Archive of Our Own

“Lix, wait!” Jeongin called out, relentlessly trying to match Felix’s stride but to no avail.

Felix walked faster, he didn’t want to acknowledge the other or even hear his pleadings because suddenly Jeongin’s voice triggered him. It made him wonder what other lies he would utter to keep him by his side. He was thankful for the darkness that befell the day a few hours prior, it hid all the emotions he felt so well.

They couldn’t do this anymore, it was impossible to build a relationship with a foundation of lies and deception. Everything was bound to crumble eventually and Felix had made it clear to Jeongin at the beginning of their relationship that he valued honesty and open communication above all others, however it seemed his words had fallen unto deaf ears.

Lies.

Lies were the main ingredient to a failure of a relationship.

He felt Jeongin’s fingers grasp his wrist, and so he yanked instinctively, as if churned.

“What?” Felix whirled to finally face him, a big mistake. He should’ve continued to keep his back, continued in darkness, far from the street lights, only to avoid witnessing the distress coating Jeongin’s face. Felix completely shut his eyes and shook his head.

He refused to sympathise with him, not now. “You want to pamper me with more lies? Make a fool out of me, like you’ve been doing all along?”

“Please, bear with me. I will tell you everything, just… come home with me,” Jeongin begged, sounding so fragile, breakable even.

Felix opened his eyes to come face to face with Jeongin’s genuine pleading, he was scared and Felix knew the exact reason.

Jeongin had voiced it multiple times that it was practically engraved in Felix’s mind, he didn’t want to lose Felix, that’s one of his biggest fears. He was grappling with one of his fears. Unbeknownst to him, however, he was pushing Felix away by keeping things from him, making it difficult for Felix to stay by his side.

While fear was evident in Jeongin’s features, Felix hoped that the other side of that coin would be the antithesis of his pain. After all, Felix was human too, and he had his own fears.

“Please…” Jeongin pleaded quietly.

“Jeongin,” Felix sighed, shaking his head reluctantly.

“Felix, I know I was wrong, and I won’t try to justify anything. Just please give me a chance to explain everything.”

Jeongin’s sincerity began to crumble the walls Felix had worked so hard to build to guard against any more lies. Jeongin was human too, and it was In everyone’s nature to err. Maybe he could give Jeongin the chance to explain his mistakes.

“Okay, fine, I’ll listen. But…” Felix’s eyes glistened with tears, his voice thick with emotion. “Jeongin, this isn’t a promise that everything will go back to the way it was.”

Jeongin nodded, his head hung low with regret. “I know.”

***

Whenever their day began, it wasn’t venturing towards a war path.

Jeongin awoken to their legs tangled against each other, Felix lightly snoring beside him while clinging tightly on his waist.

Before untangling himself from him, Jeongin took a minute or two to bask in the beauty that was Felix. His lips were slightly parted, some strands of his long hair carelessly falling over his freckled cheeks, and his nose crinkled adorably, prompting a faint smile from Jeongin. He leaned forward to plant a kiss on Felix’s temple then headed towards the bathroom to freshen up.

While making breakfast, he got a phone call that almost soured his mood. He turned off his phone, feeling a knot of anxiety at the thought of dealing with his family so early in the morning.

He was fulfilling their patriarch's demand by keeping his distance and never asking for anything. He practically ceased all communication with the entire family, hence, it left him baffled that they suddenly wanted to talk to him. 

Though, he was curious. They’d all cut off contact with him, their lack of communication went both ways. Yet his brother keeps calling him without restraint. Why the sudden change of heart? He’d talk to him, eventually. Just not today.

His trail of thought was ceased by the arm that snaked around his waist, and the sniffing on his hair down to his neck before a peck was planted below his ear. Jeongin sighed contentedly while closing his eyes.

“Lost in thought?” Felix’s breathe tickled Jeongin’s neck.

“Not anymore,” he whirled to cage Felix between his legs while leaning against the counter. He tugged Felix’s messy hair behind his ears and let his forefinger trailed wantonly across his face.

