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How high is the possibility of crossing paths with your future lover on a busy road of Seoul, in the midst of noon? Would you glance back and wonder if you've met your soulmate or just ignore your heart's sudden beat skip? For Sangwon, he did the later, at least close to that. Because he couldn't bring himself to run after the guy who had dashed off in a hurry. All he could do was wonder why he had to bump with someone so pretty.
"Watch out- ah!" Said the handsome nerd. At first, all Sangwon saw was those thick black framed glasses, but once the man stood up after bowing in apology, damn! He had the most expressive pair of eyes, and the prettiest dimple on his cheek.
'Aish, should have asked his name.'
All day long, he pictured the same pretty guy, and his beautiful voice. He looked young, serious about studies. He must be out of his league. Aside from reading books, Sangwon is, what anyone would say, a weirdo. He's sassy, wishful, acts unimpressed and knows he's deified because of his beauty. Maybe that's why, naturally, he did not believe in soulmates.
"It doesn't make sense, hyung." He'd tell Leo, his best friend, "Why do you call her your soulmate?"
"Because she is." Leo chuckled.
"So why did you have relationships with others?" Sangwon argued, "Did you think they're your soulmates too back then?"
"Not really. But I'll admit, I did think one was my soulmate, but not anymore. Because I found the right one."
"How are you so sure? Maybe someone better would make you question this as well?"
"Nah, she's different. I know for sure."
Unconvinced, Sangwon would shake his head. People like to exaggerate, so the whole soulmate thing must also be a hoax. Lover, husband or wife should be sufficient, no need to bring drama with an overused word- that's how he viewed it.
Until one Chinese guy came and changed everything.
So back to the bump on a busy road, Sangwon didn't forget that face. Hours passed, he still could only think about 'Watch out-ah', and smile. Foolishly so. Such a cute face. Such a pretty smile. Such adorable tone. Oh, if he could go back, he'd probably run after that guy, asking why he was in such a hurry, why couldn't they sit at a quiet café and talk about life, why couldn't they stop and stare at each other?
A funny, groundless imagination. But an endearing one. Yet, he never thought he'd actually meet the same man in his life once again.
It happened because unlike usual, he didn't ditch an university event. An introverted man like him would do everything to use the extra time to read a book, but Leo threatened him that if he hadn't showed up, Leo would never pay for their meals. It so happened that the event was organised by Leo. A day dedicated to the legacy of their department. It's festive, fun, interactive. Even people from outside gather to see the colorful and vibrantly decorated department. Sangwon liked it, not to lie. He could understand why some people would love engaging in these. But he'd rather read a book.
He got bored soon, too much social interaction drained him. Leo's a magnet, everyone talks to him. And they all stare at Sangwon too, like he's so handsome, why not? This irritated the man to no bounds, he could certainly kill the next person that comes his way, but right then, he heard that voice.
Watch out- ah.
"Hey!" Called the voice from behind, "Are you the one from that day?"
Sangwon looked at the source, then stared. The face. The very face. Those same eyes, and lips and dimple. And those fucking glasses. He was the same man. The man in a hurry from that day.
"Hi!" smiled the guy, Gosh! Such a pretty view. "Oh my God, I've been looking for you! I can't believe I finally-" The man's face was radiating happiness. His grin was so big, and his dimple was mind blowing. Sangwon blinked, "Huh?"
"Yeah, I.." The man suddenly extended his hand, "I think you're my soulmate!"
What??
Sangwon bluntly stared at the extended hand, confusion written all over his face. The hand in front of him was trembling. The man was expectant, so he had no choice but to shake that hand, "Hi, Lee Sangwon."
"Anxin. Zhou Anxin." The man bowed, "It's so nice to finally meet you!"
Same here. Sangwon couldn't say that. "Yeah, well.."
"So.." Anxin looked around, "You're a student here?" The other one nodded. "Cool! My university's close by. We should meet sometimes."
"Mm."
"Which year are you in?" Anxin asked, "I'm a fresher by the way."
"Oh, I'm... Final year."
"Oops, you're my hyung then." Anxin chuckled, then bowed again, "Hi, hyung. I always wanted an older soulmate!"
Sangwon couldn't bring himself to say that he didn't believe in that whole thing. So he simply asked, "How did you know?"
"Oh I just couldn't stop thinking about you, I also saw you multiple times in my dreams, my heart yearned for you, and.. Didn't you feel it too?"
Well, Sangwon did. He just didn't think it's an uncommon thing. Plus who says these out loud? So he just laughed in embarrassment. This amused Anxin."Right? I knew it! My God, you're so handsome."
"Thanks." Sangwon liked it. And Anxin. And their stupid one sided conversation. "You too."
"I know." Anxin cheekily laughed, making the other feel a strange tingle inside. He had fallen in love before, but it's new, what he was feeling. Weirdly cool.
"So, you wanna look around?" He proposed. Anxin agreed. So they set out, Sangwon began showing important and symbolic things about the decoration. Being close to Leo, he knew a lot of inside stories while arranging the event, so he filled those in when necessary, making Anxin even more engaged.
"Wah! That's legendary! Your hyung really did that?"
"Yep, yelled at all three then cried thinking he was too harsh."
