Chapter Text
Felix thought his shitty day couldn’t get any worse, but then he came home to a red eviction notice taped to his door. According to the notice, he had a week to vacate the premises due to suspected illegal activity.
That had to be a mistake, Felix thought. Maybe they taped the notice to the wrong door or something. There was no way Felix was getting kicked out of his apartment. Not right now. Not when he had just pulled a double shift at work and had an exam tomorrow that he had yet to study for. Not when it had rained all day and Felix had forgotten his umbrella, and then on top of that, had missed his bus home so he’d had to stand outside in the rain while he waited for the next one.
No, this definitely had to be a mistake.
Water making a little pool under his feet on the carpet, Felix took a picture of the notice and then texted it to his landlord, asking if there had been a mix up of some kind. Felix was a good tennant. He kept his place clean, never complained, and always paid his rent on time. It didn’t matter that Felix had to work everyday to afford both rent, food, and school—he still sent the monthly check to his landlord on time every month without fail—even if it meant Felix had to skip a couple of meals to do so.
Felix tore the notice from his door and entered his apartment, leaning his head against the door as he closed it, taking a deep breath and letting the cool wood of the door ground him. It was fine. He was fine. Today was just a bad day and the notice was a mistake. Felix was going to be fine, he wasn’t going to get kicked out of his apartment and be forced to find a new one within a week when every other place in the city was ridiculously out of his budget.
Felix's phone buzzed and he fished it out of pocket, happy to see that he had gotten a timely response from his landlord for once. The smile quickly fell from his face once he read the message, though.
Felix, the notice is no mistake. You were reported for illegal activity and we take these allegations seriously as they endanger the safety of our other tenants. You have a week to vacate the premises or else we will be forced to take legal action.
Fuck. Fuck, fuck, fuck. Illegal activity? Felix had done nothing of the sort. He was hardly even home, work and school taking up all of his time. Fuck.
Felix knew that with a lawyer, he could probably fight this, but Felix didn’t know anyone and didn’t have enough money to hire someone. Felix turned off his phone and set it on the counter before he had the chance to send an angry text to his landlord and give them a reason to kick him out even sooner.
Fuck.
Felix was screwed. He was so genuinely and completely screwed. This complex was the cheapest in town and the only thing that Felix could afford. Plus, finding a new place and signing a new lease took longer than a week, plus Felix didn’t have the money for a deposit on a new apartment and he doubted he was getting his deposit back from this place.
Felix hoped whoever had reported him would rot in hell. Who could it be? Maybe the old lady down the hallway? She always gave Felix the side eye when he passed and had made several snide comments about his accent before. But did she really hate Felix enough to get him kicked out? Felix was quiet, a better neighbor than almost anyone else in this complex.
Felix sighed. There was no use speculating now. Not when his landlord had already made his decision. In a week, Felix was no longer going to have a home. The only thing Felix could do now was make some ramen for dinner, shower in the perpetually lukewarm water, and then settle down to work on his homework before bed. Tomorrow he would start the hunt for a new apartment.
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Felix went to work the next morning determined not to let the fact that he had cried himself to sleep last night show on his face. He had woken up, grabbed an energy drink and then immediately put a cold compress on his face in an attempt to reduce the swelling and redness around his eyes. Combined with a bit of makeup, Felix thought he had done quite well. At least until he entered the cafe he worked at and Jisung’s chipper face immediately fell.
“Felix, what happened? Are you okay?”
Tears that Felix had managed to keep at bay all morning started to burn at the corners of his eyes. “You’re going to make me mess up my makeup.”
Jisung wrapped Felix in a hug and patted his back reassuringly. “It’s okay, I have the essentials in my bag.”
“We have to open the store soon,” Felix protested, but he was quickly losing the battle against his tears, eyes burning with the effort it took to hold them back.
“It’s okay, Lixie, just let it out.”