Felix shamelessly leaned into Jeongin’s touch, while his arms loosely hung around Jeongin’s neck.

“Do you want to talk about it?” Felix asked, his fingers rested on Jeongin’s scalp, then gently tugged at his hair. “You seemed far gone a moment ago.”

“It’s nothing... we can talk about it later,” he said, although later didn’t necessarily mean today.

Jeongin wished he could deflect forever, keep it all to himself and protect his relationship, however, he had to talk to Felix about this inevitably prolonged situation that was his family drama. He’d kept it for far too long.

Before Felix could push further, Jeongin said, “I made breakfast.”

With a quick glance towards the twin plates filled with slightly scorched flapjacks and mixed fruits, Felix frowned but hummed politely.

“It’s edible, I promise.” Jeongin tried to defend his honour, he wasn’t ever going to be on the list of Michelin stars chefs but he tried his best.

“I don’t know, my love. It doesn’t seem so edible… but you know me, I’ll eat whatever poison you feed me,” Felix beamed, untangling himself from Jeongin and pulled the plate toward himself.

He took his first bite, only to exaggerate his moan. “This isn’t bad. Have you been practicing while I’ve been away?”

Jeongin grinned, cheeks shaded crimson at the genuinely content tone. He accepted whichever compliment he received from Felix. “Yes, how else am I going to convince you into moving in if I can’t cook for you?”

“A man after my own heart. Technically, I already stay here more than at my place. I guess you don’t really have to impress me when you have me where you want,” He tilted his head to the side, and waited.

And Jeongin knew.

They’d already had this conversation before, though Felix was hesitant about moving in. Somehow, he’d felt like he was abandoning his independence and Jeongin understood that enough not to bring it up often, but he made sure that Felix knew what his intentions were. He wanted them to stay together, to share a house and everything else.

“You… what are you saying?” Jeongin needed clarity.

Felix stabbed his berries, a soft smile adorned his beautiful face. “I’m ready to move in, Jeongin,” he gazed to find a gaping Jeongin. “I like this, our life together. I like waking up next to you, making breakfast, with you humming in the background and just coming back after a long day to fall onto your arms. I want it to be an everyday thing. Only if you’d still have me, of course.”

Jeongin, without hesitance, leaned forward to press his lips against Felix’s, then whispered. “I want you here with me, always. Holding you after a long day would be a privilege.”

His kisses trailed down to his jaw, gingerly nibbling his ear then quickly earning a moan from Felix, who grasped onto Jeongin’s arm, fingers digging into his skin. Jeongin loved it whenever he made him lose control like this, it was like adrenaline for him, he was sort of addicted to the feeling.

“We’d get to start every morning like this,” he whispered.

Felix pulled him back to get a view of his face, their foreheads touching. “Yang Jeongin, don’t make promises you can’t keep.”

“Wouldn’t dream of it,” he smugly smirked. Felix closed the gap between them just to remove that expression from his face.

They’d began their day with so much promise, a clear path for their future.

---

“You know, I'm happy for Hyunjin. I just know the art exhibition will be a success and he’ll have everything he’s ever wanted,” Felix said, later on the car ride to the exhibition.

“I know, makes it all the more exciting to be one of the first people to witness it,” Jeongin agreed with him. 

The exhibition has been all their friend group talked about in the past week. It was Hyunjin’s first exhibition, Seungmin curated it, Felix had to skip walking the night’s Seoul fashion week show, and the trio, 3racha, centred some of their tour dates on it. Hyunjin’s family will be in attendance, the media and some other celebrities and so many others. Opening night had to be big, he said.

It was already packed when they arrived, hand in hand. They manoeuvred past everyone to find Hyunjin entertaining some guests, but as soon as he saw them he excused himself and made his way to them.

“I’m happy to see you guys.” He sighed in relief as he hugged them.

