PHONE | Felix ff

Tension

"Welcome to my second home," Felix said, opening the door to a luxurious apartment. I gasped, taking in my surroundings. "Lix, this is—"

"Not enough? I could hire maids, you know. They'll keep you company and help around the house—"

"Lix—"

"Oh, I see. Maybe it's the colors. Should I repaint the walls to something cooler, less warm?"

"Let me talk," I interrupted.

Felix paused, eyes widening as if he hadn't realized he'd been talking over me. He leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed. "Okay, go ahead. What's on your mind?"

I took a deep breath, trying to find the right words. "Lix, it's not about the maids or the paint. It's... it's just that this place—it's a lot. I wasn't expecting something like this."

Felix's expression softened. "I get it. It can be overwhelming. But I wanted you to have everything you need. You deserve it."

I shook my head, stepping further inside. "I know you want to take care of me, but this... it feels like I'm in someone else's life. Not mine."

"It's just until you find your footing," he said softly. "I know it might seem ridiculous, but I can't stand the thought of you being homeless in Seoul. And I can't let you go back to Sydney."

His words hit me harder than I expected. I couldn't help but remember my father—the abuse I had endured. The image of him, looming over me, his hand raised in anger, was vivid in my mind. I flinched instinctively, bracing for the blow that never came.

But then, something warm and gentle brushed against my cheek. I blinked and realized it was Felix, his lips tenderly kissing away my tears. His presence pulled me back to the present, away from the haunting memories.

He slowly hugged me - "I need to go back to my dorm now. The fridge is stocked - can you manage?"

I nodded. He gave a tiny smile and left.

For minutes, I kept wondering: what should I do?

Should I start a solo career? Ugh, that would mean finding a company too.

Should I start my own company? Geez that would be expensive.

In the end, I decided to apply to BigHit, SM, and YG Entertainment. After submitting my applications, I walked over to a nearby bubble tea shop to grab a drink and noticed a 'WE ARE HIRING' sign.

Curious, I stepped inside to take a closer look at the job posting. The shop was bustling with customers, but the sign caught my attention. It listed several positions, including one that seemed like it could be a perfect fit for me. My heart raced a little, wondering if this was a sign—literally—of something exciting ahead.

I immediately walked to a nearby employee and asked her - "I saw the poster- i need this job"

Cara - the manager- walked to me and said "Good because we are hiring too and we are running low on baristas"

-(the next day)-

The bell above the door jingled as the first customers of the day walked in, the soft chime making my heart skip a beat. I quickly wiped my hands on my apron and adjusted the nametag pinned to my chest. "Eva," it read, and I couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed by how stiff and official it looked, especially since I had never been a barista before.

It was my first day at Bubbles & Bliss, the small bubble tea shop tucked between a coffeehouse and a bookstore.

I'd only ever been a customer myself, indulging in oversized cups of matcha milk tea and experimenting with weird toppings like rainbow popping boba and aloe vera. But now, it was my turn to stand behind the counter and figure out the magic of creating these colorful, sugary concoctions.