𝙏𝙃𝙀 𝘽𝙀𝙎𝙏 𝙊𝙁 𝙈𝙀. | OT7 BTS reverse harem
author's notes: so what did you think?! i kinda don't really fault ryley for her way of thinking because it's bts. but, at the same time, you really have to remember that they're just humans like us. humans that are insanely talented and beautiful. but, humans nonetheless. ;D
A Serendipitous Encounter | Chapter Three
The following night, as BTS took in their last night in America, anticipation mingled with disappointment in the air. Despite their best efforts, they hadn't been able to find any trace of Ryley the night of their concert. Yet, as fate would have it, their journey was about to take an unexpected turn.
Back in their hotel room, the atmosphere was tense with anticipation as BTS regrouped after their encounter with Ryley. Jin's heart raced with excitement and a touch of apprehension as he recounted his brief eye contact with their soulmate while he had been on stage.
"She was right there," he breathed, his voice filled with wonder. "We have to find her."
Namjoon nodded in agreement; his expression determined. "We can't let her slip through our fingers again."
Meanwhile, Taehyung sat on the edge of the bed, his brow furrowed in thought as he scrolled through his phone, searching for any trace of Ryley online. Doubt still lingered in the back of his mind, but with each passing moment, his curiosity grew stronger.
"I just don't understand," Hoseok mused, pacing back and forth across the room. "How could she be our soulmate? It doesn't make sense."
Jungkook placed a comforting hand on Hoseok's shoulder. "Sometimes, things happen for reasons we can't explain. We just have to trust in the universe."
Jimin snuggled up beside Yoongi on the bed, his eyes glued to his phone as he scrolled through social media feeds in search of any clues about Ryley's whereabouts with little to no information on her. But despite his efforts, there was no sign of her.
"It's like she's vanished into thin air," he sighed, frustration lacing his words.
As the hours passed, the tension in the room reached a fever pitch, each member of BTS consumed by their own thoughts and emotions. Taehyung's long fingers hovered over his phone, his mind racing with doubts and uncertainties. Was Ryley really their soulmate, or was it all just a figment of their imagination?
But as he glanced around the room at his bandmates, their faces alight with hope and determination, Taehyung felt a flicker of something stir within him. Maybe, just maybe, there was a chance that Ryley was meant to be a part of their lives after all.
With a newfound sense of resolve, Taehyung set aside his doubts and joined the others in their search for Ryley, his heart pounding with excitement at the prospect of finally finding their elusive soulmate.
Namjoon sighed deeply with a hand sliding down his face while the other went through his phone. "I'm getting hungry and found a Korean restaurant nearby."
"I'll go and tell security that we're going out then," The second eldest mumbled, unwillingly peeling himself away from Jimin to leave the room. Maybe leaving the hotel and getting some fresh air could give them a new perspective on how to get their girl back.
Yoongi stepped out of the elevator; his mind preoccupied with thoughts of Ryley filling his head as he made his way to the entrance of the hotel for food. He was lost in contemplation when, out of nowhere, he bumped into a small figure and suddenly felt a shock course through his body that was unexpected. They both apologized before turning to one another and...
Ryley stood frozen in her spot, her eyes widening in surprise as she met Yoongi's gaze. For a moment, time seemed to stand still as they stared at each other, that palpable energy crackling between them. She had only gone down to the lobby to check out the gift shop before she left back home, leaving Samantha up in the hotel room waiting for her.
Without a word, Yoongi turned his body toward her fully, his heart pounding in his chest. Ryley's breath caught in her throat as he drew nearer, a mixture of fear and longing swirling within her.
"I-It's you," Yoongi breathed, his voice barely above a whisper.
She opened her mouth to respond, but before she could form the words, panic seized her heart, and she turned to flee. But Yoongi's instincts were fast enough to kick into overdrive as he chased after her. Shit, his bodyguards were going to hate him for this later, but he couldn't risk losing her again.
Meanwhile, the rest of the guys emerged from the elevator, their curiosity piqued by Yoongi's sudden departure. Jin's eyes widened in surprise as he spotted Yoongi and Ryley disappearing into the crowd.
"Is that who I think it is?" Namjoon asked, his brow furrowing in confusion.
Jungkook stared with big eyes, his gaze fixed on Yoongi's retreating figure before speaking to the group. "We need to follow them."
With that, they set off in pursuit with their bodyguards now close behind, weaving through the bustling lobby in search of their wayward bandmate and their soulmate. How was she here? Was this fate?
Yoongi chased after Ryley, his heart pounding in his chest as he fought to keep up with her. But she was fast, her fear lending her speed as she darted through the crowded lobby.
"Wait!" Yoongi called out, desperation creeping into his voice. His English may have been terrible, but he could at least remember some sentences of importance that Namjoon and his English teacher had taught him.
But Ryley didn't stop, her mind consumed by a whirlwind of doubts and insecurities. How could she possibly belong with BTS? It was all a cruel joke, it had to be.