And that's all it took for tears to start streaming freely down Felix’s cheeks, chest heaving with his sobs. It was embarrassing how much of a blubbery mess Felix was, ugly crying into his friend’s shoulder. But Jisung didn't say anything, just continued to hold Felix tight, whispering small reassurances into his ear.
When Felix’s sobs started to subside, Jisung pulled away just far enough to gently thumb away the tears on Felix’s cheeks and Felix leaned into the soft touch, lapping up all the comfort he could from his best friend. He should have called Jisung last night. Felix knew that Jisung would have come over in a heartbeat and wrapped Felix up in his arms and soothed his tears. Maybe that’s why Felix hadn’t called. He had screwed up too much, done too many things wrong to deserve comfort.
No matter what Felix did, things seemed to go wrong, it seemed as if Felix would never catch a break, could never do things quite right. It had to be something that Felix had done to deserve getting kicked out. Maybe he was too suspicious, didn’t talk with his neighbors enough. Or maybe he did do something illegal, had broken a law that he hadn’t known about, was too stupid to realize was a law. Sometimes Felix felt like he was the dumbest person in the world, moving to Korea for university only to discover that his grasp on the language was lacking, knowledge of the culture not proficient enough.
“Oh Lixie,” Jisung cooed, stroking Felix’s hair, “whatever happened, it’s going to be okay.”
A fresh wave of sobs forced their way out of Felix’s throat and he grabbed onto the back of Jisung’s shirt and pulled him tight, needing the physical reassurance only his best friend could provide. “It won’t be though,” Felix sobbed. “They’re kicking me out of my apartment. Someone reported me for illegal activity.”
“What? You? But you’re the most law-abiding citizen I know. Give me your landlord’s number, I can vouch for you.”
Felix shook his head. “I already tried, he said that there’s nothing I can do now to change his mind. I only have a week to find a new place,” Felix forced the words out through his tears, his voice sounding shaky and wrong. Felix was tearing apart at the seams and his voice showed it.
Jisung gasped. “A week? What will you do?”
“I don’t know.” Felix hiccuped on one of his sobs, his chest aching. He felt like the world was falling apart all over again, and all he could do was clutch onto Jisung’s clothes and let out his hysterical sobs.
Jisung tucked Felix’s head into his shoulder. “It’s okay, we’ll figure this out.”
Felix didn’t see how. He couldn't stay at Jisung’s place because he lived in a dorm on campus and wasn’t allowed to have guests spend the night. Normally, that was a rule that could be broken, but Jisung’s roommate was a total narc and the last thing Felix wanted was for both of them to end up homeless.
“After work, I’ll help you look for a place, I bet we can find something.”
“I have a test.” A test that Felix had barely studied for, a test that Felix was surely going to fail.
Jisung sucked in air through his teeth. “Okay. We’ll look after your test. It’s going to be okay, you’ll see.” He glanced towards the clock and Felix could feel him tense. They really did have to open the store this morning. Their boss was going to fire them if they opened late again. “You take all the time you need to recover, okay? I’ll go open the cafe and I can man it myself for the first like thirty minutes to an hour or so. It’s always slow when we first open.”
Jisung pulled away and Felix mourned the loss of touch even though he knew that Jisung had to get to work. There were coffee machines to turn on and baked goods to put on display.
“I’m sorry, Lixie.” Jising tucked a strand of Felix’s hair behind his ear. “This really sucks, but we’ll figure something out, okay?”
Felix nodded even though he didn’t believe Jisung’s words. He was screwed and there was no way around it. In a week, Felix would be homeless, sitting on the curb with all of his meager belongings, regretting all of the decisions that had led him to this point.
But for now, Felix had to pull himself together, had to dry his tears and redo his makeup and make himself presentable for work so that he didn’t lose his only source of income. It hurt, it felt like Felix’s entire world was falling apart and every part of his body ached, but he needed to pull himself together just enough that he could make it through this shift, make it through this day. There was nothing else Felix could do right now but get to work.
