(Y/N) POV:

My cheeks flushed at the words; I wasn't expecting those to be the first words I heard when I woke up. Not to mention I wanted to wallow in my embarrassment at practically having slept on top of Yoongi.

I looked at Taehyung who was just beaming after having uttered those words, clearly unaware of the effect they had on me. My heart was thumping loudly, and I couldn't decide whether to let the confusion win or sink into the warmth his words and smile had on me.

"Umm...but I'm not?" it came out sounding like a question rather than the statement I was hoping to make. I tilted my head quizzically staring at him truly puzzled, I wouldn't use that as one of the words to describe myself. Adorable meant soft, warm, cute...something that made your heart melt, I wasn't any of those things, I had plenty of memories confirming that.

"Aigoo...so adorable (Y/N). My little girl is going to make her soulmates go crazy for her." the memory of my mum's soft words and bright smile coming back to me. How could one word mean so much and yet still make me feel sad and lost? Thinking of her reminded me, of what was coming in a few days.

"(Y/N)-ah, I don't think you realise it, but you really are. And if I have to tell you every day for you to believe it, I will." Taehyung vowed, voice low and full of promise.

It was bittersweet to hear that he was thinking of our future, hoping for it, when all I had done was push them away and after all of that he was still willing, still wanting to be with me. I didn't deserve a single one of them, let alone all seven.

"(Y/N)-ah, what to do you want to eat?" Hoseok asked, leaning forward with a smile, detracting the conversation and I was grateful for it. He really was a mood maker.

I thought of what I would like but I wasn't feeling too hungry, I just didn't see the need to eat yet but maybe cooking or baking would help me get my mind off a few things.

"Am I, may I use your kitchen?" I asked, mentally preparing myself for a loud protest.

"Our kitchen. You don't have to ask (Y/N)-ah." Seokjin said, voice firm but gently as he looked at me with a tender gaze.

Another reminder of how wonderful and kind-hearted they were, the guilt was starting to build up at my actions towards them- had I really been running from them?

"Thank you Seokjin-ssi." I said, looking down at my hands ashamed.

A hand came to tilt up my chin, and I found myself slowly dragging my eyes to meet Seokjin's.

"Please, please...don't shut us out. We're yours." He whispered, trying to convey to me how much I meant. And I didn't need the bond thrumming with hope, nor the bodies that leaned in towards us, nor the gravitational pull urging me to get closer to know...that I was theirs.

I just needed some time.

"Okay...I'll try my best." I whispered back meeting his brown orbs with my own, silently conveying that I would try to open up, to try and learn that it was okay I had found them.

And with a flicker of hope, an ember that began to gain strength, I slowly slid out of the circle of my soulmates and headed to the kitchen, each step a resolve to slowly overcome my fears and barriers. To overcome my past.

KOOKIE POV:

I watched (Y/N) walk towards the kitchen, beaming at the sight of her in our home. She was bashful and uncertain, but I knew it wasn't who she was as a person today but something that had happened. Whilst I did have the ability to delve into memories, I was never going to betray her trust and privacy like that. Everyone had things they feared, everyone battled with their demons. But I wasn't going to let her suffer, I was going to help her and make sure she knew that we were going to be there for her every step of the way.

When the day came that she accepted us and trusted us completely, I knew our bond would get stronger.

Jin hyung leaned back, a few tears slipping down his cheeks, but he was smiling.

"She said she'll try." He said, blinking away his tears looking more content than I had ever seen him despite the slight redness to his eyes and the tear tracks.

She would try. And so, would we.

Mind made up I got to my feet; baby steps start from now. I head over to the kitchen, poking my head through to peek at (Y/N), smiling when I saw her scanning the cupboards with a look of determination.

I knocked before entering, giving her the chance to become alert should she wish to. She turned to look at me, focused gaze softening.

"Can I just sit here whilst you do what you want to?" I asked, darting hopeful glances at her, sticking my bottom lip out in a pout. It worked on the hyungs all the time, I hoped it would on her.

She groaned, slapping a hand over her eyes

"Stop it Jungkook. Just sit already." She said, smile poking at her lips as she tried to keep it under control, turning away from me to refocus on the cupboard.

I felt a tingle of excitement as I realised, she had dropped the formalities with me, she was calling me by my name. And I was the first one! The lucky one! I felt smug knowing I could boast about this later but more than that I felt bubbly and overjoyed. She was taking baby steps towards us too.

