Scarlet Strings.

Chapter 8:

Scarlet stood at the base of the staircase, her fingers hovering over her phone screen. She stared at Ha-neul's text from earlier, his invitation to meet at the Tintoretto Scuola Grande di San Rocco. Her heart felt heavy, the weight of her earlier conversation with Ha-joon pressing down on her chest. She sighed deeply, then typed a quick response:

"I'll meet you there."

She slipped her phone into her bag, squared her shoulders, and headed out. If nothing else, meeting Ha-neul would distract her from the emotions swirling in her head like a storm she couldn't escape.

When Scarlet arrived at the Scuola Grande di San Rocco, Ha-neul was already waiting by the entrance. He was dressed casually, his black hoodie and jeans contrasting with the ornate beauty of the Renaissance building behind him.

"There you are," he said, flashing a small smile. "I thought you might've changed your mind."

Scarlet shook her head, forcing a smile. "No, just running a little late."

"Let's head in," he said, gesturing toward the entrance.

The two of them entered the building together, greeted by a breathtaking display of Tintoretto's masterpieces adorning the walls and ceilings. The grandeur of the artwork was overwhelming, each piece telling a story that felt larger than life.

Ha-neul's eyes widened as he took in the first fresco. "Wow," he murmured. "This is incredible."

Scarlet nodded, her gaze flitting across the intricate details of the paintings. The artistry was undeniable, but her mind kept wandering back to Ha-joon's words from earlier.

"Do you know much about this place?" Ha-neul asked, glancing at her.

"Not really," Scarlet admitted. "I just know Tintoretto was one of the great Venetian painters. His work is supposed to be... dramatic, I guess."

"Dramatic's a good word for it," Ha-neul said, tilting his head as he studied a depiction of a biblical scene. "Everything's so... intense. It's like you can feel the emotions in the paintings."

Scarlet hummed in agreement, though her focus was elsewhere. She found herself glancing at her phone, half-expecting a message from Ha-joon, though she knew it wouldn't come.

"Hey," Ha-neul said, nudging her lightly. "You okay?"

Scarlet blinked, startled. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just... tired, I guess."

"You sure?" he asked, his tone laced with concern.

Scarlet nodded quickly, forcing another smile. "Yeah, don't worry about me."

As they moved through the gallery, Ha-neul's enthusiasm began to pull Scarlet out of her thoughts. He had a knack for finding humor in the smallest things, like pointing out how one of the angels in a painting looked suspiciously grumpy, or how Tintoretto seemed to have a fascination with overly dramatic poses.

"Look at this guy," Ha-neul said, gesturing to a saint in one of the frescoes. "He looks like he just found out they're out of coffee."

Scarlet couldn't help but laugh, the sound light and genuine. "Maybe he's just dramatic," she said, playing along.

"Maybe," Ha-neul agreed, grinning. "But I'm telling you, that's the face of someone who hasn't had caffeine in days."

Their laughter echoed softly in the grand hall, drawing a few amused glances from other visitors. As they continued exploring, Ha-neul suggested taking pictures. "We should take some pictures." scarlet just started at him for an explanation.