When Seokjin and his family arrived at Noodle-Joo's mansion for dinner, they were immediately struck by the grandeur of the place. The driveway curved through carefully tended landscaped gardens, leading up to a massive mansion with tall columns and elaborate design. Being as stoical as ever, Seokjin kept his cool as they got out of the car and were met by Noodle-Joo's staff at the entrance.

Inside, it was even more opulent. Crystal chandeliers hung from high ceilings, casting a warm light on the marble floors and soft furniture. His family enjoyed the grandeur around them while Seokjin himself stayed reserved, his face unreadable in front of such extravagance. He was feeling unsettled.

Noodle-Joo appeared as they were being taken to the dining room; her eyes lit up when she saw Seokjin. She hurried over to them, practically bouncing as she hugged each family member. He responded politely but distantly, giving her a small smile while he made small talk with their host.

Still though Noodle-Joo couldn't have looked happier about having them there as guests, Seokjin's dad couldn't help but feel annoyed at his son's apparent lack of interest. He had hoped that he would be more excited about this , didn't he know who their host was?

But as he watched Seokjin's calm self-possession move  the family gathered in their honor, disappointment washed over him like a wave: had his son understood what tonight meant?

The moms exchanged impressed appearances, their excitement obvious. Seokjin's father grinned widely and clinked his glass to get everyone's attention, "Ladies and gentlemen, we have a date for the engagement," he said. "Noodle and Seokjin will be getting married in three years when they have both graduated college and Seokjin's contract with BTS has ended."

The Kim's were guided to the dining room, a buffet already set up.

Seokjin was getting a bit angry, "I haven't made up my mind about the contract yet. My group will decide together whether or not we disband."

His father leaned closer, his face serious but kind, "Son, you need to think about your wife and future children's stable futures beyond the limelight...I'll speak to Bang."

Taking a deep breath, Seokjin chose his words carefully,"  Appa, I love what I'm doing -- music is a lifelong career for me.I am still under contract, so if we get engaged now it would be bad for us and the agency... my fans..."

His father's eyes sparkled with a mischievous light,  "That's not an issue," he said quietly. "We'll keep your engagement to Noodle a secret until you're 25 years old -- then we'll announce it to the fans." He waggled his brows so oblivious to Seokjin's deflation.

Seokjin couldn't believe how sneaky his father was being; this was all about merging their money with the Baes'  sacrificing their kids' freedom in the process. Noodle, blissfully unaware, grinned from ear to ear. She knows her future was set. She is the one loved by his parents. They've already accepted her into the Kim household. Seokjin just needs to get a grip.

"What if I meet my soulmate?" Seokjin asked quietly, his voice barely audible over the clinking of utensils.

His dad brushed it off with a wave, "We'll figure it out then. The system can be rigged. We are billionaires and we owned the aliens. They can't do anything without our say here in this galaxy. They can mix and match but we decide our own fate. You my boy can reject your soulmate and if you red gold you can live off the serum. It is perfected and designed by scientist paid by the 60% of the worlds billionaires.  You'll be weak at first , but you are strong and you won't die. They're working on perfecting the heart serum for Red-Golds. The blue string like Noodles is perfect. We just waiting for your soulmate."

He patted Seokjin on his shoulder as it was as easy as done. Noodle grinned softly as she looked calculating at Seokjins' deep breath intake. She could sense how mad he was at his domineering dad.

Seokjin's face paled as the implications sank in, "I won't survive that ordeal," he murmured, more to himself than to anyone else. How can he live without Mia. He loves that girl with all of his heart, soul and mind. He will wither away slowly without her love. He needs her like water for the body.

The room buzzed with excitement. Noodle's smile was the only bright spot in the room, but even that felt distant and out of reach for him. He watch her discreetly at her enthusiasm. This flipping girl made up her mind to be tied to him, she didn't worry about his threat. She still thinks she will be able to make him love her.

During dessert, Seokjin felt as if he was drowning in a sea of expectations and obligations. The thought of losing his soulmate for good gnawed at him. He knew Mia would be devastated; she was sensitive to family dynamics and would never want to cause grief for him or his family.

His mind reeled with these thoughts as he inhaled deeply, nibbling on a piece of  hotteok, a Korean sweet pancake filled with brown sugar, honey, chopped peanuts, and cinnamon. It feels like wood residue in his mouth. He just couldn't take it any longer.

The guests at the table were animated and full of excitement, their chatter buzzed around him like a hive of bees. Seokjin felt his phone silently vibrate in his pocket. He forced a smile for his mother sitting beside him and excused himself politely. As he stood, he took out his expensive Samsung phone, nodding to his family.

His father's face turned dark with anger, "Sit down and finish your dessert, Seokjin," he said, annoyed, "We need to talk about the marriage negotiations and potential wedding venues."

