[Jow Ylliard Hayle]
"You're my soulmate," I declared to Lean May, staring into the fate that tied us together.
"Probably..." she whispered, settling down on the same bench where she had been sitting earlier.
A wave of dizziness struck me. My eyes began to itch—sharp, stinging. I stumbled toward her, quickly taking a seat beside her.
The irritation intensified. My vision blurred into a thick fog of static.
> Damn it. <
"Jow, are you okay?" Her voice trembled with worry.
I couldn’t make out her face clearly—nor anything else around me.
“The curse is activating,” I said grimly, pressing my palms against my eyes.
“Are they bleeding?” I asked, still unable to see.
“No... but the edges of your eyelids are red and swollen,” she answered softly.
“That’s a relief.” I exhaled slowly. At least I wasn’t crying blood. At least I wasn’t blind—yet.
“This curse of yours is terrifying,” Lean May whispered. She reached out and took my left hand in hers.
Warmth flooded through my skin where her palm touched mine. It was strangely calming.
> This is my soulmate... The one fate has chosen for me? <
Her hand grew damp in mine. I pulled away gently, wiping the moisture on my slacks. The blur in my vision still hadn’t faded.
“Jow,” she said quietly. “I’m glad to know we’re fated to be together. But... I don’t want you to end up with me.”
> What? What is she saying? Ah… right. She mentioned earlier that she wanted us to sever our fate.<
“That’s why you brought me up here… But why say ‘I don’t want you to end up with me’ instead of ‘I don’t want to end up with you’?” I asked, confused.
“Nova told me everything,” she confessed. “About herself. About you. About Miss Clay. Back when we both passed out on this rooftop... she told me everything.”
She smiled faintly. “Honestly? I was relieved. I thought I was the only one cursed. And I was happy when I saw you again. When we talked. When I realized we were bound by fate.”
“What kind of power do you have?” I asked.
“I can see the future... if I peek into someone’s heart.”
“I remember you staring at my chest,” I muttered. “So you were peeking into my heart? Did you see a future where we’re together?”
“Yes. But...” She paused. “I saw two futures. One where I’m with you. And one where... someone else is.”
“Someone else?” My voice tightened.
“I’m sorry. Nova told me I’m not allowed to tell you.”
“What? That’s unfair. Why should I be left in the dark?”
“It’s better this way,” she said firmly. “Jow... I’m about to make a sacrifice. You might not know this, but you have two strings of fate.”
“I can’t see them right now. My vision’s still blurry.”
“You do. One of those strings—tied to your left pinky—connects to mine.” Her voice started to break. I heard her sniffle. “When we held hands earlier, I saw them—your fate strings. I guess our connection activated something between us.”
“If you’re happy to have found your soulmate, then why are you crying?” I asked, watching as she gently took my hand again and placed it against her chest.
Warm tears soaked my skin.
“Before I could even teach myself to love you... I chose to waver.”
She broke into tears. I felt her heart thudding fast under my hand, her trembling fingers gripping me.
“Tell me everything. I deserve to know,” I urged.
“No.” Her answer came with finality. “This is for your own good.”
> Why is this woman hurting herself so much? <
“Eyeden Ylliard Hayle...” she whispered. “Thank you. Thank your soul for choosing me. But I don’t deserve to receive your kindness. You have two soulmates—and I know the other one deserves you far more than I ever could.”
“You’re leaving out too much. I can’t understand unless you tell me the full story.”
“I’ve always wanted everything for myself,” she admitted, her voice raw. “Even in junior high, I used to steal people’s boyfriends. I took what didn’t belong to me—hugs, kisses... all because no one wanted me. I was always sick. No one wanted to be my friend. Even my parents were ready to give up on me.”
She laughed bitterly. “So I abused my ability. I changed the futures I saw in others. If I couldn’t be happy, no one could.”
I reached out and wrapped her in my arms without hesitation.
She kept crying.
“My power makes every illness I have feel twice as intense. I’m surprised I’m still alive,” she whispered.
> She’s been through so much... <
“Then why give up now?” I asked. “If you wanted to ruin everything, why are you choosing to waver?”
