a reason to smile // seo changbin ✔️

chapter twenty-five

back on track

moon jieun - thursday

"what did you get for number four?" i whisper, leaning slightly toward felix.

"what?" his brows furrow.

"what did you get for number four?" i repeat.

"no, i heard what you said, i just mean— what?" he gives me a slight look of shock, now it was my turn to furrow my brows.

"what do you mean? i just want to make sure i read the question right. it's worded a bit weird." i slide my paper over, pointing to the question.

"you're..." he trails off, eyes dancing over my paper. "you're actually doing the work?"

right. i've sat next to him for weeks and have done literally nothing. it's definitely a shock to see me doing work now.

"yeah i... kinda decided i don't really want to fail." i shrug, feeling a bit bashful. felix gives me a knowing smile full of that usual warmth he radiates.

"i'm really happy to hear that, jieun." he slides his paper toward me so that i could read his own answer for number four. i couldn't fight the smile that tugged on my lips. hearing the people that i... cared about say they were happy for me, or proud of me... that seemed to elicit a smile that i just couldn't stop every time. so i read over his answer with a smile on my face. "changbin told me you're going to chan's party with us tomorrow." he says, placing his head in his hand as he watches me compare our answers.

"yeah, i am." i nod absently. "just this once though, for the experience, i guess." i shrug.

"they're a lot of fun, a bit chaotic, but fun. and you know, changbin and i will make sure nothing happens to you." he comforts.

"i know, it's just gonna be different. i haven't been to anything that crowded since high school." i let out a slight chuckle.

"are you nervous?"

"a little bit, i guess."

"you want something to take your mind off of it?" a mischievous smirk tugs his lips, and i cock a brow.

"like what?" he motions for me to move closer, so i do. he cups his hand over my ear, and whispers.

"mr. lee got jiyeon pregnant." i slap a hand over my mouth at his words, holding in my shocked gasp as i move to look at him.

"you're joking." i say, voice muffled by my hand. felix snickers and shakes his head.

"i'm not. haven't you noticed she hasn't been here?"

"that doesn't mean she's pregnant." i chuckle, shaking my head.

"no but i walked in here and watched her throw a pregnancy test at his head on monday before class. and ever since, she's been gone, and he's looked like that." he points to mr. lee. and sure enough, the man was uncharacteristically pale. i hadn't even noticed his lack of forced enthusiasm recently. i'd been to focused on changbin. but now that felix was pointing it out... it was hard to miss.

"oh my god." i nod as i start to realize.

"right? it's like i've been watching a soap opera unfold all semester." felix laughs.

"he won't get in trouble, will he? i mean, we are all adults." i wonder aloud.

"not in serious trouble, but i feel like it's slightly frowned upon. specifically since she's been in his classes and all." felix shrugs.

"what do you think will happen?"

"no clue, with jiyeon not being here, i feel like i'm missing my weekly episode, and we were left on a huge cliffhanger." felix dramatically sighs, and i laugh.

"i guess i'm gonna have to start paying attention, cause now i have to see this through." felix smiles at that.

"i knew you'd come around."

"what?" i ask, and he shrugs.

"i'm just good at reading people, and even though you never spoke to me at first, i knew i was going to like you." i roll my eyes at the cheesiness of his words. "plus, you make changbin happy. that's like a one-way ticket to making sure all of our friends like you." he chuckles.

"what are minho, jeongin, and hyunjin like?" i ask, remembering the ones i had yet to meet. felix instantly laughs.

"minho is your classic frat boy. he'll probably offer you a beer when you first meet him, and he might flirt with you, but maybe not if changbin has anything to say about it." he explains, and i couldn't help but laugh at the image of changbin intimidating someone. at first glance, maybe, but i couldn't imagine anyone who really knows him being afraid of him.

"alright, noted." i nod, motioning for him to go on.

"jeongin... it's kind of fifty-fifty with him. he might be the sweetest person you've ever met, or the sassiest. probably depends on how much he's had to drink, but either way, you'll have a great time with him. he's pretty much immune to everyone in the group because he's the youngest and we all love him." felix chuckles. "he's also just plain adorable."

"sweet, sassy, and adorable sounds like a deadly combo." i joke.

"tell me about it." he nods. "and hyunjin, he's artistic, loud, and hilarious. also a huge flirt, but nothing like minho. him and i are pretty close, i think you'll like him— but forewarning— he can be a bit dramatic." he finishes, and i nod.

"so in other words, i can't really be prepared to meet all eight of you, huh?" i chuckle. from the five i knew, they already had decently chaotic personalities, and these three sound like they fit right in. there was definitely no way to prep.

"not really." he laughs. "but you get used to it, and i promise no one's gonna be rude or make you uncomfortable. even if minho flirts with you, you'll probably be into it— he has that effect on people." i laugh at that.

"have you been effected by it?" i tease, but to my complete surprise, felix nods.

"absolutely."

"i didn't expect you to agree." i cock a brow at him, still chuckling.

"you'll get it when you meet him." he waves me off, laughing as well.

"well, thanks for the distraction." i remark, having completely forgotten about all the anxiety i was feeling for the party tomorrow.

"did it work?" he bounces his eyebrows, smiling with hope.

"it did." i chuckle and nod.

"good, and now i have a second pair of eyes to keep up with the mr. lee and jiyeon saga." he jokes.

"oh, definitely. i'm already feening for the next episode." i joke back.

"thank god i'm not alone anymore."

the two of us laugh, and focus our attentions back to our worksheet.

i was glad for a friend like felix.