赤い糸 - Red String of Fate

Chapter 51 - （・□・；）

Nayeon wandering near the sidewalk, wiping her tears, calming down herself. Get yourself together! I'm Nayeon!

Tzuyu stands behind her, doesn't know what to do, doesn't know what to say, Clueless.

"sorry…" Tzuyu could only mutter that word.

"I should be sorry, not you..." Nayeon takes a deep breath, "do me a favor..."

"yes??" Tzuyu still in confusion.

"turn around..." said Nayeon in low volume.

"???" Tzuyu just blankly turns around, back facing Nayeon.

Then Tzuyu felt something on her back, she couldn’t turn around to see it, then she heard a quiet sob, that moment she knows that Nayeon just leaned her head on Tzuyu's back.

Tzuyu suddenly feels sympathetic, thinking Nayeon must be having a hard time,

"Wh-what's the matter?? umm, I can lend you my ear"

(silence)

*Nayeon sniffling*

Tzuyu worriedly asks, "D-do you need a tissue? I can get it for you"

(silence)

Tzuyu starts to question herself, why am I acting this way? why I don't feel foreign even though we just met? and why is our first meeting turns out like this…

Then she recalled how Jeongyeon's hug really comforted her that night, so Tzuyu is mustering the courage to ask Nayeon.

"umm, d-do you need a hug? I can... give you one" Tzuyu timidly asked.

"i-i-i'm o-okay, i am okay," Nayeon stuttered and immediately pulls her head.

"no, you're not okay" Tzuyu turns around and warmly hugs the crying girl.

never thought Tzuyu could be this warm...
In Tzuyu's embrace, Nayeon stunned, how she wish she could feel this sooner. she just stands still like a statue.

Even though silence has filled the air, they felt comfortable at it. Quietly, no one spoke up.

"Tzuyu-yah, why are y—, wuoh!!" Jeongyeon eyes widened after exiting the door.

Tzuyu immediately let go of Nayeon,

"I didn't mean to disturb"
（・□・；）

"it's okay, you came at the right time, i should go in" Tzuyu walks away, going inside the café.

Nayeon avoiding eye contact with Jeongyeon.

"hey! Im Nayeon! long time no see, how have you been?" Jeongyeon trying to lessen the tense of the situation but shocked when she saw Nayeon's red eyes, "yah! you cried??? well that's really not like you"

Nayeon nods and looks away again.

"so...you know Tzuyu?" Jeongyeon asked again.

Nayeon gulped.

"hmm, you have a lot of friends, so it's not surprising, right?" Jeongyeon tilted her head.

Nayeon didn't respond again.

Jeongyeon furrowed her brows as Nayeon kept ignoring her question, "am I talking to Nayeon or the wall?"

"..." Nayeon startled and look back at her.

Jeongyeon sighs and kindly asks, "Im Nayeon, I'm going to be straightforward.., tell me honestly, why did you lie?"

"i'm sorry..." Nayeon look down.

"no, not that, I'm asking why did you lie," Jeong asked again.

"I'm an asshole, i'm a bastard that you all can't forgive" ,_,

Jeongyeon upset, "I think you really don't want to answer my question... alright...alright… I'm disappointed, really"

"sorry…"

"you won't tell me, but you dare to say sorry to me!?" Jeong raised her voice.

"it's… it's because…" Nayeon starts to fidget her fingers.

"say it!"

"I-i purposely... make Mina and you t-to be friends..." Nayeon then runs inside as soon she finished her words.

"me and Mina?? yah, Nayeon!" Jeongyeon followed her to go inside.

[café]

Nayeon already serving other customers, with that forced smile, Jeongyeon sighs at the sight and shakes her head,

Is this the same Nayeon?

doesn't want to make a scene, she walked back to her seat, sighed before sitting down, Mina just stares at her, didn't ask anything.

Tzuyu just finished her food.

Sana frowned, "how do both of you know the waitress?"

"umm, yes she is my old friend, so I was just having a little chit chat," Jeong said.

"ooo," Sana nodding after hearing it.

"..." Tzuyu doesn't know how to answer, she then stares at Mina, wanting to ask her questions.

"Tzu, so you're one of her friends too?" Sana asked.

"y-yes..." Tzuyu poker face.

Jeongyeon trying to break the tension, "should we go now?"

"yeah, let's go" Tzuyu slightly smiled at Jeongyeon, coz it helped.

Before leaving the café, all of them take a glance at Nayeon with different thoughts.

Sana seriously, who is that waitress?

Tzuyu …

Mina why i could see their red string?

Jeongyeon something is strange… what is the problem with me and Mina being friends?

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