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Shu found out about his soulmate a long time ago.
He wasn’t even friends with Uki: Shu was the quiet, hardworking intern that all the supervisors liked, and Uki was the hot guy all the ladies (and gentlemen) had a crush on. The only thing they shared in common was probably their internship at the company.
Soulmate marks are typically hidden, the magical line of words only shown to those you want to be your soulmate. Have them read it out loud and if it disappears off your wrist, they’re the one. As simple as that— at least that’s what it looks like.
People usually wear a wrist cover to cover up the mark, but Uki didn’t. Many people had tried to say his words, “I’d love you more than forever”— romantic and very fitting to his personality— but it didn’t even fade once. There would be feigned disappointment and lighthearted jabs. Shu did not participate.
-
Shu had known Uki was his soulmate since the first day they met.
Uki was checking in for his first shift too and they were in the elevator. He looked positively magnificent that day, and as a cultured man, Shu had to stare (respectfully). So small talk was started, and it ended with Uki walking out first with “I hope we become good friends”: that was all it took.
Shu does not have a soulmate mark under his wrist cover anymore.
He wears it anyway.
-
Uki had a boyfriend.
The first time Shu had seen them together, the guy was picking Uki up after a late night shift. They shared a kiss in the dark of the parking lot, yellow street lights decorating their forms. Slipping into the sports car, they drove away with Shu barely masking his gaze. He thought the man could’ve seen him too.
It wasn’t rejection, no, but it was something far more thought-provoking. Shu couldn’t sort out his feelings. There was disappointment, of course, because Uki clearly was happy in the relationship and that meant Shu could never have the romantic love stories told in fairytales. On the other hand, relief because the word soulmate was just so heavy— It’s common sense that soulmates don’t always end up loving each other.
Perhaps, the feelings he held for Uki could just be a mist camouflaging the reality. When he looks out for someone too much, his mind thinks of them too much, then they start to show up at every corner. It’s a terrifying thing to feel, like quicksand enveloping the entire figure.
Shu doesn’t know if he likes it or not.
-
Things slowly went on.
Shu had dated a girl in the company after he became a regular employee. She was sweet and logical, calm very much like Shu’s own personality. She didn’t care that Shu had a soulmate that already wiped off his mark, but Shu still felt the small twinge of guilt and longing deep in his gut. It made him uncomfortable.
They broke up a few months after. She had found her soulmate— a girl who lived in the same building as she did— and wished Shu the best. “You should at least tell them,” she had said, “Give it a chance. The feeling really is the best ever.”
The loneliness didn’t particularly catch on with him. Shu had learned through the relationship that not receiving outward care and attention doesn’t mean no one cares. He called his parents, his old friends, and his sisters; they were all well and that’s what Shu cared about.
-
Some things changed.
First, Uki had become single again. “It was a mutual agreement”, he had said, and to everyone else, life went on as usual.
Not Shu, though. The second thing is that apparently, Uki is now Shu’s actual friend.
It started with Uki taking the same train after work as Shu: they talked, and behind that front of unapproachable beauty is a light, caring soul who was also very funny.
The realization did not help Shu’s heart at all.
-
Sleepovers became a thing.
Usually, it’s on a weekday night when they have an especially late shift. Shu has a car and Uki doesn’t. Shu suggested giving him a ride back home, but Uki said it might be nice to stay at Shu’s place since it was closer.
(Shu still wonders why Uki wanted to stay. He couldn’t help but light up at the thought, even after every time they’ve watched a movie together.)
At first, it was awkward and Shu couldn’t relax. However, he quickly realized their interactions were just as normal as when they were just hanging out together. Fun, lighthearted, calming, and warm. Constant support, like they’ll always be there for each other.
It was Uki and he had gotten used to it. Whatever this is, he’s up to it, Shu had told himself multiple times. Even if they didn’t explicitly state anything about the relationship. Shu couldn’t not love him. This situation is a compromise, the current best-case scenario.
But it was not the closest they could be.
Shu realizes that when he looks at his empty wrist.
-
It was a Friday night out with the entire firm, celebrating a finally-achieved sales goal.
Uki drank a lot. He was especially beautiful tonight, the lilt of black eyeliner dragging upwards into a seductive gaze. He moved around the place, talking to multiple people like the social butterfly he is.
Shu stood in a corner with a light drink in hand, surrounded by comfortable chatter. Usually, he dislikes places like this, but having familiar people all around was reassuring.
The bartender was a friend he knew. Fulgur had been working on and off as both a novelist and a mixologist, traveling around the world to different bars and parties with his soulmate.
Shu doesn’t say it, but he envies the life Fulgur leads. He turns his eyes back to the dance floor the entire night, unable to look away from Uki. His entire being seems to shimmer under the sparkling light.
He was getting closer to where Shu stood. Before Shu could decide whether he should speak first, Uki caught his gaze and came over.
“Having fun tonight?”
“It’s okay,” Shu replied. Standing closer, he could see the shine of eyeshadow glitter in the dark, how those different-colored eyes glinted with excitement. Perhaps one step closer, and he could feel the heat radiating off Uki’s body.
Uki stared at Shu for a while before suddenly holding his wrist, and pulling him to the center of the dance floor.
“Wait— Uki, I can’t dance— ”
“Me neither.”
A hand settled behind his back as the next song starts. Uki looked up at him with a smile, his face barely an inch away from Shu's.
“Just move to the music and it’ll be fine.”
It was not just the alcohol in his system, Shu was sure.
His heart was the one that was swaying.
-
“Why’d you never say the line on my wrist?”
Shu stiffed as the movie playing paced into a flashing explosion scene, his hand stopping on the edge of the popcorn bowl. Uki pouted at the reaction, hoisting himself up into Shu’s lap, violet gaze looking into purple.
“It’s complicated,” Shu said quietly into the loud sounds from the TV. It was truthful. He knew perfectly why.
“Then let me say yours,” Uki replied, suddenly making a move to take off the wrist cover. Shu tore his arm away in panic, frantic breathing mirroring the look of confusion on Uki’s face. It quickly morphed into what Shu knew as determination, and in that glimpse of emotion, Uki had caught Shu’s wrist.
Shu covered his eyes with his other forearm. He did not want to see the expression on Uki’s face.
“..Who is it?” His arm was brushed away.
Shu expected anger. He was met with worried eyes instead.
“Have you told them?” Uki said softly, caressing his hair. Shu tried meeting his gaze. There was panic and confusion behind the starry purple.
Maybe it was okay, a small voice in his head said.
Maybe he could confess everything.
Uki would understand.
Right?
Shu picked up Uki’s wrist and stared at the dark letters.
“I’d love you more than forever.”
The words started to fade, just as the light in violet eyes grew brighter, undeterred by the tears welling up. It was more than a confirmation, more than anything words could describe.
“I love you too, idiot. Why didn’t you tell me? When did you know?”
Shu pressed his forehead against Uki’s, a smile creeping up his cheeks. “It was when we first met, I thought it’ll be weird if I just came to you out of the blue!”
Uki had his hand on the back of Shu’s neck, fingers tangled with hair. “I can’t believe it’s been you all along.”
Shu thinks the gods above if they exist, must’ve been secretly taking care of him— giving him such a blessing in life.
Perhaps it was them placing the courage in his heart to lean in for a kiss.
Uki was more than happy to meet him halfway.