*Re-edited version 3/6/13*

This chapter is shorter than usual and kind of goes straight to the point. I'm not sure how my update tomorrow will be because I have church and then I head to my cousin's house in the evening just to hang out (it's a regular thing in my family on Sundays). Hey, should I edit my foreword to make it more appealing? Please hint me (but I don't do pictures, sorry). And so, forgive me for mistakes or confusion, thanks for comments/subscriptions, and now excuse me, I need to rant a bit...THERE! I FINALLY WROTE IT! Geez, you guys are sooooo impatient, but I planned it to happen anyway, but I had to see where I was going to place it - somewhere between the upcoming suspense build-up but not too early in the storyline (because I wanted to tease you). Don't know what I'm talking about? Well read on. I better get a bunch of comments for this. Peace out, Kai lovers! ~_^

(Alaina’s POV)

The boys had school today. On their behalf, I had risen earlier than usual to be their personal alarm clock. I was worried they had slept too late to properly wake up and utilize time to organize themselves. I knew that some of them like having an hour of preparation to doll themself up (Baekhyun), or have time to eat a mighty, scrumptious breakfast to satisfy their growling stomach (Chanyeol), or didn’t bother with their alarm clock at all (Kai).

Dressed and wide-awake, I was ready for the day. I crossed over to Taemin’s bed and gave him a heads up for school. My soulmate mumbled incoherently and buried his face under the covers – I only smiled fondly and left him alone. I entered the hallway and knocked on Suho’s and Sehun’s bedroom door first. The door pried open to reveal a slightly drowsy Suho, tufts of his dark mahogany hair sticking out in random directions.

“Morning,” he greeted when he saw me, and then yawned behind his hand.

“Tell Sehunnie he better wake up,” I reminded the leader, smiling at his cute, disheveled state. “School is in an hour.”

“Oh, I forgot he doesn’t go to the same school as me,” Suho chuckled in belated realization. He went to rouse the maknae from dreamland.

I was ready to knock on Baekyeol’s door when D.O. emerged from his room. As a university student, he didn’t bother changing clothes since his classes were later on. The night-haired boy was still donning his sleepwear, but as prim as ever, not a hair out-of-place. He rubbed his owlish eyes and inclined his head at me.

“Morning wake-up call?” he inquired, and I nodded. “Can you do me a favor and swap places with me? Kai’s too stubborn and keeps badgering at me to go away. And besides, the Baekyeol couple are a handful. It’ll be tough to get them out of bed.”

“Araso.” We traded targets. While D.O. barged into Baekyeol’s room, I poked my head into Kai’s and D.O’s room.

It was easy to guess which side belonged to whom. The right side was D.O’s, his bed neatly made, dresser organized with trinkets, his outfit for today folded on his bed.

On the left side obviously belonged to Kai, his twin-sized bed pushed vertically against the wall. That’s where he laid latent, oblivious the sun had risen, face smothered by the mesh of blankets. I chuckled inwardly to myself. That teleporter brat could only be adorable when he wasn’t actually trying. With light steps, I tip-toed closer. Up close, I saw the boy’s mussed sweep of dark umber hair, the healthy vibe of his silky, tan skin as sunlight from the far back windows shone onto him. A pillow was smushed on the nightstand when he had suffocated the alarm clock (again).

“Oi,” I said, shaking his slumbering form under the mashed covers. “Get up or no breakfast for you.”

He stirred and turned to his side, ignoring me, or not hearing my words at all.

I tsked, but couldn’t help but chuckle sweetly. “Yah, get up!” I ordered, raising my voice. I shook his shoulder. “Get up, you sleepy kkamjong bear! It’s not winter, stop hibernating!”

“Sleeeeeepzzz,” he mumbled, burying his face in his pillow.

I laughed at his slurred words; he sounded as if he was drunk. The melodious noise stirred Kai the second time. He was puzzled by the sound and peeked through the sea of blankets. “Kyungsoo?”

