Tally Marks- soulmate au

Chapter Twelve: Promise

Junhui's legs felt weak. He felt as if the one time he finally found something to hold on to, it all was a lie. The first time in years that he had actually felt love and hope and it was all for nothing. Their plans, their future, their everything, what would it amount to now? What was left for them to do? Junhui had been in a few relationships throughout his life and every time he or his partner had gained another tally mark, the relationship was immediately cut off. Left in the dust to be nothing but another memory, another heartbreak, another lonely soul. Junhui didn't want this to happen again. He genuinely loved Wonwoo and he had given Wonwoo his everything. He had given him his life, his job, his virginity, his love. He had given him his soul. He had nothing left to give the man sitting in front him. And now that they knew they weren't soulmates, there was no reason for Wonwoo to stay. There was no reason why he shouldn't leave and go find his actual soulmate.

This revelation caused Junhui's knees to go weak and he fell to the ground in a river of tears. Both Wonwoo and their kitten rushed over to him. Wonwoo wrapped his arms around Junhui and started to hush him as Junhui began sobbing. His breath came out short and fast and as his tears escaped his eyes he kept saying "please don't leave me" over and over and over again. Wonwoo didn't think his heart could break any more, but seeing Junhui, a man he truly loved, crying on the floor in front of him, completely broken by past relationships, it tore him apart. He hugged Junhui tighter and whispered "I'll never leave I promise." Their kitten found her way onto Junhui's lap and curled up into his stomach, trying her best to comfort her owner.

Memory after memory flew past Junhui's thoughts. Relationship after relationship. The different feelings of holding different people's hands. Their simple smiles. Lovely laughs. Unique upbringings. Hair colors. Eye colors. Skin tones. Stories. Hugs. Cuddles. Birthdays. Heartbreak. Loss. Loneliness. Then it all stopped as one memory played itself out in his mind.

It was about a week before they were going to be deployed on the Eastern front. The sun was setting behind a large mountain off in the far distance. Hues of yellow and orange splatter across Junhui's vision. The sun's rays reaching up for the sky as it sank into a new night, waving goodbye to today. And Junhui sat atop a hill, under a large willow tree watching as the day disappeared. Watching as his world changed colors right before his eyes. Everything was casted in a dusty orange. It was beautiful. Everything was so beautiful. Junhui didn't have any place to go home to, no soulmate or family waiting for him, so whether he died or lived during this war didn't really matter to him. So he decided to spend his last few days here on Earth not worrying about what is to come. He just wanted to enjoy the now. He wanted to enjoy the peace that was being offered to him at this very moment.

He heard someone softly walking up the hill behind him and he turned his head just as the crown of said person's head peaked up above the curve of the hill. A smile immediately found it's way upon his face as he connected eyes with his best friend. Seokmin. He looked ethereal with the glow of the sinking sun lighting up his body. And when he smiled back at Junhui, it was as if he was the sun. Light in every way, brightening up every possible moment Junhui could have. He brought hope and peace and calm to Junhui's world. There was no better friend then the man walking up to sit with Junhui under the willow tree.

Junhui could never find the words to describe Seokmin, but one word always stuck out him, one word that came really close to being the perfect description of Seokmin. That word was 'pure'. Seokmin was so happy in every way and it was as if he didn't know any of the hurt that the world carried. Not a thing could touch him and Junhui swore to himself, in that moment, that he would never let anything harm Seokmin. He realized that Seokmin was his reason for living through this war, because that soul, right there, deserved to live. Deserved to grow old and find their one true love. He swore he would never let anything take that smile from this Earth.

Seokmin sat down next to Junhui and rest his head on Junhui's shoulder. Neither of them said a word as they didn't want to take away from this moment. They didn't want to miss their chance to watch sun fade from the sky and turn into a star filled painting. Junhui closed his eyes for a moment and prayed to whatever God might be up there. He prayed for Seokmin's soul to never be lost, that he always keep his happiness and ability to cure any form of sadness. He prayed that he would always be with him and that they never part ways because Junhui swore to protect him, and if he couldn't do that, he didn't know what he was going to do. When he opened his eyes he saw the last glimpse of the sun melt away into tomorrow. Seokmin lifted his head from Junhui's shoulder and looked at him. They held eye contact for a moment before Seokmin spoke up.

"Can I tell you a secret?" He asked in a voice just above a whisper.

"Of course you can."

"I don't think I'm meant for this world."

Junhui looked at him a bit confused,"What do you mean?"

He then lifted his shirt to reveal that he didn't have a single tally mark upon his skin. "Junhui, I've been alive for 50 years, I stopped aging at 18, just like everyone else, but I never gained a single tally mark."

Junhui took a moment to take all this information in, but before he could say anything, Seokmin spoke up. "I don't think I was put here to find my soulmate, I think I'm here for a different reason."

"What do you think you're here for then?"

He paused for a moment before completely removing his shirt, and there right under his left pectoral was the word 'guardian' written in a light golden color. It almost seemed as if it were glowing. It was magical.

"It's been there my whole life. And I don't know what it means. Am I supposed to be some sort of guardian. And a guardian of what?"

Junhui thought for a moment. "Maybe you are a guardian. Maybe you're a guardian angel. Sent here to protect someone. Maybe you won't know until you've completed your task."

"Maybe..."

The two stayed under the willow tree in another moment of silence. Until Junhui spoke up.

"Hey, Seokmin. If you do discover what that means and what you're supposed to do here on Earth, please don't leave me."

Seokmin looked up and his eyes glowed with Junhui's as they made eye contact. "I'll never leave, I promise."

"Hey." Junhui was pulled out of his memory by Wonwoo's deep voice. His tears had slowed and he looked up to meet Wonwoo's eyes. Both of their eyes were glossy and Junhui had tear streaks running down his face; he couldn't find the voice to say anything. But Wonwoo spoke for him.

" I know what you're thinking. I know you've told me that all your past relationships ended because of the tally marks, but I told you, the night we came together, that I don't care about the tally marks. Junhui, I love you, and I know this means we won't be together forever, but at least we can enjoy what we are doing now. We can create our company and live our lives without worry, because I know I love you and I know you love me. And that's all that matters right now. It could be years before either of us find our soulmates so why break it off now. And even when we do, we can still be friends. Okay? I'll never leave, I promise."

Junhui nodded and whispered, "Okay" with his voice all raspy from the crying he had been doing. The Wonwoo stood and pulled Junhui with him and their kitten jumped off of his lap and followed to the couple to their bed where Wonwoo sat down and pulled Junhui in between his legs with Junhui's back to Wonwoo's chest. The two of them got comfortable and Wonwoo picked up his book and started to read out loud for Junhui to hear. Soon Junhui had fallen asleep against Wonwoo and the younger had done the same. And that's how they spent the rest of Junhui's birthday. Wrapped up in each other learning to love each other in a new way.

(1504 words)