The Love I Never Expected

Chapter 2 — The Name on His Phone

There was one particular day when Jason and I were together during my break.

Nothing seemed unusual that day.

We were eating together, talking casually, and enjoying the little time we had away from work.

Then Jason suddenly looked at me.

"Do you want to watch a movie?"

I looked at him.

"A movie?"

He nodded.

"Yes."

I smiled.

"Sure."

"Then choose one," he said.

I started thinking about which movie I wanted to watch.

We both worked at the cinema, so watching movies was something that didn't seem unusual to me.

But before I could decide, Jason suddenly added,

"Just not Cinema 2."

I stopped.

"Why?"

He continued eating as if his answer didn't matter.

"Anywhere else is fine. Just not Cinema 2."

I stared at him.

"Why can't we watch there?"

He didn't give me a clear answer.

That made me curious.

Both of us worked at the cinema.

So why was he specifically avoiding Cinema 2?

What was there?

Who was there?

Why couldn't I go there with him?

I didn't push him for an answer.

At least, not yet.

I told myself there was probably a simple explanation.

We continued eating.

After a while, Jason stood up to pay for our food.

I stayed at the table.

Then his phone suddenly vibrated.

I looked at it.

A message had appeared on the screen.

There was a woman's name.

Marie.

Something inside me changed the moment I saw it.

My heart began beating faster.

I didn't know why.

Maybe it was curiosity.

Maybe it was instinct.

I reached for his phone.

I knew I shouldn't.

I knew it was wrong to look at someone else's private messages.

But something inside me pushed me to do it.

I opened the message.

And I read it.

Honey, where are you? Why did you leave me here at Cinema 2?

For a moment, I couldn't move.

My heart felt like it had been stabbed.

Everything around me seemed to disappear.

The noise of the place faded.

The people around me seemed distant.

All I could see were those words.

Honey.

Cinema 2.

The same Cinema 2 Jason had specifically told me not to go to.

I felt like the world had suddenly stopped.

Then I heard his footsteps.

Jason was coming back.

I quickly placed the phone back on the table.

He sat down.

I looked at him.

"Jason."

He looked at me.

"What?"

I tried to remain calm.

"Why don't you want to watch a movie at Cinema 2?"

He became quiet.

I waited.

Nothing.

"Jason?"

He still didn't answer.

My heart was beating harder.

"Why?"

He looked away.

I couldn't take it anymore.

"Who is Marie?"

His face immediately changed.

He looked surprised.

"Why do you know her?"

I stared at him.

"I saw the message on your phone."

There was silence between us.

His expression became uncomfortable.

Finally, he answered.

"She's my ex-girlfriend."

I stared at him.

"Your ex-girlfriend?"

"Yes."

I could feel my anger rising.

"Then why is she still calling you 'Honey'?"

He didn't answer.

"And why is she at Cinema 2?"

Still nothing.

I couldn't understand.

If she was really his ex-girlfriend, why was she waiting for him there?

Why did she talk to him like they were still together?

And most importantly...

Why had he specifically told me not to go there?

"Jason," I said, my voice shaking, "why didn't you want me to go to Cinema 2?"

"It's nothing."

"Nothing?"

I couldn't believe him.

"She said you left her there."

He sighed.

"She's my ex."

"That doesn't explain anything."

He tried to explain.

But by then, I was already hurt.

I felt betrayed.

I felt foolish.

I couldn't stop thinking about all the times I had trusted him.

All the times I believed his kindness meant something.

All the times I thought I was special to him.

What if everyone at work already knew about Marie?

What if I was the only one who didn't know?

The thought made me feel humiliated.

I didn't want to hear anything else.

I walked away from him.

"Wait."

I kept walking.

"Please, listen to me."

I ignored him.

"I'm sorry."

I still didn't turn around.

I had to go back to work, but my mind was somewhere else.

I couldn't concentrate.

Every time I looked around the workplace, I wondered if people were secretly looking at me.

Did they know?

Had they been laughing behind my back?

Had I been the only one who believed everything was fine?

Jason kept trying to talk to me.

But I refused to listen.

He kept apologizing.

Still, I wouldn't look at him.

When my shift finally ended, I was ready to go home.

I thought I could finally get away from him.

But as soon as I stepped outside, Jason appeared.

"I'll take you home."

I looked at him.

"No."

"Come on. I'll take you."

"I said no."

"Please."

I shook my head.

"I don't want to go with someone who lies to me."

I walked away.

I took the bus home.

I thought he would finally leave me alone.

But after a while, I noticed someone sitting on the seat beside me.

I turned my head.

Jason.

I stared at him in disbelief.

"You followed me?"

He didn't answer.

I was so irritated that I turned away.

I didn't want to talk to him.

I didn't even want to look at him.

There was another reason I didn't want him around.

I didn't want my neighbors to see me with him.

I didn't want them asking questions.

I especially didn't want my father to see me arriving home with a man.

So I pretended Jason wasn't there.

The entire ride, I kept looking straight ahead.

He stayed quiet.

As we got closer to my neighborhood, I became even more anxious.

Thankfully, before we reached my house, Jason finally stopped following me.

I breathed out in relief.

Thank goodness.

At least he wouldn't meet my parents.

I entered our house.

My mother and father were already there.

My younger sibling was still at school.

I ate dinner, took a shower, and tried to forget everything that had happened.

Later, I sat down with a book.

I thought reading would help me clear my mind.

But my thoughts kept returning to Jason.

Marie.

Cinema 2.

The message.

Honey.

I couldn't stop thinking about it.

Eventually, I became so tired that I fell asleep without realizing it.

When I opened my eyes the next morning, my younger sibling was already beside me.

I checked the time.

Six in the morning.

I quickly got up.

I needed to shower, eat breakfast, and get ready for work.

I didn't want to think about Jason anymore.

I told myself that I was done.

I was angry with him.

I was hurt.

But deep inside, there was still a small part of me that wanted him to prove that I had misunderstood everything.

When I arrived at the cinema, I went straight to the cashier.

I was still thinking about what happened the previous day.

Then I noticed something on my table.

I stopped.

There was breakfast.

And beside it...

was a flower.

I looked around.

"Whose is this?"

One of my co-workers looked at me.

"It's for you."

"For me?"

They nodded.

"Jason brought it."

I stared at the breakfast.

Then at the flower.

Jason.

After everything that happened, he still did this?

I didn't know whether I should be angry or touched.

Part of me wanted to ignore it.

But another part of me couldn't deny how special the gesture made me feel.

I looked around.

Then I saw Jason.

He was standing not far away.

Our eyes met.

He didn't say anything.

Neither did I.

For a few seconds, we simply looked at each other.

My anger was still there.

My questions were still there.

I still didn't know the whole truth about Marie.

But somehow, that simple breakfast and flower made the walls around my heart a little weaker.

I finally looked at him.

"Thank you."

A small smile appeared on his face.

And just like that, despite everything that had happened, I allowed myself to acknowledge him again.

Maybe he really was sorry.

Maybe there was an explanation.

Maybe I had judged him too quickly.

Or maybe...

I was simply too much in love to walk away.

I didn't know which one was true.

All I knew was that I had given him another chance.

And I had no idea where that second chance would lead me.