ache | lee felix

chapter 20 '✦ ˑ ִֶָ 𓂃⊹ nerves

From the mind of Stella

︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿︵

Lix and I decided to avoid the dread of the outside cold from the café and take the bus back to my house after a few hours of rants and endless yapping about everything under the cloud-covered sun. The warmth of his shoulder against mine settles kindly into my being as we look quietly out the window at the snow-covered buildings passing.

I rest my head on his shoulder and close my eyes for a minute, looping my arm around his to increase the comfort of the position, and for my own benefit.

It's incredible how much time has come and gone as we live and grow together as friends and... whatever we are now. Not that I'm assuming we are anything more. My secret wishing hasn't made me entirely delusional quite yet. But I don't doubt the possibility of it growing beyond platonic at the moment.

It's hard to differentiate romantic affection and sentimental acts; it's the blurriest line. I'll gladly extend and accept both acts for the time being. Until I give in. Or he does. That is, if he feels it too.

I open my eyes slightly, seeing my initial resting on his chest out of my peripheral. I want to stay together, whatever that may entail.

"Do you mind if I rest at yours for a bit? I'm a little too tired to walk back." He says.

"Of course," I reply, fiddling with the buttons on the sleeve of his coat, "You can nap if you want, I'm not doing anything tonight."

"Thanks." He returns his eyes to the window before returning it to me, "Our stop is next."

I raise my head from his shoulder to check. Reaching my arm across him to pull the wire, I catch his gaze and keep it within my hold even after pulling. Testingly, I stay in front of him, slowing my return to his side by giving him a soft smile. He returns it, staring back intently. A blush creeps up on my cheeks, one too strong to hide, but I wear it in front of him with pride still.

I drop my head back onto his shoulder, keeping the smile on my face as he turns his head back to the window. He takes hold of my hand, and quite hesitantly, he tangles his fingers with mine.

My stomach does cartwheels, and it's not just car sickness this time. I suppress my giggle by scrunching my nose. This is so cute. You're making me feel so special, so giddy. Like you want me to be close to you. You want me to be WITH you. Affection or sentiment. I don't care. I love this feeling.

⋆ ˚｡⋆୨♡୧⋆ ˚｡⋆

"You're going to the thing on New Year's Eve right?" Lix asks me. He's laying on his stomach on my bed, propped up on his elbows scrolling on his phone. I'm sitting on the floor, resting against the side of my bed, doing the same.

"Huh?" I look up at him behind me, "What thing?"

"This," He reaches an arm in front of him, around my head so I'm able to see the phone in front of me, "He told me to invite whoever."

"What? I didn't get an invite!" I say taking the phone from his hand to examine the half-assed party flier obviously made off of Microsoft Paint, "Who even made this?"

"Minho. It's his party."

"What?!" I zoom up on the location listed on the flier, and it's true, "Why the hell didn't he send me this?"

"He probably knows we're together right now. Figured I already told you."

"Hm," I say, handing the phone back to him, "Why is he throwing a party? Is he inviting a lot of people or something? That's so....grown for us."