I grabbed a pillow and smacked him playfully. “Bzzzt, wrong,” I chastised him. “I’m Alaina, babo.” I laughed again because of his slow reactions. “You’re like a bear, Kai.”

Kai’s vision finally focused, befuddled from sleep. He blushed at the sight of me. “A-Alaina? Wh-what are you doing in my room?”

“Helping D.O-umma wake you up or else he won’t feed you,” I chided him, smacking his face with the pillow, but he swatted it aside.

The teleporter bolted upright abruptly and rubbed at his eyes. He wasn’t dreaming, right? I was really in his room. At first he had mistaken me as an angel, thinking he was hallucinating when he heard my twinkling laugh and woke up to see my angelic face a mere foot away.

But nope, quite the opposite. Everything was real.

If Kai was gawking at me, I was being dazzled by him. For someone who slept sloppily and deeply in a coma, he still looked like a vibrant, handsome demigod. He was unworldly beautiful, a masterpiece, just like his fellow guardians. Being reminded of this made me feel plain and insignificant. Wait, how long have I been shamelessly staring at him? Please, tell me I didn’t look like a creep…

Our heads snapped up when we heard the rambunctious fuss of the Baekyeol couple versus D.O-umma just a few doors down. I idly wondered who was winning by the ruckus. They most likely woke up the rest of the household.

“Looks like I had it easy,” I commented. I glanced at the bewildered Kai and smiled tenderly. “D.O. was right, you are stubborn, but I guess I have some type of charm.” I raised my chin self-righteously.

More than that, Kai thought while staring at me. Then his verb came back, and he teased, “Were you watching me sleep?”

My cheeks pinked the slightest, eliciting an impish grin from him. I countered, “Well, a certain someone, who was sleeping half their life away, looked like an adorable little kid, but all he was missing was a teddy bear.”

He raised a brow questionably. “A teddy bear?”

“Ne, you look the cuddly type,” I said cheekily. “Every kid needs one.”

Kai’s smoldering amber eyes lit up playfully. “Jinja? A teddy bear? Like…you?”

I didn’t know why we were so forgetful that morning; I didn’t understand what compelled us to be so reckless. Whatever possessed us to act so unwittingly flipped the tables in my life. I could almost see it - fate grinning down at us as Kai snatched my sleeve and jerked me towards him. A gasp caught in my throat. Our ES fluttered. A spark was triggered. Our cheeks brushed the slightest – just the slightest – the first time our skin ever made contact.

And that sensation. That blistering, burning sensation I’ve only ever felt once in my lifetime – a sensation I assumed to never experience again.

Not ever.

…

(Taemin’s POV)

Suddenly halting one step out his door, an unimaginable force crashed onto Taemin head-on. His heart stuttered erratically and his mind raced with flashing images. The medley of pictures clouded his vision. His lips parted in shock and bewilderment. His hands fisted involuntarily, nails biting into his palm.

Impossible.

He in a surprised breath and whipped down the hall. A luminous, ethereal light radiated from his best friend’s room.

He was too late.

…

(Kai’s POV)

He didn’t know what to say – what to do. All he knew is…

His greatest wish, his greatest desire, was coming true.

The love of his life was cradled against his broad chest, his arms wrapped around her slender frame, their cheeks pressed together, puffs of her breath warming his exposed collarbone. She was frozen, numb to the bone, her hand involuntarily clutching at his shirtfront.

There was an incandescent glow. The sacred glow of a magical, ink-black circle hovering around his left hand. He saw the archaic design and otherworldly letters. He saw two names inscribed in Almighty Script. He could read the names clearly even as the magical circle shrank.

Her name… and his.

Alaina. Jongin.

The rotating circle branded itself as a ring-sized tattoo on his ring finger, still pulsating with golden light until it eventually faded. The scorching sensation ebbed away.

A sea of guardians clamored into the room, wondering why there was such a strange light. But only Taemin, his best friend, understood what had occurred by the betrayed expression evident on his conflicted face.

