赤い糸 - Red String of Fate | JeongSa - MiChaeng

Chapter 50 - !!??

Everyone froze.

Nayeon was even more shocked than anyone—her eyes widened, pen slipping from her hand. She gasped when she saw Tzuyu.

Tzuyu, however, only tilted her head. Am I... that scary?

But then, as Nayeon bent down to pick up her pen, Tzuyu noticed something—a faint glow. A red shimmer across Nayeon's cheek.

Her breath caught. That's... the same as mine.

"Woa..." Tzuyu leaned back into her chair, stunned.

Mina blinked, unsettled. Her chest tightened. She didn't even understand why it bugged her so much.

"What's wrong?" Sana nudged, noticing Tzuyu's sudden change.

"Uh... nothing. Let's order" Tzuyu brushed it off.

While they flipped through menus, Jeongyeon leaned closer to Nayeon, whispering, "You should explain, I thought you were in Australia"

"L-later, okay?" Nayeon whispered back.

.

.

[ Later, while eating ]

Tzuyu seemed distracted, dropping her fork with a small clatter. "Ah, my bad."

"Today you're the clumsy one?" Sana teased.

"Maybe" Tzuyu mumbled.

"Want me to get you a new one?" Jeongyeon offered.

"It's okay, I'll get it," Tzuyu said quickly, already rising to her feet.

Sana's smile faltered. Does she really need to get up herself? ...She feels distant somehow. She sighed softly and poked at her food.

Jeongyeon didn't notice. She was too busy laughing at the sheer amount of ketchup on Mina's plate. "ㅋㅋㅋ Mina, you really love ketchup, huh?"

Mina startled. "Oh—sorry, Is it too much?"

"ㅋㅋㅋ, no, no. If you like it, eat as much as you want." Jeong smiled warmly. Thinking back to how instant foods were stacked in her room, for some reason, seeing Mina enjoy herself eased her heart. 

Sana glanced between them, then at Mina's embarrassed face. She couldn't help but smile too. "It's okay, Mina. Don't feel guilty, ㅋㅋㅋ"

(chuckles around the table)

Meanwhile, Tzuyu had made her way to Nayeon, who was cleaning a nearby table.

"Sorry, I dropped my fork. Can I get a new one?" Tzuyu asked.

"Yes, wait a moment." Nayeon kept her cap low, avoiding eye contact.

She returned with a new fork. "Here, give me the one you dropped"

Tzuyu raised the fork higher, forcing Nayeon to look up. Their eyes met.

Her suspicion confirmed—Nayeon had the same glowing red mark.

Expressionless, Tzuyu stared into her eyes. Nayeon froze, flustered, quickly lowering her gaze again.

"I-is there... something else?" Nayeon stuttered.

"Do you know me?" Tzuyu asked, voice low and sharp.

A shiver ran down Nayeon's spine. She inhaled shakily, then whispered, "...Nope."

She's lying, should i make a tricky question?

"Is my name Chou Tzuyu?"

"Yes," Nayeon answered without thinking.

Tzuyu arched an eyebrow. A deliberate trap.

Seconds later, Nayeon panicked. "No, no, I—I don't know your name!"

Tzuyu's voice hardened. "Are you a liar? Do you deceive people?"

Nayeon's breath trembled. Tears threatened at the corner of her eyes, hidden beneath the cap.

"So you are a liar"

"Y-yes... you're right." Her voice cracked. "This conversation is pointless, I know what you're going to say, so let's stop here."

"what am I going to say?"

"D-don't get your hopes too high, i might be your soulmate but i don't have the heart to be one," Nayeon said timidly, then shut her eyes and pursed her lips, "I can promise that I won't meddle with your life, so now can I excuse myself? I need to work"

!!??

Tzuyu froze.

Her chest thudded. How... how does she know the way I speak? How does she know me, when we've never even met?

But before she could ask, Nayeon turned away.

Tzuyu caught her wrist. "At least give me your number, we need to talk"

Nayeon stiffened. She didn't turn back.

"Look at me when I'm talking," Tzuyu pressed, colder now.

A tear slipped from beneath Nayeon's cap.

Alarmed, Tzuyu grabbed her shoulders, gently turning her around. "W-why are you crying? Did I scare you? I—I'm sorry, I didn't mean to—"

But Nayeon pulled away, shook her head, and ran out of the café.

Tzuyu stood frozen. Did I really scare her? Or... what is she hiding?

Without hesitation, she chased after her.

—

[ Back at the table ]

"Why is Tzuyu taking so long?" Sana pouted, stirring her now-cold food. Her chest ached more than she wanted to admit.

"What troubles my Sana~?" Jeongyeon teased, seeing her sulk.

"N-nothing." Sana shoved another bite into her mouth.

"Strange... where did Tzuyu go? Her friend here looks upset" Jeongyeon gave Sana a knowing grin, then glanced around. "Wait—eh? Tzuyu's not here?"

"She went outside... with that waitress," Sana muttered, unimpressed. She had seen everything from her angle.

"ㅋㅋㅋ, don't be sad, maybe they had something important to talk about." Jeong tried to comfort.

"i'm not sad" (￣^￣)

"Tss. I finished my food anyway, I'll check on them" Jeongyeon stood, walking off.

She wasn't just checking on Tzuyu—she also wanted answers from Nayeon about that supposed exchange program

Mina reached out, wanting to stop her. She had seen the red strings. But her words got stuck in her throat. Too late.