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스물둘

"still no sign of him?"
jisung asked.

hyunjin closed his eyes, sighing.

"I take that as a no."
han pressed his lips into a thin line.

it's been three days since Felix disappeared from hyunjin's house.
hyunjin tried calling him, trying to reach him, he even drove around in his car looking for him, but it was as if he disappeared completely.

"what even happened?"
jisung asked.
"I mean, disappearing just like that, it's weird."

hyunjin shook his head.
"It wasn't...just like that."
he said.
"we had a fight the night before. besides, it happened before."

Jisung furrowed his eyebrows in confusion.
"what do you mean by that?"

"me and felix...we knew each other long before he came here to repair the painting."
hyunjin admitted.

Han's eyes widened.
"what do you mean by that?"

hyunjin sighed, leaning against a table.
"during high school, probably junior year, I got a new roommate."
he started.
"he was shy, very polite, but full of life. his smile light up the room, and being friends with him was easy. we got closer, and became a very good pals."

jisung sat down on the chair, his eyes never leaving hyunjin.

"it was impossible not to fall in love with him. his brightness and his big brain, paired with his love for art...I could never escape."
hyunjin said, his eyes soft.
"I eventually took all of the courage I had and told him I have been growing feelings for him. we agreed to go on a date, and after a beautiful evening in the gallery where we admired pretty paintings, we kissed during a sunset."

sighing, hyunjin looked down.
"during that time I started paying more attention to him, and realized he was fighting with food. I tried my best to help him, and in that time, we grew closer and closer. we started dating when his problems got better."

jisung looked hyunjin up and down.
it was obvious these memories were painful.
"and...what happened next?"

"after sharing two beautiful years as a couple, I came home to find it empty. all of his stuff were gone, and the only thing he left behind was a letter. he moved to Australia, and left everything behind, including me."
hyunjin finished.
"so all this...gave me flashbacks im trying so hard to forget."

jisung's eyes widened.
he had no idea about this.
"oh my god...that is terrible. I'm so sorry that happened."

"it's not like you had a part in it."
hyunjin snorted.
"I'm just...worried. all of his stuff is still in my house, so it's not like he flew back to Australia. I don't know where he is, or if he's okay, and it's a terrible feeling."

"maybe he's staying with a...friend?"
jisung said.

"i...don't know."
hyunjin sighed.
"and it's killing me."

han sighed, before he got up and walked to hyunjin, putting his hands on hyunjin's shoulders.
"look, he's definitely okay. it's Felix we're talking about, he can take care of himself. you just relax, and wait. he will come back soon, I know it."

hyunjin gave him a small smile.
"thank you jisung."

•~•

taking a wine from his wine storage, hyunjin walked towards his couch, sitting down with a sigh.

"this is your favorite one."
hyunjin whispered, holding the necklace hanging on his chest.

opening the wine, hyunjin poured himself a glass, before resting against the couch, taking a sip.

he wondered what went wrong all those years ago. remembering memory after memory, every single second he had spend with the freckled boy, he could have never imagine they would end up like they did.

"you know, once we're older and out of school, how about we traveled the world together?"
felix rested his head on hyunjin's shoulders, watching the beautiful stars above.

"that would be awesome."
hyunjin whispered.
"admiring the art and culture..."

"...tasting new foods and cuisines..."
felix added.

"...just being together."
hyunjin smiled, placing a peck on Felix's head.
"I heard Europe is the place to travel when you want to see some beautiful things from past."

"let's start there, and then slowly go back to Asia."
felix suggested.

hyunjin chuckled.
"we're making all of these plans even when we're just a two broke collage students."

felix smiled.
"well, if we start saving up now and try not to spend money on things we don't need, we could have enough by the time we turn thirty, besides, don't you want to open your own gallery someday?"

"I would love that, but god knows if that will actually happen."
hyunjin sighed.
"It's not exactly that easy."

"I know."
felix took hyunjin's hand.
"but we will be together. we will get through everything if we're together."

hyunjin gave him a smile, before pulling him in for a gentle kiss.
"I can do everything if I have you by my side."

"oh one bottle won't be enough today."
hyunjin sighed, his head leaning back.
"my felix, where are you?"

finishing his glass in one go, hyunjin poured himself another one, before making his way towards the kitchen and taking a glass, filling it up with water.

as much as wine calmed him down, and how much he wanted to drink today, he didn't want to get drunk.
just in case felix came back.

sitting down on the couch again, hyunjin took the remote control and turned on the TV.
some movie was playing, and since he didn't really have much to do anyways, hyunjin decided to watch it.

he didn't even realize how truly tiering these past few days have been.
constantly being worried about someone you love, who you have no idea where is, isn't exactly fun.

he couldn't even truly fully concentrate on work, because the only thing he was thinking about was felix.
he was worried sick, and his chest felt like it was being crushed more every single day that felix wasn't coming back.

hyunjin's eyes felt heavy.
but right as he was about to fall asleep, he heard the front door open.