Chapter 6: The mall mess
Felix lay sprawled on the floor of his room, barely conscious, his twisted form slowly receding. The long claws, the hunched spine, the cracked, Disney-villain-like smile—all of it melted away like smoke. The curse, for now, had retreated.
In his head, there was only silence. Then, a whisper—not a voice, but a sensation. Distant. Cold. Like someone watching from the edge of a cliff.
It's all your fault I lost Haozhi. It's all you..
Felix blinked back to life. His body ached in that way it always did after an unintended shift, but at least he didn’t break anything this time. He pushed himself upright with a groan, already regretting his entire existence, when—
Knock. Knock.
He froze. The sound pulled him back to reality. And of course—of course—it was him.
Kelvin stood at the door when Felix cracked it open, hoodie on, hands jammed in his pockets, face looking like he'd rather be hit by a bus than be there.
“Hey,” Kelvin muttered. Then immediately added, “This is not an apology.”
Felix blinked. “Okay?”
Kelvin cleared his throat. “I’m just saying… if anyone were in the wrong about earlier—and I’m not saying it was me—they might, in theory, feel kinda... not-great. So.”
Felix stared at him, unimpressed. “Wow. That was beautiful. I felt that in my soul.”
“I’m leaving,” Kelvin said instantly but Felix knew that there was more to what this annoying leader wanted to say.
Felix opened the door wider, sighing. “What do you want?”
“I’m still heading to the mall,” Kelvin said. “Rika told me to get a few things from FRAZFIT because she's busy preparing for the shoot tomorrow. You’re coming...." Kelvin hesitated on the last part.
Felix grimaced at the older brunette's words. Going to the mall together was the reason we had this fight and Kelvin still repeated it? Does he enjoy my pain? Not like he knows. Forget it, I'm not arguing with him again. "Wait, what? Why?"
"Because if I go alone, people think I’m cold. If you go alone, people think you’re lonely. Together, we look… tolerable."
"You're older and I'm sorry but---have you lost it completely?"
Kelvin couldn't believe his ears. He had decided to make up with Felix because he was mature---or just listening to Rika after she tried to convince him 120 times---and this brat was calling him insane? "What do you mean 'lost it completely'? I said it's for our public image and they were Rika's words not mine! What are you? Gay?"
“Ah yes,” Felix said, nodding his head, “the perfect middle ground of social deception. Give me some time to create the 'lonely boy' look.”
Kelvin just rolled his eyes and left.
Felix on the other hand took his sweet time getting ready. He was always...extra but he personally likes to spell it as pretty. He doesn't let a chance to flaunt his androgyny pass.
After rummaging through his closet, he settled for a black cropped T-shirt and black baggy ripped jeans then white Nikes sneakers with a simple white leather jacket. Then Felix did his makeup, if using just eyeliner and lip tint is doing makeup.
Felix was satisfied with himself so he just took a few selfie's and posted on Instagram then he left to meet Kelvin. What he didn't realize that it was almost 45 minutes ago since Kelvin had left him to change.
As soon as Felix stepped into the living room, Kelvin wanted to lash out but the moment he saw Felix, he just felt lost for words and Felix didn't fail to notice it.
"I took your breath away, right?" Felix asked giving a knowing smirk that seemed to irritate Kelvin to the max.
Kelvin soon got back to his usual self and dropped a snarky remark. "Breath? Rephrase that to 'time'. You took my time away. 45 minutes for dressing like a homeless person who lacks clothes."
"Oh, I'm sorry rich boy, donate some clothes to me."
Kelvin just rolled his eyes and took his mask and glasses, tossing Felix's own to him. He was about to leave when he turned back to Felix. "I hope today's bearable because me near you? It's like being next to a fire alarm during a thunderstorm."
Felix scrunched his face. Where is this coming from? "What?"
Kelvin sighed, "nevermind," then he walked away and Felix mirrored his actions.
They didn’t agree on going together. Not verbally. They just… left. Like it was a mission neither wanted, but both were stuck with.
The drive was silent for the first few minutes—until Kelvin randomly said, “Saitama wouldn’t stand a chance against Goku.”
