The Probability of Meeting Your Ex in a Heterosexual Dating Program

Chapter 34

Seo-jung pulled on Cha Yoon’s arm. Despite being much stronger than Seo-jung, Cha Yoon easily followed the pull and moved his feet.

At first, Cha Yoon seemed reluctant, but he quickly adapted and began exploring more enthusiastically than anyone else. It was hard to believe this was the same person who had complained about going to an amusement park, as he now looked so happy and excited.

Although it was a sparsely populated amusement park, they couldn’t completely avoid encountering other people. Whenever this happened, Seo-jung’s grip would unconsciously loosen, but he would quickly tighten his hold on Cha Yoon’s hand again, refusing to let go.

After excitedly exploring the amusement park for a while, closing time approached. The two chose the Ferris wheel as their last ride.

They boarded a red capsule that had just arrived among the colorful options. Despite having seats facing each other, they deliberately chose to sit side by side. Sitting with their shoulders touching, Seo-jung expressed his happiness about riding the red Ferris wheel.

“Why do you like it?”

“Because it reminds me of how red your face was earlier today. It’s cute.”

Seo-jung poked Cha Yoon’s cheek. Cha Yoon frowned at the teasing remark but soon smiled.

The Ferris wheel swayed as it moved upward. Just as Seo-jung was about to speak after looking at the sky through the glass, it happened.

“Yoon-ah.”

“Hyung.”

As if their minds were in sync, they called out to each other simultaneously. Seo-jung gestured for Cha Yoon to speak first.

Cha Yoon hesitated, moving his lips without speaking. As Seo-jung quietly waited for Cha Yoon to say something, it came:

“I’m sorry for upsetting you.”

Caught off guard by the unexpected apology, Seo-jung was at a loss for words. Seeing Seo-jung’s silence, Cha Yoon continued to pour out his unfinished thoughts.

“This isn’t your fault. It’s just because my personality is shitty.”

“…”

“That social awareness and people’s views you mentioned before, I honestly still don’t get it. I don’t get it, but…”

“…”

“I’ll try to understand.”

“So don’t try so hard anymore. I’ll do that, you just stay by my side.” Cha Yoon finished, rubbing the back of Seo-jung’s hand with his thumb.

It was like a confession. Seo-jung looked at Cha Yoon, who was quietly waiting for his response. A moment of silence passed between them.

“…I’m sorry.”

“Shit, why are you sorry? You didn’t do anything wrong.”

For making you give up so much. For not being able to let you go despite knowing this, because of my selfishness. Seo-jung swallowed these unspoken words. Instead, he carefully chose the words Cha Yoon would want to hear most.

“I like you a lot.”

At Seo-jung’s confession, Cha Yoon’s frown disappeared. Even in the darkness of the unlit capsule, Seo-jung could see Cha Yoon’s face turning much redder than it had been during the day.

“…I.”

“Yes?”

“I love you.”

“Really fucking much, more than anyone in the world. I could even give my life for you. Really.” Cha Yoon added, as if scraping together every superlative expression he could. It seemed almost laughable to say such things after only three months of dating, but that’s what made it so characteristically Cha Yoon. Seo-jung couldn’t help but smile at the childlike behavior.

“I see.”

“…”

“I love you too.”

In response to the returned words of love, Cha Yoon, as if unable to hold back any longer, pressed his lips against Seo-jung’s. Feeling Cha Yoon’s tongue urgently exploring, Seo-jung parted his lips. At the highest point they could reach in the amusement park, their lips met once again.

Joo-ah observed Seo-jung, who was staring at the stationary Ferris wheel, with a peculiar expression.

Something felt off. Since arriving at the amusement park, Ki Seo-jung had been noticeably subdued. At first, she thought he might be disappointed to see the closed amusement park, but she quickly dismissed the idea. Someone who always put others’ emotions first wouldn’t be so dejected over something like that.

There must be some other reason… As Joo-ah was lost in thought, glancing at Seo-jung, he suddenly spoke.

“There’s no path if we go this way. Let’s turn around.”

Seo-jung, who had been lost in thought, seemed to come to his senses and addressed Joo-ah. As they turned to go in the opposite direction as he suggested, a question mark appeared in Joo-ah’s mind.

How did Ki Seo-jung know there was no path that way? It was as if he had been here before… The moment this thought crossed her mind, an uneasy feeling began to creep up from deep within her.

Song Joo-ah’s choice of this place as a date spot had been purely coincidental. To participate in the dating program, they needed evidence that they had been dating, but having never actually been a couple, they had no such thing.

Joo-ah had searched Cha Yoon’s storage room to fabricate evidence, and that’s when she found the Polaroid photo of Cha Yoon with this amusement park in the background. Cha Yoon hated crowded places; there was no way he would have gone to an amusement park voluntarily.

“Cha Yoon, who did you come here with?”

“What?”

“…Surely, it wasn’t with that person, was it?”

“If I remembered, I wouldn’t have stuffed it away in that room.”

Unlike Joo-ah’s uneasy expression, Cha Yoon himself seemed indifferent.

