The phone rang a few times before Chris’s voice was heard on the other end. He sounded concerned and maybe a little bit embarrassed as he greeted Felix.

“So, how was your day?” Felix asked, hoping to find out why Chris hadn’t called all day.

“Nothing much… Just went to work and recorded some tracks in the studio; that’s it…” he answered, stumbling over his words slightly.

“You sound like you’re hiding something.” Felix smirked.

“What?! Why would I be hiding anything from you? You’re my best friend!”

“Exactly; then it must be something important.”

“What’s the logic behind that?”

“There is no logic; now tell me what you’ve been up to. You sound unreasonably happy.”

“Fine, fine! You remember the guy from Starbucks, right?” Chris asked to which Felix responded with a hum. “Well, I asked him if he wanted to hang out after his shift and he said yes! I even got his number!”

Felix chuckled to himself, even though he felt slightly hurt. He was happy for his friend, of course, but he couldn’t help but feel like he was soon going to be replaced, like he would be forgotten… As he was spacing out, staring at the pavement under his feet, he heard Chris calling his name.

“Huh? Sorry, I wasn’t paying attention!” Felix said, snapping out of his trance.

“Do you ever pay attention to what I have to say?” Chris scolded him. “Anyway, I asked what you’ve been doing since you haven’t answered my phone. I seriously thought that someone kidnapped you.”

“Oh, I went out with some friends at a party. The music was too loud for me to hear the phone.” Felix explained.

“Hold up: you actually went out; as in out into the real world and not your crappy apartment or studio? Wow! You’re evolving!” Chris said sarcastically, but Felix didn’t find in funny. “Are you home now? How was the party?”

“Nah, I’m waiting in front of the club. I was thinking about heading home by myself…” Felix sadly explained.

“Really? Why? Did I bother you?”

“No; it’s not that. Parties aren’t really my type of thing.”

“That’s a shame… You could have made some new friends…” Chris sighed. “You should try to find someone new while I’m not there. Go out more often! You’re literally gonna become one with the couch!”

“I’m a potato for life!” Felix chuckled. “Anyway, I actually met this guy from Korea. I’m thinking about inviting him to get some coffee tomorrow morning.”

“Sound like a plan to me. Hey, can we chat some more tomorrow? I’m really sleepy right now…” Chris yawned.

“Sure, call me when you wake up.” Felix suggested.

“Alright, talk to you later, be safe! Take a cab home!”

“Okay, mom!” the blond before hanging up.

Felix then texted Rose, telling her that he had gone home early because he had something to do the next day. He didn’t want her to worry about him. He took out his headphones and set his playlist on shuffle before heading back to his apartment. Sydney was a safe city and he was trying to save up a bit of money, so he decided not to take a cab. Walking would help him clear his mind and get his thoughts straight.

Even though Australia was one of the hottest continents, spring nights could be pretty chilly sometimes, and Felix was certainly feeling the cold. He shivered a bit, shoving his hands in his pockets. He speeded up his pace, wanting to return home as fast as possible. As he was passing by crowded shops and loud restaurants he thought about what had happened that night. As he remembered Changbin’s Ryan phone case, he couldn’t help but wonder why Changbin would hide his kind nature behind that though exterior. He couldn’t understand why somebody would pretend to be something that they’re not…

He tried brushing those thoughts aside, focusing on his way back home, but Changbin was still somewhere in the back of his mind. He was intriguing to Felix; he seemed like the type of person who has a story worth telling, the type of person who went through so much, and the type of person who’s hiding pain behind a fake smile.

Felix then remembered Chris’s advice. Maybe he should ask Changbin out the next day; they could grab something to drink, then they could go walk in the park. Changbin seemed in need of a companion and Felix didn’t really have anything to do. He figured that maybe if he found out more about Changbin he would get enough inspiration to write another song, which was his main priority at that moment.

Before he even realized, he arrived back at his apartment complex. He entered the building and ran up the stairs to his house. He unlocked the door and opened the lights, heading straight towards his bathroom. He took a quick shower and brushed his teeth before crawling into bed. He was too tired to do anything, or at least that’s what he told himself. In reality, he just wanted tomorrow to come quicker so that he could meet Changbin again. He closed his eyes and cuddled his blanket, breathing slower as he drifted into a quiet slumber with the sound of Sydney’s busy night life as his lullaby.

A few rays of sunshine ran across his face as his eyes flickered open. Felix pulled the sheets over his face as the light stung his eyes. He shoved his hand under the pillow, taking out his phone to check the time: 11:15. He opened his contacts and searched for Changbin, typing a message for him.

“hey! sorry to bother you... I’m Felix, the guy from the party. wanna grab that coffee today?”

