INTERTWINED FATES: THE RED STRING

CHAPTER 8

Nabi lay on her bed, completely absorbed in the latest episode of the Korean drama Goblin. The dim light of her laptop cast a soft glow on her face as she watched the gripping story unfold—the tale of an immortal goblin searching for his human bride to remove the sword from his chest and end his life. The tension in the room was palpable, and Nabi was on the edge of her seat.

Suddenly, a notification dinged on her phone, startling her. She glanced at the screen and saw a message from Zade. Her curiosity quickly shifted from the drama to her phone as she paused the episode.

"Hi," Zade texted.

Nabi's fingers hovered over her phone, her excitement about the drama momentarily set aside.

She replied with a quick "Hi."

"What are you doing?" Zade asked.

Nabi couldn't help but smile, knowing Zade was trying to keep the conversation going. She felt a flutter of excitement at the thought of chatting with him.

"Watching a Korean drama," Nabi responded.

After a brief pause, Zade replied, "Oh. Which one?"

"It's about an immortal goblin who needs a human bride to pull a sword out of his chest so he can finally rest in peace," Nabi explained.

"Whoa, that sounds intense," Zade said, showing genuine interest.

Nabi's eyes lit up with enthusiasm. She loved sharing her favourite dramas, and Zade's interest only fueled her excitement.

"It is! The story is amazing, and the characters are just... ugh, so well done. You should watch it!" Nabi texted.

Zade seemed intrigued. "Maybe I will. You seem really into it."

"You totally should! It's one of the best dramas out there. I've rewatched it a few times, and it never gets old." Nabi replied

"You've watched it more than once? It must be good then," Zade said.

"Oh, it is! The storyline, the romance, the fantasy elements—everything clicks. And the main characters are so well-written. You can't help but fall in love with them," Nabi replied, her excitement evident.

Zade was impressed by her passion. "Sounds like something I should check out. Maybe you can explain the plot to me sometime."

"Haha, I could talk about it for hours. But I wouldn't want to spoil anything if you're going to watch it," she said.

"Fair enough. I might have to see it for myself then."

"If you do, let me know! I'd love to hear what you think."

A moment of silence she followed as both of them thought about the conversation. Nabi felt a spark of joy at Zade's genuine interest in her favourite show.

"You're really into Korean dramas. I never would've guessed," Zade said.

"Yeah, I've been watching them for a while. They're so different, and the storytelling is amazing. Plus, they're super addicting."

"I can tell. You always seem so into them. It's cool, though. Everyone needs something they're passionate about."

Nabi felt a warm glow from Zade's response. It was rare for someone to take her interests so seriously, and his genuine interest made her heart flutter.

"Thanks. It means a lot that you're interested, even if it's not your thing."

"Hey, if it's something you love, it's worth checking out. Besides, I'm always up for trying new things. Who knows, I might end up liking it."

Nabi's heart skipped a beat. Zade's words seemed to hint at something more, something that made her hopeful. She had always liked Zade, and now she wondered if he might feel the same way.

"Well, in that case, I'd be happy to have a drama buddy," she replied.

"I'd like that too. Maybe we can watch an episode together sometime... in the future?"

The idea of watching Goblin with Zade filled Nabi with excitement. It sounded like the perfect way to spend time together, and she eagerly agreed.

"That sounds like fun! We should do that," she said, her enthusiasm clear.

"Awesome. We can make it happen," Zade replied, sounding equally excited.

"For sure. Just let me know when you're free," Nabi said.

"Will do. Can't wait, Nabi," Zade replied.

As Nabi set her phone down and glanced back at her paused drama, she realized that this conversation had turned into something far more exciting than she had anticipated. The thought of spending time with Zade made her heart race with anticipation. She was already looking forward to their future movie nights and the growing bond between them. The drama could wait—what mattered most was the connection they were building.