F.R.I.E.N.D.S ?

Season 1 Part 13 (Stronger & Harder)

As Felix's feelings for Rachel grew stronger, he found himself in a difficult position. He didn't want to risk their friendship, but every day spent with her made it harder to hide his emotions. To avoid letting anything slip, Felix began to distance himself. He canceled some of their usual hangouts, giving excuses like being too tired or already having plans with his friends.

Whenever Rachel invited him to bring his friends along for their hangouts, Felix would brush it off, telling her, "They're too tired, and honestly, I am too. Let's catch up tomorrow in class instead."

At first, Rachel didn't think much of it. She assumed Felix was just busy or stressed with school. But after weeks of this pattern, she began to grow concerned, wondering if something was wrong. Rosé and Jennie noticed the change too. Felix, who was always eager to spend time with them, was now avoiding them.

One afternoon, after Felix canceled yet another hangout, Rosé and Jennie decided to confront him. They caught him alone after class, walking toward the campus café.

"Felix, wait up!" Jennie called out, her voice sharp.

Felix turned around, a tired look on his face. "Hey, what's up?"

Jennie and Rosé exchanged a glance before Jennie dove straight into it. "Why are you canceling all our plans lately? You've been avoiding us for weeks."

Felix sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I've just been tired. Classes are a lot right now, and I've got some stuff going on with my friends."

Rosé crossed her arms, raising an eyebrow. "Come on, Felix. You've been tired for a month? You're not fooling anyone."

Felix didn't respond right away, his eyes flicking between the two of them. He knew Rosé and Jennie could see through him.

"I know you're head over heels for her," Rosé said, her tone softer this time.

Felix's shoulders slumped as he let out a heavy sigh. "I... It's complicated."

Jennie's eyes softened. "Just tell her already, Felix. This avoiding her thing isn't going to help."

"I can't," Felix muttered, shaking his head. "I don't want to ruin what we have. To her, I'm just her best friend. Nothing more."

Rosé placed a hand on his arm, her voice gentle but firm. "I don't think so, Felix. I think you're more than that to her. You don't see the way she talks about you, how much she cares. It's not just 'best friend' material."

Jennie nodded in agreement. "Yeah, and honestly, this avoidance is making things more obvious. If you keep this up, Rachel's going to notice something's off, and it'll hurt her more than telling her the truth."

Felix looked conflicted, his gaze dropping to the ground. "But what if she doesn't feel the same? I can't risk losing her. I don't want things to get weird between us."

Rosé sighed. "You're overthinking this. If you keep bottling it up, you're only going to make it harder for both of you. Rachel deserves to know how you feel."

Felix stayed silent for a moment, the weight of their words sinking in. Deep down, he knew they were right. Avoiding Rachel wasn't the solution, and he hated the thought of hurting her.

"I just... I don't know how to tell her," Felix finally admitted, his voice quiet.

Jennie offered him a small smile. "You'll find the right moment. But just don't let it go on like this. She values you too much to be left in the dark."

Felix nodded, though the nervous knot in his stomach didn't ease. He appreciated his friends' advice, but the thought of confessing his feelings to Rachel terrified him. Still, as he walked away from the conversation, Felix knew one thing for sure: he couldn't keep pretending forever. He would have to face his feelings eventually-before he risked losing her, one way or another.