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⇒ N/S Corner Store
10:10pm

"Felix," Chan announced, head shielded almost halfway by a black hood, and hands secured in the pockets of his sweater. His eyes gazed down at his feet instead of the small frame of the cashier because, he wasn't ready- he wasn't ready to face the dark look on the latter's face, especially after being pushed away so mercilessly the night before- after hurting the boy so much, the night before, with the shallow mindset that a mere, one-try apology would be enough to correct his actions. "Hey."

"What are you doing here?" Felix stood up quickly, head almost feeling dizzy due to the speed, and eyebrows raising as his legs carried him to the other side of the counter. "Did you come to buy something? Or just to make me uncomfortable?"

Scoffing lowly, Chan finally looked up, eyes narrowing as if still scared of the gaze of the younger's and, palms sweating profusely in his sweater. Slowly, he widened the range of his vision, glancing down at the clothed stomach that held his seeds, and then back up at the beautiful face that he maybe, just maybe loved after-all.

And it seemed unbelievable, even to himself. The switch in his emotions just from his decision to absorb every bit of wisdom that Changbin had to share was incredible, honestly. And he could only wish that said male was aware of everything since the beginning because maybe, just maybe, his first instinct in his relationship would be to love Felix rather than use him- rather than experiment with him.

And at the realization that he had arrived to such a far point of emotional detachment with the man that loved him, all Chan could do was try; just try to maybe, make things right- try to be there for his twins- try to be the very man for Felix, that even Felix himself said that he couldn't be.

So he sighed, legs carrying him closer to the blonde near the counter, and tongue running over his lower lip before speaking. "I'm sorry about last night."

Then he paused, lips still parted and eyes unblinking in anticipation of a response from the shorter but, nothing. Felix only stood there, arms folded above his baby-bump, eyes not once leaving the facial features of the older that he favored the most and, heart fighting what had to be the gravest battle to ever come its way.

Chan was changing.

Not good.

Not good for Hyunjin and, not good for his previous plan to love the man that actually displayed utmost care for him- not good for his mind that was still yelling to move on from the artiste before him.

Gulping thickly, Chan prepared to speak again, mentally assuming that then was truly the time to make a proper apology, considering the fact that Felix was practically half-asleep the night before. "I'm sorry for everything." He started softly, lower lip quivering and tears brimming to the corners of his eyes, but no. He couldn't break down. Not again. Not in front of Felix.

"I- I'm sorry for walking out on you the first time you told me you were pregnant. I'm sorry for belittling you. I'm sorry for ghosting you for the time that I did. I'm sorry for accusing you of lying even last night. I'm sorry for being so careless with our relationship in the first place." He sniffled, eyes unable to keep a tear from trickling down his cheek and, gaze no longer strong enough to maintain contact with Felix's. "I'm just sorry, Felix. I really am."

Pouting and looking down at his covered feet, Felix nipped at his lower lip, his own eyes filling with tears and, breaths too heavy and shaky to even spare him the opportunity to speak up. His chest hurt and, so did his head as few images of his current boyfriend flashed behind of his eyelids with every blink- as the kiss of those soft lips ghosted his- as the warmth of those long, slender arms imaginarily traced the stretch marks on his stomach.

Damn it! That was hard- too hard. Chan was making the process of moving on too damn hard. The dimples on either of those cheeks were making it unreasonably strenuous to bask in the mental images of the cheeky smile of his boyfriend. The dusty blonde hair on Chan's head was making it all too difficult to at least envisage the scent of Hyunjin's long, blonde strands as they would tickle his nostrils.

Chan was still there. He came back, willing to be the father that he ought to be, as much as he could, but still, it wasn't going to be easy. Felix was not about to make all of that easy. Felix was not about to make a wordy apology with few tears be enough to take him back and just drop Hyunjin to the side. No. Chan had to feel something too. He had to make Chan feel the pain of someone not wanting him too. He had to make Chan feel what he felt, or at least something along that line.

So sucking in the deepest breath, Felix looked up, eyes dark and tongue smacking against the roof of his mouth. "Okay." He said softly, shoulders shrugging and neck bending to the side as if to ease some physical stress. "Thank you for apologizing."

