HOBI POV:

The following week passed by in a blur of lessons and lunches grabbed together when we had time to. More often than not I found that (Y/N) was becoming busier and busier- though with what I couldn't guess. None of us knew but I also knew that everyone was becoming increasingly on edge. It felt like the time when (Y/N) was avoiding us before we'd bonded, pushing us away to keep a distance, and there was no way I wanted that to happen again. I don't think anyone of us could survive the heartbreak that would follow.

There was also a noticeable change in (Y/N). And it wasn't pleasing.

She was still affectionate and comforting and the bright presence she always was around the house but it seemed like there was something eating away at her from the inside. Silently and slowly, slithering in during the dead of night and causing her to wake up thrashing, sweating and panicked. The first time it had happened, she had screamed. A noise that tore through her throat and was so pained, so hurt that it had sent Jin hyung, Joon-ah and me tumbling out of bed with the firm belief that she was hurt. Yoongi hyung had dashed in, seconds later, pale and trembling, eyes haunted by the sound that no doubt echoed in his ears still.

The second time it had happened, she was sleeping with the maknaes and had woken up Jiminie because of her tossing and turning, trapped within the snares of whatever was playing out behind her closed eyes. It had taken a violent lurch and her recoiling against Tae's slumbering figure that pressed so close to her and she'd woken up, eyes dilated with fear. Jiminie had come to me in tears that same night and I had to push out an influx of calming energy waves to send them all back to sleep.

The third time, she was sleeping next to me. She had drifted off to sleep easily, eyes blearily sliding shut and lips shooting me a soft smile as she nestled closer to me. It had been easy for me to fall asleep too. But my mind was suddenly being plagued with a sickening, nauseating feeling and when I'd bolted upright in bed, very early morning, she had still been asleep but her lips had been moving in a whispered plea, the word 'please' tumbling off her lips over and over again.

It was becoming concerning; the dark circles were becoming prominent and her mouth twisted downwards whenever she thought no-one was looking. She was dealing, no experiencing something that was obviously hurting her, plaguing her mind and I felt so hopeless, so powerless as we all stood there being able to do nothing but watch her.

But enough was enough. This week had allowed all of us, save for her, talk it out about how we were going to help her. How we needed to help her. She'd missed out on the usual moments of laughter, the mealtimes where we all talked about everything and nothing.

Kookie had been so happy to come home yesterday, bouncing on the balls of his feet and eyes crinkling with happiness.

"Hyungs I got in! I got the internship!" he'd eagerly chirped, teeth poking out between his lips. It had touched my heart to see our baby boy so happy, so excited for something he had worked so hard for. Kookie had eagerly accepted all the kisses and cuddles we lay onto him but I hadn't missed the way his eyes had dimmed slightly, after searching the room for his final soulmate who wasn't there.

And it had been enough. We had all been suffering. And there wasn't a way I was going to allow (Y/N) to continue distancing herself; it wasn't healthy. I knew it was hard, but that didn't mean she needed to be in pain alone. Soulmates meant we were there for her. Not only celebrating her happiness but sharing in her sorrows. Shedding tears with her whilst being the shoulders she needed to lean on.

So when she came home tonight, it was going to be the final time she evaded us.

And maybe then, my heart would stop feeling like it was going to drown on the melancholic feeling which heavily saturated the air.

KOOKIE POV:

I fiddled nervously with my hands, standing outside the building. Deep breaths Jungkook, you can do it, I cheered to myself in my head. I clenched my fists in front of me, whispering a small 'fighting' to myself before entering the small but elegant looking building.

When I stepped inside, I was awed by the sleek furnishing and layout, whoever had designed it had somehow combined both style and comfort together in a mix of monochromatic colours. I reached the reception desk, smiling nervously at the man seated behind it.

"Hi, I'm the new intern. Jeon Jungkook." I stated, watching as the man types it into the computer before smiling.

"Of course Jungkook. You're working on the top floor. Impressive, follow me please." He said, voice pleasant and friendly, setting me at ease.

My ability was thrumming, recognising that this company was full of memories, and the way it was humming happily, I knew this was a good place. A place which was built on fondness and happiness. It sets my nerves at ease. I've made the right decision choosing to work here.

I follow the receptionist into the elevator, watching with barely repressed eagerness as he presses the highest floor level, the way each number flashes as it changes reminding me of how close I am. How utterly close.

"I hope you'll enjoy yourself here, it really is such an amazing place. The people are just wonderful." He tacks on, no doubt reading the tension in my body posture.

His words are so earnest, so sincere that I know he means it. It's not forced, he genuinely enjoys his job. It makes me wonder what type of person is behind this company, this close-knit family ambience. Whoever it is, I hope we get along well.

