Toy Boy | Chanlix

Echoes of the Night

Chan sat at his desk, textbooks and papers spread out before him, but his mind was far from focused. The unsettling events of the past few days were hard to shake, and the unknown number's ominous messages weighed heavily on his mind. He stared at the screen of his phone, waiting for any sign of life from Felix. He had messaged Felix earlier, and the lack of response was gnawing at him.

Finally, his phone buzzed. The tension in his shoulders eased slightly as he saw Felix's name light up the screen. He opened the message with a mix of relief and apprehension.

Felix: Hey. Sorry I've been out of touch. Been dealing with some stuff.

Chan's fingers hovered over the keyboard as he thought about how to reply. He didn't want to push Felix too hard, but he also needed answers.

Chan: It's okay. I've been worried about you. Are you alright?

There was a brief pause before Felix's response came through.

Felix: Yeah, I'm fine. Just needed some space. Thanks for checking in.

The conversation felt distant, almost mechanical. Chan wanted to bridge the gap between them, to bring back the connection they had shared, even if it was fleeting. He decided to shift the topic slightly.

Chan: I'm here if you need to talk. I know things have been crazy lately, but you don't have to deal with it alone.

Felix's response was quicker this time.

Felix: Thanks, Chan. I appreciate it. Maybe we can hang out sometime soon, get away from all the madness for a bit.

Chan felt a flicker of hope at the suggestion.

Chan: I'd like that. Let me know when you're free.

As he set his phone down, feeling a mix of emotions, a notification popped up from his sister, Hanna. Curious, Chan opened it and saw that she had sent him a picture. It was taken in a dimly lit club, the kind of place that reeked of wealth and power. Hanna was in the foreground, dancing with some friends, but it was what—or rather who—was in the background that caught Chan's attention.

Felix was there, leaning against the bar, talking to a man in a sleek black suit. The man looked wealthy, exuding an air of power and control that sent a shiver down Chan's spine. The way Felix was engaged with him, almost too close, made Chan's stomach twist with unease.

His fingers tightened around his phone as he stared at the image. Why was Felix with someone like that? What was going on behind the scenes that Felix wasn't telling him?

His thoughts spiraled until he couldn't take it anymore. He needed to talk to someone, to distract himself from the growing pit of worry in his chest. Without hesitating, he called Seungmin.

"Hey, Chan," Seungmin's voice was warm and familiar, instantly easing some of the tension Chan had been carrying.

"Hey, can you come over?" Chan asked, trying to keep the strain out of his voice. "I just... I need some company."

There was a brief pause on the other end, then Seungmin replied, "Of course. I'll be there in ten."

True to his word, Seungmin arrived shortly after, his presence like a soothing balm to Chan's frayed nerves. They settled into Chan's room, the familiar comfort of their friendship filling the space.

"Thanks for coming over," Chan said, tossing a baseball back and forth between his hands. "I just needed to get out of my head for a bit."

"No problem," Seungmin replied with a smile. "I'm always here for you, you know that."

They chatted casually, the conversation drifting from school to their favorite music, until it naturally landed on one of Seungmin's favorite topics—baseball.

"I'm thinking of trying out for the baseball team again," Seungmin admitted, his eyes lighting up with excitement. "It's always been my dream, you know? To make it big one day."

Chan smiled, genuinely happy to see Seungmin so passionate. "You should go for it. You've got the talent and the drive. I know you can do it."

Seungmin chuckled, a hint of bashfulness creeping into his expression. "Thanks, Chan. It means a lot to hear you say that."

The conversation flowed effortlessly between them, a welcome distraction from the darker thoughts lingering in Chan's mind. But even as they talked, Chan couldn't shake the image of Felix with that man in the club. The unease gnawed at him, refusing to be silenced.

As the evening wore on, Chan could sense that Seungmin wanted to say something more. There was a slight hesitation in his voice, an unspoken weight behind his words. But before Seungmin could gather the courage to speak, they were interrupted by Chan's mother calling out from the kitchen.

"Chan, dinner's ready! Seungmin, you're welcome to join us!"

Chan glanced at Seungmin, a smile tugging at his lips. "Wanna stay for dinner?"

Seungmin nodded, though the momentary tension in the room hadn't fully dissipated. "Sure, I'd love to."

They headed to the kitchen, where the smell of home-cooked food filled the air. The table was set with a spread of dishes, and Chan's mother greeted them warmly, clearly pleased to have Seungmin over.

Dinner was a relaxed affair, filled with light-hearted conversation and laughter. Seungmin blended in easily, his polite demeanor winning over Chan's mother, who was more than happy to have an extra guest at the table.

After dinner, they returned to Chan's room, the atmosphere more comfortable now. Chan felt a warmth in his chest, grateful for Seungmin's companionship. It was moments like these that reminded him he wasn't alone, no matter how overwhelming things seemed.

As the night grew later, Chan found himself offering Seungmin a place to crash for the night. "You can stay over if you want. We've got a spare bed."

Seungmin's eyes lit up. "Really? I'd like that. Thanks, Chan."

They settled in for the night, talking quietly as the lights dimmed. Seungmin finally seemed ready to share whatever had been on his mind earlier, but before he could, Chan's phone buzzed again. The sound cut through the stillness of the room like a knife.

Chan tensed, dreading what he might find. He unlocked his phone and saw another message from the unknown number.

Unknown: Pathetic. You're just a pawn in my game. Don't forget it. I love to see you know your place. Good night!

Chan's blood ran cold. The message was like a slap in the face, its words dripping with malice. Whoever this person was, they were determined to remind Chan that he was under their thumb, no matter how hard he tried to break free.

Seungmin noticed the change in Chan's expression. "What is it? Another message?"

Chan nodded, his voice barely above a whisper. "Yeah. It's... it's nothing good."

Seungmin's brow furrowed with concern. "Chan, maybe you should tell someone about this. It's getting worse, isn't it?"

Chan shook his head, the fear and frustration bubbling up inside him. "I don't know what to do, Seungmin. It's like they're watching my every move. I can't even—" His voice cracked, the weight of everything suddenly crashing down on him.

Seungmin moved closer, placing a reassuring hand on Chan's shoulder. "You don't have to face this alone, okay? We'll figure it out together."

Chan looked into Seungmin's eyes, finding a calm reassurance there that he desperately needed. The bond between them felt stronger in that moment, a lifeline in the midst of the chaos.

But as comforting as Seungmin's words were, the looming threat of the unknown number's messages was impossible to ignore. The darkness that had crept into Chan's life seemed to be tightening its grip, and no matter how much he tried to fight it, it was clear that the worst was yet to come.

P.S. the next one is on 25th.