Invisible String
Summary: They say childhood best friends never fall apart. That the invisible string tying them together is unbreakable. But what happens when love tangles itself in between?
Maeve wanted to chase the stage. Jeonghan wanted to escape his fate. But not all dreams fit into the same future, and not all love stories end with a happy ending.
And as the final note fades, she wonders… Did he ever hear the words hidden in the melody?
Matching: best friend!yoon jeonghan x idol!reader
Genre: ANGSTTTT, fluff if you squint
Note: indented parts are flashbacks, this was written by 2023 me dsauihdjkns (its basically covered with webs)
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The interview started with me singing one of the tracks in my album “Invisible String”.
Gave me no compasses, gave me no signs
Were there clues I didn’t see?
“Why can’t you just say who you like!” I said before chasing after him He then stuck his tongue out, trying to hide the smile that’s plastered in his face.
And isn’t it just so pretty to think
All along there was some, Invisible string
NOTIFICATIONS: ❦: Let’s go somewhere far away from here. “You basically kidnapped me,” I said, making our way to our bus seat. “No it isn’t, you agreed at the idea of leaving home” he replied with a grin while settling ourselves in a comfortable position. “What is your problem?” “School. You?” “Parents.”
Tying you to me?
I opened my eyes after hearing the instrumental ending, seeing how the staff clapped their hands as well as the host.
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FLASHBACK TO 12TH GRADE:
“Gosh Jeong, when you mentioned you were thinking about going somewhere far away, I didn't imagine it to be to JEJU ISLAND SPECIFICALLY.” I exaggeratedly yelled, flailing my arms like an insane person. Which I am at the moment. Around 1 and a half hours ago, Jeong texted me if I wanted to go on a trip with him. Here we are, standing right infront of Incheon Airport with just our backpacks with minimal packing. Apparently, it's my fault for agreeing to it when we have our finals next week.
Jeonghan and I have been best friends since diapers, literally. Our mothers were considered “half-sisters” from their high school days till now because of their close bond, which led some to wonder if they were related. Automatically, from the moment I was born, I’ve always had a companion by my side. Until I got older, I had no idea he would be a pain in the ass.
I guess you could say that the name “Yoon Jeonghan” is very well known around the campus, if you think it was because of his charming looks and grades, well you’re in for a treat.
“YOON JEONGHAN GET BACK HERE!” A teacher yelled while chasing a very familiar brown-haired man, attracting many student’s attention as well. I was supposed to be in my 3rd class by now but my curiosity got the best of me. I walked over to the parking lot, seeing people gathering around. Oh god. Mr. Hudson’s car came into view—covered with glue and confetti, topped with pink glitter—making me snort, what a classic. I saw Jeonghan run past me, winking at me. One of my friends approached me asking, “It makes me think about how in the hell you and Jeonghan are still friends?” “I have no idea.”
I have no idea indeed. “Well where did you expect us to go? Didn’t you look out the window to see where we were going?”
“I FELL ASLEEP”
“Oh, not my problem. Now come on, we might miss our flight.” He said rushing inside, while I had a hard time catching up with his steps.
Being friends with him is very unexpected, like the way he pulled out my passport out of his bag once we reached the check in desk. Or maybe the way he managed to sneak out of their house without Auntie suspecting anything. Or maybe the way he got us a hotel to stay in once we landed. Or maybe the way he had extra cash with him, which means he had been planning this for some time now.
“How did you even manage to do all this? I mean, even my passport? Are you kidding me?” I plopped on my bed, I’m highly impressed he managed to get a hotel room with the view of the beach. “I have ways” he faced me with a grin on his face, Oh how much I wanted to smack that away so many times, “Let’s go out? I remember passing by a few shops earlier.”
In a span of just 2 hours, we managed to do some shopping (mostly me, making jeong my butler by holding my shopping bags) and food trips every now and then. Here we are sitting on a table just right by the beach, eating our ice creams. He broke the comfortable silence, making my heart skip a beat for the first time, as he said “I’m really glad I’m here with you.” I smiled at him but as I was about to share a heartwarming moment, I realized…
“OUR PARENTS ARE GONNA KILL US” I said, making me stand up from shock. I started pacing back and forth thinking about the possibilities my mom would do once she found out. I didn’t notice how distressed Jeonghan looked as well, trying to interrupt me from my rambling. He then got annoyed and pulled my arms making me clash into his body, staring into his eyes.
“Don’t worry, they know. I just wanted to have some alone time with you”
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FLASHBACK TO COLLEGE, 1ST YEAR:
“YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME EVE! AFTER EVERYTHING YOUR FATHER AND I'VE BEEN THROUGH, YOU DECIDED NOT TO TAKE COLLEGE?” My mother said while furiously walking towards me, I swore I saw smoke coming out of her nose.
“You didn’t let me finish-”
“I didn’t let you finish because that is the finish! What else do you need to tell me!”
“You didn’t ask me why I don’t want to-”
“Then why?!” I rolled my eyes at the way she interrupted me, have you no manners?