Jeongin handed him a large  bouquet of flowers as he congratulated him. Hyunjin proceeded to drag them to the pieces he loved more than others and they were rather gorgeous. Jeongin didn’t know much about paintings but he was certain that Hyunjin was talented in the field.

Seungmin joined them, while Hyunjin kept explaining the painting they stood in front of, he expressed that even though he hadn’t dated Jisung before he painted it he was the muse.

Without Felix and Hyunjin noticing, Seungmin pulled Jeongin to the side. Jeongin frowned at the action, there wasn’t anything he could say that would warrant a side conversation.

“Is that husband of yours stressing you out again? I know he can be a prick when he wants to.” Jeongin said, as he reached for the flute offered up by one of the waiters.

“Play nice, Innie. If he hears you calling him that, who’s to stop him from killing you?” Seungmin said, his eyes gazing from the tablet on his hand to Jeongin.

“Well, since I was willing to take him out for you two weeks ago, I’d reckon you would. Minho hyung is an idiot with communication issues. He couldn’t just say he loves you like normal people do, like an idiot he asks for a divorce. Such an idiot, it still pisses me off.” he huffed then sipped the champagne, content in his ability to voice out his opinions.

“Okay, I get it. Now, stop calling him names. He knows what he did was wrong and he is repentant. Anyway, I didn’t drag you here to discuss my husband,” he blushed like a teenage girl as he uttered the last word.

Jeongin rolled his eyes. Besides, he was glad that they got to fix their problems before they got to the point of no return. “Then why?”

“Your brother is here.”

“What?” he felt his heart beginning to pick up pace and blood draining from his face. “Um… did you invite him? Who else from my family is here?” he asked, almost feeling betrayed.

Seungmin knew about his family situation, he told him everything a month ago when Felix was in Italy, about how his grandfather wanted to dictate his life. How he wanted to marry him off to a woman in order to produce heirs. About how his whole family sided with him because he was the patriarch and how alienated he felt from them since his great grandfather died.

Things he knew should’ve been communicated with Felix. He didn’t want to burden him further, Felix also had things happening with his family and his career was in bloom, thus he didn’t want to hinder the peace they had in their relationship.

“No, I didn’t invite him. Hyunjin was in charge of the guest list.” He said firmly, to remind him that he was on his side. “He’s been looking for you everywhere. But I told Minho to keep him distracted, at least until I find you. Did you tell Felix?”

He shook his head, dreading what would come if they didn’t find a way to get his brother out of there. “I still haven’t told him.”

“Jeongin -” Seungmin was about to scold him.

“You haven’t told who what?” Felix came up behind him, his hand landing on Jeongin’s waist, as they stood side by side. He waited expectantly for the answer.

“Oh um it’s…” he didn’t want to lie to him, but he also didn’t want to tell him here.

“Hyung…?” that voice prompted him to stand still for a moment, maybe if he stood still seconds longer he could disappear into thin air in a moment but Felix turned them to face his brother.

“Yoon?” Felix asked in surprise.

Jeongin’s younger brother, Yoon, glared at Felix then evidently ignored him as if he were nothing but an annoying fly on a wall. “Hyung, can we talk in private?”

It infuriated Jeongin whenever they treated Felix with such contempt, it’s almost as if he’d done a terrible incomprehensible thing to the family, when his only fault was to be Jeongin's boyfriend.

Felix retreated from Jeongin, hand slowly moving from his waist, but Jeongin caught his hand before he could venture further from him, and twined their fingers. Felix gazed upon their hands with pride because he knew that Jeongin would never ever make him feel lesser. It was apparent that Yoon was trying to embarrass Felix in front of their friends.

“Yes, we can.” Jeongin hauled Felix along and beckoned Yoon to follow them.

---

They ended up on the hallway that led to the bathrooms, it wasn’t private however it was quieter. The silence between them weighed heavily, as Felix clung tightly on Jeongin’s hand and Yoon staring with displeasure.

“What do you want, Yoon?” Jeongin asked, clearly wanting to be done.

