That I want to draw,
a canvas dream

You and Sarah were dead nervous, waiting for Byron to show up and pick you up. You'd told your folks that you'd spend your time off in Sheffield with Sarah. They were cool with it and hoped you'd have a blast away from the twins. It might perk you up and let you chill away from home.

Suddenly, there's a knock at the flat door. Sarah answers it. She's dolled up in a stunning summer cocktail dress fit for a queen. You're decked out in a Japanese floral-themed cocktail dress. But, truth be told, you're feeling too warm for a full-on traditional getup. Your hair's styled sleek and straight. It feels a bit odd dressing up like this.

""Blimey, my girls look proper posh... Come on, let's get moving. Can't keep my lady Beatrice waiting," Byron eyed you up and down, waggling his eyebrows.

"I'm proper nervous... By the way, Byron?" You shudder at the idea of meeting royalty.

"I'm gonna snap some pics... no one's gonna believe I went to the Duchess's fancy place... I need some boasting material," Sarah chirped happily.

"Just make sure you're not caught, keep it low-key," Byron cautioned.

"How long's this bash gonna go on for?" You inquire.

""Two hours tops... if you're feeling too out of sorts, I'll ask Lady Beatrice to arrange for a driver to get you home... I'll just say you're still on the clock. They take work seriously there. Stick together, alright? And Sarah, please mind your manners," Byron suggests.

Sarah clicks her tongue and raises her chin in a haughty and proud manner, "I'll behave like royalty..."

You all chuckle and hop into the car, heading towards the outskirts of London.

As you reach the gate, Byron presents the three invitations to the guard. You let out a sigh of relief as the gates swing open. Driving through, you see beautifully landscaped gardens with various water features scattered throughout the estate.

You could spot some of the guests arriving in style. No paparazzi were allowed at this exclusive High Tea. Everyone exchanges cheerful greetings with an air of elegance and grace.

Lady Beatrice's personal assistant approaches you.

Respectfully, you all exchange greetings and follow her into the magnificent estate.

She's warm but reserved, yet it's evident she's taken a liking to Byron, who greets her with his usual charm. You and Sarah can only smile.

Lady Beatrice's assistant guides you through the stunning rooms to an open area leading to the backyard adorned with flowers everywhere. Small white tents are set up across the grounds, hosting beautifully decorated tables.

A buffet table displays an array of delicious sweet treats alongside various high-quality teas.

As you stood there, Lady Beatrice's personal assistant made introductions among various family members and guests.

The guest list was exclusive, including only a handful of guests and the immediate family—less than 20 people.

Sarah gazes around in awe and whispers, "Look, that's Princess Eugenie's best friend. She's always in the fashion mags for her style. Blimey... rubbing shoulders with London's upper crust over tea..."

Byron grins, "She's paired up with Lady Beatrice's brother. He's some count or something. Hard to keep track with all these titles—"

Suddenly, the presence of the Duke and Duchess is announced, followed by their stunning older sisters. Behind them, the elusive Lady Beatrice appears.

"...and Lady Beatrice von Adderley-" she gracefully descends the stone-clad stairs as everyone applauds, accompanied by beautiful classical music playing in the background.

The Duchess smiles, warmly welcoming friends and family. You're relieved it's an informal gathering, as all these formalities make you feel queasy inside.

Lady Beatrice's eyes search the room until they meet her beloved soulmate's gaze. They approach each other, exchanging smiles deep into each other's eyes. You can sense their profound love and affection. She blushes shyly as Byron takes her hands, gives her a kiss on the cheek, and leads her over to where you and Sarah stand, both of you beaming.

With a wide grin, Byron says, "My lady, let me introduce you to my two best mates, two of the three musketeers, Akira and Sarah... and my pals, please say hello to the lovely love of my life and soulmate, Lady Beatrice von Adderley..."

You all exchange greetings, and Lady Beatrice leads you to her table.

You're treated to the most refreshing assortment of teas and delightful sweet and savoury snacks. Laughter fills the air; she's incredibly witty. Despite her charming demeanor, she's lived quite a solitary and sheltered life.

