SOUL BONDS ( Under revision )

Chapter 10

The next few days after that hallway incident felt strange. Not bad strange, and not scary strange either. Just different. Something in me had shifted, like a switch had finally flipped. I wasn't the same Naomi who had stood frozen in that bathroom and let Min's words sink into my skin like poison. I wasn't the same girl who let whispers and judgment make her feel small. I was tired—tired of letting people's cruelty control me, tired of shrinking myself to fit into spaces I didn't create, tired of letting fear make decisions for me. If I was going to live in Korea, if I was going to stand beside seven of the most famous men in the world, then I couldn't afford to keep being fragile. Not anymore.

That morning, when I got dressed, I stared at myself in the mirror a little longer than usual. I fixed my hair with extra care, smoothed down my clothes, and put on lip gloss, adjusting everything until I looked the way I wanted to feel—confident. Not just pretty, but powerful. When I walked out of my room, I didn't keep my head down. I didn't hesitate. I walked like I belonged, because I did.

The house was quiet except for faint music coming from somewhere down the hall, probably Yoongi in the studio again. The kitchen smelled like coffee and something warm cooking, and when I stepped inside, I saw Jin at the stove with an apron tied around his waist like he belonged there. He turned and smiled brightly, eyes lighting up the moment he saw me. "Good morning, my princess," he said, voice playful and soft. I rolled my eyes but couldn't stop myself from smiling. "Good morning, chef," I teased, and Jin grinned like he'd won something. He set a plate in front of me like he was feeding someone he loved. "Eat," he ordered gently. "You need energy."

I hadn't even picked up my fork before I felt arms wrap around my shoulders from behind, warm and familiar. Jungkook leaned down and rested his chin on my head, his voice deep and sleepy. "Morning," he mumbled. I laughed softly. "You're clingy," I said, and he hummed against my hair like he didn't care. "Only for you."

Before I could even respond, Taehyung walked into the kitchen looking like he'd just woken up, hair messy, shirt loose enough to make me stare longer than I should've. His eyes landed on me and he smiled slowly, like he was enjoying the sight. "Pretty," he said simply. Heat crawled up my neck. "Good morning to you too, Tae," I muttered, and he walked over, pressing a kiss to my cheek that lingered just long enough to make my skin tingle. Jungkook tightened his hold around me immediately, like he didn't like sharing.

Hobi burst into the kitchen next like a ray of sunlight, already talking and smiling. He rushed over and grabbed my face gently with both hands, pressing a dramatic kiss to my forehead. "My baby is glowing today!" he announced proudly, and I couldn't help but laugh. "Am I?" I asked, and he nodded enthusiastically. "Yes! I can feel it."

Namjoon came in right after, calm and quiet as always, dressed in black. He didn't say much at first, just walked behind me and rested a hand on my shoulder, grounding me instantly. "You slept okay?" he asked, voice low. I nodded, and his thumb brushed lightly over my collarbone. "Good," he murmured, and that one touch alone made my stomach flutter.

Yoongi was last, hair messy, eyes barely open like he didn't belong in the world yet. But the moment he saw me, his gaze softened. He walked over without a word and pressed a slow kiss to the top of my head, like it was natural, like I was already his. My chest tightened, warmth spreading through me so quickly it almost hurt. Seven men. Seven different kinds of love. And somehow... all of it belonged to me. I should've been overwhelmed, but instead I felt steady. Safe. Like I could handle anything.

Later that afternoon, the boys had another schedule at the company, and I went with them again. This time I didn't feel like a visitor. I walked through those halls like I had a place there, like I couldn't be intimidated. Jungkook stayed close to my side, shoulder bumping mine every few steps just because he could. Taehyung stayed on my other side, letting his fingers brush mine like he wanted to see if it would make me react. It did. Hobi talked excitedly the whole way, making jokes and pointing out random things about the building like he was giving me a tour. Jin kept offering me snacks every five minutes. Namjoon quietly watched everything around us, aware of every person who passed. Yoongi stayed a few steps behind, silent but protective. And Jimin... Jimin was beside me the entire time, like he refused to let me out of his reach.