red string | jay

twelve

the idol travel show had been a big hit.
it earned their agency a lot of money and even more credibility.

lucy was over the moon about it — and, for once, she didn't hold back her praise for the four of them.

it was another usual work day. ina sat at her desk, typing away on her laptop, drafting a report on one of the new reality shows they'd been assigned.

her eyes were slightly strained from staring at the screen too long, but her fingers moved in autopilot.

that's when her phone started buzzing beside her — it was her mom.

"hello, to what do i owe this pleasure, mother," she answered, leaning back slightly in her chair with a faint smile.

but the voice that replied made her sit up straight instantly.
"honey... don't panic when i tell you this, okay? i need you to be strong," her mother said, voice shaky — the kind of shake that sent chills crawling down ina's spine.

"mom? what's wrong? are you okay? is dad okay?" her words tumbled out, alarmed, eyes already scanning the room like something might collapse any second.

juwon, seated nearby, looked over, instantly catching the panic in ina's voice.

"yes, we're fine," her mom replied, "but it's jay's parents. they got into a brutal accident. they're being rushed into surgery right now."

ina's world stopped.
her heart dropped to her stomach.

"WHAT?" she shouted, standing up so fast her chair screeched against the floor.
her eyes instantly searched the office — and landed on jay.

he was on a call too. his jaw was tight, face blank like a frozen mask — but when their eyes met, she saw it. the panic. the disbelief. buried just deep enough to keep from breaking.

"yes, honey, but please... we need to be strong for jay right now, okay? me and your dad are already heading to the hospital."

"i'll be right there," she said quickly, hanging up.

her hands were already shaking.

"i have to go," she told juwon, who just stood up and nodded, gently placing a hand on her arm.

"take care. text me if you need anything," juwon said softly. ina gave her a brief, strained smile in return.

when she turned, jay was already halfway to the door, moving like a ghost. ina hurried after him, and they walked out in silence, neither saying a word, both just trying to hold it together.

as they reached the parking lot, jay suddenly broke into a run toward his car. ina sprinted after him, catching up just in time to grab his wrist and stop him.

"jay, wait—"

he yanked his arm, his head snapping to face her.

"let go," he gritted, his voice low but sharp, almost foreign.
his eyes flicked down to her hand on his wrist. his breathing was heavy, shoulders stiff.

ina didn't let go. instead, she looked him straight in the eye.

"i'm not letting you drive like this," she said firmly. "let's go. i'll drive."

jay shook his head. "i can go on my own," he muttered, his voice breaking slightly as he moved away again.

ina grabbed his wrist again, tighter this time.

"park jongseong."
her voice was calm, but steady and serious in a way that stopped him in his tracks.

he turned. she never called him by his full name.

that alone was enough.

he hesitated — then followed her silently as she dragged him toward her car.

she pushed the door open and practically shoved him into the passenger seat before getting in and starting the engine.

kim ina, who never even drove a kilometer over the speed limit, ran two red lights and ignored every traffic rule she'd ever followed on their way to the hospital.

her hands were tight around the steering wheel, but her heart was even tighter around how uncle and aunt must be and what jay must've been feeling beside her.

she glanced at him every few seconds.

but he didn't say a word.
he didn't cry. didn't yell.
he just sat there, staring ahead, like he was somewhere else entirely.

when they reached the hospital, they both jumped out and ran inside.

"we're here to see park junwon and myeonghee," ina said breathlessly at the reception.

the receptionist looked up slowly. "and you are?"

"i'm their son. can you please hurry up?" jay said through gritted teeth, trying — and failing — to keep his composure as his leg bounced restlessly.

"alright, they're in the fifth emergency room. take a left from here."

they didn't even wait to thank her — they just ran.

as soon as they reached the hallway, they spotted ina's parents already waiting. the emergency room door was shut tight.

"what happened? are they okay?" ina asked, rushing to her parents while jay ran straight to the door, trying to peek through the glass.

"they're in surgery right now," her father said, gently pulling jay away from the door. "we won't know anything until it's over."

"how did this even happen?" jay asked, running a trembling hand through his hair, chest rising and falling a little too fast.

ina's father hesitated.
"the person who called the ambulance said... their car was crushed by a truck."

jay gasped softly — it was almost a whimper. ina turned toward him immediately, eyes wide with concern.

"jay, they're gonna be okay," her mom said, walking over to him and placing a comforting hand on his arm. "all we can do now is wait... and pray that the surgery goes well, alright?"

he nodded silently, lips pressed tight as he sank onto the bench beside the emergency room, elbows on his knees, head buried in his hands.

ina just stood there.
she couldn't move. she couldn't cry.
her brain was racing but her body felt frozen.

after a moment, she looked over at jay.

he was fidgeting with his tie, unraveling and twisting it in his fingers. his knee kept bouncing restlessly. his eyes hadn't moved from the door since he sat down.

without thinking, ina slowly walked over and sat next to him, so close their arms brushed.

"they'll be fine," she whispered, voice steady despite the dread crawling up her spine.

he glanced at her for a second — a flicker of something in his eyes, raw and open — but didn't say a word. just gave a tiny nod.

then went back to staring at the door.

and ina stayed beside him, quiet, unmoving, until someone came out of it.