I realize only now, that I love me
Though I'm not perfect, I'm so beautiful

When Seokjin drove into his family's property and glanced over the well-kept landscaped garden, he was a little nervous. He parked his car next to his mother's silver-gray Mercedes. She took a week off from the company's hectic schedule to spend quality time with herself. When he thinks of his mother, Seokjin smiles warmly.  While his father is the severe and intimidating business tycoon, she is the one who creates a loving environment in the house. The only problem was that she always supported his father's decisions and rarely challenged her somewhat bullheaded husband.

His father idolizes her, but he sometimes wishes she could just say no to him. He needs her to see the reason right now, but they are already great friends with Noddle's parents. His father has decided that he and Noddle are destined to take the businesses to the next level. He refuses to settle for Noodle. They both hoped that the arrival of their soulmates would save them. Noodle's soulmate, however, has rejected her, because her father does not want him as a son-in-law. But now that he has Samiya, how will he come clean? 

He never questioned his parents' decisions. Children born into this system are expected to follow their parents' instructions and be obedient to their parents' decisions. That is the disadvantage of this crappy system, whether it is good or bad. Billionaire parents are the absolute worst.

He entered the house, quietly greeting their butler and strolling inside. When he saw his mother take out the chocolate cake she had made, he smiled widely. When he grabbed her around the waist from behind and kissed her cheek, she exhaled deeply in shock.

"Oh, my goodness, your silly boy, I nearly died! When did you enter so sneakily." She turned, her gaze fixed on her lovely younger son. He looks more like her, and she is very proud of him.

"Just now," Seokjin girnned.,"I told you all I'm a genius at hide and seek and being stealthy."

She laughed as she hugged him tightly and gently smoothed his hair away from his face. "You'd make a better detective," she smirked.

"Yes, that was my childhood dream, but who would have appreciated Kim Seokjin's world-renowned handsome face? I would have done the world a great injustice," he waggled his brows.

His mother simply shook her head; her younger son had gotten everything from the beautiful fairy. Excellent visual appeal, talent, athleticism, and height.

"Let's go inside. We're having lunch with the Baes today. Your father had asked you and Joo to join him." She furrowed her brows as she noticed a shift in his demeanor.

He sighs deeply as he follows his mother through the dining room section to sit with her in the piano section of the room. He sat down, uninterested; he felt deflated to be at home. Knowing that his engagement to Noodle will be discussed between his two sets of parents once the dating ban is lifted.

He looked at his lovely mother, whose eyes were slightly concerned. "Jinnie, your father discovered that you were with a strange girl in the penthouse apartment. Is this true?"

Her entire demeanor seemed conflicted. Her husband was furious when their informant at the apartment complex informed them that their son is on vacation at his penthouse apartment and that it is not his girlfriend. She was worried because she knew Seokjin was rebelling or cheating on his girlfriend, Joo-Hyun.

Seokjin inhaled deeply, his eyes narrowed, and he looked at this mother with an indefinable emotion flashing across his face. "To tell you the truth, Eomma. I am not fully ready to marry Joo-Hyun."

"You don't have to marry now, my son," his mother said, taking both of his hands. "When you reach the age of 24-25, silly boy.  We know you're still in university and have a demanding job, and BangPD has put a dating ban on all of your contracts."

"No, Eomma," Seokjin said, shaking his head." I mean, I never want to marry Noodle. Mom Don't get me wrong: I like her a lot, but I'm not in love with her. Mom, I want to be with my true soulmate."

His mother was taken aback. "Did you already meet your soulmate, Seokjinnie?" Her surprised expression glinted with light in it, as well as a hint of fear.

Soekjin scoffs and turns his face away from his mother, obscuring the conflicting emotions in his eyes. "Eomma, even if I meet her, Appa will not be keen to stop the engagement with Joo. We know  Appa, he doesn't see reason, Eomma."

His mother appeared sad. "Seokjin...Appa wants to expand his company, and the Baes are good partners. Marrying Joo-Hyun will cement our relationship, and both companies will benefit financially. We have the potential to be a formidable corporate force. If you decide to leave your idol life, your future is set."

Soekjin scoffed "Eomma, I'm currently earning my own money. The life of an idol is difficult but financially rewarding. My profession is serious business, Eomma. I want to live a happy and fulfilled life with my soulmate...my true, true, destined soulmate Eomma. You and Appa chose to abandon your true soulmates. You made the decision; you were free to do so. Why can't I make a decision? Joo-Hyun has found her true soulmate, Eomma. We will be extremely wealthy but extremely unhappy and frustrated in our marriage, and what if I meet my match? I will never let her go, even if it means hurting Joo-Hyun in the long run by cheating on her...and believe me, Eomma, I will do it."

His mom sighs deeply as she senses her son's distress. He doesn't want to get married, even if it would benefit the company and his family. Combining two powerful dynasties will boost their stock prices.

She pressed her hand against his shoulder as he sat, helpless, pleading, "Please talk to Appa.  I don't want to get married to Joo." his eyes suddenly looked misty.

