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Arin's not home. College camp. An excuse to run away, that's fine.

But she's not taken the string with her. It's for the first time she's left it behind.

Era stares at the glowing item placed on the table while Jimin's words ring in her head. Is the string something beyond what they think it is? She hesitates, considers not doing it but curiosity gets the best of her and she does. She picks it up.

There is an instant shift in the air.

The next moment she just knows. She knows that their neighbour's soulmate is a boy named Alex. Their has a soulmate which is a Dobermann. She just knows.

She also knows that this is exactly what Jimin was talking about.

Why would Arin not tell her or anyone about it? Why would she try to hide it? She keeps the string in her bag and goes to work. There is an event coming up in the Unmyeong Museum which she has to help organise. She thinks she can help Taehyung or Eunbee in some way at least.

Namjoon said they'll go to the headquarters tonight and she hopes they find something that could be of help. She's seen the desperation in Eunbee's eyes, it hurts her heart.

The meeting discussion is at her office, one of the workers will come and brief her about the event. The afternoon is spent just like that. She gets closer to the worker, finds out they have gone to the same college and exchanges numbers.

It happens when she's placing her phone back in her bag, Era's hand skims past the string.

And she realises something.

That's how they end up in the Bangtan dorm, with Soo-ah, the worker Era had met for the meeting, also Jin's soulmate.

"I didn't believe it when Era said that she knows who my soulmate is, she's a little genius isn't she?" Soo-ah says. She has a baby closely held in her chest who is busy playing with Taehyung's finger. He loves babies, Eunbee finds it endearing.

Era licks her lips. She didn't tell Soo-ah about the string yet. What if it makes Arin fall into trouble? The members give a knowing look to her.

Jin shakes his head, "I didn't even realise it's you. I mean you are married and have two kids so—"

"How do you two know each other?" Era asks.

"I sold my apartment recently, to her," Jin says, smiling at Soo-ah. "We met for the first time today morning, to sign the agreement."

Soo-ah nods then look at the members looking anxiously at them. Hayoung's there too, she came as soon as she got the news of Jin's soulmate. "I won't take much of your time, I know it's almost midnight...I just came here to thank you."

Jin is taken aback because he was prepared for an intense and worrisome conversation but not a thank you.

"Thank you for meeting me, I can't be more grateful to you," Soo-ah says, feeling a little embarrassed about it. "To be honest, I was often worried that I would remain as a PenPal and with an immortal bond, it is the worst. It becomes sad and lonely."

Jin nods slightly. He is happy to have someone understand him. He's been worried about the same thing."You see, I am married, my husband and I never cared for being soulmates because we love each other."

A shiver runs down Hayoung's body. Love each other. She and Jin loved each other too right?

"I never show the fear and I know he does not either but we are afraid, I know he is too. That he will grow old alone without me."

Namjoon smiles, it's a sad one. The world sure loves tearing people apart in the worst ways.

"In our marriage vows he said he wishes to see me in grey hair and I was worried that wish would not be fulfilled at all, but thank you. If I had ever known Jin from BTS is my soulmate perhaps I would have given up before I even tried to meet you," Soo-ah laughs and Jin shakes his head. "Maybe you would have met me way before then."

Soo-ah nods, glancing at her baby once. "Growing old is sad when you have to do it alone, being left alone after seeing your loved one die is sad too– and I did not want such a life. I would have said sorry for not believing in soulmate bonds and moving on in life...which is ironic because I work for it...but I feel you don't need it because you don't seem to believe in it either," she then looks at Hayoung, smiling.

Hayoung forces a smile too.

Jin nods, "I don't."

Maybe yesterday he would have added saying that he doesn't because he loves someone else who is not his soulmate but he is not sure if he should anymore. It's not that he doesn't love her, he does and he will but maybe he has lost the right to.

Jin does not look up at her, his eyes trained on his feet.

"I am happy to know that now you will be able to grow old together now," Soo-ah says.

Hayoung doesn't know what to say anymore. This morning only Jin has made it clear he doesn't want to do anything with her anymore. What is she to do now?

And she realises it all.

Fate is a funny pathetic thing, Karma's a bitch and she is the punchline of its every joke.