“Why haven’t you answered any of my calls?” Yoon asked accusingly, hands folded against his chest.

Felix curiously stared at Jeongin, he obviously wanted to know the answer too, since he had no idea what was happening. 

“I don’t owe you anything, or any explanation of sorts.” He curled his upper lips in disdain. “You should go.”

“Can’t he just leave? You clearly can’t think straight with him at your side, right now.”

“Don’t talk about Felix like he isn’t here. And you wonder why I won’t talk to you.” Jeongin scolding fell to deaf ears.

Yoon snorted before letting out a humourless chuckle. Jeongin tensed, because he was certain that Yoon came here with the intention of ruin. And this was all unfair to Felix since he was clueless to what was happening. Jeongin wished he’d told him what was going on sooner, to keep him from being blindsided.

After his laughter subdued, Yoon finally looked upon Felix from head to toe. A smirked remained as he said, “You must be happy. I mean, I would be too if my partner chose me over my family.”

There was silence for a moment, as if Felix was processing the words. Jeongin’s heart hammered against his chest as Felix’s hand slacked on his. He wanted to tape Yoon’s mouth to keep him from causing more chaos, but he was rooted where he stood, anticipating Felix’s reaction.

“What?” Felix uttered, clearly confused.

“Yoon,” Jeongin said, warningly.

“Of course, that means he’s loyal to you and only you. It also means you’re selfish to keep him to yourself without care -”

“Enough!” Jeongin said, glaring at Yoon. “What the fuck is wrong with you?”

Felix, like before, slowly detached from Jeongin to get a clear view of his face. Jeongin was aware that he wanted clarity. “What is your brother talking about?”

Bad habits.

Jeongin was plagued by bad ideas and habits, always wanting to handle everything on his own and telling Felix after he’s certain that everything was resolved. He had to know his choices would eventually come back to haunt him. In this case, it came in a form of Yoon.

“Oh no, you didn’t tell him?” Yoon asked, snickering behind his hand. “So sad.”

“Shut the fuck up.” Jeongin swallowed hard, feeling his world collapsing. This wasn’t how he planned to reveal things to Felix. “You and everyone in that damned family told me to choose. When I choose him, you won’t leave me in peace. What else do you want from me, hmm? You want me to be alone, to have no one?”

“Hyung…” Yoon’s smirk disappeared just as quickly as it appeared. He realized he was causing more harm to his brother, the pained expression on Jeongin’s face reminded him that he hadn’t come here to fight. He just wanted to amend things.

They all stood there in silence, Jeongin fuming at the situation, Yoon feeling slightly remorseful for complicating things and Felix weary of seeking clarity as he pieced everything together.

“This is a joke,” Felix said, unbelievably. He manoeuvred past Jeongin heading to the exit and Jeongin followed him out, ignoring every call from his brother.

***

There are things in life that shape the way people approach relationships and whatever core values that are held at the pinnacle of those relationships. For Felix, it has always been honesty and trust. His values were shaped by the roots of his parents’ lies, how they raised him with secrets etched in their lives.

He was seventeen years old when he found out that he was adopted. He didn’t mind that he was, what he minded was that his parents weren’t ever planning to tell him, and he’d been told by his drunk uncle one night. The lies continued then when he asked about his birth parents, his parents still refused him the truth.

He had always been surrounded by lies, all his life. Jeongin knew that, he knew that Felix valued honesty above all others. He hated being in the dark about things that involved him, yet he kept him there.

They sat quietly in Jeongin’s living room, tension ever so present, after Jeongin came clean about his family’s drama. Felix’s downward head balanced by palms on either side of his cheeks. He mindlessly shook his head, there was no way Jeongin had kept all of that from him. How couldn’t he confide in him? Was it even a relationship when one person dreaded to talk about his problems to the other?

“Why didn’t you tell me?” he said, finally gazing up to Jeongin who sat in front of him on the coffee table. “Why keep it to yourself?”

