SOUL BONDS ( Under revision )

Chapter 13

(Dances at the end)

"So what are you guys rehearsing first?" I asked, practically bouncing on my heels with excitement.

Namjoon smiled like my enthusiasm amused him. "We're starting with Black Swan, then Dynamite."

My eyes widened instantly. "Can I follow along? I know the routine." The second the words left my mouth, the room went dead silent. Seven pairs of eyes snapped to me like I'd just confessed something insane. Jungkook's mouth fell open, Taehyung blinked like he needed a second to process it, and even Yoongi lifted his head, his expression shifting into mild curiosity. Hoseok leaned forward with his elbows on his knees, eyebrows raised high. "You know the routine?" he repeated slowly, disbelief written all over his face.

I giggled, suddenly shy under all their attention. "Yes... I'm an ARMY." That was all it took for the tension to break. Jin's lips curled into a grin, and Jimin laughed under his breath, shaking his head. Namjoon's expression softened in a way that made my heart squeeze. But then I glanced down at my skirt and sighed. "I can't really dance in this," I admitted, tugging at the fabric. "Do any of you have joggers or something?"

Before anyone else could answer, Jimin stood up. "I do," he said simply. "I'll grab them." And just like that, he disappeared out of the practice room.

When he came back a few minutes later, he tossed the joggers toward me with a smirk. "Here." I caught them easily, smiling. "Thank you, baby." His eyes lingered on me a little too long, like he was taking me in, like he couldn't help himself. My cheeks warmed as I quickly slipped my skirt off and pulled the joggers on, ignoring the way the boys suddenly found the walls and ceiling very interesting. Well... almost all of them. Hoseok leaned back with an infuriating smirk. "Nice ass," he muttered.

I froze, then turned slowly, narrowing my eyes. "Don't start." The room erupted into laughter. Jimin's jaw tightened, but his hand slid to my waist anyway—possessive, protective—like he was silently reminding everyone who I belonged to. Namjoon clapped his hands together, snapping us all back into focus. "Alright. Let's go."

The first notes of Black Swan filled the room, and my body moved before my mind even caught up. It was muscle memory. Instinct. Like my soul had been waiting for this moment. I stepped into formation without hesitation, matching their spacing, their timing, their angles—like I'd been practicing with them for years instead of minutes. At first I could feel their eyes on me, studying me, testing if I was serious, but as the choreography built and I hit every transition smoothly, their expressions started to change. Jungkook's eyebrows shot up, Taehyung's lips parted, Yoongi's gaze sharpened, and Hoseok went completely still. That terrified me more than anything, because Hoseok didn't get impressed easily.

When the beat dropped harder, I let myself fall into it fully, letting the music guide me the way it always had. I danced like I had something to prove—not to them, but to myself. When the song ended, silence filled the room. Heavy. Stunned. Then Hoseok stood up slowly, staring at me like I'd just rewritten reality. "Baby..." he breathed. "You did so good." My chest warmed instantly. Because if Hoseok complimented you, it meant something. I smiled, still breathless. "Thanks babe, it means a lot."

Namjoon blinked like he was still processing. "How long have you been dancing?" I hesitated, the truth sitting heavy in my throat. "My whole life," I admitted quietly. "It's a coping mechanism." Their faces softened immediately, and nobody pushed. Jin stepped closer, his expression warm and gentle, and tucked a strand of hair behind my ear like it was the most natural thing in the world. "You're amazing," he said softly, and my heart nearly melted. Namjoon cleared his throat, grinning now. "Okay. Next song. Dynamite."