SOUL BONDS ( Under revision )

Chapter 24

Min walked into the HYBE building with a slow, confident stride, her heels clicking sharply against the polished floor. To anyone watching, she looked composed—refreshed, even—but beneath that calm exterior, something darker churned. A quiet obsession. A bitterness that had been festering for far too long. She adjusted the sleeve of her jacket absentmindedly, her fingers brushing over the mark on her arm—the mark she had forced into existence.

They said soulmate marks were something you were born with. Something natural. Something real. Her jaw tightened slightly. She hadn't been born with one... so she made one.

Seven months ago, she had taken a picture of Namjoon's arm while he slept, carefully capturing every curve and detail of the mark that tied them all together. Then she had taken it to a tattoo artist and had it etched into her own skin. Painful. Permanent. Convincing. At least... that had been the plan. But then Naomi showed up.

Min's lips pressed into a thin line as she made her way down the hallway toward the studio. The closer she got, the tighter the knot in her chest became. It wasn't just jealousy anymore—it was something deeper. Something uglier. She didn't knock. She simply opened the door and stepped inside.

"Hey, guys," she greeted, her tone light—practiced.

The response was immediate, but cold. "Hey, Min."

Dry. Distant. Nothing like before.

Her eyes flickered across their faces, noting the lack of warmth, the lack of attention. It irritated her more than she let on. Things used to be different. They used to want her around. Now... she was barely tolerated. Her nails dug slightly into her palm as she forced a small smile.

"It's been a while," she said casually, leaning against the wall. "Where's Nae? Doesn't she usually follow you guys everywhere?"

The question sounded innocent, but it was anything but.

Yoongi's head lifted at that, his expression shifting immediately. "Yeah... where is she?" he asked, looking toward Jin.

Jin didn't hesitate. "She went to meet a friend. Jackson. There's a café a couple blocks from the house."

Min's eyes darkened for just a second before she masked it completely. Perfect.

"You mean... this Jackson?" she said, pulling out her phone.

The room shifted.

She turned the screen toward them—a picture of Naomi hugging another man. Min watched closely as the reaction rippled through the room. Most of them didn't react the way she wanted. Their expressions barely changed.

But Yoongi... his face fell. Just for a second.

And that was enough.

A slow, satisfied smirk tugged at Min's lips. There it is.

"Interesting," she hummed softly.

Jin scoffed lightly, shaking his head as he stepped forward. "Nice try, Min. We trust her."

The words were firm. Certain. Unshaken.

Min's smirk faltered for half a second before she recovered. Of course. They wouldn't break that easily.

Jin walked past her, brushing her shoulder as he left the room, but Min didn't move. Her gaze stayed locked on Yoongi. He looked unsettled—quiet, his jaw slightly clenched, his eyes distant like his thoughts were spiraling somewhere far away.

Min tilted her head slightly. "If you really want to know who he is..." she said softly, her voice dropping just enough to feel heavier, "meet me at the old building on 53rd."