Mischief Managed (Stray Kids Oneshots)

The Quiet Stranger | Lee Felix

It was one of those rare days when you had nothing planned. The sun was shining, a gentle breeze swirled through the trees, and the world seemed to be on pause. You decided to take advantage of the calm and headed to the local park to spend some time alone, away from the usual noise of everyday life.

You found a quiet spot near a large oak tree, the shade just perfect for lounging. The sounds of the city were distant, replaced by the occasional rustle of leaves and the soft chatter of birds. You pulled out a book, but your attention kept drifting. The peace was soothing, but it also made you more aware of your surroundings than you usually would have been.

It was then that you noticed him.

He was sitting a few feet away, under the shade of another tree, with his face buried in a book. His posture was relaxed, but there was a quiet, almost magnetic presence about him. His blonde hair, the slightest bit tousled by the breeze, and the soft way he seemed to immerse himself in the pages made you pause.

Something about his energy was calming, and without meaning to, you found yourself drawn to him. As if he sensed your gaze, his eyes briefly flicked up from his book and met yours. There was a split second of silent acknowledgment before he quickly looked down again, almost shyly.

You smiled to yourself, not wanting to intrude but also feeling the sudden curiosity to get to know the quiet stranger who seemed so out of place in the bustling world.

After a few moments of internal debate, you finally decided to take the plunge. Slowly, you stood up and walked over to him.

"Hey," you said softly, making sure not to startle him. "What are you reading?"

Felix looked up, his brown eyes wide, as if surprised by your approach. He hesitated for a moment, blinking a couple of times before offering a shy smile. "Oh, um... it's just a book about philosophy," he said quietly, his voice soft and soothing, almost like a whisper that perfectly matched the serene atmosphere around you.

You found yourself intrigued, not just by the book he was reading, but by the way he spoke. His gentle nature was undeniable, and there was something about him that made you want to stay and listen.

"Philosophy, huh?" you replied, smiling. "I've always found that kind of stuff interesting. Do you come here often to read?"

He nodded, a slight blush creeping up on his cheeks as if the attention made him a little self-conscious. "Yeah, I like the quiet here. It's... peaceful." He glanced around, as if to reaffirm his thoughts, and then looked back at you. "I don't usually talk to people in the park, though. But... um, you seem nice."

You chuckled at his bashful nature. There was something so endearing about the way he spoke, as though he wasn't used to interactions like this, yet he still made the effort. "I promise I'm harmless," you teased, feeling the air between you shift. You could feel the warmth of his shyness, but it was charming rather than off-putting.

Felix smiled, this time more genuinely, and his eyes seemed to soften. He had a way of making you feel at ease, even though you had just met. The quiet of the park seemed to amplify the sincerity in his voice when he spoke again. "I like meeting new people, though. It's just... I'm not really good at starting conversations."

You could tell he wasn't the type to just dive into small talk, but his willingness to engage was clear. It was refreshing, especially in a world so often consumed by noise.

"Well," you said, taking a seat next to him on the grass, "I'm glad you started this one."

There was a brief moment of comfortable silence between you two, and you found that you didn't mind it at all. His presence, though quiet, filled the space in a way that didn't feel empty. You glanced over at him, noticing how his gaze often shifted to the book in his hands, yet his attention seemed to be equally divided between the words on the page and the conversation you were having.

"You don't talk much, do you?" you asked playfully, sensing that he was someone who preferred deeper, more meaningful conversations than casual chit-chat.

Felix's cheeks turned a little pink, and he let out a small laugh, scratching the back of his neck. "Not really. I guess I get nervous around people... But, I don't know. With you, it feels okay."

Your heart warmed at his honesty, and you smiled, feeling something spark between the two of you. It wasn't often you met someone who spoke with such openness, even if it was accompanied by a bit of shyness.

"Yeah?" you asked softly, "I'm glad. I feel the same way."

You both lapsed into another comfortable silence, the kind where words weren't always necessary. You found yourself watching him more than you intended, his concentration on his book now mixed with the occasional glance your way. There was a sense of vulnerability in the way he seemed to let his guard down little by little.

"Are you, like, a regular reader?" you asked, breaking the silence after a few minutes.

Felix nodded, his smile widening a little. "Yeah, I guess you could say that. I like to read a lot of different things. Sometimes it's nice to just get lost in a story, you know?"

"I get that," you replied. "Books have this way of taking you to places you wouldn't normally go. And I think they help us understand things about ourselves, too."

He tilted his head slightly, a thoughtful look on his face. "Yeah, I think so too. I think that's why I like philosophy. It makes you think... not just about the world, but about yourself. About who you are."

There was something so open about him, so genuine, that you couldn't help but feel like you'd stumbled upon something rare. You didn't know where this conversation was going, but it felt like a start—maybe the beginning of something special.

After a little while, the sun began to dip lower in the sky, painting the park in shades of gold and orange. It felt like the perfect moment, a quiet moment in time. You glanced at him one last time, smiling.

"I'm really glad we talked," you said softly. "I don't think I would've expected it, but I'm glad."

Felix nodded, his shy smile returning as he stood up, brushing the grass off his jeans. "Yeah. Me too. Maybe we can do this again sometime?" His voice was soft, tentative, but there was hope in it.

You stood up as well, a warmth in your chest that wasn't there before. "I'd like that."

With a final glance, you both parted ways, and as you walked home, you couldn't help but think about how strange and beautiful it was to meet someone by chance—a quiet stranger who had suddenly become something more.

It felt like the beginning of something unexpected, yet somehow, perfect.