Serendipity (Ryeji)

Book 2 Preview: It's Over

This part technically isn't an official update of Book 1. Rather, it's a preview of Book 2. I wanted to explore different situations and how the characters might act based on their personalities established here. If you're satisfied with Serendipity's ending and don't want some heavy angst, proceed with caution. Might take an open mind to agree. For anyone still interested, I'll start editing book 2 again soon

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Yeji paced anxiously. She waited up, as promised. A blip like thirty minutes wouldn't normally feel like hours, but her fiance should arrive any second now. They spoke earlier, a brief messaging back and forth. If it weren't for their pets, Yeji probably would've lost her mind. The hours of suspense surrounding Ryujin's return had her thoughts spiraling.

"Could it be her parents? They're out of town often. Maybe something happened while they were gone?"

"Maybe a friend of ours? No, someone else would have told me sooner. Most of us make an effort to see each other... but I haven't seen Heejin and Hyunjin in a while. Actually, come to think of it now, I haven't seen Lia in the longest. It's been about a month...? Maybe." Yeji sighed to herself. "It's only been two weeks since I've run into Yuna and Jiu. I doubt it's about them. And I see Chaeryeong too often for it to be about her."

Yeji shifted on the couch, lowering the television's volume. What was initially used as background noise became too distracting. She needed to think clearly.

By the time Ryujin arrived, Yeji could've written a lengthy list of most possibilities.

Nothing could've prepared her for the truth.

"Hey." Ryujin's voice lacked enthusiasm, as expected. It's been rare as of late, anyway.

"Hey, babe." Ryujin noticeably tried to conceal the flinch, but Yeji caught it. Why did she flinch?

"Can we talk now?" Ryujin set her bag on the floor next to the dining room table. She wanted to get straight to the point.

Yeji sat down. Ryujin chose the seat across from her. It was strange. Yeji pressed her fingers against her face, noticing her cheek was cold. As if it were starving for the warmth of the loving peck she's used to. Was the news that bad?

Ryujin's hands were clasped. Over the years, Yeji learned it had become a nervous habit of hers.

"There's something I need to tell you."

"Okay... " She replied timidly. "I'm listening."

Ryujin chewed on her lower lip, visibly indecisive. The atmosphere grew heavy, tension weighing on their shoulders. If it weren't for their dog's little footsteps, they would've sat in complete silence. Neither spoke for minutes, and Yeji hated it. Her skin crawled with anticipation.

"What's on your mind?" She took a chance to push the conversation along.

And Ryujin hesitated. Breath after breath, deeper each time. Chickening out after eye contact.

What made Ryujin so uncomfortable to the point she couldn't look her in the eye? Yeji couldn't bear it. Her stomach twisted into knots. She clutched her belly, swallowing to fight the nausea.

"Ryujin, hey— " Yeji reached out, but the other quickly backed away. Their fingers barely grazed.

"No. Please. You can't do that."

"Did I do something?" Yeji's eybrows met. A nervous chuckle escaped her lips. "Why are you acting so weird?"

Since when couldn't she do that? Since when was she not allowed to hold her hand? Ryujin was her fiance, for heaven's sake.