The Probability of Meeting My Ex in a Heterosexual Dating Program

Chapter 15

As with most dating shows, another casual drinking gathering was arranged. Unlike the first day’s drinking session, the atmosphere was much more lively. This was due to a notification that had arrived about 10 minutes ago.

! From today, you can reveal each other’s occupations.

Upon receiving the notification, the participants, with faces full of anticipation, unanimously suggested having the occupation reveal session right away. Among them, only Cha Yoon and Ki Seo-jung seemed displeased, just like before.

The participants gathered in the living room. Amidst the excited crowd, Ki Seo-jung bit his lip nervously. He could clearly imagine the reactions when his and Cha Yoon’s occupations would be revealed. While others were chattering away, Seo-jung struggled to find an appropriate response.

Jung Soo-ho, who had been rolling his eyes, suddenly raised his hand.

“Shall we start with me and go clockwise?”

Unlike the previous night, perhaps because it was a relatively lighter topic, the order moved quite quickly.

“So Sae-young is a pastry chef, that explains your good hand skills.”

“I’d love to try Sae-young’s desserts someday.”

“Haha, I’ll make some for you tomorrow if you’d like.”

After each occupation introduction, compliments about how well it suited the person were followed by small talk related to the job. As they went through each person, it was soon Cha Yoon’s turn.

“I’m really curious about Cha Yoon’s job.”

“Me too. It’s hard to guess.”

“Just looking at his appearance, isn’t he obviously a celebrity?”

“Min-wook, I totally agree.”

Amidst various speculations, Ki Seo-jung swallowed hard.

“Cha Yoon, what do you do? Are you really a celebrity?”

As multiple gazes focused on him, Cha Yoon opened his mouth.

“I was a pilot.”

“Ah.”

Exclamations of admiration erupted at the impressive profession. Only Seo-jung reacted to the past tense “was.” He was caught off guard by the unexpected revelation. Ki Seo-jung clenched his fist.

‘My son might not be able to become a pilot like he wanted because of you, and you dare to come here?’

‘There’s a limit to how shameless a person can be.’

‘This is why those who grew up without parents…’

Words he had heard somewhere echoed chaotically in his ears. Seo-jung squeezed his eyes shut. He wanted to cover his ears from the repetitive, loud noises. But of course, that wouldn’t stop the auditory hallucinations. In an instant, Seo-jung’s face turned pale white.

Cha Yoon was the first to notice Seo-jung’s change. It was natural. While everyone else was looking at the person introducing their occupation, Cha Yoon had been constantly watching Seo-jung.

Shit, what’s wrong with him? Just as the surprised Cha Yoon was about to stand up,

“Now, it’s Seo-jung’s turn!”

Kim Sae-young, sitting next to him, called out Seo-jung’s name. The loud female voice cut through the buzzing in his ears, and Seo-jung’s eyes snapped open.

“Haa… Ah, yes.”

Seo-jung barely managed to speak. His heart was still racing, and cold sweat ran down his spine. Nevertheless, Seo-jung had to pretend everything was fine. A gentle curve appeared on Seo-jung’s lips. It was the bright smile he had practiced countless times in front of the mirror.

In contrast to Seo-jung’s expression, Cha Yoon’s face turned sour.

You’re sweating bullets, what’s there to smile about? Shit, are you an idiot?

He disliked everything about the situation. The people who sat Ki Seo-jung down to hear about something so trivial, and Ki Seo-jung himself who couldn’t say he wasn’t feeling well and was going along with it. It all irritated him.

Unaware of Cha Yoon’s boiling irritation, Ki Seo-jung began his introduction.

“I’m… an air traffic controller.”

“An air traffic controller? The one who communicates with airplanes from the control tower?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Wow! This is my first time meeting an air traffic controller. That’s so cool.”

“I thought your speech was neat, so that’s why. It’s amazing.”

Seeing the participants’ sparkling eyes, Seo-jung put on another practiced smile. That’s when Yeo Ji-yoon, who had been sitting quietly, clapped her hands.

“Oh? Wait a minute!”

“Yes?”

“Cha Yoon said his job was a pilot, right? Then you two might have worked together before.”