She realises how Jin must have felt and she cannot imagine how he was so hopeful and strong throughout because right now Hayoung cannot think of seeing Jin with someone else. How selfish has she been all this time? How can she overlook him just for someone– who she does not even love?

It's the urge, she knows– which made them overstep their boundaries but in the end, it is just a hormone messing with them. Soulmates don't feel anything if their hearts refuse to beat for the other, they aren't soulmates.

Her mind blanks out and then all of the past week's flash in her mind. What has she done to herself? She does not recognise herself, no wonder Jin walked out of the room yesterday, wondering the same thing.

"I am sorry for running out of the museum, like that," Soo-ah looks at Jungkook and Jimin. "It just clicked into my mind then...and I immediately contacted Era asking if what she said about knowing my soulmate was true."

"I almost thought I lost the event...after I creeped you out." Era mumbles, making Soo-ah laugh. Namjoon caresses her hair, unable to help himself.

"How did you even find about it?" Soo-ah asks. Era glances around, unsure if she should reveal the truth or not. She has a feeling she can, she finds herself trusting Soo-ah.

"This." She produces the string, showing it to her. Soo-ah's eyes widen.

"Does Arin know?" Jungkook immediately says, raising an eyebrow, "That you have her string? She's gone to the camp, you said, right?"

Era shakes her head, biting her lip because Jungkook's stare hardens.

"Then take it back, she will give it when she wants to." Jungkook shakes his head.

"Thank you Era," Yoongi immediately says, glaring at the younger, "We need it actually."

Jungkook shakes his head, "Still, you need to tell her!"

"She won't give it anytime soon then," Jungkook rolls his eyes when Hayoung speaks. "Well, atleast one of the siblings is useful."

"Not at eleven at the night, please." Era groans. Hayoung bites back her tongue to stop herself from remarking something on the terms of I knew it.

Eunbee sighs and shakes her head. "I feel betrayed," she says, "She knew my life is on the line and still she kept the string with herself and even lied about it. How could she be so selfish?"

Era looks down in guilt.

"What do we do now–"

"Do you know what that string is?" Soo-ah says. Her face is blank and for a moment Era regrets speaking about the string.

"Is it what Chae is looking for?" Namjoon asks. The woman nods.

"What is this string?" Yoongi asks, his voice stern. Soo-ah sighs. "I am not supposed to tell you but I can advise you that you should return it—"

"What if we don't?" Namjoon says, taking the string from Era.

"She recently announced that the string is officially a stolen property and that its so-called thief would be punished by the HQ," Soo-ah says, shrugging.

"What kind of punishment?"

"I am not sure if I can tell you, it could be against worker guidelines."

Namjoon sighs.

"Let me know if I can be of any help, " Soo-ah turns towards Jin. "Thank you again, you have no idea how much this means to me, I am sure it means to you a lot too."

She stands up, bows and turns to Taehyung, "Say bye to V uncle," she takes the tiny hand in hers and waves it towards Taehyung who softly coos at him.

"He likes you," she laughs, "I will get going. If you need the VIP tickets for the upcoming art festival, ask Era," she winks at Jin and bows at the rest of them again before walking out.

. . .

"So to summarise all the things we know—" Jin says and looks at Jungkook.

"There is no sword at the Museums of fate and that these red strings of fate are new, which can mean that Taehung Hyung and Eunbee weren't soulmates in the first place," the younger says.

"Also they should have appeared at or around 18," Eunbee says. "But they didn't."

"Which can also mean that some of us weren't originally soulmates either," Namjoon shrugs, "Makes sense because Yoongi Hyung and Hayoung have met each other four years ago already...if they were soulmates, we would have known about it before."

Hayoung glances at Yoongi who nods.Hayoung glances at Yoongi who nods.

"The string Arin has information about who is whose soulmate if one of them is close," Jimin says.

"I have a feeling that they are hiding something," Yoongi says. Answers. Yoongi needs answers.

He can't just get the thought out of his head. The headquarters is hiding something. Why are they searching for the string? Why are these unusual things happening to them and to the bonds all over the world?

Did fate really malfunction?

Everyone nods, agreeing.

