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Even before the doorbell rings, Yeontan starts barking at the door. Jin shakes his head, "It must be Taehyung..." and opens the door, only to see Arin standing there. She tackles Yeontan on the ground, squealing as he licks her and she coos over him.

She casually makes her way inside, when she hears a hiss of her name. Jin is staring at the stranger standing outside, confused. Arin mumbles something about her not wanting to bring her sister before she gestures the stranger to come inside.

"She's Era, the sister I told you about." Arin introduces, "She insisted to see if I wasn't doing any illegal business for you guys."

Era widens her eyes, "Arin!" she whispers, telling her to shut her mouth but Arin just rolls her eyes. Jin laughs, "That's okay. We assure you Arin is in good hands."

Era shakes her head, trying to dismiss the explanation. She can already see opinions forming about her. 

"Where's Jungkook?"

Hoseok laughs, "In his room with Yerin."

Arin widens her eyes, immediately going by his side as if she's heard the best gossip ever. "He must have pissed in his pants right?"

Hoseok shakes his head, "He was shy, indeed."

Yoongi shakes his head, "He is head over heels already, he even has his wallpaper as her picture," he says and leans closer to Arin to join the gossip gang. "The other day he did not even look up from his phone and I peeked slightly to see him grinning at his wallpaper....she looks the same in real life too."

Arin nods, and calls him out, "Jungkookie!"

And only a few seconds later, a tall woman with her hair covering one half of the face and a dusty-coloured outfit walks down with a grumpy Jungkook following close. He flicks Arin's forehead immediately, scolding her for no reason and they start throwing jabs at each other as if they were five.

Jimin with his ruffled wet hair is in the living room in the next few minutes as well, whining when Jungkook mistakenly hits him. Jimin is then introduced to Era who was sitting awkwardly on the couch, slightly taken aback by how the members treat Arin. They just exchange a few pleasant greetings before it morphs into awkward silence.

Jimin follows Era's eyes to where Arin seems to be talking with everyone else. It makes him realise that he's missed seeing her for the past few days when Arin had gone home after their light argument. If anything he knows he wants to do nothing with her but everyone seems to enjoy her company, and so has he become used to it.

What would have happened if he hadn't stopped the car that day? Would they not have met each other and know they were soulmates?  Would that have been for better?

As if their discomfort radiated throughout the house because the next moment, everyone's seated around the living room with Jin urging Era to settle down too. 

"So Era, do you like jokes?" Jin suddenly asks. Era looks at him, surprised by the random question.

"Oh no please Hyung, you will scare her away," Jungkook suddenly pipes in as he makes his way to sit beside him. Jin shoots a glare at the younger one before looking back at Era who was sitting stiffly.

"I was going to tell you a nice joke, an animal one," Jin says and leans forward a little, "But it's irrelephant."

And he bursts into a loud laugh. Yerin, who was sitting beside Jungkook, chuckles and Jungkook looks at her before widening his eyes, "Please don't tell me you liked the joke."

He looks back at Era who has now leaned back on the couch while laughing, "How could you all like the joke?"

"Don't get jealous now Jungkook, you can crack one too— I will promise I will laugh." Jin winks at the younger.

Yoongi shakes his head at them and Hoseok keeps glancing at his door. Namjoon comes down and greets everyone but his breath hitches when he sees Era sitting beside Arin, staring back at her. Arin sees it as Namjoon inquiring why is she here when he only asked the members and their soulmates to be there too and explains why she is here.

Namjoon dismisses it, saying it's okay, the more the merrier— only to realise that the decisions they'll probably end up taking won't be merry, that they aren't here to chit-chat but decide what their future holds.

Nevertheless, Era falls into conversation with Yerin and Jin again, Namjoon sits beside Jungkook who calls Taehyung to know when they'll be here. After a few minutes, the pizza gets delivered and humming to the smell of fresh pizza— Taehyung walks in with Eunbee.

Hoseok opens his arms to hug Taehyung but quickly puts his hand out for handshake instead, a silent apology through his eyes. Yeontan is jumping at his feet, barking at Taehyung who pats his head—cooing how much he missed him. Taehyung greets everyone, widens his eyes at Yerin when Jungkook tells she's her soulmate and Arin's immediately pinching his cheeks making Eunbee sigh.

She's here because she had no other choice but to follow Taehyung. Taehyung said she can refuse if she doesn't want to go but she doesn't want to be the reason his career gets affected. Eunbee silently greets Yerin who has curious eyes on the string wrapped around their necks. Eunbee will just have to get used to such eyes.

