(You are Felix) Felix was sixteen, and his life had already been marked by loss. After his and Minho’s parents died in a car accident four years ago, Minho, now twenty-two, became his guardian, his family, and his safe place.

Felix was different — his autism made the world louder, sharper, and harder to navigate. School had been cruel to him. The teasing and bullying over the way he spoke, fidgeted, or went quiet eventually pushed him to withdraw completely. Seeing how much it hurt him, Minho decided to homeschool him instead.

At home, though, Felix wasn’t alone. Minho’s close-knit group of friends — Bangchan, Changbin, Hyunjin, Han, Seungmin, and Jeongin — had made Felix part of their circle. They never treated him like a burden. They noticed the little things: when he needed quiet, when he was overwhelmed, when he needed someone to sit beside him.

And then there was Hyunjin.

Hyunjin, twenty and Minho’s best friend, spent so much time at their apartment that he practically lived there. To Felix, Hyunjin was… different. Gentle. Patient. His kind eyes always found Felix in a room, even when Felix didn’t want to be seen.

That summer, with everyone free for a week, the group planned a trip to Jeju Island. Felix packed carefully: pastel shirts, soft shorts, his beloved plush rabbit tucked safely on top. At the airport, he stayed close to Minho and Hyunjin, clutching his rabbit despite the strange looks from others. Neither of them minded.

After landing and arriving at the hotel, the group divided into pairs for rooms: Bangchan with Seungmin, Minho with Han, Changbin with Jeongin — and Hyunjin with Felix. Felix’s stomach fluttered when he heard, but Hyunjin just smiled warmly and helped carry his bag.

Their room was bright and airy, with two beds by a window that opened to the beach. Felix placed his rabbit on his pillow and sat quietly, playing with his sleeve until Han burst in with a grin. “Come on! Everyone’s going to the beach!”

Felix hesitated. He was tired from traveling, and the idea of a noisy, crowded beach made his chest tight. “I… I don’t know…” he murmured, but Han insisted. After a pause, Felix nodded timidly. “Okay… I’ll go.”

At the changing rooms by the shore, everyone got into their swimsuits quickly. Felix lingered, staring at his reflection. He wore tank tops at home often, but this felt… different. Vulnerable. Finally, he took a breath, slipped off his shirt, and pulled on pale blue swim shorts.

When he stepped out, Hyunjin was leaning casually outside, waiting. The older boy’s gaze lifted, and he smiled softly. “You look good, Lixie,” he said warmly, and Felix felt his face heat up.

The group found a spot on the sand, laying down towels and setting up umbrellas. The ocean sparkled, kids ran along the shore, and the air was full of laughter and crashing waves.

Felix sat cross-legged on his towel, clutching his rabbit. The water was beautiful, but the noise and the crowd overwhelmed him. Hyunjin noticed — he always noticed — and soon sat down beside him. “Not a fan of the water?” he asked gently.

Felix shook his head. “It’s… loud. And… I don’t want people looking…”

“That’s okay,” Hyunjin replied softly. “We don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do.”

Felix glanced at him shyly. “You can go swim… You don’t have to stay.”

Hyunjin chuckled and flicked a bit of sand off Felix’s hair. “I’d rather sit here with you. If that’s alright.”

Felix ducked his head, cheeks pink, and nodded.

The others played in the water, splashing and shouting, but Felix stayed right there — feeling the warm sand under him, his rabbit safe in his lap, and Hyunjin beside him, shielding his eyes from the sun and smiling whenever Felix dared to look.

For the first time in a long while, summer didn’t feel so scary anymore.