Chapter Text
Five crowded, relentless days in Felix’s schedule disappeared in the blink of an eye.
The filming project itself was confidential—something shared only between Felix, the production team, and the company. Even the members didn’t know much about it. They only knew it was big, and they kept hyping Lix up because of it.
At five in the afternoon, after the final scene wrapped, Felix sank into the back seat of the car. A few hours later, the manager handed his phone back to him.
The moment the screen lit up, several messages appeared.
Seungmo:
Youngbok.
Yesterday you said you forgot your back brace.
I brought it for you.
(photo)
Just seeing the word brace was enough.
It was as if Felix’s body finally caught up with reality. A sharp, burning pain surged from his legs all the way up his spine to his neck, knocking the breath out of him.
For days, he hadn’t managed to do his rehab exercises—he hadn’t even slept properly. To avoid dizziness, he couldn’t take anything stronger than basic painkillers. The night before, when the pain had completely worn him down, he’d searched through all his things and realized he’d left the brace at the dorm. He’d mentioned it to Seungmin in passing.
He hadn’t asked him to bring it.
But Seungmin remembered anyway.
Remembered—and made space for it in his suitcase.
That alone made Felix feel deeply, genuinely grateful.
Dorm's 🐥:
Thanks, Seungmini.
I really need it.
Seungmo:
I know.
Did you do your rehab?
Dorm's 🐥:
No…
I didn’t even have time to sleep properly.
Seungmo:
Can you walk right now? 😶
Dorm's 🐥:
Yeah. I’m okay.
I mean—so far.
It’s starting to come back slowly…
Seungmo:
Do your rehab as soon as you get there, before you arrive.
You’re really going to collapse like this.
Dorm's 🐥:
Okaaay.
As soon as I get to the hotel.
I’ve got about two hours.
Seungmo:
Okay. Take care of yourself.
Dorm's 🐥:
You too 🙃
Lix and his housemate constantly teased each other, but moments like this always softened something in Felix’s chest. Seungmin loved joking around with him, but from the outside, his behavior could seem strange—almost careless, oddly detached.
Except when it came to Felix.
With him, Seungmin was openly attentive. Openly worried. He never tried to hide it. He hovered like an overprotective mother hen, unafraid of showing concern. Maybe it was because he’d been there from the very beginning. There were no secrets between them.
Seungmin was the one who knew Felix’s pain—really knew it. The one who was always there when Lix was at his weakest, helping him with everything he had.
That had always meant more to Felix than he could put into words. It also made him feel like, someday, he needed to repay that care.
Feeling a little lighter, he smiled to himself and opened the next chat.
Chris-hyung:
Felix.
We just arrived.
How was the last day?
Lix:
Good.
Chris-hyung:
That’s it?
Lix:
I’m a bit tired.
Chris-hyung:
Tired…
or in pain?
Lix:
Not the way you’re thinking.
Don’t worry.
I’m just tired.
I’ll do rehab when I get to the hotel.
Chris-hyung:
Ignore the cameras.
Wear your brace on the flight.
Lix:
First of all, you know airport security is a nightmare.
Second… I don’t have it.
Chris-hyung:
You don’t?
Lix:
Left it at the dorm.
But Seungmini brought it to Paris for me.
Chris-hyung:
Lix:
😅😅
Chris-hyung:
I have to go.
Take care of my little angel.
Lix:
Hyung, don’t overwork yourself.
Chris-hyung:
🫂
Another notification popped up.
Minho-hyung:
(photo of Gong Cha)
Bok-chaaaaaa
Kitten:
😉😉
…
“Youngbok, we’re here.”
The manager’s voice pulled Felix out of his phone. He stepped out of the car and headed into the hotel.
Once inside his room, he decided to shower first—then deal with his back.
But when he came out of the bathroom, before he even managed to get dressed, he collapsed onto the bed with only a towel wrapped around him...