Minhyuk was pushed out the door by Allen, and someone else that Jeonggeun had only seen around campus, Woobin if he remembered correctly. “Get over there,” demanded Allen as he roughly grabbed Minhyuk by the arm and dragged him into the center of the circle.

Jeonggeun could only take a step back, looking down at the broken and bruised Minhyuk as he was dropped unceremoniously on the ground in front of him. 

“I see he doesn't remember,” spat Minhyuk as he struggled to sit up, grunting as he got into a sitting position. “I see that my word holds no bounds when it comes to why I rejected my soulmate in the first place!” He shouted, grunting as Allen shoved him back to the ground face first.

“Despite what you did, you don't deserve any empathy from me,” Jake nearly spat out, leaning down in front of Minhyuk. “He may not have remembered the accident, but I do,” he emphasized, getting up and stepping back when Hwon stepped forward.

“What accident are you talking about?” Asked Jeonggeun as he looked confused. “I don't remember any accidents from when we were younger?” He asked.

“Oi, speak English, we have some guests,” demanded Allen as he kicked Minhyuk hard in ribs, causing Minhyuk to groan in pain the impact.

“Screw that,” spat Minhyuk as he struggled to sit up again, only just managing to. “They can listen, can't they?” He asked in English, falling onto his back when he was kicked in the chest by Jake. “Why are you even going through with this damn trial anyway huh?” He asked. “You're getting what you want, so why even bother?” He snarled, turning and spitting blood on the ground beside his head.

“It's not even for that,” responded Hwon as he shook his head. “You rejected your soulmate yes, but in doing so you caused your family to fall apart,” he added. “Your brother was kicked out of your parents house as soon as they were legally allowed to do so, because of you,” he explained.

~

Jeonggeun could barely hear anything, the ringing in his ears were so loud. All he could remember was Minhyuk and his soulmate in the front seat of their father's car driving home with Jake who had lived next door. The next thing everyone knew was that a truck had slammed into the passenger side and Minhyuk yelling his soulmate's name. Jake had been on the passenger side, was he okay? Jeonggeun couldn't move his head it hurt so much.

“I'm sorry, I'm so sorry,” sobbed Minhyuk as he fell out of the driver's side door. “I'm sorry,” he kept repeating, those words being the last thing Jeonggeun had heard before unconsciousness finally took him.

~

When Jeonggeun woke up next he was in the hospital, a breathing mask on his face as he turned to face his sobbing mother, who had told him he had been in a coma for a long time. All that Jeonggeun could fathom was that he was finally awake and that his soulmate mark had finally appeared, three years earlier than expected.

~

Shouting was heard outside of Jeonggeun's room, something about Minhyuk and the accident. Minhyuk had been kicked out of the house once he was done with high school, but that had been months ago. Many nights of arguments ensued up until then and now it seemed like he was about to face the same fate.

Jeonggeun let out a soft sigh before grabbing the bag in the corner of his room and putting it on his back. Once he was sure the argument wouldn't stop for a little while Jeonggeun opened his window and climbed out, closing the window behind him and ping the pack. He took out a pair of shoes and quickly put them on before zipping the bag back up and slinging the strap around his shoulder and making his way out of the neighborhood he lived in.

He stopped for a minute to stare at Jake's house, raising the hand that had his tattoo up in goodbye before dropping it and continuing to walk away.

~

Jeonggeun was brought out of his thoughts when Jake grabbed his hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. Jeonggeun let out a soft breath as he looked down at Minhyuk who stared up at him.

“You rejected your soulmate, why?” Asked Jake as he moved to let Jeonggeun stand behind him. “What caused you to break the worst of the worst of laws?” He asked.

“He asked me to,” responded Minhyuk as he coughed, spitting blood onto the ground in front of him. “He was already dying anyway, because of some disease and he told me it'd be better for me if I did this,” he explained. “The accident that day, the one that put you in the hospital in critical condition and my brother in a coma for a week or so, my soulmate willingly gave his life to save yours,” he added.

“At the cost of you rejecting him?” Asked Jake.

