Crossing Fates at the Mall
Mina had left school.
The air was cold, but her mind was burning.
"Ren… where are you? Why didn't you come today?"
Her steps quickened.
Even going home felt heavy.
---
At the gym…
Ren was under the barbell.
The weight crushed down on his chest; his arms shook violently.
"Damn it… stupid coach… I can't…!"
His teeth clenched.
"This is too heavy! Sam—AHG! Pull it up!"
But Sam wasn't listening.
His eyes were glued to a group of girls in the corner.
"Heeey… they're kinda cute…" he muttered.
Ren's voice turned into a scream.
"BRO I'M GONNA DIE! SAM!"
Sam spun around, eyes wide.
"Whoa—REN!"
He lunged and pulled the weight up.
Ren gasped for air.
"You good, man?"
Ren growled,
"Hff… hff… coach can go fu—"
He slapped Sam's arm.
Sam frowned.
"What's your problem?"
"Shut it. I'm done for today."
Ren snapped and walked out, exhausted and furious.
---
Outside…
"Hey! You there!"
Ren turned.
It was Yun—smirking like always.
"You're Ren, right?"
Ren's eyes narrowed, dark and sharp.
"And who the hell are you?"
Yun flinched for a second but hid it behind a smile.
"You know Mina, right? I'm going to the mall. You should come! We'll pick you some clothes."
Ren froze.
Mina…?
Would she get mad if he went?
But… new clothes… might not be that bad…
"…Fine," he said.
Yun grinned inside.
Got her. Easy.
"Perfect. Let's go!"
---
Meanwhile, at Mina's house…
Mina was about to change when she heard someone outside.
"Minaaaa! Hey, Mina!"
She looked out the window.
May was waving wildly.
"May? What's up?"
"Let's go to the mall!"
Mina hesitated…
Then felt that empty ache in her chest.
"…Okay. I'm coming."
She grabbed her bag and left.
---
At the mall…
As soon as they entered, Ren stopped.
Something prickled at the back of her neck.
A stare. Sharp. Familiar.
She turned—
But Yun grabbed her arm.
"Come on, Ren! Don't zone out."
Ren hesitated but followed.
At the same moment, Mina and May walked in from the other door.
Mina had a small smile—
Until she saw it.
Yun suddenly wrapped her arms around Ren
and stuck her tongue out at Mina with a mocking grin.
Mina's breath shattered.
Her eyes went empty.
Not shocked—broken.
"R–Ren… how… could you?" she whispered.
Ren shoved Yun away.
"What the hell are you doing?!"
Yun stumbled dramatically.
"Oh! S-sorry! I thought I tripped… it's not what it looked like!"
Ren clenched her jaw.
"Be careful. Don't do that again."
"Of course…" Yun smiled sweetly. "Never again."
But Mina's world was already collapsing.
Her nails dug into her palms; tears burned her eyes.
"Why, Ren…?
Did you never love me?
Was it all a lie?"
Ren froze.
Seeing that look in Mina's eyes—
everything clicked.
Yun's fake smile.
The weird feeling earlier.
The perfect timing.
It was all planned.
Ren grabbed Yun by the collar and slammed her into the wall.
"You…"
Her voice was ice cold.
"You planned this."
Yun's smile finally cracked.
Ren's hand closed around her throat.
"Listen, you little snake."
Her voice dropped to a deadly whisper.
"If you ever make Mina cry again—
I will end you. Understood?"
Yun paled.
Ren shoved her away and turned—
But Mina was gone.
Running.
Crying.
"Not again… Mina… please…"
Ren bolted after her.
---
Breaking Point
Ren followed her into the bathroom.
Mina was collapsed by the sink, shaking.
"Mina… please. Listen to me."
Mina looked up, eyes red and devastated.
"Ren… go!
I trusted you!
I believed in you—your feelings—everything!"
Ren's chest caved in.
Her vision blurred.
"I tried to protect you…
but I failed again.
I made you cry again…"
Her head tilted slightly—her habit when her emotions cracked.
"…Anyway," she whispered.
"I'm sorry."
Something in her voice was wrong.
Too calm.
Too empty.
Before Mina could speak, Ren reached for the black woven bracelet—
the one Mina made for her.
She pulled.
SNAP.
It fell to the floor.
Rolled.
Stopped at her feet.
Ren walked out.
Silent.
Broken.
---
Mina's Collapse
Mina's lungs gave out.
"W-why…?
Why won't you let me see you?
I want to see you!
Ren—please!"
She ran to the door—
And saw the trail.
Not blood.
Pieces of the broken bracelet,
scattered on the floor like a path leading away from her.
"Ren… no… stop!"
She ran.
As fast as she could.
"Please… don't disappear…"
---
Sam's View
Ren pushed open the mall doors.
Staggered into the cold night air.
The broken bracelet was still in her fist.
Her breathing was shaky.
"It's over…"
"Something inside me… tore apart."
She walked, head down, trying to hide her face—
But someone saw.
Sam.
He froze.
"…Ren?"
He took a step.
Then another.
Something was wrong.
Ren's shoulders were trembling.
Sam squinted—
And saw the tears.
Real ones.
Silent.
Falling.
Uncontrollable.
"Hey!" Sam yelled, running.
"REN! Bro, stop!"
Ren didn't.
She heard him, but the world was a silent tunnel.
Sam grabbed her arm.
"Look at me! What happened?!"
Ren lifted her head.
Eyes red.
Empty.
One broken whisper escaped:
"Mina… it's over."
Sam's face hardened instantly.
"What? Who hurt you? Ren—look at me."
Ren shook her head weakly.
"I lost her."
Sam clenched his teeth.
His voice changed—firm, protective.
"Come on.
You're not walking off like this.
Let's go. We'll figure this out."
Ren tried to pull away but had no strength.
"Dude… I've never seen you like this," Sam muttered.
"Whatever happened… we'll fix it."
Ren closed her eyes.
Sam's voice grounded her—barely.
And then—
A scream.
"REN!"
Mina.
Running toward them with everything she had.
Sam stiffened.
Ren turned.
And in that moment…
the world snapped between the three of them.
---
END OF CHAPTER