THE GIFTED | STRAY KIDS ✔

28

Jisung had been anxiously pacing back and forth in the kitchen, his steps echoing through the quiet room. He'd been constantly glancing at the clock hanging on the wall, its tick-tock rhythm a metronome for his anticipation and worry. Ten minutes.

His nerves were fraying, and his mind raced with a torrent of thoughts. He couldn't help but feel an overwhelming sense of apprehension about what might unfold in that meeting. Should they have told the others? Jisung's fingers drummed a restless beat on the kitchen countertop.

Jisung was given the task of being the lookout on Felix's request, a responsibility that weighed heavily on his young shoulders. It took everything in him not to ask Minho to join him.

But this was for Felix, and Jisung would do anything for him. He was sure of it. A deep, unwavering loyalty bound them together. It was this very bond that fueled his determination to stand vigilant in the face of uncertainty.

Still, it was undeniably hard to keep his composure under these tense circumstances. The minutes crawled like sluggish snails, each tick of the clock an eternity.

As the clock's hands inched closer to the appointed hour, Jisung's anxiety seemed to peak. He needed to distract himself. With a sigh, he decided to settle on the couch, the worn cushions embracing him like an old friend.

Meanwhile, Felix's room was a canvas of nervous energy. He had been pacing around the space, his footsteps marking a rhythm of restlessness. His eyes, normally a serene well of warmth, were now fixed towards the open balcony as if waiting for a sign from the universe.

Any minute now.

And then, as if scripted by fate, a blinding light pierced through the room, causing Felix to instinctively shut his eyes against the brilliance. Once the light receded, he slowly opened his eyes, and a gasp of disbelief escaped his lips.

There he was, standing in all his glory. The villain. The man who had sent their lives spiraling into chaos and intrigue. He appeared almost casual, as if his presence was an everyday occurrence. Felix's heart pounded in his chest, a flurry of emotions coursing through his veins.

The villain moved with an almost hypnotic grace as he walked further into the room. The soft click of the door being shut behind him echoed like a somber proclamation. Felix's eyes narrowed slightly, his curiosity warring with his caution.

"How on earth..."

"A magician never reveals his secrets," the villain responded, his voice carrying an air of nonchalance that grated on Felix's nerves. "Can I take a seat?"

Felix's brows furrowed, his lips parting to reply before realizing he was momentarily rendered speechless. "Uh, sure, yeah," he finally managed, his hand gesturing towards the small couch that occupied a corner of the room.

As the villain settled into the couch, Felix found himself struggling to find his bearings. This wasn't how he had imagined their confrontation. The questions he had wanted to hurl at this man now seemed to be suspended in the air, caught in the web of tension that enveloped them.

"How have you been?" The villain's question cut through the silence, and Felix couldn't help but laugh, though the sound held a tinge of disbelief.