Zephyr | Lee Felix

Chapter 34

TUESDAY, WEEK 6

Clack!

Hyunjin sighs, picking up the can of banana milk that he dropped. His midsemester break doesn't feel like a break at all. Despite successfully submitting his assignments on time, Hyunjin somehow can't forget the night he went to Eugene's apartment to do his work.

The same night I realised my feelings... and got rejected without her even saying it. He sighs for the second time, placing the can into his shopping basket.

As he wanders through the aisles, a familiar figure catches his eye near the dairy section.

Eugene?

Her back's turned, casually selecting cartons of milk, completely unaware of him. Hyunjin lingers for a moment, debating whether to approach or just quietly leave. Before he can make a decision, a blond-haired guy pushes a shopping trolley towards her, chatting happily.

What is Felix doing here? Last he heard, Felix lives with his aunt in the CBD. What is he doing here, at their apartment complex's convenience store?

He watches them laugh easily together, something twisting painfully in his chest — a feeling he immediately shoves aside.

None of my business. Just shop and leave, Hyunjin.

He quickly finishes up his shopping and runs towards the snack section to avoid being noticed by the two of them. Unfortunately for him, their voices seem to be more and more audible as he browses the snack aisle.

"I can't believe the grocery store didn't even have milk. Like, how?!" He hears Eugene's frustrated sigh, followed by the deep-voiced laughter of Felix. "At least you can still buy it here. Oh, take some snacks while we're at it...?"

...

"Is that Hyunjin?" Felix calls him out, very surprised to catch his presence here. 

Ah. Why. 

He turns to the two of them, giving a tiny smile, "H-Hey..."

"Didn't expect to run into you here." Felix says, surprised. "Small world, hey?"

"Oh, actually." She scoots over to Hyunjin and points at him with a grin, "He's kind of my 'neighbour'! He lives in this same complex, just in different buildings."

"Y-Yeah." Hyunjin nods, trying to keep his composure. "I just moved here not long ago." Okay, please let this small talk end, I don't like being in this situation.

"You never told me, Genie." He blinks, and she shrugs nonchalantly, "I don't really see why I should though?"

"It would be nice to have a friend nearby who can be there for you when I can't, you dummy." He squeezes her cheek lightly.

Ge...nie? Hearing them use nicknames sounds off. The way he squeezes her cheek looks off. His gut feeling says that their relationship may be... something more than just friends.

"Anyway." Felix's gaze falls on the snacks in Hyunjin's basket, "You're... getting a lot of snacks there."

"Oh uh. Eugene right here, taught me about how good food can improve mood..." He sheepishly replies.

"Huh? You taught Hyunjin to stress-eat?" Felix teases her, earning a glare from the woman.

"I don't teach him to stress-eat, Felix." She retorts, rolling her eyes at his comment. "It's not like I encouraged him to eat whenever he feels down. I told him that good food can help boost his mood, that's all."