23 year old Jeon Jeongguk thinks that vending machine coffees are a threat to society. They're bland, almost taste like water, and they're not even well-blended. In other words, they're shit. Utter shit.

He ponders at this as he forcefully chugs the shitty excuse of a cappuccino, not minding if it scorches his throat, and throws the paper cup carelessly on a nearby trash bin. The time on his wrist watch says that it's almost 9 am in the morning, and he sighs deeply as he waits for his other members to arrive.

HYBE, their company building, isn't that far from the Hannam. A half an hour ride is all it's going to take if they took the private vehicles, and almost 40 minutes if they took the public commute. Jeongguk knows it's the latter, though, they're idols after all. It's risky.

(Imagine V riding a subway. Yeah, that would be a sight to behold.)

Not long after, his older hyung Yoongi walks up to him with a nod, all wrapped up in a black hoodie and a black cap. Although the greeting seems cold, he doesn't mind because Yoongi's always like that. He's reserved, he's quiet, he just likes silence.

"The coffee is shit, you know," his hyung speaks in a deep voice laced with sleep. Ah, he probably just woke up. "Worst coffee in this entire building."

Jeongguk snorts. "You think I don't know?"

Yoongi shrugs. "Just making sure," he replies. His eyes sweep around the modern hallway, looking like he's searching for something. When he finds nothing remotely interesting, he lightly bumps his shoulder to his. "Why didn't you go inside the meeting room? Waiting for someone?"

"Waiting for you guys, you mean," Jeongguk tries to avoid the teasing. "You were taking so long and I didn't want to be alone there. The air conditioning makes me want to pee, you know."

Yoongi rolls his eyes and tilts his head towards the meeting room entrance. "I'll be with you. Come on, let's get inside. I feel like my dick would freeze at any moment."

Jeongguk only chuckles and follows Yoongi inside the room. All of the lights were on and the chairs are empty, so he opts to just sit in one of the farthest chairs away from the head of the table. It's better to be safer than sorry.

Before he can even take a seat, however, Yoongi flinches. He looks over at him, and sees that he's wincing in obvious pain.

"Hyung?" He asks, panicked. "Hyung, what's wrong? Are you okay?"

Yoongi shakes his head as he finally settles down next to him. "Nothing, it's just... look." He raises his right hand and Jeongguk sees nothing at first, until a drop of crimson red blood falls down on one of the elder's fingertips. "My soulmate probably cut themselves with a knife."

When Yoongi turns his hand, a small but deep looking cut is in his ring finger.

"Oh." Jeongguk blinks dumbfoundedly. Sometimes he forgets that Yoongi's soul mark is that whenever his soulmate injures themselves, the same mark appears on his body. "You're not hurt that much, though, right?"

His hyung shoots him a small smile. "I'm not."

He nods and unconsciously pulls the right sleeve of his sweater, wherein his own soul mark hides.

Eventually, the rest of his members arrive as well as their manager, and they finally get on to the planning of their next possible comeback.

It's all the usual boring stuff. Jeongguk half-heartedly listens to the discussion until--

"...your comeback will be the same week as BDZ, The Velvets, Queen of Disaster, Blue Orangeade, Neo City--"

"Wait," he finds himself interrupting. Their manager turns to him in question. "We'll be sharing the same comeback week with Queen of Disaster?"

Sejin nods, huffing. "Yes. I asked the CEO if we can delay yours for a little while, seeing as Queen of Disaster's last comeback had the highest PAKs and RAKs in all of idol history."

Technically, QOD is a rock band, therefore they aren't idols, but with each of their releases becoming hit after hit, they're considered to be as one that they're always in demand in music shows. Talk about pretty privilege, Jeongguk thinks bitterly.

"I mean, they deserve it," Taehyung says from the other side of the table with a shrug. "Pretty Savage is a legendary song. Didn't you hear the bass? The drums? Rosé's low notes and Jennie's rapping?"

Jimin snorts. "You're only saying that because you're bestfriends with Jisoo."

"No, I'm saying it because it's true. What are you gonna do about it?" Taehyung challenges with a raised brow. It's no secret that Jimin is a little possessive of his bestfriend and Taehyung uses that to his advantage. Jimin opens his mouth in retaliation, but before a fight could ensue, Jeongguk speaks again.

"If we're in the same comeback week as them, wouldn't our chances of getting higher PAKs and RAKs decrease?" Jeongguk can't deny that every South Korean loves QOD. Although Piece of Peace is the top boy group at the moment, QOD is also the top girl band.

And it's a well-known fact that the GP loves girl groups more than boy groups.

"I know," Sejin admits. "But I also know that POP's upcoming comeback is highly anticipated by Knetz, So I'm only slightly worried about the PAKs and RAKs. I'm 90% sure that you'll do well."

Jeongguk highly doubts that though. It's not that he doesn't trust his group, but there has been a few rumours going on about QOD behind the scenes that he's heard. Apparently, the members mistreat their staff and that they've been doing sajaegi for years now.

POP and QOD have actually met in previous award shows, but the girls have always avoided any contact with other idols and always kept to themselves, further proving the rumors true. They have this cold aura and unfriendly faces that no one dares to come close to them nor greet them.

He thinks they're spoiled, little rich girls. It's a wonder why Taehyung is even friends with one of them.

"Anyway, for the rest of your schedule, you already know that the Melon Music Awards will be two days from now so I expect you all to go to practice after this," Sejin points out, looking each of them in the eye. "No funny business, okay?"

"When do we ever do funny business?" Seokjin asks rhetorically, receiving a pinch on the nipple from Hoseok. "Hey, that hurts you pussy!"

"Meeting adjourned. I'll meet you in PRM-327." Sejin ignores them and walks out of the room in long strides.

"Hyung, I'll go to the convenience store first," Jeongguk informs Namjoon as they all pile out of the room. "Just going to get a little bit of ramen, it's going to be quick, I swear."

"You do realize that we have a cafeteria on the second floor, right? The leader shoots back with a knowing glance. Jeongguk pouts. "Okay, fine. Twenty minutes."

He grins widely before separating from the group and pulls out his phone, heading straight towards his messages.

you awake?

10:12AM

always

you miss me?

10:14AM

ME:

i do

i need you rn baby

where are you?

10:14AM

apartment

how long?

10:14AM

20 mins

im omw

can't wait to feel you all around me

10:15AM

fuck

okay

hurry

10:15AM

✅ Read

° BDZ - Twice, taken from

their song BDZ

° The Velvets - Red Velvet

° Queen of Disaster (QOD), - BLACKPINK

° Blue Orangeade - TXT, taken from

their song Blue Orangeade

° Neo City - NCT

° Piece of PEACE (POP) - BTS

since this is an au, alternate universe,

i didn't use their original group

names like BTS, BLACKPINK, Twice,

Red Velvet, etc., because i want

to try something new.

♡ there are a lot of ways to meet your soulmate. there's tattoos, aging, timer, color-blindness, telepathy, touch, hair color changes, and etc. the possibilities are endless! some ways are not even discovered yet, so don't fret if you haven't found your soulmate, because remember, love will always find a way!

(pretty savage rock version

is in the video above if ur curious)