Chapter Text
Chapter Five
**Seoul, South Korea — Early 2026**
Namjoon had spent six years learning how not to think about the name on his hand.
It had become almost second nature.
He could wake up in the morning, get dressed, go through rehearsals, sit through meetings, perform in front of thousands of people, smile for cameras, write music, travel across countries, and never mention it. He had learned how to roll his sleeve down whenever someone asked about the mark. He had learned how to answer questions about soulmates without letting his eyes betray him.
But sometimes, usually when the day was finally quiet, his fingers would brush against the letters without thinking.
**Celeste Bennett.**
Six years.
Six years since the names had appeared.
Six years since the world had changed overnight.
At first, everyone had been obsessed with finding their soulmate. Governments had created registries. Private companies had opened agencies to help people reconnect with the names written on their skin. Television programs had turned reunions into entertainment. Some people had abandoned marriages that had lasted decades because a different name had appeared on their arms.
Others had refused to believe the phenomenon meant anything at all.
Namjoon had never known which side he belonged to.
He believed the phenomenon was real.
He simply didn't believe a name could tell him who he was supposed to love.
That was the part that frightened him.
Because the name on his arm belonged to a real person.
A woman who had been living somewhere in the world while he continued living his own life.
And if he ever found her, he couldn't pretend that his choices would affect only him.
BTS were no longer seven young men trying to prove themselves.
Their lives were public. Their schedules were watched. Their faces were recognized almost everywhere they went.
If the world discovered his soulmate, Celeste wouldn't just become Celeste Bennett anymore.
She would become RM's soulmate.
And Namjoon didn't know if she would be ready for that.
That was why he had never searched for her.
Until now.
He was sitting alone in a hotel room, wearing a loose black T-shirt and gray sweatpants, when his phone buzzed on the table beside him.
He looked at the screen.
The information he'd requested had finally arrived.
For several seconds, he simply stared at it.
Then he opened the file.
**Celeste Bennett.**
**Age: 30.**
**Born and raised in New York.**
**Currently residing in Paris, France.**
**Chef and pastry chef.**
**Owner of L'Étoile.**
Namjoon's eyebrows lifted slightly.
A chef.
He continued reading.
The restaurant had started small. Very small.
There had been financial problems during the first few years. Long working hours. Debt. Almost no days off.
She had apparently worked herself into exhaustion trying to keep the restaurant alive.
Namjoon paused.
He knew what it meant to work until there was nothing left in you.
But the next section made him slow down even more.
**Family background.**
Celeste's father had died from cancer when she was young.
Her mother had been left to raise two daughters while working multiple jobs just to keep their household running.
For years, money had been tight.
Very tight.
Celeste had started working as soon as she was able to, often putting her family's needs before her own.
According to the notes, she had spent much of her teenage and early adult years worrying about bills, helping her mother, and making sure her younger sister had opportunities that Celeste herself had never been certain she would have.
She had eventually helped financially with her sister's education.
Namjoon leaned back in his chair.
There was another note.
During high school, Celeste had struggled socially.
She had been bullied because of her weight and her family's financial situation.
She had eventually become part of a small group of girls, but the friendship hadn't lasted.
One of the girls had eventually admitted that they had mostly kept Celeste around because they felt sorry for her.
Because of her financial situation.
Because of the death of her father.
Because Celeste was more concerned with helping her family survive than she was with clothes, appearances, parties, or fitting in.
Namjoon's expression hardened.
He read the paragraph again.
He didn't like the word *pity*.
Not when it was being used to describe her.
The report continued.
Celeste had never been particularly interested in being photographed. She avoided publicity whenever possible. Even after L'Étoile became successful, she rarely appeared in the restaurant's promotional photographs.
Most of the restaurant's social media posts showed the food, the dining room, or her employees.
Almost never her.
Namjoon scrolled through the photographs.
There were dozens of beautiful dishes.
Pastries.
Bread.
The restaurant's interior.
The staff.
Then he found her.
A photograph taken from inside the kitchen.
Celeste was standing in the background, apparently unaware that anyone was taking the picture.
Her chocolate-brown hair was pulled back loosely.
Her bright blue eyes were focused on something outside the frame.
There was a small smile on her face.
She wasn't posing.
She wasn't trying to look perfect.
She simply looked happy.
Namjoon stared at the photograph.
Something in his chest tightened.