I dived into a seat, watching as hands reached up to gather ingredients, hearing her mutter about something under her breath.

The next few hours I watched as she bustled around the kitchen, growing with confidence in her posture, her actions and her familiarity with the layout. I was sure that she knew it better than all of us now, maybe rivalling Jin hyung too. Plates began to pile up, filling up with food, an array of dishes in several cuisines. I felt my mouth slacken and drop my stomach as well beginning to rumble.

A particularly loud growl caught (Y/N)'s attention, drawing her out of whatever focused mindset she had dropped into, eyes widening before she was bringing an empty plate over to me.

She held it out.

"Go help yourself to whatever you want." She said, voice sure and surprisingly strong. Maybe having all of us bombarding her didn't help, maybe we needed to take it step by step. One by one.

I took the plate, bond thrumming when our fingers brushed before she was puling back, sleeves dropping to cover them.

I eagerly walked over to the edge of the kitchen where the counter had been piled high with dishes, it all looked delicious, I wanted to try it all. I piled the plate high, taking some of each, I was going to eat it all.

I sat back down, diving right into the food, groaning around each mouthful as the flavours burst on my tongue. (Y/N) sat across from me, a plate in front of her too as she ate. She ate delicately, food disappearing between her rosy lips. I suddenly felt conscious, did I have food on my face? Was I eating messily?

"You're fine Jungkook, it's nice seeing you enjoy it." (Y/N) said, not having even looked up from her plate.

Had I voiced my thoughts aloud?

The perfect bubble we were both in suddenly shattered when the guys came strolling through the door, voices yelling in protest when they saw us eating, more directed at me, before grabbing plates to do the same.

"Thanks for cooking (Y/N)-ah. Can you spend some time with me please?" Jimin hyung and Hobi hyung asked, voices chiming in unison as they turned to look at each other, threatening looks on their eyes as they began to bicker.

NAMJOON POV:

Whilst the two were bickering I slowly walked to stand behind (Y/N).

"Now's your chance to escape. You want to head out with me?" I asked hopefully, watching as her head spun around in shock before she relaxed. There was a moment of hesitation as her gaze flickered back to the bickering duo before she smiled and nodded.

She slid out her seat and whilst everyone's attention was diverted, she hurried up to change whilst I pulled on my shoes and grabbed my things, waiting for her at the door.

She came hurrying out, eyes twinkling at the secrecy of it all.

"There's this book café I want to show you, can we go there?" I asked, going breathless when her face lit up, look completely transformed from the mature look we had all grown used to, her expression wasn't shuttered or hidden, it was such an open expression that it felt like I was intruding on a private moment had it not been for the fact I had been with her.

We walked in companionable silence; I didn't want to press her to talk if she didn't want to. Reaching the café, I entered after her, breathing in the aromatic scent of coffee, watching as her shoulders seemed to loosen at the atmosphere.

I watched as she ordered drinks and some slices of cake, gaze turning to briefly assess me before she made the order. She took the receipt and buzzer walking back to me before I guided her down the alcoves, hidden nooks and crannies designed for a private ambience. The walls were lined with shelves of books, so many different textures, shapes, sizes and colours and I felt excitement thrumming through us, and I knew it was coming from (Y/N). Her eyes were wide with wonder, unblinking as she scanned the alcove, I led us to, a hidden tucked away refuge that not many knew of.

She sank into the soft couch, fingers brushing the material, feet tapping at the floor as she controlled the urge to get up and explore.

When the buzzer went off, I grabbed it.

"Don't let me stop you, explore." I called over my shoulder as I head to the counter to pick up our order.

I returned to see her sitting comfortably, book propped open on her knees, her head rising as I bashed into the edge of the table somehow managing to save the tray from tumbling. I felt my cheeks burn as I set the tray down.

She didn't tease even though I saw the small glint in her eyes and the smile tugging at her lips before it vanished, and she focused on my leg.

It had throbbed but seeing the warm look of concern on her face had somehow washed it away, accidents would happen.

And it was sitting in that alcove that I saw a glimpse of the girl beyond the passionate, intelligent person in the English lessons. Here I saw a glimpse of my soulmate, looking utterly content and at home with a mug cradled in her hands as her eyes flickered from the pages on the book to occasionally dart to me. I felt each dart like a warm caress, a soft touch. I only looked forward to the days to come.

