Recap

Your breath hitched as you inhaled deeply, "Sujah...I...I met my soulmate already." You unceremoniously dropped the bomb.

You could only hear...silence.

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Sunju was clearly surprised, "Samiya Dholakia, could you please explain what you mean? You have found your soulmate!"

You took deep breaths." Yes, brother, a few weeks ago. I just did not know how to come clean. Our parents are determined that I end up with that loser, Vidhan."

You could feel your eyes welling up with tears.

Sunju was really shocked. "Congratulations, Sami! Wow! Who is he? How about telling our parents?"

You laugh sarcastically, "That is the problem, Sunju...I can not share this with anyone since he is in an arranged marriage too. He is getting engaged in November."

Sunju immediately seems disturbed, "Oh my goodness! Sami, you can not remain silent. We are part of the legacy. We can rig the system to bring you together."

"That is the point, Sunju; he is also part of the legacy," you groaned. "His father is already preparing to do so. But we love each other, Sunju. His father refuses to hear any excuses. He will be forced to mate with his father's associate partner. If they rig the system. His father will find out who I am and everything about our past and present. The entire world will know, and we cannot allow this to happen."

Sunju sounds perplexed. "What exactly do you mean? Is he one of the billionaires? "

Sunju, you sigh,"He is an A-level citizen and a celebrity, but he is not what our parents envisioned. He is not Indian, Sunju. I am the third sibling to disappoint our parents."

"Have you met him in Korea?" He inquired.

"Yes," you said gently," but his agency is not aware. He works in an industry where dating is still not permitted. They are only in their second year of debuting. It is too early in his profession for him to discuss his relationship. It is just not okay, and they might end up losing their fans, plus he could face a lot of backlash because of me." You said in a choked voice.

Sunju remained silent for a minute before regaining his composure," Sami, is he a K-pop idol?"

You breathed deeply. "Yes, and he will be attending the luncheon. It will be difficult not to be with him, seeing him with his future fiancée. What am I going to do? I need to be in Mumbai next month for the final semi-finalist judging, as well as a sponsorship commercial for the Miss India prizes. In a week, my soulmate will resume their new schedule. We would be unable to meet."

Sunju expresses regret, "Sis, do not worry...your secret is safe with me. After this luncheon, we will present a unified front to our parents when you return home. Do not tell them anything just yet. You know Mum will have an aneurysm if she discovers you are also lost to the 'tribe.' When I return from Poland, we will be able to face our parents jointly."

You took a deep breath of relief,"  Thanks, brother. I feel so comfortable with you on my side."

Sunju chuckles, "So, if I may ask, what is your soulmate's name?"

"I will tell you...maybe at the luncheon."  You beamed joyfully.

You talked for a few more moments, and the great warmth in your heart was overwhelming. Sunju will be your ally against your parents.

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Meanwhile...

After uni and having a wonderful time in the arms of his soulmate, Seokjin was very quiet and in deep thought as his bodyguard and managers drove him back home to their apartment. He could hear the soft laughter coming from the apartment as he entered.

Usually he would come in with his usual jovial humor with his ever-annoying dad jokes, or he would come in being overly theatrical about how tough and exhausting his day was...but this afternoon, he just dropped his bag on a bench in the entrance room, slipped off his sneakers quietly, and exchanged them for his house slippers in silence.

The rest of the dorm was alive with the usual chaos.

The maknae line, Jimin, Taehyung, and Jungkook, were buried under a mountain of schoolwork and university assignments. They had to prioritize their schoolwork before they could resume their tour schedule. For the last three weeks, the boys were extremely focused on preparing for exams and early graduation.

The rest of the Hyung-line were completing their degrees at an online university, while Seokjin is still at a regular university. Jungkook is a senior in high school that will graduate the next year, as Jimin and Taehyung are completing their second year at an online university.

Jimin and Taehyung were scribbling in their notebooks while doing research on the laptops. They were lying on the soft carpet and talking about their assignments.

