INEVITABLE

Chapter 45

'Back in the country for vacation. Let's meet up. Call me at xxxx-xxxx.'

"Shit!" Ryujin hurriedly picks her phone to dial the number.

"Hello?" the person on the other line says after a few rings.

"Tzuyu! It's Ryujin!"

"Hey, Ryujin. What's up? I was waiting for you to call me for days."

"Yeah. I'm sorry." Ryujin smacks her forehead. "Been busy these past few days. I just got to read my email now."

"It's okay."

"You know you could have reached me easier if you'd just create a social media account."

Tzuyu laughs. "I might create one soon. People are bugging me to the bones."

"Good!" Ryujin walks around the room. "So, how are you? When can we meet up?"

"I was hoping we could do that today. Are you busy?"

"Uh..." Ryujin scratches her temple, glancing at Jisu who's getting dressed in the room--their room. "Let me talk to my girlfriend first. We're supposed to meet her aunt today too."

"Ugh. Why are your girlfriends always in the way? My schedule has been hectic since I got here. I only have time today to meet you because Nana and I will be traveling around tomorrow."

Ryujin laughs. "I'll see what I can do."

"Yes, please! And please don't bring your girlfriend along. I will introduce you to that friend of mine whom I was talking about before."

"Oh, come on, Tzuyu. Are you still pining for that?"

Tzuyu laughs. "I'm kidding. Anyway, just hit this number up if you're available, okay?"

"Yeah. Sure. I'll tell my girlfriend first."

"Gotcha. Speak soon."

---

"Well, if today's the only day you two can meet, then go," Jisu says.

"Are you sure? You're not going to get mad at me?" Ryujin asks.

"Why would I be mad?" Jisu chuckles as she picks her coat. "You're only meeting your professor, right? It's not like you're going to cheat on me with her."

"No. You know it's not like that." Ryujin waves her hands. "It's just that I'm used to Yuri always having issues with her."

This causes Jisu to raise an eyebrow. "I'm not Yuri, okay?"

"I know. I know." Ryujin closes the distance between them to hug Jisu. "But what about your aunt Yoda?"

"I can introduce you to her on some other days. She'll be staying here in the country for two more weeks, anyway. We have plenty of time," Jisu says. "Your professor seems busy. So, you go ahead and meet her now."

"Don't you wanna come with me?"

Jisu checks her time. "I can't. The family's already expecting me to come."

"I see. You have fun, okay?" Ryujin kisses Jisu's temple. "I love you."

---

Two hours later, Ryujin finds herself in a café, looking for Tzuyu.

"Ryujin!" Tzuyu stands up from her table and waves.

Ryujin waves back, feeling excited to see her professor again.

There's this odd, eerie feeling in her chest that she couldn't point out. But as she steps closer, reaching the said table, she realizes they aren't alone. Three more people at the table.

One is Sana, which she already knows as Tzuyu's wife. And the other two are...

"Ryujin unnie!" Yuna stands up, surprised. "What are you doing here?"

Ryujin's already surprised, but imagine her shock when the other person turns to look at her.

"Jisu? What are you doing here?"

"Yah! I asked you that first!" Yuna says.

"You two know each other?" Tzuyu asks.

"She's my girlfriend," Ryujin and Jisu say at the same time, pointing at each other.

Tzuyu's eyebrows rose. "Seriously?"

"Are you guys kidding us?" Sana says this time.

Confused, Ryujin waves her hands in the air. "Wait​​. Wait. Wait." She looks at Jisu. "I thought you're meeting up with aunt Yoda?"

"She's Aunt Yoda." Jisu points at Tzuyu.

"Yeah. My Yoda," Sana says.

"Wait!" Jisu looks at her aunt. "Are you saying Ryujin is your friend you want me to meet?"

Tzuyu nods. "Yeah. Her. I've been wanting to set up a blind date with you since before."

"What?" Ryujin brings her hands to her head. "Are you saying--"

"Jisu's the 'friend' I've wanted you to meet you up with since you were attending the university," Tzuyu says. "I only said she's my friend because I would sound old if I tell you I'll introduce you to my niece. We're only two years apart, anyway."

"Holy schnikes..." Realizing what's happening, Ryujin falls to the seat when Jisu pulls her down to sit beside her.

"Oh my gosh!" Yuna covers her mouth. "Does it mean you were meant to meet before through aunt Yoda--"

"Yuna, please don't call me that in front of other people..." Tzuyu massages her temples.

"... And could have been together because of aunt Yoda? This is amazing!" Yuna claps. "It makes sense to me now."

"What makes sense to you now?" Sana asks.

"How the spirits work," Yuna says, glancing at Ryujin and Jisu. "How they keep finding ways to make sure soulmates would meet each other, one way or another."

"I can't believe it..." Ryujin breathes.

"Me neither..." Jisu says.

The two of them looked at each other and shared a hearty laugh.

"What's so funny?" Tzuyu asks.

"Nothing. It's just that...'' Jisu turns to Ryujin and holds her hand on the table. "As odd as it may sound, it seems that no matter what the situation is, for whom the person is with, if the spirits will it..."

"Especially if they connect you through the invisible string," Ryujin adds, lightly squeezing Jisu's fingers.

"Yeah..." Jisu nods. "For sure, what needs to happen will happen."

"And nothing or no one can stop it because..." Ryujin pauses to look at Jisu who's staring back at her, smiling.

She can already see forever.

"... It's simply inevitable."

- fin -