Donghyuck entered his apartment unit with a long sigh—lights automatically turning on by the opening of the door—dragging his feet inside while lazily shrugging off his shoes along the way.
Like his senses ticked, he abruptly paused and snapped around.
The first thing he sensed was the welcoming steam of kimchi-jjigae, then his squeaky, clean mini living room—no visible dust around.
With suspicious eyes, Donghyuck starts taking little steps forward, peeking through a possible trespasser.
His utmost curiosity was answered when a girl walked in front of him with a vacuum in hand and a judging stare.
She clicked her tongue. "Woah, how can you live like trash?"
His eyes narrowed. "Lee Yizhuo!"
She grinned, "In the flesh."
Donghyuck is now sitting on the dining area, practically inhaling the food prepared primarily for him.
He's quiet and all– typical Lee Donghyuck when eating.
The only problem there is now, is because he haven't greeted his mother and little sister properly.
"Ya Lee Donghyuck"
"Mhm?", he glanced at his mom, "This is a whole new level of tasty."
"Where's your soulmate?", the woman quipped, "I already told you I wanna meet–"
"Ah mama! Let's not talk about it now, hm? We're eating."
"Why can't we talk about soulmates here? Hmm well I think you never brought her here yet, judging from the state of your unit? She'll straight up reject you, son."
Yizhuo laughed. "It would be a traumatizing memory! Rule number one: your soulmate should be extremely tidy."
"Funny, young lady," Donghyuck deadpanned, and the girl just stuck her tongue out.
"Mijo." Hena held the male's hand. "I want you to be happy."
Donghyuck can just stare at her. The woman smiles, but her eyes are shallow and blank.
He looked away and pulled out his hand, then continued eating.
"Let's just eat."
Yizhuo is loudly talking about London. All her accessories, clothes, and even the gifts she bought for the male have their own stories, entertaining Donghyuck all throughout.
Yizhuo is actually adopted.
After the separation of the married couple, Donghyuck and Hena came across an orphanage in China while doing a charity event.
Donghyuck saw the shaking little girl firsthand, then approached her with a teddy bear and a sandwich. Donghyuck can vividly remember how the little girl clung onto him, calling him brother.
Hena saw it, and after finding out that she was left there at the gate when her parents also separated, she knew she had to do something. And Hena knew that was the best thing she could do for her son—for him to at least have a sibling figure beside him.
Now here they are: Donghyuck is 23 while Yizhuo is 20—watching each other grow since then.
"Guess what!" Yizhuo exclaimed again with a giggle.
Donghyuck sighed, "What?"
"Tadaaaa!" she proudly showed her soulmate tattoo. Though obviously still not completely bonded, it's surely visible now that she's passed 18 years old.
"Huh, praying for your soulmate to endure your megaphone self."
"Hey, it's what makes me! If my soulmate doesn't like it, then..." she pouted.
Donghyuck chuckled and ruffled her hair. "I'll beat him myself."
"Right? I know you love me." Yizhuo launched at him with a kissy face, making Donghyuck yell in disgust while shoving her face away.
Hena, however, is just in the kitchen area, making pre-made foods to store in the male's empty refrigerator. She has a small smile on her face while glancing at the two.
She's happy; she knows it; she has to. It's just that she can't fully feel it.
And she knows Donghyuck is scared to experience it too. She knows his son doesn't want to meet his soulmate because of it.
Gayoon felt a clench on her chest while she was taking out trash.
Her knees almost weakened because of it—a subconscious feeling, but something badly worrying.
When she regained composure, she took a deep breath and quickly went up again in her dorm room.
Picking up her phone, she immediately scrolled through her contacts, also cussing herself out for forgetting that she didn't have his number.
The clench subsided after a few more seconds, yet Gayoon is still dead curious—scared, actually.
Remembering that she had a small conversation with Jeno regarding the clubs, Gayoon immediately typed in a favor, impatiently waiting for a response.
╭─────────────────╮
Lee Jeno
Jeno, hey 👋
Hope I'm not disturbing you,
I just need a favor.
Oh hey Gayoon!
Of course, what is it?
Can I have Donghyuck's number?
Oh of course if it's okay for him
to share his number to people.
It's mostly fine, but may I ask why?
Well I felt something concerning.
Soulmate bond.. ya know.
Oh shoot ofc ofc
Here 010*-***-****
Thanks so much Jeno!
Welcome!
And oh Gayoon ummm
Yeah?
This could be a hard request but
Take care of Hyuck for us ☺️ he's
the most reluctant in this soulmate
thing you see.
Yeah
Yeah I can see that
I'll try Jeno ☺️
We'll help you! And he'll come
around for sure, just...
Just don't give up on him yea?
╰─────────────────╯
Don't give up on him. Gayoon sighed and saved the male's number.
Hovering her finger on the call button, Gayoon felt another clench on her chest—it's heavier than before.
Gathering her courage, she called, waiting for him to answer.
[Who's this? ]
Gayoon almost choked at the deep sound of his voice.
He was always low and dissatisfied with his tone when talking to her, but it's lower today—and maybe a little bit broken.
[If this is a prank call–]
"Hyuck-ah"
The other line hung in silence.
"It's Gayoon," she said again, but there was still no response.
This is harder than I thought.
She sighed. "I asked Jeno for your number. Are you okay?"
[Soulmate]
Now Gayoon's the one who became silent.
[I always don't need one, but here you are.] He lowly chuckled. [If it becomes too much, just run.]
"Lee Donghyuck," she calmly said. "Someone told me not to give up on you, so I won't." A small smile crept on her lips. "So just hang on there, okay? Somehow I can feel my heart clench. It's from you. But don't worry, I can endure as much."
[I can't take your happiness, can I? I'll be a selfish fucker.]
She let out a small chuckle. "Yeah, you can't. I want to live happily at least; I'm not letting you steal it away from me."
[But I can hurt you, vida.]
"I know what you can do, ga.."
Donghyuck chuckled. [Can't escape now, hm? ]
"I won't let you."
[I'll.. calm down. So that you can sleep at least.]
"You too, Hyuck. You need to sleep."
[Yeah.. Yeah, I will.]
It just became silent after, just soft sounds of breathing.
Gayoon ended the call after a few more seconds, and then, placing a hand on her chest, she could feel herself calming slowly.
What a heavy night.
they're going uwu uwu now, but will they keep it the next day? sjhacudhcuduhu
see you next week vida and langga! ><
thoughts?