Chapter Text
"He stepped down, trying not to look long at her, as if she were the sun, yet he saw her, like the sun, even without looking." – Leo Tolstoy, Anna Karenina
Anima Meaology: A Study on 'Glitches'
By Kim Namjoon
Intro by L/N F/N
The science of soulmates is a fickle thing. It's something I, for many years, could not possibly understand. Even after a degree in psychology and another in the very subject we discuss, even after employment for years in an anima meaology research office– it was still something I did not fully comprehend. How could I? How could anyone?
I only began to understand once I realized that the questions we should be asking are not things like 'where did the tattoos come from?' or 'what is the metaphysical connection between souls, where do we isolate it?'. Instead, we should be asking ourselves questions like, 'what is the importance of soulmates?', 'what is their impact on our society, on the world?', 'what are our own personal feelings to the very idea of soulmates?'.
When I began my first research job, I was twenty-four years old, just moved to Seoul in the hopes of escaping my own fate. I was told that the definition of anima meaology was this: Study of matters involving the soul and its metaphysical connection to another. Its a very dictionary definition, and perhaps there's nothing wrong with that. However, I truly believe that there is no need for there to be a definition like that for the study of soulmates. Why? Because what I have found, over my many years with many experiences regarding many kinds of soulmates, is that there cannot be such an umbrella term. Soulmates are, in my professional and personal opinion, an individual matter.
A name appeared on my wrist when I was sixteen years old. It was the name of my best friend, who already had the name of another girl on his.
When I was sixteen, I believed that there was one kind of soulmate- the kind that you fall in love with, get married to, and have children with. Many people still believe this, and to a degree, it is true that the name on any particular wrist will often reflect this person. However, it doesn't always, and that is what I hope will begin to become common knowledge, rather than something to be discovered after years of pain and loneliness. (My colleague and good friend Dr. Kim Namjoon will go into this further, in case you are wondering why I don't elaborate).
This is in fact a scientific textbook, and will probably be used in many an anima college class. I have the utmost faith in Dr. Kim Namjoon to deliver something worth studying. Because of this, I don't believe many will read this introduction, or even think too hard about what I've said.
Despite that, I want to conclude with a mention towards the many 'glitches' of our city, our country, and our world. My husband, whose name is not in fact written on my wrist, once told me, "The person whose name you carry is the person you need to bring you to a discovery about your life. Your soulmate is that which you discover."
Fate is not against you. Fate is just pushing you a little harder than he pushes others. Do not tremble before him. Do not let him crush you. Let his pushes propel you farther than you ever thought you could go. Do not let the life you deserve be stolen from you– fight for it. Continue fighting until you reach your happiness.
And now, allow our wonderful author to elaborate.
-
Jungkook squeezed his eyes shut, trying to keep the tears he could feel gathering from spilling onto the brand new book sitting on the nightstand. He brushed his fingers adoringly over the words on the page, over the quote that when he'd first said, you'd practically jumped out of your seat in excitment, going on about how you had to put that in a book someday, it was too good not to–
"Whatcha doing?"
Jungkook flipped the book shut at record speed upon hearing your voice, but already knew he was caught. He turned with a shy smile, covering what he'd been reading with his body as he looked at you, leaning against the doorframe with your arms crossed, smirking knowingly at him.
"Absolutely nothing." Jungkook lied, knowing it was completely obvious. You raised your eyebrows, walking over to him and wrapping your arms around his neck, swaying side to side with that same smirk as he instinctively brought his own arms around your waist, following your rhythm.
"You know," you said, fingers fiddling with the strands of hair at the base of his neck as you looked up into his eyes. "I'm pretty sure I asked you not to read it until I've read it."
"I definitely wasn't reading it." Jungkook protested, but he couldn't help the smile that spread on his face as you rolled your eyes very dramatically, adding in a load groaning sound for special effect.
"So why are your eyes red, loser?" you teased, but your own eyes were serious as you stared into Jungkook's. He swallowed hard, not wanting to admit that your introduction had nearly brought him to tears.
"Our godkids offered me drugs," he said, and you rolled your eyes again, a smile finding its way to your face.
"They're five and seven." you stated humorously. Jungkook chuckled.
"Never too young these days, right?" You hummed in response, resting your head against his chest.
"Were you actually about to cry because of my intro?" you whispered.
"Maybe," Jungkook whispered back, and you could hear his throat closing up in his tone, his arms tightening around you as he buried his face in your hair. "You're pretty good with words."
You smiled against him. "I hope so."
You passed a few moments in silence, swaying to the sound of each others' heartbeats as you basked in your husband's warmth and he did the same with yours.
"Y/N?" Jungkook said quietly. You hmmed as your go ahead to continue, but he paused for another second. You almost spoke up before he went on. "You're my soulmate." You nodded, not sure where this was going. "I'm yours, right?" he finished softly.
You pulled slightly away from him and brought your hands from where they were interlocked behind his neck to hold his face, your thumbs gently brushing over the high points of his cheeks where the slight stain of tears was evident.
"Always." you whispered, looking straight into Jungkook's eyes. His grip around you tightened further, and as he dipped his mouth towards yours, you let your eyes flutter shut, knowing that there was nowhere you'd ever rather be.