SOUL BONDS ( Under revision )

Chapter 19

The stage dimmed once more, plunging everything into darkness except for a single spotlight that illuminated Jungkook at the center. The rest of them stood like shadows behind him, their forms barely visible as the crowd roared in anticipation. The energy in the stadium shifted instantly—focused, intense, and electric. Thousands of eyes locked onto Jungkook as he took a steady breath, his presence alone commanding the entire arena. The music pulsed softly at first, like a heartbeat building beneath the surface, and then he began.

"Do your thang, do your thang with me now... do your thang, do your thang with me..."

His voice was smooth yet powerful, carrying effortlessly through the stadium. The crowd erupted immediately, screams echoing off every surface as they fed off his energy. Behind him, the others remained still, waiting for their moment, their bodies already set in position. She stood among them, her heart pounding so loudly she thought it might drown out everything else. The darkness around her felt both comforting and suffocating. She inhaled slowly, trying to steady herself, repeating the same thought over and over in her mind—you can do this.

Jungkook continued, his voice weaving through the music. "What's my thang, what's my thang, tell me now... tell me now, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah..." The crowd echoed him, louder and louder, until it felt like the entire stadium was shaking. Then suddenly, everything changed. The lights snapped on all at once, flooding the stage in vivid color—but the lights that fell on her were different. Red. Deep, intense, and impossible to ignore. For a split second, it felt like the entire world narrowed down to just her. Her breath caught, her body freezing for the smallest moment.

Move.

Her body obeyed. She stepped forward, falling into the choreography with practiced precision, each movement flowing into the next as if it had been ingrained into her for years. The lights followed her, tracking her every motion, every turn, every expression. The crowd suddenly went quiet, and the silence hit her harder than the noise ever could. Panic flickered in her chest. Did I mess up? But just as quickly as the silence came, it shattered. The stadium exploded with sound, screams louder than before, raw and overwhelming. It startled her, sending a jolt through her body, but she forced herself to keep going, grounding herself in the rhythm.

From the corner of her eye, she saw them—watching her, supporting her without breaking formation. Namjoon gave her a small nod, his expression steady and reassuring. Hoseok matched her energy effortlessly, his movements guiding and grounding her. Taehyung flashed her a quick smile, warm and encouraging. Yoongi gave a subtle nod, quiet approval shining through. And Jungkook—he was smiling, clearly proud. That alone pushed her forward.

When her part came, the nerves rose again, threatening to choke her. But then she thought of Jimin—his voice, his belief in her, the way he had looked at her before she walked out. The fear loosened its grip. She opened her mouth and sang. The reaction was immediate. The crowd grew louder, their cheers swelling as her voice carried across the stadium. It wasn't perfect, but it was real, and they felt it. Some fans looked confused, searching for Jimin, but most were completely drawn in by her performance.

As her solo approached, she stepped forward without hesitation. Every movement was sharp, deliberate, and filled with emotion. She wasn't just filling in anymore—she was performing, fully immersed in the moment. When the final note rang out and the choreography ended, the crowd erupted once again, louder than ever. The members came together, breathing heavily as the adrenaline rushed through them. They bowed in unison, and as they turned to walk off stage, she could barely process what had just happened.

Backstage, Jimin sat upright on the bed, his leg secured in a brace, his hands gripping the sheets tightly. His eyes never left the screen as he watched everything unfold. The moment she stepped into his position, his heart had nearly stopped. "Come on... you got this," he muttered under his breath, his gaze fixed on her. When she started dancing, a small smile appeared. "I knew it... I knew she could do it." He leaned back slightly, letting out a soft breath. "All she needed was a push."

But when she began to sing, something in his chest tightened. "God..." he whispered, emotion filling his voice. "I love her so much..." He glanced down at his leg with a pained expression. "...it literally hurts."

A quiet chuckle came from Sejin, who stood nearby. "You're unbelievable," he said, shaking his head.

"What?" Jimin replied, glancing at him. "I'm in pain and in love. Let me be dramatic."

Sejin smiled faintly. "She's doing amazing."

"I know," Jimin said instantly, pride evident in his tone. "That's my girl."

A sudden knock echoed through the room.

"Come in," Jimin called, his tone shifting.

The door opened slowly, and the moment he saw who stepped inside, his expression hardened. "Oh... it's you," he said flatly, his voice lacking any warmth.

The woman stepped in, her presence immediately unsettling. "Jimin, what happened? I saw you get carried off on the fan cam. I wanted to make sure you were alright," she said, her tone laced with false concern.

"I'm fine," Jimin replied shortly. "As you can see."

Sejin straightened slightly, his gaze sharpening as he observed her.

"Now that you've checked," Jimin continued, his voice turning colder, "you can leave."

The woman paused, her smile faltering briefly before returning. "Oh... okay," she said, though her tone suggested she wasn't bothered. She turned and began walking toward the door. For a moment, it seemed like she would leave without another word.

But then she stopped.

Slowly, she turned back, a smirk forming on her lips. "Oh... before I go," she said lightly, her eyes gleaming with something unsettling, "you might want to tell your little girlfriend..."

Jimin's jaw tightened instantly.

"...that it won't be long."

The room fell silent, heavy and cold.

Sejin's expression darkened. "What is that supposed to mean?" he asked, his voice calm but edged with warning.

The woman only smiled wider. "You'll see," she said simply before turning and leaving. The door clicked shut behind her, the sound echoing in the tense silence.

Jimin stared at the door, his expression hard. "What the hell was that?" he muttered.

Sejin crossed his arms, his gaze still fixed on where she had stood. "I don't like her."

"Neither do I," Jimin scoffed. "She's always been weird."

A pause settled between them before Jimin spoke again, his voice quieter this time. "...You don't think she meant—"

"We're not jumping to conclusions," Sejin interrupted firmly. "But we'll keep an eye on it."

Jimin exhaled slowly, running a hand through his hair. "...Yeah."

Because no matter what she meant—

Nothing was going to happen to her. Not if he had anything to say about it.