Chapter 7: Good Day Gone Bad

As they were walking back to the car, laughing about the games they'd played, Felix suddenly froze.

He heard it.

"Xi'an."

The voice sounded familiar, yet distant. Felix's heart skipped a beat. It was his birth name-something he hadn't heard in so long. No one knew that name except for his family... and his high school boyfriend.

His stomach felt insanely upset as his mind raced. No, it can't be.

Kelvin noticed Felix's sudden change in mood and turned to look at him. "What's wrong?"

Felix didn't answer right away, his eyes darting around, but there was no one in sight. His heart pounded, panic rising in his chest.

"Xi'an."

The voice came again, and this time, Felix knew for sure. He turned toward the direction of the sound and saw him.

Standing there, with that familiar, stupid cocky grin on his face, was his ex. His high school boyfriend, Wu Zhanhai or Jan as Felix always calls him.

Felix's breath caught. He hadn't seen this man in years. No one knew about their relationship—not his bandmates, not even Kelvin. Felix had kept it hidden, buried deep down, afraid of what would happen if anyone found out he liked boys.

"W-what are you doing here?" Felix stuttered, his heart pounding in his chest.

The man stepped closer, his eyes gleaming with recognition. "I never thought I'd see you again, Xi'an."

Felix took a step back, trying to regain control. This was the last person he expected to run into.

Kelvin looked between them, confusion written on his face. "Do you know him?"

Felix's mind raced. How could he explain this

Kelvin stared at Felix, his eyebrows scrunched together in confusion. "Felix, I'm talking to you. Do you know this guy?"

Felix opened his mouth but no words came out. His mind was a mess. Should he answer? Should he lie? He wasn't ready for this, not here, not now.

The guy, with a cocky smirk plastered on his face, stepped forward. "Of course, my sunflower would know me."

Kelvin blinked, completely thrown off. "Sunflower? What the hell is this guy talking about?" he thought to himself. The way this stranger carried himself, so smug and sure, was already irritating Kelvin, but now this?

Felix stiffened at the word "sunflower." It was an old nickname, one he hadn't heard in years. One he wished had stayed buried in the past.

The guy looked at Kelvin, his smirk growing wider. "Felix, why don't you introduce your ex to your friend here?"

That hit like a punch from the hulk or preferably superman. Felix's jaw dropped as he whipped his head toward the guy, eyes wide in shock. "Why would you say that out loud, Jan?!" was all he could think. Panic rose in his chest. What would Kelvin think of me now?

Kelvin froze for a moment, his brain processing the word "ex." He looked between Felix, who looked like he wanted to disappear, and Jan, who was clearly enjoying this moment.

Kelvin decided not to act fazed. He smiled instead, the kind of smile Felix couldn't read, and extended his hand toward Jan. "Oh, so you guys dated? Back in high school, maybe?"

Jan grinned as he shook Kelvin's hand. "Yup, that's right. We were the IT couple in school, weren't we, sunflower?"

Felix wanted to sink into the ground. His face was burning, his heart racing. He couldn't even look at Kelvin now.

Kelvin, however, didn't seem bothered. He just smiled, but it wasn't the usual warm smile Felix was used to. And that scared him even more.

Then Jan asked Kelvin to give both he and Felix space so they could talk privately.

Kelvin stood a little distance away, his arms crossed, pretending to scroll through his phone but keeping a sharp eye on Felix and the stranger. He wasn't far enough that he couldn't hear if he tried, but he kept his distance as Jan had smugly requested.

Felix turned to Jan, his frustration boiling over. "What the heck is wrong with you? What do you want from me? Just stay away!"

Jan tilted his head, that irritating smirk plastered across his face. "Oh, come on, my pretty sunflower," he said, his hands suddenly cupping Felix's face. Felix immediately tried to push him away, but Jan held firm. "Don't you think it's a little unfair to push me away like this?"

"Unfair?" Felix hissed, swatting Jan's hands off. "You're insane. We're not dating anymore, okay? Stay away from me! I have an image to protect, and I don't need you ruining it!"

Jan's smirk faltered, but only for a second. Then it came back, sharper, more annoying than before. His eyes flicked toward Kelvin, who still pretended to be deeply invested in his phone but was clearly paying attention. Jan leaned in suddenly, grabbing Felix by the waist and pulling him closer.

Felix stiffened, his muscles tensing as he struggled against Jan's grip. "Let go of me!" he whispered sharply, trying not to attract Kelvin's attention.