“Hi Hyunjin, Minho,” Jisung said. “Felix is in the back, but I’m sure he’ll be right out. In the meantime, what would you two like to order?”
Felix glanced at the clock and sure enough, it was 6:15, the time that Hyunjin and Minho always came in on the mornings that Felix worked. Normally, Felix was up front to take their orders and then, if they weren’t busy, he would spend some time and talk with the two. They usually bought Felix something to eat as well: he regularly skipped breakfast and he was only allowed one free drink per shift, no food.
Felix had met Hyunjin and Minho several months ago at the cafe. It had only been Hyunjin at first, coming in and talking with Felix. At first, Felix had thought Hyunjin was flirting with the way that he would buy Felix food and compliment him, but then Felix learned that Hyunjin had a husband, one that wouldn’t hesitate to harm anyone that touched his love. Felix was fine with just being friends with Hyunjin and Minho, though, he needed more of those and Hyunjin and Minho were quite literally perfect for each other. It wasn’t something that Felix could ever get between.
Now, they were at the cafe at the same time as always, ordering their food and drinks and Felix was in the break room, trying to reapply makeup to his puffy face as fast as possible, hoping that Hyunjin and Minho wouldn’t be able to tell that he had been crying all morning and all last night.
Felix had been over to their house before and they were rich . Rich in a way that they would never understand Felix’s struggles, never truly understand the situation he was in. Felix just had to fix his makeup and then go out there and act like everything was okay.
With one last look in the mirror, Felix sighed and then headed out to the floor, plastering a fake smile on his face that slowly turned genuine when he saw Hyunjin and Minho sitting at their normal spot, pastry sitting in front of an empty chair, waiting for Felix.
“Felix!” Hyunjin exclaimed, jumping to his feet to wrap Felix in a hug. “Are you okay? Jisung said you weren’t feeling well?”
Felix took a deep breath. He wasn’t going to cry again. He was going to keep this smile plastered on his face and act like everything was okay even when it wasn’t. Hyunjin and Minho didn't need to hear about his woes. “Yeah, just had a rough start to the morning, but I’m feeling much better now.” Felix hoped his smile didn’t look as forced as it felt.
“Are you sure?” Hyunin asked, leading Felix over to his seat. Minho pushed the pastry closer, silently urging Felix to eat.
“Your face looks a bit puffy,” Minho observed.
Hyunjin’s gaze turned worried and Felix cursed Minho in his head. Why did he have to be so observant? Couldn’t he have just let that slide?
“I, uh.” Felix reached for the hot chocolate Hyunjin and Minho had bought him—they knew he hated coffee.
“I’m sorry,” Minho said. “You don’t have to tell us if you don't want. I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.”
“Yeah!” Hyunjin agreed, wrapping his arm around Felix’s shoulder. “We can act like normal if you want. I know that I don’t always like to talk about it if I’m upset. Sometimes a distraction works wonders to make you feel better.” Hyunjin then launched into a story about work that Felix only half listened to, just happy to lean into Hyunjin’s side as he ate. For a moment, he could almost pretend that everything was okay, that everything was going to be alright.
Felix finished his pastry and Hyunjin was still talking.
“Jinnie, sweetie, I think Felix needs to get back to work.” Minho was right, a line was starting to form and Felix knew that Jisung wouldn’t be able to handle the growing morning rush all by himself.
“Oh, I’m sorry!” Hyunjin pulled Felix in for a side hug before releasing him. “Get back to work, I don’t want to get you in trouble with your boss.”
“Okay.” Felix stood up, sad to go. The little bubble he’d had for a moment burst and he was thrust back into the real world full of his pain and worries. “Thank you for the food.”
“No problem! Are you working tomorrow?”
Felix shook his head. “Not unless I pick up a shift.” He glanced over his shoulder to see Jisung struggling to keep up with all the customers. “I’ll text you.”
Felix waved bye and then hurried to put on his apron and join Jisung behind the counter. Maybe the rush would keep Felix busy enough to keep his mind off of all his problems.