"But in any way, we can't just return the string like that." Era says, shaking her head. "They'll punish Arin."

"She shouldn't have—"

"I think we should give Yonghone a visit," Namjoon says, all of a sudden. Hayoung glares at him for interrupting her.

"Didn't you rule it out saying it has no swords?" Jin furrows his eyebrows, looking at the others, cluelessly.

"We did, but the issue is not just finding the sword," Yoongi sighs, licking his lips. "That string obviously is something more than we are thinking of it as. Soo-ah looked anxious just like Chae did while talking about it...I know they are hiding something and we need to find out what. Mostly give the string back too—"

"—Not the string." Era immediately says, "Arin will fall in trouble."

"Why did you even bring the string if you weren't going to return it?" Hayoung mumbles. Yoongi gives her a glare and she looks away, munching on some chocolate she found in her bag.

"Why Yonghone though?" Jimin asks.

"Yonghone has the most recent information about the soulmates, it has a whole floor dedicated to strings—not the red ones but the others which represent platonic, parental or non-soulmates. If we figure out what kind of string Arin's is then we can decide over something." Namjoon says, avoiding Era's eyes. He knows she's looking at him like she did to Yoongi. She won't let them return the string at Arin's stake.

"Who all are going to go?" Eunbee asks. "Obviously not me and Taehyung...Yonghone's crowded."

Namjoon nods, "The rest of us can. Jungkook will you?"

"I will," the younger says and looks at Era. She knows he'll support Arin under any condition. "The tattoos get hidden under the mask anyway."

"Alright, tomorrow we'll head out early, as soon as we can to avoid as much as the crowd...okay? Let me just inform our manager," Namjoon says, standing up. "You can inform this to others too."

"I think we should inform Arin too," Jungkook says again and Jimin holds his arm, shaking his head. "It will be better for her to not know."

"Stay over," Namjoon mouths and Era nods, relieving a sigh. The rest nod, some yawning and some already slumping on each other. Jin asks Hayoung to sleep in his room and he walks to Hoseok's room to sleep with him instead. No one questions it, too tired to even realise anything.

Namjoon ends up taking the couch in his room despite Era's protests and the silence engulfed the room in no time.

"What will happen if we don't find the sword? Or any lead?" Era suddenly says. "What if they come for us, now that the string is with us instead? Did we make a mistake by telling Soo-ah?"

Namjoon breathes out. "Don't think so much, just rest. Things have always fallen in place for us...I believe it will, this time too."

"Fate always has her favourites, doesn't she?"

Namjoon chuckles, "She does..."

"You all are lucky...or have been lucky all these years that you didn't go through all this during your peak growth years...I mean you have a lot to do now too, but you get what I mean, right?" Era says, her voice slurred.

Namjoon hums, his eyelids droopy.

"Sleep, little genius."

. . .

Luckily, Yonghone during the weekdays is almost empty during its opening hours. All covered in masks and hats so that any photos taken can't make a member stand out— Namjoon leads the others through the museum. He's visited Yonghone twice, he knows his way around a few floors.

They reach the floor where aisles and shelves were filled with only strings and strings.

"Wow..." Jimin says, blinking his eyes. "I think I am going to go blind with the glow of so many strings."

Jungkook hums. They look around, trying to find a string similar to Arin's—multicolour, with a faint glow and like a twisted rope but all strings seem to be uni-coloured and have a glow bright enough to make them seem like strings of light instead.

"I can't see that type of string at all...there is not even a duotone string either..." Hoseok mumbles. "Is that string also a special case like Taehyung's?"

Yoongi sighs, looking around when he feels someone's presence behind him. He turns around but sees no one. Noticing the distress on Yoongi's face, Jin reaches his hand out to his shoulder, "What's wrong?"

"Hyung, don't you feel like someone's following us?" Yoongi says. "Don't you find it weird that there is no staff attending to us right now?"

Jin shrugs, "Yonghone's a modern museum, audios work better than a staff so I figured it was normal."

Yoongi looks unsure. Jin shakes his head, "You're being a paranoid Yoongi—"

"The string!" They look towards Namjoon who had just shouted and see him running after a man. Jungkook is overtaking him as Jimin also starts running. Hoseok pats Jin's back, "He was hiding somewhere, he snatched the string from Namjoon's hand and ran away."

