Attent¡on

⫷8⫸

'10:25'

He glances over at his colleague's face while keeping his eyes on the road ahead. Noticing the other's frowning expression and a sulky pout, Felix can't help but let out a chuckle.

"C'mon Jinnie.. are you still upset over that?"

The addressed one throws a deserving glare at him. "Yes I am! And you didn't even apologise yet.."

"Why should I apologise? I didn't do anything wrong to begin with, did I?" he retorts; putting someone in their place isn't a crime in the Aussie's book.

"Oh, really?" Hyunjin is pretty much annoyed at the point, judging by his tone. "It was me, right? I spilled my expensive wine on the poor guy just because he was staring at me for some time, right?"

Oof, drama queen. Felix still loves him.

"One, he was ogling you. Two, I'm sure it was throughout the dinner. Three, you were clearly uncomfortable by it. Four, the wine was not more valuable than our bonding time. Five, I was jealous and you like it. Si-"

"Okay, enough of your justifications!" the taller says with an eye roll, discontented. "That's not the right way to handle things though. Do you even realise how embarrassing that was? Acting out of jealousy like that is just not it, Lix."

Felix deadpans, "Correct me when you've been through it."

"What do you mean? I do get jealous!" Hyunjin huffs, gazing out the window.

Despite the admission, the shorter can't recall any such moments. "Don't bluff," he murmurs under his breath.

"You don't deny the fact. I was jealous when the waitress flirted with you and much more when she sneaked her number in the bill card... The difference is, I just let it slide, while you can't help but react every time."

Felix stifles a satisfied grin upon hearing the answer, realising they're on the same page. As he pulls into his colleague's driveway, he makes up his mind to shift the conversation, and so the mood.

'10:29'

"Alright, let's end this discussion here. I've got one final thing in store," he says, his voice as shaky as his nerves about what's coming next.

"What's left?" Hyunjin asks in confusion while getting off the car.

Without responding, the questioned one merely steps out of the car, opens the trunk, and grabs all the shopping bags. The taller glances at him with a frown, but he simply gestures towards the house, signaling for him to unlock the door as he makes his way over.

They both step into the pretty boy's house, which is a blend of style and comfort. A wave of nostalgia hits Felix as he prepares to relive a really sensitive moment from the past, at the same time and with the same person. This time, however, he hopes things will run out smoothly, than they did back then.

He drops the bags onto the couch as the taller one follows him inside.

'Now or never.'

Felix takes a deep breath before walking closer to the puzzled male, gripping his shoulders and catching him off guard. As awkward as it appears, the shorter leads him to the exact spot from the past, standing just a few steps from the front door, face to face. Hyunjin tilts his head, looking as clueless as ever, like a lost puppy.

"What are we doing?" he asks, shattering the Aussie's hope that his intentions and actions were obvious.

Knowing his colleague's brain takes a little longer to process things at times, he forgives him internally.

"Just look at me," Felix instructs, earning a quick nod in response.

'Inhale, inhale... Exhale, exhale.'

Though he's been planning this for almost a week, the reality still renders him restless. He's confident about the outcome, yet doubts creep in. A string of what-ifs plays on repeat in the Aussie's mind, though he knows it shouldn't. His heart is racing, hands trembling, and his voice has all but disappeared.

He's aware he probably looks like a fool to the taller since he asked to watch him, but Felix just can't seem to hold his curious gaze. All he does is fumble with his hands nervously.

His eyes dart to the wall clock as his hand slips into the back pocket of his jeans.

'10:40'

Time's ticking away fast, so Felix too paces, rushing into position. Ignoring the other's presence for his heart's sake, he drops to one knee, slight quiver in his hands as he retrieves that significant piece of jewellery from his pocket. Hyunjin's gasp in reaction is audible. He must be surprised by the fact that Felix still has it.

The Aussie's heart pounds, but at last, he lifts his head to finally meet those beautiful eyes, a mix of anxiety and hope swirling within him. He raises the bracelet with a shaky breath, ready to confess.

'10:42'

There's a sudden knock on the door, and Felix gets deja vu. His eyes turn pleading as he silently asks Hyunjin to just keep his attention on him. Dismissing the sound entirely, despite the numerous times it repeats, the Aussie is determined to speak his heart without any interruptions. He's not letting someone ruin the vulnerable moment, unlike the last time.

'10:43'

"Hyunjin.. be mine. I love you, my dumpling."

Instinctively, Felix lowers his head while holding the jewellery out in front of the taller, his words hanging in the air as he waits for either acceptance or something else which he doesn't want.

When no response comes for what feels like an eternity, concern and insecurity make uninvited cameo in the storm of his inner turmoils. Heart sinking, the Aussie manages to look up in search of the other's reaction.

What he sees then throws him off balance,  causing him to stumble as he tries to stand.

"Why are you crying, baby?" Felix asks gently, cupping the taller's tear-streaked face in his hands. To his shock, Hyunjin nearly leaps into his arms, hugging him tightly.

Mind dazed and confused as hell, he wraps his arms around his petite frame, tracing his back with the metal of the bracelet in his clutch, as the shorter finds a sense of comfort in the embrace himself.

'Maybe he's not ready yet.'