Soulbound

by twentyhendy

Long ago, when the gods coexisted with humans and animals alike, they discovered that the
humans were lonely and miserable. During this time, there had been nothing but wars and
battle-cries. The only purpose of humans was to serve, multiply, and fight. They weren’t living,
just simply existing in a life with no meaning. The gods wanted something that could make us
live. They wanted to give us a feeling so intense that you almost get addicted to it. Something
so powerful you want to spend your whole life feeling it. A feeling beyond worship. Something
genuine, something true. They wanted us to connect with other humans in ways unimaginable.

And so they graced us with the blessing of love.

To live, to love, to be loved, they said.

An enchanting woman then rose from the ashes and declared herself as the god of love. From
the embers of love, she was birthed, and from the flames of it, she will die. A phoenix with an
unshakable breed of alluring, everyone couldn’t help but be drawn to her. Everyone wanted to
love. Everyone wanted to be loved.

The gods made us beings of love. We are born from it, and we die because of it.

Centuries passed and humans eventually learned how to deal with this overwhelming emotion
given to them. They also learned how to take advantage of it. As the times changed, the
meaning of love did too. No one knew when, where, or how it began, but love started to hurt.
Love was supposed to be a freeing feeling, but why did it suddenly inflict pain?

Because of this, some humans started to dislike love. They said it was too much of a burden,
that the pain it brings isn’t worth it. It will never be. Some are confused because it was never
meant to end up this way. Love wasn’t meant to hurt.

How did we manage to destroy the thing that created us?

Even in the beginning of times, love hasn't always been easy. Some devoted everything for
love, others didn’t have a care for it. We can guess that maybe the nature of humans is to just
be like that.

To all be different.

Our hearts beat at different paces and we have a plethora of experiences with love.

For the humans that still believed in love, they worshiped their god all-day and all-night,
non-stop, hoping to get her attention. They wanted love to be beautiful again. They didn’t want it
to feel real. They wanted to live in the illusion of love always being good. They worshiped her so
much that the god could not help but show up to them.

Just like the humans, she was starting to see how much love has changed — because she felt
it. As the goodness of love started fading away, so too did her powers. And as much as she
wanted to do something about it, she couldn’t, because she became weak.

She is soon going to meet her end. The first ever god to disappear because of the very thing
she swore to protect.

Love creates us. Love destroys us. The gods are no exception.

Before succumbing to her final breath, she mustered up all the power she had left in her and
gave us the grace of soulmates. She gave our hearts and our souls the ability to be tied with
another person, whoever it may be.

The humans started believing in love again. Because now, they know that there will always be
someone for them, and them only. No matter how different we may be, at least our heartbeats
can now drum in sync with someone else. There will always be one person who can love us,
understand us, and match heartbeats with us, when other people wouldn’t — and that's all that
matters.

One single person. Our soulmate.

That was how love birthed itself into this world. And until now, though the times have changed
somehow, we still either live or suffer for it — and because of it.

It is said that when you turn 20, a golden string of fate will glow on your pinky finger, and will
connect you to where your soulmate is. It is up to you whether you will follow the string and find
them, or if you will allow fate to do its thing.

That gold string will only be visible to you and your soulmate. If, and when you finally meet them
and look them straight in the eyes, it is believed that you will both hear your heartbeats beating
at the same rhythm.

Some people meet their soulmates, while others don't, but that doesn’t mean they won't meet in
other lifetimes. Some people even hate their soulmates, and some don't end up dating each
other at all.

To a few people, soulmates feel like responsibilities. Like you’re being forced to love someone
you might not even know. It's really messy, and different, and real.
There are people who believe that fate is nothing but an excuse to live your life being dictated
by an entity that doesn’t even exist. To them, fate feels like they are being taken away from the
freedom to choose how they live.

Like the humans in the past, the people right now also have very different perceptions about
love and soulmates.

But as much as you try to deny it out of your life, there will always be love. It may not be the
romantic type of love, but it will always be there no matter what. You might find yourself caring
for them a little bit more, or you might realize you know something about them no one else
does. There will always be the littlest of things, and somehow, those matter even more.