"Why is this guy roaming around with the string in his hand?" Jin scolds, following the rest of them while running.

"Catch him!" Hoseok yells.

They reach to the other side of the floor, a dead end. Jungkook stops just before the guy, who's facing the wall. "Where are you going to run now?" he says, slightly mocking.

The man turns around, revealing himself.

"Jun-woo?" The members look at each other, confused.

"What are you doing here?" Yoongi asks.

Jun-woo doesn't say anything, gripping the string in his hand closer to his chest. He looks shaken.

"You have been following us, right?"

Jun-woo sighs, nodding. Yoongi mouths 'I told you so' to Jin. "For how long?" Namjoon asks.

"Since yesterday...after you've left the museum," Jun-woo says, sounding disappointed. "Manager Chae thought you were all up to something...I thought she was wrong about it...but you really had the string with you..."

"Give the string back," Jungkook says, inching closer. Jun-woo shakes his head. "You guys shouldn't interfere with something you don't know—"

"What is that string?" Namjoon deadpans, walking up to him. "What are you guys hiding?"

"Nothing—"

"That's bullshit," Yoongi says. "Tell us, you have nowhere to go anyway."

"Will you l-let me go if I tell you?" Jun-woo looks up at Namjoon with widened eyes. Namjoon melts a little.

"We'll see," Hoseok says, pulling Namjoon back. "Tell us, now."

Jun-woo sighs, before staring at his feet and speaking.

"For years, we have followed the legacy of our organisation which means we weren't allowed to get involved in between them to figure out any complications or change anything in them. Our ancestors believed that bonds cannot be formed– they are predestined and not in the hands of a human. But centuries ago, people got curious and since then...people have been researching and experimenting to find a way to create red strings of fate..."

"No way..." Yoongi mumbles. "No way you guys did..."

Jun-woo winces, probably regretting speaking out. "We found a way. We did. We found a way that will help people choose their soulmates. Once the string was tied, those people can feel the same urges and go through the same changes one does— at least that is what we planned to do..."

"What do you mean planned to do?" Jimin scoffs.

Jun-woo gives them pleading eyes, "I will lose my job if I say any further..."

"And you'll lose it either way when we report you for following us. You admitted it yourself, didn't you?" Jin crosses his arms in front of him. Jun-woo shakes his head, shuddering as tears well up in his eyes.

They pity him slightly, knowing it is not his mistake. He is just doing what he has to or has been asked to but it doesn't overcome their want to know how they can make things right.

"These strings we made had an issue. They didn't overwrite the existing bonds so they won't work on anyone else than the unbonded soulmates...the trial failed and these strings were supposed to be destroyed after bringing them back to the headquarters..."

"But?" Jimin presses, stepping closer to Jun-woo. The latter shrinks, closing his eyes. "But we lost one string on our way..."

"And it somehow ended up with Arin..." Yoongi breathes out. Jun-woo nods, mumbling. "The stupid string won't work but wrecked out the whole HQ..."

"But when you touch the string, you just know the soulmates of people around you...how is that possible?" Namjoon asks.

Jun-woo holds the string up, to show it to everyone. "It has information from our database stored inside it...like a USB? That's how we had thought it could disconnect from one person's original bond and feed into the other...but it didn't work."

He shrugs, "Since it lost its connection from our database, your brain is the source of energy it gets...that's why you just know about everyone's soulmates. That is also why your bonds have messed up...in the database, some of you are unbonded but this string caused a glitch and now all of it is a mess..."

"I thought you were an idiot," Jin blurts out, then licks his lips when everyone gives him a roll of their eyes. "I mean he looked like it..."

"It's my concept," Jun-woo sighs, "As a secretary, I am supposed to overlook certain things, playing dumb is better."

"What are you going to do with the string? Destroy it?"

Jun-woo bites his lips, shaking his head. "We...found a way to overwrite the bonds."

The members sigh.

"You do understand how wrong that is right?" Jungkook says, passing a hand through his hair. "Leave alone the fact that we are already destined and bound to one person–who we may not even love– but think about what problems it can create? What if someone forcefully makes someone their or someone else's soulmate...Imagine what people like us, the one's in public's eye would have to go through...anyone would buy the string and would want to make us their soulmates!"

