"Because nobody here knows who you are," he pointed out.
You laughed sardonically, rolling your eyes in disbelief and letting your gaze linger out at the street of people. You shook your head, reminding yourself of all your friends and all the great people you have encountered. There would always be terrible people in the world; unfortunately, the world would never be perfect. But, it was the greatness if having the good ones near you that perhaps made it meaningful.
You have good people around you here. You have had bad ones but the good ones outshine them by a million miles.
"No, actually," you argued quietly. "People here do know me. They're just not greedy and horrible like us." You glared at him then, finally deciding to meet eyes with someone who you once trusted. "I can't believe you even tried to convince me to go back. Do I need to remind my uncle is still in a coma? You know, the man who was once your close friend."
Minho huffed, a flash of tainted guilt covering his eyes before it was replaced with unexplainable disgust. You dared to bring up his friendship with your uncle; you truly dared all of what you have, which was little to nothing. You knew nothing about the two of them. He knew your uncle longer and better than your measly shared blood. You had no idea how he felt about his friend falling victim to his own family's greed.
You were a child, and you still were despite all the hardships you have endured. You knew nothing.
Minho was going to speak, to scold you perhaps, but his eyes shifted when a certain boy walked up behind you and tugged at your shirt. You were pulled back from Minho, a hand soon wrapped protectively around yours as Jisung threw a worried glance between you and Minho.
"What's going on...?" he asked quietly, frowning at you.
"Nothing, don't worry." You waved it off with a soft smile. "He's just someone from my home city."
Jisung widened his eyes in shock. He was not expecting to see another magic user, especially someone with a history with you. Turning over to take another look at Minho, he accessed the man silently; lean, stoic, and angry-looking. Jisung wondered if something had happened or if the man was born with a stern face. His observing expression faded into a timid one when he found Minho staring at him in thought.
Minho's eyes shifted down to your hands, and he raised a brow, a smirk of contempt reaching up to his cheeks when he saw the faint string linking you both together. You kept talking about hating the council, but there was an even bigger reason why you refused to leave this city, wasn't there? Your soulmate was here, and he was a soulmate who cared.
Unlike his own—a soulmate who never woke up after a tragic incident years ago, one which you conveniently sat out of.
"I see," Minho hummed. "He is the reason why you won't leave this city."
A breath hitched in your throat. Minho sounded threatening, almost, as if he was plotting something in his head. You couldn't be too sure; you would love to give yourself the benefit of the doubt that he still, with the childish part of him, cared about you. You hoped when he saw you, he saw the kid he used to love. But your mind was being paranoid, too paranoid, that something would happen to Jisung if you show a bond here, so you didn't.
"He's just a friend," you said, removing yourself away from Jisung on a quick whim.
"You forget who I am, [Name]." Minho smirked as he gestured toward your hand. "I can see the red string just as you can."
"What is your problem?" Jisung asked as he took a bold step forward, pulling you behind.
You shoved him backward as Minho flashed the boy a menacing glare. Jisung struggled against your grip; he could tell something was up. He wasn't as stupid as he liked to act normally. While unsure of what exactly Minho's deal was, knowing that he was a past figure from your childhood was enough to warrant him doubting Minho's intention because why would you be here without help if he was someone close to you?
And he wanted to help. He wanted to shield you from pain and drama and death and everything harmful that could ever come your way. He wanted to be useful.
"Step aside, Jisung," you whisper-yelled at him. "He's just asking me to go home."
Oh? Now he has to be here because you cannot go back.
"Go somewhere else. Let me handle this." You demanded again when Jisung stood on his ground.
"No! Are you serious? This man looks like bad news!" Jisung retorted stubbornly, flipping his wrist so his hand would clamp over yours instead. He squeezed your hand, looking at you firmly. "I'm not leaving you here alone. What if he takes you?"
"He is not going to," you reassured him. "Please just leave? I will catch up with you, I pro–"
"Hey! Don't touch them!"
Minho had snuck up behind you without your knowledge. Once your attention was focused on Jisung, all else often fades into the background. You had no idea Minho even marched up behind you until Jisung shifted his weight, took a large stride to maneuver over you, and swatted Minho's approaching hand away from your shoulder. Jisung deathly glared at the taller man, refusing to budge despite the unspoken power dynamic.
You spun around just in time to see Minho clench his jaw in irritation and the tattoo inked on the side of his index finger glowing a halo white color. You furrowed your brows; you had no idea what the rune meant, but if it was hidden in a place like that, it must not have been a regular spell. Although the glow disappeared as Minho calmed himself down, you held your caution up like a wall and put your hands on Jisung's shoulders.
It was unlikely, but there was still no guarantee that Minho would not discreetly do something in public and frame it as an accident. He was always good at that. Thanks to the less obvious medium he inherited from his family, he was always good at subtle and stealthy magic.
You attempted to pull Jisung backward. "Jisung, leave us alone!"
"No! Screw him–screw you!" He snatched himself away from your grip and advanced toward Minho, pointing an accusing finger at him. "You know what happened, and you did nothing to help them! How dare you come all the way here to ask them to go back home like there's a home to be had over there! You are a terrible person!"
