episode 2

“I’m so sorry!” The person he had collided with rushes over to him, a man with big eyes and blonde hair. He looks genuinely apologetic and reaches out a hand to help Jeongguk up. “I wasn’t looking where I was going! I’m sorry!”

Jeongguk accepts the hand and is about to say, “it’s fine,” when the words freeze on the tip of his tongue as a tingly, electric shock zips through his whole body, from his fingertips to his toes, in a vibration that shakes him to his very core in a startlingly pleasant kind of way. He’s only felt this shock once, only felt it with Jimin the very first time they had touched, and he knows it’s something only soulmates feel when they touch for the first time. The Spark, everyone calls it.  

The man looks elated, a grin stretching slowly across his mouth in an imitation of a box, teeth straight and white and pearly. “Looks like we’re soulmates!” He says cheerfully, ecstatic, and Jeongguk feels his stomach tighten with sickness. Nausea drains all the color from his cheeks and he thinks, how is this possible? I already have a soulmate. 

Taehyung stares down at the pale boy looking up at him. He’s quite possibly the most beautiful human being he has ever had the pleasure of laying eyes on, and it’s almost bizarre that someone as perfect as him is his soulmate.

He tightens his hand around the boy’s delicate palm, the skin smooth against his own calloused hand, and he can’t help but admire the pink-trimmed nails, the clear polish that shines against the harsh supermarket lights. Soulmates. He has a soulmate.

This is too good to be true, really. Because Taehyung has been hoping and praying for this moment since the day he learned about soulmates and he can’t believe that he has his very own. His very own soulmate, right in front of him.

Taehyung can already picture their future together; bright, starry nights dancing in the moonlight, soft white light cascading around their shoulders and bringing wings to their backs, feeding each other over the breakfast table as the news plays quietly in the background and their hair is messy and rumpled and resembles bird nests but it’s perfect, orange sunsets filling the air with static electricity and the warmth of those chocolate brown eyes gazing at him with nothing but love. He can almost feel it.

“N-no,” there’s a small whisper from below and Taehyung fixes his soulmate with a questioning look. He kneels down beside him and squeezes his hand in what he hopes is conveyed as comfort. Instead, the boy flinches and tries to yank his hand away, but Taehyung’s fingers hold his in an unrelenting grip. Now that he has him, Taehyung isn’t planning on ever letting go. The boy shakes his head frantically from side to side. “No,” he whispers again, “this isn’t possible. This can’t be possible.”

Worried, Taehyung reaches out a hand to touch his cheek, run his fingers through his hair, reassuringly clasp his shoulder, but the boy swats his hand away and leans back. “What’s wrong?” Taehyung furrows his brows, he doesn't understand why his soulmate is acting like this. Shouldn't he be... happy? Jumping for joy? 

“I-” the boy looks down at their linked hands and tries again to pull away without success. “You’re not my soulmate. You’re not. I already have a soulmate.”

Taehyung breath catches in his throat and he swears he can feel the way his heart falls out of his stomach, down to his legs, shooting out from his feet to shatter on the floor. It breaks into a million tiny pieces and he knows that even if he were to try to pick up the remnants the glass would just cut his fingers and tear open his flesh.  His hand loosens its tight grip on the boy’s wrist and he pulls it away with one strong tug, holding it close to his chest and looking offended as if Taehyung has hurt him in some way.

And maybe, in some way, Taehyung has hurt him. The boy looks so horrified, so full of disbelief… like he can’t quite seem to come to terms with the fact that they are soulmates. And to be honest, neither can Taehyung. If what he said is true, if he already has a soulmate, then Taehyung has no purpose. There’s no purpose in his life without a soulmate to be there beside him for all of eternity. This boy in front of him with delicate skin and pink cheeks is the only thing he’s been living for all of his life, and if he can’t have him then he would rather die.  

“But I am your soulmate,” he protests, voice going smaller as the boy’s glare grows fiercer. “When we touched- the Spark! You felt it, didn’t you? I know you did!” He grows frantic as the boy inches away from him.

The boy shakes his head, “it doesn’t matter. I don’t care. I met my soulmate a long time ago, and he isn’t you.” He lifts up his other hand and flashes a golden ring at Taehyung. Taehyung squints, trying to catch a glimpse of the initials engraved on the ring, and sees PJM before the boy once again lowers his hand. “I’m married, ” he stresses the word. “So just… just stay away from me. Just stay away.”  

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