"Is everyone here?"

"Not everyone," Jin and Hoseok say at the same time. Namjoon furrows his eyebrows and looks at Jin curiously who just nods in response.

"Naeun will be here in five." Hoseok tells them. 

"Why did you call Hayoung?" Namjoon whispers to Jin. Jin raises an eyebrow at him, "I thought you asked everyone to invite their soulmates?"

Namjoon stutters. He did but he didn't mean it in that way. He knows Jin loves Hayoung to disregard any kinds of bonds in the world but he's also surprised because Jin has never used the word 'soulmate' for Hayoung. The said soulmate walks in with a blank face, as if she would rather be somewhere else and greets everyone without even looking at them.

Her eyes can't seem to look away from Yoongi and the empty seat beside him. She knows Jin can probably understand why her eyes are there and she shivers when he calls her, "Hayoung."

It is only then when Yoongi looks away from Taehyung and gives her a smile, as if he's not feeling the sparks in him, the currents of desires flowing and tugging his heart. Hayoung sighs and Jin fists his hands. He hates it. Her eyes that have never looked into anyone else's is seeking his friends' today.

Out of instinct, Jin pulls Jungkook closer to fill the small gap he had left for Hayoung to sit. The younger whines, pinching Jin's waist. "What is it now?"

Jin looks at Jungkook playfully, "I miss you Jungkook, sit with Hyung." and makes a pout as if he would kiss Jungkook next. The latter groans, mumbles you have finally lose it hyung but scoots closer nevertheless. Hayoung's heart drops because Yoongi stands up and walks to sit on a chair at the dining table instead.

So no one wants to even sit beside her now? Is that how much they have come to dislike her? Or probably hate.

Their attention is drawn towards Hoseok when he clears his throat and places a hand on the woman standing beside him. "Meet Naeun." and then he looks at her so sweetly that everyone almost gags, "My soulmate."

Taehyung jumps in his place, pointing at Naeun. "You, aren't you the rich daughter from 'My mother-in-law is a CEO'?" 

Naeun subtly nods, shy from Taehyung recognising her. The latter claps, "I knew it was you. Do you know how much I cried when you talked to your dog in the drama? I just wanted to hug you—"

"Everyone's here, right?" Namjoon interrupts. He mentally does a headcount of the members and nods. Chairs get dragged and couches feel smaller when everyone gets seated around the centre table in the living room. 

"Why are we so serious? It looks like we are going to rob a bank or something..." Taehyung mumbles and Jimin glares at him to shut his mouth. 

Namjoon sighs. "The public has already started questioning our absence and we need to decide what we would do now. This was something I could have just done with the members but this isn't such a simple matter. I can understand if as soulmates, you want to take a step back and get to know each other— the company is ready to support that. But we also need to decide how much backlash we can take for whatever conclusion we land on today."

Era feels like she shouldn't be here. She doesn't have anything to do here, she instantly regrets coming. She is sure people find her intrusive and nosy. She is also weirded out because Arin did show her distaste in Era wanting to follow Arin but she never stopped her from doing so.

"Whatever you chose, would affect either of you and all of us. We should be promoting shows but here we are, but anyway. We need to decide right now. A hiatus, a small break or a vacation— anything you have in mind, lay it out here."

"I don't think we have many options Namjoon," Yoongi says, "Taehyung can't perform and Jungkook won't be able to either. We don't know when they'll be able to, should we look for a hiatus for now."

Taehyung sighs and so does Jungkook. They love performing— hell stages are their oxygen. It breaks Yerin's heart and she hesitantly places a hand on Jungkook's shoulder who leans into her touch. But what he doesn't expect is Eunbee to speak to him, in a tone that is demanding.

"Jungkook." Eunbee calls him out. "Hadn't you gone to Seojun to know whether or not the string could be cut?"

Taehyung widens his eyes and nods, "I almost forgot about it, what did he say?"

Jungkook shakes his head, dismissing it. "It's nothing, it's all blabbering."

"I still wanna know." Eunbee says, crossing her arms in front. Jungkook raises an eyebrow. He doesn't like how she's talking to him, demanding answers like that.

"It was nonsense, honestly. It doesn't make sense to me. Tell me hyung, if there was the tiniest rumour about one cutting strings, don't you think everyone would know and try to dig in more?" Jungkook says, rolling his eyes.

Taehyung nods. Namjoon raises an eyebrow, "Jungkook's logic makes sense. We have never come across such a story. I think it's better to think of practical solutions instead of pondering over theories—"

"Can you just quit the nonsense and tell?"

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