The Reluctant Manny

Episode Twenty-Five

"It's so good to see you again, Minj. You're still just as beautiful as you were the last time I saw you."

"What are you doing back in Korea, Ethan?" Minji was fighting a rush of panicked feelings. This man was not on her list of favorite people.

"I know it's been a while. I felt we left things so unsettled." His dashing smile made Minji struggle with her feelings.

"I thought you left things pretty clear."

"Well, let's just agree that we were both wrong."

The music continued to play, and Ethan's hand around Minji's waist felt like it was searing her skin through the dress.

"You left me because you were ashamed," she replied, angry tears filling her eyes.

"No, doll, I wasn't ashamed. My father had just given me an ultimatum. I would have been completely disowned if we stayed together. That wouldn't have been fair to you. You deserved much more. And now I can give that to you. Remember everything I showed you? It can be reality now."

Minji narrowed her eyes as she looked over his shoulder, doing her best to avoid his eyes.

"Two months ago my father died. The old man left me set for life. And now that everything has been sorted, I am free to do what I wish. I still love you, Minji. I've kept up with your work. I flew in to explain myself, so I headed to Namjoon's office first. They said he was here. I'm glad I could be here for this. You deserve it all."

He leaned closer to her, but she turned her face away from him. He kept his smile, but his eyes showed clear disappointment.

"Ethan, let's go talk." Namjoon appeared beside the couple, grabbing Ethan's upper arm in a firm grip. His tone was terse, and Minji was so happy to see her friend.

She tugged herself from Ethan's grip and spun around, making her way over to Jin.

"Minji, who was that guy?" Jin looked over Minji's head to see Namjoon dragging the man away from the crowded dance floor and out a side door.

"Jin, can we just go outside for some air?" Minji kept her eyes lowered, her hands fidgeting with her dress.

Jin didn't question why she asked, though he definitely wanted to, but instead he silently led her outside of the club, taking an exit opposite of the one Namjoon took.

Once outside on the front patio, Jin walked her over to a low concrete wall and sat down, keeping Minji in front of him. "Minji, talk to me. Who was that? What did he do to you? Did he say something?"

Minji couldn't afford to look up into those caring eyes, and so she just kept staring down at his black dress shoes bracketing her own shoes. She tried to swallow back the lump of fresh tears that had pushed their way up into her throat.

Jin held her hands gently in his own, his thumbs caressing the backs of them. "Come here."

He stood, and Minji backed up a step to make room for him to stand in front of her. He wrapped his arms around her, holding her close, his chin resting on her head.

The dam holding back Minji's tears broke, spilling all of her raw emotions and anger out onto Jin's jacket in the form of steady tears. She hiccuped through a few sobs and Jin just continued to hold her.

After a few moments, she breathed deeply and laid her head on Jin's chest.

"He is my ex," she whispered.

"Okay. Want to tell me about him?"

Minji nodded slowly, still unsure if she really wanted to open that box of hurt. She knew she needed to explain some of it, because of how much she had reacted to Ethan's reappearance.