I might be a little

bit blunt and inadequate

The following week you and Alia and your teamwork very tirelessly on your final showstopper. Saturday will be the regional voting for Miss India. So you had a busy and trying week.

Alia did two cosmetic makeup promotions and commercials for Revlon India, which earned her a few hundred thousand rupees.

She was so actively involved in getting all your enrollments ready. You've sent your applications, and both of you were awaiting your acceptance letters from Konkuk University. You hope South Korea will be the place where you'll both find happiness as ordinary citizens.

You spoke to your palaka, and they had the process the enroll for Priya's new boarding school in Mumbai.

Priya is beyond herself with excitement. So you and your older sis will go and register Priya the coming week at one of the Cathedral Vidah Schools, which has a Catholic ethos.

Priya didn't care. The school is in Mumbai near Mukhi's place. Your older sister and her husband suggest that Priya stay with them so that Mukhi can check on her schoolwork. The estate is safe for her also.

Mukhi found out that three families have kids in the same school. Two boys are seniors and a girl. She can't believe she'll finally be with her peers. You feel so relieved that your little sister will be settled when you leave.

Your palaka was a little apprehensive because they already had an eye on one of your dad's colleagues' sons, a budding businessman, respected, and a former childhood flame.

As a family part of the world Billionaire legacy club, they could rig the system to get their kids married to people other than their soulmates. Only If the soulmates are not a red gold string.

They still hope that you'll accept to bond with a respectful, Indian young man from a respectable family. It would be best never to tell your parents to do that after you are done with your studies. Even Alia's parents planned an arranged marriage for her with some politician son. The meeting will take place after you and Alias planned travel. They wanted you engaged before you leave the country. It is a way for them to make sure you will not become a girl with loose morals in a foreign country without their eyes on you.

........

The Saturday, you and Alia were on the red carpet for the Miss India Regional Eliminating round. You both went stag cause you're not dating anyone. The paparazzi couldn't get any dating scandals from Alia, and she made sure her life is very private these days.

You and Alia were arrayed in your Eastern Wear. Mukhi also attended because she is the newest sponsor of her cosmetic brand.

After the event, you were back working on your line. Your team was very excited. Alia already wrote some of her Exams.
You were enjoying a relaxing Sunday afternoon with Alia at the Bhatt residence.

You were helping Alia clean the counters after you had a big Sunday lunch with the family. Her siblings went out doing their things. Her parents were resting in their private rooms. You and Alia made sweet treats for tea time.

Alia looks very giddy, and you look at her with an amused expression. What's up with her?

"Spit it out, Alia! What's up with you?" You lift your eyebrows, looking at her patiently to spill the bean.

"Oh gosh, Samiya why is it so difficult to keep a secret from you? No one can deceive you easily...jeez. Ok, I'll tell you...I found us an apartment in Seoul! Oh gosh, I'm so excited." She jumps up and down with unparalleled excitement. You laugh. It seems that Alia's real happiness evolves around going to South Korea.

"Whoa, really...how did you get that right so easily?"You look stunned. Isn't it difficult for foreigners to get good properties?

" Oh, I have many contacts. One of my student friends, Shafique, told me his cousin, Navya * that is studying in South Korea is completing her studies, and she wished to rent out her apartment for the year. If we are interested in staying longer, she has a selling option. If I want to buy it." She smugly replied, looking into your wide eyes. The move to Korea seems like a reality. Alia is highly inspired to get all your documents ready.

"We still need to get our acceptance letters?" You uttered with uncertainty.

"Don't worry Samiya...the answer will come next week. Just make sure to check their website. Use the online password and your tentative student number. I'm checking mine for daily updates. Our Korean language professor looks approachable. I can't wait...oooh Samiya  I'm so hyped."

You giggle," I'm excited because you're excited...Ok, tell me. Is it a furnished apartment? Because I'm not going to use all my money to furnish a rented apartment."

"It's furnished, and the apartment is near the entertainment hub of Seoul. So we're going to enjoy being plain, nonfamous students. And we're going to be lookup the places where celebrities shop and eat, "She dreams states. You shook your head.

"Alia, did it ever cross your mind that the Indian student body might recognize our status and alert the rest of the Indian Paparazzi. I don't want to have Ravi all over us".You look a little apprehensive thinking about your apparent coming quiet lifestyle.

Alia waves her hands unbothered."Who cares. We were going to make Indian friends, and they might be more mellow there. All I want to do is see my boys in action."

You snort, " Oh, you mean Jungkukie...the one you want to kiss senseless. Your ultimate bias."

Alia chuckled and shoved your shoulder," Stop it...You will see your bias, Seokjin everywhere...you'll get a hefty dose of him also."

Oh, my gosh, hearing his name made your heart palpitate. Your breathing becomes irregular as you thought about the most handsome guy ever. He gives you even more exciting dreams. You shook your head. Jeez, what's wrong with you? You were getting so invested in a farfetched  popstar. Maybe it's because you're on your way to Korea, and now you experience all these treacherous feelings.

Alia looks at you with an amused expression, " You seem breathless hearing the sound of his name. What will you do if we had to go to their fan sign later the year." She laughs loudly at you, giving her a stinky eye.

