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First and for all, once Jeongguk meets his soulmate, he's gonna give that person a good scolding and maybe a broken arm.
In this world of soulmates, he ended up getting the taste buds as connection with their soulmates. Some have it through hearing, smell, dreams, and the best one Jeongguk thinks is through communicating in their heads. But here he is suffering from whatever his soulmate is eating.
Not that his soulmate actually has a bad taste. One thing he likes about his soulmate is that his soulmate doesn't drink alcohol. Jeongguk despise alcohol. That filthy taste. Ugh.
Usually, Jeongguk envies his soulmate. Is his soulmate rich? That person probably lives in luxury. To be able to eat everything delicious there is. To be able to eat expensive food which Jeongguk can't afford. Of course. As the broken piece of college student he is who survives in a cup of ramen for an everyday living and the pity of the mother of his friends who sometimes give him food. That's life.
This taste buds soulmate thing is actually pure torture for Jeongguk. How can his soulmate eat good food while he gulps instant food? It's makes him miserable.
It's like watching your friends eat out in a fancy restaurant while you sit there by the edge of the table and watch them eat because you're on diet (no you're actually just broke af). Except you actually get to taste the food but you don't see it.
Pleasant torture.
The first time Jeongguk tasted his soulmate it was such a nice day when he woke up during his 18th birthday. Coz it starts when both party are 18 and stops when you've met your soulmate and eats the same food (according to some weird creator of this shit—me). His soulmate ate honey waffles, bacon, eggs, a fresh glass of orange juice and some french toast. Imagine waking up to that but all you have in your shabby flat were cup of ramen and left over food from your friend's family? (he celebrated his 18th birthday over at a friend’s house—a day before his actual birthday)
That day was the start of their battle. Battle of the taste or so Jeongguk thinks.
Jeongguk doesn't know whether or not his soulmate is doing it on purpose and playing a prank on him because one day he feeds him delicious food... The next day he feeds him trash.
One time Jeongguk was in the middle of his Finance lecture and his soulmate suddenly thought it was a good idea to eat pineapple-filled brownies.
Like who puts pineapple and brownies together? Fucking disaster. Or maybe his soulmate is actually just plain evil.
But then again, he poors his soulmate for always having to taste the cheap taste of instant ramen. Probably why his soulmate sabotages his taste buds by suddenly attacking with disgusting food.
And sometimes, like the fucking vengeful kid Jeongguk is, tends to eat the very spicy ramen ones. He would always laugh after because he would suddenly be attacked by the sweet taste on his tongue.
'My soulmate must be really weak with spicy foods.'
It has actually only been five months since Jeongguk first tasted his soulmate (in another sense). And Jeongguk haven't done anything to meet his soulmate.
He'd be pretty okay with it if he never meets his soulmate, really. There are low chances of meeting your soulmate when your connection is through taste or smell. There are pretty much a high count of soulmates not meeting each other with these senses.
Sad, maybe.
Very lucky would you be if you get to talk to your soulmate in your mind. That's the best. Like Jackpot. Probably in one week you could already meet up with your soulmate. How cool is that? Freezing cool.
Like his lucky of a friend named Taehyung who found his soulmate in two days. Turns out it's this Hoseok guy from the dance class where Jeongguk also attends.
★
"Why don't you try it out?" Jeongguk's friend, Taehyung, butts in in his thoughts. "Maybe you'll meet your soulmate there!"
Right. Meet his soulmate.
"I don't know, hyung. There's a lot of possibility that the person could be a middle aged person."
"What? No! There's also a chance that that person is hot af and cute as well." Taehyung cheers him up. "And you get to earn money. Weren't you looking for a part time job? It's like hitting two goats with one bone."
"It's 'hitting two birds with one stone', you dimwit."
"Yeah but I'm still a Hyung!"
"'kay hyung."
"Anyways, think wisely Kookie! Toodles~"
★
Jeongguk finds himself standing outside a shop. He looks up at the signage and he almost want to gag. It says 'Genie Jinnie food' in white cursive letters over a light pink background. The signage even has that Genie Lamp.
This place has been a hot trend since Jeongguk started college. It hasn't been a year maybe. It's the talk of the town (not literally). You get to order whatever you want as long as they have it available in the pantry. You could pay any amount so long as the minimum is $5.65 for food, $2.25 for drinks and it’s always worth it. And it's near the campus but why hasn't Jeongguk tried the place?
Oh you know it. Every cents is precious.
Why is he even here in the first place? Easy. To find his soulmate and earn some cash.
Why would his soulmate be here? That's because for 20 weeks now since his 18th birthday, Jeongguk noticed that at exactly 5:15 in the afternoon (with no fail) his soulmate drinks a specific drink that would only be found in this place.
(Taehyung bought that same drink and had Jeongguk take a sip. Coz you know, he's broke.)
Why would he be able to earn cash at this place? They're hiring part-timers.
Ten minutes has passed and Jeongguk's still contemplating whether or not he should enter the shop. 5:14PM--his wrist watch tells him. Only less than a minute and he'll be able to taste--oh there it is.
Apple Chocolate drink with hazelnut and cinnamon. Served chilled.