“Because I want to pursue my dream of being an Idol-”
“YOU DON’T WANT TO GO THROUGH COLLEGE BECAUSE OF-” “Yes! Because I want to follow my stupid dream!” I cutted her off, I swear I’m so done with putting up with her attitude. Both of my parents looked at me, shocked.
“I want to do something I finally want, something I enjoy doing! You always pressured me into doing some job I don’t want to do! It’s a waste of time for me to be honest, by the fact why did I even have a chance to live when I couldn’t make my own decisions because my mother really had to control my life just because hers wasn’t perfect!” I said while walking towards her, as if I was threatening her.
My mother wasn’t born with a silver spoon in her mouth. Always struggling on how to live, almost surviving in this society. While my father’s was the complete opposite. An only son of a CEO, making him the next heir of the company. It’s like a Wattpad Story. Them being arranged marriage because of a deal their families made, having to live in a lie that’s written on paper. Having to live in the same house, with no love shared together. Having to fake a happily perfect life.
Jeonghan’s no different. His parents pressure him way too much in taking law because “it’s a family tradition, dear” that the first born has to carry on. He was more suffocated than I was. My mother and his were like the evil stepsisters in Cinderella, marrying a man for their position. Funny how the story went downhill.
She slapped me. My own mother slapped me. My father stood there, frozen, not knowing what to do. He was never a talker, maybe that’s what I hated about him. “How dare you say that” My mother gritted her teeth, almost locking her jaw. “I said what I said” while rubbing my now red stained cheeks, glaring at her. “Get out” ok when I said that shit was going down, I never expected this.
“What?”
“I said. Get. Out” My mother said while staring at me, no pain evident in her eyes.
Silence then began to surround the house. I broke it first with a giddy-
“Fine!” I then rushed to my room, taking my already packed luggage below my bed. Finally, it’s finally happening.
“Wait. What?” My mother said, making me stop in my tracks as I was already standing at the door.
“What do you mean ‘what?’, you told me to get out so I am” I said the obvious.
“Yea, but I was expecti-”
“Expecting me to do what? To beg on my knees for me to stay? I scoffed. “You really are pathetic” closing the door, not even bothering to say my farewells. Before I shut the door, I heard my father’s voice finally coming out, shouting at my mother for the first time as he blamed her. What do I do now? The only person I could run to was…Him.
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Song Playing: Mine
You were in college, working part-time waiting tables
Left a small town, never looked back
I rang the doorbell of an apartment as I awaited an answer. I was freezing. I just really had to take a bus that's heater is broken.
“Eve?” A familiar voice erupted behind me, making me flinch at the sudden sound. “Oh, you’re here” I said while sniffing my now red nose. I probably looked like Rudolph.
“God, you’re freezing” He said as he hurriedly opened the door, rushing me to sit on the couch and wrapped me up with blankets.
I chuckled at this sweet behavior. “Do you need anything?” “No, but thank you” I smiled genuinely. He then made hot choco while trying to make a conversation by asking me how I was doing.
I hadn't seen Jeonghan in a long time, and that was new to me. Even though we stayed in touch via chat, we never honestly discussed why he left home. He suddenly disappeared and messaged me saying he had an apartment in Busan. Yes, I did travel to Busan via bus. That is five hours. lacking a heater. I'm assuming it was for the exact cause as I was.
I was a flight risk, with a fear of fallin’
I saw him glancing at my luggages before making his way to me. “So, tell me” he said while handing out my drink, I whispered a small ‘thank you’ before tasting the beverage. I’m surprised though at how he managed to make Hot Choco when he doesn’t even know how to cook rice. He raised his eyebrows before taking a sip, signaling me to start on why I was here.
I placed my mug at the console table beside me. “I need a place to stay,” I said. “Why?” “They kicked me out, because of some passion I wanted to follow” I rolled my eyes.
“You’re still going on about being an Idol?” I nodded, in despair. “Then why are you here? Shouldn’t you start auditioning now?” I know. “I just want to save up some cash first” I made an excuse.
I suppose it was both true and an excuse, though. I first needed a few bucks since I knew that if I started off with nothing, the expenses in Seoul would kill me. And maybe also because I wanted to see him. A peaceful silence enveloped us as we just stared at the wall in front of us, snuggling into each other’s warmth.
Wondering why we bother with love, if it never lasts
“I missed you” We said simultaneously. Making me feel the oh-so-well familiar beating of a heart whenever we had moments like this.
I say, “Can you believe it?”
As we’re lyin’ on the couch
I looked at him, also seeing him staring at me. Making me realize…
The moment, I can see it
I love the person I trust the most, the person I always think of when I'm at my lowest, the person I think about when I hear the words 'sweet' and 'loving', the person I would make exemptions for. My Best friend.
