stray kids ; changlix | crash ↺

08 | man down

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it was an odd job, not something you'd hear about everyday; sweeping leaves out of the fountains with nets and other tools that felix didn't know the names of.

he kept asking me about this and that, genuinely intrested in what i had to say as we got through our work.

the weather cleared up for the better, without a single stroke of wind in the air - but with just a little bit of sunshine.

and if you could compare felix and the sun, i would tell you that felix beamed a hundred times brighter.

i stared at him while he gripped the small net in his hand, reaching and stretching to catch the floating twigs in the centre of the stone-ornamented structure.

his hair was falling a bit into his eyes that held nothing but steel concentration, and his other hand was sternly stabled to keep his balance. i could see the freckles on his skin as they ran along his neck, and i couldn't help but be captivated.

however in the next moment, felix was reaching out so much that he began toppling over and falling into the mustered-green water. and i don't know how, but i shot up so fast - dropping the bag i was holding and stepping towards him - that i just managed to clasp my hands around his waist and pull him back up before he fell in.

my heart was rushing so quick, echoing in my ears as i realised what happened. breathing hard, i gulped. my hands were on felix's hips, clutching like it was the end of the world.

when i pulled him away from the fountain - we just somehow dropped backwards onto the grass around us; with me lying on my back and felix right on top of me. his elbows were just near my shoulders, holding him up. and his face was merely two breaths away.

whatever was happening around us - completely stopped. and well, that obviously wasn't the case, but at that moment it really felt that way.

because all that mattered was felix right in front of me, and my hands on his waist, and the freckles on his face that i couldn't get enough of.

"t-thanks," he stuttered.

looking into his eyes, i couldn't speak at first. "anytime," my voice was a whisper.

"yah changbin, where you at?" i heard chan's voice from the distance and cursed out loud. felix immediately scattered off me and got up; brushing away the imaginary dust from his jeans and avoiding any eye contact with me.

blush covered his cheeks, and i figured mine must have been the same too, because all this proximity works equally on the both of us.

"i'm here!" i waved at chan as he approached, luckily unsuspecting of what had occured in moments previous.

"we're heading out to eat, are you coming?" he urged.

"yeah, yeah," i assured him, "give us a moment to bring everything back."

chan nodded at that, rushing to join the rest as they walked off to the local café where we usually all hung out.

i looked at the series of fountains that me and felix managed to take care of, and then my gaze slowly averted and focused on the taller boy himself as he gathered all of our appliances and i grabbed the waste bag.

quietly, we shuffled to drop everything by the main station. i waved at a couple of people i knew - and then the two of us headed to get a lunch that we deserved.

with a little bell ringing over my head as we entered, the noticeable smell of fresh food was lingering in the air. and although the place was fairly empty on a usual summer afternoon, my friends took over the far booth at the very back.

i could hear them from miles away, which meant their meals haven't arrived yet, because when we eat - we eat silently, and that's a fact.

"hey guys," i greeted, all six pairs of eyes darting towards me and the younger boy standing next to me. "this is felix, he's staying with me this summer," i explained.

felix bowed a little, a shy smile on his face as everyone began to introduce themselves in response with welcoming half-hugs.

i took the seat by seungmin and felix pulled a chair next to me, with hyunjin on his other side.

the two of us ordered our food quickly, with me paying in the end for the both of us - although felix wouldn't stop protesting. i sighed, and promised that he could treat me a meal some next time to which he agreed with delight.

we spent the next while just talking, teasing each other and picking jokes within the group of eight. at some point, minho asked where jisung was, and chan explained that the boy was on holidays at his father's place.

"so felix, are you liking it here? or is our changbinnie ruining it all?" they laughed as i threw them death glares.

felix seemed a bit lost at first, "sorry?" he tilted his head cutely.

"they're asking, do you like it here?" i broke it down for him, knowing that his korean wasn't the greatest and still need tweeking.

"oh," he understood, a smile suddenly erupting on his lips, "i love it, the town is so beautiful, and changbin is really nice to me. i'm really grateful to be here right now."

everyone erupted into a series of awhh's, chuckling to themselves as i felt felix's hand slowly moving towards my own under the table.

inching mine towards his, our fingers intertwined and i rubbed circles into his knuckles with my thumb. i saw him smile, and i felt myself smiling too.

and that's all i ever needed.

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written: january 02, 2018 | 02:54am

: i usually have spare chapters in my drafts so i can update frequently but this is the last one, so i'll publish as i write from now on, thank you for everythingggg ↺