Jungkook was busy with math homework and hated every minute of it as Namjoon was bouncing between the maknaes, helping them with sentence construction, etc.

Jungkook was chewing on his pencil. "I hate math! Why must we always solve X? Can't X solve his own problems? " He shook his head, perplexed, as Jimin and Taehyung just shook their heads in amusement. Namjoon was explaining to Jungkook how to solve the math problems in a genius way.

In the huge mahogany kitchen, you could smell the garlic and sesame oil in the air as Hobi and Yoongi were in perfect harmony, cooking up a storm. It was their turn to make dinner. Yoongi was stirring the soup pot with focus while Hobi danced around him, busy seasoning the meat. He was humming 'I Need You,' which was living rent-free in his mind.

Yoongi furrowed his brows as he noticed the quiet greeting of their hyung as he quickly slipped past them to the hallway, back to his bedroom.

"Hyung looked awfully quiet today." Yoongi murmured without looking up from the soup pot, "Maybe his exams were a little tougher today. He was very distressed this week."

Hobi nodded," Maybe...he had a lot of practical assignments. I hope he is okay."

Namjoon looked at Seokjin's retreating form as he entered his bedroom at the far side of the hallway.

He excused himself from the maknae line and urged them to help each other while he followed Seokjin.

Jungkook smiles," It's okay, Joonie-hyung. This is the last problem. I only need help with my English essay later."

Namjoon nodded," Okay, we'll resume the homework after dinner."

Namjoon found him in his room, seated on the edge of his bed. His bedroom was pristine clean, with everything in its place. Seokjin sat at the edge of his bed, with his elbows on his knees, staring a hole in the floor; his eyes looked unseeing.

Namjoon peeked through the door," Hyung?" He said softly, coming in and closing the door firmly behind him," Is it your finals...you looked stressed."

Seokjin looked up, aware of Namjoon's soft voice as he took a seat on the soft sofa chair.

"Just two modules left," he said quietly. "I'm almost done due to the credits of peer tutoring. My master's will be done through online classes..." He forced a smile.

Namjoon furrowed his brows. "Hyung, that's not what I really meant..."

There was a moment of silence in the room. Seokjin sighed deeply as he stood up and walked to his panoramic window, staring out at the skyscrapers of Seoul. Seokjin looked at his weary reflection in the mirror.

He turns and looks at the youngest in the hyung line. Seokjin's eyes were weary and full of deflation. "My Appa is busy arranging the engagement," he said, his voice void of emotion. "It's set for November."

Namjoon blinked, visibly stunned by his revelation," Wait! What? Are you getting engaged? Oh my word! Seokjin-hyung, are you okay with it?"

Seokjin's jaw clenched as he shook his head, frustrated. "Do I look okay, Namjoon? I couldn't even sleep because of worries. And the truth, I'm not okay."

Namjoon looks flabbergasted. "I'm sorry, hyung, but this is absurd. Doesn't your appa know you have a non-dating contract that just can't be diminished? Bangpd will flip! ...what if you meet your soulmate while you're engaged?"

Seokjin closed his eyes for a second and cursed his lips, "Exactly! What will happen if I do? I'll never be able to stay away from her, Namjoon. My heart will crave her, and if she legally bonds to me, I wouldn't be able to be faithful to someone who isn't my destiny." The pain in his voice was evident.

Namjoon's breath hitched. "Are you going to inform Bang PD? ...you're still under a dating ban. We can only date secretly if we find our soulmates. Does your Appa know the implications?"

Namjoon looked genuinely worried for Seokjin, who looked pained.

"Appa doesn't care, Joon...he can pay for that contract to be terminated. Allowing me to marry." Seokjin groaned.

Namjoon shook his head. "This is...seriously messy. Our ARMY fans will become berserk if they find out...they will give us so much backlash because you are not only dating...you are getting married. The hope of the Army's gone."

