"

"Yes, you," Changbin smiles. "It hurt seeing you with Chan but now that I know how much you love him, I've decided to step aside, so don't worry."

Felix smiles at Changbin genuinely for the first time. "Thank you, but I think you should head back inside. People might be searching for you."

"I'd rather sit out here with you, it's much nicer than being in a ballroom full of judgemental people," Changbin replies, gently holding Felix's hands. "Besides, who's going to comfort you if not for me?"

Felix chuckles, "Alright, you can stay then.

"I'm sorry," Changbin continues. "It's my fault you and Chan are like this now."

"Honestly, I should thank you," Felix replies. "I think you fastened the process of our break-up. I'm glad it happened before I fell too deep."

"But-"

"Yes, I still love Chan. I know," Felix answers. "But this way, I'll find more time to get over him since he'll be married to princess Changmi in a few weeks at most."

"Will you be okay?" Changbin asks. "About the wedding, I mean."

Felix laughs softly, "I'll probably cry myself to sleep that night but it's alright. He deserves to be happy and so do I."

"You deserve the world, Felix."

Felix smiles as they sit beside each other in comfortable silence. Felix then believed that for the rest of the night, he wouldn't have to think about Chan or anyone else for that matter as he basks in the warmth of the prince next to him.

That was until Chan himself barges into the porch. His glance shifting between Changbin and Felix until it finally sets on the Seo prince.

Glaring at him, Chan asks, "Did you make Felix cry?"

┈─────── ೄྀ࿐ ˊˎ-
[A/N]

This is how Chan looks in this chapter by the way.