Hoseok gasps, rubbing his forearms. "The thought just gave me chills."

"Yes, I know, It is a trial string," Jun-woo whines, shaking his head. "We haven't even decided the name of it yet! We thought we should name it 'IBond' but we will have to get the project approved and then clear the naming with Apple!"

"What happens to us?" Jin says, "The glitch or whatever that caused so much trouble?"

Jun-woo shrugs. "Once the string is connected, there is no going back. All the existing bonds would be overwritten..."

"Give that string back," Yoongi says, bringing his hand out. "We can't let you guys do this...we can't let this affect us anymore..."

"Sir, please understand," Jun-woo says, pressing his palms together in a plead. "I can't give you this string...I need to take it back to my boss..."

"How do you guys plan to make it work?" Namjoon puts his hands in his pockets, voice demanding. Jun-woo seems hesitant and Jin scoffs. "Come on, you have already lost your job by telling us you've messed up...you can tell us that too."

Jun-woo looks terrified and Jungkook gives Jin a what the fuck look. The older shrugs.

Jun-woo exhales, letting the string go and fall on the ground. He's given up.

But no one moves to take the string, all ardently waiting to hear him.

"If we connect all these strings to a parent network which would act as a source of energy to it, then people who get tied by these strings would be supplied that energy, enough for it to over-ride the existing bond..."

"What if it's too much energy?" Namjoon says, "You haven't tried, have you? You didn't have the string..."

Jun-woo nods.

"Does Soo-ah know?" Jin asks. Yoongi looks at him, confused. Why is he asking that?

"No one but the special task force under our headquarter knows. Soo-ah doesn't, Joongki doesn't either..."

"Leave," Namjoon says. "Let's pretend we never met today. I don't care what you tell Chae about today but this never happened. If you tell her then you know you'll be going down worse than us."

"And can you erase the CCTV?" Hoseok asks. Jun-woo shakes his head, "CCTV doesn't work on any other place than the grand hall..."

Jun-woo sighs, shaking his head as they let him walk away. Jimin picks up the string and keeps it in his pocket. "Let's go home."

. . .

"What are we going to do now?" Eunbee nibbles on her lower lip.

"We can't return the string anymore...change of plans." Namjoon shrugs.

Eunbee looks at Taehyung and he knows she's terrified. Hell, even he is. Those people are willing to risk their lives and more people like them who have no idea that their lives are in the hands of such schemes.

The members have just come back from the museum and told Taehyung, Eunbee and Hayoung everything. Namjoon tried reassuring Eunbee that they'll figure something out but she's been panicking anyway.

"We need to destroy it," Hayoung says, looking up. All of them look at her, blank-faced. "That should work in my opinion."

"Where is that parent network though?" Jungkook asks, looking back at Namjoon.

"And how do we destroy it?" Jimin adds.

Namjoon shakes his head, not understanding where they can get a lead from. "I think we should get Soo-ah on board."

Hayoung rolls her eyes. "Why would she work with us?" she crosses her arms in front of her. "And even if she does, how can we trust her? Do you trust her, Jin? You have known her for only two days."

Jin glares at her and a visible tension settles in the air. "Jun-woo said she doesn't know about the whole ordeal... yesterday when she told us to return the string, she clearly looked as if she knew something. I am sure she has a good hunch... rumours spread fastest within the workplace."

"Will she be able to help us though?" Yoongi says, furrowing his eyebrows. "I mean she's just a staff member there...She can find out about the parent network but to destroy it..."

"She's the only lead we have right now," Namjoon says. "Jun-woo won't open his mouth again, and we probably shouldn't meet him again—we'll fall in trouble."

"We should probably call everyone in," Hoseok says, already fishing his phone out from his pocket. "They deserve to know about it and probably can help us too."

"Should we tell Arin now?" Jimin murmurs. "She will be back from the camp in a few hours...she'll know eventually."

Namjoon sighs. Era told him not to tell Arin because she believes her sister won't let things go smoothly and Namjoon agrees. He's seen Arin, the girl has been defensive with the string. He shakes his head but provides no explanation. Jimin looks at Jungkook who just shrugs and goes back to staring at his phone.

