Seoulstruck (Stray Kids, 18+)

Chapter 10: Motae Solo

Felix sat across from Chan, Minho sitting beside him, a different flavor of bingsoo each in front of them. Felix dug into his chocolate one, his eyes rolling back as he savored the treat. "Wow," Minho chimed, taking a spoonful of the strawberry flavor "Channie's paying for everything, today. Either a very generous hyung or a two-faced cheater, dating all of us at once." Chan laughed, shaking his head, dipping a spoon into the red bean bingsoo.

The freckled Aussie boy did his best not to stare at the quiet man beside Chan. Seo Changbin had an interesting charm about him. He had a baby face with strong, masculine features. Felix had never seen anyone quite so polarizing, before, and it was beautiful. His eyes followed the spoonful of mint bingsoo up to the man's full, round lips, watching them twist in disappointment.

"It's not good?" Minho asked, noticing the man's disgust. Changbin shook his head. "No, it's fine, but I expected there to be chocolate in it." Felix perked up, pushing his bowl closer to the man. "Here! Mix it with mine!" Changbin looked Felix over in surprise, their eyes meeting. Felix felt his cheeks begin to burn as the man nodded his head. "Thank you," he said, Felix beaming from the attention. Chan looked at Felix, envious of the way he looked at Changbin, in that moment. The fellow Aussie was ethereally beautiful, his blonde hair longer and side-swept with an undercut, perfectly framing a fox-like face most people would only be able to attain through plastic surgery. A sea of freckles dotted his cheeks like a starry night sky. Hyunjin was right, Felix was completely his type.

"Did you guys work on the song, today?" Minho broke Chan's concentration, the man whipping his head to face the choreographer. "Mm! We did! Changbin's amazing, actually!" Felix's eyebrows raised, still looking the baby-faced man over. "Oh? You two are working on a song, together?" The pair nodded. "Studio mandate," Changbin said, Chan waving the comment away.

"We're working together on a song for my debut!" Felix looked back at Chan, surprised. "Debut? Congratulations!" Chan smiled wide, his dimples poking into each of his cheeks. Chan was extremely handsome, himself, the ideal man in many ways. It was no wonder he would of course debut, himself, Felix thought. "I didn't realize I was among such respectable company."

Minho pursed his lips, shaking his head. "Don't be impressed with these two," he said. "They're just good at making noise, their personalities are subpar at best. This one?" The cat shook his finger at Chan. "Completely useless." Chan closed his eyes with a scoff. "I love you, too," he said. Felix and Changbin laughed at the exchange, their eyes meeting, once again. Changbin's heart skipped a beat when he saw how the beautiful man was looking at him, his smile completely sincere, looking at him as if it were just the two of them there.

"This one," Minho said, snapping Felix back to attention, pointing at Changbin. "He's only here because his father is the CEO of our company." Chan looked the cat over, clearly disappointed. "Now you're just being unreasonably mean," he said.

"Isn't it true, though?" Minho shot back, looking between the men across the table. Changbin pursed his lips, Chan immediately coming to his defense. "Changbin is an amazing rapper, writer and producer. He'd be with us even if he had no familial ties, at all." Minho's eyes rolled back into his skull. "You can't tell me there's not just as many talented, potentially more talented rappers in the underground scene who deserve a chance that our company won't touch?" Chan shook his head. "Minho, chill. Really. You're mean when you drink."

Felix looked Changbin over. "You must be really amazing to get to work with Chan so closely on something so important!" Changbin's face went from annoyed to humbled. Felix's compliment meant so much more than Minho's soju-drenched opinions. Changbin bowed, slightly. "Thank you," he said. "I suppose I'm ok." Chan shook his head. "No, this guy's amazing. Come to the studio, tomorrow, I'll play you a sample." Felix's eyes widened. "Really?" he asked, Changbin smiling, meekly. "I hope you like what you hear," he said. Felix beamed, his smile wider than before, his aura that of pure sunshine.

The four men walked out into the cool night air, Felix pulling his cardigan closer around himself. Chan smiled, taking off his leather jacket and placing it over the beautiful man's shoulders. "Can I walk you home?" he asked, Felix unable to help but notice his perfectly toned arm muscles fighting to stay in their t-shirt sleeves. He'd be safe with Chan. Felix smiled, nodding in appreciation. Changbin and Minho were slightly occupied, Minho apologizing for his harsh words, Changbin shaking his head, unoffended. "Changbinnie," Felix called out, catching the man's attention, immediately. Their eyes met, once more, Felix's smile widening. "I look forward to our next meeting." Changbin's heart raced, bowing his head in agreement. "Until next time, Felix-ssi," he replied, the pair waving as Chan guided Felix away from the bingsoo shop.

Felix stared down at the ground, smiling to himself, trying not to seem overly excited for his next encounter with the rapper. Chan noticed, slightly annoyed, trying to think of ways to engage in conversation.

English.

"So... how do you like it out here, so far?" Felix's attention snapped back to Chan, hearing his native tongue. "Oh! It's uh... it's good!" he replied, their Australian accents comforting him, instantly. Felix sighed. "It's definitely been an experience." Chan pondered if he should ask anything so personal, deciding to go for it, anyway. "Meet anyone special?" Felix looked at him, puzzled. "Special?" he asked. Chan smiled, awkwardly. "Yeah, uh... any girlfriend? Boyfriend?"

"Ah!" Felix nodded, understanding the question, sucking air through his teeth. "No, no, not yet, I'm a... well the Korean phrase would be... motae solo?" Chan looked at Felix in complete shock. "What?! Never?!" Felix smiled, shaking his head. "Nope. I have really never dated." Chan couldn't look away, not believing what he was hearing. Someone as beautiful as Lee Felix had never dated, before. "Are you... I mean you're not..." He couldn't help himself.

Felix looked up at Chan, curiously. "What? Disinterested?" He smiled. "No, it's not that. I just... haven't met the right person, that's all." Chan tried not to let his relief show on his face. "Well," he replied, "what's your ideal type? Maybe I could help you out." Felix chuckled, thinking it over. "I don't know... someone honest. Kind. Funny. Likes sweets..." He trailed off, his mind only thinking of one person in particular. Chan couldn't help himself, now. "Any... preferences?"

Changbin.

Felix looked up at Chan, shaking his head with a smile. "No, no preferences," he said. "I'm pretty much... completely open." They finally arrived to Felix's apartment complex, the ray of sunshine turning to look at Chan. "Thank you," he said, removing Chan's jacket, and handing it back to the producer. "But... listen, I'm... not really looking for anyone in particular. If someone comes along, that's fine, but... you don't have to look for me. I'm perfectly content in myself. Being single doesn't upset me, so... don't put too much thought into it." Chan smiled, accepting his jacket and nodding. "Of course," he said. "I'm just... looking out for you." Felix smiled warmly, Chan basking in the glow of the moment. "Thank you," he said, sincerely. "I'll swing by, tomorrow, like you asked. Text me when you get home, safely, ok?" Chan's stomach flooded with butterflies, the producer incapable of hiding his smile. "I will," he promised, watching Felix go inside before walking away, a skip in his step the entire walk back to the dorms.