“Oh, that’s true! Are you two acquainted or something?”

Seo-jung’s face stiffened reflexively. It was adding insult to injury. The conversation he had been dreading popped up as if on cue.

Song Joo-ah and the other participants looked back and forth between Cha Yoon and Ki Seo-jung with eyes full of interest.

Were they just acquaintances? The two knew so much about each other that it would be harder to find something they didn’t know.

They had also encountered each other professionally quite often. This was all the result of Seo-jung’s efforts.

On days when Cha Yoon had a flight, Seo-jung would adjust his schedule and go to the airport even on his days off. It was out of a desire to see Cha Yoon off as he left Korea.

Of course, now that Cha Yoon had become a first officer, there were hardly any chances for direct communication. Still, Seo-jung wanted to convey his wishes for a safe flight to the plane Cha Yoon was on.

And as he watched the plane carrying Cha Yoon depart, he hoped for the day when he could directly communicate with Cha Yoon.

Then came that day. As usual, Ki Seo-jung sent a communication to the plane preparing for takeoff.

‘KA 1248, line up and wait, Runway 7.’

‘Line up and wait, Runway 7, KA 1248.’

Seo-jung’s body flinched at the reply. A calm voice, devoid of its usual playfulness. It was Cha Yoon.

Seo-jung swallowed. As the situation he had longed for actually arrived, words didn’t come easily. Ah… At the sound that escaped involuntarily, a small laugh came through the radio along with static noise. Seo-jung, now coming to his senses, hurriedly communicated.

‘Cleared for takeoff, Runway 7, KA 1248.’

‘Cleared for takeoff, Runway 7, KA 1248. I’ll be back, Controller.’

At the quietly delivered greeting, Seo-jung swallowed dryly. He added the words he had always wanted to say to Cha Yoon.

‘Have a safe flight and take care, First Officer Cha Yoon.’

There was a moment of silence between the two after the heartfelt message. Ki Seo-jung waited for Cha Yoon’s final communication, feeling his heart pounding. Soon, along with a static noise, laughter flowed through.

‘Controller Ki Seo-jung, sleep well too.’

‘…’

‘I’ll return safely.’

The reply came filled with deep affection, hoping that Seo-jung, left alone in the big house, wouldn’t toss and turn all night. With the promise to return, the static cut off. Following Seo-jung’s instructions, the plane carrying Cha Yoon safely left the runway and rose into the sky. That was their first and last communication.

The fact that it was now a memory only he possessed left a bitter taste in his mouth. Seo-jung ran his tongue along the inside of his cheek. When he moved his eyes, he saw people still waiting for an answer.

Right, this wasn’t the time to be lost in sentimental thoughts. Just as Seo-jung was about to give the answer he had prepared in advance,

“Well, I don’t remember.”

Seo-jung couldn’t say anything. It was because Cha Yoon, who he thought wouldn’t say much, spoke before him. At the indifferent response, the participants’ expectations deflated like a balloon.

Among the people who had lost interest, only Seo-jung flinched.

I don’t remember. Seo-jung knew the meaning behind those words. That’s why those words, which might sound meaningless to others, resonated differently with Seo-jung, who knew everything.

It felt like being finished off. It was as if he was saying that now, only you remain in the memories we shared. A throbbing pain rose from his palm. Seo-jung, who had clenched his fist tightly, uttered the words he couldn’t say before.

“I don’t remember well either. But maybe we might have communicated once or twice.”

“I guess it would be difficult to recognize just by voice.”

Despite the difficulty in speaking, his voice came out quite convincingly. As bland answers continued, the participants completely lost interest. In the space they left behind to find other topics of conversation, only Cha Yoon and Ki Seo-jung remained.

A faint line appeared between Cha Yoon’s brows as he watched Seo-jung rubbing his face dry. Cha Yoon was irritated by Ki Seo-jung, who still didn’t look well.

But judging from the previous day, it was obvious that Ki Seo-jung would stay until the very end. Thinking it would be better to step in himself rather than wait for that pushover to speak up, he stood up.

Ding dong-

Just as Cha Yoon abruptly stood up, the doorbell rang. It was an incredibly inconvenient timing.