The Probability of Meeting My Ex in a Heterosexual Dating Program

Chapter 19

As Cha Yoon approached, looking like he was about to speak, Seo-jung immediately turned around and left the building. Walking as if in alarm, Seo-jung was caught by Cha Yoon in front of the X House gate, unable to cross the 6cm threshold.

Soo-ho and Min-wook, who were following behind, saw the two and asked curiously:

“Oh, what are you two doing?”

At those words, Seo-jung tried to pull his wrist free. But Cha Yoon only tightened his grip.

Unlike his angelic, lovely appearance, there wasn’t a single part of Cha Yoon that wasn’t big. Moreover, due to his enjoyment of various activities, his already large body was full of muscle. It was natural that Seo-jung, who was no pushover when it came to strength, couldn’t easily break free.

In this situation, making forceful movements would only look strange. After moving his arm a few more times, Seo-jung stopped resisting.

“I have something to talk about with Cha Yoon for a moment. You guys go in first.”

“Ah… Okay, we’ll go in first then.”

Seo-jung smiled pleasantly, pretending nothing was wrong. Knowing that Cha Yoon and Seo-jung had been clashing frequently over the past two days, the two nodded and entered the front door.

With a bang, the gate closed. Soon after, the sound of the front door locking was heard. Only after confirming that just the two of them were left outside did Seo-jung turn his head.

As their eyes met, Cha Yoon spoke as if he had been waiting:

“Explain yourself.”

It was the start of round two.

If he had known he’d be caught like this, he would have said it was just a meaningless question and left. A wave of deep regret washed over him. Seo-jung lowered his gaze and pressed his forehead as if he had a headache.

Cha Yoon’s expression became even fiercer. When the eyes that had been meeting his looked away, his already bad mood worsened. The image of Seo-jung repeatedly looking elsewhere but at him over the past two days flashed through his mind. Cha Yoon couldn’t hold back and pulled on the arm he was holding.

“Why do you keep avoiding eye contact?”

As the hand gripping his wrist tightened, the already stiff pain doubled. Seo-jung moved his arm again as if trying to pull his wrist free.

“Let go of my hand first, then we’ll talk.”

“Look me in the eyes first.”

It was a voice that had no intention of backing down. Though he didn’t understand why Cha Yoon was fixated on eye contact, there was no way to break that stubbornness. Seo-jung raised his head as Cha Yoon wanted.

“There, satisfied? Now let go.”

Seo-jung’s eyes, which had been directed at the ground, met Cha Yoon’s. At this, Cha Yoon’s expression softened a little. Just by Seo-jung looking at him again, he felt the sharply pulled nerves relax. It felt as if everything had found its place.

“Don’t you dare run away again.”

Remembering the incident in the Talking Room, Cha Yoon gave a firm warning before finally releasing Seo-jung’s wrist. As soon as the force was gone, Seo-jung rubbed his wrist. Cha Yoon’s grip had been so strong that the red marks left by his hand were visible even under the orange streetlight.

Cha Yoon also noticed the state of Seo-jung’s wrist. He hesitated for a moment, and as if embarrassed, added unnecessarily:

“…Well, if you hadn’t avoided me, this wouldn’t have happened.”

From Seo-jung’s perspective, it was a statement better left unsaid. Yet, at the same time, the way Cha Yoon blamed everything on him felt characteristic of Cha Yoon. That self-centered nature was no different from how Cha Yoon had acted in his early twenties.

So Seo-jung decided not to add anything. It wasn’t a personality that could be changed with a few words. He went straight to the main point.

“You said to explain, right?”

Cha Yoon, who had been unable to take his eyes off the wrist, looked up at Seo-jung at the word “explain.” Yet he still couldn’t stop glancing at the wrist. As if he was actually worried…

Seo-jung shook his head at the sudden thought. It was an absurd imagination. How could Cha Yoon worry about him, who was just a past he wanted to erase and an annoying existence?

He found his own desire, which raised its head at the slightest opportunity, laughable. Seo-jung swallowed the bitterness in his mouth.

