𝐄𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐢𝐬𝐦; 𝐡𝐲𝐮𝐧𝐥𝐢𝐱

36‣ 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙬𝙝𝙮

"When can I go home?"

The words come out more like a dagger to Hyunjin's heart than a statement, it's pain in words, physical and raw. So much that Hyunjin could hardly breathe. His eyes stay on his glass but his soul has left his body long ago. It's not too big of a question, barely gloomy enough to be addressed as such but it's still so significant it crushes Hyunjin underneath its weight. He looks up from his wine glass, the red of it painted behind his eyelids and coloring the twilight-shaded Felix a crimson tint

"Hm?"

Hyunjin had heard it, had heard it completely fine. This was not a request for Felix to speak clearer, not a question to ask him what he had said. It was more so the fact that Hyunjin could scarcely think anymore and the wine was taking over him. Five glasses of red wine would get anyone drunk, considering this was Hyunjin, it may have gotten him a bit tipsy. Felix had already been looking at him and had likely noticed the way Hyunjin's hazy eyes looked in this light but if it cracked his heart the way it did Hyunjin's; no sign would have made it apparent

"When can I leave here? be back home" Felix elaborates even if he doesn't have to as he attaches his lips to the wine glass and Hyunjin can feel his throat go dry. He stays quiet for seconds, just staring at Felix blankly before he clears his throat and sits up straight, setting away his glass and letting the content inside of it swirl slightly as he runs a hand through his blond slicked-back hair. Felix can see the discomfort in his stance but doesn't comment on it as he licks his lips and traces a finger around the rim of the wine glass, trying to give Hyunjin some comfort by looking away

"You can leave anytime"

Hyunjin's answer isn't what Felix would have been expecting but he doesn't know himself what he truly was expecting. The blond man looks up, eyes sharper than the last time he looked up and Felix feels something inside of his chest loosen a knot only to tighten a deeper one. "However, there will be some guards around you at all times from onward" Hyunjin's tone is clear, much better than it has been all this time and Felix is far too confused by his statement to notice his tone

"I'm sorry for the discomfort it will cause, Felix. I know you will not appreciate it, but I need to make sure you're completely safe, I've made a mistake believing keeping you away from me will keep you safe and I will not make that mistake again"

Hyunjin doesn't move when he speaks and Felix's finger against the rim of the glass goes limp, like he's too taken by Hyunjin's words and can barely react. Hyunjin looks down, ebony eyes shining like black amethyst in this light before he looks up again and gulps. The phantoms linger like bad perfume but Felix slices through their existence with reluctant words "Away from you?" Felix's eyes glimmer a little, different from how they have been this entire time and Hyunjin feels his breath slip far from him

The question seems vague and ill-descripted but Hyunjin can understand what Felix is trying to ask. He doesn't have to spell it out for Hyunjin to know. "That evening when I dropped you at your apartment, I knew something was wrong, that's why I wanted to have you away from me so if anything happened you would not be involved" The memory comes back in Hyunjin's mind like a bitter taste of something long forgotten. His gaze drops to the wine glass on the table as if he's trying to collect his composure and not lose himself to anger

A lick is added to his lips and Felix is reeling in his mind, unable to stick to one question and comprehend its answer because everything seems so confusing. "I wouldn't have guessed that would be my worst mistake" Hyunjin's voice sounds so gloomy and it seems so contradictory to the way he presents himself, this untouchable mafia lord that has no weakness. There were no lies in that persona, but Felix can't help but want to believe that this is the reality