He can't even talk to Yerin. He misses her so much. She slips in his mind as soon as he gets it off something else, she's constantly there, playing hide and seek with his thoughts. He hopes she is okay.

"Soo-ah said she'll be here after her shift ends in the evening," Jin informs them and then looks at Hayoung before, dragging his eyes around the room. "No unnecessary talking in between, we need to make this work, okay?"

. . .

"I had a feeling..." Soo-ah sighs, shaking her head. "They suddenly reduced the task force team and fired a bunch of staff, it all became quiet and secretive...I knew something was going on..."

Jin sighs. "That's why we need your help, Soo-ah...We need to destroy the parent network before Chae manages to get her hands on the string. If they connect the string to it...Jun-woo said there's no going back, we all will be stuck how we are right now...and Eunbee—"

"—I know the aftermath Jin," Soo-ah shifts her seat, uncomfortable with so many eyes on her. "But I can't help you, I can't betray the people I work for..."

Namjoon drags a chair and sits in front of her, "We are sorry that we are putting you in such a difficult position but think about it Soo-ah. Not only Eunbee, but so many people are facing its after effect...we don't even know right now but there is a possibility more of us are facing it too..." He shakes his head.

"Oh shit." Jungkook all of a sudden exclaims, clasping a hand on his mouth. "I forgot to let you all know something— I mean it just slipped out of my mind— but Seojun Hyung had mentioned his grandfather never met his soulmate again...after they broke the bond—"

"Yeah, what about it?" Taehyung asks. Jungkook calms down, looking at him, "Don't you find it weird that they tried breaking the bond to stay as friends and then never met again?"

"They probably didn't want each other in their lives anymore..."

Jungkook shakes his head, "But what if they...like...lost memories of each other?"

The room falls into silence.

Jungkook looks around and makes vague gestures in the air, "I mean, it's just my theory, not necessarily true—"

"No you actually make sense," Namjoon says, looking back at Soo-ah. "What if that was also one of the experiments the headquarters had done? Jun-woo said the research has been going on for years."

Soo-ah tenses, looking at Namjoon. He's trying to guilt-trip her into his plan and it's working. She knows she won't be able to say no. She knows things she shouldn't anyway, regardless of her participation or involvement, she has broken rules already.

"What do you want me to do?" she finally sighs out. Jin grins, placing a hand on her shoulder to show her appreciation. Hayoung rolls her eyes, "Could have agreed before already."

"We need you to—" Namjoon stops when the doorbell rings.

He looks around with furrowed eyebrows, eyes hovering over Naeun and Era sitting on one side of the couch. "All of us are here already, right?"

"Let me see," Hoseok says and peeks through the door hole. He immediately turns around, looking worried. "It's Arin."

.

"Where is the string?" Arin walks inside like a storm. Her t-shirt seemed wet from her sweat and her hair a mess. She is looking at Era when she repeats her question.

"It's where it should be," Yoongi says. Jin furrows his eyebrows, shaking his head at the man. Arin should know the truth too.

"Where? Where should it be if not with me?" Arin yells, tapping her foot against the floor once. Her fists are balled by her sides. Jimin quietly approaches her.

"Cut the obsession with that string, it is not yours in the first place."

It's silent.

And then Arin laughs, wiping the sweat from her temples. She looks around the room and Jungkook gives her pleading eyes to not make a scene but she was not having it.

"You gave them the string, didn't you?" Arin looks at Era, chuckling bitterly before raising her voice. "I should have taken it with me but I thought I will lose it in the camp. I shouldn't have gone to the camp! How could you betray your own sister?"

Eunbee scoffs. "What about me? Do you not care about me? Do you even know what string that was!"

"I don't care, I don't care at all!" Arin screams, tears rolling down her cheeks. "I knew it wasn't a simple string, so what about it? I didn't give it for your own good! I know something is off with it!"

Eunbee steps forward, "You don't get to decide what is good for me!"

Another stretched moment of silence.

The thing is, a sixteen-year-old Arin would have run out of the house and brought something for herself to calm herself down. An eighteen-year-old Arin would have watched the boys perform for hours until she's smiling.

