Deep End | Hyunlix

24

Changbin sat in his car, parked a short distance away from the warehouse, his eyes scanning the area. He'd been there for a while now, observing Hyunjin and Felix's arrival, but still, his mind was racing with questions. What was Hyunjin doing with Felix? What could they possibly be doing in there? The whole situation felt off, but Lee Know had insisted he follow Hyunjin, and as always, Changbin obeyed, though he wasn't comfortable doing so.

Why am I following him? he thought, glancing at the warehouse. What if this leads to trouble? He glanced nervously at the empty streets surrounding the building.

Lee Know had made it clear it was for Hyunjin's safety, but something didn't sit right with Changbin. The more he watched, the more uncomfortable he felt. Why did he want me to follow him?

Changbin shifted uneasily in his seat when his phone buzzed in the cupholder. He snatched it up quickly, reading the message from Lee Know.

Any updates for me?

Changbin bit his lip, unsure of how to respond. He knew he was lying, but he wasn't sure how much he could tell Lee Know without causing trouble.

Not really. Still watching, nothing to report yet, he quickly typed, hoping it would buy him some time.

The silence made Changbin uneasy. Finally, Lee Know's texted back. Okay, keep me updated.

Sounds good. Will do, Changbin replied, quickly hanging up before Lee Know could ask further questions.

He let out a sigh, but his unease didn't go away. He glanced back at the warehouse once more, deciding to get a closer look. The nervous energy in his stomach only grew as he approached the building. What exactly was Hyunjin doing here with Felix? Changbin moved quietly, staying out of sight, and surveyed the area for another entrance.

As he walked, he noticed a few high windows and a door at the back of the building. The high windows immediately made him groan inwardly. Of course, he thought, why would they be at a convenient height for me to see through? He looked around for something that could help him get a better vantage point and spotted a barrel nearby.

After some struggling, Changbin finally managed to push the barrel under one of the windows, sweating from the effort. Why is this so heavy? he muttered under his breath. He climbed up, trying to steady himself on the edge of the barrel, and stretched on his tiptoes to peer through the window.

He could see inside the warehouse, and his eyes widened at the sight. It was filled with paintings and sketches. This must be Hyunjin's studio, Changbin realized. It made sense now why he'd never known about it, Hyunjin was a private person. As he continued to scan the room, his gaze landed on Felix, sitting on a stool, while Hyunjin worked in front of a canvas.

Why would Hyunjin bring him here? Changbin wondered, Doesn't he think Felix might recognize him from before? His curiosity was piqued even more when he saw how comfortable they seemed around each other.

Suddenly, Changbin's phone buzzed again. It was a message from Lee Know.

I know you're lying. Tell me what you found before I pull up your location and drive there myself.

Changbin's heart skipped a beat. He had hoped he could keep the lie up, but now Lee Know was calling him out. What do I do? His mind raced, torn between loyalty to Lee Know and what he had just witnessed.

His phone buzzed again, another message from Lee Know.

Don't keep me waiting.

Changbin's anxiety spiked, and he was torn. Do I lie again and risk him pulling my location, or do I tell the truth and risk Hyunjin finding out I'm watching him?

As he sat there, frozen, a noise inside the warehouse caught his attention. He peered back through the window, his eyes going wide. Inside, Hyunjin and Felix were kissing.

What the hell?! Changbin thought, completely taken aback by the scene unfolding in front of him. He never expected things to go this far.

His phone buzzed again, Lee Know's impatience evident in the text:

You have five seconds to reply.

Changbin's fingers hovered over his phone, heart racing. Without thinking, he quickly typed:

Hyunjin has just been following Felix. Doesn't seem like anything's happening today.

He hit send before he could think twice, heart pounding in his chest. Shit, what have I done? He glanced inside once more but the two men were no longer in view. Realizing he had overstayed his welcome, Changbin scrambled down from the barrel and rushed back to his car.

As he drove away, he felt the weight of what he'd just done. What have I gotten myself into? he thought.

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808 words