city of stars

I

There's something almost hypnotic about his voice – it's so deep, dark– but at the same time, there's a softness to it, almost a gentle caress to the words. There's nothing rough about the way he sings, rather, it's soft and reassuring – reaching for someone.

City of Stars

Are you shining just for me?

One can't help but be touched by the desperation in the pleading tone, as the song fades to naught, and the man lowers his mic, a wistful, lonely look in his eyes.

There's a few beats of silence, and then a small ringing as two clocks strike 9 simultaneously – one on TV and one in Hyunjin's apartment.

"Hey." The man smiles, leaning back in the arm chair he was sitting in. "I'm Felix." His voice is as soft as before, velvety as he speaks.

It's a good voice for ASMR, Hyunjin thinks offhandedly, hand running through his son's messy hair. Jeongin squirms a little, but ultimately settles down, eyes glued to the TV. He's been restless ever since he came home from his mother's, but now that the familiar children's show played on the screen, he had quieted down, watching as if in a trance.

Hyunjin never got the appeal of those shows – how could someone sit for so long and watch adults play, speaking through the screen in baby voices and waiting for an answer? It sounded stupid. It was a pity about the actors, too, he thought. Felix might've had a career in modeling, or better yet, with his voice, a singer. And yet he was here.

A woman joins Felix on screen, sitting across from him on a small white couch that looks too stiff to be comfortable, and, pulling on a sugary smile, turns to the camera.

"Heyy!" Her voice is nothing like his – more sweet, and high-pitched, she sounds like she's talking to a small dog, that tone of voice you often hear childless grown-ups take with particularly small kids. "It's Lia." She waves, too, before adjusting her mic set. "What do we have planned today?" She addresses Felix, but speaks to the camera.

Unlike her, her partner is at ease. "Hmm." He pretends to think, his eyes twinkling through the screen, as if he and the viewers are in on a secret. A small smirk tugs at the corner of his mouth, and beside Hyunjin, Jeongin mirrors it, giggling a little.

"I think we're due for a visit from a very special guest." And, oh , his voice dips down a little on the word 'special', sounding like how rich dark chocolate tastes.

Hyunjin fights back a shiver. Almost against his own will, he feels himself relaxing, the earlier stress draining from his body like water from an over soaked sponge.

Onscreen, Lia brings out a small puppet from behind her back, covering her mouth with a carefully manicured hand. She speaks for the toy in a gruff voice, making Jeongin (and, no doubt, other young viewers) laugh.

Felix laughs, too, chuckling as he plays along, talking to the toy as one would to a child. He isn't belittling, exactly, but instead, he lowers himself to the level of a kid, validating rather than bringing down. Privately, Hyunjin approves, cracking open a bag of chips and passing it to Jeongin, who takes a handful and stuffs everything in his mouth, smacking his lips loudly.

Snorting, Hyunjin tears his eyes from the TV and stretches, getting up and glancing at the clock. Somehow, half an hour has gone by.

"Innie." He shakes his son's shoulder. "When does this end?"

"Nine forty-five, Felix says!" Jeongin answers brightly, yawning a little.

Ruffling his hair, Hyunjin presses a kiss to his son's forehead, and moves to gather their dinner dishes, dumping them in the sink with the full intent to wash them later.

He won't. But it's nice to pretend.

From the kitchen, he can see his son's dark head of curls peeking over the couch cushions. Jeongin has completely zoned out, focused only on the television screen in front of him, where Felix seems to be trying to keep himself from breaking character completely as the puppet is miming hula-hooping.

Leaning back against the kitchen counter, Hyunjin lets out a deep sigh, feeling exhaustion deep in his bones as he dials Jeongin's mother, watching everything go to voicemail. Figures.

"And now, it's 9:45, and time for us to say goodbye and good night!" Felix tells his young audience. "Make sure to be good boys and girls tomorrow, and don't cause your parents any trouble!" Wiggling his eyebrows, he leans in closer, lowering his voice. "I'll know."

Then, he leans back again, laughing and blowing a kiss. "Good night, little doves."

"Good night!" Jeongin chirps out, sliding off the couch and looking around. "Appa?"

"Here, Innie." Hyunjin calls from the kitchen, coming out into the hallway. "Bed time?"

Jeongin nods, waddling down the hall to his bedroom, dragging a stuffed fox toy behind him. Following him, Hyunjin looks back at the TV one last time.