The moment stretched longer than it should have.
Felix stood there, still half-turned, his brain lagging behind the reality in front of him.
Rose stood behind them, and she was not alone, beside her stood a tomboyish girl, resblimg Rose.
She is Lily Williams, her little sister.
Both sisters framed by the soft glow of the streetlights and the noise of the city humming in the background.
Rose looked exactly as she always did—comfortable in her own presence. Fancy clothes, but not loud. Loose hair, untouched by effort. The kind of ease Felix had always noticed and admires.
Lily, on the other hand, was all sharp edges and alert eyes.
She looked about se age as Alex.
Same age bracket. Same posture that said I know where I stand. Her gaze flicked from Felix to Nikhil, then landed on Alex—and stayed there.
"Oh," Lily said slowly. "You."
Alex seems irritated. "Yes me, any problem?"
Rose raised an eyebrow. "You know each other?"
Lily folded her arms. "Unfortunately."
Alex scoffed. "Topper syndrome."
"Second rank syndrome," Lily shot back without missing a beat.
Felix watched the exchange like it was happening underwater.
Rose laughed softly. "You two study together?"
"Same middle school," Alex said. "Same class. But I am smarter than her."
"I am smarter," Lily said refutes instantly.
Nikhil grinned. "Oh my, oh my. What do we have here?"
Dev adjusted his glasses. "Statistically speaking, academic rivalry at that age is common."
Lily glanced at him. "Who are you?"
"Dev."
"Mr. Dev, for your clarification, I am way beyond his league."
Felix finally found his voice. "Uh… what are you both doing here?"
Rose tilted her head. "We were just walking back. Lily wanted ice cream. Then I heard you all so here I am."
Nikhil perked up immediately. "We were about to go to karaoke."
Lily's eyes lit up. "Karaoke?"
Alex groaned. "Don't include them," completely forgeting previous matter.
Rose smiled. "Why not? Sounds fun."
Felix felt the floor drop out beneath him.
.....
The karaoke place wasn't far—one of those cozy, half-lit spots wedged between a café and a bookstore.
They had already filled their belly on the way, so all of them are brimming with energy. All, except Felix.
They took a booth.
Felix ended up sitting between Dev and Alex. Rose sat across from him. Lily squeezed in beside Rose, already scanning the song list like it was a battlefield.
Nikhil clapped his hands. "Rules," he announced. "Everyone sings. No exceptions."
Felix's stomach tightened.
"I'll go first," Nikhil said generously. "To break the ice."
He grabbed the mic before anyone could object.
What followed could only be described as enthusiastic disaster.
Nikhil sang loudly, confidently, and completely off-key. He leaned into every dramatic note like the song owed him money. Rose laughed so hard she had to cover her mouth. Lily filmed him without mercy.
"This is painful," Alex muttered.
Felix found himself smiling despite everything.
Nikhil finished with a dramatic bow. "You're welcome."
"Never again," Alex said.
"Your turn," Nikhil replied instantly.
Alex glared. "Fine."
Alex sang competitively. Not badly, not brilliantly—just enough to prove a point. Lily crossed her arms the entire time.
"Not bad," she said when he finished.
Alex bristled. "You try."
"Oh, I will."
Lily picked a fast song. Loud. Confident. She owned the mic like she'd done it before. When she finished, Alex looked genuinely offended.
"How are you good at this?" he demanded.
Rose laughed. "She practices."
Felix stayed quiet.
He felt the mic pass hands. Closer. Closer.
Then—
"Dev," Nikhil said, tossing it casually. "Your turn."
Dev blinked. "Me?"
"Yes, you."
Dev sighed, like someone accepting a mild inconvenience. He stood, adjusted the mic, and chose a song without explanation.
The first note came out clean.
The room changed.
Dev's voice wasn't loud. It didn't need to be. It was steady, controlled, and surprisingly warm. Every note landed where it was supposed to. No rush. No strain.
Felix smiles, completely expecting this scene.
Rose stopped smiling mid-laugh.
Lily lowered her phone.
Nikhil's grinning widely.
When the song ended, the room stayed quiet for a second longer than necessary.
"Why," Alex said slowly, "did you never tell us this?"
Dev shrugged. "You didn't ask." passing the mic to Felix.
He exhaled.
Of course.
When the mic came to him, Felix didn't have the energy to dodge.
He sang.
Not loudly. Not dramatically.
Just enough.
His voice didn't break. It didn't soar either. It stayed restrained, like everything else about him lately. When he finished, he handed the mic back quickly.
