Chapter Text
in this world.. Everyone gets their soulmate's name etched onto their wrist around the age of 18.Once their soulmate passes away, their name on their soulmate's wrist will disappear completely without a trace. One day, a class full of 11th graders lined up in the assembly hall to get their soulmate names checked. The assistants.. Called Altarchs. (From Alter. The high-ranking officials who "alter" the names on the wrist.)
The Altarches move down the line with these specialized ultraviolet lamps they call "Sifting Lights." When the beam hits a student's wrist, the skin stays blank for a second before a name starts to shimmer into view, glowing a brilliant, haunting gold under the bulb. But that glow is temporary—it would vanish the moment the light moves away. So, the Altarch has to act fast, hitting the wrist with a quick blast of sealant spray that freezes the name in place, turning that golden light into permanent ink before the next student is called forward.
Its almost Kim Gyuvin's turn after his bestfriend, Park Gunwook can finally get his soulmate's name sealed onto his wrist. Just as he was dazing off about who his soulmate could be, a loud shout called out to him
"Kim Gyubin!" He snapped out of his thoughts.
He pulled his eyes away from his wrist and looked up to see Park Gunwook walking out the door and a Elderly Altarch impatiently staring back at him.
"Ah." He quickly walked up to the Altarch's desk.
"Are you Kim Gyuvin?"
Gyuvin gulped and agreed clearly intimidated by the old Altarch's scary-looking eyes under her glasses.
After filling the form for the procedure, the operation began. Somewhere in the middle, Gyuvin felt a aching sting in his wrist as if his pulses and veins were working together to explode themselves. He clenched his teeth and stared as the violet beam hits his pale skin, and for a heartbeat, there’s nothing. Then, a faint shimmer begins to pulse.
Golden lines start to crawl upward from under his veins, knitting together until the name "𝒔𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒓𝒊𝒄𝒌𝒚" flares into view, glowing like a hot ember against his wrist.It isn’t a flat color; it’s an ethereal, liquid gold that seems to shimmer with every beat of his heart.The Altarch leans in, the hiss of the sealant spray cutting through the silence of the hall. But instead of dulling the name, the mist acts like a lens. It locks the gold in its most vibrant state—a permanent, glowing amber that looks like it was woven out of sunlight. Even when the Altarch moves the light away, the name doesn't fade into a dark tattoo. It stays there, humming with a soft, radiant warmth, as if the person it belongs to is somehow breathing right there against his skin.
The moment gets interrupted by the Altarch shouting another classmates name. Gyuvin hurriedly rushed to the door with the paper folder carrying the forms and instructions for the area. He keeps checking his wrist before muttering under his breath
"Rick-y? Who's that?" He scratched his head in confusion. "Is that a boy?"
... It came crashing in like a landslide. Gyuvin had only dated and had crushes on girls before, not boys. What would his family think if his soulmate was a boy? ...Well, it wasnt his fault either to be honest.
"urgh.. I dont need to think about it right now.. I dont even know which country this guy lives in!"
Gyuvin whispered to himself. Then he spots Gunwook leaning on a wall beside a locker staring at his wrists, and completely red..?
"Yo Gunwook! Who did you get?" Gyuvin called out.
"uh Hey! Gyubin.. Uhm..I got someone named Matthew.. " Gunwook muttered back.
"Matthew? Isnt that the guy from the other class?"
"Yeah.. Thats what i think too..."
"Lets go ask who he got! Hes a friend of hanb-"
(rrrring!)
"Ah.. The bells' ringing.. I'll head to my class for now, see you later!"
"Yeah, see you." Gunwook replied not even sparing a glance as he continued staring at his wrist.
After they ended their conversation, Both Gyuvin and Gunwook returned to their classes. Gyuvin sat on his assigned seat and took out all his books. After a good 5 minutes, the sharp, rhythmic clack-clack-clack of heels echoed down the hallway, cutting through the classroom chatter like a metronome. It was a cold, steady sound that let everyone know exactly how close the teacher was before she even reached the door.
(Ccreeeak)
All the students rushed to their seats as the teacher came through the door. *Pat!* she laid her books on the teacher's desk.
"Students. This is the last week before your finals. As you know the last day of this school year, we are probably gonna throw a party. So dress appropriately and politely do what you gotta do. So, back to teaching. Today, we are gonna revise the topics like heredity, evolution, and the regulation of the internal environment."
Gyuvin silently groaned as science was something he was not completely good at. I mean he once got 46 points on a test out of 100.
