Chapter Text
For the past few months, there had been a conversation sitting quietly in the back of Hyunjin's mind.
Not loud not urgent. It was Just... there.
Waiting.
It had first appeared sometime before their world tour that just ended. Then it followed him onto airplanes, into rehearsal rooms, backstage corridors, and hotel rooms that all looked the same after a while.
Every time he thought about bringing it up to Felix, something got in the way.
A schedule.
A rehearsal.
A late-night meeting.
Or Felix falling asleep the moment his head touched the pillow.
And then the tour happened.
Then the comeback.
Then another comeback.
The preparation of the Karma album.
The preparation Do It promotions.
More schedules.
More flights.
More nights where they were too tired to think about anything except sleep.
So the conversation stayed where it was.
In his mind.
Unsaid.
Unanswered.
But now things were finally slowing down.
For the first time in months, everyone had a night that actually belonged to them.
Which was how they all ended up at Chan's apartment.
Music was playing quietly in the background. Someone had ordered food an hour ago that nobody had finished eating yet. Half the members were sprawled across the living room like they had forgotten how to relax.
Hyunjin sat on the arm of the couch, half listening to whatever Changbin was saying.
But his eyes kept drifting across the room.
To Felix.
Felix was sitting on the floor near the coffee table, laughing at something Seungmin had just said. His hair was still slightly damp from the shower he took earlier, and he looked relaxed in a way he rarely did during promotions.
Hyunjin watched him for a moment.
Then another.
Maybe this was finally the right time.
He stood up.
"Felix."
Felix looked up immediately.
"Yeah?"
Hyunjin hesitated for half a second before speaking again.
"Can I steal you for a minute?"
Felix blinked, surprised but not suspicious.
"Sure."
He pushed himself up from the floor and followed Hyunjin out of the living room, past the kitchen, and toward the hallway that led to the apartment's small balcony entrance.
The corridor was quieter.
Cool night air drifted in through the slightly open door.
Felix leaned casually against the wall, folding his arms.
"What's going on?" he asked, smiling lightly. "You look like you're about to tell me something serious."
Hyunjin let out a quiet breath.
"Maybe."
Felix raised an eyebrow.
"That's not comforting."
Hyunjin ran a hand through his hair before finally speaking.
"There's just... something I've been thinking about."
"For how long?" Felix asked.
Hyunjin looked down at the floor for a moment before answering.
"A while."
Felix tilted his head slightly.
"How long is a while?"
Hyunjin let out a small laugh.
"Since the tour."
Felix straightened a little.
"During the tour?"
Hyunjin nodded.
"Before and during the preparation of Karma and Do It Album?".
Felix stared at him now, the joking expression slowly fading from his face.
"That long?" he asked.
Hyunjin nodded again.
Felix frowned slightly.
"Hyunjin... that sounds serious."
"It's not bad," Hyunjin said quickly.
"Then why didn't you tell me earlier?"
Hyunjin shrugged.
"There just... wasn't a good time."
Felix shook his head softly.
"You know you don't need a perfect time with me."
"I know."
"Then what is it?" Felix asked, now fully focused on him.
Hyunjin opened his mouth to answer.
And then Felix's phone rang.
The sudden sound broke the moment completely.
Felix groaned quietly and glanced at the screen.
Hyunjin could see the name instantly.
Manager.
Felix sighed and lowered the phone.
"I'm not picking that up."
Hyunjin immediately shook his head.
"No, you should."
"It can wait."
"It's probably about tomorrow's schedule."
Felix still didn't move.
"You were about to say something."
Hyunjin smiled faintly.
"It's fine."
Felix hesitated.
"Hyunjin"
"Pick it up," Hyunjin said gently.
Felix stared at him for another second before finally answering the call.
"Hello?"
Hyunjin leaned back against the railing as Felix spoke quietly with their manager.
Schedules.
Meetings.
Times.
The usual things.
Nothing important.
And yet somehow, that phone call had managed to steal the moment again.
After a minute, Felix hung up.
"Sorry," he said.
Hyunjin shook his head.
"It's okay."
Felix slipped his phone back into his pocket.
"So... what were you going to say?"
Hyunjin looked at him for a moment.
Then he smiled lightly.
"I forgot."
Felix narrowed his eyes.
"You're lying."
"Maybe."
Felix crossed his arms again.
"You're telling me something has been on your mind for months and now you just forgot?"
Hyunjin shrugged.
"Guess the moment passed."
Felix stared at him for a second longer before sighing.
"Fine. But you're telling me later."
"Maybe."
Felix rolled his eyes.
"Hyunjin-ah."
Hyunjin only smiled.
But as they walked back toward the living room, the same thought returned quietly to the back of his mind.
The conversation was still there.
Still waiting.
And somehow...
Tonight still hadn't been the right time.