strangers

다섯

hyunjin made his way into the storage.
it was something after seven, seven being the closing time.

all the employees, except the cleaners who were just doing some after-close cleaning and security, were leaving and it was fine for hyunjin to leave as well.
so, he went to pick up felix.

he made his way to the spot Felix was at, stopping in his tracks when he saw that Felix was sleeping, his head laying on his arms that were on the table.

hyunjin took a moment to look at felix closely.
he changed a little since they last saw each other.
not that much tho, he was still looking like hyunjins love, except he got a little more mature in the face. he also looked like he lost some pounds too.
yet, it was him.
the guy hyunjin loved with his whole heart.

he traced Felix's face with his eyes, admiring the beautiful constellation that the little stars on Felix's face were making.
he never met anyone with prettier freckles.
he could be looking at his face the entire day.

hyunjin stepped a little closer, and gently traced Felix's freckles with his thumb. but after few seconds, he snapped out of it and realized that what he was doing wasn't exactly appropriate.
so he just gently shook felix to wake him up.
"felix, wake up. let's go home."

felix let out a whine, before he slowly opened his eyes.
"what?"

"it's past seven, the gallery is closed. let's go home."
hyunjin said.

felix nodded and slowly got up, still a little sleepy and he took his things, before following hyunjin out of the storage, leaving the painting behind.

•~•

the car ride home was silent.

felix was taking a few glances at the boy next to him. he looked more mature now, and he also got more masculine, but the biggest change was his hair.

when felix saw him for the last time three years ago, he had blonde, longer hair. now, they were brown and shorter. it looked good on hyunjin tho, felix had to admit that.

after parking in his driveway, hyunjin got out of the car, Felix following him.

"why are you parking your car in your driveway when you have a garage?"
Felix asked him, a little confused.

hyunjin shrugged.
"I don't know. I park my car in the garage during storms, or during the summer when it's really hot, but other than that, I don't think it's necessary. when it rains a little I have a free cleaning, and I like the way the car smells when it's left out overnight."
he said, unlocking the door and walking inside, felix following him.
"I will order us dinner. what do you want?"

felix shrugged.
"depends. from where are you ordering?"

"from this place that makes fried chicken. it's so good, and you have many options there. look at the menu and choose what you want."
hyunjin said, giving felix his phone.
"I'm gonna go take a shower in the meantime."

felix nodded and hyunjin made his way upstairs, while Felix looked at the menu. hyunjin wasn't lying when he said they had a lot of options. there were so many types of fried chicken that it overwhelmed him a bit. what will he get?

about ten minutes later, hyunjin made his way downstairs, changed into a comfortable sweatpants and a shirt.
"so, did you choose?"

"no, i can't decide between these two."
felix sighed.
"tell me, one or two?"

"uhm, two?"

"lemon chicken it is."
Felix said, clicking on the item before returning the phone to hyunjin.
"what are you getting?"

"cashew chicken. I'm getting it every single time I order from here, and it's always so good."
hyunjin said, finishing the order.
"it should be here in twenty minutes."

felix nodded.
"I will go take a shower in the meantime."
he said, getting up and walking upstairs.

•~•

their food arrived, and the two boys were currently eating it in a rather awkward silence.

felix couldn't help but look at hyunjin.
his features were just...too beautiful?

"felix why are you looking at me like that?"
hyunjin asked, looking at felix.

felix immediately looked back at his food.
"I'm sorry, it's just that...."
he started playing with his food with the fork.
"your hair is different."

hyunjin nodded.
"yeah..."
he said, before looking back at his food.
"but my feelings for you aren't."

Felix's eyes widened, as he looked back at hyunjin.

hyunjin sighed.
"I just...I wanna know what happened to you."
he said, looking back at felix.
"why did you leave me without any explanation?"

felix stayed silent.

"do you know how worried I was when I came home and I read that letter? I was panicking, and when I tried to call you, you blocked my number. I...I just need the closure, felix. I need to know what happened, and why you did what you did."
hyunjin said.

yet, felix didn't say anything.
he could hear the hurt in hyunjins voice.
he knew that hyunjin couldn't move on from that pain, because he never got the explanation.

"felix, please."
hyunjin whispered.
"just tell me."

but instead, felix got up and quickly made his way upstairs.

hyunjin sighed, holding his head with his hands in frustration.

"I totally fucked up, didn't I?"
he whispered to himself with a groan.

he looked back at his, and Felix's food.
he lost all his appetite.
but felix didn't eat that much.

•~•

hyunjin stayed downstairs for few more hours, watching a movie.

he checked the time.
ten thirty.
and Felix still didn't come down to finish his food.

hyunjin sighed.
it was time to go to sleep.

he took the plate with Felix's food and made his way upstairs. he took a deep breath, before knocking on Felix's door.

"felix, are you sleeping?"
hyunjin asked.
he didn't get any answer.

hyunjin sighed.
"look...I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you, it's just..."
he placed the plate on the floor.
"please finish your food, you didn't eat that much, and I don't want you to go to sleep hungry."
hyunjin said, before he went into his room with a sigh.