His finger hovered above the ‘Send’ button before he quickly pressed it, throwing his phone across the bed as he buried his face in his pillow. He waited for a few minutes, suffocating because of the lack of oxygen before his phone received a notification. Felix quickly scrambled through his sheets to get to his phone. He pressed the home button, seeing that he had received a text from Changbin. He decided not to check it yet, so he wouldn’t seem like he was waiting for it. He stared at his home screen for a few more seconds before he unlocked his phone, reading the message.

“Eh, why not? Meet me at that Starbucks next to the bank at 12.”

Felix smiled and got up, rushing to the bathroom to tidy up before getting dressed. He chose a pair of jeans and a black T-shirt along with a flannel shirt and red sneakers. He sat down at his table and had some cereal for breakfast. He checked his social media and watched some YouTube videos, trying to keep up with the ever changing trends. He also decided to call his mother, letting her know that he was alright and he received the phone call Chris had promised the other day.

After clearing the table and doing the dishes he checked the time again. He had about twenty more minutes until he had to meet Changbin, so he put on his shoes and left his apartment, heading towards that Starbucks. He plucked in his headphones again and played some music, following the rhythm with his hands as he walked down the street in an unusually happy mood. He greeted a few people he knew and stopped to help a man carrying a bunch of boxes. He had always been a good kid, helping people in need and smiling brightly at everyone. That’s how his parents thought him to be: kind to everyone.

He opened the door to the tiny shop and felt the strong aroma of coffee linger around him. Since it was past eight, most people had already had their morning coffee, so the shop was pretty empty. He walked up to the cashier and asked her for a chocolate frappe. He paid for his drink and waited for the other employee to prepare his order. While he was waiting, he looked around the shop, trying to spot Changbin. Eventually, he noticed his sitting next to the window, staring at his phone with a blank expression, waiting for it to charge.

Felix heard his name being called, so he turned around and grabbed his drink before rushing towards Changbin.

“Hey there!~” Felix softly greeted him.

Changbin looked up and shoved his phone back into his pocket before greeting him back.

“Why are you so down today? You’re totally different from yesterday.” the blond asked concerned.

“Firstly, sleeping on a bench can be quite uncomfortable, so I haven’t slept well, and secondly, they put milk in my iced coffee and I’m lactose intolerant. This day can’t get worse!” Changbin laughed.

“Don’t say that! You’re giving the universe a chance to prove you wrong!” Felix laughed with him. “I just have one question: Why are you sleeping on a bench? Don’t you have money left to pay for a hotel?”

“Nope. I’m totally broke. I only have like 10 dollars left; but it’s alright. I’m used to being broke when I travel.”

“Oh, okay then… So, how was your day so far?” Felix asked, sipping his frappe.

“I haven’t done much; I had an appointment with a client at eight.” he said, patting the large bag placed on the table. “then I walked around until you texted me and I came here.”

“How long have you been making tattoos?” Felix asked, looking at Changbin’s knuckles, which had the words ‘lone wolf’ tattooed on them.

“About 2 years now… Maybe?... But I’ve loved art ever since I was a kid.”

“That’s nice. You’re very talented. I saw the rose you drew on that girl’s arm. It was very pretty.”

“Thanks; I still think that there’s plenty of room for me to improve though…” Changbin stirred his coffee. “Do you want it by the way?” he asked, pushing his drink towards Felix.

“Don’t worry; I’ll buy you another one. I’ll be right back.” Felix affirmed, standing up.

“Thanks, but I really don’t need another one.” Changbin smiled, trying to get Felix to sit back down. “I’m trying to quit some bad habits, and one of them is coffee.”

“Bad habits? What do you mean by that?” Felix asked puzzled.

“Drinking, smoking, staying up late, eating junk-food; that type of stuff…”

“I get it… I’m not really living healthy either.”

They spent the rest of their morning chatting about their lives while Felix slowly sipped his frappe and Changbin’s coffee. He found out that Changbin was actually just 19 and that he has a very close relationship with his parents despite being a problematic child. He dropped out of college after just a semester to become a tattoo artist without any other back-up plan. He moved to Seoul and worked two part-time jobs while he tried to launch his career. He shared his apartment with a friend and he sometimes had to choose between eating breakfast and paying for his equipment to be able to afford his rent. Luckily his talent was recognized fairly quickly, so he quit his jobs after a few months and soon after managed to rent a house all for himself.

As soon as Changbin finished his story Felix couldn’t help but be fascinated by what this guy has been through in just 19 years. He was a rebel, an outlaw, breaking stereotypes and social norms in order to do what he loves. That’s how Felix aspired to be. He wanted to live his life at his fullest, but everybody around him told him that he was still young and that he had plenty of time to life his life. He was about to start his second term at college, but he really wanted to drop out as well. He wanted to focus fully on his career, and college was getting in his way. He wanted to be like Changbin: free. He wanted to be able to do whatever he wished. He wanted to be himself without being judged or casted out. He wanted to look in the mirror and see himself the way he really is.

“A mirror…” Felix mumbled.