Embers of Hope// Hyunlix

Chapter - 22

The morning light filtered into the kitchen, casting a soft glow on the countertops. Hyunjin moved around quietly, his movements careful and deliberate as he prepared breakfast. He had been hesitant to go back to work after the incident and extended his leave, unsure if he was ready to face everything again.

Felix lingered by the doorway, watching Hyunjin from a distance. Every time he saw Hyunjin lately, a pang of guilt struck him. He had caused so much pain—pain that was written all over Hyunjin's face in moments like these, even when he was trying to hide it.

Felix took a breath, stepping closer. "You're still not going to work, then?" he asked, trying to sound casual but knowing the weight of the question.

Hyunjin didn't look up. "Not today. I... I just need a little more time," he said softly, stirring the eggs in the pan. His voice carried a heaviness that Felix could feel in his bones. Hyunjin's strength, his endurance—it amazed Felix. But at the same time, Felix hated how much Hyunjin had to endure in the first place.

He watched as Hyunjin worked in silence. There was a certain fragility in the air around him now. It wasn't about being weak; it was about how much he had been forced to carry, and Felix hated himself for adding to that weight.

Felix reached for his coffee mug, moving closer to the counter where Hyunjin stood. Their hands brushed for just a second, but it was enough to make Hyunjin freeze. Felix noticed the subtle way Hyunjin's breath hitched, the way his body tensed. Hyunjin pulled back, his face turning away slightly, his cheeks flushing despite the tension.

Felix's heart clenched at the sight. Hyunjin's reaction wasn't out of fear, but caution—the kind that came from deep wounds. Felix knew Hyunjin didn't trust touch as easily anymore, and yet, in that brief second, Felix caught the pink tinge of Hyunjin's cheeks, the way his lips pressed together to contain a blush.

It made Felix pause. That small reaction—Hyunjin's shyness despite everything—sparked something in him, something soft and protective. He liked seeing that side of Hyunjin, the vulnerable side he hadn't appreciated before.

Hyunjin quickly pulled back, taking a step away as if trying to gather himself. "I'll be fine," Hyunjin muttered, barely loud enough for Felix to hear. The words were thin, as if Hyunjin didn't fully believe them himself. He was trying to convince himself that he could handle everything—that he didn't need anyone's help.

But Felix wasn't sure Hyunjin should have to bear this alone anymore. He had been too wrapped up in his own hurt, too afraid of the past to realize that Hyunjin had been suffering silently. The distance Felix had kept between them was no longer a safe place—it was now a cage keeping them apart, keeping Felix from offering the support Hyunjin deserved.

Felix hesitated before responding. "Just... take your time," he said gently. He wasn't sure what else to say. The truth was, he didn't know how to be the person Hyunjin needed. Not yet.

Hyunjin stood there, eyes downcast, hiding the inner turmoil. It wasn't just about work. It wasn't just about moving past the incident. His mind was constantly racing with doubts. He knew Felix was trying to help him heal, but every time Felix got closer, every time Felix reached out, that familiar fear crept back in.

What if everything came crashing down again? What if Felix got tired of him, of his trauma, of his brokenness? What if something worse happened, and Felix started hating him like before?

Hyunjin knew Felix didn't love him. And that was the hardest part. Because no matter how much Felix tried to make things better, Hyunjin knew there was no guarantee Felix's feelings would change.

Hyunjin felt himself faltering under the weight of those thoughts, but he kept quiet, swallowing them down like he always did. He had been through enough. He didn't know if he had the strength to endure another heartbreak, especially if it came from Felix.

Meanwhile, Felix's thoughts were spinning. The drive to work was filled with silence, but his mind was loud with everything he hadn't said. He had realized a while ago that Hyunjin could never have been the person responsible for what happened in the past. Felix had known deep down that Hyunjin wasn't a murderer, wasn't the person everyone had made him out to be.

But admitting that meant facing how horribly wrong Felix had been. And that was the hardest part—accepting that he had caused the very person he was supposed to protect so much pain. Felix clenched the steering wheel tighter. He had been hiding behind his guilt for too long, avoiding the truth because it hurt too much to face.

But how could he keep doing that now? After everything Hyunjin had been through, how could Felix stay distant when Hyunjin needed him the most? Felix wasn't sure if he could fix what was broken between them, but one thing had become painfully clear: he couldn't keep shutting Hyunjin out.

As Felix parked outside his office, he realized the walls he had built around his heart had started to crumble. He wasn't ready to face all the emotions flooding back yet, but he couldn't deny them anymore. Hyunjin needed someone to stand by him—to help him heal. And Felix was determined to be that person, whether or not he knew how to love Hyunjin the way he deserved just yet.

For now, all Felix could do was stay close, watch over him, and hope that in time, they would both find the healing they so desperately needed.