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⇛ Hero's Soup
1:50pm

"What do you guys want?" Felix cleared his throat while standing awkwardly in line with his friends, internally begging and wishing that the couple would go have a seat and just leave the ordering to him. "You know you don't have to stay in the line, right? I'll take care of it-"

Glancing at Hyunjin then back at Felix, Seungmin sighed, deciding to just avoid complication and comply with the older's request. "Plain coffee," he nodded, the two strolling away when Hyunjin gave the same order. "We'll go, but don't be too long..."

Felix sighed somewhat out of relief when his friends settled at a table, finally able to focus solely on the cashier just a few customers ahead. He cooed at the small smiles Chan would give each stranger, and how the older performed his duties with so much passion- so much respect.

Felix couldn't help but lose himself in a gaze at the detailed display of the brunette's muscles, and he couldn't help but wish that those bare arms would hug him again- he couldn't help but imagine those unique dimples so close to his freckles again.

"Hero's Soup, what would you like to order?" Chan chuckled, leaning against the counter to take Felix's order more comfortably. "What does my Lixie want today?"

Blushing and glancing back to his obviously curious friends, Felix nodded, looking down to hide the reddening spots on his cheeks. "C-Chan," he grinned, the realization that the two hadn't yet spoken face-to-face since their kiss making him more nervous than usual. "Coconut latte and two plain coffees," he looked up, blushing even more when he noticed how Chan kept an unfading smile while looking at him, pure adoration lingering reluctantly in the older's eyes.

"Plain coffees? Are you here with other people?" Chan arched a brow, looking around the room in frail attempt to spot any familiar face. "Are they to go?"

"N-no. I'm here with my friends, Hyunjin and Seungmin," the younger pointed to his friends' table, the couple immediately getting the hint and flashing a light wave to the two at the counter. "We're having them here."

"Hmph... so I can't even take my fifteen minutes break to come talk with my Lixie," Chan complained teasingly while preparing the three drinks, pouting subtly. "Are you three close?"

"They're my best- well only friends," Felix sighed, smiling softly and leaning against the counter. He took a light glance at the other occupied cashier, furrowing his brows when he noticed the sharp glare directed to him from the familiar female. He knew Sana from the times when he'd visit the café with his ex, but the worker had never displayed such a cold demeanor to the blonde before... it was weird, and slightly concerning. Clearing his throat, Felix spoke again. "We've been close for years."

"Only friends, I see," Chan narrowed his eyes, placing a tray on the counter, resting one prepared drink on the surface. "Well if they're your only friends, then what am I?" He smirked, resting another prepared coffee on the plastic.

"Well I mean- you're my- Chan-" Felix stuttered, blushing profusely and looking down. "Of course you're my friend. You're my really good friend," he looked up again, locking eyes with Chan before handing the older his money. "You're my- you're my Chan-nie?"

"I'm your, Channie?" The cashier couldn't help but blush, smiling the brightest that he ever did since the past Saturday. "Here, hold this. I'll pay for yours," he handed the younger back the money for his latte, only placing the cost of the couple's coffees into the cash register.

"Well since you call me your Lixie... it's only fair?" Felix smiled, reaching to take a hold of the tray, only to be stopped when Chan lightly brushed his hand away. "I'm gonna bring-"

"Let me do my job," the older interrupted, taking a hold of the platter and making his way to the front of the counter, completely ignoring the mutters and low complaints of the customers in line. "This is them, right?... Good afternoon, here are your coffees."

"Hm," Felix smiled awkwardly, nodding and sitting next to his friends. "You didn't have to, but thank you."

"Yes, thank you... Christopher?" Hyunjin squinted as he tried to make out the scribbled writing on the name-tag, Seungmin fighting to keep back a chuckle at his boyfriend's effortless acting. "That'll be all- hmph-" he softly glared at Felix from the unexpected kick the younger had sent to his leg, scoffing when he noticed the same awkward smile plastered on the boy's face.

"Well, enjoy. I'll see you later, Lix," Chan winked, smiling and waving before leaving to continue his duties, dreading the fact that he couldn't spend one-on-one time with Felix that afternoon.

"I swear you guys are so embarrassing sometimes," Felix huffed a breath, taking his latte from the tray to sip and looking around. "I warned you both to not be awkward, Hyunjin. What was that?"

"I was just trying to be friendly, Lix," the older snickered, taking a thirsty sip from his coffee and wincing at the unexpected burn on his tongue. "Anyways, let's catch up. How was your weekend, since you've been avoiding us and all..."

"I wasn't avoiding you," Felix whined, reflexively glancing at the counter and blushing slightly when he locked gazes with Chan. "I- I've been considering something actually."

"What is it?" Seungmin spoke up, sipping his own coffee. "I hope everything is okay."

"Yeah, everything is fine. It's just- I think I want to go back to school. I could take an online course while maintaining my job at the clinic..." Felix spoke skeptically, pursing his lips in thought. "I was thinking psychology... I want to go deeper into it," he nipped at his bottom lip subtly, deciding to leave out one of his main reasons for wanting to study psychology specifically- to be able to help Chan better. "Besides, Dr. Lee might already be thinking that I'm taking classes."

"That sounds like a good idea actually," Seungmin nodded, Hyuinjin performing the same gesture. "As long as it won't put you under too much pressure, I see nothing wrong in furthering your education. But um, why would Minho be thinking that you take psychology classes?" He scoffed jokingly at the last sentence, his boyfriend sharing the same questioning expression.

