Red String | Tomorrow Fanfiction

06 - The Tree

Jihyeon wandered around the hospital before heading to Joonwoong's room. The emergency room looks busy as usual. "Why are so many people die in a day?" She's muttered, her eyes catching sight of some grim reaper.

"Heo Na-Young, born September 27th, 1993. Death by car accident."

Jihyeon massaged her temples as she got a sudden headache as she overheard a grim announcement to someone who had just died.

"Escorted her," Jihyeon heard a familiar voice. She turned to see Park Joonggil, accompanied by his assistants. She sighed in annoyance as she watched him, so cold and arrogant to the poor soul.

*

Jihyeon leaves the hospital after numerous calls from her brother. Joonwong's mom also asked her to go home, concerned with her condition as she didn't leave the room since Joonwong's unstable condition days before.

With her phone pressed to her ear, she waited for her brother to pick up the call. But it went straight to voicemail, so she just left him a message, "Oppa, I'm heading to my apartment after I drop Mom off. See you tomorrow."

She then drove her car to pick up her mother from the nursing home.

Ever since Jihyeon graduated, started her career as a novelist, and built her own business, her mother, Seoyeon, spent most of her time with Jihoon's kids or at the nursing home she'd build a year after her husband passed away. Jihyeon and Jihoon respected their mother's wishes, knowing it gave her purpose to continuing  her life after Minho's gone.

"Why don't you stay the night here, Hyeon-a?" A gentle smile appeared on her face.

Jihyeon smiled back. "I have something to take care of, Mom." She hugged her mom and helped her to go to Jihoon's house.

Before heading inside, Seoyeon turned to face her daughter with a concern look. "Don't forget to rest. I don't know what's going on with you that Jihoon knows, but I don't... but please take care of yourself, both physically and mentally, okay?"

Jihyeon nodded.

Just as her mother was about to walk into the house, Jihyeon suddenly remembered something. "Mom... when Dad left us, how did you cope? Did you ever think about... going to him?"

Seoyeon paused, surprised by Jihyeon's sudden question. "What with this sudden question?"

Jihyeon shrugged, showing her nervous smile.

After a moment of thought, Seoyeon answered. "It hurt so much, and I missed him every day. But no, I never thought of ending my own life to be with him. I overheard you talking with Minho at the time. You said Mikyung eonni wouldn't meet Minho oppa because she committed suicide. I didn't want to be separated from your dad again, and I knew you and Jihoon needed me. So, I prayed. I prayed every day that I'd meet him again when my time came, after I finished my duties in this world. Does it answer your question?"

Jihyeon nodded. After Seoyeon closed the door, she quickly rushed back to the hospital.

*

Jihyeon arrived at the hospital, feeling a strange pull guiding her steps. She walked without really thinking, following her instinct until she found herself standing in front of a sign that read 'Funeral Hall'. She muttered under her breath, "Am I really this close to death now?"

Before she could think more about it, a commotion broke out nearby. She turned to see Park Joonggil just had an intense argument with one of the RM Team members. The familiar, sharp pain come into her head again, making her wince as she tried to walk forward, trying to get closer.

She heard some part of their arguments, something about a 'Reaper's Guarantee of Responsibility.' But before she could process it, both Park Joonggil and Gu Ryeon suddenly vanished, leaving tension hanging in the air.

Jihyeon paused, controlling her breath as her headache slowly subsided. A minute later, Gu Ryeon reappeared. Choi Joonwong and another grim reaper got furious about her sudden decision.

Sighing, Jihyeon stepped in. "Can we just focus on saving this man? Who's his name again... Kang Woojin?"

The grim reapers, Choi Joonwoong, and the woman's soul all looked shocked by her sudden appearance.

She continues, "I'm not sure how I can help, but if there's something I can do, let's get on with it. We can talk later."

Gu Ryeon glanced at her, then nodded. "Let's find Kang Woojin."

*

After running around, Jihyeon paused for a moment. "What would I do if I were Kang Woojin?" She muttered to herself. Memories of his life flashed through her mind, from his childhood to the present. She had glimpsed them earlier that morning when she accidentally touched him, just after overhearing the grim reapers collecting his wife's soul.

As if struck by lightning, Jihyeon suddenly sprinted toward an empty hall. There, she found him sitting on the stair railing, ready to jump at any moment.

She heard Gu Ryeon shouting at him. Probably tried to make him reconsider his decision. Jihyeon cautiously approached Kang Woojin as the tense conversation unfolded between him and Gu Ryeon. Jihyeon realized that Kang Woojin had already made up his mind.

Just as she feared, Woojin suddenly jumped, and Gu Ryeon intervened to catch him. With all the strength she had left, Gu Ryeon called out his wife's soul for help. Jihyeon rushed over, grabbed the wife's hand, and asked her to hold onto Kang Woojin. As she did so, Jihyeon held the pendant on her necklace tightly and closed her eyes.

When she opened them again, she found herself standing in the Director's room.

"Where is Kang Woojin and his wife?" She asked loudly, her heart still racing.

The director smiled, "They're in my garden, having their final conversation. We don't want to ruin their last moment right?"

Jihyeon nodded and sighed in relief, "So, they finally got their chance to say goodbye."

"Thank you, Lee Jihyeon." Said the Director, smiless gently at her.

Shaking her head, Jihyeon replied, "I didn't do much. It's all thanks to your incredible RM Team."

*

"So... why are you here?" Joonwoong asked, looking confused as he spotted Jihyeon hanging around the RM Team office. He looked at the Gu Ryeon. "Why she's here, ma'am?"

"How rude..." Jihyeon clicked her tongue when she heard a disapproval tone from Joonwoong.

"She's helping me to write the apology letter," Gu Ryeon explained calmly. "While her real body sleeps in her room, her soul can visit Jumadeung for a little while."

Jihyeon smirked at Joonwoong, noticing his puffy eyes. "Are you crying? Is our Joonwoong-i crying?"

Irritated by her teasing, Joonwoong frowned and asked, "Don't you feel sad? Kang Woojin and his wife got separated. He is alone now."

Jihyeon smiled and looked at Gu Ryeon. As if she read Jihyeon's thoughts, she spoke, "No matter how many times those two are reborn, they will meet again at the end."

"That's destiny," Jihyeon added with a smile.

"People who are destined to be with each other are connected by a red string beyond their souls. Unless they break that string themselves, they will meet that person again, no matter how many times you are reborn." Gu Ryeon explained.

Jihyeon noticed a hint of sadness in Gu Ryeon's expression as she explained the red string, making her wonder about her past. She had touched Gu Ryeon's hand before, but nothing happened.

"By breaking the string by themselves, you mean suicide?" Joonwoong carefully asked. Gu Ryeon just nodded.

Jihyeon's gaze dropped to Gu Ryeon's wrist, noticing a red string there, but it looked broken.