Let’s talk quickly and finish this so I don’t have any more futile dreams. Seo-jung took a deep breath and began to speak.

“I don’t know why you thought that, but there was no other reason. Joo-ah is my first date partner, and since I’m here, it’s right to do my part. I was just doing what I had to do.”

“Are you sure?”

As soon as the words “first date partner” came out, Cha Yoon’s expression became crooked again, as if he had never been considerate.

“If it was nothing, why didn’t you explain properly in the chat and just ran away?”

“That’s…”

As Seo-jung trailed off, Cha Yoon took a step closer.

“That’s what?”

“……”

“Don’t think too hard, just answer.”

Watching Cha Yoon close the distance as if pressuring him, Seo-jung bit his lip. Don’t think too hard? What did Cha Yoon think his intentions were to say such a thing?

Seeing you get upset, thinking my question about Song Joo-ah was out of interest, made me feel awful. I was jealous of Song Joo-ah for becoming such a person to you. So my childish feelings ended up doing something petty. These unspeakable truths pricked at his throat, as if they wanted to reach Cha Yoon’s ears right away.

But Seo-jung knew. What Cha Yoon wanted wasn’t to hear his real honest feelings. Cha Yoon had already decided what he wanted to hear.

That he had no impure intentions towards Song Joo-ah. That he had no thoughts of interfering between Cha Yoon and her. That Cha Yoon could rest assured. That’s what he needed to say. That was the role Cha Yoon had given him.

Seo-jung swallowed the truth he could never reveal. The words he swallowed left big and small scratches as they went down his throat, but he didn’t show it. Seo-jung had always tried to live up to others’ expectations. Like a skilled actor, he composed his expression.

“It was just because time was up.”

“You’re saying you couldn’t say that one thing because you didn’t have time? Does that make sense?”

“……”

“Aren’t you just lying to me when you actually want to get closer to Song Joo-ah?”

Cha Yoon, with an expression full of disbelief, continued to cling to every word. The conversation that started to wrap things up seemed to become another starting point, continuing endlessly.

It was tiresome and exhausting. As Cha Yoon’s pressing continued, the throbbing that had retreated in surprise started again. It was too much to continue the conversation any further.

“Cha Yoon.”

Cha Yoon raised an eyebrow at the low baritone voice.

“If you’re going to be like this, why did you ask me? Why don’t you just think whatever you want to think on your own?”

“……”

“I told you everything. So…”

Just as Seo-jung was about to utter his last words to end the conversation,

Without warning, a buzzing sound rang out. Seo-jung stopped mid-sentence and checked his phone.

! From now on, you can send Day 2 messages

Who made your heart flutter today? Express your feelings to that person through a message.

* Messages will be delivered anonymously.

Has it already been that long? He realized that much more time had passed than he thought. If the two of them were absent for so long, someone might find it strange.

Seo-jung looked up from the screen to suggest they go back into the X House.

“Cha Yoon, let’s stop this and…”

“Who are you going to send it to?”

Cha Yoon easily cut off Seo-jung’s words and asked. He was holding his phone in one hand.

“What?”

Seo-jung asked back. He thought he might have misheard.

“I’m asking who you’re going to send today’s message to.”

Cha Yoon, seemingly not bothered, explained while showing his phone, just like he had done in the bathroom.

Seo-jung swallowed a sigh as he looked at the swaying phone screen. He hadn’t misheard. Cha Yoon was opening up another argument. Just when he thought they had finally finished with the chat room issue, now Cha Yoon was latching onto the message.

Already exhausted from the continued verbal sparring, Seo-jung rubbed his face dry. Cha Yoon, unable to understand Seo-jung’s feelings, was only trying to get the answer he wanted to hear.

“Why aren’t you answering?”

“……”

“Don’t tell me you’re going to send it to Song Joo-ah?”

And Cha Yoon once again brought up Song Joo-ah’s name. At the same time, the conversations he had with Cha Yoon throughout the evening came flooding back. Seo-jung clenched his fist. Even in this moment when he had lost his memories, Cha Yoon easily drove Seo-jung to the edge with just a few words. Finally, the thin mask cracked.

“Yes.”