"I may or may not have told him that I take classes when I went for the interview," Felix scrunched his face playfully when his friends chuckled at his lie, arching their brows in unison. "But before you ask why, I froze up, okay? It was like the same day of my breakup so I was flustered and I didn't even expect him to ask me any questions. I just told him what any interviewer would want to hear I guess."

"Okay then," Hyunjin shook his head, blowing on his drink in attempt to cool the surface before sipping again. "Well if you want it, and can afford it, go for it. We'll be supporting you every step of the way as usual."

"Thank you guys," Felix smiled softly, taking the last big gulp of his latte, the couple giggling as they observed how a decent amount of white foam had stayed back on the top of the mutual's lip. "Clean up your mouth, Lix."

"O-oh," Felix chuckled out of slight embarrassment, grabbing a napkin from the table to clean his mouth, cheeks reddening when he caught a glimpse of Chan laughing at him childishly behind the counter. "So um, where are you going afterwards?"

"Well, I'm going back to work, but Minnie has the day off so I don't know," Hyunjin shrugged, sipping comfortably on his now warm coffee. "Are you going home after we drop Felix off?"

"Oh no, I was going to-" Seungmin's eyes trailed to the entrance of the building when he deciphered the mutually detested voice behind some low mumbles. "What the fuck is Changbin doing here?" He furrowed his brows, Felix swallowing thickly in his seat, and Chan going tense behind the counter- not that he hadn't seen Changbin come by regularly, but there was no time that the shorter had came by in the presence of Felix.

"Let's just go," Felix muttered, making way to leave his seat until he recognized the uncomfortably familiar person in Chanbin's company. "Jeongin?" He narrowed his eyes as the pair strolled up to the counter, both seeming unnaturally comfortable in each other's presence. "What is Jeongin doing with Changbin?" He glanced at Chan, sighing out of relief when he noticed that his ex had went up to the other, more bitchy yet equally familiar cashier.

"Yeah, what the fuck is Jeongin doing with him?" Hyunjin was even more perplexed than his friend, seeing that he was closest with the male than the two boys in his company. "Is Changbin trying to use him too or something? Somebody needs to let him know how dangerous that guy is."

"Yeah, I think you'd be the best person for that, Jinnie," Seungmin thinned his lips into a small smile, lightly stroking his boyfriend's arm. "He'll most likely listen to you since you guys are closer."

"Changbin just cannot rest," Felix scoffed as the pair walked past them to the window seat nonchalantly, both giggling and blushing in deep, unending conversation.

It hurt so much, seeing the boy that he had once loved and cherished- the Changbin that he had given his heart to so effortlessly- the one that he trusted and cared for and wanted to spend his life with, be so indulged into the smiles and looks and life of somebody else right in front of his eyes. Changbin didn't even spare the younger a glimpse, muchless a greeting or at least a scornful scoff- at least that, Felix wanted.

Fueled from the rush of burdensome emotions, the blonde's lips quivered, yet still he kept his focus steadily on the live view of his ex's joy with someone else. He hated Changbin, yes, but Felix's heart couldn't not break again. His heart couldn't not hurt seeing his first love be so happy with another boy in the same café that they always went to together, in that same window seat where they shared kisses and hugs and laugher and... coconut lattes together.

Noticing their friends new saddened expression, the couple shifted their chairs carefully to sit closer to the sniffling boy in preparation to give him a warm, clearly desired hug- but Chan beat them to it.

In less a few minutes, the cashier was already at Felix's side, ignoring the obvious, threatening glare from his co-worker. "I'm taking my fifteen minutes," he had spoken quickly before running off to his Lixie's aid, stooping and cupping the blonde's cheek to face him.

Knowing that Felix would want that exact affection from the addict, the couple only shifted their chairs back into place, allowing the pair a bit of space and time for the mutual's utmost comfort and satisfaction.

"Lixie," Chan mumbled, looking at the boy with sad eyes. "Lixie listen to me. Don't cry over him, okay? He's not worth it," he hugged the younger softly, the couple unable to focus on the negative stories that they were told about addict as his live action towards their dear friend was simply lovable, and seemingly meaningful.

Felix nodded and sniffled into the hug, missing the few seconds where Changbin had finally stolen a glimpse to the side and frowned subtly at the image of his ex-boyfriend and ex-fling held so warmly in each other's arms. It was only after receiving a glare of disgust from the addict and a few taps on his arm from Jeongin that Changbin refocused solely on the in-depth conversation with the male that he had somehow grown closer to over that weekend.

"T-thank you Chan," Felix sighed, letting go of the older but humming softly out of confusion when Chan hesitated to release him. "Chan?"

"Lix," Chan took a deep breath before letting go, tempted to keep another heartfelt eye contact with the blonde if it weren't for the unfamiliar boys to their side. "I'm sorry I just- I was worried."

"It's okay Channi- Chan," Felix blushed slightly, clearing his throat and glancing at the couple to ensure that they didn't have any reaction to the pet name that had nearly slipped. "I'm fine, it just hurt me for a second, but I'm fine... I'm over him."

"You sure?" Chan tilted, smiling softly and resting a hand against the younger's shoulder, locking eyes with Felix again when he looked up.

"I'm sure."