Jan leaned closer, his lips brushing against Felix's ear, his voice dropping to a low, mocking tone. "Your friend over there," he said, nodding subtly toward Kelvin, "or should I say your new crush, doesn't exactly convince me as someone who'd be cool with you being gay. Am I wrong?"

Felix's heart skipped a beat, fear spreading through him like wildfire. "What are you even talking about?" he muttered, his voice shaky despite his attempt to sound firm.

Jan chuckled, his grip tightening around Felix's waist. "If you don't want me spilling your little secret to the whole world, I suggest you relax and play nice. I can keep quiet… if you give me a reason to."

The words hit Felix like a punch to the gut, leaving him speechless. His mind raced as fear made his body feel totally numb. Jan knew exactly how to push his buttons, and now he had the upper hand.

Then Jan leaned in closer, his lips brushing Felix's ear. His voice was soft, but the words sent a wave of anger through Felix. "Why don't you give me a kiss, Sunflower?"

Felix's eyes widened, his blood boiling at the nickname he didn't want to hear. "Don't call me that," he hissed. Then, with a sudden burst of anger, he shoved Jan away, breaking free from his grip.

But Jan was quick.

Before Felix could step back further, Jan grabbed his wrist, holding it tight. He smirked, tugging Felix closer. "Don't be so dramatic, sunflower," Jan said, his voice full of arrogance.

Before Jan could say or do anything else, Kelvin was suddenly there. Felix hadn't even noticed him coming close.

Kelvin's tone was low and steady, but there was a sharp edge to it that made Felix freeze. "I think that's enough," Kelvin said, his voice calm but menacing.

Jan turned his head, looking at Kelvin with raised eyebrows. "And who are you? His bodyguard?"

Kelvin didn't answer right away. Instead, he gave a small, icy smile that didn't reach his eyes. "We're leaving," he said, his voice still calm but with a tone that made it clear he wasn't asking.

Jan looked like he wanted to argue, but something in Kelvin's expression made him think twice. He slowly released Felix's wrist, stepping back.

Kelvin placed a hand on Felix's shoulder, his grip was firm but oddly reassuring. "Come on," he said, his voice dropping lower, almost in a whisper. "Let's go home."

Felix couldn't say a word, still trying to process everything that had just happened. All he could do was nod as Kelvin guided him away, leaving Jan standing there, watching them.

They both got into the car. Kelvin opened the door to the passenger seat for Felix to enter. Felix's heart felt good because of the gesture from Kelvin but he couldn't say anything.

One thing Felix knew for sure—Kelvin was mad. He didn't yell or throw things when he was angry, but the signs were there. His brows furrowed just a little differently, and his voice dropped low, almost too calm, like a storm that's waiting to hit.

The drive home was painfully quiet. Felix sat there, fiddling with the hem of his shirt, feeling the silence press down on him. He wanted to say something, anything, but the words wouldn't come. Kelvin kept his eyes on the road, his face unreadable.

When they finally got home, Kelvin didn't waste a second. He headed straight for his room, his footsteps heavy against the floor.

"Kelvin," Felix called out, his voice a little shaky.

Kelvin stopped but didn't turn around.

"Do you…" Felix hesitated, swallowing hard. "Do you feel disgusted by me? Because I'm… because I like guys?"

Kelvin froze for a second, his hand on the doorknob. Then he turned, his face still calm, but his eyes were sharp.

"No," he said, his voice steady.

Felix's heart skipped a beat, but before he could say anything else, Kelvin brushed past him, grabbing his wrist just enough to force it away from blocking the door.

"Just leave me alone, Felix," Kelvin said quietly before closing the door behind him.

Felix stood there in the hallway, staring at the closed door. His chest felt heavy, like he couldn't breathe. What just happened?

Then Felix walked into his room, dropping all the bags he'd brought back from the mall onto the floor. He didn't even care where they landed. His head was spinning, and his chest felt tight. All he could think about was Kelvin—how he looked at him, how he walked away.

"Why does it even matter what he thinks?" Felix mumbled to himself, but deep down, he knew. It mattered more than he wanted to admit.

Suddenly, a sharp, burning pain shot through his body. It was like his skin was on fire, like he'd been thrown into a furnace. He clutched his sides, groaning as he stumbled to the edge of his bed.

The pain was so much, almost unbearable, but Felix didn't care about that. What hurt more was the thought of Kelvin being disappointed in him. His heart felt heavier than his body.

Tears started falling from his eyes, but he didn't even try to stop them. He let them flow, his shoulders shaking as he cried.

"Why does this have to happen to me all the time?" he whispered, his voice cracking.

The room felt cold despite the burning inside him, and the only sound was the quiet sobs escaping his lips.