(Y/N) POV:
I hurried away from the bookstore, I hadn't expected to bump into not one but two of the Bangtan Boys and that they had been standing right behind me. It was pure luck or habit that I had chosen to wear a sweater and so when Jungkook had bumped into me it was clothes that touched and not skin. That would've been a big problem. From the way my luck seemed to be running out these days, I knew I needed to do some research on soulmates. I had to be prepared should the accidental incident of skin contact happen. Because there was no way I intended to fall into their group, disrupt their balance and make their lives tainted with my presence. They didn't deserve that. Just how I didn't deserve the mark on my side.
I decided to go to the park, hopefully the fresh air would clear my mind and I could do the research there without any of my dormmates accidentally seeing what I was looking up. I didn't need them trying to change my mind or talk me out of it. It was my life and my decision alone to make.
I made my way to a secluded area near the back of the park, no-one really ever came here and there was this large tree that stood on the side behind a cluster of trees which meant I had cover and I wasn't going to be disturbed. Frankly, I didn't think others knew about its existence. But that just meant it became a place for me to retreat to, in moments like these when all I wanted to do was escape from the bustling atmosphere of life.
Just as I was reaching the tree an agonising burn seared through my mark, my knees buckling as I lost balance, the pain was crippling. It was a fiery sear that tore and burnt through my entire mark, my right side feeling as though it was being shredded open. I groaned as a stabbing sensation engulfed my side spreading out beyond the mark, it was like a knife was being plunged into my flesh repeatedly.
I hunched over, trying to curl in on myself as though that would somehow lessen the pain or shield me from it. My eyes closed and I bit my lip trying to keep the sounds of pain from escaping my throat as I tried to level my breathing. For some reason though I couldn't breathe properly, sharp pants tearing through my throat as I gasped trying to breathe in lungfuls of air, trying to breathe past the pain. I slumped against the tree, sliding to rest my back against it, hands cupping my waist through the fabric. The pain started lessening slightly but it remained as a dull throb, reminding me that my mark was recoiling against the physical distance with my soulmates. I had been standing so close to them, but I had walked away to resist the pull before my mark compelled my body to give in. I could feel sweat beading at the top of my forehead, energy having drained out of me as I sat there trying to get my breathing under control again.
I don't know how long I sat there but when my body had finally stopped shivering and the spasms of pain had lessened, I slid out my phone deciding to start the research. Whilst I browsed, I found that the soul can often feel the pull towards their soulmates and so there's an instinctive pull or draw to them and the mark can start experiencing a burning sensation if the person hasn't bonded with them. Knew that. Although I also learnt that the body slowly starts to weaken the longer people go without bonding after the age of 20. I guess I had to mentally prepare myself for that then. I was going to be turning 21 soon and I had no intention of bonding with my soulmates. Scrolling down I saw this new article on soulmate pulls, clicking onto it I scanned it before leaning my head back to rest against the tree trunk. The words from the article ran through my head, phone in my hand which was now on the floor.
'Soulmates feel the pull to each other naturally, it's a sort of gravitational pull, they want to orbit each other in the sense of being in each other's company and their bond settles when they are with their soulmates. However, a person who is yet to find and bond with a single one of their soulmates in comparison to a soulmate who has bonded with several of theirs and are looking for their last soulmate will experience different standards of pulls. A person with bonded soulmates will suffer fewer negative effects after bonding because their bond with their other soulmates lessens the pain and toll on their body. However, if it is the instance where a person is yet to bond, they will experience strong adverse effects on their body and wellbeing because their body and mind both require the bonding to be completed. It is strongly advised that people going through bonding stay in close proximity of each other, the mark recognises the presence and it helps ease the pain.'
Looks like I'm not fated to have an easy life whatsoever. It seems like no matter how much I suffer, how much I try I'm destined for pain. A few tears slipped down my face as I thought of how much more was to come, closing my eyes to shut out the optimistic blue sky and green scenery and welcoming the blackness behind my eyelids. At least for now, I could pretend that it was all going to be okay. At least, now I didn't have to see the very people who were the cause and destruction of my existence.
-----
TAEHYUNG POV:
I walked into the living room to see Kookie and Jiminie wrapped up in each other whilst reading 'Cursed Fate'. Wait...no fair! I stomped over, arms crossed as I took in how closely they were pressed together and their blown open eyes as they read.
Wait...what had happened in the story? Had they gone on and read without me?!!
"Hey Tae hyung!" Kookie chirped from under Jiminie eyes darting up as he beamed at me, teeth on display as his cute bunny smile spread across his face. My heart melted and for a moment I forgot why I was angry.