“Because…” Jeongin held his eyes as he whispered, his face was illuminated by the moonlight that peeked through the window. They hadn’t even switched on the lights when they arrived, comparable to their quiet car ride back home. “You would’ve told me to choose them.”

“Damn you, Jeongin.” He cursed out as he broke their stare but not before the other flinched. Felix stood up and said, “You’re making decisions for me? Just like my parents did. I can’t believe this.”

Jeongin stood too and tilted his head to the side as he asked, “Am I wrong, though?”

“It doesn’t matter, what matters is that you’ve decided for me probably because you don’t trust me.”

“I do trust you.”

“No, you don’t. If you trusted me you would’ve told me that your grandfather gave you an ultimatum, we could’ve found a way together,” he gritted his teeth to keep his tears at bay. It was hurting him that they were fighting, this wasn’t like them. “We’re supposed to be a team, Jeongin, but you lied to me.”

“I was scared. I lied because I can’t bear the thought of losing you, and I know this doesn’t justify anything. Also I didn’t want...” Jeongin paused, as if contemplating to say the words. “…I didn’t want to burden you.”

Felix flinched, taken aback. He felt hurt. Did it mean that he wasn’t a safe space for Jeongin to confide in? Felix couldn’t take that lying down, they will sort out their problem.

“Oh for fucks sake, burden me.” He clung onto Jeongin’s shirt tightly as if seeking balance, while Jeongin touched his wrist for comfort. Felix softly said, “I want you to burden me with all your problems. That’s what relationships are about, you have to confide in me like I do with you.”

Jeongin’s breath shuddered as he nodded, tears welling up in his eyes and lips pursed to contain emotion. Felix had never seen him with this much pain, not since his great grandfather died, it didn’t seem fair that only he was always entitled to those feelings. He gingerly engulfed Jeongin into his embrace where the other slumped lazily, dropping them onto the couch.

Felix soothed him, hands running on his back. He tried to keep his feelings at bay but seeing the person he loved the most in utter turmoil broke his dam of emotions too.

They remained there for what seemed like hours, quiet and lost in thought but twined with each other.

There was a lot to think about. Jeongin was afraid to let go of Felix, the thought of getting out of their current position brought him nothing but dread. Felix on the other hand was thinking of a solution for the situation that Jeongin was in.

The root of their problems was multifaceted. For Felix, it revolved around the shocking revelation that his aunt was actually his biological mother, which turned his life upside down. For Jeongin, it stemmed from his family’s disapproval of his sexuality and, most importantly, his partner.

“Jeongin?” Felix’s voice broke the silence.

“Mmh?” Jeongin tensed slightly, anticipating the conversation.

“We should probably go to bed. It’s not really comfortable here,” Felix said as he began to sit them up. However, he paused when he noticed the frown on Jeongin’s slightly puffy face. “What’s wrong?”

“You’re not leaving?” Jeongin asked, his voice betraying a mix of concern and hope.

Felix gently caressed Jeongin’s cheek with the back of his fingers, and Jeongin leaned into his touch without hesitation. “Where would I go? I thought we had already established that home is where you are. Right now, my home feels like it’s crumbling, but I will find a way to fix it,” Felix reassured him. He stood up and reached for Jeongin, pulling him along. “Let’s go to bed. We’ll work on this together tomorrow.”

***

“I just wanted to check up on my favourite people, since they left without as much as a goodbye last night,” Hyunjin said into the phone speaker.

“I’m sorry, Jinnie,” Felix said, pinching the bridge of his nose, eyes shutting. “Something came up that I couldn’t avoid.”

“What? Were you called to a last minute fitting session or something?”

Oh how Felix wishes it was that. He wished for a time when his only problem was his work schedule that the agency couldn’t solve for him. It felt like his hair could turn grey any moment because of the stress.

He tried sleeping but his mind kept him awake, wandering off idly into untested waters. Felix never doubted that Jeongin trusted him, there wasn’t ever a reason that presented forth that would ever plant seeds of doubts. Even though he did suspect something was amiss with Jeongin, he knew he’d tell him eventually.

