Stigma | Haechan

9

Aera jerked her arm free from his hold and within an instant the golden hue of light faded away- the two drowned in tranquility too focused pondering over their own thoughts that kept endlessly creeping into their mind, neither of them wanting to avert their gaze.

Clutching the card tighter in her hand, she tore her gaze away from him before walking past Jaemin, exiting the room and the guards immediately made a move to hold her hostage.

Aera remained silent, her eyes drew down onto the person who approached her, instantly recognizing him- a smirk pulling up on his lips seeing her being held by their men.

"Leave her" Donghyuck commanded, bringing his men to a stop, catching Renjun off guard by his words.

"Well how the tables have turned.." Aera taunted- now a smirk quirked on her lips, intentionally bumped against Renjun's shoulder before weaving past their men as she wasted no time in slipping out of the Neo headquarters and head straight to her apartment.

"How the hell could you just leave her Haechan?!" Renjun barged inside, fuming in anger that he let go off the girl without a second thought.

Jaemin sighed out, stepping closer to Renjun as he whispered out, "Those two are soulmates" Renjun drew his brows together, confused and soon it dawned on him.

"What?" Renjun uttered out in disbelief before walking towards their leader who was seated on the couch- eyes boring holes onto the name that was inked onto his skin below the pitch black crescent moon and Renjun narrowed his eyes down on the letters, reading out the girl's name.

Park Aera

❖

"If anything happens to her, I'll see your end" Mark spat out, tackling the elder boy onto the couch- practically sitting on him, seething since the girl's arrival back home had been delayed and he began to get worried about her.

"Guys stop fighting" Jaehyun stated- tone unbothered since it wasn't the first time he had seen the two fight, before he went back to texting someone on his phone.

"She'll be fine" Taeyong assured and Mark rolled his eyes before speaking up, "Shut up Hyung. Don't say a word, you're annoying me" Taeyong exhaled out deciding to remain quiet as he laid on the couch, not wanting to pick a fight with the younger.

Just then the door flung open making them turn to face the person and Mark immediately got off the couch, running towards her before pulling her into a tight hug.

"Are you okay? Did they do anything?!" He enquired breaking the hug while he let his eyes rank over her figure, making sure she was alright.

"I'm fine Mark" Aera replied, giving him a small smile and he sighed out in relief returning her one.

"Told you she'll be fine" Taeyong shrugged eying Mark who intentionally ignored him while making his way inside the kitchen to grab some water for the girl.

"Here," Aera threw the card towards Jaehyun which he effortlessly caught onto, "Thanks buddy" He stated and she gave him a nod as she sat down beside Taeyong on the couch.

"Don't loose it again" She warned him before turning to look at Taeyong who spoke, "Good job Aera" He commented, giving her a fist bump before looking at Mark who cleared his throat, glaring at Taeyong.

"Where's Johnny?" Aera asked noticing his absence and Taeyong shrugged, "He's barely home anyways" Aera nodded, knowing he was the only one whom she knew the least about since he rarely spent time in their dorm- their conversations always limiting to their job and only inside the Pyrite Cube headquarters.

"Have some," Mark handed her the glass while sitting beside her which she reached onto, chugging all the content down her dry throat- a loud sigh of relief escaping her lips, finally breathing out relaxed.

"Aera are you really alright?" Mark asked in a soft voice, concern washing over his face as he looked at the girl seated beside him and she gave a nod, "Yes, really. Just worn out from everything, don't worry" Aera assured him and he gave a nod, convinced by her words though he was still slightly worried about her.

Aera was about to discard her jacket but soon realized about the soulmate tattoo and the cut on her wrist- not wanting to make Mark worry more than he already was, she stood up, pulling the jacket back in place before she spoke, "I'll freshen up" With that said, she slipped inside her room.

Closing the room door shut, she threw her jacket on the bed, taking steps towards the bathroom, closing the door behind her.

"I feel like dying" Aera mumbled to herself- the cold water running down her hand, watching it as the dried blood ran down her hand making the black letters beneath more clearly noticeable.

Turning the tap off, she brought her up near her- eyes trailing over the name and the symbol above it, sighing to herself in disapproval.

"How are you my soulmate? You're my enemy, I'm suppose to hate you" She ranted, pointing at the name on her wrist.
"God life sucks" Aera groaned out in frustration, messing up her hair- baffled as to what events would happen in the subsequent now that she was on a mission to get Azurite Neo arrested.

Aera had always been excited to meet her soulmate cause from what she had heard ever since she was young everyone consider it to feel purely ethereal.

She eagerly awaited to experience the feeling herself, beyond excited to meet her soulmate- the tattoo when she turns eighteen, their first touch where they activate their bond, the name that she would be longing to be revealed, strengthening their bond by holding each other in their arms, endlessly loving one another till eternity just like the two were meant to be..

"I wanted my soulmate to get me out of this hell... looks like that would never happen"
She muttered to herself, stepping inside to take a hot shower and refresh herself- mentally and physically so she could soundly sleep that night.

But everything happened too quick- the unexpected came in crashing all her excitement and happiness.
Now she was left lost as to whether she should like him cause he is her soulmate and now that the two are bonded or hate him cause her job defines him as her enemy..?

Poor girl😞

I'm an ENFP wbu all?
Irrelevant question but it's ok cause I'm bored🤷‍♀️