Time Magic

60

Before we set off on our mission to rescue the last BTS member, we went to the kitchen to have breakfast, after all, you never knew how long you'd be away and what situation you'd end up in and after last night's activities I was pretty famished. Mike was at the stove with Jin and they were both frying bacon and sausages so peacefully that I eyed them suspiciously.

"What's going on with them?" I asked Jungkook, who was already sitting at the table eating a mountain of pancakes.

"I have no idea... ever since I told Jin what happened and that he's not your companion, he's suddenly been really nice to Mike... He even winked at him several times... He seemed more relieved than disappointed." he clarified and I raised an eyebrow.

"Well... I mean... Do I have to feel rejected or happy that he's taking it so lightly?" I wrinkled my nose uncertainly, which made both Hobi and Kookie giggle.

"I promise you, if I don't turn out to be your mate, I'll die of a broken heart in front of you." Hobi said theatrically, which made me nod in satisfaction.

"Thank you, nice of you." I appreciated his sacrifice, but I also knew that his words were only half-joking, it would probably hit him really hard. But unfortunately I couldn't make the decision just because of my feelings, so it didn't make it any easier.

"I will throw myself on the floor crying for your sake and demand that you still cuddle me every day... I won't die, that's going too far for me." Jungkook explained, which made me grin. I was also sure that he was at least serious about the cuddling part.

"You're spoiling me," I said with a giggle as Jimin entered the kitchen with Sophie.

"Good morning." Jimin greeted us cheerfully, while Sophie just smiled at us before they sat down opposite of us. Sophie looked at me and Hobi with interest, seeming to notice how close we were sitting together, but the expected reaction didn't materialize. She stared at Hobi so much that I thought she was going to scowl at me, or otherwise make a face, but she nodded slightly and smiled even wider before looking me in the eye and something immediately struck me.

"Sophie... aren't your eyes normally blue?" I asked, irritated, as she looked at me with dark chocolate-brown eyes and immediately paled. I had always thought she was mixed race because of her red hair and blue eyes, as she had had them as a child, even though she clearly had Asian features. But now, on closer inspection, I saw a black hairline that I had never noticed before.

"Oh... no no, those are contact lenses." she tried to convince me, but the tremor in her voice was unmistakable. I was just about to question her further when the front doorbell rang and, as I was sitting closest to the hallway, I ran to open it. I realized that I wouldn't get any honest answers now, so I put it off and decided to keep an eye on her.

"Hello, I'm Sophie's mother, she's forgotten something important at home..." I heard as I opened the door, but the woman dropped the small box she was holding when she saw me and looked at me in horror. Tears welled up in her eyes before she fell to her knees in front of me and clutched my legs. Stunned, I stared at her, not knowing how to react when she began to speak again, sobbing.

"Please... don't take her away from me... she's everything to me... my child... please don't... I don't want to lose her... I beg you..."