Chapter Text
It was a bright and relatively warm summer day at a kindergarten somewhere in Seoul. The playground however was abandoned, not a common occurrence in that place. The usual noise filling it, laughter and cute shrieks, occasional bawling, was replaced by the children’s hushed whispers and small giggles concentrated under the shade of the playground’s biggest tree where they sat in a semi-cricle surrounding a young man sitting crossed-legs in front of them. To any passer-by, it was obvious that the oldest in the circle was telling a story so interesting it made the children abandon play time.
“…uh-huh” the young man, trailed off. “But did you guys know that when people are born they're already whole, complete, their own person? They don't need any one else to feel content so-" the young man in plain white tee and bleached jeans had his arms spread in front of him, gesturing about as thought to help with explaining.
“But Innie-oppa, soulmates exists right?” a pretty girl with a flower crown interrupted him politely, her head tilted in question.
The young man, Jeongin or Innie as they call him, moved a hand to scratch his right shoulder where his own soulmark was hidden, taking a moment to think "Yes, but the concept of soulmates doesn't really mean the two of you are halves of one soul."
The children looked at him like he revealed he was a part-time dessert fox, eyes wide and mouth stuck in an ‘O’ shape as they chorused "Oh?"
Jeongin smiled fondly at them taking in the interest in their innocent eyes "A soulmate is like hmm-" he paused doing a thinking pose, hand under his chin and opening an eye in amusement as he felt children move closer "-how your squeaky bed provides you comfort just fine even after all these years." He nodded to himself, seemingly satisfied with the direction of his thoughts then continuing "Or how a favorite blanket can protect you from the sounds of thunder during a storm or how the warmth of the first bite of pancakes on weekends tastes better than anything else.” Jeongin smiled pleasantly as he finished “or how home feels like home."
The simmering excited interest in their eyes dimmed and their expressions dropped in similar-looking confused faces "You didn’t make sense!"
He faked a gasp and pressed a hand on his chest before bubbling in laughter "I don't? Well, that's what soulmates are."
"Ehh?"
"You don't have to understand. You just know." He finished his explanation in a scholarly tone, to a bunch of five and six year olds; therefore it wasn’t much of a clarification.
And the loud, chorused and prolonged "Ehhh" was enough evidence that his explanation did nothing at all.
But before the kids could mob him with questions the bell rang, loud and piercing, signalling the end of school day, so Jeongin clapped enthusiastically and announced "That's the bell kids!”
A lot were disappointed that their story time was cut short, but Jeongin’s promise of a better explanation had them piling inside the room to pack-up a few moments later.
“See you tomorrow!"
Jeongin waved at them and bowed a little at the teachers helping the kids, before standing up, took his old backpack and dusted off his pants.
"That's rather insightful of you, teacher."
He jumped at the unexpected voice “You scared me.”
"You don't have to understand. You just know."
"Shut up." He retorted, slightly embarrassed –come to think of it, it was rather cheesy- but was confused as to why his friend seemed to have their thinking face on and as they joined him walking out of the place his friend finally voiced out "No really, I want to know your take on this whole soulmate thing."
"You don't believe?"
"Skeptical. I mean why can't fate just, you know, write their name on our wrist or something?"
Jeongin snorted "Where's the fun in that?"
His friend stopped walking, prompting Jeongin to look back. But the obvious incredulity written on his friend’s face made him laugh while they firmly protested "What's so fun about letting your life be dictated by stars?"
He shook his head, stifling another chuckle "You're in denial then."
"And how would you know?"
"You literally sound like my papa."
"I do? But what does that have to do with anything?” At his answering grin, his friend lifted their arms as if already giving up at the way their conversation was going in circles “Okay, Mr. Know-it-all please convince me with this whole souls-are-linked-to-someone-else-way-before-you-were-born."
"You got anything to do today?"
"Again, what does that have to do with anything?"
He can hear the exasperation but he knows his friend is patient enough to deal with his ambiguous questions "Well, do you?"
"I don't. But what- Hey!"
Jeongin pulled the other’s hand to make them walk, not noticing how the other flinched for a second before letting go "We're going to my dorm, I’m going to be detailed about this."
"About what exactly?"
His grin was wide and scarily pleased "Innie's Guide to Soul Matching."
"WHAT?!"