Seokjin nodded and wiped over his weary eyes. He seriously needs Samiya's presence now," I know ARMY will lose it...we have to stay single to make our fans happy and involved. I'm not even 24 years old yet".

Just then a little knock could be heard on his door. Yoongi peeked through the door, concern on his face. "Dinner is ready. Seokjin...don't you let your rice get cold. Hobi will kill you."

Seokjin nodded and muttered softly, "Thanks, Yoongs."

The energy at the dinner table was unparalleled. The soup, BBQ steaks , gimbap, rice, and kimchi dinners were appetizing, and the boys couldn't wait to indulge after saying grace. They were thanking their hyungs for preparing such a delicious meal for them.

Hobi was sipping his soup as he grinned from ear to ear. "Guys, you won't believe what happened. When I went to fetch Kookie from SOPA...the maknae learned the art of flirting..."

There were soft gasps as all eyes looked to the maknae.

"I WASN'T FLIRTING! Hobi hyung!" He blurted out loudly, his ears getting redder by the minute.

Jimin's eyes were wide. "Seriously!" He looked beyond shock.

Hobi laughed, "Yeah...her name is Nancy, and Kookie has a crush on her! She's so adorable, with long brownish hair. She's a super sweet girl with big eyes who looked at Kookie as if he was the last bowl of hot wings... She's still a trainee though..."

Taehyung chuckled as he shoved Kookie's shoulder, "So, you didn't even tell chimmy and me about the girl who made you blush!"

Jiminn still looked unconvinced. "You're telling me Kookie talked to a girl without fainting ?" He seemed to want to burst into fits of laughter.

Taehyung chuckled, "Seem miracles do happen."

Jungkook just smirked and cut through his meat.

The table burst out in fits of laughter as Jungkook just pouted cutely.

"Hyung," Jimin grinned mischievously, "Honestly...did you ever have this awkward moment around girls?"

Seokjin just smiled softly as he just kept his focus by enjoying his food. He really needed this chaotic energy of his brothers together. Since he has mated with Samiya, his life has been a whirlpool of emotions. Can't he just enjoy being with the love of his life? Seeing the genuine happiness in his brothers' eyes, bickering and bantering. That deep chest tension in him started to evaporate.

The maknae line looked with interest at their hyungs.

Hobi snorted as he pointed his chopsticks like a sword. "Well, my personal opinion...I've decided that I'm never dating again. I'm going to be a sworn bachelor for life. Relationships and that true love that the system indoctrinated us with since we were kids are a scam. It doesn't exist. Why can't we choose who we love? Now we are forced to love people we won't necessarily choose if we didn't live in this universe."

The table was quiet until Jimin chuckled, "That's deep, Hobi...but what if you meet your soulmate? The one destined for you?"

Hobi just shrugged dramatically, quite unbothered, and said, "I'm sorry for her...she will regret it. Whoever she is, she must pray to her deity that I'm not mated to her. I'll reject her the second she shows up. I don't have time to be all lovey-dovey."

He pulls a face. Bangtan knew that Hobi was very hurt in his previous relationship. His girlfriend, whom he loved for almost ten years, betrayed him and cheated with his high school best friend while he was a trainee. Now all of a sudden she wants him back, but once bitten, twice shy. He is so done with love.

Jimin clicked his tongue regretfully, "Now that is just sad..."

Taehyung nodded, in solidarity with Hobi, "Well, I feel the same. I don't want a soulmate now. There are too many crazy sasaengs running around and stalking us. I'll be too stressed worrying about my career and her safety."

They all turn to Yoongi, who was sipping his soup. He chuckled as he glanced up lazily, "Well...I wasn't really awkward around girls. I have a lot of nieces and cousins. But I liked someone once. At the workshop camp two years ago. But after we debuted, that stupid ex-manager of ours confiscated our phones and convinced BangPd it was for our safety. I lose contact with her...yeah, that's it."

Hobi furrowed his brows deeply. "Did she debut if she was in training?"

