บท 5: Hidden Truths
Sunghwa leaned back in his chair, watching with raised eyebrows as Felix devoured his meal. Despite his small frame, the Omega ate with ravenous enthusiasm, almost inhaling the food. Sunghwa couldn't help but smirk; the sight was unexpectedly adorable, especially when Felix's sapphire eyes sparkled with delight after each bite.
"Whoa, slow down there, tiger. You're gonna choke if you keep eating like that," Sunghwa teased, his voice dripping with playful sarcasm.
Felix froze mid-bite, cheeks puffed out with rice. He quickly swallowed, an embarrassed flush creeping across his face. "Sorry… I didn't mean to eat so fast. I'm just really hungry."
"No shit." Sunghwa chuckled, his gaze softening. "Hey, you've got a little something right here." He pointed to the corner of his own lips.
Felix blinked, self-consciously wiping his face but missing the spot entirely. With a mischievous grin, Sunghwa leaned in closer. "Here, let me get it."
Before Felix could protest, Sunghwa's thumb gently swiped across Felix's lips, brushing away the rice. The touch lingered just a second too long, sending an unexpected warmth between them. Felix's heart skipped a beat, his face flushing crimson as Sunghwa nonchalantly wiped his thumb on a napkin, seemingly unaffected.
"There. All better," Sunghwa said teasingly, though his dark eyes lingered on Felix a moment longer, an unreadable flicker crossing his features.
Felix, now hyperaware of Sunghwa's proximity, looked away hastily, muttering a quiet "thanks" before focusing on his plate. But the light touch still lingered on his lips, making it hard to shake the moment. It rattled him more than he wanted to admit.
Sunghwa, on the other hand, fought his own internal battle. The scent of Felix's pheromones drifted through the air, soft yet intoxicating, and it stirred something primal within him. The heat of his rut simmered just beneath the surface, threatening to break free. He itched to pull Felix close, to comfort him physically, but he couldn't risk losing control—not now.
When Felix finally leaned back with a satisfied sigh, Sunghwa stood, arms crossing over his broad chest. The atmosphere shifted slightly, tension creeping back in as the playful banter faded.
"So…" Sunghwa began, voice more serious now, "are you going to tell me what happened?"
Felix stiffened, his sapphire-blue eyes meeting Sunghwa's intense gaze. For a moment, he said nothing, his expression guarded. His fingers curled into the fabric of the sweatpants Sunghwa had lent him, fidgeting nervously.
Sunghwa tilted his head, his tone softening though his eyes remained sharp. "Who are you, really? And how the hell did you end up alone in the middle of the street like that, kiddo?"
"I'm not a kid," Felix snapped, a bit more defensively than intended. "I'm 18."
"Alright, 18," Sunghwa smirked, clearly unconvinced. "Still doesn't answer my question, though, does it?"
Felix exhaled shakily, his defenses crumbling. The weight of his circumstances was too much to bear, and he finally muttered, "I… I was trying to escape."
Sunghwa's expression darkened. "Escape from who?"
Felix swallowed hard. "From the people chasing me. The mafia."
The word hit Sunghwa like a punch. His body tensed, anger bubbling up inside him. "Mafia?" he muttered under his breath. His mind raced, thoughts tangling with the gravity of the situation. This wasn't just some runaway—Felix was in real danger, and now, so was Sunghwa for harboring him.
Felix's hands trembled slightly as he spoke, his voice growing quieter. "They're from a trafficking syndicate. They were going to… sell me."
Sunghwa's fists clenched involuntarily. The thought of anyone laying a hand on Felix, using him like a commodity, made his blood boil. But beyond the anger, he still had questions.
"Where are your parents?" Sunghwa asked, his tone gentler now.
Felix's face paled, his voice barely above a whisper. "They're gone. Dead."
Sunghwa's heart sank. "Dead? What happened?"
Felix swallowed hard, his throat tight. "We were running… trying to get away from them. My parents and I drove all night, but the mafia was right behind us. My dad was speeding, trying to escape, but…" Felix's voice wavered, and his eyes welled up with tears. "The car fell into a ravine. There was a fire… I was the only one who got out."
Felix's voice broke, the weight of survivor's guilt crashing over him. "If I hadn't been there, maybe they would've survived." His body shook with quiet sobs, his hands covering his face as tears fell.
Sunghwa's chest tightened painfully at the sight. He wanted nothing more than to wrap the Omega in his arms, to take away his pain, but he couldn't risk getting too close. Not while he was fighting his own instincts.
Instead, he reached out cautiously, placing a hand on Felix's trembling shoulder. "Hey… It wasn't your fault," Sunghwa said softly, fighting the desire to pull him closer. "You survived. That's what matters now."
Felix wiped his eyes, sniffling as he tried to compose himself, though the guilt lingered in his eyes.
Sunghwa leaned back, his own emotions swirling. But there were still too many unanswered questions. "Why haven't you gone to the authorities?" he asked, his voice probing but cautious. "If you're in this much danger, you should be in police protection."
"No!" Felix's head snapped up, panic flooding his expression. "Please, no police. They'll just arrest me and send me back to them. They've done it before."
Sunghwa's eyes narrowed. "What do you mean, send you back? Where are you from?"
Felix hesitated, his fingers twisting nervously. "I… I'm not from here," he confessed quietly.
Sunghwa froze, his suspicion deepening. "You're not a citizen?"
Felix shook his head, biting his lip. "I'm… I'm from North Korea. My family… we crossed the border illegally."
The revelation hit Sunghwa like a ton of bricks. He stared at Felix in disbelief. "You're… a fugitive?"
Felix nodded miserably. "If the police find me, they'll deport me. And if the mafia finds me first…" His voice trailed off, the unspoken threat hanging in the air.
Sunghwa ran a hand through his hair, the gravity of the situation sinking in. Felix wasn't just being hunted by criminals; he was on the run from the law too. The risks of helping him just multiplied tenfold.
But despite the danger, Sunghwa couldn't turn him away. He looked at Felix—small, fragile, but with a spark of resilience still shining through his fear—and made up his mind.
"You're safe here," Sunghwa said firmly, his voice steady. "You're not alone anymore."
Felix looked up at him, hope flickering in his tear-streaked eyes. The exhaustion was evident on his face, the weight of his fear pulling him down. But for the first time, he seemed to relax slightly.
Sunghwa glanced at the clock, noting how late it had gotten. "You must be tired," he said, his tone softening. "Let's get some rest. Tomorrow, we'll figure this out. Okay?"
Felix nodded, finally starting to relax. But before either of them could move, Sunghwa's phone buzzed on the table, the sound loud in the quiet room. His jaw clenched as he glanced at the screen.
Who the hell is calling at this hour?
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