When the elevator door slides open, it feels like my senses are alight. My body is wracked with tremors of excitement, heart lightening with each footstep as we approach the large, closed door simply labelled with the inscription CEO. It's an intoxicating feeling, one that makes my breaths waver.

I can't stop the giddiness that floods through me, just before I am about to knock on the door, a warm friendly voice calls out.

"You won't find them in there. They like to spend most of their time in that large room over there." A young woman steps up, pointing me over to the end of the floor, where one end is taken up by a sealed off space.

I bow my head in gratitude.

"Thank you very much Areum-ssi." I say, reading the name on her tag. She laughs at me good-naturedly waving her hands at me.

"Call me noona. You'll find that here we don't enforce formalities and professionalism. You're here because you can do the job. We're all equals here." She says.

A sense of bewilderment fills me, it's the first time I've heard of formalities not being enforced in a workplace, the first where it's actually encouraged to be comfortable and at ease with each other, and that too so quickly. I'm pleasantly surprised again.

I nod eagerly and bound off to the room she has kindly pointed out for me. I stop outside the door, hesitant but gather up my courage, remembering the encouragement the hyungs had lovingly drilled into me this morning. Soft kind words that become my armour.

I swing open the door and my eyes dart around the soft, pastel ambience of the room. I spot a figure sitting in the corner, back towards me as they lounge on a beanbag. I can't see anyone else so I trudge forward, slowly. As I get closer, I realise that it is a woman and I wonder how to make myself known.

I clear my throat slightly. The person shifts slightly before turning. The moment I sense them turn I drop my head in a quick bow.

"I'm the new intern Jeon Jungkook. It's a pleasure to work for you." I say, eyes firmly planted on the ground. But when I raise my head, my eyes widen and I stand there not quite believing it.

Because in front of my eyes. In front of me, is the CEO. And it's none other than (Y/N).

(Y/N) POV:

I sit on the beanbag, drawing out another episode when I hear the door open and footsteps approach me. I shake it off, maybe they're just heading to this corner- the beanbags are super comfortable after all. I hear a throat being cleared, nervously behind me and I shift to see who it is. There is a young man standing there, head bowed and when he speaks, I feel my world come crashing down.

It's Jungkook. My Koo. Here of all places. And I know when he straightens his head and his eyes meet mine, that the running has finally come to an end. I've reached a dead end, a point of no return. And there's no getting out of this one.

"(Y/N)-ah?!" he yells before lowering his voice, stepping closer to me, kneeling down so he's eye to eye with me and the only thing that separates us is the beanbag. A very futile barrier.

"Koo, you're the new intern?" I whisper.

He nods, eyes lighting up with joy before his face schools out into an expression of confusion.

"You're the CEO?" he asks, words incredulous but not mocking.

I nod, the ability to form coherent sentences suddenly lost on me. My fingers itch to turn around and shove my tablet out of sight but when he beams at me and bounds to his feet to come join me on the beanbag, his eyes fall onto it. And for once it is unlocked, for once the screen is visible. An incomplete sketch lies on it.

His eyes dart to mine.

"You edit? Oh my gosh...is that Dae Hyeon? (Y/N)-ah, you've been an editor this entire time for 'Cursed Fate' and you never told us? Me? Wow...I feel betrayed. To think this entire time you knew what would happen in the episodes. Yah! You could've given me hints!" he complains, words rolling out of his mouth as he gawps at me. But each word sends a stab of pain shooting through my heart. He still doesn't know. But what I know is, I'm not going to keep him hidden in the dark any longer.

"Koo...there's something I need to show you." I say and watch as understanding dawns on his face.

"Now? Here? Are you sure?" he asks, concern furrowing his brows. But I just nod and allow our foreheads to connect- the flood of memories that pour out of me in snippets in a constant stream flow between our minds.

----

The tablet sits on my lap, screen black. My eyes slide up to see Yoongi lounging on the bed, eyes shut and headphones in before turning back to the screen, opening it once the screen registers my handprint. Hands draw out the scene, Dae Hyeon suffering at the hands of her stepmother, zooming in to add the details of the background, writing out the words that will accompany it.

....

The sound of loud laughter entering the living room, mere seconds before my hands scrabble to save the episode I'm drawing and then locking the screen. The familiar black screen greeting me when my soulmates come tumbling through the door.

The flash of a darkening sky as I walk back to the dorms.

"Ah yes Editor-nim! You got the episodes then...." Words fading out and my body that spasms with pain as I slide the phone back into my pocket with trembling hands, pained pants that fill the evening air.

....