"Hey Kook-ah...no wait! How could you guys cuddle and read our favourite webtoon without me, I have such mean soulmates—" before Jimin yanked at me pulling me into the cuddle pile.
"Hush Tae, there's gonna be a big reveal..." he said before all of our attention snapped back to the book as we began reading.
-----
The stepmother stands over the unconscious figure of the girl watching the pool of blood steadily grow bigger, each drop of blood slowly trailing down, the sound magnified in the large empty kitchen. She looks on with an unreadable expression before a vicious look twists her face as the sight of the girl, who is the spitting image of her mother, rousing the familiar sense of hatred which pierces her skin.
Slowly, the girl's eyes flutter, trying to open her eyes. She blinks blearily, pain-filled eyes widening with fear when they fall onto her. Good, she should be afraid. There's a secret the stepmother has been harbouring, one she wants to share with the child so she can ruin her. Destroy her with. So she crouches in front of the child, long sharp fingernail coming to trail itself down the girl's flushed, tear-stained cheek, relishing in the flinch as the girl tries to move away from it, pretty lips twisting in fear when her body freezes once again her mind being violated. The stepmother's ability is mind manipulation but today the girl is going to learn how powerful she is.
"Now listen here baby." The stepmother croons, voice sickeningly fake and cloying as she shoots her a red-lipped grin.
"It's such an awful shame that your daddy will never know the truth. He thinks his wife died but just then his soulmate walked into his life. What a happy turn of events!" the stepmother says watching as the girl's eyes widen with pain at the mention of her dead mother.
"Do you know how she died? Such a gullible one she was, all I had to do was manipulate her mind into believing her husband was in danger and then that the road was empty when she ran across...poor thing never really had a chance did she? Ran right into the way of an approaching truck..." the stepmother giggled, mirth in every reverberation.
The girl's eyes widen, with sorrow but they begin to fill with hate and loathing, and she tries to fight off the mental manipulation holding her still and frozen whilst the stepmother cackles at her own doings.
"You know that's not all. Your daddy was oh so sad...so I convinced him that I was his soulmate, made him believe he had seen a mark identical to his on my body. And well...the rest is history." The stepmother's body was lit with joy at her own actions, so lost in finally destroying the girl that she didn't realise that the girl was fighting against the mental abuse, the manipulation that had compelled her to stay frozen.
Suddenly a cry tore out of the girl's throat- it was full of agony and fury and hatred as she realised how her life had been turned upside down and into hell because of the woman in front of her.
Her eyes crackled with rage and the girl raised herself upright, closing her eyes as she exerted the power of her own ability.
The stepmother froze mouth agape. And then a voice was heard.
"You did what?" it was a voice that was low and betrayed but under it was a cold tone to it. The stepmother couldn't move, she stood petrified.
Dae Hyeon's eyes shone with newfound determination as she glared at the larger woman, her body and mind resolving to strengthen, to overcome.
----
HOSEOK POV:
I was running through the park, enjoying the cool rush of wind as I ran towards the back of the park. It was always so quiet and peaceful there and when sometimes the thoughts got too much; I would go sit near the big tree hidden behind a cluster of trees on the side. I wondered when we would find our last soulmate, I knew everyone thought about it, saw how the mood changed and sorrow tinged the bond when our minds went to them.
I wondered what type of person they were. If they preferred being the big spoon or the little spoon? How their face looked first thing in the morning? What their laugh sounded like?
I hoped we'd find them soon. The soul therapist we'd gone to a group had told us that they went to the same university as us. So why was it taking so long to find them? Where on earth were, they hiding?
I sighed, slowing down to a walk as I made my way through the clearing, feet coming to an abrupt halt when I realised there was already someone there.
The girl sat there with her eyes closed her body resting against the trunk, body tilted slightly to cover her right side. There were tears slipping out from under her closed eyes, coursing down her flushed complexion. I wondered if she was okay. My eyes scanned over her and I realised her energy level was extremely low. Dangerously low, I felt a slither of worry enter me as I noticed how shallow her breaths were, phone loosely held in her hand which sprawled on the floor. I needed to help her somehow.
Suddenly, a pained sound tore out her throat and she whimpered curling in on herself, eyes flashing open, filled with agony, as she slowly struggled getting to her feet. She swayed slightly where she stood, hand scrabbling for support on the trunk as she bent over to get her phone. She stumbled slightly before straightening up, exhaustion lined deep into her body.
I stepped forward, I needed to do something. Anything. She looked like she was hurting, I couldn't just let her go.
"Are you okay?" I asked approaching her, her body whipping with a sudden force and strength to face me. Her pallor blanched.
"Ah yes. Just a bit tired and just stumbled. I'm a bit clumsy." She said sheepishly, sleeve-clad hand reaching up to rub at the back of her neck. She was embarrassed but it reassured me to know that she wasn't in trouble or pain.
