perfect actors|| hyunlix ❀

Chapter 25

The sun was barely peeking through the curtains when I opened my eyes. For a moment, I thought I was still dreaming, the soft rhythm of breathing and the warmth beside me feeling like a distant memory I couldn't quite place. But as my eyes adjusted, I realized the familiar feeling beside me wasn't just the comfort of a dream.

Felix was right there, still sleeping, his body pressed against mine in an unexpected way. My arm was draped loosely around his waist, and his hand was resting on my chest, almost as if he'd sought me out in his sleep.

I froze, my heart skipping a beat as I realized we were... cuddling.

I tried to shift without waking him, but the tightness in my chest didn't fade. I could feel the heat creeping up my neck, a sharp sting of embarrassment rushing to my face. What was this? I glanced at Felix's sleeping face, his features relaxed, mouth slightly open, completely unaware of the position we were in. He looked peaceful. Comfortable.

But me? I was anything but.

I gently slid my arm off his waist, shifting away just enough to create a sliver of space between us. His hand fell off my chest, and he mumbled something in his sleep, like he was reaching out for me even though he wasn't awake.

I rubbed my eyes and took a deep breath, trying to calm the rapid thoughts swirling in my head. My brain was all over the place, but one thing stood out: What the hell are we doing?

I needed to get my head straight before I woke him up.

As quietly as I could, I swung my legs off the bed, standing up and walking to the window. The city stretched out before me, the early morning haze casting everything in a soft, almost dreamlike glow. It felt surreal—the way the morning light made everything seem just a bit unreal. Like nothing that had happened in the last twenty-four hours could possibly be real.

And yet, here I was, standing in a hotel room after a night I still couldn't quite process, my body feeling warmer than usual and my thoughts tangled up in confusion.

A small sigh escaped me as I tried to get some space—mentally and physically—from Felix.

I knew I had to face Yuri today, and that thought made my stomach twist. How was I supposed to talk to her after everything that had happened? After the confrontation? After the vulnerability I'd seen in her... and the pain it caused Felix?

It felt like so much had shifted in such a short time, and yet, here I was, unsure how to navigate the delicate balance of friendship and... whatever this thing was between Felix and me.

Felix stirred behind me, his voice thick with sleep. "Hyunjin?"

I stiffened, but turned around to face him. His eyes were still half-lidded, his hair messily tousled. He looked completely unbothered by what had just happened. But I was a mess inside.

"Morning," I muttered, forcing a smile even though my head was spinning.

Felix rubbed his eyes and yawned, still not fully awake. "Hey, did I fall asleep on you last night?" he asked, completely unaware of the situation. He didn't sound alarmed or even embarrassed. Just casual.

I could feel my face heat up again, and I rubbed the back of my neck awkwardly. "Uh, yeah. Guess you did," I answered, trying to keep my voice steady.

Felix sat up, pushing the blanket off his legs. "Sorry about that. I don't usually... sleep like that." His voice trailed off, and he gave me a sheepish look, like he was waiting for me to say something about it.

I shrugged, trying to make light of it. "It's fine. I just wasn't expecting it."

There was a moment of silence, and then Felix smirked, his eyes narrowing playfully. "If it makes you feel any better, I didn't mind. You're pretty warm."

I raised an eyebrow, catching the teasing tone in his voice. "So, you're saying I'm the blanket now?"

Felix laughed lightly, the sound more carefree than I expected. "Not quite. But I can't say I didn't enjoy the warmth."

Despite my nerves, I found myself laughing with him, the tension between us lifting just a little. But I could still feel the weight of everything on my shoulders—especially the upcoming conversation with Yuri.

"You're still good friends with her, right?" I asked, my voice quieter now.

Felix paused, his expression turning serious for a moment. "Yeah. I think so. But I can't help but worry about her... especially with everything that happened."

"I get that," I said softly. "It's hard to figure out what's real when you don't know what's been forced on you."

Felix nodded, looking away. "Exactly. But I'm going to try to understand. I think that's all I can do."

I didn't have a response to that. Instead, I turned toward the bathroom, needing a moment to wash up and pull myself together. As I splashed water on my face, my thoughts kept drifting back to the situation with Yuri.

It wasn't long before Felix and I found ourselves in the common area of the hotel, where everyone else had gathered. The other couples were chatting, exchanging stories about their favorite moments from the games or discussing their plans for the day. The vibe was easy, despite the lingering tension from the night before.

Yuri was sitting with a group, laughing at something one of the other contestants said, her usual confidence fully restored. I couldn't help but notice the way her eyes brightened when she saw me. She caught my gaze, a flicker of something passing through her expression before she glanced away, as though still unsure of how things stood between us.

I could feel the weight of her stare, and for a moment, I was paralyzed. How was I supposed to act? How could I face her after everything that had happened?

Felix nudged me gently, his voice low. "You should talk to her. She's waiting for you."

I sighed, the weight of his words hanging heavy on me. He was right. I couldn't avoid this forever.

Taking a deep breath, I walked over to where Yuri was sitting, the others parting slightly to make room for me. She looked up as I approached, her expression serious but not hostile.

I stopped in front of her, unsure how to begin.

"I know I've got a lot to make up for," Yuri said, breaking the silence before I could. "But I'm not going to apologize for what happened between us. I made my decisions, and I can't change them."

I wasn't expecting that. Her confidence was still there, but something in her eyes softened as she met my gaze. I could feel the tension in the air, thick as we stood there, both waiting for the other to make the first move.

"I don't expect you to," I said quietly. "But I need you to understand how much that hurt Felix. And me."

Yuri nodded, her gaze dropping for a brief moment, like she was processing my words. Then, her eyes met mine again.

"I didn't have a choice," she said, her voice quieter now. "But I know it doesn't excuse anything. And for what it's worth, I'm sorry."

I looked at her for a long moment, the silence lingering between us before I spoke again.

"Don't apologize to me. Apologize to him," I said, my voice firm but not harsh.

Yuri looked over at Felix, who had been watching from a distance, his expression unreadable. Slowly, she walked toward him, the other couples quietly watching the interaction.

Felix gave her a small nod, the tension easing between them as she reached him.

"I'm sorry," Yuri said again, her voice sincere this time. "I never meant to hurt you."

Felix met her gaze and smiled faintly, the weight of the situation not lost on him.

"I know you didn't," he said softly. "And I think I already forgive you. But just... don't put me through that again, okay?"

Yuri nodded, her eyes softening. "I promise."

And just like that, everything felt a little lighter