Chapter 2: A big Feline Problem

Felix practically sprinted down the hallway, his heart pounding in his chest. He didn't dare look back, knowing his bandmates-especially Kelvin-might notice something was off. His hands trembled as he pushed open the bathroom door, locking it behind him with shaking fingers.

He stumbled to the sink, holding the edge tightly, his reflection already shifting in the mirror. "No, no, not now," he whispered, a desperate tone to his voice.

His platinum blonde hair seemed to look like liquid, growing long and short uncontrollably. His eyes flashed between his usual bright green and an eerie-looking deep black. Even his bone structure shifted slightly.

The curse was ruthless tonight just like other times. It leaches off his stress and fear. Felix gasped, his breathing uneven as he pressed his forehead against the cold mirror. The icy cold feeling calmed him, but only for a moment.

He folded his fists, digging his nails into his palms to focus. "Control it... just breathe," he muttered to himself, though the words felt empty. Like a dry dad joke.

A knock at the door made him freeze. His entire body tensed, and he turned toward the sound, praying it was anyone but Kelvin.

"Felix? You okay in there?" Kelvin's voice, muffled but unmistakable, sent a jolt of panic through him.

He bit his lip hard enough to make it bleed. "Y-yeah! Just... give me a second!" His voice cracked, betraying the chaos he was trying to hide.

Kelvin didn't respond immediately, but Felix could feel his presence on the other side of the door. The silence was suffocating.

Felix glanced back at the mirror, his reflection finally beginning to stabilize. He didn't have much time to collect himself before facing Kelvin. How much had he seen?

Kelvin stood outside the bathroom door, his brow furrowed as he waited for Felix to respond. He hadn't meant to follow him, but Felix's abnormal exit from the room had been too strange to ignore. It wasn't like Felix to rush off like that without so much as a word.

"Felix?" Kelvin called again, his voice softer this time. He leaned against the doorframe, listening if he could hear anything.

The faint crack in Felix's voice when he replied didn't do much to ease Kelvin's worry. Something was definitely off.

"You sure you're okay?" Kelvin asked, his tone neutral but edged with concern. "You just ran out of there. If it's something I said…" He trailed off, his hands stuffed into the pockets of his jacket.

Silence stretched for a moment too long, and Kelvin knew It wasn't like Felix to be so disorganized. Normally, he could brush off anything with that charming, effortless grin of his. This was different.

Kelvin glanced down the empty hallway, half-expecting one of the others to come looking for them. But it was just him and the door, and whatever Felix was hiding behind it.

"You don't have to tell me," Kelvin added, his voice quieter now. "But... if something's wrong, you know you don't have to handle it by yourself, right?"

He didn't know why he was saying all this-maybe because he'd seen how Felix carried himself, always composed, always perfect in the eyes of everyone around him. Too perfect. It made Kelvin wonder what was really going on under that oh-so- perfect exterior.

Kelvin sighed and pushed off the doorframe. "Alright, I'll leave you alone. Just don't take too long. Zach's already whining about rehearsal starting late." He tried to keep his tone light, but the worry showed.

Kelvin paused a few steps down the hall, glancing back at the closed door. He shook his head, shoving his hands deeper into his pockets. Whatever it was, Felix would talk when he was ready.

He just hoped he didn't have to wait too long.

---

Felix grabbed the edge of the sink harder, his knuckles white as the transformation rushed through him. He could feel his body shifting, muscles tightening and bones contorting. The curse wasn't stopping this time-he'd held it back for too long, and now it was taking over.

A sharp pain ran down his spine, and he doubled over, holding back a groan. His hands that were no longer hands at all but massive paws with sharp claws that scraped against the tiles. He looked down, his breathing ragged, as sleek silver fur spread over his limbs like wildfire.

"No, no, no," Felix whispered hoarsely, though the sound was already warping into something guttural.

His reflection in the mirror vanished as he grew, towering over the sink. His tail lashed behind him, hitting the wall with a soft thud, and his ears twitched at every sound, hyper-aware of the faint noises from outside.

Felix glanced down at his reflection—or what was left of it. A massive feline stared back at him with luminous green eyes that glowed faintly in the dim bathroom light. His sleek, silver-white fur shimmered like moonlight, and his form was powerful, predatory.

He took a shaky step back, his claws clicking on the tile floor. The bathroom suddenly felt suffocating, too small to contain him. Panic clawed at his chest. If anyone saw him like this—

Another knock on the door.

"Felix?"

Kelvin's voice made his ears flatten against his head. He froze, every muscle in his body tensed.

"I'm coming back again in five minutes if you're not out," Kelvin said, his voice stern but tinged with concern.

Felix's heart raced, the sound almost deafening in his sensitive ears. He had to change back, but the curse wasn't that simple. It fed on his emotions, on his fear. The more he panicked, the stronger its grip became.

He forced himself to take a deep breath, then another. His claws retracted slightly, and his fur rippled as if unsure whether to stay or vanish.

But five minutes wasn't long, and the transformation was stubborn.

Felix stared at the door, his feline form looming in the dim light, and whispered to himself: "Control it. You have to control it."

Felix paced back and forth in the tiny bathroom, his big cat body bumping into the walls. His tail moved around, knocking over the trash can with a loud crash. He flinched, his ears flicking at how loud the noise sounded in the small room.

"Control it," he muttered, his voice reduced to a low growl. "Just a few more minutes."

He tried to calm his breathing, silver mist puffing out with every exhale. His glowing green eyes flicked to the mirror, staring at the beast staring back. It always freaked him out-this couldn't be who he really was. Or maybe it was?

His fur started fading, and he felt his bones shifting again. The change always went away after a few minutes, but it never got easier. His paws shrank, claws turning back into human nails. He dropped to the cold floor, legs shaking as they turned human again.

The fur on his arms faded away, showing pale skin underneath. His tail disappeared with a faint shimmer, leaving his back sore. Felix clenched his teeth at the pain, sweat dripping down his face as his body turned human again.

When it was finally over, he lay on the cold floor, his chest heaving. His blonde hair rested on his his sweaty forehead, and his hands trembled as he pushed himself into a sitting position. He caught sight of himself in the mirror again-disorganised, exhausted, but human.

The faint knock at the door startled him, and he hurriedly stood to his feet, nearly slipping.

"Felix? It's been five minutes," Kelvin's voice called, firmer this time.

Felix splashed cold water on his face, trying to get rid of any signs of what just happened. He grabbed a towel and wiped his face, hoping the redness on his cheeks looked more like embarrassment than anything else.

"Coming!" he shouted, his voice still shaky. He grimaced at how weak it sounded but didn't have time to fix it.

He unlocked the door and stepped out, forcing a smile onto his face. Kelvin was leaning casually against the wall, arms crossed, but his piercing blue eyes immediately locked onto Felix's.

"You look like hell," Kelvin said, his brow furrowing.

"Thanks," Felix muttered, brushing past him. "Just... needed a moment."

Kelvin turned to follow, his concern clearly not eased. "Felix-"

"I'm fine," Felix interrupted, his voice sounded ruder than he expected. He regretted it immediately but didn't stop walking. "Let's just get back for rehearsals."

Kelvin didn't press further, but Felix could feel his gaze lingering, heavy with questions. He knew it was only a matter of time before Kelvin started digging deeper.

And Felix wasn't sure how much longer he could keep the truth hidden.