Author pov_
Inha stared hard at the ring, trying to figure out if what she was thinking was indeed true. And then, as if it had a brain of its own, her hand moved. Her fingers hovered above the ring for a second before she touched it lightly.
Real.
She softly placed her finger on it again, caressing it carefully. She was intently thinking about the rings when suddenly her eyes widened. She looked up at him only for him to be looking at her. Her cheeks reddened, and in that moment, Inha felt like summoning the Earth to swallow her up. Which, of course, didn't happen. I'm not that lucky. She thought to herself before realizing her hand was still on his. Just as she was about to retreat her hand, he held it.
"Not so fast, little mouse," he whispered, making her almost snap her neck. Inha's eyes widened as she looked into his amused ones. She could see a million stars at that moment. She could see her moon and her sun. She could see planets and galaxies, land and water, summer and rain, thunder and snow. Most of all, she saw tiny little pieces of broken music that seemed to have been lost somewhere.
Somewhere along the path between bruises and healing, somewhere between battles and solace. His eyes held so much fragility, and yet such strength. There was so much beauty, there was so much sorrow... There was so much.... Home... In him. And Inha had no idea how else to put it. She was not sure there were words in this universe which she could use for him.
She knew she should stop, she knew that he knew it as well. She could see it in his browns, the reluctance to let go... He lifted his hand from hers and tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear.
(Author note: GET. A. ROOM. YOU. BOTH. RIGHT NOW! anyways-)
And just as they were still looking into the depths of each other's eyes- another face popped in between them.
"Guys, we're gonna crash." She whispered, making both the flustered people turn in their seats to look dead in front. Inha looked out of the window, biting her lip and trying to summon the depths of hell. But Hoseok was a different story. He picked up speed, making the girl in the back seat gasp for a second. His grip on the steering wheel tightened making his knuckles appear white.
"You know, Dobi, I don't wanna die so young." Ivy continued, popping a skittle in her mouth. "I haven't even found my soulmate yet." She completed, voicing his own words back mockingly.
Ivy freaking Miles. He thought to himself. I have never wanted to- to be mad at you SO bad.
Just as Inha thought she had succeeded into making a poker face, her phone pinged from the glove compartment. She reached forward to take it and threw Hoseok a confused look. Who just returned his phone back to its previous place without looking at her.
[Hobi-ssi: I still think you're a little mouse.. But even cuter when you blush]
Inha slammed her phone back into the compartment as quickly as humanly possible before covering her face with a shawl. She heard soft laughter coming from beside her. Which just made her cover her full body in the shawl and turn her back to him.
-Time skip-
Ivy was snuggled in a fuzzy small blanket and it was now Jimin's turn to drive. Inha sat with him as she thought that Hobi needed rest. But as a stubborn person he was, he chose to sit on his phone while pretending to listen to music. He plugged in his earphones with no music and decided to eavesdrop on the conversation going on between Inha and Jimin that was based on their ex-es and failed relationships.
"Wait so it was really true?" Jimin exclaimed and Inha nodded. "Ah I still can't believe that you were with the Yoon Sungjae! I still remember the craze he had when School 2015 came out!" Jimin says, making Inha smile. "His character was supreme! How did you guys even meet?"
"Oh well, he used to play in the same park where we used to go. And one day he fought the street dogs for me, and to thank him, mom invited him home to have some snacks... and we became really close after that. And then there was this summer camp that mom was forcing me to go to.. And then I found out he was going and so I said yes... Well basically we were inseparable till High school. After that, his family shifted and then I came to Seoul and time passed. And then suddenly- boom we're in the same contract! I think it was the 'meeting-you-after-so-long' emotions that made us want to try dating. But then it became too clear that we were best off as best friends..."
"Wahhh that's some love story," Jimin commented, making Inha laugh and Hoseok grit his teeth.
Some love story my ass he thought to himself looking out the window as his grip on the poor device tightened.
"Do you think you could have fallen for him though?" Jimin asked, oblivious to the burning male sitting behind his seat. Inha laughed once again.
"I don think so Minnie, he's not my type," she replied with a sweet smile.
"Hm.." Jimin let his lips settle in a smirk before asking, "And me?? Am I your type?"
Hoseok silently mimicked Jimin's expressions before placing his hand lightly on the back of Jimin's neck. A shiver passed his spine.
"Oh Hobi hyung, you're up?" he asked. Hoseok smiled an exaggerated smile before pulling his hand back.
"Yeah, woke up when I realized you were harassing the lovely lady right here," he replied with a wink at Inha. Inha took a deep breath in and turned to face her window once again. She blinked rapidly while looking up, trying to tone down the smile that was threatening to spill across her crimson face. That's when her phone pinged once again. She dared to steal a glance at Hobi just to see him looking right back at her. He tilted his head a bit, gesturing for her to check.
