We decided not to cross the line (Season 2)

Episode 44. An Unexpected Encounter

I had barely seen him when

I quickly turned my head forward.





But maybe he noticed my movement too, because

he soon turned to look my way.






"Jung-ah!"






"Ha..."






Without even hesitating, he

moved over to the seat beside me and sat down.





"Did you come alone?"





"Yes..."





"Look at me."






I reluctantly turned my head and looked at him.





"Why is your face so gaunt?

Did something happen?"





"Hoon-ji... Let's just

watch the movie separately.

I don't really want to talk..."






I turned my gaze back to the screen.

Even so, the gaze I felt from beside me

didn't go away easily.






"With the CEO..."






"I broke up."






"Ah..."






Only then did he turn his head forward.




With Hoon-ji sitting in the next seat,

I couldn't make out

what the movie was even about.





I thought about just leaving,

but I didn't want to look like I was avoiding him.





'Why did he come to see this movie at this time?

And why did he come alone?

Is he not seeing anyone yet?'





As I kept asking myself one question after another,

the movie had ended before I knew it

and the end credits were rolling.





"Take care going home."





I said goodbye to him first

and stood up from my seat.





He quietly followed me out.





As I went down on the first floor,

he followed me down and asked,





"Your car?"





"I walked here."





"I'll drive you home."





"It's okay. I'll just walk."





He grabbed my arm and stopped me.





"Wait!!

Get in. It's late at night."




I didn't want to struggle with him.

I didn't have the strength or the will for it, either.




Without a word, I followed him down to the underground parking lot.




He opened the passenger-side door for me.




As I got in the car and fastened my seat belt,

a women's headband caught my eye.




At that moment, I felt drained all at once.




I couldn't take

my eyes off that headband.





He followed my gaze, then

picked up the headband.





And hurriedly

put it into the storage compartment.





"With the CEO... why..."





"It just... happened that way."





"So that's why you look so exhausted?

Did the CEO do something wrong?"





"It's just... I guess we weren't meant to be..."





I wasn't looking at his face, but

I could feel how sorry he felt for me.




I saw him lift a hand, then lower it,

looking at a loss for what to do.





After hesitating for a moment, I asked,




"Hoon-ji... how about you?

Are you doing well?"




Honestly, I had long stopped

deliberately looking up his videos or news.



I didn't even know

how he was doing.



After the movie I participated in the adaptation of,

with Hoon-ji starring as the lead,

I didn't know what projects he'd worked on.





"I..."





"Do you have a girlfriend now?"





"A little while ago.


I got confessed to, and...

she seemed like a decent person, so

I'm seeing her."





"Hoon-ji, you're still a popular guy..

You always get confessed to first by actresses."




He snorted at my joke.




"Aren't you going to leave?"





"Ah... yes. Let's go."




We arrived in front of the apartment entrance.




"Jung-ah..."





"Thanks for driving me home.

Drive safely."




He grabbed my arm as I was about to get out.





"Jung-ah! Wait a sec!

Do you have time tomorrow?


Let's talk for a bit.

It's too late today, so

I'll go to the cafe tomorrow evening."





"Do we... still have something to talk about?"





"Just for a moment."





"All right.

Then see you tomorrow."





The next evening,

after Ji-seong left work

I stayed behind and kept working.




Then a message from Hoon-ji arrived.




[I've arrived in front of the cafe.]




I stared at the screen for a moment, then

got up from my seat.




When I opened the door,

he came into the cafe.




"Sit down. Coffee... should I get you one?"





"Yes..."





I set a cup of coffee down in front of him.




"It's decaf since it's evening."





"Thank you."





I sat across from him.

He slowly took a sip of coffee.




I waited for him to speak first.




He set down his coffee cup and

after hesitating for a long while, slowly opened his mouth.





"Jung-ah. You might think it's ridiculous, but...

could you teach my English classes again?"





"..."





"If you don't hate seeing me yet..."





"Hoon-ji, you already know the answer.

That it doesn't make sense.

If I tell the company, they'll assign you a good teacher,

so why are you asking me for something like this?"





"Are you trying to keep me around as backup

after Hoon-ji's girlfriend broke up with him?"





"What are you even saying?"





"Then what is it?

I told you I broke up with Tae-hyung,

and now you want to keep me by your side again?"





As if he couldn't take it anymore,

he shot up from his seat.




"That's not it!"




His voice

echoed through the cafe.




"I just...

wanted to keep seeing you, even if it had to be like this.

Is that enough?!!"






"I was worried something had happened."