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Jihoon, his friends, his family, his peers, and probably everyone who knows him are all well aware of how much of a hard worker he is. His capabilities were always recognized, gaining accomplishments and achievements sometimes above what is expected of people his age, which is why his university was set on giving him a full scholarship from the moment he studied elementary up until this moment, as a sophomore.
When he was younger, he learned how to play the piano and continuously improved on it. The moment he realized his potential in singing, the very moment he realized he could, he worked on it and used his new found talent to further his musical capabilities. He eventually learned how to write songs, how to dance, how to excel in ball sports and how to excel in his academics. He possesses talents and skills he knows people could only wish for, skills that got a lot of people envying, but of course it takes a lot of practice, of endless nights, of tireless days.
Well, if he ponders more, he should probably also consider how this world works and probably thank whoever his soulmate is. In some funny coincidence, a funny play on destiny, in this universe, whoever is destined to be your soulmate shares some, if not all, of the skills you learn.
At first, he never believed that. Well, could you blame him? He felt it was unfair for those who had their soulmates leeching off of them, or probably unfair for those who didn’t have soulmates, to have no one but themselves to lean on. It was never easy to understand or to explain. It will feel unfair to some, lucky for a few, but everything wasn’t for him to decide but to themselves.
He eventually believed that the said phenomena was real upon experiencing it firsthand. While he indeed learned how to play the piano and other instruments by himself and through his own discretion, he woke up with a new skill, feeling a beautiful voice bubbling out of him, accompanying his formerly alone but beautiful melodies. He realized this was probably because of his soulmate, probably someone who took interest in singing and took time to improve his vocals.
He felt thankful that he and his soulmate’s skills complemented each other too, and he decided to thank his soulmate by practicing the skills he had acquired from them, so both of them could work hard together. That way, Jihoon thought that it would not be unfair for either of them- so that they can improve not only for themselves, but eventually for the both of them. He can only thank whoever deity is present too, since he realized that his soulmate was as hardworking as him too, learning that the other was improving at playing the piano, and eventually picking up another sport in the form of basketball and volleyball, in addition to Jihoon’s expertise in baseball and football.
But he never met his soulmate, nor caught a whiff of their presence. He learned from his peers that you may either realize that a person is your soulmate right from the moment you meet them or be unable to recognize it unless your pinky fingers meet, showing a bright colored string, which was formerly invisible. He witnessed both cases, and personally, if you ask him, he’d prefer it if he realized it as soon as possible, skipping the frustrating part of pining and, sometimes, rivalry.
He saw how his brother, Chan, and his friend, Hansol, realized it, and he thought they had it easier among people he knew were soulmates. Their house was near Hansol’s home, and although Chan and Hansol both didn’t know they were soulmates, they both found a liking towards each other in the first place. But from the moment Chan started pursuing professional dancing while Hansol ventured into underground rapping, they simultaneously realized they were soulmates as they acquired the skills the other was focusing on. They continuously focused on their skills, but they also used the talents they both had to establish a greater bond and to spend time together.
On the other hand, he saw how his best friend (don’t let him know he called him that), Soonyoung, had a roundabout way of realizing Wonwoo was his soulmate. Soonyoung thought Wonwoo was his rival instead, and it didn’t help that both of them were the same age and were classmates. Teachers would sometimes pit them against each other during events, seeing the potential both Soonyoung and Wonwoo had. It only fueled whatever thoughts Soonyoung had and eventually treated Wonwoo as a competitor, although friendly. It was only when Wonwoo got tired of their chase and held Soonyoung’s hands, with a purple string flowing through their hands.
Although watching Soonyoung’s flustered and utterly ashamed face was funny, he would rather hope it wouldn’t happen to him. Because, imagine thinking your soulmate was your rival. It can’t be him!
Or at least, he thought so.
Entering his sophomore year, he had nothing to fear but the unknown. He knew he would continue on doing what he had been doing- being their university’s poster child, being the golden student, and probably try to release another secret mixtape through his anonymous Soundcloud account with the name Woozi. He just had to maintain his academics and extracurriculars, not that he had any problems in the past, especially after he was named as the top freshman the university ever had. He could probably try to improve his social life too, and start to take things easier because he deserves it.
