Chapter 5 : The Spark of Jealousy

The day was bright, the air buzzing with excitement. Felix had been invited to a variety show, his first solo guest appearance. He was nervous but excited, cheeks flushed as staff hurried him into the studio.

The members had insisted on tagging along—“for support,” they claimed. But Felix suspected it was more than that. He didn’t protest. Their presence calmed his nerves.

---

The filming went well, filled with laughter and light teasing. Felix’s natural sweetness charmed the hosts, and his laughter rang like bells.

But when one of the male hosts leaned closer\, smiling a little *too* warmly\, Felix felt… strange.

“Felix-ssi, you’re really adorable,” the host said, almost purring. “Your smile could melt anyone’s heart. Do you have someone special?”

The question made Felix freeze. His lips parted, unsure what to say. His cheeks burned—not just from the question, but from the sudden heavy stares he felt from behind the cameras.

Stray Kids. All seven of them.

Their gazes were sharp, dangerous, barely restrained.

But what caught Felix off guard wasn’t them. It was the way his own chest tightened at the host’s closeness. He didn’t like it. He didn’t like the way someone else looked at him like that.

*Why do I feel… jealous?*

The realization made his heart stumble.

---

After filming, Felix tried to shake it off. But the members weren’t about to let it slide.

Backstage, Chan’s voice was low and firm. “Don’t answer questions like that again.”

Felix blinked. “Eh? But it was just a show—”

“Doesn’t matter,” Lee Know interrupted, his hand on Felix’s shoulder. His tone was deceptively calm, but his grip was protective. “They don’t get to ask you things like that.”

Felix’s lips wobbled into a small pout. “You guys are… overreacting.”

“No,” Seungmin said quietly, eyes narrowing. “We’re not.”

Felix sighed, but inside… that strange heat in his chest only grew stronger.

---

That evening, when they gathered in Felix’s apartment again, the tension shifted.

“I should sit next to Lixie tonight,” Han declared, plopping on the couch and patting the cushion beside him.

“No way,” Hyunjin cut in smoothly, sliding in first and pulling Felix down beside him. “He promised me yesterday.”

Felix blinked. “I… did?”

“You did now,” Hyunjin said with a smug smile, wrapping an arm casually around him.

Changbin frowned, crossing his arms. “Don’t hog him, Hwang. He should eat with me tonight. I brought food.”

“Correction\,” I.N piped up\, holding up a box of pastries\, “*I* brought dessert. And Felix hyung likes sweets more.”

Felix’s eyes darted nervously as the room filled with bickering. “Uh—guys—”

Lee Know silenced them all with a single sharp clap. Then, without a word, he lifted Felix’s hand and began massaging it gently, as if daring anyone else to stop him.

The room went still. Felix’s ears burned crimson.

“Hyung!” Han whined. “That’s not fair!”

“It’s practical,” Lee Know replied coolly, kneading Felix’s palm with gentle precision. “His hands get sore from practice.”

Felix let out a small, embarrassed laugh, trying to ease the mood. “You’re all so silly…”

But inside, his heart fluttered wildly.

---

Later that night, after everyone settled, Felix excused himself to the balcony for fresh air. The city lights glittered, and he pressed a hand over his chest.

*Why did I feel jealous earlier?*

*Why does my heart race whenever they argue over me?*

*Why do I… like it when they’re possessive?*

He was still lost in thought when the balcony door slid open. Chan stepped out quietly, standing close enough for their shoulders to brush.

“You okay?” the leader asked softly.

Felix nodded, eyes dropping. “…Hyung… do you ever get jealous?”

Chan tilted his head, studying him. “Of course. Everyone does.”

Felix hesitated. “I… I think I did. Today. When that host—” His voice cracked, his cheeks turning red.

Chan’s hand curled into a fist before he forced it to relax. He exhaled slowly, then placed a hand gently over Felix’s.

“It’s normal,” he said, voice low, steady. “It means you care.”

Felix’s eyes widened. His lips parted, but no words came out. All he could do was stare up at Chan, his heart thundering.

And in Chan’s gaze, warm yet burning, Felix finally saw it clearly—