Seoulstruck (Stray Kids, 18+)

Chapter 40: Invite Only

Felix couldn't stop himself from smiling, his fingers laced between Changbin's on the walk home, a bag of delicious leftovers in his other hand. The occasional glance at his new boyfriend confirmed he wasn't the only one who felt happy in that moment, the corners of the handsome man's mouth curled upward. The Aussie's heart fluttered as he thought about how he'd been confessed to, their first kiss still so fresh, his lips tingled at the memory. His apartment building came into view, the butterflies in Felix's stomach whirling as they approached the front gate. He turned to look into Changbin's stoic eyes, the man everything he'd ever wanted. "Want to come inside, this time?" he asked, turning his head, playfully, hoping for a favorable response.

Changbin glanced up at the window he knew to be Felix's, pausing a moment before coming back down to meet the stars twinkling just above the man's freckles. He brought Felix's hand to his lips, planting a gentle kiss against the pale flesh. "Not... this night," he said, the disappointment evident as Felix's smile fell, the butterflies being shot down. Changbin did his best to keep a positive demeanor, watching Felix go inside and somberly wave from his window.

Felix's heart sank, aching into the morning as he began his shift with Jisung, one of the few remaining since the rapper had to put in his 2-weeks' notice. He held his head in his hands, elbows resting on the counter. "Am I just... not attractive enough?" he asked through teary eyes. Jisung scoffed, shaking his head with a smile. "That's definitely not it," he said. "Didn't you have to turn down not one but two men, one of whom is a famous idol, before you even met him? Take it from someone who just work up next to a salty, dramatic, dancing sex god, it takes... time for some guys to... adjust." Felix pursed his lips. "Even a quokka is getting more action than me," he lamented.

"Yah!" Jisung replied, shaking a pair of tongs at the Aussie. "Uncalled for." Felix couldn't help but chuckle, Jisung smiling, satisfied. "There's that beautiful sunshine smile," he said. "Just give him time, ok? Not all of us have spent years country-hopping knowing exactly what we want when we see it. I guarantee you, if your Binnie's a smart man, he'll tie you down real fast." Felix's eyebrows danced. "Literally?" Jisung rolled his eyes, Felix making a face as his pocket vibrated. "Speak of the devil," he said, opening the text, Jisung peering over his shoulder.

"Dinner with the parents!" the rapper exclaimed, nodding his head.

"Not just with his parents," Felix remarked, surprisedly. "At their house. Changbin never brings people to his house; it's strictly invite-only."

"See?" Jisung said, pointing his index finger. "What'd I tell you. Better clean up real good. CEO's son means lots of money. Minho mentioned their home is supposedly huge." He elbowed Felix's arm. "They have a chandelier."