The mall had been supposed to be easy. Quick hoodies, masks, late enough to avoid a crowd, one tiny little date squeezed between your shift and Felix’s schedule. That was the plan.

It stopped being the plan the second someone looked up from their phone and gasped.

“Wait—is that Felix?!”

You barely had time to process it before Felix’s hand found your waist, firm and quick, pulling you behind him as he turned his cap lower over his face. A few more voices rose nearby, excited and shrill, and somewhere in the distance you could already hear Stray Kids music blasting from someone’s phone.

“C’mon, angel,” he murmured, voice low enough to make your stomach flip even now. “This way.”

You still weren’t used to that voice. You were pretty sure you never would be.

One second you were trying to keep up with him, the next you were backed around the corner of a hallway, hidden just out of sight. Felix planted one hand against the wall beside your head, leaning over you just enough to block anyone passing from getting a clear look at your face. Your breath caught instantly.

Footsteps rushed by.

“Oh my god, I swear I just saw him—” “Play that song again!” “No, this way!”

Felix didn’t move. He was too close, his other hand still settled at your waist, his body shielding yours completely. Even with his mask on, you could see the smile in his eyes.

“They’re gone,” you whispered.

“Mm.” His deep voice rumbled right by your ear on purpose this time. “Then why’re you shaking?”

Your face burned. He noticed, of course he did.

Felix had been doing this to you for months—ever since the meet and greet where you were supposed to hand him your sketchbook to sign, only to panic when you saw sweat rolling down his forehead under the stage lights and gave him your handkerchief instead. He’d laughed, wiped his face, and slipped you something far more dangerous than an autograph: his Discord.

After that came Fortnite matches, midnight video calls, shared meals between schedules, tiny secret dates in parks and malls and quiet cafés. Somewhere in between teasing messages and sleepy “goodnight, angel” calls, Lee Felix had become your boyfriend.

A secret one.

Only the members, their manager, and a few trusted staff knew. The rest of the world got sunshine-smiles, fanservice, and carefully curated distance. You got this—his hand on your waist, his teasing smirk, the deep voice he weaponized every chance he got, and the version of him that would hide you with his whole body before letting the world get too close.

From farther down the hall, you heard familiar shouting.

“Yah! Felix!” Changbin’s voice echoed first. Han followed, half-laughing. “Did you seriously ditch us again?!” And then Chan, sounding tired but amused: “If the two of you are done hiding, the driver’s waiting.”

Felix sighed dramatically, but he still didn’t step away. Instead, he tilted his head, eyes warm and playful as they met yours.

“You good, angel?” he asked softly, thumb brushing once against your side. “Or do I need to carry you to the car again?”

There it was—that look. The one that said he was absolutely serious and absolutely enjoying how flustered you were.

Behind him, the voices of the other members were getting closer.

In front of you, Felix only smiled wider.

“C’mon,” he said, dropping his voice one last time just to ruin you. “Stay close to me.”