You like to believe that everything happens for a reason, that life is not just random chaos where nothing means anything at all.

Most of the time, your poor sense of direction is a huge inconvenience. But today, it led you to this improbable moment: face to face with a creature so beautiful it borders on the absurd.

'His features are even more striking up close,' you muse, dumbstruck, 'almost otherworldly... ethereal.'

As if they can't help it, your eyes roam his face, starting from those golden eyes, huge and soft, framed with long, thick lashes... down to the perfectly shaped nose... and then to the cupid's bow lips underneath.

This close, you see the beauty marks scattered across his perfect face like an afterthought, an extra something to add even more beauty to his already impossible face: one on his lower lash line, one on his cheek, one on the tip of his nose, and one on his lip.

Your eyes are drawn up to his thick, strong brows, then further up to his dark, wavy hair. It looks so soft that you feel your fingers twitch, wanting to tangle themselves in the midnight blue locks.

Taehyung clears his throat, and you snap out of your trance. Immediately, you avert your gaze, cheeks heating up.

'Great, he probably thinks I'm a creepy pervert, just ogling him like that.'

"Shall we start?"

You lift your eyes at his words, and see him smiling at you gently.

'That's right, this is what we're here for... to talk.'

"Y-yes. Of course. Please, go ahead."

He nods enthusiastically.

"Okay! First of all, may I know your name? I didn't catch it earlier."

"My name is [Y/N]."

"Nice to meet you, [Y/N]! My name is Taehyung, and I'm a panther Hybrid. I'm 20-something... I think. I'm not really sure how old I am..."

"Huh? How come?"

"Hobi-hyung just found me unconscious in an alley a few years ago," Taehyung says matter-of-factly, like there was nothing odd about this at all, "I didn't have any identification on me."

"Oh. Oh wow."

"He was kind enough to take me to the Hybrid orphanage he worked at, which is this one!" Taehyung continues, "Hybrid orphanages usually only take in children and teenagers, so I know how lucky I am to even be here."

Although Taehyung tries to keep his smile in place, you see it falter just the tiniest bit, and your heart squeezes painfully in your chest.

"Taehyung... you deserve a home. You deserve love and belonging, just like everyone else. You deserve all that and more!"

He looks a bit taken aback by your impassioned response.

"Th-thank you. It's so kind of you to say that."

"I'm not being kind," you insist, "It's the truth!"

His genuine smile returns, and he fishes something out of his pocket.

It's a small polaroid photo.

"Hyung found this in my pocket that day. It was the only personal belonging I had apart from the clothes on my back. It's the only real clue to my identity."

He hands it to you with the photo side facing down.

There's an inscription on the back:

'My precious Taehyung,

I am with you, always.
Never forget that.

Love,
Mother'

As you're about to flip the polaroid over to look at the photo, Taehyung suddenly snatches it out of your hand. You look up at him in surprise.

His eyes are round as he apologizes, "I'm sorry, but Hobi-hyung told me I can't ever let anyone see the photo itself. He made me promise to never show it to anyone, I'm really sorry!"

You wave a hand in front of your face in a gesture meant to reassure. He looks so contrite that you feel bad.

"Ah, don't worry, there's no need to apologize. I completely understand!"

Admittedly, you're burning with curiosity, but you also want to respect Taehyung's privacy.

'Besides, Hobi-ssi must have a really good reason for deciding that it needs to be kept secret...'

"Hobi-hyung is going to give you my Hybrid file later, right?"

You nod.

"I think pretty much everything you need to know about me is already in there, so for now, please... can you tell me more about yourself?"

Your eyes widen.

"M-me? You want to know about me?"

'Ugh, of course! The interview isn't one-sided. Hobi-ssi said it was like a compatibility test. Taehyung needs to like me back!'

But you don't know what to say to make him like you.

"I don't really know what to share," you admit, "I'm not used to talking about myself."

"Hmm..." Taehyung taps a finger on his chin, "So you don't talk about yourself much... See?" he grins, "I already know more about you now than I did 10 seconds ago!"

He looks so happy about this small thing that you feel warmth bloom across your chest, like hot cocoa sipped on a rainy evening.

