part two of that first story
It had been about a week since Felix had found their soulmate, and everyday since then, they had only been growing more tense. “God, we need to find her. She’s probably already going through the withdrawal.” Seungmin muttered, going through more security footage, Felix sitting over his shoulder to help identify. “Wait, that’s her.” He said, so the younger boy paused the video, looking at her. She really was a beautiful as Felix had said. After that it was easier, but the excitement died down when they were able to find her at the airport. “Shit, she isn’t in Korea?” Felix mumbled, running his hand through his hair with frustration. “I’m trying to find out where she went. We can find her. Don’t worry.” Seungmin reassured, shooing the older boy out of the room to update the others in their progress. It took about a day to find out which flight she had taken, and even longer to discover which she had taken after her layover. By the time they had her tracked to her town, it had been two and a half weeks since her and Felix had met.
“Hyung, hyung!” Seungmin exclaimed, walking into Chan’s office. “I found her city. We should go.” The senior nodded, and they woke the others, and organized a private jet to take them there. They landed in the airport, three weeks since Felix had met her, all buzzing with anticipation.
“Seungie, do you know which area she lives in?” Hyunjin asked, and Seungmin was glad he could nod, showing them the footage he had of her taxi going to a residential area. “I even hacked the system and got her name and address.” Seungmin replied. “What’s her name?” The others asked, while Minho hailed a cab. “YN LN” The others repeated the name, all grinning, as they got into the cab. Seungmin gave the address, and then they were on their way.
It had been three weeks since you had met one of your soulmates in Seoul, and since then, the symptoms of Soulmate withdrawal, or SW, had been getting worse by the day. You were staying in your parent’s cabin, where they always went in the winter, although you knew they wouldn’t want you there, you had no where else to stay until you did university entrance exams, and got a dorm. With your health getting less and less desirable, staying alone had been getting hard. You had passed the fever stages, and so now all that really happened was just heavy fatigue, like you were shutting down. It was surprising, to say the least, to hear a light knock on the door. There weren’t many neighbours this time of year, but nevertheless, you rose, checking in the mirror to make sure you didn’t look to bad. You were pale, but at least you weren’t breaking out or anything. You opened the door, raising an eyebrow at the group of men on the porch. You stayed silent for a moment, making eye contact with all of them, who seemed to be in shock and something close to awe. You finally noticed the one you had met before, the soulmate you had met. You sighed, stepping to the side and gesturing for them to come in.
By the time you had all eight men in the living room, no one had spoken a word. “Tea?” You offered softly, breaking the silence, and they all shook their heads, but at least appeared to snap out of their shock.
“Well, you remember me, right?” The freckled boy asked, and you nodded, sitting in the armchair, cross legged. “Well, I’m Felix, and these, are my, or, I guess our, other soulmates.” He said, gesturing to the other men in the room, who said their names one by one. “Well, I suppose it’s nice to meet you all.” You smile softly. “Sorry if I’m off. I’m not myself right now.” They nodded, understanding, the Felix boy clearly worried about your SW symptoms, that hadn’t been fixed since you hadn’t exactly touched any of them. “Right, anyways, how can I help you?” You asked, yawning sleepily. The tallest, Hyunjin, looked surprised, before laughing. “What kind of question is that? We’re soulmates, naturally we had to find you.” He said like it was obvious. “Yeah, I’m not even gonna ask how you did that.” You said calmly, glancing at all of them. “Well, this isn’t exactly the most romantic meeting, but we were wondering if you would, like, come with us?” The youngest said awkwardly, and you blinked at them for a moment. “Like to Korea?” You asked, raising an eyebrow. They nodded, and you sighed. “Hm, so. You want me to move, all across the world, to go live with you?” They nodded again, clearly not beating around the bush. “I’m way to tired to decide this right now, you know SW symptoms and all that. You’re welcome to stay here for a while.” They nodded again. “Wait, we can help with the SW.” Felix pipped up, and the others nodded. You side eyed them, too tired to deal with this. “Ok… Do you wanna, like, I dunno…” You purse your lips sheepishly, but luckily, they understand. Jisung, with the puffy cheeks, jumps up from the couch, hugging you enthusiastically, both of you wincing softly at the burn of the tattoo being coloured. You glance down at your wrist, to the flowers, a peony now a soft pink. Jisung looked at your tattoo, before grinning at you. “Yah, am I think pink one?” You nod, smiling gently, feeling just a bit lighter now. Hyunjin pushes Jisung aside playfully, winking at you before pressing his lips against your own. You gasp lightly as your tattoo stings again, and the boy uses the opportunity to deepen the kiss, before Chan pulls him back. “Ok lover boy. You can make out later.” The oldest scolds, and Hyunjin sighs dramatically, but holds your wrist, looking at the rose, a dramatic red. He kisses the rose, before pulling away. Chan smiles at you, before hugging you, a heliotrope on your wrist lighting up. It continues that way, until all the boys are accounted for on your wrist. Felix, a sunflower, Jisung, a peony. A rose for Hyunjin, a heliotrope for Chan, lily of the valley with Seungmin, honeysuckle for Minho. Changbin brought life to the lupine, and finally, forget-me-not for Jeongin. They all seem very excited, chattering to one another. “How about we get you to bed. You seem exhausted.” Changbin suggests softly, and you nod, wandering to your old bedroom in the cabin, Changbin helping you along. He strokes your hair back as you lay in bed, his gaze incredible gentle. “Thank you Binnie…” You mumble, before falling asleep.
