Echoes of the Alley

39 - Heartfelt Confessions

The apartment was alive with chatter and laughter as the entire group gathered for a much-needed movie night. After the stress of rehearsals and the emotional weight of the past week, Chan had insisted on a break, and for once, everyone agreed. Blankets and pillows were scattered across the living room floor, snacks filled every available surface, and the faint scent of popcorn lingered in the air.

Jisung leaned back against the couch, his guitar resting on the floor beside him. He was still hesitant to join the banter fully, but the warmth of the group made it a little easier to relax. Felix sat cross-legged next to him, balancing a bowl of popcorn on his lap while playfully arguing with Jeongin over the best horror movies.

"Okay, but hear me out," Felix said, pointing a piece of popcorn at Jeongin. "A movie can be scary and good. You just have terrible taste."

Jeongin gasped in mock offense. "Excuse me? I have excellent taste! You just don't appreciate true art."

"True art?" Seungmin interjected, raising an eyebrow. "You're defending that one movie with the killer rubber duck. I think your argument's invalid."

Laughter rippled through the room as Jeongin pouted dramatically. "It's called Duck Doom, and it's a masterpiece."

"Sure it is," Minho said dryly from his spot on the couch, earning another round of chuckles. He glanced at Jisung, who was smiling faintly, and a flicker of satisfaction crossed his face. He had been trying to lighten the mood without drawing attention to it, and seeing Jisung a little more at ease felt like progress.

On the other side of the room, Changbin leaned against the armrest of the couch, his deep laugh filling the air as Hyunjin reenacted a particularly dramatic scene from a previous movie night. Felix couldn't help but glance at him, his heart skipping slightly at the sight. Why does he have to be so... him?

Felix shook his head, trying to focus on the conversation, but his thoughts kept drifting back to Changbin. It wasn't like this was the first time he'd noticed how Changbin's laugh lit up the room or how effortlessly he could make everyone feel at ease. But lately, it was all Felix could think about.

Eventually, Chan managed to wrangle everyone into picking a movie—though not without a lot of arguing and a near-rock-paper-scissors battle between Jeongin and Seungmin. The lights dimmed, and the opening credits rolled, but the room didn't quiet completely. Whispers and the occasional joke punctuated the film, keeping the atmosphere light and comfortable.

Felix found himself sitting closer to Changbin than he'd realized, their shoulders brushing occasionally as they adjusted their positions. Each touch sent a spark of nervous energy through Felix, and he kept sneaking glances at Changbin, who seemed completely oblivious.

"Felix, you okay?" Changbin asked suddenly, his voice low enough not to disturb the others.

Felix startled slightly, his cheeks flushing. "What? Yeah, I'm fine."

Changbin tilted his head, his dark eyes studying Felix for a moment. "You've been quiet. That's not like you."

Felix forced a laugh, waving him off. "Just tired, I guess."

Changbin didn't look entirely convinced, but he let it go, turning his attention back to the movie. Felix let out a quiet breath, his heart pounding. Pull it together, Felix.

—
About halfway through the movie, the group's attention started to wane. Jeongin and Seungmin began their usual banter, dragging Chan into their arguments, while Hyunjin amused himself by balancing a popcorn kernel on Minho's head. Jisung chuckled quietly, leaning into the comfortable chaos, while Felix quietly slipped out onto the balcony for some air.

The cool night breeze was a welcome relief, but it did little to settle the whirlwind of emotions inside him. He leaned against the railing, staring out at the city lights, his thoughts racing. Why does this feel so impossible? He's my friend. I shouldn't be feeling this way... right?

The sound of the sliding door made him tense. He turned to see Changbin stepping onto the balcony, holding two mugs of tea.

"Hey," Changbin said, offering one of the mugs. "Thought you could use this."

Felix hesitated before taking it, his fingers brushing Changbin's for the briefest moment. "Thanks."

Changbin leaned against the railing beside him, the silence between them comfortable but charged. "You've been acting weird all night," Changbin said after a moment, his tone light but curious. "What's going on?"

Felix's grip on the mug tightened. "Nothing. I'm fine."

"Felix," Changbin said, turning to face him fully. "Come on. Talk to me."

Felix's chest tightened. He wanted to say something, to let it out, but the words felt stuck. He shook his head, laughing nervously. "It's really nothing. Don't worry about it."

Changbin frowned but didn't push. Instead, he waited, his quiet presence steady and patient.

The silence stretched, and Felix felt the weight of it pressing down on him. His heart pounded, his thoughts racing. And then, before he could stop himself, the words slipped out.

"I like you."

The confession hung in the air, and Felix froze, his face heating as the realization of what he'd just said sank in. "I—I didn't mean—" he stammered, stepping back. "Forget I said that. I'm sorry."

Before Changbin could respond, Felix turned and bolted back inside, the mug of tea still clutched in his hands. He could feel his pulse in his ears, his thoughts a chaotic mess of panic and regret.

Changbin stayed on the balcony, staring after him in stunned silence. Slowly, a small smile tugged at the corners of his lips. He likes me.

—
Inside, Felix stood in the small hallway near his room where he couldn't be seen by the others, muttering under his breath. "Why did I say that? Why couldn't I just keep my mouth shut?"

The sound of footsteps made him stop. He turned to see Changbin approaching, his expression unreadable. "Felix," Changbin said softly. "Can we talk?"

Felix's stomach churned, but he nodded, bracing himself. "I'm sorry," he blurted out before Changbin could say anything. "I didn't mean to make things weird—"

"You didn't," Changbin interrupted, his voice calm but firm. He stepped closer, his gaze steady. "You didn't make anything weird, Felix."

Felix stared at him, unsure how to respond. "I—I don't know what to say."

"You don't have to say anything," Changbin said, a small smile breaking through. "I like you too."

The words hit Felix like a wave, and for a moment, he couldn't breathe. "You... do?"

Changbin chuckled, reaching out to ruffle Felix's hair. "Yeah. I do."

Felix let out a shaky laugh, the tension in his chest finally easing. "I thought I ruined everything."

"You didn't ruin anything," Changbin said warmly. "If anything, you just made my night."

Felix's cheeks turned pink, but he couldn't stop the grin spreading across his face. "So... what now?"

"Now," Changbin said, looping an arm around Felix's shoulders, "we go back to the group before they come looking for us."

Felix nodded, his heart lighter than it had been in days.

When they rejoined the others, Jeongin immediately noticed their flushed faces and smirked. "Did we miss something?"

"None of your business," Changbin said with a teasing grin, ruffling Jeongin's hair as he walked past.

Felix ducked his head, his smile shy but genuine. For the first time in a long time, he felt like everything might actually be okay.

———————

— A/N: Stop because they'e so cute. See me personally, I would be Felix in this situation

— Recommended song for this chapter: "Ripples" by Beabadoobee