Taemin shook his head dumbfoundedly and whispered, “That’s not possible.”

Still encaged in his arms, Alaina slowly extracted herself from his embrace so she could stare uncomprehendingly at her left hand. Speechless, she raised her hand so it was within the sunlight pouring from the windows. The guardians, with their raptor vision, saw the undeniable black mark upon pale skin.

Two tattoos total. Slightly different in design and scribble. One on her ring finger. The second on her middle finger.

Lips trembling, her voice quavered as she spluttered, “H-How did this…? Wh-what does this mean?” She didn’t dare meet his gaze, afraid to see the new light in his eyes.

It was absolutely, positively, irrefutably certain. Kai and Alaina were soulmates.

Kai was already in love with her, it was just now he could love her.

“Omo!” Key gasped, hand over his mouth. “This can’t be. It can’t be! Not once has a person ever bonded to more than one person in their life!” he shrieked. “Much less at the same time!”

“This. Is. Crazy,” Baekhyun uttered, gaping like a floundered fish. The others couldn’t agree any less.

When the first bond had activated, Alaina was stupefied, but the difference this time, she didn’t faint - she breezed out the room, not sparing a glance at the statue who was her first soulmate.

“Wait!” Kai exclaimed, vaulting out of bed to chase after her. His hyungs hollered at him to come back. Down the hall, he saw Alaina duck into her bedroom and shut the door. He pounded his fist against the barrier that separated them. “Alaina, open the door,” he pleaded.

“Ani,” was her muffled reply, sounding fearful as if he was going to hurt her.

“I just want to talk,” he insisted.

Suho approached him, his placidness replaced with concern. “Kai, just leave her alone. She’s confused – we’re all confused.”

“I need to tell her something,” Kai growled through gritted teeth, his patience about to snap in half.

“Kai! Don’t you dare-!”

The warning was cut short when he teleported into Alaina’s bedroom. There was a frightful gasp, only a few feet in front of him. There she was, balled up, back pressed against the door. Kai anticipated her next move when she sprang to her feet, hand for the doorknob. He lunged forward and snatched her hand. Her muscles automatically stiffened at his skin-tingling touch, nerves going haywire, feet nailed to the floor.

“Don’t run away, just listen to what I have to say first,” he pleaded breathlessly, his fingers curling over her smaller hand in a tight grip. There were no chances of escape trapped between him and the door. Alaina ducked her head, refusing to meet his imploring gaze.

“Alaina,” he said, his deep, sonorous voice a gentle murmur, “I know you love Taemin, but listen to me, I love you, too. I think I’ve been in love with you since he sent me your picture. You can’t fathom how much I envied hyung because he had you – because he had you first. I wanted to fight for you, but the bond assured nothing could come in between you two – that I could never win your feelings.”

She whacked at him with her free hand. “Aniyo! Don’t say that! You couldn’t have been harboring…“ She faltered miserably, shaking her head. “I-I can’t,” she cried. “This is unfair. Unfair to Taemin…”

“And what about me?” Kai demanded furiously. “I love you as much or even as more than him, but I never had the chance to show you. Isn’t that unfair to me?” He pressed their clasped hands against his chest, over his beating heart – a heart that palpitated erratically for her now.

“It’s unfair to everyone,” she sniffled, tears pooling at the rim of her beautiful eyes. Her velvet voice grew faint. “And for me. How can I be destined for two people? I thought she’d meant…”

Alaina surrendered, pathetically sliding down against the door, caving in as she shed her tears. Kai crouched down and sat with her, embracing her tightly, but lovingly. Her head was tucked under his chin as he rocked her back and forth soothingly, her salty tears staining his shirt.

He could finally comfort her. Touch her. Hold her. Love her.

“I don’t know how this is possible,” he murmured in her hair, “but know that I am happy, but I’m sorry, too. I swear on my life, I love you.”

