I could have watched and listened to him for an eternity. He was incredibly skilled, his low voice spitting meaningful lyrics into the mic while he played, switching up flows in a way that made the hair on my arms stand up.

I wasn't sure if anyone spoke to me during his performance. I may have even responded without any awareness, feeling completely out of my body as I observed his every trait.

The end of his short set and the yell to the stage that Faye let out pulled me back into reality. Faye clapped, holding her hands above her head. I was suddenly conscious of Jackson's hand nestled on my waist and the numb feeling in my fingertips from holding my cold drink too long.

Still, I was attuned to his every move as he stepped down from the stage, opening his guitar case to put it inside. He started to move through the crowd, conversing with a few people who grabbed his attention.

"Who is he?" I muttered, ignoring Jackson's head as it turned my way. I grabbed onto Faye's hand from where it rested on the table, interrupting her conversation with Lee. "How do you know him?" I asked, my tone sharp and needy.

"I told you about him. My old friend from school, Y—" She paused as someone stopped in front of Lee, pulling him into a hug. Faye turned around, her high-pitched voice ringing with his name. "Yoongi!"

I was so drawn to him that I wanted to yell at Jackson, to tell him to move out of my way as Yoongi settled into the empty space between him and Faye. Her bright smile showed as she gestured toward Jackson and I, nodding as she introduced us and leaning into his ear so she could be heard over the next performer.

"This is my new roommate I was telling you about, Seline, and her date, Jackson." She nodded, managing to balance talking to him while keeping her body language focused on Lee.

He held out a hand to Jackson and then to me, the feeling when he touched my hand so strong that everything started to fade away again, until he let go, raising his chin to a server who passed by and giving a signal to request another round of drinks for the table.

While Faye was the most confident person I knew, a social butterfly who exuded self-assurance, Yoongi carried his in the opposite manner, a reserved demeanor that silently demanded attention.

"When did you get back to Chicago?" Faye asked.

I had to blink a few times to keep my focus as Jackson turned to me, starting his own separate conversation. I wanted to slap my past self for accepting the date. If only I'd known that it would be him, I would have waited.

Part of my regard moved to Jackson as he started to tell me about a pre-season basketball game he was interested in taking me to for a solo date. In my peripheral view I watched Yoongi, chatting with Faye and Lee while occasionally turning his head so that we caught each other's eye.

"Seline, how does that sound?" I caught Jackson repeating his question to me, a small smile forming on Yoongi's mouth as he pulled his lips to the beer he held.

"Yeah, good." I was flooded and distracted by the feeling, nodding absentmindedly before setting my drink on the table. "I need to use the restroom." I darted from the table, weaving my way through the thinning crowd to the back corner of the building.

I left the lid down on the toilet, sitting and taking a few deep breaths. I thought through ways to end my date with Jackson so that I could talk to him, hitting a brick wall when I moved on to contemplating what I would even say.

I left the stall a minute past the amount of time that my absence would become suspicious, washing my hands and picking at the few loose strands of hair that framed my face.

My breath hitched in my throat when the door closed behind me, Yoongi standing next to it so that I practically ran into him.

He was dangerously close, so close that we had no choice but to bore into each other's eyes. "Ditch your date." He spoke.

"What?" I replied instinctively, not believing what he was asking and sure that my imagination was getting the best of me.

"Ditch your date." He repeated. "I'll be at the bar." He held my gaze for a second longer before turning down the short hallway and back into the main opening of the bar.

I stood there a moment longer before heading back out, most of the crowd gathering their things to leave. Jackson spotted me as I approached, holding out my jacket in an attempt to slip it over my shoulders.

I grabbed it by the collar instead, draping it over my arm. "The guys need to get back since they have an early game tomorrow." Faye's brow pulled together in confusion when I didn't move.

"I need to stay and talk to Patrick for a few minutes," I nodded toward the bar and the owner behind it, Larry's great-great-grandson who'd been happy to take on the family business. "I want to talk to him about a job."

Jackson leaned down closer to my level. "I'll stay behind while you talk to him." He offered. I wanted to roll my eyes at his chivalry.

"No, you should get home since you have an early day. I'll grab an Uber back." I assured him.

He wrapped an arm around me to say goodbye, my hand patting his back as he held me to him. "I'll text you the details about that game so we can go. I had fun." His lips pressed to my cheek before he pulled away.

"Thanks for everything." I smiled. Faye let them walk ahead of her out of the bar while she stayed back, waiting until they were out of earshot to speak.

