stigma (n.) // Hyunlix

It all falls into place then. He knew, of course, he knew, saw Felix's face appear in the studio once he realized what was happening to him. It had been faint then, somehow. A truth so barely acknowledged that it lived only in the back of Hyunjin's mind, a secret, wrapped in layers of paper so no one would ever take a glance at it, not even him, even though he knew it sat there, uncovered but solid. Real.

It's different now that the secret had been dragged into the light, the paper torn to shreds, and there's barely any surprise, his mind only catching up to what his body already knew, but his heart squeezes with the realization, surging through the pure, sweet taste of loving someone so deeply, only to sour when the thought hits him, that the flower growing in his chest and the petals making their way up his throat can only mean one thing:

He's in love with Felix, but Felix doesn't love him back.