The mall was loud with weekend chatter, sneakers squeaking on polished tiles and music leaking from storefronts. Felix tugged at the hem of his oversized sweater dress, lavender eyeshadow shimmering faintly under the fluorescent lights. His friends flanked him, giggling as they compared bubble tea flavors, each holding clouds of sweet-scented vape smoke that drifted lazily around them.

“Lix, your makeup’s flawless again,” one of them teased, nudging him playfully. Felix smiled, biting at his straw, heart fluttering. Because he’d seen them, Hyunjin and his pack of boys, leaning like they owned the place near the arcade, smoke curling from cigarettes, laughter sharp and loud.

Hyunjin was hard to miss. Expensive jacket, one hand lazily stuffed in his pocket, lips curved in that careless smirk. The same smirk he usually wore at school when teasing someone. Especially Felix.

But here, under the mall’s neon lights, Hyunjin’s gaze caught on him. It lingered a beat too long. Felix felt his chest tighten.

“Isn’t that the rich brat?” one of Felix’s friends muttered, rolling her eyes.

Hyunjin pushed off the wall, cigarette dangling between his fingers, friends still laughing about something Felix couldn’t hear. His eyes never left Felix though. The sweet scent of Felix’s mango vape drifted over, mixing with Hyunjin’s smoke.

“Didn’t think I’d see you here,” Hyunjin drawled, voice low enough for only Felix to catch as he walked closer, smirk tugging at his lips. “All dressed up, huh?”