==forty==

Lunchtime had been pleasant enough, with the exception of you having to sit with the managers because all of you were out in the open and even though you were seated in a private area, even the slightest possible suspicion had to be avoided.

Soeun tried to explain how it was only for the time being, but even she couldn't seem to point out the day it would no longer be required.

You knew, though. You knew it wasn't going to get any easier. You would have be careful with each and every step you took now, because you were continuosly going to be under the watch of innumerable people.

"Do we leave here as soon as the concert ends?" You asked, trying to focus on better things like getting to know if you would still be able to go outside when you're on your own.

"The boys get a break for a day before we travel to another city for the next show." Sejin answered, finishing up his food.

"They can use it to relax at the hotel or go out in the city of they want. Rest is necessary for them to perform consistently throughout the tour."

"You can go out for that day, too. I'll accompany you if you want me to." Soeun chimed in.

"I'd love to have you with me. That is, if you have the time." You smiled, feeling really grateful to have someone like her with you.

She pursed her lips. "Right. We'll have to start preparing for the next concert by then."

"It's okay. I can go by myself." You assured.

"You're going somewhere?"

You turned around in your seat to find Jungkook staring at you with his big eyes.

"Yeah, she's going back to Seoul in a few days."

Of all the people present there, you hadn't expected Sejin to say that.

If only the poor guy's eyes could get any bigger.

"Why?"

"She needs to get back to work. That's why."

From the corner of your eye, you could see Soeun trying to hold back her laughter and Sejin effortlessly maintaining the calm, innocent composure he usually had.

All in front of a clueless boy who seemed to be very much surprised and disappointed at the joke.

"But- but weren't you working here too? Do you really have to go back? Just like that? What about Jin-"

"Stupid. Can't you see they're messing with you?"

The bomb of curiosity inside Jungkook would've exploded if it wasn't for Yoongi noticing the commotion and interrupting his rant.

"Wait. So you're not leaving?"

You couldn't help but chuckle.
"No, I'm not."

His eyes lit up again as he broke into a smile.
"Great! Because Jin is going to-"

"Hey, Jungkook! The bill!"

Jungkook paused, clearly confused and irritated by Jimin deciding to yell about the lunch bill at that very moment,

until he realised what he would've done if he hadn't been stopped.

"Uh huh clearly not the right time to give spoilers." Yoongi mumbled, earning a glare from Jimin.

The culprit smiled sheepishly, pulling his wallet out.

"Right! The bill! I'm supposed to pay, right?"

You weren't slow enough to turn a blind eye to the sudden commotion, but the only conclusion you could draw was that your dear soulmate was about to do something.

And before you could make an effort to clear up your suspicion, Jungkook was sent off with his black card, leaving you confused.

--

The ride back to the hotel was rather quiet, the only sound being random angry whispers, probably directed towards the youngest, who was whispering back with equal aggression. You and Seokjin had ended up holding hands yet again, because from what you saw, he still looked a bit drained.

He was probably zoning out at the moment, staring at the back of the seat in front of him.

"Hey." You tried your best to keep your voice low.

He stirred, turning to you. "Hmm?"

"Will you be okay tomorrow?"

After seeing how both of you still needed to stay in physical contact from time to time, you couldn't help but worry about what would happen at the concert the next day.

"You mean, because of this ?" He asked, looking at his hand intertwined with yours.

You followed his gaze, nodding.

"The concert is going to drain a lot of your energy, and this... bond would only accelerate that. How are we going to manage?"

He sighed.

"I don't know. I've been thinking about it too, and I still have no idea about what we're going to do."

A rather dejected smile made its way to your face. "All of this gets a bit too overwhelming sometimes, doesn't it?"

He pursed his lips.

"Honestly? Yeah, it does. Sometimes I just wish it wasn't this difficult to adjust to."

You could feel him starting to get worried about different things at once, and all you could do was place your other hand on top of his, hoping that it would help him calm down a bit.

And it did. All of a sudden, his mind had started clearing up.

He grinned. "You know what, I'm glad that's it's us."

"Hmm?"

"Yeah.

After all that we've been through, I really cannot imagine doing this with anyone else.

I sometimes wonder about what would have happened if it wouldn't have been you as my soulmate."

You looked up from your intertwined hands to face him, and the genuine smile on his face as his eyes rested on you ignited that mushy feeling in you yet again, and you could feel your cheeks heating up.

Another foreign wave of emotion washed over you, hardly any different from what you yourself were feeling.

He was happy; happy despite all the problems the both of you had to face.

He was happy being with you.

"Holy mother of.... cheese. If I see Jin getting any cheesier than this today, I might just board that flight back to Seoul."

You broke out of your trance upon hearing Yoongi whispering none too silently in the back. You didn't even have to look at your seat partner to figure that he was about to bite back with a snarky remark.

But thankfully, Jimin beat him to it.

"Shut up. You're not going anywhere. Just shut your ears, go back to sleep and leave the poor lovebirds alone, will you?"

"Well, they're sitting among at least ten other people so technically they're not alone, okay? Tell them to do all the lovey dovey stuff somewhere else."

"Say that after you find your own soulmate, you grumpy chicken."

And just like that, chaos erupted in the little van as a result of the battle cry declared by none other than Kim Seokjin, completely crushing your expectations of a peaceful ride back to the hotel.

Not that you hated it, though.

---

A/N: hellouuu how are y'all doing 💃

look who's back - a pathetic excuse of a writer :)

i'm glad i started binge reading on wattpad a few days ago to relieve my stress or i wouldn't have had the motivation to complete this chapter. i know i haven't updated this story for almost a year now, but i did drop by regularly to see all the new readers joining us and the sweet messages and comments you guys had been leaving here for me, and i just want to thank you all so much for being so caring, patient and considerate.

i'm not sure if i'll be able to write another chapter of this story anytime soon, but i don't really have it in me to abandon this story altogether because i had so much i wanted to write about. i just hope i'll be able to take breaks like these from college every now and then to write and connect with all of you angels.
till then, goodbye and take care of yourselves while i go back to write that assignment which is due tomorrow ♡