“Did you not know, that in you doing so he won't be getting a second life?” Asked Jeonggeun. “Isn't that how the soulmate system works?” He asked, turning to the others for an answer.

“It's how it works, yes,” responded Ivan as he nodded his head grimly. “You just condemned your ex soulmate to the afterlife, while you're stuck in a forever loop of lives until you atone for your sins or you seek forgiveness from the gods,” he explained.

“I suppose with some people the afterlife is better than constant reincarnation,” commented Jahan as he looked thoughtful. “But still, you'll be stuck without a soulmate for the rest of eternity,” he added.

“Would it be crueler to end him now, or to let him continue to suffer the consequences?” Asked Hwon as he looked to Dann for an answer.

“Killing him would be mercy at this point,” responded Dann as he shook his head. “Minyoung was killed because of what he did, but for you, I think living would be a worse punishment,” he explained. “Alas, as by decree of the gods we must kill him,” he added as Soobin stepped forward with his sword in hand.

“It's best you take your friends and leave,” Dann almost commanded, speaking to Jeonggeun and Jake. “Those two don't deserve to listen to this any longer,” he explained.

“Go,” commanded Hwon as he nodded his head. “Allen will find you when this is over,” he explained.

“Right,” sighed Jake as he bowed to the others before turning and leaving, Jeonggeun following after him.

“Come on, it's time to go," Jeonggeun almost demanded, speaking in what little Korean he could muster up that was understandable.

Chanyoung and Seobin looked up at Jeonggeun and Jake, Chanyoung immediately putting his translator in his ear before going to put Seobin's around his ear.

Seobin didn't struggle, but he squirmed uncomfortably until it was secure and grabbed his book and Jay's markers. “The markers?” He asked, looking at the box of markers on top of the book as he clutched the book close to his chest to not drop it as he stood.

“I'll make sure it gets back to Jay, okay?” Asked Jake. “For now we must go,” he added.

“Keep them!" Jay shouted from where he was standing with Yunho. “I have plenty more back home,” he explained, forcing a soft smile at Seobin's shout in joy.

“I'll take good care of them!” Exclaimed Seobin as Chanyoung put a hand on his back and started leading him away from the group.

Jake led the way, moving around the circle and into the house with the others behind him.

Chanyoung stopped to grab the boxes that the translators came in and took it with him, following after Jake and Jeonggeun as they left the house.

Seobin trailed behind them, making sure to keep everything secure in his arms as he tried not to trip on anything.

~

They ended up at the cafe near the university, being greeted by Jungwon who worked at the counter while Sunghoon was making drinks.

“You three look like you've had a rough day,” remarked Jungwon as Jake went to get their orders. “Seobin seems to be as cheerful as ever,” he mused, ringing up everyone's usual drinks as Jake paid for everything.

“It's been eventful,” grumbled Jake as he shook his head. “Don't think too much on it,” he added. “Just… Some things happened,” he explained before turning and walking over to the counter to get the drinks.

Chanyoung had Seobin sit in a secluded corner of the cafe, letting him continue to color as Seobin sat down. Chanyoung let out a soft sigh as he nearly flopped down in his chair, looking down in his lap for a few minutes as he contemplated what little of the conversation, well argument at this point, he could understand regarding Jeonggeun and Jake.

“How much of that did you manage to understand?” Asked Jeonggeun as he sat down beside Seobin.

“I didn't understand all of it, but I sort of got the gist of it,” responded Chanyoung as he nodded his head. “Don't worry, I won't ask questions,” he added.

“It's better that you don't,” chimed in Jake as he walked over with their orders, setting it on the table before sitting down beside Chanyoung.

“Did you always know we were soulmates?” Asked Jeonggeun as he looked at Jake for answers.

“I did,” responded Jake as he nodded. “The accident pretty much killed Minhyuk's soulmate and I, but I was brought back and his soulmate wasn't,” he explained. “It's why the soulmate marks think one of us died, but I'm still here,” he added. “His soulmate's life was exchanged for mine,” he explained with a soft sigh. “Sometimes, I think it should've been the other way around,” he grumbled, more to himself.