赤い糸 - Red String of Fate | JeongSa - MiChaeng

Chapter 49 - é

"Achoo!" Jeongyeon quickly covered her mouth while drying her hair.

"Told you," she muttered.

"Tss, blaming me again?" Sana teased.

"Noooooo, ㅋㅋㅋ"

"I'm fine though," Sana said smugly.

"I'm fine though," Jeongyeon mimicked, rolling her eyes.

"Does that mean we should take care of each other? Uwu, so sweet~" Sana hugged herself dramatically.

"Ew, what's wrong with you? I think you're sick," Jeongyeon cringed.

"You... NO FUN!" Sana glared.

"Then why'd you ask me to be your girlfriend?" Jeongyeon smirked.

"Coz! I! Like! You! Pabo!" Sana smacked her back.

"HAHAHAHAHAHA!" Jeongyeon laughed like a llama, partly flattered, partly to hide her own fluster.

Sana smacked her again, harder.

"Yah!" Jeongyeon whined, then grew thoughtful. "By the way, why hasn't it healed overnight?"

Sana tilted her head. "Hmm... I wonder too, maybe just normal wounds?"

"When I was small, I had a bad fever for a week, maybe it's like that," Jeongyeon nodded to herself.

"I had one too, but I never thought about it. Now that I'm older, I feel dumb" Sana lightly tapped her own head.

Ding Dong

Mina stepped inside. They were almost ready to go, but Jeongyeon said one more person was joining—yet refused to reveal who.

"you both know this person" Jeong said.

"Who? Your sister?" Sana guessed.

"No, no. Just wait," Jeongyeon refused again.

Mina quietly sat on a high stool, listening.

Sana groaned. "Come on, Jeongyeon. Is it really that hard just to say the naaaame?"

"Just wait a little. If I tell you, it won't be a surprise—"

Ding Dong

"There she is" Jeongyeon grinned and opened the door.

Both Sana and Mina's eyes were fixed on the entrance.

T-TZ!!! Tzuyu...

Sana immediately jumped down and dashed forward, wrapping the tall girl in a desperate hug without saying a word.

The room fell into a comfortable silence, broken only by Sana's quiet sniffling.

"Looks like someone really missed me," Tzuyu murmured, ruffling Sana's hair and wiping her tears with her thumb.

"Of course, you bastard." Sana lightly hit her arm.

"Language" Tzuyu flicked Sana's forehead.

"Yah!" Sana rubbed it and stomped back to sit grumpily on a stool.

Tzuyu followed, sitting beside her.

Sana frowned. "Jeongyeon, explain this."

"Explain what?" Jeongyeon feigned ignorance.

Tzuyu turned to Jeongyeon, silently urging her to speak.

Jeong had already asked Tzuyu before—if she was ready, if she had settled her inner conflict. She had. That's why she was here, to meet Sana again.

Jeong chuckled. "Pfft, why are you all staring at me like that?"

(Still staring)

"Fine, fine. Me and Tzuyu planned this"

Tzuyu nodded.

"We're going... somewhere else, ㅋㅋㅋ Should we go now?" Jeongyeon stood.

"Go where?" Sana demanded.

"I'm sure it'll be fun. Let's just go." Jeong shrugged it off.

Sana scoffed, annoyed by Jeongyeon's secrecy, but followed anyway.

They booked a taxi. Tzuyu sat up front, showing the driver her phone with the location. Behind, Mina, Jeongyeon, and Sana sat quietly.

🎶

Music from the radio is the only thing they hear while the car speeding off to somewhere.

🎶

Tzuyu glanced at the mirror—Mina was staring out the window, lost in thought. Jeongyeon, in the middle, caught Tzuyu's eyes in the reflection and mouthed, what? Tzuyu shook her head. Sana was resting comfortably against Jeongyeon's shoulder.

"Achooo!!" Jeongyeon's sneeze startled everyone.

(chuckles)

"You're so weak, hun" Sana muttered, still leaning on her.

"You okay?" Tzuyu asked.

"ㅋㅋㅋ, I'm fine, Tzu. It's her fault—she never takes care of herself" Jeongyeon pinched Sana's cheek softly.

"Last time you got sick, and now again," Sana teased. "So weak."

"That time I was drenched in the rain! Anyone would get sick..." Jeongyeon protested.

"Tss, what kind of idiot gets drenched on purpose?" Sana smirked.

Jeongyeon sat upright, pouting. "What did you just say!?"

Mina glanced at them nervously, sensing they might escalate.

Tzuyu quickly interrupted. "W-we're here! Come on, let's go."

Tzuyu is the savior today

—

[ at the café ]

They browsed the menu. Sana sat beside Tzuyu. Across from them, Mina sat quietly, zoning out.

Why do I notice it so clearly...? Mina wondered, her gaze lingering on Tzuyu. It's not a crush, but... why can I see it?

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Tzuyu's question snapped her out of thought, drawing everyone's attention.

"Uh—" Mina panicked. "It's just... your cheeks..."

"What's wrong with my cheeks?" Tzuyu rubbed them.

"Red string..." Mina murmured, confused herself.

"You can see my red string!?" Tzuyu's jaw dropped.

Jeongyeon burst out laughing. "Hahaha! You're exactly the same as me, Tzu."

"Same what?"

"When I found out Mina could see my red string, ㅋㅋㅋ." Jeongyeon kept laughing. Sana chuckled too.

"Oh..." Tzuyu processed the information, scratching her nape. So... Mina isn't my soulmate.

"Good morning, may I take your order?" The waitress approached, wearing a cap.

Jeongyeon froze at the familiar voice. She tilted her head to see the face.

Her eyes widened.

"Nayeon!?"