digital heart | minsung | ✔

55

The sun shines down upon the streets of Seoul gently, proudly occupying its role in another beautiful late summer day. White fluffy clouds are drifting through the picture perfect vast blue sky, small flocks of wild birds going from tree to tree while chirping their happy songs.

The grass tickles my bare arms as I lay on my stomach, eyes closed as I relish this moment of peace. For a moment, I can imagine myself to be in the beautiful fields surrounding Nox, enjoying the soft breeze that plays with my hair.

But opening my eyes confronts me with the hard reality again; I'm currently as far away from the online world as I possibly can be, flat on my stomach in a small field on campus, too much homework sprawled out in front of me.

Large document binders, textbooks and notebooks, pens, pencils and dictionaries. It's all there, and just looking at it is enough to bring the illusion of a headache coming up. The past few days have been filled with homework, and today is no exception, now even taking up our free period. Honestly, I can't wait for the weekend to begin.

Felix looks totally done as well, and he brushes some bright orange bangs from his forehead as he tosses his pen down, flopping onto his back with a groan.

"I quit," he whines.

Seungmin, who has been working swiftly, casts a quick glance at Felix's notebook, lightly shaking his head.

"Lix, you wrote down two sentences," he scoffs, kicking the boy's leg with the nose of his shoe.

"You should've seen what I did yesterday and the day before that," Felix corrects him, moving his legs away from Seungmin's reach. "I deserve a break."

"But you can take a break in the weekend," the cherry-haired boy counters. "That's what it's meant for, after all."

"Believe me, I will," Felix scowls, shoving away his notebook even further. "But not everyone has your brain capacity, Minnie. I need more breaks than that."

"Well, if Felix needs a break, then we shall take a break," I state, thankful for the interruption. "My brain isn't made for this nonsense."

"And this is why Han Jisung is my soulmate," Felix proudly says, reaching out to grab my hand. "In Jisung we trust."

"Wait until Changbin hyung hears that," Seungmin deadpans.

Instantly, the orange-haired boy lets go of my hand and grins awkwardly, "oh man, I forgot to say no homo. Not for you, at least. You can still be my platonic soulmate though."

"Gladly," I grin, patting his hand that now rests on the grass. Shifting my position, I flop down next to him and we stare at the clouds together, while Seungmin glances between us and our abandoned homework with a sigh.

"How not so pass college," he mutters, voice laced with dismay. "An unhelpful guide by Lee Felix and Han Jisung."

"Don't worry, mate, we'll pass," Felix reassures our best friend. "We're just taking the chill route."

"Whatever," the cherry-haired snorts, picking up his pen and notebook again and resuming his work.

It falls silent again, and while Seungmin keeps working, Felix and I just mindlessly stare up at the sky. Probably recovering from the efforts we just put our brains through. We watch with mild interest how various clouds drift by slowly, with hardly any wind to push them forward. Yet, they keep changing shape, making it somewhat interesting and very relaxing to watch.

But activities like these only keep one entertained for so long before it gets boring, and after a while I heave out a small sigh.

"Hey, Lix," I begin, glancing sideways. "Did Changbin hyung ask you out already?"

Felix eyes shoot open, and a faint blush creeps up his cheeks as he looks at me in surprise.

"N-No, he hasn't," he replies. "Why would he?"

"Is that a serious question?" I inquire, frowning slightly. "Dude, that guy is as whipped for you as you are for him. I should ask him what's taking him so long."

"Heh, I wonder that, too," Felix sighs, abandoning his previous approach of playing dumb. "He's taking his sweet time, honestly. He did kiss me, though."

"He what?" Seungmin and I ask in unison, the cherry-haired dropping his notebook in surprise.

"When did that happen?"

"A few days ago, it was very quick and very spontaneous but a kiss is a kiss. It wasn't even awkward after that."

Felix seems really satisfied with the event, and I decide not to tease him or ask why he didn't tell us. Instead, I pat his shoulder with a proud grin.

"Wasn't that your first kiss?" Seungmin asks, and Felix frantically shakes his head.

"It wasn't."

"Oh, did I miss something?" the other questions, but Felix just keeps shaking his head.

"Nah, you didn't. Sometimes people just kiss, you know? Shit happens, it's a very natural thing and–"

For multiple reasons, I decide not to look up during Felix's rambling.

One of them is that I would probably crack up upon seeing my best friend's panicked face, and I'll just leave the other reasons for what they are.

"People randomly kiss other people naturally?" Seungmin repeats, frowning. "I don't think I am natural, then."

"Don't worry, Minnie," I chuckle, my eyes trained on a particularly oddly shaped cloud. "Just wait until you find the right person and you'll understand what he means."

"Well said, platonic soulmate," Felix agrees. "Anyway, I think I'm just going to ask him out myself. I've been waiting for a while now."

"You have become one of the confident gays," I solemnly announce, turning to face Felix again. "Welcome, bro."

"I learned from the best of the best," Felix replies, his tone as serious as mine. "Thank you."

"I'm flattered, man," I react, placing a hand against my chest.

We hear a pen dropping once more, and we glance at Seungmin, who is looking at us with a face of confused disgust.

"What is this? Platonic flirting?" he mutters. "Please, I'm trying to study."

Smiling apologetically, I push myself up a little, planning to resume my homework as well, since it's a bit too much to freely slack off for long.

"He really needs a mans," Felix whispers, and I nod in agreement, sitting up straight and picking up my pen and notebook.

"He does."

"I can literally hear you," Seungmin reminds us, voice unamused. "If you are going to whisper about me while I'm around, at least do it discreetly. And no, I don't need a mans. I'm really not interested in falling in love."

He sounds so done that even Felix decides to resume studying again, and a little while later, a blanket of silence lies over us again, with only some distant sounds and frustrated sighs from the youngest coming through.

Looks like Minho and I won't be the only couple for long anymore. I wonder if Seungmin will manage to keep the promise he made with himself.

——

I have no idea what this chapter is lol