Your soulmate will always exist with you, whether you like it or not. Even if anything happens,
you and your soulmate will cross paths may it be in this universe, or the next.

In a world where soulmates exist, it is gospel that we are beings of love. We are born from it and
we die because of it.

The tales of love and of soulmates are passed down like folk songs. Long lasting, eternal, and
all the more magical.

The first time Leighton heard the story of how love came to be was when he and his best friend
were hunched up and tucked together in bed. They were around 10 years old and Leighton
came to Sterling’s house for a sleep-over. Sterling’s mother was telling them the tale to make
them fall asleep, but the two pairs of glistening eyes full of stars were anything but sleepy. The
two of them were so mesmerized by the story that they spent the whole night talking about it
instead of sleeping. They figured it was worth it, and if they get scolded, they can just say that
they were doing it for love!

“Hoonie, what will you do when you find your soulmate?” Jongseong is always the one who
starts their conversations because he understands that Sunghoon can be quite shy sometimes,
and that’s okay. He likes spending his time with Sunghoon so he tries his best to keep their
conversations going.

Before Sunghoon can even utter another word, Jongseong dramatically gasps. He looks like he
just had the best idea of his life. Sunghoon looks at him with a confused expression, and
Jongseong finally speaks. “What if we're soulmates?”

“We will never know until we’re 20!” Sunghoon responds, a giggle already making its way out of
his chest. His best friend can be so dorky sometimes. How can he even be sure we’re
soulmates? He thinks.

“But don't you want to be soulmate Sunghoonie?”

At a very young age, Jongseong and Sunghoon were already believers of love and the
happiness it brings. They wanted to grow up already to experience it and meet their soulmates.
Young hearts are like that. They still aren’t aware of how cruel the world can be.

While the two best friends were hoping to grow up, the rest of the world wishes it could be
young again.

Jongseong and Sunghoon had been friends since they were 8. Jongseong met Sunghoon one
day when he was about to play on the river downtown. He saw a boy crying, and being the
curious little kid he is, he went to him and asked him if he was okay. Turns out, Sunghoon got
lost and wandered to the river because it was the only place that he could hear life. Jongseong
then helped him get back to his house, and after all of that, they became the best of friends.

Sunghoon was hard to approach at first, mostly because he never talked, but Jongseong
miraculously found his way into Sunghoon’s heart and became his first ever friend. No one was
ever that patient with Sunghoon. The other kids would always tell him that he was too quiet and
he was hard to make friends with, but Sunghoon was so happy that Jongseong stuck around
until the end.

They would always spend their mornings at either one of their homes to help prepare breakfast.
They would be the ones to place the plates and the cutlery on the table. They would then enjoy
a warm, hearty meal, and go outside to do whatever they want. Sometimes, they would even
have sleep-overs and nights where they go stargazing on the rooftop of Sunghoon’s house.

Jongseong and Sunghoon spent their childhood together, their memories intertwined and
connected. They were happy, content, innocent, and carefree. The two made their childhood
worth remembering. For the both of them, they wouldn’t have it any other way.

Even when they eventually grew up, they still stayed in contact with each other and their
relationship did not falter, and they are so glad because time and age didn’t drift them away.

Since he was a kid, Jongseong had always been astounded about soulmates. Now that he’s 19,
what really is a soulmate to him?

Well, to Jongseong, a soulmate is simply someone he can love, and someone who can love him
without condition. A soulmate is someone who can make him feel that loving isn’t a
responsibility. It never was, it never will be. A soulmate, for Jongseong, is someone he can love
without worrying about anything else. Someone to understand him, take care of him, and hear
him, when no one else will.
A person to cook his favorite meal for, a person whom he can always eat with and feel full,
someone to come home to after a long day of work, someone that you will immediately
recognize with only footsteps alone.

Someone he can show all the parts of him, including the monstrous horribleness he tries to hide
to other people.

Someone who will know him in his bones.

For Jongseong, a soulmate is someone who will love him because of, and despite of.

For Jongseong, a soulmate is someone he can give his whole heart to without it breaking.