This feeling of comfort releases the tension you've been carrying, and you relax. Suddenly, you feel like you can tell Taehyung anything.

"Uhm, so... I'm currently living alone in Neo-Seoul, trying to be independent and all that. I just moved there a few months ago for a new job, so I haven't really made any friends yet."

"I'll be your friend!" Taehyung suddenly shouts, cheeks red, "E-even if you end up not adopting me, I hope we can be friends anyway."

He stares at you with hope in his eyes.

"That's a lovely offer," you say, "but to be completely honest..."

His face falls in disappointment.

"...I'm already 100% sure I'll be adopting you!"

His face lights back up.

"Waaaaa... For real?" A huge smile stretches across his face, "That makes me so happy!"

Taehyung's boxy smile makes his cheeks bunch up, making you think of rising dough.

"I'm also 100% sure that I want to be adopted by you," he declares.

'What did he just say?'

"Wha--- How are you sure?" you ask, uncertainty tainting your voice.

"Well, I could ask you the exact same question," he shoots back.

"That's completely different!" you exclaim, taking you both by surprise.

"How is it any different?" he asks, tilting his head in a way you find adorable.

"You're..." you gesture towards him, "I mean, just look at you. Taehyung, you... you sparkle. You're special!"

"But so are you!" he says, pouting.

This elicits a humorless laugh out of you.

"You're joking, right? I'm not special."

His gaze gardens at your statement.

"Don't say that."

For the first time, you glimpse steel behind the softness of his demeanor.

"Please don't say that about yourself ever again," he says firmly, but then softens once again, "Every person is a universe, a microcosm. Every single creation is beautiful," then his thousand-watt smile is back, "I knew from the very first moment I saw you that you're someone I would want to be adopted by!"

This takes you by surprise.

"That quick?"

'Wait, what am I even saying? Didn't I make my decision just as quickly?'

"It's because I have a special skill," he rubs his chin thoughtfully, "Let's see... What did Hobi-hyung call it?" He snaps his fingers, "Ah! 'Vibe Check'! He calls it 'Taehyung's Vibe Check'!"

"What does that mean?"

"It's kind of... I can sense whether a person is good or bad," he waves a hand towards the general direction of the rest of the orphanage, "Since I'm the oldest Hybrid here, I help around. Hyung says I'm pretty much part of the staff too at this point. One of my regular tasks is to take potential adopters to the Screening Room, like what hyung did with you. Then, he asks me if I 'sense' anything 'negative' about them," he shrugs, "I guess it's one of my special Hybrid abilities."

By the time Taehyung finishes, your eyes are round as saucers.

"So... does this mean I passed your vibe check?" you ask shyly.

Taehyung sends a finger heart your way.

"With flying colors!"

For some reason, you feel like you just received a compliment of the highest form.

"It's your eyes, you know?" he adds.

'Huh?'

"M-my eyes?" you squeak.

"Yeap! They're actually the first thing I noticed about you," he leans in a bit closer, peering into your face, "You have really kind eyes. They tell me that you're a genuinely good person. I believe in the saying, 'eyes are windows to the soul,' and when I look into your eyes, I see a beautiful soul inside."

You gape at Taehyung.

The strangest thing in this already strange scenario, is that he doesn't even sound like he's trying to flatter you. He's just saying everything like an observation, using the same tone he would use to say, 'the walls are grey,' or that 'today is a Saturday'.

With a start, you realize that he's being totally, utterly sincere.

And your cheeks begin to burn.

Taehyung leans in even closer, wonder in his eyes.

If you were a weaker human, you would have fainted at the overload of beauty staring you right in the face in such close proximity.

"Hmmm... Your face just suddenly turned red like a strawberry. Are you feeling okay? Do you feel feverish? Should I call hyung?"

He reaches out a long-fingered hand, out towards your face, and you're frozen in place.

Just as his palm is about to come into contact with your forehead...

Knock! Knock! Knock!

The door opens.

Hobi's head peeks in.

"What's... happening here?"

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

A/N: Sorry for the super late update! Life has been life-ing hard for me! Work has been pretty busy, and I just started an online program at the University of Pennsylvania. Wish me luck, everyone!(>.<)

<Next Chapter: Persona>