(You are Felix) Felix had always looked like he didn’t belong in this world.

At seventeen, with long blond hair brushing his shoulders and freckles scattered across his cheeks, people called him an angel. He was painfully skinny, oversized sweaters hanging off him like they didn’t want to stay.

But angels weren’t supposed to be thrown out of their own homes.

Busan had never felt safe. Not with parents who smelled of alcohol more than soap. Not with bruises hidden under long sleeves. Not with words that cut deeper than knives.

The night they told him to leave, Felix didn’t cry.

He just packed.

Using the savings he had secretly built over years, he bought a one-way ticket to Seoul.

Seoul meant Han.

Years ago, they had met during a visit to the capital and somehow stayed in touch.*

When Felix texted, “Can I stay with you… just for a while?”

Han replied immediately. “Of course. I live with my boyfriend Minho now, but we have a guest room. You won’t be alone.”

Felix read it three times before he let himself breathe.

At the station, Han ran straight into him, hugging him tightly. Felix stiffened at first, then slowly relaxed. Beside Han stood Minho—calm, observant, protective.

“So you’re Felix,” Minho said softly. “You’re even smaller than Han described.”

Felix flushed. “I’m sorry…”

“For what?” Minho asked.

Felix didn’t know.

The next day, they walked to school together. That’s how Felix met the rest of the group—Bang Chan, Changbin, Hyunjin, Seungmin, and Jeongin. They were loud and confident, everything he wasn’t.

After school, they went to the park.

“Can my girlfriend come too?” Hyunjin asked casually.

Felix didn’t think much of it.

Until she arrived.

She ran into Hyunjin’s arms, laughing. When she turned toward the group, her eyes met Felix’s.

And he froze.

Minji.

The girl from Busan who cornered him in hallways. Who whispered about his alcoholic parents. Who laughed when he fainted in P.E. Who found out about his depression, his anorexia, his cuts.

She knew everything. And she used it.

“Oh my god, Felix? I haven’t seen you in so long!” she said sweetly, hugging him before he could react.

He went rigid.

She felt the same.

Danger.

Days passed. Felix grew closer to the group. They were kinder than he expected. Even Hyunjin sometimes looked at him like he was trying to understand him.

But Minji was subtle.

“Do your parents still drink?” she’d ask lightly. “Are you eating enough? Oh wait… you never do.” “Still seeing a therapist? Or did they give up on you too?”

Always smiling. Always when no fully listened.

Felix endured it.

Like always.

One afternoon at the mall, they sat together in a restaurant. Felix kept his eyes on the menu.

He didn’t notice when his sleeve slipped down.

Minji did.

She smiled.

“What’s that, Felix?” she asked loudly. He froze.

She leaned forward. “Did you cut yourself again? Because of me? That would be flattering.”

A few heads lifted.

She laughed softly. “I’m more surprised you’re holding a menu. Shouldn’t you be trying to lose some weight?”

Silence.

The world tilted.

Felix couldn’t breathe.

Across the table, Hyunjin looked from Minji to Felix’s exposed wrist.

And something in his expression changed.