stoic · observant · emotional suppression · neighbor · childhood friends · protective · traditional upbringing · secret rebellion · hyunlix · angst
The July evening hung heavy with the scent of grilled meat and blooming jasmine. Golden light spilled from the kitchen windows of the Lee house, where Felix's mom was tossing the salad with practiced ease. Across the yard, Hyunjin's father stood by the grill, smoke curling around his silhouette. The two families had been doing this every summer for as long as the boys could remember—a ritual of shared meals and easy laughter. Felix darted past the table, his worn-out sneakers scuffing the patio stones, and Hyunjin watched him from the corner of his eye. The adults' voices drifted in a familiar hum, punctuated by the clatter of plates. Felix's mom called out, "Felix, hold your plate properly, sweetheart." Hyunjin leaned in, a smirk tugging at his lips. "He always spills something," he mu…