“… ‘or something’ seems fitting.”

After a long pause from Hyunjin’s side, came in a hesitant “Is everything alright or should I be worried?”

“It’s nothing that can’t be fixed.” Felix meant it.

They were going to get their shit together because his life without Jeongin was inconceivable.

                   ***

Jeongin woke up with a stinging sensation just above his eye lids, courtesy of crying before giving away to sleep. It had been a long time since he’d had a good cry.

Even when his family had shunned him, he’d been so angry and betrayed, that the thought of crying in frustration left his body, however reiterating his misfortunes to Felix last night had opened all the flood gates.

He let himself be vulnerable in the hands that had comforted him through the most difficult situations in his life. The hands that wiped his tears when his great grandfather, who’d loved him dearly, regardless of his sexual orientation, died. The same hands that have held him with such tenderness that his parents were incapable of conveying.

Jeongin’s phone silently lit up on the bedside cabinet, and with a groan he sat up to find his brother’s name across the screen. He realised that he should have blocked him to avoid anymore stress.

“What?” Jeongin groggily answers.

He’s met with silence on the other side that he checks if the line was still connected.

“Yoon?” Jeongin called out wearily. He hated himself for answering this call in the first place but despite their differences and sometimes anger towards each other, Yoon will always be his brother.

“Hyung…” his voice came out timid, and almost made Jeongin worry. “I’m sorry about last night.”

“I bet you are.” Jeongin said, sleep finally leaving him completely then he stood, heading to the bathroom. “Why did you even show up?”

“I wanted to see you. You haven’t talked to anyone in a while and I was worried about you. I had to make sure you were okay.”

“You’re forbidden from talking to me, Yoon. All you wanted was to ruin my relationship, all this family wants is to see me live in misery.”

“Not me. Never me, okay?” Yoon said it with urgency. “I wanted to tell you that I’ve decided that I can’t be family with people who won’t accept my brother. Clearly, I’ve got to reflect on my resentment towards your relationship with Felix, because for a while I’ve been brainwashed to believe that he’s breaking our family apart. I’m really sorry and if you’ll let me I want to apologise to him too.”

Jeongin’s anger eases a bit at his brother’s words but without a bit of reluctance. “You mean that?”

“Yes.”

It felt nice, Jeongin had to admit, having someone choosing to stand with him when his family had turned on him.

“You can’t just up and leave them though. They’ll make your life difficult, especially in the prospect of making an honest living for yourself.”

“Well, I was hoping that my brother, who owns a popular jewellery brand will hire me until I can stand on my two feet.”

“Yoon, we’ve talked about this.”

“Please...” his whiny pleas prompted a smile on Jeongin’s face.

                                ***

 Jeongin stepping out of the shower with hair dripping wet has always been one of Felix’s favourite sights. He liked to marvel at that towel wrapped waist that left little to the imagination. Felix wanted to climb Jeongin like a tree then suck him until he was like a withering leaf. That’s how he preferred his mornings.

However, there were a lot of things to unpack this morning than to indulge in scandalous behaviour.

Felix sat on the bed, with pillows stacked on his sides. Jeongin just sat on the edge, hair still dripping.

“Tell me again, everything.” Felix silently said. He needed to hear it better in daylight when emotions were no longer heightened.

“Okay, it began when you went to Milan. Fashion weeks are the busiest for both of us, so it’s easy to avoid talking about everything that’s going on in our lives.” Jeongin solemnly said.

It reminded Felix of last year’s Tokyo fashion week, when he’d been overwhelmed by all the shows and was mentally strained from learning that his aunt, who was getting married that weekend was actually his birth mother.

 He remembered seeing Jeongin backstage then, just a glimpse that prompted him to stand from the make-up chair and seek him out.

He remembered breaking down without uttering a word at the sight of Jeongin, and being ushered to a quiet corner, arms engulfed around him until their breaths synced, until Felix could go back to his zone with a ghost kiss on his temple.