Just when he thought he could rest, came the biggest surprise of his life and probably a treat to those who wished for his downfall and for his university, who had been wishing for a long time to catch another golden student. When he thought he could finally embrace a much more laidback lifestyle, the universe seemed to prevent him from doing so.
It came in the form of a freshman transfer, the so-called ace and all-rounder of the beautiful islands of Jeju, Boo Seungkwan.
Jihoon won’t lie. He looked angelic, probably a bit taller than him (not that his height was tall anyways), and he came right into their university looking like how Goldilocks got lost, only that Seungkwan looked like a bear instead- a snuggly bear at that.
He was very friendly too. The freshman transfer fit right into the huge halls of their university, standing proud, shining right inside the competitive corners of classrooms. He was really great, he would be seen in stages almost immediately, joining the broadcasting club and taking charge of singing and hosting events. He would be seen everywhere, in both basketball, volleyball and badminton courts as the new addition to the varsity team, in different clubs, and being recognized due to his excellent academic performance.
Seungkwan was so great, so versatile and stood true to his name as an all-rounder. But as he slowly creeped towards the pillars of the university, spreading his tendrils and eventually bearing colorful and fragrant buds, he became a threat to Jihoon’s status. Not that Jihoon is insecure about his skills, he knew more than anyone that he can stand on par with the transferee, but he feels conflicted seeing someone excelling completely the same way he does.
He sees himself the way Seungkwan puts more than a hundred percent into everything he does. He sees himself the way Seungkwan would be asked to do one, but will do a ten. He sees himself the way Seungkwan spreads his wings and flies so high, soaring feats that both of their peers would envy. He sees himself too much in Seungkwan that he feels weird about it, but he can’t put his finger around it.
“Hey Jihoon-hyung, what are you thinking?” he feels Chan asking him, sitting beside him in the cafeteria. He forgot he was eating lunch due to overthinking, and had been idling so much he didn’t realize Chan was coming in with a new person-
“Boo Seungkwan?”
Seungkwan, in the flesh, has his hands around both Chan and Hansol’s arms, smiling and laughing without a care in the world, holding a paper bag he assumes was a takeout from a nearby bakery.
“Oh, Jihoon-sunbae! I apologize for the intrusion during your lunchtime. It's just that the only classmates I’m really close with were Chan and Hansol, and they were kind enough to invite me here. Oh, in case you don’t know me yet, I’m Seungkwan-” Seungkwan babbled fastly, and extended his hand to probably shake hands with Jihoon to introduce himself. But in some way, Jihoon gets affected by his smile, by the way he speaks, by the way he carries himself, by the way he simply exists. He didn't know what to do about it, so he decided instead to walk away like he hadn't heard anything and slapped Seungkwan’s hand slightly.
He doesn’t know what he was thinking, regretting what he did in a split second, but he couldn’t dare to look back where he left. He felt his hands tingling after slapping Seungkwan’s hands, a strange and overwhelming feeling, but he couldn’t bring himself to look anywhere but forward and walk far from here.
He doesn’t realize the ruby red strings flying out of his pinky finger, connecting to Seungkwan’s navy blue strings.
From then, he tries his best to shy away from any place or space in the university he could share with Seungkwan. He even spent most of his time in the rehearsal room, where he could safely say he would never meet the other and could also bond with his closest friend, Soonyoung.
“Honestly Jihoon, I don’t understand why you are running away from the kid. He’s nice, I met him through Wonwoo since he was his new roommate, and he’s really sweet! Wonwoo said Seungkwan reminds him of you.”
“For your information, I wasn’t running away from Seungkwan. I know he is talented and all that, but just as you mentioned, he eerily reminds me of myself, which is weird by the way. I don’t understand too, but he also seems so talented and effortlessly excelling in every field he tries to take on.”
“Are you hearing yourself Jihoon? Excelling in every field? Do these words remind you of anyone else? You sound really funny and similar to me back when- ah nevermind, I promised I won’t tell.”