Rose watched him the entire time.
Later, as laughter resumed and Nikhil started arguing with Lily about song rankings, Rose leaned forward slightly.
"That was not bad, Felix," she said casually.
The words landed heavier than the song ever could.
He looked up. "What?"
She smiled, soft and unreadable. "Your singing. It was not bad."
She didn't wait for a reply.
Lily tugged her sleeve. "We should go. Mom will ask questions.
It was already 7:30 p.m.
Rose nodded. "Yeah."
She stood, then paused. "This was fun."
Her eyes met Felix's for half a second longer than necessary.
Then she turned and walked away with Lily.
The door closed behind Rose and Lily with a soft click.
For a moment, no one spoke.
The background music hummed on, oblivious. Neon lights flickered lazily above.
Felix stayed seated, elbows resting on his knees, fingers loosely interlocked. His heart wasn't racing. It wasn't sinking either.
It was… aware.
Nikhil broke the silence first.
"So," he said carefully, leaning back against the couch, "that was… fun."
Alex joked. "Fun? You basically threw my brother into emotional traffic."
Felix shot him a warning look. "You're one word away from walking home."
Alex raised both hands immediately. "Okay, okay. Noted."
Nikhil grinned, completely unapologetic. "I regret nothing."
Felix turned toward him slowly. "Say that again."
"I regret—"
Felix leaned forward. "Finish that sentence carefully."
Nikhil laughed. "Okay, okay. I slightly regret the timing."
Alex smirked. "I didn't think you like Rose. I mean,no offense, she is beautiful, but Lily's sister? Really. "
"What's wrong in that," Nikhil defended his new friend. "She is a good girl."
"Are you a ped***ile? ," Felix looked at Nikhil with a disgust
"What? No, I said that as a human. You know, like a normal human being. "
Dev, who had been quietly scrolling through his phone, finally spoke. "For what it's worth… she didn't look uncomfortable."
Felix paused.
Alex looked at Dev. "What do you mean?"
Dev nodded. "She responded to Felix. Like, different from being awkward."
Felix exhaled slowly.
"I don't get that," he said.
"You should move quickly," Dev replied calmly. "If you don't want to get friend zoned."
Nikhil leaned forward now, elbows on his knees. "Do you think she is single?"
Felix frowned. "What?"
"She is beautiful," Nikhil continued. "There is a high chance,she is already in relationship."
Felix said nothing.
Because that was the part his mind kept circling back to.
Nikhil nudged his shoulder. "You gonna tell us what you were thinking, or are we all just gonna pretend we don't know?"
Felix glanced at him. "You want the honest answer?"
"Yes."
"I was thinking about how many times I've stood exactly like that before," Felix said. "Watching moments pass and convincing myself I had time."
Alex's teasing expression faded.
Dev's gaze sharpened.
Nikhil grew quiet.
"That sounded heavy," Nikhil said carefully.
Felix shrugged. "It is. But it's mine to deal with."
Alex hesitated, then said, "You know… for someone who freezes so much, you handled it well."
Felix raised an eyebrow. "That was handling it?"
"You didn't run," Alex replied. "That's new."
Felix smirked faintly. "Low standards."
Dev stood up, stretching. "You didn't avoid her either. That matters."
Felix looked at him. "Thanks."
Dev nodded once. That was all.
They paid and stepped outside together. The night air was cooler now, the city quieter, streetlights casting long shadows across the pavement.
Nikhil checked the time. "8:45."
"Home?" Alex asked.
Felix nodded. "Yeah."
The ride back was calmer.
Less jokes. Less noise. Comfortable silence.
By 9:00 p.m., they reached Felix's street.
Nikhil brought the bike from the garage. "Alright. I'll drop Dev and head home."
Felix stepped. "Text me when you reach."
Nikhil saluted. "Captain."
Alex stretched his arms. "Today was… fun."
Felix looked at him. "You tired?"
Alex nodded. "Yeah. Actually—yeah."
Dev gave Felix one last look before getting back on the bike. "Don't overthink it tonight."
Felix smiled faintly. "Too late."
Brroom broom
Nikhil laughed, revved the engine, and the bike disappeared down the road.
Felix walked inside.
The house was quiet now. Lights dim. Curtains drawn.
Radha and Krishna is still in the shop, likely to come back soon.
He washed up, changed, and lay down on his bed.
The ceiling fan hummed softly above him.
He closed his eyes.
Sleep came easily.