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Felix woke up at exactly 4:15AM for his flight, giving him an hour and 45 minutes to get ready.
Excessive, I know.
Sure, his flight left at 10AM, but he wanted time to look aesthetic in the airport. Felix has been putting himself first these days.
See, high school wasn’t too kind to Felix. After four years of hating himself, and 3 months in Partial Mental Hospitalization, he needed a change for college.
Being a model is something he had always wanted. Partially because he looked up to the skinniness the models had, but also because they were swooned upon for their bodies. For them being skinny.
He had begged and begged his parents to pay for this program. He even made a slide show (which he knows is what really conveniences his dad).
Felix has always wanted to travel to Paris. It has been a lifelong dream. Sure, he missed his mom and his sister, but he would see them in just one short month.
–
“Goodbye Lix baby. Call us when you board and when you land, okay? We’ll miss you so much.” His mom gave him a tight, warm, hug. He felt a bit choked up.
“Bye Felix. Be safe. I’ve added money to your account. Don’t be reckless. I love you and I’ll miss you.” His dad said while pulling him in.
“Bye Lixie! See you in a month!” He gave Olivia the tightest hug before making his way to security.
TSA always stressed him out. Why did they have to be so mean!? After being yelled at, Felix decided to treat himself to some Starbucks. The usual: Black Iced Americano, 2 Pumps of Sugar Free Vanilla. 5 Calories for the whole thing. Afterall, he reached his goal weight this morning, he deserved it.
He boarded his plane right on time. A window seat, first class, perfect. He had saved up his own money to pay for his first class upgrade. It was his first time.
Absent-mindedly, he thought about his mom, how much better it would be if she was experiencing this with him. He sent her a photo of his view.
He drifted off after a bit. He woke up with only 45 minutes left of the flight. He pulled out his skincare and reapplied some lotion. He fixed his hair. Put on a bit of concealer.
It hit him.
He was alone, in a foreign country, for a month.
Meaning, he would have to room with a random person. He would have to make friends. He
would have to deal with what he dealt with in Highschool.
Breathe.
It would be fine.
He would have to push through
–
45 Minutes later, he landed. He got off the plane and made his way to baggage claim. This airport was confusing. His dad warned him about that… He grabbed his two bags and made his way to the exit. He quickly sent a text to his family group chat, letting them know he arrived safely.
“Lee Felix?”
“That's me. Who–” Oh… he forgot he had a private driver. Right.
Fancy
He could get used to this.
30 Minutes of leg bouncing and sightseeing later, they arrived at the school. Wow… It looked like a castle with the old architecture and the bright summer air.
“Are you okay from here Mr. Lee?” The kind driver had asked, unloading the last of Felix’s bags.
“Yes sir, thank you. Do you mind pointing me to the front office though?”
The man smiled softly and pointed to a grand entry on the right side of the main building. Felix tipped the man and departed, making his way to the front office.
“Bonjour, comment t'appelles?” The receptionist asked in a deep french accent.
“Uhm.. Je m'appelle Felix Lee?” Felix replied in French. It was his third language. He knew the basics…
“Ah.. You speak English I see here on your file… Oh! And Korean! Very nice. Anyway… I will have someone come down to guide you to your room. You will be rooming with Hyunjin Hwang. He speaks Korean.” The receptionist lady replied in English. Felix figured his french accent wasn’t that good… He’d work on it.
He was greeted by a sweet looking lady. She had to have been 40 years old. She reminded him of his mother.
“Felix-issi?” Felix nodded, confirming. “I’m Mrs. Kim. Right this way. Did you just come from the airport?”
“Yes ma’am.” He replied in an awfully timid voice. She must have picked up on it.
“No need to feel nervous honey. You’ll do amazing here. Your roommate has been here for a few days already, he came with some friends. I’m sure you’ll fit in amazing.”
She led him to a gold-plated elevator. They made their way to the third floor. Room 325. She knocked.
