lee felix had always been quiet—too quiet for the world around him. His silence wasn’t by choice, but by fate. Born without the ability to speak, he had learned to navigate life in solitude. It wasn’t that he didn’t want friends—he just didn’t know how to make them when words failed him.
That was why, when Jaehyun cornered him behind the school gym one afternoon, felix didn’t cry for help. He simply stood still, gripping the straps of his backpack as Jaehyun sneered.
“Say something, freak,” Jaehyun mocked, shoving him against the cold brick wall.
felix clenched his fists but didn’t fight back. He never did. It wouldn’t change anything.
Before Jaehyun could take things further, a voice cut through the air like a blade.
“Hey. Leave him alone.”
jaehyun turned his head, startled. A tall boy stood a few feet away, arms crossed. His uniform was slightly undone, giving him a careless, confident air. hyunjin. A high school senior.
Jaehyun scoffed. “Mind your own business, hyung.”
“My business,” hyunjin said, stepping closer, “is making sure cowards like you don’t pick on people who can’t fight back.”
Jaehyun hesitated but eventually backed off, clicking his tongue. “Whatever. He’s not worth it.”
As Jaehyun disappeared down the hall, hyunjin turned to felix. “You okay?”
felix looked at him and seemed to guess what hyunjin was trying to say, before nodding, brushing imaginary dust off his sleeves.
“Do you—” hyunjin hesitated. “Can you hear me?” hyunjin signalled his ears, to try to make felix understand.
felix guessed what hyunjin was saying and shook his head.
hyunjin seemed to realize something then—felix couldn’t answer him, at least not with words. He scratched the back of his head, suddenly awkward. “Uh… I don’t know sign language.” he mumble to himself as he tried to make gestures with his hand.
felix gave him a small smile, as if to say that's okay
For the first time in a long while, felix felt something shift inside him. Someone had stood up for him. And not just anyone—hyunjin.
After that day, hyunjin made it a habit to sit with felix during lunch. He’d show felix different gestures to try and talk to him, making up for both of their silences. At first, their communication was limited—nods, smiles, scribbled notes on napkins—but hyunjin was determined.
A week later, he showed up in front of felix, grinning. “Look.” He raised his hands and slowly signed, "hi, felix"
felix’s eyes widened.
hyunjin laughed. "did i do it?" hyunjin tried to gesture
felix nodded, his smile brighter than hyunjin had ever seen.
As weeks passed, hyunjin learned more and more, practicing at home late into the night. He made mistakes, but felix was patient, correcting him with gentle hands.
One evening, as they sat on the rooftop watching the sunset, hyunjin turned to felix. "why did you always sit alone?" he signed.
felix hesitated before replying. "because no one ever tried to talk to me before"
hyunjin’s heart ached.
"well, I'm here now"
felix looked at him, something soft and fragile in his gaze. He hesitated before reaching out, his fingers brushing against hyunjin’s. It was a simple touch, but hyunjin felt his heart race.
Maybe it had started with curiosity. Maybe it was just the desire to protect someone who had been left alone for too long.
But now, hyunjin knew.
Somewhere between learning felix’s language and listening to his silent laughter, hyunjin had fallen for him.
And when felix looked at him with quiet affection, hyunjin hoped—just maybe—that felix felt the same.
