HEARTSTRINGS | CHANLIX

14

Chan woke up to the smell of strong coffee and freshly made pancakes. He couldn't help but smile at the thought of Felix preparing food for them. He barely remembered the last time he woke to breakfast already being ready.

It was a lazy Sunday morning, and Chan couldn't be happier. After last night's event, all Chan felt were butterflies at the thought of Felix. He slowly got up from his bed and made his way to the kitchen.

As Chan entered the kitchen, he saw Felix standing by the stove, humming softly to himself, a slight sway in his movements as he flipped the pancakes. The warm morning light streamed through the windows, casting a soft glow around Felix, making the moment feel almost surreal to Chan.

Felix turned around, catching Chan’s gaze, and his face lit up with a bright smile. "Good morning," Felix said, his voice light and full of affection.

"Morning, Lix," Chan replied, his voice still groggy from sleep but filled with warmth. He walked over to Felix and wrapped his arms around his waist, resting his chin on Felix's shoulder. The scent of coffee and vanilla filled his senses, grounding him in the moment. "I hope this is okay?"

Felix leaned back into Chan’s embrace, his hand reaching up to gently ruffle Chan's messy bed hair. "Of course it is, and you’re just in time," Felix said softly. "Breakfast is almost ready."

Chan smiled against Felix’s shoulder, feeling the tension of the past few days melt away in the comfort of Felix's presence. "This is perfect," Chan murmured. "Thank you, Felix. I don’t think I’ve ever felt this... at peace."

Felix turned around in Chan’s arms, facing him fully now, his eyes filled with a tenderness that made Chan’s heart flutter. "You deserve to feel at peace," Felix said quietly. "Especially now."

Chan nodded, feeling a sense of contentment wash over him. Just as Chan and Felix shared that quiet moment together, a small voice echoed from the hallway. "Daddy! Lix!"

Chan looked up to see Evelyn standing at the kitchen entrance, her curly hair wild from sleep, holding her favorite stuffed animal. Her eyes lit up as she saw the two of them together.

"Morning, sweetheart!" Chan beamed, breaking away from Felix to scoop her up into his arms. She giggled as he spun her around, and she planted a sloppy kiss on his cheek.

Felix smiled warmly at the sight. "You hungry, Evie? I made pancakes," he asked, his tone soft as he brushed a few strands of her hair back into place.

"Yes, please!" Evelyn chirped excitedly.

The three of them sat down together at the kitchen table, the morning filled with laughter and light conversation. Felix made sure to cut Evelyn's pancakes into smaller pieces, while Chan poured syrup generously over his own stack, teasing Felix about his more restrained drizzle.

Chan’s heart fluttered as he watched Felix move gracefully around the kitchen, but he couldn’t shake the idea forming in his mind. Evelyn’s day was open, and it felt like the perfect time to ask Felix for something more—something homely.

“Hey, Lix,” Chan started, his voice a little hesitant.

Felix turned around, a curious smile playing on his lips. “Yeah?”