Sweets. It's everywhere in the café. The air smells like fruits and chocolate, while different desserts are on every table of eager customers.

Normally, it's not a place that Eujae would be interested in visiting. He's been in different coffee shops and snack bars, but not anywhere that serves icebox cakes and parfaits as their specialties.

People seem pleased to be here. There are looks of satisfaction on the older ones' faces as they eat their food. On the other hand, young women happily take photos once their orders arrive.

Somehow, he understands the enthusiasm of the latter group. He may never be able to relate to their fondness for sweet food, but he can at least appreciate the aesthetic appearance of the desserts in this café.

In any case, if there's a view that he enjoys watching the most, it's the adorable person who's sitting across him at the table right now.

Eujae grins, witnessing how Poll's eyes twinkle and how his cheeks flush with excitement as soon as the server places the glass of rainbow fruit and yogurt parfait in front of him on the table. Even though he's seen that lovely expression countless times, he doesn't think that he'll ever get tired of it.

Glancing at the female attendant, Eujae thanks her for the cup of coffee and a plate of salted pretzels too. As the server leaves, he returns his attention to the male twin, chuckling when the latter digs in without any hesitation.

It indeed takes all kinds. While there are some people who like to snap a shot of their food first before eating so they can post it on social media, or some like Lia who want a photo that they can use as a reference for their drawing, here is Apollo, who may think that food is only meant to be eaten and nothing more.

Both engrossed in different things, the couple don't notice when a person approaches their table.

"If it isn't Poll and Eujae."

At the same time as Poll pauses from stuffing his mouth with parfait, Eujae takes his eyes off him. They look up at the owner of the familiar voice, only to be greeted by the ever-so-knowing expression of a certain university educator.

The professor looks back and forth between the two college students, a small box of dessert in his left hand and a plastic coffee cup in the other. A smirk spreads across his mouth before he asks, "So are you two finally together?"

Taken aback by the question, Eujae falls silent. Judging by Poll's wide eyes and open mouth, he can tell that even his boyfriend is shocked by what the older man said.

The male twin is the first to recover and respond, "By any chance, Mr. JP, you didn't say that the rumor about you being a psychic is not true, did you?"

JP laughs and shakes his head. Without waiting for an invitation, he pulls a chair to join the younger men at the table. "Of course, that rumor about me is just that—a rumor," he says in a laid-back tone as though he's talking to a buddy and not his student, "I'm not a fortune teller or a mind reader. I don't even have the slightest idea how tarot cards work, you see."

"Then how do you know that we're together? And why did you say it as if you'd always known it was gonna happen?" Poll knits his brows before he goes back to eating his parfait.

Instead of answering the male twin, JP asks back, "Poll, do you remember the day you said you don't believe in destiny and soul mates?"

With a spoon in his mouth, Poll nods.

"How about now? Do you still not believe that such things exist?"

Poll answers with silence and a deeper frown, while Eujae can only listen to them as he has no idea what the two are talking about. When Poll remains speechless, JP shifts his gaze to the other young man.

Catching a glimpse of amusement in the philosophy professor's eyes, Eujae internally groans. That sly smile. It reminds him so much of the King's Game incident.

He is aware that the older man is not a terrible person. In fact, he comes off as someone who is passionate about his job of guiding younger people. However, the memory of how he easily played them during that particular night in the De Veras' residence makes it hard for Eujae to let his guard down around him.

JP must have realized that he will not receive any reply from Poll, so he switches the subject. "Have you ever heard of the red string of fate?"

"It's the legend about two people who are bound by an invisible red thread," Eujae butts in, unable to stand being left out in the conversation.

Taking the spoon off his mouth, Poll says, "I've also seen something like that in some anime. And they say those two people who are connected by the thread are destined for each other, right? But what about that red string, sir?"

"So here's the thing. The rumor about me being a psychic is not true. Aside from not being able to tell the future or read minds, I also don't have the ability to see ghosts. I can, however, see people who are fated for each other."

The last statement piques Eujae's curiosity, but he doesn't dare interrupt the professor and ask what he means. He takes a piece of the soft pretzel before pushing the plate in front of JP in a silent offer, which the older man declines by waving his hand.

Shrugging, Eujae turns his head to his boyfriend and holds the pretzel near his face. Poll pauses to stare at the salted pastry for a couple of seconds. As recognition of the food registers in his eyes, the male twin chomps on it while his mouth is filled with the parfait.

A soft chuckle comes out of Eujae as he takes in the sight of his boyfriend's cheeks puffing with food. He reaches across the table to wipe the yogurt on the corner of Poll's lips. Keeping his focus on his cute little bean, Eujae proceeds to eat the remaining piece of pretzel in his hand.

The sound of someone clearing their throat breaks through the couple's moment and brings them back to the real world.

