The Probability of Meeting My Ex in a Heterosexual Dating Program

Chapter 27

“What are you trying to do? Are you mocking me right now?”

“Mocking? Why would I do such a thing to you, Cha Yoon?”

“Then what’s that?”

If that wasn’t mocking, then what was it? Cha Yoon pointed at the phrase written in neat, clear handwriting. To anyone looking, it seemed full of sarcastic intent. Especially the last line, which grated on Cha Yoon’s nerves. That sentence, almost like a “Beware of Dog” warning sign.

“I don’t see what the problem is. I just wanted to honor what you said and found my own way to do it.”

“The biggest problem is that you don’t see what the problem is.”

As the conversation continued, Cha Yoon’s voice grew louder without limit. In contrast, Seo-jung standing opposite maintained a calm demeanor like a placid lake. This made Cha Yoon even more agitated. While he was fuming, the other’s composure only added to his frustration.

It felt like he had lost all control of the situation, just like the day before. He needed to regain that control. Just as he was about to sharpen his words to shake Seo-jung…

Jung Soo-ho prevented a bloodbath. Perhaps because the conversation in the hallway had grown too loud, Soo-ho, who had been in the room, quietly opened the door. Peeking his head out, he looked at the two with an expression that seemed to say, “What’s going on this time?” and stepped out.

“What are you doing?”

“Oh, it’s nothing.”

Seo-jung smiled warmly. Watching Seo-jung wave his hand, Cha Yoon let out a disbelieving laugh. Nothing, my foot. It was a fucking big deal. Cha Yoon looked at Seo-jung with an incredulous expression, but Seo-jung only looked at Soo-ho.

With his gaze directed at someone else, Cha Yoon’s already sour mood plummeted further. He should send that bastard back in first and then talk with Seo-jung alone. This was ‘their’ business after all.

“I came out because I could hear you two talking loudly.”

“So what? This is our business, so mind your own…”

“Was it? I’m sorry if we were loud.”

Seo-jung cut off Cha Yoon’s prickly words. Cha Yoon raised one eyebrow. Why interrupt when someone’s talking? It wasn’t really Cha Yoon’s place to say this, given how often he cut others off, but at twenty-two, he didn’t know how to put himself in others’ shoes. Cha Yoon frowned without a shred of conscience.

And why apologize? It was this guy who thoughtlessly butted into ‘our’ problem in the first place. There wasn’t a single thing he liked about this situation.

“We were setting rules to follow in the room.”

Regardless of Cha Yoon’s unreasonable tantrum, Seo-jung packaged it as ‘rule adjustment’. At the mention of rules, Jung Soo-ho blinked for a moment before clapping his hands.

“Ah, you’re setting cohabitation rules!”

“What?”

Soo-ho’s words were utterly baffling. Seo-jung asked back with an awkward expression. It meant to stop the nonsense.

“You two are finally setting cohabitation rules like a married couple!”

However, Soo-ho, excited, continued to babble nonsense without understanding the meaning.

Cohabitation. Living together in one house or room. Or people who aren’t married living together in a marital relationship. If thinking of the former meaning, it wasn’t entirely wrong. But Soo-ho had even said “like a married couple.” There was no way Cha Yoon would take it in the former sense.

Seo-jung could already picture Cha Yoon about to go berserk. Why did he always have to clean up messes others created? Swallowing the rising headache, he glanced at Cha Yoon.

And Seo-jung was surprised by Cha Yoon’s unexpected reaction. Contrary to the expectation that he would cause a scene, Cha Yoon had his mouth tightly shut like a clam. His face was even flushed red.

The bewilderment was brief. A thought crossed his mind that this might be the preparation stage for unleashing a massive outburst.

Cha Yoon was already a troublemaker and instigator. He couldn’t let him clash with other cast members besides himself.

Seo-jung hurriedly grabbed Cha Yoon’s sleeve to take him back to the room. Or rather, he tried to.

But what he actually caught was Cha Yoon’s bare wrist. He felt Cha Yoon flinch the moment his hand made contact. It was a predicament. What if he shook off his hand, saying to remove his dirty hands? Seo-jung tensed up.