But a nineteen-year-old Arin doesn't know how she reacts in such situations. She's afraid to show her vulnerability to people, loud voices make her shut up instantly and tears well up when one looks at her with hostility.

But she's not surprised when she drops to the floor, letting out a choked sob.

Jimin is crouching down beside her and Arin immediately gestures to him to not touch her. Jimin's heart breaks but he stays like that, without saying anything.

"What did you guys do with the string..." Arin mumbles.

Naeun sighs. "We didn't...but we will..." she looks at Hoseok who nods, encouraging her to speak further. "We will destroy it."

Arin doesn't move and Jin sighs. He approaches her, placing his hands on her forearm, "Up, now."

She doesn't need to be told twice. Jin takes her towards the kitchen while gesturing everyone to continue. Jungkook turns towards Yoongi, irritated, "Do you have to talk to her like that?"

Yoongi shrugs.

"Hyung, what is your problem with her?" Jimin says, stepping ahead. Namjoon places a hand in between them, shaking his head. "First things first." He looks at Soo-ah.

"We need a plan." She says. "And we need to work out every detail because Chae is extremely careful with the information."

Namjoon smirks, nodding. "I have a plan."

.

"Talk to me Arin," Jin says, sitting across her, leaning on the kitchen platform. "You know you can tell me anything, right?"

Arin looks up at him, the dried tear stains break Jin's heart as he urges her to finish the gummies in her hand. He has told her about the string, so as to why they would be trying to destroy it and he thought Arin needed the sugar to take so much information in.

"Why do you love that string so much?" Jin asks, speaking every word clearly so as to not let her misunderstand any.

Arin looks away, towards the hall where the others are talking, "Because...no one seemed to hate me with the string..."

Jin is taken aback by her words. His eyes tremor slightly, glancing between Arin and her wrist where she has looped her other hand as if she still needed to feel she has the string around it.

"You also approached me because I had the string, didn't you? I don't think Jimin would have otherwise bothered searching for his soulmate..."

"That's not true Arin," Jin leans closer, "We might have approached you because of the string but we let you stay because of who you are. We like having you around regardless of it...and Jimin would have searched for you. You are his soulmate after all."

Arin looks back at him, "But when I had the string...I knew things no one did...wasn't it so cool?" She looks down at her hands, unable to keep up with his warm gaze. "People like that, don't they? To have something no one else does..."

Jin doesn't know what to say to her. He wants to comfort her, say something otherwise but he knows Arin's far too mature to fall for his words. Yes, people are selfish like that and Arin's becoming a victim to societal pressures.

"You're cool right now, too."

Both of them are surprised to see Jimin leaning against the wall, smiling. Jin gives him a nod, as he gets up and walks outside, leaving Jimin behind with her.

"You're so cool and you don't need a string for being that..." Jimin takes her hand in his. "You were cool before too."

"You didn't even know me then," Arin mumbles, pouting. Jimin chuckles, nodding. "That's true but I just know it," he nudges her side and Arin elbows him slightly. Jimin hisses but he has a smile on his face.

"We are going to destroy the string," Jimin says, letting his hand open but Arin grips it tighter so as to not let go. "Soo-ah said she'll be part of the upcoming art festival so she should be able to find out about the parent network and way to destroy it."

Arin sniffs, "I am sorry..."

Jimin shakes his head, bringing his hand to her shoulder, "It's not your fault though."

The former shakes her head, "I should have given the string before...before the things escalated so much."

Jimin sighs, "No, you did what you felt right. If Chae had gotten her hands on the string, we would be stuck like this...with no escape and Eunbee—she would have...well."

"Jimin, Arin!" They hear Namjoon call for them from the hall. "We need you here."

"Bring the coke from the fridge too, please," Jin says, loudly.

"The chips in the fifth cabinet too!" Jungkook's voice follows.

"Boys, we are not here to party!" Hoseok scolds them.

"Well, aren't you hungry Hyung?" Jungkook shrugs. Hoseok ponders over it for a moment and then looks towards the kitchen.

"Pizza leftovers from the fridge as well!"

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phew! that was long, see you all at the heist <3