He zoomed in slightly.
"You're really private, aren't you?"
He didn't know why he said it aloud.
Maybe because, for the first time, she had stopped being only a name.
She was becoming a person.
Someone who had lost her father.
Someone who had watched her mother work herself exhausted.
Someone who had spent years helping her family before she ever thought about herself.
Someone who had been made to feel like a burden when she was simply trying to survive.
And somehow, despite everything, she had built something beautiful.
Namjoon locked his phone and looked down at his hand.
**Celeste Bennett.**
For six years, he had wondered who she was.
Now he wanted to know who she had become.
---
**Paris, France — April 2026**
Celeste had barely slept.
The phone call had happened the previous day, yet she still couldn't convince herself it had been real.
Someone from BTS's team had contacted her.
They wanted to arrange a private meeting.
With him.
With **Kim Namjoon**.
She had replayed the conversation so many times that she could almost hear the woman's voice again.
*Mr. Kim would like to meet you while he's in Paris.*
Celeste had thought there had been some kind of mistake.
Maybe they had contacted the wrong person.
Maybe someone else had the same name.
Maybe—
Her phone rang again.
She looked at the screen.
**Emma ❤️**
Celeste took a breath and answered.
"Hi, Em."
"Finally. I've been trying to call you."
Celeste opened her mouth to answer.
Nothing came out.
Emma immediately noticed.
"Celeste?"
Celeste stared at the floor.
"Are you there?"
Still nothing.
"Okay, now you're scaring me. What happened?"
Celeste swallowed.
Her fingers tightened around the phone.
"Someone contacted me."
Emma went quiet.
"Who?"
Celeste closed her eyes.
"His team."
There was a pause.
Emma's voice became softer.
"Whose team?"
Celeste barely managed to say it.
"Namjoon's."
Silence.
Then—
"Wait."
Celeste heard Emma sit up.
"Namjoon's team contacted you?"
Celeste nodded even though her sister couldn't see her.
"Yes."
"Why?"
"They want him to meet me."
Emma didn't answer for several seconds.
Then she practically whispered, "Oh my God."
Celeste let out a shaky breath.
"I know."
"When?"
"Tomorrow."
"Tomorrow?"
"Yes."
Emma sounded both shocked and excited.
"Celeste..."
"I don't know what to do."
"You go."
Celeste laughed nervously.
"That's your advice?"
"Yes."
"What if he doesn't like me?"
Emma sighed.
"You haven't even met him."
"I know."
"What if he only wants to see me because he's curious?"
"Then let him be curious."
Celeste looked toward the window.
"And what if he wants to tell me he doesn't want this?"
Emma became quiet.
Celeste continued before her sister could answer.
"I think that's why he's meeting me."
"Celeste."
"I mean, think about it. He's RM."
"I know who he is."
"He could have anyone."
Emma's voice sharpened.
"And you're doing it again."
Celeste frowned.
"Doing what?"
"Deciding what someone thinks of you before they even meet you."
Celeste looked down at her sleeve.
The name was hidden beneath the fabric.
**Kim Namjoon.**
"I just don't want to embarrass myself."
"You won't."
"You don't know that."
"I know you."
Celeste smiled sadly.
Emma's voice softened.
"You've spent your whole life believing you have to earn the right to be loved."
Celeste didn't answer.
"And you don't."
Her eyes burned.
Emma continued, "Just go there. Listen to what he has to say. Don't write the ending before the first page."
Celeste let out a quiet laugh.
"You really are a doctor."
"Why?"
"You make everything sound like a diagnosis."
Emma laughed.
They talked for another few minutes about their mother, the wedding preparations, and Emma's fiancé before Emma finally asked, "You're still coming next month, right?"
"Yes. I'm taking the whole week off."
"Good. Mom will be happy."
"I know."
"And the wedding?"
Celeste smiled.
"Still happening."
"You better help me choose flowers."
"I will."
Emma smiled.
Then her expression changed.
"Celeste?"
"Yeah?"
"Whatever happens tomorrow... don't assume you know what he wants."
Celeste looked toward the window.
"I'll try."
After the call ended, she remained sitting in silence.
Tomorrow.
She was going to meet the man whose name had appeared on her arm six years ago.
And she was already convinced he was going to tell her goodbye.
---
**Seoul, South Korea**
Namjoon hadn't expected the others to notice.
He should have known better.