“Because your soul chose me,” she said, pulling away from the hug, looking into my eyes. “And that’s enough to change me.”
She inhaled shakily. “Nova has a theory. If you can see fate, then maybe... maybe you can also change it. Jow... sever the string that connects us.”
“I won’t do that,” I said.
“You have to. I won’t be happy if it means hurting someone else.”
My fists clenched.
> Should I do this? Can I really do this now? <
She cupped my face, her hands warm. “Please... I don’t want to be a burden anymore.”
“O-Okay. But... how do I do it?”
“Try holding the string,” she said.
I nodded and focused.
Activating my ability, I reached for the string of fate tied to my pinky.
It surprised me—I could touch it. It burned with heat, but it didn’t hurt.
I tried pulling on it with both hands. Nothing.
“It’s not working,” I said. She was quiet. Then... my vision suddenly returned.
I looked down.
Her string wasn’t tied with a knot—it was a slipknot.
I took her hand, gently held her pinky, and unfastened it.
The moment it came loose, her string whipped through the air, the freed end slamming into my chest.
A searing pain shot through me—I cried out, falling to the floor.
“Jow! Are you okay?” Lean May called out, voice trembling with panic.
The string turned toward her, preparing to strike.
I rose quickly and blocked it with my back.
“Lean May... your string—it's angry,” I said through gritted teeth.
She stared at me, ears trembling, eyebrows furrowing in confusion and fear.
Moments later, the string calmed.
It dropped to the floor like a lifeless thread. The tie around my pinky loosened... and fell off.
Its color began to change—pure white, then glowing... and finally, it exploded.
Ash scattered across the rooftop.
My eyes itched again. My vision blurred once more.
This time, I saw red.
I rubbed my eyes. Red liquid coated my palms.
I was crying blood again.
I pulled a face towel from my pocket and wiped away the crimson tears.
A loud beeping sound rang in my ears, and my head throbbed violently. When I looked toward Lean May, I saw two of her.
---
[Nova Mei Quinoa]
After roasting under the sun for what felt like hours, I finally stepped down from the rooftop shelter.
I saw Jow collapse.
Lean May caught him with her body, cushioning his fall.
“Jow... Jow? Wake up, Jow!” she cried, tears spilling down her cheeks.
I wasn’t used to seeing her like this—voice shaking, emotions overflowing.
I smirked.
“That loser passed out again,” I said as I approached, scooping him up.
“In bridal style? Seriously?” Lean May muttered, wiping her tears.
“Your lip tint’s a mess. You look like the Joker.”
She quickly fished a handkerchief from her pocket and wiped her face.
“You really sacrificed your destiny for this guy?” I asked.
She stood and dusted her skirt off. Her eyes drifted down to the blood staining her uniform.
“I wouldn’t be happy if someone else got hurt because of me,” she whispered, but her voice broke again and she sobbed loudly. “Nova! Why does it hurt like this? The moment I learned someone was meant for me... I wanted to repent. I wanted to pay for everything I’ve done. I regret everything I did to people who never deserved it!”
I smiled.
“Don’t smile at me!” she snapped and kicked my shin.
“Hey! Careful, I might drop Eyeden!” I warned her, adjusting my grip. “I’ll take him to the clinic. You just cry it out here.”
She nodded and slumped back on the bench, her sobs continuing.
I turned to the rooftop door and slowly made my way down the stairs.
> Jow... you idiot. You really let go of a destiny like that so easily? <
My thoughts churned. Goosebumps prickled along my arms. My breath hitched—but I didn’t dare let go of him.
“You’re so damn lucky. You have two people destined for you. You don’t have to search, or waste your love on the wrong person. You just know. That’s so unfair. I want to beat you up for making Lean May cry... but at the same time, you didn’t give her false hope. Am I right?”
I glanced down at him. Still unconscious.
“You’re in love with someone else, aren’t you?” I whispered. “Your other soulmate... right?”
Tears gathered in my eyes and dropped, falling straight onto his face.
> Now that Lean May’s no longer tied to you... I can have her, right? I’ll be the one to protect her now. You’re handing me that responsibility, right? <
To be continued.