He actually refused to date anyone unless it was his soulmate. It should only be them or no one
else.

Sunghoon actually came close but he decided against it for reasons far too complicated to
explain.

That was his outlook about dating. Maybe it’s just the hopeless romantic in him.

Or in this case, the hopeful romantic. Because he can actually hope for something without being
scared of losing it. He can actually hope, because soulmates are real. They’re real. Not just
something he can hope for and eventually lose when things get too much to bear. He is hopeful
that he will end up with someone who will love him unconditionally, and someone he will love
without the fear of uncertainties.

Remember how Sunghoon came close? Sunghoon and him almost dated. Almost.

Well, Jongseong was actually hoping for his soulmate to be Sunghoon. He isn’t quite sure if he’s
in love romantically because he never really felt it before, but at the very least, he thinks he likes
Sunghoon.

More than how you’re supposed to like your childhood friend.

Because we are humans made to love, you can risk dating someone else or falling in love with
someone else before you meet your soulmate, but it's a big risk and only a few people are
willing to take it.

Jongseong didn't take that leap of faith. Not to Sunghoon, not to anyone else. He was scared to
hurt another person, and himself. He admires the people who do take the risk, and whether you
take it or not, both are okay. It is you who will decide what to do when you meet your soulmate.
Soulmates are soulmates. Love is Love. Platonic soulmates exist too, but honestly, Jongseong
hopes he gets the other one.
Jongseong likes his best friend, but he’s too afraid to try his chances. Not because Sunghoon
isn’t worth it, but because he hopes he never even has to take the risk in the first place. He
wishes nothing more but for them to be soulmates. In this way, they can freely be able to love
each other without playing with the strings of fate. Of course, there will always be hurt and pain,
but Jongseong believes that with Sunghoon, it’s nothing the two of them can't get over.

So, here we are now, one hour before Jongseong’s 20th birthday and everyone is nervous.
Mostly Jongseong. And Sunghoon, of course.

Sunghoon stays silent. If you don’t know him well enough, you would think he’s acting normal
and calm, but truthfully speaking, Sunghoon is shaking down to the marrow. He’s praying,
hoping, needing.

You see, Sunghoon has always been quiet about his feelings, but he feels them. Even more
intensely so. He feels them so much that he can't find the right words to give them justice.

Sunghoon wouldn't admit this yet, but he is definitely, helplessly, desperately in love. He is in
love with Jongseong, so much that he can't even speak about it.

I love you but I can't tell you, the moonlight on your face will do it for me. For now, we wait —
and we hope.

You can't really force soulmates and you can't really change them.

It pains him to even think about it, but Sunghoon is certain that if they don’t become soulmates,
Jongseong would not hesitate to love the person who is his soulmate unconditionally because
that's just how he is.

Sunghoon will never ask Jongseong to be his when he knows that he already gave his heart
and his love to someone else. Someone who is actually meant for him. Sunghoon isn't selfish
like that.

Even if Jongseong says that he won’t date his soulmate, Sunghoon still knows he at least wants
to try, and the last thing he wants to do is deprive him of the love he truly deserves. Something
that his soulmate can give to him more than he ever will, even if he tries.

What is a soulmate to Sunghoon? Honestly, it's Jongseong. Just him, in all his bareness and
glory.

For Sunghoon, love can be such a burden sometimes, and he doesn’t even know if the payback
of the pain will be worth it. Love may sometimes be hard for him, but Jongseong will never be.
Sunghoon thinks that as long as it’s Jongseong, then maybe, it wouldn’t be too bad.
The two of them are now on the rooftop of Sunghoon’s house, a place that felt like home for the
both of them. Just like the old days, watching the stars, well, whatever star you can make out of
this polluted night sky air. They would always go here whenever they feel overwhelmed or when
they feel like it’s time to be a little bit vulnerable.

Sixty minutes on the clock is simply not enough to process all these feelings. In sixty minutes,
the whole trajectory of not only Jongseong’s life, but also Sunghoon’s will change. Though
excited, it seems like they aren't fully ready yet.