Felix turned to him so slowly it was almost cinematic. “I hope you’re not serious.”
“I’m dead serious,” Kelvin said, eyes on the road like he’d just stated a universal truth.
Felix scoffed. “One punch, Kelvin. One. Punch.”
“Goku literally destroys galaxies when he sneezes.”
“And yet, he still has to train. Saitama just vibes.”
They bickered the rest of the way, the kind of snarky banter that drew raised eyebrows from passing cars.
By the time they reached the mall, they were walking five feet apart and refusing to make eye contact. Like children in a time-out.
And yet, somehow, they fell into sync when they stepped into the first store.
--
They both hated how good they looked in FRAZFIT, the brand they endorsed. The manager was thrilled to see them, handed them freebies, and gently hinted at taking promo selfies. Felix posed like a model. Kelvin looked like someone was forcing him to eat glitter.
“Try this,” Kelvin muttered, tossing a jacket at Felix.
Felix held it up, then put it on just to annoy him. “Ugh. You have taste. That’s so upsetting.”
“You think I want to coordinate with you? I'd cut you out of Rune if it were in my power, dumbo.” Kelvin grumbled, flipping through clothes.
Felix didn't get Kelvin's words clearly but didn't push it. They just picked out outfits and the skincare Rika had asked for.
A group of teens from outside the store whispered, one pulling out her phone. Felix caught it in the mirror.
“They’re recording,” he said under his breath.
Kelvin glanced their way, then back at Felix. “Great. Let’s pretend we like each other.”
“Too far,” Felix replied. “I’m not that good of an actor.”
But they played along, standing side-by-side, sharing fake laughs, and posing like besties from a K-pop fanfic. Their smiles were paper-thin, their eyes saying kill me now. Still, the camera caught the moment—and the girls squealed.
“Kelix is so real!” someone whispered.
Felix’s smile dropped. “We are not doing that.”
“Too late,” Kelvin muttered. “We’ve been shipped.”
They ordered hotpot and dumplings. Felix stole Kelvin’s soy sauce. Kelvin swapped Felix’s spicy broth for mild. They glared at each other the whole time, but somehow managed to devour everything.
“Are you always this passive-aggressive?” Felix asked.
“Are you always this dramatic?” Kelvin shot back.
A silence. Then a simultaneous “Yes.”
They didn't laugh. They just kept eating. Somehow, it was the most natural interaction they’d had all day.
After eating, they decided to spend the remaining time they had in the arcade.
“Let me guess,” Kelvin said as they entered the arcade. “You’re gonna lose and then pretend you let me win.”
Felix smirked. “Wrong. I’m gonna win and then pretend you tried. You're really just a boring control freak."
They played racing games. Claw machines. A rhythm game that ended with Kelvin tripping over his own feet. Felix howled.
A crowd started to form—not fans, just strangers drawn to the chaos of two pretty boys arguing over stuffed animals.
Felix won a massive panda. “For you,” he said, shoving it into Kelvin’s arms. “To match your cold, dead and monochromatic heart.”
Kelvin rolled his eyes but didn’t give it back.⁰⁰ll
As they walked toward the exit, the buzz from the day still lingered between them. Tension, banter, exhaustion. Not peace—but something like it.
Kelvin shoved his hands in his pockets. “Wasn’t the worst day of my life.”
Felix gave him a side glance. “High praise from someone who once said I gave him migraines.”
“I didn’t say you gave me migraines,” Kelvin said. “I said being near you is like standing next to a fire alarm during a thunderstorm.”
Felix grinned. “So romantic, Mr. Control freak.”
Kelvin didn’t reply. He just opened the car door for him without saying a word.
Felix stared for a second, confused, then climbed in. “Don’t think this means I like you.”
Kelvin got in and shut the door. “Gross. The feeling’s mutual.”
And yet, as they drove off in silence, neither of them turned on the radio but Felix was screaming inside.
He had never let out this much emotions without slipping up. He was happy for that but he couldn't help but be confused.
what exactly happened today that helped?