Cold, uncomfortable, and tense. That's what this bed felt like ever since I became the youngest child of the Smiths. Felix's first thoughts upon waking up.

However, it feels different this time—it's soft, gentle, warm, and genuinely worth doing. Felix closed his eyes again, reminiscing.

Felix sighed as he was able to glance at the analog clock on top of his wall: 6:30 AM. It's almost seven in the morning.

Felix got out of bed gently and carefully so as to not disturb the peacefully sleeping Ley on his messed-up bed.

Just like any other day after he wakes up, Felix stands in front of his closet, staring at the reflection of himself in the built-in mirror inside it.

Alright, there. Felix expressed satisfaction after neatly brushing his unkempt golden-brown morning hair with his hands.

As he closed his closet cabinet, a swift motion in his left peripheral vision caught his attention.

"You're awake, huh?" Felix says to Ley who was using the foam blanket to wrap his entire body, trying to conceal his embarrassment.

"Ye—yes," Ley answered embarrassedly.

"Did I cross a line... sleeping here?" Ley asked, pulling the blanket down as he revealed the top half of his body.

"Did you get a good night's rest?" Felix said casually.

"Oh. It was one of the best rests I've ever had," Ley replied enthusiastically as his discomfort and embarrassment faded. "Ahh... I take it you're fine with me sleeping here?"

"Yeah," Felix answered nonchalantly.

"Well... That's a relief. It's kind of hard to tell with you because your face is so unexpressive," Ley blurted.

"You know you're supposed to keep thoughts like that inside your head, right?" Felix smirked.

"Glad to see you know how to smile," Ley said, matching Felix's smile.

"How do you do that?" Felix asked curiously.

"Uh... do... what...?" Ley answered confused.

"Be so comfortable around me," Felix replied determinedly.

"Hmm..." Ley pondered in his seat, staring at his blanket-covered legs. "Must be because you're so approachable."

"I see," Felix responded doubtfully.

Shit... I can't read if his response meant he believed me or not... I didn't know how to answer, and I just instinctively lied... Fuck... Ley thought.

Felix was still curious about something. So he walked over to the other side of the room to slide his desk chair and face it towards Ley to ask him a question, sitting down.

"Can I ask you a question?" Felix asks.

The curiosity on Felix's face was painfully obvious, so Ley silently observed as he repositioned himself into a cross-legged posture in the bed, facing Felix.

"How are you holding up with this whole "adopted" situation?" Felix asked softly.

"I'm pretty okay with it, but if I'm being honest—" Ley answered partially, relieved that he managed to not overshare.

"Why'd you stop?" Felix asked curiously, leaning forward on his chair.

"Uh... It might be insensitive to say," Ley replied.

"Uh-huh... It's just us here, so you can answer. And I promise I won't be offended," Felix assured Ley.

"Oh... okay... It's just that... while I am extremely grateful that you and your family took me in, I'm afraid—no offense to you and your family—that I cannot see myself being a member of someone else's family other than my own," Ley clarified.

"I see." Felix exhaled his surprise and relief. "No—yeah, I get it. I'd probably think the same thing if I were in your shoes."

"So, what are we—the family—to you?" Felix asked curiously.

"Well... aren't you so curious?" Ley said jokingly.

"I..." Felix stared at Ley, uncertain what to say next.

"Relax. I'm just joking," Ley explained.

"I mean, I can't emphasize enough how incredibly kind, generous, and nice your family is to be taking in a brown boy from another country, but... all of you are strangers to me, as I am a stranger to all of you," Ley replied. "But I was hoping for us to not be strangers with each other anymore."

"What do you mean?" Felix looked at him in confusion.

"I would like us to be friends," Ley responded.

"How does being friends with you benefit me?" Felix asked playfully.

"Ahh..." Ley smiled after hearing Felix's response.

"Hmm... definitely not money... not sure what I can offer yet, but I guess I can be a great friend... and it will definitely make it easier for me to be around your family knowing I have you as a friend," Ley answered.

"I see. Then I gladly accept," Felix replied.

"So... as a friend, can I ask you about your body?" Felix voiced his innocent question.

"Wow... weird question, but buy me dinner first," Ley joked.

"No—I meant I accidentally noticed the state of your body," Felix explained hastily.

"I kind of figured that out—it's really fun to mess with you," Ley smirks as he explains. "You saw how skinny and skeleton-y I am, huh?"

"No, I didn't. But I did feel how light your body was when you buried yourself on my bed," Felix clarified.