It was truly easy to get lost in work, and avoid personal issues with ease.

“During the first family dinner of the month, grandpa threw out the ‘Idea’ of arranging a marriage for me amidst my parents, cousins and everyone. He’d done it deliberately, Lix, because he knows that I am seeing you. I told him no, that the only person I would ever marry was you. Obviously, that didn’t bode well with him, so he threatened my inheritance if I didn’t do as he said. He even wanted to take this apartment, but he knows he can’t.” Jeongin chuckled bitterly. Felix scooted closer to him, then held Jeongin’s bigger hand as he continued.

“My parents called me to reconsider his offer, that once I’ve ‘secured’ heirs, I could have an affair with you later on.” Felix flinched at that suggestion and Jeongin’s eyes welled up . “I told them to fuck off because… I don’t want to be like them. I love you too much, your happiness matters the most to me.”

“I know.” Felix ghosted a soft kiss on Jeongin’s cheek, his eyes teary too.

“The last time I saw everyone, he told me to choose, you or family. When it was clear where my loyalty lies, he ordered everyone to stop all communication with me unless they wanted to also forfeit their inheritance. A dictator, that’s what he is.”

There was silence in the room. This was such a heavy situation that Felix wondered how Jeongin was able to carry on.

“I don’t know how I feel about putting you in a position where you have to choose between me or your family.”

“You aren’t the one putting me in that situation.” Jeongin buried his hands on Felix’s hair, tilting his head to hold his gaze. “If you have any doubt about who I love more, then you don’t know me well enough, Lix. I will always choose you, you matter more to me than anyone else in this world, including them.”

Felix shuddered at the declaration, he knew Jeongin loved him, that’s something he never doubted but know he knew to which extent.

The sudden lack of contact, when Jeongin stood up, left him crazed. He needed his touch on his skin, on his hair, everywhere. When he returned, he handed Felix a miniscule velvet box and urged him to open.

It would be an understatement if Felix said his heart was beating at a normal pace, a lie. He felt it trying to leap out of his chest with fear of the unknown and pure excitement even with feigned ignorance as he opened.

“I wanted to do this right,” Jeongin started, kneeling bedside next to Felix. “I wanted to throw a huge romantic gesture, wanted to wait for the perfect moment but I can’t wait anymore, I don’t want to. Marry me, Lee Felix. Marry me today.” He was crazy for saying all of that, Felix thought.

Without hesitance or a breath to take it all in, Felix sank down next to Jeongin. He crushed their lips together, while pushing the box onto Jeongin’s hands. He pulled back, gazing at him because he knew he was also crazy.

“Yes, my love,” He left another peck. “I will marry you today.”

                                                               ***

This was possibly the most impulsive idea Jeongin had ever had, and surprisingly, everyone was going along with it. He was certain there wouldn’t be a day that he would regret this decision—it felt right.

Everything happened very quickly, within a matter of hours. After a quick call to Seungmin, who was initially hesitant because he believed it wasn’t a well-thought-out idea, they all gathered in the dimly lit art gallery as the sun set on the horizon to witness Felix and Jeongin’s matrimony.

Seungmin was better connected when it came to planning events, so he arranged for someone to secure a marriage license and had Minho pick it up. Hyunjin volunteered the gallery as a venue for the ceremony, especially since the flowers were still fresh.

Surprisingly, everyone was on board with the idea of them getting married. Chan even rented out a restaurant for after the ceremony but jokingly suggested the three of them become a ménage à trois since they had both had flings with him at one point. Changbin kept tugging on Chan as he pretended to cry dramatically.

Hyunjin clung tightly to Jisung to ground himself; he felt as if he might burst with happiness as he watched the couple recite their vows.

The room was filled with positive energy and an abundance of love. Jeongin and Felix were fortunate to have a found family willing to move mountains for them.

Their marriage was going to be a testament to love thriving despite all tribulations.