A Series of Unexpected Events: Stray Kids

Chapter 9: Crying in the Freezer Aisle (Part 1)

Did you get intensely suspicious looks from the boys when you slunk back into their room? Yes. Did they ask you why you looked so frazzled? Also yes. Now, did they ask where Felix is and why he didn't come back with you? Unfortunately...another yes. In the end, did you have a good response to either of those questions? No.

After Chan's text, you had left Felix to his own devices, offering a half-hearted excuse of, "I told him he can use my bathroom to wash up since you guys were using these" to the rest of them when you re-joined their rag-tag group. An excuse that you're really hoping they bought because you certainly hadn't thought to come up with something more believable on your way over. Your mind had been a liitttle busy replaying everything you felt and saw and heard like a torturous broken record. There simply wasn't room for anything else in your brain at the time.

Either way, you're sure that you won't hear the end of it from the real-life incarnation of sunshine himself. How you up and left him in his hour of need. A fact that has you sighing knowing you can't deny your blame for his situation. It was your fault. But it is also his fault for waltzing into your room with those sad eyes and cute face and then think that you have the willpower much less the desire to hold yourself back.

The boys--whether they knew the real reason you had come back without their bandmate or not--blessedly leave it at nothing more than playfully scrutinizing looks. And that, at the very least, is something you can live with.

In the end, even that peeters off by the time the driver pulls into the mall's parking structure and shuts off the car. Although, you can still feel Felix's eyes boring holes into the back of your skull. A devilish glare he had maintained from the moment he managed to re-join the group back at the hotel. And one he continues to and will continue to extend your way, you're guessing, until you apologize.

But as Changbin wraps a strong arm around your shoulders as the lot of you make your way to the elevators that take you up into the mall, all you can do is shoot Felix an apologetic glance hoping he knows you'd be groveling on your knees for forgiveness right now if were able to.

Changbin seems to notice your attention elsewhere and subsequently takes notice of the charged stares you've been getting because he's leaning over to you, whispering, "What the hell did you do to piss off Yongbok-ah?"

"He's mad? Like mad mad?" You whip toward Changbin, thoroughly worried now. "I didn't think I actually upset him but you know him better than I do so if you say he is then I don't know what I'm--"

"Whoa y/n, hold on, slow down." Changbin pulls you closer into his side in comfort before he shakes his head, shooting you a soft smile. "He's not actually mad. Trust me, you'd be able to tell if you did something to truly upset him. I mean look--"

The two of you glance over at Felix who's happily clinging to Chan's arm, squeezing his bicep as if it were a stress ball. And you watch in real time as Felix mellows out those happy features to squint accusingly at you only to go right back to his sunshine default.

"See?" Changbin points out with a reassuring pat to your shoulder. "That's the look you get when he's trying to guilt you. Just offer him some food or cuddles and you'll have him purring like a kitten again in no time."

Hah...cuddle.

What you don't tell Changbin is that what had started out as cuddling is what had gotten you into this mess in the first place. But as long as Felix isn't actually mad at you, you'll eventually make things right again. Hell, you'll ask him how he wants you to make it up to him. Maybe getting to pick your poison will make him feel better.

Either way, Changbin's reassurance helps and you let the worry that had seeped in to fade. "So," you say turning to him with a small smirk, "you seem to know how to easily pacify him. You on the receiving end of that look a lot?"