Yoongi sighed deeply, something flickering in his eyes unnoticeable, but Seokjin saw it, and he instantly knew that Yoongi really liked that girl, which nobody knew. "No, after two years? She either is still training, or she left the agency and discarded her dreams." He inhaled deeply.

The boys around the table quiet down when they sense the sadness behind Yoongi's tone. They wished they knew who the girl was, but since that workshop, Yoongi was tight-lipped.

Then Jimin, who sat next to Namjoon, who enjoyed some gimbap, nudged his shoulders, "But Joonie-hyung had a secret; we know about that American rapper."

The boys started to snicker.

Namjoon just rolled his eyes. "Seriously, Chimmy! She is just a friend. Can't a guy be best friends with a girl? She's practically family."

Jungkook snorts softly, "Yeah, right. That's what they all say until there's smoke to indicate the fire."

The group chuckled, but they didn't have time to ask Seokjin because he already changed the subject: "Okay...enough of that. There's this girl in my class who wants to help me out. Like, help me with an assignment. And unfortunately, she is also an ARMY. She said she'll do it but at a cost...she wants Jungkook's autograph on some tour merch."

"A signature?" Taehyung asked.

"Oh yeah, our baby Kookies," Seokjin smirked.

Hobi clapped his hands," Kooks got an admirer!"

Jungkook's eyes widen. "What?!" He nearly dropped his rice spoon.

"She has taste," Jimin grins. "Tell her to aim higher. Our hyung could've just offered her a full-blown make-out session, that will be the best gift!"

He waggled his brows as Jungkook made a gag sound. The other hyungs just shook their heads. Jimin is the king of flirting.

"Jimin!!" Namjoon groans.

Seokjin smirked, "Come on, Kookie...help your hyung out."

Jungkook inhaled and nodded. "Alright...what must I autograph?" He gave in. He will do anything for his hyung, whom he dearly loved.

Seokjin chuckled, "It's not a lot..." He quickly leaped up and vanished into the storeroom. Seokjin brought a little box with his signature triumphant manner.

Everyone's eyes around the table widen as Jungkook's jaw drops.

"But...but...it's more than fifteen items. What if she sells it online and makes millions?"

Taehyung laughed out loud, "She'll be one rich fan, as Kookie got a lot of noona fans."

Seokjin just sat and smirked while he gave Jungkook the marker. Inside the box that he already arranged were 3 mugs, Jungkook face fans, 2 t-shirts, stationery, an Army hoodie, a smartwatch for running, CDs, and photocards of Jungkook in different eras.

Jungkook's eyes looked bewildered when he took out another black hoodie; his name was embroidered on the label, "Hyung? NO!! Did you just take one of my favorite hoodies? I'm still wearing this---" he held it up. It's a thick, black designer winter hoodie that he dearly loves.

Seokjin smiled widely, "Well, of course. I'm giving her something you love and that has your natural smell. She will never wash it, and it will comfort her when she sleeps at night...dozing off in Kookie essence."

Yoongi looks up with a scrunched-up face, "Eww...gross."

Despite their bantering, the room was filled with laughter. Jungkook was blushing, Jimin and Taehyung rolled on the floor laughing, and Seokjin was just smiling, feeling free and happy.

Seokjin knows that this gift will be a great bribe for Alia, who will help them cover up his and Mia's secret bonding. And that is more than enough for him.

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A/N: At last another update!
Samiya got an ally.

Thank you so much to all the Wwh -stans. I hoped you've enjoyed this chapter.
Please vote if you liked it and comment your thoughts.

1. Do you think Sunju is the right one to trust?

2. Will he be able to protect her against Vidhan?

3.Do you think it's getting too much for Seokjin?

4. What are your thoughts on Bangtan in this chapter?

5. What do you think of Seokjins ploy with the merch?

6. What are your all time favourite merch from any BTS eras.?

7. Do you own anything BTS -related?🥰

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