Bonded: A Min Yoongi x OC Soulmate AU

9

Crystal shakily clutches the sides of the toilet, dry heaving as her stomach churned violently. She was upset, overwhelmed, and disgusted. After reading that contract, it had hit her that her life was really no longer her own. She may not do things the way the contract was laid out, but she'd still have to schedule her life around her soulmate—who happened to be a super busy idol. She wouldn't be able to see her family every day anymore, hell she'd probably go months without seeing them face to face once BTS would have to go on tour. The changes that were about to happen seemed extremely drastic to her, someone who thrives on routine and order.

When her stomach stopped churning, she sighed in relief, sitting back against the tub and hugging her knees to her chest. She takes deep breaths to calm herself, knowing she'd probably go into a full blown panic attack if she didn't.

"Are you sick? The company's main nurse will be here soon. The others left to rest,"

Crystal looks up, startled by the sudden break in silence, realizing she'd left the bathroom door wide open. Jungkook stood there in the doorway, a concerned look crossing his face.

"Disgusted—most likely coupled with the fact that I haven't eaten anything since the concert," she answers, summoning the strength to stand up and flush the toilet.

"Understood. That contract is horrible and we told them to change it last year when my soulmate and I bonded. On their behalf's, I apologize. No woman should be treated that way," he says sincerely, watching her with worried eyes.

Crystal moved slowly, splashing some cold water on her face. She grabs her toiletry bag and fishes her toothbrush out, looking up at him in surprise.

"Wait—you have a soulmate?" she asks, her surprised eyes meeting his in the mirror.

"Yeah, her name is Sehee and you'll probably meet her later today. We bonded a little over a year ago," he answers, a shy smile spreading across his face.

"That explains things," Crystal replies, shooting him a small smile before starting to brush her teeth.

He looks at her quizzically and she puts up one finger, indicating that he wait.

"It's just that you've been noticeably happier for a while now. I assume things are going well so congrats," she says, putting her toothbrush back in her bag.

"Things were rocky at the start but once we let go of our pride, things got a lot easier. I heard you say you didn't want a soulmate. Neither did I, you know, for obvious reasons. I wouldn't change it for the world now though. It took a lot of compromise from both sides. You said you have three siblings right? How old are they if you don't mind me asking?"

"I have two sisters and a little brother. They're 16, 13, and 10 right now," she sighs, her expression saddening.

"No wonder you said you raised them. They're a lot younger," he says, intrigued.

"Yeah my mom married my stepfather and we moved here when I was 8. She got pregnant with Cheyenne a year after. Natalia came three years after that and Christian came after another three years. My stepfather passed right before he was born so I literally took care him from birth. My mom was a grieving widow with two jobs so I took on the responsibility of taking care of the kids while she worked."

"Wow, but you were only...15? You were just a kid yourself. How did you know what to do?" he asks, propping himself against the doorway.

"I learned a few things watching my parents take care of Chey and Nat. The rest I learned through research. When I was at school, I'd check out books on newborns and I'd study them. I'd ask my mom things when I'd see her sometimes too. She gave me a crash course on what to do pretty much," she shrugs.

"Thinking back to how I was at 15, I can't imagine being responsible for a whole baby. A life. That makes me sad. I feel like your school years got taken away from you and now this," he frowns.

"I had to grow up fast but it taught me responsibilities and the bond I have with my siblings is one that cherish above all else. It was worth my school years. This—however, It sucks for sure but I don't have a choice."

"You do have a choice. I can't speak for the rest of them but I would never blame you if you decided to stay here with your family," he says softly.

"That's sweet but don't sell me a dream Jungkook. Everyone would blame me if i did. You'd probably be the only one that wouldn't. My soulmate would hate me even more that he already does and the others wouldn't want to continue without him. You guys are seven and it would be selfish of me to break you all up. What you guys have is special and you mean so much to so many people. I couldn't—I wouldn't..."

Jungkook softens watching the array of emotions cross her face as she spoke. Being the empathetic person he was, this situation made him sad just like it did with his own soulmate. It was no secret that being an idol was beyond demanding and that was fine until moments like these happened. Moments when someone got dragged into their world—forced to leave their lives and loved ones behind. Making someone unhappy just so they could continue to live their dream didn't sit right with him, which is why he'd said he wouldn't blame her if she refused to leave her family. He didn't like that she felt like she didn't have a choice but he knew why she felt that way. Undoubtedly, there'd be some hostility towards her if she were to do that—from his hyung, maybe some of the members, the company, and he didn't even want to think of what would happen if ARMY were to find out. She'd easily become the most hated woman in Korea and that just wasn't fair. Life never is.

A/N: Bonding time with JK 💜💜