"Ahh... I guess..." Ley nodded in relief. "Don't worry about it. It's just my unbelievably fast metabolism."

"Then I guess it's good that it's time for breakfast," Felix said, standing up from his seat. "I will double your portion or quadruple it for you so you get the amount of food you need to recover your healthy body back."

As they went downstairs, joining the family for the routine breakfast, Mrs. Smith greeted the two.

"Ah. Glad to see you come down at the same time," Mrs. Smith greeted happily. "So... are you two getting along well?"

"I think so, Mrs. Smith," Ley answered politely.

The two immediately went to take their usual seat after being told by Mrs. Smith that everyone had already been seated.

It was sudden, but the usual silent and awkward atmosphere that was already present with the family during their meals suddenly... lessened.

The sight of the two, visibly relaxed and comfortable in their seats, made the four quietly stare at them with surprise and awe.

Mr. Smith, Mrs. Smith, Alex, and Iris exchanged confused stares at each other, seeing Felix place an insane amount of food on Ley's plate.

But none of them bothered to stop him, noticing Ley's unbothered attitude.

How sweet. Mrs. Smith observed.

Buddies, huh? Mr. Smith questioned.

Woah... Good for you, Felix. Alex internalizes.

Whatever makes the mission easier. Iris kept to herself.

The atmosphere felt more unrestricting this time, less tense and uncomfortable, not like previously, when it felt like some kind of psychological torture waiting to worsen.

The two's—Ley and Felix's—relaxed and friendly energy was infectious, and it was only a fraction of a second that the four saw them being comfortable with Ley.

"Uhm... Honey, Ley. We were planning to get you to the same class, but you will need to take a series of assessment tests. Would you be open to that?" Mrs. Smith asked Ley.

"I see. I'm open to taking them tomorrow, Mrs. Smith," Ley answered respectfully.

The family stared at Ley in disbelief after hearing his response, though he didn't notice it quite yet; he could feel their eyes on him.

"Uh. Honey. You will need to study for them before you take them, so you still have a month to prepare," Mrs. Smith clarified.

"Oh. Can't I take them tomorrow? I'm already set for it; I don't need to study," Ley insisted softly.

"I see. Then alright, I will set it up for tomorrow," Mrs. Smith responded.

As silence drags on at the dining table again, Ley has already finished eating before the others despite the quadruple amount of food placed by Felix.

Wow... That meal portion was four times the usual... but I don't really feel bloated... and in fact, I actually feel much better. Ley rambled, placing his dirty plate in the kitchen sink.

Felix wanted to catch up to Ley, so he ate his food as quickly as he could.

Alright! Time to rot in bed while watching! Ley exclaimed as he stood in front of his door.

Felix was able to barely get caught up with Ley in the third-floor hallway, whom he found standing in front of his room's door, staring at the doorknob.

"Hey... Do you want to continue watching our sitcom?" Felix asked the spaced-out Ley.

"Hmm... Aren't you forgetting the workout you have in your room an hour from now, though?" Ley answered confusingly.

"Oh. I completely forgot about that," Felix blurted.

"We can watch later," Ley replied. "Besides, it kind of became routine for me that I hear you workout in your room."

"Though, I was really relieved it wasn't sex sounds that I regularly hear in the morning coming from your room," Ley said jokingly as he dropped his smile, looking at Felix's stunned expression. "Ahh... too friendly?"

"No—no. I'm just not used to someone being so friendly," Felix answered.

"I see... I could stop if it makes you uncomfortable," Ley suggested.

"It doesn't, so keep them coming," Felix replied.

"Good, because it's kind of fun messing with you," Ley said proudly, saying his goodbye as he prompted to leave the room. "Alright... So, see you later, I guess."

Felix watched Ley as he closed the door behind him and immediately went into his room after Ley.

Well... That felt exhausting... I should just nap this exhaustion off. Ley sighed as his entire body was being swallowed by the cold and uncomfortable bed he laid his face flat into.

While Ley napped the exhaustion away in his bedroom, Felix worked out in his room as part of his routine during the weekend.

Is there something wrong with me? Why do I feel bored working out now when I haven't before? Felix wondered, pausing his workout for a moment. I'm not sure how to say it. I think it's because I'm amused by how he interacts with me.

This boredom I feel bothers me. I'd ask him for a tip, but I think he's watching on his laptop. Felix considered.