“You should tell Hyunjin and Minho about being kicked out of your apartment.”
Felix and Jisung were done with their morning shift and were walking to the university together, both having class right after work.
Felix shook his head. “No, I don’t want to bother them with my problems.”
“They have a guest room right?”
Felix shot Jisung a look. “I said no.”
Jisung held up his hands in surrender. “Fine, I'll shut up now. It was just a suggestion.”
They walked the rest of the way together in silence, arms linked, Felix lost in his own self-pitying thoughts. All too soon, Jisung was pulling away to head in the other direction towards his class. “Bye Felix! I’ll see after class and we’ll look for places together, okay?”
“Okay,” Felix responded. “See you later!”
The minute Jisung left, Felix felt his heart sink to the bottom of his stomach, coldness spreading through his body. Jisung had been the only thing keeping his self-deprecating thoughts at bay and now without him, Felix was left feeling empty and hopeless. He dragged his feet the rest of the way to class, knowing that he was about to tank his GPA with this test.
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Five days later, Felix and Jisung hadn’t had any luck finding Felix a place to stay. Most places around campus had leases oriented around the school year and those who didn’t were either ridiculously expensive or didn’t accept students.
“It’s hopeless,” Felix sighed, slumping forward to rest his head against the table. He and Jisung were in the library, using the computers to look for places for Felix to live, but they weren’t having any success.
“It’s not hopeless,” Jisung protested, but he didn’t sound like he believed his own words. “We just need more time.”
“We don't have more time,” Felix muttered into the wood of the table. “I have to move out in two days. I have enough money for a hotel for two nights, but after that? Nothing. Plus, if I use my money for a hotel, I won’t have enough for a deposit on an apartment. I’m screwed.”
“We’ll figure something out.”
Felix didn’t respond, just kept laying on the table, coldness of the wood sinking into his cheek. Felix had run out of tears a couple of days ago and now was just a robot going through the motions of life. Everything was fucked. Felix was going to be homeless. If he didn’t have a place to shower and keep clean, he was going to lose his job too.
But despite all of that, Felix wasn’t upset or angry anymore. Instead he was just…numb. There was a chasm in his chest that sucked up all feeling, leaving him a hollow husk of a person. No matter how hard Felix tried, he just didn’t care anymore. He was going to be homeless and that was that.
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T-minus 2 days until Felix was homeless and he was working a morning shift at the cafe with Jisung, acting like everything was okay. Jisung had tried to broach the topic of Felix’s living situation three times so far this morning, but Felix had ignored him each time. Maybe if he kept ignoring Jisung, he would give up. Probably not considering how tenacious Jisung could be when he wanted, but Felix could always hope.
All of Felix’s smiles to the customers were fake, but at least he was smiling. At least he was functioning despite the gaping hole in his chest that was threatening to swallow him whole. Everything was hopeless and Felix was going to be homeless, but at least he would plaster a fake smile on his face and keep his job. Fake it until you make it, right?
The door chimed and Felix painted on his fake smile once more and turned to greet the customer, faltering when he saw Hyunjin and Minho standing there. Felix hadn’t told them he was working this morning, so why were they here?
“Take your break.”
Felix turned to look at Jisung who was smiling at Felix. “Your friends are here, take your break. We’re slow, I’ll be fine.”
Felix leaned forward to whisper in Jisung’s ear. “You told them I was working today, didn’t you?”
Jisung held up his hands in surrender. “Don’t make assumptions, maybe they just wanted coffee this morning?”
Felix narrowed his eyes. Hyunjin and Minho didn’t come in unless Felix was working, saying that it felt unnatural to not have someone to sit and talk with while they drank their coffee. But then again, maybe they just had extra time this morning or something. Felix was almost certain that Jisung didn’t have Hyunjin or Minho’s numbers and how else would he contact them?