Eujae sends an awkward smile to the professor, embarrassed that they had almost forgotten about him and the fact that they're in a public place. Fortunately, everyone else in the café is too busy with either their food or their phones to pay any attention to them.

"Poll, I told you before that it's hard to believe the existence of something when you can't see it with your own eyes," JP continues, like he didn't just get ignored by the younger couple. "What if I tell you that the idea about red strings is true and I can see them? Not only me. Sky can see them too. What if I said we've always known that the two of you would someday be together because we saw the string around your little fingers that connects you to each other?"

Another silence falls over them. Eujae has yet to let JP's revelation sink in when a ringtone chimes.

The philosophy professor takes his phone out to answer the call. While he can't hear the other person from the other line, Eujae assumes that it's Cloud's brother and JP's lover, Professor Sky De Vera, based on how the older man talks to him.

As soon as the phone conversation ends, JP gives the couple an apologetic smile, saying he has to walk out first because Sky wants him home. Just like a windstorm that appeared without warning, the professor goes away and leaves Eujae and Poll in confusion.

The two lads continue their date, albeit both baffled by what occurred.

At dusk, Eujae brings his boyfriend into an unfrequented field of colorful wildflowers. When he passed by this place with his motorcycle a few days ago, Poll immediately came to mind. He thought the male twin would love to see this scenery, knowing he likes to paint landscapes.

And Eujae is glad that he was right. He laughs, satisfied with observing the smaller man run into the field like a child.

Poll then stops playing. He whirls around to Eujae and reveals the thoughtful frown on his face.

Concerned, Eujae is just about to ask what is wrong when Poll shoots his questions first. "So what do you think about what Mr. JP told us about the red strings? Do you believe that it exists and that the two of us are tied by it?"

So he's still thinking about that.

In a gentle voice, Eujae answers, "Maybe it's true. Maybe it isn't. But if the red string does exist and it binds us together, it somehow explains the countless occasions we unexpectedly run into each other. I kind of want to think that it's the reason why, despite sounding implausible, we managed to meet in a gaming world, why Gaele and Ten-Ten found each other in the midst of other thousand players. If that's not destiny leading us to each other, then what else is it?"

Truth be told, even Eujae is not the type to buy into myths. Fiction is good for reading, but not for taking as reality. However, he decides that a little bit of fairy tale to the truth doesn't hurt from time to time.

When Poll doesn't answer, Eujae takes it as his cue to continue, "But I'll tell you what. Whether I believe in the existence of red string or not is not what matters. I told you before, didn't I? Regardless of what kind of history we had, I know we would have ended up with each other. I can say the same thing in this case. Destiny or not, I'm pretty sure I'll find you in whatever universe we are in. This is what I believe." He pauses only to give his boyfriend an adoring smile, then he murmurs the next couple of words like a solemn vow. "Even in a hundred parallel worlds, I'll still love you, Apollo."

Poll stays quiet, but his stifled grin doesn't escape Eujae even when the male twin lowers his head, probably to hide the giddy expression. There's no doubt about it, Apollo Helios Torres is the incarnation of adorable. His bright look never fails to sprinkle colors into anyone's day.

"Come here," Eujae says, extending his hand to beckon his boyfriend, yearning to feel his warmth.

Without further questions, Poll runs straight to Eujae and snuggles his face against the latter's shoulder, mumbling, "Me too. I'm still not sure if I wanna believe those things like soul mates and destiny, but if we're really fated for each other, then it's kinda reassuring 'cause that means we're gonna be always together, right?"

Eujae looks at his boyfriend dotingly, loving the way he fits in his arms as if he's really made for his embrace. He heaves a contented sigh and nuzzles the smaller man's fruit-scented hair.

"You don't need a red string to feel assured," Eujae whispers, kissing Poll's head. "Even without it, I can promise you that we'll stay with each other forever. Because now that I have you, there's no way I'll ever let you go."

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

AN: Heya! So that's it for Their Parallel Universe. This is the last chapter of this book, but no worries, this is not the end of Eujae and Poll's story. I said I was gonna write a couple of special chapters, and I decided to publish it as a separate book. No, it's not exactly a sequel; it's just gonna be a collection of stand-alone special chapters and most of them will include the reactions of their families and friends and other people about their relationship. And maybe just some scenes of them making you feel lonely and single. :P

Anyway, thank you very much to everyone who's been reading this story until the end. You're a big part of the reason I was able to finish it. There are plenty of times when I just thought of giving this up because I felt like there was no point to it anymore, but then I remembered there were still some of you who were waiting for updates. So thank you. All your comments and votes are very much appreciated. ❤

07.15.23 I just posted the first special chapter of Poll and Eujae's story. The book is titled Their Connected Worlds. Please check it out. 🤗