Chapter 5- Charade
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"Jang Mi, what does it mean when ex keeps the date of your first meet as his phone password?"
"He still likes you, obviously," Jang Mi responded in a matter-of-fact tone, leaving Hong Cha Young's heart to skip a beat.
"But what if he was the one who initiated the breakup?" Hong Cha Young pressed, trying to mask the desperation in her voice.
"Then maybe he regrets it," Jang Mi speculated, narrowing her eyes, "Who is this ex you're referring to?"
Clearing her throat and willing herself to stay composed, Hong Cha Young replied, "Not mine. It's a friend's. I'm asking on her behalf."
Han Seo, enjoying the meal Hong Cha Young had prepared as a congratulatory gift for their pregnancy, interjects, "Noona, you don't have any friends."
"Be quiet," she snapped, her irritation barely concealing the turmoil brewing inside her.
...
"Aniya, Jiah ah," Hong Cha Young shook her head, her frustration mounting. "But what if he consistently sets boundaries and makes it clear he doesn't want to be around my friend?"
"What if he's just pretending to dislike her?" Jiah suggested gently.
"But why would he do that?" Hong Cha Young's voice wavered, betraying her inner conflict.
"People have their reasons, Ms. Hong. Not everyone breaks up because they no longer love the other person. Sometimes, they realize they aren't right for each other."
...
"Even though I think this ex seems problematic, he must still have feelings for your friend. I don't believe he hates her," Jun Woo says, his tone softening after the cursing session he had for her "friend's" ex.
"My friend doesn't believe he still has feelings for her," Hong Cha Young said, her voice barely above a whisper.
"He probably does, Ms. Hong. Your friend might be in denial because it's difficult to accept that the person who ended their relationship and caused her pain may still loves her," Jun Woo suggested, his words striking a chord deep within her.
...
"It means he cares about your friend. Keeping a loved one's photo as a wallpaper or something personal like a date as a password is a subtle way of showing their importance." Miri commented while driving Hong Cha Young home.
"By the way, who is this friend you're always asking about?" Miri asked, glancing through the rearview mirror to see Hong Cha Young gazing out the window, her mind a whirlwind of emotions.
"Just someone," she sighed, her voice heavy with unspoken words. "Someone close and complicated."
The same response, again and again.
Hong Cha Young stared out the window, the city lights blurring into streaks of color. She was tired—tired of pretending, tired of hiding her feelings, and tired of the constant battle within her. But most of all, she was scared.
Every time she thought about why Vincenzo still kept the date of their first meeting as his phone password, a storm of confusion and conflict brewed inside her. Why would he hold on to such a significant detail if he was the one who ended things? The thought gnawed at her, making her restless. She wanted nothing more than to march up to him and demand an explanation. But the fear of reopening old wounds and breaking their finally built professional relationship stopped her. They had finally come to a mutual agreement to stay good to each other, at least most of the time. As much as she hated it, she liked how both didn't have to act like exes and could talk without any burden, though their conversations were limited to work. Bringing back their past to him for answers sacred her because... wouldn't that just break their dynamic?