“Jong, What will you do when you find your soulmate?” Sunghoon asks, even though he already
knows the answer. This question used to be so innocent and hopeful, but now it feels real. It
feels like a final warning. The calm before the storm. The last word before death.

“Just because we’re soulmates doesn't mean we’ll instantly love each other, you know? Just like
any other human interaction, I think our relationship will grow as time passes. I hope to be with
them romantically, that’s what I’ve been hoping for ever since I was a kid and you know that. But
I won’t force it. I’ll let fate do its thing. Love will always be present, love will always be there and
I’m sure I will somehow feel all of it someday. What about you?”

“Same as you, I guess. I just hope they aren’t constantly annoying me or anything. I would
probably punch them in the face” Sunghoon answers back. He attempted to make the air lighter
around them, and it seemed like he succeeded.

“HAHAHAHA dumbass, you’re ridiculous”

“You love me”

“Maybe I do”

Well there goes the lighthearted air. Just a second ago, Jongseong’s eyes were curled up like
crescent moons, his teeth bare in a smile and his nose filled with little crinkles. He was just
laughing at Sunghoon not even a moment ago, but now, the look on his eyes feels suffocating.
Like his eyes are longing for Sunghoon. Like he’s reaching for him one last time before he sinks
to the bottom of a ceaseless pit full of his uncontrolled emotions.

Sunghoon feels it. He feels it all. He wants to pull Jongseong out of that ocean, and save him,
and hold him in his arms, and tell him just how much he loves him — but he can’t. Not yet, not
ever.

There are waves of emotions flooding in Sunghoon’s heart right now and all the words get lost in
it. In one final attempt to salvage whatever they have left, Sunghoon asks a question that will
either save them both or let them drown and wallow in the longing of their hearts. “How are you
feeling?”
“Honestly, really scared and nervous. I just wish I can be truly happy. I mean I'm not saying I’m
not happy right now, but you get what I mean” A feeling of relief washes over the both of them.
Everything feels okay again. We’re okay.

“Yeah. I wish you can get what you’re hoping for and more”

“Hey. When I meet my soulmate, promise me nothing will ever change between us, okay?”

Jjongsaengie, you’re asking for a lot. I just know things will change, but I love you dearly and I
will try my best anyways. “Of course. I promise”

They interlock their pinkies. The pinkes that will someday be wrapped with golden thread
connecting them to either another person or themselves.

10 minutes before Jongseong’s birthday. They just stayed silent the whole time, trying to bask in
what may be their last moments together like this. The silence was comfortable but they both
felt it slowly slipping away from their fingers.

5 minutes. Jongseong lived a life with no regrets. He always makes sure that he will never
regret the choices he makes and that he will stay true to whatever he believes in. He believes in
love, in soulmates, in fate. When you look at it this way, Jongseong is really just a simple
person. Another being made of love that was born from it and will probably die because of it too.

3 minutes. Jongseong never regrets anything, but as he looks into his best friend's eyes and
sees the ghost of his tears, he feels a sting of pain make its way into his heart. In a few minutes,
Jongseong will finally get to see where his soulmate is, but at what cost? He has spent his
entire life with Sunghoon and leaving him was a situation he never thought would happen.
Maybe this would be the first thing he would ever regret.

2 minutes. Sunghoon looks back at him with an empty look on his face. By this time, he already
accepted that things will be different after this, and not for the best. He couldn’t do it. He could
not stomach seeing the love of his life suddenly get fated with someone that isn’t him. He will
apologize later, but he really can’t be with Jongseong right now. As he stands up, Jongseong
suddenly grabs his wrist and pulls him down.

1 minute. Jongseong looks straight into Sunghoon’s eyes. Jongseong never takes risks, but
maybe a risk for Sunghoon at the very last minute wouldn’t be so bad. Jongseong never regrets.
He will definitely not regret this.

Jongseong grabs Sunghoon’s face and kisses him. Their lips briefly touched and an electrifying
bolt of thunder sparked between the two of them.