Felix slid off his apron and hung it up with a shake of his head. It didn’t matter. Hyunjin and Minho were here now and Felix was going to have to pretend that he had emotions, that he wasn’t falling apart, that he wasn’t a ghost of a human being right now. Last night, Felix had gotten his grade back for his exam he took earlier in the week. He had failed. Horribly. Normally such a grade would have sent Felix into a spiral of self-hatred, but last night, Felix had felt nothing. Not even a stirring of emotion as he stared at the grade book. He had simply just closed the lid of his laptop and gone to sleep.
“Felix!” Hyunjin exclaimed as Felix walked over to their table. “We were so happy to see you working today! I knew that there was a reason I convinced Minho to stop by.”
Minho laughed good naturedly and swung an arm over his husband’s shoulders. “He basically begged me to come here instead of just making coffee at home, and I just couldn't say no to a face as cute as his.”
Hyunjin pouted up at Minho and Felix had to avert his gaze. The two of them were so happy together, so well adjusted. They were everything that Felix wasn’t.
“But how are you doing, Felix? Why didn’t you tell us you were working today?”
Felix looked back over and saw that Hyunjin’s pout was now directed at him.
“Uh, sorry. I’ve just had a rough couple of days and…”
“Oh!” Hyunjin’s pout faded from his face and he looked remorseful. “I’m sorry for coming, then. Please kick us out if you don’t want us here, I’m sorry to intrude.”
“No!” Felix almost shouted before Hyunjin and Minho could leave. Somehow Hyunjin’s words had cut through the numbness that had taken over Felix’s body, filling him with guilt. He didn’t mean to make Hyunjin feel like he was unwanted, and the thought of Hyunjin and Minho leaving scared Felix. Without them, the numbness would return and Felix would have no one to distract him. “Sorry, it’s just that, you’re here now, right?”
Hyunjin smiled and reached out to take Felix’s hand in his. “Of course. Do you want to talk about it?”
Felix shook his head. That was the last thing he wanted to do.
Hyunjin squeezed Felix’s hand comfortingly, and Minho reached over too to put his hand on top of Felix and Hyunjin’s. “It’s okay,” Hyunjin said. “We under—”
“He’s getting kicked out of his apartment.”
Felix whirled around to glare at Jisung who was standing behind the counter with a shit-eating grin on his face.
“Tomorrow is his last day with a home and he has nowhere to go. He was wrongfully accused of illegal activity and was given a week to move out.”
“What?” Hyunjin asked, horror in his voice. “You can stay at our place, right Minho?”
“Of course,” Minho answered without hesitation. “We have a guest room that you’re welcome to stay in until you can get back on your feet.”
“Oh, but—”
“No, no buts. You don’t have a place to stay after tomorrow, right?”
Felix nodded a bit shyly. This was all progressing so fast and Felix didn’t know whether he should feel mad at Jisung or grateful that he said something when Felix clearly wasn’t going to. If nothing else, at least Felix had a place to stay for the next while.
“You’re staying with us,” Hyunjin said, a tone of finality in his voice that Felix couldn’t argue with. “The whole situation is just so awful, how could anyone think that someone as sweet as you could do anything illegal?” Hyunjin sighed. “It doesn’t matter. You have a place to stay now and you’re welcome to stay as long as you need, okay?”
“I’ll try to find a place as fast as possible,” Felix vowed, not wanting to take advantage of their hospitality, but Hyunjin just waved his hand.
“Stay as long as you need. That room was just sitting around never getting used anyway.”
“We’ll help you find a new place,” Minho promised, “but I know the housing market is a bit crazy right now, so it’s okay if it takes a while, alright?”
Felix nodded, feeling a bit overwhelmed. He had gone from almost being homeless to being offered a room for free in Hyunjin and Minho’s very nice apartment.
“Great! Minho will help you move out tonight after he gets off of work if that’s okay with you?”
“Oh, I can just walk over, it’s—”
“Nonsense,” Hyunjin interrupted. “Text us your address and he’ll help you. I don’t want you walking around with all of your belongings alone at night, something could happen.”
