Threads of Fate: The Invisible Strings

Chapter One: Unexpected Encounter

It has been almost three months since Chloe entered college. Everything went well on her first day, her friend who also attended the same university as her invited her to watch a movie as an advance celebration of her birthday. Going out for movies on the very first day of class? IRONIC, I know.

Now, it is their intramural season and everyone is busy preparing for the event, athletes are busy with their training, and the student council of each department is also busy getting the booths ready. Meanwhile, Chloe and her friends are hanging out in the field.

"I can't believe it's intrams already," Aeri said as she lay down on the bleachers they were sitting.

Issa who is busy on her phone agreed. "I know right, we just had our intrams last April."

"That was in senior high, guys. Come on, we are in college now. Anyways, can we go see the booths now?" Chloe beamed, obviously excited about the whole intramural fiasco.

Chloe who's already standing, the two forced themselves to get up and made their way out of the field. The three of them chose to walk instead of riding the campus service vehicle ignoring the fact that the mini forest where the booths are placed is far from where they are.

Arriving at the mini forest, they are welcomed with the sight of the booths lined up left and right with students visiting and roaming around. The three friends, Chloe, Aeri, and Issa, weave through the crowded school event, checking out different booths.

"Wow, look at all these booths! I didn't realize there would be so much cool stuff here." Chloe said, eyes roaming as they walk through the pathway.

"Yeah, it's like a mini-festival. Hey, let's head over to the art booth. I heard they're doing live painting demonstrations." Issa pointed at the booth near the mini bridge.

"Sounds good to me. I could use some inspiration. My creativity feels like it's been in hibernation lately." Aeri said, making her way to the booth, Issa followed suit, dragging Chloe away from the KPOP booth.

They go to the art booth, where a local artist is painting a vibrant landscape.

"That's amazing! I wish I could paint like that." Issa said, eyes still fixated on the canvas.

"You totally could if you practiced more. Remember when we took that painting class last summer? You were pretty good!" Aeri exclaimed.

"Thanks, Aeri. Maybe I'll give it another shot." Issa said.

On the other hand, Chloe is getting impatient as she's starting to get hungry. "Hey, let's not forget about the food booths. I'm starving." She whined.

They laughed and made their way to the food area, where they were greeted by various stalls offering a range of delicious cuisines from tacos to sushi. As they approached, the sizzle of grills, the enticing scent of spices, and the rhythmic clinking of utensils filled the air. Chloe's mouth watered as she spotted her favorite donuts piled high with vibrant toppings, while Issa's eyes sparkled with delight at the thought of indulging in freshly rolled sushi.

Issa, always ready for an adventure, scanned the stalls with keen interest, her gaze lingering on a stall offering exotic street food delicacies. "I've always wanted to try those," she exclaimed, pointing excitedly at skewers of grilled meats and colorful fruit juices.

As they savored their chosen delicacies, laughter filled the air, blending with the chatter of fellow students and the lively music playing in the background. For a moment, amidst the excitement of the intramurals, time seemed to stand still, leaving nothing but the joy of the present moment.

After indulging in their delights, Chloe looked around at the booths. Her eyes landed on a particular stall. There were a bunch of people working the booth, some just hanging out.

Among them, one caught Chloe's eye—a tall, dark-haired guy with a mischievous grin and an air of confidence that seemed to draw her in. Their eyes met longer than a second, sending a jolt of curiosity to her.

Unable to shake off the feeling of intrigue, Chloe turned to Issa, who was scanning the booth from afar "Yo, who's that guy at the booth over there?" she asked, her voice laced with curiosity.

Issa followed Chloe's gaze, her brows furrowing slightly as she studied the group of people at the booth. "Oh, him? That's Jaemin." Issa replied, her tone casual.

Chloe's interest piqued further at the mention of his name. Oh, so that's him.

As they strolled around the booths, Chloe couldn't shake her thoughts of Jaemin and his captivating smile. She recalled hearing about him a few months ago, even sharing a table with the girl he was attempting to woo, who happened to be one of Issa's groupmates. Yet, at the time, Chloe hadn't paid him much mind, not bothering to spare him a glance. She was merely surprised by the fact that he had the same name as their friend from senior high school. But now, as she found herself unable to banish him from her thoughts, a newfound curiosity began to stir within her. What was it about Jaemin that had sparked her interest, despite her earlier indifference?

Brushing her thoughts off, "whatever."