Because Of... || Seo Changbin

JANUARY 9TH- Part 4

I woke up sweating, the sheets tangled around my legs, and the familiar weight of despair clung to my chest. Without realizing it, tears began to roll down my face, hot and unbidden.

Miria... oh my God. I couldn't save her yet again. This was no dream. This was my new reality. I grabbed my phone from the nightstand, my hands trembling as I checked the time.

January 9th, 3:17 AM.

Still reliving the same day. I was glad Miria was okay this time, but the helplessness was eating me alive. I needed help. I needed to talk to her. I needed...Felix.

I glanced over at Felix's bed. Empty. Disappointment washed over me. He must be in the living room, lost in his games. Quietly, I slipped out of my room, careful not to wake Chan and Han, who were peacefully snoring away.

As soon as I stepped into the hallway, I almost bumped into Hyunjin, who looked like he had just been dragged out of a dream.

-"Huh? Why are you up so early? You need the bathroom?" he mumbled, rubbing his eyes.

-"Oh, no. I just kinda woke up. I was gonna chill with Felix because I can't go back to sleep," I replied, trying to sound casual.

-"Oh, okay... for a second, I thought you were planning my assassination," he said, stifling a yawn.

-"Why would I do that? Then I'd have to kill myself too. Till death do us part!" I said with a playful grin.

-"Yeah, no thanks. I'm technically your mother, remember?" He rolled his eyes.

-"A little incest here and there doesn't matter... and I have mommy issues anyway, so could I have a kiss, please, Mommy?" I said, puckering my lips dramatically.

-"Eww! No way!" He grimaced, stepping back as if I were contagious.

"Come on, just one little kiss!" I teased, taking a step closer.

Hyunjin spun around and dashed toward the bathroom, moving like he was in a race.

-"Hyung, you're so weird! Don't talk to me for the rest of the day!" I heard him shout as he slammed the door.

I turned and saw Felix chuckling on the couch, his laughter cutting through the silence of the night.

-"You guys are so weird! This is not what I expected to hear at 3 AM on a Wednesday," he said, shaking his head, a grin plastered across his face.

-"Felix! I actually came out to talk to you," I said, walking over to him.

"Yeah? If it's to tell me to go back to bed, then-"

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. Sleeping is for the weak. You'll sleep when you die," I interrupted, trying to sound playful, but the weight of my emotions seeped into my voice.

-"Wow. Do you actually say that THAT often?" Felix raised an eyebrow, a mix of curiosity and concern crossing his features.

-"Felix..." I hesitated, the words catching in my throat, my heart racing.

He didn't believe me last time. But who knows if he'll believe me this time?

-"Hyung, are you okay?" Felix asked, a worried expression creeping onto his face.

-"Yeah... I just need to talk to you about something. I know it's gonna sound weird. You'll probably not believe me, but—"

-"Hey, Hyung. It's okay; you can tell me everything," he said, his smile warm and encouraging.

-"Well... I... Keep reviving the same day."

-"Huh? What do you mean?" Felix furrowed his brow, trying to process what I was saying.