The Probability of Meeting Your Ex in a Heterosexual Dating Program

Chapter 33

Joo-ah brought up the question she had been wanting to ask Seo-jung. The clues she had found while doing the dishes together weren’t enough to be certain that Seo-jung still had feelings for Cha Yoon.

She didn’t forget to say “someone else who has strong feelings for you” instead of “a new person.” After all, Cha Yoon, whom Seo-jung had dated before, couldn’t be called a new person. This was Joo-ah’s own way of giving a hint.

However, Seo-jung, unable to understand her intentions, couldn’t easily open his mouth. To him, Song Joo-ah was Cha Yoon’s ex-girlfriend and someone who knew that he and Cha Yoon had been lovers. These two facts quickly distorted the meaning of Joo-ah’s sincerity. He thought, ‘Song Joo-ah is worried that I might show lingering feelings for Cha Yoon.’

“What you’re concerned about won’t happen, Joo-ah.”

Ki Seo-jung gave the best response he could and smiled. There was no lie in his words. Although he was still struggling with unresolved feelings for Cha Yoon, he didn’t dream of getting back together with the Cha Yoon who had lost his memories.

Joo-ah frowned slightly at his vague words. This wasn’t the answer she wanted. Just as she was about to open her mouth to probe further, thinking she might have been too indirect,

“Joo-ah, can you look at the navigation with me?”

“…Ah, yes. I’ll do that. It looks like we turn left after one more block.”

Seo-jung spoke first, changing the flow of the conversation. Joo-ah felt frustrated at not getting an answer. But she thought they could talk during the date. Having sorted out her thoughts, Joo-ah followed Seo-jung’s request.

And it wasn’t long after that when Joo-ah got the answer she wanted.

[You have arrived at your destination.]

The car stopped with the navigation voice. Song Joo-ah unfastened her seatbelt and turned to Ki Seo-jung.

“We’re finally here.”

Joo-ah smiled, tucking her hair behind her ear. On the other hand, Ki Seo-jung remained frozen in the parked car, unable to move.

No words came out. He knew he should say something to Song Joo-ah, but he could barely breathe, as if his throat was completely blocked.

Although he didn’t know the exact address, he had thought it was strangely familiar. It was natural since the memory had come back to him from the moment the destination was set.

Unfortunately, this was a place Ki Seo-jung knew. And he knew it very well. Just as everyone has memories buried in specific places, this was such a place for Ki Seo-jung.

“Seo-jung.”

“…”

“Seo-jung?”

He wanted to ask if she had set the wrong destination. No matter how much he tried to think of it as a coincidence, he couldn’t.

The cherry blossoms in full bloom. A spring day with flower petals raining down appeared before his eyes. Ki Seo-jung struggled to suppress the emotions welling up inside him.

“…Is this the place you mentioned, Joo-ah?”

Ki Seo-jung spoke in a subdued voice, trying his best to compose himself. Song Joo-ah blinked and nodded.

“Yes, that’s right.”

“…”

“Oh, but what should we do? It seems to be closed down.”

Song Joo-ah scratched her nape, looking embarrassed. As she said, the old amusement park was abandoned. It was definitely different from back then.

This was the place Cha Yoon and Ki Seo-jung had visited to celebrate their 100 days anniversary. For both Cha Yoon and Ki Seo-jung, celebrating their first 100 days was more precious than any other day.

It was Ki Seo-jung who had purposely found this place where the cherry blossoms bloomed exceptionally beautifully, but was difficult to operate due to the lack of visitors.

It was their first date where they didn’t have to worry about other people’s eyes. With almost no visitors, it gave the illusion that only the two of them were left in the world. That’s why it was happier and always remained in his heart.

They had promised to come back again, linking their pinkies, but had Cha Yoon kept that promise with Song Joo-ah?

He wondered if this was what it felt like to have your blood run cold. Ki Seo-jung looked at the colorless amusement park, having lost all will.

Seo-jung’s eyes trembled as he looked up at the trees with lush green leaves. The cherry blossoms that had rained down like snow were nowhere to be seen, as if they had never bloomed.

Just like Cha Yoon and Ki Seo-jung’s relationship.

“Um… since we’re here anyway, shall we take a short walk around?”

Joo-ah, who had approached the silent Seo-jung, asked casually. Seo-jung looked down at Joo-ah, who was shorter than him.

The date location had been predetermined, and he was the one who had chosen it. Everything was a coincidence, and it was just his bad luck. Having barely composed his fluctuating emotions, Seo-jung forced a smile and answered.

“…Yes, let’s do that.”

