A Fight For Integrity

IV | Introduction

"Don't worry everything will be fine. And if you feel nervous search for me and look me in the eye" Felix suddenly heard hyunjin speak from behind though he never realised when Hyunjin walked beside him. He never minded though.

Felix's eyes shot up towards Hyunjin when he felt someone softly squeezed his hand. Hyunjin was smiling and Felix practicality found himself melting in the smile but he snatched his hand instead, never returning a smile.

Yes, this was Felix. He never hated affection but affection was something he never felt comfortable with and specially with a man whom he practicality met few minutes ago. The rest of the walk was silent but pleasing as everyone understood how Felix actually felt and created a comfortable environment.

Felix felt proud, not for getting introduced but for making more friends. He hoped his father will allow them to meet again.

Felix reached the ceremony filled with people with clouded mind and a beating heart against his chest. His friends needed to leave him and he a little bit scared.

"Get ready Felix" the king said and went to speak some words for introduction.

"So ladies and gentlemen, it's a pleasure to have all of you here present in the ceremony. As all of you know today is the introduction ceremony of my son Felix, the prince of thunder" and rest of the words got unnoticed by Felix as he felt himself in a daze where he couldn't move nor hear anything. His mind felt like it was becoming clouded with unnecessary thoughts and the voices seemed to get loud. His eyes showed fear but he tried his best to replace it with confidence.

He felt he couldn't move anymore but soon he found himself back to his real position when he felt his father calling him for the speech. Speech is the only thing that scared Felix.

Felix felt no words left his mouth as he was standing there looking at the crowd staring at him expecting to say something. The only thing that came to his mind were Hyunjin's words and his mind without his permission made him do what he never wanted to do.

He searched for a familiar pair of eyes and felt himself calming down when Hyunjin smiled while looking directly towards him mouthing a 'you can do it'. What gave Felix the confidence was still unknown for him but he felt himself starting to speak and felt the crowd gape at his rasped this. Their reaction gave Felix somewhat a boosting confidence and he started to speak through the microphone handed to him trying his best to not shutter.

Internally he thanked Hyunjin but he was never gonna accept it infront of him until and unless Chan reads his mind and tells it to Hyunjin.

Again for the second time in the day Felix found himself feeling proud of himself. He did it, he introduced himself and the cheering audience made him break into a smile which made everyone awe. Bowing the last time he left the stage and saw his friends already waiting for him. Chan, Minho and Jeongin came to hug him at the same time and they shared a group hug again feeling comfortable and content.

He felt relieved to have them, atleast he can hug them whenever he wanted to. He felt as if he can trust them and rely on them. After a hard tired day he can lean on them and crave for some comfort and speak about his day without getting judged. Was this the feeling of getting loved ? Maybe yes. But whatever it was Felix loved it and craved more of it.

"You did great, lix" Felix heard Hyunjin speaking and walking up to him and felt himself getting shocked by his nickname. Did he just called him lix ? Nobody called him lix after his mother died amd the sudden thought made him feel emotional, but he successfully plastered it with a fake smile.

Felix didn't know whether hyunjin knew about that because he saw Hyunjin frowning. "Thank you" Felix said out of gratitude.

"It's okay Felix" Chan said beside him and he understood chan must've read his mind so he started at him as if talking through eyes. Chan just nodded and gave him another quick hug but suddenly he felt him getting pushed and he couldn't comprehend what was happening until he landed on the ground along with Chan.