His sincere words only caused her to cry more into his chest. “Th-those are words you’re only supposed to say to people who you really l-love,” she whispered brokenly, “and how do I hear it from two people I care about more than the world…?” She swallowed the thick lump of overwhelming feelings down . “That’s not right…”

“You care about me?” he asked in a soft whisper, blissful by the mere thought. Ever since the bond’s activation, he was one-hundred percent sure about his unrequited feelings – relieved that he was free to express them. Alaina must’ve realized something, no matter how cluttered, an inkling of truth under a falling mess of phenomenon.

Time ticked by as he continued to hold his love until her sobbing ceased. He enjoyed the tender moment until…

“Taemin,” she whispered, “I have to see Taemin.”

It was inevitable. She had to see her first soulmate. That retching twist in her heart wouldn’t be eased unless her other half was solaced.

Kai sighed resignedly. “You’re not the only one.” He had so much to confess to his hyung. Taemin was most likely brokenhearted or rendered mentally disabled at the sudden turn of events.

Kai helped Alaina get up, but unconsciously maintained contact with her, his hand at the small of her back. They quietly filed out of the room. No one lingered upstairs – in the hallways or the bedrooms. He could hear the distinctive sounds of cooking and hushed conversation echoing from downstairs.

“I think I’ll skip school today,” he intoned in a low voice. His soulmate immediately shot him a disapproving glare. “I’m not using the situation as an excuse, but it’d be best if we negotiate things over.”

“Fine,” she allowed. “I sense Taemin in Onew-oppa’s office. Come on.” Taking his hand, she tugged him along, but he was the one latched onto her. She led him over to dubu leader’s office, knocking on the fancy door to signal their presence. “Onew-oppa?”

“Alaina?” Onew answered instantly, voice partially dulled by the obstructive door. “You can com-“

“Only if he stays out,” interrupted a cold, crisp voice. The biting tone made Alaina cringe and Kai sigh. He figured that his extremely grouchy hyung restrained himself from using crude vocabulary to reference him.

“Should’ve known Kai is still with her,” muttered someone. Jonghyun?

“Taemin,” Suho asserted, “we need to overcome this matter together.”

“I’m sure I might punch him if I see his despicable face,” said Taemin bitterly.

“Just come in, you two,” ordered Onew, ignoring Taemin’s foul mood.

Alaina opened the door and they both entered quietly. Kai saw Taemin huddled up in a lone armchair, fiercely facing forward, ignoring them as he seethed, but inside he was despairing. Onew and Jonghyun were leaning against the desk, and Suho was standing by the bookcases, arms crossed.

The maknae of SHINee refused to acknowledge their presence, glaring at the opposite wall as if to burn a hole through it. Kai and Taemin definitely shared the same impetuous tempers and child-like tantrums.

Oddly enough, Alaina didn’t streak to Taemin’s side like she normally would’ve done. Instead, she had hesitated, rocking on the balls of her feet distressfully, until she concluded to give her blond soulmate some breathing space, reluctantly seating herself in a nearby armchair, gnawing on her lower lip anxiously. Kai perched himself on the armrest, his hand grasping her arm instinctively as if he couldn’t bear any space separating them.

Jonghyun heaved a big sigh and ran his fingers through his hair. “This is…a crisis.”

“How?” he demanded.

“Oh, I don’t know,” Taemin snapped sarcastically, “you’re bonded to my soulmate.”

“She’s mine, too,” he retorted.

“She shouldn’t be,” Taemin fired back.

“Like it’s your decision?!” Kai argued spitefully. “You can’t defy fate.”

“WELL, MAYBE I WILL!” Taemin hollered, snapping his head up to glare at him with blazing eyes. Kai glowered back with equal flare. Taemin’s fisted hands were shaking as he suppressed the urge to punch his smart-mouthed friend.

