In Chinese folklore there is what's known as The Red String of Fate, a red string connecting two souls fated for love. Jake however cut his string at eight years old, thinking it was only a burden and not a blessing. He felt hopeless...that is until...
They opened the door only to find the same boy from yesterday sitting at the bar eating breakfast and talking to Jay.
"Good morning," Jake bowed, honestly his face was still red, Heeseung's too. "So, Jay? Who's he? Your boyfriend?" Heeseung teased. Jay and the other boy looked at each other and turned pink. "Good morning, Jake...and Heeseung," Jay quickly moved on.
"Any leads on how to get rid of this god-awful string?" Jake asked. "Oh! YES! I found an Instagram account with videos of a kid doing the ritual," Jay set down a glass of orange juice in front of the boy before walking over to Jake and Heeseung. He pulled up a video on his phone and showed it to them. "Thats it! I'm pretty sure that's the same one I did when I was younger," Jake smiled in relief.
"I have the stuff needed. It's just...are you sure you want this?" Jay asked. "Of course...You don't expect me to want to live the rest of my life tied up to Heeseung right?" Jake looked at Heeseung with a sour expression. Jay looked at the boy who was already looking back before turning back to Jake " I suppose not."
As they set up a ring of candles Heeseung was in his own world thinking. Is it wrong to want to stay linked? I mean...if he isn't then he'll leave, and I'll never see him again.Heeseung looked up at Jake's face dimly lit by candlelight.He's so pretty... Jake looked up at him and their eyes met for a moment. Jake looked a little sad, like he was trying to suppress his emotions.
"Okay it's all set up! Jake, take the scissors and cut through the red string in front of you. After you cut it chant "Unbound my soul" three times," Jay instructed. Jake sat in the middle of the circle. He brought the scissors up to a red string that was being held up by Jay and the other boy. Heeseung watched with an aching pain in his heart. Jake cut the string with one snip and spoke the words "Unbound my soul! Unbound my soul! Unbound my soul!" Heeseung closed his eyes as a terrible pain deep within him burned a hole through his heart.
I know this feeling...it was the same when I was younger.He thought as his legs gave out making him fall to the ground. The room was spinning around him as his eyes closed shut.
Later
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Heeseung had been passed out for two hours now. Jake was pacing around by the bed deep in thought. Did I hurt him?Jake's eyes settled on Heeseung's face. Jake wanted to cry. He looked down at the string still attached to his pinky. A few tears escaped Jake's eyes as he rested the back of his hand against Heeseung's forehead. He was burning up.
Suddenly Jake felt a hand hold his softly. "Jaeyunnie..." Heeseung said faintly. More tears fell but in sign of relief that Heeseung was okay. Heeseung's eyes opened and gazed at Jake who was trying to stop the tears from falling down his cheeks. Heeseung sat up and wiped the tears away from Jakes face. "Why are you crying?" he asked calmly. "I thought y-you were gone..." Jake cried.
Heeseung chuckled lightly. "Isn't that what you wanted? What happened to never wanting to see me again?" Jake smiled through tears. "I can't really go anywhere anyway," Jake showed the string that still tied them both together. Heeseung smiled. "I thought I lost you...t-that scared me," Heeseung said in such a way that Jake's heart fluttered.
"Even without the string I wouldn't have left...I thought you died...and it was all my fault." Heeseung rubbed his thumb against Jake's hand comfortingly.