"It's Namjoon, my leader," Seokjin replied calmly, trying to keep his frustration out of his voice. He bow and swiftly leave the oppressive room. His dad just looked at him with narrowed eyes.

Noodle's mom started talking about possible venues and the women at the table  were filled with excitement, "Greece? Maldives? Zanzibar?" she asked, "Noodle loves the idea of an island wedding with the honeymoon on that same island. We already talked about it. What do you think---"she asked Seokjins' mom with sparkling eyes.

Inside Noodle's mind, she knew that Seokjin is currently seeing an Indian girl; however, she needed more evidence before she could tell his parents anything. She wasn't going to let her ideal boyfriend slip away from her. She can't see herself married to a convenient store CEO. He was obese and a pervert.

She and Seokjin would be engaged, they would marry each other and he would eventually fall in love with her too. If need be, she would seduce him and get pregnant just so he wouldn't leave her alone. No foreign woman, especially that arrogant Alia, was going to have him. She was going to fight it out till the end even though her true soulmate was already engaged to another person but Seokjin seemed like a better choice. He is super handsome, very rich , famous and has a family legacy. The perfect package.

It had been some time since Noodle saw Seokjin left the table.Why does the conversation with Namjoon takes so long?  Setting down her silver chopsticks quietly, and the rest of the family moved towards the lounge for drinks as she excused herself. She walked through the lounge area, to the outside terrace.

He was talking openly on the phone near the pool house when she found him behind a pillar.The expressions on his face confirmed everything for her as she watched them change while he spoke. His eyes were filled with love, happiness and deep joy  because of Somebody ,This somebody who had such an effect on him must only Alia , his secret girlfriend. She already despised that arrogant girl.

Noodle knew very well that Alia belonged to one of India's most powerful political families and was also a well-known supermodel. She made sure she investigate thoroughly.Determinedness furrowed across Noodle's brow as she quietly as possible took few steps closer hoping catch bits their talk from afar —

EARLIER

Seokjin swiftly rushed to the patio near the poolhouse.

After a few moments, he heard Mias' soft greeting,and he was immediately filled with joy"Hey, sweetheart. Gosh, I missed you so much today. How do you feel?"

He could here a deep sigh of relief, "Hi darling... gosh, it was a stressful day for me. But thank you for the food; we enjoyed it so much. I love you even more each moment of the day."

He chuckled. He knew he went a little overboard with the food, but he heard Alia loves Korean food a lot.

"I love you, sweetheart... you won't believe where we are right now. We are dining at Noddles' estate. I had to lie and tell them that Namjoon was calling me. I'm outside at the poolside right now. You know how I long  to hear your voice. My day without you was greyer than a stormy day ," he huskily uttered, his longing evident in his tone.

He could hear a sob in her voice, "Oh, Jinnie... I think Noodle got the hunch that you were seeing an Indian girl. She and her friend confronted Alia today. ---" Seokjin was shocked beyond measure as Mia  recounted what Alia told her about the altercation. His breath hitched at the news. My goodness.

"What! No wonder she looked at me so strangely during dinner; she was dying to ask me something," he murmured, shocked.

Mia sighed, "I think I need to come clean to Alia. She wants to confront Noodle tomorrow. My friends are avid ARMY and are trying to find your girl. They want to go to the university surveillance room and check for camera angles around the entrance and parking lot. Jinnie, they are going to see me getting out of your car. Alia can recognize my style anywhere. Noodle's friend even saw us kissing in the car. This is so bad, Jinnie. We will be exposed if she finds out. Next weekend is the Legacy luncheon, and Vidhan and my brother will be in Seoul. If my so-called fiancé got wind of Alia in a compromising situation, our parents would make me marry Vidhan earlier..."

There was a slight sob in her voice, and the shift in her emotions made him wince.

He murmur some profanities in Korean that is how mad he was. What was Noodle thinking?

Seokjin was more nervous than ever. If his father saw the girl he took to Busan, he would flip and make a scene with Alia.

Seokjin breathed, "Don't worry, darling, I'll deal with it myself. Don't fret anymore, okay? You can tell your friend if you trust her to keep the secret, but nobody else must know."

Mia inhaled deeply, "She will want to meet you desperately, and she will want to meet your maknae."

Seokjin chuckled a little, "She can meet only me. I do want to meet your best friend. We need someone on our side who will not judge us. Talk to her, and I'll arrange a discreet meeting time."

"Oh, my gosh! Are you sure, darling?" She was so amazed that he genuinely wanted her to take Alia in their confidence and meet her.

Seokjin grinned, "But I cannot guarantee that I'll bring my baby boy for her to drool over. Kookie is still in high school and very awkward when meeting girls face-to-face. And, like you said, you guys are already celebrities. We need to be discreet."