Maybe having the sitcom on will help. Felix decided, turning on the TV to put on the show as background while he works out.

It's twelve in the afternoon already, huh? I didn't even notice that time moved so fast. Felix expressed his shock, seeing the time on his clock.

And just like any weekend after he works out in his room, Felix goes onto the balcony to have his cigarette.

Ugh... I know this smell... Because I HATE this smell... Ley inhaled, instinctively covering his face with his blanket.

Fuck... This smell is too strong... Don't tell me I have an enhanced smell too...? I do, don't I? Ley sighed, following where the smell was coming from as he climbed up from the bed.

A naked guy? Ley questioned, his eyes still blurry from waking up. Oh. It's just Felix. I know because I'm good at guessing people based on their figures, hehe.

Wait, who am I even talking to? Ley brushed it off.

"You scared me," Felix said flatly, hearing Ley come from the glass door.

"The smell of your cigarette woke me up, so I guess we're even," Ley replied bitterly.

There's no point in being annoyed; it's just a cigarette. Ley sighed, clearing his annoyance.

"Now that we're friends, I kind of have to tell you that smoking is bad," Ley said, leaning his body onto the railing of the balcony.

"Hm..." Felix silently nodded.

"It must be a busy noon for everyone if you're smoking," Ley noted.

"Yeah, it is," Felix responded casually.

"Yeah... I did notice that it's just us who eat at lunch," Ley replied.

Woah... He's hot... Ley stared at Felix's body.

"Uh–huh. That's why Mom made breakfast mandatory," Felix remarked, smirking at Ley's staring. "You're staring."

"Oh... was I?" Ley asked innocently.

Fuck...!!! Okay. Would I die if I jumped from this balcony? Well, I don't think so. I'm pretty sure I'd get broken bones and suffer from internal bleeding, so it's not really instant death... Ley panicked.

"Yes... and you're still doing it," Felix answered nonchalantly.

Let's just calm down and apologize... Ley exhaled.

"Sorry," Ley apologized, quickly looking away as he admired the bright sky. "My eyes really can't help it if I'm being honest. If I see a really hot body, I kind of just... stare at it impulsively."

FUCK! Ley internalizes.

"I see..." Felix said, his voice gradually lowering.

"Oh, was that weird? I'm sorry," Ley apologized, trying his best to keep a calm attitude.

"I don't mind. It just means my workouts are paying off well," Felix replied casually.

"They definitely do," Ley responded, turning his gaze back to Felix, murmuring something inappropriate. "Must be nice to touch those abs..."

"Fuck, did I say that out loud?" Ley said embarrassedly. "I am very sorry. I'm very weird... I have an obsession when it comes to hot men."

"Okay...! I am leaving... I'm sorry if you're weirded out by my oversharing. It must be weird to hear those, especially as a straight guy," Ley said embarrassedly as he immediately headed out for his room.

"Wait, stop. Don't leave," Felix declared. "We're friends, so you can relax."

"And you think I'm straight?" Felix asked, staring at Ley in confusion and curiosity.

"Aren't you?" Ley asked back.

"Yeah, sure," Felix answered.

"So... you don't like girls?" Felix asked curiously.

"That's a bad way of asking if I'm gay. And I don't... not like girls; I'm just not sexually attracted to them," Ley answered. "Wow... We've only been friends for a few hours, and I've already come out to you."

"Is that bad?" Felix asked innocently.

"No... It's not. It's very good, because you're one of the only people who I've been out with," Ley answered.

"I see. Then would you like to touch my abs?" Felix offered casually.

"What—what kind of question is that?" Ley asked, his brows furrowing intensely as he stared at Felix.

"I didn't hear a yes or no answer," Felix said playfully as he stared at Ley, waiting for his answer.

Shit... he offered, and I kind of want to say yes, but isn't that weird? I really need to make a decision on what to say... Ley wondered.

"Alright. Just hold out your hand," Felix said politely.

He's already made my decision for me... Ley reacted as he held his hand out upon Felix's gentle instruction.

"Feels nice," Ley murmured, having his hand guided by Felix, allowing him to feel the sensation and texture of his abs.

"Ah–ah. That's off-limits," Felix said jokingly as he gradually lowered Ley's hand.

"I wasn't," Ley exclaimed instantly, quickly pulling his hand back.

"Relax. I'm only joking," Felix smirked.

"Ahh... You joke dangerously, hmm..." Ley exhaled.

"Come to my room," Felix asked casually after having finished the cigarette in his hand.