RED STRING REWRITTEN

28

Suga walked out of his office, holding a tablet, scanning the agenda.

Suga (looking at Tae): “Taehyung, do you have the file for today’s investors’ meeting?”

Taehyung (quickly standing, handing him the folder with a small smile): “Yes, hyung. Everything’s in here—the presentation slides, financial summaries, and the Q&A points you asked me to prepare.”

Suga looked at him for a moment, his expression softening.

Suga: “You’ve become really reliable, Taehyung. I don’t know how I managed before you came here.”

Taehyung (shy smile): “It’s nothing, hyung. You’ve done so much for me… working hard for you feels right. Like I finally have a purpose.”

Namjoon joined them, carrying his coffee.

Namjoon (teasing): “Don’t let Suga work you too hard, Taehyung. He gets bossy when he’s stressed.”

Suga (rolling his eyes): “Hyung…”

Taehyung chuckled softly, shaking his head.

Taehyung: “It’s fine. I’m used to it now. Honestly… working here makes me feel like part of something big. Like I belong.”

Namjoon placed a hand on his shoulder, firm and warm.

Namjoon: “That’s because you do belong. You’re family now.”

Taehyung’s heart swelled. For the first time in years, he didn’t feel like an outsider.

FOURTH – COLLEGE LIFE

Meanwhile, Fourth was finding his own rhythm. At first, it had been overwhelming—new faces, a foreign place, the loneliness of missing his old friends in Seoul. But over time, he built a small circle of friends who had become his anchor: Mark, Ohm, Winny, and Satang. They were loud, funny, and kind, never letting him sit alone in the cafeteria or struggle with assignments.

That afternoon, the group sat under a large banyan tree in the college courtyard, their lunchboxes open. Fourth was unusually quiet, his fork pushing food around without taking a bite.

Mark (noticing): “Yah, Fourth. You’re too quiet today. What’s going on in that head of yours?”

Fourth looked down, his chest heavy.

Fourth (softly): “I… I don’t know why, but today I’m missing them a lot. Gemini, Pond, Joong, Dunk, Phuwin… I can’t stop thinking about them. It’s been a year, but… it still hurts.”

The group exchanged looks, instantly softening.

Ohm (placing a hand on his shoulder): “Hey… it’s okay to miss them. They were important to you, right? That kind of bond doesn’t just disappear.”

Fourth (voice cracking a little): “It feels like I left a part of myself back there. Every day I wonder what they’re doing… if they’re okay… if they even think of me.”

Winny (gently): “Of course they think of you. Friends like that don’t forget. Maybe they’re missing you just as much.”

Fourth’s eyes glistened, but he quickly wiped them.

Fourth: “Sometimes I feel guilty for settling down here… like I’m moving on while they’re still there without me.”

Satang leaned closer, his tone serious but warm.

Satang: “Listen, Fourth. Moving forward isn’t betrayal. It’s survival. You’ve been through so much, but you’re still here—smiling, studying, building your future. That’s not forgetting them… that’s honoring them.”