[Hobi-ssi: stop flirting with him]
Inha almost dropped the phone in surprise before taking a few deep breaths trying to calm her racing heart.
[Inha: We're not flirting]
[Hobi-ssi: that's what you think]
[Hobi-ssi: He's obviously flirting with you😒]
[Inha: why does it even matter?]
[Hobi-ssi: It doesn't]
[Inha: okay??]
*seen*
Inha looked back at him with a thoroughly confused expression. He had his eyes closed, one he opened to look at her. To check if she was looking before closing it again. He shifted in his place a bit and turned away from her. Inha texted him a few more question marks. Meanwhile Hoseok ignored her, refusing to open his eyes. She turned back, facing front wondering just what the fuck was that?!
-time skip-
"Ivy grab that pasta and bring that out." Jimin orders her and Ivy nods, getting up from her bean bag with a loud sigh. "Carefu–" Jimin's warning were ignored by the girl and she held the piping hot bowl with her bare hands. He shook his head with a sigh before starting to follow her, not even running to catch up.
"Ouch ouch ouch!" Ivy screamed as she ran outside to place it on the wooden table. She lightly slammed it on the table as Jimin joined her, taking her hands in his before blowing on her reddish fingers. She looked up at him sadly, making puppy eyes.
"Hurts?" He asked in a soft sad voice, she nodded with a sad face.
Right then, a sweet melody was heard all over the place while Inha came out with plates for all of them. The trio turned to look at Hobi who was sitting on a fallen branch dangerously near the cliff. All of them stood in silence for a minute, listening to him.
"Okay, what else needs to get here?" Jimin asks Inha and she turns her attention back and counts the items. "Ahh... water." Jimin nods to himself before getting inside of the villa they were staying at.
"Hobi, can you stop messing around with that guitar? We're trying to get this done here!" Inha complains and Hobi pouts, putting down the guitar on its stand.
"If that's what the lovely lady wishes," Hobi says, getting up from the branch he was sitting on. He walked towards her with his hand in his jeans pocket, whistling the DNA tune. Ivy was shocked to the core along with Jimin who heard it from the door frame. The two youngsters shared a surprised glance before Jimin quickly recovered enough to let out a loud exclamation.
"Ohhhhhh" He hooted, hugging the huge water bottle. Inha on the other hand was blushing hard as she tried to hide it by bending to lift the ice bucket for their drinks.
"Shut up!" Ivy snapped in a low voice, elbowing Jimin's side as she walked past him, making the poor boy yelp.
"Let me help you." Hobi says to Inha and she nods, backing off. "Oh and Inha?" he called out, making her turn towards him. He waited till she looked up from the ground before continuing.
"Hobi, huh?"
-time skip-
By the time they were done, the sun had set fully, leaving them a beautiful golden orange scenery to look at. Ivy and Jimin were inside the villa, bickering about which game they should play now. Their bickering was audible to the silent pair who were admiring the sunset. Inha and Hobi were looking at it, feeling the fading rays tickle their skin. It felt euphoric...
"My hands are cold..." Hoseok muttered to himself. Inha heard, and then, without thinking twice, she held his hand. He looked at her, she kept looking at the sunset. After a while, he bent a tad bit and whispered in her ears.
"My lips are cold too," Inha instantly left his hand, and turned to go back inside. Not wanting him to see her flaming face. God, I wanna throw myself off the hill right now!! She thought to herself, biting her lips. But then, a hand stopped her. Hoseok was holding her hand, not letting her go back.
"Hey hey I was just kidding." he stops her and turns her to face him.
"Were you actually just joking?" she asks, eyes squinted.
Inha could feel his fingers getting tensed on her skin. "Uhm... yeah kind– hey wait!" he screamed behind the leaving Inha.
"I'm sorry for the car... thing..."
Inha looked up at him, wind blowing through her hairs and her face lit golden.
"Are you?" she asked. He remained silent. She shook her head with a sigh before turning to leave. "Liar," she murmured to herself.
"Okay! Fine! I want to show you something, come back. Please?" he asks with pleading eyes and a pout, and Inha chuckles to herself, walking back to where she was standing earlier.
"Okay, I need your right hand." Hobi said, voice as calm as the mountains. Inha spreads out her hand, the sun ring sitting beautifully on her ring finger. Hobi silently pulls out the moon finger from his left index, hesitating just for a minute before sliding it into Inha's ring finger.
"I want to be your moon, Inhaya..."
•••
Lovely Co-author ivyB4winter
Thank you for reading 'Soul Piece'
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~Ivy Miles and Inha Choi