He could hear how she inhaled deeply like a weight had fallen from her shoulders. "Thank you. I feel very relieved right now. I'm with my friends at a restaurant right now. They will be concerned if I'm too long in the restroom."

Seokjin grinned, "Yeah, we need to get back to our dinners. I genuinely don't want to be here. Mia, I miss you. Can we meet during lunch tomorrow? I'll organize some of your favourite dishes—please."

She chuckled softly, "Only for lunch?" She coyly tried to seduce him with her tone and it worked. Right now he wish to be sleeping in her arms. But right now Busan is out of the question and they only have the week at campus.

Seokjin's breath hitched audibly, and he heard her started to giggle, "Did I say something terrible?"

Seokjin laughed breathily, "Gosh, Mia, how do you get it right to make me lose my train of thought like that? Now, I will have a goofy smile the whole time, thinking about you in my arms. Gosh, why did you do that now? You're a little seductress."

Mia quietly, " I love you, Seokjin."

Seokjin say with affection," I love you too sweetheart---"

As Noodle-Joo hid behind the pillar, she could only heard the last potion of Seokjin's voice, soft and full of emotion, "---I love you, sweetheart. I wish I could be with you right now."

He was dailing another and text someone. She wondered who that was.

The deep pain of hearing those words pierced her heart. She was now certain this girl, Alia must be his soulmate. There was no way Seokjin would tell a random girlfriend that he loved her so earnestly.

Her heart pounded as she built up the courage to confront him. When Seokjin finally ended the call and slipped his phone back into his pocket, she stepped forward, arms folded over her torso, her eyes calculating.

Seokjin's expression darkened as he noticed her, "Are you stalking me now, Noodle?"

Incredulous, she threw her hands in the air, "Did you even hear yourself... Seokjin do you really love this girl?" She ran up to him and hugged him tightly around his waist, tears filling her eyes, "Please, Seokjin, don't leave me. Love me. Be my happiness."

Seokjin inhaled deeply and gently pushed her away, "How did you know about my girlfriend?" he asked, his voice laced with disappointment, "I heard you and Joy had a confrontation with her. Why? What did she do to you?"

Noodle's eyes flashed with defiance, "I needed to know after our last dinner Jinnie. Someone saw you kissing in the car on campus.  Alia tried to deny it, but Joy knows her."

Seokjin shook his head in disappointment,  "Why are you behaving like this, Noodle? You're not even my true soulmate."

"Admit you're involved with another girl!" Noodle demanded.

Seokjin laughed in disbelief, "I can date whoever I want. Neither my father, the system, nor you own me."

Noodle's frustration boiled over, "We WILL get married, Seokjin! I'll tell your father about the girl you're seeing at the university. My dad is on the board of directors. I'll make sure she doesn't get accepted to the next semester's courses. SHE WILL LEAVE THIS COUNTRY!" Her ultimatum hung in the air, thick with menace.

Seokjin scoffed with narrowed eyes at Noodles vindictiveness, "Go ahead and tell him, Noodle. See if I care. I have my own money. I'll start my own business and date any girl I want. There are million of pretty ARMY girls I can date. Just know that from now on, I will openly ignore our so-called friendship. Don't ever seek me out at uni again! You might get engaged to my name, but not to me."

His eyes flashed with indignation. The audacity of this entitled brat!. He turned to leave, but she grab his arm and swing him around.

"Why do you sleep with that girl who's dating the whole India. Seokjin,she is a loose flirt, she doesn't have morals even as an Asian girl.Do you want what all men already enjoyed?...she might sit with stds' " Noodle spat, her voice trembling with jealousy.

Seokjin chuckled humorlessly, "Noodle, stop being jealous of girls who are prettier than you. 'Alia' is way beyond your league.I like her even if like you insinuate so disrespectfully she's like a prostitute---." His phone buzzed with a text message, and he glanced at it before looking back at her.

"Tell my parents I got another ride home. I have my last paper to write and need to study, rather than waste my time with these stupid negotiations. Taking Alia to my Seoul apartment tonight sounds far more exhilarating than being with entitled people."

Noodle watched in stunned silence as Seokjin  turned and walked away with a deep scowl on his handsome face, leaving her standing by the pool house, her dreams crumbling around her.

A/n

A dinner gone wrong for someone.

Thank you to all the voters, readers and commenters of this book. As you can see the book spot a new title "Symphony of Souls" I hope you like the chapter.

1. What do you think of Noodles true colours?

2. Do you think Seokjin will let his family carry on with the engagement?

3. Will Noodle confront Alia again?

4. How do you think Seokjin is feeling in this moment?

5. What do you think about Seokjins' dad?

6. What type of life do you think Noodle will have if she forced him into a marriage?