Seo-jung walked slowly, matching Joo-ah’s pace. There was no conversation between the two. If it were the usual Seo-jung, he would have spoken first and led the conversation, but now he didn’t have the energy for that.

As he walked according to Joo-ah’s pace, the scenery naturally stayed in Seo-jung’s eyes longer. As the amusement park came into view, memories awakened one by one, as if hatching from eggs.

A man liking another man. That was Seo-jung’s biggest weakness.

Seo-jung was afraid of deviating from the standards set by society. Abandoned by his parents from birth, he was a person with weak roots in the world. So he would easily falter at even meaningless words from people.

Therefore, it was natural for his identity to become a weakness. He couldn’t bear the situation of being pointed at by numerous people.

After many twists and turns, he finally ended up with Cha Yoon, but his thoughts still remained unchanged. Ki Seo-jung didn’t want anyone to find out about his relationship with Cha Yoon. When they were outside, he wouldn’t even put his arm around Cha Yoon’s shoulders, a common gesture. He didn’t want to arouse even the slightest suspicion.

‘Hey, what’s this? Are you two dating?’

People easily trampled on Seo-jung’s efforts. There were many eyes watching the two of them wherever they went. It was natural since the two of them, with their noticeable appearances, were always together. Seeing Cha Yoon and Ki Seo-jung together every day, people would casually joke about whether they were dating.

Of course, he knew it was just a joke without any real meaning. Nevertheless, Seo-jung felt his heart drop every time. He pretended to be nonchalant on the surface, but inside it was different. On days when he heard such things, his compulsion worsened.

Cha Yoon, who didn’t know how to read others’ feelings, couldn’t understand Seo-jung’s behavior. Seo-jung envied and loved Cha Yoon’s unwavering strength, but that feeling couldn’t prevent conflicts between them.

It was when they were nearly three months into their relationship. The 22-year-old Cha Yoon, unable to hold back anymore, exploded in anger.

‘Ki Seo-jung, are you ashamed of me?’

‘What are you talking about?’

‘If not, then why are you acting like this?’

‘…’

‘Damn it, why are you treating me like I’m some contagious patient, not letting me get near you?’

You’re mine, so why can’t I touch you as I please? Watching the fuming Cha Yoon, Seo-jung tried to explain clearly. But Cha Yoon, with a completely different mechanism from Seo-jung, couldn’t understand those words. It was as if the two were speaking different languages.

The conversation dragged on. But neither of them would bend their thoughts, and neither tried to listen to the other, so the conversation just went in circles.

It was when they were continuing this cold war. Their 100th day was approaching, and childish as it might be, Seo-jung didn’t want to let their first anniversary pass without celebration. That’s why he chose this place. Because he wanted to give Cha Yoon what he wanted.

‘You said we were going somewhere nice, but an amusement park? We’re not kids.’

Perhaps because his anger hadn’t subsided, Cha Yoon was still grumbling. Maybe because it was a special day, Seo-jung found even this behavior cute. He smiled gently at Cha Yoon, who was standing awkwardly with a sullen expression, and said,

‘For me, anywhere I go with you is nice.’

‘…’

‘Let’s go in quickly.’

After finishing his words, Seo-jung carefully took Cha Yoon’s hand. Their fingers intertwined, fitting perfectly. Cha Yoon looked down at their interlocked hands with a surprised expression. His gaze, which had been directed downward for a while, reached Seo-jung.

His stiff face could have been mistaken for anger. But Seo-jung knew. He knew that Cha Yoon’s true feelings were in the tips of his bright red ears. It seemed like he wanted to ask what this was all about, but the words wouldn’t come out. Seo-jung chuckled and answered the silent question.

‘You said I’m yours. Then you’re mine too.’

‘…’

‘Since you’re mine, I’ll touch you as I please. Any complaints?’

Seo-jung playfully squeezed their joined hands tightly and then relaxed his grip. Cha Yoon flinched. Seo-jung found joy and excitement among the confusion Cha Yoon was feeling.

A breeze picked up for a moment. The large cherry tree behind Cha Yoon shook, and cherry blossom petals rained down. Cha Yoon, looking at him through the falling cherry blossom petals, was so lovable that Seo-jung kissed him right on the lips.

The kiss ended briefly. With a soft sound, Seo-jung’s face moved away. Although it wasn’t planned, he didn’t regret his impulsive action. Even if he could turn back time, Seo-jung would make the same choice.

As if unable to understand what had happened so suddenly, Cha Yoon just blinked for a moment. About three seconds passed like that. Soon, the color that had been at the tips of his ears spread, and Cha Yoon’s face turned red. Seeing his flushed face gave Seo-jung a bit more courage.

‘Let’s go.’