Attraction

Part Forty Six

The echoes of their cries settled in the ears of the other six.

All of them felt the same as Taehyung.

And all of them wanted to be comforted like Taehyung.

Seeing them hug, embrace each other with such strength, almost like they had known each other's arms, broke their walls as well. They wanted to know what it felt like to have her arms around them, to know what she smells like, to feel her skins touch their.

None said anything as they let their tears flow, their hearts yearning for Aila but none wanting to disrupt the moment between her and Taehyung.

Aila eventually, very slowly, made her way out of his arms. Taehyung almost jumped back into her hold, trying to make their embrace last longer, but instead he concentrated in his breathing, trying to make himself calm with Aila caressing his face and hands.

It felt so nice.

Such a foreign touch, but at the same time, he liked it.

A lot.

"Thank you. For loving me. I'm sure you loved me a lot when we were together. I'm sure all of you guys did."

Taehyung's lip wobble again at her words, because he knew they were so true.

"I'm sorry," she looked away from Taehyung, eyes wondering around the group, trying to convey how much her feelings were true, "I really am. Being here, seeing your home, and how beautiful your family is was a constant reminder of what could have been. Of what we could have had between us. I'm sure you would have done a great job at being my partner, my friends, my lovers, my soulmates. But..... I guess we weren't meant to be."

She saw how much this hurts the group. Their pain was plastered in their faces, in how deep they were inhaling, trying to catch their breaths, on how their eyes were swollen, faces red with dry tear streaks down their cheeks.

"Aila.... We... we wanted to talk to someone. Someone who was there when everything happened. He's old now and it might be a short shot, but it's the only way we can figure this out."

Aila felt her heart break at Namjoon's words. How does she tell them she's not staying with them? She's not staying here?

There's nothing they had left in each other. She's willing to maybe have a relationship with them but she wasn't sure of the kind of relationship they wanted with her.

She has a husband, a career, kids, a family.

She doesn't think she can offer them the same love, the same yearning they all hold in their eyes masked behind the pain and anger.

However, she couldn't bring herself to be cruel. Not more than what she had been to them, so she nodded her head yes.

*******

**** italics means it's said in Korean***

It was easier for the eight of them to visit Sejin.

They made Aila wait outside the living room, trying to not make the old men uncomfortable or surprise him too much.

She heard as they greeted their old colleague and friend. Sejin had been a part of BTS since their debut.

Apparently, they had already set up a visit with him, which made Aila think how far in advance had they thought about this. Sejin knew it was something serious, he had been previously warned.

Aila's hands began to sweat as she heard Namjoon talk, but unfortunately for her, she didn't know what was being said.

"Hyung, we really, really need you to met this person."

Sejin was confused, just who are they taking about.

"Just please, don't overreact. It might not be good for your health."

"Joon-ah, I'm old not sick. Get on with this."

Aila heard Yoongi call to her to step into the living room. She did so slowly, not knowing what to expect or if their old manager would even recognize her.

Her eyes automatically landed on the older stranger in the room, grey, short hair. She didn't know what to expect, but his eyes landed on her, taking her presence.

Sejin looked shocked.

He took a breath in. This was nothing to what he was expecting. Not ever did he think he would see her again.

He lost hope.

Many years ago, Sejin lost the last bit of hope and faith he had. He thought the kids he saw flourish would seek her out, would try to get in contact with her. But as time passed and months became years, he gave up on the idea of her. He thought they truly didn't need their last soulmate.

He gasped, shocked as recognition passed through his eyes, his eyes taking her in.

She was older.

But he would recognize her anywhere. Her eyes were still the same. She stood tall, chin held high, that same exertion of power clung onto her, but it felt more assertive now. She felt more comfortable and confident than when he first met her.

And it was her.

"Aila."

That was all he said. He forced his voice to come out against the pressure on his chest and his throat.

She smiled at the man.

"Hello Mr. Sejin. It's an honor to meet you." She bowed and held her stance for a few seconds before coming back up.

Sejin didn't mean to feel so overwhelmed. He didn't mean for his eyes to start releasing droplets of salty water. He didn't know whether to believe Aila was actually standing in front of him, in his home in South Korea.

Unexpectedly, he broke into loud cries. Namjoon and Jimin both quickly stood up from their seats and kneeled in front of him.

The others also moved and crowded the old man. Aila didn't know what to do as Sejin started to speak fast, sometimes even gasping for air. So she stood quietly, waiting for the manager to settle down and to look better.

She didn't understand what they were telling their old friend, but the tone of voice all seven of them were using gave her an idea.

After some time, he finally calm down enough. Jimin had rushed to his kitchen to get him more water, making him keep drinking it.

Aila stood off to the side, not trying to pester and disturb Sejin further.

"I never thought, I lost hope. I never thought you would search for her. I hoped, I wanted you to look, to reach out and reconcile, make amends, but after so much time, I lost hope."

Seokjin made eye contact with his soulmates, feeling ashamed before admitting the facts to Sejin, "unfortunately we didn't search for her. Fate brought us together by change. But once we met her, it was like our center, our gravity force was thrown off by her."

"You met her at a party you said?"

"Yes. She's the researcher in charge for the new cancer treatment programs. Her team and a Korean team made the breakthrough."

Sejin nodded at this.

"She was studying clinical trials when she finally said yes to touring with us."

They looked at each other, disbelief he had remembered her and had told them this detail.

"Sejin-Hyung, can you remember what happened? Can you tell us, if you remember, please. We.... It's been hard and we just .... we need to know what happened."

Sejin looked over at Taehyung, at his request, then he looked over at Aila. His brain still didn't believe she was there.

He closed his eyes before taking a deep breath.

"I've waited my whole life for this."