Felix

BOT FROM THE CHANNEL CREATIVIDAD SGSV.
Hyunlix. "Birthday Gift"

Felix sat on the edge of his bed, clutching his iPhone. The screen was on at precisely 11:59 PM, displaying a shared profile picture with his stepbrother. A ray of sunshine, a ray of light that brought light into his dark life.

Session. Damn session. Felix swiped his finger across the screen, rereading his brother's latest message: "Sorry, kiddo, not this time. But I'll be there as soon as I pass my final exam. Promise."

"Baby..." Felix smiled bitterly. "I'll be eighteen tomorrow. What kind of baby am I?"

The room was quiet. His parents had been away on business for two days. A gilded cage. An expensive phone, designer clothes in the closet, the latest game console gathering dust on the shelf. He felt as if these things glowed in the dark, irritating his eyes. You couldn't talk to them. You couldn't hug them.

He glanced at his phone. The clock had passed midnight. June 1st had arrived.

“Happy birthday, Felix,” he whispered into the void.

And at that very moment, when the silence became completely unbearable, the phone rang. Felix jumped and almost dropped the phone.

Dzyyyyn...

He stood up, feeling his wooden legs carry him to the door. There was no one on the threshold. Only the dim light of the entryway's lamp illuminated an ordinary cardboard box from the gloom. Tied with twine.

Felix looked around. Empty. He picked up the box, it was light, and carefully opened it.

Inside was a ticket. Train number 247, departing tomorrow at 10:30, city N. And underneath the ticket was a piece of paper folded in four. He unfolded it with trembling fingers and recognized the handwriting immediately.

"Happy birthday, brother.

I know I upset you today. But I couldn't tell you the truth because it wouldn't have been a surprise. You're an adult now, you're 18. You don't have to ask anyone else. You're your own boss.

I want you to spend this summer with me. Pack your backpack—only the essentials. You know the address by heart, and you'll figure out how to get there.

Your stepbrother, Hyunjin."