The Definition Of Forever (Inked Hearts 1)

Eight-eight

AN

Who's excited/nervous/siked/anxious to read this new chapter? 😂

I already posted about it in my account conversations, but I wanted to thank you guys again for the 1k votes! I'm love all of you guys with my whole heart! 💜

This chapter is dedicated to @loveybar

"Oh man holy sh*t!"

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Jungkook first person POV:

The first thing that I see is the large floor-length window that allows fresh sunlight to stream through and into the room, bright and clear, warm and hopeful, and yet... I wish there were still clouds instead.

The room is just like any other lounge room in the building: tables, chairs, buffet, mini-fridge, and array of couches, but the thing that makes the room so defining, is the sole other person in the room, who stands against the far right wall, leaning on the smooth surface with her arms wrapped around herself.

Though she's leaning, I can immediately tell she's taller than Diana by a good four or five inches. She wears blue jeans, simple sneakers, a white top, and a grey cardigan. Long blonde hair flows down her shoulders in more or less a straight sheet, and her face shows off hazel colored eyes.

She looks, the complete opposite of Diana.

Sensing my presence, her eyes immediately shoot to where I stand and she pushes off the wall, bolting into an upright position with a more than scared look on her face, a look that appears to be, utterly and completely genuine.

One thing is clear about this girl: she's not faking it.

I wait: wait for the spark, wait for the burn of my tattoo, wait for fireworks to explode in my chest, but... this is not what I expected at all.

Her entire body trembles and I immediately tense up as well. This girl is shaking like a leaf.

"Um-" she whispers out timidly, "My-my name is Aera." She bows. Her voice sounds like a soft high-pitched chord on the piano, and I find myself fixated on it.

On instinct, I take a step closer and watch as she notices my actions, flits her eyes all over me like a butterfly, and then looks back up at my eyes before a slight blush takes over her cheeks. "You-you're my soulmate?" I ask cautiously.

Aera bites her lip and takes a deep breath; she doesn't close her eyes though, not the way Diana always does. "I- I think so," she almost whimpers, "but... I don't know for sure." And she shakes her head sadly but kindly.

I'm starting to get the sense that this isn't just a hard process for me.

"Well, Aera," I say, and notice how her name sounds on my tongue, "there is something that could help us figure that out." She nods her head and smiles at me faintly. "How did you know what my tattoo was?"

"I didn't – don't" she answers honestly and shrugs her shoulders for emphasis. "but, my Aunt, she works here and found out accidentally what the questions and answers on the test are. But she wasn't snooping around, I promise!!" she blurts out when seeing my reaction, and for whatever reason, I believe her. "The answers were just too similar to mine, so she called me and told me to come here and- find out..." she trails off nervously and plays with her fingers.

"And so you passed the test." I nod.

"But just knowing the answers doesn't get you through," she assures me, "they also have to check your tattoo and well... look," she sighs a bit defeatedly and I feel my heart go out to her, "It's true I cheated, if we're being blunt, and it's also true that my Aunt was stepping over the lines, so there won't be any hard feelings if you decide to fire her, from me or her, but all she really wanted was to help me find my soulmate."

I take a minute to think this over. The rational side of me says that even if her Aunt's heart was in the right place she was stepping over bounds and should be fired for legal issues, but the other part of me can't help but understand from her point of view and want to forgive and forget.

But what I'd actually like to know is...

"Can I-? Um..." I stutter slightly and smile kindly at her, "Can I take a look at your tattoo?" I ask and while her cheeks redden slightly she nods without hesitating, and I take a few steps closer.

Shooting me one last hopeful but sad smile, she spins around to the side and slowly brushes her hair to the right side of her neck. Carefully, she threads her fingers through her golden hair and sweeps it over while lifting it up so I can get a good look.

Behind her left ear where her hairline and skin meet, sits her soulmate tattoo. There, inked stark against her pale skin, is one word: Foretime

***

Walking out of the room, I see Jin Hyung instantly dart over from where he was undoubtedly pacing, and skid next to me. "Well?" his voice is hopeful but also with a tint of guilt and I can't help but question it.

"Same placement, same font, same first four letters," I breathe out,

"Buuuuut?" my Hyung looks ready to explode at any second.

"Different word." I get out through gritted teeth. I don't really see what's in front of me anymore. All I can see is her soulmate tattoo that was exactly like mine, but with a few letters changed.

Close. So very, very close. But not it.

"O-Oh..." he gets out, and I hear puzzlement and something like conflict in his tone. "I'm sorry, Kookie." He says and wraps me in a hug,

Are you though? I silently ask, Am I?

I want to tell him thank you, I want to thank him for being here, for supporting me, and for holding on to me, and keeping me from shattering apart. But I can't say a thing.

Why was it that I couldn't help but compare Aera to Diana from the moment I met her? Why was it that while startled at seeing her tattoo, I also wasn't overly surprised? Why was it, that when I found out we weren't soulmates, my first emotion was relief?

And that's when the guilt smashes down on top of me. I didn't deserve her. Not real as she was, I didn't deserve her. And I don't deserve my true soulmate wherever she is.

"Hyung?" I ask, and feel him squeeze me tighter in response, "Can you tell everyone that I'll be back later? I just want to stay here for a little while and get some rehearsing done."

Slowly, he pulls back and stares at me, looking deep into my eyes with love and pride that has been there for me from day one, but also sadness and worry. "Why don't we both stay here and practice for a little while? And then we'll go home." He says kindly and I nod my head, hugging him tightly one more time before we let go and make our way to the dance studios.

Almost as if nothing happened at all.

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AN:
AHAHHAHAHAH

Just so you know:
While writing the chapter, part of me really wanted to just make Aera his soulmate and have that be that...
but I didn't... your welcome 😂😇

Anyhoo!
How many of you have given up hope for Diana and JK, and how many still hard core ship them?

Now that you've read this chapter; what are your thoughts on Aera?

See you in the comments!!!
- Leia 💜