One Shots| Stray Kids

The Quiet Between Us (Hyunlix)

Hyunjin stared at the ceiling, the soft hum of the air conditioner the only sound in his small apartment. The room was dimly lit by the streetlamp outside, casting a faint glow through the curtains. He should have been asleep by now, but his mind refused to rest. He was thinking about Felix again. As always.

It wasn't supposed to be this complicated. Felix was his best friend. The one person who had seen him at his best and worst. They had spent years together, moving through their lives like parallel lines—always close, but never touching. It had been fine. More than fine, actually. He had told himself that having Felix in his life, even just as a friend, was enough. But lately, it wasn't.

Hyunjin sighed, turning over onto his side, pulling his blanket tighter around him. He couldn't get Felix out of his head—the way his smile made something in his chest flutter, the way he spoke softly when they were alone, the way his laughter filled the quiet spaces between them. Every time Felix touched him, even casually, it felt like electricity sparking under his skin. It had been getting harder and harder to pretend that it didn't affect him.

The worst part was, Hyunjin wasn't sure if Felix felt the same. There were moments, sure. Glances that lingered a little too long, touches that seemed more intentional than they should have been. But Felix never said anything. Neither of them did. They just stayed silent, trapped in this unspoken tension that had grown between them over the years.

Hyunjin's phone buzzed on the nightstand, pulling him from his thoughts. He reached over, blinking at the screen in the dark.

Felix: You up?

Hyunjin's heart skipped a beat. It was late—past midnight, and Felix never texted him this late unless something was wrong. He quickly typed back.

Hyunjin: Yeah. What's up?

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

Felix: Can I come over?

Hyunjin hesitated, his thumb hovering over the screen. He wasn't sure why, but the text felt heavier than usual, like Felix was asking for more than just a place to crash. Still, Hyunjin didn't hesitate long.

Hyunjin: Sure. Door's unlocked.

He tossed his phone onto the bed and sat up, running a hand through his hair. His heart was racing now, a nervous anticipation building in his chest. He hadn't seen Felix in a few days—they'd both been busy with work and hadn't had the chance to hang out. But it wasn't just the time apart that had him on edge. There had been something brewing between them lately, something unspoken that Hyunjin couldn't quite put his finger on.

A few minutes later, there was a soft knock at the door. Hyunjin got up, his heart pounding in his ears, and opened it to find Felix standing there, looking as unsure as Hyunjin felt. His hair was slightly messy, like he'd been running his fingers through it, and he was dressed in a simple hoodie and sweatpants. He looked tired, but there was something else in his eyes too—something vulnerable.

"Hey," Felix said softly, stepping inside.

"Hey," Hyunjin replied, closing the door behind him. "Everything okay?"

Felix shrugged, but he didn't look at Hyunjin. He just stood there for a moment, staring at the floor, his hands shoved deep into his pockets. "Yeah. I just... I didn't feel like being alone tonight."

Hyunjin's chest tightened at the words. He knew that feeling well—wanting to be around someone, but not knowing how to ask for it. Felix was usually the one who offered comfort, always there with a smile or a joke when Hyunjin was feeling down. But tonight, it was different. Tonight, Felix was the one who needed something.