Steal His Heart - Hyunlix

Captured

"I know in the art class you said that you used art to escape, but what happened? Woo didn't tell me much about when he was younger.." Felix asked hesitantly, honestly not wanting to upset Hyunjin by asking.

The older seemed to collect his thoughts.

"I'm sorry if that's too personal.." the younger dismissed his own question, regretting having asked now.

"No, it's not. I just don't want to share anything on his side, so I'll stick to mine. I don't mind talking about it." He smiled reassuringly. "When I was... 15?... I caught my dad cheating on my mom. He begged me to keep it a secret and said that I would be tearing our family apart if I told anyone about it..." He took a pause and sighed.

Felix looked at him with a sympathetic pout.

"I started to drink a lot and hide in the woods to smoke. Woo was my best friend, so we did a lot of stupid shit together." He chuckled. "I had a girlfriend back in high school who was with me through all of it. In the span of one summer, my mom found out about the cheating and kicked my dad out of the house, and my girlfriend left me because I was always drunk and high."

Felix grabbed Hyunjin's hand in an attempt to comfort him. "You don't have to tell me if you don't want to..." He reassured.

"It's alright.. you're easy to talk to.." Hyunjin squeezed Felix's hand. "My mom ended up getting a string of jackass boyfriends that viewed me as a good for nothing asshole. They weren't far off if I'm being honest." He chuckled painfully. Felix gave his hand another squeeze to ground him, making Hyunjin smile softly while looking down at their hands.

"There was one night where I was particularly wasted and stupid. If it weren't for Wooyoung, I would have died that night. The morning after that, I walked in on one of my mom's assholes in boxers raiding our fridge. I was so angry about everything, including the fact that Wooyoung saved me..."

Felix let out a shaky breath.

"That was the first time that I painted, actually. Although, painted was a generous term." Hyunjin chuckled. "I basically let out all of my anger out on a canvas and it turned out ridiculously ugly, but it was what I needed."

Felix smiled softly and subconsciously started rubbing his thumb along the back of Hyunjin's hand.

"I've been drawing and painting ever since. I ran out of money very quickly and stopped being able to get drugs or alcohol. I also hated being at home, so I would spend hours every day with the art teacher at our school. She taught me basically everything I knew. She was the one that helped me get a portfolio together so I could get my scholarship."

Felix stopped them in their tracks and pulled Hyunjin into a hug. For the first time, Hyunjin didn't freeze up at the contact. He returned the hug with comfort and rested his chin on Felix's shoulder.

"I'm sorry you went through all of that." Felix spoke softly.

"I'm not." Hyunjin reassured. "I doubt I would have found art, or be able to appreciate beauty, without it."

"Spoken like a true romantic, as always." Felix smiled genuinely as he let go of the hug. 

"Well, what about you, huh?" Hyunjin asked.

Felix looked at him with a raised brow. "Wednesday was literally about as artistic as I get." He laughed.

Hyunjin scoffed amused. "No, what was it like for you growing up?"

Felix hummed in understanding with a slight eye roll.

"Honestly, it wasn't anything too crazy. I mean, growing up with Minho as a brother was a trip in itself." Felix laughed.