IZ*ONEshots

Red String Soulmate AU - Ssamjin

 I was having a bad day. A very, very sucky, screwy day.

Soulmates happened.

So let's just back up, because usually this is a wondrous and celebratory occasion - two people finding out that strings on their fingers meet? Amazing! Fantastic! We're so proud!

Oh yeah, I need to explain that too.

When people are born, they have this stringy-thingy on their finger that only they can see and it connects to their soulmate's finger. You don't see the string until your soulmate is born, which some people can remember because they were two years old and some people can't remember because their soulmate already existed. You can't burn the string, you can't cut the string, it doesn't even break if you hold it between your index where it's connected and your other hand and then jump on a knife.

Yes, I tried it. Obviously, it didn't work.

Today, two of my friends found out they were soulmates. Which is a good thing. Yena and Yuri had been way too oblivious for way too long, but Yena had gloves on. Yena, Hyewon and I always wear gloves. That's how we became friends in the first place - kids that didn't want to find their soulmates.

But Yena was dared to take hers off, and when she found it her soulmate was Yuri, she "suddenly didn't mind the prospect of having a soulmate".

And we were all happy and clapping and excited for the two, until Yena decided that we should also try taking off our gloves. I was prepared to put up a fight and be all stubborn and do the thing I had been doing for years, but Hyewon, inspired, practically yanked hers off.

Now, it's practically NEVER that someone ends up going to the same school as their soulmate, much less their same MIDDLE SCHOOL, so Yena and Yuri were very lucky. But evidently, the fates were not thinking clearly because Hyewon then walked up to a stunned senior, who happened to be Kwon Eunbi, who happened to be the student body president, who just happened to hate us and our antics.

And that meant that I had to peel off my gloves. Peer pressure sucks. But the second I saw where the line went, I scrambled to pull my black gloves back on because oh my goodness on a cracker my soulmate was Kim Chaewon.

Who happened to be the most popular girl at school. Who also happened to be a long time secret crush of mine. Who also happened to be my polar opposite.

Who also happened to glance in my direction the second I eased off my gloves.

Summary of my day. Not a good day.

At the moment, I'm trying to evade people jostling me around. Students can be such a pain when all you want to do is grab your books from your locker. Sometimes, it feels like the other kids are a wall or a police force or something that are pulling me backward as I stretch my arms out desperately, reaching out for the things I need to get my homework done.

I am wrapped up in thoughts of Chaewon. How cute she looked in jean-shorts and that airy lavender tee-shirt. How the sunlight in the windows of the cafeteria lit up the streaks of caramel in her hair. How her eyes sparkled when I caught her stare.

My face is warm even thinking about it.

However, I'm quickly interrupted when my cheekbone smacks the floor, which feels cold and dusty against the main half of my face that is smushed against the tiles. I groan and sit up, bangs in disarray. Regathering my books and tossing them into my bag, I round on the person on the floor next to me, the person who knocked me over.

"Pay attention to where you're..." Oh shoot. "...going."

I've been pushed over by my soulmate.

My fingers tighten their fist around my glove instinctively.

"Sorry." Chaewon stands, rubbing the back of her head and flashing her brightest, most apologetic smile at me. "Are you alright?"

My voice comes out as more of a squeak than a real, human voice. "I-I'm fine."

I quickly back away and turn, trying to escape, but Chaewon is too quick and she grasps my wrist. Her hand is right above my glove. I want to fight back, but if I pull my hand away, my glove might fall out and if it doesn't, Chaewon will be asking me lots of questions. So I stand there, sweat dripping down my neck.

"Hey, wait, I just wanted to walk you back home. I did knock you over," Chaewon beams at me. Her hand is slipping down, gently tugging down my glove. The sweat on my neck is cold and triggers a shiver that racks my body. Chaewon doesn't notice.

"N-no, it's r-really f-fine, I-"

"I insist." Chaewon's lips pulled upward into the most adorable eye smile I'd ever seen. My glove was almost half way off.

"Also, I've been asking this to everyone, but did you notice anything weird at lunch?"

My glove is three-quarters off.

"A red string flashed on my hand, but then it went away."

My glove is seven-eighths off.

"I talked to our soulmates professor about it, and he said that means my soulmate must wear-" Chaewon looked down as I used my other hand to push hers away and pull my glove up again. My whole body felt as though it was sagging over at least a foot in relief.

"He said my soulmate would be wearing gloves." Chaewon finishes. I suddenly notice the suspicious look on her face as she stares down at my hands, at how I severed the connection from our fingertips.

"Can I take off your gloves?" At this question, I am bolting out into the mass of people ready to walk home to get away. Chaewon is right behind.

I know how to make my way through bunches of people. I thought this would give me an advantage. But when I turn around, I see people actually parting where Chaewon runs, giving her a clear path. I run faster.

I break through the mob of teenagers and sprint up a hill. Unfortunately, Chaewon has already gained at least ten feet and all too soon, I feel a hand yanking on my backpack.

When she turns me around, I stare stubbornly at the ground.

And she practically tears off my gloves.

And our lines connect.

"Well, soulmate, I have one thing to say."

"W-what?"

"Your legs are long, but you're still too slow."

And her lips are on mine.

*

Hahahhah ik it sucks but it was my redemption for the other sucky one I did so yeah.