The man next door || Hyunlix

Awkward

— Chapter 16 —

"Merry Christmas!" Minho yells to Felix as he is leaving the office.

Felix turns his head back to Minho, giving him a cute smile as he waves his hand. "Happy holidays, I will see you on Monday!"

Minho nods his head, and goes back into the building to finish collecting his things. He can't help but smile at the younger male, who he admires dearly and will never deny it. His feelings, however, are not romantic at all, which comes as a relief.

Only because Felix has an effect on everybody in the office. It seems almost everybody has thought of Felix as more than a friend, and even have acted on it. It might just be a silly little office crush, or to some way more, but it has happened for at least everybody — except Minho of course.

Ever since Minho's first day, where he came in the office clueless as ever, Felix has been like support system. He has always been the closest to Minho, which earns a lot of concern because the older isn't the nicest person in the office if we are being real.

He grabs his last book, and strategically puts it in the desired spot. He has a grin of satisfaction as he finally zips up his bag, and slings it over his shoulder. He takes his keycard from his left back pocket, where he always will place it, and puts in on the reader to the door.

When he is closing it behind him, he isn't fully looking ahead of him. He ends up colliding with another, letting out a little noise at the impact. He stumbles back a bit and drops his back, and the others bag also ends up on the ground as well.

He immediately starts to spit out apologies, not looking up at the person. He grabs both of there bags from the floor and stands to his feet, which is when he finally takes a look at the other person.

"Oh, Minho." Jisung says, freezing a little bit.

Minho raises a brow. "Jisung? I didn't know it was you." He chuckles.

Jisung stand awkwardly. "I didn't know it was you.." he repeats.

"Yeah.." Minho says. "Oh uh- this is yours." He says handing Jisung back his black bag. "It's a nice bag."

"Thank you." Jisung says flatly.

He carefully takes the bag from Minhos arms, and as he does their hands touch a little bit. Jisung intakes a sharp breath, and immediately removes his hands from Minho's.

He mutters a little 'thanks' again, and looks at the floor below him. He doesn't move, he stays put in the same spot. Minho furrows his brows, wondering why in the world has the atmosphere become so awkward?

Minho clears his throat. "Uh.. So—" he starts. "What are you uh, planning on doing over the holiday leave?"

Jisung looks up, his cheeks a little pink. "I am— I'm probably just going to spend my time with friend and family. And Felix."

Minho raises a brow, and chuckles. "Friends, family, and Felix? Is Felix not a friend or a family member?"

Jisung chuckles awkwardly. "No he's.. he's is a — friend. In fact, he is a friend who is waiting on me at this very moment. So I better go—" he doesn't even get to finish his sentence, because he already took off.

Minho furrows his brows as he watches Jisung speed walk down the hall. He can't help but feel a little upset, because that conversation didn't at all go how he wanted. He hopes that the awkwardness wasn't intentional.. or that Jisung doesn't hate him.

Because Jisung is one he has taken an interest in, one that isn't a friendly gesture and one that is growing every day.

—

"Ji!" Felix scolds. "You're so awkward! Why did you do all that..." he whines.

Jisung groans. "I don't know...I just froze up talking to him!"

Felix chuckles. "You are so embarrassing."

"I came for you to encourage me, not make me feel even worse!" Jisung point out, and scoffs. "Jeez, where's my wing man?"

"There is nothing for this man to wing.. he doesn't even know you're birthday!" Felix giggles. "And don't talk about feeling worse, should we mention why we haven't been talking?"

Jisung frowns. "No."

"Exactly." Felix winks, and makes a 'click' sound with his mouth.

Jisung pouts, to which Felix giggles. "Don't sulk Ji, it's all good I'm just joking." He says. "Real shit, I'm really glad we are talking now. It was hell to be mad at you."

Jisung giggles. "Yeah, I understand. I should have been a better person though, you didn't deserve that."

Felix smiles. "Thank you. But one question.. what even made you, out of all people, do that to me? You know how much I love this job— or.. what job I could have."

Jisung sighs. "I really don't even have a clue. If I am being honest, I think Chan just pounded the idea so far into my head that I started to believe it after a while."

Felix raises a brow. "I hope you aren't putting the blame on somebody else.."

Jisung waves his arms in defeat, shaking his head. "No, no, no— that's not what I am trying to do. I promise." He lowers his arms and puts them on his lap. "That's just the only.. you know what I don't even know what i am saying." He chuckles.

He only stopped what he was saying because he started to feel a bit off. Out of all people, chan was the one who started to slam him with the idea of Felix needing protection. Why would chan want that?

Felix, who is a bit clueless, just hums. "Alright then."

Felix decides he might just want to stop beating a dead horse. He doesn't want to argue— or start another argument, which could lead to another work leave. He already has had enough drama. Jisung, on the other hand however, is deep in thought.

"Hey Jisung?" Felix asks, waving a hand in front of him. "You still with me?" He chuckles.

Jisung snaps out of it. He looks up at Felix and chuckles awkwardly. "Yeah I am, I am just thinking."

"Bout what?" Felix takes a bite of his cheesecake that he pulled out for Jisung.

"I don't know.. Chan?" Jisung says, talking a piece for himself.

Felix furrows his brows. "Chan? Chan too? Not just Minho? Wow.. I guess you really must like detecti—"

"Not in that way, idiot!" Jisung hits Felix's arm, causing him to wince.

"Okay okay.. " he whines. "But why are you thinking about him then?" He stuffs another whole piece into his mouth, but pulls off the crust.

"Well I don't know.. don't you think the whole things weird?" Jisung says.

"Uhuh." Felix slides the crust to Jisung for him to eat. "I think you are just overthinking things. I think he might have just been a dick."

"A dick yeah..." Jisung says. "But what if the dick has feelings for you?"

"Ignoring how weird that sounds... what are you talking about?" Felix chuckles, taking a sip of water.

"Just think about it.. big muscle man who is mean to everyone wants to protect you? That screams 'I secretly like you'." Jisung shrugs. "It's like a romance movie. 'Oh get behind me.. I'll save you'" he starts to mock.

Felix hits him with the dish towel. "Stop that. You don't know what you're saying." He whines. "And even if he did like me.. i don't know that would be awk—"

"Oh my god!" Felix interrupts himself. "There is so much I need to tell you.. about Hyunjin."