When the door opened, it was the most beautiful face Felix has ever seen. His sharp brown eyes were nothing in comparison to Felix’s more round eyes. His hair looked so effortless, but at the same time so artistic.
“Hyunjin-ah, this is your new roommate Felix. He’s joining us from Australia.” Hyunjin smiled at him.
“Welcome! I’m so glad you’re here. I was waiting! Here – let me help with your stuff. We can unpack together.” His voice was warm. Felix felt a sense of comfort pool in his stomach. He’s never felt that type of emotion before. Not from a man. Especially not from a man.
Especially not from his father.
Mrs. Kim left the two after saying a quick goodbye.
“Make yourself at home! The opening dinner is tonight at 6:30. Wear semi-formal they said.”
Hyunjin said while lifting Felix’s smaller suitcase onto Felix's bed.
“Okay… uhm… where are you from?”
“Seoul, Korea! Have you been?”
“Yes. As a child. We visited my grandmother there right before she passed.” Dammit. He wasn’t supposed to trauma dump on the first day.
“Ah. I’m sorry about that. Well, let’s finish unpacking. I’ll be able to introduce you to my
friends.” Hyunjin tilted his head when he spoke, biting his lip in a soft, unconscious manner.
Cute, Felix thought.
After unpacking, Felix changed into dress pants and a collared shirt. Nothing out of the ordinary.
He sprayed some of his rose perfume and turned to Hyunjin.
“Ready Hyunjin?”
“Yep! You look nice.” Felix’s cheeks flushed at that comment.
“T-Thank you.. Lets get going”
They walk down the hall, making their way to the dining hall.
“They’re going to love you Felix” Hyunjin said under his breath, almost private just so Felix could hear. Their hands brushed against each other.
Walking into the cafeteria for Felix was chaos. Back when he was in high school, he would avoid the cafeteria at all costs.
Not that he ate the food anyway, but the sheer amount of people stressed him out enough.
“Hyunjin! Over here!” Hyunjin snapped his head to the left, along with Felix. A table full of six other boys, waving.
They walk over together, Felix lingering in Hyunjin’s shadow.
“Hey guys! This is Lix– Lee Felix. He’s in the program too! Majoring in medicine!” Hyunjin said while gesturing towards Felix.
“Yes–uh– I’m going into my freshman year of college after this. I’ll be attending Seoul National University and–”
“No shot!? SNU? That's where we all go!!” Felix was cut off abruptly by Hyunjin’s shortest friends– and the loudest apparently.
Conversation flowed nicely. They were able to squeeze a few words out of Felix to get to know him better.
“Felix, I’m grabbing some food, you want to come with?” Hyunjin said, rubbing his back softly, absentmindedly.
Felix tensed. Hard. He swallowed thickly. He’d never been one for fasting, but with the unlimited food here? It’s too likely to lose control.
“I’m good, I ate a big meal before this.” Felix hated it. He hated how easily the lie came off. He hated it. Why did he even come over here? What's wrong with him? He should just–
By the end of dinner, Felix mentally made notes about his new…. Friends?
- Chan
- Junior at SNU, majoring in Music, lived in Sydney (such a small world, right?)
- Lee Know
- Junior at SNU, majoring in literature, lives in Seoul
- Changbin
- Sophomore at SNU, majoring in music as well, lives in Seoul
- Hyunjin
- Sophomore at SNU, majoring in performance arts, lives in Seoul
- Han
- Sophomore at SNU (One day older than Felix, but just made the cutoff to skip a grade), majoring in music as well, lived in Malaysia
- Seungmin
- Freshman at SNU, majoring in medicine, lives in Seoul
- Jeongin
- Freshman at SNU, majoring in law, lives in Seoul
Hyunjin and Felix left early to return to the dorm. They showered, Hyunjin allowing Felix to go first. They brushed their teeth and put on their pajamas.
“Lix, are you nervous for orientation tomorrow?” Hyunjin asked while tucking himself into bed.
“A little, but I’m sure it will be fine.”
He shut his eyes, allowing the moonlight of Paris to shine over his face.
Maybe this will be good for him.