Modern + Soulmates AU

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There was a ground and yet it looked as if he was walking in the endless void of the stars. This place was so vast and one could easily get lost. Or could they? Not really in fact. Everyone knew where to go, even if they were not aware of it, their steps would lead them to their soulmate as if guided by some kind of mysterious force.

Aesop never thought someone like that existed for him.

After all, he had spent years until his twenties without meeting anyone here.

He wandered around aimlessly in the clouds of cotton candy, not expecting much.

However, one day, he was surprised by the silhouette of a man sitting on a pillow of haze.

The man had blue eyes gazing at him so deeply he felt like a spear pierce his heart.

He was so mesmerized that the words coming out from his mouth at that moment made him seem rather dumb.

"Who are you...?"

"I think you know the answer." answered the man with a smile.

Right, there could be only one explanation but it was still surreal to Aesop.

"How come you only appear now?"

There was not an ounce of anger in his voice but only curiosity and maybe even concern.

"What about sitting here first?"

The brown-haired man patted the spot next to him and Aesop carefully stepped closer before taking a seat on the cloud. It was as soft as he imagined.

"Did I make you wait?"

"Not really, I just arrived too."

"What's your name?"

Aesop wasn't the talkative type usually. However, was it because the other was his soulmate but he couldn't stop asking questions. A spark lit up in his chest at first sight and a warm feeling filled him when he was near him.

"I can't tell you unfortunately. It goes against the rules."

"I forgot about that."

The rules. Perhaps God found their struggle entertaining and thus was why he decided to establish weird laws to this realm. For some reason, some things couldn't be said here. Even if you tried, you would forget on the spot or your mouth would shut by itself.

"You can ask something else if you want."

"Then... Will we meet?"

"I can't exactly tell you when but I believe so."

A chuckle left the man's lips and Aesop sensed his ears flushed just as a hand came to rest on his own.

"I hope this day comes soon."

That sounded a tad sadder than he wanted it to be.

Aesop had lived most of his life alone and he barely had friends, if not none. He was fine the way things were or so he believed. He peeked on the side to take a glimpse of the man's face again, his heart pounding even faster. This was the first time he felt that way but it was like he was yearning desperately for the emptiness in his being to be filled by this stranger.

"I do too, and I'm sure it won't take long."

"What do you mean-"

His vision started to blur before he could finish his sentence, did the time limit already reach its end? Why did it have to be so fast? He barely learnt anything about his soulmate.

"Don't worry, you will know soon. Just have sweet dreams for now."

The man appeared in his sight one last time to leave a soft feeling against his lips before everything turned dark.

"-...!"

Aesop woke up in a cold sweat that morning.

He brushed his fingers against his lips in a slow motion, wondering if what he saw in his dream was one or not.

Well, he couldn't really linger on it for too long because he realized while taking a look at the clock that he was late for his class.

He jolted from his bed to rush into the bathroom and washed up as fast as he could before grabbing his stuff and leaving his dorm.

He got just in time into the classroom thanks to his long legs and took a seat at the back of the room as calmly as possible, like he didn't just run a marathon to get here.

The teacher arrived right after him but someone else was trailing behind him and Aesop's mouth opened wide when he recognized those sapphire eyes and chocolate hair.

"I know the year already started but your new friend here just came back from an exchange program to follow the course with all of you and I hope you will treat him well."

"Nice to meet you, I'm Eli Clark."