The Probability of Meeting Your Ex on a Straight Dating Show Chapter 25

Only after confirming the phrase that appeared did Seojeong bury his head in his hands. He hadn’t realized 30 minutes could feel this long. Seojeong, who had been tormented by Cha Yoon throughout the entire chat time, felt completely drained.

Due to Dabin’s joining, Seojeong waited while the other cast members had two chat sessions. After another 30 minutes or so had passed, following the production team’s guidance that they could leave the talking room, he opened the door.

Seojeong reflexively flinched and shuddered. As soon as he came out, he made eye contact with Cha Yoon, who was standing there waiting like a wooden totem pole.

At Cha Yoon’s gesture, approaching as if he was about to speak right away, Seojeong immediately turned around and exited the building. Walking as if in a hurry, Seojeong couldn’t get past the 6cm wall and was caught by Cha Yoon in front of the X House gate.

Suho and Minwook, who had been following behind, saw the two of them and asked curiously.

“Oh, what are you two doing?”

At that, Seojeong tried to pull his captured wrist free. But the more he did, the more Cha Yoon tightened his grip.

Despite his angelically lovely appearance, there wasn’t a small part of Cha Yoon. On top of that, thanks to enjoying various activities, his already large body was full of muscles. It was only natural that Seojeong, who was rarely outmatched in strength anywhere, couldn’t easily break free.

If things went on like this, it was obvious that making any strong movement would only look stranger. After moving his arm a few more times, Seojeong stopped resisting.

“I have something to talk with Mr. Cha Yoon for a moment. Go on in first.”

“Ah, I see…. Okay, we’ll head in first then.”

Seojeong put on a pleasant smile as if nothing was wrong. The two, knowing well that Cha Yoon and Seojeong had clashed frequently over the past two days, nodded in understanding and entered the entrance.

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

As their eyes met, Cha Yoon opened his mouth as if he had been waiting.

“Explain.”

It was the start of the second round.

If he had known he’d be caught like this, he would have just said it was a meaningless question and left. Deep regret washed over him like a wave. Seojeong lowered his gaze and pressed his forehead like someone with a headache.

At that, Cha Yoon’s expression turned even fiercer. As the eyes that had been facing him turned elsewhere, his already bad mood sank even lower. The image of Seojeong, who had repeatedly looked elsewhere rather than at him over the past two days, flashed through his mind. Cha Yoon couldn’t hold back and pulled the arm he was holding.

“Why are you avoiding my eyes, exactly?”

As the hand gripping his wrist tightened, the already aching pain intensified. Seojeong moved his arm again as if to pull his wrist free.

“Let go of my hand first, then talk.”

“Look at me first.”

It was a voice that showed no intention of backing down. He didn’t know why he was so fixated on eye contact, but there was no way he could break that stubbornness. Seojeong lifted his head as Cha Yoon wanted.

“Fine. Now let go.”

Seojeong’s eyes, which had been directed at the ground, reached Cha Yoon. At that, Cha Yoon’s expression softened slightly. He felt the sharply drawn nerves loosen just from Seojeong looking at him again. It felt as if everything had returned to its rightful place.

“You keep running away.”

Remembering what happened in the talking room, Cha Yoon let go of his wrist only after giving a firm warning. As soon as the pressure was released, Seojeong rubbed his wrist. His grip was so strong that the red marks left where his hand had touched were visible even under the orange streetlight.

Cha Yoon also noticed the condition of Seojeong’s wrist. Hesitating for a moment, he added unnecessarily, as if embarrassed.

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

From Seojeong’s perspective listening, it was a remark better left unsaid. Yet at the same time, he found that tendency to blame everything on him somehow so typical of Cha Yoon. That self-centered nature was no different from what Cha Yoon had done in his early twenties, back then.

So Seojeong decided not to add anything more. It wasn’t a personality that could be fixed with a few words. He immediately got to the point.

“You said you’d explain.”

Cha Yoon, who hadn’t been able to take his eyes off Seojeong’s wrist, lifted his gaze at the word ‘explain’ and stared at Seojeong. Even so, he still kept glancing at the wrist. As if he were actually worried about him…

At the thought that suddenly came to mind, Seojeong shook his head. It was a ridiculous imagination. There’s no way he would worry about me, someone who’s just an unwanted past and an irritating presence.

His own greed, which kept popping its head up at the slightest opening, was laughable. Seojeong swallowed the bitterness lingering in his mouth.

Let’s finish talking quickly so I don’t have any more foolish dreams. Seojeong took a deep breath and began to speak.

“I don’t know why you thought that, but there was no other reason. Ms. Jua is my first date partner, and since I’m on this show, it’s only right that I do my part—I was just doing what I had to do.”

“Are you sure?”

At the words ‘first date partner,’ Cha Yoon’s expression turned crooked again, as if he had been waiting for it.

“If it was nothing, why did you run away without answering properly during the chat?”

“That’s…”

As Seojeong trailed off, Cha Yoon took a step closer.

“That’s what?”

“…”

“Stop trying to scheme and answer.”

Seeing Cha Yoon closing the distance as if pressuring him, Seojeong bit his lip. Stop trying to scheme. What does he think I was thinking to say something like that?

I was hurt seeing you sharpen your blade at my questions about Song Jua as if they were interest. I was jealous of Song Jua, who has become that kind of existence to you. So my petty feelings ended up doing something childish—truths he couldn’t voice out loud poked at his throat. As if they wanted to reach Cha Yoon’s ear right this moment.

But Seojeong knew. What Cha Yoon wanted wasn’t to hear his true, honest feelings. The story Cha Yoon wanted to hear was already set.

That he had no impure intentions toward Song Jua. That he had no intention of interfering between him and her. That he could rest assured. That was what he had to say. That was the role Cha Yoon had assigned to him.

Seojeong swallowed the truth he would never be able to bring out. The swallowed words left large and small scratches as they went down his throat, but he didn’t show it. Seojeong had always strived to live as others wanted him to be. Like a skilled actor, he composed his expression.

“It was just because time was up.”

“You couldn’t say that one thing because time was up? Does that make sense?”

“…”

“You’re trying to get closer to Song Jua, and you’re lying to me, aren’t you?”

Cha Yoon kept clinging to his words with a face full of distrust. The conversation started to wrap things up instead continued endlessly, as if it were yet another starting point.

He was sick of it and exhausted. As Cha Yoon’s pressure dragged on, the throbbing that had receded in bewilderment began again. Continuing the conversation any further was impossible.

“Mr. Cha Yoon.”

At the low baritone voice, Cha Yoon raised one eyebrow.

“If this is how it’s going to be, why did you even ask me? Just think whatever you want on your own.”

“…”

“I told you everything, Mr. Cha Yoon. So…”

Just as Seojeong was about to utter his final words to end the conversation.

Without warning, a buzzing vibration went off. Seojeong stopped mid-sentence and checked his phone.

❗ Messages for Day 2 can now be sent

Who made your heart flutter today? Send a message to that person to convey your feelings.

• Messages are delivered anonymously.

Had that much time already passed? He realized that much more time had passed than he thought. If they had been away for this long, someone might think it strange.

Taking his eyes off the screen, Seojeong was about to lift his head to suggest they go back into the X House.

“Mr. Cha Yoon, let’s stop here and…”

“Who are you going to send it to?”

Cha Yoon effortlessly cut off Seojeong’s words and asked. In one hand, he held his phone.

“Pardon?”

Seojeong asked back. He thought he might have misheard.

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

As if it weren’t a bother, Cha Yoon held up his phone as well and explained, just like he had in the bathroom.