Nothing stayed secret around six people who had spent most of their lives together.
The members were gathered in the lounge that evening.
Jin was eating.
Again.
Yoongi was sitting in the corner with his phone.
Jimin was beside him.
Taehyung was lying across the couch with his head resting against Jungkook's leg.
Hoseok was looking through something on his tablet.
Namjoon walked into the room.
Jimin immediately looked up.
"You found her."
Namjoon stopped.
"How did you know?"
"Your face."
Taehyung sat up.
"You found her?"
Jin lowered his chopsticks.
"Wait. Really?"
Namjoon sighed.
"I found information."
"That's basically the same thing," Jimin said.
Yoongi finally looked up.
"Are you meeting her?"
Namjoon hesitated.
"I am."
The room went quiet.
Hoseok smiled.
"You really decided."
Namjoon nodded.
"I want to know her."
Jungkook looked curious.
"What is she like?"
Namjoon glanced at his phone.
"I don't know yet."
Taehyung grinned.
"Then go find out."
Jin pointed his chopsticks toward him.
"And we're coming."
"No."
"We're supporting you."
"No."
"We can stay somewhere nearby."
"No."
"We'll be quiet."
Everyone looked at Taehyung.
He frowned.
"What?"
Yoongi snorted.
"You're the least convincing person here."
A few minutes later, the group had somehow turned Namjoon's private meeting into a secret operation.
"We're not following him," Hoseok said seriously.
Jimin nodded.
"Of course not."
"We're simply making sure he's okay."
"Exactly."
"We'll be in the room next door."
Namjoon stared at them.
"You realize I can hear all of you planning this?"
Taehyung smiled.
"That's unfortunate."
Namjoon shook his head.
"You are impossible."
"Family," Jin corrected.
Namjoon couldn't help smiling.
But none of them noticed that the folder Namjoon's PA had sent earlier was still sitting on the table in the lounge.
Jimin noticed it first.
He reached for it.
"What's this?"
Namjoon's head snapped toward him.
"Don't."
Jimin stopped.
Too late.
Taehyung leaned over his shoulder.
Jin stood up.
Hoseok moved closer.
Even Yoongi put his phone down.
"Is that her information?" Jimin asked.
Namjoon sighed.
"Yes."
Jimin opened the folder.
The first pages contained basic information.
Her name.
Age.
Location.
Restaurant.
Family.
Then there were photographs.
Taehyung slowly pulled one out.
Everyone became quiet.
It was the photograph from the restaurant kitchen.
Celeste.
Chocolate-brown hair.
Bright blue eyes.
A soft, almost absent-minded smile.
She wasn't looking at the camera.
Jimin stared at the photograph.
"She's pretty."
Namjoon didn't answer.
Jin looked at him.
"You've been staring at that picture for a while, haven't you?"
Namjoon took the photograph from Taehyung.
"Give me that."
Taehyung laughed.
"You're blushing."
"I'm not."
"You are."
"I'm really not."
Yoongi glanced at the photograph.
Then at Namjoon.
"You like her already."
Namjoon shook his head.
"I don't know her."
Yoongi's expression softened.
"That's why you should meet her."
Hoseok looked through the folder again.
His smile faded when he reached the section about her childhood.
He read silently.
Then passed the page to Jimin.
Jimin's expression changed.
Nobody joked anymore.
The room became quiet.
Hoseok finally said, "She had it rough."
Namjoon nodded.
"Yeah."
Jin looked down at the photograph again.
"And she still built all this."
Namjoon looked at the picture.
The restaurant.
The kitchen.
The woman who had apparently spent years believing she wasn't enough.
"That's what I want to know," he said quietly.
"What?"
"How she managed to keep going."
No one answered.
They didn't need to.
For a moment, the six of them simply stood there, looking at the photograph.
Then Taehyung slowly raised his hand.
"So..."
Namjoon looked at him suspiciously.
"What?"
"We're definitely coming."
Namjoon groaned.
"I knew it."
Jungkook laughed.
Jimin smiled.
Hoseok shook his head.
Jin picked up another snack.
Yoongi muttered, "We're going to get caught."
Taehyung grinned.
"Probably."
Namjoon looked at all of them.
Despite himself, he smiled.
Tomorrow he would meet Celeste Bennett.
And apparently, he would have six emotional-support idiots hiding somewhere nearby.
He had a feeling he was going to need them.