"Stop it, will you...the boy is mesmerizing, okay. He is so hot...and they don't date...let alone their ARMY's...and another tick against us...me, were not Korean." You suddenly feel an unknown sadness, thinking that you won't be even his type. However, you and Alia are regarded as one of India's prettiest girls still. So you might not cut for them to take a second look at you.

You heard Mukhi said that your parents are a little apprehensive about your future soulmate. Your family is also now part of India's Billionaire Legacy club and can rig with the system to get you an arranged marriage with a film director's son, Vidhan. He is Alias' annoying cousin, who dated you in middle school for a year. But you dump him because he liked too many girls at once. So marriage to him will be out of the question. It doesn't help because you all move in the same affluent circles.

"I don't think our parents will let us stay for more than a year in South Korea, hence their planned marriage arrangements for us. I don't want to marry your cousin." You pull a face filled with disappointment.

Alia laughs loudly," My parents have another thing coming if they think I'm going to let myself be tied down to that cocky, annoying pakau... I am going to date a South Korean guy...watch me." she lifted her chin in mocked defiance. Although you both know its useless with a Billionaire legacy

"You can defy your parents, and I'm not like that...I'm still their boring obedient little girl, my parents are loving but strict...it seems I'm going to end up with that cousin of yours who always annoys me...his soulmate died ...now he wants me? What about my soulmate that is on his way?' You don't look very impressed.

You inwardly decide to stay longer in South Korea away from Vidhan.

Alia heard a notification on her phone, and she furrows her eyebrows, scanning through it...an elated expression morphed into her face. Do you look at her with confusion? What is up?

"OMG...OMG, o my gosh!!! I'm accepted to study for the Korean Language and Culture Summer program and enter their graduate program for an MBA in business management. So Whaaaaah....common Samiya go fetch your phone in your bag ... I placed it in my room...you might have a notification!!"

"Really, o my gosh ...congrats, Alia, that's so cool. You'll be staying longer for almost two years. The summer program will be soon. We are completing our exams in June. Ok ...let me get my phone quickly! "You ran excitedly up the stairs to Alia's room.

Alia is beside herself with excitement. She can't see believe you're going to do it. Living abroad.

You inhaled sharply as you open up your phone to check on your emails. As you have anticipated, you've both been excepted to the same language program, but your MBA is only for a year due to all your credits.

Alia ran up the stairs, almost tripping on the rug at her doorway. " Did you get in!!!" she calls out of breath. You smile and nod, showing her your email.

"Wow...you are going to complete yours in a year. Lucky you. It is because of those extra diplomas that you did. Smart girl. Unfortunately for you, you will stay with me for two years, running your business from our apartment." She sounded awed.

You chuckled softly, very excited about a new environment and being in BTS territory" Fine with me. So, what's the plan now, my travel manager."

'Well, first of all, no arranged marriages for us for the two years. We have our apartment, and we need to get our travel arrangements and visa ready. I'll work on it right away. You'll be too busy with the graduation fashion show. So, as a great friend ...I'll take care of the complexities of travel. So relax and concentrate on your graduation. Gosh...I'm so hyped up now...Samiya is a reality, a new life as ordinary "us"!!!" She was so happy, you could just smile at her exuberant joy.

You smile softly at your over-elated friend. But, unfortunately, her mind is now in overdrive. She called Navya and informed her about your stay for two years, but you want her to send pics of the apartment and the neighborhood surrounding the apartment. Alia, check on travel agencies that will see to your flight bookings. You decided to fly first class to South Korea.

It is so overwhelming, and you hope your parents will understand your need to be independent. You are happy Mukhi found her soulmate in Denmark when she went on vacation with her best friends. But, fortunately, her parents canceled her marriage arrangement when they found out she was red-stringed and her soulmate was also part of the Billionaire Legacy club. Even if he was European, these club members are super-wealthy and the creme de la creme of the world's affluent groups.

......

The following week you and your team were ready for the fashion show. The fashion design faculty was very busy preparing the venue for the event. Finally, tickets went out, and your whole family will come and support the show. Even your "future" in-laws will accompany your family. Alia will also be part of your models.

You were so nervous. Malia and Rajesh were just as nervous, but you worked well with each other.

Alia wore your showstopper. The fashion show was a huge success, and some of the fashion industry insides already took your details to do business with you shortly. Your family was ecstatic. But not enough to stop the marriage negotiations.

They will reconsider if you meet your soulmate within six months and it's a red gold string and if he is part of the registered Billionaire Legacy Club and ...his Indian. Both you and Alia had to agree to the terms.

You, on the other hand, hope that you will meet your soulmate sooner to avoid marrying that vella (loser)

Alia was snorting because she is Tarnished, and as everyone knows, not all Tarnished get to experience those beautiful strings, even if it is yellow. So they must be part of the fortunate ones to get a "Late whisperer" mark, and very few less than 1% of the population got the red gold string as an ex-Tarnished.

A/n Hi superstar readers and Jin-stans, my apologies for the late update. Enjoy.

Thank you for loving this Epiphany, and I hope you'll try out the other books while waiting for the updates for this one. I'll try updating Epiphany regularly, and I'm sure all of you can't wait for the soulmate to meet. So don't fret. In the following two chapters, your wish will be my command. Lol.