"She loves you and you like her, my boy. You may eventually come to love her. We saw you two kissing the other day, and we knew you two had chemistry. I believe Joo prefers you to her soulmate. You've already started the ball rolling, my son; the Baes is coming over for lunch and we will talk." his mom tried to comfort him.

"I don't want to be here, Eomma," Seokjin said abruptly, leaping up to his feet."  Appa will try to force things, and I just can't—"his expression says it all. Soekjin loathes confrontations with his domineering father. He never battled his father. He was always the most respectful and dutiful child, even as a teen. The Kims never allowed Seokjin to act out or be a rebellious adolescent. He listens and obeys when his father speaks.

She raised her head and grabbed his hand, attempting to yank him back into his seat. "Please, Seokjinnie, do not make things more difficult for us. Our family responsibilities come first."

"Eomma, we're talking about my life here. Why should Joo and I be sacrificed?"He threw his arms up in frustration.

"Seokjin...who was the girl you were with this weekend?" she furrowed her brows in response to his apparent frustration. And don't tell any lies."

Seokjin exhaled heavily, "Eomma, an international peer student assigned to me as her tutor. It's for extra credit, and it'll allow me to graduate earlier next year. She was free, so I invited her to join me so I could assist her in completing all of her worksheets because I still need to go on tour in two weeks. It was discreet, and no one would suspect me of being with a regular girl. Seoul was a little dangerous because dispatch was watching everything. What is it about Appa that makes him take everything so seriously?"

His mother seems relieved. He will never be able to tell his parents that he has met his soulmate. He can't let Samiya be hurt if his parents find out about her ethnic background. His heart races erratically just thinking about her. How will he survive without his gorgeous soulmate? She is his entire world right now, and being separated from her causes him physical pain.

Sadly, he had to conceal her identity from everyone. Nobody knows he met and completed the bond with his soulmate. He will only tell BangPD and management the truth if this engagement with Joo is canceled. And he discovered from Joo that she wants to marry him after being rejected by her mate. He can't do that because they agreed to split up in two weeks. And even though the two weeks are almost up, Noodle Joo refuses to call it quits. Her attitude irritates him greatly.

They heard cars parked in the garage near the kitchen and voices... It's his father and the guests. He looked at his mother with uneasiness as she smiled at him, stood up, and quickly gave him a reassuring pat on his broad shoulder, saying, "Everything will be fine. Trust us, so let me go meet our guest; you can go freshen up...and please come down and greet, "Waving a finger at his stoic stance, she said.

Seokjin's face was expressionless as he watched his mother rush excitedly to the front door to meet up with their friends Seokjin walked halfheartedly up the marble stairs to his bedroom wing.

LATER...during lunch.

Mr. Kim threw daggers at his younger son, who had just unapologetically told them that he and Joo would never get married. Joo appeared nervous, and her parents appeared unimpressed and disappointed. But his father was not having it.

"Kim Seokjin! You're 24 years old, and it's time to plan your future! Why are you being so obstinate and disrespectful..." His father was furious, and he could see his nostrils flare dangerously. Soekjin didn't mind. He had to keep fighting for his love, even if it meant alienating his family he'll do it gladly. His mom was trying to comfort his dad.

"Appa...please Joo-Hyun has met her soulmate, but they have agreed not to date. He rejected her since he realized how she was already betrothed. She informed him she was going to marry me, but allow me an opportunity to meet my soulmate also and make the choice as well!" Seokjin retorted back with a stern voice.

Mrs. Bae looked downcast as she watched Seokjin and his father argue, "Seokjin, don't you like Joo as a wife?"

Noodle-Joo gazed at her "boyfriend's" "flustered" face. Something was wrong with Seokjin, and she prayed she was mistaken in her assumptions.

Seokjin made an apologetic face to Noodles' mother while briefly observing Noodle's groomed wrinkled brows "That is not the case, Maám. I believe it is unjust to allow me to marry Noodle without first meeting and bonding with my true mate. She met hers, and... I'd want to have a choice as well." He looked at his father, who was extremely upset.

"Seokjin, it has already been agreed that this engagement will go through, and I have already scheduled an appointment with your BigHit management!" He gave a smug grin to a stunned Seokjin."What! It is entirely my decision. What are you thinking? I'm old enough to make my own decisions. Noodle-Joo is a beautiful lady, but I can't marry her until I've met my soulmate."

His father snorted and arched his brow mockingly: "So that's why you had a weekend rendezvous with a strange girl in your apartment this weekend, Kim Soekjin, and don't even try to lie to me. My staff informed me that the girl had spent the entire weekend with you. They didn't see her leave. She stayed at your place. So please enlighten us as to why a foreign female was present rather than your girlfriend...are you sleeping with a girl behind Joo's back "He stated this while putting his arms over his muscular body. His father appeared to be both scary and furious. Seokjin gulped, his fury back as he stared into his father's narrowed eyes, which were patiently waiting for him to explain. There was stunned quiet at the table. Noodles' jaw dropped as she stared with raised eyebrows at a pale Seokjin who was seething inwardly.

