Donghyuck had spent the night turning over the same question in his mind: should he make an effort to be a good soulmate, or let the bond itself do the heavy lifting?
He'd made his choice.
The latter.
Yeah, not his finest moment, but it was what it was.
By the morning, the soulmate tattoo was back under its usual cover—hidden beneath long sleeves and layered accessories. It was easier that way, out of sight and out of mind.
At least he wasn't actively avoiding Gayoon anymore. He no longer veered off onto another path if she crossed his line of sight, but he wasn't seeking her out, either.
Still, she had an uncanny way of threading herself into his life.
Gayoon had grown closer to the twins. She'd encouraged Mark to join the basketball team, convinced Jeno to try table tennis, and somehow dragged Donghyuck into volleyball—her own personal favorite.
Apparently, she'd once been on a volleyball team herself. The way her eyes lit up when she talked about it made something in his chest twist.
It was nice. Too nice.
"Did you play before?" Gayoon asked one evening as they left the gym, still buzzing from a scrimmage with the men's volleyball team.
"Yeah," he said, brushing his damp hair back. "We stuck to the same sports at our old school. Why?"
"You're actually good," she said, her voice laced with genuine admiration.
The words threw him off for a moment. He managed a small laugh, scratching the back of his neck.
Right. It had to be the bond. Just the bond.
"Are you going somewhere?" Gayoon asked again, her voice soft but tinged with curiosity.
"Bar," he replied without much thought.
"Cherry High?"
He nodded. "Wanna come?"
Gayoon hesitated, frowning. "I've got some readings to finish. You don't?"
"I already reviewed during breaks."
"Oh... okay," she mumbled, her expression faltering.
Truthfully, she didn't want him to go. The thought of what he might do there made her stomach churn.
Donghyuck was freedom personified. He wore it recklessly, waving his red flags like badges of honor, unbothered by consequences. If the soulmate bond didn't tether him, he'd probably lose himself in the chaos.
Gayoon hated it. But what she hated more was how much it hurt to watch.
The silence between them was heavy as they walked side by side. Donghyuck was glued to his phone, his thumb flying across the screen in what seemed to be an urgent conversation.
Meanwhile, Gayoon walked beside him, feeling like a ghost—present but unseen.
For her, meeting her soulmate had always been the dream. Her family had made it seem so easy, so natural. She'd thought it would be the same for her.
YOU ARE READING
TANTIANA UNIVERSITY | RED
Fanfiction❝And I can see the sirens on his eyes, the poison on his lips, the burns of his touches, and yet I embraced him like a saint, ignoring how his fire is engulfing me❞ ▂ ❗️ reader discretion is advised includes strong language and mature context COMPLE...
