SOUL BONDS ( Under revision )

Chapter 3

3 weeks later...

The last three weeks had been... strange. Not bad strange. Just unreal strange.

Because they weren't exactly living with me.

They stayed at a hotel in the city—some fancy place Jin insisted was "secure" and "appropriate." But every couple of days, they'd show up at my house like it was the most normal thing in the world. Sometimes they stayed for hours, sometimes they stayed overnight. Sometimes they'd randomly text me at 2 a.m. asking if I was awake, and next thing I knew, Jungkook would be standing at my door with snacks and that boyish grin like he paid bills here.

And somehow... I got used to it.

I got used to the laughter in my kitchen, the noise in my hallway, the warmth in my home. It was like they were slowly weaving themselves into my life without even trying. And the worst part? I let them. Because it felt good. It felt safe.

That morning, I woke up warm. Too warm.

I frowned, shifting under my blanket, my eyes still closed. I stretched lazily, trying to stay in that half-asleep state where nothing mattered. Then I heard it.

"Kitten... wake up."

My eyes fluttered open at the sound of a soft voice. A familiar voice.

A voice that absolutely did not belong in my room.

I froze. My brain didn't even fully process it at first, because last night they were supposed to go back to the hotel. They always went back. That was the rule.

So why—

I slowly turned my head.

And there he was.

Jimin.

Right next to me.

Hair messy, eyes sleepy, his face relaxed like he belonged there... like he'd been there all night.

My eyes widened. "What the—"

I shot up so fast my heart nearly jumped out of my chest. And of course, I ended up smacking my forehead straight into his.

"Ow—!" he groaned, grabbing his head.

I gasped and clutched my own forehead. "Oh my god!"

"Ouch, kitten," Jimin muttered, squinting at me. "Calm down... it's just me."

"Why are you here?!" I whisper-shouted, still panicking.

He blinked slowly, clearly still half asleep. "We... stayed."

My mouth fell open. "You stayed... in my bed?"

Jimin's ears instantly turned red. He sat up, rubbing his forehead. "You fell asleep on my shoulder and Yoongi said it would be safer if we didn't travel back late. So we stayed. And you were already... clinging."

I stared at him. Then my face heated up.

"Clinging?!" I repeated.

He avoided my eyes. "You literally grabbed my shirt when I tried to move."

I blinked, then without thinking I reached out and cupped his face gently, pressing a quick kiss to his forehead where I'd hit him.

"O-omg I'm sorry, pumpkin," I whispered. "I didn't mean to hurt you."

When I pulled back, Jimin looked like he was about to combust. His cheeks were completely red, lips parted slightly, but no words came out.

I couldn't help it. A laugh slipped out.