His heart jumped.
"Kelvin? Are you in there?" a voice called out from the other side.
Kelvin immediately recognized it as Mitchell's. He panicked for a second, glancing around the room as if Mitchell could somehow see through the closed door. "Y-Yeah, I'm here," he called back, his voice slightly shaky.
"You've been locked in there all day," Mitchell said. "You okay? Rika is here and Zach ordered some takeout if you're hungry."
Kelvin cleared his throat, trying to sound normal. "Yeah, I'll be out in a bit. Just finishing up something."
"Alright. Don't take too long," Mitchell replied before the sound of his footsteps faded away.
Kelvin leaned back against the door, letting out a shaky breath. "Get it together, Kelvin," he muttered to himself. "This is... this is not normal."
But deep down, he knew—nothing about how he felt about Felix had been normal for a while.
Kelvin shut down his computer and leaned back in his chair, taking a deep breath. He wiped his hands on his pants, as if that would somehow clean up the mess in his head, then stood up and left the studio. As he walked to the living room, he could already hear laughter and cheers.
When he stepped in, the energy in the room hit him instantly. Mitchell, Zach, and Grey were all smiling, and their manager, Rika, stood in the middle of it all with her usual composed grin. Kelvin forced himself to put on a smile, shoving his hands in his pockets to hide how tense they felt.
"What's all the noise about?" Kelvin asked, keeping his voice casual.
Rika turned to him with excitement in her eyes. "Oh, good timing, Kelvin! Felix just landed a major role in Aidan Mason's new movie!"
Kelvin's fake smile didn't falter, but he felt like the air had been knocked out of him. "Aidan Mason? The Hollywood guy?" he asked, pretending not to care too much.
"Yeah!" Mitchell chimed in, practically bouncing with excitement. "Felix told us he accepted the role earlier today. It's a huge deal! The filming's gonna take, like, six months, but this could make him even bigger internationally!"
Kelvin nodded slowly, still keeping up his act. "That's... great news. Really great for him."
Inside, though, it wasn't great. It felt like something was cracking. Six months? Six months without Felix here? It didn't matter that they hadn't exactly been on the best terms lately. It didn't matter that Felix annoyed him half the time. The thought of not seeing him every day felt... wrong.
Rika clapped her hands, bringing Kelvin back to the moment. "Alright, boys, let's focus! We've got rehearsals tomorrow, and I don't want anyone slacking just because we're celebrating tonight."
Everyone laughed, and Kelvin joined in, though his smile didn't quite reach his eyes.
-
The noise from the living room faded as Kelvin stood on the balcony, leaning against the railing with a glass of whiskey in his hand. The cool night air brushed against his face, but it did nothing to calm the storm inside him.
He took a sip, the burn of the alcohol grounding him for a moment. But his mind was spinning with questions he didn't want to answer. How did this even happen? When did he start feeling... this for Felix? Was it love? Or was he just being selfish?
Kelvin sighed, staring up at the stars. He thought back to the nightmares—those horrible, recurring dreams that haunted him since he was 17. Every time, he'd die in some cruel, twisted way. For years, he thought he'd never escape them. But then... the first night he met Felix, something changed.
That night, he slept peacefully for the first time in forever. No nightmares. No waking up in a cold sweat. Just peace.
And it wasn't a coincidence, because it kept happening. As long as Felix was in the same building, the nightmares stayed away. But now, with Felix gone for two weeks, he hadn't slept a wink.
Kelvin stared into his glass, his grip tightening. Maybe that was all this was. Maybe he didn't love Felix. Maybe he just needed him, like some kind of sleeping pill. But no matter how much he told himself that, it didn't feel right. It felt... hollow.
The truth was, Felix was like a drug to him. He gave Kelvin something no one else ever could. Peace. And it terrified him. Because if Felix was a drug, then Kelvin knew he was addicted.
Suddenly, Kelvin froze as he felt warm arms wrap around his waist from behind. His whole body tensed up, and for a second, he forgot how to breathe.
He didn't need to turn around to know who it was. The scent, the presence—it was Felix.
"Felix," Kelvin said, his voice barely above a whisper. He tried to turn around, but Felix's voice stopped him.
"Don't move," Felix murmured softly, his head resting lightly against Kelvin's back. "Let's just... stay like this for a while."
Kelvin swallowed hard, his heart pounding in his chest. He didn't know what to say or do. His hands hung awkwardly at his sides, unsure if he should push Felix away or hold onto him.
The silence stretched between them, heavy but not uncomfortable. Kelvin could feel Felix's breath against his back, slow and steady, and it made his own breathing feel ragged in comparison.
"Why are you doing this?" Kelvin finally asked, his voice cracking just a little.
Felix didn't answer right away. Instead, he tightened his arms around Kelvin, pulling him just a bit closer. "I don't know," he admitted quietly. "I just... felt like you needed this."
Kelvin's eyes closed as he leaned slightly against the railing, letting Felix's words sink in. Maybe he did need this. Maybe he needed Felix more than he was willing to admit.
They stayed like that for a while, the silence heavy but somehow comforting. But then, out of nowhere, Felix's grip around Kelvin suddenly tightened—hard. It wasn't the gentle hug from before. This one was firm, almost painful.
"Hey!" Kelvin said, wincing as he turned around, breaking the hold. Felix's arms stayed loosely around him, though, not letting go completely.
Kelvin stared at Felix's face, and just like that, the strange effect Felix always had on him hit him again. That same peace, that calm, washed over him. It was like everything else around him disappeared, and all that was left was Felix.
But Kelvin wasn't about to let himself get swept away, not this time. He rolled his eyes dramatically, trying to act like nothing was wrong. "What's your problem?"
Felix glared at him, his brows furrowed in frustration. "My problem? Seriously, Kelvin?" His voice was tight, and there was something more behind it—disappointment. "You didn't even call. Not once. Two weeks, and you didn't even think to check on me."
Kelvin opened his mouth to reply but stopped when he noticed how Felix's hair had grown longer. Some loose strands were falling across his face, covering his eyes a little. Instead of answering, Kelvin reached up, brushing the hair back with his fingers, tucking it behind Felix's ear.
Felix froze at the sudden gesture, his glare faltering. His voice softened, but the hurt was still there. "I was waiting... you know."
The softness in Felix's voice made Kelvin feel something. Kelvin felt butterflies in his belly, and it caught him off guard. His body tensed up for a moment, but he quickly exhaled and tried to play it cool.
"Sorry," Kelvin mumbled, avoiding Felix's eyes. "I've been busy, you know, working on the songs for the new album and all." It was a weak excuse, but it was the only thing he could think of. "Anyway, how's New York been treating you?"
Felix's expression softened a little, the disappointment fading as he started talking. "It's been crazy, honestly. Nonstop events, shoots, and running around. But the city's amazing, you know? There's just something about it." His voice lit up as he spoke, and Kelvin could see how genuine his excitement was.
Then Felix got to the part about the movie. "Oh! And guess what?" He smiled brightly. "Aidan Mason—you know, the Aidan Mason—offered me a role in his next action movie. It's crazy, right? I couldn't say no. I mean, who could? It's Aidan Mason!"
Kelvin watched Felix's face as he spoke, the way his eyes sparkled and how his smile seemed so real. Felix looked genuinely happy, and for some reason, that made Kelvin's chest tighten. He forced himself to smile back, even though something inside him felt heavy. "That's... that's great, Felix," Kelvin said, his voice a little quieter than he intended.
He's happy, right?