As she reached the exit, Ryley glanced over her shoulder, her eyes widening in surprise as she saw Yoongi hot on her heels. But before she could react, she collided with someone, sending both of them tumbling to the ground in a heap.
Ryley looked up to see the rest of BTS standing before her, their expressions a mixture of concern and confusion. She scrambled to her feet, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment as she tried to compose herself.
"I'm sorry," she stammered, her voice trembling with emotion. "I didn't mean to—"
But Namjoon held up a hand, cutting her off with a gentle smile. "It's okay. We just want to talk."
Ryley hesitated, her heart racing as she met their gaze. For a moment, she was lost in the depths of their eyes, each one shining with warmth and sincerity.
"We just want to get to know you," Yoongi added, his voice soft and reassuring as he began to stand up now while dusting off the front of his clothes to stand next to her.
Tears welled up in Ryley's eyes as she looked at them, overwhelmed by the outpouring of kindness and acceptance. Most of them didn't say a word, but they really didn't need to because everything was conveyed to her by a single glance. What was she getting herself into?
Security stood back a bit, ready to jump on Ryley or anyone else that could possibly cause harm to the guys, but they made sure to block the gathering crowd from viewing what was going on between the eight of them. They needed to get out of the spotlight and quickly.
"Will you... Come to our hotel room? To talk?" Jin spoke to her gently, trying his hardest to remember all the English words that he could muster without sounding like a complete imbecile in front of his soulmate. Their soulmate.
As she thought about it for a moment, she swallowed hard and then played with the front of her shirt before nodding slowly. "O-Okay."
It was going to be a nerve-wrecking night.
As they made it back to the room, thoughts of dinner completely gone from their mind, the members found themselves sitting across from the one who invaded their every thought, their hearts still racing from their encounter with her. To their delight, Ryley had agreed to join them, a sense of anticipation hanging in the air.
Ryley perched nervously on the edge of the bed, her eyes flickering between all seven of them as they gathered around her, their faces filled with curiosity and excitement. And after she had introduced herself to them, it was time to figure out a little more about her to get a conversation going (with the help of Namjoon's translating, of course).
"Ryley," Yoongi began, his voice gentle yet filled with determination and pleased to finally taste her name on the tip of his tongue. "We're so glad you're here. We have a lot of questions."
Ryley nodded, her heart pounding in her chest as she braced herself for the barrage of inquiries she knew were coming. But to her surprise, they were more interested in getting to know her than interrogating her about her life.
"So, tell us about yourself," Namjoon prompted, his gaze warm and inviting.
Ryley took a deep breath, her mind racing as she tried to think of where to begin. "Well, I live in Los Angeles with my friend Samantha. We met in college and have been inseparable ever since."
Jimin's eyes sparkled with mischief as he leaned in closer, a playful grin tugging at his lips. "I hope Samantha is okay with letting us steal you from her..."
She blushed at his flirtatious nature despite knowing that it was just who he was, feeling a flutter of butterflies in her stomach as she met Jimin's gaze. "Um, I'm sure she'd have something to say to that."
Jimin's grin widened, his gaze lingering on Ryley as he leaned back, clearly enjoying the playful banter. "Good to know."
As the night wore on, Jimin's flirtatious antics continued, much to the amusement of the rest of BTS. Ryley found herself laughing along with them, feeling more at ease with each passing moment as they shared stories and jokes.
But as the conversation turned to more serious matters, the members of BTS began to discuss how they would make their long-distance relationship work.
"Ryley," Jungkook began, his voice filled with sincerity and his adorably large eyes staring at her with stars in them. "We've been thinking about how we can make this work. Since you live in America and we live in South Korea, it's going to be challenging, but we're willing to do whatever it takes."
Ryley nodded, a sense of warmth spreading through her as she looked around at the members of BTS. "I appreciate that. I want to make this work too, but I'm not sure how feasible it is for me to move to South Korea."
Taehyung's heart sank at Ryley's words, his mind swirling with uncertainty. "Do you think you'd be willing to at least visit us in South Korea?"
Ryley hesitated, her mind racing as she considered the idea. "I don't know. It's a big decision to make, and I have a lot of responsibilities back home."
Jimin leaned in closer, his eyes pleading as he spoke. "Please, Ryley. We really want to make this work, but we need you to meet us halfway."
Ryley felt a pang of guilt at the earnestness in Jimin's voice, his words tugging at her heartstrings. "I'll think about it, okay? I just need some time to process everything."
Yoongi placed a reassuring hand on Ryley's shoulder, his gaze filled with understanding. "Take all the time you need. We're not going anywhere."
But, they were going somewhere. Home. They would be gone by this time tomorrow and there'd be many hurdles to try and get into contact with them again if she came to a decision. Unless...
"Let me give you my phone number," She spoke gently and reached her hand out toward Namjoon so that they could have a means of communication. Maybe they could make things work?