Red Strings

Chapter Nine

Satang sat at a small café near the university, the quiet clink of cups and the murmur of conversations around him barely reaching his ears. Across from him, Marc was grinning, clearly happy for his friend. Satang had just shared the news—how he and Winny had confessed their feelings for each other, how everything had finally fallen into place. But despite Marc's excitement, Satang couldn't shake the unease that settled in his chest.

Marc, ever perceptive, noticed it too. "Hey, you good?" he asked, his smile faltering as he took in Satang's distant expression. "You and Winny didn't... fight, did you?"

Satang shook his head, but his voice was flat, almost lifeless. "No," he muttered, his gaze drifting absentmindedly around the café.

Marc raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. "Okay..." he trailed off, watching Satang for a moment. "You know you can tell me anything, right?"

Satang glanced at Marc, feeling the weight of his concern. He realized that Marc, who had been there for him since the beginning, was more than just a friend—he was his second-best friend, the one who understood him better than anyone else. And as much as Satang hated to admit it, he couldn't ignore the nagging feeling inside him that something wasn't quite right.

After a few moments of silence, Satang finally sighed, letting his thoughts settle. He shifted in his seat, feeling the pull of his past. The memory of that other kid—his childhood friend, the one he had shared everything with in the orphanage—flooded his mind. It was impossible to shake the connection he felt with Winny now, knowing that they both shared similar backgrounds. Satang opened up to Marc, his voice hesitant but filled with uncertainty.

"I don't know, Marc," he began, his eyes flicking downward as he spoke. "There's just something... familiar about Winny. I've known him for almost five years now, but it feels like I've known him much longer. Like, maybe even before that."

Marc listened intently, intrigued but patient. "What do you mean? Like you have some kind of connection?"

Satang nodded slowly, his fingers idly tracing the edge of his coffee cup. "I don't know how to explain it, but now that I know Winny's also an orphan, it... it makes sense. He grew up in an orphanage, just like I did. We've both been through the same things, in a way, and it's almost like our paths were meant to cross."

Marc's eyes widened slightly, understanding dawning on him. "Wait, you didn't know he was an orphan before?"

Satang shook his head. "I had no idea until recently. But now, looking back... everything feels so much clearer. It's like, all this time, I've been unknowingly drawn to him. And it's not just because we're close now. It's deeper than that."

Marc leaned in, his voice soft but insistent. "So, what do you think it means? You think there's more to this than just a coincidence?"

Satang paused, the weight of the question heavy in the air. "I don't know. But I've kept something from my past all these years... a red bracelet. It was the only thing I had left from that kid I used to hang out with at the orphanage. He made it for me, and I made one for him, before he left to join his new family. After that, I was alone again."

Marc's expression softened with understanding, but there was a spark of curiosity in his eyes. "You still have that bracelet?"

Satang nodded, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Yeah, it's been with me all this time. I just never wore it."

Marc tilted his head thoughtfully, considering Satang's words. "Maybe you should show it to Winny, casually. If he recognizes it, maybe you'll have your answer."

Satang's heart skipped a beat at the thought. Could Winny really recognize the bracelet? Could the familiarity he felt toward him be tied to a deeper connection? His childhood friend, the one he had lost all those years ago, might not be as far away as Satang had thought.