Byron and his lady are ever so affectionate. You've met the Duchess and the Duke. Her mum is quite welcoming and warm. The Duke playfully put his arm around Byron's shoulders and whisked him away, despite Lady Beatrice's protests. You can't help but chuckle at her pouty expression.

Deciding to give you a tour around their abode, Lady Beatrice leads the way.

Their home is exquisitely adorned, resembling a miniature palace. Ornate antique furniture gleams with gold accents. The corridors and staircases seem to stretch endlessly; it's easy to feel like you could get lost in this grandiose estate.

She took your hands and led you to her private quarters. Some of the chateaux can be open for private tours as their home is a national treasure and filled with the reach history of the previous ancestors of the von Adderley family lineage.

She swings open the imposing, weighty double doors, granting access to her private domain—her bedroom.

"This is where I truly feel at home..." She smiles, letting you take in the splendour with wide eyes—a room fit for a real princess.

"Goodness... it's stunning... like something out of a fairytale," you gush.

Sarah playfully coughs and teases, "Did Byron get a peek at your lovely room before?"

Lady Beatrice giggles, "Oh, he's seen it plenty... he visits some weekends... but he's got his own private spot when he's here... although I reckon my dad's aware we sneak off sometimes... like for a late-night dip in the lake..."

."..One of the guards found us snogging in the boathouse and told my dad...let just say...Dad said if it happened again ...he'll set the wedding date himself."

You burst into laughter. Byron had little regard for rules; if you gave him a set, he'd find ways to show he could break them. Lady Beatrice seemed innocent, but you weren't so certain about Byron being her soulmate.

Similar to his approach with his granddad's pricey scotch, he knew the rules about alcohol, but that never stopped him!

Lady Beatrice smiles fondly, "I'm thrilled he embraced me; I've always believed in romantic love and soulmates. He's my protector and the love of my life... Do both of you have soulmates? You're both so lovely." She gently strokes your shiny dark hair.

You smile and shake your head, "No, I've got my soul mark but haven't crossed paths with him yet, but Sarah does."

Sarah giggles, "You won't believe it, but I was part of the Tarnished community."

Lady Beatrice's eyes widen, "Really? Were you able to find someone to date? I heard that the Tarnished could date within their community, but only with those registered as Tarnished."

Sarah nods, "True... I dated someone from the Tarnished and secretly a soul marked person... but fate had a cruel twist for me... I became one of the 'late whisperers.' One morning, I woke up and found my soul mark... was I surprised? And a few weeks later, I found mine. So, we liked each other enough to pursue a relationship."

"Wow, that's incredibly romantic... When By told me about his best girl friends, I was a bit envious of your long friendship, especially you, Akira. I initially thought you two were dating," she says, looking bashfully at you.

You chuckled, "Don't fret, we've known each other since we were 15-16 years old. Byron shielded me from bullies. We're like siblings, so no worries, no romantic vibes there."

She didn't need to know about you and Byron snogging your "faces off". Only his grandad caught you in the act—your most cringeworthy moment, one you'd both live to regret.

She looked at both of you with interest, "Byron's friends are my friends... so can we be mates?" she shyly asked.

"Yeah, why not... we'll be best mates from now on," Sarah laughs and slings her arms around Lady Beatrice's small shoulders; you nod and follow the two out the door.

You overhear Sarah asking, "Do you know BTS..."

Seems like Sarah is pulling someone else into the rabbit hole... you just smile.

You had a brilliant time with the Von Adderleys. Byron played bridge with his soon-to-be cousins-in-law while you and Lady Beatrice explored their stunning landscaped grounds.

...

It went way past three hours. Byron wanted to spend more time with his soulmate. Lady Beatrice arranged for their driver to take you back to Sheffield with the promise of seeing each other again.

You exchange phone numbers to stay in touch.

You and Sarah were chuffed when you got back to the flat in Sheffield. Two happy campers, indeed.

You both decided to freshen up first. Sarah opts for a shower, and you'll take a bubble bath after she's done.