And Chan couldn't help the small smile of relief creeping up his face. His breaths lightened and, his arms finally left the confinement of those warm pockets as his lips only spread up further. "Thank you for forgiving me, Felix. I promise that I won't mess up this time. I promise to be there for all two- three of you."

Felix himself couldn't keep a tinge of pink from highlighting his freckles, head once again lowering and arms finally dropping from his torso. "Mhm... thank you."

"But... were you serious when you said you don't need my help with the apartment? Are you- are you moving in with him?" Chan had to clear his throat with that question, smile fading and eyes glossing themselves even more than before. Just the thought of his ex sharing such an intimate decision with another man was- unfathomable... even hurtful.

Just the thought of him swallowing so much pride, only to be gifted with the indirect news that he did in no way stand a second chance... he could hardly take it. So another tear slid down his cheek, that one surprising Felix even more than the first, and making him question his internal decision to make Chan go through some form of affliction too- because Chan seemed genuine- artless.

"No, Chan. It's too soon for either of us. He was just willing to help me, and I plan on getting a job at the café he works at so I can make double money to pay as well." Felix smiled reassuringly, thinking twice before lifting one hand up to the older's clothed shoulder to stroke it ever so gently- lovingly. His eyes gazed upon the movements of his palm while his lower lip stayed locked in between his teeth, leaving him to completely miss the sight of his ex staring down on him with so, so much adoration.

But maybe it was for the best. Because maybe, maybe seeing those fireworks errupt in the older's eyes would be more than enough to overthrow his vengeful decision- maybe seeing those dimples smile because of him would somewhat invalidate the cheeks that never failed to keep up with such task- maybe the muscular arm that he was stroking would suddenly seem much better and more needed than the slim ones that'd always comfort him... maybe being the first witness to Chan's sincere love for him, would give his heart the confirmation that it needed yet just did not want to have; that the heart that it loved was right before it and, loved it too.

Then Chan spoke up, tone filled with assertiveness and mind trying its best to organize some seemingly unreasonable words into a logical sentence. "Don't do it."

"What?"

"Don't get another job, Felix. You'll overwork yourself and that could harm the babies."

Felix pouted, hand dropping from Chan's shoulder to his side. Fighting the internal desire to be stubborn with the fact that Chan's suggestion was clearly rational, he spoke up, tone deep, and one hand cupping a side of his waist. "Okay but, are you still willing to help with the apartment?"

"Of course I am, Felix. I'm willing to pay for everything..." Chan paused, eyes glancing over at the counter before down at his feet, and hands finding and hiding in his pockets once more. "This one too."

"What?" Felix furrowed his brows, arms folding against his chest again, and ears still trying to properly decipher the lingering sound waves of the other's mumble. "Speak up, Chan."

"I said, I want you to leave this job too."

"Okay now you're just being ridic-"

"No, Felix. I'm not being ridiculous. You need rest. You're carrying twins- two babies. And instead of you being in your bed resting at ten o'clock, you're at work. A shop with no security, where you have to walk home alone, at minutes to twelve, every night. This isn't healthy for you, or for them." Chan spoke breathlessly, lips quivering just as before, enticing a chorus of mental swears at the realization that he was breaking down way too many times in front of his own ex. But still, better Felix than anybody else- better the boy that he had hurt see him become so vulnerable and remorseful, than anybody else.

"I'm willing to pay for everything, Lix. I'll give you money for food and everything that you need for the babies. I'll even pay for those pregnancy yoga classes for you, Felix. And look," he pulled out a roll of cash from his jean pocket, hand stretching it forward for comfortable receipt, and another tear making its way down his cheek. "This is for your next appointment, a CD or printout of the ultrasound, and whatever else it can buy. I want to see them too, Lix. It's bad and pathetic enough that I can't be there with you all out in public like that for both our safeties so, it's the least I can do."

And Felix cried as he accepted that money. His knees felt weak at Chan's short speech and, the plan of revenge in his head didn't even seem to make much sense anymore. "T-thank you," he coughed out, headache strengthening with his sobs, and heart hurting even more when Chan's arms found and hugged his torso. "Thank you so much... but I can't leave yet. Maybe next month if you truly keep up but, I can't leave yet."

