Cursed

Warm sand tickled the bottom of your feet. Digging your toes deeper into the beach you watched your friends play volleyball from your spot on a towel.

University finals were over. As soon as the last exam finished you packed your bags to join your friends for a much needed vacation.

You sat beside Kozume under a large umbrella enjoying the salt air and the crash of the waves. And of course the view of swim trunk, baseball caps, and sunglasses.

Kuroo, Bokuto, and Akaashi were shirtless and sweaty only a few yards away. Alongside other friends the bunch of you had made at Tokyo University. But those three in particular were the sweetest eye candy.

Your fingers slipped under the thick wristband you wore to cover your soulmark. Rubbing the name if your soulmate unconsciously, until Kozume cleared his throat giving you a look. Adjusting your sunglasses on your face you pretended not to notice his stare.

Your friends knew you were one of the few with a soulmate, but you had never shared with them who is was. Kozume, however, was too observant and you suspected he knew. Gratefully he never said anything or pushed you about it.

It happened right before you started high school. You were with your parents filling out paperwork after moving to a new area. Scrolling endlessly on your phone, bored out of your mind, when the skin on your wrist exploded in pain as if on fire. Gasping you cuddled your arm to your chest, tears pricking your eyes.

Curious faces turned towards you. Some confused, others shocked at the outburst. It wasn't until your parents pried your arm from your body did the realization finally set in. You had gotten a soulmark.

Having a soulmark wasn't common. Most people knew someone in their extended family or group of friends who had one. They appeared randomly during your mid to late teens if you got one. And not everyone saw it as a blessing.

The mark was a name. The name of your soulmate. But your soulmate would not have a mark. Just having the mark didn't mean they were close by or did it mean you'd ever meet them.

This caused a lot of problems in relationships. Either you held out for a soulmate who never came or one would randomly pop into your life after you had already settled down with someone else.

But your teenage heart had high hopes that couldn't be dashed by your parents' realistic and logical words. It wasn't that they weren't happy for you. They just didn't want their precious child's heart crushed by this Kuroo Tetsurō whom they didn't know.

You met Kuroo right after starting high school. He was a year above you. And he was perfect. Handsome, funny, athletic, intelligent, talented, and kind.

Well, you didn't actually meet him. You heard the name Kuroo Tetsurō and your wrist throbbed alongside your heart in excitement. You rushed to tell him who you were.

That's when you realized it was no blessing but a curse upon your wrist.

Kuroo was a member of the volleyball team. A second year pillar of the team. Relied upon by his seniors and juniors. His athletic prowess alone was intimidating. Yet he was also studious, beloved by the teachers. He was surrounded his teammates and by fans. Pretty girls, handsome boys.

You tried to worm your way through the crowd to talk to him but the glares you got stopped you in your tracks.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" A voice snapped.

An elbow dug into your ribs, "we were here first."

Wincing you took a step back from the throng of people. Clutching your arm, you rubbed your wrist. An action you always seemed to do to quell your anxiety. You looked for another way through the crowd. It wasn't as though you had to tell him today but you wanted to be with your soulmate as soon as possible, believing in a happily ever after.