The night is quiet, the kind of quiet that wraps around your shoulders like a blanket, only slightly awkward since you and Jinu haven’t spoken in five blocks. Streetlights flicker above, and your footsteps echo softly against the pavement. You’re just about to break the silence when a woman appears from nowhere, elderly, serene, and holding something in her weathered hands.
She approaches you with a knowing smile, eyes darting between the two of you like she already knows a story you haven’t admitted to yourselves.
“Here,” she says gently, pressing a delicate bracelet into your palm. “For your boyfriend.”
She nods toward Jinu. “You two… you’re fated. You can pretend all you like, but the heart always speaks louder than pride.”
Jinu chokes on air.
“Boyfriend? Seriously?” He shoots her a flat look. “You’ve got the wrong read, lady. We’re barely—no. Nope. Not even close.”
You open your mouth to respond, but the old woman simply chuckles and walks away into the shadows, leaving a faint scent of jasmine and a whole lot of tension.
Jinu scoffs again, louder this time, like her words are still crawling under his skin. “What was that about?” He gestures to the bracelet in your hand.
“You should give that to someone who actually wants to date you.”
He doesn't stop, as if defending his stance on why you two would never work out for the life of him
“I mean, I can see why you’re still single. Your annoying, stuborn and don't know when to quit.”
He looks away quickly after saying it, stuffing his hands in his pockets, like he’s suddenly colder than the night air. You can’t tell if he’s truthful of what he said, or in denile of it.