“So, can I tell the production team we came here together?”

“Do whatever you want, just don’t bother me with questions.”

With Cha Yoon’s permission (or lack of objection), the Polaroid photo was handed over to the production team.

But was it really a photo taken by Ki Seo-jung? No, it couldn’t be… She tried to dismiss the thought, but the ominous feeling wouldn’t go away.

“Seo-jung, have you been here before?”

At her cautious question, Seo-jung stopped walking. Joo-ah, who had also stopped, looked at him as he finally spoke, forcing her to squeeze her eyes shut.

“Yes, somehow I have.”

Ah, Cha Yoon, you crazy bastard…

***

“Seo-jung, if you’re not feeling well, we can go home.”

Joo-ah, suddenly feeling guilty, found herself uncharacteristically concerned about Seo-jung’s mood. Seo-jung, whose specialty was observing others, couldn’t have missed this. It seemed his downcast mood was showing despite his attempts to hide it.

His emotions still showed no signs of improving. However, he didn’t want to make Song Joo-ah, who had done nothing wrong, uncomfortable. Pulling himself together, Seo-jung put on an even brighter smile.

“No, it’s fine. I’m enjoying being out after so long. Let’s quickly move on to the next part of our date.”

The two resumed their date. After leaving the amusement park, they had dinner nearby and went to a cafe. It was a typical date course.

As the sun began to set, a car carrying the two of them headed towards the X House.

“I really wanted to drive on the way back… You must be tired, Seo-jung.”

It was already dark when the two arrived at the X House. As she unfastened her seatbelt in the smoothly parked car, Joo-ah spoke. Not only had he not slept at all, but after what had happened during the day, Seo-jung felt like his eyes were about to pop out from a headache. Nevertheless, he shook his head.

“No, it’s okay.”

“If we go on another date, I’ll drive next time.”

Would there be another occasion for him to date Song Joo-ah? Though he hoped there wouldn’t be, Seo-jung just smiled in response.

Seeing Seo-jung smile despite his obvious fatigue made Joo-ah feel uncomfortable too. She let out a small sigh and brought up what she had wanted to say all along.

“I’m sorry, Seo-jung.”

“For what?”

“Just, well, for everything.”

In front of the cameras, she couldn’t go into detail about her mistakes. Her apology came out more vague than intended. Seo-jung seemed to think for a moment before speaking.

“Whatever it is, you don’t have anything to be sorry for, so don’t worry about it.”

“…”

“Now that we’re home, I’m feeling sleepy. Let’s go in, Joo-ah.”

Seo-jung put on his usual smile and unfastened his seatbelt. Following his lead, Joo-ah got out of the car. They walked through the garden and entered through the front door. As they entered the hallway, they could faintly hear the voices of other cast members.

Just as Seo-jung naturally bent down to pick up one of the remaining two pairs of slippers and place it in front of Joo-ah, he felt an odd prickling sensation on the back of his neck. He slowly straightened up.

“…”

“…”

As he raised his gaze, he saw Cha Yoon staring at him with a fierce expression.

Facing him brought back memories of what had happened earlier that day. More precisely, the memory of Cha Yoon replacing their shared memories with ones of Song Joo-ah. Seo-jung clenched his fist. Normally, he would have been the first to look away, but this time he met Cha Yoon’s gaze unflinchingly. The seemingly endless staring contest was interrupted by Joo-ah’s voice.

“Seo-jung, you must be so tired after driving all day.”

Joo-ah spoke as she put on the slippers Seo-jung had taken out for her. “Thank you for getting the slippers out too.” She patted Seo-jung’s shoulder in gratitude. Cha Yoon stared intently at Joo-ah’s hand on Seo-jung’s shoulder. His already fierce expression grew even colder.

Seo-jung noticed this change as well. The throbbing pain in his head seemed to intensify. He squeezed his eyes shut for a moment to collect himself. Then, he naturally stepped back, causing Joo-ah’s hand to fall away.

“Then, I’ll go up first.”

“Okay, you must be tired. Go and get some rest.”

Managing to say goodbye only to Joo-ah, Seo-jung left first. He brushed past Cha Yoon and climbed the stairs.

Seeing Ki Seo-jung pass by without a word pushed Cha Yoon’s anger, which had been building up, over the edge. What the fuck, acting like that when you haven’t done anything right. Cha Yoon followed Seo-jung, looking like he was about to cause trouble.

Joo-ah instinctively reached out to stop Cha Yoon but hesitated. She remembered how Cha Yoon had lashed out at her the night before. Cha Yoon’s eyes were already blazing with anger. If she carelessly said something and provoked him further, it could be bad for Seo-jung.

Hoping that nothing would happen, Joo-ah reluctantly moved her feet.

***

Cha Yoon, having gone up to the second floor, headed towards the room where Ki Seo-jung would be. His footsteps, louder than usual, seemed to reflect his heightened emotions.

Opening the tightly closed door, he saw Seo-jung’s back as he was taking off his outer clothing. Cha Yoon strode over and turned Seo-jung around to face him.

“You went on a date with Song Joo-ah today, didn’t you.”