Now Jeongguk is more nervous about entering the shop. What if his soulmate isn't what he expects them to be and vice versa? What if he really did meet his soulmate inside? Oh my gosh. Worse is that if soulmate really is a middle aged person ogling over highschool girls in short skirts and has a waifu pillow he kisses? Only if that person is a 'he'. Could also be a 'she'. Jeongguk doesn't mind whichever.
"Oi, kid." A short guy called, emitting dark aura despite his pale complexion. The door of the shop opened widely and the guy standing in the middle of the doorway. "You've been standing there for twenty minutes. You look like a lost kid." 'Wow he just called me a kid when he's way shorter than me.' "Are you gonna enter or do you want me to kick you out? You're creeping out other customers."
That's when Jeongguk noticed that he has been standing too long on the same spot and he must have been staring intently on the glass wall. How creepy would he have looked to the person on the other side of the glass wall? Like some serial killer, or cereal killer. Your choice.
As Jeongguk walks inside the shop, he kept his head down. His heart and mind currently swimming in a pool of shame and bit of regrets.
"Hey I'm your Genie!" Jeongguk's startled by the greeting. It's just so lively and abrupt (for Jeongguk who haven't really come out of his pool of shame). "Tell me your wish~" The cashier guy singsongs and breathes a giggle.
Jeongguk eyed the said guy with orange hair in a regular polo uniform topped with a genie hat.
Rather than a genie he looks more like the monkey Aladdin has. And no that wasn't even an insult. It's actually a compliment because the guy looks so cute for his own good. Jeongguk wonders if someone has answered this orange haired guy that they want him as their wish even as a joke. That would be weird, maybe.
"Uh no.. I'm here t-to apply as a part-timer." 'And to find my soulmate, thank you.'
"Ooh! Wait a sec. I'll tell Jinnie hyung!" The guy says, and he left a confused Jeongguk standing there by the counter.
'He just said he's Genie and now he's saying he'll call this Genie-hyung? Wow is this like some korean gangster shit where you call the big boss Hyung-nim?'
★
It probably was a bad idea that Jeongguk actually obliged Taehyung's advice. Jeongguk finds himself seated on a hot pink wooden chair inside a mini office of the said shop. (Alone. The cashier guy told him to wait inside)
A room in pearly white walls and velvety pink floor. Super Mario action figures displayed on the shelves. And a fucking waifu body pillow (it's Princess Peach) resting on the cream colored couch along with heart-shaped pink and blue cushions.
What kind of sick bastard must this Genie-hyung be? Maybe this person is a fat middle aged guy who does ogle over teenage girls in short skirts?! (And maybe boys as well)
Jeongguk can only shudder in fear. Suddenly swimming in another set of pool. Of regrets and fear.
But then the door opens and reveals the epitome of both masculine and feminine beauty. Walking towards Jeongguk with a wide smile.
Unfair, Jeongguk thinks.
How can someone look so beautiful and handsome at the same time? And here we have a teenager Jeongguk shrinking with insecurities. Puberty still not done making his life miserable, slapping him with pimples every two weeks.
Jeongguk feels emotionally constipated right now and he's sure it shows on his equally constipated face. Another different set of pool this time. Of shame, regrets, and joy.
Now where’s the Jeongguk talking trash about this Genie-hyung?
The said Genie-hyung sits comfortably on his own gold studded white colored single couch across the table where Jeongguk is. Jeongguk noticed only just now that this hyung brought two tall glasses of drink on a tray with him. The hyung passed him the Luigi one while he keeps the Mario one.
There’s something in this Genie-hyung that Jeongguk feels but he can’t point out. It is obviously not an eerie feeling. The way this hyung’s smile swims through Jeongguk’s heart is quite fascinating. Like they’ve known each other, so well even. Jeongguk unconsciously stares with wide mouth towards the beautiful creature served before him. Everything around this hyung is blurred but he’s glowing, so magically.
“Hey.” The hyung snaps his fingers in front of Jeongguk’s face, making the younger hold his senses and right back to the reality. Such a wonderful world, this is. “You’re being too obvious. You’re drooling.” He adds and swipes his thumb (while he giggles so cutely) over Jeongguk’s lips to wipe the said drool.
A pounding heart and a screaming flush took over Jeongguk. “A-Ah sorry.” He wipes his beading sweat on his forehead with his forearm. “I-isn’t it h-hot in here?” He continues and frees a very obvious awkward laugh. The concrete floor could swallow him whole (ooh) if possible just to hide this embarrassment.
The beautiful hyung giggles and points at the machine beeping every once in a while, buzzing softly and releases cold air as a living.
Just then Jeongguk decides a refreshing drink would be the best for the situation so he takes the Luigi glass on his hands and takes a sip but stops mid-way. He glances over the beauty hyung, meeting a reflection of his expression—wide eyes and shock all over their face.
Yep, Apple Chocolate drink with hazelnut and cinnamon. Served chilled.
★
A couple of months later, Jeongguk’s in his second year in college. Still a broke ass student but a little less. Lives in a nice and cozy apartment instead of a shabby, run-down one. Eats better food instead of stuffing his stomach with the unhealthy instant MSG-filled noodles. And together with his soulmate. The owner of the Genie Jinnie Food Restaurant who fancies pink and Super Mario. Kim Seokjin, a pretty man perfect for a pretty one.
P.S. Jeongguk never had the chance to scold and break Seokjin’s arm that day. Instead, it was Seokjin who did the scolding and did a two-hours length presentation about healthy eating.