Caught In-between Love & Hate

10. Friendship Dynamics.

Morning, Felix's Room

Felix's eyes crack open, wincing as the harsh morning sunlight slices through his curtains and hits him square in the face. A throbbing headache pulses behind his eyes, and he feels the lingering haze of last night's drinks-a foggy, heavy weight in his mind. Everything feels off-kilter as he sits up, and the room sways slightly, amplifying the dizziness.

He groans, pressing his fingers to his temples in an attempt to dull the pounding. But as he blinks, fragments of yesterday start to creep back in, and his stomach twists. Panic stirs, clawing its way up as memories flood his mind.

Just as he feels his heart racing, he spots a bright yellow sticky note on his phone. He picks it up, squinting to focus, and in the familiar handwriting of Minho and Chan, it reads:

Good morning, Felix. We know yesterday was rough, but please don't panic. Just get ready and come down to the dining table for breakfast. We'll talk it over then. Love, Minho and Chan.

Felix sighs, clutching the note a little tighter. He lets out a slow breath, the tension in his chest easing just a bit. "Thank God for them," he mumbles to himself, grateful.

He stretches his arms and rolls his shoulders, bending side to side to loosen up his stiff, aching muscles. In the bathroom, he brushes his teeth slowly, thinking back on yesterday and grumbling about all the things he didn't get to do: updating his social media, managing emails, and opening his PR boxes. I'll get to it later. First school, then this mess, he decides, rolling his eyes in frustration. "How dare they ruin my day," he mutters, catching his own expression in the mirror and smirking slightly. Future me can deal with it.

Dining Room

With a deep breath, Felix leaves his room and heads downstairs, following the smell of breakfast. He finds Minho and Chan sitting at the table, a beautiful spread laid out-warm toast, fresh fruit, and coffee steaming in the morning light. The moment they see him, they smile warmly.

"Good morning!" they greet in unison.

Felix's face lights up, and he hurries over to embrace them, feeling the warmth of their support. He sits down, glancing at them with a mixture of shyness and guilt. "I'm... sorry. For yesterday," he begins, his voice low. "For all the mess, the drinking, and making you worry."

Minho reaches out, gently stopping him. "You will do no such thing. You're my little brother. You don't apologize for being human and going through things."

"Exactly," Chan adds, nodding firmly. "We love you, and we're happy to be here for you. So... whatever it is that's been bothering you, just tell us."

Minho leans forward, a soft smile playing on his lips. "Yes, please, please, please tell us what happened yesterday."

Felix takes a deep breath, gathering his thoughts. "I... got a message yesterday. From Cathy." He hesitates, feeling a shiver run through him as he recalls her words. "She said it's not over yet. That I still owe them, that they lost everything because of me. She's saying they'll find out where I moved to and... they're going to sue me. If I don't 'fix' what I supposedly broke back in Australia, she's going to make sure everyone knows everything. She'll expose me to the news, to everyone."

Chan's jaw tightens, and he practically spits out, "You didn't fucking break anything. These people almost ruined you." He opens his mouth to continue, voice rising, "How dare they-"

But Minho reaches over, placing a calming hand on Chan's arm. "Chan, calm down," he says gently before turning his gaze back to Felix. His voice softens, but his eyes hold a steady determination. "Felix, whatever she's trying to do, you know we'll be here for you. You're not alone in this."