----

HOSEOK POV:

We turned to see who (Y/N) would prefer to hang out with, but I only saw the empty seat where she had been seated. Where did she go? I spun my head to scan the kitchen, but I was only met with the amusing smiles of my other soulmates.

"Where is (Y/N)-ah?" Jimin-ah asked, pout gracing his plump lips having noticed my attention having been diverted.

"Gone. Which you guys would've realised if you had stopped for a second." Yoongi hyung said, from his seat next to Jungkook-ah.

Hang on, where was Namjoon? My eyes narrowed as I connected the dots.

"Yah! Just wait Namjoon!" I yelled, expressing my anger and betrayal at our soulmate having been whisked away.

Taehyung chuckled, head resting on Jin hyung's shoulder as he back hugged him.

"Never mind hyung, you can cuddle with us." He said, smirking at our misfortune before pressing a kiss to Jin hyung's neck, who leaned into the touch.

I looked at Jimin-ah's pout, what had we been arguing about seemed meaningless as I reached over to cup his face.

I steered his face to mine, tilting it upwards slightly as I stroked his cheeks before leaning forward to kiss him, lips pulling and moving over each other in sync as I deepened the kiss, tongue slipping between his lips, intertwining his as we battled for control. He huffed into the kiss but gave up fairly quickly, our pent up frustration long forgotten and now only an apology expressing itself in the sparks of the kiss as I pressed deeper, harder into him, hands going to wrap around my waist as he pulled me tightly into him, I leaned further walking until his back rest against the counter. I felt the moan that slipped out of his throat, reverberations felt as I nibbled on his lip, licking away the sting with my tongue.

I separated our lips, a string of saliva hanging connected to us as I gazed into his eyes clouding with desire.

A firm hand came to rest at the bottom of my back, a solid presence.

"Wow...that's hot. Never gets old." Kookie said from where he was sitting, similar expression of desire that I knew was partially influenced by what was flooding our bond, intensified more because of our closeness. His remark made us all laugh, snapping us out of the haze. The doctor had said we'd feel heightened emotions but I guess none of us thought of this as a possibility. And also...I always wanted to kiss them senseless, no doctor needed to tell me that.

I pecked Jimin's forehead, feeling only tenderness as I looked at him. Being bonded with my soulmate meant it never had to be explained why moments went from being full of desire to just tender care and warmth. The frustration gone through the kiss, I knew at the back of my mind that it was me being irrational, all of us were going to try.

"Hyung, let's go watch a movie." Tae called, only tenderness in his voice and gaze.

I smiled at Jimin who beamed up at me, eyes turning into crescents, giggling when I pecked his cheeks.

"Let's go."

(OKAY BEFORE YOU KILL ME, LET ME KNOW IF THE TRANFORMATION FROM THE KISS TO SOFTNESS WAS TOO MUCH, I DON'T KNOW HOW TO WRITE ROMANCE, IT'S MY FIRST TRY, EXPERIMENTING WITH IT, SO LET ME KNOW! WE HAVE OUR FIRST DATE HAVING HAPPENED EVEN THOUGH IT WAS UNOFFICIAL, A SOFT BONDING BETWEEN KOOK AND (Y/N) AND KISSES! LET ME KNOW AS USUAL, IT WAS A SOFTER SCENE THAN USUAL BUT I HOPE YOU GUYS PICK UP ON SMALL HINTS, IT'S GONNA BE BUILDING BACK UP AGAIN NOW SO I WANTED SOME FLUFF BEFORE IT ALL GOT THROWN BACK INTO ITS ANGSTY, HEARTBREAKING COURSE! HMM...WHERE SHOULD WE GO FROM HERE? WHO SHOULD BE NEXT, I FEEL (Y/N) WOULD UNKNOWINGLY OPEN UPTO TAE...SO LET'S SEE HOW THE NEXT CHAPTER PANS OUT! ALSO...THIS IS GONNA BE SOME TIME AWAY (MAYBE...) BUT WHO SHOULD THE FIRST KISS BE WITH?? I'LL LEAVE YOU WITH THAT THOUGHT!)

Stay happy, healthy and take care!

Borahae! 💜💜💜

PurpleQueenie <3