Scarlet Strings.

The Venice Arrival

The sharp scratch of Scarlet's pencil on paper became more deliberate as she tried to drown out his voice.

Ha-neul continued, gesturing animatedly as if his father could see him. "베니스에서 프로젝트가 끝나면 바로 한국으로 돌아갈게요." (I'll come back to Korea as soon as the project in Venice is done.)

Scarlet finally glanced up, her eyes narrowing slightly. His tone wasn't just loud, it was enthusiastic to the point of being disruptive. She bit back a sigh and returned to her work.

Still oblivious, Ha-neul laughed loudly. "아니요, 아빠. 이번에는 절대 기념품 안 잊을게요." (No, Dad, I won't forget souvenirs this time.)

Scarlet tightened her grip on her pencil, muttering under her breath. "Of all the tables in this entire airport..."

The café staff glanced over, but Ha-neul remained blissfully unaware. He sipped his coffee casually, his phone still glued to his ear. Scarlet finally pushed her sketchpad aside, conceding that productivity was impossible under these conditions.

When Ha-neul ended his call, he caught her eyes briefly. She looked away quickly, but the brief exchange was enough to make him realize the effect of his behavior. Lowering his phone to the table, he offered an apologetic smile, though Scarlet didn't return it.

As the café settled into quiet again, Scarlet leaned back in her chair, her annoyance fading. Ha-neul, now subdued, seemed to sense the tension and offered her a small wave.

"I'm sorry if I disturbed you," he said in English, his Korean accent faint but noticeable.

Scarlet blinked, surprised by the apology. "It's fine," she said curtly, pulling her sketchpad back in front of her.

Ha-neul hesitated before returning to his coffee. For a moment, he considered striking up a conversation but decided against it, sensing her preference for solitude. In the end, they sat in silence, two strangers briefly crossing paths in a Zurich café.

***

As Scarlet settled into her flight, she couldn't help but feel a slight sense of relief. The plane hummed steadily in the air, and the soft whisper of the engines helped her relax after the hectic morning. The long flight to Venice was a connecting one, and she had no intention of letting anything or anyone ruin her time away.

Though the occasional thought of Ha-Joon crossed her mind, she pushed it aside, focusing on her own well-being. The seat next to her remained empty, and she leaned back in her seat, closing her eyes for a few moments.

The stewardess came around to offer drinks, and Scarlet declined, deciding to rest her mind. She had been working nonstop for weeks, and this break, though interrupted by the incident with the press, was something she desperately needed.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the plane, Kang Ha-neul was settling in comfortably. He had taken his seat on the other side of the aircraft, far away from Scarlet, not realizing that they were both on the same flight until they had disembarked. Ha-neul had a lot on his mind as well, but his mind was primarily consumed with the business he was about to attend in Venice.

He wasn't the type to waste time or energy on idle thoughts. The successful hotelier was on his way to a significant meeting. His company's global empire had grown over the years, but there were still places to conquer.

As the plane landed in Venice, Scarlet glanced at her phone to double-check her hotel reservation details. The sleek, luxurious establishment she was heading to was one of the most prestigious in Venice, and it had been recommended to her by a few colleagues in the fashion industry. She had no particular plans, but she did want to unwind and enjoy her time, free from the pressures of work.