The following 50 minutes after was gruesome,the notes looking like scribbled and curved lines on his book was not what he was going for at all. The class ended awfully as all the students groaned in relief and disappointment the moment the teacher left.
Gyuvin packed his things and headed out to goto his other classrooms. As soon as he went out, he accidentally bumped into a student passing by the classroom. The stack of papers the student was holding obviously fell down lightly, swaying side by side by the impact. Both of them stood there akwardly looking at the mess they made in the hallways. Gyuvin looked up at the boy and gasped silently in shock and admiration.
He’s got that kind of striking, unreal look that makes you double-take. The first thing you notice is the hair,it’s this cool, silvery-blonde that almost looks like it’s glowing against his skin.
His face is all sharp angles, with a really defined jawline and high cheekbones that give him a serious, polished vibe. His eyes are deep and pretty intense despite sparkling like a deer's, framed by dark brows that make him look like he’s constantly deep in thought. Even with the simple silver hoops in his ears, there’s something elegant and insane about him, like he’s stepped straight out of a movie.
...
Okay. That was maybe too much to describe a guy. He just looks out-of-this-world handsome. Right? Gyuvin quickly gained back his composure and apologized before quickly helped pick up the scattered paper sheets.
"Again.. Sorry. It was my fault i bumped into you. " he said while putting the papers on the guy's hands.
"Ah.. Its okay. It was an accident anyway."
The student replied.
Gyuvin noticed that he's even got a little beauty mark right under his eye that adds to the whole "main character" aesthetic.
As for his voice, it’s surprisingly both deep,soft and soothing, with a bit of a low, gravelly hum to it. But it definitely has a foreign accent to it. He speaks with this laid-back, confident tone that makes everything he says sound charming and a lot more interesting. It’s the kind of voice that feels calm but definitely commands anyone with a word.
Without thinking, he says
"You have a nice voice"
The other student slightly widened their eyes in surprise before Gyuvin hurriedly ran away in embarrassment totally not giving the other a chance to reply.
At lunch Gyuvin and Gunwook rambled about their soulmates but each of them had completely different reasons. One was about not knowing theirs and the other was about hanging out together.
"And then, Matthew hyung grabbed my wrist and put his wrist against-! "
"Theres something i have to tell you." Gyuvin interrupted.
Gunwook tilted his head slightly offended that he had been cut off but waited for Gyuvin to continue speaking.
"There was this one guy that i bumped into earlier. He was.. Well.."
"Your type?" Gunwook interrupted him back.
".. No" (pause) ".. Maybe. "
Gunwook slapped him on the back giggling.
"Your such a simp! Well then...what happened?"
"Ah.. I helped him pick up his things but! The point is when i look at the bottom of the paper he was holding.. I saw a glimpse of letters like G and V."
"Are you sure? Or are you just delusional?"
*sigh* "maybe? Who knows? It could be that annoying Gwang-bin from class 2-3 or that captain jock Bi-geom from the basketball club.This stupid universe just couldnt make full names on our wrists could it?"
Gyuvin chewed on his food angrily making Gunwook almost laugh out loud. In the middle of eating, someone tapped on gyuvins shoulder.
Gyuvin dropped his spoon and turned aound to look at who tapped him
"Gyubinnie~ What are you eating now?"
"Oh! Hanbin hyung! Where did you-..?"
Hanbin chuckles as he sat beside Gyuvin. Putting his food tray beside Gyuvins and placed strawberry milk infront of both Gyuvin and Gunwook
"Hyung! Who did you get as your soulmate? Your checkup was also today right?"
"Thats right, mines was delayed for some reason. Anyways i got Zhang Hao!"
"Woah! Zhang Hao? As in the violinist that always stays in that music room and invited you to our friend group Zhang Hao?" Gyuvin shrieked
Hanbin nodded "Well theres only one Zhang Hao in this school right?"
Gyuvin groaned "thats totally not fair! I dont even know whos mines! Yet you guys are already finding yours in one day!" While chewing on rice.
(If your confused why the soulmate initial on the other student's wrist is G and V yet there isnt any V in Gwang-Bin or Bi-Geom, its because the letter V does not exist in the Korean language or its native phonetic system and because the soulmate names are written in english. "V" sounds are typically replaced with B (ㅂ) when translated)
As the last bell rang signaling the end of school day, Gyuvin packed his books and headed toward the gate while opening his phone and tapped on a group chat.