Yes, yes, I can see it now
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NOTE: Maeve is now 20 years old
He cracked a smile as he faced me. "What?" "You look ridiculous," I do. I'm digging through his stuff while seated on the floor, and I have a ton of items attached to me. Wearing his hair clips he used to use when he had his long hair, his green puffer vest when we used to go camping, checkered scarf, and a white bucket hat.
After two years, I had finally moved into my own apartment, whereas Jeonghan had only recently moved into his own home. We’re currently unpacking the boxes scattered on the floor. When I said ‘we’, I meant me going over his stuff being completely distracted while he fixed his clothes in the closet.
Nothing much changed in our relationship, including the feelings that I kept from him. Since we were often together, I had to conceal the loud thumping in my chest whenever he behaved charmingly more than a friend.
"God Jeonghan, you're being too dramatic!" I shouted angrily at him. He calmly led me into his apartment to my assigned room, "No, I'm not," he responded. "He's a coworker of mine," I mumbled. I worked part-time in a restaurant close to Jeonghan's workplace for a while. My coworkers and I had planned to stay up all night drinking tonight, but someone had to spoil our plans. As if we didn't have shifts the next day, we were already at the local bar dunking the familiar taste and burning feeling of alcohol. I mistakenly sent a message to Jeong when I intended to ask one of my friends to pick me up. “You still don’t even know them yet” I could feel how he’s holding back from screaming at me. His voice was firm, but there was an underlying emotion I couldn't quite place. Frustration? Fear? Maybe something more. "Jeong, I'm not a kid. I can take care of myself." I rolled my eyes, stumbling slightly as I tried to get up from the bed where he had sat me down. He caught my wrist gently, stopping me. "I never said you were. But I know you, Maeve. You let people in too easily. You trust too fast. And that guy—he looked at you like you were something to win." I scoffed. "And what if I want to be won? What if I want someone to chase after me for once, instead of always being the one left behind?" His grip tightened for a second before he let go. His jaw clenched, his face unreadable. "You're not something to be won, Maeve. You're someone to be cherished." My breath hitched. For a moment, I let myself believe that his words meant something more. That he meant them. But then he sighed and ran a hand through his hair, turning away. "Just... be careful, okay?" And just like that, the moment was gone.
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Years passed. Life moved forward in its messy, unpredictable way.
I got my first break in the music industry. A small entertainment company took a chance on me, and before I knew it, I was training, recording, performing. The dream I had fought for—the one I had left home for—was finally in my grasp.
And Jeonghan was still by my side.
Through late-night calls, surprise visits, and quiet moments between our separate busy lives, he remained a constant. My anchor in the chaos. My best friend.
But best friends weren’t supposed to make your heart ache.
Best friends weren’t supposed to make you wish for something more.
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The night before I left for my first world tour, I stood outside his apartment, my fingers hovering over the doorbell.
My heart was racing. I needed to tell him. Before I left, before it was too late, I had to let him know.
I knocked.
A few seconds later, the door opened, and there he was—hair messy, eyes heavy with sleep, wearing that same green puffer vest I had once stolen.
"Maeve? What are you—"
"I'm leaving tomorrow." My voice was barely above a whisper.
He blinked. "I know. I was going to call you in the morning. Wish you luck."
I shook my head. "No. I mean, I'm really leaving, Jeong. For months. Maybe years."
A shadow crossed his face, but he quickly masked it with a smile. "That’s amazing, Maeve. This is everything you wanted."
"Yeah." I forced a laugh. "It is."
Silence stretched between us. The words I wanted to say caught in my throat, tangled with fear and uncertainty.
Don't let me go.
Tell me to stay.
Tell me you feel it too.
But he didn’t. Instead, he pulled me into a hug, his arms warm and familiar. I closed my eyes, trying to memorize the way he felt, the way he smelled, the steady rhythm of his heartbeat against my cheek.
When we pulled away, he smiled. "Go make the world fall in love with you, Maeve."
And that was it.
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The lights of the stage felt too bright. The audience, the cameras, the interviewer’s voice.
It had been years. I left, we had no connection afterwards, and life went on. I chased my dream, just like he told me to. But some nights, when the world quieted down, I still heard his voice in my head.
I still saw his smile in the spaces between my memories.
I still felt his absence in every song I wrote.
The interviewer’s voice pulled me back to reality. “If you had the chance to say something to that ‘someone,’ what would it be?”
I swallowed, fingers tightening around my phone.
“I’d say…” My voice cracked. I let out a shaky breath, smiling despite the tears welling in my eyes. “I hope you’re happy. I hope you found what you were looking for.”
The audience clapped, oblivious to the weight of my words.
Oblivious to the fact that, after all these years, I was still trying to let him go.
I stood backstage, the echoes of the applause fading. The final notes of the song played through the speakers, the lyrics hauntingly familiar.
Like oceans and engines, you can't keep up with me You're holdin' my hand but you don't understand So goodbye, for now
I closed my eyes, letting the melody wash over me.
You never knew, the bridges burned, I let the fire just bathe me.
And just like that, the invisible string that had once tied us together was gone.
