Baby I'm yours

Chapter 5

Felix took a deep breath as his mother’s arms wrapped around him tightly, the warmth of her embrace making him feel both comforted and torn. The scent of home, mixed with the familiar sweetness from the shop, flooded his senses. His sister, with tears brimming in her eyes, stood by, unsure whether to laugh or cry.

"Lixie... You've lost so much weight. Are they not feeding you there?" His mother’s voice cracked as she pulled back slightly to cup his face, searching his eyes for answers.

Felix forced a smile. "I'm fine, Mom. Just... busy with work."

He wasn't about to explain the turmoil brewing inside him, the constant ache in his chest from Hyunjin’s cold distance, or the suffocating feeling of being nothing more than a servant. Not here. Not now.

His sister finally rushed forward, throwing her arms around him. "You idiot! You couldn’t call more often?"

Felix chuckled softly, though the weight in his heart remained. "I’m sorry. I’m here now."

Changbin quietly stood a few feet away, watching the reunion with a soft smile, his presence grounding Felix. After a few moments, Felix stepped back, rubbing his eyes to stop the flood of tears threatening to spill again.

"Let’s get you inside, Mom. It’s chilly out here," he suggested, opening the door to the shop and ushering his family in. His sister grabbed his hand as they all walked in together.

As they settled inside, the warm atmosphere of the small shop enveloped them. Felix could almost forget the life he'd left behind, even if it was just for a moment. The soft glow of the lamps, the chatter of customers, the scent of freshly baked goods—it was all too perfect. Yet, deep down, Felix knew that this peace was only temporary.

﹏

Meanwhile, across town, Sam stared at the chessboard in front of him, replaying Jia’s words in his head. His brows furrowed in frustration.

"The pawn... that bodyguard," Sam muttered under his breath, gripping the edge of the table. He couldn’t understand how someone like Hyunjin—a man who barely spoke, who rarely showed emotion—could have any weakness at all. But his mother was never wrong. Hyunjin must be hiding something.

Sam exhaled, trying to clear his thoughts. "So what? I get rid of this pawn, and Dad finally sees me?"

Jia’s smirk widened. "It’s not just about getting rid of him, son. It’s about taking control. Once you have Hyunjin under your thumb, your father will have no choice but to see your worth."

Sam’s eyes darkened with determination. "And you really believe this bodyguard—this Felix—is the key?"

"More than you know," Jia replied, pacing slowly around the room. "He’s already deep under Hyunjin’s skin. The boy may not realize it yet, but Hyunjin’s attention is split, and that’s where you make your move."

"Fine," Sam said, picking up the pawn on the chessboard and rolling it between his fingers. "I’ll play along. But if this Felix is really in my way, then I’ll make sure he disappears."

Jia’s smile was sharp, her eyes gleaming with the thrill of the game. "Good boy. Just remember... in chess, the queen’s moves are the most dangerous. But if you play it right, even a pawn can become king."

Sam grinned darkly, his fingers tightening around the chess piece until his knuckles turned white. "I’ll make sure he knows his place."

﹏

At Felix’s home, night had fallen. Felix sat by the window, staring out at the quiet street. The soft hum of conversation from the kitchen, where his mother and sister worked, was a comforting reminder of how much he had missed this. But his thoughts drifted to Hyunjin—his young master, the man he was bound to by duty and something more painful that he couldn’t quite admit to himself.

He shouldn’t be thinking about him. Not when he was finally home.

But every time he closed his eyes, he saw Hyunjin’s cold, unreadable expression. Every time he tried to relax, the memory of his master’s voice crept into his mind.

"Why didn’t you come to see me before I left?" Felix whispered to himself, the question lingering like a ghost in the room. The hurt he tried to bury resurfaced, the feeling of being nothing more than an afterthought gnawing at him.

His thoughts were interrupted by the soft chime of the doorbell. Felix turned, surprised to see Changbin walking in, his expression a little more serious than usual.

"Hey, you okay?" Changbin asked, sitting down across from him. "You’ve been staring out that window for hours."

Felix nodded, forcing a smile. "Yeah, just... thinking."

"About him?" Changbin’s tone was gentle, but Felix couldn’t help but wince at how easily his friend could read him.

Felix sighed. "It’s stupid, isn’t it? I’m here with my family, but all I can think about is..."

"Hyunjin," Changbin finished for him. "It’s not stupid, Felix. You care about him, even if you won’t admit it."

"I’m just his servant, Binnie. Nothing more," Felix said, his voice quieter now. "I shouldn’t care."

Changbin leaned back, crossing his arms. "I don’t think you’re just a servant to him. But you have to figure out what you want, Lix. Are you going to keep letting him control your life, or are you going to live for yourself?"

Felix looked out the window again, the weight of Changbin’s words sinking in. He didn’t have an answer, but something inside him stirred—a quiet, rebellious thought that maybe, just maybe, he deserved more than what he’d been given.

But what did more even look like?