Curled up against the bark of the large tree, tablet hugged towards my chest as I stumble upwards, startled by the presence of Hoseok standing there looking at me. It's the first time we stumble into each other's path, his eyes crinkled with concern before smoothing out with teases that drip off his tongue.

....

The feeling of fear rolling through me in crashing waves, nausea and panic rising up my throat threatening to choke me as I look down at all of them, clustered happily around a familiar black tablet, beaming up at me. The profound relief that sends my knees knocking when I learn it's not mine.

....

The dredges of sleep which vanish once I press my phone to my ear and realise it's my editor, realise that Joonie oppa has picked the phone up. The constant panicking statement that 'he knows' ringing constantly in my ears, the realisation much like a knell. I mutter out words, avoid using her name and tell her I'll be there soon. My body sags with relief when I realise that Joonie oppa doesn't know who was on the phone, had thankfully not made it out.

-----

I pant as our eyes flash open, Kookie's meeting my own but his are wide open, startled, shocked, hurt and...sorrowful.

It hurts to see the war of emotions that bubble up behind his expressive eyes, the beautiful doe eyes usually shining with love and joy now clouded with negativity. I put those emotions there. I retreat backwards, already anticipating the words that are going to pour out of his mouth.

His hand comes to rest at the back of my head, stilling me before I can move away.

"I...I understand (Y/N)-ah. I understand how much you wanted to tell us but couldn't." he whispers.

Because throughout the entirety of the memories he saw, under all of them was a strong need, a want to open up but the fear of doing so too.

"Don't hide away, don't shut us out. Because I understand (Y/N)-ah. I really do." He whispers, his eyes are sparkling slightly and I realise with a shock they're tears. My own eyes are brimming but at his words, they spill over and course down my cheeks. His own follow in soft, slow succession, crystal drops that drip down his cheeks.

His lips meet mine, a slow soft touch, feathery kisses that deepen quickly, desperation laced into each slide of lips, need and sorrow in the way his lips slowly, almost reverently explore my own, slide mine between his and so tenderly licks and sucks at it, that I feel my heart come crumbling down and my hands reach out to desperately pull him closer, to reassure myself that he is there. That he's not going anywhere. His mouth is firm and unyielding on mine, desperately conveying to me all the emotions his eyes tried to. He pants lowly into my mouth, his tongue almost tentatively sliding between my mouth that opens to welcome him, hold him close. Each slow, deep stroke of his mouth is a claim, a promise. Of my soulmate claiming me as his and of him promising me that he understands. The realisation crashes over me, tears still pour out of my eyes, even though I try to blink them away. He presses closer, as though he needs it just as much as I do. This comfort. This closeness. He parts our mouths, pressing soft butterfly kisses over where my tears have fallen, lips glistening with the salty residue of my pain that he has now kissed away.

"I'm here every step of the way (Y/N)-ah. And I'm not going to stop wanting you because you didn't open this part of yourself upto us." He whispers against my skin before pulling me into his arms to hug me. Scooping me up as though he never wants to let go. I clutch back just as tightly. Tighter. Because I don't want to either. And I finally decide. That I'm going to tell them the truth behind the webtoon.

I just hope they're ready for it. Because I'm ready to tell them. Aren't I?

(TA DA! CAT'S OUT THE BAG OFFICIALLY! WELL...FOR ONE OF THEM AT LEAST! HOW MANY OF YOU GUESSED WHERE KOOKIE WOULD END UP WORKING? DID THE DETAILS GIVE IT AWAY OR ARE YOU GUYS JUST REALLY, REALLY INTUITIVE? LET ME KNOW HOW YOU FOUND IT! IT'S LOVELY TO HEAR FROM YOU ALL! I HOPE YOU GUYS ARE STAYING SAFE AND HEALTHY- YOU REALLY MATTER! AND WHAT DO YOU THINK IS GONNA HAPPEN NEXT?? FOR NOW OUR JK JUST THINKS SHE'S THE WRITER, HE DOESN'T KNOW THE TRUTH ABOUT DAE-HYEON. THE QUESTION IS WILL HE? OR WILL HE JUST BE AN EAGER BUN READY TO TELL AND SHOW OFF TO HIS HYUNGS THAT (Y/N) IS THE WRITER? WILL THAT CAUSE A SETBACK? LET'S SEE MY LOVELIES! 135K READS AND 6K VOTES!! YOU GUYS WANNA KILL ME OFF WITH EXCESSIVE JOY DON'T YOU? THANKS MY LOVELIES SO, SO MUCH! SEE YOU ON THE OTHER SIDE!)

Life is a Pandora's box, except don't let hope to remain trapped inside. Free it, so it can live on in you and humanity.

Borahae! 💜💜💜

PurpleQueenie <3