Embers of Hope// Hyunlix

Chapter - 3

The dim lights of the bar flickered overhead as Felix downed another shot. He could feel the familiar warmth of the alcohol sliding down his throat, dulling the edges of his thoughts. It was a Friday night—time to unwind, to forget. At least, that's what he told himself.

Seated beside him were his closest friends, the people who'd been there through the ups and downs of his life. Jisung, with his ever-playful grin, was already halfway through his cocktail, while Minho sat next to him, quietly sipping his drink. Seungmin, always the more grounded of the group, swirled his glass thoughtfully, observing Felix closely.

"So, how's married life, Felix?" Jisung asked with a teasing tone, leaning forward.

Felix's jaw clenched at the mention. He didn't want to talk about it. The mere thought of Hyunjin, back home, probably sitting alone in their room, filled him with frustration. It wasn't Hyunjin's fault entirely—he knew that—but everything that had happened between them still stung.

"It's the same," Felix muttered, shrugging. "Not much to say."

Minho glanced over at him. "You should try making it work, you know. Hyunjin—he's not the one who caused all that."

Felix's grip tightened on his glass. He didn't want to hear that. He didn't need anyone telling him how to deal with his own mess. Especially when it came to Hyunjin.

"I didn't ask for this," Felix snapped, his voice low but sharp. "This marriage was never something I wanted."

Jisung raised his eyebrows. "Man, you're still bitter about that? It's been five years. You could at least—"

"I said, I didn't ask for this," Felix interrupted, more forcefully this time.

Seungmin leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. "Felix, no one's saying it's easy. But you can't keep punishing him for something he didn't do."

The words hung in the air between them, a silent reminder of what had happened all those years ago. Felix didn't respond, simply taking another swig of his drink. He didn't want to talk about Hyunjin. He didn't want to think about him. But it was impossible to ignore.

Jisung tried to lighten the mood. "Okay, fine, no more marriage talk! Let's focus on the important stuff—like who's buying the next round?"

Felix forced a laugh, pushing the thoughts of Hyunjin and the tension at home out of his mind for the moment. Here, with his friends, he could pretend everything was fine. Just for a little while.

Hyunjin stood in front of the familiar door, his hand hovering over the doorbell. It had been a while since he visited his brother, Jeongin, and Chan. He took a deep breath and finally pressed the button, hearing the chime echo inside the house.

Moments later, the door swung open, and Jeongin appeared with a bright smile. "Hyung! You came!" His voice was full of warmth and excitement, something that immediately eased the tension in Hyunjin's chest.

"Of course I did," Hyunjin replied with a small smile of his own. "I needed to get out of the house for a bit."

Jeongin's eyes softened as he took in his older brother's slightly tired appearance. He knew exactly why Hyunjin needed a break. Without a word, he stepped aside and let Hyunjin inside. The smell of something delicious hit him immediately, and Hyunjin raised an eyebrow.

"Chan's cooking again, isn't he?" Hyunjin asked, trying to lighten his mood.

Jeongin laughed. "Yeah, he insisted on making dinner. He's been in the kitchen for hours."

As if on cue, Chan popped his head out from the kitchen doorway, a wide grin on his face. "Hyunjin! You finally made it. Hope you're hungry because I made way too much food."

Hyunjin smiled, feeling the warmth of being surrounded by people who cared about him. "I could eat," he admitted, though his appetite had been low lately.

They all gathered around the small dining table, Chan serving up the food he had so meticulously prepared. As the evening progressed, Hyunjin felt a sense of normalcy, something he had been craving lately. The laughter between Jeongin and Chan was comforting, almost like an escape from his life with Felix, which had become increasingly suffocating.

"So, how have things been with Felix?" Chan asked cautiously, though his tone was gentle, not pushing too much.

Hyunjin paused, pushing the food around on his plate. "It's... the same. He's out with his friends right now. I didn't want to be alone, so I thought I'd come here."

Jeongin gave him a sympathetic look. "Hyung, you don't have to keep pretending everything is okay. You can talk to us, you know."

"I know," Hyunjin whispered. "But it's hard. Felix barely talks to me, and when he does, it's cold... distant. I thought, after we got married, things would get better. But... I don't know."

Chan reached across the table and placed a comforting hand on Hyunjin's arm. "You don't have to handle this on your own. We're here for you, always. Felix... he's been through a lot, but that doesn't mean he has the right to treat you like this."

Hyunjin nodded, though he wasn't sure how much more he could say. He didn't want to drag down the mood, but he also felt a deep sense of loneliness. Being with Jeongin and Chan made him realize how much he missed having a connection with someone—something he didn't have with Felix anymore.

They continued talking about lighter topics, trying to steer away from the heavy atmosphere that had started to settle. For a while, Hyunjin managed to forget about his troubles, laughing along with his brother and his friend, grateful to have at least some form of family who cared about him.

As the night grew late, Hyunjin glanced at his phone. Felix hadn't called or texted, not that he expected him to. Still, a part of him ached, wishing for even the smallest sign that Felix might care.