"Are you sure?" I asked, feeling the need to double-check.
She smiled at me, lips stretching and her cheeks bunching up at the action. I was distracted by the sight, they seemed even softer and fuller than Jiminie's, they gave her an incredibly young baby face. If I had known her I wouldn't have hesitated to pinch and pull at those cheeks but such a shame I had just met her.
"I'm Jung Hoseok." I introduced myself.
She nodded her head.
"I'm (L/N) (Y/N)." she replied, voice slightly quiet.
I beamed at her, her energy levels weren't that low anymore, waving at her.
"I hope to see you again (Y/N). Let's hope it's not at another clumsy moment though." I chirped, slightly teasing her.
She mumbled something but I didn't catch it, waving at her as she walked away, and I took over the seat at the bottom of the tree leaning my head against the trunk where minutes ago she'd been sitting.
Her energy level had been surprisingly easy to detect, as though it was uniquely different and special, I didn't know what it was, but I did know was I was going to keep an eye on her and make sure she was fine. She looked like she could do with some hugs.
JIN POV:
The boys had all returned home, Hobi just entering through the house door minutes ago and it finally felt complete...well almost. I set down the dishes on the table for dinner, calling out to all of them to hurry. There was a stampede of footsteps echoing throughout the house, all of their feet making different sounds and reverberations through the house as they barrelled into the kitchen, seating themselves around the table.
The maknaes entered together chattering excitedly, wide-eyed, Namjoon and Yoongi entered together talking about music- must be the track they had just sent in and Hobi entered, face beaming with his usual bright smile as he walked around the table pressing kisses to each of our soulmates' heads, their bodies instinctively leaning into the touch before he reached me, kissing my temple before sitting down next to me.
The kitchen was full of the sounds of chatter, dishes emptying at their usual steady pace as we ate, the maknaes were still discussing something.
"What is it boys?" I called out.
Their heads spun in unison to face me and the rest of the interested table.
"Oh...we're just shocked at the latest reveal in the webtoon." Jimin piped up before continuing to eat.
The guys straightened up.
"There's another update??" they said, I watched as Yoongi's eyes became alert and even if he acted like he didn't love the webtoon, I saw him nodding along to the chatter, face displaying similar expression of shock to the boys.
Though there was excitement coming off all the boys I sensed that both Jiminie and Kookie had an aura of confusion settling over them. It might've been minute, but it was still there, and it was in both of them.
When we piled into the living room after dinner, pulling each other into our holds, I voiced my thoughts.
"Why are you guys so confused, did something happen?" I said directing it to Jimin and Kookie who looked up, gazes changing as they recollected it.
Kookie nodded.
"We were at the mall and bumped into (Y/N)." he piped up, but I noticed everyone's posture's somehow became alert, reacting slightly at the mention of her name.
"What about her?" I asked.
"She was apologising to hyung about making him worried and upset, and she said to pass her apologies to you..." Kookie tailed off, looking at me. Why would she apologise to me? The girl barely acknowledged my existence in lesson.
"She said she was sorry for triggering such a protective reaction in you about me." Jimin said as he looked to me for an explanation.
What? When had I...oh. Everyone's gaze swivelled to me. But from the looks of it, it seemed like we all had something to say and share.
(FINAL BTS MEMBER HAS MET (Y/N) AND NOW IT'S TIME TO CLEAR THE AIR. NOW...AFTER THIS CHAPTER WHEN THEY HAVE THEIR DISCUSSION AND PUT IT ALL OUT IN THE OPEN, IT'S GOING TO START MOVING TO THE BOYS' WANTING TO HELP HER AND BRING HER OUT OF HER SHELL.... LITTLE DO THEY KNOW! SHE'S NOT SHY, SHE'S JUST LIKE THAT WITH THEM! HOPEFULLY, YOU HAVE AN IDEA NOW WHY (Y/N) IS SO WARY OF SOULMATES, SHE'S NOT HAD THE BEST MEMORIES OF THEM...OR SOMETHING!! LET ME KNOW AS USUAL, THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU WHO REACH OUT AS USUAL AND BRIGHTEN UP MY DAY! I TRY AND CONNECT WITH ALL OF YOU BECAUSE I FEEL YOU'RE ALL AMAZING PEOPLE! THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT, CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHERE THIS FIC GOES WITH ALL OF YOU!)
Live your life to its fullest, as much as you can in the current situation. There was so much content from the guys yesterday that I truly thanked the stars, BTS are working and doing so much for us and I'm so grateful for it!
Borahae! 💜💜💜
PurpleQueenie <3