The stars in the sky

Chapter 3: Constalt

"I want him to meet Jeongin"

I could see Felix stiffen out of the corner of my eye as soon as he spoke. something was not right about Jeongin if he reacted that way. I turn my head toward Felix, giving him a concerned look.

He's glaring at Hyunjin who seems completely unbothered by the harsh look, "Who is Jeongin?" I hesitate, apparently, I made the wrong decision by asking since Felix quickly turned to instead shoot his glare at me.

Hyunjin seemed ecstatic at my question, "Jeongin is only the love of my life, my little fox" he has this weird voice going on, a mixture between sarcastic and a baby voice.

"Just look at what happened to Jeongin,"

I remember Chan's words from before, just what did he do to this Jeongin guy? I start to sweat a bit. A dead giveaway of my nervousness. I step a little closer to Felix when Hyunjin starts to slowly inch closer.

"We'll be leaving now," Felix left no room for arguments as he yanked me toward the exit of the forest. I turn my head back, and Hyunjin is just standing there. Not moving anymore.

"I'll get him, Just like I got Jeongin!" he yells after us, disappearing before either of us could react. Felix grips my hand harder pulling me the rest of the way out of the forest.

"So, who is Hyunjin anyway?" I decided to break the silence, fed up with him never talking even though he kept dragging me places.

"He's no one," he quickly spits out, walking faster as he keeps frantically looking behind us. When I looked back moments ago he wasn't there anymore.

Well ok then

~~

The rest of our walk back was filled with silence and not the comfortable kind. The awkward kind. Anytime I would try to start a conversation Felix would just ignore me. Or shoot me a look that gets me to shut up.

"Hey, Hannie?" Felix yells for Jisung as soon as we enter the cafe, the man immediately exiting the kitchen. His smile drops when he sees the fearful look on Felix's face.

"What happened Lixie?" He's got concern written all over his face, reaching out to gently hold Felix's hand for moral support.

"Can Seungmin stay with you for a little while?" He takes in a shuddered breath, "I need to take care of some things." I wonder how bad of a person Hyunjin is to have Felix this shaken up.

"Oh, of course. he's safe with me," Jisung squeezes his hand in reassurance, quickly hugging Felix. I didn't even get to say anything before he turned around and sprinted out.

"So, you wanna help me today?" Turning back toward Jisung, he's giving me that awkward 'stare into your soul' look he gave me the first day.

Almost feeling a little scared to say no I agree, slightly smiling when Jisung breaks out into a bright grin. Jumping up and down before he grabs my wrist and tugs me toward the back.

This is gonna be a long day

~~

"No no no Seungmin, like this" he corrects me again, I've been here for a few hours now and I've managed to incorrectly stir the cookie dough more times than I could imagine.

It's a surprise I haven't broken anything yet, I've messed up just about everything on the menu, and I scared people away by accident.

It's not my fault I didn't know the horn worked

And I've almost stepped on that dang rat thing a million times, it's insisted on being glued to my feet the whole time. Not even leaving me when I rapidly shook my foot. Hoping to fling it off.

It just held on tighter and gave me that same 'head is empty' look Jisung gives. Sighing dramatically, I get back to counting the money so I can put it in the jar.

And yes apparently this town is so safe Jisung just leaves the money unprotected in a jar, a jar labeled 'money', it's... very subtle.

Ding

I look up from counting to see Felix making his way toward the counter, "Oh, Hey Fel-" I get cut off by Felix walking straight past me. Not even saying hello.

I watch him speed walk into Jisung's office forgetting to shut the door all the way. I shouldn't I slowly walk over to the door and listen in.

"He's not gonna stop, Chan said he'd put more guards up to keep watch. It's not safe out there for him." I hear Felix say, I've never heard someone sound so concerned. I hear a chair shift.

"I think it would be safest for Seungmin to stay at your house, considering the hotel is in the woods." I hear Jisung speak, sounding much less nervous than Felix.

"That's true, and I don't know what I would have done had he wandered into Hyunjins' home instead of Changbins," Felix says, his voice getting closer to the door. I quickly walked back toward the counter before they could catch me eavesdropping.

"Hey Seungmin," I hear Felix come up behind me, he puts his hands on both of my shoulders turning me toward him.

"How about you sleep over at my house?" Felix gives me this almost pleasing smile.

'It would be safest'

"Sure" He beams a bright smile and drags me away from the counter.

~~

The walk to Felix's house is quicker than I remember, but maybe that's cause I was lost in thought the whole time. Why is Hyunjin dangerous? and why can't I stay at the hotel?

Now I'm laying on Felix's couch trying not to nap while I can hear him rummaging around in his kitchen for something to make for dinner. He mentioned wanting to make bread with grape jam.

"Hey Felix," I've decided to kick the bucket and ask about Hyunjin even though he put it off. All I get is a grunt for a reply. I don't even know what the proper question would be, obviously, he's something scary since Felix is adamant about staying away from him.

"Is Hyunjin dangerous?" All rummaging stops, and quiet footsteps come closer. I sit up as he takes a seat on the couch in front of the one I've claimed.

"Hyunjin is," he sighs, seeming nervous to talk about him. "Hyunjin is a sneaky man, he's manipulative, narcissistic, and greedy." He spits out harshly.

"He somehow managed to manipulate a fox hybrid into moving into his den with him and mating him." He shuffles around on the couch,
Sniffling slightly as he covers his legs with a purple blanket.

"We thought that there was maybe the hope of getting Jeongin out but now he's baby-trapped the poor thing and he'll never leave." Baby trapped? Things really are different here.

"If there's one thing dragon shifters are, it's possessive. They're very possessive of their treasure, and babies are very treasured to dragons." He speaks with such sorrow about Jeongin. This must be weighing very heavily on all of them.

"He had the litter just a few months ago, I haven't seen Jeongin since the mating happened. I imagine Hyunjin isn't letting him leave that den anytime soon." Felix says, getting back up to go back to the kitchen.

"That's why I don't want you anywhere near him, who knows what Hyunjin will do with you." And with that the conversation ends, putting me at a slight unease just thinking about him.

~~
Constult

(v.) to act stupidly together