"Well... can you at least leave this one and take the one at the café? You need your night rest, Felix. And I can just imagine how hard it is when you have to work extra to make up a missed day." Chan pouted near Felix's face, arms tightening at his lower back carefully, and breaths tickling his nape. "If not for me... then for Noah and... Niah?"

"Okay, I'll get everything in place and let you know. And it's Hyejin, Chan." Felix finally laughed a bit, wiping his cheeks with his fists upon pulling away, and heart melting at the sight of his ex giving the cutest, glossiest puppy eyes with hands clasped in front of his chest. "What the hell?"

"Please, Lixie? She can be Niah Hyejin. But I really want a baby girl with that name. Please? I'm their daddy too... so please?" Chan giggled in between his childish guise, cheeks dusting red from slight embarrassment and pout growing into a wide smile when Felix visibly nodded in between laughter. "Thank you, Lixie. Thank you so much for saying yes. Now we just wait for our babies, Noah and Niah, hm?"

"Mhm." Felix hugged him again, that time tighter but still careful with his baby-bump in mind, basking in the sweet scent of his ex's perfume. "Noah and Niah."

-

⇒ Zone Park- District 9
11:30pm

"What're you doing here?" Hyunjin questioned skeptically, brows lifted and eyes gazing down on the figure sitting to one side of the bench that he'd usually claim at that park. "I mean, not that you can't be here but like, since when?"

Flinching slightly from the sudden, unexpected voice, Seungmin shifted in his seat, mentally thanking the streetlights for their dimness that was able to somewhat hide the embarrassed reddening of his cheeks. "I- I've been coming here from time to time, since that night with you." He looked down at his knees, soft sigh leaving his lips, and fingers fiddling with each other on his thighs. "I didn't expect you to come tonight, though. I usually come when you're not here... or when you've already gone... I thought you weren't walking tonight."

Hyunjin smiled softly as he made himself comfortable next to the brunette, elbow nudging Seungmin's arm teasingly before his gaze focussed on the dark, grassy field forward. "Cute." He chuckled. "I'm glad that I could help with your relaxation."

And Seungmin nodded. Then silence; awkward silence. They both wanted to say something but, neither knew how to say it or, what number of seconds or minutes needed to pass by before it was said...

But then Hyunjin spoke up again. His tone was heavy yet soothing and, his head leaned back against the bench while a low groan sounded from his throat. "Thank you for accepting Felix, Seungmin. Thank you for being so supportive... even of our relationship."

"Of course." Seungmin forced a small smile, also resting his head back while lifting his elbow to lean against the wooden armrest. "And I'm sorry for lying about him in the first place."

"It's okay, Min. If you didn't lie, then I would have never gotten to meet him..."

"Mhm..."

"So... this means that you aren't homophobic, right?" Hyunjin's tone was filled with hesitance at the sounding of that question and, he couldn't help the low frown creeping down his lips at the sight of Seungmin's chest heaving with a sigh. "We- we don't have to talk about it if you don't want to."

"No. No, it's okay. And I'm not. I guess sometimes, you just need to get rid if someone from your life to quit acting like an idot." Seungmin sniffled, and then he coughed... then hiccuped... then let few tears slide down his cheeks. "I-I'm sorry."

"No, Min. Don't apologize. Come here," Hyunjin spread both arms open, turning a little sideways to be able to hug the younger more comfortably. "I don't know what you may be going through, or may have gone through but, it'll be okay... just let it out."

"He was a dick." Seungmin sobbed loudly, not caring of the echoes in that almost empty space, completely relying on the background traffic to seclude their small session of vulnerability. "He fucking used me. He's horrible."

"Yes, he's horrible, Minnie. He doesn't deserve you." Hyunjin hummed as he gave those responses, the fact that he was completely unaware of the other's situation showing in neither his gestures nor the sounding of his lines. "And don't feel pressured to tell me what happened, okay? You can just tell him off right here. Just let it all out, and I'll agree with you and be here for you."

"T-thank you."

"Of course."

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