“What do you mean? Hey? Soonyoung! What are you saying?”
“Jihoon, I can’t tell you, I’m enjoying this too the way you did before. Don’t worry though, I know you would realize sooner, you're not as dense as me anyway. He’ll probably make a move too soon, knowing his impatient ass.”
And true to Soonyoung’s words, Seungkwan would eventually try to make a move to bridge the gap between them. Seungkwan knew what Jihoon didn’t- he actually had a hunch the moment he saw him the first time, fueled by the observations he realized upon hearing about their university’s poster student, and fully believed it himself when he saw the strings flying out of their fingers, despite an unexpected situation and an unfortunate reaction from his sunbae.
Seungkwan had been trying to find a way to let his dense senior realize that he wasn’t here to compete, that it was never his intention to become the new freshman all-rounder and steal the fruits of his hard work. He knew Jihoon thought that way, call it the soulmate sense or whatever sense he’d call it- but he wouldn’t want them to spend months running away from each other (although technically, Jihoon has been the only one running away) and he’d rather prefer to face things head on.
He decides to be closer to Jihoon by joining and enrolling to several electives that were meant for sophomores, and joining to the club where Jihoon was in charge of everything- the Universe Factory. He wanted it to become the way to build a connection with the other, not only through the invisible strings that bound them together.
His actions were eventually misunderstood by Jihoon, and no matter how Chan helped him explain, considering he was Jihoon’s younger brother after all, it was only taken as actions of aggression and, well, an act of competition. It was made worse when professors would comment from time to time how Seungkwan was unbelievably similar to freshman Jihoon, or how Seungkwan could easily go on par with Jihoon. Before Jihoon misunderstands everything and completely treats him simply as a rival, Seungkwan decides it is time to explain things, but he didn’t expect Jihoon to be unable to comprehend what he was hinting at.
“Sunbaenim, please believe me, I didn’t join this club or signed up for these classes because I wanted to compete with you. I just wanted to be close to you, because-”
“Because you want to follow the steps I’ve taken, right?”
“Huh? I wanted to be close to you because…haven’t you realized it sunbae? Haven’t you seen how the both of us are similar? Haven’t you realized we are-”
“No Seungkwan, we are not the same. I hope you will stop bugging me, but I won’t force you to leave from the Universe Factory nor to drop out from our similar electives. I hope you understand it, but I am still uncomfortable interacting with you. I apologize.”
Seungkwan would be lying if he said he wasn’t hurt nor affected by Jihoon’s words. He never thought his presence felt so heavy and burdening around Jihoon that he felt uncomfortable whenever they interacted. And although it hurt him, he decided to respect Jihoon’s decision instead and give him the distance he wanted. It pained him that Jihoon never knew nor realized they were soulmates, but he wouldn’t want it to be the sole reason for them to interact either.
“I understand, sunbaenim. I apologize for the inconvenience.”
Seungkwan was simply happy to know Jihoon was his soulmate, because he wouldn’t have it in any other way.
The day Seungkwan and Jihoon talked, Seungkwan stayed true to his words and followed Jihoon’s wishes and maintained his distance. Jihoon started realizing Seungkwan never stayed in the same space as him except whenever they had classes together but he sat farther away, or whenever all of the members of Universe Factory had to meet but Seungkwan would try to be farther from him.
Jihoon didn’t mean things to go this way, but the situation became harrowing for the both of them, seeing Seungkwan uncomfortable and unable to smile the way he saw him the first time he walked the hallways of their university. He never meant to see Seungkwan slowly fading into the background whenever both of them are together, slowly losing his delighted voice that resonated around the mellow walls of their club room, losing confidence whenever they had to see each other face-to-face.
As he observes from afar, he realizes a lot of things about Seungkwan he never got to see before he treated the younger as a threat to his position, a rival despite having no competitions. He realizes that Seungkwan may be similar and different to him at the same time, probably same in skillsets and talents, but different in perspectives and the way he acts. Seungkwan was brighter than anyone, and he was such a good talker and did great in socializing. Seungkwan was an extrovert, while Jihoon was an introvert, but both hated huge parties and crowds.
