Chapter 20 - Shelter in Love

The morning sun peeked through the curtains, casting golden light into the small apartment. Hyunjin stirred, blinking groggily. For a moment, he forgot where he was.

Then he remembered.

He wasn't at the house he shared with Minho. He wasn't waking up to cold silence or walking on eggshells.

He was at Chan's.

Wrapped in the warmth of borrowed blankets, surrounded by people who actually cared.

His heart clenched.

He had never realized just how exhausted he was until now.

--

The scent of something warm and sweet drifted through the air. Hyunjin sat up slowly, his body sore from the events of the night before.

He padded toward the kitchen, where familiar voices greeted him.

Chan was at the stove, flipping pancakes with practiced ease. Felix sat on the counter, stealing bites of fruit from a cutting board. And Changbin—who must have come over early—was stirring a pot of hot chocolate.

Felix was the first to notice him.

"Hyunnie!" he chirped, sliding off the counter and rushing over to him. "You're up!"

Before Hyunjin could react, Felix wrapped his arms around him in a tight hug.

Hyunjin stiffened for a second before relaxing into it. He hadn't realized how much he needed this—just a simple hug, warm and genuine.

"Did you sleep okay?" Felix asked, pulling back slightly to study his face.

Hyunjin nodded. "Yeah... thanks to you guys."

Changbin, who had been stirring the hot chocolate, turned to face him. "Of course you slept well. You were in the presence of greatness." He smirked, flexing his arm.

Hyunjin let out a small laugh. "Ah, yes. How could I forget? Changbin-hyung, the embodiment of perfection."

Changbin beamed. "Finally, some respect."

Chan rolled his eyes but smiled nonetheless. "Come eat, Hyunjin."

Hyunjin obeyed, settling into the seat they had already set for him.

Felix nudged a plate toward him, already stacked with pancakes. "I put extra honey on it for you."

Hyunjin's chest tightened. It was such a small gesture, but it meant the world to him.

"Thank you, Lix," he murmured, picking up his fork.

The moment he took a bite, he let out a soft hum of appreciation. The warmth of the food, the sound of his friends bickering playfully—it all felt so normal.

So safe.

He had forgotten what that felt like.

--

After breakfast, they all migrated to the living room.

Hyunjin sat on the couch, only for Felix to immediately latch onto him.

"Lix," Hyunjin laughed, "I can't breathe."

Felix pouted. "But you're so squishy when you're sleepy."

Chan chuckled, ruffling Hyunjin's hair. "He's got a point. You are extra soft today."

Hyunjin's face warmed. "You guys act like I'm some kind of pet."

Changbin snorted. "You might as well be. You're the baby of the group."

Hyunjin groaned. "I'm nineteen."

Felix grinned. "Still a baby."

Hyunjin playfully swatted at him, but it was weak at best.

Deep down, he didn't mind.

He had spent so much time in silence, in loneliness—being surrounded by affection was... nice. Overwhelming, but nice.

And for the first time in a long time, he let himself receive it.

--

At some point, the atmosphere shifted.

Chan cleared his throat. "Hyunjin..."

The younger boy tensed slightly. He knew this was coming.

Chan hesitated before speaking again, softer this time. "What happened last night?"

Hyunjin's grip on his sweater tightened.

"I... I just needed to get out," he admitted. "Minho and I fought."

That was the understatement of the century, but he couldn't bring himself to say more.

Felix frowned, shifting closer. "Did he hurt you again?"

Hyunjin looked away. He knew Felix meant physically, but the truth was... everything Minho did, every word, hurt.

"I don't know," he murmured.

Changbin, who had been silent up until now, let out a heavy sigh. "I never liked that guy."

Chan shot him a look, but he didn't disagree. "You don't have to go back, Hyunjin."

Hyunjin swallowed hard. "But what about—"

"Forget him," Changbin interrupted. "He's not your responsibility."

Hyunjin bit his lip.

But wasn't he? Wasn't that the whole point of this marriage—to make it work?

"Hyunjin," Chan said gently, "you deserve better."

Hyunjin's vision blurred slightly.

Better.

The word sounded so unreachable.

But when he looked around—at Chan, Felix, and Changbin—he realized something.

Maybe this was better. Maybe this was what love was supposed to feel like.

And maybe, just maybe... he deserved it.