"What's going on? Because you definitely don't need another job." She questioned, crossing her arms over her chest.

I shrugged, looking back over my shoulder. "I know, I just need to stay for a little while longer." I tried to remain vague but knew she wouldn't accept it. "I promise I'll tell you everything when I get home."

"You'll be safe?" She arched a brow at me, reaching into her bag to hand me the can of pepper spray she always carried.

I put it in my purse, holding out my pinky to her. "Always, I just need to talk to someone." I replied as she linked hers with mine.

She squinted her eyes, scanning over the handful of people who still sat at the bar. "Yoongi?" Her lips drew into a flat line at her revelation. "Fine, but don't get too caught up with him yet. We'll talk when you get home."

I kept my eyes on her as she walked outside, making sure to see her join Lee and Jackson before strolling over to the bar where Yoongi sat. He held onto my hand as I took a seat on the stool beside him and I pulled away almost too quickly, not needing for everything to melt away again.

"How long have you been living with Faye?" He asked, leaning forward so that one of his arms rested on the bar while he faced me.

"Only for a couple of months. How do you two know each other again?" I responded.

He quickly waved goodbye to someone who shouted out a goodnight to him, instantly returning his attention to me. "We had a few gen ed classes together in my second year. She's cool."

I logged about ten follow up questions in my mind and though I wouldn't overwhelm him with them during our first conversation, I would throw them right at Faye when I got home. "Why did you want me to stay behind?" I questioned.

He shrugged before answering. "It just feels like I'm supposed to know you."

My cheeks warmed with a blush at his revelation. "Okay, so what do you want to know?" I replied, pressing my chin into my palm as he eyed me with curiosity.

We spent the next couple of hours talking about my move to Chicago and his pursuit of music, having made the decision to put school on hold while he chased his dreams. I admired his mindset and the sure way he talked about his passion. I logged into memory the deep crinkle of his eyes and way his gums showed when he laughed.

Time flew too quickly, patrons dwindling until only Patrick and the two of us were left in the building. We hadn't even registered Patrick putting chairs on top of tables and sweeping the floor until he came over to interrupt us, putting a hand on Yoongi's shoulder.

"Sorry lovebirds, I'm going to have to close in a few minutes." He said, Yoongi's eyes lingering on mine for a second longer before he turned to Patrick.

"All good, I'll see you in a couple of weeks for the next open mic." He shook Patrick's hand, standing and offering it to me as I stepped down.

He seemed like he was thinking, holding on to my hand longer than was necessary. I wondered if it felt the same for him, the emotion making every piece of furniture and decoration in the building seem to disappear, leaving us in an empty room. "Can I give you a ride home?" He suggested, letting me go and slipping his hands into his pockets.

"Faye still stays in that one place off of Gorman right?" He asked as he opened the passenger's side door for me. I nodded, shooting her a text that I was on the way as he went to the other side. Something about him made me nervous, the understanding that he was my soulmate doing little to soothe the reality that I was being taken home by a stranger. At no point did I think he'd hurt me, but my mind was reeling at the closeness I already felt toward someone I didn't know.

He seemed to have no problem with the silence between us on the ride over, deep in thought based on the pull of his brow and the way his lips pursed. I started to think about how the night would end and if we'd continue our connection from here.

I'd been watching the city pass through my window, tugging the strap to my purse over my shoulder as he parked by the sidewalk in front of my apartment building. The entire night already felt like a weird fever dream. "What time will you be up tomorrow?" He inquired.

"Later in the morning." I answered.

"Okay, I want to see you again tomorrow." He was forward in a way that I never experienced, so clear with his intention.

My cheeks flushed, a small smile on my face as I got out of the car. "Good, I'll see you tomorrow."

I glanced back over my shoulder as I headed toward the entrance of the building, his voice calling out for my attention before I could get inside.

"Seline, wait up." I turned around to see him getting out of the car, jogging over so that he was right by me. He sighed, a small puff of white air leaving his mouth with the chill of night. "I need to see something before you go."

I raised my brows in question, his gaze locked on mine as he took another step toward me, his hand reaching around to grasp the nape of my neck. His kiss was so gentle, as if anything deeper might be overwhelming. I was sure it would have, because when his lips touched mine for the first time, it all faded to black. Everything in the city, into the world, and through the galaxy felt like it disappeared, like it was only us left with no worry, responsibility, or pain. For most it would have been terrifying, the feeling of floating in a complete void of nothing, but to me, it made him the universe.