And Seungkwan was greater than beauty itself, an actual embodiment of things great and wonderful. And Jihoon started to blame his emotional constipation and unknown feelings he can’t sort just yet because he feels guilty seeing Seungkwan shine a bit less whenever they meet. He wanted to talk to him and settle things, but due to nervousness he couldn't help but put everything behind.
But everything is about to change.
Jihoon was about to leave the university when the rain poured down greater than expected, and he was left with no choice but to either wait Chan to pick him up or for the rain to eventually subside and be able to commute his way home. He hadn’t realized he was actually sitting beside someone in the shed- Seungkwan, who has his head propped over his fluffy backpack and napping quietly, probably also stuck due to the rain.
He spent a lot of time staring and admiring the younger, trying to figure out why he felt that way when he realized they were similar. He might’ve been stupid, because he treated him a rival, when the other must’ve wanted to become friends with him or closer. He realized he had been watching, admiring and thinking about Seungkwan more than he thought so, more than he should be doing so when he wasn’t anyone in his life anyway. He realized that he might have possibly been in love with Seungkwan, that he might have liked him for a while now- he was just stupid like Soonyoung said, emotionally constipated which he promised he would never be.
He wanted to wake Seungkwan up by tapping his fingers when lengthy laces flowed out between their pinky fingers, his sparkly ruby red strings meeting with the deep navy blue strings from Seungkwan’s pinky. He now realizes everything- the reason why he found him similar to himself, the reason why their skills and talents were oddly of the same level, the reason why he found himself drawn to the other despite his mixed emotions.
The tingly feeling when he slapped Seungkwan’s hands, the reason why he suddenly learned how to sing and how Seungkwan possessed the talents exactly the same way he did, the reason why as he thanked the heavens for having someone as hardworking as him- is because Seungkwan was his soulmate.
Seungkwan probably woke up due to the tingly feeling from their pinky fingers, his eyes now as wide as saucers upon realizing he’s now face-to-face with Jihoon, seeing the overlapping strings flying in the middle of their faces. Seungkwan smiles, and he sees an overjoyed Jihoon, eyes now filled with tears, while mirroring the strings that symbolized the fate that bound them together.
“Seungkwan…you knew?”
“I did sunbae, but I couldn’t bring myself to tell you. I realized it the first time we met, I realized that our talents overlapped too much for it to be a coincidence. I confirmed it when we met in the cafeteria, but I assume you didn’t know. I didn’t want to impose on you too, I wanted to be close to you not just because we were soulmates. I tried explaining this to you, but I failed to do so when you confronted me. I’m really sorry.”
“I understand. This wasn’t your fault at all. It was all because I was too stupid to realize that the similarities were because we were soulmates and went into a dumb assumption that it was because of competition or rivalry. Don’t be sorry anymore Seungkwannie, it was my fault, I’m very sorry too. Don’t call me sunbae anymore too, you are free to call me whatever you would prefer too.”
“So would you like it if I called you babe someday?”
“Oh Seungkwannie, that’s probably moving too fast. But I’m willing to negotiate over a cup of coffee.”
“You like coffee too? I’d assume we both can’t go right now because of the rain and I assume that you don’t know how to drive either.”
“You can’t drive too? Seungkwannie, we’re probably even better than soulmates, because how in fate are we sharing the same weaknesses either?”
“Jihoon hyung, you know that’s a roundabout way of admitting you love me, right?”
“I guess so Seungkwannie, but at least it got across right?”
“I love us too Jihoon hyung, I love the way our strings perfectly hug each other, I love how we both worked hard not only for ourselves but for the other, and I love you just as you are. You can probably stand interacting with me now?”
“You won’t really let that go huh, Seungkwannie”
“I won’t let you go either.”
Jihoon won’t let Seungkwan go too. And alongside the million unsaid words, alongside the stupid pining Jihoon promised he wouldn’t go through, he’s happy it was Seungkwan.
He was happy to know his ruby red string connected to Seungkwan’s warm navy blue string, because he wouldn’t have it in any other way.