"Aww. I wanna see him now." Anxin looked at him with those big deer eyes. Sangwon's heart melted. "Alright, let me call him." He took the man, his supposed soulmate to his best friend afterwards, continuing their litte tour. And by every passing second, he liked the Chinese man more and more.
"Lee Leo Hyung." He called once they reached where the older guy was. Leo turned around, smiled at his favorite dongsaeng and then, almost instantly, noticed the second one.
"Wait-" He immediately asked Anxin, "You're the one, right?"
Confused, Anxin glanced at Sangwon who seemed pretty flustered, "Ah- hyung!"
"Is he not?" Leo blinked, "But he's all you said, big glasses, pretty face, cute dimple-"
Anxin chuckled, "I think you're right. I'm the one who bumped with Sangwon hyung that day." He told Leo then sweetly looked at the one mentioned, "Finally, I think I found my soulmate."
Leo raised an eyebrow at that, looking at Sangwon with amusement, "So now we believe in things? Last time we talked, you-"
"Hyung," Sangwon stopped him midway, gesturing with his eyes desperately.
"Why? Didn't you tell him?"
Anxin looked between them, confused. Sangwon waved his hand in dismissal. Leo understood. "Oh, I see. Anyway," He bowed to Anxin, "Lee Leo."
"Zhou Anxin. But you can call me Xin." The Chinese guy bowed as well.
"Xin?" Sangwon said, "God!?" It made all of them laugh. Anxin acknowledged him, then got back to his polite self, saying to Leo, "Nice to meet you. You're really cool."
"Ah, thanks. And you're prettier than what he told me." He winked at Sangwon. He wasn't wrong. After his first encounter with Anxin, Sangwon did in fact tell Leo that there's this guy he can't stop thinking about, and Leo had pointed at the possibility of them being soulmates but Sangwon being Sangwon, didn't believe it. Maybe he didn't have the heart to tell Anxin yet. That's okay. Everyone has their phase.
The three of them spent more time together, unsurprisingly, Leo bonded with Anxin pretty fast. And it shouldn't have, but pinched Sangwon. He never thought he'd feel that way for a stranger, that too with Leo, out of everyone. But it only strengthened that maybe, Anxin was special.
Soulmate? Who knows!
Leo left them alone in an hour though, Sangwon knew he deliberately did that, and for the millionth time, he felt grateful to his best friend. By that time, he had accidentally brushed his hand against Anxin; every time, sparks flew. So once, he made it intentionally accidental.
And let his hand rest there like it belonged on top of Anxin's. Fun fact, Anxin didn't even try to take his one away. If anything, he seemed more eager to probably press harder. So Sangwon grew some nerve, and after a long while of hesitation, carefully held the younger's hand.
Oh God, shivers! His Adam's apple moved because he couldn't but gulp. Anxin's ears turned red, but he closed his fingers around Sangwon's anyway. The latter cleared his throat, then asked, "So, are you in a hurry or.. Do you wanna go back?"
"Actually, my flatmate will be back soon. And he forgot the keys so.."
"Okay, no problem." Sangwon felt bummed. But was he that obvious? Because Anxin immediately said, "Hao ge has a soulmate already, so, that should be cool, right?"
"Huh?" Sangwon felt embarrassed, "Yeah, I mean.. Definitely."
Anxin chuckled, "You sure?"
"Yeah!"
"You looked upset."
"Oh my God!" Sangwon laughed. So did his supposed soulmate. It came naturally. It's embarrassing, yes, but it didn't matter. Probably because they're meant to be.
"I'm sorry if that was too much." Anxin said.
"It's fine. I don't mind."
In reply, the younger grinned. Sangwon could only stare. How lucky he must be, that someone so beautifully happy was accompanying him, or enjoying his company. Did he even deserve that?
That's something he'd probably never find an answer to. So he did his part to the best of his ability. He walked Anxin home. It wasn't a short walk but neither of them cared. There was a domestic feel to that. It's funny because it's practically their second meet, technically first if you think about a proper meet. Yet, they felt so close to each other.
Maybe the soulmate thing is real.
"Ah, I wish we could stay together a little longer." Anxin, always expressive, said. Sangwon felt the same, so he nodded. "We can meet again tomorrow if you want." The younger's eyes sparkled, "Really!?"
"Yeah." Chuckled the Korean one, "Why not?"
Anxin cheered, unlocked and handed his phone over to the older guy, "Give me your number then, I'll text you when I'm free to hangout."
"Mm." Sangwon typed in his number, Anxin saved it in front of him and gave him a call. Once his phone rang, the younger smiled, "Sorry, gotta make sure you're not ditching me."
It brought laughter- so precious. Sangwon wanted to hug Anxin for being so effing cute, but, he stopped. They're meeting again, so he could do that later, when they're closer and more comfortable. He had a feeling that with Anxin, he wouldn't wanna mess up, or let go. In a long time.
When he turned around, saying goodbye to the pretty Chinese man, he felt an ache foreign to every kind of pain he ever felt. It's bad, but it's also kinda good. A happy sort of pain. Full of longing and the excitement to meet again. Sangwon realized that he was crushing on his beautiful 'accident'. Or soulmate, if that's true. At that point he couldn't claim to be a hater anymore.
He still had his doubts, but if soulmates are real, he's glad his one's Anxin. Maybe that's why, he saved the unknown contact that rang his phone seconds ago with 'Soulmate Xin' followed by a red heart.