“Settle down before I make you,” Onew cautioned in a dangerous tone, and they both looked away with a huff. The older leader shook his head disappointedly. “Although this bond is a mystery, Kai is right about one thing: you can’t defy fate. Fate allowed them to be bonded, so you can’t fight it, Taemin. You won’t win.”

Taemin protested, “But-“

“Think, Taem,” intervened Jonghyun, “our lives are written by fate’s hands. So whatever happens, it’s supposed to happen. Remember, the bond is irreversible – you can’t just make it disappear.”

The boy’s shoulders deflated at the logical onslaught of words. He forced himself to stabilize his harsh breathing.

“I loved her before the bond, anyway,” Kai mumbled. “The bond just make everything more official.”

Alaina and Taemin simultaneously grimaced. The latter exhaled a painstaking breath, his heart wrenching at the statement.

“I should’ve known,” the maknae whispered dejectedly. “I’ve should’ve seen it earlier.”

Kai frowned, narrowing his eyes at his hyung. “Seen it? And what? Prevented the bond? You’re being unfair, hyung. You’re acting selfish.”

Taemin rubbed his forehead in vexation. Kai was right, but he couldn’t help but be… stirred with resentment and rue. No sane man would want their woman be claimed by another.

Jonghyun saw his dongsaeng’s confliction and conveyed the boy needed to lessen his anger by squeezing his shoulder.

Suho sighed. “You two need to find a… middle ground. Haven’t you considered Alaina’s feelings?”

At the reminder, the argumentative boys whipped their heads towards their soulmate’s direction. She sat there, as quiet as a rock, head ducked, bangs shrouding her forlorn expression, eyes tight and glistening. She hadn’t spoken one word since entering the office, letting them argue first. She needed to speak with Taemin alone.

“Alaina,” said Onew softly, “what do you think?”

She swallowed noisily before saying in a small voice, “Ne, we can’t defy fate, but we can at least try to move on and sort things out.”

Taemin sighed loudly and stood up. “I need time to myself.” He turned to go, but his soulmate’s words evoked him to stop and listen.

“Remember what you told me last night. Don’t think that this will change any of that.”

Alaina may have sounded strong and expressive, but she might as well been pleading on her knees. Kai furrowed his brows, wondering what message was exchanged between them.

“I just need time, yeobo,” Taemin told her softly over his shoulder. Alaina watched defeatedly as he strode out of the room, the door clicking closed behind him. Only then her gaze fell, although her tears did not. Despite looking fragile, she was bracing herself together.

“Do you really love her?” Suho asked him in a mellow tone.

“Ever since,” he confirmed, reaching up to brush aside the bangs that hid his soulmate’s beautiful face. She smiled faintly, leaning into the comfort of his touch. “And forever more.”

“Those words will be your vow,” warned Jonghyun, unsuccessful at being intimidating because of his puppy-dog eyes. “You better keep up with it or you’re dead meat for hurting my daughter.”

Onew chucked in amusement. “A vow? Aigoo, to think she’s married again.”

Jonghyun gasped dramatically. “I have a son-in-law! I wonder if jagiya approves…” He mused to himself, tapping his chin.

“Looks like we really are a family,” Suho remarked, smiling pleasantly. “With Alaina as our link.”

Alaina chuckled bleakly. “Komawo, Suho…appa.”

Suho blinked in surprise and the other three guardians laughed out loud. Kai used the lighthearted atmosphere to his advantage as he planted a kiss on Alaina’s cheek. She blushed at his outspoken affection.

I don’t care if you’re Taemin’s already; I’m just glad you know I really love you.

…

(Alaina’s POV)

During breakfast, the parental four (Key, Jonghyun, Suho, and D.O) quarreled amongst themselves, arbitrating if Kai and Taemin were allowed skip school today. The decision was issued. Considering the relationship between the Kai and Taemin had not been mended, the teleporter got the upper-hand and was given permission to stay home, with the condition that he and his best friend reconcile by the time everyone returned.