His mother attempted to rescue the day "Dear...Seokjin stated that he had to tutor a fellow student and that the Busan apartment was more private. He's working on it for extra credit."

His dad stares at his wife in bewilderment "And you believe him...Seokjin was with a girl, with whom he is romantically involved. You and your son talked for two hours every day. How can you not know?" Seokjins' breath became caught.

He just shook his head while Noodle looked perplexed "Seokjinnie... is it true?. Are you dating somebody else?" Fear could appear in her beautiful eyes.

Seokjin squeezed his lips together, his gaze hardening. "I don't need to be interrogated like a criminal. I didn't do anything wrong. Excuse me!" He grabbed his napkin, wiped his lips, and as he informed the stunned group, he abruptly leaped up to leave the table. Everyone was waiting for Seokjin to reveal whether or not it was true.

"Where are you going? Seokjin! Come back here, in this instance..." his father shouted after him, but Soekjin took long strides back to his room to pack his clothing. Her mother's eyes widened as she wanted to follow Seokjin.

Mr. Kim, on the other hand, kept his wife at his arm, demanding, "Leave him! I'll deal with him later—-" He apologized to the visitors, but Noodle Joo leaped up before his father, saying, "Uncle, let me go and talk to him... he seems so upset right now." She bows to her parents and the Kims and rushes up the stairs to Seokjins'room.

She noticed him inside his walk-in cupboard, packing clothes inside his luggage bag. He was frustrated. He despised being compelled to succumb to the system's game.

Seokjin felt a quiet presence in the room as he glanced up at Noodle-joo, who was standing at his bedroom door. He just shook his head as he took his folded t-shirt and neatly packed it inside his luggage. When he comes home, their maid washes and irons most of his clothes. But this time he felt he needed to get away from home to cool off and show his parents that he was serious.

"Soekjin...why are you acting this way all of a sudden?" Noodle-joo asked quietly" Seokjin raised his head, frustrated, and replied calmly, "I'm sorry, Noodle, but I don't think it's ethical to get engaged without first asking our soulmates. System rigging is both unhealthy and cruel. Your soulmate will need you in the future. Where will it place me in the future?"

Noodle Joo entered and stood quietly beside him, looking into his conflicted eyes. "Jinnie, he turned me down. He moved on with his girlfriend. My father met with him behind closed doors and I'm left with no choice. I had to move on, and Jinnie, I only want to marry you. You are also my best friend, and we are familiar. We can be so good together. I swear I won't let you down as a wife, Seokjin. We have chemistry, Seokjin, and I genuinely love you. Please pick me." She leaned her head on his shoulders, her arms wrapped around his arm.

Seokjins' mind is racing. He doesn't want to hurt Noodle, but why must he reject his soulmate? He loves Samiya. There will be no one like her. It's her or no one else.

Seokjin closed his eyes for a moment before responding, "Noodle," with a sad tone in his voice. " I have nothing against you, but I also want to meet my soulmate and have a choice. My parents are pressuring me to acknowledge this upcoming engagement. I just cannot Noodle... I'm sorry." He appears apologetic as he notices her teary eyes.

"Have you met your soulmate yet, Seokjin?" Her voice is tinged with fear. She does not want to risk losing her only chance at finding a suitable husband. She simply cannot give up now. She'd rather die than marry the overweight narcissist her father had waiting in the wings for her if this arrangement is a failure. Jin is perfect.

Jin made a shaky motion with his head. "Noodle, I've recently developed feelings for another girl. I apologize for causing you pain."

Noodle's brow furrowed in surprise: "So you've started dating someone who isn't your soulmate. Why not settle down with me, then Seokjin?  What does this girl have that I don't? Why are you doing this to me, Seokjin? Why?' she was sobbing. How can he like another girl when their parents have already arranged for them to be together?

" Noodle-Joo. We are not dating. You know the dating ban we had to adhere to.  I just like her, and if I start liking other girls then I'm unsuitable for you. I'm sorry. I might start cheating, which would be unfair to you in the future. Please set me free. Tell your parents that we can't continue." He pleaded with her. Her eyes were red-rimmed from sobbing.

Noodle shook her head. "I...I can't, Seokjin. You're my ticket out of my parents' clutches..."

Seokjin narrowed his eyes in disbelief as he looked at her. Is she serious?

Then he scoffed, "Then get ready for a marriage of convenience. I'll never share a bed with you or have children with you. Your fate will be a loveless marriage. Do you want that? "

Noodle's eyes widen in astonishment...

A/n  I hope you like this unexpected update. Feel free to comment, vote or share. A big shout out to all of you even the shadow readers, know you are valued.

1. Will Seokjin stick to his decision not to marry?

2. Is it possible for him and his father to reach an agreement?

3. What are your thoughts about his attitude regarding Noodle-Joo?

4. Would Samiya let his connection with his parents deteriorate or will she let him go free?