30 seconds. Sunghoon is surprised but he kisses Jongseong again. One more time. One last
time.
When they both opened their eyes and looked at each other, everything suddenly started to
make sense. Every question, answered. Every regret, washed away. Every hint of pain, gone.
Holding onto each other, they weren’t drowning anymore. They were floating in the middle of the
ocean and they catch each other even before they could fall.

They still have 10 seconds but Jongseong feels like the universe just told him Sunghoon was
his soulmate. You will never regret anything because it has always been him. Even the stars
couldn’t wait for them to be together already.

5 seconds. Sunghoon looks at Jongseong’s eyes.

4. He looks at the tip of his nose.

3. his lips that were just against his

2. his hands

1… his pinky.

Then, all the light in the world fell upon the two of them and there was a golden glow that
warmed their souls and their hearts.

They watch as the golden thread wraps around both their fingers, glowing even more because
they’re already at heart’s length. They looked into each other's eyes, filled with tears and
adoration, and everything seemed to stop.

It went silent.

The quiet was broken when they heard the sound of their hearts beating together in a pace only
meant for the two of them to hear. It felt so surreal. They haven't been this happy before, their
hearts spilling with love and fondness, their souls bound together, and their love blooming for
only each other. A love that existed even before. A love that transcends.

They’re soulmates, and they are in love.

Jongseong then felt this feeling of knowing and familiarity. Everything was still sinking in, but for
some reason, Jongseong realized that he always seemed to match heartbeats with Sunghoon
even if they couldn’t hear it yet. He realized that there has always been an invisible string
connecting them with each other even if they didn't know.

When they met, when they would eat together, when they would look at the stars, when
Jongseong moved out for college, when he came back home, and the many lifetimes they spent
together that they aren’t even aware of. There has always been something tying them in some
way, even before the gold thread did. A tell tale, perhaps. A reminder from the universe that it
was always going to be the both of them. Maybe their love was so strong and powerful, it
passed through the boundaries of rules and lifetimes, and the universe intertwined their souls
even before they turned 20.

Sunghoon cried every single drop of tear that had been collecting in his heart. He was over the
moon. He still doesn’t believe it’s real. Jongseong. His Jjongsaengie. His best friend. His
soulmate. The person he loves beyond love. His heart aches in the best way possible and he
feels like his life could be so much more worth living now. Sunghoon would have never thought
that he could love someone this much. That someone could love him this much.

The tears don’t stop falling down and the next thing he knows, he’s getting engulfed by the
person he’s about to spend his whole life with.

They’re both crying so much and it’s honestly such a mess, but this is what happens when you
love.

“Hey, hey Sunghoonie stop crying!”

“These are happy tears dumbass Jjongsaeng! You stop crying”

“Do you feel happy, Hoon?”

“I don’t think that word would ever give justice to how I feel right now. Did you want me to be
your soulmate?”

“I wished for it every single day.”

They probably look so insane right now but they couldn't care less. Not when they’re both
feeling love in its rawest, truest form. This is the love that the gods gave to the first humans to
ever exist. This is love without the stains of pain, and selfishness, and hurt. The purest, most
freeing, most unconditional love to ever grace this world.

This is the love that we live for.

The world can be quite cruel most of the time, but every once in a while, it opens its arms to
people like Jongseong and Sunghoon, and cradles them. It gives them the utmost care, and
love, and happiness, and everything they deserve. Jongseong and Sunghoon really are lucky,
not only because of how kind the world has been to them, but also because they have each
other.

We are beings of love. We are born from it, and we die because of it. What they don't tell you is
what happens in between. They don’t tell you about the joyful tears you shed with someone you
love. They don’t tell you about the conversations shared over coffee, or the mornings spent
bathed in sunlight. They don’t tell you why we love. Time has erased the truest purpose of love
and why it was given to us.

Yes, we are born from love, and yes, we die because of it. But we sometimes forget that we also
live for it.

The complete saying goes like this: We are beings of love. We are born from it, we live for it,
and we die because of it.

Jongseong and Sunghoon lived their whole life trying to find out who their soulmates are.
Throughout that journey, they also discovered what soulmates mean to them. But what exactly
are Jongseong and Sunghoon’s definition of love?

Well, love, for them, is the very thing that keeps them alive.