SOUL BONDS ( Under revision )

Chapter 4

The spark lingered.

Even after Jimin's hand settled fully around mine, even after my breathing tried to steady, I could still feel it—like a pulse under my skin. Warm and electric. It wasn't painful, but it wasn't normal either.

It felt like something inside me recognized him.

And that terrified me.

I stared at our hands for a long second, my throat tightening like my body didn't know whether to pull away or lean closer. Jimin's grip wasn't tight, not forceful. It was gentle. Like he was holding something fragile.

Like he was holding me.

"Did you feel that?" Jungkook asked quietly, his eyes wide.

I looked up, my lips parting slightly. "I... I don't know what I'm feeling."

Yoongi scoffed softly, but it didn't sound annoyed. It sounded... tense.

"You felt it," he muttered, leaning back in his chair. "You're just scared to admit it."

My stomach twisted at how easily he read me.

I hated that he was right.

Namjoon folded his hands together on the table, his expression calm but serious. "We're not here to pressure you, Naomi."

Jin nodded quickly. "Exactly. We just... needed to tell you the truth."

Hobi's eyes stayed on me the whole time, like he was making sure I didn't disappear into myself. "We've been debating how to bring it up for days," he admitted softly. "Because we knew it would overwhelm you."

I swallowed hard, forcing myself to breathe.

The room felt too small all of a sudden. The air felt thick. My heart was beating so fast I could hear it in my ears.

I slowly pulled my hand back from Jimin's—not because I didn't want him touching me, but because the warmth was too much. Too real.

The moment my fingers left his, I felt the absence immediately.

Like my skin missed him.

And I hated that even more.

I rubbed my palms against my thighs under the table, trying to ground myself. "So... what does this mean?" My voice came out shaky. "Like, what are you saying? That I'm... stuck with you guys?"

Jungkook opened his mouth, but Jin elbowed him hard before he could say anything dumb.

"Ow—hyung!" Jungkook complained.

Jin shot him a warning look. "Watch your words."

Jungkook immediately sat up straighter, clearing his throat. "I mean... not stuck. I didn't mean it like that."

I let out a weak laugh that didn't sound like laughter at all.

Yoongi leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. "If you want us gone, say it. We'll leave."

My chest tightened at that.

Leave.

The word hit me like a slap.

My brain immediately tried to grab onto it, twist it into something ugly. They're already preparing to leave. They're already halfway out the door.

I hated my mind.

I hated how fast I could go from safe to spiraling.

"No," I said quickly, too quickly. "I don't want you gone."