Panicked, you kept your eyes focused on Jisung as he animatedly defended you when there was no issue genuinely present. He was getting louder, and a crowd began gradually forming to check out the source of this commotion. That would cause nothing but trouble and inconvenience for both you and Minho. You had to leave, all of you.
You unzipped your bag and pulled out your string card, quickly unwrapping a small piece to create a teleportation figure. Minho seemed to have caught sight of your rapid movement because he shifted his torso to the side to see better what you were doing.
His sudden distraction caught Jisung's attention. Jisung turned around, eyes narrowed with distaste, and he jolted in surprise when you took his wrist and dragged him elsewhere. Minho followed suit, trailing behind you both as you led him straight into an alleyway where fewer people were present. Jisung huffed in exhaustion to follow up with your speed, and when you finally stopped, you spun around to meet him face-to-face.
You immediately put a hand over his head, not sparing him a second to speak. Jisung widened his eyes, uncertain about his assumption that you were putting a spell on him. His doubt was erased once you changed a familiar-sounding spell under your breath, and his voice struggled in its protest.
"I'm sorry, Jisung," you said quickly. Before you closed the portal on him, you reassured him, "I'll find you later."
He was gone in a second, carried away by the wind and magic. Minho watched the disappearance of the portal with disinterest, his hands shoved in his pocket as if he had been idly waiting for you to get rid of your nosy soulmate. When you exhaled in relief once he was gone and your ears received quietness, then you looked to Minho in disdain.
"You are so vulnerable with him," Minho pointed out. "I am surprised."
You clicked your tongue. "Why? I was the same way when you knew me."
"I didn't mean that," he said with a knowing smile. "Either way, I take it that you're not going home, are you?"
There was a shove at your chest. The word 'home' sounded uneasy.
The word 'home' sounded like Jisung's house, where his parents were continuously loving and where he loved to joke and laugh around. The word 'home' sounded like the cheering with your friends from the bleachers at Hyunjin's basketball game, inhaling and arguing over Felix's baked cookies. The word 'home' sounded like Seungmin scribbling on his notebook as he studied at the convenience store you worked at, mutters of equations leaving his lips.
The word 'home' was none of the above when it left Minho's lips. He no longer sounded how you knew him to sound; he was not the sweet boy you knew.
"No," you answered faintly.
"This is not the place for you, [Name]. People like you and I don't belong here," Minho said as if it was a desperate attempt. "Back there, people can take care of you, and you can properly wait for your uncle to heal up. I have been researching what to do. We can figure this out together. I... I know what to do. I can wake him up."
You clenched your fists, your head lowered to face the ground. You felt unsteady, but you knew your decision was final. "You're wrong. People like you don't belong here," you told him. "I earned a place here. This is my home now, and I am never going back there. I'm sorry about uncle Chan, I really am."
Minho remained silent. He looked disappointed and discouraged, and finally, you realized you had misunderstood him. He wasn't here to convince you to go back for the council. Why would he? He must also have a bone to pick with them because of what they did to your family. He was never here to drag you back so you have another chance to suffer eternally.
You looked down at his fragile hand and shuddered at the dirty red string. Gashes and nail marks adorned its surface, waiting to be broken so it could save the love of a lifetime and promptly destroy it simultaneously.
Minho was going to risk the fated bond to save Chan, and in his forgetfulness, Minho needed you to be there for him. Nobody else knows of their bond and his feelings—nobody else but your family, and you were the only one left.
He would never take you back there and force you to walk in the steps of your parents. Minho was here to beg you to go back for him, even for a little, because he was about to lose everything.
"I'm so sorry," he whispered when you were within his reach.
You pursed your lips and let a faint smile grow. "It's not your fault."
He was, still, the kind boy you used to know.
"Don't break the string," you suggested. "We can figure it out another way. I will keep researching. You can try to bring my family's books over for me to go through them. We will figure something out."
Minho sighed, his voice shaky. Hearing you reassure him did alleviate his stress, thankfully. "It's been so long, [Name]. He's not waking up."
"No," you shook your head, "I think he will."
He has to. Because it cannot be just you. It cannot be just you on this stranded land.
A somewhat relieved exhale left his parted lips. He looked relaxed now, not as stoic as before. You forgot how gorgeous he was; it all came to light once you put down your shaded lenses. The heat at your neck released itself throughout the rest of your body once you realized the previous tension was gone, and you felt at ease. Minho's shoulders slumped in unison, his guard being let down, and he smiled remorsefully at you.
"How have you been?" He started again.
You hummed contently. "I've been good."
"You found your soulmate... here, of all places," he said, looking around him in confusion. There was almost relief in his voice when he added, "But he loves you."
"He does," you sighed with furrowed brows, recalling when you sent him away without much explanation. "I have probably upset him a great deal just then, so I need to find him."
Minho nodded in silent agreement. He kicked his feet subtly and stood up straight again. "Yeah, you should go find him."
"I plan to," you said, your eyes lingering on his face. "Stay safe, Minho. I'll see you again."
After he gave you a wave in response, you spun on your heels and ran off, leaving him to his own devices.
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