Sarah is showering while you unpack your bags in the empty spaces in the wardrobes. It's a cute flat. Her sister and soulmate bought it a while ago. They are newlywed and still work on decorating the apartment.

It is a spacious flat with three bedrooms and two bathrooms. One day you'll also buy yourself a flat, preferably in another country...maybe Tokyo. You want to go find out more leads on your family lineage.

Sarah emerged with her hair still damp, "Got a hairdryer? My sis nicked hers."

"Yeah, got it here," you rummage in your bag and pass it over.

"Still peckish? If not, how about popcorn and a movie?" Sarah suggests.

"Sounds lovely... nah, I've had my fill with those savoury treats. Stuffed," you zip up your empty bag and stash it in the wardrobe.

"I've run a bubble bath for you...chill in it for a bit. I'll sort out popcorn and sodas...just gonna quick dry my hair and slip into my PJs..."

Sarah spins around and heads to the other guest room, while you grab your vanity case packed with skincare bits and head to the bathroom.

After a relaxing soak, both decked out in PJs, you sink into the cushy couch, making yourself at home.

Sarah picked some flicks on Netflix, and she opted to have you dive into Kdramas.

"Do you speak Korean?" you teased, knowing since your pals went BTS-crazy, you've ended up watching Kdramas with them.

You're made to pick up Korean phrases and Hangul, which ain't too tricky 'cause you've been studying Japanese for years. Japanese is mainly what you chat in with your tutor and your old man, maybe with the geezer in the café down your street.

"Nah, but I'm ace at reading subtitles!" she chuckled.

Your eyes gleam, "So, Miss Korea, what's on the telly now?"

"We're onto this series called 'A Love So Beautiful.' It's the Chinese version 'cause there ain't a Korean one yet. Stumbled upon it by accident, and the story's got me hooked," she beams, fiddling with the remote to find her favourites.

You dig into the buttery popcorn, "What's the deal with it then?"

"Ah, it's fab! I've only seen episode 1, but we'll start from scratch. It's about this cute girl who's been in love with her cold, aloof neighbour forever. She's trying to win his heart, but he's just not into her... heartbreaking yet charming... you'll dig C-dramas and K-dramas, mate... cracking plots and character arcs," she gushes.

You watch and crack up a lot at the lead girl. She's a stunner with big eyes and a wide smile.

After watching four episodes, Sarah suddenly springs up. You give her a quizzical look.

"Blimey, I forgot!" She shouts, all hyped up.

She gives you a bit of a shock, "What?!" You exclaim.

"I've got to school you on my new obsession!" Sarah claps her hands, darting back to the kitchen, where she plugs in her laptop. She's working on her late patients' reports for Sergio. Thankfully, she emailed it early this morning to dodge Dr Witchy Witch's annoyance.

"Oh, no way!" you slump back on the sofa, groaning.

"Oh, come on!!... you'll fancy them... they're fit. You're Asian, so show some support for your own!" she scolds you.

You shoot her an irritated look, "My own?"

Sarah grabs the yellow pillow and hurls it at you, "Don't get all technical with me... you know what I mean!"

She fires up her YouTube app and hooks her laptop to the telly for ease.

You chuckle, "Alright... introduce me to your Korean heartthrobs," teasingly noting her excitement. She's only known the group for less than a week, yet she's already as crazy as Angie and Margie...

You eagerly await her as she stands in front of the screen, turning to you.

"Right, let's start with the recent era, the beginning of the 'Love Yourself: Her' era. We'll start by getting to know their names, never mix them up... gotta nail it from the start, got it. And rule number 1: never diss them in front of ARMY, they're armed to the teeth—" she notices your pale face and chuckles, "just kidding."

https://youtu.be/xu0IfBvZMRs

You're witnessing the meteoric rise of an idol group.

Sarah studies your impressed expression closely. She dragged you into this madness against your will, but now you can't tear your gaze away from these dashing idols.

Among them, one stands out for you. The lad with the massive, beaming grin and killer dance moves. His dance style captivates you—the intensity he brings to every intricate step. He's a sight to behold.

You feel a faint tingling sensation on your soul mark on your ankle, but you brush it off; you've heard it's normal to get those sensations. It doesn't bother you much.

