Red Strings

Prologue

"Taekwoon-ah, come to mama!" Her lips curled into a pleasant smile as the black haired boy ran over to her with open arms. She uncrossed her legs just as the child tried to wrap his little arms around her waist, shoving his face into her stomach with laughter.

"My precious Taekwoon-ah..." The light in her eyes died out as she carried him up to her lap, holding his head to her chest as she caressed his silk hair softly, placing a kiss on his forehead as he stared up at her. "Honey, do you see this?" She lifted her left hand for the boy to view the red string tied around her pinky.

"Of course I do! It's connected to papa's." Taekwoon said matter-of-factly,"I have one too! And so does Joonie."

"Mm... Do you know why these strings are tied and connecting us to someone else?" His mama asked him, holding his hand in hers.

"Because... b-because..." The boy thought hard, his little five year old mind turning its gears.

"These strings connect us to our precious person. Someone that has been fated to us." His mama said softly, "We don't know who they are or where they are until we meet them and see it for ourselves. The only hint we get are the initials embed into our skin with black ink when they are near."

"But mama! I told Joonie that his was connected to Gayeon's but he didn't believe me! He asked me what I was talking about and called me weird..." Taekwoon sulked, his hand gripping his mothers fingers, toying with the wedding band that fit snugly on her ring finger.

"Taekwoon-ah, you can't go around telling people they're connected to someone else! Not everyone can see these strings. Promise mama you won't tell anyone who they're connected to. You can't even tell the one your tied to about the red strings unless you truly trust them with your life." His mother chastised him. Taekwoon gave a small nod of confusion,"Woonie, promise me and papa another thing... Never go outside these walls. Stay with mama and papa."

"Why, mama? I have to chase the other side of this string so I can be happy like you!" Taekwoon cheered, tugging onto the string that was tied around his little finger,"I hope they're someone like papa." He sighed happily, thinking about the man who was everything good in the world put into one body.

"I hope they're like papa too." She said with a sad smile, mumbling something incoherent under her breath.

She gave the boy another kiss before sending him off to play within the walls of the home, hoping that fate would be as kind to her precious son as they were to her.