RUNNING! | CHANLIX [completed]

Chapter 2

Felix walked out of the ferry along with other passengers carrying his backpack and a small duffel bag. He wore a black hoodie that was covering his head with dark blue jeans and a mask on.

His heart still wouldn't stop pounding as his eyes wondered around in hopes that no one was following him, especially Yibo. He didn't even recognize that Hyunjin and Chan were standing a couple of feet away from him. "Felix...!".

Hyunjin called out his name, causing Felix's racing heart to calm at the sweet voice he recognized. He halted his footsteps while taking off his mask, searching for the direction of Hyunjin's voice. After he located him, he smiled when he saw Hyunjin waving his hand excitedly at him.

But his smile immediately faded when he saw the expressionless Chan standing next to Hyunjin, with both hands in his jean's pockets. Felix's heart began to race before swallowing a lump on his throat, not knowing wherether to go towards them or hide in shame.

With so much hesitation, Felix decided to be strong, then slowly and nervously walked up to them with his head lowered. As he was close to approaching them, Chan suddenly turned walking away, making Felix raise his lowered head up.

Felix paused his movement at seeing Chan walking away and began to form tears in his eyes, while his heart laced with sorrow and regret before sobbing out. Hyunjin quickly ran up to him and engulfed him with a hug while caressing his back soothingly.

After a while, they broke the hug when Felix calmed himself. As he wiped away his tears, he faced the smiling Hyunjin, "Jin, but I told you to come alone", he said with a sad tone. Hyunjin looked down before facing him again, "I had to tell him Felix, we were at work and he's my boss too, but mostly my friend and I think he deserved to know", he explained while wiping away a tear that was appearing in his eye.

"Boss?", Felix questioned him with furrowed eyebrows. "Yeah, his father is old now, and gave Chan the horse stable ranch business. We sell some, instruct people who are learning how to ride, also train and breed the stallions for races. It's good business. I'm sorry I didn't come alone", he said lowly.

Felix nodded his head giving him half a smile. "It's okay, I was bound to see him one day anyway. so how's Binnie, you guys still together?", Felix asked changing the subject. "We got engaged last year, he now works at the station as his uncle's deputy sheriff ", he said gleefully, causing Felix to smile happily for him.

"That's amazing Hyunjin, congratulations, I knew you guys would get married someday", Felix stated joyfully. "Yeah, I thought so as well about you and Chan", Hyunjin suddenly said. Felix's happy grin faded again as he looked away, feeling shame and regret for leaving them without an explanation.

"What happened Lix, where were you all this time. we were so...so worried and hurt when you just up and disappeared. Even Chan nearly fought your parents requesting for answers but they said they didn't know, but somehow we knew they were lying. we even had help from Binnie's uncle at the station in putting out missing posters...what happened... why did you leave us like that, especially Chan?", Hyunjin asked in a sad high pitched tone, causing Felix to bawl out his eyes again.

"I know I shouldn't have, but I had to Hyunjin, I was just so scared. You and Chan were gone for training that whole weekend and I couldn't reach ya'll, so I just ran, but Hyunjin I was really planning to call you all and explain before coming back after things died down. look, can we please leave, I don't feel right standing out here, I will explain everything, I promise", he pleaded with Hyunjin who breathed out lightly before nodding and grabbing his duffel bag for him.

"I... Is Chan coming with us", Felix anxiously asked him. "No, he just rode in one of his horses while I drove my truck. He couldn't believe it when I told him, so he said he wanted to come see for himself", Hyunjin replied in a sad tone. "I don't blame him, besides, I need more strength to apologize to him and explain everything", he told Hyunjin who gave him a quick nod as he led Felix to the parking lot.

........
BACK IN CHINA (Yibo's Villa):

With tears still falling from his eyes, Yibo was seated on his bedroom floor while drinking from the half empty bottle of scotch at his villa. He was quietly scrolling through pictures on Felix's phone that was the only thing retrieved in the ocean during the search.

The phone suddenly vibrated, showing an unknown number he didn't recall. He frowned from irritation, thinking it was another colleague at the agency wishing him their condolences. Finally deciding to answer it, he placed it on speaker

Yibo: What....

Unknown: H..hi there, is this Felix's brother?...

Yibo squinted his eyes while looking down at Felix's phone and at this unknown woman's statement, before deciding to speak.

Yibo: Felix never had a brother, who the f*ck are you?...

Unknown : Oh, forgive me, he said he leaved with his brother, so I thought....

He clenched his jaws in anger at learning that his late boyfriend didn't acknowledge him as his lover to others.

Yibo: Look here b*tch, Felix had 2 friends I knew of, so again I ask you, who the f*ck are you and how did you get this number?.....

Unknown: I.. i'm sorry, I'm Sue Yun, I met Felix during our lessons at the swimming school. He said he leaved with his brother and I got his number from the modeling agency....

Yibo's frown faded. His eyes blinked a couple of times with no expression on his face as his heart began to race.

Yibo: Did you just say.... swimming school?...

Unknown: Yes.....my goodness Felix. He was so beautiful, sweet, quiet and very private about his life. Even after we became friends, he still didn't give me his number. But I do recall him mentioning that he leaves with his brother after I told him I leave with my husband.

Yibo's eyes stopped blinking as he intensely stared at the phone. Tears were falling from his now red and puffy eyes as his heart raced.

Unknown: Are you still there?....

Yibo: Co...continue.....

Unknown: Oh okay, well I was just shocked hearing about his missing body 3 days ago and being pronounced dead this morning. I was also extremely confused when they announced it was from drowning, because Felix had already been moved up to advanced swimming less....

Yibo suddenly dropped the phone from his trembling hand and quickly stood up not being able to breath. The room felt like it was spinning while he could still hear the caller on the phone calling out, "Hello... Hello, are you still there... Hello?".

He grabbed the bottle of scotch on the floor with his trembling hands, gulping it all the way down. Yibo then clutched his chest and took deep breaths as his beating heart began to calm.

After slumping down onto the floor again, he gazed at the phone next to him before slowly taking it with his semi trembling hand, placing it on his ear, "Send me the location to that school !"....

Tbc.....