Felix was sure that he was going to be fine, but he couldn’t bring himself to argue with Hyunjin when he looked so worried, little furrow forming between his brows as he clutched at Felix’s hand. Felix was glad that it was Minho who was picking him up—Hyunjin would be horrified by the apartment complex Felix lived in with the leaking roof and a facade that almost made it look like the building was abandoned despite the many residents living inside.
“Jinnie,” Minho said, “We should let Felix get back to work, his breaks are only 15 minutes. We’ll see him later today, right?”
The last part was directed at Felix and he nodded. “I really do need to get back to work, but thank you guys so much.”
Hyunjin stood up from the table and held open his arms and Felix easily fell into his embrace, welcoming the comforting feeling of Hyunjin’s arms wrapping around his body. “Of course we’re offering you a place to stay,” Hyunjin said. “I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I knew you were homeless when I had an empty room in my house.”
“Thank you,” Felix repeated, not knowing what else to say in the face of such generosity. Suddenly, Felix started to feel choked up. He had been so prepared to be homeless, so prepared for the worst that now that it wasn’t happening, he felt such an overwhelming wave of relief that he wasn’t sure how to cope with it.
“Oh honey,” Hyunjin cooed when he saw Felix’s tears. “It’s okay. I promise. We’ll take care of you, everything will be okay.” Hyunjin pulled Felix tighter and Minho started to rub soothingly at his back and suddenly Felix was a blubbering mess, tears streaming messily down his face as he tried to choke back his sobs. It was okay. Felix wasn’t going to be homeless, he wasn’t going to lose his job and have to drop out of school. He was saved. He wasn’t going to be the failure his mom always told him he would be. Maybe for once Felix actually had a chance. People cared about him. He had friends. Not only that, but he had friends willing to help him out. He had friends who stayed up late with him trying to find solutions to his problems, he had friends who held him when he cried, who offered up their homes when Felix was in a tight spot.
Felix was going to be okay. And maybe that was the most earth shattering realization of them all.
It took several long, embarrassing minutes for Felix to dry his tears and when he finally pulled away from Hyunjin, his face was puffy and his eyes were red.
“It’s a good thing the cafe is empty,” Minho observed dryly.
Hyunjin hit his husband on the arm, a scowl on his face that disappeared as he turned to face Felix. “Are you okay to return to work?”
“Yeah,” Felix responded, voice still wobbly. “Jisung has emergency makeup for times like this.”
“Okay,” Hyunjin said. “I’m glad that he’s prepared. He’s a good friend.”
“Yeah,” Felix agreed. “He is.”
Hyunjin and Minho left after that with waves and promises to text Felix later. Felix, feeling a bit despondent now that they were gone, retreated to the back to fix his makeup and make himself look presentable before heading back out, ready to tell Jisung to go on an extra long break to make up for the one Felix had just taken.
“Bro!” Jisung practically yelled when Felix emerged. “You have sugar daddies!”
Felix smacked Jisung on the arm. “Shut up,” he hissed, glancing at the customers sitting in the corner. “They’re not my sugar daddies.”
Jisung held up his hand. “They’re rich.” He put a finger up. “They’re older than you.” Another finger. “And they’re providing you with a place to stay in their very nice apartment.”
Felix turned his back to Jisung and pretended to be busy. “It’s not like that.”
“Then what is it like?”
“They’re just people helping out a friend in a time of need. If I was able, you’d have me holed up in your dorm right now. And don’t say anything about the hug. I’ve cried on your shoulder countless times this week.”
“Whatever you say,” Jisung sing-songed.
At least right then, Felix was saved by a customer coming in. It was probably for the best. Felix wasn’t above strangling Jisung if he got too annoying.
The rest of the morning passed by quickly, Felix feeling as if a weight had been lifted from his shoulders after Minho and Hyunjin’s visit. Everything was going to be okay.