She falls asleep peacefully, and he can’t help but watch for a while longer, struck by just how right everything suddenly feels. He walks out of the room quietly, sitting down with the other boys. “We’re gonna need to figure some stuff out.” He begins, and the others nod, more serious now. “We have to tell her about what we do.” Jeongin notes, as they begin to list what must be done. Minho nods. “She needs a Korean citizenship.” The others agree, as Hyunjin pipes up. “We have to make sure that no one here will worry about her. I don’t know if she has any friends or family, or a career. We need to figure that out.” They all agree, choosing to bring this up once you’re awake.
You wake up after a few hours, waddling into the living room groggily. “Hey baby girl, how’d you sleep?” Chan asks, and you mumble back something in response, sitting on the couch between Changbin and Jeongin. Jeongin’s hand laced with your own, and it was a quiet comfort, knowing that the bond made everything feel so natural.
“Sunshine, you need to stay awake.” Felix said, you whined softly, not fully awake. “Darling.” Jeongin murmured, squeezing your hand. “We just need you to tell us some stuff. Do you have a job, or school or something here?” You shake your head, mumbling about your gap year. “Friends that you’re close with?” Again you shook your head, muttering about the friend group break up you had in senior year. “And family?” Minho prompts, and you purse your lips. “Kinda. A few years ago, my brother and sister were in a car, and they crashed. My little sister died, and my brother was injured. I was at a party without telling my parents, so I was fine. They’ve disowned me since. This is their holiday home.”
You ignore the pitiful looks, and Changbin clears his throat. “Good job. Glad you could tell us all that. Do you wanna come live with us in Korea?” You look up at him, shrugging. “We should warn you. About our lifestyle.” Seungmin says maturely, and Jeongin squeezes your hands again. “We’re rich, for starters.” Hyunjin exclaims dramatically, and you giggle softly. “We have a mansion, where we all live together. We have two jobs. We own the company ‘143 o’clock’ where we all have COO positions.” Chan begins, and you stare at him with sleepy awe. “Thats so fancy…” You mumble, leaning on Changbin’s shoulder. “You wanna live with us yet?” Jisung asks, smiling at you. You shrug, still uncertain, and sleepy. “I dunno….” You mumble, falling asleep on Changbin slowly. “Our other job is less legal. We run the Korean mafia.” Minho deadpans, and you stare at him with wide eyes. “That’s hot… Yeah, I’ll live in Korea with you.” You mumble, to sleepy for a filter. “Damn, that’s what did it?” Felix murmurs with a laugh. Jeongin brushes your hair back gently, while Changbin whispers that you can sleep now. “She’s so perfect…” Seungmin admits just before you drift off.
They all sit, watching for a moment, until they can be sure she won’t wake up when they speak. “Look, as much as I like her, is it safe to bring her back with us? She could be targeted.” Minho says, breaking the silence. “But she’ll be sick” Jeongin reminds “if she isn’t with us.”. Minho hums, thinking. “We could always visit her.” Chan shakes his head. “You heard her. She doesn’t have a job yet, because she was on a trip. She has entrance exams, so she isn’t in school yet. She doesn’t have family. We can’t leave her.” Chan’s argument receives murmurs of agreement from the others. “Look, we have enough men to protect her at the mansion. We rarely all go out on missions, and she can get a job with ‘143 o’clock’. Then she gets to be with at least one of us most of the time.” Seungmin suggests, and Minho nods. They’re all too desperate to have her with them, taking any opportunity.
