♡ Chapter 5 ♡

                                    

                                          
"Lixie?" Seungmin calls out.
"Do you want me to say anything?" Jisung whispers, only loud enough for me to hear. I nod.
"Hyunjin and Felix... aren't getting along, right now," Jisung says.
"Was it a fight or...?" Seungmin questions. I shake my head.
"But it can't be Felix's fault that they're relationship isn't going well, Felix is far too soft," Chan questions.
"It isn't Felix's fault," Jisung replies shortly.
"What? DID MY BLOODY COUSIN HURT LIXIE IN ANY WAY?" Seungmin roars. I look up in surprise.
"No, Seungmin. He's been a bit busy so he has been kinda ignoring me," I explain in worry.
"IGNORING YOU? HOW DARE HE. THAT SON OF A-"
"Seungmin, please don't bring this up to him. It's between Felix and Hyunjin. So respect that," Jeongin says.
"Wise words, Innie," Jisung smiles.
"Fine... but I swear to god, if Hyunjin lays a finger on Lixie or if he hurts him, I will kill him. Cousin or not, he won't get away," Seungmin growls.
"But promise you won't say anything stupid to him... please Seungmin," I plead, tears falling again. Seungmin's glare immediately softens as he hugs me.
"I won't. I promise," Seungmin says, "I'm not meeting Hyunjin until another hour so would you guys like to hang out?"
"Of course, we haven't spoken in such a long time!" Jeongin says.
"Should I call Minho then?" Jisung asks, fetching out his phone.
"Yeah! And I'll call Changbin," Chan says.
-- ten minutes later --
"Changbin! Minho! Over here!" Chan yells out. Changbin and Minho make their way toward us as Minho lifts Jisung up and places him on his lap. Changbin on the other hand, takes a seat next to me.
"Lixie! Hey buddy," Changbin says.
"Hey Binnie Hyung," I grin.
'You're still as gorgeous as before!" Changbin flirts, winking at me. I blush out of embarrassment.
"Thank you! And you're still as buff!" I giggle.
"Sure I am, how's your boyfriend?" Changbin asks. I don't say anything.
"Not good?" he asks softly. I shake my head.
"Don't worry, I won't push you, let's talk about something else, alright?"
For a while, we all catch up on what we have been doing since we last saw each other, and how our life has been going. Laughter and jokes fly around the table. I smile, staring at my friends.
Just like the old times. 
I feel my heart tear, thinking of the memories that we spent together. I've known Chan and Changbin longer than the rest. Chan was the first person to help Minho and me when we moved from Australia. Changbin was Chan's best friend, so we got to know him too. I encountered Seungmin and Jeongin halfway through Highschool. I only met Hyunjin in 2023, when Seungmin introduced him to us... I turn away from my friend's chatter as I look out the window. I watch the street lights flicker as the sun sets on the horizon. Before I knew it, I had tears in my eyes. I look back at my friends. Carefully observing their happy faces. In two months, a small, genuine feeling of happiness blossomed in my heart. I'm too caught up looking at my friends I don't notice a figure in the background.
"Hyunjin?" Chan calls out. I snap my head toward the figure. Hyunjin doesn't say anything. We make eye contact, but I immediately look away. My heart crumbles in pain, thinking of what he said last night.
"Hey... What are you all doing?" Hyunjin says. I still feel his eyes on me.
"Catching up. What else?" Seungmin scoffs. I turn to him and shake my head. Don't. Not now.
"So why wasn't I invited?" Hyunjin questions, turning to Seungmin, irritation written all over his face.
"Cause you weren't. Stop asking," Jisung snaps, banging the table.
"Guys, Hyunjin is still our friend," Changbin says, baffled by the sudden change of aura.
"He's your friend. Not mine. Not ours," Seungmin says, indicating to me, Jisung, and himself. Minho turns to me in puzzlement. 
Later. I mouth to him.
"Just let him be. Sit next to Jeongin," Chan says, as Hyunjin takes a seat. I'm still staring out the window, not turning to my friends.
"Lixie? Are you alright?" Changbin says, staring at me, "You're really pale."
"I'm alright Binnie Hyung," I whisper.
-- an hour later --
"We should head back, the cafe closes in 5 minutes," Chan says. We bid our goodbyes but me, Jisung, Minho, Hyunjin and Seungmin still remain. Along with Jeongin who's busy cleaning up.
"Let's go Lixie," Jisung says, pulling me towards the door.
"Felix," a voice filled with venom calls out. Hyunjin.
"Don't. Just don't," I say, putting my hand to him. I walk out, my heart throbbing in agony. I keep walking away until I don't know where I am. I stop, feeling my heart shred. I crouch down, vigorously sobbing, crying until I can't anymore.
Do you still want me?