You're mesmerized by him. He talks about wanting to instill hope in people. He's like an angel.

"Blimey... th... they're brilliant. Each one's got a unique role in the group. The way they look out for each other... just brilliant!" you stammer.

You turn wide-eyed to Sarah, "Blimey, Sarah, the family vibe is something else!"

With a smug tone, Sarah responds, "See why I'm obsessed? Alright, what did you learn and remember?"

"My heart went out to the leader, Rapmonster or RM... He was already famous but got mocked for leaving the rap scene, seen as a sell-out. People said he wasn't pretty enough for an idol. Load of rubbish. He's handsome to me... his English is spot on... I've got respect for him," you gush.

Sarah nods, "He often feels he's not good-looking enough... but he's got charisma and smarts."

You carry on, "Then there's another rapper... Agust er... something... Yoongi, right? He got cheated and just wanted to write songs. He used to be underground... uh, then there's the one with the beaming smile... Hosi... I forgot his name, but J-Hope... is our hope. He's a top-notch dancer... I, um... like his vibe... He's really good-looking-" your eyes gleamed with delight.

Sarah giggled, "Ah, I sense a bias coming out?"

You frown, "What's that!!"

"The one that stood out the most for you... but you're supposed to love 'em all the same..." she explained.

"Alright, yeah... he might be my favourite... but blimey, the bloke who opens car doors, Soekjin... He was a theatre student... I'm right... well, I think he's making me doubt who I like more..." You ponder his handsome features. "Looks-wise... Gosh, Sarah, they're good-looking, no wonder you're into them." You grin at her.

Sarah bursts into loud giggles, "My gosh, Kira, you've already got a bias wrecker... someone making you doubt your initial choice... You like 'em both... and the others."

You grin widely, "I've got a good memory... then there's the adorable one, Jimmy or Jimin... He's quite hard on himself... a perfectionist, but he's so cute... OMG, then there's also the visuals of Tae... something. He's striking, and his voice is pure velvet... the cutest one for me is Jung... kuk? He's really talented... and the older ones raised him... so adorable in his school uniform... alright."

Sarah claps her hands, "Wow... now let's check out their latest videos... when you're free, you've gotta watch their debut music vids, their performances at awards shows... we'll catch up on everything from this year, alright..."

You clap your hands, "Alright, let's do it."

"Alright, this one's called 'Mic Drop'—they diss their haters. People are so envious of their talent and voices. Get ready for the BTS heaven ride..."

She turns off the lounge lights, and both your eyes are glued to the screen.

"Let's start with the 'remix' with Steve Aoki, then the choreography music video."

https://youtu.be/kTlv5_Bs8aw

https://youtu.be/11G-k62HygU

""Blimey, that's cracking! Their dance moves are off the charts, Sarah! Show me more."

Your eyes kept shifting from J-Hope to the other lads, but always returning to J-Hope. Every time you saw him dance and smile, your heart raced, and you were left breathless. J-Hope is on fire!!

Sarah leaps up in absolute joy and excitement, "Let's check out 'DNA,' your bias is ace in this one... I'm into all of 'em, but RM and Suga are my faves."

https://youtu.be/MBdVXkSdhwU

Blimey, their moves are off the charts. J-Hope with his fire truck red hair got me all flustered.

You grinned at Sarah, who seemed chuffed to bits, having introduced you to BTS. She kept letting you watch more of their earlier music videos since their debut. You're falling harder for the lads.

She specifically showed you J-Hope's videos to help you understand your bias better. Can't quite figure out why you're leaning more towards him.

https://youtu.be/HLVgpX5P43k

You also watch pics and videos of the Golden Disk Awards that was a few days ago.

Their 5th Muster fan meets in Seoul.

You knew after you watch several mv and people's reaction to their videos, you knew You had sold your soul.

https://youtu.be/z_LKeSO74pw

A/n:  another update for all Hobi-stans. I hope you like it.

Thank you once again for all the support. Even those readers behind the shadows, I would like to know you by voting or commenting.

Sarah led you down the rabbit hole.