Taemin was not present during breakfast, but Key delivered him a tray, so I relaxed knowing he wasn’t going to miss any meals. The others – Minho, Sehun, Chanyeol, and Baekhyun – were acting like nothing abnormal happened the hour prior. The high school bunch joked around as they got ready to leave.

“Don’t you dare do anything inappropriate to my daughter or I’ll skin you alive, lucky brat,” Key threatened, waging a manicured finger in Kai’s face as the high school males slipped on their shoes. My cheeks warmed at Key’s presumption.

Kai only wavered the slightest under the diva’s wicked aura. He grinned. “I got the same warning from your soulmate.”

Baekhyun rolled his eyeliner-applied eyes. “Now Kai is struck with the lovey-dovey sickness.”

Chanyeol draped his arm around his skinny soulmate, grinning blithely. “Weren’t we the same, jagi?” Baekhyun allowed a small, sweet smile.

“But who would’ve thought,” joked Sehun, “Kim Jongin of all people?”

Kai disheveled the maknae’s mushroom hair and only released the younger from his torture so he could scamper off to the car where Minho already claimed shotgun. Chanyeol kissed Baekhyun in a short farewell, and the two feminine males waved at me goodbye. Taking a step back, Kai took my hand without looking and closed the door.

Chanyeol took a step away from us, a knowing gleam in his beady eyes. “Soooo…” He wrung his hands together. “Have fun, you two.” He lumbered off like the giant he was. Kai shook his head amusedly.

“I wonder what Taemin is doing,” I murmured as we bounded down the hall.

“Sulking in his room,” answered Kai unhesitantly. “I would know. I’d do the same.” He glanced at me fondly. “We’re practically the same, like twins.”

“But not exactly,” I inserted exaggeratedly.

“Mm-hm,” he hummed as he led me to the backyard. Nowadays, the backyard became a sanctuary of peace and respite. We laid down on the puffy grass, reminiscent of our first one-on-one encounter, but this time, Kai held my hand without doubt. I liked the warmth of his skin. In fact, I savored the heat radiating off of him. It made me feel comforted and enveloped. The temperature induced me to be somewhere between hot and cold – cool.

“Did it feel natural to you?” he suddenly asked me in a low, curious voice. Smoldering amber eyes probed me for an honest reply. “When you and hyung bonded?”

“Yes,” I conceded wholeheartedly, “I noticed how we unintentionally gravitated towards each other, and we fell into step harmoniously, like the planets being aligned.” I pinked when I realized my corny way to explain things, but Kai continued to smile at me gently. “I couldn’t help but to fall in love with him unconditionally,” I finished.

“Does it feel natural to be bonded to me?”

“Somehow, yes,” I admitted. “There was this connection that lured us closer together – no matter how far apart, a magnetic feeling drew us in.” I chuckled sweetly. “Fate really knows how to bind us. If I hadn’t met Taemin, I wouldn’t have met you.”

“True,” he allowed, tucking me closer to his chest. I squirmed because I wasn’t used to his intimacy. But, with his thumb, he rubbed soothing circles on my back, and I stopped fidgeting. He stared at my serene face, the golden sunlight bathing my pale skin with its rays. “I wonder…” he mused. “What it would’ve been like if Taemin-hyung and I swapped roles. That he was the one with you now, holding you close, lying under the sun.” His plump lips twitched a grin. “And I was the one acting like a brooding, heartbroken kid.”

“But it’s not,” I objected lightly, then exhaled a wistful sigh. “Fate. Such a simple word, yet a powerful, unseen force. A voice told me my fate was written before I was born,” I recalled. “Was it really? Or was it coincidence? I managed to become an exchange student and moved to Seoul. I was walking home late one night, and a demon stalked after me.” The muscles in Kai’s arms went rigid around me when I mentioned that, but I reached up to his cheek and he reposed, just cradling me. “Taemin foresaw the encounter and came to my rescue. I ran away from him, but ended up as his classmate. We eventually activated the ritual when he and the others chased after me, thinking I was trouble. I discovered I wasn’t a freak, but an Inhuman from a parallel world. Then more demons showed up… Taemin, being your best friend, trusted your group to help us out. I met you, then our bond came to be.”