𝘏𝘈𝘕(𝘺𝘶𝘫𝘪𝘯)𝘓𝘐𝘔 𝘨𝘤
(17:35)
🐹ham_binz🌟: Guys lowkey Zhang Hao is actually fine. Like chefs kiss?!?!?
🇨🇦cana_daddyseok: our class president btw🙏
🐹ham_binz🌟: boi sybau
wook.gym🔫🏋: chill guys did everyone forget zhanghaos literally in hanlim and that hes in this gc rn????
🐹ham_binz🌟: WHATTTTTTT
hao_violinzz: i knew it! I had hanbin on my wrist! I thought it was park hanbin!
(17:36)
maknae_ate1st: these hyungs are so dumb omg ACTUALLY.
replied to @maknae_ate1st
🇨🇦cana_daddyseok: dont talk to your hyungs like that!Although I do agree with those two..
replied to @hao_violinzz
🐹ham_bin🌟: so uhh wanna hang out tmrw?
replied to @🐹ham_bin🌟
hao_violinzz: obviously!?
(❤Liked by 🐹ham_bin🌟)
(17:37)
tall3rthan_gyu🥭: why are we all watching them kiss eachother all over call yo uber💔💔
wook.gym🔫🏋: well gyuvin? Have u found your soulmate yet? Their name is ricky right?
youngrich_r is typing...
*beep beep!*
Before Gyuvin could see what @youngrich_r was typing his car had arrived. He probably thought it was probably a friend teasing him so he obviously ignored it.
The heavy thud of the car door closing behind him felt like the final exhale of a long, exhausting day. He practically stumbled through the front door, his stomach giving a sharp, hollow growl the second the scent of home hit him. Lunch had been a total wash; his friends had spent the entire hour relentlessy teasing him, their banter so loud and distracting that he’d barely managed two bites of his sandwich before losing his appetite entirely. But nothing heals a bruised ego or an empty stomach quite like his mother’s cooking. He sat at the kitchen island, slumped over a steaming bowl of gukbap, the savory broth warming him from the inside out, paired with a plate of neatly sliced kimbap. It was comfort food in its purest form, and for a few minutes, the noise of the day finally faded away. Once the last grain of rice was gone, he dragged his feet upstairs. His room felt like a sanctuary, though the stack of textbooks on his desk looked more like a mountain.
Despite the heavy pull of sleep behind his eyes and a lingering mental fog, he powered through. He checked off the last of his assignments with a shaky signature, the silence of the house only broken by the occasional scratching of his pen. Just as the pale, silvery glow of moonlight began to filter through the slats of his blinds, he decided he’d reached his limit. He took a quick, steaming shower to wash off the day's stress, then retreated to his bed. He didn't just climb in; he practically dove under the covers, reaching out to snag his oversized, Eumppappa-looking body pillow . It was a bit ridiculous, and he knew it, but he absolutely could not drift off without the familiar weight of it to hug.
He squeezed the plush version tight, glancing toward the corner of the room where the real Eumppappa was already curled up in his dog bed, a soft, rhythmic snore proving that at least one of them had mastered the art of calling it a day.
The story of how he ended up with two versions of Eumppappa—one breathing and one plush—started three years ago. His parents had surprised him with the puppy during a particularly brutal exam season, and the dog had immediately become his shadow. The body pillow was a much later addition, a goofy birthday gift from his aunt. She’d joked that he needed a "stunt double" for the dog since the real Eumppappa had eventually outgrew being used as a literal pillow and started preferring his own space. Now, the two were a package deal: the dog guarded the floor, and the plush guarded his sleep.
The next morning, the jarring, tinny ring of his phone alarm shattered the silence. He groaned, burying his face into the soft fabric of the body pillow for five more minutes of pure denial. The moonlight was long gone, replaced by a sharp, unforgiving sun poking through the gaps in the blinds. He watched the real Eumppappa stretch, let out a massive, high-pitched yawn, and shake himself awake with a frantic jingle of his collar. Watching the dog’s effortless, carefree energy gave him the tiny boost he needed to finally kick off the covers and plant his feet on the cold floor.
By the time lunch rolled around at school, the cafeteria noise felt like a physical weight. He sat down at the usual table, bracing himself as his friends started right back up with the same relentless teasing from the day before. But today, the "reset" had actually worked. Instead of feeling that familiar knot of annoyance in his stomach, he felt steady. He just looked at them, took a deliberate, calm bite of his food, and delivered a dry, one-sentence comeback that caught them completely off guard. For the first time in two days, the table went silent, and he realized that a bit of sleep and a full stomach were sometimes the only armor he really needed then..
