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The red string of fate. Two people destined as lovers regardless of place, time, and circumstance. Two souls searching for each other in the vast world.
Before you realize you’re in love with that someone, you won’t see it coming as if it was a curveball thrown at you from nowhere. They will trigger a spiritual awakening like no other person.
Destined to meet yet life can complicate those paths that they never intersect. The many reincarnations of finding each other: Sung Hanbin and Zhang Hao
One day I'll be a star, he excitedly thought. It's always been his dream to become an idol in the industry. He would do anything to make his dream come true.
The city nightlife lit up the streets near the dock. The cold breeze running down his bare arms. In the distance, the busker Sung Hanbin was the star of the night that shined like no other. The crowds piled each night for one glance of the famous busker whose sound was carried by the wind.
Hanbin knew he had to act quickly tonight. He didn't have time. He never met to run away from his wrong doings.
Time is running out. I don’t have much left before they come looking for me.
Hanbin held the microphone in his hand and felt the cold ocean breeze dance. He always chose busking near the shore. The ambient noises quiet his racing mind. A place that calms his nerves from the realities of his life. Hanbin exhales deeply thinking back how nothing really comes easy.
~
The boy in the red scarf Zhang Hao was quietly studying away in the nearby café. The sea was always somewhere he felt the calmest in his heart. No particular reason why.
Zhang Hao was not budging from his seat for three hours straight. Diligently studying, he decided to get some fresh air to get a break from sitting in one spot for so long. He walks out of the café shop and makes a beeline to the dock.
The sound of the water flowing proves to clear his head each time.
Few things make you feel smaller or more insignificant than standing beside roaring waters. Growing up, Zhang Hao was always fond of looking out at the deep waters.
Maybe that’s where his interest in traveling aboard. He always wanted to venture out of his homeland and have new discoveries out of his everyday life. Thus, being an international student currently suffering in a pile of notes all week long as it’s finals week.
Life isn’t so easy as they say.
Zhang Hao decided to spend his nights studying away in this coffee shop near the shore.
He didn’t have many friends to create a study group as he truly focuses his full attention on working hard to get full marks. It leaves little room to create meaningful bonds.
This one night, Hao noticed nearby the lack of an audience without the presence of that famous busker. Feeling uneasy in his heart, not knowing why. The boy who Hao swore he’s seen being smuggled into the boot of a car when entering the café earlier in the day.
~
Hanbin gave up on his dream to become an idol because he felt like he was lacking and worked as a singer for some time until he began busking in the streets for exposure. Steadily, he became popular that even people would recognize him outside the busking scene.
That’s right. There’s a lot of things to consider, but this is proof that I’ve worked hard. Proof that I’m doing what I want.
Meanwhile, Hanbin is in complete darkness of his current situation by the blindfold around his eyes. He doesn’t know how much time has passed since he was caught. He could only distinguish the sound of waves and the constant slow rocking of his surroundings.
His whole life on the line in this current second, yet why was he thinking about that cute guy with the bright red scarf. He was always there whenever Hanbin ordered his Iced Americano to stay awake for hours.
He’s cute, Hanbin faintly remembers by the obnoxious red scarf. He faintly laughs and shakes his head. Why am I thinking about some cute guy when I’m being held captive.
~
That’s the thing with the butterfly effect. Something so small as trying the arts that Zhang Hao desperately loved as a kid. Love at first sight. The violin.
The tips of his fingers move to push the one sleeve of his shirt up to his elbow. He exhales a holding breath while looking out looking at the sea in the brightly light walkway on the dock.
If only I had the chance to play the violin confidently with my head high, Zhang Hao held the cold railings tightly. The cold breezing air only gave him goosebumps while looking at the depths of the water in front of him.
The level-headed Hao, who knew he couldn’t continue pursuing a life that wasn’t his. Tears start welling up in his eyes every time he thinks of what could've been.
Yet, Hao knew he had to be realistic with his dreams in the real world. He knew his parents wouldn’t approve of his desire to pursue the arts. He had to repay his parents for everything they did. He was attending the highest-ranking university to pursue business in a foreign country. As an only child, he had to do what's right by them. That's why he can't mess this up. He is the pride of his family.
He remembers the sacrifices made to stand in this exact spot as a student. Even if it met following a dream that wasn’t really his. That’s what he had to do.
~
While Hanbin struggles to find balance between dance and school. As someone who stays up late for several nights, he wasn’t the best of students. He had to juggle schoolwork and maintain his dream of becoming a professional dancer afloat. Conflicted Hanbin decided to take a leap of faith.
He was able to loosen the tight rope around his wrists. He was able to pull the blindfold to the side and see the dark night sky.
I’m trapped on a fucking boat, Hanbin proclaims and runs out the door of the isolated room. He ran to the boat railings; Breathing heavily and running as if his shoes were on fire. He recognizes this dock and skylights. He wasn’t far from his busking spot. Eyes searching for anything or anyone for help.
Oh. That cute guy with the red scarf, Hanbin, exhaled loudly. He didn’t mean to have a one-sided crush on him.
It just happened unknowingly.
Slowly sweeping into his heart. Hanbin hurriedly waves his hand and yells for his attention. He runs up and down the ship for anybody nearby. He couldn’t leave now. This couldn’t be the last time.
I couldn’t help myself looking forward to seeing you, Hanbin exhales as the tears slowly start to fall down his cheek.
Sometimes the long morning of pure exhaustion, he would softly smile at the thought of the guy in the red scarf. When he closes his eyes, he remembers inventively eavesdropping when pretending to scroll through his phone. Coffee in hand and listening to the names being called.
Zhang Hao
Hanbin hears a slight ringing in his head. Everything feels like it's spinning until he realizes the blood down his chest. Slowly touching the blood-stained shirt, his breathing slowly weakens, and he falls to his knees. He looks around the dock and faintly notices the man in the black hoodie. His breathing starts becoming shallow and his eyelids start feeling heavy.
Hanbin curses at himself, He knew better to involve himself with loan sharks of all people.
~
Zhang Hao felt a chill run down his back and turned his back quickly. He looks around the empty boardwalk and doesn’t see anything suspicious. He felt a nagging tag in his heart to do something. He nervously played with the ends of the red scarf around his neck. His back facing the rising water of the shore, He decided it was time to return studying because it was getting late to catch the last bus. Walking further and further away, Zhang Hao looks behind his shoulder every now and then.
Slowly walking into the cafe and sitting in his seat, he wrote this uneasy feeling down as immense pressure to succeed in his finals. He slowly started revising his notes when he noticed his laptop was running out of battery. Quickly rummaging through his bag, he notices a big slip of folded paper at the bottom. Confusingly pouts, he opens the paper to see a message written in red ink:
I couldn’t help but write this message to you. I notice you with your bright red scarf whenever I get my coffee. I’m sincerely reaching out to get to know each other better. Message me anytime when you have the chance.
+82 XX XXXX YYYY
He couldn’t understand why he was suddenly crying while sitting in the coffee shop.
The way their paths would mirror each other as parallel lines, but they never intersect until they decided to stray from their current route. A new route filled with dreams and promises that would let them connect with each other. The paths getting closer and getting to meeting that they had one chance to meet.
One, they meet each other and smile warmly.
Two, it’s far too late to the other’s hold.
Finding each other is their task in each lifetime. Their red string of fate might stretch or tangle, but never break.
If only destiny lets them meet. If the stars align with each other to meet. Sometimes it’ll take time or even a parallel universe to unite. This would not be the first time nor last lifetime spent finding their other half.