“If that isn’t fate,” Kai muttered monotonously, “then that is a hell of a lot of coincidence.” He paused, backtracking in his thoughts. “Do you regret any of it?”

My answer was obvious and frank: “Ani, I would never. Though… I want to seek more truth, but I have a feeling I can’t find it here on Earth.”

Kai arched a speculative brow. “There’s going to be a ruckus when you come home.” I felt nostalgic hearing the word home. “A girl with two soulmates, is the biggest bait for demons, not to mention she’s an Inhuman raised as a human – you’re the most complex mystery we guardians have ever stumbled across on Earth.”

That reminded me. “Why are guardians on Earth anyway?” I questioned. “To exterminate demons?”

Kai pursed his lips, his habit a copy of mine. “That’s part of the reason. We’re… nevermind.”

My eyes narrowed suspiciously before I gave up and sighed. “Right, can’t tell me anything. Same old, same old.”

“Mianhae,” he mumbled, pouting slightly. Gosh, there he goes again with the unintentional cuteness. “It’s really top secret.”

“Oh, now you sound like a spy.”

“I’d make a good spy.”

“Yeah, a sneaky, annoying, over-ignorant spy of a guardian who can teleport anywhe-”

Kai rolled us over in the grass, effectively cutting my rant off. “Yah! Don’t bash your soulmate!” he protested, but we were laughing giddily. He loved it, referring to me as his soulmate, and enjoying the pure sound of my cute laugh.

“Yah! You two kids better not be snuggling out there!” we heard the dino-faced guardian shout from inside the house.

“It’s nothing inappropriate…” Kai objected, grinning into my hair, definitely disobeying my appa’s orders. “…yet.”

My face grew warm, to the point where I was as red as a juicy apple, woozy with happiness and embarrassed at our very snug proximity.

“Before your dear appa comes out to strangle me, may I ask how long it took for hyung to kiss you?” Kai chirped mischievously.

“I – uh – a week?” I saw his motive. “WAIT-!”

Kai smacked his lips against mine, shutting me off. My body temperature skyrocketed past a hundred, leaving me broiling in my own skin. That jerk who was my soulmate pulled away, smiling just as radiant as Taemin when he saw my flushed face.

“Make that two hours for me,” he said with a wink. Releasing me, he jumped to his feet when Jonghyun barreled out onto the patio.

“YAH! BRAT! I THOUGHT WE MADE THINGS CLEAR OF NOTHING INAPPROPRIATE!” Jonghyun chased after Kai so he could murder him. Every time Jonghyun was close to nabbing him, the younger teleported a few yards away in safety, and they’d resume the wild goose chase again.

I, on the contrary, was curled up in the grass, trying to hide my flushed, cherry-tinted face in my hands, hoping it would subside. There was a crunch of grass as Onew sat cross-legged next to me, smiling amusedly. Watching from the patio deck, Chanyeol was laughing boisterously, entertained by the hilarious spectacle. Without looking, I knew Suho was shaking his head but smiling pleasantly nonetheless, and D.O was rooting for Kai to be pummeled.

What a fulfilling day.

…

(Taemin’s POV)

From the upstairs window, Taemin watched his friends enjoy the show as Jonghyun futilely tried to catch the uncatchable Kai. He couldn’t help but soften, looking after them fondly, especially when he spotted Alaina all flustered, trying to smother her awkward yet delightful smile. She was so cute, but he wasn’t the one who made her so happy…

Kai could make her happy. Anyone could.

Taemin sighed resignedly and ruffled his hair in agitation. He could’ve be down there with his friends, having fun and joking around, but rather, he was stubbornly stalking around his room like a restless, encaged animal. No, he needed to take advantage of his day off.

I’ll talk to them later, he resolved.

…