"Anyways, since you know your soul mate is that guy.. -" Gunwook muttered
Gyuvin shot him a glare "Are you mocking me? What do you mean I know my soulmate?"
The whole table stared at him in silence
"Yah, Kim Gyubin.. You really don't know who Ricky is?"
"Didnt you check the groupchat yesterday?"
The whole table started questioning him with disbelief. Gyuvin soon sighed and surrendered to check his phone.
HAN(yujin)LIM gc
(17:38)
youngrich_r: Ricky? Thats me? Wait.. WHAT?
wook.gym🔫🏋:WHAT?! HIS SOULMATE IS THE NEW KID!?
harin.chu: what is this drama bro. Stop spamming I was listening to Keita's debate
daeun_obv: Harin just mute this gc and wait at the vending machine.
".. Wait so what does he look like?" Gyuvin asked
"What I'm suspecting is that the boy you bumped into a few days ago?" Gunwook replied while tapping on his chin with his index finger
"The one with silver hair?"
"Yep.I heard he just came in a few weeks ago.Thats probably why we all haven't seen him before but can you believe the timing? Apparently, he’s been 'studying remotely' this whole time, which is just code for his dad cutting the school a massive check to ignore his attendance record. He literally just waltzed in with four days left before finals, acting like he hasn't missed a single lecture. Honestly, the pressure must be insane, though. Imagine showing up that late and knowing everyone knows you bought your way into the hardest week of the year.if he fails these finals now, all that 'distance learning' nonsense will look like the expensive lie it actually is." Gunwook whispered
Gyuvin looked across the cafeteria, following Gunwook's gaze to the far table where the guy sat alone. He wasn't even eating, he was just staring at a tablet with this look of intense, quiet frustration. It was weird to see. You’d think a kid with that much family backing would be acting like he owned the place, but he looked more like a ghost haunted by his own last name.
"Look at him," Gunwook muttered, stabbing a piece of kimchi a little too hard. "He’s got the premium noise-canceling headphones on, but he can definitely feel us staring. I bet his tutors have been pulling all-nighters just to summarize the lessons for him."
Gyuvin shifted in his seat, feeling a weird mix of annoyance and genuine curiosity. The cafeteria was buzzing, the usual pre-finals tension dialed up to an eleven, and Ricky was the eye of the storm. Every time someone walked past his table, they’d slow down just a fraction, trying to catch a glimpse of the 'prodigy' who was supposed to save his family's reputation in just four days. If he felt the heat, he wasn't showing it, but then again, when your life is a PR stunt, you probably get really good at keeping a straight face.
"Anyway, try not to do anything impulsive," Gunwook added, his voice dropping an octave as he noticed Gyuvin hadn't looked away once.
He knew exactly what that look meant—he was the only one who knew about the pull Gyuvin had been feeling in my chest since the rumors started.
"I know he’s him, Gyubin, but look at the timing. His family is basically using this school as a witness protection program for their reputation. If you jump in now, you’re jumping into a localized hurricane."
He nodded absently, his fingers tracing the edge of my tray. "I know. It’s just... he looks like he’s holding his breath."
Just then, Ricky stood up. The movement was fluid, almost choreographed, as he slid a tablet into a sleek leather bag. As he turned to leave, he tripped slightly over a stray chair leg.A tiny, human crack in that expensive, polished exterior. He didn't look annoyed; he looked drained, his shoulders dropping just a fraction before he caught himself and straightened back up.
"He doesn't look like he's here to flaunt anything," He whispered, watching him navigate the crowded aisles.
"He looks like he’s drowning in silk," Gunwook corrected, his expression softening. He reached over and nudged Gyuvin's arm.
"Look, I’m not saying don't talk to your soulmate. I’m just saying wait until the vultures stop circling. Every senior in here is waiting for him to mess up so they can feel better about their own grades."
As Ricky passed their table, a scent like cold rain and cedarwood trailed behind him. For a split second, his eyes met Gyuvin's. There was no arrogance there—just a sharp, flickering exhaustion that made his pulse skip. He didn't smile, and he didn't stop, but the way his gaze lingered on him for that one extra heartbeat told him he felt the tether too. He kept walking, head held high, leaving him sitting there with a tray of cold rice and the realization that whether Gunwook liked it or not,
He wasn't going to be able to stay on the sidelines for long.