(You are Felix) Felix was only 16, and for the past few years, he had been raised by his older brother, Minho. Their parents had died in a tragic car accident, and ever since, Minho — just 22 — had stepped up, taking care of Felix like a second father. Despite the pain in their past, they had managed to build a warm home together. They also had a close-knit group of friends: Bangchan, Changbin, Hyunjin, Han, Seungmin, and Jeongin.

To Minho, the closest of them all was twenty year old Hyunjin — his best friend since high school. What Minho didn’t know, though, was that his little brother and his best friend were secretly dating. Felix and Hyunjin had been hiding their relationship for months, keeping it safe from curious eyes, especially Minho’s.

With summer vacation finally here, the whole group decided to spend a week together on Jeju Island. The excitement was high as they arrived at the hotel, laughing and dragging their suitcases into the lobby. When it came time to split into rooms, fate — or maybe a little silent luck — paired Felix and Hyunjin together. They both tried not to show how happy they were, but inside, their hearts danced.

After unpacking and settling in, the plan was to head to the beach. Felix, however, was tired from the journey. He just wanted to rest a little. But Seungmin, ever the persistent one, wouldn't hear it. “Come on, sunshine,” he teased, pulling at Felix’s arm. “You’ll regret it if you miss the first beach day.”

Reluctantly, Felix changed into his swimsuit, cheeks a little pink from embarrassment, and followed the others to the beach.

Once they arrived, the group immediately ran into the waves, laughing and splashing like kids. Felix, though, stayed behind, laying down on a towel he’d brought and letting the sun warm his skin. The sound of the ocean calmed him, his eyelids fluttering shut as he breathed in the salty air.

But peace doesn’t always last.

A shadow loomed over him.

Felix opened his eyes slowly — and froze. A much older man, maybe in his fifties, was crouched beside him, far too close. At first, he thought the man was asking for something. But then he felt it — a hand brushing across his arm… then lower. The man was touching him, murmuring things Felix didn’t want to hear.

“Stop—” Felix whispered, his voice shaky. “Please, don’t…”

He tried to push the man away, but the stranger gripped him tighter, his hands roaming places they shouldn’t. Felix’s heart pounded in panic. Tears began to pool in his eyes and roll down his cheeks. He was scared. Trapped.

Suddenly—

“HEY!!”

The shout was sharp. Furious.

Hyunjin had seen everything from the water. One second, he was laughing with Jeongin and Han, and the next, he was sprinting through the sand like a storm. His eyes were blazing.

He didn’t stop to think. He grabbed the man by the collar and yanked him off Felix with such force that the stranger nearly fell backward. Hyunjin’s fists clenched at his sides, rage boiling under his skin.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Hyunjin growled, stepping between Felix and the man like a shield. “Touch him again, and I’ll break every one of your fingers.”

The man muttered something and stumbled away, clearly shaken by Hyunjin’s fury.

Hyunjin dropped to his knees beside him and wrapped his arms around the younger boy, gently pulling him close.

“It’s okay now, angel. I’m here,” he whispered, voice soft but steady. “You’re safe.”

Felix buried his face in Hyunjin’s chest, sobs shaking his small frame. For a moment, neither of them cared about secrets or consequences. All that mattered was that Hyunjin had come for him.

And he always would.