𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐨? {hyunlix}

Pt. 19

Felix swung open the school doors, taking in the sight of teenagers laughing and messing around in the bustling hallways. He couldn't help but feel a pang of longing.

I wish I had loads of friends. The thought lingered as he imagined how fun it would be to have a close-knit group. Instead, his days were spent alone, occasionally texting Han, hanging out with his parents, or searching for Hyunjin.

At his locker, Felix took out some books and shoved them into his black backpack. The bell rang, and groans filled the corridors as students shuffled toward their classes. Just as Felix was about to enter his classroom, a girl barged into his shoulder.

"Oh—sorry, that's my fault. You didn't drop anything, did you?" Felix asked, shaken. The girl shot him a scornful look.

"Fuck off, creep. Watch where you're going next time," she sneered, prompting laughter from the kids around her.

Felix's eyes welled up with tears. You're such a crybaby, he scolded himself, wiping his eyes gently with his sleeve as he took his seat. The teacher, Mrs. Baek, walked in, carrying a tall stack of papers. The entire class groaned in unison.

"Quiet!" Mrs. Baek screamed, silencing the room instantly.

"Today, you will be taking a test. I don't want to hear any complaints, or else you'll be sent home with a note from the headmaster. Understand?" The classroom remained silent. "Understand?!" she shrieked again, her voice almost shattering the windows.

"Yes, Miss!" the students called back reluctantly.

"Right. You have until the end of the lesson to complete your test. Please hand it in as soon as you're finished. Anyone who doesn't finish by the bell will complete it during lunch."

Mutters of discontent rippled through the room as she handed out the test papers. The room soon filled with the sound of scribbling pens and pencils. Normally, Felix would have been done in no time, but today, his mind was foggy. He hadn't slept well the night before, his thoughts consumed by guilt over leaving Hyunjin that night. What had happened to him since then?

After about forty minutes, with only five minutes left to go, Felix finally finished his test. The bell rang, and everyone hurriedly shoved their papers into Mrs. Baek's hands, eager to escape. Felix, taking his time, scraped his chair along the hard wooden floor and added his paper to the messy stack, neatly arranging it as he felt bad for the staff who had to deal with it.

Mrs. Baek smiled at him, and he gave her a small wave before heading to his next class. As he approached, he noticed the colorful posters with famous quotes and book covers decorating the walls. The teacher, Miss Ara, stood by the door, greeting students as they walked in.

"Good morning, Felix!" she said sweetly.

"Good morning, Miss Ara!" Felix replied with a wide smile, taking a seat at his single desk in the back.

He pulled out his workbook and important papers, along with his color-coordinated pens. Once everyone was seated, Miss Ara began her lecture. But Felix struggled to stay awake, his eyes drooping as he rested his head on the table. Before he knew it, he had dozed off.

A pen suddenly plummeted towards his head, waking him with a start. Hysterical laughter followed. Embarrassed, Felix straightened up, trying to focus on the lesson.

"That's all for today's lesson. Please make sure to revise for your test next week, guys—it's very important for your grades!" Miss Ara called out as the bell rang. The students raced out, but Felix stayed behind, untangling the biro from his hair.

Finally free of the pen, he tossed it into the small bin by his desk. Slinging his bag over his shoulders, he smiled at Miss Ara and said goodbye before heading to the cafeteria. On his way, he noticed a large crowd gathering, filling the entire block with cheers and shouts. Curious, he squeezed through the throng until he could see what was happening.

His heart pounded as he witnessed the scene unfolding before him. The sound of fists connecting with flesh echoed through the air, each blow landing with a sickening thud. Felix watched in a mix of horror and sorrow as Hyunjin relentlessly pummeled another boy, his rage consuming him. It was a brutal display of power and aggression, and Felix knew he had to intervene.

With a firm yet gentle grasp, Felix stepped between them. "Hyunjin, a word?" he said, his voice calm, hoping to defuse the situation. Sweaty and panting, Hyunjin and the other boy reluctantly paused, their eyes still burning with hostility. "Come on," Felix urged, guiding Hyunjin toward the bathroom, careful not to provoke him further.

"Hyunjin, what's going on? You could have killed that poor guy!" Felix exclaimed once they were alone.

Hyunjin just stared at him, his face emotionless. Felix let out a long breath, feeling a deep sense of pity. "Is this because of what happened the other night? Like I said, my mom understands. She even apologized! And about the... you know...thing. We can talk it out, I—"

"I told you to leave me alone, didn't I?" Hyunjin spat, walking out of the bathroom and ignoring the people trying to get his attention, asking what had happened.

Felix stood in front of the mirror, tears streamed down his face as he began to sob.

What am I doing wrong?