But contrary to his concerns, even after several seconds passed, Cha Yoon stood still without moving for some reason. Was he still building up his anger gauge? Whatever it was, Seo-jung was relieved that Cha Yoon was staying put. Seo-jung quickly moved to wrap up the situation.

“Well then, Cha Yoon and I will go back in…”

Just as he was about to finish the conversation with a polite smile.

“What’s so funny?”

Gong Min-wook, who had been inside all along, opened the door and came out. It was terrible timing. Why now of all times… Seo-jung bit the inside of his cheek.

“What’s that? ‘No knocking and entry prohibited’?”

“They say they’re making cohabitation rules together!”

“Cohabitation rules? What cohabitation rules?”

Soo-ho, seemingly pleased that his roommate had come out, rattled on about what had just happened. He bounced around like an excited puppy. While he appeared to have no ill intentions, to Seo-jung, it felt more vicious than ever.

“You two were bickering so much at first, but you’ve really become close.”

“Yeah, I guess so.”

“Ah, I’m getting a bit jealous—”

Should we make some too, Soo-ho? Is that okay? I’d like that! The two chattering away disappeared into their room in an instant. Seo-jung let out a long sigh as he watched the closed door.

He had put out the urgent fire, but there was no time to catch his breath. It was because of the enormous blaze of disaster waiting for Seo-jung.

How to calm Cha Yoon down this time? It seemed hopeless, but it wasn’t a problem that would be solved by postponing it. Let’s face it head-on. Seo-jung closed his eyes deeply, then opened them and turned towards Cha Yoon.

“……”

“……”

After 3 seconds of silence, Seo-jung belatedly realized that he was still holding Cha Yoon’s wrist. He quickly let go.

“Ah, I’m sorry if that made you uncomfortable.”

“……”

Even at the words of apology, Cha Yoon silently looked down at his wrist that had been held. Although there wasn’t a single mark from how gently it had been held, he rubbed his wrist. It was exactly where Seo-jung’s hand had touched. Silence fell between the two again.

As the quiet lengthened, Seo-jung grew more anxious. He needed to change the subject before Cha Yoon found something to nitpick about.

As he rolled his eyes busily, he spotted the warning sign.

Cha Yoon hadn’t liked that warning sign from the beginning. And now, after hearing all that talk about cohabitation, he must hate the sight of it.

It didn’t seem like a bad idea to try and divert attention by taking it down. After all, Seo-jung had only done it to irritate Cha Yoon in the first place. If he could end the situation by getting rid of it, it would be a win-win for him too.

Having found a solution, Seo-jung casually broached the subject.

“Cha Yoon, if you don’t like the warning sign, let’s just take it down.”

“Let’s go in.”

“Yes, I think taking it down would be bet… What?”

“Leave it alone.”

After finishing his words, Cha Yoon cleared his throat and strode into the room. Left alone, Seo-jung stared at the paper neatly stuck to the wall.

…Is he just leaving it there like that?

It was a completely different reaction from what he had expected, thinking Cha Yoon would tear it down immediately, or maybe even rip it to shreds.

“…I really can’t figure out what he’s thinking.”

Seo-jung shook his head.

Whatever it was, it was good that things were resolved well. Seo-jung patted his shoulder with his fist and then followed into the room. The door opened and closed. The warning sign fluttered in the breeze before settling down again.

***

As soon as he entered the room, Seo-jung’s eyes met with Cha Yoon, who was restlessly pacing around. It was as if he had been staring at the door the whole time.

Cha Yoon seemed to flinch for a moment before turning around and sitting on his bed. Seo-jung shrugged and headed to his own spot.

Cha Yoon’s strange behavior continued afterward. It was like something an elementary school boy might do to get attention, like clearing his throat or patting his perfectly fine bed with his palm.

At first, Seo-jung would turn his head at the sounds, but after it happened a few times, he lightly ignored it and went about his business. It was when he returned to the room after putting the washed clothes from the utility room into the dryer. As soon as the door opened, Cha Yoon spoke.

“I heard your phone vibrate.”

“What?”

“I think something came in while you were using the washing machine, so you should check.”

Cha Yoon said this while nodding towards the phone on Seo-jung’s bed.

“Ah, thank you.”

“It’s fine, just hurry up and check it.”

He answered while glancing at the wall clock, his own phone tightly gripped in one hand. Seo-jung reluctantly nodded.

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